Site: best4date From: aisha193 Date: 27.11.2015 My dear, how are you. I believe we can get acquainted and hope that we could go ahead and initiate good friendship, we can exchange information and photos here because I am not always on-line at this site, So please kindly accept my request. Could you email me back here so that i will introduce myself better also to forward my details and my photo to you. My Email. esthermoore@hotmail.com Thanks Aisha From: esther moore Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2015 00:44:13 +0000 Subject: RE: From best4date Assalamu Alaikum. I have the belief as i promise you right now saying that this communication will later be a testimony in our life one day, as i told you the attachment is my pictures. Please read my message very well though it may be the least of what you expects from me since we are just new friend, well My name is (Aisha Hassan Ahmed), I was born on (02/06/1990) (24 years OLD) never married before. Fair in complexion, from republic of Libya, in north Africa, city of Benghazi town. But presently am residing in Mauritania board as a refugee. I am the only daughter of Late (Mr Hassan Ahmed) my father was a Former General Director of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) based in Benghazi Libya, engaged in crude oil and natural gas refining, succeeded under his nephew (Mr Moussa Ahmed), the spokesman of late leader of Libya. I was schooling in International Medical University of Benghazi, before my mother met their untimely death. On Wednesday 2nd of March 2011. The Libya rebels attacked our house and killed my mother and my two younger brother and my relatives instantly, though I was in the school during the period, It was after the death of my mother and my brothers, my father concluded that Libya is no more safe for a young lady like me and he took the decision that I will travel and continue my Medical Education in University of Dakar Senegal, which he said that Senegal is a good country with his previous experience there since many people have been raped and killed in Libya without justice being done to the rebels. My father (Mr Hassan Ahmed) not sensing that death is already at the corner. On 19 August 2011, my father was killed by an Apache helicopter in Zawiya Libya by rebel as a result of the supporters of the late leader of Libya. during the civil war. I traveled back to Libya from Senegal after the burial, though I was afraid and I have to come back with tears to continue my studies in Senegal. When it was time to pay my school fees, I tried reaching our father's business manager in Libya through telephone and he told me that all my father's estate was folded through the new Libyan elected president. I was confuse and I had no other choice at that time than to disclose the situation to school authority then i was taking to the (UNHCR) Refugee camp in village of (Bassikounou Mbera in Mauritania border to Senegal) where i am residing presently, is where i am writing this message through the camp supervisor office computer. but you can call me through him. Dr. Alie being our camp supervisor as posted by the United Nations Refugee Authority. Call his office line +221773459222 from 09 hours GMT to 16 hours GMT for him to be in the office and tell him that you want to speak with Miss. Aisha, the Libya girl in the camp. My late father gave to me a file containing some documents when he was alive, in one of the documents in the file given to me by my late father was a bond certificate of (Three million, seven hundred thousand dollars) (USD $3.700,000.00) in an account he opened with a leading Bank in Europe of which i am the next of kin to the account. in the bond certificates it was written that should accident happen to the account owner, the next of kin would inherit the money, I have communicated with the Bank and was searching for a sincere person to help me retrieve the money from the Bank since the Bank said a person with refugee status can not transact with them being a clause from United Nations and i need that money to be able to regain my life back out of this camp. The Bank requested from me to appoint a representative on my behalf as trustee. they will tell him how to take the money on my behalf. Please i will appreciate if you can assist me to retrieve my money from this Bank into your account over there? Once I confirm from you about the assistance matter, I will write you the Bank contact for you to contact the Bank for the transfer, again i will give you my telephone number for you to communicate with me for further information about the deposit. I am also ready to relocate and meet with you once you accept me with all your heart. after the remittance from the Bank into your account, you send to me some money to get my traveling documents to come over to your country, I have already developed confidence with you since i believe knowing you was through divine intervention but please promise and assure me that you will always stand by me even after receiving the money in your account? so i wish and desire that my quiet and peaceful life will come through your help and in all i pray for Allah guiding me to know someone like you, as i expect to see your reply soon, Your new friend, Aisha. From: esther moore Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2015 22:01:10 +0000 Subject: RE: From best4date Hello my dearest. How are you today? i believe you are fine. It is my pleasure to write to you, darling as i told you that i have introduced you to the Barclay Bank of London as my foreign partner, i want you to send this mail to the Barclay Bank immediately for confirmation and possible transfer of the money into your account. Below are as follows. Attention (Mr. Antony Jenkins) the Chief Executive of foreign transfer officer of Barclay's bank, I am the representative of (Aisha Hassan Ahmed) i want to assist her to make transfer of her (3.7 million dollars) deposited by her late father Mr Hassan Ahmed of which she is the next of kin to my account. The Account information as follows: 1. Name of Bank....................Barclay Bank of London: 2. Account Name................... Mr Hassan Ahmed: 3. Country of Origin...............Republic of Libya: 4. Account Number................23990826-USD-001: 5. Amount Deposited.............$ 3,700,000.00 USA: 6. BIC.....................................BARCGB 21: 7. SORT code.........................201084: 8. Next of kin.........................Aisha Hassan Ahmed 9. Transfer Officer................. Mr. Antony Jenkins: 10. Banks Telephone..............+447967939190 11. Banks Fax No....................+448715039088 12. Bank e-mail: Barclay-Bank1690@englandmail.com dr_benedict.omar@accountant.com My Dear, Please contact the Barclay Bank now both in (dr_benedict.omar@accountant.com) email and phone number of the Barclay Bank as soon as you contact the bank, please try to keep me inform. I await to hear from you soon. Yours lovely, Aisha From: "Dr benedict Omar" Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:51:19 +0100 Subject: ATTENTION, BACLAYS BANK LONDON PLC 1 Churchill Place, London,E14 5HP, United Kingdom Tel: +447977701850 Fax: +448715039088 dr_benedict.omar@accountant.com Barclay-Bank1690@englandmail.com www.barclays.co.uk DATE:12/14/2015. Account Ref No. CB23990826-USD-001 Sir/Madam, I have been directed by the Director, Credit Administration Dept to write you in respect to the mail which we received. Actually, we have earlier been told about you by the young lady Miss Aisha Ahmed, that she wishes you to be her Trustee/Representative for the claim of her late father's deposit with our bank. Mr Hassan Ahmed. Was our late customer with substantial amount deposited with us, As asked, the volume of fund currently deposited with our bank is (US$3,700,000.00.)Three million, seven hundred thousand dollar, hence you have been really appointed as a trustee to represent the Next of Kin cum Mandate Beneficiary. However before our bank will transact any business concerning the transfer of the fund with you, we will like you to send the following documents to our bank: 1. A power of attorney permitting you to claim and transfer the fund to your bank account on her behalf. This document must be endorsed by a Senegalese resident lawyer. 2. The death certificate of (Her deceased father) confirming the death. 3. A copy of the statement of the account issued to her late father by our bank. 4. An affidavit of oath from the Senegalese High Court. 5. The scan copy of your identity card. To enhance quicker processing of this fund, you are to provide this bank with the following Information needed in our BTD Form 41. 1. Full Name. 2. Contact Address. 3. Fax Number. 4. Name of Bank and where this fund is expected to be wired to. 5. You're Identity No. 6. Occupation/Profession. This information is urgently on receipt of this mail so that we can create your Fund Transmission File with the Data Processing Department and international payment Office/Telex Services Dept respectively. Note that the above are compulsory, and are needed to protect our interest, yours, the next of kin after the claims. These shall also ensure that a smooth, quick and successful transfer of the fund is made. We promise to give our customers the best of our services. Should you have any question(s) please contact me: through Email: (dr_benedict.omar@accountant.com) or Tele: +447977701850 Mr. Benedict Omar (World Operational/Wire Transfer Department Officer) From: esther moore Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 23:34:01 +0000 Subject: RE: ATTENTION, My Dearest hearth, Thanks for your ability to help me to transfer the money to your Account position pending my arrival to meet with you, it shows you are a dependable and trustworthy man. You have won my heart. I trust on you and hope on you that you help and get this documents the bank needed for the transfer. I have the statement of account and the death certificate with me here which i have already scaned and sent to you.... I thought it's the only thing the bank will need from us but since they need the power of attorney and the affidavit of oath have informed the Reverend about it and he told me that we need a lawyer will assist us to get them. He gave me the contact of this lawyer below, he is a registered lawyer in the United Nations Camp here and he is also a registered member in (Senegalese Bar Association) who will help in preparing the documents for us. Please I will like you to contact him through email and call him on phone today, when your contacting him, tell him that you are my Foreign partner and you want him to prepare a power of attorney and also get the affidavit of support from high court here in Dakar Senegal and that he will do it in your name to enable the transfer of my (Late)father's ACCOUNT in BARCLAY'S BANK PLC, LONDON. to your account in Your country. His contact information's are as follows, BAR (DR) Joachim OF: Joachim CHAMBERS EMAIL ADDRESS (bar.joachim@lawyer.com) (barjoachim60@gmail.com) Office Telephone Number is +221768465749 So, I will like you to contact him for the preparation of the power of attorney and affidavit of oath in your name. Please try and contact me when you are in contact with him and let me know if he agrees to help us!. From my deepest heart, Yours Aisha, From: "Bar Joachim" Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2015 08:32:21 +0100 Subject: ATTENTION MR BAR (DR) JOA JOACHIM (Esq) BARRY JOA JOACHIM LAW FIRM CHAMBERS. 54 MBOU AVENUE, DAKAR SENEGAL OFFICE TELL: +221768465749 12/17/2015 ATTENTION, I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED YOUR MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR REQUEST TO PRODUCE FOR YOU AND MISS AISHA HASSAN AHMED THE LEGAL MANDATE (POWER OF ATTORNEY & AFFIDAVIT DOCUMENTS) TO TRANSACT THE TRANSFER OF MISS AISHA'S INHERITANCE SUM OF US$3.7 MILLON IN THE CUSTODY OF BARCLAY'S BANK PLC, LONDON TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, BUT BEFORE I PROCEED YOU HAVE TO PAY THE SOME OF EURO 300 EURO FOR MY FEEDING AND OTHER PROCESS IN HIGH CURT BEFORE GETTING THE DOCUMENT'S, YOU SHOULD SEND THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE NAME OF MY SECRETARY BELLOW! ---RECEIVER NAME: LOUIS NJIE, ---COUNTRY SENEGAL ---CITY DAKAR AMOUNT: EURO 300EURO MAKE SURE YOU INFORM ME IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY WITH THE QUESTION AND ANSWER, YOURS IN SERVICE, BARR (DR) JOA JOACHIM (ESQ.) [BARRY JOA JOACHIM LAW FIRM] Tel: +221768465749 Fax: +221338265311 Email: bar.joachim@lawyer.com Email: barjoachim60@gmail.com From: "Bar Joachim" Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 09:19:37 +0100 Subject: ACCOUNT INFORMATION, BARRY JOA JOACHIM LAW FIRM CHAMBERS. BAR (DR) JOA JOACHIM (Esq) BARRY JOA JOACHIM LAW FIRM CHAMBERS. 54 MBOU AVENUE, DAKAR SENEGAL OFFICE TELL: +221768465749 DATE: 12/19/2015 DEAR MR , I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED YOUR MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR REQUEST TO PROVIDE YOU AN ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THE MONEY, HERE IS THE ACCOUNT WHICH YOU WILL MAKE THE TRANSFER ARE AS FOLLOW. Adresse de uba senegal Route des almadies zone 12 lot D Name MUSA CUTHIA SCOH Bank Name: UBA Code banque: Sn153 Code guichet: 01301 Account number: 301010021956 Rib: 94 Code swift: UNAFSNDA MAKE SURE YOU INFORM ME IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY, SO THAT I CAN START THE PROCESSING OF THE DOCUMENTS WHICH WILL BE READY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU HAVE TO SEND THE MONEY SO THAT FIRST THING ON MONDAY MORNING I WILL GO TO THE HIGH COURT FOR THE DOCUMENTS, I HAVE DONE THE REGISTRATION WITH YOUR INFORMATION WHICH YOU SENT TO ME AND FAILURE TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS THE REGISTRATION WILL BE CANCEL BY THE CHIEF JUDGE. YOURS IN SERVICE, BARR (DR) JOA JOACHIM (ESQ.) [BARRY JOA JOACHIM LAW FIRM] Tel: +221768465749 Fax: +221338265311 Email: bar.joachim@lawyer.com Email: barjoachim60@gmail.com From: esther moore Date: Fri, 13 May 2016 14:45:53 +0000 Subject: LONG TIME MY DEAR FRIEND,I HAVE SUCCESS IN GETTING MY MONEY TRANSFERRED. Hello, I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from Ireland. Presently,i am in Ireland for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.Mean while, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now you will need to contact the Rev father controlling the camp because,the former one has been transferred to Kenya,and the present father's names is Rev Stephen John and his email address is:(revstephenjohn38@yahoo.com) Ask him to send you a certified bank draft of(180.000.00) Euros which I prepared and kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciate your efforts at that time very much.So feel free and get in touch with the Rev Father and instruct him where to send you the draft cheque as soon as possible because it's yours and i kept it for you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share our joy and happiness after all the sufferings at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment. projects which me and my new partner are having at hand. Finally, remember that I had forwarded instructions to Rev Stephen john on your behalf to receive that cheque. Therefore feel free to get in touch with him and he will send the cheque to you without delay. Take care of yourself and bye for now, Mrs Angela. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Chinese merchants and the inroads of globalisation. Chen Yaying and Liu Jun, who go by the names Kiki and John, in their lingerie store in Asyut, with their Egyptian assistant Rahma Medhat. CREDIT PHOTOGRAPH BY RENA EFFENDI / INSTITUTE The city of Asyut sits in the heart of Upper Egypt, at a crescent-shaped bend in the Nile River, where the western bank is home to a university, a train station, approximately four hundred thousand people, and three shops in which Chinese migrants sell racy lingerie to locals. These shops are not hard to find. Donald Trump's rally in Nashua, N.H., on Monday night gave me an opportunity I hadn't yet had: to watch Trump up close at (great) length, and to converse in person, rather than by email, with some Trump fans. I talked to a dozen or more attendees, an effort that required going undercover (well, removing my press pass) once Team Trump ordered reporters to return to the press pen. Not everyone backed Trump; some were just curious, or there for amusement. But others were enthusiastic supporters of the bumptious billionaire. Zeal in appeal Asked why they liked Trump, fans almost inevitably mentioned the wall he has promised to build on the U.S.-Mexican border. That part of his speech also drew some of the loudest cheers of the evening. Trump supporters even seemed to find it plausible that he can make Mexico pay for that border barricade. When I asked where they got their information about the campaign, one outlet came up again and again: Fox News. Retooling rules One longtime political axiom is that a campaign should be about the voters, not the candidate. Trump has turned that on its head. His hour-plus presentation was an extended exercise in personal and political praise and self-congratulation. First came his regular, extended discussion of how well he is doing in the polls and of the astonishing size of his crowds. That included a digression on the dismal end met by those Republican rivals unwise enough to criticize him. (It's almost as eerie as the strange fates that befell those who looked askance at Damien in the "Omen" movie franchise.) Then an explanation of how terrifying Hillary Clinton actually finds the prospect of running against him, despite her suggestions that she'd relish the matchup. He also treated the audience to a review of how prescient he has been about . . . well, almost everything, really. But perhaps the most telling summation of Trump's amour proper came when he mocked those who question his grasp of foreign affairs. Imitating pedantic pundits pontificating that he doesn't know this or that, Trump concluded: "I do know. I know so much." Here you found yourself thinking that his campaign has been a match made in political heaven: a marriage between a consummate egotist aching to be seen as a hero and a credulous crowd hungry for a savior? Settling grudges The world according to Donald is split into two categories: The "incredible guys" that is, those who have said nice things about Trump and the "losers" or "lowlifes," a classification that translates to "those critical of Trump." On Monday, he cast Joe McQuaid, publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader, into lowlife-dom. No surprise there McQuaid, who has endorsed Chris Christie, had just penned a front-page editorial accusing Trump of insulting voters' intelligence. But here's what was jaw-dropping: Trump then spent approximately 15 minutes of his meandering speech ridiculing McQuaid. Missing think After listening to Trump for more than an hour, I came away struck by one big thing: how little of substance he'd actually uttered. There was no intelligent discussion of the economy, not much on foreign policy beyond a call for bombing ISIS and building up the military, nothing at all detailed or serious on health care or education or energy or wages or entitlements or social issues. Instead, Trump's pitch was a populist stew of braggadocio, bluster and bombast, seasoned with resentments he and his backers share. That certainly seemed to satisfy this crowd. And this crowd was the largest GOP gathering I've seen this campaign season. Both of those conditions underline the stark problem Trump presents for the Republican Party. (Scot Lehigh is a syndicated columnist for The Boston Globe.) According to The Guardian, the film is in the form of a documentary about racial injustice in the US and features Trump's clip where he is urging a ban on Muslims from the US in the aftermath of the San Bernardino attack. The footage of Trump appeared between two clips of militant leader Anwar al-Awlaki, killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011, saying Muslims in the US would face a choice between leaving for Islamic countries or staying at home to fight the West. Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the United States has been widely criticised by American politicians. (ANI) ) The Foreign Office of Pakistan has "strongly condemned" the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in which two Indian Air Force men and four terrorists were killed as the ambush with the remaining is going on. "Pakistan strongly condemns Pathankot airbase attack in India," the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan announced in its 2:00pm PST bulletin, citing a Foreign Office statement. The Foreign Office extended heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families. It also wished the wounded speedy and full recovery. The statement said ''building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region.''UNI PRA RSA AE 1515 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-517803.Xml A prominent cleric with close links to Iran's ruling establishment denounced the execution today of a Saudi Shi'ite cleric and predicted the repercussions would bring down the Saudi ruling family. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people for terrorism including Nimr al-Nimr, whom the government accuses of inciting violence among the Shi'ite minority, and at least three other Shi'ites. Most of the others were suspected Sunni jihadists. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, one of the most senior clerics in Shi'ite-ruled Iran, said in an interview with the Mehr news agency that Nimr's execution reflected the "criminal" nature of the Saudi ruling family. "I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history," Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts and a Friday prayer leader, was quoted as saying by Mehr. His comments echoed former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's prediction in 2005 that Israel would be "wiped from the pages of history". "The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family ... the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can," Khatami added.REUTERS AY NS1531 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-517815.Xml Afghan special forces freed 59 prisoners from a Taliban jail in Helmand, officials said today, as government troops redouble their efforts to drive back the insurgents who have seized large parts of the volatile southern province. Islamist militants have launched a series of attacks in the capital, Kabul, in recent weeks and a tough fight is underway in key districts in the south, just as attempts have been made to revive a stalled peace process. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said 37 of the captives freed from the jail, which was just to the north of the Helmand provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, were soldiers. Another seven were policemen and the rest civilians. The operation to free the prisoners followed months of fighting in which the Taliban has seized several district centres in Helmand, a major centre of opium cultivation and one of its traditional strongholds. Waziri dismissed suggestions that Helmand could fall to the Taliban entirely but said government forces faced a serious battle against insurgents who have grown in strength since foreign troops ended most combat operations a year ago. "We have to accept that there is a fight going on in Afghanistan," he told reporters in Kabul. The Helmand operation unfolded late last night, just as a Taliban suicide bomber attacked a French restaurant in Kabul popular with foreigners and government officials, killing two people and wounding 18. The Taliban claimed in a statement that "dozens of foreigners" had been killed or wounded, although the Islamist group often exaggerates casualty figures in attacks on foreign or government targets. That attack, and an all-night battle at a Spanish embassy guest house in Kabul last month, highlighted the Taliban's strategy of seeking high-profile targets in the capital while at the same time stepping up its campaign to seize district centres in provinces such as Helmand. It is also a stark reminder of the difficulty Afghan officials face in their attempts to revive the stalled peace process, which broke down in July. Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China are due to meet in Islamabad on Jan. 11 to discuss how to lay the groundwork for possible talks with Taliban militants. The insurgent movement says it is not interested in new talks so long as foreign troops remain in Afghanistan. REUTERS AY NS1530 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-517833.Xml Bahrain police fired tear gas at several dozen people protesting the execution by Saudi Arabia today of a prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric, an eyewitness said. Demonstrators carrying pictures of the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, faced security forces in a standoff in the Shi'ite Muslim village of Abu-Saiba, west of the capital Manama. Activists have called for protests in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, a sign that Nimr's death may inflame already raging sectarian tensions in the Middle East.REUTERS AY PR1555 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-517918.Xml A month after President Xi Jinping spoke of reforms in Chinese military, the Beijing has announced a troop cut from 2.3 million to 2 million while restructuring the combat units to make them more multipurpose, agile and lethal. The all powerful Central Military Commission(CMC) would now take charge of overall administration of People's Liberation Army(PLA), Chinese People's Armed Police and all battle zone commands. The reforms kick in a month after Mr Xi, the CMC chairman, had announced the need for an overhaul of the Chinese army in view of highly transformed global geo-strategic scenario and emergence of new threats. China also unveiled three new forces named PLA Rocket Force, Army General Command and Strategic Support Forces. Conferring flags for the each Force at ceremony on the New Year eve, which was telecast on State television on Saturday, President Xi described the PLA Rocket force "core force of strategic deterrence," and "building block in upholding national security." The PLA Rocket Force takes over the country's vast nuclear and conventional missile systems. It has been directed "to follow the requirement of maintaining both conventional and nuclear weaponry and the ability to deter and strike across the entire defense area." The Force has also been tasked to "enhance nuclear deterrence and counter-strike capacity which is credible and reliable." Army General Command will largely take charge of land forces and explore new patterns in land warfare. Strategic Support Forces will take over all the residual defence tasking domains which will not only act as support force for the units in combat but also evolve as "important growth point" of Chinese military in the modern war, including cyberwarfare. Announcing the three new forces, CMC Vice Chairman Fan Changlong, also named the Commander for each force and Political Commissars for each firming up the control of Communist Party of China(CPC) on the Chinese military. The nominations were endorsed by President Xi at the ceremony. Each measure of the comprehensive reforms that look to roll out by 2020, will be tested against one key parameter how does it improve the fighting capability, say the new guidelines which were largely made available in parts only through State media.UNI XC PRA RSA AE 1628 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-517974.Xml A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years. The document, "About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation", was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States not NATO. It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts. That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West, it says. "The strengthening of Russia happens against the background of new threats to the national security, which has complex and interrelated nature," the document says. Conducting an independent policy, "both international and domestic" has caused "counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs." That in turn is likely to lead to "political, economical, military and informational pressure" on Russia, the document says." Relations between Russia and the West reached a low after Russian forces annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, after protests in Ukraine forced its pro-Moscow president to flee to Russia. Since then, the West has accused Russia of aiding insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies actively assisting the rebels. The United States and the European Union have since imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russian individuals and companies. Moscow has reacted by restricting food and other goods from the EU. The document says that the United States and the EU have supported an "anti-constitutional coup d'etat in Ukraine", which led to a deep divide in Ukrainian society and a military conflict. It also names the expansion of NATO as a threat to Russia's national security and said that the United States has expanded its network of military-biological laboratories in neighbouring to Russia countries. The document, which serves as a basis for planning strategy related to national security by different state bodies, does not mention Syria. On September 30, Russia began air strikes against anti-government rebels opposed to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Russian ally.REUTERS AY CS1637 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-518024.Xml Prominent Iran-backed Iraqis called on the government in Baghdad today to sever ties with Saudi Arabia over its execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, al-Sumaria TV said. "It's a big crime that has opened the gates of hell," said Qassim al-Araji, according to the channel's website. Al-Araji, a leader of the Badr Organization, a Shi'ite paramilitary groups with a political wing, also called on Baghdad to cut diplomatic ties "immediately." Another Iran-backed militia group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife, according to the TV's website. "What the use of having a Saudi embassy in Iraq," it asked.REUTERS AY PR1801 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-518256.Xml The Iranian government and religious leaders across the Middle East have condemned Saudi Arabias execution of a prominent Shia cleric along with 46 others and warned of repercussions that could bring down the countrys royal family, the media reported on Saturday. In a serious escalation of religious and diplomatic tensions in the region, councils and clerics in Iran, Yemen and Lebanon said the killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr would prompt widespread anger, The Guardian reported. Nimr was one of 47 people Saudi Arabian executed for terrorism on Friday. The interior ministry said most of those killed were involved in a series of Al Qaeda attacks between 2003 and 2006. The Saudi grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just. The Saudi government supports terrorists and takfiri (radical Sunni) extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari said. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a leading Iranian cleric, said repercussions would bring down the Saudi ruling family. I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history. The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can," Khatami told state-run Mehr news agency. In Bahrain, police fired teargas at several dozen people protesting against the clerics execution, a witness said. Demonstrators carrying pictures of Nimr faced security forces in a standoff in Abu-Saiba, a Shia village west of the capital, Manama. The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest such event in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadi rebels who seized Meccas Grand Mosque in 1979. The executions are Saudi Arabias first in 2016. At least 157 people were put to death last year, a significant increase on the 90 people killed in 2014. --Indo-Asian News Service ksk/vm ( 348 Words) 2016-01-02-18:09:36 (IANS) Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr serves the interests of Islamic State, a prominent Iraqi lawmaker with ties to Iran said today in a statement condemning the act. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr is a service to Daesh, which is betting on expanding by igniting sectarian wars," said Humam Hamoudi, a prominent Shi'ite politician and member of the powerful Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) party.REUTERS AY PR1812 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-518298.Xml "It's important for people if they are having symptoms of illness to stay away from public places and stay home from work until those symptoms are resolved. Sue Ziemann, who has worked as infection prevention coordinator at CHI St. Alexius Health for 23 years, on dealing with the flu. q q q The school opened and all these houses popped up like weeds popping out of the ground. The Rev. Kevin Nelson of Peace Lutheran Church, on how Lincoln has grown since his arrival four years ago. q q q "I was trying to meet a need in the community; that's how it developed. One thing led to another." Karen Paetz Sitting Crow, explaining how Star Blanket Mercantile started and expanded in New Town. q q q This one well cannot produce the quantity of water required to meet the needs of the city of St. John. Kathleen Langan, a St. John city councilwoman, on why she pursued a $50,430 U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant. The grant will help with a second well. q q q "Ours is still very much an active market with listings going under contract every day. An increased inventory of homes on the market provides buyers with more options." Nancy Deichert, executive director of the Bismarck-Mandan Board of Realtors, explaining that while fewer homes have been sold and apartment vacancy rates are up, its "a return to normal." q q q "In my area, I think we're too diverse in the crops we grow. It will never be popular in my area. No one wants to take that risk." Wade Haselen, an agent with Cottingham Insurance in Washburn, explaining the doubts about whole farm insurance. q q q "It adds a little joy to their life this time of year; they look forward to it," Byron Watterud, a volunteer driver for Open Your Heart, on the reaction of those receiving food baskets. q q q I think its been going very well. Theres a new friends group that is developing for the site and thats going to be a big asset. Theyre going to be good partners." Claudia Berg, director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, on the Lawrence Welk historic site near Strasburg. This was the first year the state was operating the site. q q q In-migration might slow down a bit, but I dont see out-migration. ... I think were going to continue seeing the growth for quite awhile. Kevin Iverson, manager of the North Dakota Census Office, after it was announced that the states population is estimated at 756,927. Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah condemned the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in Saudi Arabia today, calling it an "assassination".The "real reason" for the execution was "that Sheikh Nimr... demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people," the group said in a statement, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority. The statement was also quoted by Hezbollah's official al Manar television and Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV.Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and three other members of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority were executed today alongside 43 Sunni jihadists.REUTERS AY RAI1841 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-518378.Xml Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading cleric from the Shi'ite Muslim minority drew warnings of a backlash against the ruling Al Saud family and threatened to further intensify a wave of sectarian conflict in the region. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council called the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr a "grave mistake", and the Hezbollah group termed it an assassination. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, an establishment cleric in largely Shia rival Iran, said repercussions against the Sunni Saudi rulers would "wipe them from the pages of history". Saudi Arabia executed 47 people including Nimr, whom the government accused of inciting violence against the police. His supporters say he is a peaceful dissident who called for greater rights for the kingdom's Shi'ite minority. Scores of Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province marched through Nimr's home district of Qatif shouting "down with the Al Saud", and dozens more gathered in nearby Bahrain, a Sunni-ruled island kingdom allied to Saudi Arabia. In Iran, a Shi'ite theocracy and rival to Saudi Arabia, state media channels carried non-stop coverage of clerics and secular officials eulogising Nimr and predicting the downfall of Saudi Arabia's Sunni ruling family. Shi'ite leaders in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Yemen also warned of reprisals, in a signal that sectarian conflicts across the Middle East could be further inflamed. On a day where a Saudi-led coalition announced the end of a ceasefire in its war with Yemen's Houthi movement, the Houthis said Nimr had been afforded only a "mock trial". TERRORISM CHARGES Three other Shi'ites were executed alongside Nimr, but most of the convicts were jihadists linked to al Qaeda, a radical Sunni group that regards Shi'ites as heretics and has often targeted them in its attacks. Shi'ite groups across the region accused Saudi Arabia of using terrorism as a pretext to execute Nimr, a figurehead for the kingdom's restive Shi'ite population who calls for peaceful protests in sermons broadcast online. The Saudi government says Nimr ordered his followers to attack the police, and was to blame for a series of shooting and petrol bomb attacks that killed several policemen during anti-government protests in Qatif in 2011-13. "The Saudi government supports terrorists and takfiri (radical Sunni) extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said. CALLS TO CUT TIES The wave of condemnation could harm Saudi Arabia's efforts to form an Islamic alliance against the jihadist militants of Islamic State. Riyadh announced the coalition last month, but did not include the Shi'ite powers. Lawmakers in Shi'ite-majority Iraq called on the government to sever ties with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, just one day after the kingdom reopened its embassy in Baghdad for the first time since 1990. Former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki said Nimr's execution would "topple the Saudi regime", while one lawmaker said it had helped Islamic State's cause. Iran's foreign ministry had said on Monday it was willing to talk to Saudi Arabia after months of escalating tensions, but any chance of a rapprochement appeared to be derailed on Saturday as officials and clerics lined up to denounce the kingdom.REUTERS PY PR1916 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-518482.Xml Prominent Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called today for demonstrations in Gulf countries and in Iraq to protest the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia. "I ask that the Shi'ites of Saudi Arabia ... show courage in responding even through peaceful demonstrations, and the same for the Shi'ites in the Gulf, so as to deter injustice and government terrorism in the future," he said on his website. "I urge ... angry demonstrations in front of Saudi sites and interests, and I urge the government to refrain from opening the Saudi embassy," he said.Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Iraq this week. It had been closed in 1990 after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.REUTERS PY PR1950 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-518545.Xml The newly installed mayor of the Mexican city of Temixco was killed today, according to a tweet from Morelos state Governor Graco Ramirez. Gisela Mota formally took office with the new year yesterday. Mexico City newspaper EL Universal said she was attacked at her home by four armed gunmen. Several mayors were killed last year in Mexico, where armed gangs financed by the drugs trade control many local communities. Temixco, located some 100 km south of Mexico City, has a population of about 100,000. Mota, a former federal member of Congress, belonged to the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution.Officials with the Morelos attorney general's office did not immediately return calls seeking additional information about her death.REUTERS PY AN2241 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-518764.Xml The move came after the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that 47 people, including the prominent Shia leader Nimr al-Nimr, were executed on terrorist charges. The protesters gathered in front of the Saudi consulate and chanted slogans against the Arab state's authorities, according to the report. They pulled down the flag of Saudi Arabia from the building of the consulate and throw handmade crackers which caused fire in part of the building, it said. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabian charge d'affaires to Tehran and strongly condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conveyed the strong protest of Islamic republic to the Saudi envoy, Ahmed al-Muwallid, over what he called the "irresponsible behaviour" of the Saudi officials in this regard, according to the state TV. --Indo-Asian News Service ahm/ ( 189 Words) 2016-01-03-03:23:35 (IANS) Comentarios y reflexiones sobre la actualidad politica y economica de Espana y del mundo Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure. WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more. LONDON (Reuters) - A group of computer hackers that wants to target Islamic State has claimed it was behind a cyber attack on the BBC which it intended as a test of its own capabilities, according to messages sent to a reporter at the broadcaster on Saturday. "It was only a test, we didn't exactly plan to take it down for multiple hours," the group called New World Hackers said in a message sent to the BBC's technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, which he posted on Twitter. "We realise sometimes what we do is not always the right choice, but without cyber hackers ... who is there to fight off online terrorists?" The BBC's online services, including its news website and iPlayer catch-up TV platform, were taken down for a few hours on Thursday by a large web attack. The broadcaster, citing sources inside the corporation, described as a "distributed denial of service (DDoS)" attack. A DDoS attack typically targets sites by flooding servers with messages from multiple systems so they are unable to respond to legitimate traffic. A BBC spokeswoman said the broadcaster would not comment on the claim of responsibility made by the group. (Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Larry King) Dubai (AFP) - Police in Shiite-majority Bahrain used tear gas Saturday to disperse protesters demonstrating over Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, witnesses said. Protesters cried "Death to Al-Saud", referring to the conservative kingdom's ruling family, and clashed with police, but no casualties were reported. Small demonstrations were reported in Shiite-majority villages Jidhafs and Malikiya west and south of the Sunni-ruled country's capital. There were calls for more demonstrations in the evening. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of the protests that broke out in Saudi Arabia's east in 2011, was among 47 people executed in the Sunni-ruled kingdom on Saturday. Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, has backed Riyadh over the executions. Authorities said that they would take "all necessary legal measures" against any "negative" actions in response to the death sentences, which they would consider as "inciting sedition and threatening civil order". They also warned of legal measures against anyone who used "social media networks to spread rumours that influence security". Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by a Shiite-led uprising since February 2011, with demands ranging from a constitutional monarchy to overthrowing the ruling dynasty altogether. Scores of opponents have been detained, with many facing trial, while others convicted of involvement in violence have been handed heavy sentences, including loss of citizenship and life in prison. NextShark Multiple Asian women have reportedly come forward to accuse a Chinese American cosplayer and her boyfriend of luring them into sexual relations through supposed opportunities for collaborative work. Cosplayer and influencer Kat Wong, who describes herself as just an Asian girl making silly content, came under fire on Twitter last week after actor, director and host Gina Darling revealed that multiple women have reached out to her with such allegations. Multiple women in the Asian community have reached out to me about @katkwo4tweets and her BF allegedly trying to trick them into having sexual relations with them under the guise of collaborating on cosplays, OF (OnlyFans) and modeling, Darling tweeted. New York (AFP) - Bill Clinton will hit the campaign trail Monday for his wife Hillary -- his first appearance on the stump for the former first lady's 2016 White House bid. The former president's visit to New Hampshire in support of his wife, who leads polls for the Democratic nomination, comes with Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump sharpening his attacks on both Clintons. Bill Clinton will hold a rally at a community college in the city of Nashua and another event later Monday in Exeter. Trump, who leads the Republican field by a large margin in nationwide polls, has turned recently from verbally attacking his fellow Republican candidates to stepping up his criticism of the Clintons. Last month, he blasted Bill Clinton's "terrible record" with women -- an apparent allusion to rumored past marital infidelities, including while in the White House. "If Hillary thinks she can unleash her husband, with his terrible record of women abuse, while playing the women's card on me, she's wrong!" Trump recently tweeted. Warming to the theme, Trump tweeted on Saturday: "I hope Bill Clinton starts talking about women's issues so that voters can see what a hypocrite he is and how Hillary abused those women!" The billionaire businessman has called Bill Clinton's past reported affairs "fair game" in the 2016 campaign. Accusations of sexual impropriety dating back to his time as governor of Arkansas have dogged Clinton for years. Republicans in Congress tried but failed in 1998 to remove him from office for alleged perjury and obstruction during an investigation into an alleged White House affair. New Hampshire is host to the nation's first presidential primary on February 9. Voters in the heartland state of Iowa, using the caucus method, will register their presidential preference on February 1. Dubai (AFP) - The execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday could arouse anger among the minority's youths, his brother warned, while calling for calm. "This action will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed al-Nimr told AFP, appealing instead for a "peaceful protest movement". "We reject violence and clashing with authorities, just like the martyr sheikh rejected it." Nimr, 56, was among a group of 47 convicts executed on Saturday for "terrorism", the Saudi authorities said. "We deplore" the execution, said his brother, adding that he was "surprised" when he learned the death sentence had been implemented. "We were expecting and hoping for wisdom and a political solution to prevail. "There were parties inside and outside the kingdom who were seeking" to resolve Nimr's case, he said. The brother said there was no proof that the cleric or other executed activists were involved in any violence. He identified three of these activists as Ali Saeed al-Ribh, Mohammed Abdulkarim Sumail and Mohammed al-Shuyookh. They were also on an interior ministry list that excluded the name of Mohammed al-Nimr's own son, Ali, who was 17 when he was arrested following the protests and also faces a death sentence. The situation of Ali "is very dangerous. The sword is at his neck unless he is returned back to his family," said Nimr. The executions send a "strong and negative message," he said. "There will be negative reactions from within the kingdom and abroad. But we hope for peaceful reactions." By Steve Barnes LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - Dale Bumpers, the small-town lawyer who served Arkansas as governor and in the U.S. Senate and delivered a stirring speech during Bill Clinton's impeachment trial that helped save his presidency, died at home on Friday at the age of 90, his family said on Saturday. Bumpers died surrounded by his family, said his wife Betty and his children Brent, Bill and Brooke Bumpers in a statement. Bumpers had been in failing health for months. In December he suffered a broken hip in a fall at his Little Rock home. Surgery was deemed successful but he remained bedridden after returning home. Bumpers, a folksy and eloquent Southern Democrat who was a close friend of Clinton, served in the Senate for 24 years after he toppled storied Senator J. William Fulbright in a 1974 primary election. "Dale Bumpers was a governor of profound historical importance, the most eloquent defender of our constitution in the Senate, a man who put his considerable gifts of wisdom, wit, and passion to work for the common good," Bill Clinton, who also served as Arkansas governor, said in a statement on Saturday. Just weeks after retiring from the Senate, Bumpers was part of Clinton's legal team fighting impeachment. In his famous closing argument on Jan. 21, 1999, he implored his former colleagues not to remove the Democratic president from office, as Republicans were demanding, on charges arising from a sexual affair with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. "You can take some comfort, colleagues, in the fact that I'm not being paid. And when I'm finished, you'll probably think the White House got their money's worth," Bumpers, a noted orator who injected some humor into the grave proceedings, said on the Senate floor. During an era of volcanic partisanship in Washington, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives had approved two articles of impeachment against Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. That set up a trial in the Senate and a vote on whether to remove the president from office. Story continues Bumpers argued that Clinton had committed moral lapses and deserved censure, but his cover-up fell short of "high crimes and misdemeanors" that would necessitate ousting him. "There's a total lack of proportionality, a total lack of balance in this thing. The charge and the punishment are totally out of sync," Bumpers told a rapt audience on the Senate floor. Bumpers offered no apologies or excuses for Clinton's behavior, saying it was "indefensible, outrageous, unforgivable, shameless." He also described the suffering endured by First Lady Hillary Clinton and the couple's 18-year-old daughter, Chelsea. "We are here today because the president suffered a terrible moral lapse, a marital infidelity, not a breach of the public trust, not a crime against society," said the silver-haired Bumpers, casually striding back and forth as he spoke. Bumpers' closing speech for Clinton's defense team was credited with strongly buttressing Clinton's cause. The Senate, despite being controlled by Republicans, ultimately voted to acquit Clinton of the charges in February 1999. Bumpers, born on Aug. 12, 1925, in Charleston, Arkansas, served in the Marine Corps during World War Two before becoming a successful small-town lawyer. He ran for governor in 1970, and during his four-year term restructured the Southern state's tax system and reorganized its government. In 1974, Bumpers was elected to the U.S. Senate, where during his four terms he worked to increase funding for improving childhood vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough and polio and developing new vaccines for diseases like bacterial meningitis. A government vaccine research center is named after him and his wife. A fiscal conservative and social liberal, he helped to sink the Superconducting Super Collider subatomic particle accelerator and sought to deny funding to the International Space Station and President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense plan. Bumpers was a "a man of unusual conviction, passion and resolve," the late Robert Byrd, a fellow Democratic senator, once said about his colleague. "He has been called the last Southern liberal, and he is proud of it." (Reporting by Steve Barnes in Arkansas and Will Dunham in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty and W Simon) After coming up short in his UFC on FOX 17 lightweight title fight against champion Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cowboy Cerrones next fight will be in the welterweight division. UFC officials announced on Firday that Cerrone would face Tim Means in the UFC Fight Night 82 main event on Feb. 21 in Pittsburgh. It will be Cerrones debut at 170 pounds. RELATED > Donald Cerrone on Second Loss to Rafael dos Anjos: Sometimes You Just Don't Show Up' Means competed four times in 2015 and is coming off a knockout win over John Howard at UFC Fight Night 80 on Dec. 10. He went 3-1 for the year with the one loss coming to sixth-ranked Matt Brown. Cerrone had an eight-fight winning streak snapped in his last outing and hopes to rebound from the loss in a new weight class. UFC Fight Night 82: Cerrone vs. Means takes place at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. It will be the second event the Las Vegas-based fight promotion has hosted in Pennsylvanias second largest city. Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Athens (AFP) - A drowned two-year-old boy became the first known migrant casualty of the year on Saturday after the crowded dinghy he was travelling in slammed into rocks off Greece's Agathonisi island, the coastguard said. The other 39 passengers, including a woman who had fallen overboard, were rescued after local fishermen raised the alarm. Ten of the survivors were taken to hospital to be treated for hypothermia. The rubber vessel had set off from Turkey in the early morning in windy weather. The charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), which helps save migrants and refugees at sea, deployed its fast-rescue Responder boat to help bring the stranded passengers to safety in a joint operation with the Hellenic coastguard. The toddler's body was pulled out of the water by fishermen, according to the coastguard. The migrants, including the child's mother, were taken to the port of Pythagorio on Samos, the nearest island, which is 50 kilometres (30 miles) away. There was no immediate information about their nationalities. "Nothing can prepare you for the horrific reality of what is going on. Today we came face to face with one of the youngest victims of this ongoing refugee crisis. It is a tragic reminder of the thousands of people who have died trying to reach safety in miserable conditions," said MOAS founder and US entrepreneur Christopher Catrambone in a statement. Despite the recent cold and choppy waters, large numbers of migrants and refugees are still setting sail from Turkey to make the hazardous journey across the Aegean in the hope of reaching Greece. Overall, nearly one million migrants or asylum-seekers landed in Europe in 2015 in search of a better life after setting off in boats from either Turkey or North Africa. Most were refugees fleeing war and violence in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 3,600 people have died attempting to make the crossing. Three-year-old Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, whose limp body was photographed washed up on a Turkish beach in September, became a heartbreaking symbol of the refugee crisis. By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - England lost captain Alastair Cook but made use of good batting conditions to move to 76 for one wicket at lunch on the opening day of the second test at Newlands on Saturday. A stunning one-handed catch at third slip by rangy debutant bowler Chris Morris saw Cook depart for 27 runs off Kagiso Rabada's bowling as two of South Africa's three changes from the first test combined to dismiss the England captain. Alex Hales, playing just his second test, was unbeaten on 38 along with Nick Compton on three. Cook and Hales put on a 55-run partnership for the opening wicket. Cook had won the toss and elected to bat on a dry wicket with a bit of teasing bounce but looking perfect for a long spell at the crease and a high scoring innings. England's top wickettaker James Anderson returned to the side, replacing Chris Woakes after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out of the first test in Durban, where England beat South Africa by 241 runs on Wednesday with just a two-day turn over before the second test. "It's tough on Woakes but you can't afford to leave put your best bowler if he is available," said Cook before play started on Saturday. South Africa had already confirmed on the eve of the test that the world's number one bowler Dale Steyn would not be playing, as he has not recovered from a shoulder injury, and that 20-year-old Rababa would take his place. Before play on Saturday, Kyle Abbott was added to the list of fast bowling casualties as he had not properly recovered from a hamstring strain and was replaced by debutant Chris Morris. Quinton de Kock returned to the role of wicketkeeper in an effort to lessen the work load of talismanic AB de Villiers. De Kock replaced JP Duminy, who was dropped after a long run without any form. De Villiers, increasingly the player South Africa look for to inspire success, will now be able to concentrate on his batting. (Editing by Sudipto Ganguly; mark.gleeson@thomsonreuters.com; +27828257807; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging: mark.gleeson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) Madrid (AFP) - Barcelona dropped points for the third time in four league games as they were held 0-0 by local rivals Espanyol in a heated Catalan derby on Saturday. Atletico Madrid moved two points clear of Barca at the top of the table, having played a game more, thanks to substitute Thomas Partey's late winner to edge past Levante 1-0. Real Madrid now trail Atletico by five points ahead of their trip to Valencia on Sunday. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork for Barcelona either side of half-time, but Espanyol's physical approach was rewarded with a first point against Barca in eight matches. "The result in general was fair based on what both teams created, although I thought we had a lot of chances," said Barca boss Luis Enrique. Espanyol committed 22 fouls despite a lenient approach from referee Jose Luis Gonzalez, but Luis Enrique refused to blame the officials for a stuttering start to the new year. "Football is a contact sport," he added. "That is why we have a referee there to control the game." The first of three meetings between the sides in 10 days got off to a frenetic start with Espanyol forcing Barca onto the back foot. Their best chance came from a set-piece, though, when Alvaro Gonzalez's header was brilliantly stopped by Claudio Bravo and Gerard Pique hooked the ball to safety off the line. Barca's star front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar combined for 137 of a record 180 goals in 2015, but they didn't come to life until midway through the first half when Neymar's dangerous cross fell just behind Suarez. Messi then struck the angle of post and bar with an almost perfect free-kick as Barca began to take control just before the break. However, Espanyol had another chance to take a shock lead seven minutes into the second period when Hernan Perez poked a shot just wide after a lung-bursting run into the Barca box. The hosts had another slice of luck when Suarez could only strike the outside of the post after rounding Pau Lopez and turning away from Gonzalez moments later. Story continues Messi should have done better when he fired straight at Lopez when well placed on the edge of the area and the Espanyol 'keeper made another comfortable save from Neymar's acrobatic effort as they restricted Barca to surprisingly few clear openings in the final stages. And the closest they came to a dramatic winner was another vicious Messi free-kick from long range that dipped inches wide of the target a minute from time as Barca failed to score for the first time in La Liga this season. At the Vicente Calderon, Atletico's struggle for goals continued, but they were bailed out by an error from Levante 'keeper Diego Marino 10 minutes from time. "Once again the changes gave us the quality we needed in the game, especially in the movement for the goal," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. Marino undid his good work earlier in the game as he got down brilliantly to turn Jackson Martinez's low drive to safety. Atletico had a big claim for a penalty turned down when Angel Correa was clipped inside the area and Stefan Savic then headed against the bar as they pushed for the opener. Simeone's men's luck appeared to be out when Koke unleashed a piledriver from Martinez's knockdown against the bar. However, their persistence was rewarded when just as against Rayo Vallecano in midweek, Partey came off the bench to make the telling contribution as he skipped through the heart of the Levante defence but his shot ought to have been stopped by Marino as it trickled into the net. Dubai (AFP) - Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, executed in Saudi Arabia Saturday, was a charismatic religious leader who delivered fiery speeches demanding more rights for his minority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. He was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the kingdom's east, an oil-rich region where an estimated two million Shiites live what they call a marginalised life. The 56-year-old, who had travelled to Shiite-majority Iran to study theology following the country 1979 Islamic Revolution. Riyadh has repeatedly accused Iran of fuelling unrest in the kingdom and across the region, and Tehran was the first to react to Nimr's death, warning that Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing him. Nimr was shot in the thigh when he was arrested on July 8, 2012, being accused of "resisting the security forces." The slightly built man with a long white beard and glasses, was described by the interior ministry at the time as an "instigator of sedition" and his arrest had sparked protests and clashes with police in Shiite towns. His death sentence was announced on October 15, 2014 for sedition, disobedience and bearing arms. Three days later, gunmen fired on a security patrol in the Shiite populated east, setting fire to an oil pipeline. Speaking to AFP Saturday, Nimr's brother Mohammed described the cleric as "a humble, religious man who lived a simple life, making him attractive to many youths". His execution "will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, said Mohammed, calling instead for a "peaceful protest movement". Nimr returned from Iran in 1994 as a "faqih", or expert on Islamic law, and held a "special and distinct position" among Saudi Shiites, said Mohammed. Prior to his arrest, he preached regular sermons. On Fridays, the Muslim weekly day of worship, his sermons took on a political hue. He was based at Imam Hussein Mosque in Awamiya, his home village, where protests and attacks on police are common. Story continues He was also briefly detained on multiple occasions between 2003 and 2008 over his demands for the release of activists, allowing Shiite teaching in schools and giving Shiites more rights, according to his official website www.sknemer.com, which is run by his family. But it was in 2009 when he seriously angered authorities by calling for Eastern Province's Shiite-populated Qatif and Al-Ihsaa governorates to be separated from Saudi Arabia and united with neighbouring Shiite-majority Bahrain. - 'Personal revenge' - Speaking in November 2011, after four Shiites were shot dead in Eastern province, Nimr demanded the "release of all those detained in the protests, and all prisoners of conscience -- Sunnis and Shiites". Speaking at the funeral of one of the protesters, Nimr said: "We are determined to demand our legitimate rights by peaceful means". The last straw was in a video circulated on social media in 2012 in which Nimr made a speech celebrating the death of interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. "Let the worms eat him," Nimr had said, also criticising the ruling Sunni families in both Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain, where authorities crushed a Shiite-led protest movement in 2011 with the help of Saudi troops. Nayef's powerful son, Mohammed bin Nayef, became crown prince last year. The cleric's brother told AFP it is "unfortunate that the verdicts would be closer to personal revenge" by Nayef rather than based on criminal proof. Nimr spoke "words which may have been harsh, but he was voicing an opinion. He could have been held accountable for it politically" and not executed. The cleric's wife died of cancer in 2012. He was the father of one son and three daughters. His children are studying in the United States with the exception of a teenage daughter, who lives in Saudi Arabia. Mohammed's son, Ali al-Nimr, whose arrest at the age of 17 and alleged torture during detention sparked condemnation from rights watchdogs and the United States, is also facing the death penalty. Tom Brady FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs along the sideline after catching a pass from Danny Amendola during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa) The Patriots have been in Florida since Thursday night. Half of their defense, it seems, has not. Put it this way: Before training camp, I ranked New England's best 53 players. Five of the top 10 were from the defensive side of the ball. They were Devin McCourty (3), Jamie Collins (4), Dont'a Hightower (6), Rob Ninkovich (7) and Chandler Jones (10). Two of those five -- Hightower (knee) and Jones (foot) -- have been ruled out for Week 17 at Miami. Ninkovich is questionable, but he was reportedly in Foxborough Friday morning, not in Florida with the team. And McCourty is questionable, as well. He hasn't played since injuring his ankle in Week 14 at Houston. And let's not even get started on the offense. If the Patriots are going to beat Miami and clinch the No. 1 seed, they'll have to do so with a makeshift unit on both sides. Fortunately for them, the Dolphins have long mailed it in, making this an easier proposition. Unfortunately for the Pats, the Broncos -- currently one game back and holding the tiebreaker -- have a Week 17 game against lowly San Diego. A look at the possible scenarios atop the AFC: Scenario One: Patriots win Doesn't matter what happens with Denver or Cincinnati. The Pats will have the No. 1 seed. Scenario Two: Patriots lose, Broncos win, Bengals win This would put all three teams at 12-4. The Broncos would win the No. 1 seed by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Denver beat both New England and Cincinnati. The Patriots would then take the No. 2 seed based on win-loss percentage in common games. Bengals (2-3): W Bills, L Texans, W Steelers, L Steelers, L Broncos Patriots (4-1): W Bills, W Bills, W Texans, W Steelers, L Broncos Scenario Three: Patriots lose, Broncos lose, Bengals win The Pats and Bengals would both finish 12-4, with Denver ending at 11-5. As noted above, the Patriots hold the tiebreaker against Cincinnati and would claim the No. 1 seed in this scenario. Scenario Four: Patriots lose, Broncos lose, Bengals lose We're right back where we started. New England would be 12-4. Both Denver and Cincinnati would be 11-5. Shortly after making his return at Rizin FF on New Year's Eve, Fedor Emelianenko already has a timeline for his next fight. After defeating the mostly unknown Jaideep Singh on Dec. 31 in Japan, Fedor said that he is expecting a relatively quick return. He plans to fight again for Rizin in April. That bout is also expected to be in Japan, according to comments reported by R-Sport. The next fight is scheduled for April, said Emelianenko, who also confirmed the fight would be for Rizin in Japan. For me, it would be convenient to enter the ring in April. Four months (between fights), you can relax a bit and with (renewed energy) to start preparing for the next fight. Prior to stopping Singh via TKO stoppage at 3:02 of the first round, Fedor hadn't fought since retiring three-and-a-half years ago. When he announced his plans to return to active competition midway through 2015, the focus had been on whether he might sign with the UFC, but that obviously didn't happen. Rizin won the Fedor sweepstakes. So it appears Fedor will be fighting in Japan, at least for the foreseeable future. Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli prosecutors will file charges Sunday against four Jews for their involvement in "severe terror against Arabs and their property", the justice ministry said. Security officials told AFP Saturday night the charges are linked to the July firebombing of a Palestinian home in the West Bank village of Duma, which resulted in the death of three members of the Dawabsha family. A statement from the justice ministry noted that two of the suspects, who will be charged at the Lod district court at 0730 GMT, were minors. Israel has been under heavy pressure to try those responsible for the attack, with rights groups questioning the delay in the case and contrasting it to the swift reaction often following Palestinian attacks. The Shin Bet internal security service has held suspects under administrative detention, denied some of the right to see a lawyer part of the time and used physical force during investigations. Supporters of the suspects -- religious extremists known as "hilltop youth" who oppose the "secular" Israeli state -- denounced those methods as torture. The Shin Bet denies using any illegal methods, and has stressed that the entire investigation was conducted under the supervision of State Attorney Yehuda Weinstein. Eighteen-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha was killed and his parents fatally injured in the July 31 firebombing. His four-year-old brother was the sole survivor from the immediate family. A Star of David and the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah" were spray-painted on a wall near the family's small house. The attack drew renewed attention to Jewish extremism and accusations Israel had not done enough to prevent such violence. The "hilltop youth" have been blamed for violence and vandalism targeting Palestinians, Christian holy sites and even Israeli military property. Palestinians have often highlighted the lack of progress in the case as among the causes of a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks targeting Israelis that began on October 1. Pathankot (India) (AFP) - A dramatic assault on an Indian air base near the Pakistan border was finally declared over Saturday 14 hours after suspected Islamist militants struck, leaving three security officers dead, authorities said, an attack that threatens to undermine the countries' fragile peace process. At least four attackers also died in shoot-outs with security forces at Pathankot base in northern Punjab state, after gunmen suspected to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Islamist group infiltrated the site at 3:30 am (2200 GMT) Saturday. The assault -- a rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir -- comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to Pakistan, the first by an Indian premier in 11 years. The possible involvement of Pakistan-based militants in the attack threatens to derail talks between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since independence in 1947. "I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'," Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted. Security officials only confirmed that four attackers had died. An Indian army source said "at least three security personnel have died" in the incident, with at least three others injured, adding that officers were still combing the base for residual explosives. Modi, on a visit to the southern city of Mysore, responded to the attack on Twitter Saturday evening. "Enemies of humanity who can't see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed," he tweeted. Pakistan also moved to condemn the attack, and voiced optimism over continued dialogue with its long-time foe. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India... to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," Islamabad's foreign ministry spokesman said. Story continues - Strategic base - The Pathankot air base houses dozens of fighter jets and is important for its strategic location about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Pakistan border. "They are from Jaish, Jaish has claimed responsibility," Indian army Lieutenant General Satish Dua told reporters of the attackers. AFP was not able to verify the alleged claim of responsibility. Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is banned in Pakistan, fights against Indian rule in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, where a separatist conflict has claimed up to 100,000 lives. While Punjab has largely been spared such violence, however, it has not been immune. In July, three gunmen said to be Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militants killed seven people, including four policemen, in an attack in the Sikh-majority state. Modi's December 25 visit to the Pakistani city of Lahore to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif indicated a potential thaw in tensions, and the foreign secretaries of both countries are to meet in Islamabad this month. Pakistan opposition senator Sherry Rehman said the attack must not disrupt the planned dialogue. "#Pathankot is about derailing peace. Don't let terror define our agenda. Pak-India talks must go on." But Modi's friendly outreach to Pakistan had prompted critics to warn of retaliation by militants. "Our prime minister visited and after that the terrorists came here. They want friendship with Pakistan but look what they are doing to us," said Ashok Kumar, 52, a shopkeeper in Pathankot. A protest broke out on the road leading to Pathankot base in the early afternoon as angry residents burned effigies apparently intended to resemble Pakistani militants, an AFP journalist said. - Fragile peace - Sameer Patil, a security analyst at the Gateway House think-tank in Mumbai, said Saturday's attack was likely to be a cross-border strike possibly carried out in retaliation for the visit. "There is substantial first evidence of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants trying to sabotage the peace process," he told AFP. India blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed for a December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament that killed 11 people, led to a massive military build-up at the border and brought the two countries almost to the brink of war. New Delhi later suspended all talks with Islamabad after Islamist gunmen attacked the city of Mumbai in November 2008, killing 166 people in attacks planned from Pakistan. The two countries agreed to resume a peace process in 2011 but tensions spiked again in recent years, with cross-border shelling in Kashmir claiming dozens of lives since 2014. Authorities had put Punjab on high alert Friday after five gunmen in army fatigues hijacked a car driven by a senior police officer, which was later found abandoned on a highway connecting Pathankot to Kashmir. It was not clear if there was any link with Saturday's attack. By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A hand grenade attack killed two students and injured six in a university in southern Ethiopia, police said, the second such attack in the country in three weeks. An attacker or attackers hurled the grenade at students on the campus at Dilla University in the diverse Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) on Thursday evening, officers added. They did not give any details on any reasons for the attack in an area, about 350 km (200 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, where there have not been any recent reports of significant unrest. "The blast killed two students and wounded six, of which four were seriously injured," a police official in the town, Ejigu Shiferaw, told the state-run Ethiopian News Agency. The outlet said an unspecified number of suspects were in police custody, without giving further details. The attack took place 21 days after a bomb was thrown at worshippers in a mosque in Addis Ababa, injuring more than 20 people. Officials are yet to disclose details of that attack, and there has not been any claim of responsibility. Ethiopia says it has thwarted several bomb plots in recent years and blames rebel groups based in other areas of the south and southeast, as well as al Shabaab insurgents from neighbouring Somalia. Ethiopian troops have been fighting al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab militants in Somalia since 2011 as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing Edith Honan and Andrew Heavens) The 20th edition of the Capri-Hollywood International Film Festival wrapped Saturday night, with Quentin Tarantinos The Hateful Eight proving to be the big winner of the festivities. The directors eighth pic took home four awards, including best movie, best actor for Samuel L. Jackson, best supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh and best score for Ennio Morricone. The film, set to be released Feb. 4 in Italy, is being distributed by the Leone Groups Andrea and Raffaella Leone, who were also honored during the fest with Capris producers of the year award. Among other big winners on the night, Netflixs film about child soldiers, Beasts of No Nation, earned three honors: Cary Fukunaga for best director and best cinematography and Idris Elba for best supporting actor. Read More: Capri, Hollywood Film Festival to Honor 'Room' Actress Brie Larson Brie Larson won the Capri, Hollywood award for best leading actress for Room; David O. Russell nabbed best original screenplay honors for Joy; Phyllis Nagy took home the prize for best adapted screenplay for Todd Haynes Carol, which also won best production design by Judy Becker; and the award for best editor went to Pietro Scalia for The Martian. Sandy Powell won for best costumes for Kenneth Branaghs Cinderella; Powell also received a Capri legend award for lifetime achievement. Inside Out was tapped as best animated film, while Labyrinth of Lies was named best foreign film. See You Again, by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth for Furious 7, earned best song honors. As previously announced, director Jim Sheridan was presented with a Capri legend award for career achievement, and Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts was given the Revelation of the Year award for his performance in The Danish Girl. Read More: Capri, Hollywood Festival to Honor Jim Sheridan With Legend Award BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah condemned the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, calling it an "assassination" and blaming it on the United States and its allies' support for Riyadh. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and three other members of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority were executed on Saturday alongside 43 Sunni jihadists, drawing condemnation by Shi'ites across the Middle East The "real reason" for the execution was "that Sheikh Nimr... demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people," Hezbollah said in a statement, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority. "The Saudi authorities ... put them (the Shi'ites executed) together with terrorist bands and groups which had committed crimes against civilians. Sheikh Nimr resisted oppression with words," the Hezbollah statement said. It said it held the United States and its allies directly responsible through their support for the Saudi government, and urged the international community and rights groups to condemn the execution. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council earlier said Nimr's execution was a "grave mistake... and an execution of reason, moderation and dialogue." Nimr, who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations, was arrested in 2012, spurring protests in which three died. He had long been regarded as the most vocal Shi'ite leader in the eastern district of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the Al Saud ruling family and call directly for elections. But he was careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say. Saturday's executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The simultaneous execution of 47 people - 45 Saudis, one Egytian and a man from Chad - was the biggest mass execution for security offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Catherine Evans, Larry King) MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday the upcoming budget session of parliament would be crucial for the passage of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) that has been blocked in two successive sessions. The GST reform is long overdue and should have come much earlier, Jaitley told an event in New Delhi according to the finance ministry's Twitter feed. The new indirect tax would create a single market and boost commerce in India's $2 trillion economy. However, it has been languishing in parliament for want of political support. The reform needs a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist coalition lacks the votes it needs in the upper house of parliament. The opposition Congress party has been fighting a rearguard action against the GST. However, with seats in the upper house to be reallocated soon to reflect gains by Modi in state elections, the government hopes to break the deadlock. "The next session is going to be extremely important. And halfway through the next session, the numbers of the upper house are also going to change," news outlets quoted Jaitley as saying. "So I am reasonably optimistic, as far as the next session is concerned, that we may be able to push it through," he said. (Reporting by Karen Rebelo in Mumbai; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Paul Tait) DUBAI (Reuters) - A prominent cleric with close links to Iran's ruling establishment denounced the execution on Saturday of a Saudi Shi'ite cleric and predicted the repercussions would bring down the Saudi ruling family. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people for terrorism including Nimr al-Nimr, whom the government accuses of inciting violence among the Shi'ite minority, and at least three other Shi'ites. Most of the others were suspected Sunni jihadists. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, one of the most senior clerics in Shi'ite-ruled Iran, said in an interview with the Mehr news agency that Nimr's execution reflected the "criminal" nature of the Saudi ruling family. "I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history," Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts and a Friday prayer leader, was quoted as saying by Mehr. His comments echoed former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's prediction in 2005 that Israel would be "wiped from the pages of history". "The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family ... the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can," Khatami added. (Reporting by Sam Wilkin; Editing by Catherine Evans) By Stephen Kalin and Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's prime minister condemned Saudi Arabias execution of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday amid calls from prominent religious and political figures to sever ties with Riyadh and abort a recent rapprochement. The Sunni-ruled kingdom reopened its embassy in Baghdad this week for the first time since ties were cut in 1990 over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, underscoring fence-mending efforts that could help boost a regional alliance against Islamic State militants. But Saturday's execution of Nimr drew calls in Iraq for the embassy to remain shuttered, while Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned of repercussions for regional security. "I urge the government to refrain from opening the Saudi embassy," prominent Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said in a statement, calling for demonstrations in his country and across the Gulf to protest the execution. Iranian-backed militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife. "What is the use of having a Saudi embassy in Iraq?" the armed group said in a statement. Qassim al-Araji, a leader of the Badr Organization, another Iranian-linked Shi'ite paramilitary group with a political wing, called on the government to cut diplomatic ties immediately. He said Nimr's execution had "opened the gates of hell", in comments broadcast on al-Ghadeer, his group's television channel. Abadi, a moderate Shi'ite Islamist whose Dawa Party has ties to Iran, refrained from using such inflammatory language but said the execution would have consequences. Muffling voices and executing opponents "would lead to nothing but more destruction," he said in a statement expressing "intense shock" at the news. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people on Saturday including Nimr, whom the government had accused of inciting violence against police. Nimr's supporters say he was a peaceful dissident who called for greater rights for the kingdom's Shi'ite minority. Criticism of the execution was harsh and widespread in Iran, Lebanon and other countries with sizable Shi'ite populations. Saudi Arabia has long accused fellow oil producer Iraq of being too close to Shi'ite power Iran and of encouraging sectarian discrimination against Sunnis, a charge Baghdad denies. Some Iraqi politicians say Saudi Arabia is behind the rise of Islamic State, though the kingdom has disavowed the ultra-hardline version of Sunni Islam which the militant group favours. Islamic State controls large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria and claimed several deadly attacks inside Saudi Arabia last year. Humam Hamoudi, a prominent Shi'ite politician and member of the powerful Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) party, warned that Nimr's execution would benefit Islamic State by exacerbating sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shi'ites. Former Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki said it would topple the Saudi government "as the crime of executing the martyr (Mohammed Baqir) al-Sadr did to Saddam (Hussein)," referring to another prominent Shi'ite cleric killed by the Iraqi government in 1980. (Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Helen Popper and John Stonestreet) Tel Aviv (AFP) - Israeli security forces pressed a manhunt Saturday for the Arab Israeli suspected of killing two people and wounding seven others at a Tel Aviv pub, with the motive still unknown. The New Year's Day shooting came amid a wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis and days after the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group threatened the Jewish state with violence. Police partially lifted a gag order on Saturday, naming the suspected shooter as Nashaat Melhem, 31, from the Arab village of Arara in northern Israel. They distributed his picture and encouraged public vigilance, as a massive manhunt continued. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there was a "strong possibility that this was a terrorist attack but we haven't ruled out criminal motives". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a cautious tone in Saturday evening remarks at the site of the shooting, refraining from defining it as anything beyond a murder. "There was a despicable murder here yesterday -- incomprehensible cruelty," he said after lighting a candle outside the pub. "Young people, whose entire lives were ahead of them, the ages of my own children, were innocently sitting celebrating a birthday and were murdered in cold blood." Netanyahu noted that security forces were working "around the clock to apprehend the murderer." The shooting has been condemned by the council of Arara, the suspect's hometown, which as well as by the head of the Joint List, which groups the main Arab parties in parliament. The premier praised "the condemnations of the crime from the Arab sector," while stressing he expected to hear such from "all Arab members of parliament." He noted the existence of Arab Israeli "enclaves in which there is no law enforcement and in which there is Islamist incitement, rampant crime and illegal weapons that are frequently fired at events such as weddings." He said he had formulated a plan to dramatically increase law enforcement in the Arab sector." Story continues "You can't say 'I'm an Israeli in my rights and a Palestinian in my duties' -- whoever wants to be an Israeli has to be one all the way, in rights and duties, and the first duty is to obey the country's law," he stressed. Arab Israelis are those who remained in the Jewish state after its 1948 creation, as well as their descendants. They account for more than 17 percent of the country's population. They often complain of discrimination in various fields, including building permits, infrastructure and education. - ' Mental issues' - Members of his family told media Melhem had been suffering mental issues, and had been imprisoned for attacking an Israeli soldier in what he said was an attempt at revenge over the death of a relative shot by police in 2006. Security camera footage from a nearby store showed a bespectacled young man with a backpack calmly pretending to shop before going to the exit, placing the backpack on a trolley, removing what looked like a submachine gun and opening fire in the street. One of those killed was identified by his father as Alon Bakal, a law and business student who was a manager at Simta, the pub that was targeted. Police named the second fatality as Shimon Ruimi from southern Israel. They issued a gag order on the investigation, as well as the one into the death of an Arab Israeli taxi driver found shot in north Tel Aviv a short while after the shooting rampage. They have refused to say whether the attacks were linked. In a recording released a week ago and attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the secretive IS leader pledged to attack Israel. Baghdadi said IS has "not forgotten Palestine for a single moment". "And soon, soon with God's permission, you will hear the footsteps of the mujahedeen... We are getting closer to you day by day," he said. Meanwhile, in a wave of Palestinian attacks since October 1 -- including stabbings, car-rammings and gunfire targeting security forces and civilians -- 22 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have been killed. At the same time, according to an AFP count, 138 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks on Israelis. Online petitions demanding the pardon of Making a Murderer subjects Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey have received nearly 90,000 signatures as the Netflix series reaches feverish popularity. A formal petition to the White House and a campaign at Change.org appeal directly to President Obama to pardon Avery and Dassey, in light of evidence that suggests wrongful convictions in the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach. Related: The 5 Stages of Your Making a Murderer Addiction (and How to Cope) Since launching in late December, the Whitehouse.gov petition has gathered almost 11,500 signatures, on top of the almost 71,000 signatures on the Change.org petition. The former is more consequential in getting on the Presidents desk, but it still needs almost 89,000 signatures before Jan. 19 for formal consideration. Also Read: Making a Murderer: 5 Actors Who Should Play Steven Avery The series is a harrowing look at Averys long, troubled history with law enforcement in his native Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. After DNA evidence exonerated Avery for a rape charge that saw him serve 18 years in prison, he was again convicted in the 2005 killing of Auto Trader freelancer Halbach. Dassey, Averys nephew, was also convicted for his involvement in the same case. I am outraged with the injustices which have been allowed to compound and left unchecked in the case of Steven Avery of Manitowoc County in Wisconsin, U.S.A., wrote Michael Seyedian, who started the Change.org petition. Also Read: 'Making a Murderer: 5 Theories for Steven Averys Innocence Averys unconstitutional mistreatment at the hands of corrupt local law enforcement is completely unacceptable and is an abomination of due process. Steven Avery should be exonerated at once by presidential pardon, and the Manitowoc County officials complicit in his two false imprisonments should be held accountable to the highest extent of the U.S. criminal and civil justice systems. All ten episodes of Making a Murderer are currently available to stream on Netflix. A man who shouted bomb threats at Schipol Airport lies on the floor spread eagle as Dutch police stand over him. (Photo: Remy van Mannekes/Twitter) A British man was arrested last night at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport after shouting that he was carrying a bomb. Travelers alerted Dutch police, who arrested the 29-year-old immediately, shut down a check-in counter, and evacuated part of the departure hall 3 area. The threat turned out to be a false alarm. The mans name has not been released, but a few photos of him have been posted on Twitter. One shows him lying face-down on the floor with his arms stretched out and two policemen standing over him. Another shows him being led away by authorities. His motives are unknown at this point. Another passenger at the airport tweeted this photo of the unidentified man being led away by authorities. (Photo: MrNickSkelhorn/Twitter) As reported in The Guardian, military police spokesman Eric Vermeulen said: The man was walking through departure hall 3 when passengers heard him shout out several times that he had a bomb. They were concerned enough to inform the police, who subdued him and searched him with explosives search dogs. We have established that this was a false alarm and the man is the only suspect. We now want to find out why he decided to cause a false alarm. The whole incident lasted 20 to 30 minutes. We are pleased that passengers were alert to this incident and alerted the military police. A spokesperson for Schipol Airport says the whole incident caused only a 30-minute delay to one check-in counter line. WATCH: What Suspicious Behavior Should You Report in the Age of Terrorism? Follow Yahoo Travel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Cuernavaca (Mexico) (AFP) - Several gunmen burst into the home of a newly elected Mexican mayor and shot her dead on Saturday, just hours into her tenure, police said. Gisela Mota, 33, a left-of-center former member of Congress, was gunned down barely 24 hours after taking her oath of office in the city of Temixco, which is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the capital Mexico City. Temixco is plagued by organized crime and rampant drug trafficking -- problems the slain mayor had vowed to help clean up. The government of central Morelos state said that two of the suspected gunmen had been killed and one was in custody. State Governor Graco Ramirez pledged there would be "no impunity." Morelos has been one of the Mexican states most affected by drug violence plaguing the country, including kidnappings and murders. More than 100,000 people have been killed or gone missing in a nearly a decade of drug violence nationwide. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012, has pledged to reduce the murders, kidnappings and extortion haunting Mexicans. Liberal Politics from the Heart of Bluegrass Country Hong Kong (AFP) - A missing Hong Kong employee from a publisher of books critical of China was "assisting in an investigation", his wife said Saturday, as police also probe the disappearance of his colleagues. Lee Bo went missing Wednesday night and is the fifth employee of Hong Kong-based publisher Mighty Current to disappear. The incident adds to growing unease that freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are being eroded, with fears the five men may have been detained by Chinese authorities. "He said he wouldn't be back so soon and he was assisting in an investigation," Lee's wife Sophie Choi told Hong Kong's Cable Television, describing a call she had with Lee the night he failed to return home. It was not clear what investigation Lee was referring to. "I asked him if it was related to the case before. He said 'yes', regarding that case where a few others had gone missing," Choi said. Police said in a statement they were investigating the disappearance of Lee and three of the other missing men. It made no comment on the fifth man. Deputy leader Carrie Lam tried to reassure the public. "The Hong Kong government cares about its people's wellbeing... police are working on this case," she told reporters. Choi previously told AFP she started looking for Lee on Wednesday night after he failed to return home for dinner and she reported him missing to police on Friday. He later called to say "everything was alright" from a number that did not belong to him and originated from the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, Choi had said. Another source told AFP that Lee, 65, was last seen in Hong Kong on Wednesday at the publisher's warehouse, which he is in charge of. - 'Concern and anxiety' - Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and enjoys liberties not seen on the mainland, but there are fears these are under threat. The publishing company's general manager Lui Bo, an employee Cheung Jiping and bookstore manager Lam Wing-kei are also apparently missing after disappearing in southern China in October. Story continues Local media said Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and co-owner of Mighty Current, failed to return from a holiday in Thailand in October. Hong Kong police are investigating the disappearance of Lui, Cheung, Lam and Lee -- they gave no information on Gui. Sweden's embassies in Bangkok and Beijing are reportedly investigating Gui's disappearance. The Hong Kong Journalists Association sent a letter to the Chinese Liaison Office -- Beijing's representative office in the city -- urging authorities to reveal whether the men are in the mainland. "The incident has caused a high degree of concern and anxiety to Hong Kong residents," the statement said. Hong Kong publisher Yao Wentian, who was due to release a dissident's book about Chinese President Xi Jinping, was reported to have been detained for almost three months in January 2014. The following May, Yao, then 73, was sentenced by a Chinese court to 10 years in jail for smuggling. Tel Aviv (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Saturday the murder of two people in Tel Aviv by a shooter suspected of being an Arab Israeli, pledging a crackdown on crime in that community. A man police identified as Nashaat Melhem opened fire at a pub Friday, killing the two and wounding seven others before fleeing. He remained at large late Saturday, with thousands of police searching for him. The shooting came amid a wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis, and while police said there was a "strong possibility that this was a terrorist attack", Netanyahu did not define it as such. "There was a despicable murder here yesterday, incomprehensible cruelty", he said after lighting a candle outside the pub. The attack was condemned by the council of Arara, the suspect's hometown, as well as by the head of the Joint List, which groups parliament's main Arab parties. "I appreciate the condemnations of the crime from the Arab sector; I must say I expect all Arab members of parliament, without exception, to condemn the murder," the premier said. He noted the existence of "enclaves in which there is no law enforcement and in which there is Islamist incitement, rampant crime and illegal weapons that are frequently fired at events such as weddings. This era has ended." The premier said he had, along with law enforcement, formulated a plan to "dramatically increase law enforcement in the Arab sector". "You can't say 'I'm an Israeli in my rights and a Palestinian in my duties'. Whoever wants to be an Israeli has to be one all the way, in rights and duties, and the first duty is to obey the country's law," he stressed. Arab Israelis are those who remained in the Jewish state after its 1948 creation, as well as their descendants. They account for more than 17 percent of the population. They often complain of discrimination in various fields, including building permits, infrastructure and education. On Thursday, the government approved a plan worth several billion dollars to improve their economic situation. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The newly installed mayor of the Mexican city of Temixco was killed on Saturday, according to a tweet from Morelos state Governor Graco Ramirez. Gisela Mota formally took office with the new year on Friday. Mexico City newspaper EL Universal said she was attacked at her home by four armed gunmen. Local police later arrested two alleged attackers, while killing two others, according to a statement issued by the Morelos attorney general's office. The statement did not provide further details of the attack. Several mayors were killed last year in Mexico, where armed gangs financed by the drugs trade control many local communities. Temixco, located some 60 miles (100 km) south of Mexico City, has a population of about 100,000. Mota, a former federal member of Congress, belonged to the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution. (Reporting by David Alire Garcia and Luis Rojas; Editing by John Stonestreet) Karbala (Iraq) (AFP) - The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric Saturday sparked outrage in neighbouring Iraq, from protesters threatening the royal family to politicians calling for diplomatic action. Hundreds of people demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and some leaders urged the government to close down the newly reopened Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. The office of Hadi al-Mudaressi, an Iraqi cleric whose brother has a strong following among Bahraini Shiites notably, organised a protest near the mausoleum of Imam Hussein in Karbala. "No red lines from now on", "We will reap your souls, Saud and Khalifah", read some of the banners, referring to the Saudi and Bahraini ruling families. "This is what I tell Al-Saud from the sacred land of Hussein: I swear to God that the sheikh's blood was not spilled in vain," said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. "We will make the earth shake under your feet," he said. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ashtari, from Mudaressi's office, said he wanted "the Iraqi government to take a clear and honest position regarding this major tragedy." A cleric from Bahrain who was at the protest, Sheikh Habib al-Jamri, said the world should react to Nimr's execution. "Sheikh Nimr was an icon for Islamic resistance," he told AFP. "His words were his weapon. They couldn't defeat his words so they detained him, tortured him and today executed him in front the world's eyes, like a challenge to global conscience." Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi expressed "great shock" and warned of the destabilising potential of Nimr's execution. "Freedom of speech and peaceful opposition are basic human rights granted by divine and international laws. Violating them impacts the region's security, stability and social fabric," he said in a statement. Story continues Several Sunni clerics also condemned Nimr's execution, which looked likely to strain a recent attempt at diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. - Diplomatic tension - Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraq's Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- also said Baghdad should take action. "Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons," a statement from his office said. The embassy only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudis were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a recent figure. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family's) rule," Abdelsamad's office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimr's execution. "Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, today they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a "high price". "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Former U.S. Representative Mike Oxley, a 12-term Republican congressman from Ohio who co-sponsored a landmark 2002 law to fight corporate fraud, died on Friday at the age of 71, officials said. "Mike personified a true public servant who loved serving his constituents, Ohio, and the United States of America," Oxley's successor in Congress, Representative Bob Latta, said in a statement. Oxley died while asleep at his home in McLean, Virginia, according to the Courier newspaper in Findlay, Ohio. A one-time special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he retired from Congress in 2007 after a 25-year career representing Ohio's Fourth Congressional District. They included several years as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He is best known for his role in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which was passed by Congress to improve corporate disclosure and guard against the fraud of the sort committed by companies including Enron Corp and WorldCom Inc. Oxley was suffering from lung cancer before his death, according to media reports, and he had been serving as chairman of the board of the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA). The non-profit said he led efforts to bring the life-saving benefits of screening to those at risk and helped usher in significant increases in federal research funding. "At a time when our country has been seeking a hero, no one embodied these characteristics more than Mike. He exuded fairness, integrity, compassion and service to others," the LCA's president, Laurie Fenton Ambrose, said in a statement. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Oxley had been a national leader in reforming banking and finance laws. "And, in what can sometimes be a tough business, Mike Oxley was genuinely liked by people on both sides of the aisle," DeWine said in a statement. The reform legislation that carries Oxley's name sets standards for all publicly traded company boards, management and public accounting firms in the United States. Story continues It was a response to a series of accounting scandals at companies such as Houston-based energy firm Enron, where thousands of workers lost their jobs and retirement savings due to one of the biggest corporate frauds in U.S. history. Ohio Governor John Kasich remembered Oxley as a great public servant, and said he had lost a great friend and mentor. After leaving Congress, Oxley joined the BakerHostetler law firm in Washington D.C. In an online biography, the law firm said he served as an FBI special agent in Washington, Boston, and New York before being elected to Congress in 1981. In the House, the law firm said, he had backed "pro-business, low-tax, pro-competition, and free trade positions as the best policy atmosphere to support strong economic growth." The firm said he had also been consistent in his support for "the nation's law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and military in the fights against drugs, crime, and terrorism." (Reporting by Kim Palmer in Cleveland; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Tom Brown and Cynthia Osterman) Rome (AFP) - French star Paul Pogba says his time at Manchester United was like being on holiday in comparison to the work he has to do at Juventus. Pogba, who has helped Juve win three consecutive league titles since controversially quitting United in 2012, made the remark in a wide-ranging interview with Turin daily La Stampa in which he also tips Argentinian team-mate Paulo Dybala as a future winner of the Ballon d'Or. "People need to know that nothing at Juve is easy," Pogba said. "There is a different culture of work compared to elsewhere. I was at Manchester: it seemed like being on holiday. "Here we work so much. All these titles, we didn't steal them. It was by working right to the end." Pogba, who joined United as a 16-year-old academy trainee, was accused of a lack of respect by former United boss Alex Ferguson after refusing to sign a long-term contract at the club following his promotion to the first team squad, for whom he made only three appearances. And he will not have helped his standing with United fans by letting slip that the teams he chooses to play on PlayStation include local rivals Manchester City but not his former team-mates at Old Trafford. "I pick Juve, Barca, Madrid and City," he said. "I even play by myself and sometimes get annoyed because the Pogba in the video game plays better than me." Pogba, a regular subject of speculation about a mega-transfer back to the Premier League, also revealed that City midfielder Yaya Toure is one of the players he spends most time watching in a bid to improve his central midfield performances, along with Barca's Andres Iniesta and Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal, a former Juve team-mate. Playstation also provides Pogba with his nickname for team-mate Dybala, a 32-million-euro summer signing from Palermo who has struck eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances at Juve. Asked if Dybala, also 22, had the potential to emulate his compatriot Lionel Messi and win the European player of the year award, Pogba replied: "He can get there. Story continues "Do you know what I call him? Square R2, the button that you have to push on a Playstation to do a shot on the turn: he always gets goals like that. "Has he surprised me? No, because I always said he was a phenomenon. To do what he has done, playing for Juve, is something phenomenal." Having dominated Serie A since Pogba's arrival in 2012, Juventus have found the going tougher this season following the departures of Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Vidal. But after a disastrous start, Massimiliano Allegri's men have recently hit form, reeling off seven wins on the trot to move to fourth in the table and within three points of leaders Inter Milan. "It is different (without Pirlo etc)," Pogba said. "There is more responsibility on other players and we've had to think about playing together even more." As well as targetting a fourth Scudetto, Pogba is expected to be one of the stars of Euro 2016, a tournament he believes France can win. "With the squad we have we can go a long way. I am not saying we will win for sure but we can do it. Italy, too, can go a long way." By Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) - A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years. The document, "About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation", was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States not NATO. It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts. That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West, it says. "The strengthening of Russia happens against the background of new threats to the national security, which has complex and interrelated nature," the document says. Conducting an independent policy, "both international and domestic" has caused "counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs." That in turn is likely to lead to "political, economical, military and informational pressure" on Russia, the document says." Relations between Russia and the West reached a low after Russian forces annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, after protests in Ukraine forced its pro-Moscow president to flee to Russia. Since then, the West has accused Russia of aiding insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies actively assisting the rebels. The United States and the European Union have since imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russian individuals and companies. Moscow has reacted by restricting food and other goods from the EU. The document says that the United States and the EU have supported an "anti-constitutional coup d'etat in Ukraine", which led to a deep divide in Ukrainian society and a military conflict. It also names the expansion of NATO as a threat to Russia's national security and said that the United States has expanded its network of military-biological laboratories in neighboring to Russia countries. The document, which serves as a basis for planning strategy related to national security by different state bodies, does not mention Syria. On Sept. 30, Russia began air strikes against anti-government rebels opposed to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Russian ally. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin) Comment Policy Advance Indiana allows you to post comments via this blog subject to the guidelines set forth herein. You understand that any comments you post are your own and are not those of Advance Indiana. You further understand that Advance Indiana is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced in your comments. Unlawful, harassing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive, or otherwise objectionable comments are not acceptable. If you think any content posted or otherwise included in Advance Indiana violates the guidelines set forth herein, then please alert Advance Indiana. Advance Indiana reserves the right to pre-screen, edit, and remove any post as it deems appropriate. You specifically acknowledge that Advance Indiana has no obligation to display any post submitted or otherwise provided via Advance Indiana. "What does that (climate change) mean for coastal property? As a National Geographic article on the subject last year put it:In a state exposed to hurricanes as well as rising seas, people like John Van Leer, an oceanographer at the University of Miami, worry that one day they will no longer be able to insure or sell their houses. If buyers cant insure it, they cant get a mortgage on it. And if they cant get a mortgage, you can only sell to cash buyers, Van Leer says. What Im looking for is a climate-change denier with a lot of money.People who say that climate change is not a serious problem tend to be ultra-conservative.Ultra-conservative people are also wealthy or believe that wealthy people are smarter and better than people who are not. There should be plenty of "climate change deniers with lots of money." I admit that some of these people are not stupid. If they know that climate change will adversely affect property values, they will not pay a lot for it no matter what they say. If they truly believe that climate change is a myth or hoax or mistaken idea they will welcome the opportunity to benefit from their superior insight.This should be really easy to test. What is happening to the price of beachfront property over time, lets say the last sixty years. What are the trends in coastal property sales and prices?Who is buying and how have the characteristics of buyers changed? Are climate change deniers putting their money where their mouths are?With the increase in political extremism has come an increase in political lying. This is not just a problem of one side. Conservatives and liberals all ought to be ashamed of themselves. But, being liberal, i cannot help but feel that the shame cannot be divided equally between conservatives and liberals. So who is mistaken (or lying) about climate change? One indicator might be who is acquiring or dumping beachfront property.Does anyone have any information on this? Have studies been done.? What do they suggest> Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia accused Iran of sponsoring terror and undermining regional stability, as a diplomatic spat between both countries escalated Saturday over the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. "The Iranian regime is the last regime in the world that could accuse others of supporting terrorism, considering that (Iran) is a state that sponsors terror, and is condemned by the United Nations and many countries," said a foreign ministry spokesman in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency. The statement was the second after the kingdom's foreign ministry announced it had summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh to protest an "aggressive" statement by Tehran on the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. "Iran's regime has no shame as it rants on human rights matters, even after it executed hundreds of Iranians last year without a clear legal basis," said the statement. In Tehran meanwhile, angry crowds hurled Molotov cocktails and stormed the Saudi embassy in protest at Nimr's execution before being cleared by police, ISNA news agency reported. Fires were seen burning inside the building, it said. Nimr, who spent more than a decade studying theology in Iran and had been a driving force behind Shiite-led anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia since 2011, was among a group of 47 Shiites and Sunnis executed Saturday for "terrorism". The group included many Qaeda-linked militants involved in deadly bombings in the kingdom since 2003. Shiite-dominated Iran, the Sunni kingdom's longtime foe, said in reaction to Nimr's execution that "the Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution." It will "pay a high price for following these policies," said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari. Iran's statements reveal its "true face as a backer of terrorism, which is a continuity of its policies in undermining security and stability in the region," the unidentified Saudi ministry spokesman said. Story continues "By defending the acts of terrorists... the Iranian regime is considered a partner in their crimes and is held completely responsible for its policies of incitement and escalation." Iran has offered "many Al-Qaeda leaderships safe haven since 2001" in addition to "offering an Iranian passport" to a Saudi suspect involved in 1996 bombings in the kingdom who was arrested last year, the ministry said. It criticised Iran's "flagrant interferences in regional countries, including Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, as well as Syria where it has directly intervened through its Revolutionary Guard and Shiite militia" causing the death of tens of thousands of Syrians. Iran-linked cells smuggling explosives and arms to Bahrain and Kuwait have also been uncovered, the kingdom recalled. Regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran are supporting opposite sides in several conflict zones across the region. Saudi Arabia's "justice system is independent, just and transparent and does not... operate discreetly as the is case in Iran," the statement added. Washington (AFP) - The United States warned Saudi Arabia, which has a Sunni Muslim majority, that its execution Saturday of a prominent Shiite cleric behind anti-government protests "risks exacerbating sectarian tensions." The US also urged Riyadh to "respect and protect" human rights, said State Department spokesman John Kirby, following the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. Another 46 men were executed, including Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda killings. The executions sparked angry condemnation from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq, while the EU similarly expressed concern about possible "dangerous consequences" in a region already fraught with sectarian tensions. Some of the executed were beheaded, while others were shot by firing squad. "The United States also urges the government of Saudi Arabia to permit peaceful expression of dissent and to work together with all community leaders to defuse tensions in the wake of these executions," Kirby said in a statement. "We are particularly concerned that the execution of prominent Shiite cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. "In this context, we reiterate the need for leaders throughout the region to redouble efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions." Riyadh (AFP) - A Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen announced the end Saturday of a ceasefire that had been violated on a daily basis since it was declared last month. The "coalition leadership announces the end of the truce in Yemen starting from 1400" (1100 GMT) on Saturday, the alliance said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. The ceasefire announced on December 15 had been ended due to continuous rebel "attacks on the kingdom's territories by firing ballistic missiles towards Saudi cities, targeting Saudi border posts, and hampering aid operations," it said. The rebels have also "continued to shell residents and kill and detain Yemeni civilians in cities under their control," said the coalition. "All this shows how unserious the militias and their allies are and their disregard for the lives of civilians, and how they have clearly exploited this truce to make gains." However, the coalition "was and is still eager on creating the suitable circumstances to find a peaceful solution in Yemen," it said. Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition that has been battling Iran-backed rebels in neighbouring Yemen since March. - Missile intercepted - The rebels intensified their rocket attacks across the Saudi border in recent days, prompting the coalition to threaten severe reprisals. The statement comes after the coalition announced that Saudi air defence forces had intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom's city of Abha late on Friday. The "launcher was located and destroyed in Yemen," it said. The Saudis have deployed Patriot missile batteries designed to counter attacks and have recently been intercepting missiles fired from Yemen on an almost-daily basis. More than 80 people, most of them soldiers and border guards, have been killed in shelling and cross-border skirmishes in the kingdom's south since coalition operations began in Yemen. Story continues On Thursday, three civilians including two children were killed in cross-border missile attacks from Yemen on a residential area in the southwestern Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Eleven others were wounded, among them nine children, according to the Saudi civil defence. In Yemen itself, nearly 6,000 people have been killed since March, according to UN figures. - Air strikes - On Saturday, the coalition carried out air strikes on different parts on the country, including Sanaa province, military sources said. Clashes meanwhile raged between pro-government forces and rebels across the impoverished nation causing casualties on both sides, the sources said, without giving a toll. Rebels also fired mortars at residential areas in the besieged city of Taez, where civilians have been suffering from a shortage in food and medical supplies, military sources there said. Fighting has escalated in Yemen since the coalition entered the war to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government in March. The UN Security Council last month urged Yemen's warring parties to respect the ceasefire and to resume their inconclusive peace talks. The truce was declared as talks between the government and rebel representatives opened in Switzerland, and it was later extended by a week. But the fighting never stopped on the ground and coalition air strikes continued, while the talks ended with no major breakthrough six days after they had started, with both sides saying they would meet again in January. In May, a five-day pause in fighting proposed by Saudi Arabia allowed some aid into Yemen before the coalition resumed air strikes, blaming the rebels and their allies for violating the ceasefire. The rebels seized Sanaa in September 2014 and then advanced south to second city Aden, forcing Hadi to flee last year to Saudi Arabia. Following territorial gains by loyalists, Hadi returned to Aden in November after six months in exile. Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia summoned Iran's envoy to protest an "aggressive" statement by Tehran on the Saturday execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the foreign ministry said. The ministry "handed the Iranian ambassador... a stern protest letter over the aggressive Iranian statements on the legal sentences carried out today against terrorists in the kingdom," said a statement published by the official SPA news agency. Riyadh expressed its "complete rejection of these aggressive statements, which it considers a flagrant interference in the kingdom's affairs". It also held the "Iranian government completely responsible for protecting" the kingdom's missions in Iran and all their employees from any "aggressive acts". Nimr al-Nimr, who spent more than a decade studying theology in Iran ,was among a group of 47 Shiites and Sunnis executed Saturday for "terrorism". Shiite-dominated Iran, the Sunni kingdom's longtime foe, said in reaction to Nimr's execution that "the Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution." It will "pay a high price for following these policies," said foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari. Nimr had been the driving force behind Shiite-led anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia since 2011. London (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric indicates the kingdom is "using execution to settle political scores", rights group Amnesty International said Saturday. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the country's east where a Shia majority complains of marginalisation, was among 47 people executed on Saturday after a trial criticised by human rights groups as unfair. "What the Saudi Arabian authorities have said so far indicates they regard these executions as taken to preserve security. But the execution of Sheikh Nimr suggests they are using execution to settle political scores," Amnesty International's Middle East and north Africa director Philip Luther told AFP. He added that the kingdom was using "the guise of counter-terrorism" to clamp down on dissent after the death sentences were carried out on Nimr, Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks. "Those trials including the trial of Shiekh Nimr al Nimr were politicised on the one hand and grossly unfair, because the international standards for fair trial were grossly flouted," Luther said. "What is going on is an attempt to silence criticism of Saudi Arabia particularly among the Shia activist community." The execution of the 56-year-old Nimr, a strong critic of the Sunni ruling family, sparked anger in Shiite-majority Bahrain, Iran and Iraq, where protesters demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala. Executions in Saudi Arabia rose sharply after King Salman was named to the throne last January and the kingdom executed 153 people in 2015, nearly twice as many as in the previous year. By Sam Wilkin DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading cleric from the Shi'ite Muslim minority drew warnings of a backlash against the ruling Al Saud family and threatened to further intensify a wave of sectarian conflict in the region. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council called the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr a "grave mistake", and the Hezbollah group termed it an assassination. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, an establishment cleric in largely Shia rival Iran, said repercussions against the Sunni Saudi rulers would "wipe them from the pages of history". Saudi Arabia executed 47 people including Nimr, whom the government accused of inciting violence against the police. His supporters say he is a peaceful dissident who called for greater rights for the kingdom's Shi'ite minority. Scores of Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province marched through Nimr's home district of Qatif shouting "down with the Al Saud", and dozens more gathered in nearby Bahrain, a Sunni-ruled island kingdom allied to Saudi Arabia. In Iran, a Shi'ite theocracy and rival to Saudi Arabia, state media channels carried non-stop coverage of clerics and secular officials eulogising Nimr and predicting the downfall of Saudi Arabia's Sunni ruling family. Shi'ite leaders in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Yemen also warned of reprisals, in a signal that sectarian conflicts across the Middle East could be further inflamed. On a day where a Saudi-led coalition announced the end of a ceasefire in its war with Yemen's Houthi movement, the Houthis said Nimr had been afforded only a "mock trial". TERRORISM CHARGES Three other Shi'ites were executed alongside Nimr, but most of the convicts were jihadists linked to al Qaeda, a radical Sunni group that regards Shi'ites as heretics and has often targeted them in its attacks. Shi'ite groups across the region accused Saudi Arabia of using terrorism as a pretext to execute Nimr, a figurehead for the kingdom's restive Shi'ite population who calls for peaceful protests in sermons broadcast online. The Saudi government says Nimr ordered his followers to attack the police, and was to blame for a series of shooting and petrol bomb attacks that killed several policemen during anti-government protests in Qatif in 2011-13. "The Saudi government supports terrorists and takfiri (radical Sunni) extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said. CALLS TO CUT TIES The wave of condemnation could harm Saudi Arabia's efforts to form an Islamic alliance against the jihadist militants of Islamic State. Riyadh announced the coalition last month, but did not include the Shi'ite powers. Lawmakers in Shi'ite-majority Iraq called on the government to sever ties with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, just one day after the kingdom reopened its embassy in Baghdad for the first time since 1990. Former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki said Nimr's execution would "topple the Saudi regime", while one lawmaker said it had helped Islamic State's cause. Iran's foreign ministry had said on Monday it was willing to talk to Saudi Arabia after months of escalating tensions, but any chance of a rapprochement appeared to be derailed on Saturday as officials and clerics lined up to denounce the kingdom. (Additional reporting by Angus McDowall in Riyadh, Stephen Kalin in Baghdad, John Davison in Beirut, and Noah Browning and Sami Aboudi in Dubai; Editing by Ralph Boulton) Anne Frank's father, Otto, edited Frank's diary before publishing it. He also endowed two foundations one Swiss, one Dutch to administer her legacy. As the end of the copyright in Frank's work approached, the Swiss foundation made a bizarre legal argument to keep it in copyright several more years: they argued that Otto Frank was actually one of the authors of the diary. They were saying, effectively, that what we all thought of as Anne Frank's diary was so substantially changed by Frank's editing that it wasn't actually Anne's story it was Anne and Otto's story. The argument also means that editors are, for copyright purposes, co-authors. This would mean that for virtually all published authors, the corporations that published them would have a claim over their books, even after the writer's contract with the publisher had terminated and the author had moved on. The Dutch Anne Frank foundation had planned to put the text of the diary online, undermining the revenue of their Swiss rivals. As of yesterday, various sites (including technology academic Olivier Ertzscheid's and French MP Isabelle Attard) are hosting copies of the original Dutch text. The translations to other languages are still in copyright, though I'd bet that by this day next year several crowdsourced translations will be online. Now it's up to the Swiss foundation to start suing, or back off. The publication comes as a copyright dispute still swirls around the diary. By European law, written works enter the public domain 70 years after their author dies. Anne Frank died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, but Anne Frank Fonds the charitable foundation set up in her memory argues that her father Otto made such significant changes to the manuscript that he had "earned his own copyright." Otto Frank who outlived Anne and died in 1980 reportedly combined two versions of his daughter's diaries, cutting and pasting certain sections to make a single, readable record. "The book he created earns his own copyright," Yves Kugelmann, one of Anne Frank Fonds' trustees, said. "For the purposes of copyright, he is to be viewed as an 'author' of that version." Anne Frank's diary is now free to download despite copyright dispute [Rich McCormick/The Verge] (Image: Anne Frank stencil outside Stubb's, Ian McKellar, CC-BY-SA) The mother of an incoming kindergartner in Connecticut has persuaded officials to revise their school forms after speaking out about a question that she says got too personal. The inquiry: Type of birth: Vaginal__ Cesarean__. Cara Paiuk was at an introductory event for her sons upcoming kindergarten class at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford when she and her husband were handed a packet of forms to fill out. As her husband began to answer questions, Paiuk says she noticed one particularly alarming request for information. The question, in a section about birth history, asked whether her son was delivered vaginally or via C-section. I ripped it out of his hands and said, You cant answer that, its none of their business, Paiuk tells Yahoo Parenting. This is kindergarten, and they want to know about my vagina! I dont understand theres no correlation between the two for me. STORY: What Really Happens During a C-Section This school form, which Cara Paiuk refused to fill out, asks all parents of incoming kindergartners about the childs type of birth. (Photo: Cara Paiuk) Paiuk says she wanted to speak out about the question at the April meeting but was hesitant to make a stink before her son had even entered the school. The teachers were there and they were checking out the parents as much as we were them, she says. A few days later, Paiuk, who wrote about the incident in a recent New York Times essay, called the school district and was told by a nurse that if there were any birth traumas like the umbilical cord being wrapped around a childs neck or an emergency C-section they needed to know. That way, if the child presented with any issues at school, teachers or administrators could refer to the form. I thought it was BS, Paiuk says. Yes, birth trauma can result in developmental delays or disability, but that can happen through vaginal birth or a C-section. And if there are delays or disabilities, shouldnt that be diagnosed by a doctor, not an administrator? Wouldnt it be crazy if I thought something was wrong with your child and went back and looked at a form and said Oh, its because she had a C-section? Story continues STORY: Redshirting: Should You Hold Your Kids Back a Year? Paiuk was directed to the schools outside medical adviser, who said the form had been used for at least 20 years and that Paiuks was the first complaint hed received. Lets say it was added 30 years ago, there werent that many C-sections then, so maybe it might have been indicative of a birth trauma, Paiuk says. You might have been able to justify the question 30 years ago. But now theres such a higher rate of C-sections that its not immediately indicative of birth trauma or developmental delay. The fact that this has continued for all these years just tells me that people are blindly filling out forms these days. While its not unusual for schools to require information about incoming students, the questions asked on those admission forms are not universal. Still, Paiuk says shes heard from mothers in other states whove been asked to answer the same question, and have complied. West Hartford Schools Superintendent Thomas Moore told Yahoo Parenting he intends to reevaluate all school forms for the next batch of incoming parents. This question has been on our questionnaire for at least 20 years, and thousands of people have filled it out and not noticed it or brought it up. The best I can say is that the question was put on years ago so that we could identify any possible trauma, Moore says. But Ive asked principals and teachers if theyve referred to it, and they said they didnt even really know the question was there. So we are going to review all our forms, and questions that dont seem to help us get to know kids or educate kids will be changed or eliminated. Moore says he was glad that Paiuk pointed out the question, as even he as a parent to two students in the district hadnt particularly noticed it. Discussions with parents are important to me, and the last thing I want to do is make people feel their first tie-in with our school is in any way intrusive, he says. I dont believe it was anything nefarious when the question was first asked. But did it ever have any real utility? Maybe it did, but it doesnt now, so theres no reason to have it anymore. Though Paiuk has still not filled out the form, and says she refuses to do so, her son will still be attending kindergarten at Aiken Elementary in the fall. This isnt even about my son, she says. Its about mothers and its about privacy and its about looking at what youre filling out and thinking about who its going to. If you want to fill out these kinds of questions, fine, but think about it. (Top photo: Cara Paiuk/Facebook) Yahoo Parenting has chosen this story, originally published on July 1, as an example of one of our best of 2015. Please follow @YahooParenting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Have an interesting story to share about your family? Email us at YParenting (at) Yahoo.com. Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Thousands of Palestinians gathered Saturday in Hebron to bury 14 men whose bodies had been held by Israel after being killed carrying out attacks. Israel handed over the bodies of 23 Palestinians Friday in an apparent bid to ease tensions, of which 14 were from the southern West Bank city. The Al-Hussein mosque was overflowing with people, where the 14 bodies were on display before prayers, wrapped in Palestinian flags. Relatives kissed the foreheads of the deceased, some of which were covered with flags of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups. Prayers were also held in Hebron's only stadium next to Al-Hussein, while hundreds of others waited outside the mosque in the cold. Heavy rain began as the bodies were carried out of the mosque and those attending began chanting "There is no god but God". Some could not hold back their tears, while others held up the flags of various Palestinian factions. Basel Sadr, 20, was among those buried. He had been shot dead on October 14 near Jerusalem's Old City after police said he was about to stab security forces. Shortly before the funeral, women gathered at Sadr's home to read verses from the Koran over his body wrapped in a Palestinian flag, while his mother and sister silently wept and hugged him. "Bassel was the first martyr (from Hebron) whose body was detained by Israel" for 80 days, his father Bassem told AFP outside his home. The funerals of the rest of the Palestinians handed over by Israel were to take place Saturday throughout the West Bank. Since a wave of violence erupted at the start of October, 138 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, according to an AFP count, most while carrying out attacks on Israelis. Israel does not always immediately return the bodies of slain attackers. A military spokeswoman said that, after Friday's handovers, the army would have returned a total of 76 bodies and was still holding two. Story continues Police could also be holding more bodies, she said. Palestinian sources said the Israelis were still holding a total of 17 bodies, including at least 15 of Palestinians from East Jerusalem. Twenty Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have also been killed in the unrest. Wellington (AFP) - Former world number one Venus Williams begins fine-tuning for the Australian Open against a player barely half her age when the WTA Auckland Classic begins on Monday. Williams, the defending Auckland champion, found herself on the right side of the draw released on Saturday with a first-round match against 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina. The other former world number ones in the tournament, Ana Ivanovic from Serbia and Dane Caroline Wozniacki, are both in the bottom half of the draw. Wozniacki, who lost to Williams in the final last year, will play big-hitting American Sloane Stephens in the first round with Ivanovic's opponent to be drawn from this weekend's qualifying tournament. Williams, who arrived in Auckland on the comeback trail last year and ranked 47th in the world, has since regained a place in the top 10 for the first time since 2011 and returns at number seven in the rankings. She turned professional in 1994, three years before the 75th-ranked Kasatkina was born. Ivanovic is another former Auckland champion, winning in her only previous appearance here in 2014, while Williams beat Wozniacki in the 2015 final 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. If the players progress according to seedings, Wozniacki will meet Ivanovic in the semi-finals where Williams should face fourth-seed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi movement mourned a Shi'ite cleric executed by Saudi Arabia on Saturday as a "holy warrior", in a strong rebuke of the Sunni-dominated kingdom by the Arabian Peninsula's most powerful armed Shi'ite group, a major Saudi foe. "The (royal) Al Saud family executed today the holy warrior, the grand cleric Nimr Baqr al-Nimr after a mock trial ... a flagrant violation of human rights," an obituary on the Houthis' official Al Maseera website said. Maseera's TV news channel cut into its regular broadcast with mourning verses from the Quran. Saudi Arabia and a mostly Gulf Arab alliance has been bombing the Houthis for nine months after the group, which hails from a Shi'ite sect based near Yemen's Saudi border, made an armed push in March against the embattled Yemeni government. The Houthis say they are leading an Islamic-inspired revolution against corruption, but the kingdom fears the group is a proxy for its Shi'ite arch-rival Iran. (Reporting by Noah Browning; Editing by Catherine Evans) Picture this: youre a fox minding your own business in a town filled with animals that live in harmony. But then youre framed for a crime you didnt commit, and a rabbit is hot on your tail trying to catch you or help prove your innocence. Thats Zootopia, a new animated movie from Disney hitting theaters on March 4th. DONT MISS: The complete Star Wars movie schedule through 2020 A new trailer for the film seems to make it clear to everyone in the audience that Zootopia is not just a new funny movie with animals goofing around. The fable tackles race and gender equality, which seem to be major themes at Disney just see the latest Star Wars movie, which was released a week before Christmas. Officer Judy Hopps is the main rabbit in the film, an excited bunny who is just joining the Zootopia police force. A rookie herself, she has to prove she belongs there and deal with stereotypes and sexism which is apparently still an issue in a world inhabited only by animals. Ginnifer Goodwin voices Judy Hopps, while Jason Bateman is Nick Wilde. Other stars including Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, J.K. Simmons and even Shakira will bring some of the other characters to life. Zootopia certainly looks like a fun animated flick to watch this year, and you can check out the new trailer below. Related stories Disney's gravity-defying rolling robot can drive vertically up walls 'Star Wars Episode VIII': Who's coming back in the next movie? 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' review: The series returns to its former glory More from BGR: 9 Star Wars: The Force Awakens fun facts you didnt see in the movie This article was originally published on BGR.com An honest essay has numerous characteristics: original thinking, a good structure, balanced arguments, and plenty more. But one aspect often overlooked is that an honest essay should be interesting. It should spark the readers curiosity, keep them absorbed, make them want to stay reading and learn more. An uneventful article risks losing the readers attention; whether or not the points you create are excellent, a flat style, or poor handling of a dry subject material can undermine the positive aspects of the essay. The matter is that a lot of students think that essays should be like this: they believe that a flat, dry style is suited to the needs of educational writing and dont even consider that the teacher reading their essay wants to search out the essay interesting. You might want to have online essay editor service to boost your confidence in writing with an error-free output. Academic writing doesnt need to be and shouldnt be bland. The excellent news is that there is much stuff you can do to create your essay more attractive, while youll be able only to do such a lot while remaining within the formal confines of educational writing. Lets study what theyre. Have an interest in what youre writing about Dont go overboard, but youll be able to let your passion for your subject show. If theres one thing bound to inject interest into your writing, its being fascinated by what youre writing about. Passion for a subject matter comes across naturally in your essay, typically making it more lively and fascinating and infusing an infectious enthusiasm into your words within the same way that its easy to talk knowledgeably to someone about something you discover fascinating. Include fascinating details Another factor that may make an essay boring maybe a dry material. Some topic areas are naturally dry, and it falls to you to form the article more interesting through your written style and by trying to seek out fascinating snippets of knowledge to incorporate, which will liven it up a small amount and make the data easier to relate to. A way of doing this with a dry subject is to create what youre talking about that seems relevant to the critical world, as this is often easier for the reader to relate to. Emulate the fashion of writers you discover interesting When you read lots, you subconsciously start emulating the fashion of the writers you have read. Reading benefits you a lot, as this exposes you to a spread of designs, and youll start to require the characteristics of these you discover interesting to read. Borrow some creative writing techniques Theres a limit to the quantity of actual story-telling youll do when youre writing an essay; in the end, essays should be objective, factual and balanced, which doesnt, initially glance, feel considerably like story-telling. However, youll apply a number of the principles of story-telling to create your writing more interesting. consider your own opinion Take the time to figure out what its that you think instead of regurgitating the opinions of others. Cut the waffle Rambling on and on is dull and almost bound to lose the interest of your reader. Youre in danger of waffling if youre not completely clear about what you wish to mention or havent thought carefully about how youre visiting structure your argument. Doing all your research correctly and writing an essay plan before you begin will help prevent this problem. Editing is a vital part of the essay-writing process, so edit the waffle once youve done a primary draft. Read through your essay objectively and eliminate the bits that arent relevant to the argument or labor the purpose. employing a thesaurus isnt always a decent thing Avoid using unfamiliar words in an essay; theres too great a likelihood that youre misusing them. You may think that employing a thesaurus to seek out more complicated words will make your writing more exciting or sound more academic, but using overly high-brow language can have the incorrect effect. Avoid repetitive phrasing Please avoid using the identical phrase structure again and again: its a recipe for dullness! Instead, use a variety of syntax that demonstrates your writing capabilities and makes your writing more interesting. Mix simple, compound, and complicated sentences to avoid your paper becoming predictable. Use some figurative language Using analogies with nature can often make concepts more accessible for readers to know. As weve already seen, its easy to finish up rambling when youre explaining complex concepts mainly after you dont know it yourself. One way of forcing yourself to think about a couple of pictures, present it more simply and engagingly is to form figurative language. This implies explaining something by comparing it with something else, as in an analogy. Employ rhetorical questions Anticipate the questions your reader might ask. One of the ways ancient orators held the eye of their audiences and increased the dramatic effect of their speeches was by using the statement. A decent place to use a statement is at the top of a paragraph, to steer into the following one, or at the start of a replacement section to introduce a brand new area for exploration. Proofread Finally, you may write the top interesting essay an instructor has ever read. Still, youll undermine your good work if its plagued by errors, which distract the reader from the particular content and can probably annoy them. Babies born on January 1 Speaking with Newsday yesterday from a chair next to her bed at the Mount Hope Womens Hospital (MHWH), Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope, 26-year-old Kelly Charles said she and boyfriend, Tevin Regis, already have a two-year-old boy. No, Charles replied with a smile when asked if she plans to have more children, Thats it. Baby Khaleah was born with a full head of curly black hair and weighed eight pounds, nine ounces. Charles said while her daughter wasnt big, she had long limbs, which accounted for Khaleahs weight. Having given birth by natural delivery and with an easy birth, Charles is expected to head to her Chaguanas home sometime today, after completing a mandatory 24- hour observation period at hospital. She described her treatment by staff as good and problem-free during both deliveries; her son was born on January 4, 2014 at the MHWH. Charles wish for 2016 good health for my family, strength, peace, love. All five women who gave birth at MHWH yesterday morning received gift baskets with items for their newborn, courtesy the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA). A spokesperson for the NCRHA told Newsday they broke with tradition this year and presented an additional basket to the mother of the first baby to be born at MHWH; one containing hand cream, non-alcoholic wine, soaps and other items specifically for the mother. Charles was also presented with a bouquet of roses by Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh, who visited mothers and their New Years babies at MHWH and at the Maternity Ward of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). The larger, deluxe starter pack which Charles received was actually a baby bath tub filled with disposable diapers, wipes, lotion, and other items needed to care for a newborn. Questioned by Newsday about his first official duty of 2016, Deyalsingh smiled and said, It was a wonderful experience! This gives me the energy to go on for another year, so I could look forward to doing this again in 2017. Its wonderful; you have this sense of renewal, sense of rebirth, new energy and as I said, it gives me now the encouragement that 2016, for the Ministry of Health, is a year of implementation. Implementation of plans, policies and programmes, the minister stated. Pray for leaders with mercy Even before Mary, the mother of Jesus, came into the world, Assing said that God told Moses how to teach the people how to pray and not to lose hope. The prayer, May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you, he said was not a prayer about misery, or to distress anyone, or to drive people to misery. God has a heart and so sent his son Jesus, he said, to suffer and to save people from themselves. He does not want us in a state of misery or distress. He wants to free us from that, he said. He continued, Only mercy will free the land, free the people, and free the world of the merciless. An Old Years Day Mass was held on Thursday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain at which the faithful gave thanks to the Almighty for life, health and strength in 2015 and asked for more of the same in the New Year. Registered nurse gives birth Balgobin-Dwarika, 31, who works on Ward 15 at the hospital, gave birth to her first baby just before dawn. The weary new mother who hails from Gasparillo said despite the financial constraints on the family, now that her husband has laid off, she is extremely happy to have given birth to her daughter and views this as a blessing. Im very happy, she said smiling wearily, before adding, We waited long for this baby so I am very happy. Asked about her husband, who was employed as a bearing fitter at the plant, she said, he got laid off in the month of December so... And asked how the family would cope given her new born baby girl, she said, Well I am still here so we will live on my salary for now. Regarding the delivery, Balgobin- Dwarika said she came to the hospital at 8 pm on Old Years Day, but was not expecting to have her baby on New Years Day, because I was supposed to have her next week Tuesday. She later gave birth to her first child who weighed approximately five pounds. We havent chosen a name as yet, she said and asked about her hopes for her new baby, Balgobin-Dwarika said, well to be successful in life and happy. Asked whether she hoped her daughter would follow her footsteps in the nursing industry, she said, well if she wants to, that will be all up to her. Meanwhile, the first baby to be born at the SFGH yesterday was a five pound girl to San Francique Penal resident, Trisha Bridgemohan, 35. The baby was born at 1.55 am. Bridgemohan, who observed that her baby Leah Esther Bridgemohan, was not due until January 22, noted her joy that her second child was born on New Years Day, though she would have felt the same way had she been born on another day. She also has a 14-year-old son. What a nice was to bring in the New Year. This is nice and I am just so happy right now, Bridgemohan said. The second baby to be born at the hospital was Daniel Jaimungal, who was born at 3 am to Indrani Jaimungal, 23, of Tabaquite. Asked whether she was expecting a New Years baby, Jaimungal laughed and said, Not really no as she had expected a Christmas baby as his due date was December 24. Her husband, Mark Jaimungal, who sat on the bed with his wife while cradling their two-year old son, Dillon, expressed relief that his wife had finally given birth to their second child.Yes, she was expecting him for Christmas, he wasnt really expected for the New Year having to wait so long but thank God it happened now. New baby, new year, her husband. Eight babies were born at the hospital as of midday yesterday. 3-month-old baby badly burnt The mother, Hajar Hassan, 31, is calling on the authorities to rein in the use of firecrackers in public places because of the danger it poses to life and limb of innocent passers-by. Hassan told Newsday yesterday that on Old Years Day at about 8.10 pm, she was holding her baby who was sleeping in her arms while waiting on the side of City Gate for the traffic light to change, when she heard the whistling of the firecracker. She said, I looked and I saw the rocket heading to me. It landed on my baby. It burnt his blanket, his clothes and he sustained a burn to his left leg, She said she started to scream while her daughters cried uncontrollably. A little niece and nephew who were with her, she said, also became hysterical. At the time she was also in the company of her sister and sisterin- law as well. They were returning from Tunapuna where they had spent a relaxing day with other family members and were on their way to their Diego Martin home. A vendor, who was close by, Hassan said, brought water, poured it on the blanket and outed the fire, but she said, half of her sons left thigh was burnt. Police who were in the vicinity when the incident occurred, she said, took her and the baby to the Port-of- Spain General Hospital where he was immediately treated and sent away. A report was also made to the Criminal Investigation Department. Police who came on the scene almost immediately, she said, questioned people in the vicinity from where the firecracker was lit. People said they did not know, she said. While the baby did not cry at the time he was burnt, she said, yesterday he was irritable and in pain. Throughout the year the police have been urging citizens to desist in the illegal use of firecrackers. During Divali celebrations last November, 11 persons including a two-year-old child and a 54-year-old man, Arun Maraj, were treated at the San Fernando General Hospital for serious injuries caused by the bursting of fireworks. In the case of the 54-year-old man, three of the fingers on his right hand were blown off when a firework he was holding, exploded. The two-year-old sustained severe injuries to his right hand and had to undergo emergency surgery to his hand as several of his fingers were damaged during the mishap. It was believed the toddler was holding a firecracker when it came into contact with a lighted deya and ignited. The firecracker exploded in the childs hand. What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames news The Nano Membrane Toilet a toilet which aims to treat human waste in the home without external energy or water will join 35 other low carbon technology companies pitching to an audience of investors, buyers, industry specialists and support agencies on Thursday, 11th February 2016 at the Royal Institution in London. Jake Larsson, a PhD student in Cranfield Universitys Centre for Competitive Creative Design, will lead the pitch. * no country has escaped poverty without solving sanitation * 1.5 million children die each year of diarrheal diseases, much of which could be prevented with improved sanitation and safe drinking water. * Over 2.3 billion people need safe sanitation The Nano Membrane Toilet is currently being developed by researchers at Cranfield University. The toilet aims to treat human waste in the home without external energy or water. It has an innovative flush which does not require water but still blocks odor. It uses membrane technology produce clean water, and solid waste is gasified to convert it to ash and energy to power the membrane process. The plan is for the toilet to be rented to households through a local organization, helping to spread the costs to stay within the Gate Foundations challenge of keeping the cost of the toilet below US 5 cents per person per day. If all goes well, the toilet could also find applications elsewhere like the military, construction industry, yachts, or outdoor events. Currently, more than 650 million people in the world do not have access to clean water, and more than 2.3 billion dont have access to a safe, private toilet. Researchers around the world are working to help solve this problem, but high-tech solutions, such as adding solar panels, are usually too expensive to be practical. About 1.5 million children die each year of diarrheal diseases, much of which could be prevented with improved sanitation and safe drinking water. A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has supported development, field testing and commercialization of these injection-molded plastic toilets, which cost about $300. Compost toilets Hundreds of Gates foundations toilets are used around Ecuador and Africa, in rural and urban settings where the government has yet to install sewage systems and may not for decades. The models have evolved over the years, with the earliest versions cobbled together out of wood, PVC pipe, and a bicycles spoke and chain. In one version, you pull the lever and your deposit disappears under a trap door poof! you dont have to think about it again. At least not immediately. The compost rolls down a flexible pipe into a plastic barrel that fills up, then is capped and set aside to dry out. After six months, the compost is ready to sprinkle as fertilizer. Its not intended for lettuce and other food crops, to avoid possible contamination by E. coli and other pathogens, but its perfectly safe for flowers and even fruit orchards. Every day, around 2 million tons of human waste are disposed of in water channels. Among other contributing factors, this sanitation problem limits the availability of uncontaminated drinking waterespecially in developing nations, which often lack the proper treatment and drainage facilities. The EPA calls combined sewers remnants of the countrys early infrastructure. The first sewers werent designed to handle the constant and huge stream of wastes from our toilets, because they were invented when we didnt have any toilets. Sewers were originally built to solve the problems of cities that were flooded with their own refusegarbage, animal manure, and human waste left in the open rather than in a privy or latrineduring every rainstorm. The Gates Foundation has also partnered with manufacturing company Janicki Bioenergy on a device called the Omni Processor, which is able to convert feces into safe drinking water. The devices steam engine makes its own energy for burning human waste so cities or towns dont have to resort to energy-draining activities like burning diesel fuel. The Omni Processor was recently implemented in Dakar, Senegal, through an auspicious pilot program, with plans to eventually sell the product to wealthier nations. If developing nations are turning toward new sanitation technology, why isnt this shift happening in developed cities as well? One obvious explanation is that developed cities already have a functioning sewer system. But the real answer, Arbogast says, goes beyond the fact that developed cities arent really innovating. He contends that new technology will have to be tested in developing nations before developed ones are likely to follow suit. The World Health Organization reports that 3.4 million peoplemainly childrendie each year from water-related diseases like cholera, dysentery, or typhoid. In a city like Dhaka, Bangladesh, Arbogast says, only 2 percent of waste is being treated at a plant. And in many cases, septic tanks carry human waste directly into the streetleaving city residents exposed to numerous pathogens. No community has ever put themselves out of poverty without addressing sanitation, Arbogast says. China is targeting at least 20 GW of new wind power installations and 15 GW of additional solar PV capacity in 2016 according to the National Energy Administration. China ended 2015 with about 120 GW of wind power, 43 GW of solar, and 320 GW of hydro power. In 2014, Chinas wind power generation capacity reached 114.6 GW, and generated 153.4 TWh of electricity. 20 GW of wind would generate about 27 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity each year. 15 GW of solar would generate about 15 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity each year. As of October 2015, China plans to install 150 GW of solar power by 2020. China completed 8 nuclear reactors in 2015 and will be completing about 9 in 2016 (9.1 GW or about 70 TWh and another 7 in 2017 (7.6 GW or 50 to 55 TWh). 280 GW of hydro generated 1,064 TWh in 2014. 320 GW of hydro should generate about 1200 TWh. China produced a total 75.36 TWh of nuclear power in the first half of 2015, accounting for 2.78% of the total electricity output, surging 34.38% from the previous year, said the China Nuclear Energy Association. That equaled cutting 23.97 million tonnes of standard coal use, and emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide by 62.80 million tonnes and 203,800 tonnes, respectively. Chinas nuclear power output over April-June contributed 40.3 TWh or 2.88% of the total power output during the second quarter. At mid-2015 there were 25 nuclear generating units in commercial operation in China, with total installed capacity at 23.6 GW. China added 6 more nuclear reactors in the latter half of 2015 with 6.1 GW (45-50 TWh) of power. Chinas 2015 nuclear reactors operating for a full year should generate about 210-240 TWh. China become the worlds largest electricity consumer, passing the United States in 2011. In 2014, it generated 5583TWh, 25% more electricity than the US. Chinas electricity consumption reached 465.8 terawatt hours (TWh) in Nov of 2015, up 0.6% compared to the same period last year, according to statistics released by the National Energy Administration. In the first eleven months of this year, the country consumed 5,049.3 TWhs of electricity, up 0.7% than in the corresponding period of last year. China added 90 GW of new power capacity in the first eleven months of this year, of which 13.3 GW was from hydroelectric power and 47.5 GW from thermal (coal) power. China should have generated about 5620 TWh in 2015. When China matches current US GDP per capita in 2050-2070 it will be generating 15000-20000 TWh. history of Nipigon, and the Nipigon Museum displays We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. " ... How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public... " [From George Washington's farewell address.] Other Quotes: "Don't worry about genius and don't worry about not being clever. Trust rather to hard work, perseverance and determination. The best motto for a long march is ' Don't grumble. Plug on.'....Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness." Sir Frederick Treves "...To be clear, the Constitution of the United States of America is the United States of America. They are one and the same. Any individual or agency which seeks to subvert the Constitution and wage political and/or rhetorical war on it, are self-declared enemies of the United States of America, as they are subverting and waging war on the United States of America." - Pat Dollard The truth to the matter is that Obama lies but he does it with such finess that the easily fooled are easily fooled. ~ Norman E. Hooben "Going for the grandest illusion of all, [Obama] ... told the New York Times: 'We've actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles.' Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the ground. Everyone knows -- or should know -- that putting more and more of the government in charge of more and more of the economy is entirely inconsistent with free-market principles. This means that the president's statement to the contrary is what is known as a big lie." --columnist Diana West When you trust a stranger more so than your friend, you become stranger than the stranger; Barrack Husein Obama is a stranger. - Norman E. Hooben We the peopleWe the people now have a New World Order that we the people did not order. Norman E. Hooben "We are now in a great civil war of words and you have the honor of participating as a true patriot. The battle has not been won but you will be there when we are victorious. The pen is mightier than the sword and you will inscribe your name in the book of freedomand that, my friend is an honor "If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves ." - Winston Churchill It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. - Ronald Reagan Thomas Sowell For those who promote a race they are called, "racists". For those that promote American they are called "American". For 'American' is a 'concept' and no racial tones are tolerated either in shades or sounds. -Norman E. Hooben (In reference to Lourdes Galvan of San Antonio, Texas racial bigotry regarding American military heroes.) Note to NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA ( Hola! I know you are watching): Will Rogers never met Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. - N. E. Hooben, July 2008 Harvard University was once an all boys school...today they have no balls at all. - N. E. Hooben I will stand with the Constitution For The United States of America should the political winds shift in an ugly direction Politicians are like vampires... Whether its blood or money they want to suck it out of you till you die. ~ N. E. Hooben (Norman E. Hooben in response to a writer who complained of not having the honor of serving in the U.S. Military)Back in the days of "The Lone Ranger" program, someone would ask, "Who is that masked man?" People need to start asking that question about Barack Obama. -N.E. HoobenThe Police State of Massachusetts is now imposing laws against nature. Massachusetts is by far the most un-Constitutional government of the State, by the State, and for the State than any among the the fifty that hold a star on the banner of freedom. It is run by Socialists and hypocritical so-called Christiansthe worst among them are the Catholics who go to Church on Sunday and forget what they Prayed for on Monday. - Norman E. Hooben - "A proud Catholic proud of my Faith. A proud Catholic NOT so proud of my Church!" - July 16th 2008 N. E. Hooben When a people are satisfied with receiving gifts paid with their own taxes as a way of life Anarchy is sure to follow. - Fred Boutin 2008 From the first time I heard about the boogey-man as a child to the first time I got shot at in Vietnam, nothing in my entire lifetime, THAT'S NOTHING! has put more fear into me than this man Obama. - Norman E. Hooben - July 2008 We are here for only a mini-second in the sands of time. Then we become the dust that makes the sand; and the Hand of God molds us anew. Take care my friend and may God Bless... - Norman E. Hooben on the death of our dearly beloved pet dog, Stirling The evidence is overwhelming! In order to save America we must destroy the Socialst Marxist Party... - N. E. Hooben "America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within." -- Josef Stalin -- When it comes to lying, prudent people are guided by a Higher Authority driven by thou shall not written in stone. Whereas Bill Clinton has no Higher Authority to guide him, thou shall not has no conscious objections; for without a conscience there is no guilt. - Norman Hooben The victor will never be asked if he told the truth. - Adolph Hitler The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. - James Madison, the Federalists Papers There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back And stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked,'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?' The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly, the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity. The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time. One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. You apparently don't share a sense of patriotism, Americanism, freedomism, or whatever kind of 'ism' that true Americans believe in... You do however, display a bit of socialism, communism, marxism or whatever kind of 'ism' that you make excuses for... ~ Norman E. Hooben (in response to an Obama supporter's views about the ACS census) A nation that knows not from where it came, knows not where it is going! Today, Americans know too little about the foundations of our nation. The result is a nation now in chaos, its people unable to discern what is wrong with the transformation (paradigm shift) of our society and form of government that, if left unchecked, will destroy every facet of freedom, liberty and justice. The price of freedom is vigilance; the price of vigilance is knowledge. Many of America's founding documents are now available on the web. ~ Learn USA Broaden your expertise, enhance patient care, and never worry about another license requirement again with Elite Passport Membership. Available across ten healthcare professions in a variety of options to suit your career goals, Passport Membership propels your career advancement and offers exceptional value to healthcare providers. The burning Saudi embassy in Tehran after it was attacked on Saturday night. Photo: Mohammed Reza Nadimi/AFP/Getty Images Whats New - Not only did Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran, but now it plans on severing trade ties and stopping air traffic too. Oh, and also a travel ban. - White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said that it is in both countries best interest to stay involved in the Syria peace talks, despite their obvious differences. Were hopeful they will continue to engage, he said on Monday, but ultimately that will be up to them. As most of the Shiite world continues to vent its outrage over the Saudi Arabian governments execution of prominent Shiite cleric and Arab Spring activist Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, world leaders are calling for calm after Iranian protesters stormed, smashed, and burned the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and damaged the Saudi consulate in Mashhad this weekend. In response, Iranian authorities announced that 40 people have since been arrested over the protests, and the Associated Press reports that Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has publicly condemned the attacks as unjustifiable, but it was not enough for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi foreign minister announced on Sunday that the kingdom was severing all diplomatic ties with Iran, and that Iranian diplomats would have 48 hours to leave Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia announced later on Monday it also plans to end trade and air-traffic links with Iran, according to Reuters. The country is also threatening to institute a travel ban. Meanwhile, Irans supreme leader warned that the execution of al-Nimr will lead to divine vengeance on the Saudi regime, and protests continued on Sunday among Shiite populations around the world as many brace for the possibility of greater sectarian division and violence between Sunnis and Shia. Bahrain, Sudan, and United Arab Emirates Saudi allies led by Sunnis have also cut or downgraded their diplomatic relations with Iran. Things look like they could only get messier in this region, which definitely had enough problems to worry about already. The Feuds Catalyst Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an influential Saudi-born Shiite cleric and respected activist who preached nonviolence, was among 47 people executed by Saudi Arabia for alleged terrorism on Saturday, prompting condemnation from around the world and fears that the killing could further exacerbate Muslim sectarianism. It was the largest number of executions that Saudi Arabia has conducted in one day since 1980, per the Washington Post. The middle-aged al-Nimr was a key advocate for the countrys Shiite minority and a very outspoken critic of the Saudi regime, against which he helped organize protests during the Arab Spring. The AP reports that three other Shiite activists were executed on Saturday as well, including two who were teenagers when they were arrested. The four activists had been convicted and sentenced to death in connection with Arab Spring protests in Saudi Arabias majority-Shiite eastern province which turned violent and led to the deaths of several participants and police officers. Saudi Shiite women protest cleric Nimr al-Nimrs execution in the eastern coastal city of Qatif on Saturday. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images There had been a large international effort to secure al-Nimrs release, backed by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Amnesty International, which had expressed significant concerns about the fairness of al-Nimrs trial within the kingdoms oft-criticized judicial system. While the Saudi government has maintained that the sentences had nothing to do with sectarian differences, an Amnesty official accused the Saudi government on Saturday of using execution to settle political scores, and al-Nimrs death has elicited widespread condemnation from many human-rights groups. Ki-moon added on Saturday that he was deeply dismayed by al-Nimrs execution, and on Sunday, the UNs top human-rights official, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, called al-Nimrs execution a very disturbing development and questioned Saudi Arabias concept of due process. Reaction to al-Nimrs execution in the Shiite world has been fast and furious, particularly in Iran Saudi Arabias chief rival in the region. The Iranian government had long been seeking amnesty for al-Nimr and had warned Saudi Arabia that it would face a high cost if it followed through with the death sentence, a claim Irans foreign ministry repeated on Saturday. Following the Saudi announcement, protests were instigated outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad, likely by organized hardliner elements within Iran. As the New York Times reports, the demonstrations subsequently turned violent, with protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at the embassy in Tehran and eventually breaching that compound, smashing furniture and windows and setting it ablaze. (Police later arrived to clear the building and firefighters put out the fire.) The Saudi consulate in Mashhad was also set on fire on Saturday night, according to the Washington Post, and the Saudi flag was torn down there as well. So far there have been no reports of any injuries to diplomats or employees at the facilities. A larger protest in Iran was planned for Sunday, though around 400 protesters returned to the Saudi embassy instead, where they were held back and asked to disperse by Iranian riot police. Protesters in Mashhad bring down Saudi flag at consulate following al-Nimr execution pic.twitter.com/2abn4V2KgW Sobhan Hassanvand (@Hassanvand) January 2, 2016 Irans Response: ? While the Saudis have now cut diplomatic ties with Iran, exactly how the Iranian regime will respond to the execution remains to be seen, though as the Guardians Simon Tisdall points out, retaliation could come in multiple forms. Iran could encourage large-scale demonstrations among the Shiite majorities of eastern Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, increase their support of Houthi rebels in Yemen, or apply economic pressure by releasing vast quantities of cheap oil once international sanctions are further relaxed. Any or all of these moves, Tisdall argues, would be geared toward destabilizing the Saudi royal family rulers whom some analysts see as showing signs of weakness. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blustered on Sunday, Gods hand of retaliation will grip the neck of Saudi politicians. Also on Sunday, Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard went so far as to compare the Saudi regime to ISIS, and the leader of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite militant group in Lebanon, echoed Irans fiery rhetoric while addressing a protest in Beirut. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Jaberi Ansari told reporters, When it comes to protecting and also safeguarding and observing international commitments regarding protection of diplomatic missions, Iran naturally has taken proper action and will continue to do so. He added, however, that Iran was not impressed by Saudi Arabias decision to cut diplomatic ties. The Saudi government is looking for some excuses to pursue its own unwise policies to further tension in the region, Ansari said. Iranian vice-president Eshaq Jahangiri added, per the New York Times, that Saudis are advised to stop acting in a disruptive, hasty, illogical and emotional manner as well as works, because they are the ones who will face losses in cutting ties with Iran. Elsewhere in the region, others found violent ways to retaliate against the execution of the Shiite cleric. At least two Sunni mosques in Iraq were attacked this weekend, and several leaders in Iraq have pushed the Shiite-led government to cut ties with Saudi Arabia, per Reuters. The Saudi Arabian embassy in Baghdad was set to open for the first time in 25 years this month. Iraqs top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has celebrated al-Nimr and the other executed Shiite activists as martyrs. Powerful Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and other Shiite militia leaders have also spoken out against the Saudi regime. There has also been condemnation and protests from Shiite leaders and populations in Yemen, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The three other countries that meted out diplomatic punishments against Iran have been simmering with anger toward the country for a long time, too. Bahrain, a country with a Sunni monarch and a Shiite majority, accused Iraq of helping Shiite insurgence during and after the Arab Spring. A spokesperson said, according to the BBC, the embassy attack was part of a very dangerous pattern of sectarian policies that should be confronted to preserve security and stability in the entire region. The Conflicts Preamble The severing of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran is yet the latest blow in what has already been tumultuous several months for the two nations. In September, Western powers reached a peace deal with Iran over its nuclear program, something Saudi Arabia had long opposed. Also in September, at least 464 Iranians were among more than 2,400 people killed in a stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca more than any other nationality. That tragedy still lingers for Iran, and led to a series of wild accusations and threats between the two countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran also have widely divergent positions on the conflict in Syria. According to the Washington Post, this is the first time that the two endlessly feuding countries have severed diplomatic ties since 1990, when Saudi Arabia and Iran took a two-year time-out. Protests against al-Nimrs execution in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday. Photo: Rizan Tabassum/AFP/Getty Images The Reaction Outside the Middle East Compared to those of Shiite leaders and human-rights groups, responses from the Western world have been relatively muted. Some European officials have spoken out against the execution, while the U.S. State Department said the execution is exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said on Monday that the two countries should not escalate tensions or abandon the efforts at peace talks in Syria. British prime minister David Cameron said that the situation was hugely concerning because of course we want to see stability in the Middle East. We want to see good relations between the different countries in the Middle East, not least because that will be absolutely essential for solving the crisis in Syria, which is the source of so many of these problems. He added, specifically on Saudi Arabia, let me be clear, we condemn and do not support the death penalty in any circumstances and that includes Saudi Arabia. Turkish deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said, according to the AP, Enough is enough. [The region] is in need of peace and calm. Everyone must act with caution. As the above responses show, many leaders are most worried about what this development means for the conflict in Syria and the fight against ISIS. As Joshua Keating writes for Slate, The only reason for any sort of optimism about the process to end the nearly 5-year-old conflict was that Saudi Arabia, the regions pre-eminent Sunni power and a major backer of the Syrian rebellions, and Iran, the regions pre-eminent Shiite power and a major backer of the Assad regime, had both agreed to come to the table. Now what? Peace talks are scheduled to start up again on the 25th. A lot could happen between now and then. People in the Russian foreign ministry told the AFP and another Russian news outlet that Russia is ready to serve as an intermediary between Riyadh and Tehran, and maybe even host diplomats from the two countries for talks. China is freaking out a bit, worried that this fight could spin out into a larger regional conflict. A foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters, Like the international community, China is highly concerned about the developments and expresses concern that the relevant event may intensify conflict in the region. We hope the relevant parties can maintain calm and restraint, properly resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. Oil prices are starting the year out with the potential of going even wonkier, spurred by worries about what these two OPEC countries will do in the upcoming days and weeks. Financial markets in Asia also responded to developments in Iran and Saudi Arabia by tanking slightly. And if ISIS and oil markets werent enough to worry about, NPR reminds us that the Iran nuclear deal could also get muddied up by this mess, as critics point to this recent episode as an argument for the agreements futility. And Back in Saudi Arabia Alleged Al Qaeda militants were also among those executed by the Saudis on Saturday, and affiliates of the group have since vowed revenge. According to the Times, the execution of the Shiite activists at the same time as the Al Qaeda terrorists is being interpreted by many analysts as further evidence of the Saudi regimes hard-line shift. The Saudi military is also reportedly now on high alert, and had already sent armored vehicles to the countrys eastern province to confront any Shiite protests prior to the execution announcement. Saturdays mass execution, conducted by beheadings and firing squads in a dozen prisons throughout the country, was the largest in Saudi Arabia since 1980, and further proof that executions are on the rise since King Salman came to power. On Friday, advocacy groups reported that 157 people were beheaded by the Saudi regime in 2015, the highest number since 1995. (A total of 87 prisoners were executed in 2014, according to the Guardian.) While many executions in the kingdom are mandated under the countrys Islam-governed law, Human Rights Watch found many of those executed last year committed nonlethal offenses and drug-related crimes that do not require a death sentence under Islamic law. Then again, Saudi judges interpret Islamic Sharia law under the ultra-strict ideology of Wahhabism, which has also formed the ideological basis for groups like ISIS. The top Saudi cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, declared that Saturdays executions were indeed consistent with his view of Islamic religious law, and that they were necessary for the safety of the country. Al-Nimrs brother Mohammed has called for exclusively nonviolent responses to the execution, in keeping with the nonviolence preached by his brother. Mohammeds son Ali, who at the age of 17 was also arrested for taking part in anti-government protests, remains a political prisoner in Saudi Arabia and has been sentenced to death by crucifixion, though he was not listed among those killed on Saturday. This post has been updated throughout to reflect developments in the story. The official blog of the New Zealand Rail Maps project. by Sen. Doug Whitsett It would appear that both the 2015 drought and the controversial Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) have come to an end. Wet winter storms are once again dominating Oregon weather patterns. Many Oregon streams and rivers are at flood stage and beyond. Amazing videos of the Willamette, Santiam, Rogue and North Umpqua rivers attest to the incredible destructive force of the huge amounts of precious fresh water rushing out to sea. The ground is saturated with water, and snow accumulation is now well above average across most of the state. In the Klamath River Basin, the 2015 end of year snow pack at Crater Lake is more than 50 percent above average. Total precipitation in much of the Klamath Basin for the recently ended 2014-15 water year was actually above average, despite last years record low snow pack and the subsequent declaration of drought by Governor Brown. Sharp reductions in early season water deliveries to Klamath Project irrigators were caused by what appears to be grievous miscalculations in available water supply by the National Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Geological Survey. Near normal quantities of water were being delivered to most Project irrigators by early July. The Bureau of Reclamation confirmed it had discovered an additional fifty thousand acre feet of unanticipated and unallocated water in Upper Klamath Lake by mid-August. The early season curtailments in water deliveries did have a chilling economic effect. The promised water shortage caused many Project farmers to idle land, reduce acres cultivated and to not plant high-value crops that require more water to grow. However, most Project landowners were literally awash in irrigation water by the end of the growing season. Much of the 50,000 acre feet of water that BOR found in Upper Klamath Lake was delivered to the previously fallowed land, or used for late fall and winter flood irrigation. About half of that irrigation water was ultimately delivered to the Tulelake and Lower Klamath wildlife refuges. Both refuges are actually located in northern California. For the fifth consecutive year, Congress has declined to take action on the flawed and controversial KBRA. The Congressional opposition is clearly both broad and bipartisan. Oregons U.S. Senators have repeatedly failed to move a bill supporting the KBRA to a Senate vote, even while their Democrat party held a majority in both chambers. House Republicans have likewise refused to consider any bill funding the KBRA, both before and during their current majorities in both chambers. In my opinion, the KBRA has been dead on arrival in Washington D.C. for many important reasons. The KBRA is first and foremost a dam removal agreement. All attempts to remove or alter the dam destruction provision of the settlement agreement has met fierce opposition by both the Tribes and environmental advocates. The destruction of the four PacifiCorp-owned hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River is strongly opposed by most western Republican members of Congress. Many members of Congress philosophically oppose the demolition of inexpensive, carbon-free hydroelectric infrastructure. Moreover, they have seen footage of the demolition of the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River and realize the destruction of the Klamath River dams would be exponentially worse. They know at least 20 million cubic yards of potentially toxic sediment has been accumulating behind the four Klamath River Dams for more than a century. They are deeply troubled by the nearly unlimited liability that surely would result from releasing that huge plume of toxic sediment into the River. And members of Congress are rightfully concerned regarding the untenable precedent established by what would be the largest peacetime dam removal project ever undertaken in the United States. Emboldened by the KBRA, preservationist groups are now adamantly demanding the destruction of the four lower Snake River Dams. The KBRA continues to be extremely unpopular among most residents of the Upper Klamath River Basin. Virtually every state and county political incumbent and candidate who has supported the agreement was defeated in primary elections. The margins of those defeats have most often been by humiliating two-to-one vote counts. Cyclical years of poor snow pack have periodically contributed to water shortages in the Upper Klamath River Basin. However, many members of Congress now realize the overarching cause of water shortages has been the repurposing of water previously stored for irrigation by state and federal governments. Those changes in water use were created through administrative fiat by state and federal governments. The preponderance of the reallocations have been made without compensation to the landowners whose rights to use irrigation water were taken. Government agencies have reassigned water previously stored for irrigation in Upper Klamath Lake in order to maintain minimum lake levels for the benefit of allegedly endangered sucker fish. Water previously stored for Project irrigators is also being diverted down the Klamath River, allegedly to help the threatened Coho Salmon. These administrative takings of the use of water previously stored for irrigation are the result of the government-created Biological Opinions required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Opinions will remain in place until the ESA is either amended or repealed. The KBRA specifically rejects any action to either amend or repeal any provision of the ESA. I very much doubt if either of those actions will occur during my lifetime. For those reasons, provisions for increased water storage were a cornerstone of the original KBRA negotiation. However, government agencies claimed that cost factors were prohibitive, while environmentalists claimed additional storage would permanently alter hydrographs and harm fragile ecosystems. Virtually all water storage provisions were stripped out of the current version of the KBRA. I believe the consensus of informed Project irrigators understand the KBRA will never provide certainty of water deliveries without provisions for significantly increased water storage. Apparently, many members of Congress share that belief. The KBRA was negotiated among self-selected parties under strict and enforceable confidentiality contracts. Several state and federal agencies, as well as the Governors office, were deeply involved in the negotiations, including the creation of the confidentiality requirements. Many members of Congress have rightfully expressed concern regarding how the KBRA settlement agreement was negotiated. Members of the media, the public and almost all of its elected representatives were prohibited access to the negotiations. In apparent further violation of public records laws, all accounts of those discussions remain confidential. Moreover, one of the prices for a seat at the negotiation table was to pledge to support the entire KBRA settlement adopted by majority vote. Any public expression of dissenting opinions or written minority reports continues to be considered a breach of contract. The only workable solution for Upper Klamath Basin irrigators is to increase water supply. Any viable water management agreement must include a substantial water storage component. The untenable alternative is to give up century-old water rights and agree to irrigate significantly less cropland. Nearly 40 potential sites for surface water storage have previously been identified in the Upper Klamath River Basin by the Klamath County Commission and others. During the winter months, water is available for additional storage in almost all water years. Obviously, this year is no exception. Records show that more than three quarters of a billion dollars of public funds have already been expended on restoration activities in the Upper Klamath River Basin. No meaningful water storage facilities have either been developed or seriously contemplated. Meanwhile, due to the Biological Opinions and lack of adequate storage capacity, more than half a million acre feet of storable fresh water flowed through the Basin and out to sea during the recently concluded drought year. Make no mistake! The ongoing reduction of water to grow crops for Upper Klamath Basin irrigators can and likely will happen to landowners in many other Oregon watersheds. Under current political conditions, enhanced water storage capacity is the only viable answer to our man-made water shortages. It is long past time for our state and nations entire irrigation community to come together to demand the construction of more water storage facilities. We should accept no less from our state and federal bureaucracies. Senator Doug Whitsett is the Republican state senator representing Senate District 28 Klamath Falls You are not the only one, who is unable to send messages through messaging service WhatsApp, everyone around the world is facing the same problem. Users across the globe complained that their WhatsApp messages aren't going through. Some of them thought that their phone has some connection, but a WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed that the Facebook-owned service is indeed experiencing an outage, reports News24.com. The spokesperson said that some people have had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period on Thursday and they are working to restore service back to 100 per cent for everyone. No official statement has been published on their Facebook page or Twitter page yet. The main problem appeared to be that the app couldn't connect to the internet, even if the user had a working mobile or Wi-Fi connection. The problem has been affecting American, Canadian and European residents mostly, but some South Africans have also been complaining that their messages aren't reaching the desired people. Chaudhry Nisar Ali providing support to terrorists and militant organisations: PPP MNA ISLAMABAD: PPP MNA on Friday staged a blistering attack on the powerful interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, accusing him of providing support to terrorists and militant organisations. If this wasnt enough, the PPP backbencher, Shahida Rehmani, also alleged that Chaudhry Nisar was running a network of corruption through handpicked patwaris (revenue officers) of the Punjab government. Every now and then, the interior minister makes statements about his progress but what is happening on the ground speaks volumes about him, the lawmaker on a reserved seat stated on the floor of the National Assembly. Last week, addressing the death anniversary of his mother in Gari Khuda Bakhsh, the young PPP chairman had targeted the federal government for using the National Acton Plan (NAP) against his party. Other PPP leaders also lashed out at the interior minister for trespassing the Sindh governments authority. If Ms Rehmanis speech was an indication, it seemed in coming days the PPP would go harder on the federal government. Few yards from here a religious scholar has expressed his allegiance to Daesh and of late media reports have confirmed the spread of the terrorist organisation in the country which I believe this maulana has a role in. But, alas, our interior minister doesnt see anything wrong in it, said Ms Rehmani. She said if this didnt come under terrorism, can someone from the treasury explain what is called terrorism. The interior minister over the last a couple of weeks has repeatedly said since there were no charges against Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid, the government cannot arrest him. Likewise, Ms Rehmani said the government was sitting on the judgment against Mumtaz Qadri, who has been awarded the death sentence by the courts for murdering Punjab governor Salman Taseer. Whats stopping the government from implementing the court ruling, she asked. The minister attended the earlier part of the sitting and had left the house when Ms Rehmani made his scathing attack on him. Interestingly, no one from the government side thought it appropriate to response to the remarks. Recalling the failed Sasti Roti scheme of the PML-N, the PPP lawmaker also accused the minister of minting money by stealing flour bags through the patwaris. After targeting Chaudhry Nisar, Ms Rehmani spoke about what she claimed mega corruption cases of the PML-N government. It seems the PML-N is fast returning to the politics of the 90s when its ministers used to paint the PPP as the most corrupt party. But what about Nandipur power project and metro bus. There have been reports about corruption allegedly committed by the present government. However, nobody talks about them. Does corruption only exist in Sindh? She also accused the federal government of spending 75pc of funds under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Punjab. What about the rest of the country, which also need funds for healthcare and education facilities. Gunmen attacked IAF base near Pakistan border NEW DELHI: Suspected gunmen attacked an Indian Air Force (IAF) base near the border with Pakistan early Saturday, security officials said, with at least two of the militants and just as many IAF personnel killed. H S Dhillon, Additional Director General of Police, Punjab, told AFP the operation at the base was still ongoing at 04.15 GMT. We are searching the area. Two of the attackers were killed in the initial exchange of gunfire but we can't confirm if more have been killed, he said, in response to reports that four gunmen had been killed. Five to six security personnel were injured and they have been evacuated to hospital." Local television stations showed images of helicopters surveying the area, while elite National Security Guard commandos have been flown in to flush out the attackers. A top security official, who asked not to be named, alleged that the gunmen were believed to be from the Jaish-i-Mohammad group, describing them as suicide attackers who breached security at the base in the northern state of Punjab while wearing army uniforms. Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, director general of police in Punjab's Pathankot district, told AFP that the attack began around 3.30am and that there were four to five attackers. He said the operation to eliminate the gunmen had lasted three hours. The airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers. Singh added that there had been no damage to fighter planes at the base and that security forces were still trying to identify the attackers. One Indian home ministry official said Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defence bases had been sealed. Attacking an air base is a serious security threat. The new strategy of the terrorists is to identify defence bases near the border and launch attacks, said the official, who was not authorised to comment on the record. Pathankot is on the highway that connects India's insurgency wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Top security officials including India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held a meeting in New Delhi in the aftermath of Saturday's attack, media reports said. Authorities had put the state on high alert on Friday after five gunmen in army fatigues hijacked a car driven by a senior police officer, which was later found abandoned on the Pathankot-Jammu highway. It was not yet clear if there was any link with Saturday's attack. In July, three gunmen dressed in army uniforms opened fire on a bus and then attacked a police station in the nearby Gurdaspur district of Punjab, killing seven people including four policemen. PTI termed National Health Programme as political stunt LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has termed Prime Minister National Health Programme a political stunt while issuing a report on the Punjab governments performance in the health sector. At least 43.2 million people in Punjab lack access to basic health facilities as about 20pc of Punjabis are patients of hypertension and 15pc of diabetes, a major cause of kidney problems, said PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar while issuing the report here on Friday. However, the report did not mention the source(s) of the data. The PTI leader said kidney treatment machines were out of order in approximately 80pc hospitals of the province and there was also a severe shortage of oncologists in the state-run hospitals. He lamented that not a single MRI scanner was available in one of the largest hospitals of Asia, the Mayo Hospital. Mr Sarwar claimed that only 10pc patients got free medicines while out of total 2,450 basic health units, 50pc were dysfunctional due to lack of facilities. He rejected the PMs national health scheme, calling it a political stunt claiming that 231,400 children were dying every year due to lack of facilities and incompetence and illegibility of the government. (Unidentified) report states that infant mortality rate in Punjab is 77 per 1,000 children while the maternal mortality rate is 300 per 100,000 births. Thirty district headquarters hospitals in Punjab had no facilities for cancer patients, Sarwar said and advised the government to fill vacancies of doctors in the hospitals instead of initiating new health programmes. Senate demanded holding of inquiries into all major terror attacks ISLAMABAD: The Senate echoed on Friday with a demand for holding inquiries into all major terror attacks in different parts of the country over the last decade to expose those who were responsible for breach of security. During a debate on an adjournment motion moved by retired Colonel Tahir Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, some senators also called for an inquiry into the 1999 Kargil fiasco. Mr Mashhadi suggested setting up of a judicial commission to expose those guilty of negligence in providing security to the school, where the Taliban attack left over 140 schoolchildren and teachers dead in Dec 2014. Supporting Mr Mashhadis call, a number of senators from both the treasury and opposition benches regretted that parliament was not even aware of findings of the inquiry commission formed to investigate the Abbottabad incident in which the US Marines killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a military operation in May 2011. Former interior minister Rehman Malik asked the government to take an extreme step of stopping transit trade with Afghanistan to force the country to hand over Mullah Fazlullah, who had claimed responsibility for the massacre of schoolchildren. The former minister wanted to know whether handing over of the chief terrorist Fazlullah was part of the agenda for the talks to be held with Afghanistan later this month. He asked the government to hold an in-camera session of parliament to discuss the report of the inquiry commission on the killing of Osama bin Laden. The PML-Qs Mushahid Hussain Syed said that no one had been held responsible for major terror attacks even on the countrys sensitive installations, including the armys General Headquarters (GHQ), Kamra airbase and Karachis Mehran naval base. This culture of cover-up must be ended, the PML-Q senator said. He also suggested an inquiry into the helicopter crash in Naltar that left the ambassadors of Norway, the Philippines and Indonesia dead in May last year. He said the inquiry report into the crash had not been made public. This has been a cause of concern for the diplomatic community. The most hard-hitting speech on the matter was delivered by Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif of the MQM. He termed the APS attack a consequence of criminal negligence. It is regrettable that on the one hand culprits of the APS attack are being executed and on the other, the entire nation is being kept in the dark about the incident, he said. We should be told as to which units of the army were responsible for security of the school as it is situated in the cantonment area, he said. The MQM senator also criticised the judiciary for not taking notice of the incident, saying that in the past the courts had taken suo motu notices of even minor incidents. Retired Lt Gen Salahuddin Tirmizi of the ruling PML-N said that there was need to investigate the Kargil debacle which brought humiliation for the country and damaged the Kashmir cause. He also recalled as to how Pakistan had to refuse to receive bodies of soldiers declaring them Mujahideen and how the civilian government was then asked to seek the international support for de-escalation of the situation along the border. He said that even India had constituted an inquiry into Kargil tragedy and punished those responsible for the lapse of security and then in the light of the inquiry they had prepared new SOPs (standard operating procedures). PPPs Farhatullah Babar said that the investigation should also be held into incidents of attacks on journalists and the Bannu jailbreak in which dozens of dangerous terrorists escaped. Mr Babar suggested that the APS attack inquiry issue should be referred to the Senate defence committee. He said that a veil of secrecy must be lifted to get to know the mastermind of the APS attack, the perpetrators, what went wrong and where and how to stop such fatal incidents in future. The families of the martyred children in particular and the people in general will continue to twist and turn till they are provided some details and no amount of compensation will satisfy them, he said. At the end of the debate, Senate chairman Raza Rabbani suggested establishment of a museum in memory of martyrs of the APS in Peshawar. He said even the gruesome and graphic pictures should be put on display to remember the tragedy. He said that such museums had already been set up in some countries of the world, including Cambodia, Japan (Hiroshima) and Egypt (Cairo). Mr Mushahid Hussain Syed praised the suggestion of Mr Rabbani and said that Cambodia had set up a genocide museum where they had even placed skulls of the victims of genocide. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... MOSCOW - Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Ukraine and Turkey starting from Friday, the first day of 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as he delivers his annual New Year address to the nation in Moscow, Russia, December 31, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree regulating transit transportation of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan through Russian territory, which was posted Friday on Russian government's internet portal of legal information. "International automobile and railway transit of goods from the Ukrainian territory to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan through the territory of the Russian Federation...could be carried out only from the territory of Republic of Belarus," according to the decree. It added that all the transport vehicles carrying goods from Ukraine to Kazakh territory through Russia should be equipped with devices supporting Russia's Glonass navigation system to track their movements. Coming into force immediately and lasting until July 1, 2016, the decree was adopted as extra measure with the suspension of Russia-Ukraine free trade zone agreement. The suspension also began Friday, simultaneously with Ukraine's implementation of the economic component of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and joining a free trade zone with the EU. Besides trade deals, Moscow and Kiev were in dispute over the latter's 3-billion-U.S.-dollar debt. The Russian Finance Ministry on Friday announced that it planned to file a lawsuit in a UK court against Ukraine over debt default. "Ukraine has not made the payment of 3.075 billion U.S. dollars in repayment and servicing of external bonds owned by Russia during the grace period, which expired on Dec. 31, 2015. Thus, Ukraine is in a state of default now," the ministry said in a statement. Noting that no proposal was made by the Ukrainian side on debt restructure, the ministry still expressed readiness to examine any significant offer from Ukraine on its debt to Russia. This blog will be used to keep people who are interested in my work updated on my research. I will also occasionally post videos, pictures, and links to websites of interest. Roman Dushka 10 h Hi guys. Asking for my friend to help identify his find from Ukraine . In case anyone have any idea with age, and pro... The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, With a referendum on our continued membership of the European Union looming and expected this year, the Financial Times sets out the 'hard-headed case' as to why our membership should continue:All of that is absolutely right, but there are other reasons why we need to remain part of the European Union as well. Our identity as a nation is intricately interwined with our continental neighbours.Despite the best efforts of UKIP and their ilk we have become a multi-cultural, outward-looking society, benefiting not just from economic interaction with other European nations but also cultural and social interaction as well. That is where we stand as a country at the start of the twenty-first century.A 'no' vote would be a step back. It would create the possibility that we might become less tolerant, more introspective and iliberal. This referendum is not just about whether we stay in the European Union or not, the stakes are much higher.Those who want us to leave are seeking to turn back the clock. They want to put up barriers between communities and create an atmosphere of suspicion, intolerance and hate. That sort of poison cannot be allowed to inculcate our society.Hard-headed economic arguments are all very well but they have so far failed to inspire and mobilise people on the staying-in side. The campaign to remain within the EU must address issues of identity and the nature of our society if we are to win it. And that campaign must begin in earnest now. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, said she will introduce legislation to set limits on liability risk for agri-tourism businesses such as self-pick food and produce sellers, Christmas tree farms, corn mazes, hay rides and farm tours. "The cost of liability insurance has been going up pretty steadily for those businesses," she said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. Twenty-six other states limit liability exposure for agri-tourism business, but New York does not, she said. "It (the proposed legislation) acknowledges that there are inherent risks associated with being on a farm: the ground is uneven, there's animals, there's farm equipment," she said. "And provided the farmer or operator has taken a reasonable level of care in marking those kinds of hazards, then their liability for anyone slipping or falling is limited." Woerner said she will be introducing the legislation as soon as she lines up a state Senate companion bill sponsor. CHESTER The new aerial apparatus purchased by Pottersville Volunteer Fire Department will take its fleet to new heights 95 feet to be exact. The newly purchased 2003 fire truck has a tower ladder with platform on the end that can extend to a maximum of 95 feet 10 feet longer than the 1982 truck it is replacing. Its a significant purchase for the department in northern Warren County that specializes in providing aerial mutual aid. The 1982 apparatus was donated to an agency that helps provide fire protection to third world countries. Its destination is the southwestern pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea after it is repaired in Pennsylvania. Pottersville Chief Guy Swartwout said reportedly there are only three such trucks in that country. The 2003 KME aerial fire truck was purchased from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus with no need to increase taxes in the Pottersville Fire District. The cost was about $225,000, and to buy a brand new model would have cost $800,000 to $1 million, said Chief Guy Swartwout. Thanks to planning, the department was able to put a significant down payment on the vehicle. Swartwout said the Pottersville Board of Commissioners worked with Brindlee and a leasing company to delay the first payment. There were a whole bunch of pieces that came together to make it happen, he said. The new truck, designated Tower-5 by Warren County, is the third aerial apparatus owned by Pottersville. In northern Warren County, each fire department specializes in a specific expertise and equipment, Swartwout said. Pottersville has a niche in aerial equipment. He said there are several buildings that would need aerial water streams in case of a fire. The tower also helps in rescue situations, especially in some of the older three-story wooden buildings where fire spreads especially rapidly. The apparatus can stream 1,000 gallons of water a minute as opposed to 200 to 300 for a ground hose, he said. Its better than having a group of people take a hose where the fire is. You can work it remotely from the air and put the water where it needs to be, he said. It also provides mutual aid to several communities in the area. Pottersville is firmly committed to and well established in the aerial business. The acquisition of this valuable asset will only strengthen (the departments) ability to effectively fight its own fires and those in our neighboring, mutual aid districts and fire protection areas and make critical rescues possible and more likely successful. In addition, the work with this unit will provide a much higher level of safety for the firefighters facing the dangers of performing that work, Swartwout said in a news release. Finding the used apparatus and doing the extensive work of negotiations, fixes and changes desired before the truck came north, logistics of delivery, and much more of making this important piece possible and happen was predominantly the work of department member Jeff Finch, Swartwout said. He, Commissioner Frank Meade, and Assistant Chief Kevin Feldt traveled to Huntsville, Alabama to inspect and test the truck and arrange a number of requests that Brindlee fixed, added, or changed before delivering it, Swartwout said. About 15 years ago Pottersville purchased its first aerial truck 1972 Snorkel for $25,000. At the time, no comparable apparatus is available for the area from Lake George to Ticonderoga to Lake Placid, the chief wrote in a news release. An assessment found several places where the aerial truck could make a difference. Potential victim rescue needs, sites where an elevated water master stream would be needed, tall and large buildings in the Pottersville District and areas it served in mutual aid all indicated aerial apparatus. For example, it was used in a climbing tower rescue, the Mountain Inn fire in Minerva, Dabys Store in Brant Lake, Browns Sawmill, a roof fire at the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga and others. The new truck is a credited component of the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) evaluation of fire agencies which establishes a scale that insurance companies use in setting fire insurance rates. The aerial in Pottersville will contribute to a better rating in that scale which could positively influence fire insurance rates, the chief said. The Snorkel was sold to Moriah Fire Department for $5,000 and in 2009 Pottersville purchased West Glens Falls Fire Companys 1982 aerial truck for $5,000 when that company replaced its apparatus. FORT ANN With sandwiches and cookies, politicians around the region celebrated New Years Day in their traditional way by solemnly swearing to uphold the Constitution in their official roles. In Fort Ann, one of the hardest-fought political battles of the 2015 election season, winning candidate Rich Moore took office. What an honor it is to be the new supervisor of the town of Fort Ann, he told a standing-room-only crowd at Town Hall. He made two promises: I will work hard and I will be honest. I want you to hold me accountable to those two things. Moore resigned from the Fort Ann Central School District school board on the last day of the year, clearing the way to take the supervisor position. Town Board members were also sworn in during the ceremony, and Moore worked to create a collegial atmosphere with snacks and soda that got most people to stay and chat afterward. Hes hoping to keep that atmosphere. No. 1, I want to work on building a working relationship with the board, he said. He also plans to ask the Town Board to revisit the community plan and take action on some version of it. The plan, which was shelved for years, needs updating, so he wants to include the public and community leaders as well as the Town Board. Get a real understanding of what it is the town wants, he said. Elsewhere in the region, new Moreau Supervisor Gardner Congdon got a jump on the tradition by getting to take the oath of office a day early. He was sworn-in Thursday. It was a brief ceremony, without much fanfare. He said afterward that outgoing Supervisor Preston Jenkins Jr. was working well with him to create a smooth transition. Among Congdons priorities in the new year are preparing for the organizational meeting, getting the lawsuit for the municipal building resolved and covering the duties of the now-vacated building inspector position. Congdon also said he would like to schedule some Town Board meetings earlier in the evening for the convenience of residents. Other new faces include Craig Leggett, who won the Chester town supervisor position by three votes, Kingsbury Supervisor Dana Hogan and Jackson Supervisor Jay Skellie. On the Warren County Board of Supervisors, Claudia Braymer will represent Glens Falls 3rd Ward, while Matthew MacDonald will represent Glens Falls 5th Ward. Martin Auffredou and Mary Farley have joined the judges at the Supreme Court, 4th Judicial District. FORT EDWARD A long-awaited study on a cancer cluster in Fort Edward has found no unusual health problems in the town. But the state Department of Health also acknowledged flaws in that study, which was started in response to concerns that a TCE chemical spill at General Electric would cause cancer among nearby residents. The department proposed doing another study that would focus on the area of concern residents who lived above a TCE plume that spread from GE. TCE is a solvent used at the plant. However, DOH officials have been silent on whether that study is on hold, active or complete. They did not respond to repeated inquiries on the issue. In documents released in response to a Freedom of Information request, DOH officials said they proposed a more detailed study sometime before 2008. At that time, they predicted the study would be done by 2010. However, they did not release any documents indicating the study had started by mid-2015. General Electric, through its public relations firm, emphasized that the cancer cluster study found no problems and that air studies in private homes did not find dangerous levels of TCE. GE also provided hookups to town water for residents, in response to concerns that their private wells might be contaminated by TCE. Later, when officials studied the air in homes above the TCE plume and did not find vapors above the Department of Health threshold, GE offered ventilation systems to residents anyway. The systems pull TCE vapors out of residents basements and vent them harmlessly outside. The cancer study disappointed former resident Dennis Prevast, who now lives in Texas and spent a decade tracking health problems in the small area and is convinced that GE hurt its neighbors. In a three-street area of about 75 houses, he said, 12 people got brain cancer. That included his brother, who died at age 46. But there were a lot of other illnesses, he added. We had a large number of young ladies who had very delayed onset of menstruation 21, 22 years old, he said. Such issues were never raised publicly. Nobodys hanging over the fence saying, Is your daughter menstruating? Because mine isnt, he said. In the 1960s and early 1970s, in that same small neighborhood, four children were born with serious birth defects, he said. I found compelling evidence of illness within Northern Fort Edward township, he said. But he acknowledged that it would be hard to prove it scientifically. GE changed its formulations over the decades, so theres no single chemical that could be blamed, he said. I couldnt describe a single chemical cocktail and a single illness, he said. While he was pleased with the Department of Health agreed to do a study, he said he immediately knew the study would show no problems. The study included the entire ZIP code far more than the few streets exposed near the GE plant. That was clearly dilutive, he said. And they were going to gather this information from death certificates. If the person died of something else say, a car accident on the way to a cancer treatment, he said the certificate wouldnt mention cancer. So we had another dilutive factor there, he said. He also objected to the decision to look only at deaths from people living in the Fort Edward ZIP code. That wouldnt count people who moved away. The results would be basically non-informative, he said. He isnt holding his breath for a new study, although the one proposed by the Department of Health would take into consideration all of the items he criticized. The study would focus on the residents living above the TCE plume and would track down those who moved away. It would look into their detailed health histories, not just their death certificates. Prevast suspects that study will never get off the ground. In any case, hes still convinced that his study was right. I still believe my results, as unscientific as they were, are more reflective of the health problems in Fort Edward, he said. WASHINGTON You probably noticed that 2015 was pretty weird. But hey, its a brand new year a fresh start, a blank slate, an unwritten script. In 2016, what could possibly go wrong? Uh, where to begin? My fingers balk at typing the words President-elect Trump because I dont think such a thing will actually happen. But at this point Im wondering how to justify ruling anything out. A year ago, was there anyone on earth who predicted that Donald Trump would utterly dominate the Republican presidential race? That the boastful billionaire would be setting the nations political agenda? That Jeb Bush, armed with more campaign money than he could possibly spend, would be drifting helplessly toward the single-digit wings of the crowded debate stage? Nobody saw this coming, least of all the GOP establishment grandees who, as I wrote in August, are working their way through Elisabeth Kubler-Ross five stages of grief. First there was denial (What a weird dream; maybe it was something we ate), then anger (Hes a clown, hes a jerk, he should be drawn and quartered), then bargaining (OK, OK, we give up on immigration reform). Now party elders seem to be sinking into the fourth stage, depression. I have no idea whether theyll have to reach the final stage, acceptance. Trumps legions turn out for his revivalist-style rallies, but will they actually vote? If they do and if the establishment-approved candidates keep pulling one another down like crabs in a barrel then Trump is the likely GOP nominee. There, I said it. That doesnt make him our likely next president, though. Most Americans are appalled by notions such as forcibly deporting 11 million undocumented migrants or hanging a No Muslims Allowed sign on the Statue of Liberty. Quite a few dyed-in-the-wool Republicans, asked to support a candidate whose platform amounts to ethnic cleansing, surely would sit this one out or even vote for the Democratic nominee, probably Hillary Clinton. Trump vs. Clinton could be a wipeout defeat for the Republican Party on the scale of the 1964 Barry Goldwater debacle. The only caveat? See above re: absolutely ruling anything out. What else could go wrong in 2016? Well, politics isnt the only realm in which we have to shift our thinking from no way to please make it stop. Climate is another. Scientists confidently predict that 2015 will prove to have been the hottest year on record, perhaps by a considerable margin. And this week, temperatures at the North Pole may have reached the melting point roughly 50 degrees above normal for this time of year. Also this week weve had deadly tornadoes in Texas, bad flooding in the Mississippi Valley, worse flooding across South America and hurricane-force winds in the North Atlantic. On the bright side, theres been no plague of locusts, far as I can tell. It is true that the proximate cause of most of this anomalous weather is believed to be an unusually strong El Nino phenomenon in the Equatorial Pacific. I am obliged to include the disclaimer that no one weather event can be definitively blamed on climate change not even the fact that I saw people in Washington wearing shorts and sandals on Christmas Eve. That said, lets be real. At this point, anyone who rejects the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming is either a blinkered ideologue, a Republican presidential candidate or both. Climate scientists have long predicted that one impact of higher global temperatures will be to make extreme weather more common and unpredictable and more extreme. With that monster El Nino on the loose, weather in 2016 could be even wilder and woolier. In other news, what could go wrong in Congress is obvious; the same things go wrong every year. What could go wrong in foreign affairs is too depressing to contemplate. So maybe its better to think about what could go right. The economy continues to grow slowly, perhaps, but steadily. Crime is at or near historical lows. About 90 percent of Americans have health insurance, which is closer to universal coverage than weve ever been. Budget-busting medical costs have slowed their rise. These and other positive trends should continue, as meanwhile the nation lives through an election campaign that will not be able to dodge issues of fundamental importance. In 2016, were likely to see an exercise in democracy that is passionate, messy, at times ugly but vitally important. Happy New Year, and note that the seat-belt light will be on through November. Last minute justice Supreme Court Justice David Krogmann worked until his last day on the bench, and his last decision was one he actually had to take back. A case that he thought was going to be settled had not been settled this week, so he wrote a decision ruling in the favor of one of the parties and put it in Warren Countys outgoing mail Thursday morning. Sure enough, minutes after the mail had been picked up, he got a fax from one of the attorneys informing of a settlement. So Krogmann said he tracked down the days mail delivery before it left the county Municipal Center and retrieved the decision to preserve the settlement. Im confident justice was served, he told a crowd gathered for Supreme Court Justice Martin Auffredous swearing in. Don Lehman YMCA to celebrate birthday in Greenwich The Battenkill Branch of the Saratoga Regional YMCA will celebrate its fifth birthday Jan. 19. Within the first year of operation, the branch has more than 900 members. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to open our fifth branch within this supportive and thriving community, Bill Blake, Battenkill branch director said in a news release. Its not just a gym. This is a place where people come together to connect and improve themselves. The Y will be hosting an open house Jan. 19 and invites the community to stop by for a free day or fitness. There will be class demonstrations from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., as well as a reception at noon with refreshments and cake. Those who sign up for membership will get their second month free. This is a chance for us to say thank you to our members and the Greenwich neighborhood for their support, Sean Andrews, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA, said. We look forward to serving this community for years to come. The Ys Battenkill Branch is at 184 Main St. in Greenwich. For more information, please call 587-3110 or visit www.srymca.org. Bill Toscano Holiday train celebration Residents of Westmount Health Facility had a special holiday treat in recent days, thanks to a local model railroading club. Upstate Model Railroad Club entertained residents of the nursing home in Queensbury with a train setup that will stay on site indefinitely. The club also set up a temporary track layout at Washington Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare in recent weeks. Fran Filkins, activities director at Westmount, said the trains were a big hit among residents of the home. A cake was made to show railroad club members appreciation for their efforts on Wednesday night. Its nice to know that even when we grow old we are not forgotten, my residents are well kept by all the support we receive and we the residents would like everyone out there to know that we appreciate everything that they have done for us, Filkins said. Don Lehman Greenwich Elks deliver More than a half dozen pickup trucks combined with panel trucks and several personal vehicles spent the Sunday before Christmas making deliveries to 100 families as part of the Greenwich Elks Lodge annual event. Each box contained enough food for three or four meals have a family of four. More than three dozen volunteers including children of Elk members all pitched in, Tom Waring chairman of the Elks Christmas Basket Committee. LeeAnn Foss, the lodges exalted ruler said, Its such a wonderful sight to see the number of volunteers put in the time and effort to fill the many baskets. It just demonstrates the Elks commitment to the community. The baskets were distributed to families in Greenwich, Cambridge, Schuylerville, Argyle, Salem and Shusan. They contained ham or turkey, bag of potatoes, eggs, gallon of milk, cans of corn, peas, beans, rolls and more were the result of donations and were made possible by cash donations and food products from the individuals, businesses and organizations. Bill Toscano Eastons grant application for money to move and improve Burton Hall was turned down, but we encourage town officials not to get discouraged. The town has money within reach to get some things done, and that seems better to us than doing nothing. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner has said she can obtain a $125,000 member item for the job. On top of that, the town has $75,000 in savings it could use. With that money, Easton can afford to move the hall and get a basement put in underneath it. Apparently, that wont be enough to also put in offices and bathrooms in the basement to transform it into a town hall. But once the town has started the job, we believe it will find a way to finish it, if not this year then soon. After town officials take the first crucial steps, residents could jump in and hold fund-raisers to help finish the job. Doing nothing leaves the town with an inadequate space for its offices upstairs in the hall with small offices and the local court accommodated on what used to be a stage. Doing nothing now, when at least part of the funding is available, makes it likely the project will never get done. Eastons children go to schools in neighboring towns. The town hall, as Supervisor Dan Shaw has pointed out, is the heart of the community, the public building that defines Easton as a place with its own identity. Shaws determination not to borrow money to pay for the project is admirable. But the town can borrow time, if not money. This project is worth the investment of a few years, if necessary. The town has spent tens of thousands of dollars over the years, trying to figure out what to do with Burton Hall. Now that it has an opportunity to take a step forward, it should, even if the project cannot be completed right away. Eventually, Shaw wants to renovate the basement into town offices, freeing up the first floor for community events. That way, town officials will, after many years of cramped conditions, finally have a better space in which to conduct town business, while the community gets a historic space for meetings, shows and other public gatherings. Shaws vision for the hall is a worthwhile one, and we encourage him and other town officials, despite this temporary setback, to continue to work toward it. Not Found The requested URL was not found on this server. Apache Server Port 80 Love the article on Gaddaf i Samosa Iyoha Hello from Johannesburg I was amazed to find a website for Africans in Hungary . Looks like you have quite a community there. Here in SA we have some three million Zimbabweans living in exile and not much sign of going home ... but in Hungary??? Hope to meet you on one of my trips to Europe; was in Steirmark Austria near the Hungarian border earlier this month. Every good wish for 2011. Geoff in Jo'burg I'm impressed by ANH work but... Interesting interview... My comment to the interview with his excellency Mr. Adedotun Adenrele Adepoju CDA a.i-- B.Ayo Adams click to read editor's mail We must rise above tribalism & divide & rule of the colonialist who stole & looted our treasure & planted their puppets to lord it over us..they alone can decide on whosoever is performing & the one that is corrupt..but the most corrupt nations are the western countries that plunder the resources of other nations & make them poorer & aid the rulers to steal & keep such ill gotten wealth in their country..yemen,syria etc have killed more than gadhafi but its not A good investment for the west(this is laughable)because oil is not in these countries..when obasanjo annihilated the odi people in rivers state, they looked away because its in their favour & interest..one day!I think from what have been said, the Nigerian embassy here seem to be more concern about its nationals than we are for ourselves. Our complete disregard for the laws of Hungary isn't going to help Nigeria's image or going to promote what the Embassy is trying to showcase. So if the journalists could zoom-in more focus on Nigerians living, working and studying here in Hungary than scrutinizing the embassy and its every move, i think it would be of tremendous help to the embassy serving its nationals better and create more awareness about where we live . Taking the issues of illicit drugs and forged documents as typical examples.. there are so many cases of Nigerians been involved. But i am yet to read of it in e.news. So i think if only you and your journalists could write more about it and follow up on the stories i think it will make our nationals more aware of what to expect. I wouldn't say i am not impressed with your work but you need to be more of a two way street rather than a one way street . Keep up the good work... SylviaHe is an intelligent man. He spoke well on the issues! Thanks to Mr Hakeem Babalola for the interview it contains some expedient information.. M WAQAR..... "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein !!! NEWS,ARTICLES,EDITORIALS,MUSIC... Ze chi pe mayeen yum da agha pukhtunistan de.....(Liberal,Progressive,Secular World.)''Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.'' Global projections predict a mixed performance for the year. In the case of Ghana for example, the dip in economic buoyancy in the past two years will recover mainly due to expectations that the country's energy crisis will be solved somwhat. Additionally, the poor exchange rate situation that almost totally derailed notable African economies including Ghana, is expected to stabilize. However, the main factor of optimism is the belief that businesses may have learned how to maneuver the economic challenges of the recent years by now, and are in a better position to grow. Not all business, however, will be smart enough to ride the tide. Where your business stands in all of these is dependent on how well you do on these four parameters; Focus, Field, Facts, Credibility. According to a Boston Global Consulting (BCG) report titled; Dueling with Lions: Playing the New Game of Business Success in Africa released in November 2015, multinational firms, which have historically been the major source of manufacturing and supplying African consumers, are losing out of the competition to what the BCG calls African Lions-companies based and grown out of Africa that are able to withstand and win market competition from multinational firms. Whether you are a local firm or an investor based in or looking to invest in Africa, these four Fs can provide input for your strategy in 2016. Focus: African lions are winning because they consider the continent to be their primary market and source of revenue and hence give it all their attention. This has been seen in the emergence of pan African businesses, which spread across regions. For your winning strategy in African business, give it all your attention. Consider putting in place resources to give your company a permanent face on the continent, make your business visible and strengthen partnerships. Field: On the ground experience, gained through many years of living, working and understanding the culture of African business is an advantage to African Lions. Being overly professional and disregarding cultural practices is not the way to do business in Africa. CEOs of the firms categorized as African Lions, are down to earth, build strong personal relationships and understand that not all agreements need to be formalized, according to BCG. Also, more importantly, the erroneous notion that Africa is one country should be done away with. Africa is a continent with 54 countries with different levels of populations, economic development, cultures, histories and laws. They also speak different languages. Facts: Its the norm that business decisions are made based on accurate data, however, in Africa accurate data is not a given. To win, firms investing in Africa need to gather information through innovative strategies and use personal judgement. Also, the traditional view of Africa as a high-risk continent must give way to a thinking that juxtaposes risks and opportunities and puts in measures to mitigate them. Flexibility: Applies where your business processes, products and activities are tailored to local conditions. Innovative businesses using mobile phone technology are increasing in Africa and flexible firms are taking advantage of these for payment systems in doing business. The rules of doing business in Africa are changing, see the opportunities and take care of the risks, but by all means take advantage of the opportunities. However, according to the MP, Ghana's timber industry has a unique challenge different from those that exist in other member states, adding the decision to impose taxes on imported timber will further hurt the local industry. In an interview with Kasapafmonline.com to shed light on the challenges facing the timber industry, Mr. Bio said: I have decided that we stop it now and look at certain sections (Section 1) of the Bill because the heading is to deal with wood and wood articles. Under schedule 44.02 to 44.044 we have tariffs for the importation of solid wood in terms of round logs and wood that can be used for raw materials for our timber industry. Over here, we have 10% for import duty and 15% for VAT. When you add them together, you will get 25%. We in Ghana, currently we are all aware of the collapse of the timber industry. The timber industry, especially, the sawmill aspect of it is virtually collapsing and it is collapsing not through the doing of the managers of the firms but rather due to the fact that the raw materials currently are not available. Even if they are available, what is there is not enough, he noted. But his plea was ignored with the House going ahead to pass the Bill. Mr. Owusu-Bio's attempt to block the bill proved futile. House leader Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, commenting on the matter told Members that the issues raised by Mr. Owusu-Bio could not be addressed by the House since ECOWAS as a sub-regional bloc had already agreed in principle to impose the taxes on imported timber. Moments after the passage of the Bill into an Act, he appealed to the government to stop the imposition of tariff on the importation of timber into the country. "What is wrong with asking the government to go back to the ECOWAS Community and have a discussion with them if there are issues with the treaty? As we speak, most of the countries in the ECOWAS region do not have problems with the treaty because if you talk about Liberia, they never cut their wood like we did so they still have the wood. He said because of lack raw materials (timber), most of the sawmill firms, especially, in Kumasi and other parts of the country, are folding up. He believes that once they stop the tariffs on the importation of timber into the country, wood products will be cheaper and industry will open up and employ more of the teeming youth who are unemployed. "The high-level meeting at the General Assembly in New York will be crucial for us to move forward to the end of the AIDS epidemic. If ending AIDS is part of the SDGs, we need now to unpack this goal in terms of its implementation. And that is what the high level meeting is about. Dr. Joseph Akpaloo, the Chief Executive, said the model clinic would be replicated in the other directorates of the hospital. This, he noted, would without doubt, help to substantially bring in revenue. He was speaking at an end-of-year thanksgiving service held by the hospital the nations second largest referral facility, in Kumasi. Dr. Akpaloo pointed out the hospital made significant progress during the year and cited the establishment of paediatric intensive care unit at the Accident and Emergency Centre, inauguration of the first Electroenceplatopramme (EEG) diagnostic facility with a consultant neurologist and replacement of elevators at the old Gee blocks. Besides, its dialysis centre was refurbished and five additional dialysis machines installed. He said the hospital also made headway in the establishment of a cardiothoracic surgery centre and launched the first ever population-based cancer registry in the country. Dr. Akpaloo said, despite the remarkable achievements, the hospital was still faced with a number of challenges and mentioned among them, dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate space that had led to congestion, lack of supporting peripheral health facilities and rising cost of medical consumables. He, however, expressed confidence these could be surmounted given discipline and a good customer care approach. He urged the staff to be disciplined and work hard to improve the health of the people. The Reverend Dr. Charles Kingsley Opoku, Chaplain of the Hospital, asked the workers to refuse to be daunted by any unpleasant experiences they might have had in the past. Cholera, an often fatal water-borne bacterial illness, which causes fever, vomiting and watery diarrhoea, flared up in mid-November at Dadaab, which comprises five camps hosting 347,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the majority fleeing violence in Somalia. An outbreak control team comprising staff from the UN Refugee Agency and partner agencies, has worked with the Kenyan Health Ministry and Department of Refugee Affairs officials around the clock to treat cases and stamp out the disease at the sprawling complex in North-Eastern Kenya. Among patients brought to one of four cholera treatment centres set up at Dadaab was two-year-old Faisal, a refugee whose family fled Mogadishu, Somalia. The toddler tested positive for the illness and was admitted to the hospital, where his condition stabilized and improved after three days of treatment. "We don't know what caused the cholera but thank God, he is better now He got a lot of fluid here, I am happy," said Faisal's father, 32-year-old Ahmed, who seemed satisfied with the treatment his son received in the hospital. The four specialized treatment centres, each of which can treat more than 50 patients, provide intravenous rehydration to those in the critical wards, who receive care around the clock from dedicated staff. "They cannot take medicine orally, so we transfuse to hydrate and treat them. Once they are stable, they are moved out of the critical area. On average it takes three days for a patient to recover and discharge," said Caroline, a doctor in Hagadera camp hospital which is managed by the International Rescue Committee. Officials said the flare up has been aggravated by pooling groundwater caused by El Nino rains a cyclical warming of a Pacific Ocean current that causes anomalous weather patterns around the globe, ranging from unseasonal flooding to droughts. Promoting hygiene is a pillar of the broader push to curb the outbreak at the complex. UNHCR and its partner agencies have been carrying out soap distribution, house and latrine disinfection and hygiene promotion campaign across all the five camps. Among those on teams disinfecting refugees' accommodation is Isaq Abdi, a 43-year-old refugee from Somalia. "Spraying is going on well," said Abdi, who reckoned he had sprayed 200 latrines and 200 homes at the Ifo 2 camp as part of a Kenya Red Cross Society team. "People appreciate our work. I like what I do because I am helping my community, preventing diseases and also getting an allowance," he added. UNHCR is also endeavouring to increase the number of latrines at the camp, although decreased funding in recent years has hindered the drive. The first case of the current Cholera outbreak in Dadaab was reported on November 18 at the Ifo 2 camp: a 10-year-old boy who had been playing in a stagnant pool and may have swallowed some of the water. He has since been treated and recovered. UNHCR continues to educate children, parents and community about the risk of swimming in muddy water ponds in and around the camps. Filling in such pools wherever possible has also been carried out. Local FM radio stations have frequently airing community sensitization messages. The first camp, Hagadera, was established at Dadaab in 1991, when refugees fleeing the civil war in Somalia started to cross the border into Kenya. A second large influx occurred in 2011, when some 130,000 refugees arrived, fleeing drought and famine in southern Somalia. After observing that the traveling trunks traditionally domed lid made it unwieldy to stack and transport, founder Louis Vuitton introduced a flat-top model, engineering an airtight box made of lightweight material and covering it in his signature grey canvas. Before Vuittons design innovation in 1858, the trunks curved domes were thought necessary to repel water that might otherwise seep in when loaded in the cargo of ships or trains. His service was in high demand by travelers eager to explore newly established shipping and train routes at the time, and his business boomed after the empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo, appointed Vuitton as her personal packer and trunk-maker. Vuittons vertical steamer trunks were particularly popular. Designed like portable pieces of furniture equipped with drawers, compartments, and hangers, they allowed travelers to transport their wardrobes without needing to unpack. Cases for all occasions From a round, oversized chauffeurs case to house a spare tire and a change of clothes, to a handsome tea service set ordered by the Maharaja de Baroda, among the most fascinating objects in the exhibit are the one-of-a-kind Vuitton leather-clad branded boxes specially designed to conform to the needs of their clients. For the traveling reader who didnt want to delay progress on Prousts lengthy opus In Search of Lost Time, Vuitton made a small, monogram leather box to house all the volumes of the worlds longest novel. Anti-counterfeit monogram Ironically enough, the monogram pattern has become one of the most replicated branding insignias today from cheap iPhone cases to waffle makers to body tattoos as a graphic shortcut for luxury and wealth. The World Customs Organisation ranks Louis Vuitton as the sixth-most counterfeited brand in the world, but with the availability of fake Louies in so many markets and street vendors worldwide, including peddlers online, it would seem much higher. For discerning but budget-strapped buyers, there are even classes of replica Louie Vuitton with the most authentic fakes, (aka Class A bags) commanding higher prices. LVMH,Conceivably, a tenth room exploring the counterfeiting phenomena so core to the brand from the start could have elevated curator Olivier Saillards excellently staged exhibition from a worthwhile, yet unsurprising, showroom experience to one that explores Louis Vuittons rooted cultural resonance across economic and ethnic boundaries. In his new year message, the President said: "...I had asked you, the good citizens of Ghana, to exercise patience and to bear with us during the difficult periods. Words cannot express how impressed and inspired I have been by the understanding, the strong support, and the consistent encouragement with which you responded." "Even the voices that were raised in disagreement or criticism spoke volumes of truth about your unwavering love of Ghana and our shared desire, despite whatever differing opinions on policies or methodologies, to see our nation progress," he said. "I applaud this steadfast patriotism," he added. In his address, President Mahama indicated that despite the increasing unrest, terror and instability that is occurring throughout the world, the resolve by Ghanaians "to work together toward the implementation of long-term, sustainable solutions for the development of our beloved Ghana is all the more appreciated, and it is all the more necessary." "We are closer now, than ever before, to realizing the fruits of our patience," he added. The companies, Ankobra Fm in Axim in the Nzema East Municipality was surcharged GH16, 998.76, Johnson and Johnson, a small scale mining company in Tarkwa is paying GH100, 578.74 and BP Restaurant in Takoradi was also surcharged GH 5,030.11. Speaking to Pulse.com.gh, the Western Region Public Relations Officer of the ECG, Philip Osei Bonsu indicated that this is part of our effort to enhance our revenue collection and protection. This is to ensure that the Electricity Company of Ghana becomes that credible off taker all Ghanaians want ECG to be. He however warned that we are putting this out to our cherished customers to serve as deterrent to all those who will engage in illegal connections. Apart from surcharging you, you may be prosecuted. We have started an exercise of deploying our technicians to visit every meter in the system to ensure the integrity of our meters. He told Sky News : 'I was on the 15th floor in the kitchen opening some champagne. My father went out onto the balcony and came back and screamed the hotel is on fire. There were five of us including my mother. I strapped her to my back, it was the only way of getting out of the building. It was utter pandemonium.' 14 people were injured after the huge fire broke out, causing mass chaos with people running for safety in nearby malls. Angus said: 'There were a lot of hotel staff directing people to various exits and stuff, but there was no clarity about what happened. Were definitely still in a state of alarm. I've pretty much left everything in the flat I only took my valuables, i.e. my phone, my iPad and my mother." The fire which started unexpectedly completely took hold of the building ripping majority of the hotel which houses around 200 hotel rooms and 600 private apartments. It ran up at least 20 stories of the building near the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest skyscraper. The faulty power station which houses heavyweight transformers and a line cable is located at Leo Junction on Oyemekun road, a major street in Akure. The unhappy residents informed SaharaReporters that they are worried that the weeklong power outage might be extended past the New Year, forcing them to celebrate the festivities in complete darkness. A junior officer with the BEDC exclusively told SaharaReporters that the electrical failure has affected a line transformer that supplies power to the cables in the power station of the company. The major fault on the ground is that of a line transformer that supplies electricity to other sub-stations in the city and its suburb. It blew up and damaged the cables which bridge the electricity to the households in the city. But, some engineers have arrived at the power station to find a solution to the problem. I cannot really tell you when the job will be finished because there was a heavy and major fault which requires days to finish, even some of the engineers would have to sleep over as the work continues, he said. Local business owners especially producers of sachet water complained that the power outage is taking a toll on their trade and production and they also noted that the running of electric generators as an alternative to power is an unprofitable risk. Some of them have shut down completely waiting until the BEDC officers find a solution to the problem and restore electricity back to the affected towns. The non-availability and shortage of fuel to power these electric generators as an alternative to electricity is a big headache to our businesses, business owners told SaharaReporters. Investigation also revealed that those most affected are sick patients at private hospitals as their relatives complained of astronomical charges by the management of these facilities to compensate for the cost of using electric generators. These patients are on life support and they can only survive with the used oxygen and other medical apparatus that requires power, a source disclosed. The top management staff of BEDC in Ondo State have constantly aired radio advertisements urging residents to have patience with BEDC, as they are making every effort to identify the problem associated with the faulty power station. Read More: Cummings and his friend Dimitri Olivares for some reasons managed to gain access to the rooftop and climbed over scaffolding on top of the 52-storey Manhattan hotel. It was a perfect moment of excitement for the two friends who were attempting to photograph the New York skyline around 11.15pm on Wednesday night. Read More: Man flees after stabbing his girlfriend repeatedly According to Mirror, the horrible disaster happened after Cummings slipped as he tried to climb through a hatch and fell nine storeys, landing on a 43rd-floor walkway and died immediately. It was also gathered that the diseased friend panicked and fled the scene but later turned back to report the incident to his mother and security in the hotel. Dimitri Olivares was arrested but later released without charge Read More:Fake police officer to be executed for rape in Kuwait According to AFP report by PUNCH the execution of Nimr al-Nimr and the others, including Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in deadly Al-Qaeda attacks, was announced by the Saudi interior ministry. According to the Saudi Arabia interior ministry the 47 men had been convicted of adopting the radical takfiri ideology, joining terrorist organisations and implementing various criminal plots and drawing angry condemnation from Iran and Iraq. AFP further reported that all those executed were Saudis, except for an Egyptian and a Chadian. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Olulade (APC-Epe II) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday that the legislative arm would give the executive the necessary support to reduce infant and maternal mortality. ``We will look at the issue of children and see how to reduce infant mortality in the state. ``In the same vein, maternal mortality is worrisome and legislative support will be provided to check the rate, he said. Olulade, ex-Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security in the 7th Assembly, said with the right policy and legislation infant and maternal mortality would be a thing of the past. He promised that the Akinwumi Ambode administration would give the health sector a new lease of life in the current year. ``Complaints about the negative attitude of some health workers have necessitated the call for attitudinal change among them. According to the lawmaker, the way some health workers treat patients who go to hospitals and health centres is unprofessional. He warned:"Those who are not serious, those who have no business in the health sector will be shown the way out. ``Healthcare is not what we can joke or toy; it is a collective responsibility and therefore, all hands must be on deck to ensure improved service delivery. ``We will ensure greater efficiency in our healthcare system. ``We are aware of the nonchalant attitude of some doctors and nurses in the state and the government will not tolerate that again. ``We are creating a zero tolerance for inefficiency in the sectorit will not be business as usual in the sector. The journalist who made this revelation in an interview with The Cabel, an online news platform, advised President Buhari to open up negotiation channels with the militants. This revelation is coming a day after Buhari said that his government had no intelligence on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls. Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me. And if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the federal government shouldnt make a deal, Salkida said. I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith. The first lady was represented by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fanta Baba-Shehu at the distribution exercise which had pregnant women and nursing mothers as target beneficiaries. The exercise according to her, was set up as a means of providing food nutrients to the pregnant women and nursing mothers who were in need of nutrition. Quoting the Minister, We are here to flag off the distribution of relief materials to 1350 pregnant women and nursing mothers at the Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri. The items were provided by Mrs. Buhari, for onward distribution to the beneficiaries. When the Presidents wife visited Borno last week, she raised and inaugurated an 11-member high-powered panel on the distribution of all donated relief materials to IDPs in the 26 camps in Maiduguri, Bama, Biu and Benisheikh." Over 50 per cent of the displaced persons in camp, comprises of women who are either pregnant or nursing mothers, since the camp was established by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the state government to resettle all fleeing displaced persons from five councils in the state. According to her, the first lady is very passionate about women and children, hence the inauguration of the program. Over 50 per cent of the IDPs in camp are women and that was why the wife of the President, Aisha was passionate about women and children for the inauguration of this relief materials distribution programme. Hajiya Baba-Shehu also said that they started the distribution from the Dalori camp because it has the largest number of Internally displaced persons, most of whom are women. The President, who stated this in Abuja on Friday in an audience with Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), said the committee would be headed by retired Gen. T. Y. Danjuma with Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, as one of the members of the committee. Buhari announced that all forms of assistance and aid generated locally and from foreign countries as promised by the G7 industrialised nations would be channelled through the committee when inaugurated. ``I didn't ask for a Kobo (in cash). It is up to them to choose what they will undertake. ``Already, some of them have sent teams to verify our assertions. The president decried the impact of the Boko Haram violence on women and children, declaring that they were its worst victims. ``In the North-East, what I saw for myself and on those clips is a source of concern for people with conscience. ``They are mostly women and children, who are orphaned. Some of them don't even know where they come from. This is the pathetic situation in which the country has found itself. According to him, the fight for the return of the Chibok girls is ongoing and "continues to be a most worrying issue" to his government. He, however, emphasised that the administration would do all within its powers in making the best efforts to secure their freedom. The president acknowledged the case made by the WIPF for better representation of women in his government and assured that women would fare well in the composition of parastatal agencies and their boards in the first quarter of this year. He also defended the records of the administration in response to criticism that it was slow, saying that steps must be taken with caution to avoid mistakes. ``People say we are slow. We are trying to change structures put in place by our predecessors in office for 16 years. If we hurry it, we will make mistakes. That will be a disaster, he said. According to Buhari, the country has a budget proposal for the New Year that is good for employment and manufacturing. He reassured that by the end of the second quarter of the year, the positive impacts of the budget would be felt across the country. Earlier in her remarks, the spokesperson of the group, Mrs Ebere Ifendu of the Labour Party, expressed their full support for the government's war on corruption and insecurity. She called on the government to usher in laws to promote gender equity as well as action toward the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Head, Media Relations and Strategy, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. According to the statement, Oyeyemi in his New Year message, expressed gratitude to God for the successes recorded last year by the commission, and expressed commitment to improve on the achievements in 2016. ``Oyeyemi admonished staff not to rest on their oars, saying 2016 will come with its own peculiar challenges which they must be prepared to overcome in their determination to create a safer road environment. He noted that several lives that could have perished in road crashes were saved through vigilance and commitment of members of the commission, saying such individuals would forever remain grateful to the FRSC. ``To be victorious, you must continue to adhere to the processes and procedures of the Corps in all areas of operations and general administration. ``The corps marshal expressed his appreciation to the entire FRSC staff for their steadfastness and dedication to duty, especially at odd hours of the day, urging them to keep it up, Kazeem said. ``It is only through sustained commitment to the core values of FRSC that the attainment of the Quality Management System Certification (ISO 9001:2008) can be achieved in March 2016, he said. He called on the staff to continue to promote hard work and dedication to duty in line with the ``world class organisation's status of the commission. Oyeyemi added that the certification could only be retained through sustained adherence to the global best practice of road safety management. Oyeyemi assured FRSC staff on sustainment of welfare policies of the commission in the New Year of 2016, urging them to be more dedicated to duty at all times. Bashir gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Kano on Saturday. The executive secretary, who did not disclose the details of the assistance, said:``Assistance will be given to them next week. ``The state government has plans for the flood victims, wait and see what will happen on Tuesday next week. In a statement, issued by Malam Jibrin Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary of the Governor, in Minna on Saturday, Bello described Kutigi as a towering judicial colossus, moral crusader and paragon of virtues. The governor lauded the exemplary leadership demonstrated by Kutigi as the Chairman of the National Conference in 2014 and described the assignment as a selfless service to Nigeria and humanity. He said the intellectual capacity and vast experience of Kutigi enhanced the performance and credibility of Nigerias judicial system. He described Kutigis contributions to the development of Niger and the country as immeasurable. Kutigi, born on Dec. 31, 1939, was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger as well as a High Court Judge in 1976. He joined the Supreme Court in 1992 and was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria on Jan. 30, 2007. Alhaji Awaza, Chairman of the Party in the area, made the commendation on Saturday in Isa, the headquarters of the council during a rally organised by the party. ``The gesture by the commission is a welcome development as it will enable the commission to organise free, fair, transparent and acceptable polls. ``The action is indeed a right step in the right direction and all the political parties and stakeholders were happy when the commission heeded to our persistent pleas in this direction. `` We will use these periods of the postponement of the polls to reconcile all aggrieved members due to the recent primary polls, he added. Awaza urged leadership of the party to redress some of the problems in the recent primary elections conducted by the party in 23 local governments of the state. He further appealed to the members of the party to continue to be law abiding and work tirelessly towards the success of the candidates of the party during the forthcoming polls. Awaza also called on the members of the party to sustain their prayers for the success of the programmes and policies of the three tiers of government in the country. The chairman solicited sustained peace, progress and unity of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairman of SIEC, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, on Dec. 31, 2015, announced the postponement of the polls. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state`s Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) did not announce the number of political parties expected to field candidates for the polls. Only the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded candidates. NAN correspondent who monitored the poll in Gusau recalled that the PDP issued a statement on Friday that the party would not participate in the polls. The statement was signed by the state chairman of the party Alhaji Hassan Nasiha. The party hinged its decision to boycott the polls on the fact that it is challenging the victory of Gov. Yari in the 2015 governorship election at the Supreme Court. A cross section of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Gusau that they were not aware of the election. Mr Tony Adah, an engineer, told NAN that although he saw campaign posters, he was not sure of the date of the election. ``I woke up this morning to prepare for work when my neighbour told me about the election. ``Initially I thought that movement will be restricted, but to my surprise, people are moving around with their vehicles doing their usual business.'' he said. Hajia Marian Ibrahim, a business woman, also said she was not aware of the election as people were busy with their normal business activities. ``I just got to my shop where I do my business and I discovered that people are not participating in the election. ``It is possible the date of the election was not properly announced unlike the previous ones. ``The election is just for the sake of formality; everybody knows that the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) will win so there is no need to stress people, she said. An attacker or attackers hurled the grenade at students on the campus at Dilla University in the diverse Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) on Thursday evening, officers added. They did not give any details on any reasons for the attack in an area, about 350 km (200 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, where there have not been any recent reports of significant unrest. "The blast killed two students and wounded six, of which four were seriously injured," a police official in the town, Ejigu Shiferaw, told the state-run Ethiopian News Agency. The outlet said an unspecified number of suspects were in police custody, without giving further details. Officials are yet to disclose details of that attack, and there has not been any claim of responsibility. Ethiopia says it has thwarted several bomb plots in recent years and blames rebel groups based in other areas of the south and southeast, as well as al Shabaab insurgents from neighbouring Somalia. Glaswegian, otherwise known as the Glasgow patter, is a local variety of Scots. Glaswegian is a dialect, more than an alternative pronunciation; words also change their meaning as all over in Scotland, e.g. "away" can mean "leaving" as in A'm away, an instruction to stop being a nuisance as in away wi ye, or "drunk" or "demented" as in he's away wi it. Ginger is a term for any carbonated soft drink, historically referring to ginger beer (A bottle o ginger, IPA: [ bol dndr]). Then there are words whose meaning has no obvious relationship to that in standard English: coupon means "face", via "to punch a ticket coupon". A headbutt is known in many parts of the British Isles as a "Glasgow kiss", although this term is rarely used by Glaswegians, who say "Malkie", e.g., "ah'll Malkie ye" or "stick the heid/nut on ye". Long ago I realized that Amherst College was the wrong place for me, and I should have gone to the University of Chicago for my undergraduate degree. Very sad!Denmark is perhaps, but possibly I belong in Scotland. As evidence I present the following (from the Wikipedia page on Glasgow ) (emphasis added): Just a little note. I recently read, by Amanda Foreman. It's okay... I don't know enough Civil War history to judge it, but it seems well-researched.Anyway it reminded me of one of my recurring themes, which is that the United Kingdom has been blessed by remarkably capable leadership from the Regency through modern times. (I am not here making the claim that Britain responded appropriately to the Great Famine in Ireland, although I will note that it is said that no Irishman starved while Robert Peel was prime minister. Call me a Peelite, I won't object.)Again and again, Britain performed better than any individual would have done. She stayed neutral during the American Civil War (against the wishes of the otherwise reliable William Gladstone). With a few exceptions, she kept out of war during the second half of the 19th century. She let Ireland go with relatively little (British) bloodshed, though of course she is to blame for Ireland's immense suffering. She conducted the Norway Debate with remarkable candor, and then she prosecuted her fight against the Nazis with remarkable fortitude and aplomb.It is therefore sad to see the United Kingdom and its traditional values in such dire straits. Officials at NyE Communities Coalition are seeking area agencies in need of grant funding. The organization recently announced a Request for Applications after receiving $82,000 from a division of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services for various community programs, addressing the needs of area residents. The coalition provides services in Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye counties. Deadline for application submissions is Friday, Feb. 29, 2016, by 4 p.m., and there is a no-match requirement. The first mandatory bidders conference Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Tonopah Convention Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Pahrump will have a bidders conference at the coalitions campus, 1020 E. Wilson Road, from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 11. In order to apply, you have to come to one of the mandatory bidders conferences, said Laura Oslund, Coalition director and community educator. Oslund said the applicants must meet certain criteria, such as a certified substance abuse prevention and treatment agency to apply. They have to be organizations and they have to be a nonprofit because they have to prove that they can handle grant-type funding and understand the processes and everything that goes on, she said. Though the funds come from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Oslund said organizations can use the money for a variety of services. She noted the Nye County School District and other area organizations including WestCare routinely apply for the grants. This is for prevention programming, she said. A lot of times when people think about prevention programming, they think its only for community education, but this fits under community health workers, parenting programs, and juvenile probation when they have youth groups. When we say prevention programming, it does not just mean its a program that speaks on not committing substance abuse. It can be life skills and anything that improves the overall health of our community. The coalition scheduled a series of bidders conferences where interested organizations can learn more about the program. Oslund will provide all of the official information that both state and the federal government requires. She noted that shell also provide tips on how to write a grant application. Oslund said the bidders conferences are mandatory. During the conferences, Oslund said the organization official applies for the grant where it is reviewed by Oslund and an outside agency in an effort to remain objective. Because in the communities that we work with on other projects, it would be hard for us to be objective sometimes because we do know the good work that people do in our community so we actually bring outside objective reviewers, she said. Thats why when they write it, it is very important that they are precise. This is for three years, so once the organization gets it, it will keep them funded for at least three years if they continue to meet the obligations. Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. About 145 costumes have been collected so far, ranging in size and theme so that there should be something for just about every kid to enjoy. In 2015, Americas increasingly crowded public square was often filled with hostility, becoming an angry arena where people shout past one another across religious and ideological divides. Incendiary rhetoric and personal attacks are now commonplace in culture war conflicts over everything from refugees and immigration to religious freedom and sexual identity. Any notion of the common good gets lost in the crossfire of charge and counter-charge and, on the fringes, wars of words escalate into outbursts of hate and intolerance. Of course, some degree of incivility is the price of freedom. Free speech in a free society is, by definition, a messy proposition. Each of us whatever our religion, belief or political philosophy is guaranteed under the First Amendment the right to express our faith, values and convictions openly and freely without governmental interference. The framers of the First Amendment understood that the only thing worse than a loud, sometimes offensive public square which was often the case in 18th century America is a public square where the government determines what is offensive and what is not. At the same time, the framers worried out loud about the dangers to freedom when people exercised rights without responsibility. James Madison, the primary author of the First Amendment, framed the problem this way: Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without virtue in the people is a chimerical idea. In other words, the Constitution is necessary, but not sufficient to ensure freedom. Rights are best protected when citizens debate one another robustly, but civilly and take responsibility to guard the rights of others, including those with whom they disagree. The letter of the First Amendment guarantees religious freedom by mandating government neutrality among religions and between religion and non-religion and by protecting the right of every individual to follow the dictates of conscience. But these guarantees require a critical mass of citizens to uphold the spirit of the First Amendment to counter social discrimination, hostile work environments and other forms of discrimination often experienced by religious minorities in daily life. In the United States today, religious minority could describe people of any faith from the Mormon in Mississippi to the Baptist in Utah. And lets not overlook the social and political discrimination directed at atheists, humanists and others with no religious affiliation a rapidly growing segment of the American population. We are all members of a religious or ideological minority somewhere in America. How we treat the other in places where we are in the majority may well determine how we are treated in places where we are in the minority. Litigation and legislation are sometimes needed to enforce the letter of the First Amendment, but litigation and legislation alone cannot end the social discrimination that chills free speech and limits religious freedom. Only by agreeing, as a matter of civic duty, to engage one another with civility and respect can we ensure a society committed to upholding the rights protected by the First Amendment. The principles of rights, responsibility and respect that flow from the First Amendment are not as Catholic theologian and American public philosopher John Courtney Murray reminded us our articles of faith. We each have religious and non-religious convictions that are often matters of conscience more deeply held than our civic commitments. But, as Murray also reminded us, First Amendment principles provide our articles of peace the civic framework and ground rules that enable Americans to live and work together as citizens of one nation of many faiths and beliefs. Can we live with our deepest differences? Resolving in the New Year to reaffirm our articles of peace is a good place to start. Charles C. Haynes is vice president of the Newseum Institute and founding director of the Religious Freedom Center in Washington D.C. He can be reached at chaynes@newseum.org. On Twitter: @hayneschaynes A man accused of assaulting a Davenport police officer on New Year's Eve and trying to remove the officer's handgun was being held Friday night in the Scott County Jail on felony charges. Albert Earl Jay Williams III, 20, of Davenport is charged with assault on a police officer resulting in bodily injury, disarming a police officer and second-degree criminal mischief. Police responded to Sara Mini Mart, 1026 W. River Drive., Davenport on a domestic assault call about 7:13 p.m. Thursday. Multiple witnesses identified Williams after he cracked a victim's windshield, causing $2,000 in damages, according to his arrest affidavit. After fully uniformed officers who arrived on scene ordered Williams to turn around and put his hands behind his back, he swung and struck an officer in the face, the affidavit stated. As the officer took Williams to the ground, the suspect tried to pull the officer's handgun out of its secured holster, the affidavit stated. Williams continued striking the officer and eventually broke free, leading police on a foot chase over several blocks, the affidavit stated. Police caught the suspect and the injured officer was treated for a mild concussion at Genesis Medical Center-West Central Park, Davenport, and released. Taylor Williams and Ryan Townsend had two surprises Friday first, the arrival of their daughter nearly three weeks early and second, the celebration that goes along with being the parents of 2016 Baby New Year. With reporters, photographers and television cameras crowded in their hospital room at Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, the Davenport couple was amazed by all the attention given to their little Sophia Lillie-Doll Townsend. "The first new year baby, I didn't know what that meant," said Williams, who still was pleased to have the spotlight on her daughter. "I never thought she'd come the first of the year," said Townsend. In fact, Sophia was not due until Jan. 20. But after a false alarm Thursday and a trip back home, the couple returned to the hospital in the wee hours of New Year's Day and Sophia arrived at 7:27 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces; measured 18 inches long; and has a full head of black hair. She is the first child for the couple, who are engaged to be married Aug. 6. "We had hoped for a girl," said Williams, 24. With a sigh of relief that Sophia is here, she added "the whole nine-month process was a journey. A lot came with it." "I was in instant mother mode as soon as I found out (I was pregnant)," she said. "I had her room done before I was six months along." Townsend, who was still perfecting the baby-hold, said he was getting used to the idea that "I have a daughter now." Native Chicagoans, the couple moved to Davenport a year ago so Townsend to pursue his auto technician career. His fiancee has a social work/criminal justice degree. In honor of Baby New Year, Genesis presented the couple with a gift basket of baby items, including diapers, a sleeper, hat, blanket and a Hungry Caterpillar toy. Sophia's name became quite a point of conversation as Genesis spokesman Craig Cooper pointed out that the hospital had 10 babies named Sophia born there last year the second most-popular name in the country. Williams said the middle names are in honor of her own grandmother and aunt, who have both passed away. In addition, Sophia shares her Jan. 1 birthday with Townsend's great-grandmother. As relatives, friends and the baby's godmother looked on, Williams said "I'm just happy I got to finally meet my little Sophia." Before Rock Island County can move forward with plans to build a courthouse annex attached to the justice center, several legal steps must be taken, Rock Island County States Attorney John McGehee said. The first step, McGehee said, is to provide Henry County Circuit Associate Judge Dana McReynolds with the Public Building Commissions 1997 resolution authorizing construction of the justice center connected to the county jail in downtown Rock Island. McGehee said McReynolds wants to see the resolution to make sure there are no restrictions for adding an annex to the justice center. Also, McGehee said, the justice center is part jail, part courtrooms, and McReynolds may think a check of the wording of the old resolution would be helpful in adding the annex. However, McGehee said, the actual resolution cannot be located. "Things have changed with the Public Building Commission, and there is a new secretary. Well have to see if the secretary has records going back 20 years that contain that resolution, he said Thursday. If the building commission has no record of the resolution, McGehee said the bonding attorneys who got the money for the Justice Center may have a copy of it. But that is assuming there was a resolution document, he added. It is possible only a motion was made during a meeting and there may be only minutes, McGehee said. Still, he added, If there is a resolution, I dont think there will be anything in it to change Judge McReynolds opinion. It will just be helpful to show that now were just adding on to what weve already done. Once the question of the resolution is resolved, the building commission will go to the Chicago law firm of Chapman and Cutler, McGehee said. The firm, which provides bond counsel to taxing entities throughout the state, was used to raise the money for the justice center, he added. The bonds used to build the justice center expire in early 2019, he said. They will be rolled over to fund the courthouse annex without raising taxes on Rock Island County residents. Then, McGehee said, the county board must enter into an agreement with the public building commission to have the annex built and for the county to use it. The county board will have to vote on that, he added. County board member Drue Mielke, of Coal Valley, said McReynolds approval gets the county out from under the threat of a lawsuit by Rock Island County Circuit judges. Its a lawsuit we could not afford to defend and one we could not afford to lose, Mielke said. However, I still want the people to have a voice in what were doing, he said. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that our courtrooms in the courthouse were not large enough. That is really an unfunded mandate. Before we build anything, though, Id like to see an advisory referendum so the people will have a voice. Im very nervous about giving the building commission power without being checked by the voters, Mielke said. "I want the board to have the final say on anything the building commission does. County board member Don Johnston, of Moline, said that while the annex is a step in the right direction, We still have to solve the problems of the courthouse and the county office building. The county office building is antiquated, theres a lot of wasted space, and a lot of whats in it does not relate to the county, Johnston said. I think the county office building should be gotten rid of, one way or another. Johnston said that what he would really like to see is an all-encompassing plan that solves the problem of the courtrooms and the courthouse, rather than simply making a bunch of courtrooms for our judicial system. County board member Richard Brunk, of Moline, who is chair of the finance committee, said McReynolds' ruling is a step in the right direction. It will have the smallest impact possible on the taxpayers, Brunk said. The cost of the annex can be spread out over 20 years. Had we had to do something outside of the public building commission, it would have had to have been paid off in 10 years. Rock Island County Circuit Judge Walter Braud moved the issue of a courtroom annex forward in October by appointing a special prosecutor to bring a complaint against the public building commission challenging its authority to build a courtroom annex. Braud said in October that the complaint was the only way to test whether the powers of the building commission could be expanded beyond its original task of building a jail. Braud said he has always believed the commission had the authority, but the case needed to go before a judge so the bonding company could feel safe in issuing the bonds. Based on Brauds order, the amount spent on the courtroom annex cannot exceed $25 million. In October, Braud explained that the public building commission was formed in 1981 to build a $9 million, 217-bed county jail, which was completed in 1986. The bonds for the jail were paid off in 1998. Then the commission was tasked to build an annex to relieve overcrowding in the new jail. Opened in 2001, the five-story justice center cost $14 million. In addition to room for 135 inmates, the building has three courtrooms, a jury pool room, three jury deliberation rooms, judges chambers and 10 offices that include an office for the sheriff and circuit clerk. The $25 million for the annex is a far cry from the $72 million first quoted by CGL, an architectural design firm chosen to provide options for a new courthouse. That cost includes a renovation of the county office building, which was built in 1898 as the home office of Modern Woodmen of America. A few brave souls kicked off the new year Friday by paddling the bone-chilling Mississippi River in their kayaks, all for the honor of saying they were "the first in" the river in 2016. Six Quad-City kayakers earned the distinction as they joined the Saukenuk Paddlers club's "first in" ceremony. "It's tradition," said Dave Hill, president of the canoe, kayak and paddlesports club. "We did this yesterday (Thursday) at 1 p.m. so we could say that was our last time out (in 2015) and this is our first in (for 2016)." Before leading the small group of enthusiasts along the icy waters toward Credit and Pelican islands, Hill reminisced how in warmer years the club would put in canoes and kayaks at midnight to make absolutely sure they were first in. Preparing to head downriver with a rainbow of colored kayaks, Rob Nelson, of Davenport, said it was a relaxing way to spend the day. "I've been paddling awhile, but it's the first time I did the January in and out thing.'' Garry Lienen, of Davenport, who claims the title of the club's oldest member but not the oldest person had to sit out this year's event but was busy providing ground support to the paddlers. Lienen, who prefers a canoe, had the job of driving a vehicle to Credit Island to wait at the turnaround. "In case anyone dumps one, I'll load them up and bring them back," he said. Lienen, a club historian of sorts, has belonged since 1980 just one year after it was chartered and three years after members began paddling together. "It's something to do in the wintertime," he said remembering how the founders "were sitting around New Year's Eve one year and someone said 'I wish we could go canoeing.' So, they went canoeing the next day." Hill estimated the "first in" events began 30 years ago and that he has participated 15 to 20 times. Each year it attracts new people, but it is not an event for the unprepared, he said, adding that the paddlers have to dress properly to avoid exposure to the water. "I'm overly dressed so ... that if I go in, it's not life-threatening." Club member Chris Pekios, of Davenport, arrived on the riverfront to see her friends off. "I don't have a dry suit; one of these days I'm going to get one," she said. Wheatland 'prairie retreats' scheduled in January Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, rural Wheatland, Iowa, will host three events in January; fees include homemade meals prepared with local, organic ingredients: Come to the Quiet: The Gift of Mercy: What does it mean to see with the eyes of mercy? Led by Kathleen Storms. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Essential Oils for Healing, led by Cynthia Huffman and Judy Nyquist. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 28. An integrative approach leads to healing for mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. The Second Step of Mercy: A Men's Retreat, Jan. 29-31, 5 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday, with the Rev. Michael Schaab. Focuses on a response to God's mercy, especially on accepting mercy into life. To register, call 563-336-8414, email olpretreat@gmail.com. Online at chmiowa.org Strengthen faith during a weekend in Long Grove St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove, and Our Lady of the River Catholic Church, LeClaire, will jointly sponsor Christian Experience Weekends, "We Are Called." The women's event is Jan. 22-24, and the men's is set for Jan. 29-31. The purpose of the special weekend is to strengthen, and enrich, a participant's experience with God. It provides a special time and place away from the busy routine of daily living. Cost is $35, with a $10 deposit needed at registration. However, organizer Kathy Clasen said no one would be turned away at the event, if unable to pay. In addition, registrations will be taken up to the time of the weekend events. For information, contact Clasen, 563-285-8365 or 563-210-1365. Email is Katclas7@gmail.com. Or, Tim Lane at 563-320-9161, or timlane7@gmail.com Because of a terrible 1980 automobile crash on Interstate 80 in Bettendorf, a man's life flip-flopped in an amazing way. His journey took him from being a small-time farmer to becoming a college professor. That result shows just how angels are at work in our lives. While shuffling through old clippings last week, I found the story of David McKibbin and the accident that nearly claimed his life and the lives of his three children. I was interested because I had visited the badly injured McKibbin in a Quad-City hospital. Probably, I thought I could get a column out of this remarkable tale. IN DECEMBER 1980, McKibbin and his children were traveling from New York to visit relatives in Nebraska. Along Interstate 80 in Bettendorf, the engine of his Volvo sputtered, so he pulled off on the shoulder. He got out of the car. A speeding vehicle (police said 65 mph) rear-ended the McKibbin car. He was flung 70 feet, like being shot out of a cannon. The Volvo was hit hard, shoved nearly 100 feet, rolling over and over in the ditch with the three young children trapped inside. One of them broke out a window and all crawled to safety, banged up and scratched. An instant later, the car burst into flames. Nurses and rescuers took charge of the children. Strangers adopted them into their homes. Their mom, a teacher in New York, was not immediately able to get to their side. A relative hurried from Nebraska to be with the kids and mercifully, mom soon arrived. As for McKibbin, one of his legs was badly crushed. He was in traction with many other injuries. AFTER VISITING him in the hospital back in 1980, I went on writing about other matters. But my curiosity was piqued last week when I spotted that 35-year-old clipping. Out of curiosity and with the help of the Internet, I tracked down a David McKibbin in Fort Collins, Colo. By phone, I asked, Are you the one who was almost killed in an accident in Bettendorf 35 years ago? We talked about the crash. Whatever happened to you? I asked. He had amazing answers. Back home (New York), I was a young farmer, maybe 20 acres, but my wife, Carol, a teacher, and I were making a go of it. But after that awful accident, my life changed. You can call it the accident that changed a life. I was working on the farm, thinking that I should make something of myself. I wasnt getting anywhere. I needed some education. I got my bachelors degree at the University of Nebraska and went on to get my masters there. They convinced me I had the right stuff so I went east and got my doctorate at the State University of New York. I taught at several universities around the country and retired at the age of 68. But I havent quit yet. I make the rounds of retirement homes in Fort Collins, teaching history to the seniors, and they love it. Thumbs up to The Loop, for providing a safe, sensible way to enjoy New Year's Eve. A rider could board the typically seasonal bus service and circle the Quad-Cities for just $1. A wise business decision, no doubt. But it's also an important service. New Year's Eve is one of our booziest holidays. And, for residents of the Quad-Cities, there was no reason to be driving yourself. Thumbs down to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who dashed from the country over the holidays in the midst of a budget crises. Rauner's staff would only say that he'd left the country. Rauner paid for the trip himself, they noted. But Rauner's staff refused to release his whereabouts, a curious move for an administration that's already taking heat for a lack of transparency. It's been more than six months since Illinois had a budget. And, while talks between Rauner and legislative leaders finally appear to be going somewhere, one can't help but question the timing of his trip. We have no doubt that the instability in Springfield is keeping private investment at bay. Optics matter in politics and jet-setting while Illinois residents suffer just doesn't look good. Thumbs up to jumping tourism revenue. Hotels and hospitality centers have already booked $14 million in new business for 2016, tourism officials announced. That's on top of 2015's already growing tourism sector. Tourism is a welcome supplement to the Quad-Cities' evolving economy. It's good for the downtowns. And it's good for residents. The brutality of war [Jan. 2nd, 2016|11:16 am] rahere Rahere left the military when it became clear that his career would start with a blatantly criminal activity at the behest of the unreliable political masters who not long beforehand had betrayed one of his cohort: Robert Nairac's body has still not been found. We now see a huge number of soldiers under investigation for events which happened in war twenty years and more ago. It seems that these cases are being constructed by ambulance-chasing law firms in it for their cut, in effect asking Iraqis to fabulate at will. It is my opinion that every time such a case is found not guilty, the company concerned, and all the staff and Board, should be disbarred for treason. As the head of the team, Mark Warwick, says, "there is significant evdence to be obtained" - ie this is a fishing expedition: the track record of his team shows this is probably a uge waste of time putting many millions into the pockets of the muck-rakers. A soldier cannot fight cleanly with both hands tied behind your back like this. The revisiting of combat under a stressful Court environment is a significant PTSD trigger, and the penalties inflicted on those accused belie the presumption of innocence: they may well lose their jobs, and see an irremediable stain on their character simply from the accusation. Furthermore, this is in effect writing retractive Law, which is illegal: Statute should not be whittled away by ever-encroaching Case Law in this way. If the Law is not clear, then the most generous interpretation to the defendant must be given, and a hearing must be based in the Law as it stood at the time of the offence, not in the constructed mores of more recent times: Society changes, and we must not charge those whose actions were legal then with accusations viewed from the modern sensibility. This additionally opens the door to the question of time-based proscription of cases, in that the defence must be able to call witnesses who may perhaps have died, disappeared or forgotten the exact events. Do you know where you were and what you were doing on a particular day twenty years and more ago? This does not mean that there may not be a few founded cases in that number: this is why I'm not asking for the investigation to be thrown out sui-generis. But given the sizeable weight of the charge, if it is clear that someone's been muck-racking, the existing provision for disbarring a vexatious litigant from the legal system must surely apply, indeed, I would consider that a successful defendant should be allowed the right to include in his costs a charge on the lawyers behind the stitch-up. From a political angle, HMG has chosen to dismiss something like a quarter of those who were told they could make their careers in the Army, and some of those dismissed have been treated disreputably: kicking a hero out three days before he acquires a pension right is disgusting. It shows what we all know, the MOD has not reformed itself in the last 100 years since Kipling wrote of Tommy, "Kick him out the brute". And the consequence is that nobody wants to join their replacement force, the TAVR, because they are not trustworthy. Take 23 SAS, for example: it failed in training the Afghan Police, basically because they are not police themselves. Part of my charge in the WEU was running the finances for MAPE, a similar operation restablilising Albania after the pyramid banking crash of the 1990s, and a significant element of that was retraining the Albanian police to eliminate graft. It worked for a while, but when we withdrew, the problems returned, power corrupting.The reason I left the military, you will observe, is not entirely disconnected from the SAS circle, and in particular because my mentality and that of Nairac was similar: you are asked to take strategic responsibilities and yet the politicos require you to do so in a micro-managed environment where they won't tell you what you need to know. It's heads we win, tails you lose, in other words, when the winners don't have their lives at stake. The result of the Afghan failure was the demotion of 23 from Special Forces status to join the Reconnaissance Brigade, which perhaps means the SF regulars are now being taken in the stupid direction of the US Delta Force, downgrading their spiritual side to simple brute force. My attractiveness to them was my trained analytic powers, which go far beyond the logical: but now, such thongs are down-played because the MOD made the same mistakes the US did in the men-who-stare-at-goats project with a squad of RAF recruits, believing they know it all when they are actually utterly mind-blind. Science is wrong in promoting a universality of the skill, in passing: but this diverges from my theme. I was fortunate in being able to walk away. Those who have signed up do not have that opportunity, and so the only conclusion I can reach is that not getting involved in this rat's nest is rational. Catholics Returning Home's winter session will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City. For more information, contact Deacon Greg Sass at gsass@diorc.org or 939-0579, or visit ReturningCatholics.net. There is no charge, and pre-registration is not required. BILLINGS With the addition of the First National Bank and Rickard Hardware Store of Ekalaka in Carter County, all 56 counties in Montana have at least one property on the National Register of Historic Places. The former bank and hardware store now serves as the town offices and library for the southeastern Montana community. The Montana State Historic Preservation Office prepared the towns 53-page nomination with substantial help from Ekalakas clerk/treasurer, Lisa Jourdan. Ekalaka, the Carter County seat, has a population of 338 and growing, Jourdan said. When we first took over the building, every person who came in said how wonderful it was to have the building back in use, she said. One guy looked in, and the first thing he said was, Oh! Its green. I told him, That was its historical color. With the glass block windows, it is just a fabulous building. State Historic Preservation Officer Mark Baumler said that Montana is now home to more than 1,000 listings on the National Register. His office is producing a special deck of cards with a photo of a historic property from every county. The cards will be part of the 50th anniversary of the federal National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which established the National Register of Historic Places. According to the National Park Service website, the National Register now includes more than 90,000 U.S. locations. We are excited about now having a property in every Montana county listed, Baumler said, and especially so because of the listing of the Ekalaka bank that now will be the featured card for Carter County. The restored building, at 103 N. Main St., was constructed in 1940 to replace an earlier bank that burned. According to Jourdan, who returned to her hometown in December 2008 to go to work for the community she grew up in, in 2011 the town received a federal grant and a donation from Summit National Bank of Ekalaka to rehabilitate the First National Bank Building into a town hall. Another grant and more donations paid for work to restore the library. For decades, the building had been used for storage, Jourdan said, and had also been an Avon store for a few years before being vacated during the 1980s. When we first walked in, there were boxes and boxes, stacks of plywood, a lot of old doors, and just a lot of stuff, she said. Summit cleaned everything out, and we added new carpet and made things (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. She said during restoration efforts, we reused as much as we could, including a lot of the original trim, and the light fixtures are original. Two vaults remain from the bank, which was opened in 1919 as the Ekalaka State Bank and became the First National Bank of Ekalaka in July 1934. Six years later, a new building was constructed at the corner of Main Street and Munro Avenue that housed the bank on the west end of the building and a hardware store on the east side. Jourdan said the city still uses the old bank vaults. In one, the inspectors certificate indicates it was installed before the new bank was constructed in 1940. Jourdan said an Ekalaka resident cleared up that mystery, recalling from his childhood that the vault came over to the new bank from the older bank across the street. The bank, according to the Montana Historical Societys Historic Preservation Office, was a major player in the economy of the area, which included oil and lumber development, agriculture and business. The town council has had amazing meetings in the restored building, Jourdan said. At 20 feet by 20 feet, hosting any kind of presentation in the old town hall was a challenge. One of the council members had an extension cord practically wrapped around his neck, she said. Now we have a lot of room to set up. PIERRE | Dex Media, the publisher of telephone directories for CenturyLink customers in South Dakota, wants state regulators to answer whether the directories have to be the traditional printed copies on paper. The company doesnt want to eliminate the pulpy directories, but would prefer to get away from what it calls saturation delivery to all customers. Dex Media instead would provide paper directories only to people who request them and instead offer online guides over the Internet for people with computer access. Dex-CenturyLink directories already have an opt-out policy, that is, a recipient of a directory can ask that it no longer be delivered. The latest Dex-CenturyLink directory for Rapid City and the surrounding area was delivered in May 2015. In interviews, some local apartment-dwellers said that significant numbers of the directories delivered in bulk to their buildings' common areas remained unclaimed after several weeks. Lawyers for the two companies have asked the state Public Utilities Commission to officially declare the meaning of South Dakotas regulations requiring directories to be published. As the publishing world directories included moves to digital and online formats, the laws and rules of this state clearly permit such advancement and modernization, the lawyers wrote in their petition to the PUC. The commission will take up the matter at its meeting on Tuesday in the state Capitol in Pierre. The meeting will begin at 8:30 MST. In arguing their side, lawyers for the two companies make a case that telephone directories dont represent all telephone customers in South Dakota. Among their arguments: There are many other companies offering printed directories, online directories and digital apps. An estimated 10 percent of South Dakotans dont have high-speed, non-dial-up Internet access, but can get phone numbers using their phones by calling directory-assistance services. An estimated one-third of South Dakota households use VoIP, that is, Voice over Internet Protocol, and 40 percent have only wireless telephone service. PUC staff members working on the docket have questioned some of the companies assertions. For example regulators cited statistics indicating 24 percent of South Dakota households dont have high-speed Internet access. CenturyLink and Dex Media responded to 10 sets of follow-up questions from PUC staff employees. CenturyLink said it charges $3.99 per directory-listing check and doesnt have a business relationship with a toll-free directory service that it identified as an alternative. Parts of the answer to one question were treated by the companies as confidential information that wasnt publicly available. South Dakotans may have a lot on their plate or rather, ballot during the 2016 general election, with up to eight measures possibly awaiting decisions. One measure that is likely to qualify for the ballot merits serious consideration. Last week, the secretary of state certified the petitions for an initiative that would take legislative redistricting away from the Legislature and put it in the hands of a bipartisan (or, technically, tri-partisan) commission. The measure would assign redistricting to a commission composed of three members from each of the state's two largest parties Republicans and Democrats and three people who are unaffiliated with either party. This is a step that voters should take seriously, for it helps lessen the impact that politicians can have on the very process that gives them power. South Dakota Democrats have complained that Republicans, who have dominated in Pierre for decades, have solidified that dominance by redrawing district boundaries to bolster that advantage. This is particularly relevant in urban areas such as Sioux Falls where boundaries can be more conveniently reshaped. Of course, this looks nothing like the wildly creative and disjointed congressional redistricting that's been seen in some states. (This is one of the advantages that South Dakota owns in having just one congressional district.) However, the way Bon Homme County was split up in 2010 might make you wonder about the efficiency of the logic that was used. Frankly, the ability for lawmakers to reshape districts in order to give their party an advantage is legal, but it also looks improper. It turns this facet of representative government into a perk of being in the majority, not as a nonpartisan function of what should be a neutral democratic process. This proposal is a far more logical and practical method to handling redistricting. It would increase the odds that such matters could be handled without preference to political benefit. It could also be a first step toward other more sweeping reforms. For instance, why does the office of the secretary of state, which oversees elections, politically elected? (This is not a comment on the current secretary of state, Shantel Krebs, or others who preceded her, but rather a comment on the mechanism in general.) Ideally, an election should be overseen in a nonpartisan capacity, so perhaps there's a way to look at that down the road. But for now, this redistricting measure should be seen as some common-sense fine tuning for the election process. It deserves serious consideration next fall. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan SEELEY LAKE The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are seeking information about the killing of a grizzly bear north of Seeley Lake. The male grizzly was found along Montana Highway 83 about 10 miles north of Seeley Lake, according to a news release issued by FWS on Wednesday. Investigators retrieved the carcass Nov. 6 and estimate the bear died between Nov. 3 and 5 from a gunshot wound. Its size and age were unavailable. The bear was transported to the FWP wildlife laboratory in Bozeman for further investigation. FWS and FWP are asking for anyone with information about the killing of the bear to call the TIP MONT hotline at 1-800-847-6668. Callers do not have to identify themselves and a reward of up to $2,000 may be available if information leads to a conviction. News of the bear's death comes after hunters killed three grizzlies that charged them in recent weeks near Gardiner and West Yellowstone. *** Farther north, a grizzly bear was euthanized Thursday after FWP responded to several calls about it this week in the Coram area. FWP captured the bear Wednesday after callers reported it broke the back window of a truck to get horse feed on Kuzmic Lane, got into a refrigerator on a porch and tried to get into a slide-in camper off Seville Lane. As FWP personnel were setting a culvert trap and remote cameras next to the camper Wednesday night, the radio signal from the collar of the male bear was detected. The bear was captured less than an hour after the trap was set. On Thursday, the decision was made to euthanize the bear due to its behavior of repeatedly breaking into vehicles and structures to get food, a news release said. The bear previously had been captured Sept. 8 at another residence on Seville Lane after it had broken into a chicken coop and killed chickens. There were also apples in its scat, indicating it had been feeding in other yards. It was the first time the bear had been captured, so after the September incident it was radio-collared and released in the Puzzle Creek drainage south of Marias Pass, about 40 miles from Coram. This week, the 12- to 15-year-old, 575-pound bear was drugged by FWP personnel and euthanized by a local veterinarian. The hide and skull will be kept for educational purposes. BILLINGS It takes a hike over high ridges and numerous toppled lodgepole pine trees to find the small pool of fresh water in Yellowstone National Park. This is not some out-of-the-way hot springs that adventurous tourists seek out to soak in. Instead, the well-worn trails marked by tracks leading to the site attest to its use as a bear bathtub. The first of these pools was discovered more than a decade ago by Yellowstone bear researchers as they searched for a tracking collar that had fallen off one of the bears they were studying, according to an article in the recently released issue of the journal Yellowstone Science. The signal sent by the collar led them to the small pond at the end of a narrow gully surrounded by forested hills, according to the articles lead author, Kerry Gunther, Yellowstones bear manager. The radio transmitter identified the soft muck on the bottom of the pool as the resting place for the collar. Using a trekking pole, the collar was extracted and the important information it contained was downloaded. The researchers also took note of the pond. It was described as a bathtub-size pool of water, 2-3 feet deep and approximately 3-4 feet wide by 8-10 feet long. Four well-worn game trails, all with numerous bear tracks, led in to and out of the pool of water. Years later, the idea of placing a remote camera trap at the site was proposed by National Geographic magazine photographers as they sought to create unusual photos for an upcoming issue devoted entirely to Yellowstone National Park as the nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service. The cameras snapped a photo of one grizzly, its fur soaked, sitting at the end of the pool like a tourist relaxing in a pool at a four-star resort. Another photo shows one bear easing into the water as two others watch from behind, likely a sow and two yearling cubs. Photo and video documentation indicated (the pool) was used by multiple individuals of both black and grizzly bears, the article stated. Bears came to the pool, soaked, bathed and cooled off. Females brought their cubs to play at the pool. Even adult bears were observed playing with sticks pulled up from the bottom of the pool. Interestingly, bears also scent-marked along the edge of the pool, rubbing their necks and cheeks on the ground and lush grasses surrounding the pool. We hope to learn more about the scent-marking behavior observed at the pool. Regardless, it appears that bears enjoy a nice cold soak on a hot summers day as much as humans do. The article also noted that since that first collar was recovered from a bear bathtub, several others have been retrieved from similar remote, small ponds. The park likely has many such places visited by bears to bathe, soak, play and scent mark, Gunther wrote. The bear bathtub is just one of the many special places in Yellowstone National Park that grizzly bears have helped us discover. *** The use of camera traps points to the increasing role that specialized technology can play in aiding scientific research of typically shy animals like grizzly bears. In a similar 2014 experiment cataloged in the journal, researchers fitted two male grizzly bears and one male black bear with collar-mounted cameras that captured 20 seconds of video every 20 minutes. The videos are meant to help determine the animals activities and behavior at specific times and locations, according to the articles lead author, Nathaniel Bowersock, a Yellowstone wildlife biological technician. The video from one of the grizzly bears cameras is still being processed and studied, but the 2,600 clips from the other two bears have revealed some interesting details that could be compiled into a new YouTube hit. The black bear was a wanderer, ambling from near Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, where he was captured, to the West Yellowstone area. While scavenging on an elk carcass, the bruin killed and fed on what appeared to be an old female black bear, after she approached too closely when he was feeding on the elk carcass. Although capturing that video may seem pretty amazing, what struck Bowersock as unusual was the speed with which the black bear moved while foraging on small plants and mushrooms, a pace similar to the bears usual traveling speed. The information gives new meaning to the phrase a moveable feast. Although the black bear was most active during the day, the collared grizzly bear slept most of the day and foraged at night. Consequently, a lot of the video shows the grizzly sleeping in day beds. (Its believed black bears forage in the day to avoid running into grizzlies at night.) One of the more interesting video segments from (the grizzly bears) collar was the distant lights of the town of Gardiner, Montana, while he fed in apple orchards at night along the Yellowstone River within the Gardiner Basin, Bowersock wrote. Although the study was small, Bowersock wrote that the technology has the potential to increase our knowledge of bear activities, movements, food habits and interactions with other bears. *** Although technology can provide interesting insights to bears and their behavior, sometimes good old-fashioned animal husbandry is called for in Yellowstone as well. The recent issue of Yellowstone Science details the unusual story of the successful capture, nurturing and survival of an orphaned female cinnamon-colored black bear cub. The bear was captured after it was seen trying to raid garbage cans in the developed area of Old Faithful in 2007. Thin and malnourished, the cub was snared and taken in a bear trap lined with hay to be nursed back to health along a service road in the Gardiner Basin. Each day Yellowstone staff fed the bear, gave it fresh water and food while also cleaning any scat from its enclosure and changing out the hay. At one of the feeding sessions a dead elk was found next to the bear trap, along with a bald eagle and a pack of wolves, Gunther wrote in the article. From tracks at the scene, it looked like a small group of cow elk had come to the site to eat the hay being used to insulate the outside of the artificial den. A pack of wolves had then killed and consumed one of the elk. A bald eagle was also scavenging the elk. Its interesting to imagine what the cub had thought of all the commotion outside of her artificial den as the pack of wolves killed an elk within feet of her winter home. The stories that bear cub could tell! To prevent further ungulate feeding on the hay, a temporary barbed wire fence was strung around the artificial den. Once the cub was healthy, its food was slowly reduced to encourage it to hibernate. In March, the still-hibernating bear was relocated to the wild where it would awaken and hopefully survive. Researchers had assumed the bear, marked with a green ear tag, had died since it was never seen again. Then, on June 7, 2015, an adult cinnamon black bear with a green ear tag in her right ear, accompanied by one cub, was observed approximately one mile south of the old Buffalo Picnic Area on the Dunraven Pass road, Gunther wrote. The bear, now 8 years old, had been photographed. The photo, turned in to bear biologists, clearly showed the bears numbered ear tag, confirming it was the same animal. The extra efforts in capturing and feeding the orphaned cub had paid off, Gunther wrote. She was now raising a cub of her own and had not been involved in any conflicts with people since attempting to break into dumpsters eight years earlier. *** Stories about the grave-digger bear, the documentation of grizzly cub adoptions by related bears and the deaths in 2014 of two long-lived grizzlies that had been transplanted to the park after getting into trouble in 1989 and 1996 are some of the other incredible tales that can be found in the 100-page publication, not to mention numerous photos of people and the humans who come to see bears in Yellowstone. In his introduction to the articles, Gunther wrote: When I first began working in Yellowstone National Park in the early 1980s, it was fairly uncommon to see a bear, grizzly or black. If you saw a dozen bears in a summer, you considered it a good bear year. Today, you can easily see a dozen bears in one morning or even on one bison carcass. The work of scientists like Gunther has helped restore the parks grizzly bear population from the brink of extinction to an estimated 700 animals spread across more than 22,000 square miles of interconnected forests in three states. That revitalization has put the animals in the spotlight once again as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ponders removing grizzlies from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. No matter the outcome of that controversial issue, the public and scientists will continue to benefit from the ground-breaking work being done on the large carnivores in Yellowstone National Park and detailed in journals like Yellowstone Science. HELENA An eastern Montana state crime lab to test and identify drugs is moving toward a January or February opening. The lab was approved by the 2015 Montana Legislature and given a directive to focus on relieving a backlog of chemistry and toxicology testing statewide. Were still looking at being able to move in in January, said Mike Milburn, deputy chief of staff to Attorney General Tim Fox. Milburn said the opening date depends on how long it takes to get equipment set up. The state is still negotiating a final contract with Billings Clinic, where the new lab will be housed. Department of Justice spokesman John Barnes said lawyers for both the clinic and state of Montana are hammering out the ins and outs of the contract. Milburn said the clinic has had to do some minor construction to prepare a space for the lab in its downtown complex. Were still looking at being in it in January whether were open by then or able to start doing lab work, time will tell, he said. Judy Hoffman, a chemist who has been with the Missoula crime lab for more than 30 years, will be in charge of setting up the equipment in the Billings facility, training new chemists in how to examine evidence and advising on the very tight procedures needed to avoid corrupting evidence. The lab will employ a second chemist, as well as an administrative assistant. Applicants are being interviewed and should be hired soon, Milburn said. In the future, the lab could do things beyond drug identification. In our mind, as long as we have a lab doing the chemical work, identifying drugs and that sort of thing, it would make sense in the future to go ahead and expand to toxicity, Milburn said in November. The 2015 Legislature authorized, but didnt appropriate from the budget, for the Department of Justice to spend up to $310,000 to secure a lease for two years and $476,000 to pay employees and run the lab. That means the money to start the lab will come out of the existing DOJ budget and the agency will ask the 2017 Legislature for supplemental funding. Rep. Dale Mortensen, R-Billings, carried the bill for the new lab. A former law enforcement officer, Mortensen said at the time the lab was needed because of long distances between eastern Montana and the facility in Missoula. Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said earlier this year an eastern Montana crime lab was his top priority because of the backlog of cases in Missoula. At the time, Rep. Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings, called it crime lab light. In March, House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, spoke in favor of the bill, citing the experiences of his brother, who is a deputy Roosevelt County attorney dealing with rising crime in the Bakken oil field. My brother said we are letting hardened criminals out of jail because we cant get these test results fast enough, Knudsen said. Arun Budhathoki Recently one perpetrator was sentenced to ten years jail term for throwing acid on two teenagers last year. Till this year there was no proper law against acid attackers and finally the parliament passed a new law that criminalizes against acid attack on women. The law not only allows police force to catch the culprit but theres provision for punishment too. If theres any harm or disfigure of the victim then the perpetrator/s will be sentenced to a five to eight years jail term after assessing the offense with fine ranging between Rs 100,000 to 300,000. The fine paid by the perpetrator is automatically transferred to the victim. Also, if the victim dies after the attack then the perpetrator will be handed murder charge. The newly passed provisions in the bill, however, are not clear and strong enough to stop and discourage acid attacks. Unless people dont have easy access to harmful acids these kind of attacks will likely happen again. A Global Phenomenon Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London, which works towards ending acid violence in the world, most particularly, in South Asia. The trust reports that acid violence is a global phenomenon and terms the act as a form of hidden violence against women and children. The reasons for the attacks vary in different parts of the world but the common known motives are as follows: marriage (love) rejection, dowry, land disputes, and revenge. These intentions are clearly visible in South Asia where getting hold of harmful acids is not only easy but the sale of acids goes unregulated by the concerned authorities. So whats missing in the new law passed by the Nepal Parliament? Criminalize acid buying It is high time that the Government of Nepal give a serious thought about adding additional provisions in the newly passed law against acid attacks. Firstly, buying of harmful acids in small quantity for no genuine reason by common people should be criminalized. There should be a five year term jail if the person buys the harmful acid and ten year term jail for those who sell it. Secondly, all acid dealers, both buyers and sellers, should acquire proper license to buy/sell and declare for what reasons. They also should submit report about sales/usage of harmful acids to the concerned authorities. Thirdly, black-marketing of harmful acids should be monitored, curtail miscreants and seize acquired acid products. Fourthly, the Nepal government should make amendment in importing and distributing of harmful acids. Rehabilitation of victims/perpetrators The foremost priority should be given to victims by enrolling them in rehabilitation programs. ASTI has its branch in Nepal and works toward supporting acid victims. Also, Burns Violence Survivors (BVS-Nepal) work to rehabilitate victims mainly focusing on nutritional programs. It is commendable that both the organizations are working for the cause of victims; however, there are no provisions for the perpetrators to reform as they are simply sent to the jail. It would be good if theres a correctional program for them and provide psychological counselling too. Perhaps the perpetrators will change too in the process of fulfilling their jail term or else the jail might harden them more. I strongly disagree with handing them death penalty. It is imperative to understand that in Nepal there are scores of people with psychological problems and we dont have enough programs and facilities to deal with that issue. The Nepal government should invest in psychological counseling as a pre-emptive measure for such hideous attacks. In conclusion, imparting education to children, irrespective of gender, and to all is extremely important to deal with this burning issue. Also, the government should implement programs to discourage this kind of culture by disseminating required programs to its citizens. I strongly believe acid attacks in Nepal are not a culture issue but more than a hatred and hidden violence against women and children. This psyche needs to be altered by all the involved stakeholders. As soon as people realize that harming women and children is not accepted legally and culturally, then the attacks are sure to dwindle. Lastly, all of us are responsible to report and discourage such attacks. After all we are psychologically strong and fragile tooprone to illogical acts. This too needs to be addressed. Budhathoki is a graduate of International Relations twitter: @arunbudhathoki https://www.facebook.com/arunbudhathokiauthor http://thebruns.ca/author/abudathaki/ Recent books: Prisoner of an IPad: New Poems & Second in Love: Short Stories WARNING for European visitors European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. Coppins was the country home for the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their family. It also welcomed a host of royalty, including kings and quee... Qahir-I missile hits Abha Airport in Asir SANAA, Dec. 31 (Saba) The army and popular committees launched on Wednesday evening a ballistic missile of Qahir-I type, targeting Abha International Airport in Asir region. A military official confirmed that the missile hit its target with high accuracy. Earlier on Wednesday, Qahir-I missile was fired by the army and popular committees and targeted Jizan port. On December 13, the army and popular committees bombarded the Saudi Khalid Bin Abdul-Aziz Air Base in Khamis Mushait using Qahir-I rocket. On December 14, the missile force of the army and popular committees fired a Tochka missile at the enemy operations center in Bab al-Mandab in Taiz province, killing hundreds of the enemy soldiers. Nearly 146 bodies mostly charred were transferred to Aden city and Amran camp, and a medical ship belonging to the aggression coalition reached near the coast of Aden in an attempt to help the evacuation and treatment of the injured, said the official spokesman of the armed forces Sharaf Luqman. The initial toll of the targeting of the enemy command in Bab al-Mandab among the Blackwater company forces is 42 dead and 12 military and armored vehicles of the company were damaged, as well as the destruction of the coalition command buildings, two Patriot systems, three Apaches, and 40 military vehicles, he added. On December 20, a Qahir-I rocket targeted Saudi hirelings at al-Tewal border crossing in Jizan, killing at least 90 of invasion troops and wounding 100 others. On December 21, the missile forces fired a ballistic missile of Qahir-I type at Jizan Regional Airport. On December 27, the army and popular committees launched a ballistic missile of Qahir-I type at the Saudi National Guard camp in Al-Arisah area in Najran. Qahir-I rocket is a Russian rocket (Sam 2) which was improved locally to become surface-to-air rocket. The military official added the rocket, Qahir-I, works in two stages; sold fuel and liquid fuel, and its length is 11 m and weighs 2 tons while it can fly over 250 km after introducing improvements to it. BA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [31/December/2015] From: Defence Committee defendgnsaibaba[at]gmail.com Date: Thu, Dec 31, 2015 at 10:50 PM Subject: Invitation for the United Protest on 2nd January 2016 United Protest against the Re-arrest of Dr. GN Saibaba and the charge of contempt of court against Arundhati Roy Date: Saturday, 2nd January 2016 Time: 12 noon onwards Venue: Jantar Mantar, New Delhi Dr. GN Saibaba, an English professor at Ram Lal Anand College of Delhi University, a democratic rights activist and a fierce critic of the regimes of exploitation and injustice, has yet again been subjected to the same life-threatening ordeal to which he was forced into after his abduction and arrest in May 2014. The prison condition had pushed him into life-threatening ailments and paralysed his left hand. It was only after sustained protests all over the country that the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice B S Shukre granted him interim bail in June 2015. This meant he could avail necessary medical treatment. Now, when the treatment was on going, Dr. Saibaba has been ordered back into the same prison from which he was freed by the previous Bombay High Court order. The growing intolerance of the state against voices that speak for the people is yet again exhibited by the current court order as it has initiated criminal proceedings for contempt against author Arundhati Roy. This was done citing her article in the magazine Outlook in May 2015 demanding release of Dr. Saibaba and for questioning judicial discrimination by citing the cases of granting bail to convicted mass murderers Babu Bajrangi and Maya Kodnani! In this time of growing fascism, it is imperative for all of us to rise against such measures of state repression. The only answer to growing repression is mass resistance. Lets not keep silent. Lets raise our voice in unison that we shall not let the State bury the voice of reason and compassion. COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE AND RELEASE OF DR. GN SAIBABA & DUTA in association with Aahwan, AISA, AISF, BAPSA, Bhor, BSCEM, Collective, CPIML (Liberation), CPIML (New Democracy), CPIML (New Proletariat), Disha, DSF, DSU, DTF, IFTU,IMK, JNUSU, JSM, JTSA, KNS, KYS, LSM, Marxwadi Vichar Manch, Morcha, NSI,Nowruz, Pachhas, PDFI, PMAP, RIB, Samajwadi Janparishad, Sangwari, Sanhati, SFI, TNM & others. The Sahih Al Islam Blog is a platform to share in an easily available format the sermons and writings of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, the Holy Founder of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International. Bestowed with sublime spiritual titles such as Muhyi-ud-Din, Mujaddid and Khalifatullah, Imam Azim (aba) is Divinely-ordained with the task of inviting all people to the wisdom of Islamic teachings in every day life. Most certainly, Islam promises Mercy, Grace and Blessings for those who follow the Divine Light in their midst. Apart from being a depository record of the Jamaat events and social engagements of its members, the Blog also publishes a variety of other writings on issues of spiritual and social concern. I give my consent to Sakshi Post to be in touch with me via email for the purpose of event marketing and corporate communications. Privacy Policy Bill Burke turf improvements coming at $1.7 million cost in Salina The Salina City Commission approved a contract bid for just over $1.7 million for new synthetic turf at the eight fields in Bill Burke Sports Complex. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Click On Our Advertisers Ads Most of our ads have links to take you directly to their Websites. Just click on an ad and away you go. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. He may have been born in Brooklyn, but Carl Sagan was gunning for the stars as soon as he arrived in this world. Get to know the scientist whose infectious delight in the universe still holds us spellbound. By Marianne Spoon The position reports update hourly when we are at sea. However position reporting may be switched off for a variety of reasons, so no update is not a cause for alarm About this blog Print Media/Music/Video selections: RonDoids does not own the copyright to certain media posted within our site. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer's memories and views of his years in upcountry Sierra Leone from 1968 to 1970 SIOUX CITY | Every four minutes a person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Samie DuVall and Zach Torgerson took the first step Wednesday at Morngside College's Olsen Student Center in potentially becoming the bone marrow donors who could cure them. During the third annual bone marrow donor drive the students brushed the insides of their mouths with cotton swabs that were labeled and then sealed in an envelop. DuVall, a freshman biology major from Audubon, Iowa, said a boy she knows who recently received a bone marrow transplant inspired her to join the national Be The Match Registry. "Someone donated for him, so I thought I could do the same for someone else," she said. "A little bit of pain for me for a couple days to save someone else's life wouldn't be a problem at all." Thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma, need a transplant from an unrelated donor to replace bone marrow -- fatty tissue inside bones -- that has been damaged or destroyed by chemotherapy and/or radiation. They depend on Be The Match Registry, the world's largest hematopoietic cell registry, to find a match. Three years ago, Carol Garvey, director of student health services at Morningside, said the college started the drive for people ages 18-44, who make up 90 percent of bone marrow donors. "I had a co-worker who had leukemia, so we kind of got involved with her, but I also found out that this age group is most likely to be a match," she said. "I realized we were sitting on a gold mine if people were willing to participate." During the first two drives at Morningside, Garvey said 178 people filled out paperwork and swabbed four different spots in their mouths to collect cells for tissue typing. Two of the participants, she said, were called back for blood testing, although they turned out not to be a close genetic match. "These swabs are what we send to be processed and that goes into that Be The Match Registry," she explained. "I would say it's working." Becoming a part of the registry may sound easy and relatively painless, but participants bear a big responsibility if they're found to be a match. They will be asked to donate peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) or marrow, processes that takes 30 to 40 hours and are spread out over four to six weeks. Torgerson, a sophomore U.S. and world history teaching major, said donating a little time and going through a little pain would be worth it to save a life. "You hear stories every other day. The ones you regularly hear about are young children," the soon-to-be father from Sioux City said. "That's another reason I'd do it in a heartbeat." Five days before a PBSC donation, the donor is given injections of a drug that increases blood stem cells in the bloodstream. The day before donation blood is removed through a needle in the arm, passed through a machine that collects blood-forming cells and returned to the body in a process known as apheresis. An additional apheresis session may be needed to donate. During bone marrow donation a doctor uses a needle to collect liquid marrow from the pelvic bone. The surgical procedure could involve an over night stay in a hospital. All medical costs are covered by the program or the patient's medical insurance, as are travel expenses. "No matter where you live, if you are the match 20 years from now, they get you to Iowa City," Garvey said. "There's no cost to a donor. If you can't take vacation time, your wages can be paid and all that." ORLANDO, Fla. | Can you still get a deal on a Disney vacation? Three families who traveled to Disney World last month tracked their spending. Lynn and Daniel Wiltse of Hilton Head, S.C., are passholders who try to keep costs down because they visit a few times a year. Daniel, 38, is a fire marshal. Lynn, 33, works as a receptionist. They have three kids, ages 3 to 11. Elaine and Michael Carpenter of Pearl River, N.Y., made their first trip to Disney. Michael, 50, works in construction. Elaine, 41, is a senior caregiver. They have two children, ages 7 and 5. Kim and Blair LaCour of Avon Lake, Ohio, have taken several Disney trips and cruises over the past few years. Blair, 42, is a computer consulting manager and Kim, 36, is a stay-at-home mom who plans Disney-focused vacations for family and friends. They have three children, 5 to 9 years old. THE WILTSES The Wiltses seven-day stay ended on Thanksgiving. They estimated their cost as $6,052 $1,210 a person including five annual passes. They bought a package costing $3,990 that included a stay in a family suite at the All-Star Music Resort, two park hopper tickets and the dining plan. They paid extra to upgrade their quick-service dining plan that was offered for free at budget resorts to one that included sit-down meals, DeFazio said. The family then used $1,260 credit from the two park hopper tickets toward five annual passes. The Wiltses were able to renew four annual passes at the old rates, paying $590 apiece for four people. A brand new pass for their 3-year-old daughter cost $797. It definitely can be frustrating when you see the price increase, said Lynn Wiltse, who blogs about Disney but received no discounts. I try to look at it bigger picture, of what you get in the Disney experience with your annual pass and how many times we come a year. THE CARPENTERS For the Carpenters, the trip from Nov. 13 to 20 was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. They signed up for credit cards that provided them with a perk: $400 in gift cards that offset their cost. Once in the parks, we really didnt spend a whole lot of money there, Elaine Carpenter said. Everything was obviously very overpriced. The Carpenters reported their total cost at $5,200, or $1,300 a person. That included the gift cards they applied and $1,070 for plane fare. No regrets; no need to rush back, Elaine Carpenter said of the trip. The free dining was a huge factor for us so we felt we got a good enough deal. THE LACOURS Kim LaCour does not try to do Disney on a budget. Its not an inexpensive trip to begin with, she said. When we do it, we want to do it right. We like to be right by the monorail and have that top-notch service and special touches. The LaCours spent $7,250 $1,450 a person during their stay that ended the day before Thanksgiving. The bulk of that cost was a $5,257.58 package that included six nights of a standard room at the Polynesian and five days of theme-park admission. LaCour said she received no discounts but earned a booking commission of $477.20. Its a supply and demand thing, LaCour said of the increasing expense of a Disney vacation. For the experience that Disney gives, it does cost and also really in order to maintain the crowds they have to make sure they price it appropriately. That means the prices do go up. FRESNO, Calif. | On a quiet street in a senior living development in northeast Fresno, three women in their 80s are hard at work making burial gowns for the youngest and smallest among us. The dresses are given to Hinds Hospice, which distributes them to grieving families for children who are born premature or medically fragile and die shortly after birth, or for those who had a stillborn baby. A lot of love is poured into these delicate creations by the volunteer seamstresses and those donating the fabric. The burial gowns were once wedding, bridesmaid and quinceanera dresses. Merry Derrick, Peggie Morgan and Antonia Rhodes, along with Rhodes daughter, Becky Rowe, have made more than 200 of these small dresses since they started their work a few months ago. Rowe gets chills collecting donated wedding dresses. Tears would stream down my face, Rowe says. I got so emotional every time -- and I still do, every time. I just felt God was calling me to do something good for someone. Inspired by a story about women in Texas who make infant burial gowns, the Fresno, California, group started doing the same without knowing who would receive their gifts. Then Morgan learned women with the Athena Philoptochos Society of St. George Greek Orthodox Church were also making these dresses and donating them to the Hinds Hospice Angel Babies program, which serves families in Fresno, Madera and Merced counties. The women joined forces and, collectively, have made more than 425 infant gowns for the program. They also make cloth diapers and envelopes that can be used to hold hospital paperwork and death certificates, and knit baby blankets and caps many just the size of a lemon or egg. Rhodes knit 250 of these hats in three weeks. Every piece is a unique and beautiful creation. Derrick, a retired potter, likes to paint things like teddy bears and animals on many of the dresses. Morgan recently made a boys gown that has a vest adorned with tiny military medals. The first delivery to Hinds Hospice was in March. Angel Babies helps around 35 families a month, says its program director Kathy Cromwell. Since Angel Babies began in 2001, its helped grieving families cope with the deaths of around 3,800 babies. Hinds Hospice stresses the importance of providing dignity at the end of life, Cromwell says, and the handmade burial dresses help with that. Its important that the babies get to wear something thats so beautiful, because they are so beautiful. Elaine Sotiropulos with St. George also got the idea for making gowns from the story of the Texas volunteers. A wedding gown is such a symbol of beauty, and to take something that is used in one way and is beautiful and to repurpose it into another beautiful use the giver receives a lot of that warmth and love, Sotiropulos says. Its different than just buying fabric. Amber Sweilem, 23, of Fresno donated her dress shortly after her July wedding. Since I was a little girl I dreamed of my wedding especially my wedding dress. But after my wedding, I wasnt going to need it anymore. I know a lot of people have them dry-cleaned and put in boxes and hung on walls, but that just never seemed like an option to me. Id rather something that meant so much to me go toward a good cause, and I couldnt think of anything better. Typically, around 15 burial gowns can be made from each wedding dress, but one recently yielded enough material to make 35. Morgan received one wedding dress that belonged to a woman who was married in 1945. She died recently in a center for people with Alzheimers disease. Her daughter found the dress while cleaning out her mothers apartment. This is made just from lace, most of it disintegrated, but I was able to salvage this, Morgan says, holding up a burial gown at Rhodes home. She shared a photo of the dress with the daughter. She wept and wept and wept. Her mother had 10 miscarriages before she was born and she said, One of my siblings could have worn this. So, thats why I do it. The gowns also save grieving families from shopping for a dead child, says Cindi Boukidis with St. George. Its not easy to bury a child, and the last thing you want to do is go shopping for something when you cant find something this size and you dont want some doll dress. The Angel Babies gowns are special because they are lovingly and prayerfully made, Boukidis says. Sweilem agrees. Being a newlywed, having children someday is something me and my husband both look forward to, and I cant even imagine what it would be like to be one of those mothers who had lost their child. I just hope it brings them a sense of closure. Nothing of course can ever fill that hole that Im sure they feel from losing a child, but at least knowing that their baby was clothed in something that was made out of love maybe it would bring them some sense of relief. SIOUX CITY | Some parents enjoy the acclaim of having the first baby born in a new year. Amanda Cornish, of Sioux City, said she wasn't looking to have a New Year's Day baby because so many family members have birthdays packed from Dec. 20 to Jan. 8. Cornish also didn't want her son born on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. "I didn't want his birthday affiliated with anything else. I wanted him to have his own day," Cornish said. When her son, Stephen Lee Arndt, arrived 12 days before the estimated due date, at 8:47 a.m. Friday at Unity Point Health -- St. Luke's, he was the first baby born in Sioux City in 2016. By that time, Cornish had changed her mind about having a New Year's baby. "I'm OK with it now. It doesn't bother me like I thought it would," Cornish said. Stephen, 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and 19 inches long, is the son of Cornish and Niklas Arndt, and was resting comfortably Friday afternoon with his parents in a room. Things got interesting, as Stephen in utero had a falling heart rate for about six minutes, so Cornish was taken to have a Caesarean section. "Everybody just kind of rushed in," Niklas Arndt said. "That was scary," Cornish said. "I was worried, of course. And then when I heard (Stephen) crying, it relieved a lot of my fears. I am happy he is healthy," Niklas Arndt said. Stephen Lee has the same first two names as Cornish's father. He has a considerable amount of hair. The baby will go home in a few days to a room painted blue and red, and will be joined in the family with KyLynn, 4, a daughter of Cornish. A baby was born shortly after Stephen across the city at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City. At 10:15 a.m., the baby boy named Alan was born to Vicente Olivo and Ana Anguiano-Valeriano of Sioux City. SIOUX CITY | Gabe Komara had a confession to make. Whenever he'd see a rabbit in his North Sioux City backyard, the 5-year-old would chase it away. This might make Gabe, one of the more than 20 children at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on Thursday, an expert at discovering tracks left by animals such as rabbits. "Bunny Tracks" -- part of the nature center's yearlong Take A Kid Outdoors educational activity series -- gives youngsters a chance to identify animals through the traces they leave in snow, dirt and cement, said naturalist Theresa Kruid. "Different animals leave different kinds of tracks," she said. Deer and elk can be identified by their distinctive two-toed hoof prints; birds leave a three-toed impression; dogs, cats and rabbits have similar four-toed footprints; and beavers, opossums and skunks have five toes, similar to humans. "Many kids may never see animals like deer or elk up close and personal," Kruid said. "This class let children know that wildlife is actually all around them." Even though Olivia Danis said she's spotted an owl before, the 3-year-old Dakota Dunes girl is much more eager to see another specific creature: the Easter bunny. "Oh, I like the Easter bunny," Olivia said. "He gonna leave me lots of candy and dinosaur toys." On the other hand, Raj Bishowokarma, 2, of Sioux City, was simply excited to hold a turkey's leg. "Cool!" he exclaimed, passing the detached limb to his mom, Elise Burrows, who wasn't quite so enamored at the sight. In addition to searching for footprints in the woods surrounding the nature center, kids also created animal tracks made from plaster molds, an endeavor that suited the artistic mind of Alex Harder, 6, of Sioux City. "I'm making a deer footprint," Alex, a Clark Elementary School first-grader, explained while pouring plaster of Paris into a mold. "It's messy, but it will look good." Conducting monthly kid-friendly events is fun for naturalist Kruid. "Children exposed to the beauty of the outdoors at an early age will have an appreciation of nature that will last a lifetime," she said. With any luck, that will not be a lesson lost on 5-year-old self-admitted rabbit chaser Gabe Komara. "The Easter bunny is nice," Gabe reasoned. "I'm sure not gonna chase him away." SIOUX CITY | For years, Woodbury County Board of Supervisors meetings, like a lot of Iowa county supervisor sessions, played out the same way again and again. The five supervisors met in morning sessions, where they aired agenda topics with few explanatory written memos for the public to follow along. County committees met outside at various times, with few hard details coming back in written form to the weekly meetings. But with the election of two new members who campaigned on the need for reforms and a more deliberate weighing of issues in the public sphere, change arrived in 2015. The goal was to modernize how county departments operate and for the public to more easily follow how decisions are made. The two new members, Republicans Jeremy Taylor and Matthew Ung, joined with Democrat Mark Monson, a longtime member who ascended to board chairman, to approve a series of reforms. The Taxpayers Research Council, a watchdog group, had long advocated for more information being shared when county issues were discussed. From basics, such as moving weekly Tuesday meetings to a bigger room and changing the time from longstanding morning sessions, to more substantial pieces such as ending a business loan program and giving written recaps of committee deliberations during the investigation of closing a jail annex, the reforms kept coming. Monson, Ung and Taylor voted in unison numerous times, with the other supervisors, Jackie Smith and Larry Clausen, both Democrats, dissenting. MEETING PLACE AND TIMES In March, for the first time in at least four decades, the supervisors shifted from having 10 a.m. meetings in favor of a 4:30 p.m. start time to better accommodate work schedules, so more people could attend. Additionally, a few weeks earlier the supervisors moved to hold meetings in the basement of the Woodbury County Courthouse instead of the main floor board room, which only seated 20 people and presented handicapped accessibility challenges. Monson, Taylor and Ung voted for the time change. Clausen and Smith voted against that, saying there is no data showing that people would attend more meetings with a later start time. Four members of the public were in attendance for the first afternoon meeting and there were five at the Dec. 15 meeting, so a flood of meeting attendees hasn't happened. Bill Peterson, of the Iowa State Association of Counties, said he doesn't know why Iowa county boards traditionally have held weekly meetings on Tuesday mornings. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS The supervisors made a mid-year change with a September 3-2 vote to kill the Investing in Rural Woodbury County loan program, which was created in 2010. Monson, Taylor and Ung said having a county loan program is not a defensible way to spend taxpayer money to boost economic development. Taylor said there are many private lenders who can help businesses in need of capital. Four outstanding loans still have to be repaid, and those who had been interested in getting loans blasted the change. Monson subsequently took the lead in forming a committee to create a new economic development tool after the supervisors ended a revolving loan program in September. The committee met in Anthon with county mayors and other officials to get a feel on what help they'd like to have. OVERSIGHT OF EMPLOYEES Through varying actions, the supervisors let it be known that they wanted better oversight of county employees. Taylor in February announced that he'd learned employees punched in at least 45 minutes late 9,273 times in 2014. An online program logs hours for payroll purposes. Taylor conducted the research with the help of the Human Resources Department, and said the statistics show a "serious, ongoing problem." Woodbury County officials vowed to ensure employees properly account for their daily work time, and Taylor later reported better payroll logging. In November, the long-standing practice of employees taking county-owned vehicles to their homes during off-hours got more oversight. The supervisors indicated they were interested in better quantifying but not ending the practice of sheriff's deputies, jailers and secondary roads workers taking county vehicles home after their shifts. County Auditor Pat Gill said it was important to document which workers have permission to have county vehicles during off-hours, in case the Internal Revenue Service performs an audit in line with commuting rules. ENERGY EFFICIENCY CHANGES After seeing budget savings in the Sioux City school district, Taylor in the first half of the year began pushing to change all lighting unit in every county building to increase energy efficiency and save money. The supervisors quickly agreed to make Woodbury County the first in Iowa with buildings lit entirely by light-emitting diode, or LED, units. The process was aided by the county hiring the consulting Baker Group, of Des Moines, to look into energy efficiency improvements. Energy program rebates will pay for more than half the costs, and the county costs could be recouped within three years through reduced energy consumption. The supervisors approved a $893,359 contract with West Plains Engineering, of Sioux Falls, to install new lighting. The units will soon be placed in county facilities. The Baker Group is also involved in getting information about a wing that could be built to give more jail space in the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center, downtown at 407 Seventh St. STORM LAKE, Iowa | Storm Lake police were still searching Friday evening for a man they said broke into a home and assaulted a woman Wednesday. The Storm Lake Police Department said the suspect, identified as Domonick Tribble, 28, broke into a residence in the 100 block of Irving Street at 3:30 p.m. and assaulted a woman who identified herself as the suspects estranged girlfriend. Police on Thursday said they were searching for him, and he had not been found Friday, Police Lt. Chris Cole said. Police said the woman reported Tribble entered her home through a bedroom window and assaulted her. He allegedly stole her cellphone and fled on foot. The victim suffered minor injuries. Tribble is described as 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighing 180 pounds. He has "Nick" tattooed on his left arm and a skull tattooed on his right arm. Anyone with information is asked to call the Storm Lake Police at 712-732-8010. SIOUX CITY | Siouxland health care providers are expressing relief over the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' decision to delay Gov. Terry Branstad's plan to shift management of Iowa's Medicaid program to private, out-of-state, for-profit health care companies. Don Dew, a Medicaid beneficiary with epilepsy and director of the Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, doubts whether the state and its managed care organizations, or MCOs, will be ready come March 1 -- the new deadline. "I think it's gonna take a big turnaround not only by the state, but the MCOs themselves to do that. There needs to be a lot more information given to not only the providers but to the people having to give information to (Medicaid) recipients," he said. Medicaid, a federal-state insurance program for the poor and disabled, was supposed to be privatized Jan. 1, but CMS said Iowa wasn't ready to make the transition by Branstad's deadline and delayed it. The Branstad administration now projects moving Iowa's 560,000 Medicaid beneficiaries to managed care will save the state $47 million in the first six months, down about $4 million from original estimates. "We are very pleased with the decision by CMS to delay the implementation of the Medicaid managed care program in Iowa," said Jim FitzPatrick, Mercy Medical Center's president and CEO. "We feel it's the prudent thing to do in light of the circumstances so Iowa providers and Medicaid patients can have more time for information to be thoroughly shared and understood." Existing Medicaid beneficiaries are automatically assigned an MCO, but they are allowed to switch. Iowa Department of Human Services public information officer Amy McCoy said they should make that change by Feb. 17 in order to have coverage on March 1. The MCOs are Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley. "All members have until May 18 to make a change for any reason whatsoever," she said. "We're trying to give them a lot of flexibility to get to know the MCOs better." McCoy said all MCOs must offer the same benefits as the current Medicaid program. She said the MCOs' value-added services and the providers in their networks are what differentiates them. Some value-added services offered by the MCOs include free Boys & Girls Club memberships for families, weight management programs such as Weight Watchers, online kiosks in rural communities and healthy reward incentives that offer money back for completing health screenings. "There really are some incentives which go way above and beyond what traditional Medicaid has been able to offer," McCoy said. Medicaid beneficiary John Lazaris thinks the privatization of Medicaid will "hurt a lot of people." The Sioux City man, who is in his mid-70s and suffers from a number of chronic and congenital health conditions, is calling physicians' offices, the Iowa Department of Human Services and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell's office in hopes of thwarting Medicaid privatization. "This is a federal program. Medicaid is not a partisan issue," he said. "I'm praying that this thing can be stopped." The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) opposes the state's Medicaid modernization plan and asked a Polk County District Court judge to issue a temporary injunction to halt it, arguing that the managed care contracts are illegal and invalidate existing programs and contracts with IHA member hospitals. District Court Judge Robert B. Hanson denied the motion for temporary injunction in a ruling issued Thursday. Unless the privatization of Medicaid is further delayed by CMS, Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley will take over the program on March 1. The state terminated WellCare of Iowa's contract upon the recommendation of an administrative law judge. The MCO failed to disclose that it's facing a million dollars in fines in other states and that three of its former executives were convicted of fraud. WellCare filed an appeal Dec. 23 in Polk County District Court, seeking to have its contract reinstated. Mercy Health Network, which includes Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City, signed contracts with WellCare and AmeriHealth Caritas. The hospital said in a statement Wednesday that the agreement between Mercy Health Network and WellCare of Iowa remains in force pending the outcome of WellCare's appeal. Mercy said its health network's payer strategy team continues to negotiate with the other two MCOs. McCoy said Medicaid beneficiaries who were initially assigned to WellCare are being reassigned. As of Dec. 17, Siouxland Community Health Center hadn't signed any contracts with MCOs, but Jim Wharton, director of marketing and fund development, said "final negotiations" are underway with the companies. A spokeswoman for CNOS told the Journal she didn't know whether contracts had been signed with any of the MCOs or whether negotiations were ongoing. CNOS, based in Dakota Dunes, provides neurosurgical, neurological and orthopedic treatment and care of the spine. UnityPoint Health, UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's parent company, has signed contracts with UnitedHealthcare and AmeriHealth. St. Luke's president and CEO Lynn Wold said the extension gives the hospital more time to continue working with the MCOs to ensure a "smooth transition" to managed care. "It also allows us additional time to ensure existing patients are informed about which MCOs our providers will participate with in-network so we can continue to provide their care long-term," he said. HURON, S.D. (AP) -- A state judge has denied a former Wolsey minister's contention that constitutional violations led to his imprisonment for the drowning death of his wife. Circuit Judge Tim Tucker of Madison made the ruling in the case of William Guthrie, 63, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 for murder in the death of his wife, Sharon, after a Beadle County jury convicted him. In legal papers, Guthrie claimed his lawyer was ineffective, that law officers had no probable cause to get a warrant to search a computer and that prosecutors illegally got his prescription drug records. Tucker agreed search warrants should have been obtained to search for the drug records but that the state otherwise would have gotten the records through legitimate means. Tucker said it's unlikely Guthrie would have acquitted even without the drug evidence. Sharon Guthrie had an incapacitating level of the sleeping pill Temazepam in her system when she was found in the bathtub of the couple's Wolsey home nine years ago. William Guthrie was accused of putting the prescription pills in her chocolate milk. In his habaes corpus ruling, Tucker cited 10 examples of trial evidence that were overwhelming. They included testimony on a bad relationship between the Guthries, testimony regarding Guthrie's veracity, Guthrie's differing stories of his wife's death, and his interaction with emergency medical personnel at the scene of the crime. During the trial, a prosecutor said Guthrie killed his wife because he wanted to get out of a bad marriage and resume a relationship with a Nebraska woman without worrying about losing his job as a minister due to a divorce. But Guthrie's lawyer had said that Sharon Guthrie was suicidal and not the happy-go-lucky person jurors were led to believe by some witnesses. She had sleeping problems, anxiety attacks, was worried about finances, had threatened suicide and was dealing with a husband who had been cheating on her for years, the defense lawyer said. "It is a notorious fact that this city, being at the seat of government, is liable to be visited by more than its proportion of insane persons." - Washington DC newspaper The Intelligencer , April 21, 1835 He or she reacts promptly and responsibly to even the most uncouth respondent or absurd situation with equanimity, humor and meticulousness Foreign Service Journal (November 2009) Disclaimer The views and opinion I express are my own and do not in any way reflect those of the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or officials. All the information and materials I present, or link to, are in the public sphere and are fair game for public comment. Coffee is a huge industry in many countries around the world. But the ways in which people enjoy coffee can vary greatly. Take a look at some of the coffee shops and other businesses that serve coffee beverages in different countries. Heres just a sampling of coffee shops around the world. A Guide to Coffee Shops Around the World Coffee Shops in the UK Coffee shops in the U.K. are very similar to coffee shops in the U.S. Many of them cater mainly to professionals looking for an early caffeine fix on the way to work. But theres something for pretty much everyone, whether you go to major chains like Starbucks, independent shops or even small outdoor carts. Cat Cafes in Japan? On the opposite end of the spectrum is Japan. Coffee shops in Tokyo and some other cities through Japan dont try to keep things simple. Instead, many Japanese coffee shops look for ways to make their businesses stand out from the rest. For example, cat cafes, where visitors can enjoy their coffee among actual cats, have become common there. Coffee Culture in Italy Italy is a country thats truly known for its coffee culture. Whether you go to an outdoor cafe or a fancy restaurant, youre likely to find several varieties of coffee beverages on the menu. In different parts of the country, there are also different regional specialties that coffee shops, bars and other restaurants serve. Specialty Cafes in Argentina Youll find a huge variety of specialty cafes and coffee shops in Argentina. The South American country has certainly seen its share of large chains like Starbucks. But even before the coffee giant made its way to Argentina, Buenos Aires and other big cities had a pretty large array of independent coffee shops to choose from. Coffee Community in Turkey Coffee has traditionally been a very important part of Turkish culture, and it remains so today. In fact, Turkey even has its own method of brewing coffee, leaving it unfiltered and allowing the grounds to settle. And Turkish coffee houses are considered important meeting places. Kaffeehauser in Austria Austria has a rich history related to its coffee shops, or kaffeehauser. Many of them serve coffee and specialty beverages along with cakes and other sweets. And some even offer added features like music or interesting historical architecture. Ethical Sources in South Africa Coffee shops are also plentiful in South Africa. Many of the independent shops are committed to providing fair trade or ethically sourced coffee, some of which is even grown in Africa. And as with many of the countries on the list, theres a huge variety of different shops and specialty beverages to choose from. Coffee Heritage in Cuba Cuba actually grows a fair amount of coffee. So its a pretty big part of the culture there. You can find it in cafes, restaurants, cigar shops and more. And the country has some various specialty coffee drinks that include sugar and other ingredients as well. Thinking of a way to upgrade your own coffee shop or coffee related business? Were hoping this look at coffee shops around the world will start some ideas brewing. This is Tongue-Tied 3When you tear out a mans tongue, you are not proving him a liar; youre only telling the world that you fear what he might say. Tyrion Lannister"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth" - PlatoPosts by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.) Email me here (Hotmail address). "Dissecting Leftism" (Backup here There are also two blogspot blogs which record what I think are my main recent articles here and here . Similar content can be more conveniently accessed via my subject-indexed list of short articles here or here (I rarely write long articles these days)(My frequent reads are starred)The archives provided by blogspot below are rather inconvenient. They break each month up into small bits. If you want to scan whole months at a time, the backup archives will suit better. See here or here There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Privacy statement: This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on January 1, 2017. If you have any questions feel free to contact Springfield Vermont News directly here: ed44vt@gmail.com "MAH's intelligence activities targeted Bulgarian uranium production," and were "able to reveal the logistics of uranium production from Bulgaria's Buhova uranium mine and its route of shipment to Soviet Russia for further enrichment. This information was passed to NATO." In 1960, with "Turkey and its Western allieseager to reveal the details of missile systems near the Ludogorie region in northeastern Bulgaria," MAH once again "recruited a group of agents chosen from the quarter-million Turkish immigrants from Bulgaria." "These immigrants," Bezci explained, "constituted good cover assets for missions in Bulgaria because they were fluent in Turkish and Bulgarian, knew the country, and had a feasible excuse to be there under the cover of visiting their families. After the MAH smuggled these assets into Bulgaria, they were able to detect the exact location of the missile ramps," and "returned to Turkey with their findings," the "intelligence [again] passed on to NATO's Intelligence Committee via Turkey's G-2." Ankara's efforts in Bulgaria were not limited to intelligence collection, the analyst noted, and also included covert action missions. "The MAH supported opposition groups to encourage repatriation of Turks in Bulgaria to TurkeyIn 1956, MAH regional chief Maj. Kamil Bey, based in the border city of Kirklareli, recruited a group of Bulgarian emigres to engage in subversive activities in Bulgaria, including sabotage of military and economic targets. These agents were provided with cash, encrypted transmission devices, arms, and forged documents. Details of their targets and the outcome of their missions are not yet declassified." Turkish intel and covert action ops in Bulgaria, Bezci notes, serve to demonstrate "that Turkey has a lengthy history of conducting covert and clandestine operations in neighboring countries. During the early Cold War, Turkey synchronized its foreign policy aims within a NATO context and its covert activities followed the same path." This, he explains, "ensured NATO support, prevented diplomatic isolation, and served as an insurance policy against Soviet aggression." Today however, the academic warned, "in the case of the current Turkish government's policies in Syria, Ankara is playing the role of a maverick, its policies deliberately out of sync with its traditional Western allies. Covert action, such as arming the rebel groups in Syria, has been the main pillar of Turkey's recent Middle East policies," and has carried with it, in the analyst's view, "the assumption of great risks." Professor of Economics Erhan Aslanoglu predicts that, in the short run, sanctions will have a negative impact on the Turkish economy, and Turkish business could lose up to $11 billion. Alongside Egypt, Turkey's vacation resorts have long been ranked among the most attractive destinations for Russian travelers. Over three million Russian vacationers, 10 percent of Turkey's annual total, visit the country each year. With this flow drying up, Turkey will lose $3.5 billion annually, and another $4.5 billion through cancelled construction projects, according to Aslanoglu. Some 55 percent of Turkish gas consumption has traditionally been supplied by Russia. "If Moscow stops or delays the natural gas flow, that will definitely have a serious impact on the Turkish economy. But I don't expect such a big change," Aslanoglu said. Businesses are not alone in their grief. Students have expressed concern over the future of relations between Turkey and Russia, countries that have been long considered as having tight cultural ties. Gaye Kural, a recent graduate, had high hopes of being hired by a Russian company, but now must reconsider her plans. "Turkey and Russia are like a couple that wants a divorce. And we are their children," stated Cagla Kursun, another student. "If they break up, then we are going to be miserable. We really hope our presidents will not ignore us," she said. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Turkish downing of the Russian warplane as a "stab in the back." He stressed that the Russian aircraft was in no way a threat to Turkey, "an obvious fact," according to Putin. The European Commission is alarmed by the authoritarian reforms the Polish government is making to the media and constitutional court. Warsaws newly-elected populist regime is seeking to lessen the influence of Brussels in favour of dependence on the US and NATO, German Economic News (DWN) reported on Saturday. Vice-President of the EU Commission Frans Timmermans wrote to Polands Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski last week about Polands reforms to public service broadcasters, which the country had rebranded national cultural institutions as part of a move to assume greater control over their activities. Timmermans warned that moves to strengthen state control over the media would contravene certain areas of EU law and reminded the Polish government of the need to promote the diversity of the media. Greeces President Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed hope that in 2016 his country will quit the memorandums it signed with international creditors, which outline the bailout rules for Greece, and that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be able to start wearing a tie again. "This year well quit the memorandums and youll start wearing a tie," Pavlopulous told Tsipras, according to Athens News Agency. The prime minister replied that the president had "set the bar high" for him. The Visegrad Group (V4) states, namely Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, surprised the public with their opposition to a mandatory quota system during the refugee crisis, the Slovak diplomat claimed. "It appeared to be something new, because until then we had behaved responsibly and did not bring any problems [to the union]. None of the crises, which the EU has been struggling with over the last six-seven years, is coming from the EU newcomers. And partners probably got used to the fact that we would always agree and accept the proposed solutions," Lajcak highlighted. The quota system for compulsory distribution of undocumented migrants among the EU countries proposed by the European Commission was a hasty administrative decision without a preliminary real debate and imposed by a majority vote at a meeting of the EU interior ministers, he stated, adding that this had logically caused a wave of discontent. MOSCOW (Sputnik)The "inhumane act" of execution of a prominent Shiite cleric by Saudi Arabia will have consequences for the country, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpur told Sputnik on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabias Interior Ministry announced that it had executed 47 people convicted of terrorism, including Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr. "This is an inhumane act that proves the impotence of human rights and democracy in Saudi Arabia. It will have consequences, and the Muslim community will not tolerate such a crime," Rahimpur said. Several countries, including Pakistan and Malaysia said that they have never been informed of such a coalition forming. In addition, its aim of being an "anti-terror" coalition for a group of countries with diverging definitions of terrorist groups could make identifying clear goals for the coalition difficult, according to Cafiero and Wagner. Saudi Arabia does have experience when it comes to involving poor countries in combat. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen recently transported Sudanese fighters to Yemen, where they are stationed in the southern port city of Aden. Sudan's involvement in the Saudi invasion of Yemen has been limited, however, and one of its jets was reportedly downed by Houthis. Bad Experience Even if the wealthier countries which consented to being in the coalition agree to it, the prospects for a ground operation are unclear. The military strength of Gulf countries, which spend billions of US dollars on weaponry, is also unclear. A Bahraini F-16 fighter jet crashed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, near the Yemeni border in unknown circumstances; however, both downing by Houthis and pilot error have been ruled out, leaving mechanical failure as the most probable reason. Another issue is Saudi Arabia's loss of equipment, much of it expensive and US-made. While Daesh is generally considered weaker than the Houthis, who possess ballistic missiles and have trained operators for tanks and artillery, Saudi losses to Houthi militias in Yemen have been heavy, particularly when it comes to ambushes. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Protesters have stormed the Saudi embassy building in the Iranian capital of Tehran early Sunday amid backlash over the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. Protesters break into Saudi embassy building in Tehran, Irans Shargh daily journalist Sobhan Hassanvand tweeted, providing photographs and video footage from outside and inside the building before and after the siege. Flammable substance was seen thrown at the building as protests gained steam over the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Black Americans killed by police are twice as likely to be unarmed says new @guardian study. #policeviolence #BLM http://t.co/EBxLIbOzKG francesca fiorentini (@franifio) June 1, 2015 Backed with government mortality data, the Guardian findings show that one in every 65 young black Americans in the U.S. are killed as a result of an encounter with police. Among the dead was Michael Brown, an 18-year old unarmed African-American teenager killed by a white officer. Browns death led to widespread unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, for nearly 16 months. Protesters accused the police of using lethal force on young black Americans, most of whom are unarmed. This epidemic is not healthy for our country; it is disproportionately affecting young Americans, said Brittany Packnett, activist and member of a White House task force on policing. It is high time we stop this because more promising young lives are going to waste by allowing this to continue to happen, she added. According to her, criminal justice presents no deterrent to the excessive use of lethal force by law enforcement. She made this statement the same week a grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio, chose not to indict an officer over the deadly shooting of Tamir Rice, a 12-year old black American boy who was in a possession of a toy gun when the incident happened. Tamir was barely 15 when he was shot to death by a white police officer. Of 1134 people killed by police in 2015, 1010 were killed by guns; implying that most of the African-Americans killed by police officers in 2015 died from gunfire. The remaining 124 killed by police died by other means, including 41 people, such as Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody, and another 49 after Taser-related incidents. To reduce police killings, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) has called for mortality data, previously allowed to disappear, to be reported by all law-enforcement agencies. It is embarrassing and ridiculous that the U.S. government did not hold comprehensive statistics, said James Comey, FBI director. This is certainly what the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi intends to see happen, recently vowing that "2016 will be the year of the big and final victory, when Daesh's presence in Iraq will be terminated." Unfortunately, Preble notes, "if you listen closely, however, you might notice a tinge of disappointment among some here in Washington." "Few will be as blunt as James Poulos in The Week, who focused on 'The Bad News about ISIS's Defeat in Ramadi,' but the Iraqi government's apparent success challenges some of the hawks' most deeply held beliefs about US foreign policy." The heart of the matter, the journalist argues, is that US interventionists' "worldview hinges on the argument that Iraqis and others in the region can't be trusted to take ownership of their security. Thus, the need for more US troops in both Iraq and Syria. According to some, many more US troops are required." Now, "the Iraqi government's clear progress over the past few months seriously challenges the claim that the US military is the only force capable of containing and ultimately defeating [Daesh]." "If it was a statement made by a democratic figure, it would be treated as a gaffe or bad joke in poor taste. But for the authoritarian Erdogan, it's a rare instance of his honesty, showing how the strongman really feels," Tures wrote for the Huffington Post. He also dismissed the claims made by the Erdogan government that the president's remarks were misconstrued. "Of course, in Erdogan's Hitleresque state, it would be a crime to suggest that Erdogan admired Hitler. Ironically, you could even be marched off to prison, for suggesting that Erdogan is authoritarian," Tures quipped. Despite the ruling AKP partys victory in the November elections, Erdogan is still unable to muster enough votes to obtain the power he craves. Therefore, he seeks to obtain these powers via a referendum which would grant him and his family the ability to govern Turkey indefinitely "in a most undemocratic manner." "Should the United States break diplomatic relations with Erdogan's regime, help Turkey's civil society, review possible cuts to US military aid to Turkey's government, or consider "smart sanctions" against Erdogan and his family? Erdogan's admission of admiration for Hitler demonstrates that doing nothing will not help the problem, any more than it did in the 1930s," Tures concludes. Thus, despite "having won his [party's] parliamentary majority by promising to bring stability to Turkey," Erdogan has only ended up "greatly stepp[ing] up the war against the Kurds, which he started during the summer. Since August 16, there have been 52 open-ended and round-the-clock curfews in 17 provinces and 7 Kurdish cities containing almost 1.3 million people. Numerous cases of civilian deaths as well as indiscriminate operations against the Kurdish population have been reported since that time." "One of the most important cases reported," the analyst noted, "which is also perhaps the most important instance of political suppression of the Kurds is that of Cizre city Co-Mayor Leyla Imret's dismissal in SeptemberDeposed by Erdogan's government, despite the fact that she had been elected by 83% of the voters in 2014," she "was not only deposed but also put under detention for warning of the risk of civil war breaking out in Turkey due to the Erdogan regime's brutal policies." Moreover, "although she was reported to have been released soon after, she has been absent from the scene since at least December 16, 2015, when she put her last message on the internet informing the world about the Turkish army's shelling of her home." House where Cizre co-mayor Leyla Imret is staying was targeted by spec ops cops' artillery. https://t.co/srAta0jWrG agitpapa (@agitpapa) 16 2015 Ultimately, Sheik warns that instead of eliminating support for the PKK and Kurdish nationalism, the Turkish government's efforts have had precisely the opposite effect. This "is so because the Erdogan regime is not, by any stretch of the imagination, ready to politically accommodate the Kurds within Turkey's constitutional framework." According to Dumont, this includes the French government's redrawing of regional boundaries; this it did without consulting local residents and governments. Another issue was the EU bureaucracy's violation of the EU treaty's principle of devolving power to the smallest effective institutions. Creating the Frontex border guard agency was an example of the European Union violating that agreement, according to Dumont. The organization has created concerns for both southern Europe, where it could intrude in countries' territorial waters, and in eastern Europe, where the intrusion was seen as an invasion of the countries' sovereignty. The new trend set by Frontex could lead to even more centralization and even an "imperialist" bent in the EU's policies if it succeeds, Dupont wrote. According to him, scaling back the Schengen free travel area would have been a more viable alternative to the transnational border guard agency. Abandoning Human Rights The EU's deals with Turkey, which has recently both invaded Iraq and engaged in a military operation against its own people in the town of Cizre is another concern when it comes to human rights, according to Dupont. Another issue is its treatment of refugees, who would be confined to certain member countries as part of the European Commission's allocation scheme. "It is a kind of house arrest for people who have not committed any crime and that have not been the subject of a court decision. It consists of treating human beings as merchandise," Dupont wrote. Color Revolutions and the Practice of Overthrowing Legitimate Political Authorities The instigation of color revolutions is one of the main threats to Russias security, the document states. The regions neighboring Russia are characterized by growing militarization and arms races. The most important threats to Russias state and societal security are the activity of radical societal groups and organizations which are using nationalist and extremist religious ideology, of foreign and international NGOs and financial and economic organizations, as well as private individuals, aimed at undermining the unity and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, destabilizing the political and social situation inside the country, including through inspiring color revolutions and destroying traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. The document notes that the practice of overthrowing legitimate political authorities is becoming more widespread. The practice of overthrowing legitimate political authorities, provoking internal instability and conflict, is becoming more widespread. In addition to the still-existing areas of instability in the Middle and Far East, in Africa, South Asia, and the Korean Peninsula, new hot spots have appeared and the territory not controlled by any government authority has expanded. The US Military-Biological Lab Network The document states that the US is expanding its network of military-biological laboratories on the territory of countries neighboring Russia. The world still faces a high risk of proliferation and use of chemical weapons, and also the uncertainty as to which foreign countries have biological weaponry or the means to develop and produce it. There is also the danger that the number of nuclear weapons states will increase. Politically unstable countries run a high risk of seeing conventional weapons fall into terrorist hands, and the physical protection of dangerous objects and materials is in a critical state. NOVOSIBIRSK (Sputnik) Russian scientists plan to develop a dark matter detection prototype within one to two years, the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences senior nuclear physics research official said Sunday. "We know that [dark matter] leaves almost no traces and our main task is to dramatically lower the detection threshold to a minimum, which is physically possible in principle. There is quite substantial progress and we hope that a prototype of this detector can be created in the next year or two," said Yuri Tikhonov, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics deputy director in charge of research. Tikhonov noted that the detector would search for the elusive space material with the help of condensed inert gases, including argon. He said scientists have identified argon as the gas most suitable for ensuring the detection threshold to register dark matter's nuclei recoils. The United States will face an economic downturn by 2017, which will ride roughshod over the global economy, also affecting Europe, according to Holger Zschapitz of the German daily Die Welt He recalled that the US economy is entering its eighth consecutive year of the growth, something that Zschapitz claimed will be inevitably followed by an economic meltdown. "Economic recovery in American history lasted a maximum of 9 years, so another recession is expected in 2017 at the latest," he said. As the year 2016 begins, journalists at Financial Times made several predictions regarding some of the most notable recent political and economic trends.Syrian President Bashar Assad will most likely remain in power, even if his status as the countrys leader will be largely nominal, says Roula Khalaf. And even though the US and Russia had agreed on a plan for the Syrian conflict settlement that envisages an 18-month transition period prior to new presidential elections, it is fraught with risks. The political situation in Germany continues to deteriorate as the country has accepted about a million of refugees from the Middle East during the past year, Gideon Rachman remarks. And while Chancellor Angela Merkel received a standing ovation at the conference of her ruling Christian Democratic Party, her colleagues support may not be enough to retain her office. "The cracking point could be a revolt from local governments, who pronounce themselves unable to cope with the numbers. That, in turn, would finally provoke a challenge to the chancellor from within the CDU, making her position untenable," says Rachman. He referred to Ukraine and the EU countries, "whose economic policy, as we see, is controlled by Washington." "This is something that has a devastating impact on these countries," he added. Ginko also said that the economic and financial crisis is still in place and that an economic collapse similar to the one which took place in Greece can be expected in any other country, where state debt-related problems show no sign of abating. "Both developing and developed counties may face the economic meltdown and the example of Greece could spread to other countries, including Portugal and Spain. In this regard, Russia is in an advantageous position, given that the country has an extremely small level of public debt in relation to its GDP," Ginko explained. "We have evolved at the expense of our own resources over the past few years. In this situation, we look to be more efficient and were are poised and ready to make a breakthrough," he said. "I hope that the Islamic world reacts in a way that will make the criminal regime regret its crimes," Khatami, who is also a member of the Assembly of Experts in charge of electing the supreme leader of Iran, said, as quoted by the agency. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari, in response to al-Nimrs execution, reportedly accused Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism and executing its opponents. Earlier in the day, Yemen's Houthi movement mourned al-Nimr as a "holy warrior," describing his execution as a "flagrant violation of human rights," according to media reports. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shiite Council is also said to have condemned the prominent clerics execution, saying it was a "grave mistake." Al-Nimr was arrested by the Saudi authorities in 2012 during protests in the east of the country. In 2014, he was sentenced to death on charges of inciting hatred, disobedience to the king and the establishment of a terrorist cell with the aim to attack law enforcement personnel. There is, however, a certain opportunity for Ankara, which is a rapprochement with Europe. The EU is suffering due to the refugee crisis and is eager to be tilted toward Turkey for its resolution. Another factor is the recognition of the importance of stabilizing Syria as soon as possible, and the clarification, once and for all, of Turkeys role in the fight against Daesh. Defeating Daesh remains a top priority. This will require negotiating with Russia something that EU members have recognized. Since the Paris attacks in November, efforts to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, including between France and Russia, have intensified. If Turkey wants its relationship with the EU to continue to improve, it will have to engage, too, says the politician. Turkey recently demonstrated its ability to overcome complex challenges, wisely restoring full diplomatic relations with Israel after a five-year breach in ties. Given this, reconciliation with Russia cannot be ruled out. Such an approach would, no doubt, facilitate the management of a host of risks that have been exacerbated by the Syrian conflict, Solana concludes. Pureform Gangster and driver Chris Linford kicked off the 2016 harness racing season with a 13-1 upset winning Canada's first race on New Year's Day at Fraser Downs. After going winless in 16 prior starts, the New Year marked a change in Pureform Gangster's luck as the four-year-old Valet Victory gelding scored a maiden-breaking victory in 2:01.4 for trainer Travis Tracey and owner/breeder Calvin Nyuli of Abbotsford, B.C. A trailing tier starter in the field of nine, Pureform Gangster got away mid-pack in the $3,600 maiden claiming race while 4-5 favourite Hook Line N Minker worked to the lead out wide around the first turn. Pureform Gangster gained ground along the pylons as the outer flow developed and he moved up into second-place and then tipped out at the top of the stretch to track down Hook Line N Minker. Epic Era came on for second and J Thunder finished third while Hook Line N Minker faded to fourth with broken equipment. Later on the New Year's Day program, Im Tu Die For was victorious in the afternoon's featured $10,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, extending her win streak to four in a row for trainer/driver John Chappell. Chappell worked out a pocket trip aboard the 4-5 favourite, tracking the leaving insider Sheezgotdawoogies through opening panels of :27.4 and :58.2. Im Tu Die For quickly overtook Sheezgotdawoogies entering the backstretch then drew off as they raced past three-quarters in 1:26 to win by nearly eight lengths in 1:54.4, a career-best clocking for the six-year-old mare, despite sustaining broken equipment. Drawing Dead followed in third-place throughout the mile. The daughter of Allamerican Cobalt, who has earned 15 wins from 78 career starts and $131,395 in purses, is owned by Ross Sharp of Campbell River, B.C. The Open victory completed a training-driving double on the 10-race card for Chappell. Driver Jim Marino was also a repeat winner on the Friday program. To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs. "If you destroy the labor unions in this country, you destroy liberty when you strike the blow, and you would leave the poor bound and shackled and helpless to do the bidding of the rich." Clarence Darrow "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. Robert F. Kennedy "History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days." Winston Churchill In late 2015 Britain revealed that their Reaper UAVs in Iraq had carried out over 230 missile attacks since November 2014 and killed at least 300 Islamic terrorists. The Reapers have flown many more reconnaissance and surveillance missions. While Britain is quite pleased with the performance of their American built Reapers they have also begun using a British made Watchkeeper UAV as well. Britain firs ordered Reapers in 2007, via an "under urgent operational requirement" deal, to support British troops in Afghanistan. The British were very pleased with the performance of their Reapers. British operators were sent to the U.S. Air Force to work alongside U.S. Reaper operators and were able to quickly absorb the U.S. experience with these UAVs. In 2010, Britain decided to increase its force of MQ-9 Reaper UAVs to about 25 aircraft. Currently Britain has ten Reapers (one crashed) and deliveries continue. The first British Reaper entered service in Afghanistan in 2007 and they were armed 2008. As more Watchkeepers enter service the Reaper purchases will be reduced. If Watchkeeper proves to be a complete bust then Reaper will continue to be the main British large UAV. The MQ-9 Reaper is a 4.7 ton, 11.6 meters (36 foot) long aircraft with a 21.3 meters (66 foot) wingspan that looks like the MQ-1. It has six hard points and can carry 682 kg (1,500 pounds) of weapons. These include Hellfire missiles (up to eight), two Sidewinder or two AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, two Maverick missiles, or two 227 kg (500 pound) smart bombs (laser or GPS guided). Max speed is 400 kilometers an hour, and max endurance is 15 hours. The Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, to replace F-16s or A-10s in many situations. Thus after their use in Afghanistan the RAF (Royal Air Force) took control of the British Reapers and several of these are now being used against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. The army retains the smaller Watchkeeper and Hermes UAVs. In October 2015 Britain finally overcame opposition by civil aviation bureaucrats and was allowed to fly military UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in Britain. Just once. As a test. This was a major breakthrough because such restrictions in Europe have severely limited development and use of military UAVs. For example the British military has been developing Watchkeeper UAV since 2006 but has not been able to use it in Britain. This aircraft is based on the Israeli Hermes and is a 450 kg (992 pound) aircraft with a payload of 150 kg. It can also carry Hellfire missiles for support of troops in Afghanistan. This UAV is already designed to carry two extra fuel tanks under its wings. Each of these fuel tanks weighs more than the 50 kg (110 pound) Hellfire missile. The Watchkeeper is 6.5 meters (20 feet) long and has an 11.3 meter (35 foot) wingspan. It can stay in the air for up to 20 hours per sortie and fly as high as 6,500 meters (20,000 feet). The Hermes 450 is the primary UAV for the Israeli armed forces, and twenty or more were in action each day during the 2006 war in Lebanon. As of late 2015 Britain had received 33 of the 54 Watchkeepers ordered but did not have any pilots for them. Thats because doubts about getting permission to fly in Britain (at least in civilian air space) caused the training program to be put on hold. But since late 2015 the training is underway but it will take two years to produce 24 Watchkeeper operators and eventually a hundred will be needed to handle a force of 54 Watchkeepers. There are about half a dozen Watchkeeper operators, but these are trainers. Meanwhile Britain does have nearly a decade of experience using large UAVs (like Watchkeeper, Predator and Reaper), mainly in Afghanistan. The operators were trained in the United States initially and later in Britain. Most of the training can be done on simulators and British operators in training can practice in UAVs flying in the United States because the Predator and Reaper use a satellite link to communicate with the operator. Three Watchkeepers were sent to Afghanistan in 2014 and performed well. ARIEL It was a crisp, clear January morning the kind that leaves frost on your windshield for most of the day. Gusting wind amplified the chill as well as the challenge of this years annual polar bear plunge. This year, 87 brave souls dipped into the icy waters of Lake Merwin to welcome the new year. The longtime tradition is a chance to connect kung fu schools from across Southwest Washington, and to strengthen mind and body for the challenges of the upcoming year. Its a bonding moment for us, said Jimmy Beattie, 22, co-owner of Academy of Kung Fu in Longview. Its also what martial arts fighters call a spirit check, he said, a moment to ask yourself, Are you going to do something? Are you going to overcome whats in front of you? Its cleansing. Its having control over your life and a reminder not to panic in the face of fight, said Greg Salata, 50, a kung fu student from Kelso and 13-year veteran of the polar bear plunge. It was the first plunge for 15-year-old Hannah Wohl of Vancouver. She stood shivering in pink running shorts before the plunge. She laughed as she explained how she was planning to inch into the water. She has practiced martial arts since she was 5, but now that she is in the adult classes, shes required to participate, she said. Yet she took the challenge in stride. It teaches you to push yourself and persevere through something, Hannah said. Shortly before noon, students and teachers formed a circle on the shore of Lake Merwin, holding hands while listening to an instructor telling them to let the cold drive resolve into your bodies. Then they were off bodies crashed into blue, choppy waters as they yelped, laughed, splashed, rushed back to shore within seconds. My whole body is burning! Its just tingling! exclaimed Valerie Bortz, 52, of Vancouver. The tai chi student ran to wrap herself in a towel, as others rushed to the refuge of bathrooms or blankets from supporting family members. It feels amazing, said Charity Feb, 44, of Camas. It was the second polar bear plunge for the photographer and student of Evergreen Martial Arts. Feb said she particularly appreciates the comradely of the experience because she was widowed three years ago. So much has happened in my life, so its good to bond with my brothers and sisters, she said, covered in goose bumps as she pulled dry clothes over her swimsuit. Do you know what it feels like? If you can do this, than you can darn well do anything, Feb said, smiling. Editors note: Todays editorial appeared originally in The Olympian. Editorial content from other publications is provided to give readers a sampling of regional and national opinion and does not necessarily reflect positions endorsed by the Editorial Board of The Daily News. Another year has passed, but Washingtons school funding challenges remain. In 2012, the state Supreme Court found the states system of funding K-12 schools unconstitutional and inadequate. Frustrated by the Legislatures slow progress since the landmark court ruling in the McCleary case, the justices found lawmakers in contempt of court last year. In August the court fined the Legislature $100,000 a day money that is to be set aside in an account for schools. But lawmakers also are frustrated, having authored budgets since 2013 that put record amounts of new money more than $2.3 billion into the public school system directly in response to the McCleary case. A big piece of the problem yet to be solved is the unequal way schools are financed. Almost 30 percent of school funding comes from local, voter-approved school levies, and this favors tax-rich districts with supportive voters that can pay teachers more and also outfit schools with better technology. One solution is to end the local levy support of basic education outright by shifting responsibility to the state for all teacher and school staff pay and benefits related to basic education. A few ideas for doing that surfaced from both parties in the Senate near the end of the first legislative session in 2015, but no agreement was reached by the time the Legislature adjourned. One concept was to shift the local school tax levy on property to the state share of the tax. But that effectively shifts the tax burden to largely Democratic urban areas with high property values, and gives rural areas dominated by Republicans a tax break. This idea went nowhere. A proposal by Gov. Jay Inslee to raise money for schools from a capital gains tax and a tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels also died last year. This year, Inslees supplemental budget plan was silent on this critical issue. Inslee said the high court wants a plan for fixing the school funding issue, and that how to pay for it will wait for 2017, when the Legislature passes a new two-year budget. But earlier this year, the governor set up a task force of eight lawmakers and his budget director to hash out a plan that might satisfy the court by showing the justices they have a road map for getting the problem solved. This might include an end to locally bargained pay contracts for K-12 teachers. The possibility of statewide bargaining for basic pay and benefits remains a question. Also in question is how much lawmakers need to satisfy the court and the state Constitutions clear mandate for ample funding of basic education. It could be in the neighborhood of $3 billion to $4 billion in each two-year state budget. The work group reconvenes on Monday and the governors budget office says there is hope some kind of agreement can be crafted before the Legislatures 60-day session begins Jan. 11. We hold out hope, but we dont dare hold our breath. We need a fairer tax system and one that raises enough money to pay for schools, but getting there will ultimately require agreement on new taxes and possibly a new deal with teachers unions. Both issues are radioactive in an election year. Jennifer Cullison has some pretty good hypotheses about teaching. Her peers think they deserve to be theories. The Woodland High School science teacher received a national honor in December for her teaching philosophy and achievements. Cullison was one of 10 teachers chosen as a Claes Nobel Educator of the Year. Ms. Cullison embodies all the characteristics of a lifelong learner and models her passion for learning with her students on a daily basis, said Woodland High School Principal John Shoup in a statement. Cullison has taught in Woodland for 12 years, and in that time started the honors science and health sciences programs, got the school involved in the national Health Occupations Students of America and started a bilingual biology class. That and much more earned her a nomination for the Claes Nobel award, for which Cullison competed against 100 other applicants. I try to create real, hands-on types of experiences for my kids, said Cullison, 38. To make science something thats understandable and applicable in our lives. The Puyallup native said she was hired by Woodland after college and was given free rein to start whichever programs she wanted. That included Woodlands Health Occupations Students of America, a student-run group that competes nationally and does pretty well, Cullison said. Her newest initiative is the bilingual biology class, which she teaches one period a day. Cullison was in Peru this summer learning Spanish, and she said the experience of teaching in a second language is a new venture for me. This year, after teaching 11 years with one sink, Cullison is grateful she has a fully outfitted science lab in Woodlands new high school, which opened this year. The new school is wonderful, she said. Cullison said she keeps track of many of her students, some of whom have gone into science careers or are entering medical school. But so many students could have missed out on Cullisons instruction had she continued in her doctorate studies instead of switching to a masters in education. I got the best of both worlds, she said. I still talk about science and do science everyday, but I also get to teach and inspire the next generation. Cullison has also been honored by her alma mater, Washington State University, and has been a finalist for three years running for the national Shell Science Teaching Award. hidden Commuters travelling via Rajiv Chowk and Kashmere Gate metro stations, two of the busiest junctions of the Delhi Metro network, would now be able to access Internet for free with the launch of Wi-Fi facility on Friday. The first such introduction of wireless Internet in the rapidly expanding network, which has been christened 'Metro-Fi', would let people use Internet for free for 30 minutes everyday, beyond which they will be charged by the service provider. The Wi-Fi services at these two stations are being provided as part of an MoU signed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation with the Rail Tel Corporation of India in May 2015. The other three stations where similar facilities would be made available soon are Vishwavidyalaya, Central Secretariat, and Hauz Khas. All the five stations fall on metro's Yellow Line, that connects Samaypur Badli to Gurgaon. "As soon as a passenger enters the paid area of these stations, she can select available Wi-Fi network named 'Metro-Fi' and then register herself through her mobile number. Subsequently, one SMS will be sent on that number having the login password," a metro official said. Until recently, only trains and stations of the 5.1 km long Rapid Metro Network in Gurgaon were Wi-Fi enabled. PTI My first year in the United States was full of surprises. I remember trying to figure out if the 24-ounce glass of ice water the waitress placed in front of me was a pitcher, to be shared by the whole table. But where was the spout? I had expected some of what I encountered I had seen enough movies, and came to this country expecting big cars and big houses and wide open spaces. I got used to gigantic glasses. But I didnt expect the post office. The first time I needed to mail something, I trekked over to my campuss post office, looking for the line to get my envelope weighed. The staff was used to befuddled international students like me, I suppose, and one clerk took my envelope without fuss, said first class letter, and took my change. ...Yes, I was told, in the United States, mail gets picked up from your house, six days a week, free of charge....Over the years, Ive come to appreciate the link between infrastructure, innovation and even ruthless competition. Much of our modern economy thrives here because you can order things online and expect them to be delivered. There are major private delivery services, too, but the United States Postal Service is often better equipped to make it to certain destinations. In fact, Internet sellers, and even private carriers, often use the U.S.P.S. as their delivery mechanism to addresses outside densely populated cities. Now I would take fault with the above. At least my USPS. They leave packages in the rain, snow, under bushes, or not at all. Then talk of friendly, the KGB was more friendly than any USPS agent. As to their competition....well 1 out of 10 Amazon packages are lost, delayed, sent to Guam....Imaging a USPS for Health Care, kidneys removed rather than small basal cell carcinomas, both kidneys! Ooops! That is the USPS and that could be the ACA in action....remember we had to pass it to see what it did! UPS is profitable, and it would not be if it did not perform. USPS is never profitable. Try and complain. I can track any UPS package, try that with the USPS web site. Packages go from Nashville, to Kearney, to Rochester, to Palm Beach and then to some alien spacecraft! So perhaps my perception is based upon a comparison between a for profit and a Government entity, and over decades of observation. Amazon has switched to the USPS here in the Greater New York City area. Since then two day delivery has moved to a week, one of ten packages are kidnapped by those aliens, those that do make it are placed in jeopardy since the package sits there in rain or snow, and their computer tracking system is based on "Where's Waldo?". Now I have been to Turkey. Of all the strange places I travelled, and meals I have consumed, Turkey was the only place in this wide world I ever got food poisoning, and I mean real food poisoning. And so did everyone else in my team. But the good news was that Turkey has Drug Stores where no prescription is required and in addition by choosing well you can buy a pharmaceutical from Germany. Thus the risk of further food poisoning and their effects was hopefully reduced at that time. Just to be clear my food consumption also included street vendors in jungle hamlets in Thailand, never a problem there.So when I saw the NY Times piece on our wonderful US Post Office I was a bit taken aback. The author states:So perhaps the USPS is better than that in Turkey. So is street food in Thailand! This Blog was born during the Troubles of 2007, and thereafter continued as a weekly update on our life and thought within the work of Testimony Faith Homes, a 'home from home' for Kenya orphaned and destitute children,. Public univ teachers threaten indefinite strike from Jan 11 Teachers of the countrys public universities will go on an indefinite strike from January 11 to realise their various demands, including the removal of discriminations in the 8th Pay Scale, retaining selection grade and time scale. General Secretary of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) SM Maksud Kamal announced the programme at a press briefing at Dhaka Universitys Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on Saturday. Maksud Kamal said they will abstain from all kinds of academic activities from the day until their demands are met. He said they will sit with the government for discussion if the government wants, but they will continue their movement until their demands are met with publishing it in a gazette. The Finance Minister had promised but our demands are left unmet, he said. The teachers will go to classrooms wearing black badges from Sunday (January 3) to January 7 and observe sit-in programmes on their respective campuses from 11 am to 1pm on January 7. Representatives of 37 public universities were present at the briefing. -- Dhaka, Jan 2 (UNB) Two IAF men killed as gunmen storm Indian air force base AFP, New Delhi : Suspected militants attacked an Indian Air Force (IAF) base near the border with Pakistan early Saturday, security officials said, with at least two of the militants and just as many IAF personnel killed. H S Dhillon, Additional Director General of Police, Punjab, told AFP the operation at the base was still ongoing at 04.15 GMT. "We are searching the area. Two of the attackers were killed in the initial exchange of gunfire but we can't confirm if more have been killed," he said, in response to reports that four gunmen had been killed. "Five to six security personnel were injured and they have been evacuated to hospital." Local television stations showed images of helicopters surveying the area, while elite National Security Guard commandos have been flown in to flush out the attackers. A top security official, who asked not to be named, alleged that the gunmen were believed to be from the Jaish-i-Mohammad group, describing them as suicide attackers who breached security at the base in the northern state of Punjab while wearing army uniforms. Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, director general of police in Punjab's Pathankot district, told AFP that the attack began around 3.30am and that there were four to five attackers. He said the operation to eliminate the gunmen had lasted three hours. The airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers. Singh added that there had been no damage to fighter planes at the base and that security forces were still trying to identify the attackers.One Indian home ministry official said Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defence bases had been sealed. "Attacking an air base is a serious security threat. The new strategy of the terrorists is to identify defence bases near the border and launch attacks," said the official, who was not authorised to comment on the record. Pathankot is on the highway that connects India's insurgency wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Top security officials including India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held a meeting in New Delhi in the aftermath of Saturday's attack, media reports said. Can coding: A building block of global education Catherine Cheney : A group of nearly 40 students gathered around tables crowded with laptops in a classroom at Laboratoria, a social enterprise in Lima, Peru, that teaches young women to code. Beyond learning technical skills and building websites, the girls also gain confidence in their own skills, said Ana Maria Martinez, one of the four cofounders of the shop. Earlier this month students from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe participated in the third annual Hour of Code. The event's continued growth across the world demonstrates the increasingly global reach of digital literacy initiatives. But despite momentum from social enterprises, supportive policies from a growing number of governments, and events like Computer Science Education Week that unite these efforts, the global development community can do more to ensure that coding will become a part of a basic education. Teaching kids how to use computers but not how to understand their algorithmic language is like teaching them to read but not to write, said Cristina Pombo Rivera of the Inter-American Development Bank. "There is a moral obligation that exists to properly prepare children for the technology-focused world and job market they will inherit," she said. The IDB gave Laboratoria $1 million to expand its model in Peru Chile, and Mexico. Other donors have not provided as much support but a group of foundations and private capital has stepped up. The Omidyar Network, for example, invested in Andela, which offers coding classes in Lagos, Nigeria. "Globally, consumer Internet and mobile technologies are transforming learning for many people and are also expanding access to certain learning tools in cost-effective and scalable ways," said Amy Klement, who leads Omidyar Network's Education Initiative, adding that they are also working to improve Internet access. Market demand alone should be reason enough for global education to include a strong focus on effective use of new technologies, said Christina Sass, cofounder of Andela. A growing number of tech jobs will go to emerging market professionals and a growing number of jobs will require that employees are familiar with computer science, she said. "People will need to believe that it is both possible and worthwhile to source top computer science technology from emerging markets," Sass said. She added that development professionals should consider how they can help young people learn the skills they need to compete and succeed in the global workforce. Part of the reason digital literacy has grown worldwide is the increased investment in and expansion of resources that allow people who are new to coding to try it from their web browser. Code.org works with engineers from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter to develop tutorials ranging from 20-hour courses on computer science fundamentals for kids to interactive games based on the movies Frozen and Star Wars. The organization works with international partners to ensure its courses in 40-plus languages reach students in more than 80 countries. Microsoft is seeing a growing and global demand "to teach youth not only how to use technology, but also how to create technology to help them become the innovators and drivers of growth and opportunity in their communities," said Leonardo Ortiz Villacorta Ramirez, director of public affairs and communications at Microsoft. "Regardless of the career they pursue, young people globally will benefit from understanding how technology works as well as how to create, apply and use it," he said. Several experts who spoke with Devex said the benefits that come from learning to code, from understanding the process of design to practicing the power of perseverance, is arguably more important for children in emerging market economies, since technology is a powerful tool to help people help themselves. "Technology is a part of everything we do in every part of our world and we need to give everyone the opportunity to be a part of creating the products we use," said Alice Steinglass, of Code.org. "And the people who live in Africa, Asia, India know best what products are going to work well there and they should be building what they need in their own countries." Developing countries will have the hardest time incorporating coding in education, due to factors like insufficient resources for teachers, a disconnect between the education system and the technology industry, or a lack of government support. Government support was critical in pulling off many of the Code.org events in developing countries. The Dominican Republic held more than 500 events through its network of 98 Centros Tecnologicos Comunitarios, free public spaces the government set up throughout the country to provide low income people with access to computers, workshops, and technology training. Computer science education Initiatives from tech giants like Microsoft can't reach their full potential without public-private partnerships. Between grassroots solutions and government support, there must be actors in the middle supporting viable and sustainable models, said Chris Vein, formerly chief innovation officer for global informations and communications technology development at the World Bank. He said development professionals need new incentives in order to build the relationships with government officials that are necessary to support comprehensive policies. "You have to enable people to experiment and take risks and find those solutions in the local community to solve this problem. You have to build capacity for innovation in these big organizations," Vein said. Education ministries are also critical partners if technology education is to be mainstreamed, said Pombo Rivera. But Sass is confident this movement will catch on. "Not only will the recognition of the importance of computer skills and coding spread to the developing word, it will spread throughout developing countries faster than it has in developed countries," she said. (Catherine Cheney covers the West Coast global development community for Devex.) Communicative language teaching in Bangladesh Mollah Mohammed Haroon-Ar Rasheed : University of Canterbury This study explores the views of students, teachers and parents about the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach in learning English as a second language in Bangladesh. It further explores how the learning of English language could be improved. Though English is compulsory for fifteen years of schooling, public examination results indicate that students perform poorly in the subject, and that situation gives rise to this study. The study employs a mixed methods approach that includes qualitative interviews and class observations, and quantitative data from achievement tests. Four schools (two high and two low achievements) were selected from two divisional cities according to the public examination results. Findings confirmed a gap between oral and written language achievements and highlighted that CLT is not working effectively to develop communicative competence. Causative factors are examined. Finally the need to progress beyond communicative fluency is explored and practices for developing critical literacy within English classrooms are advocated. Introduction If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a some what different world. - Ludwig Wittgenstein The English language is learnt in Bangladesh as a foreign or sometimes second language. The most common reason for this is that it brings empowerment and better opportunities in life. But are we teaching it well enough for our citizens to be empowered? Does empowerment involve more of just language proficiency? And how well do we use the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach, Bangladesh's preferred second language pedagogy, to make our citizens empowered when learning English? This chapter examines these questions drawing on international literature and findings from my Masters research (Rasheed, 2011). Following this, it briefly poses and questions about the relationships between language and power, and how we may teach English in ways that will allow more engagement. Bangladesh chose English as a second language (ESL) because of its global nature and made it compulsory throughout schooling. However, public examination results and students' observable communication skills indicate that students perform poorly in English, with a higher failure rate than other subjects. This points to the challenges that both learners and teachers face in the mainstream classrooms, and these are explored in the following pages. It is important to find out what challenges those students and teachers have to cope with, and what strategies could make the learning effective in the classroom. Through the case study of four schools and a synthesis of the relevant literature, this chapter examines a study that is more fully documented in my Masters thesis (Rasheed, 2011). In addition, the larger context of this language learning, and especially the degree to which the implicit goal of becoming a member of the global community is also critically examined. I have focused on international literature, as there are few publications on English language learning in Bangladesh. In most instances, the students involved immigrants in English-speaking contexts, which is different from the Bangladesh context. However, there are parallels in Bangladesh where issues of poverty lead to minority status and create similarly disadvantaged groups, as I will examine later. In a non-English mainstream classroom, the CLT approach is considered as an effective way to teach and learn second languages (TQI-SEP, 2006). The theoretical concept of CLT is based on communicative competence, which focuses on both accuracy and fluency in communication (Savignon, 2003). Communicative competence incorporates grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse and strategic use of the language in different listening, speaking, reading and writing. It teaches grammar in context and enhancing learning by doing, and focusing on many language practice activities such as dialogue, role play, interviews, games, pair and group work. It is widely known that in Bangladesh the public examination results indicate that the English-language learning outcome for students is not consistently positive, even though the CLT approach has been used for nearly two decades. In a recent study (Rasheed, 2011), I carried out reading, writing and speaking tests drawn from New Zealand assessment procedures (Crooks, Flockton and White, 2007; New Zealand Council for Education Research, 2008 & 1991) with 20 students in four secondary schools. There was a clear difference between the achievements of oral (listening & speaking) and written (reading & writing) skill tasks. The level of written achievement was nearly double that of oral achievement in each school. Likewise, the Bangladesh context also shows that CLT aims to achieve fluency in communication, but does not focus on developing critical thinking. However, as an educator and researcher, I believe that functional communicative competence in English in itself is not enough to fulfil the aspiration of preparing Bangladesh students to become global citizens. My study investigated current beliefs and practice of the CLT approach in Bangladesh, using a mixed methods research design. In-depth semi structured interviews with 20 students from class nine and ten (age 14-16) and four focus group interviews with English teachers (total 10) and parents (total 15) were conducted. These were held in four randomly selected secondary schools from two divisional cities in Bangladesh, one in the north and one in the south. The students were initially chosen from a group of boys and girls based on achievement rates in school exams and performances. Then oral (speaking) and written (reading & writing) achievement tests were conducted with these students to look for the effectiveness of the CLT approach in communication. Four English classes were also observed to gain a picture of the actual use of CLT in classrooms. Before entering schools, all ethical issues were addressed as required by the Educational Research Human Ethics Committee of the University of Canterbury. In this part, I focus on the data derived from interviews, field notes, achievement tests statistics and observational checklists and their analysis. I am not attempting to describe an exact replica of teachers' and students' daily programmes. Rather I want to give a feel for what the English teachers deal with and how they manage to teach in big classes. I also examine how students learn English and the attitudes of parents. My focus is on the use of the CLT approach. I also examine the reality of English classrooms and the complementary roles of teachers, students and parents that impact on the success of learners. As there were no suitable assessment tools in Bangladesh, selected New Zealand reading and writing assessment tasks were adapted for this purpose. Only reading, writing and speaking tests were performed. A listening test was intentionally omitted because the students were not familiar with these types of tests in Bangladesh classrooms and therefore had very little scope to practice listening tasks. However, speaking tests also involved a listening component. The overall mean scores from reading, writing and speaking tasks clearly indicated (Figure 1) that while students achieved well in reading and writing, they did less well in speaking. These scores could not be generalized across all Bangladesh students due to the sample size, but the finding is enough to question whether Bangladesh students are performing less well in developing oral competencies in comparison to written skills. The findings of this study indicate that a lack of appropriate teaching strategies and insufficient resources may result in CLT being a less than effective approach in the Bangladesh context. Enhancing self-directed study, including more instructional materials, and furthering teacher training in CLT were identified by the participants as ways to improve student's achievement. It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has already taken action to enhance on going teacher training and provide more resources for ESL classrooms (Ministry of Education, 2010). In this study large class sizes were often. cited as one of the major barriers for implementing CLT effectively and were described as a huge challenge by the participants. However, that is the economic reality in Bangladesh. (To be continued) Groom up students as good citizens: Speaker Terming Bangladeshi students talented and potential ones, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Saturday urged the well-off section of society to come forward to groom them up as good and educated citizens. "Our children are very talented and potentials. If they can be educated with specific goals, they'll surely be good citizens," she said. Dr Shirin, also the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's (CPA) Executive Committee, was addressing the formal inauguration of Afazuddin Memorial School and College and Textbook Distribution Festival-2016 at Kaliakair upazila in Gazipur, said a handout. "Students are the future of the country. So, the well-off people will have to supplement government efforts to build them as good and educated citizens," she said. Pointing at the students, the Speaker urged them to participate in nation-building activities alongside their academic activities. Chaired by founder chairman of the college Jalil Uddin, the function awas addressed, among others, by Kaliakair municipality mayor Mujibur Rahman and principal of the college Delwar Hossain. Financing development through better domestic resource mobilisation Gail Hurley and Nergis Gulasan : Over the last 15 years, developing countries have increased domestic revenues by an average of 14% annually. The domestic revenues of developing economies amounted to $7.7 trillion in 2012; that's $6 trillion more than in 2000. In 2013, the UK's International Development Secretary, Justine Greening announced that from 2015, the UK would end its development aid programme in South Africa. "South Africa is now in a position to fund its own development," she said. Over the last 15 years, South Africa has experienced robust economic growth and now mobilises over 26% of GDP in tax revenues. South Africa is not alone. Other developing countries have also made important progress, especially middle-income countries such as Viet Nam and Colombia. In September 2015, in New York, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an ambitious new universal development agenda. Achieving the SDGs will require a significant scaling-up of investments in areas such as the social sectors and sustainable infrastructure. Strengthening and diversifying public revenues is thus a high priority so that countries can lessen their reliance on debt and development aid. Internal obstacles How do we build on these successes and mobilise even more domestic resources for development? This was one of the core issues discussed at the UN's most recent conference on Financing for Development, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2015. There, governments committed to enhancing revenue collection, making tax systems fairer, more transparent and effective, and strengthening development aid for building the capacities of tax administrations. But while there has been considerable progress, important challenges remain; in the Least Developed Countries, for instance, tax revenues amount to just 13% of GDP, on average. This is about half the level in many other developing countries. There are many diverse reasons why countries may not be able to raise more domestic resources for development. These include corruption, weak institutional capacities, a narrow tax base, and pervasive tax avoidance and evasion by wealthy individuals and multinational corporations. In her recent article on ID4D, Manon Aubry, Advocacy Officer for Tax Justice & Inequalities at Oxfam France, was right to point to the loopholes in international tax systems which make it easy for companies to dodge taxes. All these challenges will need to be properly addressed if we are to maximise the amount of resources that can be raised domestically. "Tax Inspectors Without Borders" programme Tackling complex international tax arrangements which divert profits otherwise liable for corporate tax requires skilled tax auditors. A well-trained tax team can identify high-risk cases and uncover the arrangements that can strip much-needed tax revenue from governments. In many countries, especially the poorest, there are few well-trained and qualified personnel to carry out this vital work. For this reason, the UNDP and the OECD have come together to take forward the Tax Inspectors Without Borders programme. Launched in Addis Ababa in July, the initiative facilitates specialised tax audit assistance in developing countries around the world. Under the programme, tax audit experts - from both developed and developing countries - work alongside local officials of developing country tax administrations on tax audit-related issues. It aims to transfer technical know-how and skills and thereby build local capacity. The programmes can include pre-audit risk assessment and case selection, investigatory techniques, audit cases involving transfer pricing issues, anti-avoidance rules, or sector-specific issues, relating, for example to natural resources, e-commerce, financial services or telecommunications. In Kenya, for instance, tax audit advice and guidance helped the authorities to recover an additional $23.5 million in corporate tax revenues. Looking forward, Tax Inspectors Without Borders aims to make a concrete contribution to countries' efforts to raise more of their own resources for development. It will therefore play a key role in implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. But it does not substitute for efforts to make discussions on international tax reform more inclusive and democratic, with the involvement of all countries. Development aid is still necessary A focus on building the capacities of developing countries' tax administrations is no panacea. It is important to recognise that some countries experience considerable structural constraints in their efforts to mobilise more domestic resources. Take Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for instance. Small populations thinly dispersed over many islands can make revenue collection difficult and expensive. The cost of essential service provision is also often more expensive on a per capita basis. Investments in major infrastructure may not seem especially expensive, but when measured as a proportion of national output the costs are extremely high. In many cases, private investment may not flow because there is little to no economic return. Added to this are frequent and severe extreme weather events which can result in heavy relief and reconstruction costs. The recent cyclone in Vanuatu is a case in point. International public finance will therefore remain indispensable in the future for many countries and donors must meet their commitments to increase aid. (Gail Hurley is a specialist on Development Finance and Nergis Gulasan is a specialist on Strategic Policy. They both work for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York). KSA to pay `high price` for executing Shiite cleric: Iran AFP, Tehran :Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry said.Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned the execution, which came after his Shiite country repeatedly asked its Sunni-ruled rival to pardon the cleric."The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. Nimr, 56, was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence," said Ansari.For its part, the Basij student militia connected to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards called for a demonstration on Sunday afternoon in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Five Jamaatmen arrested with Tk one crore Staff Reporter : Five Jamaat-E-Islami activists were arrested by a team of Detective Branch of (DB) police from the city's Banasree area on Saturday evening. Police also recovered Tk 1,00,47,500 and some books from their possession. The identities of the arrested Jamaat workers could not be known immediately, police said. Anwar Hossain, Deputy Commissioner (Motijheel Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, "A team of detectives raided a house in Banasree area receiving secret information and arrested them with the money." They gathered in the house for making a plan of engineering sabotage marking January 5, the police official said. "We are investigating the source of the money," the DC said. The arrested men are being interrogated in this connection, he said. Poor quality new books distributed Few school authorities allegedly charged Tk 200-500 M M Jasim : Guardians have expressed dismay over the quality of this year's textbooks which are being distributed among the students of primary and secondary levels from Friday. They alleged that books were printed by substandard paper and colour, and faulty binding make them more problematic for the students. Officials of the National Board of Curriculum and Textbook (NCTB) wishing anonymity told this reporter on Saturday that they were also found faulty textbooks before the distribution. The officials also warned the press owners and the printers to provide quality books. But they have failed to do that. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said it would be regrettable if lower quality books were distributed. The printers found to have supplied low quality books would have to pay fines. Tough action would also be taken against them, he said. The authorities of some schools allegedly took Tk 200-500 from the guardians and the students in the name of giving quality books. The illegal free textbooks have flooded the country's book markets. The Education Ministry and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry have started to distribute free book among the 4,44,16,728 students of pre-primary to secondary level from January 1. The ministries also arranged textbook festival all over the country on the day. The students and their guardians were very happy to get the new books on the first day of the year. But they were disappointed when they observed that the quality of the books is very poor. The quality of paper of the textbooks is substandard even compare to the previous years. The teachers and the guardians said that the paper's quality is very bad. It will remain okay for some days and it will be damaged automatically. The printing of the books is very poor as the writings, pictures and other parts of the textbooks are vague. The students could not read the books easily and it will be burden for the especially primary level students. The colour combination was not right. The look of the pictures and even writings were seen shabby. It will be very difficult for the students and the teachers to find out the actual meaning of the articles. So, the study of the student will be hampered due to lack of colour combination of the books. Besides this, the set up of pictures is in problem as the pictures of any article or story placed wrongly. That is why the students will fall in problem to study smoothly. The binding of some books was seen substandard. The teachers and the guardians think that the poor binding books could not sustain for a year to carry by the students. The books will be damaged before completion of the syllabus. Page mistake is one of the major problems in this year's textbooks. The students will loose their interest to study due to such mistake. Faizul Islam, a guardian of BIAM Laboratory School, told The New Nation on Saturday that he received free textbooks from the school on Friday. After receiving the books he saw that some printings are unclear. Soon after this he also observed that there were many page mistakes in the books. "I took the books for my son who is class-3 student. After taking the books I identified some major problems in the books. I was very difficult to read a story in the book due to vague printing. The print mistake also will create problem," he said. Shamsul Karim, a guardian of Government Laboratory High School, told this reporter that the overall quality of the books is not good. The colour combination of the pictures and other part is very bad. And the binding of the books is not appreciable, he said. The problem arose this year as printing the textbooks for the primary school students began in the first week of September, one month behind the schedule. The delay in printing occurred over the government convincing the printers to provide 15 per cent security deposit instead of 10 per cent and to agree to the condition that no payments would be made unless they ensured the quality of the books. The conditions were set by the World Bank to ensure the quality of the books. Another reason cited by the printers as well as officials was that the paper mills did not supply paper to them in due time and also that they received less of paper than they had ordered for. Printers also said that the paper mills attached priority to supply the papers to the illegal guidebook industry. NCTB extended the deadline for the printers to supply the textbooks by December 25 anticipating that it would not be possible to supply the books by November 30. This year, 22 local bidders jointly secured NCTB's orders to print the books for the primary school students after the tenders they had submitted proved the lowest. They offered to print the books for Tk 221 crore, which was 32 per cent less than the estimated cost. To meet a WB condition, the government put in place strong joint monitoring by NCTB and the government to ensure that the printers did not compromise with the quality of the textbooks. Some of the textbooks already supplied by the printers were found by teachers and NCTB monitoring officials as 'not readable.' Bangladesh Mudran Shilpa Samity Chairman Shahid Serneabat admitted the issue and said some of the books were printed low quality papers supplied by the paper mills. Abdul Majed, Controller (Production) of NCTB, told The New Nation yesterday that they did not get any complaint yet. They would take measures after getting any objection over the books' quality. On the other hand, the authorities of Godnail Tatkhana Primary School in Narayanganj took Tk 200 for each book set from the guardians. The authorities also returned the money after the news was published on different news portals. Meanwhile, although the Education Ministry and Primary and Mass Education Ministry and NCTB claimed that they sent cent per cent books to the schools throughout the country, but scenario was different. Most of the students did not get full set books. A guardian of Banaphool Adibashi Green Heart College in Mirpur said that his son got all the books but Sociology. Anupam Saha, another guardian of Udayan School and College, said that his daughter is a class-4 student. But she did not get the books of religion and Bengali. Illegal free books are also being sold in the book markets across the country. The guardians crowded the city's book markets, especially Nilkhet and Banglabazar. The guardians said that their children are reluctant to read the poor quality books. That is why, they were looking for the new textbooks in good quality. The shopkeepers said that there are huge demands of free textbooks in the market. As a result, they collect the textbooks from Banglabazar and some other publication centres. Enforced disappearance of citizens by plain clothes cops still continuing Staff Reporter :The enforced disappearance of the some people continues in various parts of the country, raising concern among the civil society and rights group.A good number of missing victims picked up from their residences, work places, relatives' houses, transports and elsewhere never come back.Some of them are reported to have died in 'gunfight' with the members of the law-enforcing agencies or in custody.There are widespread accusation against the DB Police and Rapid Action Battalion of committing illegal activities in plain clothes. As such, the victims' relatives do no get any support from the DB Police and the RAB after filing of the complaints, it is alleged.Abdullah Shams-Bin-Tariq, President of Ahmadiya Community, Rajshahi Region Unit, alleged that a team of DB Police picked up their three local leaders from their house in Puthia on December 25 night.He claimed that they could not find their leaders at any police station. The missing persons are Abu Sayeed, Ashraful Islam and Shafiqul Islam. When contacted, Aslam Ahmed, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said that Police did not arrest any person from Puthia that night. Two local Chhatra Shibir leaders were shot and injured in a reported gunfight with police at Jatair village in Panchbibi upazila of the district on December 17. The injured are Abu Jar Ghiffari, President of Joypurhat unit Shibir, Omar Ali, Secretary of the unit. They went missing from a Dhaka-bound bus in the capital's Abdullahpur area on December 8. Besides, three local policemen, including a sub-inspector, got injured in the shootout erupted in an orchard of the village early Friday. When asked, Panchbibi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ashraful Alam acknowledged it and said, "We arrested two Shibir leaders from a secret meeting held at a orchard. Sensing our presence, Shibir members started firing at us forcing Police to retaliate, leaving three people injured."Safayat Hossain, former President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Mithapukur Upazila Unit in Rangpur District, was picked up by Detective Branch (DB) of Police on 26 July, from his own home. Similar to many other incidents, police denied his arrest, frightening his family members and fellow activists to believe that Shafayat Hossain might be another victim of the 'crossfire'. Shafayat's status and whereabouts are still unknown, political sources said. Records of Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK), say that in the last two and a half years, a total of 177 people had been abducted. Of them, 110 are still missing. In most cases of abduction, the members of law enforcement agencies allegedly picked up the missing people.The half-yearly report of the ASK says a total of 36 persons were picked up by people claiming themselves to be law enforcers in a six-month time from January this year. Of them, six were found dead later, two released and three arrested and the rest 25 are still missing.A total of 88 people were abducted in the same fashion last year. Among them, bodies of 23 people were recovered, 12 were freed. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) produced seven before newsmen, one was traced in detectives' custody and the rest are still missing.National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said that the situation was more horrific and number of such incidents taking place was much higher than what the media was highlighting. 'People are increasingly being intimidated by the police.''A section of policemen harass and torture people in the name of law and order. Even they do it out of personal enmity,' said the NHRC Chairman.Ain-o-Salish Kendra Director (Investigation) Nur Khan said that the police administration took the decision of not operating in plainclothes, but unfortunately, the decision remained in force for few days only.'We still receive allegations from people that they or their family members have been tortured, harassed or abducted by plainclothes police,' said Nur Khan.Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media a few days ago that the incidents, which were said to have been abducted in our country cannot be called abduction. "Many people themselves go into hiding to avoid business or family related crisis," the Minister said. Police headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Operation) Kazi Ziauddin said that there were, at present, no plainclothes teams at any police stations in the country. Direction has been given to every thana to execute the order.A DMP Deputy Commissioner said that there were no plainclothes teams in the police stations. 'If necessary, permission from Deputy Commissioners must be taken,' he said. BNP renews call for pol dialogue UNB, Dhaka :BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday renewed his party's call to the government to engage in talks with the 'opposition' to create a democratic environment in the country."The government has been carrying out repressive acts for the last few years. The government must create a democratic atmosphere shunning repressive acts to make democracy sustainable," he said.Addressing a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he further said, "We've repeatedly been saying it's imperative to engage in talks with the opposition to create a democratic environment. We now again call upon the government to hold a dialogue with the opposition without further delay."Fakhrul also warned the government that it will be very difficult to prevent re-emergence of extremism and militancy if it does not restore democracy and ensure an open democratic atmosphere through talks. "We once again urge the government to ensure an open democratic space in the interest of the country and the nation."The BNP leader alleged that the government has restarted filing 'false' cases against opposition leaders and activists after the municipality polls to subdue them. "They're not even sparing the candidates."He said, a case was filed at Mymensingh's Phulpur under explosive acts against 70 BNP leaders and activists, including former local MP Shah Shahid Sarwar and newly elected mayor Aminul Haq.Fakhrul said, Patuakhali Sramik Dal senior vice president Mizanur Rahman Babu was also brutally killed by miscreants. "We strongly condemn the killing."He demanded the government immediately arrest the killers and mete out exemplary punishment to them."The entire country has now become a death valley. There's now no security of public life and property. The daydream of the government to perpetuate its power by killing opposition leaders and activists and repressing them won't be materialised," he observed. Bank official killed in Magura road crash UNB, Magura : A bank official was killed and 10 other people were injured as a bus plunged into a ditch in Sadar upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Rafiqul Islam, 28, a field officer of Mercantile Bank, Jessore branch and a resident of Omedpur village in the upazila. Officer in-Charge of Magura Police Station Ajmal Huda said the Jessore-bound bus from Magura fell into the ditch in front of Magura textile mill around 8am after its driver lost control over the steering, leaving Rafiqul dead on the spot and 10 other passengers injured. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to sadar hospital morgue. A case was filed with the Magura Police Station. Talks with Facebook soon Tarana to visit S'pore Jan 10 Sagar Biswas : Government is going to initiate a talk with the authorities of popular social media network Facebook very shortly to open an admin panel in Bangladesh with a view to tackling alarmingly rising cyber crimes. At the same time, the government is interested to kick-off a talk with global internet search engine giant Google apparently to grip the 'browsing and circulation' of unwanted contents that appear harmful to society and country. As a part of government's plan, State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim is scheduled to go to Singapore on January 10 to sit with the Facebook authority to reach a deal for setting an admin panel. "Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. So everyone has to obey the law of the land. We believe that violence against women and cyber crimes will reduce significantly, if Facebook implements its policy strictly in Bangladesh," Tarana Halim said. Elaborating the government's plan, the State Minister further said, "We are trying to reach a deal with Facebook and set an admin panel of [Facebook] in Bangladesh. I want to achieve the two goals in long term I also want to see Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Dhaka." According to the officials of the posts and telecommunications division [PTD], the government has taken such initiatives when Facebook rejected the Bangladesh Government's request to divulge information about 29 users [highly suspected facebook users] during the period January- June 2013 and January-June 2014. As there exists no official agreement between Facebook or Google with the Bangladesh government, so any issues regarding these networks must be solved through an official agreement, the PTD officials said. It is to be noted that the government imposed temporary restriction on Facebook and some other messaging and calling apps for security ground on November 22 and lifted the ban on December 10. Meanwhile, the government is getting ready to introduce mobile number portability [MNP] system to enable cell phone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers even after changing from one network operator to another. Official sources said the MNP guideline is now ready and the government has already asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC] to introduce MNP as early as possible. The MNP guidelines were prepared in due time, but the Telecommunication Ministry had to wait to secure clearance from the finance ministry for fixing issues of tariff and revenue sharing. After final approval, the BTRC will float an international tender to appoint a MNP operator to provide the service, the officials added. The guideline says, the BTRC will issue a MNP license for 15 years at Tk 20 lakh as annual license fee and the MNP operator has to share revenue with the government at 5.5 percent rate from the second year of the license. Apart from MNP, the government has taken initiatives to introduce a high-performance business model to Teletalk to turn it into a profitable organisation. To accomplish the plan, Tarana has also planned to visit Microsoft and some other telecommunications companies during her stay in Singapore and Malaysia for around two weeks. During her visit, she will hold talks with telecommunications and ICT ministers of the two countries and seek advice from them in this regard. Telekom Malaysia is one of the leading mobile operators in Malaysia. "We are looking forward to introduce an appropriate model to Teletalk to emerge as a leading market player in the country's mobile industry. And so, we will provide a business model for Teletalk so that it operates perfectly," Tarana told the media. The Teletalk failed to make any profit as yet since its inception in 2005. In this backdrop, the annoyed state minister recently expressed her dissatisfaction in the Parliament over the Teletalk's Tk 399 crore loss. Biman must not lose money but we must not also lose face for Biman The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Deputy General Manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Emdad Hossain for allegedly accumulating illegal wealth on December 20. According to the first information report (FIR), Emdad Hossain amassed wealth worth Tk4.58 crore illegally and he tried to conceal that during the ACC's probe. He even transferred a huge amount of money to bank accounts of his wife, daughter, relatives and his employees. The case was filed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012. On November 12, 2014, Emdad was arrested for his alleged involvement in gold smuggling and dodging government duty. This incident is an aftermath of the events which occurred in November 2014 when police in Bangladesh arrested three senior officials of the state-owned airline, Biman, for their alleged involvement in gold smuggling in November 2014. Those being held were in charge of preparing working rotas for junior officials. They were accused of placing members of the smuggling syndicate on duty at specific times so that gold could be transported via a safe route. Two officials whose names came up in the confessional statements are very influential in the national carrier for their close relations with the Biman Chairman. The two controlled recruitment of pilots, promotions and even lease of aircraft in exchange for huge commission. The duo also had close relations with Biman Chairman's "godson" and influential Biman contractor Mahmudul Haque Palash, who is among the five arrestees although the Chairman denied having any direct links with them. Incidents of mismanagement and corruption in Biman are nothing new. As early as 2004, Pilots of Biman's F28 aircraft refused to fly the aging F 28 planes to the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu citing frequent technical breakdown in icy conditions during flight over the mountainous region. The United Nations asked its staff not to fly Biman Bangladesh Airlines for lack of safety and security arrangements and flight delays, landing another blow to the reputation of the National Flag carrier, as recently as 2009. The UN Division for Security Services issued a directive in 2007 deeming Biman too risky for its staff. Any UN employee wishing to fly Biman would have to do so at their own risk, said several UN officials in Dhaka and New York at that time. In 2014 all six Boeing 777s of Biman remained under-utilised for lack of long-haul flights and pilots, causing the National Flag carrier to lose crores of taka every year. The Biman Board's high-handed attitude and its lack of knowledge of commercial airlines were the main reasons behind the non-implementation of a plan to maximize revenue. There were also allegations that some corrupt Biman officials, in their own interest, had convinced the top management not to follow the plan. Cashing in on the shortage of pilots, the vested group apparently indulged in corruption in appointments, transfers and retirement of pilots. Even after the appointment of its first foreign CEO Kevin Steele the airline failed to make profits - although it substantially cut its losses from over 600 crore to around 200 crore in the year the CEO was in office. However it is set to make profits this year of around Tk 245 crore. The rate of timely departure, which was 20-25 percent in 2012, improved to 65-70 percent at present, according to the airline as Steele had given measurable targets to all the staff members. All of these reasons remain behind the fact that Biman was rated as the second worst airline of the world in 2015 by a leading web based airline and airport review platform. The reasons for the performance are well-known - but the problem contains its own solutions. Appoint effective and responsible CEOs who can do the job and reduce mismanagement by eliminating the officials who are corrupt and maintain links with others. This should not be a difficult problem - it has worked in the past and there is no reason for it to not work now. Biman can and must change for the better - its reputation depends on it. It must be understood that Biman is a National Flag carrier - it represents the nation. As such its services including quality of food and how it is served must be a matter of serious concern. Our ceramic products are of international standards. Yet the food is served on low quality plates and cups. The food served is not of airlines quality. Biman has to be modern and quality oriented. This does not cost much, a tiny amount compared to the extent of corruption going on inside Biman. It is a shame. To improve the situation first we have to remove the corrupt and below standard officials. Thieves are not expected to be people of good tastes running good airlines. It is important to project Biman's high standard for our national pride. Because Biman has Bangladeshi nationals as captive passengers, it must not neglect the best it can offer. Biman must not lose money but we must also not lose face for Biman. . NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT "There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams The Gay Courier has been established to provide news, information and info on, from and about the gay community, and other social events and happenings from around the world, from all sorts of sources, to all who are interested in this news, information and info! The postings are as is, and all copyrights and or ownerships are and remain with the original copyright-holder and or owner! If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs. Monet rahapelien ystavat ovat viime vuosina loytaneet netticasinot ja olleet ihmeissaan. Verrattuna kotimaisen Veikkauksen kivijalkarahapeleihin puhutaan aivan eri tason palautusprosenteista ja lisaksi pelaaminen on aarimmaisen helppoa ja turvallista. Netticasinoiden maara on tana paivana todella suuri ja niita loytyy jokaiseen lahtoon, suurin ongelma aloittelevalla pelaajalla onkin tehda valinta siita, minka netticasinon valitsee. Kaikkien netticasinoiden mainospuheet naet lupaavat kauniita asioita ja niiden lapinakeminen on tietysti tarkeaa. Nyrkkisaantona voidaan kuitenkin jo kattelyssa todeta, etta jos valitsemasi netticasino on lisensoitu ETA-alueella, sen kanssa ei tule olemaan ongelmia, ellei niita itse jarjesta. Kay tutustumassa parhaisiin netticasinoihin osoitteessa www.ilmaiskierroksia.info! Ensimmainen nyrkkisaanto on siis varmistaa, etta valitsemallasi netticasinolla on ETA-alueen lisenssi. Suurimmassa osassa tapauksista se on Maltan eli MGA:n lisenssi. Myos Viron, Englannin ja Gibraltarin lisensseja nakyy ja naissa valvonta on jopa Maltaa tiukempaa. Lopputulema on kuitenkin se, etta ETA-alueen lisenssi takaa suomalaisille verovapaat voitot seka sen, etta niita valvotaan kontrolloidusti. Maailmalla on iso nippu Curacaon lisenssilla toimivia netticasinoita ja niistakin suurin osa on laadukkaita. Ne eivat kuitenkaan ole suomalaisille asiakkaille verovapaita, joten emme suosittele niita. Tana paivana markkinoille on ilmaantunut paljon ETA-alueella toimiva netticasinoita ilman rekisteroitymista. Jos tarkoitus on vain pelata yksittaisia pelikertoja, on varsin helppo suositella naita. Netticasinot ilman rekisteroitymista tarjoavat palvelun tunnistautumisen verkkopankin avainlukulistan avulla ja saman palvelun kautta tapahtuvat talletukset ja mahdolliset voittojen nostot silmanrapayksessa. Normaaleihin netticasinoihin pitaa asiakkaan rekisteroitya, tehda talletukset ja tunnistautua dokumenttien avulla. Tama on lisenssiehtojen mukainen kaytanto, eika kovinkaan monimutkainen, mutta silti monet asiakkaat haluavat yksinkertaista ja nopeaa palvelua. Toki normaalit netticasinot tarjoavat usein asiakkailleen laadukkaita talletusbonuksia ja erilaisia kampanjoita, joten kannattaa tarkkaan punnita, kumman ratkaisun valitsee. Kannattaa myos muistaa, etta tunnistautuminen tehdaan vain kerran, joten mikaan jatkuva riippakivi se ei ole. Suomalaiset asiakkaat ovat netticasinoille tarkeita, joten kaikilla vahankin laadukkailla netticasinoilla on suomenkieliset sivut seka suomenkielinen asiakaspalvelu suomenkielisyys kannattaakin ottaa netticasinoa valittaessa nyrkkisaannoksi. Vaikka tana paivana englanninkielisyys on harvoille ongelma, on suomenkielisten netticasinoiden maara niin valtava, etta suosittelemme niiden kayttoa. Rahansiirrot ovat tana paivana niin hyvassa mallissa, etta niiden kanssa tuskin tulee mitaan ongelmia. Kolme tarkeinta segmenttia: Suomalaiset verkkopankit, luottokortit (Visa, Mastercard) seka nettilompakot (Skrill, Neteller) loytyvat jokaisesta laadukkaasta netticasinosta. Viime vuosien trendiksi noussut verkkokauppa on kehittanyt rahansiirrot niin laadukkaiksi ja nopeiksi, etta niiden suhteen ei ole enaa vuosiin ollut ongelmia. Luonnollisesti netticasinot kayttavat naita samoja palveluita ja hyotyvat kehityksesta. Naiden isojen linjojen jalkeen netticasinon valintaan vaikuttavat luonnollisesti tarjottavat tervetuliaisbonukset uudet asiakkaat saavat tana paivana kovan kilpailun myota merkittavia etuja netticasinoilta ja niita kannattaa luonnollisesti vertailla. Erilaiset talletusbonukset, ilmaiskierrokset seka ilmaiset pelirahat tuovat suuriakin rahanarvoisia etuja ja niiden vertailu on ehdottomasti kannattavaa. Myoskaan useampien tilien avaaminen ja tervetuliaistarjousten kayttaminen ei missaan nimessa ole huono idea. Kun edella mainitut asiat ovat mieleisia ja vaihtoehtoja on vielakin jaljella, mennaan jo nyansseihin. Toki pelivalikoima on yksi kriteeri, mutta taman paivan netticasinoissa tamakin asia on paasaantoisesti varsin samanlainen. Toki useamman samantasoisen netticasinon vertailussa kannattaa yleensa valita se, jossa on eniten peleja tarjolla. Vaikka omat suosikit loytyisivatkin useammasta, voi tulevaisuudessa mielenkiinto nousta joihinkin muihin peleihin ja silloin on tietysti mukavampaa, etta ne loytyvat valikoimista. Viimeisena voidaan nostaa esiin kaytettavyys joidenkin netticasinoiden sivut ovat vilkkuvia, valkkyvia ja epakaytannollisia. Omaan silmaan ja kaytettavyyteen sopiva sivusto on luonnollisesti aina se paras valinta. Tarjonta netticasinoissa on tana paivana valtava ja jokaiselle loytyy varmasti se oma netticasino onnea matkaan! By AM Friday, January 1, 2016 Share Tweet Share Share Email From Guns To Government. Broadening The Battlefield When I saw the Christmas festivities photo posted by the journalist Liam Clarke on Facebook he looked quite happy. The thought crossed my mind that the cancer he suffered from would have its work cut out to put him down. He was dead the following day. I was also taken by the chilling effect of knowing that because he would dip in and out of TPQ he may have noticed the first of the years end obituaries and now he features in the same run. How quickly death comes upon us.When he revealed to me a couple of years back that he had the illness he was quite upbeat. He knew it would catch him but he was determined to make it work hard for its victory. He would strive to stay ahead of it for as long as possible and write as much as he could. A most accomplished writer he easily shifted lanes and switched pens as an investigative journalist, newspaper columnist and author.He had a keen interest in the Provisional Republican Movement, embracing both the IRA and Sinn Fein. In addition to writing about the veteran South Armagh republican leader, Thomas Slab Murphy which led to a much publicized legal battle, he along with his wife Kathryn wrote a biography of former Provisional IRA chief of staff Martin McGuinness,His 1987was the first serious attempt to explain the post-hunger strike rise of Sinn Fein.His intellectual interests were not confined to the Irish politics he made his name covering. I surmise that his relationship with Zennism was grounded in the desire to find an alternative to a materialism which was not laced with dogma and piety. In 2006 he composed an erudite piece, published in The Blanket, setting out his understanding of the belief system. It was his contribution to a call for greater tolerance in the wake of the theocratic violence and intimidation against freedom of expression in Denmark.Many years ago when I first became familiar with his writing I resiled from it, thinkingBrit establishment and all that. It was not that I was one of Hoffers True Believers , unthinkingly conforming to the prevalent groupthink: just that immersion in a militaristic culture equips adherents with the requisite amount of intolerance towards other perspectives.Back in the day he was considered toxic by the Provisional Movement. Political Islam issues fatwas whereas Provisional republicanism issues smearwas. Our critics in the press were to have their character decapitated: they were labelled in whatever pejorative fashion was considered advantageous. Whisper weasels were dispensed to smear Liam Clarke and any other journalist who would not buy into the bull of the day and who were loathe to rely on the privileged briefing or press statement.The irony is not lost. The most dishonest people in the course of the conflict were of course not the journalists. It would be a close call between Thiepvals Lisburn Lie Machine And Sinn Feins Leadership Lie Machine. On occasion some of those worked for both machines at the same time, smearing all and sundry.Liam Clarke was not sans critics in the media. Some queried his methods of obtaining information for his stories. I remained unpersuaded of their charges. I tended to judge him by the methods I would consider using if it was necessary to extract sensitive detail from say a British official about how the 1981 hunger strike was managed or a cop with the inside track on torture. In the heel of the hunt we are nudged back to Arlene Fosters observation that "as a journalist Liam had an ability to cut through all the padding and get right to the core of a story." Enough in the political culture of the North to create more enemies than you could shake a stick at.He was not beyond reproach and made mistakes. On one occasion the Sunday Times had to make a big pay out after Liam wrongly cited West Belfast community activist Tommy Holland as having served a life sentence for carrying out an IRA assassination. A bit more digging and less assuming would have saved him a lot of bother. The thought that immediately jumped to mind as I read the story was Liam is banjaxed and Tommy is due a big pay day. Gail Walker at the Belfast Telegraph got the measure of him in her comment Liam and I had the odd fractious run-in, as I'm sure he had with others.I was one of the others. The first time he ever rang me I told him I would not be speaking to him. Equipped with the mindset of the revolutionary, intolerance, rather than hope, is often the last thing to die. Years later I would relent. Much of his earlier writing would have to be revisited and perused in the light of what had come to pass. Inter alia, it was not he who was denying the existence of Stakeknife. We continued to have our disagreements. Nothing wrong with it, the inevitable outcome of genuinely seeing things very differently.While capable of great charm, he was not a journalist for buddy-buddying with those he spoke to about stories. He maintained a professional distance, an aloofness, that delineated the separators. Liam Clarke did not want a quote he could stick on some story he had already written. He wanted insight so that he could craft the story and tell it as accurately as he felt able to.An endearing characteristic was his ability to take criticism without getting precious about himself. He also had a philosophical, even generous way of dealing with his critics.A sure sign of waning British media interest in the North came when the Sunday Times let Liam go after twenty years as its Northern editor. The same political bores, the Alpha and Omega of the conflict years, spouting the same bollix had done a better job than the Boston Strangler at suffocating interest. Fortunately, the Belfast Telegraph realised that there were still snake oil salesmen to be pissed off and employed him as its political editor to fulfil that task.The story of the political North will continue. It will be somewhat poorer without the input of a great story teller. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. MARION A Marion weight limit ordinance that was to go in effect Friday has been delayed, though work remains to resolve the issue after this weeks City Council meeting. City Council members voted to delay the effective date on a motion from Commissioner John Goss, who first proposed the restriction more than a month ago to protect streets from damage that has cost the city more than $1 million a year. It is unclear how much of that damage is related to vehicle weight. The ordinance sought to limit vehicle weights on the citys smaller, residential roads to 13 tons, or 26,000 pounds. Marion officials rethinking weight limit ordinance MARION A weight limit ordinance passed by Marion City Council two weeks ago is again under The approved ordinance came under fire two weeks ago by representatives of waste management company Republic Services. On Monday, those representatives and other waste haulers repeated concerns that the weight limit would eliminate their vehicles from providing services on roads in question. Goss maintains a restriction is needed. He had based the ordinance on a similar measure in Rosemount, Minnesota, where Goss said smaller trucks are used by Republic at nearly the same customer rate. He questioned why the same could not be done in Marion. How do you accommodate that there and cant accommodate it here? Goss asked. I dont understand. Republic Services General Manager Doug McFarland could not immediately answer the question without first researching the Rosemount service. He did say a number of factors could be in play, including it being in a different state and any differences in landfill costs. The typical truck in Marion weighs more than 26,000 pounds when empty. When full, they can weigh as much as 54,000 pounds, the waste haulers said. To purchase smaller trucks would cost Republic $1 million and significantly increase customer rates, General Manager McFarland said. Charging a user fee also would result in higher customer rates, he said. Though no figure for a fee has been proposed, McFarland said a fee could force rates to increase by 50 percent. Marion Council considers vehicle limits on homeowner property MARION The rights of property owners, as opposed to their neighbors rights, is in the bal Were willing to work with the city. We understand the issue, McFarland said. Theres not a great answer to it. Theres a lot of math that needs to be gone through. Mayor Robert Butler noted a median solution is needed, but that work to reach that point remains. Weve got to accommodate the citizens on the one hand and we have to accommodate the people that are in collections on the other, he said. Democratic and Republican party officials say local supporters are excited about the upcoming presidential primaries. People are always very passionate about all the primaries and are always very up-to-date with things that are going on, Bamberg County Republican Party Chairman Matt Maxwell said. Although he doesnt think any presidential candidates will be coming to the Bamberg area before the primaries, Maxwell says Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties are very important to GOP candidates as the race gets closer. South Carolina being 'first in the South,' our state is already important. It sends a big message to the candidates. Our counties have so much history around them. The message of how we vote would carry some influence for how a state should vote, he said. South Carolina carries extra influence as the first-in-the-South primary state for the Republican and Democratic presidential contests. The Republican presidential preference primary is Saturday, Feb. 20 while the Democratic contest follows a week later on Feb. 27. Bamberg has been very active whether it be pamphlets or going house to house to inform people about how the candidates can make a difference, Maxwell said. He thinks Republicans do a great job, but Maxwell says he would love more attention in the Bamberg area. Orangeburg County Democratic Party Chair Betty Henderson says shes not aware of any more candidates stopping by before the partys primary, but is expecting some candidates to visit before the primary. Hillary Clinton has visited Orangeburg County twice in 2015. Sen. Bernie Sanders visited in November. Orangeburg County is very important to the Democratic process in South Carolina. We play a very important role in elections, Henderson said. Henderson said the party is excited to keep a Democrat in the White House and that America has made a substantial amount of progress over the years. Check out how the stock market has done better. Look at the deficits. Look at the health care that is provided, Henderson said. We are doing good. People are working. People are happy. We are so much better than we were after Democrats took office seven or eight years ago, she said. Henderson says the Democrats are organizing daily and working hard. When Democrats win, we all win, Henderson added. Orangeburg Republican Party Chair Jim Ulmer says people are starting to become more interested in who they want to vote for. Most people have narrowed down their selection to about five or six candidates, he said. Janet Huckabee, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, visited Orangeburg in November Calhoun County Republican Party Chairman Doug Doster says people are more excited than he's ever seen. He is expecting to see more candidates visit before February. "This election, every vote is going to count. It's very important," Doster said. Doster says the Republican Party has strong organization. "The bottom line is -- when we choose one candidate, the entire Republican Party will be behind that candidate," he said. NEW YORK -- A sign with a flower outside a cathedral at what has to be one of Manhattan's busiest intersections on 34th Street and Second Avenue stands as a subtle reminder of genocide. One wonders how many diplomats on the way to and from the United Nations headquarters, tourists and commuters have passed it this year without noticing the banner for the centennial year of the Armenian genocide outside St. Vartan Cathedral. 2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, even as the massacre still goes unacknowledged throughout the world. As Philadelphia archbishop Charles J. Chaput put it in a speech: "Starting in 1915, Turkish officials deliberately murdered more than 1 million members of Turkey's Armenian minority. The ethnic and religious cleansing campaign went on into the 1920s. (The victims) were overwhelmingly Christian. Turkey has never acknowledged the genocide. It's one of the worst unrepented crimes in history." And there could be other such crimes on the way. By way of a brief tour, Chaput said: "Today we have our own tragedies, from church bombings in Pakistan to the beheadings of Christians in North Africa. More than 70 percent of the world now lives with some form of religious coercion. Tens of thousands of Christians are killed every year for reasons linked to their faith." I was heartened to see President Obama issue a statement just before Christmas recognizing "brutal atrocities" being committed against Christians in Iraq and Syria. "In some areas of the Middle East where church bells have rung for centuries on Christmas Day, this year they will be silent; this silence bears tragic witness to the brutal atrocities committed against these communities by (ISIS)." In the weeks preceding Christmas, it was reported that the White House would soon be issuing a statement labeling the slaughter of the Yazidi people in Iraq genocide. While applauding that move, an ecumenical coalition urged that the administration include Middle Eastern Christians in the designation. As the letter sent to Secretary of State John Kerry signed by pastors, scholars and activists put it: "We have extensive files supporting a finding that ISIS' treatment of Iraqi and Syrian Christians, as well as Yazidis and other vulnerable minorities, meets this definition. They include evidence of ISIS assassinations of Church leaders; mass murders; torture; kidnapping for ransom in the Christian communities of Iraq and Syria; its sexual enslavement and systematic rape of Christian girls and women; its practices of forcible conversions to Islam; its destruction of churches, monasteries, cemeteries and Christian artifacts; and its theft of lands and wealth from Christian clergy and laity alike." In testimony before Congress shortly thereafter, Carl Anderson, head of the Knights of Columbus, which has an emergency aid campaign supporting church efforts on the ground in the region, urged: "The United States is rightly viewed as the world's leading defender of vulnerable minorities, and it is critically important that the State Department consider the best available evidence before issuing a statement that would exclude Christians. An official government declaration of genocide is an opportunity to bring America's religious communities together to pursue the truth, to support victims, and to bear witness to the noble principle of 'Never Again.'" The White House could listen to its own ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein. He was in Rome in December, where he said that the West "cannot remain silent" about what is happening to Christians, who are in danger of being "wiped out." President Obama, not for the first time, said something beautiful about religious freedom. Acknowledging the fact of genocide against Christians in the world today would put some teeth to his words. ----- Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review Online and founding director of Catholic Voices USA. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com. In the first two parts of our series on criminal justice reform, we wrote about the efforts of U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson, a former career federal prosecutor who has been on a crusade against the systemic abuse of power by federal prosecutors. We've found that Obama and Holder failed to take Gleeson's recommendations seriously, or take the steps necessary to reform the abusive charging policies he repeatedly criticized. Gleeson has been a fierce critic of a practice used frequently by prosecutors to coerce defendants to plead guilty and waive their constitutional right to a jury trial. It involves the imposition of a "trial penalty" by adding statutory enhancements to an indictment, which dramatically increase the prison sentence a judge is forced to impose if a defendant is convicted at trial. For example, someone charged with selling drugs over a certain threshold must receive a 5- to 10-year mandatory sentence, depending solely on the amount of drugs involved. The prosecutor's addition of two non-violent drug convictions to the indictment as a prior felony information (or, notice of filing an enhancement) can turn a minimum mandatory 5-year sentence into a 40-year sentence, and a minimum 10-year sentence into a life sentence. In United States v. Kupa, Gleeson described the prosecutor's threat of a life sentence to coerce a guilty plea out of a non-violent drug offender as "brutally unfair" and "the sentencing equivalent of a two-by-four to the forehead." Gleeson wrote, "Prior felony informations have played a key role in helping to place the federal criminal trial on the endangered species list," noting that only 3 percent of all criminal cases charged in federal courts today results in a trial by jury. From 2010 to 2014, Holder issued a series of memoranda to all U.S. attorneys that purported to modify Department of Justice (DOJ) charging policies in drug cases -- which comprise only one-third of all U.S. criminal cases -- to eliminate many of the abuses criticized by Gleeson An Aug. 12, 2013, memorandum directed that "severe mandatory minimum penalties (must be) reserved for serious, high-level, or violent drug traffickers." The memorandum also required prosecutors to look for specific criteria in each case before deciding to charge a defendant for mandatory minimums, and to consider specific factors before filing for sentencing enhancements based on the defendant's prior "felony drug offense" convictions. Holder's memoranda are, to one degree or another, either confusing or downright misleading. They have all failed to modify the plain language of the U.S. Attorneys' Manual that requires assigned prosecutors to "charge ... the most serious offense that is consistent with the nature of the defendant's conduct, and that is likely to result in a sustainable conviction." Responding to a question by email, Gleeson said that "the prosecutors in this district appear to have complied fully with the August 2013 policy," and acknowledged that fewer drug trafficking defendants are being charged with offenses that trigger mandatory minimums. He also said that he had not seen the use of a prior felony enhancement as egregious as the one he wrote about in the Kupa case since Holder's final memorandum was issued in September 2014. Considering the drubbing Gleeson gave the assigned U.S. attorney in that case, we have to wonder if prosecutors just lack the nerve to file sentencing enhancements in his court. Federal criminal defense lawyers across the country are reporting the failure of U.S. attorneys to comply with Holder's policy. According to Gleeson, a March survey of federal defenders found some level of non-compliance in nearly 60 percent of district offices that responded to the survey. "In 23.9 percent of reporting districts (22 of 92), all or most prosecutors still do not comply with the Holder charging policy regarding drug quantity and/or (U.S. Code) 851 enhancements," he wrote in an email. "In 35.8 percent of reporting districts (33 of 92), a minority or substantial minority of prosecutors still (and it may only be sometimes, rarely, or in only one case) do not comply with the Holder charging policy..." The U.S. Sentencing Commission's 2014 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics support the survey's findings. While only 6 to 7 percent of drug offenders charged in U.S. courts qualify for a mandatory minimum under Holder's 2013 policy, more than 50 percent of drug offenders were charged with a mandatory minimum the year after the policy was enacted. That means Holder's policy is being ignored in a majority of the cases where it should be followed. Before stepping down from his position, Holder delivered a speech in February at the National Press Club in which he celebrated a 20 percent reduction in the number of drug trafficking offenders charged with mandatory minimums, a victory he attributed to his 2013 policy. "Put another way," Holder crowed, "we have gone from seeking a mandatory minimum penalty in two out of every three drug trafficking cases, to doing so in one out of two." He failed to mention that only 6 to 7 percent of those charged with drug trafficking offenses actually qualify for a mandatory minimum under his policy. Incredibly, Holder bragged that his 2013 policy had increased the percentage of cases that are resolved by a plea agreement to 97.5 percent. Now just 2.5 percent of defendants in federal drug cases exercise their constitutional right to a trial by jury. Holder's apparent contentment with what amounts to a mutiny by federal prosecutors raises a question Obama should ask the current Attorney General Loretta Lynch and her chief deputies: "Who is in charge at the Justice Department?" It's clearly not the attorney general if such a large number of federal prosecutors can disobey a mandatory charging policy without fear of disciplinary sanction. Changing a written policy is easy, but it is also meaningless if you take no action to enforce that policy in its practical application. The seriousness of this problem deserves a better response from Obama during 2016. ----- Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights. He is a member of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Cato Institute, where he is a senior fellow. Nick Hentoff is a criminal defense and civil liberties attorney in New York City. Six months after four people were shot and killed execution-style at a Holly Hill home, the murderers are still being sought. Five individuals have been taken into custody in the days and months that followed the deaths, but no one has been charged with the murders. On the muggy morning of July 15, the body of 50-year-old Jerome Butler was found next to a BMW in the driveway of a home at 7050 Old State Road. Butler is remembered as a happy-go-lucky and helpful man who worked as a mechanic. In one of the homes bedrooms, the lifeless body of Krystal Hutto, 28, was discovered. Shes remembered as a mother and someone who tried to help others. Half-sisters Shamekia Tyjuana Sanders, 17, and Tamara Alexia Perry, 14, were found slain in another bedroom. Sanders was a rising senior at Lake Marion High School. She looked forward to cheerleading and graduation. She was known for sharing and assisting others. Perry was looking forward to attending Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5s School of Health Professions in the fall. She loved babies and her goal was to one day be a pediatrician. A fifth victim, 8-year-old Dreamzz Nelson, was found in one of the bedrooms. He managed to survive, despite being shot in the head. Once emergency crews arrived on the scene at 7:03 a.m., they called for a helicopter to transport the boy to a Charleston-area hospital. As word began to spread about the grisly scene, onlookers and families of some of the victims gathered in a grassy area several yards from the home. Mid-morning, some of the law enforcement officers at the Old State Road residence sped away to an unpaved portion Gemini Drive, near Vance, where a 1990s model Mercedes was found burning. Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said that the vehicle had been seen at the residence sometime earlier. At a press conference later that afternoon, Ravenell called the crime heinous and warned that anyone who has information about the murders and doesnt come forward would face potential charges such as accessory before or after the fact. By the next day, July 16, two men were in custody: Robert Pockets Bailey, 35, of 11269 Old Number Six Highway, Eutawville, and Christopher Dean Wright, 36, who lived at the Old State Road home. Wright is the father of the slain teens and the injured child, and Huttos fiance. Both were arrested on outstanding warrants involving drug charges, but were not charged in the slayings. Ravenell said the arrests were indirect results of our extensive and ongoing investigation into this horrific incident. Bailey was charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of cocaine. He was also arrested on an outstanding traffic violation of driving under suspension. Bailey remained at the Orangeburg County Detention Center until Sept. 29. He posted bond and was freed. Initially, investigators charged Wright on two outstanding warrants from the State Law Enforcement Division which accused him of trafficking cocaine from the home where the slayings took place back on June 21, 2013. Orangeburg County Magistrate Rob Clariday set a $30,000 bond. Before Clariday set his bond, Wright told the court that he wanted to attend the funeral of Hutto and visit his son in the hospital. Wright posted bail, but his freedom lasted only a couple of weeks. Law enforcement arrested Wright again on Aug. 6 in Manning on new charges. Solicitor David Pascoe, who made a rare appearance in magistrates bond court, stated that Wright faces three counts of unlawful neglect of a child, obstruction of justice and trafficking crack cocaine. This time, Clariday didnt set bond. He noted that because Wright was already on bond for two counts of trafficking cocaine, which are considered violent offenses, he would remain jailed until his bond could be considered by a circuit court judge. Pascoe and Ravenell also stated that Wright had not been forthcoming with information about the July 15 slayings. I believe Mr. Wright knows more than what hes telling us, which is nothing, Ravenell said. Ravenell also noted, Hes the father and because of his lifestyle, his kids are no longer here. And not only that, why would you not cooperate with investigators? It frustrates me, Ravenell said. Wright and his attorney, David Williams, appeared before Circuit Judge Ed Dickson on Sept. 3 for a hearing requesting that he set bond. Dickson upheld Claridays order. Williams told the court that the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office wanted to keep Wright jailed on the charges because hes being told, Were going to press on you and let you solve this murder for us. Williams defended his client, stating that Wright also wants the case solved. If he had the ability and if he had the resources, I can assure you hed do everything in his power to solve this murder because he wants the people who are accountable to be held accountable, he said. Williams stated that Wright was being set up as a scapegoat to some degree. Williams also said that the sheriffs office is punishing Wright for not doing their job. Pascoe called the claims ridiculous. The sheriffs office has been done with talking with Mr. Wright. The sheriffs office has had enough of his lies, misinformation. They dont want to talk to him, quite frankly, so thats not why they arrested him. They arrested him because they believe hes obstructed justice and committed other crimes, Pascoe said. One week after the slayings, law enforcement also arrested Michael Rambo Deroaknel Smith, 26, of Disciple Way, Moncks Corner. Investigators say they wanted to talk with Smith about slayings, but when they attempted to interview him at a Mingo Street apartment complex, he sped away from officers, leading them on a high-speed chase where he lost control of his vehicle on Old Elloree Road. At his bond hearing, Smith told the court that his name was misplaced with someone elses name and he wasnt the person investigators needed to talk to. I would never, ever hurt nobodys family or their children. I might fight somebody. As you can see, my records consistent with that, like I will fight you. As far as committing other things with guns, everybody totes them. Thats like life because of so many things going on in the streets right now, Smith to Orangeburg County Magistrate Jacob Gillens. The OCSO charged Smith with failure to stop for blue light and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. In addition, Smith had two outstanding warrants, one in Summerville for criminal domestic violence and another in Berkeley County for failing to appear in court on a strong-arm robbery charge. Smith remains jailed at the detention center. Two other individuals are in custody. Both are charged with obstruction of justice in the slayings. They were arrested on Nov. 17. Orangeburg Magistrate Peggy Doremus denied bond on Dominique Marquell Washington, 26, of Ladson and another suspect. The sheriffs office asked The T&D not to release the name of the other suspect. Both Washington and the unnamed suspect were arrested on charges that stem from separate interviews relating to the July 15 shootings. These individuals are being arrested because they stood in our way of solving this case, Ravenell said, Anyone else who impedes this investigation will face charges as well. In late October, Ravenell announced the creation of a taskforce to find the killers. He also released profiles of the killers and the killers associates. The taskforce, called the Holly Hill Four, is comprised of the sheriffs office, SLED, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Holly Hill Police Department. In addition to the taskforce, the sheriffs office set up a special hotline for tips in the Holly Hill case. Anyone with information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is asked to call 1-888-825-7172. A reward of $5,000 is being offered to anyone providing information leading to an arrest and conviction. Ravenell said at the Oct. 28 press conference, Every day its picking up momentum. He remains confident that the case will be solved and those responsible will be brought to justice. Ravenell said, There are family members and friends that have an idea. They may not know fully, but they have an idea that my cousin or my family, theyre acting funny. Theyre acting strange. Theyre constantly asking about these murders. The murderers and their associates are always giving excuses about how theyre not the ones who committed the murders, he said. We are going to solve this case and we want people who may know something about it now to come forward rather than be charged later with accessory, because its a possibility, Ravenell said. Ravenell held in his hands the funeral programs of Perry and Sanders. One of the things I do every day is I sit in my office and I look at these, he said. What Im holding now should be graduating programs, instead its funeral programs, he added. These girls didnt graduate from high school not because they werent smart enough, not because of anything other than somebody took their lives too early, the sheriff said. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If the shoe fits, wear it: "... in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell "There's no firewall for stupidity." -- Mike Hamilton "I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said." -- William F. Buckley, Jr. "There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." -- Sren Kierkegaard Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation...(James 1:27) US industrial giant General Electric Company (GE) said it has won a landmark engineering and construction contract worth nearly $1 billion from Saudi Electricity Company for its combined cycle power plant at Waad Al Shamal in the north of the kingdom. As per the deal, GE will deliver the turnkey power plant, supplying four advanced GE 7F.05 heavy duty gas turbines and a GE steam turbine, and featuring solar innovation technology. The 1,390 MW combined cycle plant will be able to provide the equivalent power needed to supply more than 500,000 Saudi homes, said the GE in a statement. Scheduled for completion in 48 months, the plant will support the phosphate mining operations in the locality, in turn driving industrialisation and job creation for Saudi nationals, it stated. Ziyad Al Shiha, CEO of Saudi Electricity Company, said: "We continue to strengthen the kingdoms power infrastructure to meet the growing demand for electricity and to accelerate all-round growth." "Waad Al Shamal is a strategically located power plant that has tremendous potential to energize the local economy and create jobs for Saudis through its support to the industrial sector. By awarding the contract to GE, we are further building on the long-term partnership we have with GE, with a focus on advanced technologies," he noted. One of the gas turbines will be assembled fully at the GE Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam, underlining GEs commitment to localisation. The remaining gas turbines will be produced at GEs manufacturing plant in Greenville, US and the steam turbine will be produced at its manufacturing plant in New York. Mohammed Mohaisen, the GE president and chief executive, gas power systems (Middle East and North Africa) said: "We have been a long-term and trusted partner of SEC and we are committed to delivering our cutting edge competencies across the power sector of the kingdom - from turnkey project development to accelerating power plant productivity and efficiency through our digital industrial solutions." "Waad Al Shamal brings significant value to the Kingdom by strengthening the northern grid and through its potential to energize the local industrial sector. By installing a gas turbine that is fully assembled at GEs Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam, we are delivering on our commitment to provide stronger localization support to our partners," he added. Last year, GE had signed a MoU with the Saudi Electricity Company to set up a joint venture that will extend operations and maintenance support to its power plants in the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service The municipal council members in Bahrain have urged Education Ministry to take immediate action against claims of 'a rise in sodomy in government schools', said a report. The members of the Southern Municipal Council alleged that administrators and teachers have turned a blind eye to sexual acts committed on campus in some girls and boys schools, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. Councillors have passed a proposal to urge the Education Ministry to investigate their claims, it added. For further details visit http://www.gdnonline.com Dutch police said they arrested a 29-year-old British man at gunpoint at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on Friday after he shouted several times that he had a bomb. The man, whose identity is not being released in accordance with Dutch privacy laws, did not have a bomb, said spokesman Eric Vermeulen of the Dutch Royal Marechaussee, or border police. Vermeulen said the man is being interrogated to see what his motivation was. Making false bomb threats is a criminal act in the Netherlands, and the man will face charges after the case is turned over to a prosecutor, Vermeulen said. One of the airport's three departure halls was evacuated for around 30 minutes after the incident, which took place at around 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT).-Reuters Militants launched a deadly attack on an Indian Air Force base near the Pakistan border on Saturday, exchanging fire with Indian forces who, backed by tanks and helicopters, battled for more than 15 hours before wresting back control of the compound. The assault by gunmen disguised as soldiers, in which all five attackers and at least two guards were killed, came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in an effort to revive bilateral talks. Previous attempts at dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been derailed by similar incidents but, as Pakistani authorities condemned the raid, experts suggested the latest negotiations would prove more durable. "We have seen the same pattern again and again when there are attempts to restart the peace dialogue," said Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi. "It may lead to a momentary pause in the ...dialogue and attacks from the (Indian parliamentary) opposition for not pursuing a harder line, but I don't think it will have a long-term impact." The gunmen entered the heavily fortified Pathankot base in India's northwestern state of Punjab before dawn, officials said. Once inside, they opened fire indiscriminately. They had earlier hijacked a police officer's car and driven it to the base - tactics used in previous attacks believed to have been committed by Pakistani-trained militants, Punjab's police chief Suresh Arora told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, in which a home ministry official said two guards were killed. Sporadic gunfire continued through the day and helicopters flew as Indian troops combed the base in search of surviving gunmen. A Reuters witness said he saw two tanks go into the base. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in an evening posting on his Twitter feed that all five gunmen had been killed. Singh said India wanted peace with Pakistan but that any terrorist attack would get "a befitting response", a statement analysts described as restrained. Pakistan condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created in the recent high-level contacts. "Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism," foreign ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah tweeted. TV footage showed armed guards outside the base, which is located 50 km from the border with Pakistan, and police stepped up vehicle checks in the area. The attack may have been carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Indian security sources said, based on an initial analysis. The Pakistan-based militant group based in Pakistan is seeking independence for Indian-ruled Kashmir. "Punjab is also a corridor for drug smuggling and ... several (Jaish-e-Mohammed) sleeper cells have been activated in Punjab," said a home ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. The raid resembled an assault last July by uniformed gunmen on a police post in a Punjabi border town that killed nine people. But Saturday's attack was much more audacious in targeting a large military facility from which India's Russian-made fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters fly. The government said the gunmen had been prevented from entering the area where "high-value assets are parked". Security experts say tight security along the countries' disputed frontier through Kashmir has pushed the focus of militant activity south towards softer targets in Punjab. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir since independence and partition in 1947. The Muslim-majority region remains a bone of contention that India only recently agreed to discuss after months of on-off attempts to relaunch talks.-Reuters UAE's leading telecom services operator Etisalat has signed a deal with Dubai Cares to support its philanthropic efforts and promoting its programs in support of human development initiatives. As part of this agreement, Etisalat will offer Dubai Cares free SMS service to raise funds from its subscribers throughout the year, including donations via SMS. In addition, Etisalat will utilise its social media platforms to raise awareness about Dubai Cares initiatives and programs, said Abdulla Al Mane, the general manager of Etisalat (Dubai Region) after signing the deal with Tariq Al Gurg, the chief executive of Dubai Cares. "The cooperation between the two organisations will promote the philanthropic programs and educational initiatives undertaken by Dubai Cares locally and internationally, contributing to the UAEs active role globally in educational development of individuals, which represents the foundation of a community's sustained growth and progress," stated Al Mana. "This partnership aligns with our vision to help create a knowledge-based society. We believe it is our responsibility and that of other organisations in the UAE to unite in our efforts to support the humanitarian work initiated by our leadership," he added. Al Gurg, describing Etisalat as a significant partner, said: "Through this agreement, Etisalat will help us spread the word in various ways and transmit vital information about our programs, activities and campaigns directly to members of the community via their mobile phones." "We are pleased to utilize the expertise of Etisalat in information technology and telecom - as one of the worlds leading telecommunication companies in the UAE and abroad - through its extensive network of subscribers, which will enhance our communications with the community that supported and contributed to Dubai Cares efforts since our inception," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Germany plans legislation requiring random drug and alcohol testing of pilots, hoping to reduce the risk of a repeat of the Germanwings crash in March, Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt was quoted as saying on Sunday. The plans follow the recommendation of a taskforce set up by the Transport Ministry, after a pilot barricaded himself inside the cockpit of a plane operated by the Lufthansa unit and crashed it in the Alps, killing all 150 people on board. Prosecutors have found evidence that the co-pilot, who had suffered severe depression and may have feared losing his job, had researched suicide methods and concealed an illness from his employer, sparking a debate on supervision and medical secrecy. "I think it's sensible that pilots are checked on a random basis for the consumption of alcohol, drugs and medicines," Dobrindt told Bild am Sonntag. "Experts around the world see positive effects from this to boost operational safety in aviation." Dobrindt said it was important airlines were given the responsibility to carry out the checks. The paper said Dobrindt plans to present the regulation to the cabinet in the new year. Yet Markus Wahl, a spokesman for German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit, was critical of the proposal. "From our point of view the planned random tests are completely wrong. They have nothing to do with the Germanwings disaster and will put an entire professional group under general suspicion," Wahl was quoted by Bild am Sonntag as saying. Germany's measures come after a panel of experts led by Europe's aviation safety regulator in July recommended improved psychological screening for new pilots, and called for the creation of a European database with details of medical visits plus better support networks to reduce the risks of a similar tragedy. It also called for the introduction of random drug and alcohol testing of pilots and better oversight of the doctors responsible for their regular medical checks. - Reuters Amazon River is the greatest river of South America and the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its ... Morad Park If youre ready for a chilly walk on a beautiful winter day, heres some good news: The Platte River Revival project has concluded until spring, and all three work sites around Casper are open again -- Morad Park as well as spots near Wyoming Boulevard and Caspers water treatment plant. Were looking forward to seeing the work pay off in the long term, but were glad we can enjoy our waterfront now. Substance abuse effort Its great to see Wyoming first lady Carol Mead become a spokeswoman for an important cause -- preventing substance abuse at an early age. The message of the campaign is that parental involvement is key, no matter how awkward those conversations might be. Uphill climb Congratulations to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which is celebrating 50 years in business. Its grown and transformed over the decades into what its founders dreamed it would be: a world-class ski resort that were fortunate to have here in Wyoming. Teacher recognition Marty Agran, a University of Wyoming professor who specializes in teaching students who have severe disabilities, was honored by a national group for his research and service in the disabled community. Thats a high honor in an often overlooked field. Financial know-how Sophomore Liane Dia is $20,000 richer since taking Daniel Wrights personal finance class at Natrona County High School. Dia won the scholarship by placing 13th out of 20,000 students across the nation who participated in the H&R Block Budget Challenge, while Wright, her teacher, won the teachers competition. Congratulations to both! Fresh start The Star-Tribune editorial board would like to wish a healthy, happy, prosperous 2016 to Casper and Wyoming residents and businesses. We thank you so much for sharing your views with us and hope you'll continue to do so. Happy New Year! CHEYENNE A prosecutor who secured a death sentence against Dale Wayne Eaton for the murder of a woman nearly 30 years ago says the lingering appeal in the case shows the Wyoming Legislature must decide if it's willing to provide the resources necessary to handle capital punishment. The call came from Natrona County District Attorney Mike Blonigen, who prosecuted Eaton in 2004 for the 1988 killing of Lisa Kimmell of Billings, Montana. For years, Eaton was the only man on death row in Wyoming. His death sentence was overturned in November 2014. "You keep going, and you tell yourself that this is about what the man actually did," Blonigen said. "But it seems the further we get removed from what he actually did, and out from his trial, the less and less that seems to matter," Blonigen said of Eaton. "Instead, we're tied up in all this other stuff that has nothing to do with the truth or untruth of any of the allegations made, but have everything to do with the procedure." Kimmell disappeared while driving across Wyoming and fishermen later found her body in the North Platte River. In 2002, DNA evidence linked Eaton to the case while he was in prison on unrelated charges. The Wyoming Supreme Court upheld Eaton's death sentence, but U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson of Cheyenne overturned it last year, ruling that ruled that Eaton hadn't received an adequate defense. Johnson said the Wyoming Public Defender's Office had tried to scrimp on expenses and failed to follow American Bar Association staffing recommendations on providing qualified lawyers, an investigator and a mitigation expert. Johnson gave the state the choice of allowing Eaton to serve life in prison or seeking the death penalty against him at a new sentencing hearing with the requirement that the state appoint lawyers for him not associated with the Wyoming Public Defender's Office. Blonigen began pressing in state court to hold a new death penalty hearing for Eaton. But Johnson ruled this summer that the state had failed to follow his order by not appointing new lawyers for Eaton fast enough. In his order last week, Johnson prohibited the state from holding a new death penalty hearing while Eaton appeals aspects of the order Johnson issued last year. Eaton's current legal team is asking a federal appeals court in Denver to rule that too much time has passed for Eaton to get a fair death penalty hearing. Gov. Matt Mead's budget recommendations, released before Johnson's order, called for the Legislature to appropriate over $1 million for the coming two-year state funding cycle to pay for Eaton's defense in state court. Mead also is calling for $25,000 to study whether prosecutors and the Public Defender's Office are receiving adequate funding. Wyoming last carried out the death penalty in 1992, when it executed convicted murderer Mark Hopkinson. Several other death sentences have been overturned on appeal since then on the grounds of ineffective legal representation from the Public Defender's Office. Attempts to reach Wyoming Public Defender Diane Lozano and Cheyenne lawyer Terry Harris, who represents Eaton, for comment Thursday were not immediately successful. The Legislature has rejected bills to abolish the death penalty in recent years despite support from religious groups. Blonigen said Eaton's case underscores the need for the state to provide adequate support if it wants to keep the death penalty on the books. "You've got to have the resources and have the commitment to it to carry through with it," Blonigen said. "I think the Legislature has to decide do we really want this or not. If we really want it, then we have to change some things." After a Casper police officer shot and killed a man while serving a search warrant at his home in June, a local resident appealed to the department to buy body cameras. The wearable cameras, which record police interactions with civilians, could increase transparency and hold officers responsible for their actions, the man told police Capt. Steve Freel. The Casper Police Department is researching body cameras but has no immediate plans to buy them, Freel said. If its for the betterment of the department and the community, then well look at it and well move forward with it, he said. Other local police agencies are looking into body cameras and field testing models. One Natrona County police department has already bought and started using wearable cameras. A national focus on police accountability has prompted law enforcement groups across the nation to consider wearing cameras. Following the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, Browns family pressured lawmakers to pass legislation that would require police officers to wear video cameras at all times. The American Civil Liberties Union said in March about 25 percent of the nations police agencies were using body cameras, with 80 percent of agencies evaluating the technology. The ACLU said on-body cameras have the potential to be a win-win, helping protect the public against police misconduct, and at the same time helping protect police against false accusations of abuse. An article in Police Chief Magazine, the official publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, says body cameras reduce both use of force by police officers and citizen complaints of police misconduct. Both the ACLU and the police chiefs group have concerns over privacy. The Mills Police Department was the first local police agency to adopt the use of body cameras, last January. The cameras, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, are attached to an officers shirt by a clip in the center of the chest. Its accountability for us, for everybody, Lt. Justin Lindberg said when the department began wearing the cameras. The cameras are on and in standby mode while they are worn. All traffic stops are recorded, and officers dont have to ask for consent to record. If officers film a situation they think may have evidentiary value in court, theyll burn the recording onto a DVD. Each video is stored in the departments system for 90 days before it is purged, a procedure that addresses some privacy concerns. According to the departments policy, officers may stop recording when asked to do so by a citizen and if they feel it won't compromise their investigation. If officers stop recording, theyre required to submit a report stating why the recording was suspended. Both the Natrona County Sheriffs Office and the Wyoming Highway Patrol are field testing cameras in the hopes of being granted funding in the future to purchase them. The sheriffs office is testing cameras by having patrol units use them for a week at a time, Lt. Mike Steinberg said. He and the deputies then look at the quality of the videos, how much space is needed to store them and how easy the cameras are to use. Steinberg said the sheriff's office has requested funding from the county commissioners to purchase body cameras. We view it as something that can be beneficial, Steinberg said. But he wants the sheriffs office to consider all camera options before choosing one. He is also attending a webinar on best body cameras practices to learn what policies to enact. We want to make sure were doing it right, so that when we do get the funding approved we have our ducks in a row, Steinberg said. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is trying the cameras but has not yet requested funding to buy them. Col. Kebin Haller said the cameras would be an added benefit since the in-car cameras, or dash cams, already capture most actions by troopers. I have traveled around the state, spoken to a lot of the troopers, and all of us recognize that our behavior and our conduct is being monitored and also recorded. Haller said. Everyone is OK with that. We understand it, we respect it and were comfortable with it. Haller said hes mindful that the patrol must be fiscally responsible as the state heads into a budget deficit. Thats why the agency is testing cameras before purchasing them, he said. Freel, with Casper police, said hes watching the trends surrounding police body cameras, while taking into consideration laws being written, policies being generated and technology being created. There are just a lot of questions that have to be asked and answered, Freel said. When it does come time, we want to find the right vendor on the forefront of technology. Like all Eagle Scouts, James Whiting has a dark green sash thats decorated with merit badges. Its draped on a chair inside the 16-year-olds bedroom. Theres a badge with a hiking icon, one with a scale, another with a sailboat. But this is no ordinary sash. Look close, and youll notice that this sash is wider and more decorated than any in the state. Thats because Whiting recently became the first documented Eagle Scout in Wyoming history to earn all 142 merit badges, needing an extra sash to display his awards. We sewed (two sashes) together so that its easier to wear, Whiting said. The Boy Scouts has always been a part of Whiting's family. His father has been a Scoutmaster and an Assistant Scoutmaster. His mother helps scout troops with their advancements. His siblings, four older brothers and one younger brother, are all Eagle Scouts. To become an Eagle Scout, you must earn 21 merit badges. Some will go the extra lengths to earn a handful more. Whiting reached 50 merit badges at the age of 12, and at that point he figured, Why not earn all of them? He set off on his goal, which included a repetitive process of printing the worksheet for a specific merit badge, researching, partaking in the activity and meeting with a counselor who was familiar with the topic. The fingerprinting merit badge took around 30 minutes to complete. The bugling merit badge took around two years. I had to learn 15 songs and play them for the counselor, Whiting said. One of Whitings many counselors was Mike Anderson. Hes also the troop committee chairman. Anderson, 64, has been involved with scouting at least 35 years and rarely sees anything like this. For a 16-year-old kid to go out and meet with (counselors) is difficult. Calling somebody and saying, Can you help me through this merit badge, takes a lot of gumption, it takes a lot of commitment and it takes a lot of personal skills that a young kid doesnt normally have, Anderson said. But once they get doing it, they develop that skill level of talking to adults. Thats the main thing with James that I was impressed with. Hes learned a lot of communication skills that will carry into the rest of his life. But communication is far from the only skill the Lander Valley High School sophomore learned throughout this process. His merit badges taught him skills and lessons and took him all over Wyoming and beyond. I learned how to scuba dive (in Nevada), which was super cool. I learned how to weld, which could be useful in the future. I learned how to do fingerprinting. I learned how to do all kinds of handy work around the house, from carpentry to woodworking to plumbing. I learned how to fire a bunch of different guns, and work with them and go hunting. I learned a lot about our country, Whiting said. Now that the 16-year-old has achieved all 142 merit badges, hes moving on to his next goal. Whiting is now working toward receiving a Congressional Award, the highest award Congress can give to youth. Of the six possible awards, Whiting has his sights set on the most difficult: the gold medal. It takes two years to earn the award, which requires 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and a four-night expedition. They say that getting your Eagle Scout is like climbing a mountain, Whiting said. I climbed that mountain, and then I climbed the mountain to get all these merit badges. And now, Im going to keep climbing. The University of Arizona is looking for a new development partner to help it build a $40 million office building at its nascent tech park at Kino Parkway and East 36th Street, after Pima County voters rejected a bond that would have paid for half the building. The UAs latest master plan for the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, including the planned Innovation and Technology Building, was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents on Nov. 16. The UA says the planned multistory 120,000- to 180,000-square foot office and lab building is needed to attract tech-oriented companies and would initially become the home for Tech Launch Arizona, the schools technology commercialization arm, and related programs. But as originally proposed, Pima County would have paid for $20 million of the new buildings cost through bond funding, with the UA ponying up the other half with its own bond funding. The county bond issue that included the Innovation Building funds, along with other bonds that together totaled nearly $800 million, was soundly defeated by voters in November. With the countys bond plans now up in the air, the UA is looking for a private development partner, said Bruce Wright, UA associate vice president for Tech Parks Arizona. Were looking at different funding options for the building, and were talking to some private developers now, Wright said, adding that the UA also is meeting with two organizations that help universities finance development projects. UA will Gauge interest from developers The UA plans to issue a request for interest on the Innovation Building project sometime in January or early February. Based on the response, the university could issue a formal request for development proposals later this year. While the county would have split the development costs under the bond proposal, private developers may have different needs, Wright said. Different private developers and groups are going to require a different threshold as to what will kick-start the building, Wright said. Wright said hes a strong proponent of Pima County bringing the economic-development bonds back to voters, contending that the potential economic stimulus from the projects especially the building at The Bridges would be very beneficial to the local economy. It really is foundational. It will provide some basic infrastructure that will help attract and grow high-tech companies in the local regions, so I hope it would be a candidate if theres any decision to move forward with another bond, Wright said. In the meantime, were going to go out and see if we can find alternative funding sources and see if we can keep the building moving forward. David Allen, UA vice president of Tech Launch Arizona, said development proposed at The Bridges is a potential game-changer that will provide office and lab space just a few miles from the UA campus, while providing a visible presence for Tech Launch Arizona. Tech Launch currently houses a core staff of 31 people in the former Tucson Electric Power Co. headquarters building on West Sixth Street, which was built in 1967. We think it will be a high-profile location, Allen said of the site at The Bridges, noting that Kino Parkway is a major route to Tucson International Airport. My view is, this becomes the physical manifestation of Tech Launch Arizona. By being in a spot where people are going by every day or coming and going to the airport, I think its going to be a growth pull, an attraction, he said. We want to have a lot of vibe there, the presence of creative energy there. 3 development precincts planned The Innovation Building is already part of a plan B for The Bridges, which was originally planned as a multiple-use office, retail and housing development oriented toward the biosciences, called the Arizona Bioscience Park or the Bio Park. The UA won a $4.7 million federal grant that paid for site infrastructure, and retail spaces were built out with a Costco and a Walmart Supercenter. But land slated for office and lab buildings remain empty and a planned housing development hasnt yet materialized. In 2014, the UA broadened the propertys focus from the biosciences to technology and renamed it UA Tech Park-The Bridges. Besides Tech Launch Arizona, the proposed Innovation Building would initially house a workforce development center, possibly in partnership with Pima Community College or the Joint Technical Education District, and a branch of the Arizona Center for Innovation, a high-tech business incubator at the UA Tech Park on South Rita Road. Under the master plan, the 65-acre site at The Bridges would be divided into three development precincts. The southernmost precinct would be home to the Innovation and Technology Building, an adjacent hotel and conference center, commercial office and laboratory buildings and parking. A second precinct immediately to the north is earmarked for commercial office and laboratory facilities, including multi-tenant and single-tenant buildings, while the northernmost zone is slated for UA uses including potential office, classroom and laboratory space. Wright said he still thinks The Bridges site can be attractive to bioscience firms, citing the areas proximity to the UA and noting that several interested firms have been turned away for lack of ready office and lab space. He said he isnt dissuaded by the lagging commercial real-estate market in Tucson, where the office vacancy rate in mid-2015 was estimated at 13 to 20 percent, depending on various industry sources, compared with about 16 percent for the U.S. overall. Weve done a lot of market analysis; weve met with a lot of technology companies over the last two or three years, Wright said. The kind of space that would be available in the Innovation and Technology Building is not really available in Tucson. Office market is weak Mike Hammond, president and CEO of the commercial real-estate brokerage Cushman Wakefield/Picor, said the office market in Tucson looks weak right now. But Hammond whose firm handles leasing for the UA at the Tech Park on Rita Road said much of Tucsons office space consists of older buildings that are functionally obsolete, and there are always prospective tenants who want the aesthetics and technology of a new building. The chance to align with a major university can be a major draw, said Hammond, who says hes a minor investor in Arizona State Universitys SkySong, a tech-oriented mixed-use development in south Scottsdale. Built with ASU as the anchor tenant, the 1.2-million-square-foot project began in 2008 and is now in the last of an initial four-phase development plan, featuring Class A commercial office space, ASUs SkySong business incubator and apartments. The image of being associated with the UA is strong Ive seen it with SkySong, Hammond said. Meanwhile, the UA is trying to drive new development at the UA Tech Park on South Rita Road, a former IBM manufacturing plant acquired by the university in 1994. That park is mostly leased, with tenants including IBM, Raytheon, Citi and OptumRx. A master-plan update for the Tech Park, also approved by the Board of Regents in November, includes a focus on new development on parcels northwest of the existing park. Someones Always Watching Me Pee: And Other Realities of Motherhood By MaryLynn St. Germaine. CreateSpace ($13.99) Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for the humorless, as MaryLynn St. Germaine ably demonstrates with her droll reflections on parenting and suburban life. These short essays channel comic mid-century mommy memoiriststhink Jean Kerr of Please dont Eat the Daisies fame and Erma Bombecks Motherhood: The Second Oldest Professionwhile offering an updated take on childrearings pitfalls, pressures, and palliatives. (Prozac, anyone?) Hippie-sling moms and over-achievers who jar their own baby food should skip this book, advises St. Germaine. Its intended for overwhelmed mothers who long for powder room privacy, fantasize about cars that dont smell like fugitive string-cheese, and sometimes find themselves preferring their childs imaginary friend to their actual child. St. Germaine, a third-generation Tucsonan, is the mother of two small children and owns an organizing business. Dont Call Me Turtle By Elaine A. Powers. Illustrations by Nicholas Thorpe. Lyric Power Publishing, ($14.95) To the casual observer, turtles and tortoises appear to share so many similarities that we often use the names turtle and tortoise interchangeably. But the fact is that they couldnt be more different, says Elaine Powers, whose charming picture book employs clever rhymes and colorful illustrations to demonstrate why the two should never be confused. To begin with, while some turtles were built to paddle around in the water, she says, tortoises were not throw a tortoise in the water, and hell drown. And thats just the beginning of her lesson about these special and very distinctive reptiles, a lesson sure to fascinate junior naturalists and animal lovers. Powers, who is a biologist and a scriptwriter, lives in Tucson. Uncle Big Rat, Rats & Snakes All Lie! By Skyler; Illustrated by Bob Zaborsky. Green Ivy Publishing ($19.99) At Southern Arizonas Squeaky Hospital the greedy rodent and reptile bureaucrats make lots of lettuce while they willfully abuse, ignore, and misdiagnose their beleaguered Mighty Mice patients. The Mighty Mice served their country and deserve better but their problems are unnoticed by a nation of sleeping sheep who permit these outrages to exist. The anonymous author of this allegory clearly has issues with the VA. The illustrationswhich are stark, disturbing, and plentifulare by Tucsonan Bob Zaborsky. Myth Rider By Cynthia Kennedy Henzel 4RV Publishing ($15.99) Born in the country of Georgia and raised under the watchful eyes of exiled Centaurs, young trick-rider Tamara leaves her homeland and journeys to fledging Oklahoma to perform in Wild West Shows. There she meets Mark Twain, Annie Oakley, Bill Pickett and other colorful characters of the frontier, but longs to return to her homeland and fulfill her legacy of restoring the Centaurs to the fertile fields of their birthplace. Tamaras skills draw the attention of a Hollywood producer who offers her a chance to become a stunt rider. Now Tamara must choose between reclaiming her past and creating her future. Horsey and historical, a fast read for middle-school ages. Sedona Verde Valley Art: A History from Red Rocks to Plein-Air By Lili DeBarbieri The History Press ($21.99) Tucson author Lili DeBarbieri chose to focus on the Verde Valley region in part, because of the integration of art in virtually every part of the city, and presents a valuable field guide of the artwork created and displayed throughout the district. This slim volume includes local history, artist profiles, and a listing of galleries with contact and product information. An entertaining and informative companion on your next Central Arizona road trip. Peril, Passion, Peru By Eve Dew Crook The Wild Rose Press ($16.95) Newspaper editor Jill Flanders flies to Peru in search of her estranged husband reported missing from an archeology site. Well versed to his cheating, lying ways, Jill is not concerned for his safety but wants to hand him the divorce papers he neglected to sign before leaving. Danger looms, and a sexy archeologist who rekindles a passion Jill thought long lost. Q: I recently flew from Seattle to Wichita, Kansas, on United Airlines, with a stopover in Denver. My first flight was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection in Denver. I called United, and a representative offered me two options: I could stay overnight and fly home the next evening at 5:30 p.m., or I could rent a car, and United would reimburse me. I asked for a confirmation number or an email in regard to this promise, and the agent reassured me that it was not necessary. She transferred me directly to Hertz to make the arrangements, and said that all I needed to do was fax the car rental expense to United and I would be reimbursed. I decided to rent a car and drive home. When I sent United my bill, the company refused to pay it, saying that its very sorry, but its not Uniteds policy to reimburse for car rental expenses. Can you help me convince United to do the right thing? Linda Oliver, Cheney, Kan. A: If United promised that it would refund your car rental, it should have refunded the rental regardless of its policy. According to Rule 24, Section E of Uniteds contract of carriage, it may, at its sole discretion, arrange for you to travel on another carrier. United may also, at its sole discretion, and if acceptable to the passenger, arrange for the passenger to travel via ground transportation. You followed all the correct steps, first by emailing your bill to United through its site, and then appealing its decision to one of Uniteds executive contacts, which I list on my website: elliott.org/company-contacts/united . Unfortunately, that didnt work, either. United is trying harder to fix its badly damaged relationship with customers, and this would have been an excellent opportunity to deliver on a promise. Im disappointed that it didnt come through for you. For future reference, its very unusual for an airline to pay for alternate transportation, although its not unprecedented. These assurances had been given to you in a phone conversation, and as you probably know, these calls are recorded for quality assurance purposes. All United needed to do was review the recordings, and it could figure out what was said. Four women have been displaced after a fire destroyed their home in north Marana early Friday morning, authorities said. Northwest Fire received several calls of a house on fire shortly after 5 a.m., said Capt. Adam Golberg, a department spokesman. The fire destroyed the home and all its contents. The residents, ages 87, 68, 66 and 16, are being provided with shelter and other needs by the Northwest Fire District Community Assistance Program and the Southern Arizona chapter of the American Red Cross. Crews arrived at the house, in the 12200 block of West Moore Road, in less than 10 minutes, and made sure all the occupants had made it out safely, Goldberg said. Several hoses were brought in to fight the fire from the outside and crews were able to enter the house and completely extinguish the fire within 45 minutes. A contract renewal before the Pima County Board of Supervisors for Southern Arizonas regional economic development organization would pay as much as $651,000 for six months of service. You dont survive and prosper economically unless you have an entity thats like Sun Corridor, Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson said. Sun Corridor, formerly known as Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities or TREO, is a nonprofit economic development organization that has been a service provider for the county for nearly a decade. Bronson also sits on the Sun Corridor board as the countys representative. The proposed contract provides a base funding level of $441,000 for economic development services for the period from Jan. 5 to June 30. It also includes a $210,000 option to assist in the sale of county-owned properties, which the board could approve. Bronson said the deal was well worth the expense. They have done very well at attracting new employers and helping current employers like Raytheon to expand, she said. Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry also said the money paid to Sun Corridor over the years was well-spent. To market a region particularly one thats heavy on federal defense spending is an incremental job, Huckelberry said. Sun Corridor spokeswoman Laura Shaw said the organization has numerous successes over the years that validate the publics investment. Economic development is a long-term play, Shaw said. Among the successes, she said Sun Corridor has helped with the relocation and expansion of more than 100 companies to the region. Those include Accelerate Diagnostics, HomeGoods, Arizona Canning Co., Comcast and Ventana Medical Systems. These are real jobs that are coming into the community, Shaw said. Bronson also said Sun Corridor was instrumental in organizing a trip to Huntsville, Alabama, in 2011 after this regions largest private employer, Raytheon, chose the Southern city over Tucson for a manufacturing facilities expansion. That was a wake-up call, Bronson said. It was that trip, Bronson said, that convinced county leaders of the need to create a buffer zone south of Raytheon to facilitate the defense contractors future expansions. Since then, the county has purchased hundreds of acres of property in the area for nearly $6 million. The county also recently completed a $12.7 million realignment of Hughes Access Road, now Aerospace Parkway, to allow for the Raytheon buffer. The project also is seen as the first step in creating a defense, aerospace and other industrial employment corridor. The project could begin to bear fruits soon. While unable to disclose specifics, county officials have said a national company stands poised to announce its relocation to the Aerospace Parkway. I think youre going to see this is going to be a significant announcement, Bronson said. Some, however, have questioned the value of paying a private-sector operator to provide a service that governments already provide through economic development departments. This should be a regional cooperative, said Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik. Kozachik said the regions governments should consider banding together to conduct economic development services as a single entity. I think thats one area the city would benefit from if we regionalized our economic development and went with the county. In addition to speaking with a unified voice, that would provide additional transparency and accountability, he said. When the city contracted with Sun Corridor, which it no longer does, Kozachik said he was concerned that the group did not provide enough detail in its periodic performance reports. They shouldnt be operating under any secrecy if youre getting government money, Kozachik said. Youve got to be able to justify your existence. Secrecy, or at least being able to operate beyond intense public scrutiny, is at times crucial to the work of economic development and business recruitment, some argue. We do our work under the radar at the companys request, Shaw said, adding many companies require a measure of secrecy in their relocation or expansion efforts. In addition, private companies frequently want to be the ones to announce relocation or expansion plans and dont want their communications to be subject to public-records laws. Put another way, Huckelberry said working with Sun Corridor or other private-sector economic development organizations frees them from public-sector handcuffs. They have the private-sector ability to operate much more stealthily, Huckelberry said. He said he doesnt oppose the idea to have a county-led effort at economic development, suggesting it may even benefit the region because it could minimize municipal competition for new business. We dont care where a company looks in Pima County whether in Oro Valley, Marana, South Tucson or Tucson its all in Pima County, Huckelberry said. The Pima County-Sun Corridor arrangement isnt dissimilar from how other communities approach economic development. What Sun Corridor does as an economic development organization is very similar to what is done in many cities across the country, said Mike Varney, president and CEO of Tucson Metro Chamber. The Pima County Board of Supervisors plan to discuss the contract at its Tuesday meeting. Supervisors meet at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Building at 130 W. Congress St. PHOENIX The attorney for Susan Bitter Smith is asking the state Supreme Court to rule the conflict-of-interest charges filed against her are legally meritless even though she is quitting the Arizona Corporation Commission on Monday. In new legal filings, Ed Novak acknowledged that nothing the justices do will matter for Bitter Smith, who will no longer be a commissioner by the time the justices take up the issue Tuesday. She opted to resign rather than fight allegations by Attorney General Mark Brnovich that the outside employment she had when elected in 2012 and still maintains makes her ineligible to serve on the panel. But Novak said the lawsuit Brnovich filed in November muddied the waters about what is and is not allowed. And he told the justices that dismissing the lawsuit just because it wont affect Bitter Smith would leave undecided remarkably important questions about the meaning and extent of the law. And Novak has another reason, albeit a less-legal one, to want the high court to weigh in. He wants to give Bitter Smith a chance to clear her name something she cannot do if the justices never decide whether she really violated the law. It leaves the public with the false perception that Ms. Bitter Smith was unfit for office and thus, undermines the publics confidence in commission rulings while she was the chair, Novak wrote. Beyond that, he said the lack of a definitive ruling on what the law allows means the business community is left to guess whether relationships with corporate affiliates create unavoidable conflicts. Brnovich is expected to file a response Monday, with the justices set to meet Tuesday to decide whether to let the lawyers argue the legal points. Or they could simply decide to dismiss the case, as the purpose of the lawsuit was to force Bitter Smith from office and, by Tuesday, she will be gone. The dispute is over state laws that say a commissioner cannot be in the employ of, or holding an official relation to a corporation subject to regulation or have a pecuniary interest in such a company. In filing suit, Brnovich cited Bitter Smiths role as a lobbyist for two affiliates of Cox Communications. Novak countered that his client has no relationship with Cox Arizona Telecom, an affiliate that offers telephone services regulated by the commission. And he said conflict-of-interest laws do not extend to sister companies. Brnovich also cited Bitter Smiths role and $156,000 salary as executive director of the Southwest Cable Communications Association. But while some association the members also offer bundled phone service, Bitter Smith denied that gives her a pecuniary interest in any regulated entity. Bitter Smith announced last month she was resigning, saying the litigation and media attention had become a distraction from the work of the commission. But Novak, in his new court filings, said that still leaves the legal issues unresolved. Novak said a ruling will guide the Attorney Generals Office about how and when to enforce conflict-of-interest laws in the future. The first woman elected to the position of Arizona superintendent of public instruction, Elsie Toles, is considered one of the most influential women in Arizona education. Elsie Jane McGraw Toles was born in Bisbee on Sept. 19, 1888. A member of the first graduating class of Bisbee High School, she spent a year at Californias Pomona College before returning to Bisbee after her mothers death to care for her younger sister Myriam and brother Silas. Back in California, she received her teaching certificate from State Normal School in San Jose in 1908 before coming home to teach in Bisbee and Douglas schools. In 1916, Elsie ran for Cochise County superintendent of schools on the Republican ticket. A staunch Democratic state, Arizona had not elected a Republican to office for many years so Elsie was merely a name on the ballot and not expected to win. To the surprise of practically everyone, she not only won the election but also became so popular she was re-elected in 1918 with no Democrat willing to compete against her. She found herself in charge of about 90 rural schools scattered across Cochise Countys 6,000 square miles, and was determined to visit every one of them. Elsie drove the dirt roads of Cochise County in a Model T Ford that spit and sputtered over terrain unfit for a horse much less a gas-powered vehicle. She knew how to change a flat tire and carried a spare 5-gallon can of gas, enough to get her to the next town. One school was perched on top of a mountain at the end of a winding road, she once said. To make the climb, I had to reverse my car and back up three miles of slope so the gas would feed into the carburetor. To visit another school in a remote little goat-raising community, I had to drive thirty miles, park the car, and borrow a horse to ride twelve miles to the school. Qualified teachers were hard to come by for these one-room rustic schools and local school boards were sometimes downright combative. In one instance, she said, the board burned down the school to express their personal dislike of the teacher. Elsie was also instrumental in instituting Cochise Countys first school health-care program. In 1920, she ran for the office of state superintendent of public instruction and again, no one expected her to win. She amazed everyone by becoming the first woman in Arizona to hold the office. Under her leadership, Elsie sought to improve literacy and increase financial aid, particularly for small, rural schools. Placing teacher qualifications under control of the board of education, she required higher standards for attaining certification. She advocated for standardization of school curriculum and more definitive teaching methods, worked to obtain passage of a bill advocating per capita funds for every student, and argued for equal pay between women and men educators. Remote rural schoolhouses were usually built from scrap lumber and furnished with a few unstable desks, a stove for warmth, and a supply of drinking water. In 1922, Elsie wrote Rural and Small Town Schools of Cochise County, describing the basic requirements of maintaining a country school. The floor of the schoolhouse she wrote, should be oiled to keep down the dust; the space beneath the floor boarded up on the outside for the sake of both appearance and warmth; adequate cupboard room provided for the text books, and the whole building given a coat of clean gray paint. ... The expense of all this is comparatively small, but it marks the difference between community self-respect and indifference. The education superintendent also served as a member of the Board of Paroles and Pardons and many felt Elsies presence, as the first and only female on the board, would create a hindrance. Women were considered too sensitive to determine whether a prisoner should live or die. She was tested early in her term when she received a postcard from an inmate begging for clemency. Please save my life, he wrote. I am sentenced to be hanged September ninth. Receiving that was a terrific shock, she said. For the first time I actually realized that in my new position I would have the power to send a human being to his death. But Elsie knew, There was no choice. He was guilty. He paid the penalty. ... I just prayed that I might be given the ability to deal justly and honestly with the claims of human tragedy. Elsie lost her bid for re-election as state superintendent in 1922. She returned to school, acquired her masters degree, and accepted a professorship at San Jose State College in California, where she taught for 17 years. Retiring in 1945, Elsie moved to the ranch she and her sister Myriam owned in the Chiricahua Mountain town of Portal. They collaborated on writing two childrens books, Adventures in Apacheland and The Secret of Lonesome Valley. She also penned several articles encouraging preservation of Arizonas natural resources. Elsie Toles died Aug. 29, 1957. As the midterm elections come ever closer, it can feel as if were stewing in a cauldron of tribalism, of our side vs. their side with no middle ground and little agreement on much of anything. That makes it a good time to take a breath and realize the consensus weve reached on some issues that were incredibly contentious not long ago. It gives us hope in the angry days ahead. BOISE, Idaho As the temperatures drop, Boise firefighters are getting ready for a cold-weather challenge: icy pond rescues. KTVB-TV reports that firefighters expect the training will be put to use sometime during the winter months. With temperatures around the region not reaching above freezing since Christmas Eve, ponds and lakes are starting to freeze over. But the safety of that ice is highly questionable. Once a year the Boise Fire Department gives its veterans and first year firefighters a refresher course in ice water rescue. This year, the training happened Thursday at Parkcenter Pond. DEPOE BAY, Ore. Captain Ahab may not be the one looking through the binoculars, but from the excitement evinced, the coastal travelers in Depoe Bay are searching for a Moby-Dick sighting of their own. In this case, the Moby-Dick in question is a gray, crustacean-consuming hulk of a whale, and he's followed by upwards of 18,000 lookalikes. Early Wednesday afternoon, experienced locals, coastal tourists and Ishmaels of the Pacific Northwest peered through several pairs of binoculars provided by the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center. They were out to catch a glimpse of the not-so-elusive gray whales making their way down the Oregon Coast on a yearly sojourn from the icy waters of Alaska to the milder climate of Baja, Mexico. The sightings coincided with the Pacific Northwest Whale Watching Week, which runs through Thursday. Throughout the week, several hundred volunteers have been helping at 26 sites on the Oregon Coast, providing visitors with informational tidbits and guidance to spotting the whales. Oregon State Parks has more than 300 volunteers trained for the task. Each day of the week, an estimated 100 volunteers have been staffed along the coast. The sites include Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Cape Kiwanda, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Sea Lions Caves, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park and Battle Rock Park in Port Orford. The center in Depoe Bay opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and by 11:30 a.m. there were already 11 sightings of the whales. That development was encouraging to Scott Nelson, a longtime state parks coastal volunteer. Nelson, who volunteered at the Depoe Bay for this year's return migration in the spring, was helping to staff the site again during the whales' southward journey. "Yesterday, one of our sites had 33 whale sightings," Nelson said. According to Nelson, most of the barnacled baleen whales spotted have been males, as most of the females already have made their way to the warm waters of Baja. The weather on the coast Wednesday was sunny, mild and noticeably absent of fog in the morning and early afternoon, which made it prime whale-viewing conditions. That, combined with the ideal location of Depoe Bay, made the area a hotbed for tourists throughout the day. Hundreds of visitors parked at coastal view areas and took out pairs of binoculars to search high and low for the elusive beasts of the sea. Information in the Whale Watching Center traced back the rich history of Depoe Bay, named after Joshua tribal leader Charlie Depoe. Depoe Bay, nicknamed by the Whale Watching Center as "The Little Harbor That Could," is known for having the "smallest natural navigable harbor in the world." The refuge was enlarged with the help of dredges, eventually growing to its current size. The town and Highway 101 skirt border a sea wall, with a view of the ocean. Within the Whale Watching Center, staff members set up a live video feed showing views of the sea just outside of the harbor. Visitors had some of the best viewing successes there. In the space of half an hour, some of the views picked up outside the harbor showed one whale "spyhopping," or lifting its head above the surface of the water, as well as a whale fluking which happens when one of the gray whales flips its tail high out of the water. But the sighting that drew the most attention was one that has been commonly misrepresented a gray whale blowing. After gray whales dive underwater for up to five minutes, they breathe three to five times at the surface to replenish oxygen. But while the blow is well-known, its cause is less so it's a high-pressure gust of air, not water, which creates a spout when met with cold air. One of the sightseers most eager to view the gray whales was visitor Janet Purcell, a proud "novice explorer of Oregon." Although Purcell, a native of Idaho, said she's made trips to the coast several times, including Newport and Cannon Beach, this was her first experience looking at a gray whale. "I've only seen pictures up to today," Purcell said. "This has been beyond exciting." Purcell was ready for the sightings, parking her car with a full view of the coast as she looked out at the harbor. Inside at the Whale Watching Center, the sightings elicited mini cheers and moments of attentive silence. Coastal whale watching companies also were able to capitalize on the excitement. Depoe Bay, home to EcoExcursions and Tradewinds Charters, had several boats taking trips out to view the whales within the course of the early afternoon, some with at least a dozen tourists on board. "It's worth getting up close," Nelson said. "It's like being next to a semi truck." The beginning of the whale watching season wasn't as successful. Ongoing rain, stormy weather and a restless ocean might have provided a good backdrop for Herman Melville, but it didn't help State Parks Ranger Luke Parsons, who staffs the Whale Watching Center and has helped oversee volunteers. "It was hard to sight the whales because of the stormy weather," Parsons said, adding that they told volunteers that "if it's just miserable, go home early." The weather had a more noticeable impact at the center, which has reported sightings of as many as 50 whales per day during previous winter coastal migrations, and was struggling to get a dozen viewings per day Sunday through Monday. However, with the improving weather, Parsons was confident that the deluge of visitors to the coast in the latter half of the week would be satisfied with their sojourn. Help India! By IANS, Ghaziabad : The probe into the murder of teenager Aarushi Talwar and her familys domestic help in suburban Noida was being delayed because Indian investigators lack the ability to secure a crime scene to ensure that evidence is not destroyed or tampered with, a top police officer said here Monday. Support TwoCircles The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for instance, can rely on only 10 percent of evidence available at a crime site as 90 percent of the clues are destroyed because the police do not have the wherewithal to ensure they remain intact, M.L. Sharma, the agencys special director, said. He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of a four-day course on Crime scene management safety, evidence recovery, preservation and exploitation being conducted here by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We have the talent but lack facilities, he said, pointing out that the US has 300 forensic laboratories for a population of 300 million while India has only 30 such laboratories for its over one billion people. A 30-member FBI team is conducting the course to develop the skills of 35 police officers from across India in tackling terror-related cases. Behind every blast lies the terrorists basic aim to cause huge destruction of life and property and create a sense of insecurity in the society, Sharma said. As terrorists go hi-tech using the Internet and remote-controlled devices, the Indian police forces are ill-equipped to investigate blast cases, he added. The National Bomb Data Centre at Manesar in Haryana is the only specialized agency that imparts training to officers in this area but after reviewing the present terror scenario it is not sufficient, Sharma maintained. Kathy L. Stearman, a legal attache at the US embassy in New Delhi said that since the establishment of an FBI office in the Indian capital, the bureau had been frequently offering courses on different issues. We are ready to assist the CBI in the investigation of terror-related cases if the Indian government requests us to do so, Stearman added. Among the subjects being dealt with during the course are crime scene management and administration, photography and sketching, gathering DNA evidence, fingerprinting, digital evidence collection, and forensic analysis of bomb scenes. The last day of the course Thursday would see a practical exercise on post-blast crime scene analysis. Police officers from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as also from the National Security Guards, are participating in the course. Aarushi, a 14-year-old student of Noidas Delhi Public School was found murdered in her Jal Vayu Vihar apartment May 16. The police initially named the familys domestic help Hemraj as the prime suspect but backtracked after his body was found on the roof of the building the next day. Aarushis dentist father Rajesh Talwar was arrested May 23, with the police saying he killed his daughter in a fit of rage because he objected to her closeness with Hemraj. Police said Talwar first killed Hemraj and then his daughter. The CBI, which took over the case June 1 after an outcry over the shoddy manner in which the Noida police had probed the case, on Friday arrested Talwars compounder Krishna. However, in spite of subjecting the two suspects, as also Aarushis mother Nupur Talwar, to a series of scientific tests, the CBI is nowhere near cracking the case or ascribing a motive for the crime. Help India! New Delhi : Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the government will soon unveil waste management rules for the country, and 66 Indian cities will have air quality monitors to track pollution levels. The new waste management rules, which will align ultimately with Clean India campaign, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are ready, and will be announced anytime soon, Javadekar told media persons on the sidelines of his closed-door meeting with the ministry officials. Support TwoCircles The waste management rules will include solid waste, construction and demolition waste, electronic waste, plastic waste, biomedical waste and hazardous waste, the minister said. To track pollution levels, 66 Indian cities, which have population of over 10 lakh will be installed with comprehensive air quality index monitors, he added. Javadekar, who also holds charge of the forests and climate change, said after the recently concluded 21st Conference of the Parties (CoP-21) in Paris, there was much work which needed to be done. Many things which have been agreed in Paris need to be given a real shape. To achieve that, India will be proactively engaging the world and will take necessary steps, he said. The brainstorming meeting of the ministry officials has decided to review the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) policy, and would review it after deliberation, the minister said. He added that the ministry would issue directions under the Environment Protection Act, to make the state governments ensure functioning of all sewage treatment plants, which arent functioning in many states. Help India! By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter, Mangaluru: A Division Bench of Karnataka high court has upheld the prohibitory order issued by Mangaluru city police commissioner S Murugan banning the entry of Dr Zakir Naik to Mangaluru between December 31 and January 6. Support TwoCircles On Thursday, the vacation division bench of the high court comprising Justice B Manohar and Justice B Veerappa passed the order upholding the temporary ban on Dr Zakir Naik. However, it allowed South Karnataka Salafi Movement (SKSM), the host of the event, to hold the conference without inviting him. After a week of communal tensions, the city police Commissioner S Murugan had on December 29, Tuesday, banned the entry of Naik and VHP leader Praveen Togadia into Mangaluru between December 31, 2015 and January 6, 2016. Dr Naik was supposed to deliver a talk on the topic What Is Islam at a peace conference scheduled to be organised on January 2 at Nehru Maidan in the Mangaluru. Ismail Shafi of SKSM condemned polices decision of cancelling Naiks visit in the last minute and termed it as unconstitutional and insult to religion at a press meet on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a delegation from SKSM met home minister G Parameshwara and District minister B Ramanath Rai in Bengaluru in this regard. The minister has promised them that Naiks programme will be held after two months in the same venue. Following such an assurance SKSM has postponed the event for two months. Help India! By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: The annual report of separatist faction Hurriyat (M), headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has brought out the darker side of the Juvenile rights in state of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the report of 2015, 707 FIRs had been filed against juveniles since 1988 under different sections of Cr.P.C. which were obtained in an RTI reply from the State Home department under communication no. Home/PBV/RTI/2013/1357 to application filed by Mannan Bukhari, a human rights activist. Support TwoCircles The report quotes an incident of October 16 this year, when a 9-year-old child was arrested and blindfolded by the cops in the old city of Srinagar. The picture of the child being whisked away by police men had grabbed the attention of everyone on social networking sites and newspapers. During this year, it was learnt that minors (alleged stone pelters) were arrested by the police, who tortured and produced them before the courts and they are tried in normal criminal courts. On 26-11-2015, five minor boys, who were charged under the Unlawful Activities Act, were brought handcuffed in full public view by policemen in uniform to a court in Srinagar, in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act 2013. Three minors who had been charged under Unlawful Activities Act, were brought handcuffed to a court on December 8, 2015 by uniformed cops. The handcuffed juveniles were chained together, along with three adults, in full public glare outside the court of Ist Additional Munsif Srinagar, the report says. The report puts the total number of deaths to 206 in violent incidents during the year 2015 which include 53 civilians, 41 armed forces and police personnel and 111 militants. Out of 53 civilians killed, five have been killed by armed forces personnel; four in cross firing incidents between forces and militants and 16 by unidentified gunmen. The report gave a brief account of deaths due to causes ranging from killing due to littered explosives to pellet injuries. Unexploded shells, littered explosives and live ammunition has led to the death of several persons and grievous injuries to scores of people in less media glare areas of Jammu and Kashmir. But majority of those killed and injured were children. This year out of nine person five were children. Serious pellet injuries to more than 45 persons were reported this year. Out of these forty five pellet victims 42 persons became victim of pellet fires during the present collation government headed by PDP, reads the report. The report has also shed light on various sensitive issues like Torture, use of tear gas, pepper gas to E Curfew, Arrests, Tortures, Right to Travel, Enforced Disappearances, Custodial Killings, Fake Encounters, Violation of Religious Rights, VDCs, Harassment of Kashmiris and about the lack of importance given by successive governments to State Human Rights Commission. The whole report can be read here Help India! Mumbai: BJP-ally Shiv Sena on Saturday strongly condemned the fidayeen attack at an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab and said that terrorism and peace talks (with Pakistan) could not go together. We are not playing politics, but its a fact that the bilateral peace talks and terror attacks take place simultaneously terror and peace talks cant go together, Sena leader and partys Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said in a statement. Support TwoCircles Shiv Sena is a coalition partner of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and Maharashtra. Raut, editor of the party mouthpiece Saamana, expressed concern that the terror strike in Pathankot which resulted in the killing of three IAF personnel and five terrorists suspected to have crossed over from Pakistan occurred within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modis unscheduled stopover in Lahore on December 25. The Sena had questioned Modis halt in Pakistan to greet that countrys Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday last week. Merely saying (that) the country will give a befitting reply to such attacks is not enough. When shall we give a befitting response to Pakistan, Raut asked, adding however that union Home Minister Rajnath was a serious person and the party respected him. As for alleged Pakistan involvement in this attack, Raut said: There is no need to say who is behind the attack we can say with our eyes closed that the attackers are from Pakistan. Chinese man wanted on corruption charges returned from Africa Updated: 2016-01-02 07:44 (Xinhua) BEIJING -- One of China's most-wanted fugitives suspected of bribery was brought home on Friday from the Republic of Guinea, following cooperation between the two countries' law enforcement departments. Pei Jianqiang, 48, former director of import and export department of China Enterprise International Cooperation Co, was suspected of bribery and fled in November, 2009. China launched a "Sky Net" campaign in April, 2015, with aims to bring back 100 suspects who were accused of economic crimes and have fled overseas. Pei was listed as the No. 10 suspect. Law enforcement officials from China and Guinea collaborated on the investigation, which confirmed that Pei was hiding out in Conakry, capital of Guinea, and running a bath center. Pei was arrested on Dec 25 and sent back to Beijing Friday afternoon. In December, Huang Yurong, former Party chief of Henan Provincial Highway Administration and another fugitive on the list, surrendered herself to the police and returned from the United States where she had fled in 2002. Russia takes restrictive measures against Ukraine, Turkey Updated: 2016-01-02 10:16 (Xinhua) MOSCOW - Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Ukraine and Turkey starting from Friday, the first day of 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as he delivers his annual New Year address to the nation in Moscow, Russia, December 31, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree regulating transit transportation of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan through Russian territory, which was posted Friday on Russian government's internet portal of legal information. "International automobile and railway transit of goods from the Ukrainian territory to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan through the territory of the Russian Federation...could be carried out only from the territory of Republic of Belarus," according to the decree. It added that all the transport vehicles carrying goods from Ukraine to Kazakh territory through Russia should be equipped with devices supporting Russia's Glonass navigation system to track their movements. Coming into force immediately and lasting until July 1, 2016, the decree was adopted as extra measure with the suspension of Russia-Ukraine free trade zone agreement. The suspension also began Friday, simultaneously with Ukraine's implementation of the economic component of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and joining a free trade zone with the EU. Besides trade deals, Moscow and Kiev were in dispute over the latter's 3-billion-U.S.-dollar debt. The Russian Finance Ministry on Friday announced that it planned to file a lawsuit in a UK court against Ukraine over debt default. "Ukraine has not made the payment of 3.075 billion U.S. dollars in repayment and servicing of external bonds owned by Russia during the grace period, which expired on Dec. 31, 2015. Thus, Ukraine is in a state of default now," the ministry said in a statement. Noting that no proposal was made by the Ukrainian side on debt restructure, the ministry still expressed readiness to examine any significant offer from Ukraine on its debt to Russia. Security force kill 2 terrorists at air base in northern India Updated: 2016-01-02 10:38 (Xinhua) NEW DELHI-- At least two militants were killed in gunfight with security forces and police when they attacked an air base in the northern Indian state of Punjab near the Pakistan border early Saturday morning, said security forces. At least six militants in army uniform entered the Pathankot airbase at around 04:00 am local time, triggering a gunfight with security forces, local TV channels quoted security forces as saying. The attackers earlier kidnapped a local police chief and killed another policeman before entering the air base, according to TV reports. While two attackers have been killed, at least four others are still at large and could have escaped to some residential areas nearby, said reports. Earlier reports had put the number of militants killed at four. Security forces have sent helicopters and reinforcement to look for the remaining attackers and India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is personally monitoring the the situation, according to local TV reports. Although no Mig 28 fighters and helicopters at the air base were damaged in the attack, at least six air force men were injured, according to the reports. Authorities said they received reports of possible terrorist attacks during the new year period and had heightened alert in places which could be targeted. Indications said the attackers could belong to the Jaish e Mohammed militant group based in Pakistan, said TV reports. Enditem Israel to tighten enforcement in Arab towns after Tel Aviv shooting attack: PM Updated: 2016-01-03 04:52 (Xinhua) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to the media during a visit to the scene of a shooting incident in Tel Aviv, Israel January 2, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] TEL AVIV -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel will increase enforcement against lawlessness in the Arab sector, following a Friday shooting attack by an Arab Israeli which left two people dead. Netanyahu, who arrived at the scene of Friday's attack on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv, said authorities will "dramatically increase" police enforcement in Arab towns. "We will open new police stations, recruit more police officers, go into all towns and demand of everyone loyalty to the laws of the state," Netanyahu told reporters on Saturday. Although the right-wing prime minister acknowledged Arab leaders' condemnation of the killings and the fact that most Arab Israelis are law-abiding citizens, he did say authorities should quell "Muslim incitement." "There is wild incitement by radical Islam in the Arab sector," Netanyahu said, adding that those who wish to be Israeli citizens "must be fully Israeli, both in rights and in obligations" and must "abide by the laws of the state." Two Israelis, Alon Bakal and Shimon Ruimi, died in Friday's shooting attack and six others were injured in moderate to serious condition. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. I wish to carry on blogging, my iPad and Blogger do not seem so keen on contributing to that, I was unable to upload my photos, you did want to see the ... 2 years ago The Minister for Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, on Saturday said that he has spoken to Maharastra Government to exempt electric vehicles form VAT, road tax and registration fee. He also said the state government gave positive response. The Ministry also said through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model it will create charging infrastructure across the country at petrol bunks to charge e-vehicles. Speaking after inaugurating Bio-CNG Plant at Mahindra World City, near Chennai, Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Power, Coal, New ad Renewable Energy said that I have spoken to the Chief Minister of Maharastra and requested him to exempt e-vehicles from VAT, road tax and registration fee, he was positive. Will be talking to him again tomorrow on this. The Minister said as part of clean India programme his Ministry has taken several initiatives and one of them is to promote e-vehicles across the country. Today one of the major challenge is cost and infrastructure to charge the batteries. We are working with all stake holders to see how to reduce the cost, while through PPP mode we will look at creating infrastructure to set up charging points in petrol bunks, said the Minister. Pawan Goenka, executive director, Mahindra & Mahindra said he welcome the Ministrys approach and said the company will look at joining and working with the Ministry in the project. He also said that the company already working with some independent providers to bring down the cost atleast by half. Goyal added at present his Ministry is electrifying around 100-120 villages every day and this will be increased to 200. The Prime Minister has given a target to electrify the 18,452 villages, which dont have electricity now, in the country in 1000 days, but we are confident that the target will be achieved in 730 days. He said currently 12 states have signed for UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) and he is confident all the states will sign soon. UDAY has been launched to improve financial and operational efficiencies of power distribution companies (DISCOMs). It envisages to reduce interest burden, cost of power and AT&C losses. Consequently, DISCOM would become sustainable to supply adequate and reliable power enabling 24x7 power supply. The scheme provides that States would take over 75% debt of Discoms, as on 30th September, 2015 in two years. On adding new renewable energy projects, the Minister said, on solar the target was to 2000 MW in 2015-16 and the Ministry is confident that it will be increased by around 25-30 per cent and in 2016-17 around 12000 MW will be added in Solar alone. Manik Sarkar, the media-shy chief minister of Tripura and veteran Communist leader, interacted recently with the media and Business Standard's Avishek Rakshit in Kolkata. Excerpts from the conversation Poor connectivity in the Northeast, including Tripura, has often been held responsible for impeding the progress of the Seven Sisters. What's the update? Connectivity is very important for undertaking development, particularly in a landlocked state like Tripura. The unscientific Partition of 1947 resulted in the state having only one chicken-neck connectivity via Assam. However, things have now started to move in the right direction. By way of road connectivity, there was only one national highway (NH-44) which did not match the quality of other national highways in the country. The government of India has now agreed to convert it into a two-lane highway and eventually, to upgrade it to a four-lane one. Also, we have asked the Centre to develop an alternative highway as I see no reason why we should have only one national highway. In our state we have 8,000 habitations, which are all connected by road. The entire expenditure has been borne by the state government; we have not asked the Centre for any help. When I was a college student, we raised the demand that be connected by trains, but that was denied right from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru. Ultimately, after a series of struggles, the government of India gave in to our demand and established a rail link up to Agartala. However, I consider railroad a mere toy-train. Work is on full swing to convert it into broad gauge and according to Railway Board estimates, this will be completed by March, but I would like to add a month or two to that deadline. The Board has further said that by mid-2018, it would be able to link other parts of the state, which are not connected by rail currently. Regarding air connectivity, the Agartala airport will go though a major upgrade that will turn it into a world-class airport. Every day 15 to 17 flights operate from that airport, flying to major cities in India. Seventy-five acres have been given for the upgrade and we'll invite tenders soon so that work can start by March. We had also asked the Centre to turn the Agartala airport into an international airport so that we have connectivity with Dhaka, Bangkok and other foreign destinations. At this moment, that doesn't seem to be happening. How important is Bangladesh for you and why? Connectivity with Bangladesh is very important - it will help us get a big market. Being a landlocked state, we want to have connectivity to Chittagong port in Bangladesh. Earlier, we had proposed the Centre to get us linkage with Cox's Bazar (for high-speed internet connectivity) in Bangladesh. Work on this is on and it will be commissioned in January. Importantly, this will result in Tripura becoming the "Third Gateway of India" after Mumbai and Chennai. The gateway will help the entire north-east region to link with other countries (via the internet). The Union government has been talking about the "Act East Policy", a stage higher than the earlier "Look East Policy". I, however, have no idea what that means. In the past too, the "Look East Policy" was not properly explained to us. Nevertheless, to fully exploit possibilities in South-East Asia that will benefit the country, development of infrastructure in the Northeast is important. Of this, the most important is connectivity. To an extent, Tripura can take pride in being a power-surplus state. However, since you can't consume the entire power produced, are you thinking of exports or sharing it with others? In a span of 10 to 15 years, we have turned Tripura into a power-surplus state, with 90 per cent of the 8,000 habitations having access to electricity. The rest, too, will have access in a year and a half at the most. Our present peak demand is between 270 and 274 Mw, which leaves the state with surplus power. We will supply 100 Mw of power to Bangladesh. All requisite arrangements have been made and this will begin in a month. The move will further foster the relationship between India and Bangladesh. On national grid connectivity, the Centre needs to carry out the power evacuation project from Tripura; the National Thermal Power Corporation has been involved in this project. I think in eight to 10 months, we'll be in a position to transmit the surplus power out of Tripura. There is some problem with the gas supply at the Palatana project (ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd) because of which two units are not working properly, but I hope things will come back to order gradually. Nipco India has also undertaken a 104 Mw power project besides our own production. What about the proposed ONGC-Chambal Fertlisers project? At this moment, Chambal Fertilisers is not showing much interest in it. Three months back, we had appointed a senior special advisor (a former ONGC official) to explore other avenues and not to limit the project to urea. We have gas reserves, which are unutilised now, and we are in talks with several public sector undertakings as well as private companies to mine them. This will take some time to materialise. It will take shape in the future. Industry seems keen on single-window clearances. Have you done the same as several other states in India in this regard? Single-window clearance is just a phrase. Our political as well as administrative executives are all easily accessible. In a small state like Tripura, land may become an issue. What is your stand on land acquisition? Tripura is one of the tiniest Indian states, hence, land is very limited. We have identified specific areas where an investor can buy land directly from the state government. But if one decides to buy land other than what we have, we cannot mediate in a deal between the landowner and the investor. In such a case, we will provide the investor with clean and clear land records from the revenue department. Thereafter, the investor can directly bargain the price with the respective landowner. But under no circumstances will the state government mediate or negotiate in the deal. Insurgency has been a bane of the Northeast and is considered a sensitive subject. Even Tripura was not spared. How did you combat it and what is the situation now? I won't say insurgency was combated - it was tackled. It had ideological, political and developmental aspects and we took a holistic approach. To address it, we need to empower the so that they develop confidence in the government. If this is not done, will not voice their support and confidence for the government without which the state cannot advance or prosper. The people in our state associated with insurgency had their camps in Bangladesh. But the present Bangladesh government is not harbouring them, instead it is taking measures according to its capacity. This is helping us a lot. At present, there are 17 to 19 insurgent camps in Bangladesh and we have shared their details with the Indian government, which in turn has intimated Bangladesh. We are also asking people to be aware of the situation and to stay alert. Terrorist group praises Australias Israel position The Albanese Governments decision to no longer recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been welcomed by listed terrorist organisation Hamas. Major announcement on Marinus Link Anthony Albanese was with Jeremy Rockliff in Tasmania on Wednesday to make a major announcement on new under-sea transmission cables to connect the Apple Isle with Victoria. Loud bang: Earthquake rattles town in Victorias north An earthquake has shaken a small Victorian town and is the latest blow for residents facing the threat of further flash flooding in the state's north. Coatsworth slams AMAs response to Medicare scandal Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says the survival of Medicare depends on "us cleaning up our own act" following allegations of the public system wasting billions of dollars. Its been sitting in its box for ages, but I finally spent some time and got out the D1 and set it up. Partially because I wanted to see what... Nothing can be done contrary to what could or would be done in actual war.' - From 'The Rules of the Naval War Game' by Fred T Jane WATERLOO | Three people were taken into custody on Friday following an early morning New Year's Day shooting in downtown Waterloo. Kristopher Darquel Spates Jr., 22, of Waterloo, has been charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, carrying weapons, going armed with intent and interference with official acts. Davion Everette Madlock, 16, of Waterloo, and Doncorrion Deangelo Spates, 15, of Waterloo, were charged with carrying weapons. The victim was identified on Friday afternoon as Ramarez Maurice Gary, 31, of Waterloo. Gary was found to have gunshot wounds to his leg, which resulted in him being treated at UnityPoint Health-Allen Memorial Hospital. His injuries are non-life threatening. Audio of the incident became available on Saturday at the following link: http://www.mnpoliceclips.com/audio-waterloo-ia-shooting-1116.html. The audio goes through the incident as police respond to shots fired and the search for the people involved in the shooting after they dispersed. About 1:50 a.m. Friday, officers went to 229 E. Fourth St. on a call from the business that no one was leaving the bar. Several officers responded to the business. While at the scene, officers walking the area noticed several people gathering in the partial alley between Lafayette and Sycamore streets, east of the 200 block of East Fourth. As officers approached the group, they heard several shots being fired within the group. The crowd in the alley immediately began to run from the area. As they cleared the area, one victim later identified as Gary remained with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. During this incident, an officer from the Waterloo Police Department fired one round at a person holding a weapon. The shot missed and the person fled on foot. Officers chased and apprehended several people with weapons in the area. Police are continuing to investigate the incident. CEDAR FALLS -- Ardelle Brown will lead AAUW participants in an introduction to and discussion of Heidi Durrow's "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" on Jan. 11. Cedar Valley Discuss, Discover Diversity will hold this discussion on the second floor of the Cedar Falls Public Library. Participants need not have read the book to join the discussion. Durrow's novel is inspired by true events. All Cedar Valley residents are welcome to join the discussion of this girl who struggles with a new school, and her confusion about whether she is African-American like her father or white like her Danish mother. CV3D is supported by the Cedar Falls branch of the American Association of University Women and assisted by the support of the Cedar Falls Public Library. WASHINGTON | Sen. Charles Grassley will hold nine town meetings in Iowa Jan. 6-8 as part of his annual 99-county meetings. With these meetings, Grassley will begin his 36th year holding meetings in every one of Iowas 99 counties. Grassley has held a meeting in every county every year since he was first elected to serve in the Senate. Grassley will be in Grundy Center, Allison, Waverly, New Hampton, Calmar, Cresco, Osage, Manly and Clear Lake from Jan. 6-8. Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after each meeting to answer questions from local reporters. These town meetings are open to the public and media. Wednesday, Jan. 6 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Kling Memorial Library, 708 Seventh St., Grundy Center. 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., Allison Public Library, 412 Third St., Allison. Thursday, Jan. 7 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Waverly Public Library, Waverly Room, 1500 W. Bremer Ave., Waverly. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Chickasaw Wellness Complex, 1050 West Hamilton St., New Hampton. 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., Iowas Dairy Center, 1527 Iowa Highway 150 South, Calmar. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cresco Bank and Trust, Community Room, 126 2nd Ave. Southeast, Cresco. Friday, Jan. 8 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Osage Library, 406 Main St., Osage. WATERLOO | The Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission is launching an effort next month to reach collegiate veterans. Kevin Dill, the commission's new executive director, is setting up "lunch and learns" at the University of Northern Iowa, Hawkeye Community College, Upper Iowa University and Kaplan University's local campuses. Veterans are invited to attend the visits for a free lunch and to learn about the benefits they may be entitled to receive. "We are hoping to reach all the post-9/11 vets as this office historically has met very few post-9/11 vets," Dill said. "My goal is to reach every veteran in this county from all periods of war to ensure every veteran is aware of available benefits to them. "When I came home, nobody told me anything," said Dill, a Gulf War veteran. "It was years later when I found out what was out there for me." Dill will be at Hawkeye Community College from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 13 to meet with HCC student veterans. The location on campus has yet to be determined. The UNI lunch and learn will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 14 in Maucker Union, while the Upper Iowa University event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the school's Waterloo location, 3563 University Ave. Dill said he's still working to schedule the lunch and learn at Kaplan University. The county VA office also will be launching an extensive outreach program to nursing homes to reach veterans or their surviving spouses who may reside there. "We'll be reaching out to all the nursing homes in Black Hawk County on a weekly basis," said Dill, adding the directors he's talked to so far are excited about the plan. Dill said every veteran entering a nursing home will be contacted to ensure they are using any benefits they may be entitled to receive to help defray the costs. Questions can be directed to Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs by calling 291-2512. GARNER (AP) A northern Iowa family with a child suffering from cancer received a year-end surprise from an Iowa State Patrol trooper's union. The union voted unanimously to give its yearly $500 charitable donation to the family of 5-year-old Cohen Smith for medical and travel expenses. Smith was diagnosed with Burkitt leukemia in July, and has endured six rounds of chemotherapy to fight the aggressive cancer. Two troopers surprised the family with the check at their home on Thursday morning. Cohen's mother, Brenda Smith, has given up her daycare business until at least the spring so she can take her son up to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., every two weeks for treatment. Cohen is currently in remission but has two chemotherapy rounds left. I have naked pictures of you: please give generously (or send more naked pictures) Hi, I'm Whitney! Welcome to my spot on the dot (com). I'm an Ambassador for Stella & Dot (stelladot.com/wcfields) and Park Lane Jewelry based out of Austin, TX! I also work full-time in public relations and marketing project/account management! I am a lover of beauty products, fashion, accessories and style -- much of which you'll find here! You can also catch all of my favorite finds (confession: I'm a shopaholic) on Shop LTK. 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(not just river in Egypt), Luxembourg 5'7", 95 lbs. (weakling). Presenting the wan and sickly appearance of a shut-in. Habitual procrastinator. Less-than-stellar student. Terrible dancer. View my complete profile Crisis Phone Numberspecial noticeIf you are a veteran in emotional crisis and need help RIGHT NOW, call this toll-free number 1-800-273-8255, available 24/7, and tell them you are a veteran. All calls are confidential.1-888-899-9377A Crisis Intervention Hotline has been established by the VA Heartland Network to assist veterans who may be dealing with a mental health crisis or difficult issue in their lives. The hotline will also aid family members or friends of veterans who need help in assisting a veteran in crisis. SHAEP HQ, Versailles, France January 1, 1945 Nazi Germanys position on the Western Front had declined precipitously after the D-Day landings of Allied troops on June 6, 1944. Gen. George S. Pattons Third U.S. Army was driving rapidly into the enemys rear. The German High Command () was aware that German troops were in danger of being cut off and surrounded in the so-called Falaise Pocket south of Caen in Normandy. The OKW therefore issued orders to Field Marshal Gert von Rundstedt (successor to Field Marshal Guenther von Kluge, a suicide four months before on August 19) to withdraw his forces from France and Belgium and regroup behind the safety of the so-called Siegfried Line (Westwall) on German soil. Almost without resistance, Anglo-American troops occupied France and Belgium in October 1944. On September 16, 1944, Adolf Hitler instructed Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl and his staff at the OKW to plan a surprise offensive in the Ardennes, a heavily forested area shared by Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. On October 12, Jodl produced the first plan, Wacht am Rhein, or Watch on the Rhine. Its aim was to encircle and destroy the American armies under Gen. Omar Bradley and the Twenty-First Army Group under newly minted British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery; capture Antwerp, the Belgian deep-water harbor that was the chief source of supply for the Anglo-American armies; and negotiate a peace treaty on the Western Front in Germanys favor. (By now Hitler despaired of ever negotiating an armistice or peace treaty with the Soviets on the Eastern Front, so he pinned all his hopes on achieving a stalemate in the West.) The German ground offensive, begun in foul weather on December 16, 1944, and popularly known in the West as The Battle of the Bulge, had a subordinate air component known as Operation Bodenplatte (Baseplate) (Unternehmen Bodenplatte). The main thrust of Bodenplatte, however, was repeatedly delayed due to bad flying weather until New Years Day 1945, the first day of improved weather conditions. In all, the Luftwaffe, short of experienced pilots, aircraft, and fuel, managed to deploy close to 1,000 fighters and fighter-bombersincluding some Me 262s jetsin attacks on 17 British and American airfields in Belgium, the south of the Netherlands, and Eastern France. Despite some surprise and tactical successes Bodenplatte failed to achieve German air superiority, even temporarily, while German ground forces under Supreme Commander of Army Group West Field Marshal Walter Model (another suicide down the road) continued to be exposed to punishing Allied air attacks. By January 28, 1945, the bone-tired retreating Germans had their backs to the West Wall, almost from whence they had started the month before. The Luftwaffes Bodenplatte campaign was the last large-scale strategic offensive operation mounted by Hermann Goerings air force and, like the exaggerated expectations of the land-based Watch on the Rhine, was an ignominious German defeat at great expense and disproportionate loss. German Ardennes Ground and Air Offensives, December 1944 to January 1945 Above: The original objectives of the German Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) are outlined in dashed lines on this map. The solid line indicates the Germans furthest advancethe 60mile-wide bulge made in the Western Allies front lines. Germanys initial 13-division assault force consisted of 200,000 men, 340 tanks, and 280 other tracked vehicles. Reinforcements added another 100,000 men, 440 or more tanks, and 440 or more other tracked vehicles. The Luftwaffe had roughly 2,400 aircraft. Between 67,200 and 100,000 Germans were killed, wounded, or went missing between December 16, 1944, and January 25, 1945. The Americans initially had 83,000 men, 242 medium tanks, 182 other tracked vehicles across five divisions, four infantry and one armored. By Christmas Eve, reinforcements had brought U.S. strength up to 610,000 men. The Allies had 4,155 artillery pieces, 1,616 medium tanks, and 6,000 aircraft. Left: Several among the 20 or so P-47 Thunderbolts at Metz-Frescaty airfield in France destroyed during Operation Bodenplatte, a subordinate operation to Operation Watch on the Rhine. The Luftwaffe managed to put 500 aircraft into the air on December 16. This first day had been the originally planned date for the strike against Allied airfields. However, the weather proved particularly bad and operations were suspended, resuming furiously on January 1, 1945, using practically every German fighter and fighter-bomberalmost 1,000 aircraftthat could still fly. The Luftwaffe bombed 11 vulnerable airfields in Belgium, 5 in Holland, and 1 in Franceairfields where many of the German pilots had been formerly based. Bodenplatte cost the Luftwaffe 271 destroyed and 65 damaged aircraft, 143 pilots killed or missing, 21 wounded, and 70 taken captive. One German fighter wing (JG 4) lost 42 percent of its pilots: 18 killed, 1 wounded, and 5 taken prisoner. Many of those lost were valuable formation leaders. Incredibly, many pilots on their return flight were brought down by German flak batteries, which had not been alerted to the operation on security grounds. The Allies lost 150 combat aircraft destroyed and 111 damaged, as well as 17 noncombat aircraft, including Field Marshal Montgomerys personal airplane. Pilot losses were few, but over 100 ground crew were killed. Right: Fire crews at Melsbroek airfield near Brussels, Belgium, spray foam on an RAF Avro Lancaster in an attempt to save it from burning. The four-engine bomber had landed at Melsbroek with the starboard inner engine out of action and the propeller feathered. Left: The Luftwaffe strike at Melsbroek was an outstanding success, causing considerable damage to RAF and U.S. aircraft based there. Some 15 to 20 U.S. bombers were destroyed. Among the many RAF losses were two entire squadrons of reconnaissance aircraft, 11 or 13 Vickers Wellington twin-engine medium bombers, 5 Spitfires, and 1 Douglas Dakota. Right: One eyewitness said that all hell seemed to break loose when dozens of enemy aircraft (about 75 in all) flew over the treetops that lined Eindhoven field in the Netherlands beginning about 9:15 a.m on January 1, 1945. For the next 20 minutes Focke Wulfs and Messerschmitts [Fw 190s and Bf 109s] carried out one of the finest strafing jobs one would want to see. The enemy pilots systematically climbed, dived, fired their guns and even took time off to wave to some of the boys. Before long the whole airfield was covered by heavy clouds of billowing smoke; explosions went off in every direction and fires were seen wherever one looked. Among the aircraft carnage were 8 RAF Hawker Typhoons fighter bombers and 3 RAF P51 Mustang fighters. Operation Bodenplatte, January 1, 1945: Luftwaffes Failed Gamble to Break Allied Air Superiority Over Western Europe Youve got a decent hand. Youre sure of it, but you dont want to bet everything on it because you know the game and know that youll lose. What do you do? That depends in part upon how strong your hand is (or isnt). For example, if you have an ace low flush, you might be tempted to fold, knowing you probably wont make money betting with it. On the other hand, if you hold a pocket pair, you may have enough confidence in the strength of your hand to bet all-in, hoping for a full house or better. In order to get the most from your hand, you need to understand what the odds are against each possible outcome. Heres how you can figure out whether or not you should push your luck with a particular hand. The decision of the player to do the okbet login will provide him good return in the future. This is the platform that is considered as the reliable option. It provides the players with the high stake of the winning. Even a representative is there who will work to serve the people. The Value of A Pair Lets assume weve just dealt two cards and one player has three suited cards and another has four. If the first player bets, then hes going to win about half the time (assuming everyone else folds), so his expected return is 50 percent. The second player has a much tougher time. Hell have a good chance of winning only when he gets three of a kind, which happens 1/4th of the time. So he has a 25 percent chance of winning. When he makes the call, the third player has a 55 percent chance of winning. His expected return is 45 percent. Of course, if the first player loses, then the chances of the third player winning go way up about 80 percent. All of these percentages are based on the assumption that all players will fold. The value of the hand is calculated by taking the probability of winning times the amount you would win if you did win. This gives us a number between zero and 100. Well use $5 as our basic unit for calculating the value of the hands. If you had 10 chips and could choose any five, what would you pick? Well, wed obviously take the top hand, which is worth $50. The second best hand is a little bit worse $45 since youre giving up some equity for the opportunity to win more. So now lets calculate the value of the remaining hands. If the second player chooses a third card, his expected gain is $25, which represents the difference between the two hands. A fourth card increases the expectation to $30, while adding a fifth card drops it back down to $20. Since there are no sixth cards, the value of the hand is equal to the average of the five cards, which is $24.60. The value of a suit We can also figure out the value of a suit by looking at the value of each individual card within that suit. Lets say were dealing a standard deck of 52 cards. One person holds a KQ; the next person has a 7D; and the third has a 2S. Each person has a 20% chance of winning. What is the expected return of having this group of cards? Well, the KQ has a 5% chance of winning, the 7D has a 4% chance, and the 2S has a 3% chance. So the total expected return is 25%. The same logic applies to the other suits, where the probability of winning goes up as the value of the card decreases. For instance, the Aces have a 9% chance of winning, Kings have 8%, Queens have 7%, Jacks have 6%, and Tens have 5%. So the expected returns add up to 36%. Now lets add all of these numbers together to get an estimate of the value of a hand. Assuming that each hand was equally likely to come up, our total would be 60 percent. But we know thats wrong! Not every hand is created equal. It turns out that a royal flush beats the rest of the pack pretty consistently. So were going to adjust our calculations to reflect this fact. Royal Flushes So far, weve assumed that all of the cards were equally likely to come up. Actually, most poker players believe that Royal Flushes are extremely unlikely. In fact, many experts estimate their frequency at less than 0.1 percent. To account for this, lets increase the probability of winning for each card in a Royal Flush by 10 percent. Now when we calculate the value of a Royal Flush, well find that its actually worth 62.5 percent of what it used to be. The value of the cards in each rank will still add up to 100, but theyre now weighted differently. So what does this mean for you? Well, if you hold a Royal Flush, youre probably going to win about 75 percent of the time. And if you hold a hand like QJT, youll win about 75 percent of the time too. And if you hold a straight, youll win nearly 70 percent of the time. In short, the bigger your hand, the more likely you are to win. Of course, even though youre getting a higher hit rate, youll also tend to lose more often. So if you hold a straight, youre almost guaranteed to lose. But if you hold a Royal Flush, youre going to win about one-quarter of the time, and youll win about twice as much money. So youre almost certain to profit from such a hand, but youll also take a lot of losses. Now, I mentioned that youll lose money on any hand. In fact, youll lose money roughly half the time. So if you hold a straight, youll lose about 25 percent of the time. If you hold a flush, youll lose about 40 percent of the time. And if you hold a pair, youll lose 35 percent of the time. In addition, if you hold a set one of the two highest ranks youll lose 35 percent of the time. Finally, if you hold a high card in the lowest rank, youll lose 30 percent of the time. But the interesting thing is that youll lose less money on those losing hands than you do on winning hands. Why is that? Well, suppose you hold a straight. Theres a 65 percent chance youll win. But suppose you hold a pair instead. Theres a 65 percent chance youll win. But you lost on your last hand. So theres now a 75 percent chance that youll lose again. On the other hand, if you hold a straight and lose, theres still a 65 percent chance youll win again. So youre only losing about 15 percent of the time. This means that you can minimize your losses by playing only hands that are reasonably likely to win. So if you hold a straight, youll probably lose around 25 percent of the time. But if you hold a flush, youll probably lose around 40 percent of the time. And if you hold a pair, youll probably lose around 35 percent of the time. And if you hold a set, youll probably lose around 35 percent of the time. But if you hold a high card in the lowest rank, youll probably lose around 30 percent of the time. In summary, the higher the probability that youll win, the lower your loss percentage will be. And the lower the probability youll win, the higher your loss percentage will be. So the optimal strategy is to play only hands whose probability of winning exceeds your expected return. If you hold a straight, theres a 65 percent chance of winning, so youll lose around 25 percent of the time. If you hold a flush, theres a 65 percent chance of winning, so youll lose around 40 percent of the time. And if you hold a pair, theres a 65 percent chance of winning, so youll lose around 35 percent of the time. But if you hold a set, theres a 65 percent chance of winning, so youll lose around 35 percent of the time. And if you hold a high card in the lowest rank, theres a 65 percent chance of winning, so youll lose around 30 percent of the time. Of course, you shouldnt ignore your opponents actions entirely. You should always give them credit for being smart, making decisions, and doing whatever it takes to beat you. But just remember that youre being punished for having a decent hand. Over at The Brooklyn Rail: Hip-hop artist Mike Ladd has spent the past eleven years of his life calling Paris home. From James Baldwin to Langston Hughes, the lineage of African-American artists fleeing their American birthplace for Parisian equality is wide and illustriousa notion that Ladd challenges on his 2005 album Negrophilia. Notably, he left New York for romantic purposes, not the expected artistic or political exile reasons of many African-American creatives. Ladds career has been a constant study in fusing his politics of race with musiceither on his own releases, which include Easy Listening 4 Armageddon (1997), Welcome to the Afterfuture (2000), Nostalgialator (2004), and Father Divine (2005), or with the jazz pianist and MacArthur genius recipient Vijay Iyer. Their collaboration has spawned three recorded works, in addition to accompanying performances, since 2004: In What Language?, 2007s Still Life with Commentator, and 2013s Holding It Down. The unintentional trilogy has explored people of color in airports, twenty-four-hour news culture, and the dreams of military veterans, respectively. The latter release continued its life last month as a performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Ladd joined Iyer (who is a current Metropolitan Museum artist-in-residence) in addition to other featured album performers. In a lively, hour-plus conversation, speaking from a Paris Target, Ladd discussed the history of his and Iyers collaboration, his creative process, and his mission to connect politics and music. boice-Terrel Allen (Rail): How did you two meet? Mike Ladd: Vijay reached out to me. Vijay and I had met because he was playing with a band called Midnight Voices. I was touring my first record, which was called Easy Listening 4 Armageddon. We just met on tour. He was playing with his band and my band was playing the same night in Boston actually and we just got along. And when we got back to New York, we were in the same circles or similar circles, overlapping circles. He reached out to me cause the Asia Society reached out to him about doing a project. Initially it was going to be about spatial theoryspatial theory was the backdrop, the theoretical background. It was going to be about people of color in airports and we started the research in the spring of 2001 and of course, the context of the airport and people of color in [it] completely changed after September 11th. And thats what then sent us on the trajectory weve been on since. More here. Into thin air: Liquid oxygen keeps pilots flying As an aircraft reaches a higher altitude, the air pressure decreases, sometimes leaving aircrews little air to breathe. When this happens, pilots and crew members are able to utilize the liquid oxygen provided by Airmen from the 36th Maintenance Squadron, thus enabling them to complete the mission. Airmen from the 36th MXS electrical and environmental shop sustain the liquid oxygen carts that service the various aircraft on Andersen Air Force Base. The liquid oxygen is used so that pilots can breathe at high altitudes. The team ensures the carts are readily available for crew chiefs to take when needed. "We don't know how many aircraft we may have during a given day, so it's important we have more than enough carts ready to go at a moment's notice," said Senior Airman Kevin Hakala, a 36th MXS electrical and environmental technician. "If the carts have no maintenance or mechanical issues and are good to go then we send them to cryogenics to get filled with liquid oxygen." It is crucial for the team to guarantee there are enough carts to service all transient aircraft for all services. "Our aircrews need to have a supply of liquid oxygen in their aircraft at all times in the event of an emergency," Hakala said. "It's pretty cool to be responsible for providing clean sanitary liquid oxygen to the guys flying the planes." Every four to six months, bomber aircrews, operation support personnel and maintainers rotate through Andersen AFB in support of the continuous bomber presence in the Pacific. Currently, four Airmen deployed from Minot AFB, North Dakota, are assigned to the electrical environmental shop. "Being able to work with deployed Airmen is great. We have extra hands around the shop and eager Airmen that are excited to be here supporting the mission," said Senior Airman Laenya Maze, a 36th MXS electrical and environmental technician. "We have different teams deploying in and out of here every six months, so it's always exciting to work with new people." The team's job has proven to play a large role here. Without the liquid oxygen, pilots and crewmembers cannot fly their mission. "If the aircrews can't breathe, then they can't fly the jets," Hakala said. The Air Force mission is to fly planes, so our job is pretty important." The cryogenics shop, which provides the liquid oxygen to the maintenance Airmen, is one of only two Air Force production centers worldwide. The shop is able to generate, store and distribute liquid oxygen and nitrogen unlike other Air Force labs that are not able to produce their own. "We work alongside the electrical and environmental team in making sure they get the liquid oxygen carts filled," said Staff Sgt. Jon Reid, the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of cryogenic production. "We produce about 30,000 gallons of liquid oxygen a year to support the various units here. The electrical and environmental shop is a great team to work with; we produce the oxygen and they get it to the proper place." Head of Assyrian Church in Shrewsbury Says ISIS is Destroying History The Very Rev. Raban Maroutha A. Hanna, at St. Mary's Syriac (Assyrian) Orthodox Church, thinks about the last time he visited the museum in Mosul. Shrewsbury, Massachusetts -- Raban Maroutha A. Hanna vividly remembers as a teen visiting the museum in his birth city of Mosul in northern Iraq and seeing the beautiful statues and other historical artifacts that date back thousands of years. "I was so impressed by everything ... Those old things, you want to look at them close. I don't ever remember if I ever saw everything despite the fact I went a couple of times," he said. "To look at things somebody made 3,000 years ago, it's just special." Rev. Hanna, 41, who was ordained as a monk while living in Iraq in 1996, is the priest at St. Mary's Syriac (Assyrian) Orthodox Church at Route 9 east and Industrial Drive. Rev. Hanna has lived in this country for 10 years. He last visited the Mosul Museum, the second largest museum in Iraq, when he was 18. Recently, he spoke about the contentedness he felt growing up in Mosul, one of the areas in Iraq considered the cradle of civilization. And how ISIS, the armed Islamic extremist group, has waged a cultural and religious cleansing crusade, in which they are kidnapping and killing Christians, and destroying irreplaceable, centuries-old Bibles, books, art and other relics that predate the birth of Jesus Christ and Christianity. "They are erasing history. Christianity is a part of history that everybody should be proud of. Or, if not proud of, at least everybody should know and realize it and put it under study," Rev. Hanna said, before offering an analogy of the value of the items. "A letter from George Washington that's written in his hand would be sold for millions of dollars and it's only a couple hundred years old. Now, you're talking about ... all of those handwritten manuscripts are hundreds of years old and many of them are over 1,300 years old," he said. The zealots justify their destruction by saying they have to destroy the artifacts because people are worshipping them as if they are gods. Tahir Ali, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Worcester, said that is only an excuse for the radicals to do what they want to do. He said ISIS is giving the majority of Muslims who are peaceful a bad reputation. "What's happening has nothing to do with Islam," said Mr. Ali, an engineer who lives in Westboro. "When you go to a museum, you see historical artifacts that remind us of where we came from ... how humanity evolved. There is so much history behind those artifacts, historical monuments, if somebody destroys them, that is such an unforgivable act." Rhys F. Townsend, an archeologist and professor of art history at Clark University, said he was particularly disheartened when he heard about ISIS bulldozing the Nimrud archaeological site. "These particular pieces that are being destroyed predate Christianity by a long stretch. This is irreparable damage to the history of the Middle East," he said. "If you were to go into the Museum of American Art and destroy paintings and sculptures and artifacts, it would be tantamount to doing that. If one went down to Sturbridge Village and destroyed that, think how people would react," Mr. Townsend said. Rev. Hanna said growing up in Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, was nice. Most of his childhood friends were Muslims. Christians were highly educated and very successful, he said, but they were always treated as second-class citizens by many Muslims, he said. Life was turned upside down in June 2014 when ISIS took over the city of more than 1 million people. The terror group declared Mosul an Islamic state and the Christians were given two ultimatums: They could either leave or stay and pay a protection tax, called Jezia, or be killed, Rev. Hanna said. He said an estimated 100,000 Christians left their homes and businesses in Mosul and moved north toward Christian villages that were controlled by the Kurds. Kurds are also Muslims, but they are an enemy of ISIS. During battles with the ISIS forces, the Kurds, who are being defended by Americans, pulled back, causing Christians to move to other villages. Rev. Hanna said his two brothers and two sisters who fled their homes in Mosul are now in Dohuk, a Kurdistan city that has a large population of Assyrians, sometimes called Syriac Christians. "They have no hope. They have almost nothing. It's just sad, sad," Rev. Hanna said before a long pause. "Thank God it is safe where they are." Rev. Hanna said the problem stems from fanatical Muslims who want to live the way Muhammed, the founder and chief prophet of Islam, lived 1,400 years ago. Muhammed is also said to have been the first to verbally receive the words of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, from God. Muhammed, Rev. Hanna said, was a warrior who went into many wars. When he and his followers raided villages, they killed the men and took the women as well as all the money and valuables. Muhammed, as written in the Quran, also had many wives and mistresses. Muslims also don't like Christians because they think Christians believe in three gods because of the belief in the Trinity, "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," he said. Rev. Hanna said he does not usually discuss what's happening to Christians in Syria and Iraq during his sermons. Church, he pointed out, is for faith and spirituality. "Of course, from time to time, we have to mention what's happening to comfort people. Many of them still have relatives in Iraq and Syria," he said. "As a Christian, Jesus did not promise us peace in this life. He said you're going to be persecuted for my name. But, whoever keeps his faith and trust in him would be given eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven." The original St. Mary's Syriac Assyrian Orthodox Church was built on Hawley Street in Worcester in 1924 by about 30 Assyrian families who came to this country from southern Turkey. In the 1960s and 1970s, more people started coming from Turkey, as well as from Syria and Lebanon. In the past five to seven years, Assyrians from Iraq have found their way to Central Massachusetts, Rev. Hanna said. St. Mary's moved to its new home last year. The church will host the 52nd Syriac Orthodox Convention of North America July 23-26. The problems between Muslims and Christians are not new. They are more extensive now because of more advanced weaponry, and people around the world are more aware of what's happening now because of the media, including social media, Rev. Hanna said. Asked if he thinks the problems between Muslims and Christians will ever end, Rev. Hanna said: "When (Islamist extremist) reinterpret their holy book in favor of making peace and acceptance of others. "The things that cause all these troubles are envy in the world and selfishness. As long as there is selfishness and envy in the world, there's going to be problems as far as what's happening in Iraq and Syria." Lawyers for a Gadsden man accused of killing his toddler daughter in 2013 with either a sword or knife have filed several motions to prevent his execution if he is convicted. Stephon Lindsay, 38, is accused of killing his daughter, 20-month-old Maliyah Tashay Lindsay. Gadsden police discovered the body of Maliyah Lindsay in a wooded area at the dead end of Plainview Street in Gadsden on March 12, 2013 after Stephon Lindsay was arrested in connection with the child's disappearance. Relatives later said Lindsay may have killed the child as a result of some kind of satanic ritual. An autopsy ruled the child died of blunt force trauma and that a knife or sword was used in her death. Lindsay is set for trial Feb. 22. Maliyah Lindsay According to court documents filed this week, Lindsay's lawyers challenged the constitutionality of lethal injection and the ability of the judge hearing the case, District Judge Billy Ogletree, to override the jury's suggestion of a life sentence in a penalty phase. In response, Etowah County Chief Deputy Marcus Reid argued in a motion that Stephon Lindsey had previously been convicted of at least one felony involving a threat of violence. In addition, Maliyah's death, he argued, was "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel." Ogletree on Wednesday ordered that he would hear arguments on the issues during the trial's penalty phase, if it should be necessary. Near 11 a.m. hundreds of people packed the tent at the Flora-Bama Lounge and Package in Perdido Key, Fla. on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Many of those in attendance were sipping Bloody Marys from plastic cups or pulling on a can of beer while listening to the live Southern rock sound of the 'Bama's very own Johnny Barbato. Hundreds of folks opted to sport creative costumes for the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip on the beach behind the famous roadside bar on the Alabama-Florida state line. By 11:45 a.m. several thousand people had taken to the sand under a charcoal sky and rough surf. Then, someone from the crowd countdown 10 seconds before high noon just before the entire crowd rushed into the chilly waters of the Gulf of Mexico to welcome 2016. Some retreated immediately from the waves, while others remained in the waves. Elaine Wiltzes, a Wisconsin snowbird sported a Jimmy Buffett-themed outfit complete with a parrot atop her straw hat. "It's really not that cold," Wiltzes shouted. Then, she promptly returned to the beach. "Well, that was a lot of fun. This is my tenth time doing this and it's always a great time." A Vestavia Hills couple got quite the surprise on New Year's Eve when a nude man wearing a presidential mask creeped into their breezeway. The man, who was naked except for what appeared to be a Ronald Reagan rubber mask covering his head and a sock covering his private parts, ran off when Jersey Belle's Danielle Yancey and her husband spotted him. The ordeal, however, was caught on their home security video and later posted to Facebook as a warning to neighbors and others. "I know a lot of people are laughing about it and, honestly, I got a chuckle from it later, but at the same time, it's very concerning,'' Danielle Yancey said. "I don't know what he was planning on doing." Yancey's husband, Bart, had just taken out the trash and returned inside when he caught a glimpse of a shadow in the breezeway. The trespasser had already opened the gate and entered when Bart Yancey yelled to him. He then followed him briefly while he called 911 from his cell phone. Vestavia Hills police responded to the scene, but weren't able to find the man. "It was so cold outside,'' Yancey said. "The police said he wouldn't last long outside nude like that." She said multiple theories have been discussed, including that it was a dare, a lost bet, or teenage New Year's Eve party gone out of control. "He could have been messed up on drugs or alcohol, and in that mindset you don't what he would do to someone else," Yancey said. "I don't think he had a gun on him, but he could have potentially hurt us or we could have hurt him,'' she said. "Even if it was a prank, it could have become very scary and dangerous quickly." Vestavia Hills police Lt. Kevin York said they received another call about 11 p.m. about a teenager streaking through the neighborhood in the direction of Vestavia Hills Baptist, where he said kids are known to hang out. They were unable to locate the streaker as well. Yancey said she just wants her neighbors and the community to be aware and safe, and hopes that the trespasser also is safe, if indeed he meant no harm. "I hope he never does it again because he could have been unlucky," she said. "Maybe we spooked him off enough not go to another house and not do it again." Police say a Tennessee woman kidnapped a 3-month-old baby from a car parked at a Sparta laundromat on Dec. 23. Two hours later, the baby was found covered with clothing in a shopping cart inside a nearby Wal-Mart, WKRN reported. Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation apprehended suspect Pamela Cox, 50. She's charged with one count of especially aggravated kidnapping. She's being held in the White County Jail on $200,000 bond. The baby's mother reported to police that she left her child in her car while she went to pick up her laundry. When she returned, she noticed her child was gone and called 911. The child later found inside a Walmart store was unharmed. Originally Posted by Judy Originally Posted by Absolutely, artist. You are so right. Yet 4 US Senators, Cruz, Rubio, Graham and Paul think they've done such a great job for US they should be President. These people are all delusional narcissists who want to be Commander In Chief when they can't even defend US from peasants and towel heads pouring over our borders. Bento Rodrigues residents search for answers and accountability through the muddy remains of the town. Bento Rodrigues, Brazil Bricklayer Wallison Henrique de Souza, 28, always dreamed of owning his own home. In three years, he spent about $10,000 to build a small one-storey house next to his mother in Bento Rodrigues, a village in the Mariana district of Brazils mineral-rich state Minas Gerais. Marianas economy is based on mining. Samarco a joint venture between Brazils Vale and Anglo-Australian BHP is one of the regions biggest employers, extracting iron ore and depositing waste in the nearby Fundao dam. In early November, one of de Souzas colleagues arrived at the house shouting that the dam had burst and the village needed to be evacuated. Everyone was panicking, we didnt have any plan of where to go, he said. De Souza ran to a high rock for safety. Shortly after, millions of tonnes of mud engulfed Bento Rodrigues, wiping it off the map. De Souza and some 600 others lost their homes. Altogether, 17 people were killed with two still missing. We knew it was bad, but never imagined that it would be this awful, he said. The worst mining disaster The Mariana mining disaster is widely regarded as Brazils worst ever environmental disaster From Bento Rodrigues, the mud travelled 600km across two Brazilian states leaving hundreds of people homeless before entering the regions most important river, the Rio Doce, killing fish and polluting water supplies, then spilling into Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Espirito Santo state. Experts, including members of the UN Human Rights Commission that visited Brazil after the disaster, have attributed the bursting of the dam to a severe failure in the preventive approach by the managing companies, as well as inadequate enforcement of regulation in Brazils mining sector. Returning to Bento Rodrigues for the first time with Al Jazeera, sitting in front of the ruins of his mothers house, De Souza now living in one of Marianas hotels and receiving a minimum salary, paid for by Samarco said he felt empty. My whole life, 28 years, is buried under this mud, he said. Samarco, Vale, BHP negligence At the Paris climate change conference, Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian president, described the event as the worst environmental disaster Brazil has ever seen and blamed the irresponsible action of the company. Samarco was fined $265m but the Brazilian government is now seeking compensation of more than $5bn. Holding companies Vale and BHPs assets in Brazil have been frozen until the damages are paid. The reason for the bursting of the dam is still unknown. Experts however, say there was a clear failure by the company to avert the disaster and to minimise subsequent damage. On its website, Samarco says: From the beginning, with the support of our shareholders, Vale and BHP Billiton, we mobilised all efforts to prioritise the care and integrity of the people who were at the scene or nearby. In Barra Longa, however, a small town 70km from the dam, residents affected by the disaster say Samarco and local governments response was slow. The volunteers from churches across the nation came first to help us, then the Samarco workers a week later, said Francisco Marcelino, a retired driver, speaking from his home, which was swamped by two metres of mud. Environmental impact The full extent of the environmental damage is unknown. In the weeks following the disaster the mud was found to contain high levels of arsenic and other toxic materials. Experts estimate that the region could take anything from 10 to 50 years to recover, if it actually does. A full environmental assessment is yet to be made. The short-term impact, however, is visibly catastrophic. The mud has polluted the 800km-long Rio Doce, killing millions of fish, destroying fauna and wildlife and polluting drinking water supplies. Thousands of fishermen dependent on the river for their livelihood, and several fishing unions, have launched law suits against Samarco. How can I feed this fish to my kids, or to someone elses kids? said fishermen Moises Gomes speaking from a fishing boat on the now orange Rio Doce in Periquito, around 300km from the main spill. He picked a floating dead fish out of the river, pulling it apart to show it was full of mud. The companies must create a mechanism for us to have the right to work and feed our families, he said. Murilo Ferreira, the chief executive of Vale, said that the company would create a voluntary fund dedicated to restoring the river Rio Doce. Brazil economic development vs regulation In the past 20 years there have been at least four dam bursts in the Minas Gerais region, although none as serious the Bento Rodrigues disaster. A report by the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was invited to Brazil by the federal government, said that there were about 753 dams in the Minas Gerais region, 40 of which were at risk. Analysts say that Brazil like most developing middle-income country, rich in natural resources needs big projects to create investment, wealth and jobs and, as a result, regulations are often overlooked. Mining accounts for around 4 percent of the countrys GDP and a quarter of exports. When it comes to development, the economic side usually prevails over the social and environmental, said Dante Pesca, a member of the UN working group, adding that relatively low fines most of which arent fully paid create negative incentives for companies to take risks. Pesca said that while Brazil had made positive steps recently especially aligning state-owned companies with Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines two months ago the political will to implement sufficient regulations was weak. The big point here is not the official political commitments otherwise we would not have been invited to Brazil, he said. But what we found on the ground is a real disconnect between the political statements and commitments and the operations. Back in Bento Rodrigues, residents search through the muddy remains of the town. A group of teenage boys play in a car stuck in the mud and let out a dry laugh when they discover the battery has already been taken. Wallison Henrique de Souza finds a medal he won at sports day as a child and a fridge magnet bottle opener. I would come back here if I could, but unfortunately we cant. Its all over, he said. As the number of dead continues to rise in Syria, other people are struggling to cope with devastating injuries that will stay with them forever, such as the loss of limbs or impaired mobility. Yet throughout Syria, it has becoming increasingly difficult for victims to access life-saving care. Government hospitals are inaccessible or carry the risk of detention, while medical facilities in opposition-controlled areas are regularly targeted by air strikes. Smaller field hospitals, meanwhile, do not have sufficient equipment. Urgent cases are granted entry across the border into Turkey. In a series of transfers at designated points along the border, Syrian and Turkish medical teams coordinate ambulances to shuttle the wounded to Turkish state hospitals. From there, Syrians who require longer-term treatment are turned over to postoperative recovery centers in Turkish border towns, including Reyhanli, Sanliurfa and Kilis. Known as houses of healing, they are operated by Syrians with support from international NGOs. Bed-ridden, in wheelchairs or on crutches, the men here recount battles against regime forces and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, describing the circumstances of their life-changing injuries with a sense of pride. Though grateful for the chance to physically recover in these safe spaces, their thoughts remain riveted on Syria, and on one day returning to the fight. As Syrias war continues to rage, many hospitals have been damaged, while doctors cite shortages of staff and equipment. Aleppo, Syria Abu Bakr begins making his rounds inside the intensive care unit at Syrias al-Quds hospital, in the rebel-held part of Aleppo, at 8am each morning, and he often works late into the night. Although he specialises in internal medicine, he had to cut his studies in that field short due to Syrias war. This isnt working as a doctor under normal circumstances, Abu Bakr told Al Jazeera. Its the most dangerous city in the world. Aleppo, Syrias largest city, is split between pro-regime and rebel forces. Gripped by fighting and regular air strikes, the city has managed to maintain a functioning health sector, but there is a dire need for resources and additional manpower, health workers say. Weve by Abu in case of any future strikes.] There are currently 10 hospitals operating in Aleppo, although many have been damaged in the war. Another hospital, Dar al-Shifa, has been bombed nearly a dozen times and has since ceased operating, while the Shawki Hilal hopsital closed at one point due to bombing damage but has since reopened. Truce was marked by repeated violations including multiple missile attacks across Saudi Arabias border with Yemen. The Arab military coalition assembled by Saudi Arabia has announced the end of a repeatedly violated ceasefire agreement with Yemens Houthi fighters and their allies. A statement on Twitter by the official Saudi Press Agency citing the Alliance in Support of Legitimacy said the truce would end at 11:00 GMT on Saturday. The ceasefire began on December 15 last year and coincided with UN-sponsored peace talks in the Swiss city of Geneva. Despite the truce, both sides continued to engage militarily, with the Arab coalition launching air strikes targeting Houthis and their allies, and the latter launching ballistic missiles into Saudi territory. The coalition has been and still is keen to create the right conditions to find a peaceful solution, the Saudi Press Agency said citing the Arab coalition. It said the ceasefire could not be maintained because of the continuation of the Houthi militias and Saleh forces in violating it. The Saudi press statement came after the coalition announced that Saudi air defence forces had intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the city of Abha late on Friday. The launcher was located and destroyed in Yemen, it said. On Thursday, three civilians including two children were killed in cross-border missile attacks from Yemen on a residential area in the southwestern Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. Eleven others were wounded, among them nine children, according to the Saudi civil defence. The Saudis have deployed Patriot missile batteries designed to counter attacks and have recently been intercepting missiles fired from Yemen on an almost-daily basis. More than 80 people, most of them soldiers and border guards, have been killed in shelling and cross-border skirmishes in the kingdoms south since coalition operations began in Yemen. Conflicts origins The conflict began in March last year, after Houthi forces and soldiers loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former Yemeni president, swept across southern Yemen, taking the port city of Aden and forcing the Arab Gulf-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. Saudi Arabia assembled a mainly Arab military coalition in response and began launching air strikes on Hadis opponents. In October, the coalition began sending regular ground troops to help Hadi loyalists secure their gains, including the recently recaptured Aden. Nearly 6,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far, almost half of them civilians. The country is facing a humanitarian catastrophe according to the UN, with millions without food security or access to adequate medical care. A pre-dawn raid on an Indian air base in the northwestern state of Punjab has ended after a 15-hour gun battle that left all five attackers and at least seven soldiers dead, according to police and security forces. Saturdays attack, 50km from the border with Pakistan, came just a week after Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, made an unannounced Pakistan visit to meet his counterpart in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by armed attacks. Rajnath Singh, home minister, confirmed that all five attackers were killed in Pathankot. The defence ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a possible attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the air force station at Pathankot, the ministry said in a statement. Intermittent gunfire had continued into the day and helicopters flew as an operations continued to comb the base. Suresh Arora, Punjabs police chief, said the attackers had earlier hijacked a police officers car and driven it to the heavily guarded base. Rochelle DSilva, Indian Air Force spokesperson, said the men entered the living quarters of the base, but were not able to penetrate the area that houses fighter helicopters and other equipment. The airbase was cordoned off and a heavy contingent of police deployed to the area, with elite paramilitary force of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Guard Commando Force called in. A senior Indian police officer said that a red alert was issued across Punjab in the wake of the incident. No responsibility claim There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Indias junior home minister hinted at involvement of armed groups based in Pakistan. We have credible information that this attack was sponsored by some elements across the border, Kiren Rijiju, the minister, said in New Delhi. Pakistan strongly condemns #Pathankot airbase attack in India: Foreign Office pic.twitter.com/Fi8R1xnMJg Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) January 2, 2016 Rajnath Singh, Indias home minister, said the country wanted peace with Pakistan but that any terrorist attack would get a befitting response. Pakistan condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created by the recent high-level contacts. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism, Qazi Khalilullah, foreign ministry spokesman, said in a series of tweets. Ayesha Siddiqa, an independent social scientist in Pakistan, says it is too early to point fingers as nothing has been proven as yet. Its a bit tricky and Pakistans involvement has not been proven yet, Siddiqa, the author of Military Inc, told Al Jazeera from Islamabad. The environment has completely changed after Mumbai [the 2011 attacks]. There are military outfits operating from Pakistan and they keep themselves very vocal on social media, so theres a temptation to interpret the attacks in a certain way. Uday Bhaskar, head of the New Delhi-based Society for Policy Studies, said there was a fair amount of speculation and conjecture about the identity of the attackers. As an analyst I would say the probability that perpetrators are linked to one of the better known terror groups that have targeted India over the last decade is fairly high, Bhaskar told Al Jazeera. I think the motive seems to disrupt the current traction as far as India-Pakistan bilateral relations are concerned. We have had similar pattern in the past where those groups and constituencies that are against any improvement in bilateral relations play the terror card. I see it as part of this pattern. How Pakistan would respond would be an indicator about the next course of events in bilateral ties. Four attackers and three Indian soldiers killed in pre-dawn attack on an Indian air force base. A pre-dawn attack on an Indian air force base has left four gunmen and three soldiers dead and has also threatened to derail attempts to revive a dialogue between Pakistan and India. A group of gunmen attacked the base in the Indian northwestern state of Punjab that borders Pakistan, local officials said. The attack, 50km from the border with Pakistan, comes just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a surprise Pakistan visit to meet his counterpart in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks. Sporadic gunfire continued into the day and helicopters flew as an operation continued to comb the base in Pathankot where four gunmen were killed in a shoot-out with security forces early on Saturday morning. The attackers had earlier hijacked a police officers car and driven it to the heavily guarded base tactics used in earlier attacks believed to have been perpetrated by Pakistani-trained fighters, Punjabs police chief Suresh Arora told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. IAF spokeswoman Rochelle DSilva said that the gunmen entered the living quarters of the base, about 430km north of New Delhi, but were not able to penetrate the area that houses fighter helicopters and other equipment. Earlier, officials said the exchanges of fire had ended at the cantonment. The air base has been cordoned off and a heavy contingent of police have been deployed to the area, with elite paramilitary force of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Guard Commando Force called in. A senior Indian police officer said that a red alert has been issued across Punjab state in the wake of the incident. Al Jazeeras Faiz Jamil, reporting from New Delhi, said the attack began at around 3:30am local time (22:00 GMT) and that the attackers had entered the base wearing military uniforms. Officials are not sure yet who these gunmen are, he said, adding that officials were saying that the remaining attackers had been contained to a non-operational area of the base. Pathankot is the road and rail gateway to India-administered Kashmir, which has witnessed armed rebellion against Indian rule. Uday Bhaskar from Society for Policy Studies said that there was a fair amount of speculation and conjecture about the identity of the attackers, adding that official statement was still awaited. As an analyst I would say the probability that perpetrators are linked to one of the better known terror groups that have targeted India over the last decade is fairly high. There are couple of groups that come to mind such as Jaish-e-Mohammad or Lashkar-e-Taiba, he said. Indias Interior Minister Rajnath Singh said India wanted peace with Pakistan but that any terrorist attack would get a befitting response. Pakistan later condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created in the recent high-level contacts. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism, foreign ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a series of tweets. According to early accounts, the attack resembled a similar raid last year by gunmen on a border town in Punjab that killed nine people. India blamed that attack on assailants who had infiltrated from Pakistan. The latest attack is likely to deal a blow to attempts to revive political dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. I think the motive seems to disrupt the current traction as far as India-Pakistan bilateral relations is concerned, Bhaskar told Al Jazeera. We have had similar pattern in the past where those groups and constituencies that are against any improvement in bilateral relations play terror card. I see it as part of this pattern, he said. How Pakistan would respond would be an indicator about the next course of events in bilateral ties. Fighters kill security forces on edge of Anbars provincial capital, just days after they were driven out of its centre. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has continued to launch a series of deadly attacks against Iraqi government forces on the edges of the western city of Ramadi, days after they were driven out of the city centre. The latest attacks killed at least 11 members of the Iraqi security forces, sources told Al Jazeera on Saturday. Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Belawi told the Associated Press news agency that ISIL struck security forces with a series of car bombs in two areas on the citys outskirts. Belawi said the troops repelled the attacks and did not lose territory. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, fell to ISIL in May, marking a major setback for US-backed Iraqi forces. Iraqi troops retook the city centre on Monday, but ISIL fighters are still holed up in parts of the city. The majority of these are outside downtown Ramadi to the north and east, Colonel Steve Warren, the Baghdad-based US coalition spokesman, said. We havent seen ISIL mass enough combat power to move Iraq off their positions. Iraqi officials said gains in Ramadi lay the groundwork for an eventual assault on Mosul, Iraqs second largest city, which fell to ISIL in June of 2014. On Friday coalition planes launched five air strikes near Ramadi targeting ISIL tactical units, heavy weaponry and fighting positions. Near Mosul, three air strikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and a facility used to make car bombs, a coalition statement said Saturday. No casualties reported after strikes, which came just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. Israeli jets have launched air strikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. The air raids on Saturday morning targeted four empty facilities belonging to the Hamas movement, ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, the sources told the AFP news agency. The attacks caused damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip. The IDF [Israeli army] holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip, a statement read. Late on Friday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of Israels 50-day war on Gaza in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit Israel, according to Israeli military data. The past few months have witnessed violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that has claimed the lives more than 130 Palestinians and 21 Israelis. On Friday, two Palestinians were slightly wounded by Israeli gunfire after they stormed the border fence in northern Gaza, the Israeli army and Gaza medics said. Prosecutor says French citizen who rammed car into soldiers in Valence on New Years Day appears to have acted alone. French investigators say they have found jihadist propaganda material in the computer of a man who drove his car into troops guarding a mosque in southern France on New Years Day. Alex Perrin, the prosecutor, said however that it did not prove he had links with terrorist groups. He said the 29-year-old French citizen of Tunisian descent appeared to have acted alone as he rammed his car into four soldiers guarding a mosque in the southeastern city of Valence. A soldier and an elderly man were injured in the incident. The inspection of his computer led to the discovery of jihadi propaganda images, Perrin told Reuters news agency. These are downloadable images that are a few weeks old. Not the worst type of images, but rather bellicose slogans, he said. It shows he had an appreciation of that but it does not prove he had links with terrorist organisations. The man, who is still in hospital, could be charged with attempted murders against persons holding state authority. He was seriously wounded when the soldiers shot at him during his second attempt at ramming into them, but his injuries are not life-threatening, the government said in a statement. The injured passerby was said to be a 72-year-old man who was hit in the calf by a stray bullet shot by the soldiers. Q&A: Muslim minorities are first victims of terror When he was apprehended, he mentioned the fact that he wanted to kill troops because troops killed people, Perrin said. He said he wanted to be killed by troops. There was also no indication that the man was suffering from mental illness, he said. He had been unemployed for several years and was not known to police or intelligence services. The imam of the mosque, Abdullah Imam Dliouah, said in a statement posted to Facebook : The mosque officials and worshippers are deeply shocked by this act. The soldiers protecting the mosque are appreciated by the worshippers and we condemn this aggression towards those who ensure our safety. We wish to reiterate that this act, despite its gravity, will not dampen our resolve to promote us living together, as we have always done. France has been on high alert since the November 13 attacks in Paris in which 130 people were killed by armed attackers who claimed they were linked to the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) group. Soldiers are protecting sensitive places across the country, including official buildings and religious sites. President indicates he will bypass Congress to implement stricter gun laws, and will talk options with attorney general. United States President Barack Obama has indicated he may bypass Congress in his bid to increase gun control in the final year of his presidency. In his weekly radio address on Friday, Obama said he will meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss what options he can take, saying his New Years resolution was to move forward on tackling the US epidemic of gun violence. Last month, we remembered the third anniversary of Newtown, Obama said, referring to the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 that left 20 children and six adults dead. This Friday, Ill be thinking about my friend [former Congresswoman] Gabby Giffords, five years into her recovery from the shooting in Tucson. And all across America, survivors of gun violence and those who lost a child, a parent, a spouse to gun violence are forced to mark such awful anniversaries every single day. We know that we cant stop every act of violence. But what if we tried to stop even one? Obama said he had recently directed his White House staff to investigate what new actions he could take to reduce gun violence. With time running out on his presidency, and with little prospect of reaching common ground with Congress on the highly contentious guns issue, Obama is expected to resort to the use of executive powers that would allow him to unilaterally impose certain new anti-gun measures. Citing sources, the Washington Post reported that the executive actions may include a requirement for some unlicensed gun dealers to get licenses and conduct background checks on potential customers. Obama most recently made a plea for tougher gun-control measures in November after three people were killed at a family-planning centre in Colorado. That attack came after an armed man killed nine people at a college in Oregon in October, while in June, a white attacker killed nine black churchgoers in South Carolina. The issue of gun control has polarised the US legislature and divided the nation, with Americans holding radically different views on the pros and cons of gun ownership. The depth of the schism could be seen in new laws that went into effect on Friday in Republican-red Texas and its political polar opposite states of California and Oregon. The new gun law in California would make it easier for courts to seize the firearms of people deemed to present a danger to themselves or others. In its west coast neighbour, the liberal state of Oregon, a measure took effect barring anyone convicted of certain domestic abuse offenses from having guns or ammunition. Gun-friendly Texas, meanwhile, on Friday introduced an open carry law meaning gun owners no longer will be required to conceal their weapons when packing heat. Republican Texas Governor Rick Abbott reacted to Obamas weekly address on Twitter, saying: Obama wants to impose more gun control. My response.#? COME & TAKE IT States inability to crack down on copyright infringement blamed for preventing local musicians from breaking out. Musicians and singers in Guyana have called on the government to crack down on copyright infringement, warning piracy is putting the countrys unique music industry at risk. Existing legislation in the South American state is 50 years old and does not take into account the appearance of CDs, DVDs and MP3s. The loophole allows music pirates to make copies of tracks with impunity and streets in the capital Georgetown are replete with hawkers selling bootleg copies of songs. Entertainers find it difficult to sue those who copy and sell their music, and in the rare occurrence they successfully do, fines are so low, there are little point in taking legal action. Al Jazeeras Virginia Lopez, reporting from Georgetown, said the popularity of counterfeit music was preventing local musicians from breaking out. An original CD by a local artist costs five times more than a copy of a world-renowned artist, she said. In a market this small this price difference means they stand very little chance to succeed in their own country. Teni Housty, a lawyer, says politicians are doing little to stop the violations. You can create the momentum for change but this will be stopped at the doors of parliament, Housty told Al Jazeera. Guyanese musicians hope that by protecting the music industry, they will be able to make their culture stand out from their Caribbean neighbours. Peace deal and prisoner swap agreed during Pakistan meeting, after heavy losses in recent battles between factions. The two rival factions within the Afghan Taliban have agreed in a meeting in Quetta, Pakistan, to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Leadership of the Taliban has been in dispute since the confirmation last July of the death of the armed groups founder, Mullah Omar with new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor struggling to keep the group united. Specific details about the ceasefire and prisoner swap have not yet been released. Representatives of a splinter group headed by Mullah Mohammad Rasool Akhund met senior Taliban leaders aligned with Mansoor in Quetta on Friday, said Al Jazeeras Qais Azimy, reporting from the Afghan capital Kabul. Our correspondent said the deal was reached after the two sides suffered heavy casualties during recent Taliban-on-Taliban fighting in Afghanistan. This is a very important agreement for Afghanistan, he said, adding that the threat posed by a united Taliban could cause significant problems for Afghan forces when the annual fighting season kicks off in March. If these groups agree with each other, and fight against Afghan forces, the Afghan government will face a much stronger opposition, he said. He added, however, that a united Taliban may also enable Afghan peace talks to go ahead, as the government will be able to identify which group it needs to talk to. Despite leadership disputes, the Taliban have made big advances this year, inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan forces fighting largely on their own since the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops last year. ANALYSIS: The Talibans resurgence in Afghanistan Earlier this month, a suicide bomber attacked a joint Afghan-NATO convoy near Bagram airbase outside Kabul, killing six US soldiers and wounding three others. Afghan forces are also battling to push out Taliban fighters who seized large swaths of the key, opium-rich district of Sangin in southern Helmand province. The Taliban has also claimed a number of attacks in and around Kabul, including a suicide bombing at a restaurant in the capital on Friday which killed at least three people. US President Barack Obama announced in October that thousands of US troops would remain in Afghanistan after 2016, back-pedalling on previous plans to shrink the force and acknowledging that Afghan forces were not ready to stand alone. At least three dead in explosion at restaurant frequented by journalists, near Mogadishus presidential palace. At least three people have been killed and two others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a restaurant near the presidential palace in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that targeted the Village restaurant on Saturday morning. The restaurant is often frequented by journalists and government officials and has previously been attacked by the al-Shabab armed group. A witness, Burhan Diini, said he saw several wounded victims after the attack. Ambulances were seen rushing to the scene. Security forces surrounded the area, he told the DPA news agency. The attack comes nearly two months after a hotel was bombed in Mogadishu killing at least 15 people, including an Al Jazeera contributor, Mustaf Abdi Noor. The hotel attack was claimed by al-Shabab. Al-Shabab fighters were ousted from Mogadishu, in 2011 and have been pushed out of key cities, but they are not yet defeated and the government remains weak. Disappearance of five employees of publisher of books critical of China, adds to unease in semi-autonomous Chinese city. A missing Hong Kong employee of a publisher of books critical of China is assisting in an investigation, his wife says, as police also probe the disappearance of his four colleagues. The disappearance of Lee Bo, 65, adds to growing unease that freedoms in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese city, are being eroded, with fears the five men may have been detained by Chinese authorities. He said he wouldnt be back so soon and he was assisting in an investigation, Sophie Choi, wife of Lee, told Hong Kongs Cable Television on Saturday. She described a call she had with Lee the night he failed to return home. It was not clear what investigation Lee was referring to. READ MORE: China to expel French journalist over Uighur report I asked him if it was related to the case before. He said yes, regarding that case where a few others had gone missing, Choi said. Lee went missing on Wednesday night and is the fifth employee of Hong Kong-based publisher Mighty Current to disappear. Police said in a statement they were investigating the disappearance of Lee and three of the other missing men. It made no comment on the fifth man. According to the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong daily, the bookstore where Lee worked is popular among Chinese mainland tourists as it sells politics books banned by Beijing. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and enjoys liberties not seen on the mainland, but there are fears these are under threat. Everything alright Choi previously told AFP news agency she started looking for Lee on Wednesday night after he failed to return home for dinner and she reported him missing to police on Friday. He later called to say everything was alright from a number that did not belong to him and originated from the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, Choi had said. Another source told AFP that Lee was last seen in Hong Kong on Wednesday at the publishers warehouse, which he is in charge of. The publishing companys general manager Lui Bo, employee Cheung Jiping and bookstore manager Lam Wing-kei are also apparently missing after disappearing in southern China in October. Local media said Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and co-owner of Mighty Current, failed to return from a holiday in Thailand in October. Hong Kong police, who are investigating the disappearance of Lui, Cheung, Lam and Lee, gave no information on Gui. Swedens embassies in Bangkok and Beijing are reportedly investigating Guis disappearance. The Hong Kong Journalists Association sent a letter to the Chinese Liaison Office Beijings representative office in the city urging authorities to reveal whether the men are in the mainland. The incident has caused a high degree of concern and anxiety to Hong Kong residents, the statement said. Hong Kong publisher Yao Wentian, who was due to release a dissidents book about Chinese President Xi Jinping, was reported to have been detained for almost three months in January 2014. The following May, Yao, then 73, was sentenced by a Chinese court to 10 years in jail for smuggling. Report says executions carried out without knowledge or presence of inmates lawyers or families. A demonstrator dressed as a victim of a stoning execution protests in Berlin, Germany [File: GALLO/GETTY] Hundreds of prisoners have been secretly executed in Iran, according to a new UN report which details growing human rights abuses in the Islamic republic. The report, obtained by the AFP news agency, said 200 officially announced executions had taken place in 2011 with at least 83, including those of three political prisoners, in January alone. Highlighting a jail in Mashhad, in eastern Iran, the report said authorities reportedly conducted more than 300 secret executions at Vakilabad prison in 2010. It has also been reported that at least 146 secret executions have taken place to date in 2011, it said. Vakilabad officials, in violation of Iranian law, allegedly carried out the executions without the knowledge or presence of the inmates lawyers or families and without prior notification to those executed. The findings were compiled by Ahmed Shaheed, the new UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran. Shaheed, who assumed responsibility for the mandate on August 1, billed it as an interim report cataloguing the most recent trends in the human rights situation in Iran. He also noted that four per cent of executions stipulated no charges, that 100 juveniles were on death row, and that more than 100 executions this year alone were for drug-related offences. The report, which is to be presented to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, details a raft of abuses from the denial of womens rights to torture, but the most shocking data was the skyrocketing rate of executions. Human Rights Watch counted 388 executions in Iran in 2010, while Amnesty International put the figure at 252, ranking the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people put to death last year. Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran. 2005 .. AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies: WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008 AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008 CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE] SPREAD MESSAGE OF INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY TO AS MANY INDIANS AS POSSIBLE. LET US FREE INDIA OF CORRUPTION BY SPREADING THE MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE.MANY OF THE ARTICLES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AS FORWARDED MAIL FROM VARIOUS FRIENDS . SHOULD SOME FACTS BE NOT CORRECT , YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PUT IT IN REMARKS BELOW THE ARTICLE. THIS WILL ENSURE A MORE BALANCED PERSPECTIVE OF THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED. On 23 Dec 2015 11:34, " aminata michelle" < aminatamichelle@hotmail.com > wrote: Nice READ FROM YOU Hi Dear, Compliments to you and thanks for taking your precious time to reply to my mail. I am more than happy and grateful to you. I know you will be a good and honest friend. What can i say! OK let me tell you a little bit about myself and with time we will know more about each other OK. I am Dr,Aminata Michelle, born and brought up in 1 Basinghall Avenue, London, CZ32 88A/ United Kingdom, into a family of four which is two boys and two girls, I am age 38 single with one daughter schooling in united kingdom , again Have a Palestinian root too, from my grand parents. I attended my high school in England. After then I proceeded to Basinghall, for my University career and graduated as a Medical Practitioner. Presently i work with the United Kingdom Health Department and the General medical center as a consultant on Child health. Serving God is my top priority in life because I believe that nothing ever exists without the permission of God, this makes me to believe in the joy of friendship, a thing that has given me the opportunity of knowing you. So how are you coupling with life? How is your country? l have not had any opportunity to be outside of my country; I hope my knowing you will make an avenue for me to be there some day by God grace. This is just a little about myself and i hope you will tell me about you, your nation, occupation and everything that is worth knowing about you OK. Please I am here strictly for friendship and maybe more with time. Pleas i want to see any of your pics. Regards. Dr.Aminata Michell. E-mail aminatamichelle@hotmail.com On 26 Dec 2015 11:25, " aminata michelle" < aminatamichelle@hotmail.com > wrote: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY BACK! Hello my dear friend, How are you doing and life with you in general?I hope you had a wonderful day.I am fine.It' s just that i Aminata, is a very busy woman. All the contents of your mail were quite noted and understood. It is true we have not met; nevertheless, from your mail i am taking you for seriousness. Before i proceed, i will like to inform you that If we are to become best of friend, we are to base our friendship on honesty, trustfulness, and love, above all, open-minded; this is because i do not want to experience pain or you, in any ways, as i really want to be your friend. I am glad that you base your mails on honesty and i know we will go places. Anyway,i will keep on trying my best to make out time and check my mail just for your sake and i promise once i receive any of your mail i will get back to you immediately,This is also two of my pictures. take care of yourself. I love you. Best Regards Dr.Aminata Michelle. E-mail aminatamichelle@hotmail.com From: " aminata michelle" < aminatamichelle@hotmail.com > Date: 30 Dec 2015 16:55 Subject: COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY AND HOW ARE YOU DOING Cc: COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY AND HOW ARE YOU DOING Hello dear, I Guess you are going great. I' m very sorry that i could not reply your mail in time i was very busy in office with Hope Worldwide, I got some gifts and items from the organization, your thought just came in my mind and I decided to send some to you as presents. Actually I do not have need for some of these items so i felt they might be useful to you. And also to register in your heart that I came first amongst your friends. I sent the gift through a friend and also a Co_worker, Rev,Sister rosie, Nelson As she went to the Senegal yesterday for Hope Worldwide Aid support to Senegal with her groups, Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine. yesterday after participating in a Church meeting we held here and I gave her the gift package to deliver to you When she arrives there since you didn' t supply me with your postal address and I couldn' t wait for you to do that now because I am on my way to Haiti, Hope Worldwide Aid support to Haiti. I believe where the Rev, Sister rosie Nelson is residing (the Senegal) might be closer to you or your residence country. You should contact her via email:(revsisrosienelson@outlook.com ) and if possible discuss with her on phone:(+221783305960) regarding how to receive your gift package and you should send her your home Address and telephone number OK. Please don' t laugh at me when you receive the pack, I know it isn' t much but I sent it from my innermost heart and i belief you gonna appreciate everything inside the package because it is coming from a special friend and in a special way. I know that you will be in need of this item in one way or the other. The content of the pack are 2 Toshiba laptops computer, 1 ip-phones, AN ENVELOPE, Video Camera and some jewelries. I packed everything in a medium carton and gave it to Rev,Sister rosie Nelson to deliver it to you because she didn' t travel with much luggage of her own when she was traveling. Open the pack of one of the laptop to bring out the envelop which I put inside, it contains some of my recent photos and that of my family members and a surprise gift which I don' t want to disclose to you till you see it, leaving it at home my brother will do away with then OK. Update me when you receive it, so I will be aware. I will see how i can make a request for you as a volunteer in this organization if you would be interested. I will get to you when i come back. Yours truly, Dr.Aminata Michelle. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... On December 26, an F4 tornado tore through my community of Rowlett, Texas. After killing eight people in cars near the intersection of Interstate 30 and the George W. Bush turnpike, the twister destroyed dozens of homes in Garland and Rowlett. As the tornado approached, my wife, our three daughters, and our dog huddled in an interior bathroom as the sirens wailed. Incredibly, no one was killed in the many homes and apartments destroyed as the storm moved rapidly from the southwest to the northeast around Lake Ray Hubbard. The funnel damaged homes only 300 yards away from ours. We lost power but suffered no harm to our home. What we saw among our neighbors was astounding and heartbreaking. The first F4 tornado to strike the Dallas area with such destruction was more than 50 years ago. What I have seen in the past 100 hours is perhaps more impressive: the tremendous outpouring of neighbors loving neighbors to fill the holes created by the storm. In many respects, what I have seen, felt, and participated in betrays the essential truths I was often taught in higher education: that American is little more than an amalgam of phobias, hatreds, bigotries, and prejudices. Our highest calling is to recognize this and repent of these sins. America may be far from perfect, but it is not the moral cesspool of hatred that our intellectual culture continually calls us to accept on a daily basis. Today I walked to a nearby church Cornerstone Church to help with community relief. What I saw was a reminder of America's intrinsic greatness an outpouring of the human capacity to love another to the point of cups overflowing with goodness. In eight hours, I saw all manner of individuals drive to the small community church and leave water, diapers, gloves, buckets, rakes, shovels, gift cards, food, batteries, and an infinite array of things to meet the human needs that arise in such tragedies. Love is not a sentimental feeling. It is not mere romance. Love is meeting the need of another person. Again and again, I saw this web of human cooperation working to fill a gash left by this storm. The super-abundance of what was appearing in the small church gymnasium was staggering more water than the community could likely consume. More diapers, more food, more buckets, and yet the supplies kept coming. Businesses such as Tide brought independently powered washer and dryer machines for victims to launder their garments. Duracell brought batteries for flashlights and other electronic gear. Restaurants donated meals. Chick-fil-A in Rowlett opened on Sunday to serve meals something we have never seen this chain do, against the grain of its conventional honoring of a day of rest on Sunday. Huge trucks from various businesses would show up unexpectedly with tarps and an array of supplies. The private outpouring was matched by the generosity and expanse of local governments. The streets were patrolled and serviced not only by Rowlett city services. In fact, most government vehicles were from other cities: Plano, Garland, Mesquite, University Parks, and others. Police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel, and other government officers formed a vast municipal army to serve those in the swath of destruction. These governments were not necessarily adjacent or immediate to Rowlett. They came from many miles away to complete these tasks hour by hour. Somehow, a coordinated symphony of care was carried out by a wide array of municipal governments to help these victims. None of this fit the preconceived judgmental categories I have been trained to cast on all public American transactions. No one asked anyone else: "What is your ethnicity? Are you Christian? Do you support Donald Trump? Are you a Democrat? Are you transgendered?" The complex array of acts committed in giving and receiving did not discernibly pass through these supposedly vital and inherent lenses. I was not a member of this church. I had never been to the building in my life. One day the person supervising me was Hispanic and Spanish-speaking. He often spoke to a friend in Spanish. He was not from the church and had traveled from another community to volunteer there. On another day, an African-American man supervised, and he had traveled from another nearby community. He wanted to help. There were people from Missouri working. There was no stable identity-driven community to judge. There was the urgent task of meeting needs: hungry workers, idle supplies, questions from relief workers, messes and confusion, and people in various states of want and need. There seemed to be nothing local or indigenous about what was happening here. By all appearances, it was human beings rising to the occasion of meeting the needs of their fellow human beings. And they were carrying that out with rather extraordinary effectiveness, from oldest to youngest. In 1929, the forgotten American president Calvin Coolidge made these observations about our nation: Perhaps one of the reasons I have been a target for so little abuse is because I have tried to refrain from abusing other people. The words of the president have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately. It would be exceedingly easy to set the country all by the ears and foment hatreds and jealousies, which, by destroying faith and confidence, would help nobody and harm everybody. The end would be the destruction of all progress. While everyone knows that evil exists, there is yet sufficient good in the people to supply material for most of the comment that needs to be made. The only way I know to drive out evil from the country is by the constructive method of filling it with good. The country is better off tranquilly considering its blessings and merits, and earnestly striving to secure more of them, than it would be in nursing hostile bitterness about its deficiencies and faults. Coolidge was far closer to accurately observing the moral essence of America than the jaded intellectuals who continually invite us to travel farther and farther down the degrading spiral of cynicism about our national character. The tragedy of the F4 tornado that destroyed homes in Rowlett and other parts of Dallas betrayed the truer character of Americans that is far from the distorted images we have presented to us by our elite. Though far from perfect, Americans are endlessly striving to a character of selflessly to help their fellow human beings. Their generosity and care are remarkable even defining. Celebrating America's goodness is not a call to arrogance or even pride it is a challenge to rise to the moral challenge of love pursued by each and every generation. Ben Voth is an associate professor of communication studies and director of debate at Southern Methodist University. He is an adviser for the George W. Bush Institute and the Coolidge Foundation debate fellow. He is also a resident of Rowlett, Texas. The great irony of a hunger strike is that it does nothing to prove the morality of the hunger striker. It does everything to prove the morality of the man he's striking against. Millions of horrible people have been willing to die for horrible causes, and we have only been the worse for it. Far fewer have been willing to save the life of a suicidal enemy. And if you do happen to go on a hunger strike and win, the only thing you've done is proved that your enemy cares more about you than his cause. You can win a hunger strike only against a person who cares about people. You can defeat your enemy only if your enemy is actually a saint. Gandhi may have saved the Indians from the English. We can only wonder how successful he would have been against al-Qaeda. In almost exactly the same way, writing an open letter to white Americans doesn't prove that white Americans are racists; it proves only that black men believe that white men are capable of listening to other races. And if blacks believe that whites are capable of listening (as their hundreds of open letters implicitly insist), blacks can only believe that white people are capable of society. The franker and more frequent your pleas to the people you've judged without meeting, the more you have glorified their radical empathy and tolerance. The fact that a black man can publicly admonish every white man leaves us wondering why black men are largely incapable of taking criticism from whites. The Golden Rule is a central tenet of every serious religion in the world, which makes many black Americans (whatever the PEW Research Center says of them) easily the most irreligious. To deal fairly with one another is a central principle of universal justice, which is why many black men are frequently proving themselves the most unjust. They ask everyone to imagine what it's like to be black and rarely consider the feelings of whites. They make wild accusations against an entire race and then have the insolence to complain about white racism. They riot because someone was shot by the police and then immediately pronounce our policemen guilty without a trial. If there is any empathy or fairness in the black community, it has been obscured by acts of mass hypocrisy and slander. If there is any chance of brotherhood between our races, it is being smothered by untrustworthy and unreasonable fanatics. A transfer of power from white men to black wouldn't signal an end to any abuses at all. It would only serve to change the color of our abusers. Suspiciously overlooked in the disgusting "Dear white America" was the fact that charges of racism were leveled in the same pages as acknowledgements of black crime. Who would dare mention robbers and then demand indifference to robbery? Who has the audacity to bring up rapists and then pretend that raping is irrelevant? If there's a problem with black crime, then let's deal with the crime before dealing with our disgust for criminals. If there's a problem with character, then let men rise in our estimation before demanding that we re-estimate them. To ask the other way around isn't to ask for peace; essentially, it is a covert declaration of war. It holds forth an olive branch in one hand while hiding a dagger in the other. The undeniable gist of the piece in the New York Times was that black people cannot any longer live in black society and are jealous of the stability, success, and harmony of white businesses and neighborhoods. It was a cry for inclusion masked in the unsociable language of the excluded. Nobody can deny that a history of oppression and indigence has created an almost unlivable ghetto, and nobody can deny after looking at the comments of any racially sensitive article that racism is existent in America. But if racism is our problem, have we forgotten the only solution? Almost openly denying the foundations of peaceful coexistence, the New York Times asks us to get along with someone whose open condescension and indefensible dishonesty would make him a terrible neighbor to the people of his own race who he in turn implicitly admits are terrible neighbors. The brotherhood of humanity will not be reunited by smug letters from effeminate and irrational back-stabbers. It will be re-established when men of all colors expect the same things from one another and know that they're playing by the same rules. Our peace is in the Laws of Nature, which the New York Times apparently believes to be irrelevant, and regarding which large sections of the black intelligentsia are either ignorant or hostile. We agree with the New York Times racist that there is no hope for racial reconciliation when nobody is willing to admit the offensiveness of his failures. There is also no hope for humanity when nobody is willing to accuse other people fairly. And there can never be any kind of livable society when nobody is willing to forgive his repentant enemies. But there can never be peace when nobody is willing to out our impostors, to war against our criminals, and to distinguish the character of our neighbors in the true light of reason. The problem with Americans today is not that we're racists (even if it can be debated that we are). It's that some of us find "racism" more offensive than criminals, and those among us perpetuate the same injustices that they claim to deplore in others. I admit, as the New York Times racist maintains, that I am prejudiced. I'm prejudiced against him, and against everyone who values a lack of judgment more than character itself. And as such, I hold my hand in friendship to every black and white man who deserves it and deny my support, concern, and society to anyone who doesn't. I say as the angels announcing the arrival of our Savior, peace and joy, good will to men. I add, like King David, may God suppress, convert, or destroy the wicked. Jeremy Egerer is the editor of the troublesome philosophical website known as Letters to Hannah, and he welcomes followers on Twitter and Facebook. Right now there are ten cities in Illinois where all of the property tax payments made by residents are used exclusively by the local city government to pay pensions and municipal bonds, the two biggest types of debt created by local and state government. Illinois is not the only state that has public pension and municipal bond debt. All states and virtually all units of government have these types of debt. These debts are not trivial. The total amount of public pension and municipal bond debt was $8.3 trillion at the most recent reckoning. The largest part of this debt, the public pension debt, was created by government, to help only government employees. In many localities the residents know that teachers, firemen and policemen collect pensions. But until recent years they often did not know how much money was involved in these pensions. What is worse is that they do not know that most of the money these public servants will receive in their pensions has to be paid for by the residents. It is not paid for with contributions made by the government employees themselves. In fact, in Illinois the Illinois Policy Institute found that while Illinois has over 800 school districts, in over 400 districts the teachers pay little or none of the 9.4% of the salary pension contribution required by state law. In fact, the last time Chicago Public School Teachers went on strike, one of the benefits they obtained was for the taxpayers to pick up their personal contribution to their pension, so they ended up paying nothing to their pension. In order to create this much debt, a financial mechanism had to be devised that in effect enabled the creation of a debt bubble. A bubble is created when the debt created far exceeds the capacity of the assets to pay for the debt. The mortgage bubble fiasco of 2008 was created by the issuance of subprime home mortgage loans. In order to create this situation, the two biggest Federal home loan agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, because instruments of political policy and endorsed the creation of non-traditional loans: loans with little or no money down, issued to persons with poor credit ratings. Remarkably, this concept is still being practiced with regard to public pensions and municipal bonds. The pensions and bonds are being issued with virtually no regard to the ability of the public employees to finance them. Social security is an income defined plan. The amount of money someone receives in retirement is directly related to the amount they paid in while they were working. Most public pension plans, however, are defined benefit plans. These plans do not require a sound actuarial connection between what someone pays in and what they get in their pension. This results in public pensioners often paying only one and one half years worth of pension payments. If they live for twenty or thirty years after retiring, then the great majority of the pension collected has to be paid for by someone else. That someone else is the taxpayer. In effect the pension plan was designed to be paid by future taxpayers. There are two major issues with this type of plan. One is that in principle, the voters representatives, the legislators, must vote for all appropriations. But if people working today will receive pensions five to thirty years from now, by promising pensions the legislators are in effect appropriating expenditures thirty years ahead. And then todays voters, as well as those in the future, had no vote in the appropriations process. There is a total disconnect between legislation and the will of the people. This is a violation of the concept that U.S. government is by, for, and of the people. It has become a government by, for, and of the public sector unions. The second problem is seen in the issuance of municipal bonds. Its important to note that today there is an intimate connection between pensions and muni bonds. This is because muni bonds are often being issued to make pension payments. In effect, the pensions place a demand on both taxes and bond issuance. Now these bonds have to be secured by some sort of future revenues. So what cities do is issue a variety of bonds. Some general obligation bonds are secured by property tax revenues, and some bonds are secured by sales taxes, motor fuel taxes, etc. Its important to add that the 1935 SEC Act had a separate set of standards for muni bonds: unlike corporate bond issuers, muni bond issuers dont have to report future liabilities, such as pension debt! This is all connected. So when a muni bond is issued and secured by future property tax revenues, the credit rating of the bond is the likelihood that residents will pay their taxes. And since cities collect property taxes and sales taxes already, the bonds are secured by the credit of the residents. Everyone is familiar with the concept of identity theft. An identity thief may hack into someones internet banking account, obtain their account number and password, and steal their money. However, it is also possible that an identity thief may steal somebodys credit rating and use it to open up a new credit card. This is only possible if they also know the victims date of birth, full name, address and social security number. But credit theft has a time limit. The victim will discover, sooner or later, that someone has used their personal information to establish a line of credit. This brings us to municipal bonds, property taxes, and credit theft. Since municipal bonds are secured by the likelihood that the city will collect revenues based on the future purchases of gasoline and the payment of property taxes; then it may be interesting to consider the idea that city debt is a form of credit theft. They are using the credit, the likelihood that residents will pay taxes, to secure their borrowing. But unlike personal debt, this debt is created without the debtors knowledge or permission. Just like future appropriations of money by legislatures. So all of these trillions of public debt, which benefit only public union employees, were created through what may be characterized as credit theft. This is because these debts are secured not by the assets of the city or the public union but by unknowing victims; the taxpayers. In short, public union workers could never afford to save up enough to fund their retirement plans. And they could never qualify to borrow enough money. Their solution is to borrow the money, using their local city finance dept. and your credit. Then, they force you, upon threat of seizing your house, to make the payments. The fact that Illinois has ten cities where the property taxes go only to pension plans is proof of this. And of course, this was all brought to you by the caring politicians who say they believe in economic justice and income redistribution. It should be called debt redistribution. Its done as well on the national level through national debt. The Iranian petroleum industry was a very effective organization before the so-called Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) was operated efficiently in all sectors of the industry, from upstream exploration to production, petrochemicals, and natural gas to downstream refining and domestic marketing. Further, before 1979, the NIOC was a very highly respected oil company with well-functioning management in international sectors. In the early 1970s, the NIOC expanded impressively, investing heavily in refinery constructions in India, South Korea, South Africa, and Senegal under agreements to provide crude oil to these refineries. The NIOC was jointly active with the PB in the North Sea. A tentative agreement was also signed that the NIOC enter U.S. markets to refine crude and distribute products. The U.S. State Department listed the NIOC as an entity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Bloomberg (June 2015). The IRGC is notorious for its involvement in terrorist activities and its control of major sectors of Iran's economy. Further, it is an industrial empire with political clout that has grown exponentially since the establishment of this regime in Iran. The IRGC essentially is the owner of the most lucrative parts of the Iranian industry, including the country's major source of income, the oil and gas industry. The IRGC operates almost all industrial segments in the country with huge political control and influence on governing groups. The IRGC is the only power structure of the I.R. that answers to no one and sees itself as the sole defender of the Islamic ideology and the only organization to protect the so-called Islamic revolution. Therefore, the IRGC is the only unit that masterminds and carries out direct terrorist acts outside Iran. The IRGC does not deny that it cooperates with other terrorist groups, including Hamas and the Hezb'allah militia in the Middle East. The business branch of IRGC is called "Khatam-al-Anbia," and it produces income. This unit owns and runs almost all major entities in the country including banks, transportation, industries, mining, the NIOC and all its affiliated branches, pipelines, refineries, production complexes, and drilling rigs, just to name a few. With billions of dollars at hand, it is very active in smuggling banned commodities across the Persian Gulf, transferring money to terrorist groups, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Khatam-al-Anbia has been directly involved in the purchasing of military equipment, including S-300 missiles from Russia. Further, in order to participate in any infrastructure and construction projects including oil and gas, foreign entities have to deal with front companies of Khatam-al-Anbia. This organization was awarded to develop parts of the giant South Pars gas field in 2011 after foreign companies left Iran and was also contracted to build a $1.3-billion gas pipeline from South Pars to Pakistan. When sanctions are practically ended, all these front companies and their IRGC officials will be taken off the list of sanctions by international communities. Then, assuming Western oil companies step in to have parts of Iran's lucrative natural resources, they will undoubtedly deal in the main line of negotiations with fabricated companies that ask for shared profits and joint ventures and, further, demand bribes under prevailing circumstances. Therefore, any oil company that wishes to do transparent and clean business in Iran naturally should deal with IR's notorious IRGC. Foreign firms that want to do business in Iran regardless of their skills and expertise are required to have an Iranian partner, which in most cases lacks technological know-how or the ability to carry out most projects. This will be an impediment to foreign firms' ability to carry out their responsibilities. When international sanctions started to bite, it was only the Khatam-al-Anbia that had the authority to take over the business of the oil companies that had been forced to leave Iran. The IR's corrupt government rewarded them all with no-bid contract winners. One of these front firms, which was registered in Turkey, recently disclosed that four years ago, Rostam Gassemmi, an IRGC veteran who was oil minister at the time, purchased a drilling rig for $87 million. However, the oil ministry today claims that the rig was sold before arrival to its destination Iran. Evidently, it is now active in Mexico. Ending sanctions will possibly boost Iran's economy, but before that, it will give the IRGC more cash. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Boehner, the former speaker of the House, believe that the IRGC will be the number-one beneficiary of the sanctions ending. President Obama for the past several years has tried to find moderate leaders or officials in Iran that could negotiate issues between the two countries and in the region. President Obama has assumed that the only way to settle problems, including the nuclear matter, with a dictatorial theocratic establishment is by way of talk and writing secret letters. He is expecting that by challenging the U.S. Congress, he could find at least a secondhand leader in a dictatorial religious system to listen to his words or read and respect his letters. The response by the demagogic "supreme leader" of the I.R., even after the July 14 atomic agreement, still is "death to America" and to walk on American flags. The extent of anti-American rhetoric that the I.R. is still spewing dashes President Obama's expectations. Since 1984, U.S. administrations have designated the I.R. as a regime of terrorism every year, one that puts efforts toward destabilizing Middle Eastern countries and aids international terrorist groups. In its annual report on worldwide terrorism released on June 19, the State Department claims that the I.R. continues to support militant groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza and also continues "subtle efforts at growing influence" in Asia, Africa, and South America. The terrorists' acts abroad are carried out by an elite arm of the IRGC, the "Quds Force," whose commander called the U.S. irrelevant while visiting Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The State Department disclosed once again on its most recent report on the issue of human rights in the world that the I.R. is at second place in the number of executions in the world after China. The I.R. is in first place if the proportionate population is taken into account relative to China. No matter how content Mr. Obama feels by reaching an agreement with the Islamic regime, his performance will be judged not by ending the sanctions by negotiation, but more likely by why the president of America, the greatest democratic and secular country in the world, recognizes and deals proudly with a dictatorial and terrorist regime that kills its patriots as a way of governing a non-secular regime that systematically executes its subjects if they do not follow the religion that the establishment dictates. History will question how a leader of a freedom-loving country that is historically founded on the basis of secularism and has been a safe haven for all believers is now wishing to leave a shaky legacy behind by dealing with theocratic dictators who have the least respect for human rights, and year after year have the highest number of hangings of innocent people in the world. The I.R. has been promoting international terrorism and domestic genocide, and oil revenues are making these programs possible. Sanctions or no sanctions, the I.R. will continue to commit atrocities. The latest grievance of social justice warriors at Harvard is to the use of the title House Master to describe those people who are in charge of the residential and educational facilities called Houses. In their view, the term master evokes slavery, and thus must go. Harvard quickly surrendered, as the present crew of House Masters unanimously agreed that the title is offensive. What will replace it is uncertain, as is the fate of the multitudinous other uses of the term master throughout the English-speaking world. Alumnus Dale A. Jenkins, Class of 1960, responded to these events with a letter to the Chairman of Harvards governing board: DALE A. JENKINS New York, NY 10022 December 28, 2015 Mr. William F. Lee . . . . Dear Mr. Lee: Recently the Harvard administration announced that the title of House Master of the Harvard houses would be changed because certain students have asserted that the title has connotations of slavery. This is a deplorable development. The title of House Master goes back centuries to English universities who accorded the title to faculty members who assumed the role of tutors or mentors to students. The English word master is derived from the Latin magister, which means teacher. Dating from the construction of the Houses in the 1930s, the Harvard administration wisely provided for a senior faculty member with his family to reside in each House as the House Master. As persons of fine character assumed these positions the role grew to become one of mentor, teacher, counselor, intellectual leader, loco parentis and humanist. House Master, or Master of a Harvard house, has nothing to do with slavery. Further, to change this title is a symbolic rejection of the long and distinguished line of faculty members who served the University in this role and benefitted thousands of graduates. A few just from my era were Charles H. Taylor, John H. Finley, Jr., and Gordon Fair. Others continued this great tradition over many decades up to the present. This incident is yet another example of a radical minoritys attempt to control the use of words, and to unjustifiably deny the legitimate use of particular words by others. It is an infringement on the Universitys right of freedom of expression, particularly the use of appropriate and time-honored titles for faculty members who assume leadership positions in the Harvard houses. In addition, it is a rejection of the experiences of thousands of Harvard graduates, the vast majority of whom prospered under the House system, which included the House Master, and its connection to the traditions of great universities even older than Harvard. Just because the same word is used in a completely different context should not affect the validity or appropriateness for its use in the Harvard houses. It is really just a play for power under the guise of sensitivity to the emotions of others. This rude and exaggerated pretense of emotional injury, combined with the threat of hostility, has cowed the Harvard administration president, deans, and current House Masters - into a pitiful surrender to the wishes of this radical group. There is no indication that this power play reflects the views of more than a small but threatening core group of agitators. Moreover, this and other demands using similar tactics will have the effect of separating, not uniting, the student body. This weak surrender stands in sharp contrast to the valiant actions taken by Harvard President Nathan Pusey during the communist witch-hunting period in the early 1950s. Tenured professors at major universities had been dismissed for even purported membership in the Communist party. Demands were made to dismiss physics Prof. Wendell Furry because of similar associations earlier in his life. Pusey, with the support of the Harvard Corporation, refused to dismiss Furry. Pusey upheld Furrys constitutional right to refuse to answer questions about his previous associations. Despite withering attacks in 1953 from Sen. Joseph McCarthy against Furry and Harvard itself, Pusey prevailed. Furry continued on the faculty, made significant scientific contributions, and served as chairman of the physics department in the late 1960s. It was Puseys finest hour, and his actions were a victory for Harvard, for constitutional law, and for human decency. It is important to note the sharp difference in the potency of the two protagonists against Harvard. The worst that probably can be expected from the student radicals, at least at this point, are vulgar emails and other communications, defaced University property and trespassing. The situation in the 1950s was far more threatening. The entire nation, including senior members of the federal government, was aroused to a frenzy to persecute anyone with the faintest connection, even years earlier, with the Communist party. Some citizens went to jail for contempt of Congress by invoking their constitutional rights. The threat to the Harvard community and faculty members was far more deadly than anything faced now by student radicals. Yet Pusey stood firm. However, make no mistake about the goals of the radicals. Victory on the elimination of master will lead to other demands. Faculty appointments are fair game, as well as heavier allocations of University resources to accommodate their individual preferences. Even the selection process for membership in the Board of Overseers or the Harvard Corporation could be targeted. Referring back to the issues of slavery and possible goals of the radicals, slave economies were the norm in many parts of the world until comparatively recent times. It would be logical for the radicals who are focused on slavery at any place or time to target representations of leaders of such civilizations. For example, we could expect demonstrations at museums where statues of Greek city-state leaders and Roman emperors, senators, generals, and philosophers are displayed persons who invariably were slave owners. Our sister universities have already made panicked misjudgments regarding constitutional rights of free speech and decent behavior. Princeton has substituted head for master. Standby for cartoons of Navy toilet facilities, as well as references to various parts of human anatomy. Using CEO will bring forth associations with the worst forms of corporate greed and squash any sense of humanism. Yale, in a child-like abdication of its responsibilities and previous standards, has arranged for the resignation of instructor Erika Christakis. She dared to send an email merely asking about sensitivities to Halloween costumes that the radicals considered emotionally damaging. The official site of the University states that the Harvard Corporation is responsible for assuring that Harvard remains true to its mission. Presumably this includes upholding the laws of the United States, including those set forth in the Constitution, with respect to Harvard students. Student groups are not separate societies with different standards than the rest of our culture. Students at Harvard are not entitled to an exemption from the law just because they are students. Illegal actions to prevent the Harvard administration from exercising its responsibilities and rights of free expression invite chaos unless countered effectively. The possibility exists that some students will extort other students, faculty members or administration officials, deface or destroy property or trespass onto University officials offices. Students should understand that there is no place for them at Harvard if they commit illegal or criminal acts. Hiding in a crowd will not diffuse their responsibility to respect the law and the rights of others. In the McCarthy witch-hunting era it was Boston lawyer Joseph Welch who was sufficiently talented and courageous to take on McCarthy. His efforts during the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954 followed those of Pusey and Harvard, and McCarthy was brought down. Harvard needs to state plainly and simply that the title of House Master, after due consideration, will not be changed. Harvard, still recognized as a leader in higher education, is positioned to stake out a lawful and principled position about freedom of expression that also could inspire other institutions of higher education across the country. However, to accomplish this Harvard needs someone with the emotional strength and intellectual power, as Pusey and Welch exhibited in the 1950s, to insure that Harvard remains true to its mission in the face of powerful opposition. Will that person please stand up? Very sincerely, Dale A Jenkins Class of 1960 CC: Harvard Corporation Members Selected Alumni An interesting, if unsurprising editorial from the New York Post on why Americans are right to think that Obama is losing the war against terrorism. While there have been a few recent successes, including the Iraqi army dislodging ISIS from Ramadi, there are other metrics that point to the US losing ground to both ISIS and al-Qaeda. But then theres the no-so-good news: It remains to be seen if the Iraqis can follow up on the Ramadi win or if the government will let its Shiite militias run wild, pushing the Sunni locals into the arms of the next terror group to come calling. And the bigger bad news: In the 16 months since Obama announced his degrade and ultimately destroy approach, ISIS has acquired satellites around the Muslim world, from Libya to Afghanistan to the Sinai peninsula. Oh, and the Israelis broke up an ISIS cell in Nazareth just before Christmas. Plus, the worse news: Al Qaeda again has bases in Afghanistan, with more on the way, as the Taliban controls more of the country than it has since 2001. Gen. John Campbell, the US commander in Afghanistan, warned Congress in October: Al Qaeda has attempted to rebuild its support networks and planning capabilities with the intention of reconstituting its strike capabilities against the US homeland and Western interests. Only constant American pressure, he warns, is keeping the threat at bay. Yet President Obama is still drawing down US forces there. Bottom line: The American public is all- too-right to disbelieve Obamas brags, and instead trust its own lying eyes. That will never happen as long as a fawning media runs interference for the president with the American people. The White House spin on what's really happening in the war against ISIS and al-Qaeda will never be challenged, except by a few out of step newspapers and websites. This will benefit Hillary Clinton who is responsible for her own foreign policy debacles that won't be pursued by the media. When the next ISIS attack occurs - either here or abroad - more questions will be raised by administration critics about the strategy (or lack thereof) being employed by the president to protect us. The same soothing words, the same lies will be told by the White House to assure us that all is well, remain calm. And most of the country still won't believe them. Most folks who have at one time or another seen their name on an honor roll know the puff of pride that experience engenders. That pride is nothing compared to that to be claimed by those American citizens whose names should be inscribed on a monument on the National Mall for bearing the proud distinction of having been called a liar by Bill or Hillary Clinton, or more likely both, for relating the truth about their personal interactions with this truth-challenged pair. Had I not heard that cynical old adage about knowing how a politician is lying his lips are moving long before I had heard of the Clintons, I would swear it had been specifically created and first used to describe that perfidious pair. Ditto the far older truism: where there's smoke, there's fire. The Clinton Honor Roll has been in existence at least since 1969, when Eileen Wellstone, a student at Oxford, raised the charge of rape against Slick Willie, who of course claimed she was lying. Not long after her accusation was made, Clinton was asked to forgo his Rhodes scholarship by school authorities, his only apparent punishment. His willingness to give up such a prestigious honor due to a supposedly spurious charge, like so many other questions about the Clintons, simply doesn't pass the smell test. Most folks believe that that moniker, Slick Willie, was appended to Bill in recognition of his political skills; after reviewing his history of sexual assaults, many would agree that it most likely alludes to his ability to avoid felony prosecution for criminal assaults that would long ago have jailed a lesser figure. Hillary's early entry to the honor roll must remain nameless for the reason that the victim, like so many other Honor Roll members, fears retaliation from the Clinton Mafia that and the fact that she was a 12-year-old rape victim whom Hillary accused of lying, who now wishes to maintain her anonymous normality. In this first of many such allegations to follow, Hillary was defending the 46-year-old rapist, who she later (and privately laughingly) admitted was probably guilty even though she did get him off. At least Hillary didn't label the 12-year-old a bimbo, as she came to do later against others who claimed to be victims of sexual assault by her spouse/defendant. So the Clinton Honor Roll, long in development, continues right to the present, as Hillary has just this week labeled as liars several additional American citizens members of Gold Star families, in fact. In an interview with the Conway, N.H. Daily Sun, Hillary must have been stunned when a conservative member of the editorial board confronted her with a stark question that surely escaped pre-screening by her campaign staff: Sun Columnist Tom McLaughlin said she told an Egyptian diplomat the Benghazi attack was planned and not a protest but that she told family members of the deceased that the attack was the result of a demonstration. He said she then told George Stephanopoulos that she didn't tell the families the attack was a demonstration about a film. "Somebody is lying," said McLaughlin. "Who is it? Clinton replied, "Not me, that's all I can tell you." With that terse denial, Hillary blanket-labeled as liars all those family members of the Benghazi victims who had previously told the press on repeated occasions that Hillary had consoled them with assurances that the Obama administration would punish the producer of the infamous video that had supposedly incited the Benghazi attackers. It's rather simple: they say she said it. She says, "Not me, that's all I can tell you." It can't be both ways, so Hillary is clearly saying these folks are liars. We all now can say to those family members: welcome to the Clinton Honor Roll. The following are a list of the most spectacular falls of political careers of 2015: Jeb Bush (1953-2015): It is true that before he ran for president, he was thought of as a "lesser Bush," never having been president like brother and father. However, he had been a successful two-term governor of Florida and was respected for that. Now, at 4% or so in national polls, he's a laughingstock, a man who looks like a hostage reading a forced statement on TV every time he says things like "anchor babies" or "Donald Trump is a jerk." People think he's low-energy and a loser. Now, at the very least, they're half-right. John Kasich (1952-2015): John Kasich was a longtime Republican in the House of Representatives and chairman of the important Budget Committee. He is a two-term governor of Ohio and even had his own Fox News show for a while called From the Heartland. But now he's running for president, and he is practically at zero in the national polls. Kasich actually fell politically in 2014, when he accepted Obamacare, expanding Medicaid and put the voters of Ohio on the hook for tremendous costs, conveniently after Kasich leaves office. It was liberal positions like this that sank his candidacy...in addition to general dullness. Lindsey Graham (1955-2015): Lindsey Graham was a senator highly respected in the Beltway and on Sunday talk shows and, of course, by his close companion John McCain. But when he ran for president, he was at zero percent in the polls. Even worse, in his home state of South Carolina, he is at 2%. He withdrew before a single vote was cast. His presidential timber turns out to have been pressed wood. George Pataki (1945-2015): Did you know that Pataki was not just a two-term, but a three-term governor? Of New York? That's quite an accomplishment for any Republican! But 101 visits to New Hampshire later, he was still zero percent in the polls. He never even made it to the main debate stage. Do you think he could have figured it out after visit number 71? Jim Gilmore (1949-2015): Do you realize that Jim Gilmore has been running for president for months, and people still don't know what he looks like? That's because, like crackpots running for president who have zero backing and zero supporters, he was even excluded from the kiddie debate table. This guy was the former governor of Virginia, and now he's the national poster boy for Where's Waldo. Scott Walker (1967-2015): The two-term governor of Wisconsin was widely thought to have the inside lock on the nomination. Then he gave one answer to a question about amnesty for illegal aliens. Then a second answer. Then a third one. He quickly became a parody of himself, doing well riding around on motorcycles but looking as though he was going to melt when asked basic questions. Rick Perry (1950-2015): This guy was governor of Texas for 14 years! That's the longest serving governor in Texas history! When he ran for president in 2012 and he stumbled, people thought he stumbled. When he ran again in 2015 and couldn't string a few sentences together, we realized it wasn't an accident. Mike Pence (1959-2015): This former House member and governor of Indiana was thought to have presidential ambitions, like a mini-Scott Walker. He never had the courage to actually run, though, which may have been a good idea, given that he has a deficit in the courage department. When his legislature passed a bill that would have prevented bakers and wedding planners from being forced to participate in gay weddings, there was an outcry, and forty seconds later, Mike Pence buckled and pushed the legislature to unpass it. Come to think of it, maybe he really is a mini-Scott Walker. Without the motorcycle, though. Rand Paul (1963-2015): Rand Paul was supposed to be a more popularized version of his father, Ron, who would inherit Dad's libertarian base and expand it with new mainstream friends like Mitch McConnell. Now that he is at about two percent in the polls, things are not working out that way. What hurt him politically was (1) pretending to be something he's not and (2) being libertarian on foreign policy in a year of ISIS. You can't simply smoke radical Islam. Mike Huckabee (1955-2015): Former three-term governor of Arkansas. Won Iowa eight years ago, trying to relive his past glories. At one or two percent in national polls, trying hard to convince people that Ted Cruz is not a social conservative. I think this is plan "B," since plan "A," convincing people to vote for him, hasn't worked. Rick Santorum (1958-2015): I always cringe when I hear him on the Mark Levin show, as if Mark, feeling sympathy for a poor down-on-his-luck homeless man, invites him to live in his home for a while. He won Iowa in 2012 by such a small margin that it took days for people to find out about it. At zero percent in the polls, he's lost most of the respect he once had. John Boehner (1949-2015?): I put a question mark here because while he was technically voted out of the speakership, I'm not sure he left. He may have just grown a beard. Martin O'Malley (1963-2015): This former governor of Maryland, widely respected (by liberals), is at one percent in the polls. He can't even beat a septuagenarian. His strategy seemed to consist of (1) taking political positions to the left of Stalin, (2) pretending he never was mayor of Baltimore, and (3) posting as many topless and exercising photos of himself online as possible. Now he's just a joke. Angela Merkel (1954-2015): Chancellor of Germany for over ten years! That's a very long time. Now she is flooding Germany with millions of Middle Eastern Muslims, which is sacring the lederhosen off a lot of Germans. Maybe time to re-evaluate those re-election plans... This article was written by Ed Straker, senior writer of NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site. Intercity travelling by bicycles is about to become a reality in Europe, as Germany opens the first ever superhighway for bicycle-only traffic. The Autobahn is not yet ready just the first five kilometer of the bicycle highway has opened to the public, but when its done it will span over 100 kilometers and connect 10 western cities including Duisburg, Bochum and Hamm and four universities. The highway will run largely along disused railroad tracks in the crumbling Ruhr industrial region, and is hoped to benefit almost two million people who live within two kilometers of the route. These people will be able to use sections of the highway for their daily commutes, avoiding urban traffic jams and air pollution. The new track is predicted to take 50,000 cars off the roads every day. Photo credit: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images Bicycle highways are taking shape elsewhere around Europe too, such as in the Netherlands and Denmark, where the idea was first pioneered. The banking centre of Frankfurt is working on a 30-kilometer path south to Darmstadt, while the Bavarian capital of Munich is plotting a 15-kilometer route into its northern suburbs. Nuremberg is already studying the possibility of a track linking four cities. In the capital Berlin, the city administration in early December gave the green light to a feasibility study on connecting the city centre with the southwestern suburb of Zehlendorf. Germany is already familiar with bicycle lanes, but unlike the ageing single-lane bike paths, where tree roots often create irregular speed bumps, or a lane can abruptly end in a busy intersection, the new superhighways will be a luxurious four meters wide, have overtaking lanes and cross roads via overpasses and underpasses. The paths will be lit and cleared of snow in winter. Martin Toennes of the development group RVR, is trying to raise 180 million euros ($196 million) so that the entire 100-kilometre route could be completed. Aside from that, he will have to come up with money for maintenance, lighting and snow clearance. "Without (state) support, the project would have no chance," Toennes observed. Photo credit: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images Photo credit: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images Photo credit: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images Sources: AFP / Inhabitat Google is well known for delivering on great products with everlasting effects on how we communicate and interact today. So it is quite exciting to catch a glimpse and to see these things as they are first developing. The robotics dog LS3 is no different. Back in 2013, we first heard of Google buying up huge amounts of spacing in the field of robotics, the possibilities could have been endless. Having been working on it for quite some time, Android head of development Andy Rubin, disclosed several startups that Google had been working on acquiring. Among these were Boston Dynamics, Autofuss, Industrial Preception and Meka, just to name a few. Google was definitely working to be the dominate leader in the field of robotics. Boston Dynamics, who had been working quite extensively with the U.S military research body Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), had already established their robotics as highly advanced and built for speed. They were well known for their existing project, Big Dogs, all-terrain robots and humanoid robots. Although, after Google had acquired Boston Dynamics and while planning to honor any existing Military contract, Google had planned to do away with future military operations with their robotics. Even so, Google along with Boston Dynamics were not quite finished with the military offering their Robo Dogs as a service of war specifically the model robotic LS3. Boston Dynamics and DARPA had spent many years developing their robotics costing the collaboration around $42 million. LS3, which was also called the Legged Squad Support System, could walk through brush and scale an upside hill, all while carrying 400 pounds of gear. Although, The U.S military has one big problem with the LS3 that has caused them to drop the program completely. It all comes down to one simple thing, the robotic dogs were just too loud. Advertisement Kyle Olson, a spokesman for the U.S Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, told Military.com, that the Marines drew the line at the limitations of the robot itself. They took it as it was: A loud robot thats going to give away their position. The U.S military was likely not wrong in dropping the program completely due to the fact that even Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert told C-Net that the LS3 was about as quiet as a typical motor vehicle, such as a car or Humvee. After all, while in the battle and engaging the enemy, silence is one of the most important aspects of war. As time goes on, Googles robotics team and the U.S Military are sure to see more future collaboration, even if Google says they are done with future military contracts. Online media streaming service, Netfix, may well announce its entry into the Indian market as part of a planned global expansion, at the CES 2016 trade show to be held at Las Vegas, Nevada, next week. The company is expected to announce its plans during the keynote speech of its CEO, Mr. Reed Hastings, at the event on Wednesday, January 6th. While the companys plans regarding India are yet to be made official, the American tech company has already started testing the waters in Far East Asia, by launching its services in Japan back in September, last year. The company has also announced that it will be bringing its service to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan at some stage during this year. Reports in the mainstream Indian media seem to indicate that the Scotts Valley, California-based company has tied-up with a telecom service provider in the country to deliver its service over the high-speed LTE networks that are currently available in around 300 towns across the length and breadth of the country, covering a significant portion of the countrys 1.2 billion population. While the media outlet is quoting industry sources for its report, there is no word on which wireless carrier may actually have signed the deal with Netflix. Airtel and Reliance Jio have well-entrenched LTE networks across vast stretches of India, while other carriers, like Vodafone and Aircel are expected to rollout their 4G services later this year. Advertisement According to the report carried by The Hindu Business Line, internet video traffic accounted for almost half (46%) of all internet traffic in India in the year 2014, which was up from 38% in the previous year. The publication quotes a Cisco VNI report to say that by 2019, that number is likely to increase to 74%, and online streaming companies like Netflix will obviously want in on the action in one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world for internet services. It, however, remains to be seen how this supposed tie-up with a single telecom company goes down with advocates of net neutrality in the country, who are currently up-in-arms over Facebooks Free Basics program due to its alleged violation of net neutrality norms. Biased BBC presents murderous attack in Tel Aviv as anti-gay hate crime The BBC has been reporting on the murderous attack at the Simta Bar on Dizengoff Street Tel Aviv, Israel. Two men are dead. Four more are badly injured. Kevin Connolly, BBC News, Jerusalem, reports: There has been speculation that if the bar was popular with the gay community, it may have been a hate crime. It remains a possibility that there was some kind of link to organised crime. But until the perpetrator is captured, it is not clear what the motive may have been. Why speculate, then? And if you are going to speculate, why stop there? YNet News takes different line: The terrorist is an Israeli Arab man who has expressed support for ISIS in the past. The bag he left behind in the nearby shop contained a Quran. The attacker is a 31-year-old resident of Arara, and was once sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to steal an IDF soldiers weapon. He attacked the soldier at the Karkur junction, hitting him and attempting to grab the soldiers M-16 rifle. In the end, the soldier, who later required hospitalization, managed to overcome the attacker and caused him to flee the scene. The attacker was arrested the next day, assaulting a policeman in the process. He was diagnosed with mental problems He apparently developed a drug and alcohol habit starting at a young age. The attacker also has a past of drug offenses. He was arrested in 2005 after selling 1.1 kilograms of cocaine to an undercover policeman for NIS 16,500. He was sentenced to treatment in a facility under house-arrest conditions. When is a hate crime not a hate crime? Anorak Posted: 2nd, January 2016 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink Transfer balls: 35m Isco 64m to Arsenal, 25m to Man City, 29m to Juventus Every transfer window a player occupies the media. This January its Isco. The Mirror says Real Madrid midfielder Isco, 23, is hoping to engineer a 25m move to Manchester City. Is h? We dont know. The Mirrors scoop contains not as single source. Also today the Express says Isco is heading to Juventus. On 15 Dec 2015, Metro said Arsenal have been placed on red alert for Isco, who had fallen out with Reals management. On December 3, Metro said Liverpool also want Isco. On December 1, the trusty Metro said Arsenal are ready to pay 35million asking price to seal transfer of Real Madrid star Isco. Iscos price is fluctuating. On October 15, Metro said Arsenal are working on a 22million deal to sign Isco from Real Madrid. But hold the back page because Arsenal were ready to splash out get this 64m for Isco. Its almost as if they dont have the foggiest Anorak Posted: 2nd, January 2016 | In: Arsenal, Back pages, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, December 31 - Pollution levels in the Eternal City are still above the legal maximum despite restricting car traffic on Monday and Tuesday using alternate registration plate bans, the regional environment protection agency ARPA said Thursday. The pm10 level was over the legal limit of 50 ug/m3 again in 10 local monitoring areas out of 13 in Rome on Wednesday with the most polluted areas of the capital being Cinecitta (99), followed by Tiburtina (84), Preneste (71), Magna Grecia (66) and Francia (62). The special commissioner for Rome Paolo Tronca ordered a new ban on Friday, as on Thursday, of the most polluting vehicles in the petrol engine Euro 0, and the diesel engine Euro 0, Euro 1 and Euro 2 classes as well as Euro 0 and Euro 1 motorcycles. A ban on turning domestic heating on over temperatures of over 18 degrees Celsius also remains in force except in hospitals and clinics. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet... by Mathias Hariyadi Located some 400 km from the provincial capital, the one-thousand strong community of St Michaels in Pakak gets a priest only for a day of the year because of its remoteness. Older couples renewed their marriage vows and young people went to confession and asked for advice. Pontianak (AsiaNews) The St Michaels Catholic Parish in Pakak received an extraordinary gift this Christmas: five full days with a priest, Fr Frensius Supriyadi. The gift was unexpected as it was welcome because the community is located in a very dangerous and hard-to-reach area. Yet, the visit brought joy and unforgettable moments to the community. The area is some 400 kilometres from Ponianak, West Kalimantans capital, a medium-size industrial city on the west coast of Borneo. St Michaels belongs to the Diocese of Sintang, and has a congregation of 1,075 people, who are the local majority. We are like the Philippines," locals like to say. Unlike Java, where each community can be reached by car or motorbike, travel in this part of Indonesia is difficult. People move around in boats, and off-road motorcycles. What is more, floods and torrential rains often make the area inaccessible. Viktorinus Bosio, a young local Catholic activist, told AsiaNews that "Fr Frensius presence was a special gift. Religious services are usually led by lay people, he explained. Sometimes, students from the St John Vianney Seminary in Menyurai perform the services. When a priest does come, he usually stays with us no more than a day. This time, he was with us for five whole days. Since flooding blocked seminary rector Fr Supriyadi, Bosio and other young Catholics took advantage of the situation and organised events the local community wanted blessed. Many couples with more than 40 years of marriage renewed their wedding vows. The priest convinced them to make public statement about their relationship so as to encourage young people to look with hope towards marriage. Many young people went for confession and asked for spiritual assistance. by Sumon Corraya Pope Francis creates a new suffragan see to Dhaka. For the new bishop, local Catholics waited for a long time to have their own diocese. Now the pope has fulfilled their wish. Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Catholics in Barisal, 123 kilometers from the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, "waited for a long time to have their own diocese. Now the pope has fulfilled their wish, and I shall do everything to take care of them, said Mgr Lawrence Subrato Howlader, the first bishop of the new diocese. The Diocese of Barisal was created out of the Diocese of Chittagong, and will be a suffragan see to the metropolitan see of Dhaka. "The distance between Barisal and Chittagong was a huge barrier to our pastoral work, the prelate said. Now this barrier has been removed, and I give thanks to Almighty God for it." With Francis decision, the country now has seven dioceses and one archdiocese. Barisal will border to the east with the mother Diocese of Chittagong and to west with the Diocese of Khulna. Barisals St Peters Church will be the cathedral of the new diocese and St Peter the Apostle will be the patron saint of the new episcopal see. "Separating two dioceses is always painful, said Mukul Anthony Mondol, a local Catholic. Still, some joy and pride came from this painful break. We are grateful to Church authorities who did the hard work. We had waited for so many years for this decision." by Francis Khoo Thwe Protests continue in the former Burma over the death sentence imposed on Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin who were found guilty in connection with the September 2014 murder of two British tourists. Myanmar is sending a legal team to appeal their case. Critics slam botched police investigation. Yangon (AsiaNews) Myanmar will formally appeal the verdict against two of its citizens sentenced to death in Thailand last week for the murder of a British couple at a Thai resort, citing conflicting evidence in a case that has sparked protests in Myanmar involving ordinary people, activists and Buddhist and Christian religious leaders (including Card Charles Bo). On 24 December, a Thai court imposed the death on Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, both aged 22, after finding them guilty of the murder of David Miller, 24, and the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the resort island of Koh Tao in September 2014. Though the two men at first admitted to the crime, they later recanted, saying they had made their confession under duress, a claim rejected by Thai police. Myanmar authorities said they plan to send a legal team to make a formal appeal against the sentence imposed on its two migrant workers. This follows a wave of protests at home calling for the release of the two young men, seen as scapegoats in a botched Thai police investigation. If we find these things, we will have the right to ask for a new trial to be carried out again from the beginning, Aung Myo Thant told Radio Free Asia. Under Thai law, appeals must be filed within 30 days, but Myanmars lawyers will request an extension of the deadline if necessary. Back in Myanmar, protests continued in Mandalay and Myawaddy with calls for Thailands highly revered king to have the trial reopened. The murders of two British backpackers, whose bodies were discovered on a beach in Koh Tao, has cast a shadow over Thailands tourist industry, one of the countrys main foreign exchange earners. Following the incident, Thailands police and judiciary came under huge pressure to find a culprit to allay public fears and mollify foreign media. Thailand is home to a large Myanmese community of migrant workers and mostly ethnic minority refugees who fled war and repression under the military regime that ruled the former Burma with an iron fist for decades. These are the first executions of the new year. Last year more than 150 people were executed. Sheikh al-Nimr had criticised the marginalisation of the Shia community in the predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia. Iran has responded with threats. Riyadh (AsiaNews) Saudi Arabia began the New Year by executing on Saturday 47 people convicted on terrorism charges, including prominent anti-Saudi regime Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the Interior Ministry said in a statement broadcast on state television. Right after the executions, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh appeared on television to describe them as just. Those executed include 45 Saudis, plus a Chadian and an Egyptian. The most prominent among them was Nimr al-Nimr, an early supporter of the short-lived and violently suppressed Arab Spring that erupted in Saudi Arabias eastern region. The region is predominantly Shia, and Shias have always complained of political and economic marginalisation. Al-Nimr was arrested two years ago, and sentenced to death last October charged with seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces. His supporters argue that he had always advocated only peaceful demonstrations. Shia-led Iran the main regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia previously warned that executing Sheikh al-Nimr would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly". The executions announced today are the first of the year. Saudi Arabia carried out more than 150 executions last year. by Melani Manel Perera The cardinal leads New Year Mass in womens ward with their children and guards. The inmates want speedier justice and quicker release to be with their families. Card Ranjith handed out gifts to the youngest children living in prison with their mothers. Colombo (AsiaNews) - Card. Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, celebrated the first Mass of the new year in the Womens Ward of Welikada prison (pictured). The inmates who took part in the Mass with their children and prison guards asked the prelate to intercede on their behalf with the government to speed up trials and help have better contact with their children, so that they may soon return to their families. Together with the prison chaplain, Fr Julian Patrick Perera, and the Sisters of the Holy Family, the inmates set up the hall where the Mass was held in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. Later, the jailed women gave Card Ranjith some written requests. "Your grace, the letter said, there are so many inmates here who are mothers. They have children at home. Without mothers, those children are facing some difficulties. We kindly urge you to intervene with the responsible authorities to find a solution to our requests. In their plea, the women ask for faster trials to avoid traumatising their children who either have to be in prison to be with their mother, or live at home without maternal help, as well as the transfer of womens ward closer to Colombo to facilitate family visits. One woman told AsiaNews that "The most urgent need is fast and fair trials to reduce prison terms, since we are mothers. Some of us have been in here for 10, 15 years. The government would also benefit because it would save money instead of keeping us in." In his homily, Card Ranjith stressed that despite their imprisonment, "your life does not end here. Use your incarceration as a good opportunity and a challenge, he told them, and try to convert your life and follow the right path. Each one of you has dignity, and respect should not be destroyed, especially in this Year of Mercy. Try to live in the Mercy of Jesus. " After the service, the archbishop handed out gifts to the youngest children of the prisoners. by John Ai Five strategic zones replace seven military commands. State-owned enterprises are set to hire 300,000 laid off soldiers, but the economic crisis will make that hard to achieve. Resistance to Xis reforms is developing within the PLA. Politburo must obey Xi Jinping. Beijing (AsiaNews) Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) begun a major restructuring yesterday as ordered by President Xi Jinping. Five strategic zones North, South, East, West and Central will replace the PLAs existing seven military commands. Four of the five new commanders have already been selected but their names have not yet been released, this according to the South China Morning Post. Plans include scrapping three of the four army headquarters the General Political department, General Logistics and General Armaments and retain the General Staff department. In his farewell letter to staff on Wednesday last week, Gen Liu said he would be "the last political commissar of Logistics" and that he would "absolutely obey the reforms" introduced by President Xi. Indeed, obedience is especially key to the restructuring process following scandals last year involving two major generals, Xu Caihou, who died of cancer last March, and Guo Boxiong, both accused of corruption and nepotism. Last Wednesday, Chinas state news agency Xinhua reported strong resistance against reforms within the ranks. However, the PLA Daily said that restructuring should boost the control by the Central Military Commission, which Xi chairs, as well as improve the quality of combat personnel and weaponry. On 3 September, President Xi Jinping announced troop levels cuts by 300,000 as China marked Victory Day and the end to World War Two. Reduced personnel should include non-combat staff. Savings will go into buying upgraded military procurement and hardware. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) will be required to reserve 5 per cent of their vacancies for the 300,000 soldiers leaving the PLA. However, not everyone is convinced that they will be able to absorb that many people. In fact, with the economy slowing and their well- known inefficiency, many SOEs have suspended recruitment. Cheng Xiaonong, a visiting professor at Princeton University, told the Voice of America that most laid off soldiers will not find appropriate jobs. Since the measure is temporary, SOEs will only provide auxiliary positions. This might cause further dissatisfaction and uncertainty across the country. Besides the military reforms, Xi Jinping also talked about corruption among high-ranking party officials Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong and Ling Jihua. Xi ordered that Politburo members be in accord with the party central and strictly educate and manage their children, relatives and close staff to stay away from the corruption that entangled the aforementioned leaders. It is the first time that Politburo members are ordered Politburo members to stay in line with the Central Committee. Perhaps, staying in line means that all 85 million members of Chinas Communist Party must toe the line set by the Politburos seven-member Standing Committee, or just Xi Jinping himself. Honda confirmed Thursday that a Takata airbag inflator ruptured in a crash of a Honda Accord that led to the death of a teenager in July, which is the ninth death in the world connected to the faulty airbags. U.S. auto safety authorities first reported the fatality last week, which was the eighth in the U.S. and the first since April linked to the Japanese airbag manufacturer's inflators, according to Reuters. These airbags present a safety issue due to their tendency to explode with too much force and send metal shrapnel flying at the driver and passengers. "American Honda has confirmed that the Takata driver's front airbag inflator ruptured in the crash of a 2001 Honda Accord Coupe on July 22, 2015 near Pittsburgh," Honda said in a statement, USA Today reported. "Injuries related to this airbag inflator rupture likely resulted in the tragic death of the underage driver." The Japan-based automaker worked with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to inspect the crash. The unidentified driver was hospitalized after a Takata airbag ruptured and died several days later. The confirmation also follows a week after a 13-year-old boy was reported to have been in a car crash on July 22, with sources familiar with the matter saying that he took the keys without permission from a parent and got behind the wheel, Reuters noted. Pennsylvania State Police had reported an incident that involved a 13-year-old boy being the sole person in a 2001 Honda Accord that crashed early on the same day. In addition to the eight deaths in the U.S. involving faulty Takata airbags in Hondas, the death of a pregnant woman in the same vehicle and with the same airbags was reported in Malaysia. "This young person's death is tragic, and it underscores why we are continuing to work so hard to get these defective inflators off the road," NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said when the boy's death was announced in December, according to USA Today. The airbag dilemma has taken a huge toll on Takata, which had to recall at least 23 million ammonium-nitrate inflators in 19 million vehicles as a result and saw Toyota and Nissan ditch it as their airbag supplier. The recalls involved 11 automakers. 2 January 2016 10:31 (UTC+04:00) The OSCE Minsk Group US co-chairman James Warlick reminded about the work regarding the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We need to intensify work towards a negotiated settlement in 2016. The parties say they are willing. If not now, when, Warlick tweeted. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. 2 January 2016 14:00 (UTC+04:00) The Azerbaijani community in the State of California has launched an electronic petition against the so-called Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2015 introduced at the U.S. Congress by Congressman Christopher Smith, AzerTag state news agency reported. The petition says that the bill "if passed and enacted, will inflict a tremendous damage on one of the most important friendships the U.S. has in the world, namely the long-lasting friendship with the Republic of Azerbaijan, which is a secular nation in the Caspian region and an exemplary model for interfaith tolerance and harmony". "Congressman Smith has introduced this bill primarily at the behest of the well-financed Armenian lobby, which pursues only one goal: to damage Azerbaijan as much as possible. The reason behind Armenian lobby's pathological hatred and racism against Azerbaijan is quite clear: Armenia still holds a considerable part of Azerbaijan's territory under occupation after expelling 800,000 Azerbaijanis from these occupied lands. And advocating for Armenia's corrupt and abusive government, the Armenian lobby in America does its best to legitimize this illegal occupation and cover up the brutal ethnic cleansing, as well as damage Azerbaijan-U.S. strategic relationship. Therefore this bill is extremely biased and unfair towards Azerbaijan, which is one of the most valuable and reliable U.S. friends in a difficult neighborhood." "Considering the tremendous value and importance of the U.S.-Azerbaijan friendship as well as the biased nature of this Act being heavily pushed by an ethnic special interest group, this bill should definitely be rejected," the bill says. The Azerbaijani community urges the U.S. Congress "to vehemently reject the Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2015 that would damage first and foremost Americas own national interests". The petition can be signed here https://www.change.org/p/reject-the-racist-anti-azerbaijani-bill-at-u-s-congress. 2 January 2016 16:00 (UTC+04:00) Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration has issued an Order on approval of the plan of events on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of January 20 tragedy. The Order envisages holding meetings, conferences, delivering lectures, covering these events in media, spreading materials about the bloody 20 January in the leading mass media of the world, TV channels and internet. According to the plan of events, to draw the attention of the world community to the bloody January tragedy, events will be held by Azerbaijans embassies, diplomatic missions and Azerbaijani communities abroad to bring the truth about the 20 January to the world nations. Humanitarian aid will be rendered to the families of the 20 January victims, redevelopment woks will be carried out around the Alley of Martyrs, and the countrys major religious confessions will hold special religious ceremonies dedicated to the victims. The victims will be commemorated by a minute of silence, the ships, cars and trains will sound horns at 12:00 on January 20. Appropriate plan of events has been adopted in the cities and regions of the Republic. State flags of Azerbaijan will be lowered in the country that day as a sign of mourning. 2 January 2016 17:00 (UTC+04:00) The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) hasnt changed the foreign currency structure of its investment portfolio for 2016. On Dec.29, the president of Azerbaijan issued a decree on the approval of main directions (of the program) of using SOFAZ funds for 2016. Thus, 50 percent of assets may be placed in US dollars, 35 percent - in euros, five percent - in British pounds, and the remaining 10 percent - in other currencies. Some 35.9 percent of the total investment portfolio of SOFAZ is concentrated in euro (over 11 billion euros), five percent - in British pounds (1.13 billion pounds), 1.5 percent - in Japanese yen (63.95 billion yen), 1.4 percent - in Chinese yuan (3.04 billion yuan), one percent - in Turkish lira, 0.5 percent - in Australian dollars, 1.4 percent - in Russian rubles, 1.2 percent in Korean won, 1.1 percent - in other foreign currencies. The remainder of the portfolio (3.2 percent, or $1.1 million) is concentrated in gold. Also, SOFAZ will be keeping more than $100 million to support the liquidity of its funds at a level sufficient for the timely and complete ensuring of cash and other transfers scheduled in connection with the funds expenditures in 2016, as it was in 2015. SOFAZ will be keeping these funds in short-term highly liquid money market instruments. This amount may be reduced below the level of $100 million only for the period of up to seven days. In accordance with the program for 2016, the oil fund may transfer up to 60 percent of the total value of its investment portfolio to foreign managers, as it was in 2015. At the same time, one foreign manager can receive no more than five percent of investment portfolio. The volume of portfolio transferred to the Treasury Department of the World Bank (WB) within the framework of RAMP (Reserve assets management programme) shouldnt exceed $500 million. The projected total value (average weighed volume) of the investment portfolio of SOFAZ for 2016 was set at 51.3 billion manats. For 2015, the forecast was formed at the level of 28.2 billion manats, for 2014 - 27 billion manats, for 2013 - 25.2 billion manats, for 2012 - 23 billion manats. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A brightly lit, table-sized Christmas tree sat perched in the window of the cozy dining room in Alice and Leroy Savoy's new home on East Gill Street, which sits on a newly elevated lot just a few yards away from a thicket leading to the Neches River. On that North End lot, a new home was built, thanks to hurricane recovery funds. It took seven years to get there, but the Savoys are safe, snug and happy. "This is the most blessed gift I could ever have - to have a roof over my head," said Alice Savoy, 70. What Hurricane Rita started in 2005, Hurricane Ike finished in 2008. In the 2005 storm, a tree crashed through the Savoys' roof. In the 2008 storm, wind-driven rain soaked the old home. The Savoys said they could hear rain dripping inside the walls in each successive storm. The result was dry rot. The couple applied for a recovery grant available through the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission. They were accepted, but it was a long wait. They lived in a motel room from August through early November of this year after the contractor demolished their rotting hulk. Alice Savoy has lived in her neighborhood for 37 years. She and Leroy married 20 years ago. It's the second marriage for both. "Twenty-two years ago, I think," said Leroy, 72. "Probably so," she replied. The Savoys showed off their new home last month with the excitement of newlyweds. They were still moving in, but they have two bedrooms, two bathrooms - purpose-built to accommodate a person who might be disabled - a laundry room, a kitchen that Alice said she loves, a living room with ultra-modern looking sofa, chair and chaise, and that cozy dining area. And windows that let in lots of light. "That's a thrill for me all by itself," Alice said. "I can drink coffee and look out the window." Hurricane recovery is a slow and painstaking process. The Savoys applied in October 2008, just a month after Ike. The single-family, owner-occupied regulations for the reconstruction grant allows up to $135,000 to build a new house if the hurricane-damaged house cannot be repaired. The Jefferson County Appraisal District value on the Savoy home was $24,000 before it was rebuilt. The home was built in 1962. Demand for the housing rehabilitation or reconstruction program was high, and applicants had to be screened before being accepted. The regional planning commission received more than 6,300 applications for help in its first and second rounds of grants. Some were duplicates from people who applied in the first round and reapplied in the second. The regional planning commission had $235.8 million available for "non-rental" housing. To date, 1,420 homes have been rebuilt. The total forecast to be rebuilt is 1,606, according to regional planning commission figures. The planning commission's Housing Opportunity Program allows homeowners who live in areas of concentrated poverty-minority populations or flood-environmental hazards the option to build or choose an existing home in an area of higher opportunity as opposed to rebuilding in place. Low income applicants who are elderly or disabled are considered a priority. The Savoys chose to remain in their neighborhood. "I'm happy with my neighborhood," Alice Savoy said. "I've got everything I could ask for." DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach It is a year on and one of Northern Ireland's most outspoken restaurant owners is still here. But 12 months after Made in Belfast and Strip Joint owner Emma Bricknell blasted the region's business and political environment, the Englishwoman insisted she would "leave tomorrow" if she could. The businesswoman previously claimed she would quit here and move to Ibiza to do business, but she now admits she is considering England instead. Asked why she had not sold up shop or ceded control of her three Belfast restaurants, she told this paper that it was not an easy process. "I don't know - I would like to go back to Ibiza," Ms Bricknell said. "I want to make sure we do it the right way. "I employ 90 people and have respect for them, the community and people. People like our restaurants. There are a lot of new restaurants opening, but not everyone likes them." While Ms Bricknell said she had done financially well" here, she admitted she was still looking for ways to move on. "I have good managers and staff and [would] possibly give them the reins," she added. Read more Read More Criticising everything from high rates to Sunday opening hours and Easter licensing laws, the entrepreneur said many of Northern Ireland's politicians were "not from business backgrounds" and did not understand how companies worked. Ms Bricknell, who is originally from Kent, settled in Belfast after picking out city names from a hat. In 2005, she opened Made in Belfast in Wellington Street, gaining a reputation for eclectic decor and quirky takes on familiar dishes. She then opened a second Made in Belfast restaurant in the Cathedral Quarter, along with steakhouse Strip Joint. "For me, yeah, I'm still there, but it hasn't changed," she said. "I'm done with business here and I'm looking at Margate or Whitstable. I don't want to be in Northern Ireland any longer. That little bit of water makes a big difference." Ms Bricknell blasted Belfast and Northern Ireland's licensing laws for both restaurants and bars, as well as high rates and difficulties in doing business. "I'd go tomorrow if I could -the sooner the better," she said, adding that she was "burnt out" and "tired" of Northern Ireland. However, the businesswoman also praised the efforts of some politicians, including Sinn Fein MLA and former Mayor of Belfast Mairtin O Muilleoir and the Alliance Party. But she claimed "not enough" was being done to attract big businesses and big names to the region. She also said a lack of air links to locations in Europe and further afield was holding Northern Ireland back. Previously, Ms Bricknell spoke of her opposition to the conscience clause, a bid by DUP MLA Paul Givan to give businesses the option of refusing to provide services to individuals if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Moira, the poor man's Hillsborough, is more than a dormitory town. Not entirely sure whether it's an Armagh or Down town, it is home nonetheless to some of the best farm produce in the north. Is it any wonder that Peter Hannan and his butchers set up home in Moira? He could see that it lies in a kind of convergence of agri-food ley lines which is home to some of the best quality beef, pork, lamb and vegetables. This is the region which has given Northern Ireland the beginnings of an international reputation as a food-growing paradise. Surprisingly, however, Moira is low on good restaurants. There is the very nice Newforge House a couple of miles out of town, where the breakfasts, lunches and dinners are all a celebration of locally sourced food. There are also one or two decent pubs located in the town, but there wasn't anything of note, until now. With the arrival of wonder chef Chris McGowan, Moira's newest restaurant, Wine & Brine, should help put the place on Northern Ireland's emerging culinary map. Chef McGowan is one of the best to have sprung from the loins of Ulster and he picked up many good habits working with Richard Corrigan in London for more than a decade. He is disciplined and focused. There is none of that swivel-eyed excitability you can get from chefs. Au contraire, there is a steeliness, a determination; you can tell that whatever Chris McGowan puts his mind to, he will do it with precision and absolute commitment. Wine & Brine opened its doors just in time for Christmas. Within minutes of opening, it was the talk of Moira. The food was heavenly, the front of house polished, friendly and expert. But, my God, what were they thinking when the interiors were done? Read more Read More I quickly headed down there to meet local Moira man Adam McConnell, the man who knows about restaurant branding and design, for lunch. A few days before Christmas, it was bright and sunny. The dining room benefits from an extensive skylight which lets in loads of natural light and bathes the diners beneath in bright, almost clinical luminescence. This would be fine, except the centre of the dining room is a bit functional and charmless. The surrounding walls carry a banquette the whole way round and there are some very interesting composite pictures of Irish writers on the walls. However, the three dark wood tables in the middle of the room look forlorn and awkwardly close to the open kitchen from which McGowan dispenses his classy dishes. But never mind this, because for 3 he produces a crispy hen egg on top of a cylinder of leek and truffle crumbs, a starter which is even better than the sinfully good crispy olives with goats cheese we had earlier. The wintry flavours and textures of the tangy leeks, the oozing warmth of the yolk escaping from the crisped egg white and the breathy truffle crumbs create a blissful moment of tranquillity. It really was that good. But the tongue and cheek pie, the dish which enhanced McGowan's name following his performance on Great British Menu, is something which should be on everyone's bucket list. Four or five slices of beautifully pink, tender and moist prime rib on top of a bell-shaped, short crust pie with chunks of tongue, beef, turnip and carrot inside made this one of the most memorable dishes I've eaten this year. The beefiness of the prime rib, the sweet and slightly sour notes of the pie's innards and that gravy and mash will forever be the celebration of winter on a plate. A braised beef bourguignon for Adam had a similarly disabling impact and both of us rejoiced in the brilliance of it all and the fact that the mains cost 8. This is sensational value for money. Chris McGowan says he wants to compete with the restaurants and cafes in Moira and I reckon if he can do something about the interior of Wine & Brine he will be competing head on with Niall McKenna and Michael Deane's currently unassailable restaurants. The bill Crispy olives 3.50 Hens egg and leek x 2 6.00 Beef special x 2 16.00 Sprout tops 3.50 Coffees 5.10 Glass Esporao 5.50 Total 46.60 In a world of increasingly ephemeral messaging and microblogging, one site is bucking the short and sweet trend. Katie Wright looks at the grand rise of Medium, the platform bringing back longform writing. Snapchat's "snaps" self-destruct after 10 seconds. Tweets are limited to 140 characters. Periscope videos share the same lifespan as a Mayfly. Many of the internet's most popular platforms follow the "shorter is better" mantra, but over at Medium.com that's not the case. Essentially a blogging site, Medium encourages considered discourse rather than hastily written "clickbait" and has become a popular place for journalists, activists and experts to air their views without issuing a Press release or setting up their own blog - but you don't have to be a specialist to contribute. Falling into the "social journalism" category, anyone can publish on the site, which promises "the web's best writing experience" and upvote other posts which are then aggregated on the Top Stories page. "Life hack" advice like, "Become a morning person in seven easy steps" commonly makes it into the coveted top five, as does tech industry news and insider opinion. Since 2012, Medium says it has reached 25 million monthly users and attracted some very high-profile members, too. US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has been posting regularly since June, including a recent retort aimed at Donald Trump and his desire to stop Muslims from entering the United States. Author John Green used a Medium missive to defend Cara Delevingne, star of the film adaptation of his novel Paper Towns, when a particularly awkward interview she did on American TV went viral in the summer. Launched by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams in August 2012, the site originally had more of a visual focus, but now trades predominantly in words rather than pictures. So how has Medium, while swimming against the prevailing tide of ephemeral everything, managed to stay afloat? The clean, fuss-free interface has certainly helped, as has a feature which displays approximately how long it will take to read each article, meaning you can decide whether to wade into an 11-minute piece on why social media can exacerbate depression, or save it for later. A bunch of new features were unveiled in a post by Williams a couple of months ago as well, including the ability to "@" people, Twitter-style, to encourage discussion. "This is just the beginning," Williams wrote, and given that not long ago he raised 38m in funding, he's probably right: Medium is heading for maximum exposure. Not only is he a little boy's best friend, he is also his lifesaver. On three occasions, Costa the dog has prevented autistic Henry Smyth (11) from running into traffic while attempting to cross the road. Henry's mother, Barbara, said the 18-month-old black Labrador, who has been looking after her son since September, had also helped Henry socialise better at school and at home in Castlerock, Co Londonderry. Whether it is anchoring himself on the spot to stop Henry running off, or licking the boy's cheeks and ears when he is upset, the family called Costa a "Godsend". "When we are outside, Henry wears a back pack that is attached to Costa, who is led by me or my husband," Mrs Smyth told the Belfast Telegraph. "With his learning difficulties, Henry cannot comprehend the dangers of traffic, and has a tendency to dash out. But Costa just sits down and anchors Henry from moving and keeps him safe. He's like an extra pair of hands and ears when keeping Henry safe." Costa - named after the coffee house chain that sponsored him - was given to Henry by the charity Assistance Dogs NI. He spent months in training with experts in Belfast before he went to live permanently with the little boy and his family. There is now an amazing bond between Henry, who was diagnosed with autism aged three, and his lifesaver pet. At night, Costa even lies at Henry's bedside and waits until he is asleep before he goes to his own bed. The bond also means that Barbara can now enjoy a simple trip to the supermarket with her three children, which she was able to do for the first time on Wednesday. "I know that for many families with children, going to the supermarket can be a bit fraught, but with a child with autism, it can really be hard," she said. "Henry can find things too stressful and would often have a complete meltdown and would lie and scream on the floor. For us to all to go out together as a family without incident was absolutely amazing. "When Henry began to feel a bit unsteady, I would just say for him to sit down and then Costa would lick his face and Henry would calm down. "The public response that Henry and Costa have been getting is really positive. "People come over and ask about the dog, and now Henry is talking to them - something he would never do before. [He has started] to point out Costa's nose, ears and legs to them. Costa is an absolute Godsend and he's a real hero to our family." While the Labrador is dearly loved by Henry, his parents, Barbara and Warren, and eight-year-old twins Emily and Christopher, he is not a standard pet dog and his training and discipline has to be maintained. But even being mindful of Costa's routine has helped Henry in his everyday life. Mrs Smyth explained: "Costa's food has to be weighed out each day and although Henry hates routine, helping to do this small job for Costa is also helping him with learning about routine. "Costa is even encouraging Henry to learn how to put on his clothes. He's just brilliant. "We cannot thank Assistance Dogs NI for Costa and for changing Henry's life and ours as a family." A group of good samaritans has filled kindness drawers in Belfast city centre to help people living on the streets. The drawers, which were placed in Jubilee Gardens by the community group Common Law NI on New Year's Eve, provide warm clothing and toiletries for rough sleepers in the city. Described as a social experiment, the unit of 18 plastic drawers acts as a drop-off point for people to donate to those in need. The drawers can be filled with warm clothing, preferably in a large size, and any toiletries except aerosols. Food is also not allowed. The units are covered in stickers with uplifting messages and contact numbers for organisations that can help those sleeping on the street. Messages include "Your love will warm Belfast tonight", "Be kind as you may not pass this way again" and "A candle like happiness can light 1,000 others without damaging itself." The people behind the group filled the drawers before they placed them in the paved area at the junction of Victoria Street and the High Street, but they are now encouraging members of the public to get involved. Kris Nixon, a spokesperson for the organisation, explained: "Instead of going somewhere and getting a handout, it's about being able to go somewhere, helping yourself and getting what you need. It takes the idea of asking for something out of it. It puts power back in people's heads. It's also there all the time. "Outreach charities are absolutely fantastic. There are people that go out every night in Belfast and wander round in the wee small hours, but that's just the wee small hours. If it's raining now and someone has lost their waterproof coat, they can go there and get one." The group plans to keep the drawers in place for as long as possible and hopes they will not be vandalised. "We don't know how people will take to it," Kris said. "It's not impossible that within two days they could be completely trashed. We're hoping the people of Belfast will treat them with respect." Last year, the group placed a homeless pod in the same area to give homeless people some warmth and shelter. The six foot by three foot box acted as a bench during the day but also had a bed underneath with a charging point for a mobile phone and a radio. However, the pod was removed in late January by Belfast City Council, which cited a number of safety concerns. It was later recovered by Common Law NI and put back in place for the rest of the winter. The producer of a Belfast pantomime has defended his sell-out show following a complaint from a parent about "lewd" content. A man who went to see a performance of Cinderella at the Waterfront Hall criticised it as offensive, rude, vulgar and full of sexual references. Another member of the audience complained about the amount of swearing and said her father walked out after just 15 minutes. But the show's producer, Joe Rea, said the scenes that caused offence had been misinterpreted and apologised for any offence caused. The father who complained said he wanted to draw attention to the content of the pantomime because he found it "offensive and uncomfortable". "There may be people who are due to attend this pantomime who would share my feelings about it," he added. "[There are] a number of rude and vulgar moments. I will also mention that the pantomime contains name-calling, toilet humour' and the hero, as well as the villains, hitting characters." Paula Fisher posted took to the Waterfront's Facebook page to complain about the swearing in the show. "I went with my entire family, aged from three to 75, and was appalled," she wrote. "It was diabolical. My eight-year-old nephew said thank goodness it was over at the break. The 11-year-old asked why they were swearing. My father walked out after 15 minutes. My family from Australia and Sweden couldn't understand a word of it." Mr Rea said some of the scenes had been misinterpreted and told how just one person had complained directly to the makers about the content. "More than 17,000 people have been to see the show and to date we've only received one complaint," he added. "Cinderella at the Waterfront is a traditional pantomime. It's done in humour and we're very proud of it. "If there was any offence caused, we apologise for that. We absolutely meant no offence." Cinderella has been showing at the venue since November 28. It will finish its run tomorrow as the festive season comes to an end. The classic fairytale stars Ross Anderson-Doherty as the pantomime dame, Jolene O'Hara as Cinderella, Kerri Quinn and Rachel Murray as the ugly sisters, Keith Singleton as buttons and Darren Franklin as the prince. A man armed with a knife has robbed a newsagent in west Belfast. It happened Monagh Road in west Belfast yesterday afternoon. At around 2.40pm a male, carrying a knife, entered the shop and threatened staff before making off with a sum of cash from the till. He's described as being approximately 58 tall and of medium build. He was dressed in a dark jacket with the hood pulled up, dark hat and scarf. The member of staff was not injured as a result of the incident. A 25-year-old man was later arrested in the south Belfast area and is currently in custody assisting police with their enquiries. Police have appealed for information. Former DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson with his successor, Arlene Foster Outgoing First Minister Peter Robinson has been shortlisted for a prestigious international peace prize. The former DUP leader has been nominated for the Tipperary International Peace Award. The citation for the award hails his role in the formation of the coalition government at Stormont. It reads: "Mr Robinson has been involved in Northern Irish politics for more than 40 years, being a founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party and the leader of the party from 2008 to 2015. "On June 5, 2008, he was ratified by the Northern Ireland Assembly as First Minister, with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister. "In February 2010, Robinson and McGuinness oversaw the devolution of policing and justice powers from the British Parliament to the Northern Ireland Assembly, negotiating a power-sharing deal with Sinn Fein. "This process ensured that devolution in Northern Ireland was able to be fully completed." Other nominees for the prize include former Irish President Mary Robinson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, American Secretary of State John Kerry and former president of Israel Shimon Peres. The prize has been awarded since 1984 by the Tipperary Peace Convention, with the focus on promoting values of peace and peaceful co-operation. Pakistani schoolgirl education activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for calling for schooling for girls, was awarded the prize in 2013. She went on to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson Mandela, former US president Bill Clinton, ex-Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Bob Geldof and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon are other previous recipients. Sinn Fein has been challenged to come clean and admit that the IRA was responsible for murdering 10 innocent Protestants in the Kingsmill massacre. As the 40th anniversary of the atrocity approaches next week, Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy called on the party to finally tell the truth about the south Armagh attack. "It's time for Sinn Fein to stop the lying and admit that the IRA carried out this bloody sectarian slaughter of innocents," he said. "That is the very least they owe the victims." Mr Kennedy issued his challenge as a Catholic man, whose three brothers were gunned down in a loyalist atrocity the day before Kingsmill, appealed to the Rev Ian Paisley's son Kyle to retract a false allegation that his late father once made linking him to the IRA. Eugene Reavey from Whitecross in south Armagh said the former DUP leader had done him "a grave injustice" and he hoped his son would rectify it. Next week marks the 40th anniversary of one of the bloodiest periods in the Troubles in which 16 people were murdered in three shootings within 24 hours. The UVF's infamous Glenanne gang shot the three Reavey brothers in Whitecross and three members of the O'Dowd family in Gilford, Co Down, on January 4. The next day, the IRA killed 10 Protestants in Kingsmill. The Provisionals were officially on ceasefire when a 12-man gang stopped the workers' minibus, ordered the men out and then opened fire. The attack was claimed by the South Armagh Republican Action Force in retaliation for the Whitecross and Gilford attacks. A 2011 Historical Enquires Team report dismissed that claim of responsibility, and blamed the IRA. But Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin responded by saying that the party believed "the denials by the IRA that they were involved". Last night, Mr Kennedy, who knew nine of the dead, said: "Sinn Fein's ongoing denial lacks all credibility and is an insult to Kingsmill survivor Alan Black, and to the bereaved. "It is hypocrisy for the party to demand the truth from the authorities over shootings while continuing to lie about the IRA's actions. "As the 40th anniversary approaches, Sinn Fein must at last come clean." The Kingsmill families will hold a memorial service on Tuesday morning in the village, which will be addressed by Bessbrook pastor Barrie Halliday and loyalist victims' campaigner Willie Frazer. Mr Frazer said he was hopeful that one of the gunmen, who is now living in the Republic, would be arrested and charged by gardai this year. PSNI and Police Ombudsman investigations into massacre are ongoing and a fresh inquest is due to be held. "No one has ever been charged, but we believe there is enough evidence for some of the perpetrators to face justice," Mr Frazer said. Eugene Reavey, whose three brothers were shot dead by the UVF in Whitecross, said he expected the Police Ombudsman to soon make arrests in connection with the triple murder. In 1999, the Rev Ian Paisley used parliamentary privilege to accuse Eugene Reavey of involvement in Kingsmill. He said his information came from an RUC document, but the police said no such document existed and Mr Reavey was innocent, an assertion supported by Alan Black. Mr Reavey said: "Ian Paisley compromised and made peace with old enemies in his last years. But he never did the decent thing and withdrew his slur against me. I wrote to him at least 10 times, and to Eileen too, but they didn't reply." The south Armagh man also told how he was now planning to ask Kyle Paisley to retract his father's remarks. "I've watched Kyle commentating on politics and he seems a very reflective, just and principled person," he said. "I'll be writing to him in good faith and I hope he will have the decency to respond." See pages 4&5 People should be able to see at a glance how many calories their drink contains, the LGA says Alcoholic drinks should have calorie counts on their packaging to help fight obesity, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. The lobby group, which represents local authorities, said its research showed the public was less aware of the "hidden" calories in alcohol than they were about its potential to cause illness. Labelling would "enable choice", it added. Some 80% of members of the public did not know there were up to 228 calories in a large glass of wine, while nearly nine in 10 were unaware that a pint of lager contained around 180. Such calories are "empty" because they hold no nutritional value and alcohol also reduces the amount of fat burned for energy, the LGA said. Two-thirds of those who took part in the survey supported the idea of labelling bottles and cans. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, the LGA's community well-being spokeswoman, said making the public more informed could save the NHS money. " Breweries and drinks manufacturers should show leadership in tackling the obesity crisis, by voluntarily providing clear signs on bottles and cans of alcohol," she said. "Most people are aware that excessive alcohol can lead to serious health problems like liver and heart damage, and an increased risk of cancer. However, the amount of calories from an average night's drinking isn't so well-known. People should be able to make informed choices. "The onus is on the big breweries to do more to provide clear and prominent labelling. Providing people with the right information allows them to make choices about what they eat and drink. "Prevention is the only way we are going to tackle the obesity crisis, which is costing the NHS more than 5 billion every year." The LGA said a 4.5%-strength cider had 216 calories and was equivalent to eating around three-quarters of a burger, while drinking five pints over the course of a day was the same as eating three burgers, with the calories taking an hour-and-a-half to burn off by running. Sian Blake has gone missing from Erith, Kent, with her children Zachary, eight, and Amon, four (Metropolitan Police/PA) Concern is growing for a woman who reportedly starred in EastEnders, after she disappeared with her two young children. Sian Blake, 43, who is said to have played Frankie Pierre in the hit soap, went missing from Erith, Kent, with her children Zachary, eight, and Amon, four. She was last seen on Sunday December 13 around Waltham Forest, east London, and police in Bexley, south-east London, believe she is still in the area. According to website IMDb, the Frankie Pierre character featured in 56 episodes of the BBC soap opera between 1996 and 1997. Ms Blake's neighbour Sandra Metzgen said her family was "worried". "Sian has motor neurone disease and I think it has got worse," she told the Sun. "No one knows where she is. She was looking very thin and frail and I think her mum was worried about that. "She was in hospital for quite a while and whether her condition has progressed I don't know." The Metropolitan Police is now appealing to the public for help finding her. A spokeswoman for the force said: "We are increasingly concerned about her and her children's well-being. We have exhausted all other lines of inquiry." Ms Blake is black, 5ft 2ins and slim with short black hair. She wears glasses but can also wear contact lenses. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Missing People on 116000, quoting reference 15MIS050346. Baroness Neville-Jones said people had to take personal responsibility and be aware of their surroundings A former spy chief has said she is "alarmed" by the number of people using mobile phones and listening to music when they should be more alert to the danger of a potential terror attack on the streets. Baroness Neville-Jones, a former security minister, said people had to take personal responsibility and be aware of their surroundings. The former head of the Joint Intelligence Committee suggested that people would have to get used to disruption to their daily lives as a result of counter-terrorism operations and security scares. Official guidance is for people to be "alert but not alarmed" at the threat from terrorism, but Lady Neville-Jones suggested citizens were not as vigilant as they could be. "I think being alert is very important. I am alarmed by the number of people I see wandering along the street entirely engaged in their mobile telephones and with their ears plugged into music and they are not aware of their surroundings. You need to be aware of your surroundings," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "You do have to take some personal responsibility." She added: "I do think we can be more alert than we are." Lady Neville-Jones said action such as that taken in Munich, where two railway stations were closed on New Year's Eve in response to a suspected terror threat, would become more likely. The stations reopened yesterday after G erman officials said there was no sign of any imminent terror attack. "I do think we are going to have to get used to what we have seen yesterday in Germany - that is to say alerts which close places of public functions, and higher levels of security in big public gatherings. That is prudence and proper caution on the part of intelligence and the police authorities." She said the authorities had to take any intelligence seriously: "If you have got a piece of information, it may be difficult for you to assess it, you may not be comfortable about having a broader picture - part of the problem with intelligence is it can be fragmentary - but it's a very bold government or policeman who chooses not to take precautions in such circumstances. "I think the population on the whole would prefer them to be cautious and occasionally have closed something that it turned out wasn't necessary, but how do we know, rather than take the risk of exposing people to dangers on which they have information, even if it's not complete and on which they can't necessarily totally rely." But she played down the prospect of British cities being locked down in the way Brussels had been, highlighting the British authorities' experience of coping with terrorism. "I would hope that that would not be something that would happen in the UK. I do think that counter-terrorism and both the intelligence side of it and the policing side of it, and well done, are matters which are bred of long experience and of great skill and I think that in this country we do have both of those things and we have very close co-operation between both police and agencies and I think they understand how to use information. "I don't think those skills are nearly so widespread on the continent. So I think we shouldn't conclude that what happened there is necessarily the technique that would be adopted here." Kent Police said two men died, while a third man and a woman were airlifted to hospital Four men were killed in two separate car crashes just hours into the new year. In the first, a blue Peugeot carrying three young men and a woman ended up on its roof. The single-vehicle crash happened on the A2 in Lynsted, near Sittingbourne, Kent, close to the Dover Castle pub, at around 1.20am on New Year's Day. Two male rear-seat passengers died, while a third man and a woman were airlifted to a London hospital in a serious condition, Kent Police said. A police spokesman said: "The male driver and female front-seat passenger sustained serious injuries and were taken to a London hospital for treatment. The rear-seat passengers, two men in their 20s, died in the incident." Fire crews stabilised the car and used hydraulic rescue equipment to create space for paramedics to access the injured, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said. Elsewhere, two men died in Newcastle upon Tyne when a car crashed into a tree in Grandstand Road at 4.10am. Two other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries not believed to be life- threatening. Meanwhile, a 59-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a Mercedes van as he walked with a woman in Heath Lane in Dartford, Kent, at around 7.50pm on New Year's Eve. Chancellor George Osborne announced his decision to cut state grants to opposition parties in his Autumn Statement Labour is considering withdrawing its co-operation with the Conservatives over parliamentary business in protest at Government plans to cut some of its funding. Officials are looking at ditching long-standing arrangements which ease processes in the House of Commons following Chancellor George Osborne's decision to cut state grants to opposition parties. Discussions have been held about obstructing the "the usual channels" that operate between the parties to ensure the smooth operation of parliament, according to the Guardian. That could lead to an end of the pairing agreement which allows MPs to miss votes due to urgent business or illness by being matched up with someone from the opposite party who abstains so they cancel each other out. Such a move could put significant pressure on the Government, which has a working majority of 16, by effectively forcing ministers to attend every vote. Severing the behind-the-scenes dealings is reportedly considered to be a last resort by Labour. The option is being mooted after plans were set out in the detail of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement which could see Labour lose out on a significant amount of funding from the public purse known as Short money. The system was set up to allow opposition parties to hold ministers, who can draw on the resources of the Civil Service, to account. Mr Osborne wants to save millions of pounds by cutting the grants by 19% and then freezing them until 2020. A No 10 source told the newspaper: "Cutting the huge deficit we inherited from Labour is crucial in building a strong and secure British economy. "Government departments, local councils and other parts of the public sector have had to make savings to help reduce Britain's deficit. "We believe it is right to ask political parties to help tackle the deficit too by making savings in Short money." A Liverpool man was repeatedly stabbed in a station car park after challenging a group of passengers who were throwing objects around a train carriage. British Transport Police (BTP) have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses following the New Year's Eve attack on the 28-year-old, who had to undergo surgery for his injuries. The victim had been on the 8.34pm Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street train when he challenged the group - believed to be one man and four or five women - who had been throwing items around. After leaving the train at Winsford, Cheshire, shortly after 9pm, he was followed by the man from the group before being repeatedly stabbed in the groin and upper body. His injuries were not life-threatening and he was taken to safety by another passenger from the train. The attacker is described as being in his late 20s and of stocky build. Detective Sergeant Matt Davies, from British Transport Police, said: "Thankfully, the victim's injuries are not life-threatening but he remains in hospital, where he has received surgery for his wounds. "We are also grateful to the passenger who came to the aid of the victim and took him to a place of safety. "Our investigation into who is behind this attack continues and we have been at the station today conducting a forensic examination of the scene, local inquiries and reassurance patrols. "It is vital we now speak to anyone who was on the 8.34pm train out of Liverpool and witnessed the disturbance in the carriage, as well as anyone else who was in the area of Winsford station at 9.10pm and saw what happened. "I would also appeal to those involved to do the right thing and come forward as soon as possible." Anyone with information should call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text the force on 61016 quoting reference 454 of 31/12. Alternatively, details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. NatWest said it was working to fix the problem Angry NatWest customers vented their frustrations through the night as they reported being unable to use their debit cards in shops and having their PINs blocked. People who faced the problem took to the bank's Twitter and Facebook pages from around 11am on New Year's Day to say their cards were being declined. Many said they had issues making purchases at various supermarkets, including branches of Tesco. At 11.16am Jake Orr tweeted: "@NatWest_Help Just had my pin locked when trying to buy food. Shop says all Natwest card users getting the same this morning. Update?" Around 12 hours later, the problem continued, with NatWest responding to customers, tweeting: "Hi there, we're aware of some issues using Debit Cards and we are working hard to fix them. Sorry and thanks for your patience." Throughout the day angry NatWest debit card holders used Twitter to attack the service. Michael E Morley posted: "What a let down! Card useless this morning reimburse us our money your helpline cost too much and it's your fault not happy!" Fiona Davis tweeted: "Embarrassing issue with both our cards blocked when trying to pay for goods at Tesco. Not a good start to New Year!" Shaun Kirkpatrick shared similar feelings, posting: "Thanks for causing me embarrassment when doing my food shop ... Just what you want with a queue of people behind you!" Other NatWest cardholders said the latest glitch had made them consider switching banks. Joanne Clark wrote on Facebook: "What a lovely start to the new year! I'm a proud customer of yours since I was 14 (I'm now 28) and needed to go shopping! Usually my husband doesn't bring his wallet out thank god today on the off chance he did! "You see I had an embarrassing moment when I got to the checkout with my 50 worth of shopping for my card to be declined claiming I had tried my pin too many times and to contact yourselves! With two young kids playing me up and me panicking as we were far from home and nothing in the cupboards! "I've never been more tempted in my life to go elsewhere, what with last year the great direct debits not being taken twice as your systems went down!! This is so irritating!!!! "At least message or email customers when you know of this like you do when charges are due!!!" Responding to the complaints, NatWest tweeted: "We're aware of some issues with customers using their debit cards and are working hard to fix them. Sorry and thanks for your patience." A spokeswoman for Royal Bank of Scotland-owned NatWest added that the issue was affecting a "very small number of customers" attempting to carry out point of sale transactions with debit cards and apologised for the inconvenience. In June last year RBS was forced to apologise after 600,000 banking payments were delayed following an issue with its "overnight process". It was just another in a string of embarrassing IT glitches to hit NatWest and RBS in recent years. In 2013, RBS's online service was disrupted by a denial-of-service attack. In November 2014, the state-backed group was hit with a 56 million fine from the Bank of England and City watchdog Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) after a computer failure in 2012 saw as many as 6.5 million customers unable to make payments for as long as three weeks. Lack of investment in equipment to scan obese patients meant hundreds of referrals in the NHS, a charity says A lack of investment by hospitals in equipment to scan obese patients is responsible for hundreds of referrals elsewhere within the NHS, a charity has claimed. Each year NHS trusts across the country have to send patients elsewhere because they are too heavy for their scanning equipment. But as "the fat were getting fatter", the National Obesity Forum has said this should never need to happen if hospitals had planned ahead properly. A Freedom of Information request by the Press Association has revealed a number of incidents during the last three years where hospitals who responded were unable to perform a scan. St George's University Hospitals NHS Trust in London has had to refer 102 patients elsewhere due to their weight. Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and Frimley Health Trust had to refer 48 patients each and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust made 41 referrals for 34 patients. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had 31 cases, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust had 26 and North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust had 11. And two children at Birmingham Children's Hospital were too large to be scanned. A spokesman from the Obesity Forum, a charity that seeks to raise awareness of obesity, said: "Every district general hospital should now never need to transfer their patients for scans. "The economic case for investing in their own scanner could have been made years ago when it became clear that obesity numbers were not about to decline. "Indeed, the fat were getting fatter and therefore likely to require more scanning episodes. "Despatching patients to hospitals miles away is both cumulatively expensive for the hospital and degrading for the individual." Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals said they referred six patients and James Paget University Hospitals Trust, Norfolk, had four cases. The chief medical officer said recently that obesity should be treated as a national priority and recommended the Government should include the issue on its national risk planning. Professor Dame Sally Davies also warned of the effect it has on woman in pregnancy and their unborn children. By 2050 obesity is predicted to affect 60% of adult men, 50% of adult women and 25% of children. Escaped pigs have closed a major main road for the second time in four days. The porcine trespassers got on to the A21 Sevenoaks Road, causing the London-bound carriageway to be closed for around four hours at lunchtime. It came after between 30 and 40 of the kunekune pigs, a breed native to New Zealand, strayed on to the same stretch of road on December 30, the RSPCA said. The road connects the M25 with Orpington in the London borough of Bromley, and Transport for London warned drivers of "pigs in the carriageway", with warnings appearing shortly after 11am of the road being closed between Hewitts Roundabout and the village of Pratt's Bottom. It reopened around 3.30pm. The RSPCA said it was working with the owner, trading standards, police and highways officials to prevent the pigs from escaping again. Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: "The owner had managed to round up a majority of them, shepherding them up the hill and back into the fields. "We worked with Transport for London staff to stop the pigs from getting back on to the road. "The owner was there and has been building secure enclosures to keep the pigs contained and away from the road but something obviously went wrong. "Pigs are incredibly intelligent animals and they have worked out a way to get through the fence so they can get on to a nearby verge to forage. Fortunately no pigs or motorists were injured." Saudi Arabia has been condemned after executing dozens of prisoners, including a cleric who was a prominent figure in the Arab Spring protests against the country's monarchy. Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said it was "profoundly wrong" to carry out the death sentence against Shiite Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was among 47 people executed. International human rights group Reprieve said three other people involved in anti-government protests were among the dead, including two who were teenagers at the time of their arrest, and said David Cameron could not turn a "blind eye" to the executions. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron responded to news of the executions by describing capital punishment as "abhorrent" and called on the Prime Minister to do more to pressure foreign governments into abolishing the death penalty. Reprieve said s heikh Nimr, Ali al-Ribh, Mohammad Shioukh and Mohammad Suweimal were all arrested in 2012 following their involvement in anti-government protests. Al-Ribh was just 18 when he was detained, while Shioukh was a year older. Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said Saudi Arabia had executed more than 150 people during 2015, many for non-violent offences. "Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse. "Alarmingly, the Saudi government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade. "Saudi Arabia's allies - including the US and UK - must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the kingdom to change course." Mr Benn said: "Saudi Arabia was profoundly wrong to have executed sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Amnesty International expressed serious concerns about the charges and his trial, and we are opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances." There are fears that the killing of al-Nimr could spark new unrest among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east, and in Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shiite majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni monarchy. Al-Nimr had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy, which harshly suppressed the 2011 Shiite-led protests. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain quash the uprising, fearing it would spread. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. The death penalty undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. "The Foreign Secretary regularly raises human rights issues with his counterparts in countries of concern, including Saudi Arabia. We seek to build strong and mature relationships so that we can be candid with each other about those areas on which we do not agree, including on human rights." Mr Farron said: "I utterly condemn Saudi Arabia for the execution of 47 people including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Capital punishment is utterly abhorrent and the Prime Minister needs to turn round to our 'ally' and tell them capital punishment is wrong. "In 2014, 90 people were beheaded in the kingdom, the highest in two decades. In just two days they have killed 47 people. "Britain must live our values and criticise nations like Saudi Arabia that continue this heinous and barbarous punishment." The execution of the sheikh has raised fears that his nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested, could also have the death sentence imposed on him carried out. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used his conference speech in September to call on Mr Cameron to intervene in the case. Mr Benn told the Press Association: " With the carrying out of this large number of executions there will now be huge international concern about what will happen to Ali Mohammed al-Nimr who is Sheikh al-Nimr's nephew. He was just 17 years old when he was sentenced to death. "The Foreign Secretary has told Parliament that he does not expect Ali Mohammed al-Nimr to be executed but he now needs to seek fresh assurances that he will be reprieved." Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in London to express their anger about the executions. Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright told the Press Association that the death penalty was "unacceptable in all circumstances" and it was particularly concerning that a number of "peaceful dissidents" had been killed, including sheikh al-Nimr. Speaking at the scene of the demonstration, he said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against him was "deeply flawed", adding: " We also came to the conclusion that he was jailed solely for expressing his peaceful points of view, protesting peacefully against the regimes. "This is an absolute, fundamental, breach of basic human rights." A teenage girl has spoken of her shock after a cough led to a catastrophic lung infection, causing her entire face to swell up and leaving her struggling to breathe. Abby Harrison, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, thought at first she had an ordinary cough and began to take cough medicine, but within hours ulcers and cold sores began to appear on her lip, which by that evening had swelled to double its size. Her eyes were puffy and watery and her throat and jaw had also swollen. The 15-year-old said: "By the next day the swelling had spread to my other lip and I looked as though I'd had lip fillers and they had burst; my eyelids were all sticky as if I had conjunctivitis and I was in a lot of pain." Abby was seen by her GP, who referred her to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth for tests. She said: "I was in the lowest place when I arrived at QA Hospital. I looked an absolute state and was vomiting quite badly despite not eating for several days. "The doctors asked me to drink a nutrition milkshake but because I hadn't used my throat for several days, it was incredibly painful and took me over an hour to drink." Tests revealed Abby had an uncommon bacterial infection called mycoplasma that had attached itself to her lungs and was making it difficult for her to even breathe. She said: "I stayed in hospital for a week and throughout I had to undergo breathing exercises with the physio. "In everyday life I love make up and taking pride in my appearance, and like most teenage girls I usually get up early to put mascara on for school, so I just couldn't believe what was happening to my face. "My immune system just went crazy. I couldn't eat, was struggling to breathe, I was in so much pain despite being on morphine and I couldn't bear to look in the mirror - I just didn't recognise myself any more, it was as if my life had changed overnight." It took four weeks of bed-rest and antibiotics for Abby's face to return to its normal size and she was able to return to school. She said: "I dance three times a week and take part in show work. Before the infection my dance class were preparing for a theatre production next year, so it was frustrating sitting in hospital knowing that I was missing out on learning the routine. I just wanted my life back." She added: "I cannot thank the staff at QA Hospital enough. They helped me so much, not only throughout my admission but even after with follow-up appointments. "They have given me my face back and I cannot thank them enough for that." Consultant paediatrician Stephen Warriner said: "Mycoplasma is not common but is more prone to teenagers because they tend to be less susceptible to bacteria as they get older. "Abby was unfortunate in that the infection led to such severe facial swelling, usually symptoms are similar to those of the flu, such as sore throat, headache, weakness, fever, cough, and chills, but now that Abby has fully recovered there should be no reason that she should catch the infection again." A "brilliant" university graduate who was killed when he was hit by a van has been named by police. Romanian national Cosmin Cocora, 24, who had moved to the UK to study at the University College London, died when a silver GMC travelling on the A6 Garstang Road in Lancashire collided with him. In a tribute to Mr Cocora - who had been living in St Annes, his family said: "With a deep sorrow the family announce the passing away of their only child, Cosmin Cocora, in a tragic collision. "A brilliant young boy, University College London graduate, very sensible and full of love, left us much too early at the age of 24. RIP our dear son, we will love you forever." Mr Cocora suffered significant head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Lancashire Police are now re-appealing for information following the incident on December 22 which happened at around 4.10am. Police said the van had been travelling towards the traffic lights at Five Lane Ends on the A6 Garstang Road. They are also appealing for information about Mr Cocora's movements shortly before his death after he was seen in Preston city centre with a black wheeled suitcase that is yet to be found. Sergeant Tracey Ward from the Road Policing Unit said: "We are trying to trace anyone who may have known Cosmin Cocora and ask they contact us in order that we may learn a little more about Cosmin's movements prior to his death. "Cosmin, as we understand, was leading a quiet existence in St Annes having moved to England from Romania to study. "Shortly before his death we know he was in and around the centre of Preston with luggage in the form of a guitar in a case, a black rucksack and a large black wheeled suitcase. Unfortunately the large suitcase is missing and we are very keen to find it. "If anyone can help with any information it would very much assist the investigation team. In piecing together Cosmin's last movements we hope to provide his family with answers which may make the grieving process a little easier for them at this difficult time." Officers are also keen to trace an HGV that was travelling in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident. Sgt Ward added: "We are also still appealing for the driver of the HGV which may have seen something that could assist us with our investigation to come forward." Anyone with any information can contact police on 101 quoting log 187 of December 22. Japan's Emperor Akihito, who appeared with his wife Empress Michiko, delivers a speech to well-wishers from the Imperial Palace (AP) Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed his hope for world peace as he appeared with his wife, sons and grandchildren behind bullet-proof glass before thousands of well-wishers waving flags. "From the start of this New Year, I pray for peace for our nation and for the world," Akihito told the crowd in Tokyo. Akihito, 82, who was due to make five such appearances at the Imperial Palace, also released a New Year's statement in which he expressed his sympathy for people displaced from their homes and still living in temporary housing after the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster in the north east. Empress Michiko, wearing a pinkish beige dress, waved to the morning crowd, estimated by public broadcaster NHK at 44,000. Masako, wife of the crown prince who has made rare public appearances because of a stress-related illness, also joined the New Year greeting in Tokyo, smiling in a deep blue dress. Akihito is the son of Hirohito under whose name Japan waged the Second World War and surrendered 70 years ago. But from the start, he has stood for peace. His role is symbolic and he holds no political power, but he is relatively popular with the people. Michiko was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese royal family and she also has at times suffered from stress, like Harvard-educated Masako, a former diplomat. One soldier was slightly injured in the leg, and a passer-by was hit in the leg by a stray bullet (AP) Investigators see no links between a man who rammed his car into four soldiers guarding a French mosque and "a terrorist network or terrorist act", according to prosecutors. The man was stopped when a soldier fired and wounded him in the south-eastern city of Valence. Prosecutor Alex Perrin said: "So far it seems to be the act of an individual." Mr Perrin said the 29-year-old French citizen of Tunisian descent is a practising Muslim not reported as radicalised. He was not known to police or justice services and has no psychiatric history. His motives remain unclear. France is on high alert after the co-ordinated attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris on November 13. Mr Perrin said the man claimed in confused comments that he wanted "to kill soldiers because soldiers kill people". He notably said "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great", which "shows a link with a certain religiosity", Mr Perrin said. No weapons or explosive devices were found inside the car. The man, who is still in hospital, could be charged in coming days with "attempted murders against persons holding state authority". The attacker twice rammed his car into the soldiers guarding the main mosque in Valence, the prosecutor said, charging once then putting his car into reverse to try to ram the soldiers again. The soldiers fired warning shots and then fired to disable the driver, who was hit in the arm and leg. More than 30 shots were fired. One soldier was slightly injured in the leg, and a passer-by was hit in the leg by a stray bullet. France has been in a state of emergency since the November 13 Paris attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. The soldiers by the mosque are part of the reinforced security guarding places of worship and other sensitive sites around France. Saudi Arabia has executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al Qaida detainees and a prominent Shiite cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. Meanwhile, the execution of al Qaida militants convicted over deadly bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist group's branch in Yemen, known as al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of members of the global network. Saudi Arabia's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh said the executions were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdom's security. He described the executions as a "mercy to the prisoners" because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. Islamic scholars around the world hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty in Islamic Sharia law. Saudi judges adhere to one of the strictest interpretations, a Sunni Muslim ideology referred to as Wahhabism. Influential Shiite figures and groups across the region were swift to condemn al-Nimr's execution, with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran describing it as "irresponsible". Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Jaberi Ansari was quoted on the state-owned English-language Press TV warning that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price for its policies. A senior Iranian cleric, Hossein Nouri Hamedani, said in a statement broadcast on state television that the region should expect "both Shiite and Sunni Muslims to react". In Iraq, influential Shiite militia Asaib Ahl Al-Haq called on the government to reconsider allowing Saudi Arabia to keep its newly reopened embassy in Baghdad; the Saudi embassy was reopened on Friday for the first time in more nearly 25 years. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region of the kingdom said that in addition to al-Nimr, three other Shiite political detainees were executed on Saturday. In Lebanon, a top Shiite cleric condemned al-Nimr's execution, describing it as "a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty that would have helped reduce sectarian tensions in the region". Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan, deputy head of the influential Supreme Shiite Islamic Council that is the main religious body for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites, said the executions "will have repercussions in the coming days." The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah issued a statement calling al-Nimr's execution an "assassination" and a "ugly crime". The group added that those who carry the "moral and direct responsibility for this crime are the United States and its allies who give direct protection to the Saudi regime and cover its crimes against its (Saudi) people and people of the region". Anticipating protests in eastern Saudi Arabia, where minority Saudi Shiites are concentrated, Saudi activists there called for peaceful rallies. Small groups of protesters took to the streets in neighbouring Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 when the tiny island-nation's Shiite majority held mass protests to demand greater rights from the Sunni-led monarchy. The Interior Ministry announced the names of all 47 people executed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. The four Shiites executed had been convicted in connection with a series of violent protests that erupted in the east in 2011 and 2012, in which several protesters and police officers were killed. The al-Qaida militants executed had been convicted of taking part in a wave of deadly attacks that killed foreigners and Saudis. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in al Qaida's Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following the series of deadly attacks. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, the Interior Ministry statement said. Nearly all executions carried out in Saudi Arabia are by beheading with a sword. In a press conference Saturday, interior ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public. He described the executions as an example of Saudi Arabia's tough response to terrorism. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of those executed. Al-Nimr was number 46, expressionless with a grey beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by men in the Arab Gulf region. Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's monarchy, which forcibly suppressed protests in 2011 with the help of Saudi troops. He was popular among disgruntled Shiite youth in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. After listing the names and images of those executed, Saudi state television showed black-and-white footage of previous terror attacks in the kingdom, one showing bodies in a mosque after an attack. Soft, traditional music played in the background. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide. As we move into 2016, there is a message of reassurance and one of warning from two of the most respected figures in the United Kingdom. The Queen, who is Head of the Established Church and Defender of the Faith, referred in her Christmas Day broadcast to the "darkness" of many of the events of the past year, and quoted - from the Gospel of St John - one of the most powerful messages in the Bible: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." She continued: "There's an old saying that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today." Significantly, the Queen's message was watched by 8.3 million people and topped the ratings, ahead of the last sugary episode of Downton Abbey, where everyone seems set to live happily ever after. In this secular age, in which there is much global darkness, it is encouraging to know that so many people pay attention to our longest-serving British monarch, who has continually emphasised the challenge and reassurance of Christianity, which has been a touchstone of her reign. On the same day that the Queen's speech was broadcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Welby, described the current Islamic jihadists as the modern King Herod and warned that Christianity faces elimination in its birthplace. He said of the militant Islamists: "Confident that these are the last days, using force and indescribable cruelty, they seem to welcome all opposition, certain in the warfare unleashed that these are indeed the end times. "They hate difference, whether it is Muslims who think differently, Yazidis or Christians, and because of them the Christians face elimination in the very region in which Christian faith began." He continued: "This apocalypse is defined by themselves and heralded only by the angel of death. To all who have been or are being dehumanised by the tyranny of a Herod or an Isis, God's judgement comes as good news, because it promises justice." Non-believers, as well as many believers, may feel that this "justice" is a long time coming and that we need to gear ourselves up to bear the burden of further Isis savagery before their evil finally destroys itself. In the meantime, what does this mean for the people of faith, and of no faith, in the Western world, where religion is having such a difficult time? For a start, it is worth pointing out that the wholesale massacre of Christians in the Middle East receives comparatively little attention or condemnation from Western leaders and opinion formers. As the Bishop of Leeds Dr Nick Baines has pointed out: "The religiously illiterate Western intelligentsia should condemn the persecution of Christians." The Churches have many shortcomings, but in this global "holy war" perpetrated by militant Islam, the Christian faith, on which so much of our civilisation is founded, deserves more respect and tolerance than it receives from those Western literati, chatterati, and glitterati who condemn it out of hand. As The Times notes correctly: "It is integral to the values of this country to stand with the victims of religious intolerance and testify to their heroism in the service of a higher truth than is conceived of by their oppressors." On January 4, 1976, three UVF gunmen burst into a house at Whitecross and shot dead John Martin Reavey and his brother Brian. A third brother Anthony died from his wounds later On January 4, 1976, three UVF gunmen burst into a house at Whitecross and shot dead John Martin Reavey and his brother Brian. A third brother Anthony died from his wounds later. Just minutes later, the same gang entered the O'Dowd family home, gunning down Barry O'Dowd, his brother Declan and their uncle Joe. On January 5, a minibus carrying home mill workers from a Glenanne textile factory was ambushed by armed men at Kingsmill. The workers were lined up and shot in cold blood. There were only two survivors - one man was allowed to escape by the killers and Alan Black, who miraculously recovered from his extensive injuries. These were most savage sectarian attacks. The Reavey brothers were Catholics, as was the man who was allowed to escape the Kingsmill massacre. The others who died were all Protestants. In today's paper we carry interviews with Mr Black and with the relatives of some of those who died. It all makes heart-rending reading. Alan Black recalls the screams and fear of some of the men who died at Kingsmill. Despite eighteen bullet wounds, he survived and he recalls the kindness of a Newry priest who comforted him in hospital, and afterwards. After his release from hospital, life was a long torment for Alan, and it is no wonder that he anticipates with dread the anniversary of those awful events as January approaches each year. In another interview, Eugene Reavey recalls how the death of the brothers traumatised the whole family, and how his mother missed them every day until she herself died three years ago. Eugene remains haunted by his loss, and even now he sees glimpses of his brother in other people. This is the kind of heartache which we can hardly begin to comprehend. These are crimes which cry out for justice, but even at this late stage there is little sign of the killers being brought to book. Our collective inability to achieve this objective remains a dark stain on our society, and it is time for wrongs to be righted. The UUP's Danny Kennedy is totally justified in challenging Sinn Fein to come clean and admit that the Provisional IRA was responsible for the Kingsmill massacre, and Eugene Reavey is also justified in asking the Reverend Kyle Paisley to retract the remarks made by his father Ian accusing him of involvement in the Kingsmill atrocity. This unwarranted slur on the innocent Mr Reavey must be removed. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Tributes have been pouring in for former Manitoba premier Howard Pawley, who died this week at the age of 81. Coun. Lonnie Patterson (South Centre) remembers a kind and genuine man who truly cared about working on behalf of the people. As somebody whos just sort of starting my political career, having had the opportunity to meet him and see him in that personal interaction, always being genuine, I think is something Ill carry with me as I move forward, Patterson said. Brandon Sun Archives Tannis Phillips chats with premier Howard Pawley and incumbent Len Evans of Brandon East in a walking tour at the Brandon Shoppers Mall. Circa 1980s. Pawley was NDP premier from 1981 until 1988. He was an MLA in Selkirk for 12 years before becoming premier and served as public works and urban affairs minister and as attorney general in the Ed Schreyer government. His major achievement was following Saskatchewans lead of a government-run auto insurance system. I was born and raised in Wawanesa, home of Wawanesa Insurance, Patterson said. And certainly at the time there was a lot of concern in my hometown I wasnt around then, but reading the history books a lot of concern on the impact of creating a public auto insurer. Patterson said its nice to see that Wawanesa Insurance has maintained its status as a strong Canadian company, even with the introduction of public auto insurance in 1971. Its no secret that as a New Democrat, I fully support public Crown corporations, public insurance being one of them, Patterson said, adding the provincial comparisons for car insurance rates are stark. Were pretty fortunate in Manitoba to have what we have and that certainly will be one of Howard Pawleys legacies. Premier Greg Selinger said the province lost a true champion of social justice. In a statement, Selinger commended Pawleys leadership and progressive values, which led to changes to Manitobas labour code to ensure that workers are paid fairly, regardless of their gender, and the inclusion of sexual orientation to Manitobas Human Rights Code. Opposition Leader Brian Pallister expressed his condolences to Pawleys family and friends. He was a believer in participatory democracy, whose contributions to Manitobas political history will long be remembered, Pallister said in a press release. Brandon Sun Archives Pawley is shown in a 1982 photo. Brandon West Progressive Conservative MLA Reg Helwer recalled that he first met Pawley when he was involved in student politics with the Brandon University Students Union. While our politics differed, I was impressed that he took the time to meet casually with students, Helwer said. Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell said Manitoba and Canada has lost a great citizen. Howard was an exceedingly kind man, Caldwell said. I will remember him as thoughtful, considerate and absolutely committed to social justice. jaustin@brandonsun.com, with files from the Winnipeg Free Press Twitter: @jillianaustin Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Does winning an election mean that you have unlimited power to enact your campaign promises? Does it mean that you should? I have been pondering these questions since the election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Some view an election as an unlimited stamp of approval on all policies proposed by the newly elected party. In many respects, particularly in the case of a majority government, this happens to be the de facto reality. For example, Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau promised to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of December 2015. Clearly he campaigned on this issue and viewed it as a serious human rights matter. At the same time, processing 25,000 new Canadians is a daunting task for a bureaucracy, especially considering the very few weeks available to meet this promise. Given this obvious contradiction between promise and delivery, Trudeau did the right thing, which was also the smart thing, and announced that he would delay the arrival and processing of refugees in order to allow the bureaucracy to properly manage the situation. In my opinion, this decision reflected a maturity and flexibility that I previously believed Trudeau was lacking. Some attacked Trudeau for breaking this promise. Those attacks are pure politics. If a promise cannot be prudently enacted in an appropriate time frame, then extend the time frame. This is not rocket science, but an appropriate measure for managing a government. This week, the latest boo birds are decrying Trudeaus promises on electoral reform and demanding a referendum on changes to Canadas first past the post system. The Liberals want to leave electoral reform to Parliament, where they hold a majority. With respect, both sides are wrong. First, referendums are bad politics. They limit a governments ability to make decisions, and they also allow a government to hide behind popular opinion. Imagine, if you will, a referendum that gave the majority the freedom to choose rights for the minority to enjoy. Or imagine a referendum in which more spending was called for, at the expense of a group that wasnt benefiting from the aforementioned spending plans. All manner of sins can be hidden behind popular opinion. Referendums are simply an abrogation of ones job an avoidance of responsibility. My personal belief is that bad campaign promises ought not to be enacted, and good policies should be enacted. It sounds simple, but it requires serious and thoughtful consideration. Is first past the post a perfect structure? It is not, but what would be better? A copy of the U.S. system? I dare say that most Americans would love to get rid of the fractious gridlock they suffer through. Israel has never had a majority government, and it also runs an odd electoral structure that is more of a proportional representation system. Human behaviour is such that proportional representation would exacerbate our national problems, not relieve them. All manner of fringe parties would be represented in a proportional government, to such a degree that pandering would be the only avenue available to accommodate them. If the majority of Canadians wish to be held hostage by minuscule fringe groups, they should seek proportional representation. If, on the other hand, Canadians seek to continue enjoying a political structure that is a paragon of democracy globally, then we should continue with our present system. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In terms of political drama, the year 2015 had more than its fair share. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeaus astonishing come-from-behind win in the federal election last October was certainly the most intriguing event, even as Conservative candidates in Brandon-Souris and Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa held on to their seats. The internal troubles for the Manitoba NDP that culminated in an extraordinary floor show during the partys leadership race did not end when the final vote was made in March. Even now, as only two of the five NDP rebels have seen fit to continue campaigning under the orange banner, the suggestion by the premier that the party is now united is merely code for weve pushed the troublemakers out. In the wake of Premier Greg Selingers narrow victory over leadership challengers Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton, the unofficial provincial election campaign has been kicked into high gear with the recent leaders debate in Brandon. As we approach the provincial vote that looms less than four months from now, we can no doubt expect even more acerbic attacks between the parties. In the brief lull that new year celebrations allow this weekend, we offer a look back at the political year that was in part two of our Quotes of the Year feature, and offer our best wishes to all our readers in 2016. The first hundred days has me really looking forward to the next hundred, 200, 300, 400. I think that we have a lot of potential. I like that we have a great diversity, and theres a huge amount of respect across the table which allows you to debate in a healthy manner. Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine), marking the first 100 days for the new Brandon City Council. Beautification is fine, and putting out benches and plants and trees and so on its fine but itll mean nothing if the properties remain empty. Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest, during the first Downtown Development Forum co-hosted by Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell. Just wondering if they really knew what they were signing? Coun. Vanessa Hamilton (Riverview) in reference to the more than 2,300 people who signed a petition calling for a new Eighth Street bridge. I would say a long campaign benefits the Conservatives because of the election rules, and because the amount of money the parties can spend increase. Probe Research associate Curtis Brown prior to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harpers expected writ drop last summer, which kicked off the longest election campaign in modern Canadian history. The Liberal party under Justin Trudeau ultimately defeated the federal Tories. Hes a dictator. Hes not a conservative, its the Harper party. Hes a control freak and his caucus are nothing more than trained seals. Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa independent candidate Inky Mark during the Brandon Sun/Westman Communications federal election debate. It is unconscionable for a civil servant to publicly question government policy and heres why. Im accountable for government policy and Im accountable for what I say and people can vote for or against me based on what I say If a civil servant wants to speak out, he or she should put their name on a ballot like I did and get out and speak out. Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative candidate Robert Sopuck during the Brandon Sun/Westman Communications federal election debate. In my community, 95 per cent of my people are on welfare and we need to change that. Ken Chalmers, on the need to address aboriginal issues in the federal election campaign. A lot of us needed to see a picture like that for it to really hit home that these arent just numbers, they are actual people families and children who desperately need help. Brandon-Souris Liberal candidate Jody Wyman, in response to a photo showing the dead body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi lying face down in the sand on a beech in Greece. The boys Syrian family, including his father Abdullah, his mother Rehan and his five-year-old brother Galib, were attempting to leave Turkey and reach Greece when the boat they were in capsized. Only Abdullah Kurdi survived. Its one more thing that rural Canada gets kicked on and nobody gives a darn. Our vote doesnt count, I guess. Elgin resident Bob Miller, who was furious that he was unable to cast a ballot for the federal election in his own community. Not only was his name spelled wrong on his voter card, he had to travel to Minto to vote. Im hearing anecdotally that there were some aboriginal communities, reserves that were actually running out of ballots because there were so many people that were voting. Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders, on the federal election. I have been in Opposition as an MLA before, so I have some experience in that area. Well just have to work with the government to continue to get the things going that weve already got on the books. Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire after his bittersweet election win on Oct. 19. You have the right to your opinion but you dont have the right to make up my opinion. PC Leader Brian Pallister during a leaders debate in Brandon. Pallister was defending himself from comments made by Premier Greg Selinger, who told the crowd that the PC leader would support a two-tiered health-care system. We have not been idle we havent been out of touch. Manitoba NDP Premier Greg Selinger during a debate hosted by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. He was responding to criticism that his government ignored infrastructure for 15 years. Were the reasonable voice, thats the fact. Its a very different time and Im a very different leader. Manitoba Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari, in an interview with The Brandon Sun editorial board. Its not a secret that I had some pretty serious concerns about the decision to raise the PST. In particular the way we did it. It came too fast and without consultation with Manitobans. It also happened on the heels of (Premier Greg Selinger) saying he wouldnt do it It was very, very jarring to Manitobans and they were angry. I think theyre owed an apology for that. Former Manitoba health minister Theresa Oswald, who ran against Premier Greg Selinger and former transportation minister Steve Ashton for the leadership of the NDP. I think (Oswald is) the best leader to take us into the next election. South Centre Coun. Lonnie Patterson, one of two Brandon councillors who threw their support behind leadership contender Theresa Oswald. Everyone makes mistakes but there is no reason to crucify him. BU student Krystal Kayne, who supported NDP Premier Greg Selinger during the leadership race. The premier of Manitoba is now the premier because he cut deals with public sector union bosses in a back room last week and he guaranteed himself the support of CUPE, and the support of the United Food and Commercial Workers, and someone managed to get the firefighters to support him. Manitoba PC Leader Brian Pallister, following an NDP leadership review in which Premier Greg Selinger defeated challengers Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton. This isnt good news if youre Drew Caldwell. Probe Research vice-president Curtis Brown, after a September poll showed Greg Selingers NDP had dropped in popular support to 25 per cent. Fully 45 per cent of decided voters said they would vote for the Progressive Conservatives, while 24 per cent supported the Liberal party. Im not going to get into a promise game, a vote-buying game, with anybody. Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister, in a sit-down interview with The Brandon Sun last fall. Flood waters are continuing to rise in many areas around the country, following another night of heavy rainfall. The Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has promised a significant increase in the numbers of Defence Forces personnel assisting communities with flood defence efforts. The National Coordination Group has been meeting again today to assess the response to the weather conditions. Meanwhile, ESB is warning that water levels in Lough Derg may reach 2009 levels in the coming days - posing a serious flood risk to towns and villages around the lake. Clare County Council has said water levels on the Lower River Shannon at Springfield, Clonlara, have risen by 225mm (22.5cm) since yesterday and are now 100mm (10cm) below the peak flood level of 2009. The Council said the current peak levels are in part due to rising water levels on the Mulkear River, which enters the River Shannon south of Annacotty. ESB has said it will maintain the flow of water through Parteen Weir at 470 cubic metres per second. Sharon Lynsky of AA Roadwatch, has said some routes in Co. Kilkenny are still water logged: The Newross to Kilkenny road has now closed, between Thomastown and Inistioge, due to flooding both of those towns are now impassable and Gardai say to use the M9 if you can at all. To check for diversions in your local area log onto the AA Roadwatch traffic by county by clicking here. British troops who served in Iraq could face prosecution for crimes including murder. The head of a team investigating potential torture and unlawful killing during the conflict has said there are "lots of significant cases". Mark Warwick believes that some of them may amount to war crimes. Reporter Darren McCaffrey has a statement from Britain's Ministry of Defence: They say that the vast majority of Her Majesty services did not commit any crimes and acted professionally in Iraq, But where there are allegations of abuse or unlawful killing that they are being taken extremely seriously, And if there is sufficient evidence that prosecution should be had. German police are hunting for up to seven people they say were plotting suicide attacks in Munich. A New Year's Eve terror alert saw two major train stations in the city closed. Saudi Arabia has executed 47 criminals, including leading Shiite Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the countrys state television said. The state-run Saudi Press Agency and state television announced the executions on Saturday, quoting the Interior Ministry. The SPA published a list of 30 names and said more would follow. The country's Interior Ministry has said most were involved in attacks carried out by al Qaeda from 2003 to 2006. They also included prominent Shia cleric Sheik Nimr al Nimr, who had called for democratic reforms. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide. The Saudi-led coalition has announced the end of the Yemen ceasefire. The truce, which began on December 15, followed intense bombing of the Houthi movement by the Arab allies. The Reuters news agency claims nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the Saudi coalition entered the conflict in March, almost half of them civilians. The main fight is between forces loyal to the President and Shia rebels known as Houthis. United Nations peace talks have failed to find a solution so far - but they will resume later this month. LONDON: Eight out of 10 people in Britain now disapprove of the government, a YouGov poll showed on Tuesday, as the... A Queensland man accused of torching his family's car in central Canberra on New Year's Eve has been referred to a mental health facility for examination. The 45-year-old from Longreach faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning charged with arson of the Toyota Hilux on Thursday night. A Queensland man has been referred for psychiatric assessment after allegedly torching a car in Canberra on New Year's Eve. Credit:Fairfax Prosecutor Paul Sweeney recommended the defendant be referred to a healthcare facility for immediate treatment after he allegedly told police officers he was "hearing voices". Police came across the burning car on London Circuit's grass verge about 9pm while conducting New Year's Eve patrols. Cabinet established a ministerial committee in March 1991 to investigate how the government could help the VFT joint venture, without the need for direct financial assistance. An artist's impression by Phil Belbin of the proposed VFT (Very Fast Train) in the 1980s. Credit:Comeng Ministers were also told the case presented by the joint venture did not warrant government intervention on the scale sought for the private sector project. The Hawke government was warned the proposed route of a very fast train would "seriously compromise or render inoperable" several Defence facilities in the ACT and NSW. The joint venture, comprising TNT Australia Pty Ltd chaired by Sir Peter Abeles, a close friend of Prime Minister Bob Hawke Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd, Elders IXL Ltd and Kumagai Gumi Co Ltd, had proposed the $14 million high-speed rail link from Sydney to Canberra via Goulburn, and then on to Melbourne using a coastal or inland route. More than two decades later the Commonwealth is no closer to committing to a very fast train with the Abbott government's decision in 2013 to protect identified rail corridors but abolish the High Speed Rail Advisory Group. In the same year an AECOM study costed the VFT at $114 billion for 1748 kilometres of track that would take until 2065 to build. It would cover a route from Melbourne, via Canberra and Sydney to Brisbane (with 12 stops in regional Australia). Cabinet papers released by the National Archives this week show Defence had "major concerns" about the impact of the VFT route on a number of Defence properties. While hundreds of families flee Canberra for the coast or further afield over the holidays, the Davies family bucked the trend and travelled into the capital. The National Gallery of Australia, Questacon and the National Museum of Australia are on the list of things to do for the Melbourne family, who are visiting relatives in the ACT over Christmas and the New Year. From left, brothers Ben Davies, 11, and James Davies, 8, of Melbourne with mum Melanie Davies, clowning around with their reflections in the sculpture cones by Bert Flugelman at the National Gallery of Australia. Credit:Jeffrey Chan "There's always lots of free things on; we like that it's free at the art gallery and museum, and there's lots of nice new parks to go out to," Melanie Davies said. Family connections and the landmark tourist attractions continue to attract families like the Davies, while Summernats brings plenty of punters from interstate, but Canberra's tourism promoters are taking new approaches to encourage other visitors to the capital over summer. Move over mum and dad shareholders, and make way for mum and dad venture capitalists. New laws being considered by Parliament would make it easier for ordinary people to buy a tiny stake of an infant company, whether they want it to become the next Google or just help a local business grow. For the companies, the changes would mean business owners can get access to the public's money without having to fulfil onerous reporting requirements. It's called crowd-sourced equity funding. Nothing ventured: Ash Davies, 22-year-old founder and chief executive of book-publishing companyTablo. Credit:Wayne Taylor Most people are familiar with donation-based crowd funding, where artists ask for money to record a new album or inventors ask people to purchase a product in advance. This gives them money to buy whatever materials are needed to set up production, such as the successful Flow bee hive with a tap for mess-less, sting-less honey extraction. But funders in this project were getting bee hives in return, not a share in the company. The government's crowd-sourced funding laws won't affect this donation crowd funding you will still be able to use Pozible to raise money for your parents to go on holiday or develop your clothes-washing backpack. Instead, the laws could turn Australia into a real-life continuous episode of Shark Tank a television show where small-business owners and inventors ask millionaires for money in exchange for a stake in the company. The global economy is not just unusually fluid, it also is being jolted: from above, by economic uncertainties, domestic political polarisation and geopolitical threats; and from below by disruptive technologies in an ever-expanding number of industries. That is the theme of my book The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability and Avoiding the Next Collapse, to be published in January. These unusual bottom-up and top-down forces, some quite controversial, have been explored in several works that captured my interest in 2015. Mohamed El-Erian thinks the US Federal Reserve is likely to raise the interest rates twice more this year, following its initial rate rise last month. Credit:Jim Rice On economics and policy, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath is instructive in detailing the traumatic global financial crisis and its effects. It also reminds us why the economic and financial path ahead is so "unusually uncertain." Most critically, Bernanke's book reflects the elusive quest for higher and more inclusive growth in the global economy. Despite that dominance, Amazon's actual profits are still tiny - or at least they were in the company's most recent quarterly report in October. The company earned just $US79 million on $US24.5 billion in total revenue in the quarter, and leaned heavily on its surging cloud computing business, Amazon Web Services, for profit. Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has made a stockmarket fortune from his online retailing empire. Credit:Getty-Images Amazon Web Services' operating income was $US521 million, up more than fivefold in a year. Without its cloud business, the company, now based in Seattle, would have had a much more difficult time turning a net profit, something it has not often done. And at times, Amazon has seemed to be in danger of getting trapped in a race to the bottom that it brought on with its steep discounting. "They were just trying to sell more by underpricing everybody," said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consulting firm. "But they realised they would never make any money that way. They evolved," he said. "It's much a different company than it was five years ago." Maturing business For one, this year's surge has made investors increasingly confident that Amazon's retail business is maturing, following years of heavy investment in infrastructure and logistics. Amazon has blanketed the country with more than 100 warehouses, and is building more, speeding up shipping times. That investment is now paying off in the steady growth in users of its Prime fast-shipping membership program, which now covers an estimated 25 per cent of all American households. Amazon picked up 3 million new Prime members during the third week of December alone, the retailer said this week. Some analysts estimate that half of all American households will be Prime members by 2020. Amazon has also focused on bolstering the benefits of its Prime membership beyond free expedited shipping. It has aggressively marketed its music and video streaming offerings, and has invested in a growing catalog of original content, including the TV series "Transparent," which won critical praise this year for its focus on a transgender character and her struggle for acceptance and equal rights. All the while, Amazon has continued to surprise competitors with unconventional promotional efforts. In July, typically a slow month for retailing, Amazon created a whole new sales holiday, called Prime Day, prompting Wal-Mart to match many of Amazon's deals. (Prime Day also came shortly before the introduction of Jet.com, billed by Silicon Valley investors as an Amazon competitor ??? though the startup has yet to make a perceptible dent in Amazon's growth.) "It just keeps raising the bar," said Traci Gregorski, vice president for marketing at the retail research firm Market Track. "They're driving people to their Prime service," she said, "and once they're hooked, they're hooked." Competitors struggle Amazon's competitors, meanwhile, have found themselves fighting over a smaller and smaller piece of the pie. Wal-Mart, in particular, committed $US2 billion to its e-commerce efforts, and this year announced its own subscription delivery program. This spring, Wal-Mart opened four new centres dedicated to filling online orders, and its San Bruno, California-based e-commerce team has grown to more than 2500 staff members from just 500 employees four years ago. But its online sales still amount to less than one-sixth of Amazon's, and they are slowing, too. In its latest quarter, e-commerce sales grew only 10 per cent from a year ago, compared with a 20 per cent rise in Amazon's retail sales during the same period. Overall, Amazon's share of US e-commerce sales jumped to 26 per cent this year from 22 per cent last year, and 16 per cent in 2011, according to Macquarie estimates. Four per cent of all retail purchases in the United States, excluding cars, gas and sales at food and beverage stores, were made through Amazon this year, double its share two years ago. And with Amazon expanding into new segments - this year it introduced a crafts market to challenge Etsy, and is also trying its hand at groceries - some analysts ask: Is anybody in retailing safe? This year will be an important one for Canberra and not just because it will finally bring an end to the light rail debate. While the local election set for October is winding up for a "yes or no" vote for the transportation system there are other issues the territory should be making a decision about. It is time for Canberra to decide how it wants to grow over the next decade and whether the best way is up or out. The debate rages in the territory each time a new development is proposed in an infill location, such as in 2015's opposition to the Yarralumla Brickworks project and Dickson shops redevelopment. This was not a sex scandal. Jamie Briggs resigned over an abuse of power. To define his predatory behaviour as any other than that implies an element of consent, which was clearly absent from his harassment of a young diplomat in a Hong Kong bar; a bar which was, as it transpired, very crowded. The former minster would like you to know that. Illustration: Glen Le Lievre It's most important you understand that the bar was very popular and "as it transpired, very crowded". Why, so crowded and so popular that almost anything could happen. A fellow's elbows might be jogged. He could accidentally stumble into someone. Why, even with the best of intentions and most honourable and innocent of designs it is a passing possibility that in such a crowded and popular venue there could be initiated the sort of glancing contact that some might misinterpret as less than 100 per cent appropriate. But really, in such a popular and, as it transpired, crowded bar, who is to stay what actually happened? To quote The Simpsons' long-serving mayor of Springfield, Diamond Joe Quimby, "That could be anyone's ass!" Blue bottles are back, brought to Sydney's east and NSW south coast beaches by warm seas and prevailing winds. The jellyfish-like creatures, which have air-filled bladders and sail in armadas, have a venomous punch that many Australian oceangoers know all too well. Bluebottles fail to deter beachgoers. Credit:Nick Moir As striking as clusters of blue bottles were on Maroubra Beach on Saturday, a local lifeguard said the stingers were not out of the ordinary. "They come and go, it's a normal seasonal thing," the rescuer told Fairfax Media on Saturday afternoon. "It's not a problem, there's a lot of people in the water." Plans to grow Australia's first commercial crop of medical cannabis at Christmas Island have met resistance from some locals, who fear that islanders won't see the financial benefits and drugs may end up in the hands of local youths. The cannabis proposal is the latest of a series of developments that have raised the ire of Christmas Island residents, who say the controversial detention centre damages efforts to grow the island's tourism industry and a reduction in the frequency of government-contracted planes means mail is frequently delayed. Medical marijuana plan "needs to be approved by the community": Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson. Credit:Wolter Peeters Australian firm AusCann announced last month it will plant trial medical cannabis crops on Christmas Island, 2600 kilometres northwest of Perth. Subject to changes in federal law and the success of the pilot, the company intends to plant the first commercial crop for the domestic market in late 2016, and is confident of winning support from locals. The profits of aged care homes surged 40 per cent in the past year as operators cut hours of nursing care while claiming higher payments from the federal government for servicing more of the most frail patients. The earnings boom in the sector comes after the government introduced widespread reforms of aged care in 2014, including deregulating fees and lifting restrictions on the accommodation bond that nursing homes can levy on residents. NSW's population is undergoing a huge demographic shift. Credit:Virginia Star It also coincides with a spike in false claims by aged care home providers for government subsidies, which rise based on the level of need of the patient. According to the latest annual survey of aged care homes by Bentleys Chartered Accountants, the average profit before interest and tax increasing from $4497 per resident per annum in 2014 to $6278 in 2015. Australia's leading imams have backed a fatwa against the Islamic State terrorist group, warning that any support for the group contradicts Islamic teachings. In a New Year message to the nation's Muslim community, the Grand Mufti of Australia together with prominent imams from NSW and Victoria have given their religious opinions and urged congregations, particularly the youth, to listen to their religious leaders. The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed (right), and Sheikh Yahya Safi (left), of the Lakemba mosque, have backed a fatwa against Islamic State. Credit:Steven Siewert The Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, who is the leading representative of Australia's Sunni Islamic scholars, said "most Islamic Legal Circles and Fatwa Boards have condemned ISIS, declaring that Islam is innocent of all these barbaric actions despite ISIS using the term Islamic in its name. The term 'Islamic State' has been usurped by ISIS," he said, using one of several acronyms for IS. "We stand with all organisations that have condemned ISIS and declared innocence from its inhumane actions. Dodgy traders will be named and shamed in 2016 on a NSW government website that will help consumers avoid the most complained-about companies. From July 1, the first data on complaints about goods and services that names the offending company will be published on the NSW Fair Trading website, and it will be updated monthly. Complaints data is "a vital asset" that should be used, Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello says. Credit:Orlando Chiodo For a trader to appear on the register, at least 10 complaints must have been made against them to Fair Trading that month. Legislation to allow consumer complaints received by the government watchdog to be shared publicly came into effect this week. A cyclist stopped at Stafford in Brisbane's northwest on Friday - Day 10 of the Christmas Road Safety Campaign - has returned a reading more than six times over the legal alcohol limit, police said. Police said they were shocked at the man's blood alcohol reading of 0.321 and reiterated that drink and drug driving and speeding continue to be of concern during the holiday period. Friday was Day 10 of the Christmas road safety campaign. One driver was detected travelling 207km in a 100km zone on the Bruce Highway through Farleigh near Mackay. Officers will be out in force over the holidays focusing on the fatal five: speeding, fatigue, impaired driving (drink and drug), failure to wear a seat belt and distraction/inattention. A man accused of travelling more than 2000km before stabbing a woman holding a baby in Mackay will face court again on January 7. Jason Wayne Greatbatch made a brief appearance by telephone in Rockhampton Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning. Jason Wayne Greatbatch, 35 from South Australia, arrives at Mackay airport with detectives. He is facing charges including attempted murder for an attack on Teagan Moore at Kuttabul. Credit:Lee Constable He was remanded in custody to appear at the Mackay Magistrates' Court on January 7. Teagan Moore was stabbed while holding her baby at her Kuttabul home on December 27. Paul Dale, the former drug squad detective implicated in the execution of a police informer and his wife during Melbourne's gangland war, has lost a bid for taxpayer-funded compensation for trauma he claims he suffered in prison. The Sunday Age can reveal the controversial ex-cop abandoned his lawsuit against the state government when an independent medical panel ruled Dale experienced no significant psychological damage from spending seven months in solitary confinement. Paul Dale before appearing at the independent medical panel in October. Credit:Eddie Jim Dale claims he suffers from severe depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after being put in near continuous lockdown in a high-security unit in Barwon Prison while awaiting trial for the murders of witness Terrence Hodson and his wife Christine. "The Victorian government is denying my mental injuries were caused by my incarceration in Acacia [Unit]. I'm going before this panel, they'll make a finding, and we'll see what happens after that," he told The Sunday Age ahead of the review in late October. IndiGo plans to launch Delhi-Doha flight this year. The Qatari capital is expected to be IndiGos sixth overseas destination and its third in the Gulf after Dubai and Muscat. The choice of Doha is interesting, as Indian carriers have underutilised traffic rights to Qatar. At present, Air India Express and Jet Airways fly to Doha. Qatar Airways flies to 13 cities in India and has been seeking additional flights to India. Qatar Airways has repeatedly expressed interest to invest in IndiGo, the largest and most profitable Indian airline. The Bombay Stock Exchange-listed company has denied news about stake sale to Qatar Airways. The airline has secured slots at Doha but launch date has not been finalised. IndiGo did not respond to an email query. A senior airline executive confirmed plans to launch Doha flights but added the service will not begin immediately as domestic market is expanding rapidly. Delivery of Airbus A320neo has been delayed and IndiGo may be waiting for revised delivery schedule before taking a decision regarding Doha flight. Doha is well connected from cities in South India and so a Delhi-Doha flight makes sense, an aviation analyst remarked. Currently, IndiGo flies 210 flights per week on foreign routes to Dubai, Muscat, Bangkok, Kathmandu and Singapore. Dubai is its largest overseas destination and it flies there from seven cities. IndiGo has a largely domestic focus and thus number of overseas routes it flies is less in comparison to even SpiceJet, which flies to six overseas destinations. IndiGo earns about 10 per cent of revenue from foreign operations. In the last financial year, overseas revenue contributed Rs 1,200 crore. Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra's vehicles at Mahindra World City will be powered by bio-CNG fuel at the demo plant, which was inaugurated here today. The company said what it showcased today is just a technology demonstration and that going forward, it can also make the product commercially viable. Today the company inaugurated a bio-CNG plant, inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge - Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, at Mahindra World City, near Chennai. The plant will work on aerobic digestion of biomass to produce biogas which can be further enriched to make it an autograde CNG equivalent. Subsequently, the purified gas will be compressed to 200 bars and stored in cylinders to power automobiles. The manure that will come out from the plant will be utilized as fertiliser or composted with organic material for producing compost fertilizer. In Mahindra World City the biogas will be used for generating power and fueling CNG buses and tractors. Further, the power generated will be used for street lighting, buses for free shuttle service and tractor for cultivation. Pawan Goenka, executive director and president Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors for Mahindra & Mahindra said that this is more a technology demonstration and part of CSR. "We hope it will be commercially viable, but we need to bring down the cost for that," he said. The company has joined hands with IIT Delhi for the purification technology part. Goenka said the company is open to share technology with entrepreneurs who wanted to set up such bio-CNG plant. It may be noted currently Railways uses Biogas for shunting of engines. It was reported that Scania is planning to launch range of city buses that runs on bio fuels (bio-ethanol and bio-gas). Tamil Nadu investment Mahindra & Mahindra has said that it got almost the entire land of around 400 acres allocated for the company at Cheyyar, near Chennai. The company will be setting up a test track in the Phase-I, followed by an automotive plant. Around 250 acres will be allocated, said Pawan Goenka, executive director and president Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors for Mahindra & Mahindra. Goenka said the company will initially invest around Rs 400-500 crore to set up the test track. It will work on automotive plant as part of phase-II expansion, that would be taken up after company completes investment in Chakan plant, Maharashtra. The company signed a MoU with Tamil Nadu, which gives cushion of seven years to set invest the money in Tamil Nadu. Ends Bengaluru-based startup Capital Float, which lends to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), plans to grow its presence from 40 cities to a 100 cities in the next 12 to 18 months. While sellers on e-commerce platforms make up a large chunk of whom the company lends to, it says it will focus more on tier 2 and tier 3 businesses, which might be solely offline but have the potential to grow massively. Gaurav Hinduja and Sashank Rishyasringa, founders of CapitalFloat talk to Alnoor Peermohamed in the companys plans. Edited excerpts: The e-commerce segment is fairly new and theres bound to be volatility. How do you think that might impact your business? Hinduja: E-commerce merchants are the core to what we do and its an important vertical, but weve also diversified outside. We do loans to a lot traditional SMEs brick and mortar, manufacturing and service type of organisations because that segment is 30-40 million, whereas e-commerce is 100-200 thousand. I think almost all sellers sell on all marketplaces. And when we underwrite the business, we look at a combination of things. Sales across marketplaces, and how does that look across his offline sales as well, because a lot of sell offline. We look at a holistic view of the business before we actually decide to give the person a loan. Data on sellers is harder to come by in the offline world. How are you tackling that? Rishyasringa: Youll be surprised as to how much data is available on any business in India and thats very much a big part of the IP weve built since the early days. I think what weve been able to do is build a lot of pipes for data sources such as Aadhaar, NSDL, and a whole host of other government and legal databases. The borrower is also able to give us access to a lot of data that we can then use in deciding what terms and what kind of loan to give them. For example, social media is a very interesting input that we consider in our underwriting model. On the online piece, yes there is some additional data which helps with the speed of lending. So today we give real time approvals to e-commerce sellers in 10 to 15 minutes. What is your primary source of raising capital? Hinduja: Like most financial institutions we obviously raise equity right, and we have raised a little over Rs 100 crore from some of the best VCs, but also we have raised debt. What are your sort of default rates? How are you working to keep them low? Hinduja: Ironically, a lot of the banks defaulters are not coming from the SME sector. Theyre actually coming from large borrowers. A lot of what we do is the underwriting, through different data, and we do that to keep our credit costs, which are defaults, et cetera, really low. Today they are very low, Id say 80-90 per cent better than any NBFC that lends to SMEs out there. That said, it is still early days. This is a lending business at the end of the day, there are going to be defaults. What do you think will happen when guys like Alibaba increase their focus in India? Where do you fit in? Rishyasringa: B2B e-commerce has the potential to be far larger than B2C e-commerce in India. And we think what Alibaba has been able to achieve in China and in India with its SME base for exporters and importers is tremendous. We are partners with Alibaba. You can infer from that, that were already active in the space and its part of our strategy. How is this partnership going to work? Hinduja: Theyre going to look at us to help get more SMEs to become active Alibaba users. But at the same time a lot of their SME merchant base will require financing, whether its for domestic transactions, or cross border transactions. They will look at a financer that really has the speed and the agility to meet the SMEs requirements in that sense. What are your growth plans? Hinduja: We want to be in 100 cities in the next 12 to 18 months and obviously a lot of that growth is going to come from tier 2 and tier 3 towns. Because banks really dont have a presence there. While people and SMEs in the top 8-10 cities can still access a bank branch, bank branch penetration in those tier 2 tier 3 towns is almost negligible. I think thats where well see a lot of growth and through the make in India and e-commerce stuff youll see a lot of business growth in those cities as well. What sort of regulatory hurdles do you see yourselves having to cross? Rishyasringa: Actually in the financial services space I think weve got a very proactive regulator and what youre seeing in these payment banks, small finance banks, e-KYC, I think these are all steps in the right direction and we obviously hope that we continue to see these steps. Bengal Global Business Summit 2016, West Bengal government's annual investors' summit, could well be Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee's best show in Kolkata, so far. After the last two lacklustre editions of investors' summits - in different avatars of Bengal Leads in 2013 and Bengal Global Business Summit in 2014 - that failed to fetch the biggies of India Inc, this one is likely to draw its most prominent attendee, Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani. "As of this moment, it's almost certain that Mukesh Ambani would be attending the Summit," a source close to the development said, even as the official word from the business group is, "There is no confirmation as yet." Ambani's last interface with Banerjee was in 2013 when the who's who of corporate India attended her investors' meet in Mumbai. A government-level meeting in Kolkata for Ambani, however, would date back to the earlier regime under Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, when he had come down to meet the Chief Minister and his industry minister, Niurpam Sen in 2006, soon after the Assembly elections, to discuss a range of projects. Whether Ambani would meet the Chief Minister separately this time, if he does make it to Summit, is not clear. Besides Ambani, JSW group chairman and managing director, Sajjan Jindal, is also likely to be present for the inauguration of the two-day summit on January 8. Jindal will be in the state anyway on January 6 to lay the foundation stone with Chief Minister Banerjee for a cement plant at Salboni in West Medinipur, the site for the group's mega steel plant; he will probably stay on for the meet. Government officials are tight-lipped about investors' participation. A senior minister, however, said that more than 2,000 delegates from across the country and the world were expected to be present for the event. Business participants from outside West Bengal last year had included N Chandrasekaran, CEO and MD of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of Bharat Hotels, Swati Piramal, vice-chairperson, Piramal Enterprises, Niranjan Hiranandani, co-founder, Hiranandani group, and Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej Group. Many of them were expected this time around as well. The Summit, however, is not just going to be about private sector investors or investment. At least four key ministers from the Centre, Union Minister for Finance, Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of State for Coal, Power and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu, are expected to be there. Jaitley and Gadkari were present for last year's Summit as well; Of the Rs 2.43 lakh investment proposals that the state claimed to have bagged from the last edition of the Summit, Rs 78,000 crore had come from the Centre, inviting a jibe from BJP leader, Siddharth Nath Singh that the Summit should be named, Centre-aided Summit. Condemning the terror attacks on the Air Force base in Pathankot, the Opposition Congress today questioned the efficacy of the Prime ministers surprise Pakistan visit just a week back. Congress President Sonia Gandhis Political Secretary Ahmed Patel today said on Twitter, We are with the Government in the fight against terrorism, we all must fight together but added, This happening after a week of PM meeting Nawaz Sharif raises serious questions. The party highlighted the sudden surge in terrorist activities in Punjab after being peaceful for the last 20 years. The Congress stated it was in favour of engaging in talks with Pakistan but foreign policy has to be conducted through a well-formulated roadmap rather than abrupt and sudden departures. Responding to queries by reporters whether the PM's birthday gift to Nawaz Sharif on December 25 had been reciprocated by a terror attack on India in the New Year, Congress Communication chief Randeep Surjewala said that the PMs surprise visit to Lahore had taken everyone including Home Minister Rajnath Singh by surprise but the PM had then maintained it was a pathbreaking initiative and a new roadmap. The Congress, he said, however has always been in favour of consistent, well deliberated foreign policy not abrupt surprises. He asked, How can talks and terror attacks from Pakistan go hand in hand? Surjewala reminded reporters, It was Modi ji who used to say that no talks can be held when bullets and bombs are fired continuously. We want to remind PM Modi of all that he had said then of glowering at the Pakistanis before engaging in talks with them. Surjewala, said that all that the Congress wants is that the PM take firm action to protect the life of citizens of this country and the armed forces are not sacrificed at the hands of Pakistani terror module. Underscoring the fact, as to how little things had changed despite the PMs friendly overtures, Two things are very clear. First despite PM visit to Pakistan, ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. The current module appears to have come from Pakistan in the same fashion. Secondly the terror camps that are run by terrorists for carrying on anti- India activity in POK continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments. Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, speaking to reporters today, while condemning the attacks, said that only the Prime Minister can tell what assurances he got from Pakistan which convinced him to restore the dialogue process. Sharma said, We (Congress) are of the view that we have to engage, there has to be a road map with coherence and clarity, there cant be abrupt departures. PM Modi was unfair and harsh on criticizing Dr. Manmohan Singh. Hauling up the Modi government on the issue of internal security Surjewala stated, "two terrorist attacks have now happened in last 5 months, 3 terrorist attacks have been made in J& K and Punjab in the last 5 months by terrorists who have come from Pakistan. He advised that the BJP government should utilize the services of security experts and if necessary leaders of the Congress Party in engaging with Pakistan and putting an end to the terror activity from there. Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh stated that the peace process must not be allowed to be sabotaged adding that "it is the responsibility of Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand". Both India and Pakistan rushed to protect the fragile India-Pakistan dialogue, resumed just days ago, from fierce heat as five, maybe more, militants who had entered India three days ago from Bahawalpur, Pakistan, tried to attack an Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in the early hours of Saturday morning. While the Ministry of External Affairs said it was too early to say anything while operations were still going on - indicating India was suspending judgement about official Pakistani involvement in planning the attack - Islamabad denied involvement and said it would continue to support talks with New Delhi. "Pakistan condemns terrorist incident in Pathankot in which many precious lives have been lost. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other countries in the region to eradicate the menace of terror," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said from Islamabad. The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are to meet to structure the resumed dialogue between the two countries on 15 January. Keeping India's powder dry, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a high-level meeting with Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs at South Block. But Indian ministers refrained from criticising or attacking the Pakistani official establishment. Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju confined himself to saying India had credible information that the attackers were sponsored by some elements from across the border. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, speaking at the BJP headquarters, said the resumed dialogue with Pakistan cannot be revoked due to "one attack" adding "unless you talk terror, terror will not come down". After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore initiative, Javadekar said the onus was on Pakistan to keep the solemn promise given to India in 2004 that it would not allow its land to be used for terrorism. "This process (talks) cannot be destroyed due to one attack... Pakistan is our neighbour. You cannot change your neighbour, you can change friends and therefore we must continue with the talks but talks have to be mainly on the issue of terrorism and that's what exactly India is doing," Javadekar said. Pakistan will have to walk the talk on the issue of terrorism, he added. The attack by terrorists, suspected to belong to the Jaish-e-Mohammed, took place at around 3.30 am and three security personnel, including a Garud commando of the IAF, were killed. Four terrorists were also killed by the security forces. The militants entered India and communicated with Pakistan - Indian intelligence traced four phone calls between the militants in Pathankot and Pakistani handlers between 12.35 am to 1.40 am on Saturday. Before that, they had stopped the car of a Superintendent of Police on the Jammu-Pathankot highway and had killed one person while throwing the other occupants out. This car is believed to have been used to bring them to the Air Force base. However, there are many gaps in the movements of the militants and it is not clear where the point of ingress into India lay. The Jammu and Kashmir border is under a thick snow blanket and the Line of Control is guarded by the Army in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts while the International Border is guarded by the Border Security Force. Given that in recent times Punjab has become the new area for militant attacks - just months ago a police station was similarly attacked and a gunfight raged for several hours before the Indian side flushed the militants out - worries have been expressed that there may be local Indian involvement or collaboration of domestic Sikh groups with Pakistani militants. However, in this attack there is no evidence of any local involvement. But the attack did provide fodder to the Opposition Congress party which has been in the forefront of a sharp interrogation of the government on the reasons for the resumption of the dialogue with Pakistan."It (the attack) is a matter of serious concern. Will the PM take up the issue with Pakistan now that he has recently visited Pakistan?" asked Congress leader R S Surjewala. "How does the government propose to control and check terror coming from Pakistan? These are a few issues that Prime Minister Modi needs to address," he added. "First in Udhampur, then in Dinanagar in Gurudaspur and now in Pathankot. These terrorists wore army fatigues, they kidnapped vehicles and they consequently attack army or other sensitive installations," he said. Surjewala also said that now that in the winter season the infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir is not possible, Punjab was being targeted by the terrorists. Congress leader Ahmad Patel said: "We are with the Government in the fight against terrorism, we all must fight together. The Pathankot attack should be condemned outright, but that's not enough. This, happening after a week of PM meeting Nawaz Sharif, raises serious questions. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh said: "those who do not wish to see peace between India and Pakistan will begin to politicise the attack and make anti-Pakistan comments in order to fuel the feud". Operations were still on at the time of writing to ascertain whether any militants were roaming free. Security has been beefed up on the Punjab-Jammu highway and also in the capital. Three defence personnel including a commando were killed in the wee hours on Saturday after a group of Pakistan-based terrorists launched an attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot at around 3:30 am on Saturday. The siege ended with the gunning down of the five terrorists. The attack has emerged as the first major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to revive dialogue with Pakistan. While governments in both India and Pakistan were quick to condemn the attack as a cowardly act by those against peace in the region, opposition parties in India criticised Modi's foreign policy. Speaking at an event in Mysuru, Modi said the attack was carried out by "enemies of humanity who can't see India progress" and expressed "pride" in the security forces for not letting the terrorists succeed. On the other hand, Congress said the attack came a week after Modi visited Lahore where ISI, intelligence agency of Pakistan, continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. "It is a matter of serious concern. Will the Prime Minister take up the issue with Pakistan now that he has recently visited Pakistan," asked Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. While Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi said it was too early to comment on the issue, Islamabad denied the charges of alleged involvement of Pakistani establishment in the attack and said it would continue to support the talks with India. "Pakistan condemns terrorist incident in Pathankot in which many precious lives have been lost. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other countries in the region to eradicate the menace of terror," Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad said in a statement. Keeping India's powder dry, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs at South Block. However, top ministers in Modi government refrained from criticising or blaming Pakistani official establishment for the attack. Kiran Rijiju, junior minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs, confined himself to saying that India had credible information that the attackers were sponsored by "some elements" from across the border. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar, speaking at the BJP headquarters, said after Modi's Lahore initiative, the onus was on Pakistan to keep its solemn promise to India that it would not allow its land to be used for terrorism. "This process (talks) cannot be destroyed due to one attack... Pakistan is our neighbour. You cannot change your neighbour, you can change friends. And therefore, we must continue with the talks but talks have to be mainly on the issue of terrorism," Javadekar said. The terrorists were reportedly members of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. They entered India and communicated with Pakistan - Indian intelligence traced four phone calls between the militants in Pathankot and Pakistan handlers between 12:35 am and 1:40 am on Saturday. Before that, they had hijacked a police officer's car and driven it to the heavily guarded base - tactics used in earlier attacks by Pakistani-trained militants. Wearing army fatigues, the militants managed to enter the Pathankot air base in Punjab. Once inside, they opened fire indiscriminately. Security agencies were trying to locate the exact point from where these terrorists entered India. The Jammu and Kashmir border is under a thick snow blanket and the Line of Control is guarded by the Army in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts while the International Border (IB) is guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). In recent times, Punjab has become the new target of militant attacks. Late last year, a police station in Gurdaspur was attacked in a similar manner. Security experts in India suspect if some domestic extremist groups have aided Pakistani militants in these attacks. However, so far, there is no evidence of any local involvement in this attack. In the first week of October, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, Nand Kumar Chouhan, coined a slogan "Dus saal bemisaal (Ten incomparable years)" to mark Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's decade in office on November 29. He announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been requested to address a gathering of 1,058 BJP legislators invited from across the country that day. Just as the local BJP unit was about to raise a toast to Chouhan, reports started trickling into Bhopal that the state was likely to witness its worst drought in living memory. Chouhan, recovering from opposition attacks over his alleged involvement in the Vyapam entrance examination scandal, urged party members to drop the celebration plan and join farmers in the field. He also asked senior bureaucrats to meet farmers and come up with suggestions about what could be done for them. After a month-long exercise of field visits and a series of discussions with experts and officials, Chouhan readied a blueprint for the next phase of his farm reforms. "It was incorrectly reported in the media that bureaucrats were sent to survey fields to estimate crop loss. In fact, they were deployed to discuss with farmers how the state government could mitigate their losses," says Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anthony De Sa. Chouhan called a special Assembly session on November 5 to announce immediate relief of about Rs 3,000 crore to farmers. As farmers began preparing for the Rabi season, the chorus at the party headquarters resumed celebrating Chouhan's 10 years in office. But more trouble was in store. On November 24, BJP faced a crushing defeat in the byelection for the Jhabua Lok Sabha seat. The results came as a question mark on Chouhan's development agenda and farm reforms. Another incident in Barwani district in December cast doubts on the government's claims of improved health care in the state. Forty-five people lost their sight due to negligence at an eye camp conducted by the district hospital. Prima facie, the eye solution was faulty. A team of doctors sent from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi failed to undo the damage. Chouhan has been doing all he can to repair his image damaged by the Vyapam scam. When the controversy seemed to be ebbing, he shifted his focus to the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan organised in August and Simhastha 2016 in the temple town of Ujjain. All this while he has been persistently highlighting his preoccupation with agriculture. "Had I not introduced farm sector reforms during my regime, the situation might have been worse," Chouhan told the media. He is galvanising the state machinery so that this year, too, farm growth remains in the double digits. But the growth rates have been challenged by opponents, such as former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who claim the numbers might be fudged. Madhya Pradesh's agriculture growth was 18.9 per cent (provisional estimates) in 2011-12, 20.44 per cent (quick estimates) in 2012-13 and 22.43 per cent (advance estimates) in 2013-14. The gross state domestic product at constant prices grew 8.7 per cent in 2013-14, 9.48 per cent in 2013-14, and 10.19 per cent in 2014-15 (advance estimates). "It was mainly due to better seed replacement, promotion of farm methods like ridge and furrow, and use of better farm techniques. Also our fertiliser consumption has gone up. It has contributed in per hectare production growth though acreage remains almost the same," an official in the state agriculture department said. The state's net irrigated area was 8,550,000 hectares in 2012-13. This went up to 9,554,000 hectares in 2013-14. "We will cover an area of 40 lakh (four million) hectares from the existing 23 lakh (2.3 million) hectares by 2018," Chouhan had said in an interview to Business Standard recently. Besides farm growth, his policies like the Rs 150 bonus on purchase of every quintal of wheat, earned Chouhan and his party handsome dividends during the Assembly and general elections. The state government has hosted several investor summits that have committed Rs 6,00,000-crore investment. After a recent meeting with Anil Ambani, Chouhan said he expected investments of Rs 40,000 crore. He has also earned an assurance of Rs 12,000 crore from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Bhopal and Indore Metro rail projects. The state generates 14,000 Mw of electricity and the government is planning to add 3,000 Mw of solar and wind power. "Our target is to achieve at 17,000 Mw by 2020," says Rajendra Shukla, Madhya Pradesh's minister for energy. Yet the state's social indicators are alarming. The state has the highest number of malnourished children in the country - 42.5 per cent of children under five. In a sample report for 2014 the state registered the highest infant mortality in the country - 54 among 1,000 live births against the national rate of 40. Dropouts are low in primary and middle school at 6.4 per cent, but this climbs to 24 per cent among boys and 27 per cent among girls in higher secondary school. The state reported 6,346 incidents of juvenile crime, a fifth of all the cases in the country. A politician known for his common touch, Chouhan is now focusing on agri-markets and a home-grown crop insurance scheme. In perishables, he is exploring milk and horticulture routes, and is trying to set up mini-food processing units in villages. "If we can put up these food processing units that run on locally available raw material we will be able to plug gaps in the value chain," says De Sa. While almost half the state is yet to recover from this year's drought, Chouhan has asked departments to prune 15 per cent of their budgets so that he can assure farmers they will not be left in the lurch. Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu said that the government is ready to hold a special session of the Parliament to pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, and to walk the extra mile to take the opposition on board to build a new resurgent India. Flagging off the first set of Metro rolling stock for Kochi Metro Rail project, he said that the passage of GST Bill during the coming Budget session can be the first positive assertion of this collective will for building a new India. He sought the Congress party to give away the negativity it showed in 2015 and come out with positive approach to build the nation in the new year. The Constitution Amendment Bill to roll out GST has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha owing to the protest by the main opposition party, while the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) does not have the majority to pass the bill. Commenting on the criticism of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram putting the onus of the standoff on the government, Naidu said that it was the Congress which did not allow the passage of the bill and the opposition was dodgy on such an important issue. Parliament was virtually made dysfunctional during the Monsoon and Wnter sessions of last year and GST Bill was the major victim of this negativity. Introduction of GST would make a substantial difference to the way business is done in India. "Unfortunately, the original authors of this major reform did not see the urgency in making this a reality," he added. Detailing on the government's efforts in 2015, he said that it has fixed problems of urban India with some well thought out initiatives including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission. In 2015, the government also discussed and decided on streamlining approvals for construction projects in Urban areas by improving the ease of doing business. In new year 2016, urban local bodies, states and the Union Government need to walk the talk by collectively striving for effective implementation of urban projects, he said, flagging off the first set of rolling stock. Alstom was awarded a contract to supply 25 state-of-the-art Metropolis train sets to Kochi Metro. As per the contract, Alstom is responsible for the design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the standard track gauge trains. Each train will be composed of 3 cars, about 65 m long and with a capacity to carry up to 975 passengers, said Alstom. JM Financial Credit Solutions Ltd, the commercial real estate financing arm of JM group, plans to raise about Rs 1,000 crore through a mix of debentures and loans for funding business growth. Rating agency ICRA has assigned AA stable rating for non-convertible debentures and long-term bank facilities, enhanced from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore. The non-banking company is a joint venture between JM Financial group and INH Mauritius 1 (The Fund), a global fund led by former Citibank chief executive Vikram Pandit and associates. The company started its operations in the second half of 2014-15 after JM and Pandit-led fund infused Rs 900 crore capital in the company. The JM group brought in Rs 360 crore, while the Fund infused Rs 540 crore. The lending book of NBFC rose to Rs 2,877 crore as in September 2015 from Rs 1,844 crore as on March 15 with about 96 per cent of the exposures being to the commercial real estate segment. This entity is expected to become one of the largest in terms of revenue and asset base for the group with focus on commercial real estate lending which is a key segment for the group, ICRA said. JM Financial Credit Solutions Limited is a subsidiary of JM Financial Limited, which at present has 99.9997 per cent stake in the company. However, post the conversion of the preferential shares, the stake is expected to decline to 50.01 per cent. The stake of the fund INH Mautitius 1 would move to cap of 49.99 per cent. The JM group would retain management control and at no point of time in the future is it envisaged that INH Maurititus 1 will take over management control or control of the BoD of JMFCSL. The company reported a net profit of Rs 88 crore in H1FY16 on a total income of Rs 224 crore as compared to a net profit of Rs 49 crore in FY15 on a total income of Rs 104 crore. As on September 15, the companys net worth was Rs 1,027 crore. PM condemns terror attack in Pathankot, says evil designs of Indias enemies will never succeed PM visits Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysuru, attends Centenary Celebrations of Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswami ji of Sri Suttur Math. . Strongly condemning the terror attack in Pathankot today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that enemies of humanity who cannot see the nation succeed, had attempted to cause harm to the Indian Armed Forces. He appreciated the Armed Forces for successfully defeating the designs of the terrorists, and paid homage to the jawans who were martyred during the operation. He said he is proud of the jawans and the security forces. The Prime Minister said that the nation stood united against these enemies and therefore their evil designs would never succeed. The Prime Minister was speaking at a public meeting for the inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations of His Holiness Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math at Maharaja College ground in Mysuru. . . Earlier, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Mysuru today. He was received at Mysuru airport by the Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, and the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah. . . The Prime Minister visited the Avadhoota Datta Peetham, where he met His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. He visited the Datta Temple and was conferred the Peetham honours. Addressing the gathering there, the Prime Minister said that sages and saints in India do a lot of work for society which is not fully appreciated. In this context he appreciated the work of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham. The Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala was present. . . The Prime Minister inaugurated the Centenary Celebrations of His Holiness Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math, at Maharaja College Ground in Mysuru. He unveiled a foundation stone for a Knowledge Research Centre to mark the occasion. Addressing a large gathering, he said that Saint Basaveshwara had showed the path of social reform centuries ago. He recalled that he had the great fortune to unveil a statue of Shri Basaveshwara in London recently. The Prime Minister said that Indian society was unique because social reformers arose from it time and again, to reform society, and fight social evils. He said it was the social reform movements of the 18th and 19th century that laid the foundation for India's successful freedom movement in the 20th century. . . The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is the century of knowledge, and the country which focused on knowledge and innovation would lead the world in this century. He appreciated Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji, for his Initiative of the Knowledge Resource Centre. . . The Prime Minister recalled the recent meeting of the CoP-21 in Paris, and the initiatives of Mission Innovation" and International Solar Alliance" taken there, in which India had played a leading role. . . The Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah and Union Ministers Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda were present on the occasion. . . The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley calls upon the young officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) to maintain absolute standards of ethics and 100% integrity; asks them to emulate the Gandhian principle that even in moments of struggle, they should be in a position to maintain the position of ethics and morality on their side . . The Union Minister of Finance Corporate Affairs and Information Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley asked the young Officer Trainees (OTs) of the 67th Batch of Officer Trainees (OTs) of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) to emulate the Gandhian principle that even in moments of struggle, they should be in a position to maintain the position of ethics and morality on their side. He said that even when facing pulls and pressures, they must never forget to go straight. The Finance Minister told the Officer Trainees that if they maintain absolute standards of ethics and 100% integrity, they would definitely go a long way. All this was to be accompanied with professional competence and a judicious and fair approach in tax collection, he added. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was addressing the 67th Batch of Officer Trainees (OTs) of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) here today. The function was attended among others by the Chairman, CBEC Shri Najib Shah, Shri Ram Tirath, Shri P.K.Bansal,and Ms Ananya Ray, all Members, CBEC and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance and CBEC. . . The Union Minister of Finance Corporate Affairs and Information Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley further that the taxation should not be a painful process for the people. Ideally, the Minister said that the Government should collection taxes like a honeybee, which sucks just the right amount of honey from the flower so that both can survive,. Shri Jaitley also mentioned that the starting point of any activity is investment and the purpose of investment is to yield profitability. And in this process, he said that the investors work out the element of taxability and this tax content which is generated as revenue is used for infrastructure and for fulfilling the social responsibilities of the State as well as to yield more economic activity. And for this, the Finance Minister in his address to the OTs indicated the road map for the future. He wanted them to retain the idealism which they inculcated at the time of joining the service to be retained with the same enthusiasm at the time when they are retiring from Service. For this, the Finance Minister said that they need to have the basic cardinal principle of striving for excellence. Earlier, the Officer Trainees (OTs) of 67th Batch qualified the Civil Service Exam 2014 have joined the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise Service) on 28th Dec 2015. 190 officer trainees have reported for training including 25 officers of the earlier batch who had availed of extra ordinary leave. There are also five customs officers from the Royal Govt. of Bhutan who are training with this Batch. The educational qualifications of the OTs varies from engineering degrees to doctors to post graduate degree holders and graduates in the field of humanities science and commerce besides management and law graduates and a Ph D. The batch is truly representative of the States of India covering Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to Manipur and Nagaland. The largest representation come from the state of Rajasthan followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Their age profile varies from 24 years to 35 years. . . Their training includes class room training in Customs, Central Excise, Service Tax and Narcotics besides Public Finance and Policy, Foreign Trade Policy, International Conventions, Administrative Law and other related laws including those relating to protection of the environment, heritage of India, national security etc. Besides they are exposed to on the job training in the various field formations of Customs, Excise and Service Tax and also training with para military forces, like BSF, ITBP, Coast Guard, Indian Navy to learn the finer aspects of Border Management and National Security. They are also sent to a leading university abroad for a weeks training on leadership and public policy and to acquaint with international best practices. . . He woke to the cry of the morning janitor. "Put your shoes on!" she said. "Put your shoes on!" She rattled a chair. "This isn't your house! Sit up!" Ding Xinfeng's eyes blinked open. Dawn had yet to break, but inside a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant in central Beijing, more than a dozen homeless people had begun their daily routines. Ding lifted his head, revealing a mess of food stains and decorative slogans on the table in front of him. "Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen," one read. Ding could not read the English, but he said he liked the warmth of this table, in this corner, in the peace of McDonald's, the place he had called home for several years. Every night across East Asia, in major cities like Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo, an invisible class of people - shut out of shelter systems, scorned by their families, down on their luck - turn to a beacon of Americana for a warm, dry place to sleep. By day, the McDonald's restaurants host birthday parties and book clubs. By night, when the floors have been mopped a final time and the pop music turned down, they become sanctuaries for the downtrodden, who pounce on half-eaten hamburgers and stale French fries, and stake out prized sleeping spots in padded booths. Often called McRefugees, they vanish at sunrise, some combing their hair with plastic forks before slinking outside into the masses. On an austere November morning, as the wind howled outside, Ding's McDonald's began to fill up with schoolchildren, yam sellers, retirees armed with chess pieces and red-eyed street patrolmen. He began to circle, making his pitch for donations. "My family has begged for food since the Ming dynasty," he said. "I'm the 19th generation. There will be no beggars in China after I'm dead." A man offered a newspaper. A woman gave 50 cents. A young girl extended a French fry. Ding returned to his seat, opened the newspaper, and began studying the lottery numbers, searching for patterns. While other restaurants might kick them out, McDonald's generally embraces wanderers like Ding, who have flocked to the chain as it has rolled out more 24-hour locations in Asia. More than half of the 2,200 McDonald's restaurants in mainland China are now open 24 hours a day. McDonald's has spent decades cultivating an image of community here, building bright, stylish restaurants and adjusting menus to local tastes. In addition to the standard burgers and fries, the Beijing outlets serve taro pies and soy milk with fried bread. Many restaurants have become neighborhood institutions, symbols of status and cleanliness, popular spots for study groups, business meetings and leisurely chats. "McDonald's welcomes everyone to visit our restaurants anytime," said Regina Hui, a spokeswoman for McDonald's in China. How welcoming is up to each franchise owner, the company says. "We are definitely a welcoming place, but I wouldn't call it a policy," Becca Hary, a spokeswoman at the company's headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., wrote in an email. Tension over when that welcome is overstayed has long been an issue for McDonald's around the world. In 2014, a McDonald's in New York Citycalled the police to remove a group of older Korean patrons who had turned the restaurant into a social club, spending more time than money. And a McDonald's in Manchester, England, came under fire last year for refusing to serve a customer who wore dirty clothing, thinking he was homeless. In Hong Kong, Stevix Ho, a McDonald's manager, said he had to contend with a crowd of heroin addicts who appeared to have severe mental illness. 2016 The New York Times News Service A group of light armoured vehicles skated over the moonscape of the Sahara, part of one of the largest detachments the French military has deployed here since colonial times. Its mission is growing ever more urgent: to cut smuggling routes used by jihadists who have turned this inhospitable terrain into a sprawling security challenge for African and forces alike. Many of the extremist groups are affiliates of Al Qaeda, which has had roots in North Africa since the 1990s. With the recent introduction of Islamic State franchises, the jihadist push has been marked by increasing, sometimes heated, competition. But, analysts and military officials say, there is also deepening collaboration among groups using modern communications and a sophisticated system of roving trainers to share military tactics, media strategies and ways of transferring money. Their threat has grown as Libya - with its ungoverned spaces, oil, ports, and proximity to Europe and the Middle East - becomes a budding hub of operations for both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State to reach deeper into Africa. And as Africa's jihadists come under the wing of distant and more powerful patrons, officials fear that they are extending their reach and stitching together their ambitions, turning once-local actors into pan-national threats. The November 20 assault on the Radisson Blu hotel that killed at least 19 people in Bamako, Mali's capital, was just one of the more spectacular recent examples of the ability of these groups to sow deadly mayhem. Across the region, hundreds of people have been killed in terrorist attacks in the past year. Gen. David M Rodriguez, who heads the United States Africa Command, warned in a congressional statement in March of an "increasingly cohesive network of Al Qaeda affiliates and adherents" that "continues to exploit Africa's undergoverned regions and porous borders to train and conduct attacks." "Terrorists with allegiances to multiple groups are expanding their collaboration in recruitment, financing, training and operations, both within Africa and transregionally," General Rodriguez warned months before the Mali attack. The transfer of expertise can be witnessed in the spread of suicide bombings in Libya, Tunisia and Chad and in the growing use of improvised explosive devices in Mali, analysts and officials pointed out. Such exchanges have been enhanced as groups shift shape, sometimes merge, and come under the wing of more powerful and distant patrons. In one instance, two of the longest-standing North African groups, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al Mourabitoun, after a long publicised split, announced that they had reunited and that the Bamako hotel attack was their first joint venture. The leaders of the two groups - Abdelmalek Droukdel and Mokhtar Belmokhtar, both Algerians - have loyalties that reach far beyond Africa, however.As does Seifallah Ben Hassine, leader of Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia, the organisation believed to be behind three deadly attacks in Tunisia last year, including a massacre of 38 people at a beach resort in June and an attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March that left 22 dead. All three men are veterans of fighting in Afghanistan in the 1980s, swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden and now profess loyalty to Al Qaeda's current leader, Ayman al-Zawahri. Droukdel, routed by French forces in Mali in 2013, is reportedly holed up in the mountains in southern Algeria. Belmokhtar and Ben Hassine have made rear bases in Libya, where they have been targeted by American airstrikes. Today, despite French and American efforts to disrupt their networks, they still stretch across the continent. To keep the pressure on the jihadists and help resist the threat, France has installed 3,500 troops across 10 bases and outposts in five vulnerable countries - Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad. The recent French patrol, tiny dots in the Sahara's expanse of dunes and blackened rock, included 30-ton supply trucks carrying food and fuel, armoured vehicles mounted with 80-millimeter cannons and a medical truck. Similarly, American Special Operations Forces are working in Niger, and last year President Obama ordered 300 United States troops to Cameroon to help defend against the Nigerian Islamist movement Boko Haram, which has spread across borders. French troops have led repeated operations to break communication and supply lines from Libya that have fortified such groups. The November operation was part of coordinated maneuvers in eastern Mali and northern Niger to try to disrupt jihadist links between the two nations. The smuggling route patrolled by the French is one of the main arteries for jihadists, arms and drugs. French troops call it the "autoroute" to southern Libya, which they describe as a "big supermarket" for weapons. The route crosses one of the most remote places on earth. Devoid of human habitation or water for hundreds of miles, it is a treacherous terrain of unbearable heat in the summer and nearly impossible navigation. Yet small convoys of smugglers attempt the crossing several times a week. For the French, it is like looking for a tiny craft in an ocean, said Lt Col Etienne du Peyroux, the commanding officer leading the Niger operation. "It is like a naval battle," he said, sketching out the hunt on maps on the hood of his desert jeep. "The zone of operations is 40,000 square kilometers, an area the size of Holland, for 300 men." "We try to find them, to block, to constrain, to work out how they will be channelled by a particular piece of terrain," he said. The French rarely catch anyone. But, they say, their operations are at least disrupting the jihadists' movements, evidenced by a drop in traffic and tracks in the sand showing smugglers' vehicles having turned back. 2016 The New York Times News Service Entertainment / Music by Entertainment Reporter In colloquial Shona they say "Mupei sando dzake" to mean who the cap fits let them wear it. This is to say give credit where it is due.Honest Kamanga popularly known as Madalaboy or simply Dallas has through his latest album made a declaration of himself as the deserving king of Tshova Tshova music or Kalanga - Ndebele rhumba.Entitled Ikatali Kubanikazi Madalaboy's offering tells other fellow rhumba musicians to leave the guitar to him as the king of the local rhythm. The production undoubtedly confirms the founder of now split Ndolwane Super Sounds as the godfather of Kalanga music.The six track album is presented in the most unique style from the usual rhythm. Instead of having the lead guitar being the lead in the music, the veteran musician adds diversity by allowing the twin rhythm guitars to detect the songs giving a completely different style which allows the dancers to easily match their dances to the songs.Out to top the album is track number 5 titled Gwakajalo, a Kalanga message to say things are exactly as they are. The song has a unique beat led by Anele Dube on rhythm guitar and Handsome Kamanga on sub rhythm ably complimented by Mahlasela Dube on Bass guitar and Madalaboy on lead, the song is certainly in a class of it's own.Title track, Ikatali Kubanikazi, is undoubtedly one that must have taken rhumba lovers to a new level of the music over the festive season. The song indeed declares Madalaboy as deserving to be allowed to own the guitar crown of rhumba music with its unique mid tempo rhythm.Backed by the Grace Chapel Music Team, track number 6 "Akehlulwa Lutho" gives a perfect icing to the album. The song confirms the long journey the legendary musician has come in the industry and rightfully so thanking divine intervention for keeping the group intact through all the trying times.In his message to the fans, Dallas invites Tshova Tshova music fans to help promote the artists by buying the original music from genuine dealers. He gives credit to his long time sponsor Pastor Acts Aota for continuously helping the group record it's music.Aota equally called on the people from the Matabeleland regions to start appreciating music from the local artists who play second fiddle to other musicians due to lack of support from the locals. Aota also called on local broadcasters to give a balance in the airtime to all musicians from around the country.Ikatali kubanikazi is certainly bound to be one of the few albums by an artist from the South Western region of the country to have a nationwide appeal.The album was recorded at KB Studios in Johannesburg with all six songs composed by none other than the king himself Honest "Madalaboy" Kamanga. Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric alongside dozens of al Qaeda members on Saturday signalling intolerance of jihadism and minority Shi'ite Muslim violence and stirring a rise in sectarian tensions across the region. Most of the 47 executed were convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago, but four, including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, were Shi'ite Muslims accused of shooting policemen during anti-government protests in recent years. The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom's Sharia Islamic law. Riyadh's main regional rival Iran and its Shi'ite allies immediately reacted with vigorous condemnation of the execution of Nimr, and Saudi police raised security in a district where the sect is a majority in case of protests, residents said. The executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers in the kingdom to stage attacks. The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. The 43 Sunni jihadists executed included several prominent al Qaeda figures, including those convicted of responsibility for attacks on Western compounds, government buildings and diplomatic missions that killed hundreds from 2003-06. However, the execution of four Shi'ites, including Nimr, who were convicted of shooting and petrol bomb attacks that killed several policemen during anti-government protests in Qatif district from 2011-13, provoked an immediate response abroad. A top Iranian cleric warned the kingdom's Al Saud ruling family would be "wiped from the pages of history", Yemen's Houthi group described Nimr as a "holy warrior" and Lebanese militia Hezbollah said Riyadh had made "a grave mistake". Saudi police increased security in Qatif district of Eastern Province, residents said, a Shi'ite majority area and site of the protests from 2011-13 in which several police as well as over 20 local demonstrators were shot dead. Bahrain police fired tear gas at several dozen people protesting against the execution of Nimr, a witness said. In a statement issued on state television and other official media, the Interior Ministry named the dead men and listed crimes that included both involvement in attacks and embracing jihadist ideology. Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to the Interior Ministry, commented: "There is a huge popular pressure on the government to punish those people. It included all the leaders of al Qaeda, all the ones responsible for shedding blood. It sends a message." Analysts have speculated that the execution of the four Shi'ites was partly to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia's majority Sunni Muslims that the government did not differentiate between political violence committed by members of the two sects. However, human rights groups have consistently attacked the kingdom's judicial process as unfair, pointing to accusations that confessions have been secured under torture and that defendents in court have been denied access to lawyers. Riyadh denies practising torture, rejects criticism of its legal process and says its judiciary is independent. The conservative Islamic kingdom, which usually executes people by public beheading, detained thousands of militant Islamists after the 2003-06 al Qaeda attacks, and has convicted hundreds of them. However, it also detained hundreds of members of its Shi'ite minority after protests from 2011-13, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. Crippled by cash crunch, huge debt and less export demand, the Indian textile industry has welcomed amended technology upgradation funds scheme (ATUFS) approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday. The ATUFS is a diluted version of Revised Restructured TUFS (RR- TUFS) which was introduced for the 12th Plan Period between 2012 and 17 under which 5 per cent of interest subsidy was granted for textile players. Under the ATUFS, however, the government has made a fresh allocation of Rs 5,151 crore as one time capital subsidy for new investment in addition to a marginal increase on limited liability to the tune of Rs 3,381 crore for the next five years. The government, however, claims that the ATUFS would attract an investment of over Rs 1,00,000 crore and general employment of three million during this period. "The approval has come as a great relief to the industry especially when the exports were declining in textile and apparel sector. The focus on employment generation and export under the new TUFS by encouraging apparel and garment industry and promotion of technical textile sector, is indeed a welcome step which will help in furthering the cause of Make in India," said Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, FICCI Textiles and Technical Textiles Committee. In its earlier version as RR-TUFS, the government had allocated a total budgetary provision of Rs 11,952 crore for the period between 2012 and 17 for attracting an investment of Rs 1,51,000 crore. Out of this, however, Rs 9290 crore was meant for "limited liability" and Rs 2,662 crore for "new investment". Welcoming the move, Naishadh Parikh, Chairman of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said, "We deeply appreciate Union Cabinet's decision approving budget for the committed liabilities for investment already made by the textile industry, which has been suspended and pending for almost nine months. CITI welcomes the launch a new scheme which could trigger the growth of textile manufacturing in India." The textile ministry clarified that the amount allocated under "new investment" got exhausted and hence, the industry approached the ministry of finance for its enhancement. Interestingly, of the total budgetary allocations for 12th Plan Period, an overall budgetary allocation was made to the tune of Rs 8,997 crore of which a sum of Rs 6,641.49 crore was released as of September 30, 2015. "The launch of TUFS is a good move by the government which clears uncertainty. In the earlier version, the government made a provision of interest subsidy on capital investment which was for the entire period of loan tenure. This scheme, investors would avail one time benefit and bear the rest," said R K Dalmia, Chairman, Chairman of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil). The scheme, since its inception in April 1999, has propelled investment of more than Rs 2,71,480 crore till date and an amount of Rs 21,346.91 crore has been released towards subsidy under the scheme. But another Rs 4,500 crore disbursal needed for the period in which the scheme remained discontinued. The Patiala House Court on Saturday extended the police custody of ex-IAF airman Ranjit till January 4. Earlier, a team of Delhi Police had arrested him from Punjab for his alleged links with Pakistan's ISI. The officer from Kerala, was allegedly 'honey trapped' into carrying out an espionage operation by a woman whom he met through a social networking site. He was posted at the Bathinda Air Force station close to the India-Pakistan border in the rank of Leading Aircraft Man. Ranjit was earlier brought to the Patiala House Court and he was sent to a four-day police custody. Condemning the attack on the Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday pointed out that friendship and terror cannot go hand in hand. "We condemn the attack. Our Air Force needs a salute for fighting them off immediately. How they entered the place needs to be investigated. I think our Home Minister has rightly said that India will give back a befitting reply. Congress has tried to politicise the matter. We are certain that friendship and terror cannot go together," Javadekar told ANI. Echoing similar sentiments, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, said India's forces were efficient in combating terrorists, but such situations and eventualities needed to be monitored and prevented more efficiently. "It is not right to talk on these kinds of issues, as it is related to security. The concerned agencies have taken cognizance. Elements who cannot stand peace, carry out such attacks from time to time, but the peace process has a strength of its own," Singh said. Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia has accused the government of snatching voting rights in municipal polls on Wednesday by using the administration, law enforcers and presiding officers. According to The Daily Star, Zia said that the government used the administration, law enforcers and presiding officers as their own party members and threatened them to work in their favour. The BNP chief's remarks came at an address at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka. The programme was organised by BNP's student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), marking its 37th founding anniversary. Zia said that the polls showed that free and fair election is not possible under the "Hasina-Rakib administration". Zia also rejected the results of the polls, urging her party members not to be disappointed and assured that free and fair elections would be held in future. Police on Saturday arrested Howrah-Amritsar Express gang rape case accused jawans Pankaj Kumar and Balak Kumar Yadav from Guwahati Airport. Both are accused of raping a teenager inside a military-designated compartment of the train. Another army jawan, Manjiris Tripathi, who is accused for forcing the victim to consume alcohol, is already in police custody. Tripathi was arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) from Madhupur Railway Station. The victim, who has fled from her home, boarded the compartment at Howrah station and was later gang raped by the army men inside a compartment of the moving train. The girl was found from the compartment when Railway Protection Force (RPF) raided the train at Madhupur Railway Station on receiving a message from RPF Howrah. Terming the Pathankot terror attack as "unfortunate", Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said India has credible information that the attackers were sponsored by some elements from across the border. "We have credible information about this (attackers) being sponsored by some elements from across the border, but our security forces have done a commendable job by eliminating all the terrorists involved in this particular operation," he said. Various central agencies were coordinating with the Punjab Police, he said when asked about an update on the ongoing combing operation. Meanwhile, a high-level meeting between the three service chiefs and Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has begun at the South Block here. In the operation that started in the morning at 3.30 a.m., four terrorists and three security personnel were killed, while six other injured have been admitted to a hospital. The Karachi Police's Counter terrorism department arrested a militant of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for recruiting young men and deporting them to Syria. Array During the initial investigation, it was revealed by the suspect of sending three young men to Syria and one among them has been killed, reports the Dawn. The suspect belonged to the banned Jundullah (Haji Aqakhel group) and was collecting funds for the IS in Karachi and Quetta. Meanwhile, the Rangers claimed to have detained two suspected militants belonging to a banned group. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the five-day 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Mysore, Karnataka, on Sunday. The theme of the ISC this year is " for Indigenous Development in India". Modi will also present 28 awards, including six gold medals to Nobel Laureates, ISCA Best Oral Presenter, ISCA Best Poster, ISCA Young Scientists, C V Raman Birth Centenary Award at the event, which is being held at University of Mysore. and Earth Sciences Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will unveil the Indian Science Congress Mega Expo "Pride of India-Frontier Science and Technologies". This Pride of India exhibition is open to the general public on all the five days. Cultural events will be held in the evenings from 7 pm to 8.30 pm from January 3. The Pride of India Expo is spread over an area of 15000 square meters and over 180 organisations are participating in it. The Prime Minister will also visit the Hall of Pride (HoP), which is dedicated to eminent scientists and technologists who have contributed immensely towards the progress and welfare of the nation. This year, the hall will be dedicated to former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. Genes is one day symposium that will bring scientists, industrialists, academicians and policy makers on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities. Vijyan Jyoti or the flame of knowledge is a novel initiative of MM Active to introduce pure science as a career choice amongst the youth and encourage them to opt for this career. The 5th Women's Science Congress will be inaugurated by HRD Minster Smriti Zubin Irani at the Crawford Hall on January 4. The 9th Science Communicators Meet will focus on the theme " for Indigenous Development in India". This meet will have three sessions and will be inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Prof Dass Shecthman on January 4 at 3 pm. 100 eminent scientists and 400 senior scientists are delivering 30 plenary talks on subjects like nano science, space science, technology and applications, diabetes, evolution: the frontiers, atomic energy, safe water and sanitation, diseases and drug development, public-private partnership for the swachh bharat mission initiative. Bharat Ratna Prof C N R Rao will deliver the Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya Lecture on 'Doing Science in India,' Noble Laureates Prof Arthur B McDonald, USA, Prof Dan Schetman, Israel, Sir John Gurdan, UK, Prof Serge Haroche, France, Prof David J Gross, USA and Fields Medalist Prof Manjul Bhargava will be the speakers on January 3 at a special panel discussion on the topic Science and Technology: Present and Future. The Indian Science Congress is being hosted in Karnataka after 13 years and in Mysuru after 34 years. The preparations are in full swing as the whole of Manasagangotri campus is geared up to receive nearly 15,000 delegates from all over the country and abroad. The Governor of Karnataka,.Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramiah and other dignitaries from central and state government will also participate in the inaugural session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the five-day 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Mysore, Karnataka, on Sunday. The theme of the ISC this year is "Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India". Modi will also present 28 awards, including six gold medals to Nobel Laureates, ISCA Best Oral Presenter, ISCA Best Poster, ISCA Young Scientists, C. V. Raman Birth Centenary Award at the event, which is being held at University of Mysore. Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan will unveil the Indian Science Congress Mega Expo "Pride of India-Frontier Science and Technologies". This Pride of India exhibition is open to the general public on all the five days. Cultural events will be held in the evenings from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. from January 3. The Pride of India Expo is spread over an area of 15000 square meters and over 180 organisations are participating in it. The Prime Minister will also visit the Hall of Pride (HoP), which is dedicated to eminent scientists and technologists who have contributed immensely towards the progress and welfare of the nation. This year, the hall will be dedicated to former president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. Genes is one day symposium that will bring scientists, industrialists, academicians and policy makers on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities. Vijyan Jyoti or the flame of knowledge is a novel initiative of MM Active to introduce pure science as a career choice amongst the youth and encourage them to opt for this career. The 5th Women's Science Congress will be inaugurated by HRD Minster Smriti Zubin Irani at the Crawford Hall on January 4. The 9th Science Communicators Meet will focus on the theme "Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India". This meet will have three sessions and will be inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Prof. Dass Shecthman on January 4 at 3 p.m. Array 100 eminent scientists and 400 senior scientists are delivering 30 plenary talks on subjects like nano science, space science, technology and applications, diabetes, evolution: the frontiers, atomic energy, safe water and sanitation, diseases and drug development, public-private partnership for the swachh bharat mission initiative. Array Bharat Ratna Prof C.N.R. Rao will deliver the Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya Lecture on 'Doing Science in India,' Noble Laureates Prof Arthur B. McDonald, USA, Prof. Dan Schetman, Israel, Sir John Gurdan, UK, Prof Serge Haroche, France, Prof. David J Gross, USA and Fields Medalist Prof. Manjul Bhargava will be the speakers on January 3 at a special panel discussion on the topic Science and Technology: Present and Future. The Indian Science Congress is being hosted in Karnataka after 13 years and in Mysuru after 34 years. The preparations are in full swing as the whole of Manasagangotri campus is geared up to receive nearly 15,000 delegates from all over the country and abroad. The Governor of Karnataka,.Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramiah and other dignitaries from central and state government will also participate in the inaugural session. News / Africa by Tapiwa Diamond Chadya A child survivor of rubber bullets, but not tear gas. Photo by Chadya Tapiwa Diamond Shelter at last. Photo by Chadya Tapiwa Diamond Mosquito infested night life is better than sleeping in the farm veld. Photo by Chadya Tapiwa Diamond A child looks on as Gift of the Givers hands out parcels to the House of Hope - iThemba and ADWN community leaders. Photo by Chadya Tapiwa Diamond Ntate Moruti Chadya Tapiwa Diamond is a former student leader, Father, a Legal Practitioner, a Lecturer, a Researcher, a Political Analyst-cum-Activist, and is a man after God's heart like King David and serves as a resident Jnr. Pastor in the House of the Lord at Light House Ministries in Gauteng. He read law the University of KwaZulu Natal and is Researching towards an LLM. He concomitantly lives in the Natal Midlands and Johannesburg. He can be contacted on 27 (0)84 566 2756 or email him at diamondtapiwa@gmail.com,or twitter @mantronieqscie or like Tapiwa Diamond Chadya on facebook. He writes in his own personal capacity. The total emasculation of the migrant farm worker's labour, social and economic power has been complemented into a plan stratagem which inevitably beyond any reasonable doubt, trims down the farm workers' economic status to the level of Stone Age scavengers. Consequently, the farm labourers are auto-pilot vacant for manipulation, exploitation and abuse by brutal white commercial farmers and their cronies.What started as a normal routine negotiation for overtime ended up spelling disaster for more than 300 hundred Zimbabweans who were employed at Johannesburg Farm in Lephalale which is found in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. They stopped working at or about the 14th of September 2015 when they were brutally assaulted by the farm management. They have thus not received any remuneration or food ever since.The campaign to assist the migrants is headed by the House of Hope - iThemba, African Diaspora Workers Network (ADWN) and The Gift of the Givers. The Zimbabwean Consulate team also joined on the ground. The Gift of the Givers has donated food parcels and blankets and sanitary needs to the children and women.The farm housed more than 300 hundred Zimbabweans and the majority of them are undocumented. The farm owner used to apply and renew permits for the migrants, but has of late been negligent or neglected to renew them.The general farm workers used to work for a paltry R60 and supervisors would get R80 per day for a 12 hour shift. The owner of the farm increased the working hours to 11pm from the normal 5pm knock off time on a six day week. They were enslaved into a 17 hour working shift without prior consultation and consent. This took a toll on the employees as they were never paid for overtime. They consulted the management for clarity with regards to the overtime payment and they asked for a mere R10 as payment for the five hours overtime.This did not sit well with the employer who then gave them an ultimatum of five minutes to either go back to work or be summarily dismissed. It is shocking that the management was enraged by such a pathetic demand and took it into their hands to dismiss them. The legal minimum rate for farm workers is R120.32 per day. The owner fired shots in the air immediately and together with his security back up fired rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray and had dogs set on them. In this flee and fear encounter, the farm workers were brutally assaulted and the emergency services had their hands full on the day. The assaulted people included those in the vulnerable group who are pregnant women, the old and young children.After reporting to the police station, they were escorted back on the farm and the management promised to pay the wages which were due owing and payable. This promise has never been fulfilled since September 2015. Without food, electricity and water supplies, the farm workers survived on handouts and sharing the little they had. The farm owner categorically refused to reconnect electricity and waters supplies.In December 2015 the farm labourers found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when they had to choose between abandoning any hopes of getting paid and dying of hunger. They were again kicked off from the farm violently and with them suffering from hunger, dehydration they left their place of residence which had quickly become a health hazard.They have of late sought refuge at Villanova and Lephalale Police Stations, until they were housed at the Waterberg District Fire Station at Lephalale Fire Station. The Limpopo Emergency Disaster Management has offered shelter in form of tents, food and health services for the farm employees and they are always on standby.Of late it has been a norm that the majority of the farm labourer's rights are abused and they continue to be victimized. South Africa has clear cut policies and bylaws in the agricultural sector but the plight of the farm labourer is not resolved on the ground. There is a lot that needs to be done for farm workers as they are generally not aware of their rights and their employers are making a killing out of this lack of knowledge.It will be a travesty of justice for the employers to get away with such gross and inhumane abuse of human rights. The farm workers' labour rights are being butchered in South Africa. Those seeking to only put food on the table have fallen prey to the unrepentant employers.As the wheels of justice start to take course against the farm employer, the migrant employees will remain housed temporarily at the Lephalale Fire Station with few or no basic amenities. Luxury does not appear in these migrants' day to day dictionary, but the sun will set on those who abuse human rights.Special thanks to African Diaspora Workers Network, House of Hope - iThemba, The Gift of the Givers, The Lephalale Joint Committee on Migration, and Churches like Christ Ward Church in Maraphong and By Fire by Force, the Lephalale Community, the Zimbabwean Consulate, the SAPS and many others. May the community continue to support those in need.For more information contact Edward Muchatuta from House of Hope - iThemba on +27 74 727 9967 or +27 83 382 4156 or like their page on facebook on 'House of Hope IThemba'. A member of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Shahida Rehmani, has accused the interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of providing support to terrorists. According to The Dawn, Rehmani, also alleged that Chaudhry Nisar was running a network of corruption through handpicked revenue officers of the Punjab government. He said that Khan keeps making statements on his progress but the ground work speaks a lot about him. Other PPP leaders also lashed out at the interior minister for trespassing the Sindh government's authority. During his visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will witness the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) - one for the promotion of bilateral trade and the second for providing training services between the two countries. The governments of the two countries are keen to increase the volume of trade to one billion dollars from the current 350 million dollars, reports the Lanka Page web site. The first agreement will be signed by representatives of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Export Development Board. The second MoU will be signed by representatives of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design and the Sri Lankan Gems and Jewelry Training and Research Institute for imparting training to Pakistani students. Pakistan is also expected to increase the quota for rice exports to Sri Lanka from 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes and Sri Lanka will be increasing the export of tea and rubber to Pakistan. It will be a big breakthrough for the two countries, if they succeed in including services and investments in the FTA. Security forces had been on high alert since yesterday following the attack on a senior police officer, due to which the attack today morning near the Air Force base was contained in the non-operational area of the base ensuring the safety of the civials and protecting the Air Force equipments. Based on the developments of yesterday the Army had sounded an alert accordingly and placed 2 Army Columns, a Special Forces team in the Air Force Station prior to the attack today. A Security Guard team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans. The local Brigade Commander of Army is coordinating the operations and in addition, UAVs of the India Army & Indian Air Force have also been put into action to get inputs. Earlier today, around five militants in Army fatigue opened fire near the Air Force station here and a gunbattle occurred between the security forces and the attackers. Array The firing began at 3:30 am today and two militants have been killed so far in the heavy firing and the area has been cordoned off. The remaining terrorists have been cordoned to the domestic area of Air Force Station and the technical area of the airbase is safe. Meanwhile, top officials have convened an emergency meet at the Air Force Headquarters in Delhi and the situation is being monitored at the highest level. This attack comes a day after the Gurdaspur SP was allegedly kidnapped and beaten up by men in Army fatigues before being released. Following the attempted terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab, the Congress Party on Saturday asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take up the issue with his Pakistan counterpart. "It is a matter of serious concern. Will the Prime Minister take up the issue with Pakistan now that he has recently visited Pakistan?" asked Congress leader R.S. Surjewala. "How does the government propose to control and check terror coming from Pakistan? These are a few issues that Prime Minister Modi needs to address," he added. The Congress leaders also pointed out that terrorist exported from Pakistan were behind the attack in Pathankot. "First in Udhampur, then in Dinanagar in Gurudaspur and now in Pathankot. These terrorists wore army fatigues, they kidnapped vehicles and they consequently attack army or other sensitive installations," he said. Surjewala also said that now that in the winter season the infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir is not possible, the peaceful Punjab was being targeted by the terrorists. Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab has raised 'serious questions' from the security point of view, as also the need for Modi to restart talks with Pakistan. "A few days ago our Prime Minister Modi visited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and now this attack has taken place. It raises serious questions. We seriously need to ponder over the situation," Patel told ANI. Patel, however said that they (Congress) were with the government in its fight against terrorism, saying "we all must fight the threat together." "The Pathankot attack should be condemned outright, but merely criticising won't serve the purpose," he said. Array "I pay my condolence to the families of those who sacrificed their lives in service of this nation," he added. Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Saturday said the attempted terror strike in Pathankot, Punjab, was aimed at nixing the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, as also overall bilateral ties between the two nations. He said talks could leave an impact on the way the menace of terrorism is to be handled, but terror cannot influence talks. "We think this particular act of terror is aimed at defeating the talks and ties between India and Pakistan. But at the same time, we believe that sincere talks and ties between India and Pakistan will defeat terror and violence between the two countries. Talks will influence terror, terror cannot influence the talks," Para told ANI. "There is a design behind all these terrorist activities and all of us know that there is a Pakistan which is consistently showing an urge for peace, and within Pakistan, there is a segment which is showing consistent engagement on non-violence and terror," he added. Para also said there should be better ties to end terror between the two nations. Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. Sea-food lovers in West Bengal thronged a food festival to gorge on varied delicacies in Siliguri District on Friday. The festival has popular fish, prawn and crab dishes on offer. It started on December 31 and will continue till January 07. "We do not get to eat sea fish as these expensive fishes from distant markets do not come to our local fish market. I am glad to be here as I learnt preparation of these dishes. And as you can see, I am having fried prawns and pomfret," said a sea-food lover, Deepika Biswas. One of the organisers, Amit Tamang, said that the festival aimed at catering to the taste buds of sea-food loving Bengali population. "We have collected fish from everywhere, from around the sea. For the people of Siliguri or north Bengal, we have organised World Signature Sea Food Festival," said Tamang. There is a huge demand for sea-food across West Bengal where the local population is known for their love for fish. More people are expected to visit the festival in the coming days. In the wake of the terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base, security was on Saturday stepped up in the capital and several states. Security has been beefed up at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other vital installations here. A senior police official said vigil has also been heightened in several areas, including popular marketplaces, in South and Central Delhi and VIP movement zones in Lutyen's Delhi, with the Special Police Commissioner (Law and Order) taking stock of the situation. The official said sleuths of the Crime Branch and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police have also been roped in, and the security unit has been asked to form a strategy in connection with potential threats to VIPs in the capital. The local police have been asked to remain extra vigil and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team and quick response team have also been deployed in several parts of the city for quick response in cases an emergency situation arises. In the meantime, Punjab has been put on maximum alert, while security was also tightened in neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh. The Himachal Pradesh Police have beefed up security in Kangra, Chamba and Una districts, adjoining Punjab. Kandwal, Majra and Danghu areas of Kangra district are close to Pathankot town. Himachal's borders with Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have been sealed completely after the attack. Besides, additional police forces have been deployed at strategic entry points of Kangra, Chamba and Una districts along the interstate borders to keep vigil on any suspicious movement. Police patrolling has also been intensified and every vehicle entering in the state from interstate borders is being checked thoroughly. Several important installations su8ch as hydel power projects and historical temples are situated in Kangra, Chamba and Una districts. The president of the Punjab unit of the Congress party, Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday expressed disappointment over the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, saying it is a sad development. "It's sad that this has happened after some efforts were made to restore peace with Pakistan, which everyone wants, but obviously, it seems that there are some elements in Pakistan who don't want that to happen," Captain Singh told ANI. "What happened in Pathankot was obviously an attack on the aircraft and to destruct as many aircraft as possible. It was the vigilant santris and airmen of the Indian Air Force who stood their ground. Two of them have died but they didn't let any major damage take place," he said. Singh had in a earlier tweet said "Pathankot attack clearly aimed at sabotaging peace process. It is obviously rogue elements in Pakistan who need to be dealt with strongly." Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif said that the nation would witness the birth of peace and justice with an end to the terrorism in the New Year. The Army Chief was addressing tribal elders of Gwadar, Talar and Turbat areas of Makran division where he reiterated the need of 'national solidarity' to get rid of terrorism reports the Dawn. Raheel highlighted that the armed forces had been rendering great sacrifices for the cause of peace and stability in the country. The army chief briefed the potential of Balochistan as a hub for trade in the region. Moreover, the Army Chief pledged that the armed forces would take all necessary actions to help bring back normalcy in the province. News / Africa by Staff reporter Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's daughter, Reverend Mpho Tutu who is a lesbian got married on Wednesday.Her lesbian marriage stands in stark contrast to her Tutu parents, who recently renewed their wedding vows on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary.Mpho Tutu exchanged vows in a small private ceremony, with her longtime partner Professor Marceline Furth in Oegstgeest a town and municipality in the province of South Holland in western Netherlands.Their wedding will be celebrated in Cape Town in May.Furth is a professor in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Vrije University in Amsterdam and Tutu is currently the executive director of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, and holds the Desmond Tutu Chair in Medicine at the university.This is the second marriage for both.Canon Tutu, the youngest daughter of Desmond and Leah Tutu, was married to Joseph Burris. They had two daughters, Nyaniso and Onalenna. She and her then husband lived in Virginia.She is an ordained Episcopal priest and also the executive director and founder of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage, Chairperson Emeritus of the board of the Global AIDS Alliance, Chairperson of the Board of Advisors of the 911 Unity Walk, and a Trustee of Angola University.Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu - fondly dubbed the Arch - and his wife Leah celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town.Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who led a decades-long fight against racial discrimination in South Africa, says the oppression of gay people around the world is the "new Apartheid."Tutu says he will never worship a "homophobic God" and will rather go to hell.The retired archbishop was speaking at the launch of a UN-backed campaign in South Africa to promote gay rights."I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place," Archbishop Tutu said at the launch of the Free and Equal campaign in Cape Town."I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this."Archbishop Tutu said the campaign against homophobia was similar to the campaign waged against racism in South Africa."I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level," he added. At least 12 people were killed and 10 injured on Saturday when a bus carrying tourists, including Chinese nationals, rammed into a jeep in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district, police said. The accident apparently occurred due to dense fog in the morning. A police official told IANS the tourist bus had more than two dozen Chinese tourists who were travelling to Sarnath, a city 13 km from Varanasi, for a day on the Buddhist circuit. Except the bus driver, who suffered some injuries, all passengers were safe. Though none of the bus passengers suffered serious injuries, 11 people travelling in the jeep died on the spot. One person died while being taken to hospital. In separate incidents, dense fog and poor visibility also led to two other accidents in different parts of the state, leaving three people dead. Police have urged people to drive slowly on highways as poor visibility is fraught with risks. Eighteen more students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh returned Hyderabad on Saturday after being deported by the American authorities. The students, who had gone to the US to join various universities, were sent back from New York airport after cancelling their visas. They returned to Hyderabad airport by three different airlines. They complained of interrogation and ill-treatment by the officials of US Customs and Border Protection at John F. Kennedy Airport International Airport, though all their documents were valid. The students said they were detained for several hours without drinking water and food. One of the students said though it was freezing temperature, the officials did not heed to their request to switch off the fans. He said the officers carrying guns subjected them to interrogation. They said the officials threatened to bar their entry into US for five years, if they fail to withdraw and return home. The students claimed that no reason was given for not sending them back, though they gave satisfactory reply to all the questions asked and despite possessing all valid documents. "One officer said he was doing this on the boss' order," said a student, who did not wish to be named. Another student who had gone to join Northwestern Polytechnic University, California said the officers told him that there is a problem with his visa. "They asked me if I bought the visa," he said. The student was told that if he wanted he could apply again for admission into another university and come back. Students, who had taken admissions in other universities, were also sent back. The officials were not convinced when students pointed out that the institutions were not blacklisted by the US authorities. This is the latest in a series of incidents in recent months in which students from the two Telugu states were sent back either after landing in the US or from destinations enroute like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. About 90 students, who had left after completing all formalities including admission letters from the universities, were sent back during last three to four months. As many as 14 students, who had taken admission at two California universities, were sent back from San Francisco on December 19. The next day Air India stopped another batch of 15 students from boarding the San Francisco flight at Hyderabad airport. With their dreams of getting higher in US shattered and their parents suffering huge financial loss, they have urged the government of India to intervene and save their future. The Afghan army launched a special operation in the country's Helmand province and set free 59 people from a Taliban prison, sources said on Saturday. The Special Operation Force of Afghan National Army on Friday conducted a raid against a Taliban hideout in Nahri Sarraj district, releasing 59 people from Taliban custody, Xinhua quoted the country's defence ministry as saying. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Rassoul Zazai, a spokesperson for the army's 215 Maiwand Corps, said the operation was launched based on a confirmed tip off and that no member of the security force was hurt during the raid in the province, 555 km south of Afghan capital Kabul. Several Afghan soldiers were among the freed people and they were shifted to the army Corps, according to Zazi. Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments. Iran's defence minister said on Friday that despite the US pressures, Iran will not slow down the pace of development in its missile programme. "We will vigorously press ahead with the development of missile capabilities within the framework of the country's defense policies," brigadier general Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. "There has been no interruption in the process of designing and manufacturing defensive ballistic missiles," Dehqan said, adding that the Iranian armed forces will employ all indigenous potential and equipment to strengthen the country's defense power, regardless of what foreigners say or do. Besides, deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) brigadier general Hossein Salami reiterated Friday that Iran will not hesitate a moment to develop its deterrent power against the threats posed by the hegemonic powers. "We will not stop developing our defense and deterrent power and this is a demand by the Muslim nation of Iran," Salami said. The remarks by Iranian military officials followed Thursday letter of President Hassan Rouhani to Defense Ministry to proceed with the country's missile program "with high speed and seriously" and expand Iran's missile capabilities in response to the US considered sanctions. Rouhani's remarks, in turn, were a response to the US Treasury Department's recent announcement that it was considering sanctions against a number of Iranian and international individuals and agencies for their alleged involvement in developing Iran's ballistic missile programme. The new US move to add individuals and companies to the sanction list is a response to Iran's recent test of a ballistic missile. In October, Iran announced the tests of long-range Emad missile which could be guided and controlled until hitting the target with high precision. A UN experts' report in December said that Iran violated UN Security Council Resolution 1929 by test-firing the Emad missile which is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. The UN report said the Emad ballistic missile has a range of "no less than 1,000 km with a payload of at least 1,000 kg". Under Resolution 1929, Iran was prohibited from working on ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed deep grief over the demise of veteran CPI leader A.B. Bardhan. Bardhan's death was an "irreparable loss" to the nation, Naidu said in his condolence message. "Hailing from a humble background, he rose to great heights and tirelessly served the people. He was one of the few leaders who rose above to strive for people's welfare," the chief minister said. The Telugu Desam Party chief recently called on the ailing leader at the G.B. Pant Hospital in New Delhi. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son AbRam's dream of meeting his favourite cartoon character Chhota Bheem came true when a life-sized soft toy of the fictional superhero greeted him at his residence. Shah Rukh had earlier shared on Twitter that the two-year-old likes to watch "Chhota Bheem and Mowgli". After getting to know about it, Rajiv Chilaka, CEO of Green Gold Animation, who is the creator of Chhota Bheem and has directed the forthcoming film "Chhota Bheem - Himalayan Adventure", decided to send his star character to Mannat a few days ago. "In 2014, when we met Kajol she really appreciated our content because it is clean and parents find it comfortable when their kids are watching 'Chhota Bheem'. Shah Rukh also said his child loves 'Chhota Bheem'. I felt really humbled that our hard work has paid off," Chilaka said in a statement. "Animation is a very difficult market because we compete with international content directly. They have more muscle power so to keep afloat with anything Indian is a huge challenge," he added. "Chhota Bheem - Himalayan Adventure" will release on January 8, 2016. -*- Riaan calls father Riteish Deshmukh 'Baba' Actor Riteish Deshmukh has started the New Year on a "magical" note. He is elated as his son Riaan called him 'Baba' for the first time. Riteish, who welcomed his first child with wife Genelia Deshmukh in November 2014, took to Twitter on Friday, to share his "magical" moment with his fans. "What a start to 2016 - My son looks at me and calls out 'Baba' for the first time. #magical," Riteish tweeted. On the films front, he will be seen in "Bank Chor", "Great Grand Masti" and "Housefull 3". -*- Gulshan Grover is Manisha's 'most dependable friend' Actress Manisha Koirala, who has been friends with Bollywood's "Bad Man" Gulshan Grover for the last two decades, says he is her "most dependable friend". "Gulshan remains the most dependable friend over two decades of knowing him," Manisha, who has worked with the actor in films like "Saudagar", "Milan", "Sanam", "Angaaray", "Kartoos" and "Lajja", posted on Twitter on Saturday. She also shared a photograph of the duo in which they can be seen enjoying New Year with their friends. Even as the regional Met department on Saturday warned of a cold wave during next few days in Uttar Pradesh, it said the winter chill would be "muted" this year. As moderate cold and no steady drop in temperatures was experienced in December, the Met department has forecast that January would be similar. While there has been significant snowfall in most of the hilly areas, the bite in the chill was missing, a senior official from the Met department said. In the last few years December 31 was the coldest in 2012 when the minimum temperature in Lucknow had dropped to 0.6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in 2013 was recorded at 1.7 degrees Celsius, seven degrees Celsius in 2015 and 5.8 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2015. In this season, the maximum temperatures hovered above 20 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperatures only dropped for a few days below four degrees Celsius. The cold wave has been 'effective' in western and eastern parts of the state while central Uttar Pradesh has so far been recording normal temperatures. Fog however, will continue for another fortnight, the weather office said. The intense cold wave in north, the Met office said, was regulated by cyclonic circulations in neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan but so far this year no changes have taken place in this cycle, leading to normal winters. -- Indo-Asian News Service md/py/vm The Congress and PDP have condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in Punjab, saying it was an attempt to derail bilateral talks with Pakistan. The Congress also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stock of the security situation in the country to ensure terror attacks on Indian soil emanating from Pakistan do not recur. "Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack," Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted. Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson Waheed Ur Rahman said: "It is an attempt to derail talks. Talks will defeat terror and violence. Talks will influence terror, terror cannot influence talk. We condemn all acts of terror and violence." Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "Why has Punjab suddenly become the hotbed of terror activities in the last few months? The state has been calm for the last 20 years." "It's indeed a very serious matter, as seven days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif, a terrorist module comes from Pakistan and attacks in Punjab and attacks our frontline security installation. "Despite the prime minister's visit to Pakistan, Inter-Services Intelligence continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. The current module appears to come from Pakistan in the same fashion," he added. The Congress leader said that terror camps run by terrorists in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir for anti-India activities continue to be supported by the Pakistani establishment. "Our intelligence agency continue to issue generalised terror threats without giving any specifics, resulting in attacks where local police and security agencies are caught unawares. It's a very serious matter of internal security," Surjewala said. "We urge the prime minister to take stock of the internal security situation to ensure that such repeated terror incidents coming from Pakistan on Indian soil do not happen again," Surjewala added. Another Congress leader Ashwani Kumar said: "This is a dastardly attack. It is a brazen attempt to destabilise the (India-Pakistan) border. The whole nation stands united to fight terror. We are all in support of the government to repel this attack." In a major security breach, terrorists entered an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot early on Saturday and engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. Police sources said at least two IAF personnel were killed and four others injured in the attack that began around 3.30 a.m. In the wake of a terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Punjab early Saturday, Congress questioned the rising number of terror incidents in the state after 20 years of calm. "Why has Punjab suddenly become the hotbed of terror activities in the last few months? The state has been calm for last 20 years," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. "Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) should ensure that there is no repetition of such attack in future," Surjewala told a private news channel. The statement came after four to six armed terrorists, wearing army fatigues, attacked the IAF base in Pathankot district at around 3 a.m., prompting a fierce gun battle with security forces till around 8 a.m. that left four terrorists killed. Combing operations were launched to find out any other terrorists hiding anywhere. Firing and grenade blast were heard from the base after a lull of around three hours. The Congress is likely to effect an organisational reshuffle after party vice president Rahul Gandhi returns from Europe, amid renewed buzz over his elevation to the top post, party sources said on Saturday. Sources said Gandhi had already done the groundwork for the reshuffle and it would be put into effect at an opportune time decided by him and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi is said to be of the view that the party should encourage youth leadership while benefiting from the experience of senior leaders at the same time. The sources said the date for an All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting will also be finalised after Rahul Gandhi's return. A Congress leader said Rahul Gandhi was willing to take over as party chief but did not comment on the timing. Sources said Rahul Gandhi could be elevated as Congress chief close to the AICC session or after the culmination of the organisational elections' process. Rahul Gandhi on December 28 tweeted that he would travel to Europe for a few days. Sources said he was expected to return after January 8. He was elevated as Congress vice president in January 2013. Demands and suggestions by some senior leaders were made last year for Rahul Gandhi's elevation as the Congress president. There was also a contrary view that status quo should prevail and Sonia Gandhi should continue to lead the party. In September 2015, the party decided to extend Sonia Gandhi's term as party leader by a year and wrote to the Election Commission that it will complete organisational election process before the end of 2016. The Congress suffered reverses in assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand in 2014 after its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, the Bihar assembly elections in 2015 brought it some cheer. Contesting along with its allies Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress returned a tally of 27 seats. Party sources said there was more confidence in the Congress about its electoral prospects in 2016. Congress-ruled Assam and Kerala, besides West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, will see assembly elections in the first half of 2016. Sources, however, said there was no connection between these polls and Rahul Gandhi's elevation. News / Education by Letwin Mubonesi WORK has started on the construction of a private primary school owned by The Gospel of God International in Mutare's Hobhouse high-density area. The Johanne Masowe-run institution will be called Ferika Primary School.Its official ground breaking ceremony was held last week with the Dangamvura- Chikanga legislator, Isau Mupfumi officiating.The church's Mutare leader, Pastor Isaac Gwenzi, said the institution would create inclusive settings that would meet every child's learning needs. The clergy said the initiative had demystified suspicions that their church does not invest in the education of their children."This is proof that our church led by Sister Era Silver Tapera believes in the children's right to education. In future, we will construct a secondary school nearby or go an extra mile to construct a university."We value education and we choose to respond to the community's need for a school that will provide quality education for our future scholars and we are looking forward to welcoming a big number of students at the school," said Pastor Gwenzi.One of the church evangelists, Mr Thomas Soro, said the building of the school in Hobhouse was a dream come true."We believed that the Lord is in control because we have history with this place. We want to thank the Mutare City Council for apportioning land to build this school. In 1938, our church founder, Mutumwa Johanne Masowe visited this sacred place and preached the gospel. He performed miracles here as he prayed for a white child who was lame for eight years," said Mr Soro. Cuba's economy is likely to slow down in 2016, with authorities calling for efficiency and fiscal prudence as the country faces a tough year. Earlier this week, the Economy and Planning Minister Marino Murillo told the parliament that the Cuban economy would grow by two percent in 2016, down from four percent in 2015, Xinhua reported. According to his economic report, most of the country's productive sectors grew in 2015, including the sugar industry (16.9 percent), construction (11.9 percent) and manufacturing (9.9 percent). However, despite this encouraging performance in 2015, Murillo stated that expectations for 2016 pointed to a deceleration, leading to a mere two percent growth. "In 2016, it will be crucial to increase efficiency in our spending and seek to benefit from the global trend of lowering prices," said Murillo, adding that savings should especially be found in imports and energy. He added that while half of imports in 2016 would depend on loans, these should be chosen "rationally" to ensure "sustainable" debt. Moreover, he said public investments for 2016 will amount to $7.8 billion, mostly directed at the tourism, energy, oil and gas, and agricultural sectors. Tourism is considered to be crucial to the development of the Cuban economy, having closed 2015 with a record 3.5 million foreign visitors. Despite these increases, the Cuban economy grew at an average annual pace of 2.3 percent from 2011-2014, far below government targets of seven percent. In order to avoid such disappointing results in the long term, Murillo called for "Cuba to produce all that it can. It is better to import raw materials and manufacture a product here, than buying a finished product on the international market." Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca said it will also be vital to promote Cuba's export potential in order to stimulate foreign revenue generation in key sectors. In this aspect, the country is still feeling the impact of the US economic blockade. While a thaw in relations has led to the embassies re-opening and to Washington lifting a number of restrictions, the blockade continues to isolate the island from global markets. Furthermore, the economic recession suffered by Venezuela, a huge source of financial and commercial support for the island, has left Cuba reeling. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met Security Adviser Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs on Saturday to asses the situation in the wake of an attack at an Indian Air Force base in northern Punjab. According to police sources, two Indian Air Force security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack in Punjab's Pathankot town. Four terrorists were also killed in the gun-battle. The gunfight started around 3 am following which there was a lull from 8 am to 11:30 am but some gunshots and blasts were heard from the air base later. The search area has been expanded and forces are looking for a terrorist in hiding. At least four terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, were killed in a gunfight that lasted nearly 15 hours after they breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab early on Saturday to carry out a Fidayeen attack, police said. A tweet by Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said five terrorists had been killed in the operation. This was later withdrawn. Prior to the initial tweet, the number of terrorists killed had been placed at four. Police sources said that at least three IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. The counter offensive lasted nearly 15 hours. "We have also lost security personnel in the Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families. We can never forget their sacrifice," the home minister said. Though the firing initially stopped around 9 a.m. after four of the terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were again heard around 11.30 a.m. The counter-offensive ended after nearly 15 hours. The base is located around 250 km from Chandigarh. The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, MI-35 attack helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were prevented from getting near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said. The IAF, in a statement in New Delhi, said that the terrorists' plan to destroy "valuable assets" was "foiled" due to "effective preparations" and "coordinated efforts". The central government's response to the terror attack, which came just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'surprise' visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, was measured, with Rajnath Singh talking of "peace" and a "befitting reply" in the same tone. Rajnath Singh said in New Dellhi: "Any terrorist attack on us from Pakistan, and we will give it a befitting reply." "Pakistan is our neighbour, we want peace, but any terror attack on India will get a befitting response," he added. "It could have been worse. I congratulate my security forces for their valour and the way they tackled the terrorists," Rajnath Singh said. The IAF claimed that the terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the base. The statement said intelligence inputs had been received of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation and preparatory action had been taken to thwart any such attempt. The Western Air Command chief, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, was on location and personally supervised and coordinated with the Army, NSG and local civil police for exchange of information and operational activities, the statement said. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval monitored the terror attack from New Delhi. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who had been rushed to Pathankot on Friday evening following apprehension of an attack, the IAF's Garud commandos and army commandos led the counter-attack on Saturday against the terrorists, who are suspected to have crossed into India from Pakistan through the border, 30 km from Pathankot. The Punjab Police and its elite SWAT commando units provided the outer cordon to the counter-operations to ensure that no terrorist was able to escape. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police officer stationed near the IAF station told IANS. Intelligence officials said that the terrorists involved in the fidayeen attack could be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror outfit. The terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were initially reported to be around four to six. Two IAF attack helicopters and UAVs could be seen assisting security forces in the combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "The Air Force moved its barricades near the chowk around 5 pm on Friday. Area residents were alerted and told to remain inside. The first gunshots were heard after 3 a.m. and continued for the next 5-6 hours," Ashok Mehta, a local resident told the media. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot district on Friday after a senior police officer had said he and his two companions were abducted by five armed men in army fatigues but released later. This is the second major fidayeen attack by Pakistani terrorists in north Punjab in just over five months. A terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015, left seven people dead, including a senior police officer. With the opposition attack on the union government following the fidayeen attack, union minister Prakash Javadekar said that talks with Pakistan will take place with terror as the key issue. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said in New Delhi. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met NSA Ajit Doval and three service chiefs in New Delhi on Saturday to assess the situation in the wake of the terrorist attack. A report from Islamabad said that Pakistan has condemned the terror attack. In a statement issued in Islamabad, Pakistan's foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the government, people of India and the bereaved families, Radio Pakistan reported. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region," the statement added. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack." Five terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistani, were killed in a gunfight that lasted nearly 15 hours after they breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab early on Saturday to carry out a Fidayeen attack, police said. Police sources said that at least three IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. The counter offensive lasted nearly 15 hours. "I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'," union home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted on Saturday evening. "We have also lost security personnel in the Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families. We can never forget their sacrifice," the home minister said. Though the firing initially stopped around 9 a.m. after four of the terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were again heard around 11.30 a.m. The counter-offensive ended after nearly 15 hours as the lone surviving terrorist engaged the security agencies in a gun battle inside the base, located around 250 km Chandigarh. The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, MI-35 attack helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were prevented from getting near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said. The IAF, in a statement in New Delhi, said that the terrorists' plan to destroy "valuable assets" was "foiled" due to "effective preparations" and "coordinated efforts". The central government's response to the terror attack, which came just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'surprise' visit to Lahoreto meet his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, was measured, with Rajnath Singh talking of "peace" and a "befitting reply" in the same tone. Rajnath Singh said in New Dellhi: "Any terrorist attack on us from Pakistan, and we will give it a befitting reply." "Pakistan is our neighbour, we want peace, but any terror attack on India will get a befitting response," he added. "It could have been worse. I congratulate my security forces for their valour and the way they tackled the terrorists," Rajnath Singh said. The IAF claimed that the terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the base. The statement said intelligence inputs had been received of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation and preparatory action had been taken to thwart any such attempt. The Western Air Command chief, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, was on location and personally supervised and coordinated with the Army, NSG and local civil police for exchange of information and operational activities, the statement said. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval monitored the terror attack from New Delhi. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who had been rushed to Pathankot on Friday evening following apprehension of an attack, the IAF's Garud commandos and army commandos led the counter-attack on Saturday against the terrorists, who are suspected to have crossed into India from Pakistan through the border, 30 km from Pathankot. The Punjab Police and its elite SWAT commando units provided the outer cordon to the counter-operations to ensure that no terrorist was able to escape. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police officer stationed near the IAF station told IANS. Intelligence officials said that the terrorists involved in the fidayeen attack could be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror outfit. The terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were initially reported to be around four to six. Two IAF attack helicopters and UAVs could be seen assisting security forces in the combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "The Air Force moved its barricades near the chowk around 5 pm on Friday. Area residents were alerted and told to remain inside. The first gunshots were heard after 3 a.m. and continued for the next 5-6 hours," Ashok Mehta, a local resident told the media. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot district on Friday after a senior police officer had said he and his two companions were abducted by five armed men in army fatigues but released later. This is the second major fidayeen attack by Pakistani terrorists in north Punjab in just over five months. A terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015, left seven people dead, including a senior police officer. With the opposition attack on the union government following the fidayeen attack, union minister Prakash Javadekar said that talks with Pakistan will take place with terror as the key issue. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said in New Delhi. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met NSA Ajit Doval and three service chiefs in New Delhi on Saturday to assess the situation in the wake of the terrorist attack. A report from Islamabad said that Pakistan has condemned the terror attack. In a statement issued in Islamabad, Pakistan's foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the government, people of India and the bereaved families, Radio Pakistan reported. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region," the statement added. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack." After a fierce gunfight of nearly 15 hours, security forces killed all five terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, who breached security and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Punjab's Pathankot town on Saturday, officials said. Police sources said that at least three IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 am. The counter offensive lasted nearly 15 hours. "I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'," union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted on Saturday evening. "We have also lost security personnel in Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families. We can never forget their sacrifice," he said. I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'. Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) January 2, 2016 Though the firing stopped around 9 am after the four terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were heard again around 11.30 am. The counter offensive ended after nearly 15 hours as a lone terrorist engaged the security agencies in a gun battle inside the base, located around 250 km Chandigarh. The nation is proud of its brave security forces who have always rose to the occasion. I salute our forces on successful operation in P'kot Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) January 2, 2016 Nearly 24 hours after terrorists abducted a senior police officer, security agencies in Punjab failed to trace them in the same area till they launched a terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base early on Saturday. Defence installations elsewhere in Punjab were put on high alert on Saturday following intelligence reports that up to 15 terrorists could have infiltrated into India from Pakistan side on December 30-31. Besides the IAF base in Pathankot, which was attacked by suspected Pakistani terrorists, Punjab has frontline IAF bases in Adampur (near Jalandhar), Halwara (near Ludhiana) and Bathinda and substantial army presence at various places, including Jalandhar (11 Corps), Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda (10 Corps) and Patiala (1st Armoured Division). The free run that the four terrorists had for nearly 24 hours even after the abduction of Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh on Thursday night and were able to reach and attack the IAF base, has exposed the security breach despite the high alert in the area. The armed terrorists, who the abducted SP had told the police were in army fatigues, were able to move around in the area, probably on foot. "The search and combing operations seemed to be casual as the terrorists could not be traced even in 24 hours. They must have moved around in rural areas and habitation near the air force station and somebody must have seen them. They could not have appeared at the IAF base gate from thin air," a former top Punjab Police officer told IANS in Chandigarh, suggesting that the revelations of the abducted SP might not have been taken "very seriously". Salwinder Singh had had claimed that he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the four men. The incident took place near Dinanagar town, where three terrorists from Pakistan launched an attack in July last year. It lies about 250 km from Chandigarh. The police officer claimed that one of the men took charge of the vehicle, which had a blue beacon on its roof, and drove towards Pathankot. After some distance, the officer was pushed out of the vehicle and the armed men took away his mobile phone. The other two companions were also pushed out later, one after the other. One of the two, Rajesh Kumar, was allegedly attacked by the armed men and his throat was slit. He has been admitted to a hospital in Pathankot. The abandoned XUV was on Friday morning recovered by police near Akalgarh village near Pathankot. Police on Friday recovered the body of the driver, Ikhraj Singh, of an Innova car, about 30 km from Pathankot. Police was investigating if the same men, who abducted the police officer and his companions, had killed the Innova driver too. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, leaving seven people dead, including a senior police officer. The Punjab Police and security agencies were caught napping during the Dinanagar terror attack also. At least four terrorists were killed following an attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot district of Punjab early Saturday. The gunfight has ended and combing operations are under way. Unconfirmed reports said two IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Goa, was monitoring the situation and was in touch with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and other officers, the ministry sources meanwhile told IANS, adding Parrikar will reach Delhi soon. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources said. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. Police have cordoned off the area and army has been called in. The number of terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were reported to be around four to six. The gunfight has stopped but the area was still being sanitised and the exact number of terrorists that were killed will be known once the combing operations were over, an army official said. "Though firing is over but the complete area is not sanitised. There is always possibility of one terrorist hiding and waiting in a different area. Keeping that in mind operations continue till complete area is sanitised," the official said. The security forces repulsed a major attack by the terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF station told IANS. There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. Based on Friday's development, the army sounded an alert and had placed two-army columns and a special force team in the Pathankot base prior to the attack, an army spokesperson in New Delhi said. "NSG team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans; local Brigade Commander of Army is coordinating the operations; in addition UAVs of the army and IAF have also been put into action to get inputs," the spokesperson added. The technical area where MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept was safe. The security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked," said a senior police official in Jammu. The army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant could sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir, the defence sources said. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police official said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015 leaving seven people dead, including a senior police official. The chance appearance of certain combinations of elements in the genome can lead to the generation of new genes that drive evolutionary innovation. The formation of new genes from previously non-active parts of the genome was, until recently, considered highly improbable. This study led by Jorge Ruiz-Orera and Mar Alba from Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM-ICREA) in Barcelona, Spain showed that the mutations that occur normally in our genetic material may be sufficient to explain how this happens. Once expressed, the genes can act as a substrate for the evolution of new molecular functions. In every genome, there are sets of genes, which are unique to that particular species. In this study, the scientists first identified thousands of genes that were specific to human or chimpanzee. Then, they searched the macaque genome and discovered that this species had significantly less element motifs in the corresponding genomic sequences. These motifs are recognised by proteins that activate gene expression, a necessary step in the formation of a new gene, the study said. The findings appeared in the journal PLOS Genetics. The government will not buckle under terrorist acts, union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Saturday, in the wake of the attack at the Indian Air Force base in Punjab's Pathankot town. The minister of state for parliamentary affairs, while on a visit to Rampur, said the recent stopover by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lahore to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday was a goodwill gesture. "We have always wanted cordial and friendly relations with all our neighbours but there can be no compromise on national security and issues like terrorism," he said. Claiming that the Pathankot attack was a "sign of frustration and despondency" on part of terror groups, the minister said the day was not far when Pakistan will have to hand over fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Sayeed to India. Naqvi praised Indian Muslims, saying they had not accepted the ideology of the Islamic State militant group, because of which the dreaded organisation has not found base in India. He also said the union government has given Rs.330 crore to the state for the welfare of Muslims. Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabian charge d'affaires to Tehran on Saturday to protest the execution of prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conveyed the strong protest of Islamic republic to the Saudi envoy, Ahmed al-Muwallid, over what he called the "irresponsible behavior" of the Saudi officials in this regard, according to the state TV. "Saudi Arabia is the main defendant of the terrorism and extremism in the region," Amir-Abdollahian said, warning against the violation of human rights and the suppress of minorities in the Arab kingdom. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the execution. "While the Saudi government supports extremists and terrorist groups, it cracks down on and executes its dissidents," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said. The Saudi government should await the repercussions of such acts, "as they will pay clearly for their policies," he said. Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday the execution of 47 people on terrorist charges, including the dissident Shi'ite leader. Most of the executed were Saudis and involved in a series of attacks carried out by al-Qaida from 2003-06. Nimr al-Nimr was also a driving force behind anti-government protests that broke out in 2011. Bahrain endorsed Riyadh's executions on Saturday, saying it backed "security measures" taken by Saudi Arabia in its fight against terrorism. The country's Interior Ministry said legal actions will be taken against anyone attempting to use the executions to heighten sectarian tensions or to incite violence. "A punishment of imprisonment of no more than two years or a fine of no more than $530 shall be inflicted upon any person who takes "negative" actions in response to the death sentences," warned the ministry in a statement. Bahrain's Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa also lauded the stances of Saudi Arabia, saying that "Saudi Arabia's efforts to confront whoever seeks to undermine Saudi' security and stability are widely appreciated across the Arab and Islamic worlds." News / Local by Staff reporter ZANU-PF politburo member and higher education minister, Jonathan Moyo has said President Robert Mugabe was the only crocodile he knows as he mocked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa according to a website calledMnangagwa is known as Ngwena (crocodile).In a terse on his official twitter account, Moyo who is holidaying in Kenya wrote : "There's only one unpretentious crocodile: Gushungo. The rest are imposters infesting the rivers".Today he posted a pictures 'on top' of a crocodile and simple said 'crocbusting!'.Mnangagwa is seen as heir apparent to Presidency while Moyo has apparently ganged up with a group of adventurous young Turks commonly referred to as Generation 40 to torpedo his ascendancy.Since discovering his love for social media few months back, Moyo has delighted in excoriating ambitious party rivals while eulogising Mugabe's wife, Grace. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency has reportedly joined hands with banned Islamic militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to "revive" the latter's base, according to intelligence sources. The tie-up is to carry out terrorist attacks across India, the sources told IANS on condition of anonymity. Over the last eight months, intelligence officials had intercepted several Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls of cross border discussion between ISI agents and their contacts in terror modules in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the Saturday fidayeen attack at the frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in northern Punjab could have been carried out JeM militants who were being backed by ISI for several months. "We are not very sure if the intercepted calls were to JeM militants, but the possibility is high," the sources said. "After LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), the ISI is now reported to be backing JeM for its revival in Kashmir and other Indian cities. ISI's motive is to establish large number of terror outfit modules of different militant groups in several parts of the country," the official said. Maulana Masood Azhar formed Jaish-e-Mohammed in March 2000, shortly after his release from prison in December 1999, in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC 814 which was taken to Kandahar, in Afghanistan. Sources said the group, in coordination with LeT, was implicated in the 2001 attack on Indian Parliament in New Delhi. In December 2002, four JeM members were caught by Indian authorities and put on trial. All four were found guilty. One of the accused, Afzal Guru, was sentenced to death for his role in the attack. The group was formed after a split within Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), another militant group. A majority of HUM members joined JeM. IANS in its December 30 report last year had detailed LeT plans on a new year attack which included Punjab as a prime target. The attack, it was said, would be carried out to avenge the death of Abu Qasim, a senior commander of LeT who was killed in an encounter with security forces. Qasim had carried out an attack on a BSF convoy in August in Udhampur, Punjab. Intelligence officials had told the agency that the alert was based on the busting of a pan-Indian ISI-backed spying ring unearthed by Delhi Police's Crime Branch wing in November-December last year. Six ISI moles including a serving leading aircraftsman (LAC) Ranjith K K, a library assistant Kafaitullah Khan, a Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Abdul Rasheed, a retired Indian Army havildar Munawwar Ahmad Mir, Rifleman Farid Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and a government teacher Sabar were arrested during the Delhi Police operation. Ranjith was sent for police remand while the other five alleged ISI moles are already in 14-day judicial custody. Sources said that Ranjith is being questioned by the intelligence agencies and Delhi Police sleuths over the Pathankot terror attack. At least five terrorists were killed by commandos following the attack, police said. Ranjith, who was sacked from the IAF after his link with ISI was established, was later arrested from Bathinda Air Force Station in Punjab on December 28. He had allegedly shared information on some recent IAF exercises, movement of aircraft and deployment of various air force units with a woman, who spoke with a British accent, during a VoIP call that was intercepted by military intelligence and IAF's liaisonig unit. "Ranjith was fooled by a fictitious Facebook account in the name of Damini McNaught who pretended to work as an executive with a British magazine that wanted some Indian Air Force information for its next issue," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav had said earlier. Intelligence officials are also in touch with the Kolkata special task force (STF), which has also arrested some alleged ISI operatives from the city since November 14. The task force had arrested Akhtar Khan, his brother Zafar Khan, Irshad Ansari, Asfaq Ansari and Mohammad Jahangir for providing secret information to ISI, the sources said. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) "Good beginning to 2016", "Finally, HOPE", "The best decision" and "Welcome move" are some of the expressions that the members of the film fraternity like Madhur Bhandarkar, Anupam Kher, Kabir Bedi and Rahul Dholakia used to hail the decision by the government to form a committee headed by acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal to revamp Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Benegal was on Friday appointed to lead a committee to recommend a holistic framework for the country's film censor board and to suggest changes in the Cinematograph Act, so that artistic creativity and freedom are not curtailed. The committee has been formed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the growing issue related to the CBFC. Bhandarkar, who frames the truth of the society into his films like "Page 3", "Fashion" or "Calendar Girls", tweeted: "Welcome move by @PMOIndia and @arunjaitley ji to appoint noted film maker #ShyamBenegal ji as head of Censor Board revamp panel.#CBFC". Benegal is a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, and is credited with films like "Ankur" (1973), "Nishant" (1975), "Manthan" (1976) and "Bhumika" (1977). Dholakia, who is caught up with work on "Raees" starring Shah Rukh Khan and marks debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan in Bollywood, said that 2016 has started on a good note. He shared: "The censor board to be manthanized by #ShyamBenegal! Good beginning to 2016". Kabir welcomed the "good news" by saying that with the appointment comes a ray of hope towards breaking out of the shackles of the censor board. Anupam Kher also called the move as "the best decision". The country's censor board has often faced flak from the society for running its invisible scissors from issuing diktat of cutting short a kissing scene of James Bond film "Spectre". The "Tum Bin" director Anubhav Sinha wished Benegal luck for his new endevour. He posted: "My best wishes to Shyam Babu. I suspect he will eventually have to deal with Hindutva and Sanskar both." Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri thinks that the move should not be co-joined with politics, as it only aims to do good for showbiz. He said: "CensorRevamp panel is not a committee. It's to abolish censorship. Forget Modi, it's good for us". Actress and BJP member Vani Tripathi Tikoo feels "Artistic creativity and freedom should not get curtailed, people tasked with the work of certification should understand these nuances #CBFC", while filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also lauded the decision. "Wazir" director Bejoy Nambiar has also hailed the decision. "I think that's a great decision. Benegal sir is someone we all look up to as a filmmaker, I know that having him revamp the board itself is a big step in the right way and the right direction," Nambiar said. "I'm really looking forward to things changing because it's high time we take the censor board a bit more seriously than the way it's been handled in the last couple of months. I'm really forward to what will happen in the future," he added. It seems Sonu Sood has started the new year with some 'Kung Fu' love! The Bollywood actor has got a gift from his "bro" and legendary actor Jackie Chan in the form of a jacket. The actor, who is shooting with the Chinese Kung Fu star in the Indo-Chinese production "Kung Fu Yoga", took to Twitter to share his happiness over getting a gift from the actor. "And the New Year begins with my bro #jackiechan...thank you for this lovely jacket #Beijing #kungfuyoga," Sonu posted. The "Dabangg" actor also posted an image with the international icon, in which both are all smiles for the camera. "Kung Fu Yoga" is a part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India. Directed by Stanley Tong, the action comedy film is shot in Dubai and Beijing. It will also be shot in India. -*- Manoj Bajpayee excited for 'Missing', 'Aligarh' Manoj Bajpayee will soon be seen questioning about gender identity in the society with "Aligarh" and will explore the horror arena of cinema with "Missing". And the actor says he is excited to bring forward both the worlds to the audience and is eager to know their response. "'Missing' and 'Aligarh' - two films which gave me immense creative satisfaction. Eager to show it to the audience," Manoj tweeted. Hansal Mehta's reality drama film "Aligarh", which will release on February 26, is based on the real life incident of doctor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was suspended from his job as a professor because of his sexual orientation, stars Manoj and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles. On the other hand, "Missing" promises to bring the chills and thrills with the film, which also stars Tabu. Manoj started his career with a television serial "Swabhimaan" and went on to do small roles in films like "Dastak" and "Bandit Queen". He got his big break in the 1998 crime film "Satya". He even won a National Film Award for his role as Bhiku Mhatre. He again received a National Film Award for his role in the film "Pinjar". He is also appreciated for his roles in "Shool" and "Gangs of Wasseypur". -*- Hrithik Roshan dares to take risk in 2016 Hrithik Roshan has come up with a New Year resolution plan for everyone and it is to "get curious". The actor says it's time to look at the path less-travelled this year, and come out of the lazy mode. "This year GET CURIOUS! Find out what happens if you do all the things you were too afraid or lazy to do! Don't you wonder what's on the other side?" Hrithik tweeted. On the professional front, the actor is busy shooting for "Mohenjo Daro", which also stars debutant Pooja Hegde. -*- Nargis Fakhri's fun-filled Dubai adventure Actress Nargis Fakhri is out for some adventure and sky-diving fun in Dubai. She finds taking the leap of faith "exhilarating". "Before skydiving #Dubai & then after skydiving! There is something exhilarating about jumping," Nargis tweeted. On the movie front, the "Rockstar" fame actress, who was also part of films like "Madras Cafe", "Phata Poster Nikhla Hero" and Hollywood film "Spy", is currently busy with "Azhar". Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday condemned the attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Punjab's Pathankot district. "(Very) sad to hear about terror attack in Pathankot," Kejriwal tweeted. Unconfirmed reports said two IAF security personnel were killed and four others injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. Cutting across party lines, top leaders in Kerala on Saturday condoled the death of veteran CPI leader A.B. Bardhan. Veteran Communist V.S. Achuthanandan described Bardhan -- who died on Saturday at a hospital in Delhi -- as the stalwart of secularism and a true Communist to the core. "His passing away is going to be an irreparable loss to the Communist and secular movement in the country," Achuthanandan said in a statement issued here. State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said Bardhan's work to take forward the Communist movement in the country was praiseworthy and he was one leader who commanded the respect of all. State BJP president Kummanem Rajasekheran described Bardhan as a model politician for anyone to follow who wished to be in public life. CPI leaders from Kerala will be in Delhi to take part in the funeral. Bardhan had suffered a paralytic stroke on December 7, following which he was admitted to a hospital in Delhi. Former Jharakhand chief minister Babulal Marandi on Saturday demanded a SIT probe into phone tapping of 3,000 people, including politicians, lawyers, journalists and businessmen allegedly by state government. A delegation of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) led by Marandi met Governor Droupadi Murmu to apprise her about the development and demanded probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. "Phone calls of over 3,000 people across sections of the society are being tapped by the state government in violation of people's privacy. I suspect even my phone calls are tapped," Marandi told reporters after meeting Governor. "The sitting judge of the High Court should probe the issue. This is serious issue," he said. Some local newspapers have also carried news of phone tapping of the officials including of central agencies officials. A local newspaper had published news about phone tapping of central intelligence agencies officials by the state police. The report said two Maoists, in touch with central intelligence officials, were forced to surrender before the state police. According to sources, the phone tapping is also done of the IAS, IPS and other officials. It is being done to tame the officials who do not fall in line with the Jharkhand government. The sources also revealed that phone calls of some journalists writing against the state government were also tapped by the state government. As per provisions phone tapping could be done in special cases with permission of the State government. Two BSF troopers, who were arrested from Assam for allegedly gang-raping a minor inside a moving train, were sent to judicial custody on Saturday by a West Bengal court, police said. Initially suspected to be army men, the two accused -- Balakram Yadav and Pankaj Kumar -- of the Border Security Force, were arrested from Guwahati on Friday and handed over to the Howrah Government Railway Police (GRP) which is probing the case. "The duo was arrested on Friday from the Guwahati airport on the basis of photographs circulated by us. Both the accused were brought here and presented before a court which remanded them in 14 days judicial custody," a GRP officer told IANS. "Since a test identification (TI) parade will be conducted for the victim to identify the accused, the duo has been remanded in judicial custody. The TI parade will be held shortly," the officer added. Attached to the BSF's 168 battalion, currently based at Belonia in south Tripura, Yadav is a resident of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh and Kumar is from Vaishali in Bihar. The accused were about to catch a flight to Agartala, when personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended them at the airport. A GRP team flew to Guwahati on Friday night and brought them to Howrah on Saturday morning. The 14-year-old girl, hailing from Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas district, was allegedly raped by the two troopers after she was forced to drink alcohol inside a reserved military compartment of the Howrah-Amritsar Express on December 27. The girl, who boarded the train from Howrah on her way to Ludhiana, was rescued by GRP personnel at Madhupur station in Jharkhand the next day and also arrested an army man Manjrish Tripathi, who is now in police custody. The girl was rescued after the GRP received a complaint from her father that she had fled home and boarded the train. According to the family, the girl had left her house without informing anyone to meet a man in Ludhiana whom she had befriended on a social networking site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) new helicopter facility on Sunday at Karnataka's Bidarehallikaval village. Located 110 km from here, the new facility will manufacture up to 10 classes of helicopters including Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Naval Multi-role Helicopters (NMRH). "HAL's new copter facility is a shot in the arm for Make in India programme, it will immensely benefit the local economy and create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs," said HAL Chairman and Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju. With an investment of approximately Rs.4,000 crore in 610 acres of land, the helicopter facility has a potential to generate employment for 3,000 people. Karnataka has an enviable aerospace ecosystem few states can boast about. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has 10 labs in Bengaluru while Airbus, Honeywell, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Wipro Aerospcae, HAL - Rolls Royce joint venture and others are located in the state. "Karnataka has more than half of all the production units and Research and Development centres and almost all global aerospace majors have presence in the state. A quarter of all the aircraft and spacecraft made in India are produced in Karnataka," state additional chief secretary K. Ratna Prabha said. To further propel the industry, Karnataka government also rolled out an industry specific Aerospace Policy in addition to developing a 1,000 aerospace park (Special Economic Zone) in Devanahalli. Devanahalli SEZ has 72 projects in the pipeline with an investment potential of Rs.14,000 crore. "With the establishment of this helicopter manufacturing (Facility) coupled with the opportunities in 'Buy and Make' option from offset obligation and availability of the ecosystem for manufacturing, Karnataka is expected to see new highs in the coming years," added Prabha. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and state industries minister R.V. Deshpande will attend the foundation laying ceremony on Sunday. Mysuru, the city of palaces is all spruced up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day maiden visit from Saturday evening. "Modi is visiting Mysuru for first time after becoming prime minister to inaugurate the 103rd Indian Science Congress in the University of Mysore campus on Sunday though he has two functions on Saturday evening," a state official told IANS here. Mysuru, also the southern state's cultural capital, is about 140 km from Bengaluru. Soon after landing at Mandakalli airport around 5 p.m., Modi will drive to inaugurate a new hospital of Avadhoota Datta Peetam in the Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda ashram on the Mysuru-Nanjangud road. "Modi will also participate in the centenary celebrations of Shivarathri Rajendra swamiji (seer) of Suttur Mutt and address the gathering in the Maharaja College grounds in the city centre," the official said. The prime minister will stay overnight at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. "Though Modi last visited the city in April 2014 as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate during the general elections, he had come here four-five times in the past as Gujarat chief minister and BJP leader," the official added. Modi also visited Suttur Math on the city's outskirts during the tenure of the BJP government (2008-13) when party's vice-president B.S. Yeddurappa was the state's chief minister (2008-2011) to address a party meeting. "As the Science Congress, held in first week of every New Year, is opened by the prime minister, Modi will flag off at Mansagangothri in the varsity campus in presence of top scientists, Nobel Laureates and hundreds of students," the official added. Security has been tightened in and around the city and stepped up vigil at the venues he will be present. "Vehicular traffic will be halted five minutes before the prime minister's convoy passes along the routes to the function venues on both days," city's deputy police commissioner N.D. Birje told reporters here. Being a holiday-cum-tourist season, police has advised motorists to use alternative routes to avoid road blockade and delay in going around the city for sight-seeing. Modi will leave for Tumakuru district on Sunday afternoon for the ground-breaking ceremony of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)'s new helicopter unit at Nittur, about 100km from Bengaluru. Before flying back to New Delhi on Sunday evening from Bengaluru, Modi will inaugurate the 21st international conference on aFrontiers of Yoga Research and its Applications' at Jigani on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The five-day conference, organised by the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-Vyasa Institute), will focus on integrated medicine to treat modern day ailments. The opposition in Goa on Saturday slammed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's prolonged sojourn in the state in view of the terror attack in Punjab's Pathankot town. In separate statements issues here, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress said the defence minister's presence in the national capital may have elicited a better and timely response to the terror attack. "The defence minister should stop playing proxy CM and an extra-constitutional authority of Goa and spend more time in Delhi running the defence ministry," NCP state senior vice president Trajano D'Mello said. Parrikar, a former chief minister, has been in Goa for the last four days and was to address a meeting of the BJP top brass on Saturday afternoon, rushed to Delhi on Saturday morning following the Pathankot attack to address a meeting of the armed forces' service chiefs. The Congress in Goa said the defence minister's presence in Goa, especially during crunch times like the Pathankot attack, would "impact the morale of the armed forces". "Parrikar should have called the meeting of service chiefs immediately after the attack, but due to his presence in Goa, the meeting was delayed by almost 7-8 hours after the attack," Congress secretary Durgadas Kamat said. A BJP spokesperson, when contacted, did not wish to come on record, but said the two issues -- the Pathankot terror attack and Parrikar's presence in Goa -- were not related. "Parrikar rushed to Delhi soon after the incident today. He operates a fully functional camp office of the defence ministry in Panaji so it is incorrect to say he was on vacation," the BJP official said. News / National by Staff reporter CHIPINGE'S resource poor smallholder farmers are accruing huge livestock losses due to drought and diseases, with the latest statistics indicating that more than 1 300 cattle have died in the past few months.The cattle are dying at an alarming rate due to a combination of feed and water shortages as well as exposure to diseases like foot and mouth and anthrax.Chipinge District is a controlled zone that stretches to Chiredzi due to its proneness to the dangerous anthrax and foot and mouth diseases and as a result cattle movement to other districts is prohibited.Farmers in the area can only sell or barter trade within the controlled zone, resulting in cattle prices plummeting to as little as $20.A report on the Food Security and Nutrition Cluster presented at the Provincial Affairs Ministerial End of Year indaba by Mr Joseph Mukajami painted a gloomy picture of the livestock sector in Chipinge."More than 1 300 cattle have died in Chipinge in the last few months, and if the rains fail to improve, more cattle are likely to die," said Mr Mukajami.Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene described the situation as terrible."To have such a huge figure in one district is shocking. Our people cannot afford such losses. It is a disaster and at times we need to advise them to sell some of their cattle and use the money to buy stock feed for a manageable herd, but the challenge is that they cannot sell outside their borders," said Chimene.Chipinge's herd is estimated at 30 000.The worst affected areas are Kondo, Maronga, Dumisayi, Mwacheta, Masimbe, Chibuwe, Maunganidze, Bangwe, Musani, Tanganda, Manesa, Mutema, Rimbi, Gumira, Manzvire, Chisavanye, Mariya, Rimai, Madhuku, Chisumbanje, Vheneka, Chinyamukwakwa, Mabee, Chisuma and Maparadze.Acting Provincial Livestock Production and Development Officer for Manicaland Mr Joshua Zveutete described the situation as dire, but was quick to applaud the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for intervening with stock feeds to curtail more cattle deaths."So far FAO has intervened in the most affected areas, helping farmers with stock feeds in a bid to reduce cattle deaths. We are appealing to DDF to come to the farmers' rescue through rehabilitation and sinking of boreholes. There is need to fund the construction of water troughs at water points. NGOs can also chip in," said Mr Zvoutete.Chipinge Rural District Council acting chief executive officer, Mr Blessing Mamvosha, said the statistics could be under reported."Cattle are starving to death daily and the cattle deaths could be more than those reported. The cattle are dying as a result of water and feed shortages as well as diseases. Last year, the district did not receive good rains, resulting in poor pastures. This year the rain came late in December when the pastures had been strained," said Mr Mamvosha.Mr Mamvosha added that cattle in Chipinge were constantly exposed to anthrax and foot-and-mouth diseases and, as a result, farmers were inhibited from moving their cattle to other areas with better feed to avoid the spreading of the disease.The Manica Post understands animals in the district are relying on drying borehole water.One of the affected villagers only identified as Mr Guzuzu of Mutema Village said while FAO was doing its best, more intervention was still needed to tackle the problem."We appreciate what FAO is doing, but Government and other NGOs should also intervene to swiftly save the situation. We are in serious trouble this year. We do not have pastures in this district. This has left farmers clueless and watching in awe as our cattle die indiscriminately," said Mr Guzuzu.Another farmer, Mr Munyati Charuma, revealed that some herds of cattle were being driven into Mozambique in search of pastures. In a major security breach, terrorists entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near this town in northern Punjab early Saturday and engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. At least four terrorists were killed by commandos following the attack, police said. Police sources said that at least two IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. Though the firing stopped around 8 a.m. after the four terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were heard again around 11.30 a.m., making it clear that security agencies were still engaged in a gun battle with one or two more terrorists who could still be hiding inside. The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were not allowed to get near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said. In New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Any terrorist attack on us from Pakistan, and we will give it a befitting reply." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the attack, while the Congress said incidents of terrorism are on a rise in Punjab. "Why has Punjab suddenly become the hotbed of terror activities in the last few months? The state has been calm for the the last 20 years," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. National Security Guards (NSG) commandos, who had been rushed in here on Friday evening following apprehension of an attack, IAF's Garuda commandos and army commandos led the counter-attack on Saturday against the terrorists who are suspected to have crossed into India from Pakistan through the border area, 30 km from here. Punjab Police and its elite SWAT commando units provided the outer cordon to the counter operations to ensure that no terrorist is able to escape. Intelligence officials said that the terrorists involved in the fidayeen attack could be from Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM). Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Goa, was monitoring the situation and was in touch with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and other officers, the ministry sources meanwhile told IANS, adding Parrikar will reach New Delhi soon. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources said. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh. The terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were reported to be around four to six. Punjab Police Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Hardeep Singh Dhillon said that the counter attack was in progress. "Though firing is over but the complete area is not sanitised. There is always possibility of one terrorist hiding and waiting in a different area. Keeping that in mind operations continue till complete area is sanitised," an army official said. Two IAF helicopter gunships and UAVs could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The security forces repulsed a major attack by the terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF station told IANS. There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police official said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues but released later. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015, leaving seven people dead, including a senior police official. At least two terrorists were killed early on Saturday following an attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Pathankot district. The gunfire started at around 3.30 a.m, police have cordoned off the area and army was called. Number of terrorists was reported to be around four to six, who were in Army fatigues. "Based on developments of yesterday (Friday) Army sounded alert accordingly and had placed two-Army Columns and an Special Force team in the Pathankot base prior to the attack," an army spokesperson in New Delhi said. "NSG team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans; local Brigade Commander of Army is coordinating the operations; in addition UAVs of Army and IAF have also been put into action to get inputs," the spokesperson added. The technical area where MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept was safe. Security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert by security forces. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked", said a senior police officer in winter capital Jammu. Defence sources said army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant was able to sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police officer said he and his associates were seized by five armed men in army fatigues. The terror attack at Pathankot air base, occurring within days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goodwill visit to Lahore, may have raised many eyebrows but senior government functionaries avoided making direct anti-Pakistan comments. Despite criticism from some Congress leaders of the government's policy towards Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh only said the government wants peace and good relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan but would not shy of giving a befitting reply. "Let them (opposition) say whatever they like, but our policy is clear. We want peace. But we would not tolerate any terrorist activity on our soil and would give a befitting response," Singh said. Some unidentified terrorists attacked the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Punjab's Pathankot town early Saturday, leaving two IAF personnel killed. Union minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javadekar while supporting Rajnath Singh's stance of giving a "befitting reply" to terror" did not rule out talks with Pakistan in future. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said, adding that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Meanwhile, Pakistan condemned the Pathankot attack in Punjab. In a statement, Pakistan's foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the Indian government, people of India and the bereaved families. It also wished the injured people speedy recovery, Radio Pakistan reported. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region, the statement added. The Indian establishment on Saturday exercised restraint and avoided making direct anti-Pakistan comments after the fidayeen attack at an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in northern Punjab. The attack comes within days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled stopover in Lahore while returning from Russia via Afghanistan. Modi condemned the attack and said that enemies of humanity who could not see the nation succeed had attempted to cause harm to the armed forces. "The nation stands united against these enemies and their evil designs will never succeed. I am proud of the jawans and security forces martyred during the operation," Modi said at a public function in Mysuru, about 140 km from Bengaluru. "Proud of our Jawans and security forces," a tweet from PMO India earlier quoted Modi as saying. Despite criticism from some Congress leaders of the government's policy towards Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh only said the government wants peace and good relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan, but would not shy from giving a befitting reply. "Let them (opposition) say whatever they like, but our policy is clear. We want peace. But we will not tolerate any terrorist activity on our soil and will give a befitting response," Singh said. Unidentified terrorists attacked the IAF base in Punjab's Pathankot town early Saturday, leaving three IAF personnel and five terrorists dead. Rajnath Singh's cabinet coleague Prakash Javadekar, while supporting his stance of giving a "befitting reply" to terror", did not rule out talks with Pakistan in future. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said, adding that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Meanwhile, Pakistan condemned the Pathankot attack. In a statement, Pakistan's foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the Indian government, people of India and the bereaved families. It also wished the injured people speedy recovery, Radio Pakistan reported. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region, the statement added. President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack at an Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Punjab's Pathankot town. "Strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot in Punjab," the president said in a tweet. Mukherjee expressed his condolences to the families of Indian soldiers who lost their lives and applauded the security forces for their befitting response to the attack. "Heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. Compliments to our jawans for their valour and courage while fighting terrorists," he said in another tweet. He said the security forces should remain vigilant against any threat to the peace and security of the nation. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab. "Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack," he tweeted. In a major security breach, terrorists entered an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot early on Saturday and engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. Police sources said at least two IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 am. South Koreans took to the streets Saturday to protest a recent agreement between Seoul and Japan to resolve the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. The agreement, reached on December 28, 2015, has sparked a wave of public protests among victims and their supporters, who claim Japan got the better side of the deal by obtaining Seoul's promise to settle the issue once and for all if Tokyo fulfils its commitments, The Korea Herald reported. Under the deal, Japan apologised and acknowledged responsibility for the wartime crime and offered reparations of 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) to the 46 surviving South Korean victims. Historians estimate that more than 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japan's military during the war. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45. The victims are called "comfort women". More than 30 teenage activists from across the country held a press conference in front of the main government complex in Seoul, denouncing the agreement as "humiliating". They demanded the Japanese government pay legal compensation to the victims, build a monument in their honour and conduct proper education on the history. A group of university students held a separate press conference in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, where they accused the police of wielding violence while arresting them on Thursday over a sudden protest held at a nearby building where the embassy has temporarily relocated to. "The actions of the police resemble the violence of the meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan that tried to erase the history of the comfort women," they said, referring to the meeting that produced the agreement. Two of the victims, 89-year-old Kim Bok-dong and 87-year-old Kil Won-ok, are scheduled to attend a rally later in the day to demand the agreement be scrapped. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry summoned on Saturday the Iranian ambassador to Riyadh to protest Iran's "aggressive" statement over the execution of prominent Shia Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi Press Agency reported. The report said that the Ministry expressed the Kingdom's denunciation and categorical rejection to Iran's statements, calling it "a flagrant violation of the Kingdom's internal affairs". The ministry also held the Iranian government completely responsible for the protection of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and the consulate in the city of Mashhad and the safety of all its personnel from any hostile actions. Earlier reports say that Iranian protesters have cast homemade crackers at the Saudi consulate in Mashhad city, and caused part of the building on fire. No casualty has been reported. Early on Saturday, Saudi Interior Ministry announced the execution of 47 people on terrorist charges, including the dissident Shiite leader. Most of the executed were Saudis and involved in a series of attacks carried out by al-Qaida from 2003-06. Nimr al-Nimr was also a driving force behind anti-government protests that broke out in 2011. Iran's Foreign Ministry then strongly condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, saying "while the Saudi government supports extremists and terrorist groups, it cracks down on and executes its dissidents". The Saudi interior ministry on Saturday announced the execution of 47 people over terrorist charges, including a prominent Shia cleric. Most of the executed were Saudis and involved in a series of attacks carried out by the Al Qaeda from 2003-06, Xinhua news agency reported. The cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, was responsible for anti-government protests that broke out in 2011. The ministry said it will continue with its approach to fight any threat to the nation and the public. Iranian protesters against the execution of a Shia leader by Saudi Arabia set parts of Saudi consulate in fire in Iran's northeastern religious city of Mashhad on Saturday, Tabnak news website reported. The move came after the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that 47 people, including the prominent Shia leader Nimr al-Nimr, were executed on terrorist charges. The protesters gathered in front of the Saudi consulate and chanted slogans against the Arab state's authorities, according to the report. They pulled down the flag of Saudi Arabia from the building of the consulate and throw handmade crackers which caused fire in part of the building, it said. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabian charge d'affaires to Tehran and strongly condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conveyed the strong protest of Islamic republic to the Saudi envoy, Ahmed al-Muwallid, over what he called the "irresponsible behaviour" of the Saudi officials in this regard, according to the state TV. News / National by Staff reporter Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has described President Robert Mugabe's administration as immoral and presiding over a lethargic and dying economy, throwing the majority of Zimbabweans into abject poverty.In her New Year's message to Zimbabweans yesterday the popular widow of the late liberation struggle icon, Solomon Mujuru, slammed Mugabe and his post-congress Zanu-PF for being clueless and unable to extricate the country from the current economic abyss."As a nation, we are confronted by a sluggish and dying economy, lack of democratic space and plenty of poverty on the majority of our people, which is a result of a corrupt political leadership without focus on the well-being of the people," Mujuru said.Mujuru who was axed from her government and party positions on untested allegations she plotted to assassinate Mugabe warned Zimbabweans to realise that in the absence of a commitment by the country's leadership to "BUILD a vibrant economy for the benefit of our people, we are doomed".She lamented the fact that the majority of the economically active Zimbabweans had turned to vending "but there are no buyers because workers have either been laid off or not paid for months".Mujuru said there was hope for a return to constitutional democracy in the country where the ordinary people could express themselves freely as well as enjoy basic freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution.Mugabe's former second-in-command who is on the verge of transforming her People First project into a political party to challenge his former boss in the 2018 elections said she envisaged a Zimbabwe in which no citizen would be afraid to participate in political activities and where the rule of law was observed."In a constitutional democracy, there is a clear separation of the party and the State for the benefit of all citizens as non-party members are not prejudiced, targeted or victimised on political grounds."Where there is rule of law, all people who authorised the erection of illegal structures, which are now being demolished would be brought to book".Mujuru called for the resuscitation of industries which are non-performing by adopting investor-friendly and market-driven policies.On the social front, she said there was urgent need for huge investments in the repair of the country's infrastructure, including roads and rail as well as water and sanitation, education and health saying "the dire housing situation resulting in the exploitation of the poor by the corrupt and well-connected in society should be stooped".This she said could only be achieved by realisation on the part of the leadership of the country that Zimbabwe is part of the global village."We should therefore engage all; East, West, North and South who can help us achieve and enhance the well-being of our people."We should build bridges with our perceived foes and consolidate our relations with all those who wish to be our true friends," she added as she went on to pay tribute to the country's security forces for their professionalism.Recently, Mujuru gave written notice that she would be taking Zanu-PF head-on in the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.This means that as previously predicted by the Daily News, a political thriller of epic proportions if Zanu-PF does not typically resort to violence to retain its iron grip on power is on the cards in the 2018 polls, with the indefatigable former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his re-awakening main opposition MDC also strongly in the mix.Mugabe's warring party split into two bitterly-opposed formations at the end of 2014 at the height of its internal ructions, with its purged liberation struggle stalwarts moving to initiate the re-establishment of the "original" Zanu-PF which uses the slogan People First.Announcing her political outfit's Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development (Build) in the country in September, Mujuru assured her supporters that she had been hard at work since her first statement in early June in which she savaged the post-congress Zanu-PF and apologised to Zimbabweans for the mistakes that she and her erstwhile colleagues in the ruling party had made since 1980.Mujuru said unlike Zanu-PF, her yet-to-be launched party's policies would be informed by a desire to see Zimbabwe move forward as a proud member of the international community; a determination to create a just and equitable society in which all people would be treated equally in line with the founding principles of the liberation struggle; and a desire to see the country grow and create equal opportunities for all. Angry protesters against the execution of a Shia leader by Saudi Arabia set parts of Saudi consulate in fire in Iran's northeastern religious city of Mashhad on Saturday, Tabnak news website reported. The move came after the Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that 47 people, including the dissident leader, were executed in the Kingdom on terrorist charges. The Iranian government and religious leaders across the Middle-East have condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia cleric along with 46 others and warned of repercussions that could bring down the country's royal family, the media reported on Saturday. In a serious escalation of religious and diplomatic tensions in the region, councils and clerics in Iran, Yemen and Lebanon said the killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr would prompt widespread anger, The Guardian reported. Nimr was one of 47 people Saudi Arabian executed for terrorism on Friday. The interior ministry said most of those killed were involved in a series of Al Qaeda attacks between 2003 and 2006. The Saudi grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just. "The Saudi government supports terrorists and takfiri (radical Sunni) extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari said. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a leading Iranian cleric, said repercussions would bring down the Saudi ruling family. "I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history. The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family ? the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can," Khatami told state-run Mehr news agency. In Bahrain, police fired teargas at several dozen people protesting against the cleric's execution, a witness said. Demonstrators carrying pictures of Nimr faced security forces in a standoff in Abu-Saiba, a Shia village west of the capital, Manama. The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest such event in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadi rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. The executions are Saudi Arabia's first in 2016. At least 157 people were put to death last year, a significant increase on the 90 people killed in 2014. Eminent scientists and technologists from across the country will brainstorm here from Sunday on how best to implement the Modi government's ambitious Make in India programme for the global market. "Keeping in view the prime minister's flagship programme to get global investments, create jobs and boost exports, the theme of the 103rd Indian Science Congress is on aScience & Technology for indigenous development," Mysore University vice chancellor K.S. Rangappa told IANS here. To be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the sprawling Mansagangotri campus of University of Mysore in presence of top scientists, Nobel laureates and hundreds of students, the five-day annual fair is holding a mega expo on the theme of Pride of India - Frontier Science & Technologies. Though the science congress is being held for the 10th time in Karnataka, Mysuru is hosting it for second time 33 years after Indira Gandhi opened it in 1982, and as part of its centenary celebrations since it was founded in 1916. On eight occasions, the event was held in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), 140 km from here, with the last in 2003 when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the prime minister and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam the president. Interestingly, the first science congress in the erstwhile Mysore state was held in 1917 at Bangalore when the Mysore maharaja, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodiyar inaugurated it in the premier Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for which he gifted 371 acres of land free in 1911 for promoting research in science. Eminent scientist C.N.R Rao, a receipient of the Bharat Ratna, will deliver a lecture on "Doing Science in India" on Sunday after the inaugural session, which will be webcast for live streaming though about 400 scientists from overseas and across the country and about 100 noted speakers will be present to listen him directly. Five Nobel Laureates - John B Gurdon (medicine, 2012) from Britain, Dass Shechtman (chemistry, 2011) from Israel, David J Gross (physics, 2004) and Arthur B. McDonald (physics, 2015) from the US and Serge Haroche (physics, 2012) from France will speak at the panel discussion on "Science & Technology: Present & Future". Indian-born Fields medallist Manjul Bhargava from Princeton University in the US will also participate in the discussion on January 3. Modi will also honour about 30 distinguished scientists who had made singular contribution to the cause of science with awards and rewards, including gold medals to Nobel laureates, best presenter at the congress, best poster, young scientists and C.V. Raman birth centenary award. About 8,500 delegates have registered for the event from other states and overseas. Another 2,500 delegates, including faculty and students from the host university are participating. "With about 2,000 spot registrations, we expect about 15,000 people to visit the campus for the five-day fair to witness its various events, including women's science congress, children's science congress and communicators meet," Rangappa said ahead of the meet. Plenary talks will be on nano science, space science, technology and applications , diabetes, evolution, the frontiers, atomic energy, safe water and sanitation, diseases, drug development and public-private partnerships in the Clean India mission. Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani will open the fifth women's science congress on January 4, while Gurdon will flag off the children congress on the second day of the fair. As Karnataka's cultural capital and city of palaces, this historic city will treat the visiting delegates to its rich cultural programmes, including classical dances, fusion music and folklore. The science expo will have four pavilions - Hall of Pride, Vigyan Jyot, Genesis and Edu Vision - in which about 180 organsiations will showcase eminent personalities, inventions, discoveries and scientific solutions for common problems. "As the expo's revered segment, the Hall of Pride pavilion is dedicated to eminent personalities who contributed immensely to the growth of science and technology, which in turn helped in the country's development," Rangappa added. Among the noted personalities are Jawaharlal Nehru, Vikram Sarabhai, Dhirubhai Ambani, G.D. Birla, Satish Dhawan, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray and Sir M. Visvesvaraya from the host state. As a tribute to Kalam, the Hall of Pride pavilion will be dedicated to him. (Fakir Balaji can be contacted at fakir.b@ians.in) A team of scientists in Ireland has sequenced the first genomes from ancient Irish humans, which is now being used to answer pivotal questions about the origins of the country's people and their culture. A joint team of geneticists from Dublin's Trinity College and archaeologists from Queen's University in Belfast sequenced the genome of an early farmer woman, who lived near Belfast some 5,200 years ago, and those of three men from a later period, around 4,000 years ago in the Bronze Age, a Trinity statement said. The information buried within the sequenced genomes revealed unequivocal evidence for massive migration. The early farmer has a majority ancestry originating ultimately in the Middle East, where agriculture was invented, while the Bronze Age genomes are different with about a third of their ancestry coming from ancient sources in the Pontic steppe. The Pontic steppe extends from the northern shores of the Black Sea eastward to northwest Kazakhstan. "There was a great wave of genome change that swept into Europe from above the Black Sea into Bronze Age Europe and we now know it washed all the way to the shores of its most westerly island," said professor of population genetics in Trinity College-Dublin, Dan Bradley, who led the study. "This degree of genetic change invites the possibility of other associated changes, perhaps even the introduction of language ancestral to western Celtic tongues," Bradley added. "It is clear that this project has demonstrated what a powerful tool ancient DNA analysis can provide in answering questions which have long perplexed academics regarding the origins of the Irish," said Eileen Murphy, senior lecturer in Osteoarchaeology at Queen's University, Belfast. Whereas the early farmer had black hair, brown eyes and more resembled southern Europeans, the genetic variants circulating in the three Bronze Age men from Rathlin Island had the most common Irish Y chromosome type, blue eye alleles and the most important variant for the genetic disease, haemochromatosis. The latter C282Y mutation is so frequent in people of Irish descent that it is sometimes referred to as a Celtic disease. This discovery therefore marks the first identification of an important disease variant in prehistory. "Genetic affinity is strongest between the Bronze Age genomes and modern Irish, Scottish and Welsh, suggesting establishment of central attributes of the insular Celtic genome some 4,000 years ago," said Lara Cassidy, a researcher in genetics at Trinity. The team's findings were published in the latest issue of journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Security was beefed up across the West Bengal capital, in the wake of Saturday's terror attack at the Pathankot air base in Punjab, police said. "Security has been enhanced in all major installations in the city including the airport and railway stations," said a police officer. Police were conducting checks at vital installations like the airport and the Howrah and Sealdah railway stations. Security arrangements were also enhanced at the Bagdogra airport in Darjeeling district. Security personnel were also keeping a vigil on important landmarks including the state secretariat, the Victoria Memorial, the Howrah Bridge, Vidya Sagar Setu and the Kolkata Metro. In a major security breach, terrorists entered the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base and engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. At least four terrorists were killed and at least two security personnel lost their lives in the attack. Iraqi security forces on Saturday continued fighting the Islamic State (IS), clearing new areas in the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar, security sources said. The troops and allied Sunni tribal fighters retook control of the districts of Thaylah, Jamhoriyah and the areas surrounding Dolfin Square and Albu Farraj Bridge in central Ramadi, after clearing them from roadside bombs, booby-trapped vehicles and buildings, Sabah al-Nu'man, spokesman of Iraq's anti-terrorism force told Xinhua. "The troops and explosive experts have defused all the bombs, and today we have downtown Ramadi and surrounding districts completely cleared and safe," al-Nu'man said. He said that the extremist militants are no longer in a position of fighting back, as many of them either withdrew to rural areas outside Ramadi or redeployed in the eastern part of the city after the main battle last week. On Monday, the Iraqi Joint Operation Command officially declared victory a day after the Iraqi forces raised the Iraqi flag on the provincial government complex of Ramadi but Anbar's provincial capital has not yet been fully secured. Separately, the US-led coalition aircraft carried out an air strike on a convoy of IS vehicles in Tarrah area in northern Ramadi, destroying nine vehicles and killing at least 17 IS militants and leaving some 20 others wounded, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Security was tightened at the Hindon Air Force station here on Saturday after the attack at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Punjab's Pathankot town, a top official said. "We have tightened security at the strategically located air force base near the national capital after we received an alert from the home ministry," said District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma. Senior police officers visited the air force station and initiated a combing operation near the boundary wall. Residential areas near the base were also checked and a meeting was held with IAF officers to review the security. The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Saturday ordered compensation of Rs.20 lakh each to the families of 24 students of a Hyderabad engineering college who were washed away in the Beas river last year, to be paid within eight weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan directed that the compensation amount, including the interim compensation of Rs.5 lakh will be paid with interest at the rate of 7.5 percent per annum from Saturday till its final realisation is awarded. The bench, which treated a media report as a public interest litigation, said the state electricity board that runs the Larji hydropower project, responsible for the release of water into the river, would share 60 percent of the compensation, while the college and the hill state will pay 30 and 10 percent, respectively. The high court on June 25 had ordered interim compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to the families of each student who were washed away. The 24 students of V.N.R. Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad and a tour operator were swept away on June 8 last year near Mandi town after water from a nearby state-run hydropower project dam was released without warning. The students were on a tour to Manali. Earlier, turning down a plea of the engineering institute to modify or recall its order to pay interim compensation to the families of each victim, the high court had directed the college management to refund the amount of tuition fee of the students within two weeks. The judges, who reserved the judgment on December 14, observed that the news about the incident was so shocking and pricking that it shattered everyone. "Keeping in view the fact that the parents lost their sons/daughters, who were undergoing engineering course and were expected to be at least engineers, which is so painful and cannot be redressed by any relief, rather no substitute is available," the bench had observed. Talks with Pakistan will take place with terror as the key issue, union Minister Prakash Javadekar said hours after some unidentified terrorists attacked the Indian Air Force base near Punjab's Pathankot town early Saturday. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Javadekar, the minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, however, also supported Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that India will give a "befitting response" to terror. Condemning the terror attack, Javadekar said: "But the way our forces handled it is commendable... How they managed to enter is another issue, but as home minister said, we will give befitting reply to any such incident." Four terrorists were killed while a combing operation to search for any more terrorist was being carried out till Saturday afternoon at the Pathankot. Two Indian security personnel also died in the attack, sources said. As in the case of decriminalising homosexuality, the Supreme Court is a few steps behind perceptions and social reality in India in the matter of favouring official restrictions on the consumption of alcohol. In its judgment supporting the Kerala government's decision to confine drinking in public to bars in five-star hotels, the court has nevertheless said that the practice still carries a "social stigma". It is doubtful, however, whether this observation is valid, for the taint is fast disappearing in middle and upper class homes where offering a drink to friends and visitors has become routine. Etiquette of this kind was far less common 50 to 60 years ago among the middle class -- though not the upper classes -- when there was an element of "stigma" associated with drinking. To the elderly in those years, imbibers of alcohol were invariably the rich and decadent zamindar class or the dissolute individual. By allowing drinking only in five-star bars, which cater to the affluent, the Kerala government can be said to be recalling that half-a-century old stereotype of the rich, depraved tippler. Even the five-star establishments might have been included by the judiciary in the ban on drinking but for the sake of tourism. But this perception, too, is incorrect because not all foreign tourists are rich, as a look at Delhi's Paharganj hotels will show. Indeed, a majority of the tourists comprises back-packers or belong to the middle class. This applies to domestic tourists as well. By allowing, however, the purchase of drinks from retail outlets so that a consumer can drink at home, the government has revealed the half-baked nature of its prohibition policy. In any event, the fallacies of such an ill-considered approach to the issue are obvious. From the time of Morarji Desai's attempts to impose prohibition in Bombay in the years immediately after independence, the negative aspects of such a policy - boot-legging and the appearance of crime syndicates - have been apparent. These ill-effects were also seen in America in the 1920s when prohibition spawned the Mafia. Yet, if periodic attempts are still made by state governments to follow this flawed route, the reason has less to do with their professed moral concerns than a desire to pander to a section of voters - the women of mainly lower middle class and working class families, who have been victims of abusive alcoholic husbands. However, the damaging fallout in the states which have experimented with prohibition - Haryana is a recent example - shows that the remedy can be worse than the disease because of the brewing of illicit liquor which can kill. Besides, the habitul can turn to other stimulants such as narcotics. It is curious that none of these possibilities are taken into account by proponents of a ban among politicians, driven as they are by the hope of securing the vote bank of women from poor families. Nor are they bothered by the fact that a ban in one state cannot be implemented when there may well be a neighbouring state (or a country such as Nepal) where liquor is available. Anyone can drive or cycle across the border to buy a bottle and pay off the excise inspectors or policemen who question him. Apart from these difficulties in enforcing a foolproof ban, the prohibitionists will have to come to terms with the conviction, especially among the middle class in the age of liberalisation, that diktats forbidding what they may eat or drink or read or choose as a life partner are out of sync with a modern nation aiming at operating bullet trains and building smart cities. What is more, drinking today is a part of the social scene all over the world as the phrase, cocktail circuit, indicates. If the term is sometimes used derisively, it is to mock the snobbish elitism of the drinkers and not their habit. Where even the conservative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is showing ambivalence about its attitude towards beef, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar saying that it is a matter of "personal opinion", a ban on alcohol is difficult to justify. If the issue nevertheless keeps coming up with the state governments hoping, as in Bihar, that the loss of Rs 4,000 crore of annual revenue, can be partly compensated by selling milk from the liquor vends, the explanation probably lies in the propensity among politicians to climb on to a high moral ground, presumably to hide their failure to provide potable drinking water, reliable health services and worthwhile education to the poor. The most handy weapon for these poseurs is the constitution's directive principles which favour prohibition, among other things. It will be better, however, for politicians to focus on some of the other directives such as ensuring equal pay for equal work, protecting children and youth from exploitation, providing just and humane conditions of work and so on instead of on prohibition. The solution to alcoholism lies in intense campaigning, as in the case of smoking, via the media and encouraging temperance movements. But the politicians evidently feel that such endeavours will not yield as much electoral dividend as will a visible clamping down on sale and consumption of alcohol even if, ultimately, the ban will have to be lifted as in Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) News / National by Staff reporter Businessman and musician-cum Zanu-PF political activist Energy Mutodi has branded vice president Phelekezela Mphoko a failure who has fuelled debilitating factional fights in the ruling party.In his Political Personality Check List posted on his Facebook page yesterday, which ranks Zanu-PF politburo members' ability to among other things promote unity, peace and development in the party as well as "efforts to end poverty and suffering of the majority through their individual and collective work in both the party and government", Mutodi graded Mphoko at the foot of the bottom 10 list.Mutodi chastised Mphoko for "refusing to vacate a five-star hotel suite to occupy several houses that he was offered by the State, saying the houses were too small for him"."He has also torched storms by unnecessarily, discussing Gukurahundi and Unity Accord issues which he seems not to understand fully," Mutodi said."He is too bossy and likes to command party officials to tow factional agendas. He is also the worst Vice President ever to be appointed by President Mugabe".Also ranked as poor performers along with Mphoko, are Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, David Parirenyatwa, Prisca Mupfumira, Eunice Sandi Moyo, Christopher Mushowe, Sithembiso Nyoni and Josiah Hungwe among several others.The rankings were also based on the politburo members' "confidence in articulating government and party ideology as well as their own independent understanding of freedom, media and organisational efficiency".Mutodi, an open supporter of the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa faction, also claims that he took consideration of the politburo members "alertness and intuitiveness to cultures and diversity, symbols, beliefs, and the superiority of transcendental systems in organisational succession and transformation".The controversial musician, however, ranked Mugabe as the best performer followed by vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Ignatius Chombo, and Shuvai Mahofa while First Lady Grace Mugabe occupies position six on the top 10 list followed by Kembo Mohadi."While President Robert Mugabe remains the glue that continues to hold the party together, his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa who is head of government business in Parliament has breathed life and hope into the economy by departing from populist policies that harm the economy such as the indigenisation policy and the farm invasions that his predecessor Joice Mujuru had promoted," Mutodi said."First Lady Grace Mugabe managed to tour all the country's ten provinces, dishing out goodies and farm equipment. Her rallies, although controversial, have managed to keep the party active and visible".Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, Sydney Sekeramayi and youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi complete the rankings in that order. An undertrial prisoner was killed on Saturday in a fight between him and other inmates in a prison van transporting them back to Tihar central jail from a district court here, police said. Manoj, 28, was attacked when the van reached near Hauz Khas area in south Delhi while on the way from the Saket courts. "A prisoner was killed by some inmates in a prison van that was on way back to Tihar jail from Saket court. Over 50 inmates were in the van when the incident took place," Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Mukesh Prasad told IANS. Manoj was lodged in the Tihar since 2005. Police said his attackers were identified as Vishal, Raju and Salmaan. The prisoner was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead on arrival, Prasad said. "Initial reports said Vishal held personal grudges against Manoj. While returning from the court, he along with his accomplices attacked Manoj," a police officer said. Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy on Saturday asserted that his party will come back to power in West Bengal with more than two-third majority in the 2016 assembly polls. Relegated to the sidelines following his CBI grilling in the Saradha scam, Roy, a Rajya Sabha member, on Friday held discussions with party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence, signalling his "homecoming' on the eve of the assembly elections. "She led the way in ushering in change in Bengal. The elections are approaching; naturally, I had detailed discussions with her. Trinamool will come back to power in Bengal with more than two-third majority," said Roy. Once considered Trinamool's second-in-command and credited as the architect of its electoral success, Roy was stripped of all party posts including as its national general secretary. There was much speculation of Roy either floating a new political outfit or join some other party, particularly the Congress. In indications of their mending fences, Roy and Banerjee exchanged pleasantries in parliament, during the chief minister's visit to New Delhi in December. Subsequently, he found his way into a Trinamool delegation that met union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla in Delhi signalling his return to the Trinamool mainstream. An Arab Spring activist has accused the Twitter micro-blogging site of suspending his account after administrators mistook him for the leader of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Iyad El-Baghdadi, who has more than 70,000 Twitter followers and frequently mocks the IS, said his account was suspended for about half-an-hour after he was misidentified as IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Indonesian newspaper Republika and the New York Post, BBC reported on Friday. "To confuse an Arab man for the IS leader because of his very Arabic common surname is overt racism, @twitter," he wrote on his account. "My account gave you nearly 100 million twitter views this year, but you suspend me and keep the trolls running around, @twitter," he wrote in another tweet. El-Baghdadi said he received a message from Twitter saying he had "violated" its rules but did not specify the offence. The activist, who also researches radicalisation, said the company needed to be "more transparent" about why and how people are suspended. "I don't think a single Arab country exists that doesn't have a family with the surname El-Baghdadi," his another tweet read. Arab Spring refers to the democratic uprisings that arose independently and spread across the Arab world in 2011. Meanwhile, Twitter has not commented on the issue yet. In a fresh bid to combat abusive behaviour, micro-blogging site Twitter is also revising its rules to tackle hateful conduct including spreading of terror messages online. "We believe that protection from abuse and harassment is a vital part of empowering people to freely express themselves on Twitter," Megan Cristina, director, trust and safety at Twitter, posted in a blog recently. "The updated language emphasises that Twitter will not tolerate behaviour intended to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence another user's voice. As always, we embrace and encourage diverse opinions and beliefs but we will continue to take action on accounts that cross the line into abuse," she posted. Over the past year, Twitter has taken several steps to fight abuse in order to protect freedom of expression. It has empowered users with tools for blocking, muting and reporting abusive behaviour. Two Chinese nationals were arrested in Bihar after they entered India through Nepal without a visa and passport and were caught when taking photographs without permission, police said on Saturday. They were arrested in Raxaul in East Champaran district. "A team of SSB officials arrested two Chinese nationals for taking photographs without permission," said Assistant Commander of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Satish Chandra Gupta. "We have recovered two mobile phones and one camera from them," he said. Immigration official S.M. Sharma said that preliminary investigation suggest that they were roaming for last two months near the India-Nepal border areas. Security forces killed two terrorists following an attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Pathankot district in north Punjab early on Saturday. The gunfire started at around 3.30 a.m, police have cordoned off the area and army have been called. Number of terrorists was reported to be around four to six, who were in Army fatigues. Heavy firing could be heard from the IAF station area till 7.30 a.m. Security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert by security forces. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked", said a senior police officer in winter capital Jammu. Defence sources said army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant was able to sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police officer said he and his associates were seized by five armed men in army fatigues. Salwinder Singh, a superintendent of police, said he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the five men. Samajwadi Party leader Totaram Yadav was arrested last month for allegedly rigging a panchayat election in Uttar Pradesh three months ago. Totaram Yadav, the chairman of a state-level board, was caught on video stuffing ballot papers into ballot boxes. An FIR was filed but no action was taken against him. To prevent his arrest, he petitioned the Allahabad High Court, but did not appear in court. He did attend public functions, but no one dared lay a finger on him. Curiously, he was arrested at a function where Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's uncle, Shivpal Yadav, and brother-in-law, Tej Pratap Yadav, were present. Or to be precise, the police arrested him the minute Shivpal Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav left the venue. This was probably Akhilesh Yadav's way of sending a message to his uncle - which indicates how deep the rift in the family is. However, he was released within three hours of his arrest on medical grounds. At a chance meeting with Dharmendra Pradhan, the minister for petroleum and natural gas, at a wedding reception in late February 2015, I remarked that I was being bombarded by SMSes asking for my bank account number to deliver LPG subsidy. As a life-long opponent of the universal petroleum subsidy, I did not think it right for me to take the subsidy and ignored the messages. But the consequence was that the local distributor could not give me a cylinder at full price without "completion of the process". The distributor needed my bank account details. We suggested to the minister that there needs to be a mechanism where we can say no to the subsidy. The day after our interaction, I received a call from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) requesting my local distributor's name and asking when a representative could meet me. I insisted that no one needed to take the trouble to meet me; we merely wanted some options, either through a form or a website that would allow me to opt out of the subsidy. To their credit, the ministry did not leave it at that. I was at a function in Vigyan Bhavan on March 27, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a web-app through which citizens can give up their subsidy and said that this trend was already gaining momentum. The ministry made a promise to deliver that foregone subsidy to a needy family. Since then, in a short span of nine months, 5.75 million customers have given up their subsidy. The ministry realised that those who gave up also included retired soldiers, senior citizens and others who cared for those toiling and scrounging for biomass to cook. Now comes news that the benefit of the LPG subsidy will not be available to consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs 10 lakh during the previous financial year, computed as per the Income Tax Act, 1961. India has less than 1.8 million such people. Given India's inequity, there would be around 300,000 families with more than two such persons per family. That leaves 1.5 million families. Hopefully, 50 per cent may have given up already and the rest who are either lazy or too busy or stingy who would be now shamed to contribute. Thus, an additional 750,000 is a much smaller number compared to the 5.75 million from the give-up scheme. Though not a substantial addition, this group has important symbolic value. However, the ministry needs to ensure that the "give-it-up" programme remains successful. It is a broad-based and participatory movement, and needs to continue if it is to have a bigger impact. In fact, there is a worry that the non-contributing rich may discourage simple people from contributing, as they did so far. The above two measures, though significant, are small steps in a long journey. Whether it is COP 21 at Paris or UN discussions on Sustainable Development Goals, India mentions at every platform that millions of persons have no access to energy. Yet, for more than 65 years, the only measure taken was to give subsidised LPG to all! In 1980, when we were projecting energy demand till 2000 in the Planning Commission, we thought the problem would be reduced substantially by 2000. But the 2001 census showed only 13 per cent LPG coverage. The 2011 census was disappointing at 28 per cent coverage. Even assuming some progress till 2015, close to 160 million households have partial or no coverage. Clearly, the trickle-down theory is not working. We need to chalk out a more aggressive, time-bound plan. The logical extensions for the MoPNG can be divided into two sets of measures. To target the subsidy even better, reduce the number of subsidised cylinders from 12 to nine per family (surveys by Integrated Research and Action for Development or IRADe show this is the average demand for a lower middle class family, which is not too poor); consider stopping the subsidy by clubbing family income to Rs 10 lakh instead of individual income at Rs 10 lakh, by including the income of all earning members; and more ambitiously, reduce that to Rs 5 lakh per family over the next few years. To increase reach and access to new deserving families, ensure the presence of more LPG distributors in the rural areas, promote five-kg and even two-kg cylinders to suit their pocket and add free stoves for people below the poverty line. For consumers in large cities, a network of piped natural gas (PNG) is a feasible solution and avoids transport of heavy cylinders. It has reached nearly three million customers but more is possible with better campaigns and infrastructure. In some rural areas, where electricity is more easily available, cooking through electric kettles, electric hot plates and efficient induction cookers may be promoted. These appliances also reduce women's work and can be afforded by some well-off rural households. These solutions cost Rs 3000 or less, and may be easier than LPG, as electricity coverage at 70 per cent families in the country is much higher than that of clean fuels. Energy-saving cooking practices are also needed for all income categories. If India is to attain rapid economic growth, women need to be empowered through healthy indoor environments, and lives free from the drudgery of collecting fuels. LPG or a multi-fuel strategy can change lives and even save lives from pollution. A time-bound blueprint for the transition to clean cooking solutions for all needs state-wise programmes and annual budgets. This must be the government's vision. As women have started to vote aggressively, there will not be a choice in future. The writer is executive director at Integrated Research and Action for Development, New Delhi. jparikh@irade.org Recent media reports suggest that the three service chiefs have together written a letter to the defence minister protesting the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, and seeking its review insofar as the armed forces are concerned, by a suitable committee with representation from the military. At the same time, while addressing the annual Commanders Conference of the three services on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said everything would be done to ensure that the fighting efficiency of the armed forces remained high. There is some mismatch in these two seemingly separate but related developments. While many of the issues of concern to the armed forces will, hopefully, be set right, what is disconcerting is the underlying theme which, through pay structures, downgrades the stature of the military institution. This is a potentially damaging scenario which needs discussion, as the morale of fighting men and the equipment they fight with are not different things, but two sides of the same coin. The real problem is not the recommendations of any Pay Commission or the ongoing agitation by armed forces veterans, but the approach that is increasingly being adopted by the country towards the one institution which stands by the homeland in weather both fair and foul. In terms of recognition of the armed forces as an institution, governments of all hues, past and present, have had an approach which borders on schizophrenia. There is high rhetoric on the regard in which the military is held by everyone; yet, no effort is spared to denigrate its leadership or to downgrade its stature. In the early 1960s, when the Army Chief protested and then resigned over the promotion of a clearly unsuitable senior officer, Prime Minister Nehru first assured General Thimayya that he would get the issue resolved and, on the very next day, castigated the chief in quite derogatory language in the Lok Sabha. The person in question was elevated and a year later, led his troops to a demoralised retreat from the battlefield which was even more traumatic than the defeat itself. In 1973, despite the armed forces having provided the nation with a spectacular victory just two years earlier, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government, following the Third Pay Commission report, had no hesitation in reducing the pensions of retiring military men just as it increased those of their civilian counterparts. In the middle 1980s, when then army chief made a perfectly valid comment that the armed forces were as interested in good governance as others, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi got Defence Minister Sharad Pawar to humiliate the general by remarking in the Lok Sabha that military officers were trained to fight wars but were not well equipped to make such comments, which need not be taken seriously. In 1998, the government of Prime Minister Vajpayee summarily dismissed then Naval Chief Vishnu Bhagwat without any notice, going so far as to fly in his successor into New Delhi quite stealthily in an aircraft belonging to the Research and Analysis Wing. Two years after the Kargil War, a visibly disinterested Prime Minister Vajpayee was present on July 26 at a ceremony to commemorate the victory gained at considerable sacrifice of young lives even as, on the same day, three prime ministers, past and present, along with several MPs, stood at a crematorium to pay respect to an assassinated MP who had been a dacoit and had cruelly murdered 22 of her own innocent countrymen; both houses of Parliament were adjourned for a day. These are just a few episodes better known publicly; many more can be cited. If this is not reflective of a split persona, nothing is. In other major democracies, there are instances of military leaders having been asked to resign or even dismissed - the most infamous one being the sacking of US General Douglas Macarthur, a World War II hero, by President Truman during the Korean War. But there the former was clearly acting in defiance of the political directive. There have been cases where senior military men have been asked to resign on moral grounds, but never have efforts been made to downgrade the stature of the armed forces as an institution. In the same country, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sits as a full member of the National Security Council alongside his superior, the Secretary of Defence (the equal of our defence minister). This is where India stands almost alone. The approach of the Seventh Pay Commission falls in this latter category. For it to argue, as it has, that in the pay matrix, senior officers of the armed forces stand on the same footing as their civilian counterparts, actually better, is more devious than naive, as its members were well aware that only a miniscule percentage of the former reach those positions and at a later age, when large numbers of the latter do so at a much younger age. Another pointer to the discrimination is that while representations made by various civilian bodies are analysed in the report, those made by the armed forces are ignored entirely. There are many glaring instances of such insensitivity in the recommendations made by this body. The argument that in any democracy, the civilian leadership must have primacy over the military is valid only so long as the meaning of that relationship is understood. If by this 'superiority' is implied that the civil bureaucracy must merit higher status and remuneration than its military counterpart then the thesis deserves to be challenged and refuted. For those who have served in the armed forces, and this writer is one, the morale of the men in uniform is the first prerequisite to fighting efficiency. Demoralisation, for any reason, is both debilitating and defeating; it was poor morale, not outdated equipment (the Chinese did not have any better), that sent us running back in 1962. Various measures, some tangible - discipline is one of them - and others more indirect, are needed to sustain and foster high morale. This is a 24/7 and 365-day activity; and status in society and government, of which fair remuneration is an important factor, must merit serious attention of those in authority, both civil and military. Sadly, the Seventh Pay Commission report falls well short of the standard expected of it. Therefore, if the three Service Chiefs have been concerned enough to address their political superior, it is for good reason. Grievances of retired veterans can be brushed aside easily as responses of an ungrateful government, but to cause demoralisation among those still in the fight is to cause grave damage to the nation which can have potentially serious impact on its core interests. No country ever became a great power by putting down its own military. The writer is a former Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. He has also served on the National Security Advisory Board "Fizul mein na bole (don't speak needlessly)," snapped Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in Bihar last week. "If you don't understand issues, go home and rest. Don't speak unnecessarily to help TV channels raise their TRPs." Prasad made the comments, which were directed at RJD colleagues, during a media conference after he was asked about the remarks made by his trusted lieutenant and right-hand man, former rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. Singh had launched a broadside against the state government headed by Nitish Kumar over rising crime. On December 26, two engineers working on a road construction project in Darbhanga were murdered. Then, another engineer was found dead in Vaishali district. On December 28, panic gripped Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district after the supervisor of a construction company was shot dead while returning home. On December 29, an engineering student was kidnapped and a ransom of Rs 5 lakh was demanded for his release. There was a general feeling that lawlessness had returned. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state was not prepared to sit silent. "Incidents are happening non-stop and the people of Bihar are living in terror. The image of Bihar is being tarnished," said BJP leader Sushil Modi. Rajiv Pratap Rudy was equally trenchant: "I don't know if the people of Bihar deserved this. The question may be best posed to Nitish Kumar and much better to Lalu Prasad. Is this what they got a mandate for?" More than the BJP, it was ally RJD's attack that has left the Janata Dal- United (JD-U) reeling. "It seems as if the RJD is supporting the BJP's charges rather than supporting the government," a JD-U leader said. "We have taken serious note of it." Why did Singh speak in the first place? Because Prasad himself tendered some friendly advice to the chief minister. "The police should be given a free hand in controlling law and order," Prasad was reported as saying. To this, Kumar is believed to have replied that Laluji's advice was precious and that the government would strive to act on it. Prasad's criticism of the government, however constructive, was a signal for others in the RJD to take up the refrain. Hence Singh's riposte. But if the RJD thought it could get away with this, it was wrong. The JD-U responded with ferocity, with party leaders saying Singh had, in his advanced age, lost his marbles ("satiya gaye hain"). The war of attrition, it seemed, had begun. At the heart of the war are the unsatiated desires of the RJD. After being out of power for years in Bihar, the party bounced back in the 2015 Assembly elections, winning the most seats in the Maha Gathbandhan (Grand Alliance). The RJD finished with a strike rate of nearly 80 per cent - it won eight out of every 10 seats it contested. By contrast, the JD-U's strike rate was just above 70 per cent, and the Congress', 66 per cent. The RJD and the BJP contested against each other in 74 seats. Apart from winning 54 of the contests against the BJP, the RJD made up the rest of its tally by sweeping all but one of the seats it contested against the other constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Victory against the NDA is a badge of honour the RJD takes seriously. But after all this, who becomes chief minister? Nitish Kumar. So elements in the RJD feel that while Kumar may be the CM, the real CM is Prasad. The party was quick to voice this view. Moves made by Prasad reinforced this feeling: He appointed trusted advisors to guide and educate his sons in government functioning. Sudhir Kumar, Prasad's most trusted lieutenant, was appointed public works department (PWD) secretary to hold Prasad's son, Tejaswi Yadav's hand, who has the PWD portfolio. Similarly, R K Mahajan, another trusted bureaucrat during the Prasad era, was made health secretary to help the other son, Tej Pratap Yadav, who is now health minister. The feeling was that Kumar would be deposed but only when Prasad's sons were good and ready. In the meantime, Kumar must bow before Prasad in running the government - for the JD-U was the junior partner, after all. JD-U is not used to taking dictation from anyone; understandably it is restive. It is the BJP which is having the last laugh, striking a distinctly "I told you so" tone. "The alliance is not a natural one. We had warned that jungle raj would be back. It has begun even earlier than we thought" said a BJP leader. In all fairness, the new empowerment of the Prasad supporter is not yet making itself felt in rural areas: The Yadavs are still savouring their victory and having been out of the power structure for so long, do not want to jeopardise their supremacy just yet. But the BJP predicts that it is a matter of time. Meanwhile, Kumar is doing his best to do his work as efficiently as he can. Bihar is unlikely to be a stable place in the months to come. News / National by Staff reporter Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has implored President Robert Mugabe to cut short his overseas holiday and return home to attend to the country's mounting economic crisis and threats of mass starvation.Speaking to the Daily News yesterday after witnessing first hand "the terrible hardships that Zimbabweans are groaning under in Gutu" - where he had gone to attend the funeral of Kuwadzana legislator Nelson Chamisa's younger brother - Tsvangirai said Mugabe should come back home to see for himself the suffering of most citizens.The former prime minister in the government of national unity said he had witnessed heart-rending poverty in Gutu, which he said was being exacerbated by the worsening hunger which was "everywhere".In that light, Tsvangirai also advised Mugabe to declare a state of emergency so that resources could be mobilised quickly to avert the looming mass starvation in the country - that is blamed on Zanu-PF's misrule and the El Nino weather phenomenon that has seen little rainfall activity this agricultural season."Even though I went to Gutu for the funeral of Chamisa's late brother, it was very obvious that the country is facing a drought which appears to be more severe than previous ones."My assessment is that this drought is going to be devastating and, therefore, it's critical for the government to show more energy and declare a state of emergency to avert disaster," Tsvangirai said - adding that this would enable both local and overseas development partners to chip in.He said it would be unfortunate if the government continued to move "as lethargically as it was doing" on this emergency, pointing to the 2008 cholera outbreak which saw Mugabe's administration "burying its head in the sand and refusing to declare a state of emergency" with disastrous consequences.As a result of the government's incompetence then, more than 4 000 lives were needlessly lost to the cholera epidemic - with Tsvangirai expressing the fear that "the current situation tragically mirrors the 2008 crisis"."We need to mobilise now and energetically, both the private and public sectors, as well as our international partners to deal with the situation," Tsvangirai implored.According to the United Nations World Food Programme and other aid agencies, at least 1,5 million Zimbabweans are in desperate need of food aid.The country, once seen as Africa's breadbasket is now widely viewed as a hopeless basket case that imports everything that it consumes - a tragic reality that is blamed squarely on Mugabe's populist policies and Zanu-PF's chaotic fast-track land reforms.Tsvangirai also observed ruefully yesterday that even in those few areas where the government was distributing farm inputs around the country, this exercise was being carried out in a partisan manner, with "food being used as a political weapon"."It is very worrying and tragic that food is now being used as a political weapon. The fact is that everyone should be looked after by the government because it is its responsibility," he said.Amid all this, analysts have also warned that Zimbabwe could be thrown into total chaos this year as the broke government also fails to pay its workers and other dues.Respected University of Zimbabwe lecturer and political analyst, Eldred Masunungure, also warned that the country's deteriorating political and economic conditions could also see a new era of rolling mass actions.He said it was likely that while 2015 was "certainly a nasty year" that many Zimbabweans would like to forget, 2016 was going to be "nastier" as economic and social conditions continued to deteriorate."It will probably be worse than the nasty year of 2015 which was bad for most people and which most of us would like to forget. 2016 is definitely likely to be nastier."I don't see any green shoots of recovery. It's gloomy and most Zimbabweans are despondent," Masunungure said."Asked about the possibility of escalated strikes this year, he said this was "highly likely"."That is likely but not inevitable because Zimbabweans have changed."In the 1990s, they used to express themselves easily but now the appetite has diminished and I think most Zimbabweans, even if they realise that the government has ignored them, have constructed ways of surviving and the most visible sign of that is the informal sector, which is the gateway for survival."As long as there is a way out they will tend to ignore the government's incompetence because they can live without the State and that tends to dampen the likelihood of strikes," Masunungure said. The Indian National Congress was faced with an embarrassing situation last week, when news broke that the Congress Darshan, a monthly associated with the Mumbai branch of the party, published an article on India's first home minister, Vallabhbhai Patel, that was read as being critical of decisions taken by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. An article in the issue of the magazine brought out to commemorate Patel's death anniversary on December 15 praised his vision and foresight on international affairs in particular. It repeated several old stories suggesting that an excessively idealistic Nehru should have listened to the realist Patel - including the one that Patel had warned Nehru not to trust the People's Republic of China. It is of course true that Patel sent Nehru a letter on the subject dated November 7, 1950, after China had annexed Tibet. Less well known is the fact that Nehru wrote a note that served as a reply on November 18 that year, in which he argued, first, that India did not have the capability to prevent the annexation of Tibet; second, that there was no chance of a "major attack" on India by China, although "entering and taking possession of disputed territory" was a possibility; and, third, that India's "major possible enemy" was Pakistan, and what was important when drafting a China policy was to prevent Pakistan from taking advantage of Indo-China relations and putting India in a pincer. This does not sound like hopeless idealism in the least. Such discussions, of course, are the bread and butter of historians. Nor should it cause any surprise or controversy if such a debate finds place in a publication in order to glorify a leading Congressman whose death anniversary is being commemorated. However, the Congress party's reply leaves much to be desired; party leader Sanjay Nirupam said that "action will be taken against people in the editorial team", and later it was reported that the "content editor" of the magazine has been fired. For a party that wishes to claim liberal principles, this is the wrong stand to take. Claims that Patel had a keener eye than Nehru can easily be disputed, but there is no reason that the reverse should be an article of faith for the Congress. There are pragmatic reasons for this: after all, Patel himself was a life-long Congressman, and insisting he was never right when he contradicted Nehru just leaves his legacy as fertile fodder for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has practically no independence struggle-era heroes of its own. There are also deeper reasons. If the Congress wishes to live up to the liberal principles it espouses, then it should allow its members to speak their mind about its own history. No party that has ruled India for six decades can reasonably insist that every decision its leaders took during that time was spot on. By allowing criticism of its past, it only strengthens itself. Most of all, it is ironic that a controversy should be suppressed by the crushing of dissent when the subject in question was Jawaharlal Nehru. After all, Nehru, whatever his many failings, was perfectly willing to deal with criticism of his decisions, whether from within or outside the Congress. There are more than enough famous incidents that testify to this - for example, just days before his death in 1964, the prime minister told the well-known cartoonist Shankar to keep on lampooning him: "Don't spare me, Shankar". In fact, when it seemed there was insufficient criticism of Nehru, he himself could take a hand: there's the fascinating story of how, in 1937, the Modern Review in what was then Calcutta published a trenchant critique of Nehru. It was titled "Rashtrapati", written by someone calling himself "Chanakya", and warning that Nehru may call himself a democrat and a socialist but, "a little twist and Jawaharlal may turn a dictator, sweeping aside the paraphernalia of a slow-moving democracy...His conceit is already formidable. It must be checked." The writer was, of course, Nehru himself, as emerged decades later. The party that claims to defend him would do so best if it learned from him. On December 26, at a review meeting of the road construction department in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was busy instructing officials to make sure that the distance between Patna and any point in the state should not exceed five hours, even as news came in that two engineers in Darbhanga had been murdered. A heavy silence fell, and the meeting was over. The two engineers - 45-year-old Mukesh Kumar Singh and 30-year-old Brajesh Kumar - were employees of Gurgaon-based C&C Construction and were part of a Rs 750-crore state highway project in the Darbhanga district. Two men on a motorcycle shot the engineers dead. It was reported that the police personnel who were earlier deployed at the site after the company received a ransom call were removed from the spot to guard against tension in a nearby area. The police admitted that the killings were linked to extortion demands. By the end of the day, a station house officer had been suspended and the probe was handed over to a special task force (STF). The incident has spread panic among construction companies, which are now demanding protection for their employees. On December 28, a group of 100 engineers in the Bhagalpur district submitted a memorandum to the inspector general of police in this regard. It doesn't help matters that the body of another engineer, Ankit Jha, was found in the Vaishali district, 60 km from Patna, three days later. The 42-year-old was an engineer with Reliance Telecom. Against this backdrop, the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar has now become the biggest challenge to Kumar's credentials as a strict enforcer of law. "Kumar began his rule with good intentions. The speedy trial mechanism ensured that criminals stay behind bars. However, the efforts seemed to be losing steam during his second tenure," says a former director general of police. "The yearly conviction rate fell from 12,000 in 2009-10 to 8,000 in 2013-14. In 2015, it further fell to 5,000-6,000. Since the grand alliance's [Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad] victory in the high-pitched state Assembly election, the government went into a honeymoon phase. This gave criminals a chance to be active again." Organised crime and the response The double murder has put the spotlight on Santosh Jha, who is lodged in Gaya central jail in connection with 40 criminal cases, including murder, extortion and landmine blasts. A police probe has reportedly revealed that Jha had demanded an amount of Rs 75 crore from the Gurgaon-based company. According to the police, the engineers were killed by Mukesh Pathak - the right-hand man of Jha - and his three accomplices. This is hardly the first extortion-related killing since the Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance rose to power in November 2015. In the same month, an electrical supervisor involved in a rural electrification project in Sheohar was killed for extortion. The main accused in this case is also Mukesh Pathak. The police suspect that Jha's gang may be responsible for at least a dozen murders of engineers and contractors in the state and may have extorted more than Rs 100 crore from construction companies in the past 10 years. "The organised crime in the state is still ruled by a few big names," said a senior police official. "However, since the regime change in the state a decade ago, most of them have taken the cover of legitimate businesses like hotels or real estate. The engineers were killed to consolidate the gang's position in the state to ensure that no company would dare to deny extortion to them." The initial probe also gives a glimpse into the lacklustre attitude of the police. The district administration and senior police officials have accepted that the protection money was being demanded from company officials since August this year. Although security forces were deployed near the base camp, no FIR was filed in this regard. Some analysts say that this incident has once again proved that there is a police-criminal nexus operating in the state, since the incident took place just hours after the security was withdrawn from the base camp. The special investigating force that is probing the incident was set up to combat organised crime in the state. However, its track record is far from satisfactory. "Instead of being a special wing, the STF is considered as a shunting posting or for those who want desk jobs in Patna," said one source. The STF has apprehended three of Santosh Jha's henchmen, but officials accept that Pathak and his accomplices may have fled to Nepal. The police are yet to release photographs or sketches of Pathak or his accomplices. The aftermath A dozen engineers have left the project site at Darbhanga. "The work has almost stopped," says B K Jha, chief project engineer of BSCC-C&C JV. "There is fear among the engineers; 12 of the 15 engineers have fled." He adds that more than 250 of 400 labourers have also left after the murders. The company has demanded complete security for its engineers and labourers - from their residence to the work site - before it will resume work. It's not that these demands have been falling on deaf ears. In a recent review meeting of the home department, Nitish Kumar expressed concern on the rising crime graph. "Tell me what do you need?" asked the chief minister in a stern voice. "All efforts must be made to eliminate organised crime. Take the murders in Darbhanga as a challenge and curb crime at all costs. I want results." The victims' families, however, blame the state government for the incident. "Why were the policemen withdrawn?" asks one of the family members of Brajesh Kumar. "Who is responsible for this? They are hand in glove with the culprits. Otherwise, how could the criminals have known that the security had been withdrawn?" Brajesh Kumar, a resident of the Rohtas district, was the family's sole breadwinner. Divya, his three-year-old daughter who celebrated her birthday with her father on December 20, has saved a piece of cake for her father because he had promised her that he would return on New Year's day. She doesn't know why her mother, Rita, and her grandmother, Reena Devi, are crying so much. Meanwhile, the family of Mukesh Kumar Singh - a father of two - in Begusarai is devastated by the incident. He was the father of two teenage children. His son, Sonu, is angry. He doesn't know why his father was killed. His sister, Vaisnavi, has not eaten since the incident. Their mother, Vandana Devi, tries to be strong for the sake of her children but cannot hold back her tears. Mukesh's father, Shayam Sunder Singh, also blames the police and the administration for the incident. The politics The incident has also shaken the political landscape in Bihar and led to unease in the ruling alliance. The Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that "jungle raj" has returned to Bihar. Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has "advised" the chief minister on how to control crime, something that Nitish Kumar's party members haven't taken kindly to. "I wish the chief minister would take all steps, including taking notorious criminals in jails on remand and replacing lax officers with proactive ones to break the criminal racket," he said. He also urged the chief minister to give the police a free hand in controlling crime effectively and asked the government to fix the responsibilities of police officials. Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) wasn't pleased with this and reacted sharply by saying that the chief minister needed no mentoring. According to top JD (U) sources, what riled the party the most was the fact that ally RJD added its voice to the chorus of "jungle raj returns". The party feels that Lalu Prasad's remarks on the law-and-order situation in the state were "unnecessary and irresponsible" and created bitterness among the allies. However, RJD vice-president and former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh countered that it was the chief minister's duty to maintain law and order and that Nitish Kumar must ensure this. Before the leaders could douse the fire, a slugfest had already broken out. Reacting to Raghuvansh Prasad Singh's comments, JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh said the senior RJD leader had lost his "mental balance". "[Raghuvansh Prasad Singh should] think before saying anything about Nitish ji. He is creating problems for the alliance," said Sanjay Singh. Soon, two RJD ministers came to Singh's defence. Bihar Minister for Cooperative Department Alok Mehta and senior leader Mundrika Singh Yadav said that since the RJD was the biggest partner in the alliance, the RJD chief had every right to give "directives" to the government. The BJP called Prasad the "super chief minister" - one who was calling the shots in the government. However, Prasad and Kumar maintained that there were no problems in the alliance. "If the party spokesmen do not understand the issue, they would do better to sleep in their respective homes. There is complete unity in the alliance," said Prasad. Some in the JD(U), however, think that much of this has to with perception. "Law and order is a matter of perception and Nitish Kumar seems to be slipping," says a JD(U) leader. "Many states considered better ruled than Bihar have a higher crime rate. There is no lack of intent on controlling crime, but the perception has changed since Nitish Kumar joined hands with Lalu Prasad. The upper caste and urban middle class were already against the ruling alliance in the state. This incident has provided the evidence this section needed to prove its point." Salvadoran authorities say 10 people have been shot dead in the early hours of the new year, including an 11-year-old killed by men dressed as police. Police officials say five people were killed in a rural eastern area of the country and five gang members died in a confrontation with police. Two men, two women and an 11-year-old child were slain early yesterday by men dressed like police who stormed into two humble dwellings and sprayed them with gunfire in the Los Cerritos community about 160 kilometers (95 miles) east of the capital, San Salvador. In the second incident, National Police Commissioner Veronica Uriarte says agents on patrol encountered five alleged gang members in Valle Nuevo just south of San Salvador and exchanged gunfire. Twelve people were today killed when the jeep in which they were travelling rammed into a bus that was carrying foreign tourists, police said here. According to police, the Tata Max jeep was carrying 13 pilgrims who had gone to the Prabhunath temple in Nepal. The tragedy occurred this morning as their vehicle collided head-on with the tourist bus near Sudama Bhatta, police said, adding that the foreign tourists are safe and have been sent to their hotels. Ten persons died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at BPS Memorial hospital in Balrampur following the mishap, which occurred at 12km away from the Balrampur district headquarters. An injured person, identified as one Rajesh, is receiving treatment, they said. Among the deceased are Sathosh (18), Pradeep and Pappu (both 22), Pramod (25), Durgesh (26), Vijay, Nanko, Chandrika and the driver of the vehicle, Chotkau (all 28), Angnoo (40), Surendra Kumar and an unidentified person. All were residents of Srawasthi district. Meanwhile, SP Umesh Chadra, DM Preeti Shukla, and senior police officials visited the spot while the state government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the victims. Twelve pilgrims were killed and three others seriously injured when the jeep they were travelling in rammed into a bus carrying foreign tourists here this morning. The pilgrims were returning from Devi Patan temple in Tulsipur when their jeep hit a bus carrying foreign tourists at Belha turn killing 10 persons on the spot, SP Umesh Chandra Srivastava said. Two pilgrims succumbed to injuries on way to hospital, the SP said. Three persons were admitted to the district hospital in a serious condition, he said, adding the foreign tourists are safe and have been sent to their hotels. Efforts were on to identify the pilgrims killed in the accident, Srivastava added. Two BSF personnel were arrested from Guwahati for the alleged gangrape of a teenage girl in a train compartment and remanded to jail custody for 14 days today. Superintendent of Railway Police, Howrah, Mehmood Akhtar, said Pankaj Kumar and Balakram Yadav were arrested yesterday from Guwahati and brought to Howrah. After their arrest, they were produced at Howrah chief judicial magistrate's court which ordered their judicial remand. An army jawan was also arrested from Madhupur railway station on December 28 in connection with the alleged gangrape of the teenager in moving Howrah-Amritsar Express and was remanded to police custody for seven days by the court the next day. The army jawan identified as Manjaris Tripathy had allegedly compelled the 14-year-old, who had boarded the compartment at Howrah station on December 27, to consume alcohol. She was then allegedly raped by the two BSF personnel who then absconded. The girl was found from the compartment when RPF raided the train at Madhupur station on December 28 on receiving a message from RPF Howrah. Tripathy was then arrested. The girl's father had lodged complaints that she had allegedly fled from home and was travelling by the train. A group of suspected Pakistani terrorists today struck at an Air Force base here in Punjab, triggering an encounter in which two attackers and an IAF personnel were killed and 6 security men were injured. The terrorists, believed to be 5 in number, launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. A group of militants attacked Air Force base at 3:30 AM this morning, a Defence spokesman said. The attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists therefore could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside. Two suspected militants were killed in the battle, SSP R K Bakshi said. Operation was still on to neutralise other attackers. One IAF personnel was killed and six others injured in the encounter, the security sources said, while giving details of the operation which was overseen by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The attackers are believed to be Pakistani terrorists, sources said. Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab police was abducted by a group of armed men in army uniform on Thursday night. Yesterday, a series of meetings were held by NSA with army chief and top IB officers in this regard. Subsequently the army was put on alert and NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot overnight. Punjab police were also put on high alert with an additional ADG being rushed to Pathankot. This is one of the most successful counter terror operation as the terrorists were prevented from causing any major casualties, security official said. Meanwhile, authorities said the helicopters and other equipment in the Air base was safe. The entire area has been cordoned off, police said. It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Diana Nagar before being eliminated after 12 hour gun battle. The year gone by in Rajasthan saw gangster Anandpal Singh escaping from judicial custody and the arrest of IOC marketing official Mohd Sirajuddin for alleged ISIS links even though police claimed that the overall crime rate declined as compared to 2014. According to a police headquarters report, altogether 1,70,928 cases of crime including that of murder, robbery, rape, loot, abduction were registered under IPC in the state's police stations till October 2015 as compared to 1,80,211 in corresponding month of 2014, a decline of 5.15 per cent. Anandpal's escape on September 3 and his still evading law are giving sleepless night to state police as well as embarrassment to the Vasundhara Raje government. Anandpal, whose other accomplices were caught, has over two dozen cases of murders, extortion and kidnapping registered against him. Following the arrest of Sirajuddin, his father Mohd Sarwar claimed that his son was falsely implicated as exchanging views is not a crime and the ATS FIR "has got loopholes". Police said Sirajuddin got involved in activities of ISIS about five months ago and was in touch with people of similar ideology from within India and abroad. A native of Gulbarga in Karnataka, he is in police custody and is being grilled by sleuths of SOG and ATS Rajasthan. Rajasthan, which ranks third among 10 cities after Delhi and Chennai in terms ofroad accidents, saw BJP MP and actor Hema Malini having a narrow escape last July when her Mercedes rammed into another car near Dausa leaving a two-and-a-half- year-old girl Sonam dead and six persons injured. The actor's driver was arrested and released on the same day after high drama. Hema Malini faced flak after she blamed the father of the girl for not following traffic rules. "How I wish the girl's father had followed traffic rules, then this accident could have been averted and the little one's life saved," she tweeted. The victim's father Hanuman Khandelwal countered the allegation saying, "I feel very sad that Hemaji, an MP, has such a small 'soch' (thinking) that she tweeted that I was not following traffic rules. Her Mercedes was speeding above 100 km per hour." The Special Operation Group (SOG) during the year busted a gang involved in making and selling high-tech "exam cheating kits" in Delhi's posh Green Park area after arresting two persons. A Japanese tourist was allegedly raped on the Jaipur- Ajmer highway near Jaipur in February for which a tout and his two friends were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a local court in September. Communal tension, arson and violence also gripped Sri Dungargarh in Bikaner district leading to curfew after clashes between two communities in which three persons were injured over a religious procession passing through a shrine. Suicide of a Dausa-based farmer Gajendra Singh at an AAP rally in Delhi to address the sufferings of farmers over crop loss because of unseasonal rains shocked the nation. He hanged himself before a large number of people and TV cameras. Opposition Congress, however, contested police's claim of improvement in the law and order scene. "Police headquarters data is not acceptable to Congress as sense of insecurity among people of minority community, Dalits, women, SC/ST rose manifold in the past two years of the Raje government," state Congress chief Sachin Pilot told Thirty-seven provincial and ministerial level officials in China were put under investigation last year for graft charges under President Xi Jinping's campaign against corruption in the world's second biggest economy. The Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the ruling Communist Party of China said the investigation looked into the conduct of new provincial and ministerial level officials with seven investigation cases initiated in the month of November. The 37 officials, including 10 from central government and 9 from centrally-administered state-owned enterprises, came from 31 provinces, municipalities and regions, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted CCDI statement as saying. Of those probed, 13 of them, including a minister, were the most senior members of their departments, 35 per cent of the total. In 2014, the number of officials investigated were 38. Since Jinping took over as president and Party chief in 2012, thousands of officials have been punished in massive anti-corruption campaign. As many as 67 Indian employees working in a private company in Iran are being repatriated after they wished to come back home. "Due to intervention of our Embassy in Iran, 67 Indian employees of a company who wished to return are being repatriated after payment of dues," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Meanwhile, commenting on a separate case of an Indian being duped in a Gulf country, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the state government concerned should register a case against the recruiting agent. "In all cases where immigrating workers are cheated/duped we will ask the State Government to register a case against the Recruiting Agent," she tweeted. (REOPENS DES59) Later, responding to a plea on granting Indian citizenship, Swaraj tweeted, "This is not my domain. Citizenship matters are with Ministry of Home affairs." In the plea, Syeda Yusra Reza, a Pakistani national living in Hyderabad since 1993 on long term visa, sought her help in obtaining Indian citizenship. Reza wrote that "my father is an Indian national and mother was granted Indian citizenship in 2010". News / National by Staff reporter Fed-up civil servants have warned the government against continuing to give them empty bonus promises, and are now demanding that their employer gives them the exact dates when their 13th cheques will be paid.This follows last week's threat by government workers to go on strike beginning yesterday if the State failed to come up with measures to enable them to report for work, as many of them anxiously wait for January 5 to receive their long-delayed December salaries.So serious is the situation that the respected Reserve Bank of From P1Zimbabwe Governor, John Mangudya, has had to move in to placate the restive public servants, promising them that their dues will be paid soon.But the Apex Council which represents the entire civil service in theTripartite Negotiating Forum with business and government - told the Daily News yesterday that it had had enough of the State's promises and that "we have reached a point where the trust we had is now lost"."The promise to pay has always been there and we have always respected that, but today what we are saying to the employer is that, clarify your position and give us exact dates instead of creating this mirage that we are seeing while we continue to suffer," Apex council president Richard Gundani said.Gundani added that civil servants would be coming up with a definite position on what course of action they would be taking at their meeting scheduled for Tuesday next week, after affiliate unions would have made their resolutions on the matter."Individual unions are making their resolutions which they will report to the Apex council and it is from that meeting that a definitive position will be taken," he said.A desperate Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, announced last week that the December salary payment date for many civil servants had been moved to January 5, as State coffers continue to dwindle in line with the country's dying economy. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh today condemned the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot, saying it was a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to sabotage the peace process, which must not be allowed to be happen. Noting that the attack took place only a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit, Singh hoped that it was not a repeat of what happened after then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's Lahore bus journey. The Kargil war took place soon after Vajpayee's visit. "It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to subvert and sabotage the peace process between the two countries (India and Pakistan) which must not be allowed at any cost", the Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha said here. "It is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand," he said. The former Punjab Chief Minister said it reminded him of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Lahore, while Pakistani army was planning an attack on Kargil. "I hope it is not the repeat of what happened after the Lahore bus journey", the Amritsar MP said, while pointing out that the attack has taken place only a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit. He said while the peace process should continue, India at the same time must not lower its guard. "We can't allow our people, soldiers and police personnel to be killed by the militants from across the border and Pakistan needs to own up responsibility and deal with such elements firmly", he said, adding, they know where the problem lies and they must resolve it. Capt Amarinder also saluted the martyrs for their bravery. "Even as we grieve your loss, the entire nation is proud of you for the exemplary valour and courage you have shown today by killing the terrorists and the nation will always remember your great sacrifice", he said. "Our security personnel were alert, but the surprise element lies with the attackers and who knows when and where they will strike," he said. The Andhra Pradesh government today launched 'Janma Bhoomi - Mavooru' (My native place - My village), an intensified campaign to focus on welfare schemes across the state. State Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the campaign this morning at Bondapalli village in Vizianagaram district in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues and TDP legislators. Focus area of the 'Janmabhoomi- Maa Vooru' (JBMV) programme is 'Smart Village-Smart Ward (SVSW) towards Smart Andhra Pradesh', Naidu had said. "The third phase of JBMV will also see facilitating interaction of the partners of the smart Andhra Pradesh with government officials and community; sensitising the partners and community on 20 non-negotiable indicators of the smart Andhra Pradesh programme; sensitising the partners and community on baselines survey of the SVSW programme," he had said. The JBMV is also aimed at getting feedback on the implementation of development and welfare programmes and resolving the grievances. Last year on January 1, Naidu had announced 'Smart Village and Smart Ward' and had appealed industrialists, social organisations, NRIs and villagers living in other ares to adopt one village or their birth place for its comprehensive development by providing funds. Naidu has decided to felicitate such people who have adopted the villages and developing them with their own funds. "These felicitations also would be held before 11th of this month, the last date of 'Janma Bhoomi - Mavooru'", an official release said. (REOPENS BES8) Meanwhile, Naidu held discussions with the villagers and obtained their views on various development activities taken up by the state government. Expressing dissatisfaction on the performance of the revenue department in Vizianagaram district, Naidu cautioned the officials that action would be taken against officials who fail to perform well. He asked officials to take immediate steps to update the land records. Except land cases which were pending in courts, the other land records should be in proper condition with all details, the Chief Minister added. Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi today blamed intelligence failure for terrorist attack on strategic airbase at Pathankot and accused Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of not learning any lessons from Dinanagar attack in the same area six months ago. He alleged that no serious notice was taken after a Superintendent of Police level officer was waylaid and his vehicle with blue beacon was snatchedby the terrorists in army fatigue. Channi expressed surprise that Punjab Police failed to actby nabbing the terrorists after this serious incidents 24 hours before the attack and said it should also share the blame. Lashing out at Sukhbir, who also holds the home department, for not learning any lessons from Dinanagar attack in Pathankot six months ago, he said, "at that time, it was Dinanagar police station that was attacked and this time, a strategic airbase had been targeted." He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he used to boast of his 56-inch chest before Lok Sabha elections and blamed the UPA government for such attacks from across the border. Pointing out that terrorists had struck within days after Modi's high level drama of making unscheduled stop at Lahore to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, he said that while Modi was sharing cake with Sharif, terroristswere planning to launch attack on India from that soil. The CLP leader said this was equally a failure of the central intelligence agencies which had failed to notice movement of terrorists from across the border despite it being sealed. He praised the bravery shown by the security forces and paid tributes to the two security personnel who sacrificed their lives while fighting to repel the attack. He also questioned the NDA government now what was the strategy to stop such attacks. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today hailed the security forces for thwarting the attack by a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists at an Air Force base here and urged Centreto "effectively seal" the border to curb the menaceof cross-border terrorism. The united effort of the state and central security agencies have once again foiled the nefarious designs of the anti- forces, he said. "The entire country salutes thesebrave hearts that are ever ready to combat any such move," Badal said. Badal said that it was the high time that Centre take a call on cross-border terrorism by"effectively sealing" the border. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, struck at an Air Force base here in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. Interacting with the people at the residence of Ikaagar Singh who was killed by the terrorists on Thursday night here, the CM said that state government was fully committed to preserve the peace andcommunal harmony in Punjab and no one would be allowed to disturb it at any cost. "Ikaagar Singh was a martyr, who laid his life for the country," Badal said. The Chief Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the Ikagar's family besides government job for his wife. The state government would also give old age pension to parents of Ikaagar, Badal added. On Thursday night, 4-5 suspected Pakistani terrorists in army uniform had abducted and thrashed a Superintendent of Police and his two associates before dumping them some distance away and speeding away in his vehicle. The body of Ikaagar Singh was found near the SP's abandoned vehicle at a place 35 kms from Pathankot. It is believed that the men, who abducted the SP and two others, first snatched Ikaagar's Innova who was on his way back from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. They slit his throat and dumped his body near the bridge before fleeing. Badal said that our gallant forces have given a befitting response to the highly condemnable assault from across the border. "Timely intelligence inputs had ensured that the damage which the terrorists could inflict was minimised and contained,"he said. The Chief Minister said that the terror attack was perhaps "an attempt to undo the peace imitative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his visit to Pakistan." The attack came just a week after Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with an aim of improving ties. Known for his blunt speak and great integrity acknowledged across the political divide, veteran communist A B Bardhan was among the last few links to the freedom movement who had played a major role in the trade union movement and national politics. A former General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan was a witness to the ups and downs of the Left movement and is credited with steering the CPI during a period when politics of coalition became the norm in the nineties. He played a leading role in his party joining the coalition government at the Centre in 1996 when his party veteran Indrajit Gupta became the Home Minister of India. Even after stepping down from the post of party General Secretary in March 2012, a role he had performed for four consecutive terms spanning 16 years, Bardhan continued to guide his party members, firmly believing in the maxim--"once a Communist, always a Communist." Soon after the Left Front's debacle at the hands of the Trinamool Congress in the 2011 assembly polls in its one-time bastion West Bengal, he would warn Left leaders "either change or you are out". Bardhan had also reiterated late Marxist Jyoti Basu's statement that not accepting the Prime Minister's post in 1996 was a "historic blunder" of the Left. He had later said: "That was an opportunity, a lost one, to show to the country that Communist politics is different. Within the limitations of a capitalist system also, we must have tried that." Born on September 25, 1925 in Sylhet (now in Bangladesh), Bardhan began his political career in 1940s during the freedom struggle as a leader of All India Students Federation and was drawn into the Communist stream and joined the CPI. He was arrested over 20 times and spent over four years in jail. He was later given the charge of trade unions in Maharashtra where he established his impeccable credentials as a fiery trade union leader. He later rose to become the General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, the oldest trade union in the country. Though Bardhan contested several elections, he could succeed only once in 1957 when he was elected as member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, that too as an Independent from Nagpur. He could not make it to Parliament as he lost two general elections in 1967 and 1980 from the Vidarbha city. The veteran leader moved to Delhi in 1990s and was elected CPI's Deputy General Secretary and later as its General Secretary in 1996, replacing Indrajit Gupta when he became Home Minister. In national politics, he, along with another Marxist veteran Harkishan Singh Surjeet, played the elder statesman role, talking to non-Congress, non-BJP parties to forge the Third Front. Both of them were also instrumental in the formation of the Congress-led UPA-I government by supporting it from outside. An avid reader, Bardhan always maintained that it were the books on Communism which influenced him to join the Communist movement. He read works in various languages including Bengali, Marathi, Hindi, English and French. When asked by journalists about his autobiography, Bardhan used to say that biographies are "an exercise in self-congratulation and meant to blame others. I will not write." Bardhan is survived by Ahmadabad-based doctor-daughter Alka and son Ashok, who teaches economics in University of California, Berkeley, in the US. BJP today reached out to the Nair Service Society (NSS), a body of Kerala's influential Hindu Nair community, a day after the latter accused a section of the party leaders of trying to intimidate it and interfere in its affairs. BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan met NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair at the organisation's headquarters in Perunna here and said his party would "examine" whether any wrong had been done to the NSS leadership by its leaders. "I understand the sentiments expressed by the NSS General Secretary in his speech yesterday. The party will examine it. If any issue is there, that will be sorted out through discussion," the BJP Leader, who visited the NSS office to pay floral tributes to its founder Mannath Padmanabhan at his samadhi, said emerging from his meeting with Nair. The NSS chief had yesterday said "nobody needs to intimidate the NSS by thumping on broad chest. Those who are clad in saffron need not entertain any illusion that NSS could be wrapped in saffron." Addressing NSS leaders, Nair had asked the BJP leaders to "control" those in the party leadership who try to target the NSS for political purposes. His statement came amidst BJP efforts to woo various Hindu outfits in the state to back it ahead of Assembly polls scheduled early this year. BJP, eyeing to make a mark in the state in the coming assembly polls, has successfully reached out to the leadership of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) headed by Vellappally Natesan. Natesan, who floated a new party 'Bharat Dharma Jana Sena' last month by organising various Hindu caste organisations in Kerala, had invited NSS to associate with it. But NSS outrightly rejected the Eazhava community leader's invitation, saying it could not be made party to "somebody's selfish move". BJP President Amit Shah will hold a meeting with Rajasthan Chief minister Vasundhara Raje and her cabinet colleagues here next week and discuss the programmes and works of the state government. "BJP President Amit Shah will hold the meeting at a hotel here on January 6. He will discuss with the CM and ministers about the state government's works and programmes," a party spokesperson said. Senior party leaders would also meet Shah during his one day visit, he added. Fines for littering could double to 150 pounds if new set of plans to crackdown on litter louts in Britain are put into operation. UK communities minister Marcus Jones also urged the public to challenge litter louts in the street as he launched a new consultation process over the proposed hike. "Dropping litter is the kind of antisocial behaviour that really gets people's backs up, and rightly so. It's thoughtless, selfish and ruins shared spaces for everyone. "Not only that, litter clearance and disposal costs hundreds of millions of pounds for councils every year - money that could be going on vital services," he told The Daily Telegraph. At the moment, fines for littering are set locally by councils and range from 50 pounds to 80 pounds, with a default level of 75 pounds if the council does not specifically set its own amount. However, the new consultation from the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government will recommend higher fixed-penalty notices of up to 150 pounds. The minimum fine could also double from 50 pounds to 100 pounds. "If litter louts can't put their rubbish in the bin perhaps we can hit them in the pocket instead? The key is enforcing the social unacceptability of littering, as much as the use of fines - litterers and fly-tippers need to be shamed into changing their ways, and fined until they do," Jones added. A new strategy to tackle litter will also be published within months as part of a coordinated attempt to clean up the country. The government's new 5p charge for plastic bags, which came into force last October, has already resulted in a large fall in people taking home new carrier bags from high street retailers. A national spring clean has already been announced for March to encourage up to one million people to clean up their communities between March 4 and 6, ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II's birthday on April 21 and her official birthday in June. The "Clean for the Queen" campaign is a nationwide clean-up operation, ahead of the British monarch's 90th birthday which is to be marked with a series of celebrations. The execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia today could arouse anger among the minority's youths, his brother warned, while calling for calm. "This action will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed al-Nimr told AFP, appealing instead for a "peaceful protest movement". "We reject violence and clashing with authorities, just like the martyr sheikh rejected it." Nimr, 56, was among a group of 47 convicts executed today for "terrorism", the Saudi authorities said. "We deplore" the execution, said his brother, adding that he was "surprised" when he learned the death sentence had been implemented. "We were expecting and hoping for wisdom and a political solution to prevail. "There were parties inside and outside the kingdom who were seeking" to resolve Nimr's case, he said. The brother said there was no proof that the cleric or other executed activists were involved in any violence. He identified three of these activists as Ali Saeed al-Ribh, Mohammed Abdulkarim Sumail and Mohammed al-Shuyookh. They were also on an interior ministry list that excluded the name of Mohammed al-Nimr's own son, Ali, who was 17 when he was arrested following the protests and also faces a death sentence. The situation of Ali "is very dangerous. The sword is at his neck unless he is returned back to his family," said Nimr. The executions send a "strong and negative message," he said. "There will be negative reactions from within the kingdom and abroad. But we hope for peaceful reactions. A speeding car hit a 70-year-old man and continued to drive on for several kilometres with the body lying on vehicle's roof in Nalgonda district of Telangana this afternoon, police said. The man was dead before he could be taken to hospital, they added. The incident occurred near Narketpally village around noon when the car driven by Rahim Khan hit Venkat Reddy who was crossing the road. Reddy was flung onto the roof of the vehicle, but Khan didn't stop. "The driver continued to drive with the body on the vehicle's roof as far as Kattangoor village, several kilometres further," said deputy superintendent of police Sudhakar. Khan, who was driving in a rash manner, was heading from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, the DSP told PTI. Passersby alerted the police seeing the body on the top of the car, who stopped it with the help of some local people. Khan was arrested and booked under section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC. Further probe is on. News / National by Staff reporter A panicky post-congress Zanu-PF is making frantic preparations for yet more Parliamentary by-elections after it emerged earlier this week that dozens of the party's legislators are holding meetings with former Vice President Joice Mujuru with the intention of joining her People First movement.Well-placed sources told the Daily News yesterday that it was "panic stations" among ruling party bigwigs who understood the fact that People First "is a reality and major threat" to the post-congress Zanu-PF's fortunes ahead of the country's eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections which are a mere 18 months away."Never mind the fake bravado that the chefs (senior party officials) mouth off at public platforms, it is panic stations in the party."Provinces, particularly Mashonaland East, have been instructed to prepare for tough by-elections for the MPs who want to ditch us," one of the sources said.Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that party supporters were suspicious about the motives and machinations of some of their comrades and were no longer willing to continue working with those said to be planning to join Mujuru."That is the exact reason why we recommended that some of these people be expelled because we realised they are no longer with us as they are now working with the opposition. We are only waiting to hear from the politburo concerning their fate," Matiza said.A regional party official said in Maramba-Pfungwe, where under-fire legislator Washington Musvaire stands accused of being among those planning to join People First, his rivals whom he defeated soundly in the party's primary elections, were already campaigning openly to succeed him."Godfrey Chikono, who lost to Musvaire in the primary elections, has teamed up with former MP Kenneth Mutiwekuziva to make sure that he (Musvaire) is ousted because they see it as their chance to bounce back."They have agreed to fight him together although they are both interested in his seat," the disaffected provincial executive member claimed.Contacted for comment, Chikono claimed that there was "a groundswell of discontentment" with Musvaire's continued stay in Zanu-PF, but denied that he had designs for the beleaguered MP's seat."To be honest, I have not seen him for quite a while because he does not come to this part of the constituency so often, because he hails from-Pfungwe. I hear through rumours that he is fighting with Mutiwekuziva who also hails from there, but like I said, I am not really sure," Chikono said.But a district official in-PFungwe alleged that Mutiwekuziva had already scheduled a meeting of the party's leadership in the constituency for tomorrow night."He has already declared his interest and we are actually having a meeting this Sunday (tomorrow). You can attend if you want to hear how people are not happy with Musvaire anymore."In the first place, he was imposed on us by (former national party commissar Webster) Shamu with the help of (former provincial chairman Ray) Kaukonde," the official, who is a self-confessed strong supporter of Mutiwekuziva, said.The Daily News reported on Thursday that the worst nightmares of President Robert Mugabe's warring post-congress Zanu-PF could soon be confirmed as dozens of the party's legislators were holding meetings with Mujuru, with the intention of joining her People First movement.Many party MPs (names supplied but withheld on request) - a significant number of them from Mashonaland East province - were said to have met Mujuru in Harare on Tuesday and pledged that they would soon come out in the open in support of her.If the MPs follow through on their promises, this will set the cat among the pigeons in the post-congress Zanu-PF which is reeling from its deadly and seemingly-unstoppable factional and succession wars. Ruling party insiders who spoke to the Daily News said the mooted move by the concerned legislators would deal "a fatal blow" to the brawling former liberation movement ahead of the country's eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections."We had fruitful discussions with Mai Mujuru yesterday and pledged our commitment to the cause of democratising the country to the benefit of millions of suffering Zimbabweans."She wanted us to state our position unequivocally regarding the People First project and the majority of us happily pledged to go with her," one of the legislators who plan to ditch the post-congress Zanu-PF said.Contacted to establish whether he was one of the disgruntled ruling party MPs who had met with Mujuru, Musvaire accused his Zanu-PF rivals of working overtime to get him expelled from the party."I know that there are malicious people in the party fighting me because they are still bitter that they lost to me in the primary elections. I am not feeling well right now and I am not aware of the meeting with Mujuru," Musvaire said.Many of the soon-to-be departing MPs, the majority of whom are said to be either serving suspensions or facing expulsion, were said to be keen to leave as they were frustrated by the ruling party's mindless bloodletting and its bigwigs' lack of appreciation for them."Mai Mujuru, being the experienced politician that she is, who also knows Zanu-PF inside out, is simply taking advantage of these useless fights to build People First."We cannot continue pretending that all is well with us when it is clear that we are no longer reading from the same page with the people who now control the levers of power in Zanu-PF."In any case, the ship is clearly sinking and you have to be foolish to still believe that the party can take Zimbabwe somewhere," a Zanu-PF central committee member said."The general feeling among many people is that there is no more room in Zanu-PF for loyal and honest cadres," the official added.In the meantime, analysts say should the Mujuru MPs, who are said to number well over 100, proceed to jump ship; the move could trigger early national polls, which could crank up the heat on the bitterly-divided ruling party which is already reeling from its seemingly-unstoppable factional and succession wars.Zanu-PF is also under pressure from the looming pact among the country's opposition parties, following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC and other parties to demand key electoral reforms before 2018.The agreement is widely seen as a prelude to a more comprehensive electoral pact, which could see all opposition parties rallying behind a single presidential candidate against Mugabe.A fortnight ago, the Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial executive recommended the expulsion from the party of legislators Felix Mhona (Chikomba Central), Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Uzumba), Musvaire (Maramba-PFungwe), Phineas Chihota (Seke) and Tendayi Makunde (Murehwa North). Terming the terror attack at an Air Force base in Punjab as an "act of cowards", Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said that the Centre is taking tough measures to check terrorism and has kept all key defence installations on high alert. "Narendra Modi's government is committed to safeguarding the unity and integrity of this great nation. The Government of India is acting tough on terrorism and taking stock of the situation on the ground and has kept all the key defence and civil installations on high alert and state governments are also alerted in this regard due to which the terrorists are given a befitting reply to the attack," he said. Dattatreya, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Labour said the terror attack is an act of cowards. "The forces have killed the terrorists and the action is still in progress as per latest reports. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the martyred Indian commandos in the action," he said. The terrorist strike needs to be condemned by one and all irrespective of political affiliations, he said. "...(It) should not be viewed from the political angle," he added. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. Biting cold conditions today continued to prevail in Haryana and Punjab, with Karnal recording the lowest temperature at 3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature settlled well below the normal limit at several places in the two states. Chandigarh had a cold night with mercury dipping to 5.8 degrees Celsius, the MeT Department report here said. In Punjab, Amritsar was the coldest place at 3.2 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana and Patiala also reeled under biting chill conditions recording below normal minimum at 4.3 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius respectively. Karnal turned out to be the coldest place in Haryana today recording a low of 3 degrees Celsisus, down four notches from the normal level. Narnaul recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius while Hisar experienced a cold night at 3.9 degrees Celsisus, down two notches from the normal. Ambala registered a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius. Accusing Congress of making Parliament "dysfunctional" during the last two sessions, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today hit out at the opposition party for its "dodgy" stance on GST and asked it to shed "negativity". The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the government is willing to "walk the extra mile" to take opposition on board and voiced hope that the GST Bill will be passed during the Budget session as "the first positive assertion" of the collective will for building a new India. "While the government was working overtime to infuse positive energies virtually into every aspect of nation building, some opposition parties were bent upon unleashing negative energies during 2015. "Parliament was virtually made dysfunctional during the Monsoon and Winter sessions of last year. GST Bill was the major victim of this negativity. Introduction of GST would make a substantial difference to the way business is done in our country. Unfortunately, the original authors of this major reform did not see the urgency in making this a reality," Naidu said interacting with the media here. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister also hit back at former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who had targeted the government yesterday. "I was taken aback by the comments of Chidambaram yesterday when he said that the economy is stuck in a groove and blamed the government for stand off on GST. This was not expected of a man of wisdom like Chidambaram. How can the fastest growing global economy can be described as stuck in a grove, particularly, when this accomplishment is in the context of adverse global economic setting? "As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, I would like to strongly rebut Chidambaram's allegation blaming the government for standoff on GST," Naidu said. While refusing to go into details of his interactions with senior Congress leaders from time to time on the GST issue, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister alleged, "All that I can assert with all responsibility is that Congress party steadfastly refused from its pre-Winter session script of not allowing GST Bill to be passed, come what may." Naidu alleged that as per the "script", the Congress was "dodgy" on this important issue. "I did not expect this from a party that ruled the country for most of the time since Independence. This kind of negativity has huge implications for the future of our country and its people. This attitude and approach will seriously dent our collective efforts to make the 21st century belong to India. "Opposition can take the government to task for omissions and commissions if any on our part. But stalling Parliament and legislation for political ends will not benefit the people of the country," he said and appealed to Congress to give up its "negativity that was in full show in 2015" and make positive contribution to nation building in 2016. "The government is willing to walk the extra mile to take opposition on board to unleash the positive energies necessary for building a new resurgent India. Let the passage of GST Bill during the coming Budget session be the first positive assertion of this collective will for building a new India," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said. Naidu expressed the hope that the new year will mark the beginning of an era of "positive politics". Asserting that intent, intensity and innovation which are key to making a new India have been clearly articulated over the last 19 months, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister claimed India has emerged as the focus of global attention. "We have overtaken China as the fastest growing economy and the bright spot amidst slowing global economic forecasts. To enable the people and particularly, the 800 million youth who are the future of the nation fulfill their aspiration, economy needs to be fixed on a high growth path. Opportunities flow from rapid economic development. "FDI inflows have risen by about 40 per cent during the last one year. Foreign Institutional Investments have risen seven times. Manufacturing sector grew by about seven per cent and capital goods sector by over 21 per cent. This was against the negative growth recorded during the previous UPA regime," Naidu said seeking to rebut Chidambaram's charges. Blaming NDA's 'stubborn and unbending' attitude for GST logjam, Chidambaram said the ball was in Government's court even as he targeted the ruling dispensation over the handling of economy, which the party claimed was "stuck in a groove". Chidambaram said 2015 has ended on a "somber and subdued note" and many promises of the government -- more jobs, greater investment and quicker infrastructure development -- have not materialised "...The economy is stuck in a groove," he said. Countering the charges vehemently, Naidu said that Congress was "totally unfair" in alleging that nothing happened during the last 19 months. "If they seek to see everything through political prism, they will never be able to see the truth. But the people know what is being done by the government and what is happening on the ground," he said. Alleging that India in early 2014 was marked by "drift, directionlessness and dampening of spirits", Naidu said that the government led by Modi sought to address this legacy through several initiatives. "Make in India is one of the pillars of this approach. The Prime Minister has infused new life into this campaign by inviting global attention to the virtues of India as a favoured manufacturing hub and the results have begun to flow. "The government has sincerely endeavored to infuse new energy into virtually every aspect of socio-political and economic aspect for making of a developed India," Naidu said. Arguing that an important and Constitutional post like Mayor of a city cannot stay vacant for long, a Congress delegate today urged the State Election Commissioner to initiate immediate steps to elect the new Cuttack mayor. The city Congress chief Md Moqim submitted a memorandum to SEC R M Senapati at Bhubaneswar in this regard. If the mayor's post remained vacant for long, civic problems will mount in the city, Moqim said adding that his party has urged the SEC to hold the mayor elections soon. Cuttack Mayor Anita Behera of BJD had put in her papers on December 29 after it was found that she had allegedly obtained a ration card in her name to be eligible to receive five kilos of subsidised rice and wheat every month under National Food Security Act (NFSA). Anita had also resigned as a corporator for which she was elected from Ward-21 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) in February 2014. "The resignation letter of Anita Behera will be tabled in the CMC council meeting on January 4 for appropriate action," Deputy Mayor Ajay Barik said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi is on a private visit to Mussoorie for a couple of days. Gandhi has reached Mussoorie and is expected to be back in the national capital by Monday, sources said. "She has gone out for two days and will be back on Monday," said an AICC functionary, speaking on the condition of anonymity, in Delhi. Government sources in Uttarakhand maintain that this is a personal visit of Gandhi during which she might stay at the residence of a family friend. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is already out of India and is expected to be back from Europe next week. Alastair Cook fell to a superb slip catch by new cap Chris Morris after England made a solid start on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands today. England were 76 for one at lunch after winning the toss and making first use of a pitch with good bounce but minimal sideways movement. Cook made 27 in an opening stand of 55 with Alex Hales before edging Kagiso Rabada low to third slip where Morris dived far to his left and held the ball centimetres above the ground. Hales was 38 not out at lunch. Fast bowlers Rabada and Morris were playing in place of Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott, who suffered shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively during South Africa's 241-run defeat in the first Test in Durban. Rabada and off-spinner Dane Piedt were both playing in their fourth Test match, leaving Morne Morkel, in his 69th Test, as the only experienced member of the South African bowling attack. Both Rabada and Morris built up good pace, with Rabada clocked at 150kmh shortly before dismissing Cook. In a third change for South Africa, Quinton de Kock replaced out-of-form batsman JP Duminy. De Kock kept wicket, with AB de Villiers playing as a specialist batsman. England fast bowler James Anderson, who missed the first Test because of a calf strain, was passed fit and replaced Chris Woakes. On a hot, sunny day, Cook and Hales started cautiously, scoring 11 runs off the first six overs before Rabada came into the attack and was hit for two fours off his first two balls by Hales. Both batsmen were looking comfortable until Cook, after hitting four boundaries in a 49-ball innings was drawn into a drive against Rabada and Morris made his first significant contribution in a Test match. Both CPI and CPM condemned the arrest of their leaders in Vizianagaram by the police ahead of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's visit there. Police arrested the left leaders as a preventive measure as they were going to stage a protest. CPI state secretary K Rama Krishna said in a press release that the left parties never opposed welfare schemes but questioned the loopholes in their implementation. The Chief Minister should ask the police to desist from taking action against the opposition leaders who are planning to stage protests in a peaceful and democratic way, he said. CPM state secretary P Madhu also objected to the arrests and said the police should not take such an action against leaders of the left parties which always fight for people's issues. Veteran Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan, who steered the party during the turbulent period of coalition politics at national level in the 90s, died at the G B Pant Hospital here tonight after prolonged illness. Bardhan, 92, survived by son Ashok and daughter Alka, will be cremated on Monday. "Bardhan's cremation will take place on January 4 (Monday)," a party statement said. The CPI leader was admitted to G B Pant hospital here after he suffered a paralytic stroke last month. Dr Vinod Puri, Director and Professor of Neurology in G B Pant Hospital, said Bardhan "died at 8:20 PM. He suffered a brain stroke due to blockage in the middle cerebral artery. He was in comma." Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi paid rich tributes to the senior-most Left leader, describing him as a "passionate communist and a champion of the marginalized people". "Will always remember Shri AB Bardhan as a passionate Communist, fully committed to his ideology & principles. May his soul rest in peace(sic)," Modi tweeted. Gandhi said, "In his demise, not only the CPI but the entire nation has lost a leader who championed the cause of THE dispossessed and marginalized throughout his life." CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said Bardhan's wisdom, experience and guidance will be missed. "Red salute, Comrade Bardhan. We miss your wisdom, experience & guidance (sic)," he tweeted. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described his death as a huge loss to Indian politics. "My deep condolences to his family & well wishers," he tweeted. JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said the CPI stalwart had epitomized the continuous struggle for the cause of the masses and was a "tall" leader of the Left movement. Recalling his long association with Bardhan, Yadav said he first heard him at a public meeting when he was only 12- year-old and went on to build a long political association with him after joining politics. Bardhan, who lived in the CPI headquarters in the national capital, was admitted to the hospital on December 7 after he felt uneasiness and lost consciousness. His wife, a professor in Nagpur University, had died in 1986. Government has credible information that the terror attack in Pathankot was hatched by some elements in Pakistan, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said today. "We have credible information that this attack was sponsored by some elements across the border," Rijiju, Minister of State for Home, told reporters here. Rijiju said central security agencies were working in close coordination with Punjab Police in the entire operation to eliminate the terrorists, who attacked an Indian Air Force base. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, struck at an Air Force base in Punjab, leading to a fierce gun-battle in which three security personnel were killed. Four attackers were also killed in the encounter. In the wake of the Pathankot terror attack, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today carried out surprise visits at a number of tourist spots in the capital to check security arrangements. Sharma visited Qutab Minar at around 11:30 a.m and sources said he was "not satisfied" with the security arrangements in and around the monument, a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. ALSO READ: 4 terrorists killed in gunbattle at Air Force base in Punjab The Minister also visited Red Fort and is likely to visit a number of other tourist sites. Security has already been enhanced in the capital following the pre-dawn attack by a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on an Air Force base in Pathankot. At least three security personnel were killed along with four attackers in the gun-battle. Security was significantly heightened at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other vital installations in the city. Vigil was enhanced in several areas, including popular market places, in South Delhi, Central Delhi and the VIP movement zone in Lutyen's Delhi, a senior police official said. News / National by Staff reporter The Acting Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Lazarus Dokora has maintained that healthcare workers will be getting their December salaries on the 5th of January as announced.In a telephone interview, Dr Dokora refuted claims on social media that the pay date for healthcare workers has been pushed further to the 12th of January.He says as far as he is concerned, the 5th of January remains the official pay date and there have been no official changes to that arrangement.Information gathered by the ZBC News shows that nurses and doctors at the two main referral hospitals in Harare, namely Parirenyatwa and Harare Central and staff from Chitungwiza Central Hospital reported for duty this Saturday.However, some people who had accompanied sick relatives to some of the hospitals claim that service is slow in some departments.Following the moving forward of the last batch of civil servants' pay date, the Permanent Secretary in the Health and Child Care Ministry Dr Gerald Gwinji directed health institutions to make appropriate plans for nurses and doctors to be on duty. Body of a 21-year-old Dalit man, who was allegedly abducted on Decmber 13, was recovered from Behra Sadat village in this district with bullet injuries on it, police said today. Body of the Dalit man identified as Rajesh, bearing bullet injuries was foundnear a barrage on the Ganga river last evening, they said. The two accused, Sudhir and Sachin, have already been arrested in this connection, police said. The body has been sent for post-mortem and investigation was underway to determine the reason behind the murder, police said. The patent war involving domestic and multi-national pharma majors, tussle between the Centre and a private radio channel over FM auctions kept the Delhi High Court busy in 2015 during which it also rapped the Centre for its coal auction ordinance by saying that the legislation "lacked clarity". The hastily-formulated coal ordinance by the Centre to auction over 200 mines that were deallocated by the Supreme Court in 2014 was criticised on several occasions by the high court which once observed that though the "ordinance was completely in sync with your (govt) economic policy, but your executive decisions are not". Initially former Congress MP Naveen Jindal's company JSPL had moved the high court challenging Coal Ministry's ordinance on "change of end-use", but later several other iron, steel and power companies, including Bhushan Steel, Jayaswal Neco, Monnet Ispat and GVK power, also joined the issue. Apart from the coal-based industries, another corporate sector which consumed high court time was the pharma sectors with major drug companies battling over who can be permitted to make medicines for diseases like diabetes and cancer which afflict a large percentage of Indians. However, these pharma matters hardly proved fruitful for Indian generic drug makers like Cipla and Glenmark, who were stopped by the high court from making cheaper variants of respiratory, diabetes or cancer drugs and antibiotics in which patent was held by some other pharma major like US-based Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) or Swiss firms Novartis and Roche. In contrast, drug majors like Reckitt Benckiser and J K Ansell were more successful in their fight against Centre's decision to cap condom prices as the high court held that the government's decision putting a ceiling on the cost of the contraceptive was "illegal and unsustainable". Besides them, Digital Radio Broadcasting Ltd, which runs Red FM, also took much time of the high court which even on its off-days, Saturday and Sunday, heard the company's plea challenging the Centre's decision denying it security clearance to participate in FM auctions due to the radio channel's association with Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV. The government had denied security clearance to Digital Radio as Kalanithi Maran and former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran were being prosecuted in cases of alleged money laundering. The high court, however, termed as "incongruent" the denial of security clearance to Red FM, when Sun TV group had been allowed by Madras High Court to take part in auctions. This was not the only jolt for the government, which was also pulled up by the high court for not placing before it the contracts the Centre had with social media sites like Facebook and Google, to use them, despite several orders. Thereafter, the Centre submitted the agreements it has with them. Towards the fag end of the year, several telecom majors like Vodafone and Reliance and two associations representing them knocked at the doors of High Court against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) consumer friendly legislation mandating the cellular companies to pay for call drops from January 1, 2016. As the telecom companies pressed for stay of the provision and with searching questions coming from the high court, TRAI relented and said it would not take any coercive steps against the cellular operators for non-compliance of the regulation. Even the airline sector was dragged to the high court by a lawyer over Ministry of Civil Aviation's policy permitting airlines to overbook flights. The policy allowed airlines to deny boarding to certain passengers if overbooking of seats has been made in comparison to the number of available seats in the flight. The high court agreed to examine the issue and sought the stands of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Director General of Civil Aviation and Air India. In his plea, the lawyer, contended that the policy allows overbooking of scheduled flights to reduce the possibility of flights departing with unoccupied or empty seats but makes an "unreasonable classification" between confirmed ticket holders on who are permitted to board the flight and who are not. A gang of highway robbers has been busted by the city police after the gang members were found beating a truck driver on Dharuhera flyover atDelhi-Jaipur National Highway-8 here. The gang of five was mercilessly beating a truck driver with iron rods in an attempt to rob his truck at Dharuhera flyover yesterday, Rattan Singh, SHO Dharuhera said. The police patrolling team reached the spot following which two of the accused, Sammi and Ahzar fled from the spot in a car, he said. Though the remaining three also tried to escape, two of them died after jumping from the flyover while the fifth accused was caught, police said. Singh said that the Mewati gang was involved in highway truck robberies from last couple of months, adding that all the accused belonged to Mewat. The arrested accused Mubarik told the police that they used to sell the looted trucks in Mewat. "There are many gangs actively involved in cattle smuggling and truck robberies in the belt of Sohna and National Highway-8 at the belt of Mewat region. This Mewati gang has looted trucks that were in turn used in illegal stone supplying and boulders from one place to others," Singh said. A team has been made and a manhunt is on to nab the absconding accused, police added. Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the state education department to keep a check on drunken teachers. "The Commission has written to the Director of Education about the complaint (reported) in a section of media that there have been several instances of school staff reporting to work while under the influence of alcohol," a release from the Information and Publicity Department said. The Commission had asked the Director of Education to take action and also provide a copy of guidelines for taking disciplinary action in such cases, it said. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today appealed to insurgents to join the mainstream and take part in dialogue to solve their issues. "I appeal to those who are outside the mainstream to give up the path of confrontation and adopt conciliatory posture by joining the peace process to usher in durable peace and faster economic development in the state," Gogoi said in a statement. He said the gusto with which the people celebrated New Year points that peace and stability have returned to the state despite attempts by certain forces to disturb peace. "Assam is on the path of peace, development and social harmony. Though the state has surged ahead on various fronts, it has still miles to go," Gogoi said. He also thanked the people of the state for extending support and cooperation to the his government during the past 14 and half years. "I am indebted to the people of the state for reposing faith and trust in the present dispensation and giving us the opportunity to serve them". "I hope they will continue to extend support and cooperation and enable the government to translate its vision into making Assam one of the developed states of the country," he added. Congress leader Ashwani Kumar today said the Prime Minister and Central government will have to reassess the direction and nature of engagement with Pakistan in the light of ground realities after armed Pak terrorists struck at an Air Force base in a pre-dawn attack. Kumar, who visited the post here amid anti-Pak protests, said the gaps, if any, in intelligence and security apparatus need to be filled as the attack could not be foiled despite reported information with agencies about it. The former Union Minister also said Congress, which condemns the dastardly attack, stood united in fighting terror and fully backs the government and armed forces fighting against terrorism. "Congress condemns this dastardly attack against the unity and integrity of India. This terror attack seems obviously sponsored by forces inimical to India across the border. There is a set pattern and design in these attacks. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government will have to reassess the direction and nature of the engagement with Pakistan in the light of the ground realities," he told PTI. He lamented that this is the third such attack in the area bordering Pakistan in the last six months as similar attacks sponsored by forces across the border inimical to India have been launched earlier in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. "Peace is the dividend of power and not of weaknesses," he said. Concerned over the role of intelligence agencies, he said, "Sources say that the Intelligence Bureau had information 48 hours ago that there is a possibility of an attack. "That is what we are told. Yet we could not foil this attack. Therefore, we need to fill-in, in case there are any gaps in the intelligence and security apparatus." He lamented that this is third attack in six months and second in Punjab as it is directed towards important installations of defence and IAF. Kumar lamented that the attacks, which have boosted the morale of terrorists, come within days of Prime Minister returning after a visit to Pakistan. "The Prime Minister's visit was intended to advance a hand of friendship to Pakistan and in return what we see is another terrorist attack," he said. Asserting that the ruling coalition in Bihar will complete its five-year term, RJD chief Lalu Prasad today praised the functioning of Nitish Kumar-led government and came down heavily on the BJP for saying that "cracks" had appeared in the ruling Grand Secular Alliance. "The secular alliance will complete its full term," he asserted and scoffed at the speculation regarding fissures between his party and JD(U) over killing of two engineers at Darbhanga and the alleged downslide in law and order situation. The Nitish Kumar ministry is sincerely working on promises made during the poll and initiating measures in every department after comprehensive review of their working, he told the state executive meeting of RJD here. On BJP's comment that "cracks" had appeared within the RJD-JDU-Congress coalition which would lead to its early fall, Prasad said, "After summary defeat in the Bihar elections BJP is demoralised and that is why it is casting evil eyes on the secular alliance government." On LJP chief and Union minister Ramvilas Paswan assertions that secular alliance will not last long in Bihar and the state will see mid-term elections, Prasad said, "Rather there is every possibility of mid-term poll at the Centre as the Narendra Modi government is gripped with one crisis after another." He appealed to secular forces to unite to repeat the defeat of BJP in Assam, West Bengal and other states going to the polls this year. Senior RJD leader and Prasad's close confidante Ramchandra Purbe was re-elected as president of RJD in Bihar unanimously for the third term. He was the sole candidate for the post. Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti's name had cropped up for the post but she and her brother deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav had dismissed speculation in this regard. The Gujarat government today said it would withdraw the cases including non-serious criminal charges against members of the Patel community and even the sedition case against Hardik Patel would be "reviewed". Health Minister and government spokesperson Nitin Patel said the sedition case against Hardik and others will be reviewed and may be withdrawn after scrutiny. "The government has decided to withdraw 74 police cases filed against 382 Patel community members across Gujarat during the quota agitation. Charges against them were not of serious nature. So we have decided to withdraw these cases in the first phase," the Minister said. A government statement said 457 FIRs were registered in 18 districts and 1,750 people arrested in the wake of violence during quota agitation, but 1,736 of them received bail immediately. Only 14 people are behind bars now as they face serious charges and were refused bail by the courts, it said. "In the second phase, we will take up each of the cases having serious charges and review them one by one. We may withdraw such cases if the government finds them eligible for withdrawal after scrutiny," the Health Minister said. Large-scale violence broke out across Gujarat after Hardik, a young leader who became the face of the agitation for inclusion of the Patel community in the OBC category, was detained by police after a rally here on August 25. At least 10 people and a policeman were killed in the violence while property worth crores was damaged following which criminal cases for arson and rioting were registered against the agitators. The police also slapped sedition charges against Hardik and seven others. Of them, Hardik and four others are still in jail as various courts rejected their bail pleas. The move to withdraw the cases comes after BJP suffered a setback in panchayat polls in the state. Nitin Patel, however, claimed the government was taking a lenient approach for ensuring peace and harmony. "Congress tried to create enmity between Patels, OBCs and other communities for political gains. Congress was also involved in inciting people...But as a government it is our responsibility to see that harmony prevails," he said. The decision also follows Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's meetings with community leaders and party MLAs. "Chief Minister met several Patel leaders, MLAs and party leaders, who urged her to take the first step by withdrawing the cases. The CM today took the decision (in this regard)," Nitin Patel said. The home department was asked to prepare a list of all cases related to the violence during Patel quota agitation and put it before the CM for review and final decision. "This is not at all a political decision. If our aim had been just to make Patels happy, we would have announced the decision before the panchayat polls," he said. Gujarat Police has issued an alert and cops have been asked to take necessary steps to keep a check on suspicious activities, in the wake of the terror attack at the an Air Force base in Punjab. Three security personnel including a Garud commando of the IAF were killed while four terrorists were eliminated. "In the wake of today's terror attack in Punjab, I have asked the police department and respective heads to remain alert. Based on some inputs available with us, I have ordered the police force to take all necessary steps and increase vigil across the state," Gujarat Director General of Police P C Thakur said. "Respective heads of police across Gujarat have been asked to beef up patrolling in their area and secure all the important public places," he said. Apart from conducting night patrolling and securing various public places, such as bus stops and railway stations, Thakur said, officials of border areas as well as coastal police have been asked to keep a close watch on every movement. Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Border Range A K Jadeja said that after receiving the alert, security has been beefed up along the Indo-Pak border at Kutch and Banaskantha districts. "We have been asked to remain alert after today's attack in Punjab. We are working closely with Border Security Force (BSF) and Army to keep a check on suspected persons as well as infiltrators in the border areas. We are also advised to pass on all the crucial information to security agencies," said Jadeja. Likewise, security have been beefed up in coastal areas as Gujarat shares the maritime boundary with Pakistan. "Looking at the possibility of infiltration from sea route, Coastal police is taking all the necessary steps to secure the coast. We have also asked fishermen and boat owners to inform us if they come across any suspected activity in the sea or near coasts," DIG of Coastal Police S G Trivedi said. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at the Air Force Base in Pathankot, leading to a fierce gunbattle. The gunbattle between terrorists and security forces at the Air Force Base here that lasted for more than five hours and left two Air personnel and four terrorists dead, has come to an end. Combing operations are underway. "The gunbattle between terrorists and security forces ended after more than five hours," Punjab Police ADGP (Law and Order) H S Dhillon said. "However, the combing operation continues," he said. At least four to five militants, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, in army fatigues launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. A group of militants attacked the Air Force base at 3:30 AM, a Defence spokesman said. Pathankot SSP R K Bakshi said that four suspected militants were killed in the battle. Two jawans were also martyred and six sustained injuries. In view of the attack, Punjab had been put on maximum alert while security measures were also tightened in neighbouring Haryana and common capital of the two states-- Chandigarh. This is the second major terrorist attack which Punjab has seen in less than six months after an earlier one in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district in July last year. News / Press Release by Joice Mujuru MY FELLOW CITIZENS, COUNTRYMEN AND FRIENDS, As we come to the end of 2015, an eventful year politically, we wish to thank the Almighty for seeing us through. We wish to commend our law abiding and peace loving citizens. As a nation, we are confronted by a sluggish and dying economy, lack of democratic space and plenty of poverty on the majority of our people, which is a result of a corrupt political leadership without focus on the well being of the people. We should realise that without an understanding and a commitment by the country's leadership to BUILD a vibrant economy for the benefit of our people, we are doomed. The liberation struggle was about the restoration of self-determination, self-dignity and self-pride which we had been denied by the minority settler regime.We have a situation where in order to survive, everyone is a vendor, but there are no buyers, because the workers (buyers) have either been laid off or not paid for months, resulting in a lack of currency in circulation. We see people rendered homeless in this rainy season due to demolitions by the corrupt authorities or well-connected and corrupt individuals. The erection of structures now deemed illegal was sanctioned by either the responsible authorities or well connected individuals. The issue is that at some stage it was politically expedient to allow the structures to go up or outright corruption at play. The end loser and sufferer is the ordinary man, woman and child.Is there hope in the future?ConstitutionalismIn a constitutional democracy, the ordinary man and woman have the ultimate weapon of freedom of association and expression. This manifests itself in a political call for action and change to address the adverse economic and social conditions. In a constitutional democracy, no person would feel threatened or risk personal harm, as these are constitutionally enshrined rights. In a constitutional democracy, there is a clear separation of the Party and the State for the benefit of all citizens, as non-Party members are not prejudiced, targeted or victimised on political grounds. Where there is rule of law, all the people who authorised the erection of illegal structures, which are now being demolished, would be brought to book. Women, Youths, Children and the Disabled are the hardest hit by these adverse conditions. We should embrace, reflect and uphold the letter and spirit of our State Constitution in our various statutes.EconomyFaced with an imminent drought season, and a political management team without focus, there is no credit finance, irrigation infrastructure, or marketing mechanisms to mitigate the agricultural challenges that lie ahead. The investment environment is crowded by multiple incoherent policies, inadequate and unaffordable credit finance and an urgent need to reform a parasitic, non-performing parastatal sector. This has given rise to economic decay and ghost city status to once thriving commercial and industrial hubs like Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, Masvingo, Mutare and other towns across the country. We should adopt investor friendly and market driven policies to curb corruption and stimulate economic activity.Inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure.We have to urgently create a conducive environment for investment whilst highlighting opportunities presented by our challenges. There is a huge investment potential from our severe energy shortfall. There are opportunities in both new and renewable energy sectors. Our dilapidated rail and road networks, inadequate water supplies and poor sanitation in our cities, towns and rural centers also present other investment opportunities. We should encourage and build on the healthy competition emerging in the telecoms sector, without stifling this with crude State participation, other than as a regulator for the common good.International Relations and National SecurityNo man is an island, therefore Zimbabwe cannot run away from the fact that it is a sovereign State, that is part of a global village, with responsibilities to its people and the world at large. We should therefore engage all, East and West, North and South who can help us achieve and enhance the well being of our people. We should build bridges with our perceived foes and consolidate our relations with all those who wish to be our true friends. We pay tribute to our security forces for the peace and tranquility that we presently enjoy and we do not for one moment take it for granted. If anything, this calls for the maintenance of a professional and well-resourced security sector.Social SpaceAs we see in the New Year, we should acknowledge the urgent need to address the education, health and housing sectors that are under severe stress due to inadequate and limited resources. During 2015, the economic and social hardships faced by our people were on the increase as depressing poverty took root everywhere. We should realise that the bulk of our people are not fully or properly served by our education, health and housing sectors due to lack of economic capacity to fend for themselves. We should have a government that empowers its people to address basic day-to-day challenges. We should have a government that promotes institutions that are well resourced to ensure service delivery to the ordinary people without political or partisan discrimination and interference. The dire housing situation resulting in the exploitation of the poor by the corrupt and well connected in society should be stopped. We should have consistent and predictable policies that are enforced vigorously, where all economic or social culprits are brought to book without fear or favour.Let us not lose hope; we are masters of our own destiny.Iwe neni tine basa rekuvaka Zimbabwe murunyararo.Wena lami silom'sebenzi wokwakha iZimbabwe elokuthula.Together we can BUILD Zimbabwe in peace.GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.DR. J.T.R MUJURU31 DECEMBER 2015 Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel, who is behind bars in two different sedition cases, has barred his lawyer and Congress leader B M Mangukiya from fighting any of his cases from now onwards. In a letter sent to Mangukiya from Surat jail, where the 22-year-old firebrand leader is lodged at present, he told Mangukiya that he has appointed Rafik Lokhandwala and Zubin Bharada as his new lawyers to fight all his cases. Mangukiya has been fighting Hardik's cases since beginning and remained by his side all this time. In the letter, Hardik asked him not to appear on his behalf for the upcoming hearing on his bail plea in the Gujarat High Court on January 6. He asked Mangukiya not to fight any of his cases pending in local courts, High Court and the Supreme Court from now onwards and to handover all the cases to his new lawyers after taking dates in the next hearings. According to Hardik's father Bharatbhai Patel, Hardik was unhappy with Mangukiya's performance. "Mangukiya used to claim that he will bring Hardik out of jail within weeks. But, Hardik is still behind bars. Thus, Hardik has decided to change his lawyer," said Bharatbhai. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has strongly condemned the pre-dawn terror attack at Pathankot air force base in Punjab today and declared a high alert in his state. The Chief Minister said that the country should unite and rise as one to defeat the nefarious designs of the terrorists. "Terrorists are the enemies of society and all faiths and should not to allowed to succeed at any cost," Khattar told reporters at Rohtak. A group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at the air force base, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed payment of compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the parents of each of the 24 engineering students of a Hyderabad college who were washed away in river Beas in near Thalotin Kullu district of the state on June 8,2014. The HC ordered the compensation to be paid within eight weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice TarlokSingh Chauhan directed that the amount compensation, including theinterim compensation of Rs.500,000 already paid, would be paid along with interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of the accident till realisation of the money. Asking the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Management of the Engineer College and the state government to share the burden in the ratio of 60:30:10 , the Court observed that the "Board authorities had a major role and they failed to exercise due care and thus saddled with liability upto 60 per cent." "The college authorities should also have ascertained all the facts including the circumstances and other factors previously in the area before planning the excursion and we deem it proper to hold the college responsible upto 30 per cent andremaining liability of 10 per cent would be borne by the state government," the order said. The bench, which treated the matter as Public Interest Litigation (PIL), taking suo motu notice of reports, disposed off the matter but made it clear thatthe findings recorded hereinaboveareonlyprimafacie innatureinordertogrant compensation and cannot be basis for recording judgments in any civil suit, criminalproceedingsordepartmentalproceedings. Twenty-four students of the V.N.R.Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineeringand Technology in Hyderabad and a co-tour operator were swept away in turbulent Beas river when the Larji project authorities suddenly released water from Larji Dam on June 8 last year. Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) today sought a ban Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamaat for reportedly issuing a 'fatwa' to Muslims not to use yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali products, claiming some of them contained cow urine. HMK President Arjun Sampath told reporters here that the organisation should be banned immediately in view of the 'fatwa'. On the issue of lifting the ban on Jallikkattu (bull taming sport), he said HMK workers would defy it. Unfazed by the row over an audio tape about him purportedly "fixing" the bypoll seat in assembly poll last year in Chhattisgarh, Congress MLA Amit Jogi today termed the recording as "fake" and claimed he was being blackmailed before the tape surfaced early this week. Holding a press conference here, Amit, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Ajit Jogi, also sought narco-analysis test on all those linked to the episode, including himself. "The audio tape is fake and doctored. A probe should be conducted over the entire row and even narco-analysis test be conducted on all those who are alleged to be conversing on the tape, including me, to unearth the truth," he said here. A political storm has erupted in the state after an audio tape containing telephonic talks purportedly between Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh's son-in-law Puneet Gupta, Ajit, his son Amit, then Ajit loyalistsFiroz Siddiqui and Ameen Memonsurfaced, alleging their involvement in "fixing" the bypoll to Antagarh Assembly seat. Congress candidate for Antagarh (ST) seat Manturam Pawar, then considered an Ajit loyalist, had withdrawn from the fray just a day ahead of the last date for withdrawal and was later expelled from the party. The tape purportedly contains conversations suggesting money exchanged hands. Amit has already filed a defamation suit here against a national English daily which had published the and released the audio tape. The newspaper has not mentioned anywhere in its report that the tape is authentic. It had termed it as purported 27 times, he said. "The other thing is that it has surfaced several months after the by-poll which itself raises question over its authenticity," Amit said. The Congress MLA accused Siddiqui, who has admitted to the newspaper that the tape contains his voice, of running a blackmailing racket thorough a portal. "Firoz (Siddiqui) is an accused inthe murder of NCP leader Ramavtar Jaggi in Raipur (2003) in which I was also one of the accused but was acquitted later. Firoz is still an accused in that case and is out on bail," he said. "Firoz runs a portal and is involved in blackmailing," he alleged. Amit claimed he was being blackmailed before the tape came to light. "Before the tape surfaced, I received WhatsApp and text messages demanding a 'book'. The messages threatened to disclose some audio CD if I didn't fulfil their demand," he said without providing source of messages or other details. "I complained to Additional DGP (Intelligence) about the threats on December 23 last," he added. The Defence Ministry had said that if Goa refused to facilitate Defence Exposition (DefExpo) in the state this year, it would embarrass the Centre, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar noted here today. The Defence Secretary has written to the Goa government asking it to hold the DefExpo in Goa for this year while the decision for the next year could be taken later, he said. "The union ministry has said this year we can't shift the venue. It is only for four days. If we do that (refuse to cooperate) it would be embarrassment for the Union Government as defence companies from across the world would be participating in the event," Parsekar said while talking to reporters. "Now let DefExpo happen and we will take decision for next year separately," he said. A section of local people is opposing the DefExpo at Quittol village in south Goa fearing that the defence ministry will acquire land for it. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had, however, clarified yesterday that there would be no need for land acquisition as the structures put up at the exhibition would be temporary. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode will host the 52nd Annual Conference of The Indian Econometric Society for three days from January 4 at its campus, near here. Prof Roy Batchelor, Cass Business School, London will deliver the inaugural address of this prestigious academic platform in which around 300 research scholars and academics will present their papers, an IIM-K release said. Prof Pami Dua, Director, Delhi School of Economics, will be the President of the Conference which is a major annual academic event in India bringing together economists and econometricians to deliberate, collaborate and share their research findings. Some of the prominent speakers include Prof Subhash Ray, University of Connecticut, USA, Rana Kapoor, Chairman of Yes Bank and Prof B B Bhattacharya, former Vice Chancellor of JNU, the release stated. The Indian Econometric Society (TIES) is one of the oldest and largest bodies of professional econometricians and economists with more than 2,000 members from all over the country working for the development of econometric methodology and applications, it added. After veteran RP Singh's incisive spell in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, it was time for another seasoned left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan to serve a reminder to the selectors with a five wicket haul as Baroda crushed Assam by 49 runs in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Pathan recorded career-best T20 figures of 5/13 in four overs as Assam were restricted to 116 for 9 in 20 overs reply to Baroda's decent score of 165 for eight. The left-arm seamer, who is leading Baroda finished his spell with the new ball in one stretch getting wickets in all his four overs. Courtesy Pathan, Assam were in tatters at 22 for five inside seven overs and never recovered from that blow. Irfan, who would like to keep both IPL franchises as well as national selectors interested, bowled sharply as got the ball to move away consistently and few that straightened after pitching. Left-hander Pallav Kumar Das (1) got one that came in while right-handers Sarupam Purakayashtha (4) and KB Arun Karthik (9) got away going deliveries. Earlier, when Baroda batted, Kedar Devdhar and Deepak Hooda contributed 48 runs each in Baroda's total. Yusuf Pathan scored 9 but the biggest flop show was Hardik Pandya, who managed only five runs and also gave away 27 from 3 overs. Brief Scores: Baroda 165/8 (Kedar Devdhar 48, Deepak Hooda 48, Abu Nechim Ahmed 2/35, J Syed Mohammed 2/28). Assam 116/9 in 20 overs (Irfan Pathan 5/13, Swapnil Singh 2/15). Baroda won by 49 runs. A militant allegedly linked to the Islamic State terror group has been arrested in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi. Abdul Aziz was allegedly involved in collecting funds and recruiting youth for ISIS (Islamic State) to be sent to Syria, according to a senior official of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Police arrested Aziz yesterday from the Orangi Town area in the city. The CTD has launched a crackdown on ISIS-linked militants and facilitators in Karachi since late last year. Earlier this week, the CTD claimed that it had busted a cell of the Islamic State terror group operating in Sialkot, arrested eight suspects and seized weapons, explosives and laptops, as well as a large number of compact discs containing publicity material. Investigators claimed that the suspects wanted to overthrow democracy and introduce Caliphate in Pakistan through armed struggle. The Israeli air force carried out attacks on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early today, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. According to the sources, the Israeli strikes targeted four empty facilities ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the South, causing damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its "aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip". "The IDF holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. Late yesterday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas responsible for all such incidents. Also yesterday, two Palestinians were slightly wounded by Israeli gunfire after they stormed the border fence in northern Gaza, the Israeli army and Gaza medics said. Opinion / Columnist Vince Musewe, you used to write wonderful pieces guided by one thing and one thing only the truth but ever since you took unto yourself the task of midwife to this Tsvangirai - Mujuru coalition you have written one rubbish article after another. Your latest article Zimbabweans not yet hungry enough for total freedom is no different. The choking chlorine gas fog that have been whirling in your head like Jupiter's "red-eye" storm ever since you took up the midwife duties is making you see what is not there, come up with confused conclusions or worse."It was Thomas Jefferson who said that the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots," you started Vince. What you have failed to understand is that Thomas Jefferson was sure America had planted a tree of liberty; we have planted a tree of tyranny and you want more innocent Zimbabwean blood to be shed to water corruption and tyranny.Of course Zimbabweans are hungry for freedom, liberty, justice, good governance, human rights and dignity. Indeed, they are starving to death of hunger for freedom because their never ever tasted freedom let alone eaten their fill.You want the people to join Tsvangirai's street protest, risking life and limp; that will be "blood of patriots" and proof they are "hungry for total freedom". What you forget is the people did risked all in the fight to end white colonial rule and thousands paid the ultimate price with their very lives a historic fact many, especially Mugabe and his cronies, have actively down played.By the time the nation attained her independence 18 April 1980 the people found much to their surprise and disgust that their right to free, fair and credible elections had been removed by Mugabe and his cronies. Over the years the tyrant has striped the people more and more their freedoms and rights including the right to life!In his 35 years of tyrannical rule Mugabe has already murdered over 30 000 Zimbabweans whose only crime was that they dared to demand their freedoms and human rights including the right to a meaningful vote.In 2008 the people of Zimbabwe mounted a concerted effort to end this Mugabe dictatorship by once again risking all to elect Tsvangirai and his MDC. MDC promised to bring democratic change. The price of getting MDC into the GNU was homes and livelihood destroyed, millions harassed, hundreds of thousands beaten and/or raped and over 500 murdered.But once again the people were in for yet another disappointed; GNU failed to deliver free, fair and credible elections. This time it was Tsvangirai and his cronies who conspired to betrayed them. Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders the gravy train lifestyles, plus the $4 million Highlands Mansion for Tsvangirai in return for GNU ignoring SADC calls to implement the GPA reforms. Tsvangirai and friends accepted the bribes and not even one reform were implemented. Not one!Whilst it is true that for the millions of ordinary Zimbabweans their lives are a hell lot worse now than it was under Ian Smith and so they will be even hungrier for freedom and for economic security and a share of the nation's bounty. But after years of risking all for freedom and human rights and being betrayed by the very people who promised them freedom and change; it is wise to ignore those for more patriot blood to water the tree of liberty and check what tree the nation has planted.We do not have a tree of liberty but rather a tree of tyranny. If there is to be any patriot blood to be shed then is must be in making sure we uproot the Zanu PF dictatorship tree and replace it with the democratic tree. The Zanu PF dictatorship is not confined to just elected public officials, the dictatorship has far reaching rhizomes in every state or public institution or facade of human activity forcing them all to abandon their set public good to serve the regime's no-regime-change agenda at all cost.The 2008 GPA has already established raft of democratic reforms that must be implemented to destroy the dictatorship. We do not need to reinvent the wheel, we demand the implementation of the 2008 GPA democratic reforms; this is the only fight worth the candle!"Some of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora continue to protest and demand political reforms from a regime which knows that it will be suicidal to do so," argued Musewe. "Their calls for comprehensive reforms will never be heeded because ZANU (PF) knows that it is hugely unpopular especially amongst those who had to make the choice to leave the country. Allowing them to vote, for example, would sound their political death knell and they will do whatever it takes to make sure that Zimbabweans in the Diaspora do not vote. That is the truth."There are Zimbabweans inside the country and outside who agree and differ on this issue like on many others issues. The false claim that no Zimbabwean in the country wants the reforms implemented is, of course, nonsense. The innuendo that we all defer to Zimbabweans inside the country because they know best must be dismissed with the contempt it rightly deserves.The country is in fact in this mess because of the twisted Mugabe logic claiming that only those with liberation war credentials were competent to rule. So of the generation old enough to fight, all of the competent individuals went to war. And all the other generations have failed to produce anyone remotely competent. There is no doubt that it was Mugabe himself who coerced security sector chiefs to publicly say they would not salute anyone with no war credentials a treasonous statement.Now that it is clear Grace Mugabe is gunning for the presidency Mugabe is telling the war vets and security sector top brass alike that they are not special and must stop flaunting their liberation war credentials. So Grace has now acquired the mental intellect denied everyone else of her generation! This is no ordinary "bedroom coup"; there must be something more magical than Aladdin's flying carpet about that bed!To come back to the subject of reforms; our Mr Know-Best Musewe tells we should not demand the implementation of the GPA reforms because implementing the reforms will be "suicidal" for Mugabe. Good Lord, grant me patience!So we must demand the implementation of the electoral laws (Tsvangirai's National Electoral Reform Agenda) which will change nothing and keep the Mugabe dictatorship intact. We are to condemn millions of our people whom Mugabe has cheated and betrayed these last 35 years already by denying them their freedoms, human rights, dreams and hopes, to suffer and die in dumb anguish forever since implementing the GPA reforms will always be "suicidal" for Mugabe or his future successors. As for the ever worsening economic meltdown we are truly stuck with it because there will be no economic recovery without political reform.Of course Mugabe would try his ruthless best and use every dirty trick there is to avoid implementing the 2008 GPA reforms but is to be expected of a tyrant. It was infinitely easier to implement the reforms during the GNU years because Mugabe had tied his own hands then by signing the GPA. Still the worsen economic situation and the dog-eat-dog situation in his own party has weaken Mugabe's grip on power it is self-evident regime change is coming regardless of what Mugabe wants it or not!Musewe wants the nation to forget demanding the tough 2008 GPA reforms in favour electoral law, NERA, knowing fully well whether or not they implementation will have no effect in stopping Zanu PF rigging the elections. Tsvangirai will take part in the next elections even if not even one electoral reform in implemented.The only logical reason Tsvangirai continues to talk about NERA is having accepted that the last elections were rigged he has to be seen to be addressing that point. Besides NERA has now provided one issue round which to rally together other opposition.This Mugabe is already failing to pay civil servant wages, Finance Minister Chinamasa's kiya-kiya is not the way to run a business let alone a nation. Every soon Mugabe will be forced to start digging deep into what he and his cronies have been looting to prevent economic collapse.In 2012 Partnership Africa Canada said Mugabe pocketed $2 billion from his share of the looting and plunder going on in Marange. The national budget from "kiya-kiya" Minister Chinamasa was $3.8 billion so Mugabe's loot will pay 53% of the national budget. Even Mugabe will know this is not sustainable.Musewe is pinning his hopes on his brainchild, the MDC-T and People First coalition, winning the next elections regardless all the inbuilt political defects in Mugabe's favour. Musewe's greatest selling point is that people should support his project for the sake of stopping Mugabe getting back into power and forget about dismantling the dictatorship, leave that for another day.As long as the State President; whoever it happen to be, be it Mugabe, his wife, Mujuru or whoever; has dictatorial powers to control state institutions and rig elections as is the case now, he/she will never want to give up those power. Whoever wins the next elections will be more interested in consolidating their own power by taking advantage of the existing dictatorial powers; they will not want to dilute those dictatorial powers by implementing the 2008 GPA reforms.The people of Zimbabwe lost the golden opportunity of ending the Zanu PF dictatorship by implementing the GPA reforms during the GNU. We have another chance now with Mugabe being squeezed hard on the economic front by the worsening economic situation and on the political front from Zanu PF imploding. We can pile on the pressure by demanding the implementation of the GPA reforms.Even if Mugabe was to rest implement the GPA reforms and was to go on and rig the next elections the economic pressure on him will only be even worse then because by then even his looting from Marange will no longer be enough to pay for everything! And if we maintain our demand for the implementation of all GPA reforms, it will not be long for him or his successor realise there is no way out.We have been cheated of our freedom and our rights for the last 35 years. Last time is was Tsvangirai et al who sold-out to deny us our rights after we elected them into power on the promise they will delivery change. Musewe wants us to elect the same corrupt and incompetent Tsvangirai, Mujuru and their respective party into power in the hope that once in power they will give up the dictatorial powers still inherent in the system out of pity and love of us their follow men and implement all the GPA reforms! Believe that and you too, like Musewe, must have the Jupiter red-eye storm whirling in your empty head! Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the attack at an Air Force base here in which four militants along with three security personnel were killed, is a "direct attack by Pakistan on our soil." "It's a direct attack by Pakistan on our soil," Sukhbir, who also holds home portfolio, said, adding that "our response will be forceful and unremitting." Exuding confidence that the Indian forces will deliver a strong message, he said "You can not mess with India and get away with it." Meanwhile, top civil and police officials are regularly briefing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir on the developments in Pathankot, officials said. The chief minister said that state and central agencies regularly exchange information about threats to national security. Referring to the terror attack, Badal said "It is an attempt from across the border to destabilise Punjab in order to weaken the country." He said that the Indian forces will give a befitting reply to any assault on national unity and integrity. Sukhbir said that the people andgovernment of the state were fully geared to deal with any challengethrown at the state and the country. The Deputy CM said that the Punjab police and the central security forces "are dealing with the situation effectively andare on top of the aggressors." He said the state policehad constantly shared inputs with the central agencies and this ensuredthat the damage that any such attack could cause is minimised. "Ourarmy, other security forces and the Punjab Police will teach the infiltratorsthe lesson of their lifetime," Sukhbir said. The Home Minister said that the armed and security forces, and the Punjab Police are in a state of full preparedness to deal with any threat to the country. Lauding the Armed forces and police for their bravery, motivation and commitment, Sukhbir said theyhave always kept the flag flying high and the country is indebted to them. He said that the people and the government of Punjab have always maintainedvigilance and a state of high alert. "No one who dares to set his unholyfoot on our land will be allowed to go unpunished. Our people, our armedforces and police and para-military know what to do with enemies of thecountry," Sukhbir said. (REOPENS DES25) Meanwhile, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal termed the terrorist attack at the Pathankot air force base "most unfortunate". Punjab will urge the Centre to completely seal the sensitive spots and increase vigil at the international border in Punjab to curb the infiltration from Pakistan, he said. He said security agencies are taking necessary action in the aftermath of the attack and search operations are on. He informed that as per the preliminary reports, the terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan. Keeping in view this aspect the Centre should identify infiltration-sensitive spots and install modern surveillance equipment to prevent cross-border intrusion, he said. He also said Punjab is the most peaceful state and the state government has taken every possible step to maintain peace but some "forces" inimical to harmony are trying to vitiate the atmosphere which would not be tolerated. He also said the Punjab Police has also been instructed to step up vigil so that such dastardly incidents don't re-occur. An Independent Jammu and Kashmir MLA today alleged that he was "manhandled" by local cops in Baramullah town in north Kashmir, a charge denied by the police. Langate MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed's spokesman Inam-un-Nabi claimed that he was hurt in police action in Baramulla. "Rasheed today sustained minor injuries after being dragged by police at Baramulla, where he was going to meet PHE Minister (Sukhnandan Kumar) in connection with various problems of his constituency pertaining to PHE and Irrigation Department," Inam-un-Nabi said in a statement. The spokesman further alleged that the MLA was "dragged, abused, misbehaved with and his vehicle was also damaged by police using cannons". SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain denied the the allegation, saying the MLA and his supporters had "blocked the road". "We made repeated requests to the MLA to remove his official vehicle from the road which was blocking the traffic. He insisted on staging a dharna when we requested him to go inside the Dak Bungalow for meeting the minister," Hussain told PTI. The SSP said there was "no manhandling" of the MLA, adding, "he may explore the options at his disposal". The MLA's spokesman said, "Rasheed had sought appointment with the PHE minister during his tour to Baramulla but when he along with his driver and PRO reached Dak Bungalow, he was not allowed to enter and was detained at the gate by the heavy contingent of police." He said Rasheed will bring a privilege motion against the concerned SHO, the SSP and the DIG on Monday and will also move court to get an FIR lodged. Amid the ongoing controversy involving Delhi Government bureaucrats, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the officers should emulate the Gandhian principle and maintain position of ethics and morality. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, he said: "You will always face a lot of pulls and pressure in your career, and you will always be in doubt what direction to follow. There will be pressures from seniors, from peers, from politics, from governments, from powerful individuals, and business interest, there will be temptations." He added: "What you will do when you are in doubt? The simple answer is when in doubt go straight, you will never go wrong. The moment you deviate a few inches, there is no limit to which you can fall." Addressing the 67th batch of Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) officer trainees, Jaitley said if the officers maintain "absolute standards of ethics and 100 per cent integrity", they would definitely go a long way. Jaitley's statement comes against the backdrop of senior bureaucrats in the Delhi Government going on mass leave for a day on December 31 to protest action against suspension of two officials after they refused to sign a file pertaining to the Delhi Cabinet decision to increase salary of public prosecutors. The action of the Delhi Government, however, was declared void by the Centre. Officers, Jaitley said, should "emulate the Gandhian principle that even in moments of struggle, they should be in a position to maintain the position of ethics and morality on their side. "All this was to be accompanied by professional competence and a judicious and fair approach in tax collection." He asked them to attain professional excellence and retain the idealism inculcated at the time of joining the service with the same enthusiasm till they retire. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today did not rule out the possibility of involvement of Pakistan- based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pathankot attack and said India would hit back hard if there is any terror strike on its soil. "Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan but with all our neighbours. We also want peace but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. We will hit hard," he said. Asked about the possibility of JeM's involvement in the attack, Singh said such a possibility cannot be ruled out. "The case will be probed by the NIA but the possibility of JeM being behind the attack cannot be ruled out," he said. The Home Minister said there were intelligence inputs about possible terror attacks in Punjab and steps were taken which helped avert higher casualties. "There were some inputs and hence there was caution. We have exercised caution. If we had not taken steps, there could have been bigger damage," he said. The Home Minister said the operation was still on by the army and other forces to detect if any more militants were hiding. "Operation is still on. Unless it is completed, we can't say what are the total casualties. But I think our forces are achieving success," he said. Singh said he was happy that the security forces -- army jawans, paramilitary jawans and jawans of the Punjab police -- were giving a befitting reply. "The country is proud of our security forces and our jawans," he said. (Reopens DEL41) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley strongly condemned the terror attack. "Kudos to brave soldiers for dispelling the attack and salute to martyrs," Jaitley said in a tweet. The terrorists, who struck just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Lahore, could not penetrate the defence cordon at the Air base which is located 50 km from border with Pakistan. Two days after a church here was attacked by a group of people, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala today vowed to take action against the perpetrators. The incident took place on the night of December 31 following a wordy quarrel between some people of the area and persons in charge of illumination arrangements made at the church, police said. A group of 30 persons under the influence of alcohol pelted stones at the church, police said, adding there was no damage caused to the place of worship. As the church authorities planned for an agitation over the attack, Chennithala visited the church and assured them that all steps would be taken to nab the perpetrators. Accepting the assurance, the church authorities informed the Minister that the proposed direct agitation was being stopped, a government release said. Kerala government has decided to identify and reclaim all illegal land holdings in the possession of various British companies and individuals prior to independence. Ernakulam district collector M G Rajamanickam has been appointed as the Special Officer for resuming the government land. He has been entrusted to verify the ownership of all land holdings by British firms and individuals and the title conferred on the land holders after the independence, according to a recent order issued by the state Revenue Department. "If no title has been conferred on the present occupiers by the state or the Centre, action shall be taken as provided under law to resume the land illegally possessed by such persons," Principal Secretary (revenue) Vishwas Mehta said in the order. The government's decision was following an order of the state Human Rights Commission to resume all encroached state-owned lands. A recent investigation carried out by Inspector General of Police S Sreejith on the behest of the rights panel had found out that over 5,000 acre government land had been encroached across the state in this manner. The Human Rights panel had ordered the investigation while considering a complaint against Travancore Rubebr and Tea Company in Idukki, an official release said here. Based on the probe report, the panel had given a set of recommendations to the state government to resume the encroached lands. To reduce pollution and work towards cleaner environment, the Maharashtra government would waive value added tax, road tax and registration charges for electric vehicles, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today. "I am committing to you publicly that Mahashtra will waive VAT, Road Tax and registration for all electric vehicles in the state," Goyal told reporters after inaugurating the bio-CNG plant at Mahindra World City near here. Stating that the government would extend its support towards "cost effective solutions" that would make India cleaner and greener, Goyal said he had taken up the issue of waiving registration charges of electric vehicles with the union government and was hopeful of implementing it. "I spoke to the Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) about 15 minutes ago. I am hopeful of meeting him tomorrow to carry this programme further", he said. "I can assure you that we will make that happen. We want to see faster roll out of electric vehicles not only (Mahindra Group's electric vehicle) Reva but all electric vehicles in the country", he said. Asked about time frame for launching the scheme in Mahashtra, ruled by the BJP, he said, "if you look up the last 18 months on how fast the Ministry (was working), you will get the answer". "I think initially we should launch it in some cities of Maharashtra", he said. Talking about the Bio-CNG plant situated at Mahindra World City, Singaperumalkoil about 55 km from here, he said, the plant would contribute to greening of India and make the country a better place to live in. "Our government will support any initiative than can provide cost-effective solutions towards making India cleaner and greener", he said. To a query, he said the Ministry was working on providing feature in which gasoline stations also have charging points for electric vehicles. "We are working towards building up that infrastructure. It could be a public-private partnership.", he said. On the rural electrification programme, Goyal said for the first time in the country, December 29 had "zero shortage of power" and everybody who wanted electricity had 100 per cent "availability". "For the first time in the history of India, 100 per cent power was met and you had grid connectivity for all at one price which was as low as Rs 2.31. This is for the first time in the history of India", he said. The bio-CNG facility has been set up to create carbon neutral ecosystem at Mahindra World City. Spread over 1,000 square metres, the facility would have the capacity to convert eight tonnes of food and kitchen waste generated daily at Mahindra World City into 1,000m3 of raw biogas. Further the raw bio gas can be enriched to yield 400 kg per day of purified CNG grade fuel which is equivalent to a 200 kW power plant, an official said. To a query about the status of the rural electrification programme, Goyal said the goverment would increase the programme from the present coverage of 100 villages to 200 villages per day. "Currently, we are electrifying about 100 villages a day and we are going to ramp it up to 200 villages a day. So our plan is to electrify 18,452 villages..", he said. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech last year said country would have total electrification of villages by 1,000 days. Out of the 5.97 villages in the country, 5.79 lakh received grid power as of May 31, 2015. The Centre plans to provide electrification to remaining 18,452 villages by May 31, 2018. On promotion of LED bulbs by the ministry, Goyal said, "the government has planned to distribute seven crore LED bulbs during the current financial year". "Govt will distribute 7 crore LED bulbs in current year. Six lakh bulbs were distributed in 2013-14. But it became seven crore in current year. Price of LED bulbs came down by 76 per cent. We are distributing four lakh bulbs every day", he said. Cautioning her party workers against infighting ahead of Assembly polls in West Bengal slated for this year, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today exhorted party leaders in Howrah to increase contact with the people to ensure win in all seats in the district. "At this crucial stage we should stay away from infighting and need to work together and reach out to people to weed out any challenge by our opposition," the Chief Minister said interacting with party leaders, MPs and MLAs in Howrah, state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said. "The party stands united. The leaders have been asked to highlight the development works done by the TMC government in the last four-and-half years," he said quoting the chief minister as saying at her sixth district-level evaluation meeting with party leaders of Howrah district. A party leader speaking on the condition of anonymity said Banerjee referring to allegations of internal feud in the party and differences among its leaders in the district cautioned her two cabinet colleagues Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee and Agriculture Marketing Minister Arup Roy. She asked them to leave their path of confrontation and work together to complete all development works in the district before the poll, he said. "The party supremo has advised the leaders to live a simple, honest and restricted life and that there should not be any charge of corruption from anywhere," the leader added. She also asked the district leaders to be careful about the final voters list which would be published on January 5 and ensure that not a single voter should be left out of the list, Hakim said. "Any omission should be filed in the form for scrutiny within 15 days of the release of final voters list. Also the voters should be made aware of the new EVM machines to be used in the Assembly poll," she was quoted as having said. Banerjee appreciated the progress of development works in the district, specially at the panchayat level and asked party leaders to make winning of all seats in Howrah as their main target, Hakim said. She underscored the need for highlighting development work undertaken by the government and not to be provoked by opposition parties before the approaching election. Banerjee is conducting evaluation meeting in districts every week before the polls. The police have rearrested Dipanjan Mitra on the charge of again sending threat messages to Leader of Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Mitra, 39, was arrested from his residence in Kasba area here, police said today. When produced at a city court, he was granted bail and was directed to present himself at the Taltala police station thrice a week. Mitra, a web designer and a freelance photographer, was earlier arrested on December 23 for allegedly sending threatening texts to Bandyopadhyay and he was on bail since then. However, it appears, he sent such messages again last week and was arrested again last night. TMC party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said Bandyopadhyay received the threat messages only because he was vocal on several issues in Parliament including intolerance. Several gunmen burst into the home of a newly elected Mexican mayor and shot her dead, just hours into her tenure, police have said. Gisela Mota, 33, a left-of-center former member of Congress, was gunned down barely 24 hours after taking her oath of office on Friday in the city of Temixco, which is about 90 kilometres from the capital Mexico City. Temixco is plagued by organised crime and rampant drug trafficking - problems the slain mayor had vowed to help clean up. Graco Ramirez, the governor of the central state of Morelos, yesterday said that the suspected gunmen had been arrested following the killing and pledged there would be "no impunity." Morelos has been one of the Mexican states most affected by drug violence plaguing the country, including kidnappings and murders. More than 100,000 people have been killed or gone missing in a nearly a decade of drug violence nationwide. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012, has pledged to reduce the murders, kidnappings and extortion haunting Mexicans. A missing Hong Kong employee from a publisher of books critical of China was "assisting in an investigation", his wife said today, as police also probe the disappearance of his colleagues. Lee Bo went missing Wednesday night and is the fifth employee of Hong Kong-based publisher Mighty Current to disappear. The incident adds to growing unease that freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are being eroded, with fears the five men may have been detained by Chinese authorities. "He said he wouldn't be back so soon and he was assisting in an investigation," Lee's wife Sophie Choi told Hong Kong's Cable Television, describing a call she had with Lee the night he failed to return home. It was not clear what investigation Lee was referring to. "I asked him if it was related to the case before. He said 'yes', regarding that case where a few others had gone missing," Choi said. Police said in a statement they were investigating the disappearance of Lee and three of the other missing men. It made no comment on the fifth man. Deputy leader Carrie Lam tried to reassure the public. "The Hong Kong government cares about its people's wellbeing... Police are working on this case," she told reporters. Choi previously told AFP she started looking for Lee on Wednesday night after he failed to return home for dinner and she reported him missing to police on Friday. He later called to say "everything was alright" from a number that did not belong to him and originated from the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, Choi had said. Another source told AFP that Lee, 65, was last seen in Hong Kong on Wednesday at the publisher's warehouse, which he is in charge of. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and enjoys liberties not seen on the mainland, but there are fears these are under threat. The publishing company's general manager Lui Bo, an employee Cheung Jiping and bookstore manager Lam Wing-kei are also apparently missing after disappearing in southern China in October. Local media said Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and co-owner of Mighty Current, failed to return from a holiday in Thailand in October. Hong Kong police are investigating the disappearance of Lui, Cheung, Lam and Lee -- they gave no information on Gui. Sweden's embassies in Bangkok and Beijing are reportedly investigating Gui's disappearance. A Naxal, carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, has been arrested in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kanker district, police said today. Acting on a specific intelligence input, Darsu Usendi (28) was apprehended at a weekly market in an area under the jurisdiction of Koyalibeda police station last evening by a joint team of district police force and the state intelligence team, Kanker Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Meena said. Koyalibeda is around 250 kms away from here. Usendi was arrested because of his suspicious movements; later he was identified as a wanted Naxal, police said. According to the SP, he was a member of military company no 5 of the Maoists in North Bastar division and wanted for torching of vehicles engaged in mining work at Chargaon in the region last year, apart from involvement in other incidents of violence. Railways will start a new train between Jammu and Haridwar by March this year. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said steps are being taken to increase rail connectivity of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. "Jammu and Kashmir is a very important state, a state close to our heart. It is our duty to connect the Valley with Delhi and the hearts of the country. "We are making plans to further connect J&K through railways," he said at an event here. He said that an integrated plan would soon be made which would be submitted to the Finance Minister for provision of funds. On the demand of railway overbridges, the minister said that while in other states 50 per cent of the financial burden for construction of such bridges is borne by the state governments, in Jammu and Kashmir the railway ministry would fully fund them. He said that a train connecting Jammu to Haridwar would be started before Shivratri this year. He said that "a special train for Kashmir Valley would also be started soon. Modi government is committed for the overall growth of the railways to provide better facilities so that people enjoy their railway trip. The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric today sparked outrage in Iraq, where some leaders called for the closure of Riyadh's newly reopened embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraq's Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- said Baghdad should take action. "Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons," a statement from his office said. The Saudi embassy in Baghdad only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudi nationals were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a more recent figure. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family's) rule," Abdelsamad's office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimr's execution. "Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, today they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a "high price". "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. According to rights organisations, China, Iran, Pakistan and Iraq are the world's worst executioners. About 50,000 students at British universities have been caught cheating over the past three years, with many of them being scholars from outside the European Union, including India and China. Students from outside the EU -- which includes countries like India and China -- were four times more likely to cheat in exams and coursework, according to a 'Times' investigation of more than 100 freedom of information requests. Of the 70 varsities that provided data on overseas cheats, non-EU students were involved in 35 per cent of all cheating cases but made up only 12 per cent of the student body. At Queen Mary University of London, 75 per cent of post-graduates found to have plagiarised were from overseas, with a third from China. At Staffordshire University, more than half of cheating cases involved foreign students, who make up a twentieth of the student body. Universities are now able to detect plagiarism more easily through software tools such as Turnitin, which inspects individual pieces of work for plagiarism by comparing them with an online database of academic material. But hundreds of unregulated "essay mill" websites that hire former academics to produce work for well-paying students can go undetected. Geoffrey Alderman, of the University of Buckingham, told the newspaper: "What I'd call type-1 plagiarism, copying and pasting, is on the wane because it's so easy to detect. But my impression is that type-2 cheating, using a bespoke essay- writing service, is increasing. "In certain cultures it is actually considered meritorious to copy from one's teachers' books... Some students need educating in what is, and what is not, acceptable." Of the 2.3 million students in 2013-14, 310,190 were from outside Britain and the EU, with Chinese students leading that figure followed by Indians and Nigerians. A Pakistani court today refused to entertain a petition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit here, saying there was no urgency to hear it during winter vacations. The petition challenging Modi's visit has been rejected by the Office of the Registrar of the Lahore High Court, a court official told PTI. Advocate Azhar Saddique today filed the petition in the Lahore High Court stating that Modi along with his delegation visited Pakistan without any "official permission" as most of the members of the delegation travelling with him stayed at the airport premises without visa. The Indian Premier along some members of his delegation on December 25 went to Jati Umra where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Raiwind residence is situated near here. The court rejected the petition saying that there was "no urgency" and that it cannot be entertained during the vacations. Sadique said he would file the petition after the vacations. Modi sprang a surprise with a 150-minute visit to Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and held talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the "larger good" of the people of the two countries. Modi made the stopover here on his way back home after a day-long unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he went following a two-day trip to Russia last month. Paris city will commemorate the victims of the attacks on the satirical Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a kosher supermarket that left 17 people dead in January last year. Commemorative plaques will be unveiled Tuesday in the presence of families and government members to pay tribute to the victims on the different places where the attacks took place on January 7 to 9, 2015. Another ceremony will take place on Jan. 10 on Paris' Republique plaza, which was transformed into an informal memorial following the attacks in the French capital in January and November. The Paris mayor's office has announced a "tree of remembrance" will be symbolically planted. Yesterday, France's highest decoration, the Legion of Honor, was awarded posthumously to the victims of the January attacks through a government decree. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today chaired a high-level meeting during which he was briefed in detail by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the terror attack at an Air Force base in Pathankot. The meeting was also attended by all the three Service chiefs and the Defence Secretary. The meeting lasted for about 90 minutes during which Parrikar was given a detailed overview about the intelligence received and the action taken by the security forces to thwart the attack by the group of terrorists, suspected to be belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today chaired a high-level meeting during which security of vital defence installations were reviewed and a decision was taken to focus more on integrated efforts by the armed forces in the wake of terror attack at an Air Force base in Pathankot Parrikar was briefed in detail by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the attack. The meeting focussed on the intelligence inputs received and the counter measures taken by the armed forces including deployment of the NSG commandos, personnel of the special forces belonging to both Army and the IAF besides regular soldiers. Top government sources said the men entered at about 3:30 AM into the base, one of the largest of the IAF spread over about 2000 acres, through a gap in the peremitre wall which is heavily forested. "Because of the prior intelligence input, a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was stationed there which made the first contact with the terrorist within 45 metres into the base," the sources said. They added that while one terrorist was killed on the spot, the rest three scattered. The second terrorist was killed around 10 AM while the third and fourth terrorist were killed early evening. During the 90-minutes long meeting, which was also attended by all the three Services chiefs and the Defence Secretary, the security of vital defence installation were reviewed. "It was decided to focus on synergy between the assets of the three forces as today's operation was an example of how an operation should be held," the sources said. Parrikar was given a detailed overview about the intelligence received and the action taken by the security forces to thwart the attack by the group of terrorists, suspected to be belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. Meanwhile, Parrikar tweeted saying he compliments the security forces for swift and effective response. "I salute the brave martyrs for making the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our Motherland," he added. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar cancelled his scheduled programs in Goa and rushed to the national capital following the terror attack at IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab this morning. Parrikar was to chair the meeting of BJP legislators here on the medium of instruction issue this afternoon. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar later chaired the meeting in Parrikar's absence. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at the Air Force base, leading to a fierce gun-battle in which three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. Opinion / Columnist Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a community activist, communications specialist, journalist, and writer. He writes in his personal capacity. He welcomes and appreciates feedback. Please call/WhatsApp: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com During a New Year's Eve gathering we had with friends, a discussion on the appalling political and economic state in which Zimbabweans are reeling under, naturally took centre stage.However, what took the discussion a gear up, was when a simple, but intriguing question was raised: 'What would Ian Smith say if he were to come back to life in a 2016 Zimbabwe?'As expected, numerous comments were heard - ranging from the humorous to the very serious - but all candidly reflecting the disgruntlement that Zimbabweans have in the status quo.In all the comments made, one thing was certain, people believed that Ian Smith would laugh aches into his lungs at what he would perceive as the folly of Black self-governance, and how he - and his kin - were justified in their colonial policies.These comments, although painful, drove home one important point in my mind - that the current Zimbabwean government has done everything in its power to propagate the notion that Black people can not properly govern themselves.The manner in which the current government has trampled upon the basic rights of all Zimbabweans, and subjecting the nation to untold suffering and dehumanisation, only serve to perpetuate this racist notion.It is very clear that the government had deliberately abdicated on its duties of serving the people, and insuring that every Zimbabwean is treated with dignity and respect, and has a decent livelihood worthy of any God-created human being.The leadership of this country has sought to serve its own personal and selfish interests above those of the common people, seeking to enrich themselves, whilst the rest of the nation are used as sacrificial lambs.If one is to compare the obscene wealth in which the country's leadership so arrogantly wallows in, and the abject poverty in which the rest of the country is crucified in - it would be clear to all that the leadership only got into office for self-aggrandisement and not to serve the nation.We have a leadership that would rather be served by the nation, rather than serve the nation.A leadership that believes that they own both the country and the people inside it.A leadership that has no true desire for the true tenets of democracy - which are that all Zimbabweans are equal shareholders in this great country and that, when we choose the leadership, we are not choosing our own masters, kings or gods, but that we are merely choosing some amongst us to lead - but we all still remain equal.However, there is no equality when the few that we have chosen to lead the nation take all the wealth for themselves, and leave the rest of the nation with nothing.When our leaders are more worried about how to import that latest Mercedes Benz, whilst the rest of the nation is more worried about where to get the next meal - that should send shivers down our spines.This clearly demonstrates that the majority of the people of Zimbabwe are not suffering as a result of lack of resources in the country, or of some foreign conspiracy - otherwise even our own leaders would have been suffering as well - but it is because there is a leadership that gives itself the largest piece of the cake, and leaves everyone else to eat the crumbs - which in itself is a ticking time bomb, as this will inevitably lead to uncontrollable disgruntlement.When the combined wealth of the wealthiest people in this country (who constitute less than one percent of the population) is enough to pay all outstanding salaries of every Zimbabwean, plus bonuses and other incentives, the terminal benefits that most retrenched workers are denied, medication and books for all hospitals and schools, and so much more - then you know something is very wrong.Even in a home, if a father chooses to indulge himself in food, drink and other luxuries, whilst his family has nothing eat - what would be said of such a father?When his children are on the verge of starvation and are sick, but he decides to go and have some fun at some resort - what would be said of such a father?No one expected such callousness from our own Black leaders, least of all those who lived through the gory days of Ian Smith and his kin.When I was reading a book entitled, 'The Struggle for Zimbabwe', by David Martin and Phyllis Johnson, when I was in form three in 1989, I recall very clearly how I wished that I had been old enough to have also taken part in the liberation struggle.I was so proud of our gallant men and women who fought for the liberation of the Black majority on this country.I held such great men and women in high esteem.However, decades later all I can think of is that these same gallant men and women I read about have all but betrayed the country and their own struggle.At times I find myself thanking the Lord that I was not part of that struggle after all - as today would I have been bold enough to look myself in the mirror, if I had turned our like this country's leadership. It would have been such a shame.To top it all, what grieves the most is hearing those that suffered during the colonial days saying that those days were better.They would say, despite all the gruesome oppression and subjugation they endured, at least jobs were available, they were paid on time always - with bonuses guaranteed - their seemingly meagre salaries bought them all their basic necessities, and those that retired got their pensions - waive mudyandigere chaiwo.Although, I have never personally subscribed to the notion of any race's superiority over another, what our government is doing falls right into the trap of those with racist superiority agendas.African leaders are busy pillaging resources - whilst the people suffer - leaders refuse to leave power, and leaders who would rather spend time fighting for power whilst everyone else suffers.I was reminded of a poem I read some years back in 1987, when I was in form one.The poem was entitled 'The White Man's Burden: The United States and The Philippines', written by Rudyard Kipling and published in 1899.In this poem, Kipling referred to nonwhites as 'a sullen people, half devils and half child', and urged the United States to take up the 'burden' of empire, as had Britain and other European nations.This, he believed, was supposed to be the White Man's responsibility - to govern and impart their culture, values, customs and norms on nonwhite people, as he viewed them as incapable of governing themselves.If Kipling and Ian Smith were to come back to life today, what would they say? Would they not feel vindicated, whilst, sadly, our own selfish leaders help propagate this delusionary theory. Voicing serious concern over the terror attack on Pathankot air base, Congress today questioned Modi government's handling of Pakistan affairs while reminding the Prime Minister of his promise to assertively handle ties with the neighbouring country. "It's indeed a very serious matter as seven days after PM Modi visited Pakistan to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif, a terrorist module comes from Pakistan and attacks in Punjab and attacks our frontline security installation. Two things are very clear. First despite PM visit to Pakistan, ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. "The current module appears to have come from Pakistan in the same fashion. Secondly the terror camps that are run by terrorists for carrying on anti- India activity in POK continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments. It raises security concerns for Punjab as the state is witnessing a sudden surge in such activities after being peaceful for the last 20 years," AICC Communication department chief Randeep Surjewala told reporters here. He said that the attack on the first day of the New Year in Pathankot is a matter of serious concern and the Opposition party expresses its deep concerns on this evolving situation of the internal security in the country. The BJP government should utilize the services of security experts and if necessary leaders of the Congress Party in engagement and finding lasting solution to blocking terror activity which is coming into India via Pakistan," he said. Recalling that Punjab has seen no terrorist activity for last 20 years, Surjewala found fault with the government on the issue of internal security and rued,"two terrorist attacks has now happened in last 5 months, 3 terrorist attacks have been made in JK and Punjab in last 5 months by terrorists who have came from Pakistan. First attack happened in Dinanagar in Jammu, second attack happened in Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Punjab where an SP of Police valiantly fought the terrorists laid down his own life along with the other police personnel and naturalized the terrorists. This is the third terrorist attack on the first night of the New Year." Suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from Pakistan today struck at an Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab, killing three security personnel while four of the attackers were killed in an operation that lasted more than five hours. The attack comes just a week after the Prime Minister made an unscheduled visit to Lahore, touching down in Pakistan for the first time on Christmas to greet Sharif on his birthday and for his granddaughter's wedding. Terming the recent attack a "very serious matter", the Congress leader urged the Prime Minister to take stock of the internal security situation to ensure that such repeated terror incidents coming from Pakistan on Indian soil do not happen again. "Will Prime Minister take up the issue with Pakistan, now that he has recently visited the country. How does the government propose to control and check the terror coming from Pakistan. These are important issues that the PM needs to address. Why is Punjab suddenly becoming a hotbed of such activities," Surjewala said. Surjewala recalled that it was Modi who used to say that no talks can be held when bullets and bombs are fired continuously. "It is PM Modi who used to say he will show red eyes to Pakistan and then talk to them. We don't want him to show red eyes but we want him to take firm action to protect the life of citizens of this country and to ensure that our valiant security forces and our army do not lay their lives at the hands of Pakistani terror module which is continued to be exported," he said. Surjewala also rued that the country's intelligence agency continue to issue generalized terror threats without giving any specifics resulting in attacks where the local police and security agencies are caught unawares. "We also want the Prime Minister to ensure that the situation on the border of J&K where there have been 900 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in less than 19 months is checked and a final solution is found there too," the Congress spokesperson said. He said the entire nation stands united to fight terror. "Entire country stands united together to fight terrorism. There can be no two opinion on fighting terror among the 125 crore people of India. "We all stand behind with our security forces in this resolve," he said. The attack on Pathankot air base raises security concerns for Punjab as the state is witnessing a sudden surge in such activities after being peaceful for the last 20 years, Congress today said. Further, with the incident coming on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent surprise visit to Pakistan to meet Nawaz Sharif, the party wondered whether he would take up the matter with his counterpart in the neighbouring country even as the ruling BJP said that the aim was to "constantly do the best" to deal with the situation. ALSO READ: 4 terrorists killed in gunbattle at Air Force base in Punjab "Why have there been two terror attacks in Punjab, a state that has not seen any terror activities in over 20 years. Even the third attack in Udhampur (in J&K) was on the border of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. "The first (attack in Punjab) was in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur and now in Panthankot, where our frontline security installation is located," he said. The attacks raise questions about the government's strategy for checking such incidents, he added. ALSO READ: Punjab put on alert after Pathankot terror incident "Will Prime Minister take up the issue with Pakistan, now that he has recently visited the country. How does the government propose to control and check the terror coming from Pakistan. These are important issues that the PM needs to address. Why is Punjab suddenly becoming a hotbed of such activities," Surjewala said. Suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from Pakistan today struck at an Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab, killing three air personnel while four of the attackers were killed in an operation that lasted more than five hours. The attack comes just a week after the Prime Minister made an unscheduled visit to Lahore, touching down in Pakistan for the first time, to meet Sharif. BJP, meanwhile, said India will keep doing its best to deal with the situation. "This is the obvious risk of terrorism that India has borne for a very long time. We are constantly going to do our best to deal with the situation and ensure that these forces are defeated," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said. With focus on indigenous development, the 103rd edition of Indian Science Congress (ISC), the country's largest science event, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here tomorrow. The annual five-day Congress is returning to Karnataka after a 13-year hiatus, with the decked up City of Palaces hosting the event after a gap of 34 years at a time when the University of Mysore is celebrating its Centenary The Congress, with the focal theme Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India, will be addressed by over 500 eminent scientists and experts, organisers said. They said the Congress will comprise plenary sessions, Pride of India expo, Hall of Pride, genesis symposium, Vigyan Jyot, vision talks, women and children science congress, young scientists award, ISCA awards, science communicators meet and public lectures. "The focal theme of this session, 'Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India' is very relevant with the present scenario of the country, when our Honourable Prime Minister has rightfully raised the slogan of 'Make in India'. "I am sure that the 103rd annual session of the Congress will show endeavour to discuss about the various paths to achieve this goal," Dr Ashok Kumar Saxena, General President of the Indian Science Congress Association has said in his message. According to the organisers, the Congress will attract 15,000 delegates from across the country and abroad from leading research institutes, PSUs, universities and industry. Science exhibition Pride of India Expo, one of the biggest attractions, will showcase over 450 institutions from public and private sectors, displaying cutting edge innovations. Welcoming the delegates and participants to the Congress Prof K S Rangappa Vice-Chancellor University of Mysore in his message has said "With nearly 20,000 brilliant brains converging at the 103rd Science Congress, I strongly believe that a roadmap for the indigenous Science and technology will be drawn more specifically to meet the societal expectation of our country." Soon after the inaugural session Bharat Ratna Prof CNR Rao will deliver Bharat Ratna Sir M Vishveshwarya Lecture on "Doing Science in India". Nobel laureates including Prof John B Gurdon, Prof David J Gross, Prof Serge Haroche; Fields medalist Prof Manjul Bhargava are expected to attend the Congress. From its 526-km perch, this bird can peer at every object in Pakistan and can easily count the number of cars parked in the grand mansion of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. With its almost 0.65-m resolution as it rotates the earth every 90 minutes this formidable spy in the sky can count each and every tank, truck and fighter aircraft parked anywhere in Pakistan or for that matter anywhere India desires. Speaking about the capabilities of this ultra-sharp satellite, Kumar said "The Cartosat 2 series has a unique capability of capturing a 1-minute video, which despite its enormous speed of 37 km a second, is able to focus at a single point for a minute." In addition, there were three other earth imaging satellites Cartosat-1, Cartosat-2 and Resourcesat-2 that provide top class imagery during day time. Going further, ISRO seeks to develop satellites that have a resolution of 25 cm in the very near future. In contrast, Pakistan has no such capability as its space program has hardly lifted off. Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair says even China does not have such high resolution satellites, the best China has is about 5-m resolution. Nair says "India invested heavily in space imaging technology and is now reaping the benefits." India also flies some satellites that have day and night viewing capabilities called 'synthetic aperture radar satellites'. There are two in orbit, the RISAT-1 and RISAT-2. Nothing can hide from these mean birds as they can see through cloud cover and are not blinded at night. Especially RISAT-2 is among the best in its class and its revisit time is relatively short. Assessing damage on the camps that harboured the terrorists would be relatively easy using the radar satellites. It is not that these satellites do not help civilian activities, radar satellites help monitor floods and have even been deployed to search for crashed planes and helicopters. India has put in place a regional satellite navigation system called NAVIC as recently as April 28 -- the last of the seven satellites was launched -- and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on its huge benefits. This system gives better than 20-m accuracy for navigation signals akin to the American Global Positioning System (GPS) in an envelope which extends about 1,500 km from the border on all sides. The signals are being beamed down 24x7 all the year around. Only America and Russia have similar capability over the South Asian region, China is still putting in place its satellite navigation system. The restricted signal which is available to the Indian armed forces is supposed to be even more accurate than the American GPS in the Indian region. Experts say it is unlikely that the Indian special forces used the hand-held devices from NAVIC to guide them to the terrorist camps as the devices are still being fine-tuned. India's enemies should have no doubts that very soon these swadeshi GPS signals will be leading its commandos into the very den of masterminds who control the terrorists. In the event of an all-out war, signals from NAVIC will undoubtedly help India target its whole suite of missiles to unleash unprecedented punishment on the enemy. Since the satellite navigation system is in India's control there can never be any fear of someone switching the constellation off. There is another over 2,000 kg bird that points towards the Indian region all day and all night and provides unprecedented capability to India's armed forces. This is a satellite called GSAT-6 and this unique satellite has multi-media capability as it can stream video in both directions. It has the largest antennae which is 6 m in diameter. This is one unique satellite which will play a crucial role in the network centric warfare of the 21st century. Using a hand-held device, individual soldiers can connect and will be able to transmit live pictures of what they can see from their helmet mounted cameras even as they engage in combat. Launched last year the users are still developing the handheld devices that can be made portable and compatible with this capability. Very soon this satellites twin GSAT-6 A may be flown which will have even more powerful capabilities. Nair says, "The government and ISRO should expedite development of GSAT-6 A to have special capabilities that the special forces need." If one recalls in 2011, it was shown that President Barrack Obama monitored live feeds of the surgical strike the US carried out as part of Operation Geronimo to eliminate Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. India's GAST-6 and GSAT 6 A both will in principle be able to help providing live signals from the remotest of remote places in India's neighbourhood. Sources in India's Aerospace Command confirm that they did have access to a live feed that was put in place using typical Indian 'jugaad' but with these satellites such capabilities will become common place. Nair says right now India relies heavily on using Thuraya handsets for satellite telephony but he hopes very soon the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be able to deliver Indian handsets that are compatible with the country's GSAT-6 satellite. In fact Nair insists that in the upcoming GSAT 6-A, satellite telephony should be made the bigger component. While understandably much of the resources are focused on land since India has hostile neighbours both on its western and eastern fronts. ISRO has not forgotten the deep blue oceans that surround India and they need to be protected as well. On a specific demand by the Indian Navy, the Indian space scientists have already deployed a satellite the Navy calls 'Rukmini'. This is a dedicated communications satellite which helps the Indian Navy talk to its ships when they are beyond the visual range, in a secure fashion. In coming years, ISRO will also deliver a dedicated satellite made for the Indian Air Force. Modi is a known space buff who even monitors India's rocket launches even as he goes about executing his day to day parliamentary duties and he is well aware how and where to deploy India's space assets to make sure no one casts an evil eye on India. Yet among all this one chink remains space infrastructure is very vulnerable to attacks of the star wars type. Hence having boots on the ground that can protect the boundary will always be necessary. A Delhi court today remanded a former IAF official, arrested for allegedly sharing secret information with Pakistan's ISI, to two more days of police custody to enable the agency to interrogate him in connection with the Pathankot terror attack. Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mittal allowed the custodial interrogation of Ranjith KK till January 4 after Delhi Police said that during his earlier questioning, he had made a lot of disclosures and revelations in connection with the Pathankot terror attack. The dismissed Air Force official allegedly shared secret information with intelligence operatives suspected to be backed by Pakistan's ISI after being "honeytrapped" into an espionage racket. Ranjith KK, a Leading aircraft man with the Indian Air Force posted at Bhatinda, was dismissed recently and later arrested after a combined operation by Delhi Police's Crime Branch, Military Intelligence and Air Force Liaisoning Unit (LU). He has been booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act. The magistrate in its order said, "Accused is produced from police custody. Investigating Officer (IO) moved an application seeking extension of PC remand of the accused for two days. I have gone through the reasons mentioned in the application and heard the submission in this regard. In view of the allegation and the reasons thereof, the application is allowed. PC remand of the accused is extended till January 4." During the brief hearing, the magistrate asked the IO whether any recovery or any disclosure has been made by the accused during the earlier four-day remand which ended today. Crime Branch IO S S Sandhu said that some revelations made by the accused in connection with the Pathankot terror attack and terror espionage needs to be ascertained for which his further interrogation is needed. The IO further said that some other disclosures were also made and the police is trying to ascertain the facts regarding the espionage racket. Police had earlier said that in this case, Ranjith was deceived by a cyber entity by the name Damini McNaught, who pretended to be the executive of a UK-based media firm, and claimed that she required Air Force-related information for an article in their news magazine from Ranjith in exchange for pecuniary benefits. Ranjith allegedly shared Air Force-related information, mostly pertaining to a recent exercise, movements of aircraft and deployment of various units, in exchange for money transferred to his bank account, police said. It said Ranjith allegedly shared secret information also through e-mails and internet-based text messaging services. The documents he had shared now have to be analysed to evaluate the actual damage and potential threat to security, police said. Police are trying to crack open the honeytrapping module and ascertain the identities of more security personnel associated with it. Ranjith's arrest came close on the heels of the cracking of an ISI-backed espionage racket by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in connection with which five persons, including a serving and an ex-army personnel and a serving BSF man, were arrested. However, the police have not yet been able to establish any link between Ranjith and the other racket, headed by one Kafaitullah Khan, which was found to have sources in the Pakistan High Commission here, it said. The Madras High Court has held that holder of a power of attorney is not entitled to arguing in a court on behalf of the person who gave the power to him. A bench, comprising Justice Satish K.Agnihotri and Justice K K Sasidharan, passed the order on a petition filed by one T Ashok Surana, the power agent of one K.Anand. Surana had sought the court's permission to argue the case of Anand before Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Bengaluru. The court was deciding on the preliminary issue whether the power of attorney is first of all entitled to addressing the court. Referring to several Supreme Court judgments, the bench said "we hold that the petitioner, being a third party, is not entitled to addressing this court on behalf of his principal. It is open to the writ petitioner to argue the matter in person or engage a counsel of his choice." The petitioner moved the court as the respondent bank in the proceedings before DRAT objected to the appearance of power of attorney. With forensic reports ruling out foul play into the death of priest and activist Bismarque Dias, the Goa police are now waiting for the final postmortem report to decide further course of probe in the case. Dias, who was in the forefront of protest against some big tourism projects requiring large-scale land acquisition, had gone missing on November 6 last year after he went for a swim at night with two other boys from St Estevem village in North Goa. His body was found floating in a rivulet near the sluice gate at St Estevem Island the next day. A section of people reportedly suspected that he was murdered following which the Crime Branch was handed over the investigation into the case by Old Goa Police. "We are waiting for a final report suggesting cause of death in Bismarque case. Only after that, we will be able to decide the future course of investigation in this case," Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Karthik Kashyap told PTI today. Kashyap said the panel of doctors from Goa Medical College and Hospital have to give the final report detailing cause of the activist's death. "The viscera and diatom report do not provide anything supporting the claim of murder. We also don't have circumstantial evidence which states that he was killed. There are no marks on his body," the SP said. Kashyap said eye-witnesses claimed that Dias had consumed liquor before venturing for a swim. Two separate autopsy reports had earlier ruled out any injuries on the body before the death. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad had not found any suspicious material in the viscera of Dias. Dias was last seen with two minor boys, who were earlier questioned by the Crime Branch. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today blamed Punjab Police for "failing to prevent" terror attack at Pathankot despite central intelligence agencies informing the state authorities about the possible threat in advance. "It is a total failure of the Punjab police in preventing second terror attack after Dinanagar last year. The terrorists managed to strike at Pathankot in spite of the fact that central intelligence agencies had alerted the state police about the possible terror attack," AAP state convenor Such Singh Chottepur said. "The attack by terrorists at Pathankot was a challenge to the country's security," he said. He further said the state police should have been alert when one of its officers was abducted by the terrorists. "A red alert was sounded in the state after the SP was kidnapped. But state police completely failed in tracing the terrorists," he alleged, describing the incident as "unfortunate". AAP also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the suspected Pakistani terrorists struck after his unscheduled visit to the neighbouring country last week. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base here today, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed along with the four attackers. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu today met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra here and discussed various issues relating to Katra-Banihal rail link. "The Governor and the Union railway minister discussed matters relating to the completion of Katra-Banihal rail link which will directly connect Kashmir Valley with rest of the country," an official spokesman said. The two, he said, also discussed about upgrade of railways infrastructure in the state, increasing frequency of trains and introduction of new services to the State keeping in view the increasing passenger traffic. They also discussed the issues of expediting surveys for new railway lines in the State including Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch and Lakhanpur-Basohli-Bhaderwah, he said, adding that Prabhu also informed the Governor about his plans to upgrade and modernise the facilities at the Jammu Railway Station. Concerned over increasing cases of jaundice being reported in local hospitals, the state health department of Himachal Pradesh has called for checking the contamination of Ashwani Khud drinking water scheme till other arrangements were made for proper treatment of water. The state health department and Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) have asked the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) department to suspend sully of water from Ashwani Khud till an alternative water treatment facility is stationed, an official release said. The two departments also asked the IPH to get clearance from National Institute of Virology, Pune regarding the contamination of drinking water from Hepatitis virus before resuming the water supply. Official sources said the health department has asked the IPH and SMC to temporarily suspend, until the mixing of untreated water from sewerage treatment plant into the said water supply scheme, was plugged. A meeting of health officials chaired by Director, Health and Family Welfare, D S Gurung was held this afternoon to spell out measures to check the cause and spread of jaundice in town. The meeting was attended by the Shimla Municipal Corporation officials who are responsible for clean drinking water supply in town. "We have taken up the matter with the IPH department to check and properly treat the water supplied from the Ashwani Khud scheme and also asked the IPH and SMC to ensure re-distribution of water in Shimla from sources other than the khud for the time being," Gurung said. Meanwhile, a team headed by Shimla MC Mayor Sanjay Chauhan also visited the Ashwini Khud pumping station today and found "clear cut" mixing of untreated water from the sewerage treatment plants in the water supply scheme. RSS's joint general secretary Dattatraya Hosbole said here today that his organisation didn't think that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a mistake in lunching at the residence of his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore last month. The statement by the senior RSS functionary defending Modi's decision to visit the neighbouring country came on a day when Pakistani terrorists attacked IAF base in Pathankot. Hosbole was speaking to reporters at Vishwa Sangh Shivir here. To a question, he said "why shouldn't Modi eat with Nawaz Sharif? We don't oppose this. We believe the whole world is one family and it's our duty that we behave well (with others). This is India's religion, this religion should be followed. "The National Security Adviser of India is capable of dealing with the issue of terrorism. We have full confidence that that he would deal with the issue in the right way," the RSS leader added. To another question, Hosbole said "one has to use various means such as persuasion-purchase-punish- exploitation of division ('saam-daam-dand-bhed') as per the circumstances. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee undertook bus journey to Lahore but the Kargil war too was fought during his tenure. The RSS leader also praised Modi for getting Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend Ganga-aarati in Varanasi during his visit to India. "The heads of all the prominent countries visit other countries to develop diplomatic ties. But the Prime Minister of India, an RSS volunteer that he is...Also got the Prime Minister of another country to perform Ganga-aarati in India," Hosbole said. To a question on Nepal, he said RSS wanted good relations with that country. "Nepalis live in India in large numbers. But in the last five months (during the political logjam in that country which has strained the bilateral ties), no Nepali has been harmed in India. Nor have the Indians living in Nepal come to any harm. Nepal is witnessing a political strife such as every country witnesses," he said. Opinion / Columnist Zanu-PF should be condemned in the strongest terms for inflicting unprecedented pain and suffering on civil servants. We never imagined how far Zanu-PF could go with its cruelty. There are many social implications to civil servants. Parents will not be able to pay jan school fees. Many are dying because they cannot afford to buy drugs. Civil servants are getting eviction orders from landlords. Service providers who are owed moneys are in trouble because of default payments. Civil servants have no food on the table. They have not seen xmas and their new year will be bleak.Zimbabweans must know the reasons for this state of affairs: the cash-strapped government is broke. Part of the money that was supposed to pay civil servants was diverted towards the first instalment of the $1.8 billion dollars arrears to the world bank( $1 billion), IMF($200m) and African Development Bank ($600m). Chinamasa made a written promise in Lima the capital of Peru in August 2015 at the world bank summer gathering to clear the arrears by April 2016. So civil servants are being sacrificed for the sake of IMF, World Bank and ADB debts. This follows pronouncements by Chinamasa in the 2014 budget statement on the need for labour market flexibility.According to this philosophy salaries and employment are a priviledge not a right. This violates ILO conventions and standards on labour rights. Chinamasa is so naive. He hopes that the payment of arrears will unlock new money from these multilateral institutions. He does not know that the Zimbabwean crisis is larger than arrears. It is a political problem and not a technical one. It is about governance and legitimacy. So my fellow Zimbabweans Chinamasa has introduced structural adjustment (Esap 2). Zimbabwe is under an IMF staff monitored program whereby the target has been set to reduce the public service wage bill by 50 percent. The IMF carries out quarterely assessments. So far Chinamasa has scored very well and has become a protege of the IMF because of his neo-liberal policies.He has introduced economic structural adjustment program through the back door. Chinamasa has been battling the fiscal crisis is Zimbabwe since the disputed elections of July 2013 which saw the collapse of international confidence. After the Zanu-PF contested victory the stock market crushed and lost $1 billion dollars. The economy went into deflation. GDP dropped from 7 percent in 2013 to 1.5 percent in Dec 2015.The government is battling fiscal space. But the greatest headache for Chinamasa is the problem of party-state. This is a situation where there is a thin dividing line between party and government expenditure. In 2015 the first lady grace Mugabe went on a countrywide tour using a state helicopter clearly at the expense of the taxpayer.To worsen the matter, the Zanu-PF conference in Vic Falls was an untimely event largely funded by treasury and so was the lavish party thrown for the aristocracy at the Blue Roof residence of the first family.Zimbabwe's chairmanship of the African Union took a toll on the budget because the president's AU foreign trips were largely funded by the Zimbabwean tax payer since the AU is literally broke because of the collapse of Libya its greatest benefactor.All these shenanigans have caused the plight of civil servants and left an egg on the face of president Mugabe who has been openly defied by Chinamasa on the bonus issue.Going forward civil servants should expect more suffering and tightening of belts as we go through esap 2. The priority is to clear debt arrears and not civil servants. At this rate I predict that government will not be able at all to pay January 2016 salaries. Government is clearly stubborn but one thing for sure is that the civil service will be the eye of the 2016 storm in Zimbabwe. Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr today, Iran's foreign ministry said. Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned the execution, which came after his Shiite country repeatedly asked its Sunni-ruled rival to pardon the cleric. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... The Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," he said, quoted by the official IRNA agency. Nimr, 56, was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence," said Ansari. For its part, the Basij student militia connected to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards called for a demonstration on Sunday afternoon in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. A sacked IAF official, arrested for allegedly sharing secret information with Pakistan's ISI, will be interrogated in connection with today's Pathankot terror attack, investigators told a city court which extended his police custody till Monday. Ranjith KK, a Leading Aircraftman with Indian Air Force posted at Bhatinda, was dismissed recently and later arrested after a combined operation by Delhi Police's Crime Branch, Military Intelligence and Air Force Liaisoning Unit (LU). The sacked officer's police custody was extended by two more days by Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mittal who accepted the submissions of the police which wanted his custody to be extended so that they can further interrogate him. "In view of the allegation and the reasons thereof, the application is allowed. Police remand of the accused is extended till January 4," the magistrate said. Booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act, Ranjith K K had allegedly shared secret information with intelligence operatives suspected to be backed by Pakistan's ISI after being "honeytrapped" into an espionage racket. A Crime Branch official informed the court that "revelations" made by the accused need to be ascertained and he needs to be also interrogated in connection with the Pathankot attack and terror espionage. The investigators' submissions came after the magistrate asked the police whether any disclosure and recovery have been made during the earlier four-day remand. IO S S Sandhu said that some "revelations" were made by Ranjith and police suspect that they could be a connection with the Pathankot attack, in which a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base, killing three security personnel. Police had earlier said that in this case, Ranjith was deceived by a cyber entity by the name Damini McNaught, who pretended to be an executive of a UK-based media firm and claimed that she required Air Force-related information for an article in their news magazine from Ranjith in exchange for pecuniary benefits. "Salaam Alaikum" was the reply when the gunman of the Superintendent of Police, who was thrashedby suspected Pakistani terrorists, called up on his mobile numberafter the of the SP's abduction along with his associatesspread. However, after the gunman told the call receiver thatthe mobile phone belonged to SP Salwinder Singh, the call was disconnected. It was the last conversation which was made on the SP's phone, which is believed to be used by the terrorists tomake calls to Pakistan. "After we got alert about the incident (SP'Sabduction), I tried making call on SP sahib's number. Ataround 3:26 am, the call got connected. When I said 'hello', thereply from other side came 'Salaam Alaikum'. I asked 'aapkaun' (who are you)? The receiver said 'aap kaun'? Then I toldhim this is my SP sahib's number. The call receiver said'SP sahib kaun' (who SP sahib?). Then he disconnected theline," said SP's gunman Kulwinder Singh. "I continued to say 'hello, hello' but the phone line was disconnected," Singh told PTI today. "It was the last call made on SP sahib's phonenumber," said Singh, who is SP Salwinder Singh's gunman for the last about five years. SP's driver Rajpal Singh said, "After I gotinformation from the control room about the incident, I alsotried calling SP sahib's both mobile numbers. But I failed toconnect it." Yesterday, Punjab police had not ruled out thepossibility that suspected militants had used SP's mobile tomake a call to Pakistan. Suspected Pakistani terrorists in army uniform had abducted and thrashed the Superintendent of Police and histwo associates before dumping them some distance away andspeeding away in his vehicle in the wee hours of Friday nearKathlore bridge here. SP Salwinder Singh, who was recently transferred as Assistant Commandant, 75th Battalion, Punjab Armed Police (PAP), said he and his friend Rajesh Verma, along with his cook Mohan Lal, were coming back after paying obeisance atNarot Jaimal Singh block last night when four-five mensignalled them to stop their vehicle. The SP added that they were overpowered bythe suspected militants who drove away with them in their SUV. The SPand Lal were dumped near some distance while Verma was was thrown off the vehicle after some time withinjury marks on his body. Police had recovered SP's vehicle at Tajpur villagenear Dhira here near Indo-Pak border. Saudi Arabia today executed a prominent Shiite cleric behind anti-government protests along with 46 other men, drawing angry condemnation from Iran and Iraq. The execution of Nimr al-Nimr and the others, including Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in deadly Al-Qaeda attacks, was announced by the Saudi interior ministry. It prompted calls for demonstrations, with the brother of the 56-year-old cleric warning it could stir more trouble in oil-rich Eastern Province where Shiites complain of marginalisation. "This action will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, said Mohammed al-Nimr. The interior ministry said the 47 men had been convicted of adopting the radical "takfiri" ideology, joining "terrorist organisations" and implementing various "criminal plots". A list published by the official Saudi Press Agency included Sunni Muslims convicted of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudi and foreigners in the kingdom in 2003 and 2004. One of those executed was Fares al-Shuwail, described by Saudi media as Al-Qaeda's top religious leader in the kingdom. He was arrested in 2004. Notably absent from the list, however, was Nimr's nephew, Ali al-Nimr, whose arrest at the age of 17 and alleged torture during detention sparked condemnation from rights watchdogs and the United States. All those executed were Saudis, except for an Egyptian and a Chadian. Some were beheaded with a sword while others were executed by firing squad, said interior ministry spokesman Mansur al-Turki. Executions have soared in the country since King Salman acceded the throne in January 2015, with 153 people, including convicted drug-traffickers, put to death last year, nearly twice as many as in 2014. Today's executions drew condemnation from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq, and calls for anti-Saudi protests. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," said Hossein Jaber Ansari, spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry. "The Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," the official IRNA agency quoted him as saying. He said Nimr's execution "merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and impudence". In Riyadh, Turki described Iran's reaction as "irresponsible". "We are completely confident with what we're doing and we believe in it and do not care how others view our procedures, whether on justice or implementation of sentences," he told a conference. A Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen announced the end today of a ceasefire that had been violated on a daily basis since it was declared last month. The "coalition leadership announces the end of the truce in Yemen starting from 1400" today, the alliance said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. The ceasefire announced on December 15 had been ended due to continuous rebel "attacks on the kingdom's territories by firing ballistic missiles towards Saudi cities, targeting Saudi border posts, and hampering aid operations," it said. The rebels have also "continued to shell residents and kill and detain Yemeni civilians in cities under their control," said the coalition. "All this shows how unserious the militias and their allies are and their disregard for the lives of civilians, and how they have clearly exploited this truce to make gains." However, the coalition "was and is still eager on creating the suitable circumstances to find a peaceful solution in Yemen," it said. Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition that has been battling Iran-backed rebels in neighbouring Yemen since March. The rebels intensified their rocket attacks across the Saudi border in recent days, prompting the coalition to threaten severe reprisals. The statement comes after the coalition announced that Saudi air defence forces had intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom's city of Abha yesterday. The "launcher was located and destroyed in Yemen," it said. The Saudis have deployed Patriot missile batteries designed to counter attacks and have recently been intercepting missiles fired from Yemen on an almost-daily basis. More than 80 people, most of them soldiers and border guards, have been killed in shelling and cross-border skirmishes in the kingdom's south since coalition operations began in Yemen. On Thursday, three civilians including two children were killed in cross-border missile attacks from Yemen on a residential area in Saudi Arabia's southwestern Jazan region. Eleven others were wounded, among them nine children, according to the Saudi civil defence. High alert has been sounded in Haryanaand security arrangements have been tightened across the state, in the wake of the terrorist attack at an Air Force Base in Punjab, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singal said. He said the security agencies of the state were maintaining constant touch with central intelligence agencies. "The security agencies of the state have alreadybeen alerted and ordered to be extra vigilant. "The police force of the state is fully prepared to provide foolproof security so as to avert happening of any such incidents," the Haryana DGP said. He said that directions have been issued to top law enforcers like Police Commissioners, Range Inspector General of Police and Superintendents of Police through video conferencing today to step up the security arrangements particularly in the sensitive areas. To ensure tight security, barricades have been installed at various places in districts for monitoring any movement and security check, he added. Singal also said that the police force is fully geared up to conduct peaceful Panchayat general elections in the state, which are due later this month. Anti-rioting equipments, tear gas equipments, water cannon, 'Vazra' and ambulances will be deployed at suitable places. Flag marches will be arranged before the polling day. It was emphasised during the video-conferencing that senior officers shall remain vigilant before polling day, on the day of polling and after the polling till the counting of votes is completed. "Necessarysafety measures for the celebrations of the Republic Day also tops the list of priorities for the security arrangements in the state and for this purpose, SWAT teams have been constituted at district level," he added. The husband of a Shiv Sena corporator was today arrested for allegedly opening fire during a function held to celebrate the New Year at Manpada area here. Four others have also been apprehended for allegedly being involved in an assault following a heated argument between two groups at the function last night, a police official said. "Cross complaints were registered at Manpada Police station by the respective groups involved in the incident," he said. Shiv Sena corporator in Kalyan Dombivili Municipal Corporation Pramila Patil and her husband Mukesh were present at the function held to celebrate the New Year last night, police said. "As per the complaint filled by Mukesh, there were heated arguments between two groups on some issues during the function following which members of one group allegedly assaulted one Meghlal Sahu," they said. "Mukesh was also allegedly beaten up when he went to rescue Meghlal. Fearing for his life, Mukesh opened fire from his licensed revolver creating panic at the function," officials said. As per another complaint filled by one Vinod Patil, a supervisor at a construction site, he along with his friends had gone for the programme. "Meghlal while dancing, allegedly pushed one of Vinod Patil's friend under the influence of liquor. When Vinod and his other friends sought clarification from Sahu for the act, Mukesh allegedly abused, attacked and opened fire at Vinod," they said. Mukesh Patil was arrested today and a case under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act was registered, police said, adding investigations are underway. Integrated ICT solutions and services provider Sify Technologies is setting up a state-of-the-art Global Delivery Centre at Hyderabad. This would be the company's largest Delivery Centre in India and would help drive its global ambitions, a statement said. Sify Technologies recently announced a global partnership with Fujitsu Limited to collaborate on providing ICT solutions, it said. The two companies are collaborating to strengthen their global approaches to developing new customers and markets, and to jointly win multi-regional opportunities, starting with the North American market, it said. When completed, this 2,00,000 sqft delivery centre would focus on supporting the partnership through the development of solutions for the Third Platform (also known as "SMAC" or Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud Platform). Chairman of Sify Technologies, Raju Vegesna, said the centre would support the company's applications and system-integration resources globally. "We are happy to welcome India's ICT pioneer, Sify Technologies' Global Delivery centre in Hyderabad. We are determined to position Telangana as the preferred destination for IT companies in India and are continuously streamlining measures so that it is easy to do business here," Telangana Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao said. Al-Qaida's East African affiliate has released a video to recruit American blacks and Muslims that includes a clip of US presidential candidate Donald Trump calling for Muslims to be banned from entering America. The 51-minute video by the Somalia based al-Shabab militant group says there is institutionalized racism and religious segregation in the US and radical Islam is the way to fight back. In the clip of Trump, he calls for the "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." The video, which SITE Intel monitoring group said was released by extremists yesterday, presents several Americans who died fighting for extremism in Somalia and encourages American youths to follow their example. Al-Shabab is fighting a Somali government backed by African Union troops. Over 20 students sent back by the US authorities and arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here today alleged that they were "ill-treated" and some of them were even handcuffed at the New York airport. These students, hailing from Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, had left for the US on December 29 to pursue higher education at Silicon Valley University and Northwestern Polytechnic University there. National carrier Air India had earlier said it had received a communication from the US Customs and Border Protection Agency that these two universities were "under scrutiny" by authorities in that country. "US officials (at New York Airport) asked us to get admission to some other university and apply for visa (afresh). They say these (two) universities are not good," said a student, who had enrolled in Northwestern Polytechnic University, on the condition of anonymity. Earlier, on December 21, Air India had stopped 19 Indian students from boarding its flight to San Francisco at RGIA here citing the plight of 14 students who had travelled to San Francisco after enrolling in these two universities and were deported. "They (US authorities) said we should voluntarily cancel the admissions or they will deport us back. We have valid visas...When we sought to know the reasons for not allowing us in the country, they threatened they would revoke our visas," another student, a B-Tech degree-holder from Guntur district of AP, told reporters. "Some of the male students were handcuffed while being taken from one terminal to another. Our documents are original and in order. There is no fault from our side," said another student. The government should immediately intervene and revolve the issue, the students demanded. Opinion / Columnist Minister David Parirenyathwa Minister Christopher Mushowe Zisunko Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean practicing political journalist and development practitioner and can be contacted at: kubutonga@gmail.com The current political picturesque has Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the focal point and going into 2016, much is expected to add to the drama, mainstreaming a handful of government officials to support his cause as well as another quarter of government officials teaming up to rally against. Although the accompanying fidgeting advise us that all is in order, the worry is too strong to ignore, and rather one that grows fatter with each packaged consolation. To most, past events when compared to present trends awaken a direful sense of deja vu. And yet to some, it is nothing more less than a mere result of 'targeting' media constructs which should be discarded outright.But, that this issue has found its way into mouths of the most vital persons in nation building, it should be digested although of course the media should not be forgiven if it delves in such covet sagas, with prayers that they don't exacerbate much unwarranted despondency just as it is feared by President Robert Mugabe himself.This writer has always posed a point that Zimbabwe will always have something to serve from its pots, something to serve from its pans to satiate hungering political bellies. Anytime, all the times, whichever way!Not so long ago, I announced that it was high time Zimbabwe appreciated its disabilities as a way of shaping an informed strategic resolution for the country's own desired growth, ideally as a way of crafting synchrony with popularized international growth placements like the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amongst others and also in the process containing the country's fast approaching decay of its vital driving social, political and economic tapestry.Zimbabwe is seriously bleeding and there is a right minded few who will concede to this, provided that at the center of the madness whence the rot emanates is ministers quenching their political thirst under ministerial robes and in the act down-playing a greater part of their broad national obligations.Spanning from just a few months back, Zimbabwean ministers have become mere civil servants not any different from the average $450 earners. And again, many have argued that as a result of appointments of ministers which is solely based on the crest of 'politics', ministers are now more less job secure than the general bulk of civil servants as they can be called off their portfolios after any political mishap, and in the extreme of cases, 'stuttering on a war cry'. But again, it might not be surprising to find out that some ministers would not be aware of this stark fact.Zimbabwe has had an ugly culture which veiled incompetency in ministers serving in government. Although the irony being that there has never been any competency to talk about but what matched their chairs has been mere eulogies that trails a displayed diplomatic etiquette, for which it would not be any much offending to assume the diplomacy was/is oft rehearsed and therefore plastic and unyielding. New youths Minister, Hon Patrick Zhuwao spoke of what he saw as some 'stubbornness' in some Zimbabwean ministers even. There is absolutely no reason to argue against Zhuwao's charge.Most cabinet ministers have garnered a considerable amount of ministerial comfort and experience, noting that a huge selection has been made to assume various ministerial portfolios, with most deserving to proffer gratitude for heading an average of three to four ministries in their political lifespans. Although this scheme of rotating minsters bordered on intentions to culminate ministerial insight, harvesting a breed of public governors able to transform and rebrand ministries by resuscitating ministerial vibe and accelerating output, most ministries have sadly remained archives that tell of a once glorious past, ignore the infrastructure in shameful decrepitude.And, in the midst of ministries' docility has been a stiff competition in graft by ministers themselves shielding behind Zanu PF cards and bringing the party to its current political dis-grace. Only a few ministries have had a radical shift from their former shells, whether for the good or for the bad. Just a shift.In a time where the entire line of cabinet of ministers is modulated by Zanu Pf, it is not wrong for Zanu Pf as a house to call its ministers to order, or anyone whose voice counts, for beyond Zanu Pf, no other power has superintending authority that can cause ministers to adopt a positive result focused lineament towards public service. This has to be basal and blind to institutional politics. Zimbabwe is immune to petitions and public action.With ministers' actions unchecked, it will be soon realized that the clique that went off government on their alleged association with former Vice President Dr. Joyce Mujuru were not in any way worse that the remaining 'big boys in Prados', who might even be worse, in all respect and rationality also considering that they remained in office on political allegiance far from meritocratic footing. If politically possible, a new experiment that puts impunity around ministerial power to nullity might soon trickle a great sense of intrigue to the common citizen and general onlookers, middle income earners and the rustic.One thing that the prevailing 'factionalism frenzy' in the country could be credited for is, according to this writer, creating a democratic space that gives tolerance to the interrogation of politics' untouchables, but the same is condemned for prank cronyism and ' flimsy protectionism'.Of late, most Zimbabweans have been calling for the ouster of David Parirenyathwa, whose conduct at PSMAS has earned an equation of both abuse of office and undermining the health profession, which he is said to have represented, in the process swindling $100 000 of PSMAS' finances. However, Parirenyatwa's fate was expected to be an addition to the strong warning to a number of ministers whose covers are still tourniquet tight, hiding graft and filth. That he returned the money later after sensing intense humiliation should never be the basis upon which we should 'forgive' the 'honorable' minister for that would be plain silly. In Manicaland, many have once complained of now Minister of Media and Broadcasting Services, Honorable Christopher Mushowe over funds intended for Mugabe's Community Share Ownership Schemes, the president's personal commitment more equal to Barrack Obama's Health Care pledge, the Obama-Care Plan. Although the issue might be one of the tenuous lot, or dismissed as thus, that tasks government to establish stringent monitoring mechanisms on public finances and government backed programmes. Ignored, this will again be a high ranking challenge towards the attainment of 'pledges' contained in the now aging Zim-Asset blueprint. Begriming it.Till recently, or rather, till the congress of 2014, a government minister was an untouchable mortal. By this privilege, they had become a coterie of demigods. But this never translated to increased ministerial yields, or influenced any. They harbored grey areas, cultivated and nourished by serious impunity which the government chair brought.To some, Mujuru's case, which involved stark corruption was a trendsetter yet to some it was a high level betray of ministerial homage. So, Dr Mujuru soon became known as Dr 10% following her fleecing of investors, directing proceeds towards 'Private Personal Pacts', PPPs. This made her a disgusting and nauseating prototype of graft Zimbabwe does not need.Ministers' mandates in Zimbabwe are exceedingly misconstrued, and there is danger when ministers cry with the people in lieu of proffering remedial action. One of the major tasks for ministers in Zimbabwe, besides being 'megawatt political scarecrows', is promoting sustainable growth in all its levels, averting dangers at hand and those imminent. They have to act 'sniff dogs to danger yet to come'.Zimbabwe will only be entrapped in poverty as an outcome of the country's ministers. Most of them are in fact more dangerous than problems bedeviling us.This writer was happy when one director in Chikwinya's office pulled up guts to declare, "Ah ava vari hands-on, havadi zvekutaura taura". That was a better eulogy for the gender minister and a challenge to the same.Of course many will flinch, but there is reason why discourse involving this issue must be crude. It is now or never.Outside politics, one fails to even take offense when Welshman Ncube states that climate change is in part contributed by Zanu Pf's people, and for my glorification, the party's ministers in light of the fact that the remaining industrial equipment run with persistent sniffs and coughs and are starved of proper maintenance.A few weeks past, President Mugabe was dispirited by mushrooming settlements near airport, and Zimbabweans weren't slow to state that was Chombo's show, although obliquely. Saviour Kasukuwere reportedly stuttered even, for he stood new to the awe.Economic investments and the SDGs administered by the United Nations are all anchored on ministerial commitment for their successful realization. This can be done, but is there an inborn will for development amongst our ministers and do they identify with the people? A conjecture that the United Nations in Zimbabwe gets worried too may be true, especially in keeping sentry on ZUNDAF.Zimbabweans should refuse to be killed by people who should instead guard them. In 2016, let all energy be on the regulation of government ministers themselves, to vaccinate them against being a bunch of nuisance. And, all the best 'Comrade' Christopher Mustvangwa! A number of key employees at Indian steel giant Tata Steel's two Scottish plants on the verge of closure will be retained on a 60 per cent salary as part of a new 195,000-pounds government support package, the Scottish government announced today. The Britain's biggest steelmaker had announced last year that Dalzell and Clydebridge plants in Lanarkshire region would be mothballed, resulting in 270 job losses, while blaming the closure on a flood of cheap imports from China, a strong pound and high electricity costs. Scotland's business minister Fergus Ewing announced the package, saying the government's move was a positive development in the quest to save some of those jobs and secure a future for Scottish steel. Besides receiving 60 per cent of their gross salary, the retained staff will also receive training to ensure the plants can reopen quickly should production resume. The number of what it termed as 'key' staff was, however, not specified. "It is critical for any new commercial operator intending on restarting production at Dalzell and Clydebridge to be able to get the mothballed plants quickly up and running again after a period of inactivity. "So we have agreed to work with the existing management and trade unions to retain and develop the nucleus of a manufacturing team," Ewing said. "That will be attractive to prospective buyers who seek the knowledge and insight to maximise the productive capability of the sites," he added. But the Opposition Labour member of Scottish Parliament, James Kelly, warned: "The 195,000 pounds will provide limited support to retain the skills of key staff and support infrastructure at the plants. "The SNP (Scottish National Party) government have previously made optimistic noises about finding a buyer. A more substantial support package is needed to attract a potential buyer." Meanwhile, Tata Steel has been in exclusive talks to sell its European Long Products business to venture capital firm, Greybull Capital. The business includes the Dalzell plant in Motherwell and Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang areas of Scotland. The Pathankot terror attack sparked a fresh round of political slugfest with Congress questioning the Modi government's handling of Pakistan affairs and BJP hitting back, accusing it of trying to "politicise" the incident while ally Shiv Sena sought a befitting response. Targeting the government, Congress said the attack came a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and this showed that ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. The opposition party also reminded Modi of his promise to assertively handle ties with the neighbouring country. Congress has accused the Modi government of flip-flops in its Pakistan policy. While on the one hand the government has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together, on the other Modi has met Sharif and preparations are underway for resumption of comprehensive dialogue, the opposition party said. "It's indeed a very serious matter as seven days after Modi visited Pakistan to meet Nawaz Sharif, a terrorist module comes from Pakistan and attacks in Punjab and attacks our frontline security installation. Two things are very clear. First, despite the PM's visit, ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. "Secondly the terror camps run by terrorists in POK for carrying on anti-India activity continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments. It raises security concerns for Punjab as the state is witnessing a sudden surge in such activities after being peaceful for the last 20 years," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters here. Hitting back, Union Minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said it was "condemnable" that Congress was "politicising" the terror attack. "While the whole country is standing with our brave soldiers, Congress is singing a different tune. It is trying to politicise the issue. It is unfortunate and we condemn it," he said. BJP reacted cautiously on the attack's possible impact on the Indo-Pak talks, saying "a right decision will be taken at the right time". "We congratulate our armed forces that they were able to thwart it with their wisdom and valour. India is capable of giving a befitting reply to any terror attack," BJP secretary and media department head Shrikant Sharma said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India wanted good relations with the neighbouring country but if there is any terror attack on India, a befitting reply will be given. Taking a swipe at the government, Sena said the public is waiting for a response in the similar language and wondered "where is that language, that action?" Party leader Sanjay Raut said, "If our Air base is attacked by terrorists from Pakistan, the responsibility is with Pakistan, but they (terrorists) get shelter there, they get support from across the border..." Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the attack on the air base was the first major challenge to Modi's Pakistan plan and that BJP will have to move beyond its stand on talks and terror to insulate the dialogue process. CPI urged both India and Pakistan not to fall into the "trap of provocation" by terror outfits by derailing peace talks between them due to the attack which it condemned. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of suspected Pakistani terrorists struck at an Air Force base in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed four attackers gunned down. Condemning the terror strike by Pakistani militants in Pathankot, Shiv Sena today said "terror and peace talks can't go simultaneously" as it expressed concern that the attack happened within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Lahore. "Whenever there is an attack on us, there is no need to say who is behind it. We can say with eyes closed that attackers are from Pakistan," Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab. In the ensuing gunbattle, three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. Noting that the attack took place after the PM's unscheduled stopover in Lahore last week, Raut said, "We don't want to play politics but its a fact that bilateral peace talks and terror attacks are taking place simultaneously. This won't do." Peace talks and terror cannot go together and this has been Sena's stance from the beginning, said Raut, whose party is a key ally of BJP and part of the NDA government at the Centre. "Just saying that such attacks will invite befitting reply from India won't suffice. The Union Home Minister is a serious person and we respect him. But when will we give befitting response to Pakistan? Raut asked. Raut's remark came in the wake of Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying India would hit back hard if there is any terror strike on its soil. Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has vowed to rid the country from the scourge of terrorism, asserting that "all negative forces" would be scuttled. "The new year will be the year when terrorism will end," he said yesterday while addressing tribal elders of Gwadar, Talar and Turbat areas of Makran division. The new year would be the "year of national solidarity", he said, adding that the nation would witness the birth of peace and justice in the year. Gen Sharif, however, stressed the need for the entire nation to extend support to the armed forces in this regard. "Peace and justice will be ensured across the country with the support of the nation," he was quoted as saying by the Dawn. He said the "elements involved in the bad practice of financial misappropriation" should also be dealt with strictly. There was a nexus between terrorism, corruption and crime, he said, adding that the elements involved in terrorism and financial corruption had developed close relations to help each other out. All the "negative forces" in the nexus would be defeated, said the army chief during a visit to review the progress made in the projects undertaken by army engineers as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He went on to add that Balochistan would be turned into a peaceful province. The army would help make the Gwadar seaport fully functional, he said, adding that the port would bring progress and prosperity to the people of Balochistan. The army chief directed the officials concerned to take stringent measures for the security of engineers and labourers, particularly the Chinese nationals, working on various projects. While highlighting the importance of the under- construction projects, Gen Sharif said all possible measures would be taken in collaboration with the provincial government to make Gwadar a safe city for local and foreign investors. Underlining the potential of Balochistan as a hub for trade in the region, he said that completion of the projects was directly linked to the law and order situation and vowed that the armed forces would take all necessary actions to help bring back normalcy in the province. Extremists have realised that their designs would never succeed in India due to the "tough attitude" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards terror and the high morale of security forces for dealing with situations like the attack in Pathankot today, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said. Also, amidst speculation as to what impact the attack today would have on the peace talks between India and Pakistan, the minister spoke of the "BJP government's policy of generating, maintaining and furthering very good relationship" with the neighbouring country. Pointing at the operation today by security forces following the terror strike in Pathankot, he said that the way the attack was "mercilessly crushed" shows that India is geared up to respond to such activities. "Militancy now has no wings to fly in India as they have been impressed fully by the prime minister's extremely tough handling of such elements. "Modi's fear very much exists in the minds of the activists of Islamic State", Naqvi said as he claimed that the outfit tried to enter India but had to retreat due to Modi's "tough attitude on this count". The Minister of State for Minority Affairs, meanwhile, congratulated Indian Muslims for their patriotism, saying they "never lend their ear to IS and crushed those elements who tried to bring the outfit to India". Naqvi said that the day would come when Pakistan shall be forced to hand over LeT leader Hafiz Sayeed and fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim due to the BJP government's policy of "generating, maintaining and furthering very good relationship with Pakistan". "This gesture of ours was proved by the recent visit of the prime minister and the much-friendly meetings (sic) with his Pakistan counterpart," he said. Turning to Samajwadi Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh, he said that "the Centre has sanctioned Rs 3,000 crore expecting that development in the real sense of the term would take place" in the state. He further averred confidently that BJP would form the government in the state after the 2017 elections and not ally with any other party. He said the party has formulated its strategies for achieving that goal. (REOPENS DES39) Meanwhile, Naqvi termed terrorism and radicalism as "biggest" enemies of world peace and prosperity and underscored need for "united" efforts to defeat the "evil forces". "Terrorism & radicalism are biggest enemies of world peace & prosperity. Need for united efforts to defeat 'evil forces'," Naqvi tweeted, without making mention of Pathankot terror strike. The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs made the comment after addressing a programme under 'Good Governance Week' in Rampur today. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of suspected Pakistani terrorists struck at an Air Force base in Punjab, leading to a fierce gun battle in which three security personnel were killed four attackers gunned down. Three men hailing from Hyderabad were arrested today and a pistol, 60 live cartridges and a few detonators were seized from them. The trio travelling in a van was intercepted at Kharabi Check Post under Darathi Police Station in Umarkhed tehsil in the wee hours of today, police said. During questioning police found something suspicious about their behaviour. They searched the van from where they found a pistol, 60 live cartridges, three mobiles and a few detonators, SP Akhilesh Kumar Singh said. All these items and the van (registered in Andhra Pradesh) were seized and the trio was placed under arrest, he said, adding that the accused were on their way to Pusad taluka in the district. The arrested were identified as Mohammad Masiyoddin Owaisi (35), Mohammad Umar Gazi (27) and Mohammad Mibajoddin (22), all residents of Hyderabad. A criminal offence under the Arms Act was registered against them. A team of Anti-Terrorism Squad from Yavatmal has gone to Umarkhed to investigate the matter, police sources said. A prison inmate was killed allegedly in a fight which broke out between two groups inside a jail van heading from Saket court to Tihar jail today. The incident occurred this afternoon when the prison van was passing through south Delhi's Hauz Khas area, said a police official. The inmate has been identified as Manoj, said a senior official who did not disclose any further details. In a similar incident reported in August 2015, two inmates were allegedly beaten to death by seven others, including an infamous outer Delhi-based gangster, in a fight that broke out inside the prison van heading from Rohini court to Tihar jail. It is the third battalion of Delhi Armed Police which is entrusted with transportation of prisoners between prisons and courts. Today's attack at Pathankot Indian Air Force base is the second terror strike in Punjab within a span of six months. Following are some of the terror-related incidents that have taken place in Punjab between 2001 and 2016 (these do not include seizure of arms and ammunition during the period). March 1, 2001: A 135-yard underground tunnel detected across India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. Jan 1, 2002: Three Army personnel killed and five others injured when a group of unidentified terrorists attacks them at a firing range in Damtal, close to Punjab's border with Himachal Pradesh. Jan 31, 2002: Two persons killed and 12 others injured in explosion in a Punjab Roadways bus at Patrana in Hoshiarpur district. March 31, 2002: Two people are killed and 28 others injured in a bomb blast on Ferozepur-Dhanbad express train at Daroha, about 20km from Ludhiana. Apr 28, 2006: At least eight persons are wounded in a bomb blast on a bus carrying 45 passengers at Jalandhar bus terminus. Oct 14, 2007: Seven persons, including a 10-year old child, are killed and 40 others injured in a bomb blast in a cinema hall in Ludhiana. July 27, 2015: Seven people, including a Punjab Police Superintendent, killed when three terrorists carry out a strike on a police station in Gurdaspur district. All three militants also killed. Jan 2, 2016: Four terrorists and three security personnel killed when militants storm IAF base in Pathankot. Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says the toll from a New Year's Day suicide bombing at a French restaurant in Kabul has risen to two. Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said today that a 12-year-old boy and one of the security guards at the Le Jardin restaurant were killed and that another 18 people were wounded in the attack. Sediqqi says a second attacker, who was arrested by police, was wearing a military uniform and carrying arms and grenades. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack and said the bomber targeted a restaurant belonging to foreigners. The Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country over the past year, following the formal end of the US and NATO combat mission. Turkey must accept that it needs Israel, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, as the two countries seek to thrash out a deal on normalising ties. NATO member Turkey was a key regional ally of Israel until the two countries fell out over the deadly storming by Israeli commandos in 2010 of a Turkish aid ship, the Mavi Marmara, bound for Gaza. Erdogan further raised hackles in Israel with his sometimes inflammatory rhetoric towards the Jewish State. But the atmosphere was transformed following the revelation last month the two sides were making progress in secret talks to seek a rapprochement. "Israel is in need of a country like Turkey in the region," Erdogan said in remarks to Turkish reporters published in leading dailies today. "And we too must accept that we need Israel. This is a reality in the region," said Erdogan. "If mutual steps are implemented based on sincerity, then normalisation will follow." Ambassadors were withdrawn in the wake of the 2010 crisis and Erdogan said Turkey's three conditions for a normalisation were clear -- a lifting of the Gaza blockade, compensation for the Mavi Marmara victims and an apology for the incident. Israel has already apologised and negotiations appear to have made progress on compensation, leaving the blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip the main hurdle. Indicating possible progress on the blockade, Erdogan said Israel had suggested it would allow goods and construction materials into Gaza if they came via Turkey. "We need to see a written text to ensure there is no deviation from the agreement," he said. Analysts have suggested that Turkey's rapprochement with Israel has been accelerated by the need for Ankara to make up for its crisis in ties with Moscow after the shooting down of a Russian warplane. Erdogan last month held closed-door talks with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal but it was never disclosed what the president discussed with the leader of the the Palestinian Islamist movement. Israel also wants Turkey to prevent senior Hamas operative Salah Aruri from entering its territory and acting from there. Ankara has never confirmed his presence in Turkey. Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of so-called terrorism charges, including Al-Qaeda detainees and a prominent Shia cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr may deepen discontent and spark protests among Saudi Arabia's Shia minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east. Protests may also erupt in neighboring Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shia majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni-led monarchy. The execution of Al-Qaeda members convicted of deadly bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia raised concerns over revenge attacks. The group's branch in Yemen, known as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, warned Saudi security forces last month of violence if they carried out executions of members of the global network. The Interior Ministry announced the names of the 47 people executed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Saudi state television also reported the executions. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in Al-Qaeda's Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following a series of deadly attacks. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region of the kingdom told The Associated Press that al-Nimr was among at least four Shia political detainees who were executed. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, the Interior Ministry statement said. Most executions in Saudi Arabia are by beheading with a sword. Whoops, my bad, that should read "Behead into the New Year" as our good friends and allies, the Islamic fundamentalist and terrorist supporting Saudi Arabians lopped off the heads of 47 people they didn't like. To be fair they did do it under the color of Law.Ah, Saudi Arabia! The Middle Eastern answer to Texas. The International Movement of Tamil Culture (India chapter) is holding a two-day special conference here on January 16 and 17. Chairperson of the Movement (India chapter), Malathy Rajavelu, told newspersons here today that the meet would be held in association with the Movement's headquarters in Canada to discuss the "opportunities and challenges faced by Tamils in foreign countries". Around 200 delegates from across the world will take part in the deliberations at the conference, which is to be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Rangasamy. Two persons were killed after they were run over by a train due to heavy fog when they were standing on railway tracks, police said here today. The incident occurred yesterday when the victims, Mohammed Kalim (36) and Sajeev Vajpayee (34) were travelling to Kanpur by Sharm Shakti Express, police said. Due to heavy fog, the train halted near Jhinjhak Railway station and the duo disembarked and stood on the tracks. Due to poor visibility, they failed to sight the Kanpur-Tundla passenger train approaching them and they were crushed to death on the spot, they said. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and their kin has been informed, police said. Two Sabarimala pilgrims were killed and eight others injured, one of them seriously, today after their van collided with a lorry at Thikkoti, about 30 kms from here, police said. A 10- member group of pilgrims from South Karnataka were on their way to Sabarimala when their van rammed into the cement laden lorry from Tamil Nadu early this morning, Payyoli police said. The injured have been admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, they said. The British Army is planning a special force to train local troopsin Iraq and Syriato fight Islamic State (IS) terrorists, a media report said here today. According to The Times, the specialised infantry battalions will also help to single out soldiers with the potential to join Britain's tier-one special forces. This could boost recruitment to the UK's Special Air Service (SAS) at a time when elite military personnel are in increasingly high demand. The new battalions "would be doing what the American Green Berets do at the moment," a defence source told the newspaper. The Green Berets are officially ranked as tier-two special forces in the US, beneath the Delta Force and the US Navy Seal Team Six. They are trained to do more than just mentor and advise indigenous troops, however, so are not a direct comparison to the new British concept, which will remain within the regular army's chain of command. The idea was revealed within the small print of a review of defence and security released at the end of November. It will form part of Joint Force 2025 - the future shape of Britain's war-fighting military. Army planners are working on the concept with a view to establishing the first one or two pilot battalions, each containing about 450 to 500 soldiers, in the next 18 months. Ultimately, up to five specialised battalions could be created but the final number would depend upon demand. At present, regular British troops and special forces are deployed around the world to train and advise local militaries. Countries with a British army presence include Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Ukraine and Nigeria. SAS soldiers are also thought to move in and out of Syria, working alongside Kurdish forces. A UK-based website set up to chart the last days of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has released a new set of documents to dismiss claims that he may have been spotted in China years after his death in a plane crash. The website - www.bosefiles.info - has reproduced a telegram from the Indian Embassy in Beijing contradicting claims in India about the nationalist leader being in the Chinese capital in 1952. Bose was reported dead as a result of a plane crash in Taiwan in 1945. But in 1955, S M Goswami, an ardent admirer of Bose, published a pamphlet in India with the heading 'Netaji Mystery Revealed'. It carried a picture of Chinese officials with a Mongolian trade delegation said to have been taken in 1952. Goswami pointed out one of the persons in the photograph to be Bose. Appearing as a witness before the 1956 Netaji Inquiry Committee he presented the photo as evidence of Bose being alive, contrary to reports of his death in 1945. The committee sent the exhibit to the Indian Embassy in Beijing for identification. The diplomatic mission forwarded it to the Chinese foreign ministry. Following a response from the Chinese foreign ministry, the embassy cabled India's ministry of external affairs: "Concerning alleged photograph of SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE: We showed this to Foreign Office who have informed us that the photograph is of LEE KE HUNG, Medical Superindendent of PUMC (Peking University Medical College)". "The telegram exposes one of countless attempts over 70 years to spread disinformation about Subhas Bose," says Ashis Ray, a London-based journalist who has set up the website to "release documentary evidence which reinforces what happened to Bose, so that people are able to judge for themselves the truth". On December 7, bosefiles.info exposed claims about Bose having escaped to the Soviet Union in 1945. It posted two diplomatic notes from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent in 1992 and 1995 respectively and a public statement by the then Russian Ambassador in India in 1996, which unanimously confirmed there was no information in the Soviet or KGB archives about Bose entering the Soviet Union in or after 1945. A 28-year-old prison inmate was allegedly beaten to death by three other undertrials inside a jail van heading from Saket court to Tihar prison today. The incident took place around 1.45 PM when four inmates -- identified as Manoj, Vishal, Raju and Salman -- were being taken back to the prisons after a court hearing and a fight broke out among them, said a senior police official. There was an argument between Manoj and Vishal and soon it led to a scuffle, following which the driver of the prison van stopped the vehicle near the IIT flyover and called up the police control room (PCR), said the senior official. When the PCR team reached the spot, they decided not to open the gate of the prison van as the prisoners could have tried to escape. The van was taken to Hauz Khas police station, where it was surrounded by a police team before the gate was opened, the official said. Manoj was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival. A case of murder has been registered and the accused have been arrested, DCP (South) Prem Nath said. He added that no weapon was used in the attack. During interrogation, it emerged that Manoj had an enmity with Vishal and Raju since 2012, and they had often fought with each other on the jail premises. After the heated argument today, Vishal and Raju, along with their associate Salman, allegedly thrashed Manoj to death, said police. The police, however, did not answer questions on whether records of the inmates to be transported had the information regarding any enmity between them as is usually given in such cases. In a similar incident reported in August 2015, two prison inmates were allegedly beaten to death by seven others, including an infamous outer Delhi-based gangster, in a fight that broke out inside the prison van heading from Rohini court to Tihar jail. The incident led to a blame-game between Delhi Police and Delhi Prisons. It is the third battalion of Delhi Armed Police which is entrusted with transportation of prisoners between prisons and courts. (REOPENS DES 52) Manoj alias Bobby, a resident of Madangir area, has seven criminal cases, including attempt to murder and illegal possession of arms, registered against him at southeast Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar police station, said an official. Manoj was arrested for the first time in 2005, when he was 18 years old. Two of the accused persons are proclaimed bad characters in south and southeast Delhi areas, and have several cases registered against them, the official said. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES SHARE By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times Corpus Christi police responded to more criminal complaints and vehicle crashes during New Year's Eve than the prior year, but fewer calls reporting fireworks. More than 1,500 calls were made to police between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, resulting in 241 criminal complaints filed, according to a police department news release. There were 51 vehicle crashes and 431 calls for fireworks, according to the release. Last year, there were 173 criminal complaints filed, 30 vehicle crashes and 910 fireworks complaint calls. Police jailed 66 people for charges including driving while intoxicated and public intoxication, according to the release. Two of the arrests were for misdemeanor charges of discharging a firearm in the city, the release states. A 43-year-old man was shot in his torso after a gunshot pierced his kitchen window in the 4200 block of Easy Street, according to another news release. He was not seriously injured and police did not find the shooter, the release states. Twitter: @CallerKMT SHARE Gregg Deeb Gregg Deeb Congressman Blake Farenthold By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times Congressman Blake Farenthold, a Corpus Christi Republican, is going to have to fend off a challenger from his own party before gearing up for Election Day next November. Gregg Deeb, a Corpus Christi businessman and veteran, announced in a news release and tweet Wednesday that he will seek the Republican nomination for Texas' 27th congressional seat. "I see the direction that our federal government is taking our country right now, and I know that my experience, leadership skills and God-given talents qualify me to provide the real solutions needed to help resolve many of the significant issues affecting our nation, and to best represent the people of Texas Congressional District 27," Deeb said in the release. A call to his campaign committee was not immediately returned. Kurt Bardella, a spokesman for Farenthold's re-election campaign, said Farenthold's team wasn't surprised by Wednesday's announcement. "It's very clear that Mr. Deeb has a very impressive record of service to this country, and we welcome him into this race," Bardella said. He added the presence of a challenger would not affect how Farenthold acts in Washington or how frequently he visits constituents here. One local voter who doesn't intend on withdrawing his support from the incumbent congressman is Deeb's former employer Wayne Squires, president and CEO of the Orion Drilling Co., where Deeb worked as a vice president in the late 2000s. "If he wasn't running against Blake I'd support him, but I don't think Blake has done anything to warrant removing our support," Squires told the Caller-Times. "My question is, 'Are you hurting yourself as a community by losing seniority by putting in a freshman congressman?'" Squires said both would "do a good job" if elected. Twitter: @reportermatt When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work as well as a big vote to follow our good friend Kay Wilson on Twitter. . ..Commentary Magazine..02 January '15..The boycott, divestment, sanctions movement has taken a special interest in Malaysia.Thats not surprising since Malaysia is an aggressive violator of rights. Its Sedition Law permits the government to intimidate its critics, and for this and other reasons its press is rated not free by Freedom House . Anwar Ibrahim, a leader of the opposition, is serving a jail term for sodomy, a charge seen as politically motivated, according to Freedom House. Anti-Semitism is and has received official encouragement. Freedom House also reports discrimination against homosexuals (same-sex sexual relations are punishable by up to twenty years in prison), Shiite Muslims (last year 114 Shiites were arrested while attending a religious ceremony), and women. Since BDS is eager to distinguish its attacks on Israel from attacks on Jews, and to define itself as part of a human rights movement, it is refreshing that it has turned its attention to Malaysia.Sorry, my mistake. The Palestinian BDS National Committee does mention Malaysia prominently in its list of seven major achievements for 2014. But it mentions Malaysia only because a BDS coalition has been established there, as well as in Egypt. The penetration of BDS into anti-Semitic countries with poor human rights records is, from the standpoint of the BDS movement, an exciting sign of its growing international reach.This is no anomaly. Prominent BDS activists, Ali Abunimah and Anna Baltzer, showed up and spoke at the BDS for Justice conference in Kuala Lumpur in September 2015. In her thirty plus minute address, Baltzer had nothing to say about Malaysias repression of its own citizens but did have the poor taste to complain before her Malaysian audience of the state repression BDS activists supposedly encounter in the U.S. Of course, since Baltzer was speaking at a Malaysian university, and Malaysia, according to the U.S. State Department, restricts academic freedom, particularly the expression of unapproved political views, Baltzer couldnt say anything without risking the punishment of her hosts. Did I mention that one of the reasons BDS deems Israel, whose universities remain centers of dissent, deserving of boycott is its supposed indifference to academic freedom?If I were trying to discredit BDS, I would encourage its leaders to forge ties with and praise nations known for their anti-Semitism and repression. Fortunately, these leaders need no encouragement. In their obsession with Israel, they cannot help betraying their indifference to the rights and principles for which they claim to stand. With enemies like these, who needs friends? "In responding to union claims it is important that the approach taken by employers within Australian Government Employment (AGE) supports the elements of the Accord, is consistent between the various employers, does not generate pressures leading to inappropriate outcomes elsewhere and acknowledges the role of the IRC [Industrial Relations Commission]," the department's submission said. Cryptic clue: Where God needs a good lawyer. Degree of difficulty: Medium Last week: Congratulations to Dan Leslie of Hughes who was first to correctly identify last week's photo, as a view of sunset from the Mill Bay Boardwalk on the northern side of the bridge at Narooma. A number of readers misidentified the scene as the boardwalk at Merimbula which, while I admit does look equally as stunning at sunset, critically lacks the imposing silhouette of Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) on the horizon. Leslie just beat Steve Hill of Kambah and Tina Dowse to the prize who reports that she "often watches the stingrays in Mill Bay while the fishermen clean their catch" and that she "loves taking new people there as the size of the rays is always a thrill". Mr Gardner has travelled more than 100,000 kilometres in five years in what he calls the fight of his life, but said his siblings had not got on board. He would spend some of his two weeks in Canberra in January doing research in the hope of finding support for a heritage status claim, having previously said the home "just falls short" of earning heritage protection. Speeding: Both the ACT and NSW issue one demerit point for speeding above the limit at 10km/h or less, but the similarities end there. If you're caught speeding more than 10km/h over, but less than 20km/h in NSW, you'll receive three demerit points, increasing to four demerit points for between 21km/h and 30km/h over, five points for 30km/h to 45km/h and six points for anything above that level. In the ACT, higher demerit points come only after you're speeding at more than 15km/h over the limit; attracting three points for driving up to 29km/h over, four points between 30km/h and 44km/h, then six points beyond that. Billy Hughes (1915-23) was a different story, having been deposed after the 1922 election when his Nationalist Party lost its majority and needed the support of the nascent Country Party, whose price was not only the removal of Hughes as prime minister but also a veto on his serving in cabinet. Hughes, exiled to the backbench, exacted a terrible revenge in 1928 when he orchestrated a backbench revolt against his successor, Stanley Bruce (1923-29), forcing him to an early election, which he lost. In retrospect, Hughes might have been significantly less dangerous inside the tent than outside it. Modified On Jan 04, 2016 12:49 PM By Nabeel 2015 turned out to be an exciting year for the automotive enthusiasts. A lot of new launches from all manufacturers kept customers happy and busy. Abarth Punto opened the road for true blue hot hatches in the country and catered for the performance-oriented buyers. Creta became the perfect new addition in Hyundais portfolio and went on to win the car of the year award. Now, it's time to welcome 2016 and have a look at what this year has in store for us. Here is a list of the top 5 SUVs worth looking forward to in 2016. 1. Honda BR-V BR-V is an all new offering by Honda in 2016. It is a compact SUV based on the Mobilio which will compete against the likes of Creta, Duster and Terrano. Already launched in Indonesia at a price tag of approximately Rs. 10.93 lac, this SUV is eagerly waited for in India and will make its debut in the 2016 Auto Expo. BR-V comes loaded with features like automatic climate control with rear AC vents, touchscreen infotainment system, diamond cut alloys, DRL's, projector headlamps, foldable third row, rear parking camera and electrically controlled wing mirrors. Under the hood, BR-V is expected to feature the same 1.5-litre diesel engine which is currently employed in Honda Amaze, City and Mobilio. Expected Price: Rs. 8 - 12 lac Expected Launch Date: June 2016 2. Ford Endeavour Endeavour again is a highly anticipated car in its category. It has been spotted multiple times testing on Indian roads. Having been listed on Fords official Indian website, all the details of this SUV are out. It will have 6 variants which will feature two different diesel motors and will be available in both 42 and 44 drive systems. The 2.2-litre diesel block produces 157bhp of power and 385Nm of peak torque. The 3.2-litre diesel engine churns out 197bhp of power and 470Nm of peak torque. The latter engine variants will compete with Chevrolet Trailblazer which uses a 2.8-litre Duramax engine that produces the same 197bhp of power and churns out a massive 500Nm of torque. The 2.2-litre variants will lock horns with the current segment leader, Toyota Fortuner. Transmission duties for the 2.2-litre variants will be carried out by a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission whereas, only the automatic is available in the top end 3.2 litre variant. Also, the 4x2 drive mode will only be available with the 2.2-litre motor. Expected Price: Rs. 24 - 32 lac Launch Date: January 19, 2016 3. Ssangyong Tivoli Soon after the news of Tivoli being showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo, the compact SUV was spotted testing in India. This car will go against the likes of Duster and Creta. Launched in South Korea back in January 13, 2015, it features a 1.6-litre e-XGi 160 petrol engine which is capable of producing 124bhp of power along with 157Nm of torque. In Europe, the car also features an e-XDi160 diesel engine which produces 113bhp of power and 300Nm torque. Both these engines come with a 6-speed manual transmission while the 6-speed automatic is optional. Tivoli also offers both 2WD and 4WD configurations and has a smart steer function which allows the driver to choose from three steering modes normal, comfort and sport. Expected Price: Rs. 9 - 13 lac Expected Launch Date: March 2016 4. Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe After a successful 2015 in which the German carmaker made 15 launches, Mercedes is all set to get the ball rolling again in 2016 with the GLE Coupe. What was earlier called ML-Class, GLE Coupe will be launched in India on January 12, 2016 and will be a CBU import from the Tuscaloosa factory in America. Rivaling the BMW X6, GLE Coupe will feature a 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 petrol motor which is capable of producing 357bhp of power and 520Nm of torque. The power will be delivered via a 9-speed automatic transmission to an all-wheel drive 4MATIC system. Expected Price: Rs. 80 lac - 1 Cr Launch Date: January 12, 2016 5. Maruti YBA Maruti seems to be doing really well in entering the premium car market. With Baleno being a massive success and Grand Vitara all set to re-enter India, Maruti YBA could easily be the icing on the cake. This compact SUV is expected to be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo and if the current form of Maruti is followed, will wash out its competitions. The car will battle EcoSport & TUV300 and might just outperform them in terms of performance and mileage. The SUV is expected to be underpinned by the same new platform which Baleno uses. Its forte being its weight as even the fully loaded Baleno is lighter than its competition. The car might be powered by a 1.3 DDiS diesel motor and feature 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Navigation & Apple CarPlay and Bi-Xenon headlamps with LED DRLs. If the pricing is correct, this car might very well lead the charge of an all new 2016 Maruti. Expected Price: Rs. 5 - 8 lac Launch Date: February 2016 Modified On Jan 02, 2016 05:02 PM By Sumit As the new year commences, automobile enthusiasts begin 2016 with renewed expectations from the automakers. While 2015 saw some successful launches of cars like Creta, Baleno and Kwid, 2016 is also ready to deliver some good offerings. We have compiled a list of cars which are predicted from the auto giant, Honda, in the year 2016. Honda BR-V Honda is expected to launch a compact SUV, BR-V, in Auto Expo 2016. Although it will have the same platform as that of Mobilio, BR-V has a more upright stance. The car is awaited to have the 1.5-litre engine from Amaze with a 6-speed manual transmission. The automobile might also get a CVT automatic gearbox which employs Hondas Earth Dreams technology. Our guess for the launch price is in the range of Rs. 9 lacs to 12 lacs. Watch BR-V Features Honda Brio If everything goes as per the plan, Honda should be able to reveal a facelift of Brio in 2016. It is pegged to get the same 1.2-litre petrol engine employed in the current Brio but Honda can come up with a new 1.1-litre diesel engine based on company's i-DTEC line. The car is expected to offer automatic variants along with the manual ones for those who who love two-pedal driving. The automobile is pegged to be launched at the end of 2016 and we expect the price to be in between Rs. 4.5 lacs and Rs. 6.5 lacs. Honda City Honda is ready to launch a facelift of its iconic sedan, City. Predicted to be revealed at Auto Expo 2016, the car is anticipated to be mechanically similar with the 2013 City. City 2016 is pegged to bear major aesthetic changes inside and out. We expect the launch price to be in between Rs. 8.5 lacs and Rs. 11 lacs. Honda Accord Hybrid Honda is all set to bring back its premium sedan, Accord, in 2016. First launched in 2001, the cars sales were finally halted in 2013 due to some reasons. Unlike Honda Civic hybrid, the Japanese automaker is anticipated not to bring Accord Hybrid as Completely Built Unit (CBU). The units are rather likely to be manufactured at local plants. We expect the launch price to be in the range of Rs. 30 lacs to Rs. 34 lacs. The car is already on sale in the global market. Also Read: Honda India Launches Honda Connect Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Statistics show that there has been a mark improvement in the GCE General and a drop in the GCE Technical. Also, there has been an improve... Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Door Gods are guardian spirits protecting households in the tradition of Chinese folklore. Written and directed by Gary Wang, Little Door Gods is a modern-day story of two Door Gods facing unemployment in the spirit world, as ever fewer people in the human world believe in the spirits anymore. One of the spirits ventures into the human world to make trouble in order to prove his value, leading to unexpected encounters and transformations. The first English-language review of the film says its a good moviebut it could be better. The review praises how the film makes widespread use of Chinese culture and mythology and claims its at its best when lampooning aspects of modern Chinese society, but points out weaknesses in story and character development. Wang, the Chinese web entrepreneur who founded Light Chaser Animation, has made clear that his goal is to elevate the quality of Chinese feature animation, pushing the countrys films closer to Western standards. Its a lofty vision for the Chinese animation industry; the country is one of the top producers of feature animation, but most of it is made cheaply and quickly, and not designed for the competitive international marketplace. Little Door Gods was animated by a largely Chinese crew, though the production employed a few American industry veterans like Colin Brady (Pixar, Pixomondo) and Han Lei (DreamWorks). Judging by the trailer footage, the film is a significant step in the right direction for Chinas industry. No American release date is set at this time. Photo: Contributed - volunteertoronto.ca Interior Health doesn't want the health needs of Syrian refugees to be lost in translation. In 2014, a number of Syrians settled in Canada, and about half knew one of Canada's two official languages, said Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi, IH medical health officer. We know some people will not be able to communicate in English, so arrangements are in place for translation services. These are usually telephone services. Lots of families will have private hosts. In many circumstances, they will accompany the newcomers to health care meetings, banks, that kind of thing. Interior Health has stated that up to 400 Syrian refugees are expected to arrive in B.C.'s Interior over the next three months. It has been working with community and medical groups on a health care response plan. Protocols and training have been developed for health care providers to help bridge language and cultural barriers. An important aspect of people coming from war-torn countries is their mental health, said Golmohammadi. We know when they are connecting to a primary health care provider, there will be an assessment, and they will be able to access specialized mental health services. Golmohammadi said the health authority had no clear idea whether privately sponsored or government-sponsored refugees would be arriving in the Interior or when. IH has no role in assigning people to communities. Photo: The Canadian Press A man who helped Vancouverites bring in the New Year for decades died just minutes before the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Dal Richards was 97. His wife, Muriel Richards, says Dal and his band had been booked to play the New Year's Eve party at the Hotel Vancouver, where he'd played from 1940 to 1965. But she says he became ill in November, and not wanting to disappoint an audience with a substandard performance, he decided to cancel. Richards received the Order of Canada in 1994, and is also on the BC Lions Wall of Fame in acknowledgment of his many years as musical director of half-time shows. During his nearly 80-year string of New Year's Eve performances, Richards also played at the Bayshore Hotel and the River Rock Casino. "Dal was always a real professional, consummate performer and he felt if he couldn't be what he'd been for all the rest of it that he wasn't going to put on a poor show," Muriel Richards said in an interview on Friday. "New Years Eve was such a big thing to him and to not be able to do it really saddened him." Richards took up music as a way to console himself after losing an eye in a slingshot accident at the age of nine. The disability made him ineligible for service during the Second World War, which is how he managed to have so many consecutive New Year's Eve shows. When swing and big band went out of style and gigs dried up in the mid-1960s, Richards went into the hotel management business. But he still kept a band going on the side and always had a booking to ring in the new year. Demand picked up in the early 1980's and Richards cut records. Until he became ill, his band was still taking bookings for weddings, birthdays and conventions. Richards said her husband's last performance was a Christmas party at the Vancouver Club. Dal was in hospital, she said, but he put on his tuxedo and joined his band at the party to take the stage and sing "As Time Goes By." His family sang "Auld Lang Syne" to him on the Dec 30 because they didn't think he'd last another full day. He died at 11:41 p.m. on Dec 31. Several hundred people took to Okanagan Lake in less than ideal conditions for the time-honoured Canadian new year's tradition - the Polar Bear Dip. Air temperatures in the -7 C range and frigid water temperatures didn't deter people in Summerland, Peachland and Kelowna from taking the New Year's Day plunge. Here are some pictures to commemorate the occasion. Missed Delivery? If missed delivery or wet paper please call our office 909-628-5501 ext 110 Leave a detailed message with name, address, and phone number. Readers must call before 1 p.m. on Saturday. Re-deliveries are available for Chino residents until 1 p.m. Saturdays. Click Here Missing JB toddler 'adopted by Singapore couple' JOHOR BARU A two-year-old girl who went missing for weeks after an outing with her father has been reportedly "adopted" by a couple in Singapore, after the incident sparked a frantic search in Malaysia for the child. The toddler, Angie Tiong, was being cared for by her relatives when her father took her away from her Johor Baru home on Nov 9 last year. But when the 33-year-old man, who has not been identified, failed to return with the girl, her relatives questioned the man who lodged a missing person police report on Dec 10. The father, who has a history of substance abuse, told the police that he handed his child to a man in Johor who gave him RM12,000 (S$4,000). Angie's relatives suspect that he has sold his daughter. Citing a source, China Press reported that the toddler - who is said to have been abandoned by her Vietnamese mother - has been "adopted" by a childless married couple in Singapore. The paperwork was done by a lawyer in Johor Baru appointed by the couple's middleman, said the source, adding that the adoption process was done according to Singapore laws and Angie's father signed over the custody of the girl to the couple. It is believed that the couple has never seen Angie's father. The source said he is not sure if money was given to him. Angie's uncle Luo Jie Cheng, 49, told reporters that the couple had promised to take the child to the Johor Police Headquarters on Thursday, after reading news about her disappearance. But the couple did not appear and instead got their lawyer to handle the case, according to Mr Luo, who waited for hours at the police station with his wife. They probably backed out due to the media attention, he added. The police earlier said they have arrested three suspects - a cook, a labourer and an unemployed man - all aged between 30 and 33 years old. Angie's father was released after questioning. It is not clear if Angie is in Malaysia or Singapore now, but she is said to be staying with relatives of her "adopted parents", the China Press reported. Angie's aunt Tiong Mei Ling, 37, who works as a hawker stall helper in Singapore, was emotional when she learnt the girl was safe. "I am really very happy. Friday is my birthday and to have found Angie is the best birthday present for me," she was quoted as saying by the Chinese language daily. A journal following the design and construction of Marty McGuirk's HO scale model railroad, inspired by the Central Vermont Railway of the steam era. Comments are welcome. Family harmony and old time pickin' will be shared by the Singing Echoes at Sacred Sounds Fridays on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot, Depot Street and U.S. 41. Randall Franks, Officer Randy Goode from TVs In the Heat of the Night will emcee. Ticket donation is $6. "We are so honored to have one of gospel's music most beloved families to share their talents to encourage youth through our scholarship," Mr. Franks said. "I am honored to have known these folks throughout my musical career and I hope the folks from our area will come out and share an appreciation for all their family has done in gospel music." "With forty-five years of sustaining a musical legacy reaching millions, the Epperson Family, continues a tradition spanning four generations of bringing folks to a love of gospel music and the message that it shares," officials said. The Grammy nominated group initially gained national attention for When I Wake Up to Sleep No More. Originating with the late Lela and Max Epperson, the group now travels with Gary, Debbie, Lynn, Joshua, Adam, Matt and Jonah sharing both musically and vocally, pulling from the dozens of hits that span their career. Gary wrote the hit song, "It's Enough," which climbed to #2 in the charts, ''Beautiful Heaven," and "On Holy Ground," "I'm Depending On Jesus," "Keep Your Eyes On Him," and "The Next Glory Flight." Among their other hits are "Shouting Happy" and "I Made A Covenant With My Lord," "His Tomb Is Empty Now," written by Lela, and "Two Coats," which was performed in the movie, "The Apostle," "On The Other Side Of Jordan," "I'll Wear A White Robe," "Thank You Lord," "Enter In," and "Look For Me." Among their latest releases is "Think I'm Excited," and "Looking Forward To Where I've Never Been." Their powerful song, "Empty Hands," written by Debbie, and their big hit "Somebodys Here," written by Gary climbed to the top of the charts. The State of Tennessee passed a joint House and Senate resolution honoring the Singing Echoes for their service in gospel music in 2009, and again in 2012. The group holds awards for favorite band, favorite mixed group, favorite musician, and top song. The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts. Donations for tickets are adults: $6, Children 5 and under free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in at SonShine Christian Books 706-861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. Bring seat cushions for added comfort. For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit www.shareamericafoundation.org. A Saudi court sentenced prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr to death Wednesday, sparking fears of renewed unrest from his supporters in Saudi Arabias troubled east and neighboring Bahrain. The kingdoms minority Shia community who have often complained of mistreatment by the Sunni royal family and even launched an Arab Spring-inspired protest in 2011 for greater rights has followed Nimrs case closely. The 54-year-old cleric, an outspoken critic of the Saudi government and advocate for Shia rights, was arrested in July 2012 after being shot by government security officers. He was charged with firing on security forces, disobeying the royal family, sowing discord, undermining national unity and interfering in the affairs of a sisterly nation assumed to be Bahrain, given the clerics public criticism of the Sunni governments treatment of Shia protesters there Adam Coogle, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) Middle East researcher, told Al Jazeera. While Nimr has admitted to the political charges levied against him, he has denied firing on security forces or sowing discord by calling for violence. His defense lawyers were not permitted to cross-examine security officers who accused him of such crimes. Prosecutors sought and received a punishment of execution followed by crucifixion as punishment for Nimrs alleged offenses. In Saudi Arabia, most death sentences are carried out by beheading. Crucifixion in this context means the body and head would be put on public display to serve as a warning to others. The penalty is reserved for the most serious of crimes, Coogle said. Mohammed al-Nimr, the clerics brother, announced the verdict on Twitter. He was detained shortly after making the announcement, presumably to prevent him from speaking to the media. We wont really know the details surrounding the verdict until we obtain more information, but with the arrest of his brother our main source of info that may take a while, Coogle said. Renowned Saudi activist Jaafar al-Shayeb said the verdict appears to have been handed down for "incitement" of Shia protests in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and more may follow. "There's a big chance there will be a reaction," Shayeb said. "There could be protests, marches, statements of condemnation. ... The situation is tense." The verdict was discretionary, suggesting that what the court found al-Nimr guilty of could have been eligible for a lighter sentence. The verdict was discretionary, suggesting that what the court found al-Nimr guilty of could have been eligible for a lighter sentence. Another gamesmanship[By Zhai Haijun/China.org.cn] A curious little essay appeared in the New York Times. It was entitled "Cracks in the Liberal Order" by Ross Douthat, and it talked about how the post-Cold war order had been shaken during 2015, and how Pax Americana was a dying concept. According to Douthat, the liberal order had survived some brutal attacks and various setbacks in the last quarter of a century, including, most importantly, the rise of China, the "dot com bust," the 9/11 terrorist incident and the rise of Islamism as an ideology drawing mindless and disillusioned youth from the West, while, funnily enough, their Middle East counterparts are flocking West in search of a liberal life free from societal constraints they'd been experiencing. Douthat argues that no ideology had been able to shake the foundations of the world order until now. So, what is the reason? The writer believes it is the rise of Populist parties, both economical tra-left and ultra-right, in Europe, and the rise of nativist economically jingoistic ultra-nationalism in West, combined with the Islamic jihad, and the rise of "Putinism." Ironically, Ross chose to write this article in the same week China's Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing, which he totally failed to mention. From a statement, it appears China will focus on five tasks in 2016: cutting industrial capacity, reducing the housing stock, cutting official debt, lowering corporate costs and improving various weak system links. A CNTV analysis mentioned the government will focus on the biggest poverty reduction endeavor, improve technological advancement and foster emerging sectors. It also stated that to stimulate growth, an overhaul will be undertaken to prevent the supply glut, and resolve industrial overcapacity. Like supply side reforms across the world in the 1980s, Chinese administrators vowed to cut down and streamline factors causing sluggish growth, which will please foreign investors. The Douthat analysis, meanwhile, also ignores the start of the AIIB and that the RMB was recognized as a global currency. The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was formally established and is expected to be operational early in 2016 as the bank's 17 founding members ratified an agreement. The bank is about to hold its opening ceremony in January and elect its president. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. A small group of demonstrators gathered downtown Friday to mark the new year and send a message that, despite promises for reform, they aren't ready to turn the page on a series of fatal shootings by Chicago police officers. "We believe in new beginnings, but we can't just let it go," said Walter Jones, a minister from the West Garfield Park neighborhood where 19-year-old college student Quintonio LeGrier and his neighbor Bettie Jones, 55, were shot and killed by an officer responding to a domestic disturbance call the day after Christmas. LeGrier was swinging a bat at officers, police have said, but Jones was shot by accident. Advertisement "Our hearts are broken right now. Folks are traumatized," Jones said. "We're here to say that's enough." The shooting occurred within weeks of a U.S. Justice Department announcement that federal officials have launched a probe into Chicago Police Department practices following the death of another Chicago teen, Laquan McDonald, who was fatally shot 16 times in 2014 as he was walking away from police officers. Despite City Hall officials' efforts to conceal dashboard camera videos of that shooting, a judge ordered the release, drawing the federal attention and touching off similar demonstrations over the past month. Advertisement Travelers departing Chicago from Union Station got a dose of the ongoing local outrage Friday as roughly a dozen activists chanted, "16 shots and a cover-up," referring to McDonald and the subsequently released footage and police reports, which revealed that officers gave differing accounts of the final moments before his death. The protesters were outflanked by the number of officers on hand monitoring the demonstration. "We are sick and tired of seeing our people murdered by police," said 41-year-old Otis Buckley of Total Blackout for Reform. The Chicago native is hopeful that by keeping attention on police misconduct, officers will think twice before shooting in 2016. But public outrage alone isn't going to bring systemic reforms to a Police Department that's demonstrated reticence to change, said Mike Holman, a member of the national Stop Mass Incarceration Network. "Many people are talking about Rahm (Emanuel) has to resign. Many people are talking about Anita Alvarez. It is more than that," he said. What would send the message, he said, is legal action against officers and other officials who attempted to conceal facts surrounding McDonald's death. "And it certainly has to be done by someone not involved in the cover-up themselves," he added. acaputo@tribpub.com Police investigate at the scene of the fatal shooting of Ronald Johnson, 25, in October 2014. Despite grabbing headlines, police shootings were down 40 percent from last year. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) While the video release of a Chicago police officer's shooting of Laquan McDonald prompted a domino effect of change, including the ousting of the police superintendent and a federal civil rights investigation, the department finished 2015 on an ironic note: Officers shot the fewest people that they have in years. Chicago police officers shot 22 people in 2015, eight of them fatally. That's a 40 percent drop in the total number of people shot compared with 2014, when 37 people were hit by police gunfire and 16 of them were killed, according to department figures. Advertisement Since 2011, the number of people shot by Chicago's cops has gradually declined. That year, they shot 56 people, 24 of them fatally, department figures show. In 2012, Chicago police shot 45 people, killing 12, and the following year, officers shot 35 people, killing 14. Chicago officers this past year shot fewer people than police in some other major cities. As of Dec. 21, Los Angeles police officers shot 37 people in 2015, 22 fatally, according to LAPD statistics. New York City police officers shot 32 people, killing nine, NYPD statistics from Dec. 29 show. Advertisement In an interview with the Tribune on Thursday, interim Chicago police Superintendent John Escalante attributed the drop in police-involved shootings to "better training" and "better front-line supervision," even though the Police Department and the city have come under national scrutiny for the way they handle such incidents, in light of the killing of 17-year-old McDonald by Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. (Tribune Graphics) Under his old boss, Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who was fired last month by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the aftermath of the disturbing video's court-ordered release, Escalante said the department began so-called after-action reports of police-involved shootings by reviewing tactics taken by officers who fired their weapons and determining whether their tactics could be improved. For example, after the department saw an increase in police-involved shootings in 2014 where officers opened fire on vehicles with suspects inside them, it reviewed the actions taken by the officers during each incident, Escalante said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "And in a few of those cases we reviewed, right away, we saw it was a matter of tactics, that the officers had put themselves in a position where they were in front of the car," he said. "And had they not been standing in front of the car, or off to the side, they would not have to have fired into the car as the car was coming at them." In 2015, the department made a slight revision to its use-of-force policy by banning an officer from shooting at a moving vehicle if that is the only weapon being used by the suspect. Even in light of the McDonald shooting and other recent controversial use-of-force incidents across the country, Escalante doesn't think police-involved shootings in Chicago are down because officers are hesitant to shoot or afraid of being named in lawsuits. But he acknowledged the rank-and-file "might all have different opinions." Escalante cited a 21 percent increase in 2015 in the number of arrests in which a gun was confiscated as evidence that his officers are doing their jobs properly. "Our officers are not lying down, especially for those critical calls of shots fired and man with a gun," he said. Advertisement jgorner@tribpub.com Twitter @JeremyGorner Residents pile ruined furniture, appliances and clothes along the street for disposal crews to pick up after last week's flooding from the south fork of the Sangamon River, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Kincaid, Ill. Gov. Bruce Rauner toured flood-damaged homes Sunday in the 1,400-resident central Illinois town. (Seth Perlman / AP) ST. LOUIS As the Mississippi River and its tributaries retreated Saturday from historic winter levels that flooded towns, forced evacuations and killed two dozen people, residents in the St. Louis area were facing a massive cleanup and recovery effort that will likely last weeks. Gov. Bruce Rauner and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon toured flood-ravaged areas as near-record crest predictions of the Mississippi River and levee breaks threatened more homes. Advertisement "The healing process, the restoration process has begun," Chris Greenhagen, pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Eureka, Missouri, one of the communities hit by flooding along the Meramec River earlier this week, said in a telephone interview. The flood, fueled by more than 10 inches of rain over a three-day period that began last weekend, is blamed for 24 deaths in Illinois and Missouri. Advertisement Water from the Mississippi, Meramec and Missouri rivers largely began receding Friday in the St. Louis area. Two major highways Interstate 44 and Interstate 55 reopened south of St. Louis on Friday and some evacuees were also allowed then to return home. On Saturday, while residents took stock of the ruin, President Barack Obama signed a federal emergency declaration for Missouri that allows federal aid to be used to help state and local response efforts. It also allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts. Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson said the state's flooding death toll increased to nine. Fifteen have died in Missouri. Rauner encouraged people to respect requests to evacuate. "This is life threatening," he told reporters at Carlyle Lake in Clinton County in southern Illinois. It's not just the water; it's the temperature. Hypothermia is a big risk to people's lives." In Missouri, Noelle Pace said she packed up electronics, some furniture and her 4-year-old son's clothing and toys and left Pacific on Dec. 28, the day after she received a request to evacuate. She felt lucky to find the damage isolated to her crawl space when she returned for the first time Thursday. "Everybody around us had catastrophic damage," Pace said. She said she might not be able to move back for weeks while her landlord replaces soaked insulation. "It doesn't feel real yet," she said. Advertisement The main culprit in the St. Louis region was the Meramec River, a relatively small Mississippi tributary that bombarded communities in the far southwestern reaches of the St. Louis suburbs during the week. Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage spewed into the river. Hundreds of people were evacuated in the Missouri communities of Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold, where many homes took in water. William Reynolds said he moved at least $50,000 worth of inventory from his Valley Park store to the second story of his nearby home when the evacuation was ordered. He was still unpacking Saturday after the evacuation was lifted. Jay Newman, chef at Frederick's Pub and Grill in Fenton, Missouri, said he was mostly stuck in his Arnold home for two days because of the flooding, which closed most of the area roads. "It was bad from every direction," Newman said. While the worst of the dangerous, deadly winter flood was over in the St. Louis area, the water was slowly make its way south. In southeast Missouri, the Mississippi crested overnight Friday but not before damaging about two-dozen homes in Cape Girardeau, a community of nearly 40,000 residents that is mostly protected by a flood wall. Advertisement "What we'd like people to know is that in Cape Girardeau there have been so many precautions in place that even given the magnitude of this event it's really gone remarkably well for us," Molly Hood, Cape Girardeau's deputy city manager, said Saturday. Elsewhere, the Illinois River continued to rise Saturday and could near historic crests Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Thomas Spriggs, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. "It's still a very significant flood," he said Saturday. "It's going to be at major flood stage for the next three days." Parts of the South were also in the flood's path. Moderate Mississippi River flooding is expected in Memphis. Dale Lane, director of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness, said high water from the river and its tributaries is approaching some homes on Mud Island, just south of downtown Memphis. A road on Mud Island is being closed on Monday, but no homes have been reported flooded. The The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the Cumberland River at Dover, Tennessee, through Monday evening. Minor flooding along the Ohio River was affecting the Kentucky cities of Owensboro and Paducah, and the crest wasn't expected until Thursday. Advertisement Associated Press Ebony Carter and Steve Stroud welcomed their son, NyHeir Irie Stroud, at 4:16 a.m. na. 1 at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Bolingbrook. NyHeir weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. (Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune) Ebony Carter already had made her way to the hospital three times in the last several weeks thinking her baby boy was on his way. Each time it was a false alarm, and she was sent home. Advertisement So, when the Bolingbrook woman started having labor pains about midnight Friday, she wasn't in a hurry to get to the hospital. "We did not want to go," Carter, 25, said. "I thought 'It's Braxton-Hicks; it's a false alarm. He's not going to come on New Year's.'" Advertisement But after some prodding from her mother-in-law to be, Carter and her fiance, Steve Stroud, called an ambulance and headed to the hospital. Their son, NyHeir Irie Stroud, was born at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Bolingbrook at 4:16 a.m. a little more than three hours after Carter arrived at the hospital. NyHeir was the first baby born in 2016 at the Bolingbrook hospital. He weighed in at 5 pounds 15 ounces, was 19 inches long and had a full head of hair. "It happened the way it was supposed to happen," said Carter, who noted she was scheduled for an induction Monday if NyHeir hadn't made an appearance yet. "He's perfectly healthy," she said as her fiance held their son. "He's a good baby." The couple had been in Willowbrook ringing in the new year when she started having contractions. When they called for an ambulance, they requested a ride to Bolingbrook to meet their doctor at the hospital. "When we got here, my contractions were less than two minutes apart," Carter said. Stroud has 5-year-old twins, Nailani and Steve, and Carter has a 3-year-old daughter, Navaeh. Stroud's daughter looked at the couple's baby and commented on how he looked strong, like a superhero. She also nicknamed him "Spencer." Family has been visiting the couple in their hospital room since the birth. Advertisement "They were all excited," Carter said. "They all said 'We'll never forget his birthday.'" The holidays hold special meaning for the couple. Carter and Stroud recently were engaged on Christmas day. Carter also noted that the couple's first date was originally scheduled for New Year's Day last year, but she ended up going out with friends. The couple met a few days later. Carter said the couple has not yet picked a date, but she's planning for a fall wedding. Other area hospitals welcomed their first babies of the new year, including a baby boy born to a family from Lockport at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox at 4:35 a.m. and a baby boy born to a family from Chicago Ridge at Palos Community Hospital at 6:01 a.m. Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune. TribLocalTips@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter: @TribLocal A resident of Kenya last month completed her education at Valparaiso University and has returned home to her family, but school and church officials say they may have gained as much from her experience as she did. Mercy Chepkoech Ngetich came from Olengururone, Kenya, about two and a half years ago to complete her college education at Valparaiso University. She graduated magna cum laude on Dec. 13. Advertisement Ngetich, the eldest of three children of subsistence farmers in rural Kenya, said she had mixed feelings about returning home. But she was anxious to see her family and friends again. "It has been hard being away from my family, but I spoke to them often on the phone," Ngetich said. "I am looking forward to seeing all of them and going back to my old church. I am anxious to get a job and start saving some money." Advertisement Before coming to the United States, the farthest Ngetich had been away from home was Kabarak University near Nakuru, about two hours from her home. She said she would like to work for about a year and a half and then come back to the United States for graduate school, perhaps at Notre Dame. Then she would like to return to Kenya and start her own business, perhaps a not-for-profit to help others. "But I am going to miss all the fun I had here with all the friends I've made," she said before leaving Indiana. "I've loved going to the beach, going to the movies, taking the train to Chicago. I have been fortunate to have so many wonderful experiences along with my education and classes." Ngetich said she wanted to study in the United States so she would be equipped to deal with business in a global community. She saw education as a way to improve her own life, as well as the lives of the girls in her community. Her dream became a reality after a chance meeting between Valparaiso University graduate Tina Hodges and Sister Lucy Borus, a missionary in Milwaukee. The two said they met on a plane, chatted and exchanged emails. Their meeting turned into a plan to bring female scholars from the developing world to the U.S. to study. Mercy Ngetich was selected as the first candidate because she is Borus' eldest niece and a strong student. Ngetich was accepted at VU in March 2013 and was offered a financial scholarship. The school required that an outside organization be in charge of overseeing the funds collected for her education and living expenses. VU graduate Joanne Lehmann approached her church, St. Peter Lutheran Church in Portage. After reviewing her academic record and other information, church officials agreed to oversee the account. Lehmann and her husband, Scott, who became Ngetich's family while she was away from her own family, hosted a reception Dec. 12 at St. Peter to celebrate her achievements. Attendees included VU students and staff members, members of St. Peter and the women who had been so influential in arranging for Ngetich's education. "God has blessed us in so many ways," Joanne Lehmann said. "Bringing Mercy to us has made such a difference in all our lives. She has enriched us so much. And whenever we thought, 'Where are we going to get the money for this?' somehow it would appear, almost to the penny. We just had to keep the faith." Advertisement Scott Lehmann said Ngetich has changed. "When she first came to our house, she didn't speak very much and she hardly ate. She was so shy," he said. "Now she is so confident and ready to take on any challenge. I see the progression as part of her getting older, but also because she was willing to take this risk and really put herself out there. She has grown so much in so many ways and added so much to our lives too." While a student at VU, Ngetich worked as a student aide in the finance office. Denise Aponte, assistant to the director of student accounts, worked closely with Ngetich. "She taught me as much as, if not more than, I taught her," Aponte said. "She really thinks outside the box. She's an all-around good person and so smart. My children were just intrigued by her. She definitely has been a blessing to all of us." Ngetich said she greatly appreciated the experience. "I am so grateful to all the people who helped me through and made all of this possible, especially the Lehmanns and all of their friends, St. Peter Church, Valpo University. There are just too many to mention everyone." Advertisement Linda Lemond is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks at a military reform conference in Beijing November 26, 2015 [Photo/Xinhua] The Central Military Commission (CMC) has released a guideline on deepening national defense and military reform, about a month after CMC Chairman Xi Jinping called on a military administration and command system overhaul at a key meeting. According to the guideline, a new structure will be established in which the CMC takes charge of the overall administration of the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese People's Armed Police and the militia and reserve forces, battle zone commands focus on combat preparedness, and various military services pursue development. The overall goal is to achieve progress and concrete results before 2020 in military administration and joint operational command, optimizing military structure, enhancing policy systems and civilian-military integration, and building a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win information age wars. While 2015 was mainly devoted to the implementation of leadership management and joint operational command reform, the guideline said 2016 will see military cuts, improved combatant personnel and reform of military academies and armed police forces. The reform will include cutting troops from 2.3 million to 2 million, phasing out outdated armaments, developing new weapons systems and reducing the size of the militia. The move to deepen defense and military reform is aimed at breaking down systematic, structural and policy barriers, modernizing the organization of the military, and unleashing the combat capacity of the military. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Flash Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Ukraine and Turkey starting from Friday, the first day of 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree regulating transit transportation of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan through Russian territory, which was posted Friday on Russian government's internet portal of legal information. "International automobile and railway transit of goods from the Ukrainian territory to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan through the territory of the Russian Federation...could be carried out only from the territory of Republic of Belarus," according to the decree. It added that all the transport vehicles carrying goods from Ukraine to Kazakh territory through Russia should be equipped with devices supporting Russia's Glonass navigation system to track their movements. Coming into force immediately and lasting until July 1, 2016, the decree was adopted as extra measure with the suspension of Russia-Ukraine free trade zone agreement. The suspension also began Friday, simultaneously with Ukraine's implementation of the economic component of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and joining a free trade zone with the EU. Besides trade deals, Moscow and Kiev were in dispute over the latter's 3-billion-U.S.-dollar debt. The Russian Finance Ministry on Friday announced that it planned to file a lawsuit in a UK court against Ukraine over debt default. "Ukraine has not made the payment of 3.075 billion U.S. dollars in repayment and servicing of external bonds owned by Russia during the grace period, which expired on Dec. 31, 2015. Thus, Ukraine is in a state of default now," the ministry said in a statement. Noting that no proposal was made by the Ukrainian side on debt restructure, the ministry still expressed readiness to examine any significant offer from Ukraine on its debt to Russia. It is also noted that the legal action does not exclude possibility of debt settlement through dialogues. Ukraine got a 3-billion-dollar loan in the form of Eurobonds from Russia in December 2013 to shore up its economy amid financial crisis. The loan matures on Dec. 20, 2015. The Ukrainian side stressed previously that no other terms would be provided to Moscow than the debt-restructing agreement reached in August between Ukraine and its other international creditors. Restrictive measures against Turkey also came into force on Friday, which were adopted by Russian side in retaliation for Turkey's downing of a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft in November of 2015. The import of Turkish foodstuffs and other agricultural products to Russia is banned starting from Friday. According to a decree signed by Putin on Nov. 28 of 2015, Russia would stop importing a wide range of Turkish agricultural products including fruit and vegetables, salt, poultry products and so on. While charter flights in both directions were banned, the visa-free travel regime between the two countries was suspended to "ensure national security of the Russian Federation from criminal and other illegal activities." Russian companies will be banned from hiring Turkish citizens starting from Friday. A total of 53 entities have been exempted from the ban on hiring Turkish citizens. The exempted companies will, however, be prohibited from exceeding the total number of hired Turkish employees as of Dec. 31, 2015. Moreover, since Friday, companies owned by Turkey or Turkish citizens were banned from providing services for state and municipal needs in Russia and participating in such areas as construction, tourism, hotel business and lumber. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has blamed Russia for these restrictive measures, claiming that Turkey has considered possible measures against Russia and will impose sanctions if necessary. Flash Iran will not slow down the pace of developing its missile program, despite the U.S. pressures, the defense minister said Friday. "We will vigorously press ahead with the development of missile capabilities within the framework of the country's defense policies," Brigadier Gen. Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. "There has been no interruption in the process of designing and manufacturing defensive ballistic missiles," Dehqan said, adding that the Iranian armed forces will employ all indigenous potential and equipment to strengthen the country's defense power, regardless of what foreigners say or do. The deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Brigadier Gen. Hossein Salami, also reiterated Friday that Iran will not hesitate a moment to develop its deterrent power against the threats posed by hegemonic powers. The remarks by Iranian military officials followed Thursday's letter from President Hassan Rouhani to proceed with the country's missile program "with high speed and seriously" and expand Iran's missile capabilities in response to the U.S. considered sanctions. Rouhani's remarks were a response to the U.S. Treasury Department's recent announcement that it was considering sanctions against a number of Iranian and international individuals and agencies for their alleged involvement in developing Iran's ballistic missile program. "It is necessary to follow, more seriously and with high speed, the production of different kinds of missiles within the framework of the defensive policies," Rouhani said. The Defense Ministry is obliged to expand the missile capabilities of Iran, in case the United States insists on its "false and interfering measures," Rouhani said. During the past nuclear talks, Iran emphasized that it will never negotiate over its deterrent power, including its missile program, and will never accept any restrictions in this regard. The new U.S. move to add individuals and companies to the sanction list is a response to Iran's recent test of a ballistic missile. In October, Iran announced the tests of long-range Emad missile which could be guided and controlled until hitting the target with high precision. A UN experts' report in December said that Iran violated UN Security Council Resolution 1929 by test-firing the Emad missile which is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. The UN report said that the Emad ballistic missile has a range of "no less than 1,000 km with a payload of at least 1,000 kg." Under Resolution 1929, Iran is prohibited from working on ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Later, Dehqan said the Emad missile was "totally conventional," dismissing a UN experts' report in December that Iran violated the UN Security Council Resolution 1929 by test-firing the Emad missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. Dehqan also said the October test was based on Iran's own interests for enhancement of its deterrent power. "Iran will not accept any restrictions in this regard." Tehran is believed to have the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East and has developed a 2,000 km missile. Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- signed a historic nuclear deal in July to imposes limits on the Iranian nuclear program in return for lifting of economic sanctions. Under the deal, Iran will also receive natural uranium from Russia and Kazakhstan to be used in nuclear reactors for future energy production. Earlier, a total of 11 tons of low-enriched uranium has been shipped to Russia from Iran while Norway has helped verify a shipment of 60 tons of raw uranium to Iran, as part of the nuclear deal. Also this month, after a 12-year investigation of Iran's suspected nuclear plans, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided to close the process in light of the nuclear deal. Board members of the United Nations nuclear agency adopted a resolution to close the investigation into whether Tehran once had a nuclear weapons program, upon a review of Iran's implementation of its commitments. Flash The suspected gunman who killed two people and injured six at a Tel Aviv bar on Friday is an Arab Israeli who served in an Israeli prison in the past, a police source told Xinhua. The suspect, from northern Israel in his mid-20s, opened automatic fire at a bar in central Tel Aviv, killing two people and injuring six, the source said. The attacker had managed to flee the scene before massive police forces are conducting a manhunt both in the Tel Aviv area and in northern Israel, near the village where the suspect resides. After footage of the suspect shopping at a nearby shop prior to the attack surfaced in Israeli media, his father called the police saying he recognized his son as the attacker. The police source told Xinhua the suspect served time in an Israeli prison in the past for snatching a weapon from an Israeli soldier. It is believed that the suspect used a gun he took from his father, who works as security, in order to carry out the attack. Israeli media reported that he was diagnosed in the past as mentally unstable and that his cousin was shot and killed by Israeli policemen in 2006. The Israeli police issued a gag order on Friday evening on the details of investigation and has yet to determine the motive for the attack. The gag order also pertains to a separate incident in which an Arab Israeli man was shot and killed in a northern Tel Aviv apartment on Friday afternoon, suggesting there might be a link between the two incidents. Pundits on Israeli media outlets suggested that the attack might be influenced by the Islamic State organization, while others believe it may have something to do with the ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians, in which 23 Israelis have been killed in lone-wolf attacks and more than 130 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces and while carrying out attacks. Arab Israelis are Palestinians who stayed in Israel after the 1948 war and became citizens of the country, constituting 20 percent of the population. People wait for the opening of an outlet of Bank of China Ltd in Fuyang, Anhui province. [DAI WENXUE / FOR CHINA DAILY] Bank of China Ltd has agreed to sell a 20 percent stake in a power company, Huaneng International Power Development Corp, for 8.7 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) in its latest move to streamline assets that have more than doubled since 2008. Pro-Power Investment Ltd, owned by China Huaneng Group, will pay cash for the stake in three installments within a year, the Beijing-based lender said in an exchange filing on Tuesday. Bank of China will use the proceeds for "any new investment" for sustainable growth, it said. The price is "slightly lower" than the amount in a valuation, the lender said. Bank of China's ownership interest in Huaneng International Power Development dates back to 1985 and a push to revamp China's power industry. The State Council set up the company as a joint venture, with the aim of attracting foreign capital to the industry. The lender's Hong Kong unit was a founding shareholder. The assets of the bank, one of China's major lenders, have climbed to more than 16 trillion yuan, while its profit growth has tumbled. In another disposal, the bank said on Dec 18 that it had agreed to sell Nanyang Commercial Bank Ltd for HK$68 billion ($8.8 billion) to China Cinda Asset Management Co. Huaneng International Power Development owns 33.3 percent of Huaneng Power International Inc, which is listed in Hong Kong, Shanghai and the United States, the statement said. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March, Bank of China said. People from South China like to drink foreign spirits, just like the people in North China like Moutai (a leading luxury brand of the traditional Chinese liquor baijiu). [Photo provided to China Daily] Three years after the Chinese government declared war on the misuse of public funds on meals, travel and in other areas, knocking the stuffing out of the catering industry, fresh life seems be coming back to the business. This new vitality appears to be due mainly to activity in the medium to low end of the industry. In the first nine months of this year revenue in catering grew 11.7 percent to 2.3 trillion yuan ($317 billion) compared with the corresponding period last year, the first double-digit growth since late 2012, the China Cuisine Association says. Significantly, too, high-end restaurants, or restaurants charging more than 200 yuan a head, have turned the corner, their revenue growing 8.6 percent over the two months from August to September compared with the same period last year, says Feng Enyuan, vice chairman of the association. Feng attributes the revival to the fact that while government strictures on lavish public spending continue to have an impact on upmarket restaurants, many have heeded advice to adopt new business models to broaden their customer bases. "The strongest momentum that lies behind these promising figures is that more and more restaurants, at both ends of the market, have realized the market potential among average people," Feng says, adding that dining out frequently is becoming more affordable for people as the economy grows. "People used to go to restaurants mainly on special occasions, but they're now dining out either because they can't be bothered cooking, or simply because they want something other than home-cooked meals." On such occasions, diners are more sensitive to taste and price, since they pay out of their own pockets, Feng says. While a few upmarket restaurants are unwilling to adapt to the new consumer environment and so are struggling to survive, most have adopted various strategies to reach lower-end customers, Feng says. This includes reducing prices, establishing cheaper junior brands, providing corporate catering, and using the Internet to bring in diners. BEIJING - A military expert said construction of China's second aircraft carrier is normal and the scale of China's aircraft carrier development is much smaller than that of the United States and even India. Aircraft carriers can help China better defend world peace and stability and play its role as a responsible developing power, Zhang Junshe, a researcher with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Naval Military Studies Research Institute, told 81.cn, the official website of the PLA Daily. A spokesman for China's defense ministry said Thursday that China's second carrier, with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes, is conventionally powered and will employ a ski-jump design for warplanes to take off. As a latecomer, China needs to build conventionally powered carriers first in order to gain experience, and then build nuclear-powered ones according to the situation, said Zhang, noting that the design and manufacturing processes are completely domestic, with no foreign help. Zhang added that future Chinese carriers will be fitted with catapults for fighter jets to take off on deck, but the process will be gradual since catapult take-off involves more complex technology. He noted that, compared with China's first carrier, the Liaoning, the second carrier will have more mature technology and performance, with better coordination between its systems and high anti-interference capacity. While the main purpose of the Liaoning is research, testing and training, Zhang said the second carrier will be able to carry out combat operations more quickly. "Its missions will possibly include combat readiness on duty and other normal operations, including humanitarian rescue and disaster relief." A report from the PLA Daily in late December said China's carrier forces, mainly those operating the Liaoning, had made considerable progress in fighting capacity this year, with more fighters parked on the carrier and more flights handled by the vessel. The Liaoning was refitted from a former Soviet ship known as Varyag. It was delivered to the Chinese Navy on Sept. 25, 2012. BUENOS AIRES - The Chinese Embassy in Argentina on Friday donated drinking water, milk and cleaning water to those affected by massive flooding in Argentina's coastal regions. Chinese Ambassador Yang Wanming made the donations through the local SUMA Foundation. "The foundation thanks the ambassador for his solidarity with those affected and we pledge to deliver the donations to those in need as quickly as possible," read a press release by the foundation. Earlier this week, Yang wrote to Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra to express "the sincere solidarity of the Chinese government with those affected." Yang said in the letter that Beijing "would always support the Argentinean government during such emergencies and stands ready to offer any help needed during the rebuilding process of stricken areas." Over 30,000 Argentineans have been evacuated due to rivers bursting their banks in the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe, Chaco, Formosa and Corrientes. You are here: Home Flash Israel on Friday returned the bodies of 23 Palestinians killed in recent attacks against Israelis to the Palestinian authority, the Israeli army said. Seventeen of the dead Palestinians were from Hebron, three from the area of Ramallah, two from Jenin and one from Nablus, a spokesperson for the army told Xinhua. The military transferred the bodies to vehicles of the Red Cross at checkpoints in the area of Hebron and in the northern West Bank, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, a defense official told the Ha'aretz daily that returning the bodies was a goodwill gesture in order to calm the unrest in the West Bank. More than 130 Palestinians have been killed during clashes with Israeli security forces since a wave of violence erupted in early October. Israel did not always immediately return the bodies of Palestinian attackers. Twenty three Israelis and a U.S. citizen were also killed in lone-wolf shooting, stabbing and vehicular attacks. Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups charge that Israel used excessive force against Palestinian attackers after the latter no longer pose a threat at the scenes of attacks. In the latest shooting attack in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon, two people were killed and six were injured in varying degrees. However, according to the Israeli police, it is still not clear whether the attack is related to the ongoing wave of violence or nationalistically motivated. Tang Yunlun displays a monkey straw-plaited handicraft at his home in Gaoling village of Lianyungang city in Jiangsu province on Dec 28, 2015. [Photo/China.com.cn] Tang Yunlun, 50, lives in Gaoling village of Lianyungang city in Jiangsu province. He is famed for his unique style of straw plaiting which has been handed down in his family from generation to generation. Tang began to learn the skill at the age of five. He specializes in plaiting flowers, birds, fish and insects with the raw materials of straws, bean skins and artificial leaves. His products are vivid and of excellent workmanship. They have even been sold overseas to South Korea. As the Year of the Monkey approaches, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, Tang has made a series of lovely monkey handicrafts for the occasion. A same-size replica of an icon of ancient Egyptian culture was built in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province. The Egyptian government says the duplicate undermines their country's Great Sphinx of Giza (right). The replica is made of concrete reinforced with steel.[Photo provided to China Daily] The Egyptian government is protesting Hebei province's replica Great Sphinx of Giza, saying the structure undermines the country's cultural heritage. The company that built the replica as part of a movie set responded that it would tear down the statue after that movie is finished. The Sphinx copy, about 80 meters long and 30 meters tall, looks much like the original, 4,500-year-old limestone Sphinx southwest of Cairo. The copy, in a theme park near the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang, has attracted many visitors since April when construction was finished. However, Egypt is not flattered by the imitation. Mohammed Ibrahim, Egypt's minister of antiquities, said the country has filed objections to the Chinese version with UNESCO. Ibrahim said the phony Sphinx violated UNESCO's 1972 Convention and is "a violation of Egypt's rights to its cultural heritage and a bad imitation that disfigures the original", according to a report in Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly on Friday. In response to the criticism, a manager of the theme park who identified himself only by his surname, Shen, said the fake Sphinx is only a movie prop and it will be demolished after filming is completed. "We did not use it for commercial purposes and did not charge fees from visitors, nor do we intend to make it a tourist attraction," Shen said. The company is sorry for any misunderstanding, he added. The theme park plans to build some more cultural heritage sites from China, such as temples, as movie sets. The total cost of the project will be 5 billion yuan ($802 million). Many people came to see the controversial replica on Sunday. Dozens of shops and restaurants lined the roads surrounding the theme park, attracting many people who lingered and spent money. Seven of the visitors said the faux Sphinx was a waste of money if the park is going to demolish it already. An anonymous worker from the construction company said the cost of the cloned Sphinx was about 8 million yuan. Some visitors suggested the company needs only to change the Hebei statue by altering the head or adding a tail to avoid complaints. Feng Xiaoqing, a law professor of intellectual property rights at China University of Political Science and Law, said it has not been confirmed that the cloned Sphinx resulted in a direct economic loss to the original one. He said people will not confuse the Chinese version of the Sphinx with the Egyptian one, so claims that the Chinese Sphinx violates intellectual property rights are unfounded. A building, one side of which looks like a traditional Chinese palace while the other resembles the United States' Capitol Hill, is under construction in December at the New Great Wall International Studio, a film production base and a tourist attraction in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo by Zhang Yu/China Daily] Eye-catching structure is fusion of traditional Chinese palace and US' Capitol Hill, as Zhang Yu and Wang Wei report in Shijiazhuang. A quirky and uniquely designed building, one side of which looks like a traditional Chinese palace while the other resembles the United States' Capitol Hill, is catching a lot of attention and praise in Hebei province. Located at the New Great Wall International Studio in Shijiazhuang, near the village of Donggoucun in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang, the eye-catching structure is partly modeled after the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qinian Dian) of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Su Yaran, spokesperson for the studio base, said the structure has attracted many tourists in recent weeks. Lyu Yafeng, a resident of Shijiazhuang, is one such curious passer-by. "I couldn't wait to check it out in person," said Lyu, who read about it in a news report. "Just imagine you're looking at Qinian Dian, wouldn't you be surprised if you find that the other side of the building looks like the US Capitol?" He said that after he posted a picture of the building on a social media app, he received a lot of comments from friends who were just as curious. One of the comments came from Lyu's friend Lei Jing, who works in Switzerland but is from Shijiazhuang. Lei commented that the building must be "a patchwork of two photos edited with graphic tools" and that she couldn't believe it was a real building in her hometown. "Don't doubt it, it's real and what you see is the face without makeup," Lyu replied on the app. Next to the unique structure is a near-exact replica of Egypt's Great Sphinx of Giza. Su said the replica measures 87 meters long and 27 meters tall, similar to the measurements of the Great Sphinx. Iran violated a UN resolution in October when it test-launched a medium-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, a UN panel of experts has concluded in a report that could lead to sanctions. Britain, France, Germany and the United States had asked a UN Security Council sanctions committee to investigate the launch of the Emad missile on Oct 10, three months after the historic nuclear deal was reached. "On the basis of its analysis and findings, the panel concludes that Emad launch is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council resolution 1929", said the report presented to the council last week and obtained by AFP on Tuesday. Adopted in 2010, Resolution 1929 prohibits Teheran from conducting launches of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. "The panel assesses that the launch of the Emad has a range of no less than 1,000 kilometers with a payload of at least 1,000 kilograms and that Emad was a launch 'using ballistic missile technology'", the report said. The experts said a rocket must be capable of delivering at least a 500 kg payload to a range of at least 300 km to be deemed capable of firing a nuclear weapon. Iran had denied that the missile launch was in violation of the resolution, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that it was not designed to carry nuclear warheads. Iran insists it has no plans to develop atomic weapons. The finding from the panel could trigger moves to impose sanctions on Iran, although such a decision would require agreement from China and Russia. The two countries along with Britain, France, Germany and the United States took part in successful negotiations on the landmark deal reached with Iran in July on curbing Teheran's nuclear program. Despite progress on the nuclear track, US Ambassador Samantha Power emphasized that some sanctions will remain in place even after the international agreement is put into motion. "We will continue to hold Iran accountable for violations of measures imposed by the council," Power told a council meeting. (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese armor on parade. Advertisement The Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China has assumed overall administration of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese People's Armed Police and the country's militia and reserve forces, according to state news agency Xinhua. The restructuring of China's military command system coincides with the creation of three new military units, and is in accordance with a new set of reform guidelines which Beijing issued after President Xi Jinping led inaugural ceremonies on Thursday for a general command unit for the army, a missile force, and a support force for the PLA. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Li Zoucheng, who previously commanded PLA forces in the strategically vital Chengdu military region, now commands the PLA land force. The new missile force replaces the PLA Second Artillery Corps, and will oversee the country's nuclear arsenal under the leadership of Wei Fenghe. Gao Jin will command the PLA support force. CMC vice chairman Chan Fanlong announced the leadership decisions during the inaugural rites. President Xi -- who is chairman of the CMC -- endorsed the new appointments. In a speech, Xi urged China's new military units to follow the path of building a strong army that is always ready to act in response to the call of the people and China's communist party. This newest round of reforms and restructuring in China's military comes three months after Xi announced a major overhaul of the PLA. In a statement published by the state-sponsored PLA Daily, the CMC said the overhaul is aimed at allowing China's military to move away from a system that is almost entirely reliant on land-based fighting forces to one wherein the army, navy and air force are all equally represented. As expected, the Chinese military's reform and modernization program has worried some of China's neighbors, and has made some in the US military establishment sit up and take notice. China's growing naval might, and Beijing's escalating efforts to enforce its claim over much of the South China Sea, have sent the Pentagon's naval commanders scrambling to modernize the US Navy and revise the US agenda for naval bases in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Foreign Policy Magazine. The US Navy is currently arming the guided missile cruisers of its Pacific fleet with converted Tomahawk missiles, AEGIS defense systems, state-of-the-art radar, and improved anti-submarine weapons. Some 60 percent of the US Navy's entire fleet is expected to be deployed to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, mainly because China's presence in the area has aroused concern among US naval planners. Missiles in China's new naval arsenal are meanwhile said to have an effective range spanning 100 to 900 nautical miles. Some analysts have pointed out that these new weapons could keep the US navy pinned down or locked out of a contested area in the Pacific. China now has some 300 naval ships, and Beijing continues to pour billions of dollars into the country's new classes of destroyers, cruisers and submarines, as well as its first aircraft carrier. Advertisement TagsPLA Navy, Chan Fanlong A Chinese worker paints unfinished licensed ceramic 'Smurfs' at the Shunmei Group (SMG) ceramics factory during a tour in Dehua,Fujian Province, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Advertisement China's manufacturing sector continues to show lackluster performance ending 2015 as it contracted for a fifth straight month in December although it picked up slightly from the previous month, the official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed. The PMI for December was 49.7, the fifth straight month of contraction, although the figure did not come as a surprise for economists surveyed by Reuters. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement A PMI reading of below 50 means a contraction in factory activity while a reading above 50 indicates expansion. The December figure was only fractionally higher from the PMI reading in November, Reuters has reported. The latest factory data, however, provided a relief for economists who were expecting sharper deterioration, which was what global investors were also expecting prior to the release of the December data. One economist interviewed by Reuters said the December manufacturing PMI showed a slight pick up, suggesting that growth momentum in China is stabilizing somewhat. But Zhou Hao, China economist at Commerzbank in Singapore, said in the interview that the country's manufacturing sector still faces strong headwinds. The manufacturing PMI contraction in December was attributed to the continuous weak domestic and international demand, which has weighed on the country's factories. Chinese factories were also forced to cut prices of their goods to address excess capacity, thus denting their profits and further adding deflationary pressures in the world' second-largest economy. Official data showed that export orders dipped for the 15th straight month in December, triggering lower PMI reading even as total new orders was up 50.2 in the said month. The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, earlier released a work paper that showed it expects the country's economic growth to cool to 6.9 percent in 2015 from 7.3 percent in 2014. For the 2016, China's economic growth is forecast to ease further to 6.8 percent. Advertisement TagsChina PMI, China Factory Sectory, China Factory PMI A fireman transfers a car trapped into flood with the help of crane at Wuxi County on July 14, 2015 in Chongqing, China. Heavy rain fell in Chongqing Tuesday night which resulted in torrential flood and damage to local resident and vehicles. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) Advertisement China has extended assistance to the victims of the massive flooding that hit the coastal regions of Argentina and some parts of South America, the official Xinhua news agency has reported. China, through the Chinese Embassy in Argentina, donated milk, cleaning water, and drinking water to people affected by the flooding in the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe, Chaco, Formosa, and Corrientes. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Chinese Embassy in the Latin American nation channeled its donations to the local Summa Foundation on Friday. In a statement, the foundation expressed its gratitude to the Chinese people, through the Chinese ambassador in Argentina, for China's solidarity with those affected by the flooding. "We pledge to deliver the donations to those in need as quickly as possible," the foundation said in a press statement. The flooding in Argentina's coastal regions has affected over 30,000 Argentines. The flooding was triggered by the bursting of the banks of rivers in the affected provinces, Xinhua has reported. Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra issued a letter of gratitude to thank the sincere solidarity of the Chinese government with those affected in Argentina. For his part, Chinese Ambassador Yang Wanming said the Chinese government will continue to support the government of Argentina especially during emergencies. "Beijing is ready to offer any help needed during the rebuilding process of stricken areas," Yang said in statement. Argentina has already declared a state of emergency amid the devastating floods and has launched a federal emergency system as flooding continues to force thousands from their homes. The floods not only affect Argentina as it also forced nearly 100,000 people in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil to evacuate. Advertisement TagsArgentina Flood, Argentina Flooding, China Assistance, Chinese Embassy Argentina (Photo : Reuters) A wanted financial fugitive has been arrested by joint China-Guinea law enforcement officials and repatriated to China to face corruption charges Advertisement One of China's most wanted economic fugitives has been successfully repatriated from the west African Republic of Guinea on Friday after meticulous planning by law enforcement agencies in the two countries. Pei Jianqiang, 48, is the latest Chinese fugitive suspected of bribery to be repatriated to face corruption charges in China. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Pei, the former director of the import and export department of China Enterprise International Cooperation, fled from China in November 2009 to the African country to escape arrest and prosecution. He is listed as No. 10 on China's Skynet list of 100 most wanted fugitives. China launched Operation SkyNet in April 2015 to arrest fugitives suspected of committing economic crimes who have escaped abroad. Pei was reportedly arrested in Dec. 25 and was handed over to Beijing on Friday afternoon. The arrest was the result of a thorough collaboration and investigation between Chinese and Guinean law enforcement officials, who both confirmed the whereabouts of Pei. Pei was reportedly hiding in the Guinean capital city Conakry, where he was running a bath center. Last month, Huang Yurong, a former Party official who was also on the Sky Net list and who had been hiding in the United States since 2002, returned to the mainland and surrendered to Chinese authorities. China is having a hard time arresting financial fugitives who have fled overseas due to the absence of extradition treaties with several countries, including the United States and Canada. To date, only one person on China's Sky Net list of 100 most wanted fugitives has been repatriated to China by Canada. At least 46 Chinese fugitives are believed to be living in the U.S. and Canada freely. Reports indicate that many of China's corruption suspects, who fled abroad and are on the list, are already living as legal immigrants in the United States and Canada and have not heard from their host countries since the list was issued in April this year. Advertisement TagsRepublic of Guinea, Chinese economic fugitives, Sky Net 100, Pei Jianqiang, China Enterprise International Cooperation Tourists walk past a billboard showing blue sky at The Bund in heavy smog on December 23, 2015 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) Advertisement At least 182 shops in Shanghai are now offering tax refunds to foreign tourists who will be spending more than Rmb500 (US$77) during their visit in the city, the Shanghai Commission of Commerce has revealed. According to officials, the shops are located in Shanghai's major commercial spots, scenic areas, transport hubs, and other areas where there are huge gathering of foreign tourists. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The first batch of 27 stores began offering tax refunds on 06 December and had already given out 2,500 tax refund application forms to foreign tourists. The stores that are participating in the tax refund scheme offer various products, including everything from clothes to jewelry, electronic goods, silk, and cosmetics, authorities said. Under the scheme, foreign tourists are entitled to an 11 percent refund on purchases at a single shop by a single person in one day. The purchases should total Rmb500 or more, the People's Daily Online has reported. While the published refund rate is 11 percent, the actual refund is only 9 percent because foreign tourists will have to pay 2 percent administration fee to avail of the tax scheme. Participating stores can easily be noticed because of the "Tax Free" sign that hang in store doors and display windows, the commission added. Foreign tourists who applied for tax refunds can claim their refunds at Shanghai's two airports. The Shanghai commerce commission added that more details and information about the tax refund scheme will be released in the coming days. Shanghai now joins six other destinations in China to offer tax rebate program for foreign visitors. According to the Ministry of Finance, the tax refunds scheme is now in effect in the provinces of Liaoning, Anhui, Fujian, and Sichuan, the municipality of Tianjin, and the city of Xiamen. Advertisement TagsChina Tax Refund, China Tax Rebate, china tax, China Foreign Tourists (Photo : Getty Images) China opened the biggest and largest snow castle sculpture on New Year's Day during the the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Advertisement China opened the largest snow castle sculpture in the world to the public on New Year's Day. Dubbed as the "Crown of Ice and Snow" castle, the 51-meter tall sculpture made of ice is beautifying the Sun Island in Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province in the northeastern part of China. It is currently standing on the surface of a frozen lake. Combining the artistry of both Gothic and Baroque styles, the newest attraction in the city expands up to 2800 sq. meters. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The majestic sculpture was a creation of over 160 artists using 35,000 cubic meters of snow. It holds the distinction of being the highest and largest snow sculpture in the world. Chief designer Yang Hongwei said that the snow castle was the primary attraction during the 28th Sun Island Snow Expo. It is the center of attention of the European snow town created amid the event, which also displays replicas of the city's train station and a Russian restaurant. Each winter, Harbin attracts tens of thousands of tourists as the local city hosts different ice- and snow-themed activities. Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, which originated from the traditional Ice Lantern Show in 1963, is said to be the first and greatest artwork festival in the mainland. Because of the Cultural Revolution, the celebration was stopped but was later on continued in 1985. Since then, it has been celebrated as a month-long festivity every 5th day of the first month of the year. Gaining not only national popularity but also across the globe. This year I am not making New Years resolutions. I am not jotting down goals and dreams, in hopes of becoming a different version of myself. Instead, I am exploring something new this yearor rather, something very old. It all began when I visited a local monastery for some quiet reflection. Being a busy working mom, I was feeling out of touch with time for my own spiritual development. Driven by to-do lists, I felt the need to set some spiritual goals instead of just practical ones. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit, sitting on 7,000 acres of untouched Georgia woodlands, became the perfect retreat for New Years Day reflections a few years ago. I was taken by the beauty of the place and intrigued by the life of the forty monks in community there. I attended a retreat at the monastery later in the year, praying and learning alongside the monks. The common prayer and meditative readings were unknown to me as an evangelical, but still sparked a deeper contemplation around God and his gospel truths. The following year, I returned to the abbey church, listening to monks singing midday prayers while asking God to guide my year ahead. I have always loved how New Years puts us in a mindset of reflection and reordering. Its especially needed as another year comes to an end, and were left feeling more defeated than inspired. As I saw at the monks quiet, simple lives in comparison to my hectic, rushed one, I began reading about the teachings that guided their community. I discovered not only a new way of praying, but a new way of living. And I wasnt aloneplenty in evangelical circles have searched the wisdom of the ancient monasticism. In her book Out of Sorts, ... 1 Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez speaks out, agrees with Donald Trump after 'humiliating' Miss Universe crowning error Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez is speaking out after the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, which made headlines for its unconventional ending. Speaking with Colombia's W radio on Wednesday, Dec. 31, the beauty queen explained why she has been mostly silent about the incident, saying that she was "disconnected" from everyone after the pageant. "I haven't received phone calls from almost anyone. Very few people have communicated with me," said Gutierrez. In the pageant, which was broadcasted live all over the world last month, host Steve Harvey announced that Gutierrez was the winner of the pageant. The 22-year-old had the crown on her head for approximately two minutes before Harvey went back to the stage to announce that he made a mistake. Harvey then went on to say that Miss Colombia was really the first runner-up and that Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is Miss Universe 2015. Former winner Paulina Vega, who is also from Colombia, went onstage and took the crown from Gutierrez and placed it on Wurtzbach's head before the broadcast went off the air. Gutierrez told the radio station (via Latin Times) that she thought that Harvey was playing a joke on everyone. "It was very humiliating for me, but also for the whole country and for all the people not only from Colombia but the other Latinos that were in the auditorium," she said. Gutierrez also gave her take on the rumors and speculation that the organization wanted to achieve high ratings and publicity, saying, "If that was the goal, they succeeded." Following the incident, former Miss Universe Pageant owner Donald Trump went on the "Today" show and said that both Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines should be declared as co-winners. Gutierrez commented on Trump's statements and said, "For the first time, I agree with him." The 22-year-old then said that the pageant could have done things differently and that they should have announced the mistake at another event. "They could have done it, I don't know, the next day in a press conference or a press release," she said. U.S.-led coalition kills ISIS leader linked to Paris terror attacks; 9 other senior jihadists killed in airstrikes A Syrian-based member of the Islamic State (ISIS), who authorities claimed had a direct link to the ringleader of the Paris bomb attacks, was killed in an airstrike in Syria a day before Christmas, U.S officials said. Nine other senior ISIS leaders were killed in the last few weeks during bombing campaigns by the coalition forces, the officials added. "Ten senior ISIS leaders operating in both Iraq and Syria, including several external attack planners with designs on attacking Western targets, had been killed in airstrikes,'' according to Col. Steve Warren, spokesman for the coalition, CNN reported. "I think any organisation that sees its middle and upper management degraded in this way is going to lose some of their synergy. It's difficult to command and control an organisation without the command and control personnel," Warren commented. However, he noted that despite this, there is much more fighting to be done. "We have not severed the head of this snake yet, and it has still got has fangs," the spokesman said. Charaffe al Mouadan, one of the slain ISIS leaders, was believed to be an operative closely linked to Abdelhamid Abaoud, the Belgian-born ring leader of the terror attacks in Paris, and was "actively planning additional attacks in the West.'' Abaaoud was killed in a police raid in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis last month following the terror attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015 which killed some 130 people, reports said. A source told CNN that French investigators had not suspected al-Mouadan to be an ISIS leader but confirmed that he was in touch with the Paris plotters days before the attack. Investigators are still determining the role, if any, he played in the attacks. The source also said that al-Mouadan was a close associate of Samy Amimour, one of the gunmen who stormed the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. News on the slain ISIS leaders came amid stepped-up effort by the Obama administration to broadcast its success against ISIS. In a meeting with his national security team at the Pentagon on Dec. 14, President Obama told military commanders that he wanted to see a better job of having the so-called "narrative" of the war on ISIS communicated to the American people, a senior defence official said. In recent months, the coalition has killed other senior ISIS figures, such as Mohammed Emwazi, aka "Jihadi John." Before that, Abu Sayyaf, a senior figure in the group's oil and petroleum operations, was likewise killed in an airstrike. ISIS has been weakened following air campaigns by both the coalition and Russia since September. The Pentagon said the number of ISIS fighters killed has increased considerably as Iraqi forces drove them out of Ramadi this week, seven months after occupying it. ISIS forces in the capital of Iraq's Anbar province peaked at close to 1,000, the Pentagon estimates, but shrank to 300 or so as the final battle for control of the city began a month ago. Since then, U.S.-led airstrikes have killed at least 100 more, according to U.S officials. A Houston man accused of leading police on an hour-long, slow-moving chase has a lengthy criminal record including methamphetamine possession, floating bad checks and purse snatching, records show. Brett Allen Poppenhesun, 34, was being held Friday on $15,000 bond for allegedly evading arrest and driving while intoxicated during a New Year's Eve chase broadcast on the TV news, court records show. Authorities said he refused to pull over for officers who suspected he was driving a vehicle stolen around 5:50 p.m., and instead led them on a pursuit that involved driving into a shopping center, hopping a curb and ramming police cars. The chase ended after Poppenhesun turned into a dirt lot near Eastex Freeway and Hopper Road and police officers surrounded the SUV. Poppenhesun reportedly told authorities that he had used meth prior to the chase. Looking drawn, he said little during a first court appearance Friday. His arrest record dates to 1998 and includes methamphetamine possession, writing bad checks and mostly petty theft. In 2003, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he snatched a woman's purse while she was holding her 2-year-old son, records show. Two men in ski masks burst into a crowded restaurant Friday night in an apparent robbery and then shot and killed a customer in front of his family when he tried to resist, according to the Houston Police Department. The name of the slain man was not immediately released, police said. A single-car accident around noon Saturday claimed the life of a 28-year-old man who lost control of his car in the 14200 block of West Lake Houston Parkway, the Houston Police Department reported. The victim's name was not immediately released. A Baytown man wrestled away a deputy constable's gun while fighting with police at a home in north Harris County, officials said. About 5 p.m. Friday, Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables were sent to a home in the 13000 block of Stonefield to investigate a family disturbance. The man who lived there told deputy constables his daughter and her husband, Cardero Mitchell, 28, were upstairs fighting. The scene became explosive when the deputies tried to question Mitchell about what happened, authorities said. "He immediately begins to physically attack the officers," said Precinct 4 Constable Mark Hermann. "He saw these guys were in full uniform." He said the deputies used a Taser "several times" in an attempt to subdue Mitchell. "It had no affect on him," Hermann said. Mitchell managed to grab a pistol belonging to one of the deputies during a struggle at the home. Other deputies immediately pinned him to the ground. The gun Mitchell grabbed went off but nobody was struck, Hermann said. He was taken into custody and will be charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and disarming a police officer - both felonies. Hermann said he would like to see the charge upgraded to attempted capital murder but that decision would be up to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Mitchell was sentenced to six months in state jail after his conviction for trying in March 2008 to grab a Houston police officer's gun. A family violence case also is pending against him. Mitchell is accused of ramming his ex-girlfriend's car off the road in July 2015 and has been charged with aggravated assault on a family member. As many Texans recovered Friday from their New Years celebrations, a casually dressed assortment of Houstonians assembled for a special observance in the contemplative space that is the Rothko Chapel. At least 190 people were drawn to start their 2016 at the chapel built in 1971 by Dominique and John de Menil as a place of reflection for practitioners of all faiths. They had gathered to start the new year with a group meditation enhanced by vibrations from singing crystal bowls played by Dana Shamas, who operates Bayou Bliss Yoga in Houston. This is Shamas' fourth New Year's performance at the Rothko and many in the audience were repeat attendees. Shamas sat in the center of the oval chapel, dimly lit through a skylight by an overcast sky. Most of the audience sat on thick benches of darkly stained wood. Sixteen of the earliest arrivals sat crosslegged on gray floor mats, their hands placed palms up on their knees in a meditative pose. Seven translucent quartz bowls of different sizes and two clear quartz glasses, one like a very deep salad bowl and the other like a mammoth wine glass with no base, sat in front of her. On every wall hung the enormous Blackforms created by artist Mark Rothko. A pamphlet describes them as "black, hard-edged rectilinear forms ... placed against a closely hued ground," that at first glance appear to be great gray squares. The idea was to create art that would not be distracting. Before beginning, Shamas urges the audience members to "let your mind unfold beyond what it could be, you allow for the extraordinary. Allow the crown of your head to float up toward the sky." Shamas has no sheet music, no memorized routine. "I play these all through intuition," she said. "It always becomes what my head can come up with." Then she begins rubbing the edges of the bowls with wooden mallets, evoking high-pitched sounds that range from soothing to a near-shriek. The bowls pulse, groan and vibrate as Shamas strikes others to bring forth bell-like tones. The audience remains still, eyes closed, hands clasped during the 40-minute performance. "This is the perfect start" for the new year, said Vikki DeVito, 55, of Houston. The sound of the bowls lulled DeVito into a deep meditation. "You are fully awake but almost asleep at the same time," she said. Heidi Lehto, 35, of Houston, said she came for the group meditation, but the bowls enhanced the experience. "They are relaxing," Lehto said. "You can feel your body parts activated, tingling." Shamas, 38, educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of California at Berkeley, turned to yoga and the singing bowls after stints in investment banking, the European offices of the United States Agency for International Development in Europe and social enterprise firms. She was teaching yoga a few years ago when she decided to hear a renowned crystal bowl player who was performing in Houston. "I sat down near him and listened, and he handed me a mallet and said, 'Why don't you play?'" He seemed surprised at her virtuosity for a first-time player. Shamas bought her own set of crystal bowls and began using them to help her students transcend their consciousness. "I found an extremely effective tool to get people out of their minds," Shamas said. Aside from their soothing sounds, the bowls were a forgiving instrument. No matter how they were touched the bowls never emitted a sour note. "Maybe I should do something easy," Shamas thought when she first started. Four years ago, she got a phone call asking her to perform on New Year's Day at the Rothko Chapel. She has performed every year since. Each one of the performances is affected by the attitudes of the audience and the site. "Depending on the place or the audience, how they play changes," she said. For more than a century a rambling corrugated-tin building in what was once a farming community northwest of Houston hosted shooting contests, community gatherings, weddings, reunions, covered-dish suppers and receptions. On weekends Merle Haggard, Doug Kershaw, Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, Asleep at the Wheel and many other country-music legends kept waltzers, two-steppers and schottische dancers happy as they circled the red-oak dance floor on the building's second floor. The old, white-washed structure in Cypress was a gathering place for families, where mom and dad on a Saturday night could drink a little beer and two-step around the dance floor while the kids pretty much took care of themselves. "I can't tell you how many people have told me they had their first drink, their first dance, their first fight at Tin Hall," owner Mark Martinez told me. No more. The Tin Hall Dance Hall and Saloon, the oldest dance hall in Harris County, hosted its final event on New Year's Eve. Maybe Tin Hall will pop up elsewhere one of these days - Martinez says a new location is in the works - but for a whole lot of people who gathered for its Auld Lang Syne send-off, things will never be the same. "Cuss words, cuss words and more freakin words," someone commented on the Tin Hall Facebook page. "This is so sad. No it is a crime!!!" "Crime, it is a crime that this is not a historical landmark," another fumed. "Houston I'm born and raised you make me so angry. The Astrodome and Tin Hall." The original frame building was constructed in 1878 by German immigrant farmers who settled the area, but somebody forgot to watch the pot-bellied stove and the place burned down not long afterward. The Cypress Gun and Rifle Club constructed the current metal building and adjacent shooting range in 1889. The club also rented out Tin Hall to local groups, including area dairy farmers, and added a second story in the 1920s to accommodate a 4,400-square-foot dance floor. The bottom floor is a bar. Memory lane Tin Hall down through the decades has been a dance hall, not a honky tonk, the difference being that it might get loud on a weekend night but rarely rowdy. The place is more akin to the community-gathering places in small German, Polish and Czech communities in nearby Washington and Fayette counties where you would bring the whole family on a Saturday night. Its heyday as a live-music venue lasted from the 1970s until the early 2000s. "It was a time when people listened to the same music their parents listened to," Cathy Donovan reminded me on New Year's Eve. "That doesn't happen anymore." Donovan, a GED teacher at a private prison in nearby Cleveland, had come with her husband to commemorate the closing. Mike Donovan started coming to Tin Hall with his buddies when they were in high school at Spring in the mid-1970s and remembers how the person at the door would staple a ticket to your shirt collar to designate whether you were old enough to buy beer. "It would be wall-to-wall crowded out on the dance floor," he said. "It might be a hundred degrees out there. You'd be sweatin' standing still." Upstairs on New Year's Eve, the dance floor wasn't wall-to-wall, but it was crowded as couples young and not-so-young danced to the sounds of the Lonely Road Band. "It's busier than usual, because it's our last hurrah at this location," Martinez said, taking a break from tending bar downstairs. Martinez, 45, is a burly New Orleans native who's been in the restaurant and bar business for a number of years. He bought Tin Hall in 2014. His place is having to close because the Cypress area is no longer pasture land for German dairy farmers. As recently as the 1970s, you had to know where you were going to find it, Mike Donavan recalled. "It was the only thing out here." The 26,000-square-foot hall, set amid 40 wooded acres, has been squeezed out by today's Cypress - strip malls lining clogged freeways, apartment complexes, subdivisions and master-planned communities. MHI McGuyer Homebuilders has bought the site and expects to be selling single-family, half-million-dollar homes by the end of the year. 'Worth preserving' Tin Hall's demise is not surprising, said Patrick Cox, a historian and writer who serves on the board of a nonprofit group called Texas Dance Hall Preservation ("Saving Texas dance halls one two-step at a time"). Although historic dance halls are still in use - think of the John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes, the Reo Palm Isle in Longview, the Quihi Gun Club and Dance Hall near Castroville - many are at risk, particularly if they're in the path of amoeba-like suburban sprawl. Once there were at least a thousand around the state, but even in the small towns many have disappeared through lack of interest or because old buildings are hard to maintain (or because the little towns themselves are drying up and disappearing). Just 400 are still standing. Luckenbach Dance Hall, made famous by Willie and Waylon, and Greune Hall, on the Guadalupe River just north of New Braunfels, are the only two that operate daily. "We're trying to raise awareness about these sites," Cox said. "They're worth preserving for a variety of reasons." 'Country twang' In the words of Stephen Dean, co-founder of the preservation group, Texas dance halls were "iconic structures that have played a prominent role in the state's culture from its earliest stages. They became central institutions in the earliest European settlements and provided these immigrant communities with a common, central space in which to build new ways of life in a new land." Martinez vows to preserve Tin Hall, as well. He says he's found a Houston mover who can deconstruct the building into six parts and reassemble it on a new site. Martinez says he's located that site, 20 wooded acres closer to "the center of the universe - Cypress, Texas." He only needs eight acres for what he envisions, something resembling Tipitina's in New Orleans, "with a country twang." He's confident Tin Hall will rise again. "So what's happening is," he says, "you've got all these youths who grew up in Cypress and gone away to college and now they're coming back. And then you've got the 40-somethings who live out here, and they want to go somewhere they can bring their kids, have a beer and enjoy themselves and just hang out with friends. It's the old tradition I'm trying to recreate." It will still be Tin Hall in name, Martinez says, and, he hopes, in spirit. Reading the Facebook messages, I'm guessing folks will let him know if it's not. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Houston's 283rd murder in 2015 took place in a north Houston hotel room. Police said an angry boyfriend stabbed his 34-year-old girlfriend as her two sons, aged 16 and 18, tried to fight him off. Monica Balderas' death on Dec. 19 marked another grim datapoint in the any increasingly bloody year, as authorities in both Houston and unincorporated Harris County battled a rise in murders, mirroring similar increases in other large cities across the country. Baltimore, for example, has seen killings rise more than 50 percent, while St. Louis has experienced an increase of more than 60 percent, and Milwaukee has seen a similar increase of more than 76 percent. Though official numbers are not yet available, preliminary data from the Houston Police Department shows the city reported 297 murders by the end of 2015, a 23 percent increase over the 242 slayings the city recorded in 2014. In unincorporated Harris County, the number of people murdered in 2015 also rose sharply, to 90, from 68 in 2014. The 32-percent spike was lower than in 2013, however, when 106 people were slain across Harris County. Theories abound as to the rise in murders nationally, from increasing populations to more gang violence to law enforcement agencies less willing to engage civilians because of the heightened scrutiny they have received over the last 18 months. However, police and experts in Houston stop short of attributing the spike in fatalities to any single factor. "To me, nothing has jumped out as far as motive or nature or players, be it drugs, gangs, or anything like that," said Capt. Dwayne Ready, with the Houston Police Department's homicide division. While the increase in murders here was potentially troubling, it was in line with past years, said Stephanie Karas, a lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Houston-Downtown. In 2010, for example, Houston police investigated 269 murders, according to FBI data. The following year, the city recorded just 198 murders, the lowest point in five decades. Teasing out the cause of this year's increase is tricky, she said. "Usually there's not just one factor," she said. "We want to identify something that's the culprit and when we can't do that, that's a tough pill to swallow." Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland said Houston's upward tick in murders is consistent with trends in other large U.S. cities. "We don't know why some years murders go up and some years murders go down," he told the Houston Chronicle. "Even though they may be up in calendar year 2015 - two, three years ago they were at record lows," he said. "But the dynamics and demographics haven't changed... The basic motive for murder is drugs, some type of money, or passion. And the people who are victims and the people who are suspects are young, minority men. And many times they're carrying guns unlawfully." Violence among young men and the availability of guns are often cited as driving forces in the city's murder rate. McClelland said the department has shifted strategies over the past year and begun working more closely with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, to address the situation. "We're trying to figure out how some of these suspects are getting access to the guns," he said. "Are they stealing them, buying them from someone through straw purchases?" He said the suspects in many cases "are not qualified to purchase a gun." Moments after Balderas' death, Estanislao Balderas, her 30-year-old brother, got a call from his nephew, hysterical. The teen told him he and his brother had tried unsuccessfully to fight off Balderas' irate on-again, off-again boyfriend, who police said stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife. Police arrested 38-year-old Abelardo Narvaez immediately, after finding him hiding in the apartment. He had previously been charged with family violence, for abusing Balderas over the course of 2014, but had never been arrested. Locally, police dealt with many cases where more than one fatality stemmed from the same incident. In unincorporated Harris County, for example, 12 people died in just three incidents - the most shocking being the slaughter of a family living in northwest Harris County in August. Police charged David Conley, ex-boyfriend of one of the victims, with capital murder, he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, her husband and six of his ex-girlfriend's children. That followed similar incidents in Harris County in 2014, when 10 people from two families were murdered in two separate incidents. In Houston, multiple murders claimed at least 22 lives, half of which occurred in the first two months of 2015, according to Houston police data. Criminologists and police say there is not enough evidence to suggest a crime wave and noted that many cities continue to experience a drop in, or steady rate of, crime. According to a recent report from New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice, murder rates in 30 of the nation's largest cities have increased about 15 percent but overall crime in those cities has dropped by about 5 percent. "While Americans in urban areas have experienced more murders this year than last year, they are safer than they were five years ago and much safer than they were 25 years ago," the authors wrote. Locally, the region's growth was another factor potentially pushing murders upward, experts said. "It's not surprising the number of homicides and manslaughters is rising - just because the population is growing," said William King, a professor and associate dean at Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice. State data projects the Harris County's population rose by 80,000 in 2015, to approximately 4.4 million people living in the county by the end of the year. King noted that this year's murder count in Houston remained well below the city's highest levels, such as when 678 people were slain in 1982, at the height of the crack epidemic, when cities across the country were riven by high homicide and murder rates. Some national law enforcement officials also have blamed the rise in murders on a so-called "Ferguson effect," referring to the riots and protests that broke out in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014 after an officer-involved shooting of an unarmed black man there. Police have come under heightened scrutiny in the last year and a half following other lethal interactions with citizens, like the death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy shot to death by a Cleveland police officer while playing with a toy gun at a park. Earlier this year, FBI Director James B. Comey partly blamed a spike in crime on hostile attitudes towards law enforcement and a subsequent fall in morale among the nation's police. "I don't know whether that explains it entirely, but I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind that has blown through American law enforcement over the last year," he said in October at the University of Chicago Law School. However, other law enforcement officials or crime experts have questioned the validity of those claims or argued there is not enough data to prove it. "You have a lot of people using the so-called 'Ferguson effect' to advance their own agendas," said Larry Karson, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Houston-Downtown, pointing towards statements by police chiefs or unions. "At this point there's no evidence of a 'Ferguson effect' other than some people pushing an ideological agenda with it. Nationally, crime has dropped and continues to drop." Capt. Ready said that domestic violence incidents - like the one that claimed Balderas' life - could be especially hard to prevent. "The ones that occur in the home, they're very hard to deter and make an impact on," he said. "They happen behind closed doors. We either may not get a call, and certainly there's nothing we can do as far as visibility to be a deterrence like we can on the corners where gangs are involved or drugs are involved." Balderas' six siblings, meanwhile, spent Christmas mourning the loss of their sister. Her brother Estanislao Balderas said some relatives had leaned on their faith to cope but when they remembered Balderas, the grief remained raw. "They say time heals all wounds, but time isn't helping so much in this case," he said. The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p. The push by France's Socialist government after the Paris attacks to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move and some on the left expressing indignation over what they call a divisive measure. French President Francois Hollande submitted the proposal three days after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 dead, in a shift to a hard line on security. The idea appears to have strong support in French public opinion. Several polls over the past week suggest that 80 to 90 percent of the French are in favor of the measure. Under French law, citizenship revocation may be applied only to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French born, and the step is rarely taken. The new rules would extend it to all dual nationals; it may not be applied to people who are citizens of only French, because France's obligations under international law prevent it from leaving a person stateless. Opponents of the measure say it would create two classes of citizens dual nationals who could lose their citizenship and others who cannot in opposition to the principle of equality set out in France's constitution. French authorities have not said how many of those arrested over the Paris attacks are dual nationals. Prominent Socialist Party figures, including former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, have publicly expressed their disapproval, but Hollande has stuck to his guns. "France must take the good decisions beyond traditional party divisions," he said in a New Year's Eve speech. While the left is divided, Hollande is getting unusual support from the right. The far-right National Front has claimed that it originated the idea. "Terrorists don't deserve French citizenship, because French citizenship is an honor," the vice president of the party, Florian Philippot, told France Info radio. Other members of the conservative opposition, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy, have also largely supported the proposal, while calling for more security measures. The government says the new measure would apply to very few people. The issue remains highly sensitive in France, as some have compared it to the revocation of citizenship of Jews and members of the French Resistance during World War II, when the Vichy government collaborated with German authorities. The regime revoked the citizenship of more than 15,000 naturalized and 500 French-born people, including Gen. Charles de Gaulle. "It's dangerous because you start wanting to revoke the citizenship of some people, then take a step further," said Socialist Sen. Samia Ghali. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended the action this week. "This is a strong symbolic act that punishes those who excluded themselves from the national community. Nothing less, nothing more," he said in a written statement. France first adopted the revocation of citizenship in 1848 for those who refused to accept the abolition of slavery, he recalled. The constitutional change, to be debated in Parliament in February, requires a minimum three-fifths majority vote from lawmakers. About 50 human rights and anti-racist organizations and unions have launched a petition to reject the measure. Some human rights defenders consider the proposal implicitly targets France's Muslim community, the largest in Western Europe, including many French-born with Moroccan, Tunisian or Algerian origins. The Paris attacks were carried out in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, largely by French and Belgian fighters. Some of them were of Moroccan descent. The possibility of revoking the citizenship of all dual nationals not only the naturalized ones exists in Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. In the U.S., a person may have his or her naturalization revoked for being a member of the Communist Party, a totalitarian party or a terrorist organization within five years of naturalization. The measure does not apply to natural-born U.S. citizens. The Associated Press Marin Alsop Says Riots and Violence Were Necessary for Baltimore to Reform Baltimore Police Captain Robert Jackson listens to a protester at the site of last Aprils riots after todays mistrial in the trial of Baltimore police Officer William G. Porter, December 16, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The judge declared a mistrial on third day of deliberations in PorterOs trial, which is the first of six trials of police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray. (Photo : Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The violence that rocked the city of Baltimore in the summer of 2015 help shed light on the pressing issue of police violence prevalent throughout the nation. For Baltimore Symphony Orchestra director Marin Alsop, she feels the violence was essential in helping reform the city. The Baltimore Sun cited an interview with BBC News earlier this week in which Alsop said to reporter Razia Iqbal, "It's heartbreaking that we haven't dealt with these issues, that it requires violence, which I think it does require, to be honest, to change this equation." But Alsop's remark was in context with Iqbal's interpretation of Baltimore as portrayed by the media. Iqbal noted the show The Wire as an statement of the city as a place where "young African American men [are] being gunned down by the state." When Baltimore exploded with a series of riots pitting police officers against the black community, Alsop also mentioned that it was a "starting point for healing" and was inevitable with the intensifying racial climate pervading the city. Her statement, though, comes with a solution. Obviously, the director has helped shape an image for female conductors abound she also founded the OrchKids program, which provides opportunities for children in the city. In an earlier interview with The Economist, Alsop remarked that while it is heartbreaking and terrifying, it's not surprising. She said, "I decided that we needed to be part of, not 'a solution' necessarily, but rather 'a creation' for young people." She concluded, "Music can be a refuge and a pathway, so we started an after-school program with thirty children." In addition, the Alsop and the BSO responded to the riots by putting on a concert for peace at Mondawmin Mall within 36 hours of the hearing the news. Alsop will continue to help the city of Baltimore with the BSO. Check out her and the orchestra in a performance below. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsMarin Alsop, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, OrchKids John Williams Reveals Why Each 'Star Wars' Character Received Theme Music (L-R) Actors Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyge and more than 6000 fans enjoyed a surprise 'Star Wars' Fan Concert performed by the San Diego Symphony, featuring the classic 'Star Wars' music of composer John Williams, at the Embarcadero Marina Park South on July 10, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo : Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) There are plenty on nuances in Star Wars: The Force Awakens that are telling of characters and their back stories. Perhaps none more telling is John Williams' underlying score that provides a unique insight into each persona through theme music. Warning: May contain spoilers. If you have seen the film (and let's face it, you should have by now) then you were witness to new additions to the Star Wars universe and its ever-expanding cast of new faces. The most recognizable to date is, of course, Kylo Ren as played by Adam Driver. Ren, who is this generation's Darth Vader, is accompanied by his own theme music. But, while the "Imperial March" is hard to rival, Ren's anthem may convey more to his character than a just a bad ass song to walk out to. Williams commented in an interview about composing the leitmotif: "There's a more ruminative part that is usually done softly. I don't think it portrays any particular weakness, but possibly hesitancy. But then there's the motif that's often strong, that seems to be the embodiment of evil. I thought that it should be a relative of Darth Vader, but also something entirely different in terms of melody." Another character introduced is the origin-less Rey, who is one of the only personas Williams composed an entire arrangement to be performed in concert. Per a list conjured up at Mashable, Rey's theme, "May sound tentative during her solitude on Jakku, but it gradually takes on more emotional depth and eventually conveys real heroism." There are more faces that were also given their own unique musical color, including the adroit pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega) and so on. Be sure to take a glimpse at the list and if you haven't already, check out some of the music below. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsStar wars the force awakens, John Williams Republican Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz Talks Star Wars Force Awakens and Han Solo Love Defense Initiative to John McCains campaign theme song. This tale of a moisture farmer and his father has struck a chord with Americans from the lowest rung of the the ladder to the highest office in all the land. Now Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz is revealing just how strong he is with the Force, as well the non-Force sensitive Han Solo. He even skipped the Dem debate to check out The Force Awakens. Recently, presidential candidate Ted Cruz appeared on WREC Geek Tank Radio (via Politico): Ever since I was a little kid I would read comic books and [I] grew up on sci-fi. That lifelong love for science fiction lead Cruz to skip the recent Democratic debate and check out The Force Awakens: Thankfully Saturday night we had a little bit of down time and I had a choice, I could either watch the Democratic debate or go see Star Wars. I have to admit I didnt agonize even a fraction of a second on that choice. Cruz went on to discuss his love for Han Solo, who you should know by know has died a horribly, horribly written death: For anyone who grew up idolizing Han Solo, as I did as a kid, there is an image in this movie that was traumatic at a level that will be permanently seared onto my mind forever. What do you think about Cruzs comments? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsReb, Presidential, Candidate, Ted Cruz, Star Wars Force Awakens, Han Solo, Love Beachwood city council.jpg Beachwood city officials have been advised to get out the good word. (Jeff Piorkowski) BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- A three-page public relations advisory in Beachwood, a new police chief in Cleveland Heights, a $1 million road-paving fund in University Heights and a free wheelchair-accessible van for a couple in Shaker Heights all made the news this week. Here's a rundown: This week we learned what Beachwood received for the $15,000 it paid last summer to kglobal, a Washington, D.C. crisis management firm. Kglobal, after meeting several times with city officials, produced a three-page advisory on how to respond to negative publicity. Kglobal recommended that the city recruit Beachwood government supporters - including residents, municipal workers and businesses - to go online and respond to anonymous, negative comments. The critical comments appear at the end of Internet news stories, including those on cleveland.com. Beachwood also needs to communicate more, kglobal said. City officials writing their own blogs would increase the amount of positive information about the city on the Internet. We also learned that kglobal wanted Beachwood to pay another $8,000-$9,000 for services it said were above and beyond the original $15,000 contract. City Council said no but did approve $1,300 in travel expenses, which were part of the original contract. In February, Cleveland Heights will appoint a new police chief -- Capt. Annette Mecklenburg -- who will replace Jeffrey Robertson, who is retiring. Mecklenburg, who has worked in the Cleveland Heights Police Department since 1990 and lives in the city, will take the oath in February. Mecklenburg earned a law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2001. Right now, only one Cuyahoga County municipality, Woodmere, now has a woman police chief, according to Robert Bruckner, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association. The Woodmere chief is Sheila Mason. Robertson deferred questions about Mecklenburg -- including whether the city considered other candidates for the job, and what process the city followed in filling the position -- to City Manager Tanisha Briley, who was not available for comment earlier this week. University Heights will set aside $1 million for road paving projects in 2016, correspondent Tom Jewell reported. The money is part of a $2.3 million budget surplus that will be carried over into the new year, although that number could go higher, said city Finance Director Larry Heiser as he was closing the books on 2015. So what, you say? "We've never had a million-dollar street program," said University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld, who has steadily increased amounts allocated for paving, beginning with a $300,000 allocation in 2012. Finally, a Cleveland Heights business is allowing a Shaker Heights couple to rent a wheelchair-accessible van for free after their own van was stolen on Christmas Eve, cleveland.com reporter Evan MacDonald wrote. See the video. A white 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan was stolen from Mike and Theresa Durbin's garage during a break-in while the two were asleep in their house. The van had a ramp that allowed Mike, who has multiple sclerosis, to enter it in his motorized wheelchair. Motorcars Mobility of Cleveland Heights told the couple that they could use one of the company's vans until their own is found or until they buy a replacement. Now that's some good news to start the new year. That's it for now but don't forget to check in next week for more news from the Heights and Beachwood. Screen Shot 2016-01-02 at 12.01.02 PM.png LeBron James shared this picture on Instagram after a Ferguson, Mo. grand jury chose not to indict a police officer in the shooting death of teen Mike Brown. James says he doesn't know enough about the Tamir Rice case to comment. (LeBron James' Instagram) INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - LeBron James declined to clarify today what more he needs to know about the Tamir Rice case to offer his opinion, saying he gave "everything I had in Denver about the situation." "That's as far as I'm going to go with it," James said, following the Cavaliers' morning shootaround in preparation for tonight's game against Orlando. "I've already talked about it. I don't feel like right now that I'm going to comment right now." James has been panned by some activists and commentators for his pleading of ignorance Tuesday, when following a win over Denver he was asked for his thoughts on a Cuyahoga County grand jury's decision not to indict two Cleveland police officers in connection with the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was shot by police in November, 2014. James, who in recent past has taken action in protesting police violence against African-Americans, said "for me, I've always been a guy who's took pride in knowledge of every situation that I've ever spoke on. And to be honest, I haven't really been on top of this issue, so it's hard for me to comment. I understand that any lives that's lost, what we want more than anything is prayer and the best for the family, for anyone. But for me to comment on the situation, I don't have enough knowledge about it." James also said that night that "the issue is bigger than LeBron." "This issue is bigger than me, it's about everyone," he said. "And gun violence and tragedies and kids losing lives at a young age, some way, somehow we need to understand that that matters more than just an individual." In connection with the Cleveland protests over the Rice case, a small movement on social media developed calling for James to sit out games for the Cavaliers until the U.S. Department of Justice joined the case. Demurring from that call, by offering that "this issue is bigger than me," isn't what drew the ire of some activists toward James. That statement was similar to what he's said about other cases in New York, Missouri, and Florida. James, through his status as one of the most recognized and influential athletes on the planet, has become somewhat of a source for perspective on issues of race in the United States. He's also been careful in offering his commentary, and seldom criticizes police specifically (save for one instance). It was that he said he didn't know enough to comment about the Rice case, which happened in northeast Ohio, while in the past he's been outspoken about instances of violence toward unarmed blacks in other communities, that's gotten him in a little trouble. Chris Haynes, who covers the Cavaliers for Cleveland.com, raised some of these criticisms in a column detailing how he was profiled by Portland, Ore. police three years ago posted on New Year's Day. But Haynes also said one must consider what he would do or has done in similar situations before criticism James for his reaction. Last season, James and Kyrie Irving wore "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts in protest of a Staten Island grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the choking death of Eric Garner. This was the closest James came to speaking out against police. When a Ferguson, Mo. grand jury chose not to indict a police officer in the shooting of Mike Brown last year, James posted to Instagram an illustration of Brown walking in embrace with Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in 2012 in Florida by someone on neighborhood watch, even though Martin was unarmed. But in the Brown case, James wasn't critical of police, specifically. James was among those who led the Miami Heat in a protest of the Martin case in 2012. James could always revisit the Rice case with the media, or offer further comments through Uninterrupted, the on-line platform for athletes he created with The Bleacher Report. Lakewood police station.JPG Lakewood police are investigating multiple burglary and breaking and entering reports. (Patrick Cooley, cleveland.com) Theft, Beach Road: At 9:51 a.m. Dec. 28, a raft was reported stolen from Clifton Lagoons. Theft, Clifton Boulevard: At 1:06 p.m. Dec. 28, a drug test was reported stolen from a Lakewood CVS Pharmacy. Disorderly conduct, Edgewater Drive: At 1:22 a.m. Dec. 27, police received a report that a woman was shouting and trying to break down an apartment door in the Marine Towers East building. Police arrested the woman on suspicion of disorderly conduct while intoxicated. Breaking and Entering, Edgewater Drive: At 12:25 p.m. Dec. 27, a Lakewood man said someone broke into his apartment through a back door, knocked over some items on the windowsill, and left dirt on the couch. The man said several small items were missing. An hour later, a man said his aunt's Thoreau Avenue home was rummaged through. The man said he didn't know if the doors had been locked. Suspicious activity, Detroit Avenue: At 2:13 p.m. Dec. 27, employees of a Lakewood Marc's said they saw a man with a full bag run out of the store. Employees said they didn't see him take anything, but he had been loitering and they wanted him advised that he was no longer welcome there. Bicycle theft, Edgewater Drive: At 5:30 p.m. Dec. 27, a bicycle was reported stolen from a Marine Towers garage. Shoplifting, Clifton Boulevard: At 5:26 p.m. Dec. 26, police received a report that a man took cosmetics from a Clifton Boulevard pharmacy and ran. Officers were unable to find anyone matching the description employees provided. Burglary, Clifton Boulevard: At 6:57 a.m. Dec. 26, police received a report that someone broke into a residence in Hidden Village Apartments. Attempted burglary, Delaware Avenue: At 10:25 p.m. Dec. 25, a woman said a screen door was removed from her home and she suspected someone was trying to get inside. Vandalism, Clifton Boulevard: At 3:36 a.m. Dec. 24, police received a report that a female wearing dark clothing broke a window on a Clifton Boulevard apartment building. Bar fight, Detroit Avenue: At 1:01 a.m. Dec. 23, police responded to a report of two men fighting in The Avenue Taphouse. One of the men was gone by the time police arrived, the other was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct while intoxicated, turned over a sober friend and warned never to return to the bar. Burglary, Cove Avenue: At 10:26 a.m. Dec. 23, a Cove Avenue man said someone broke into his apartment through a window and took $40. Package theft, Giel Avenue: At 3:03 p.m. Dec. 23, a Giel Avenue man said someone opened a package delivered to his front porch and took the contents. Later in the day, a package delivered to a Lake Avenue home was reported stolen. BRUNSWICK, Ohio - Medina County Common Pleas Court Judge Joyce V. Kimbler decided in August not to take the death penalty off the table for a Brunswick man accused of killing his mother. This was one of the top news stories in Brunswick in 2015. James D. Tench, 29, faces capital punishment in a case that charges him with three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and tampering with evidence. His mother, Mary Tench, was found dead inside her car on Nov. 12, 2013. She died of multiple blunt trauma injuries to her head and neck, including a fractured skull. 2. Medina County's first woman police chief retires: Sharon MacKay, the county's first woman police chief, retired in January after five years at the helm of the Brunswick Hills Township Police Department. MacKay came to the township in July 2009 after 29 years with the Cleveland Police Department, where she rose to the rank of lieutenant. 3. Brunswick High School combats bullying, teen suicide: The school district has developed a new systemic approach to address the issues of teen suicide and bullying after the suicides of two Brunswick High School students within days of each other back in 2014. The program focuses on three vital mental health areas: the impact of social media, bullying among teenagers, and teen suicide. 4. Brunswick celebrates its Bicentennial: The city celebrated its Bicentennial with various events throughout the year. The biggest bash was the 2015 Brunswick Summer Celebration June 30 through July 5, featuring a Civil War encampment, concerts, an exhibit of historical photographs, a parade and fireworks. 5. Wish comes true for 4-year-old heart patient: A Special Wish Cleveland made 4-year-old Vivian Andorf's dream of taking a ride on a school bus come true this fall. Vivian, who has a complex form of heart disease that has required three open-heart surgeries and a dozen heart catheterizations, isn't able to attend school. But she loves seeing the bus come down her street. Brunswick City Schools Superintendent Michael Mayell arranged the special bus ride to Chuck E. Cheese in Parma, which opened just for Vivian that day. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On a bitterly cold New Year's Day afternoon, more than 100 activists marched from Impett Park to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty's home on Cleveland's West Side to deliver a message. The group, protesting a grand jury's decision not to indict two Cleveland police officers in the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, intends to keep the pressure on. Protesters began to gather about noon on Friday at Impett Park on West 153rd Street. Before the march to McGinty's home, members of the diverse group circled in the center of the park to reiterate their demands. Protesters staging a "die-in," laid on the sidewalk outside Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty's home, for four minutes to symbolize the four minutes Tamir Rice went without medical treatment after he was shot in November 2014. Nearly all previous protests following Monday's grand jury decision had been held in downtown Cleveland, but Friday's march was intended to send a stronger message. "This was to solidify to the community that this is not over," activist Edward Little said. "We are moving into a new year and we will not have business as usual." Marchers cheered as a group leader yelled for the resignation or removal of McGinty from his position; the firing of Cleveland police officers Timothy Loehmann and his partner Frank Garmback; the initiation of a federal investigation into Tamir's death and the use of an independent prosecutor for use-of-force cases. "We are prepared to hold Prosecutor McGinty responsible for his inability to fulfill the duties of his job as prosecutor, not defense attorney," James Hayes, an organizer with the Ohio Student Association, said after the march. Police presence was heavy and obvious, with police cars trailing the group as it traveled. Residents sat on their front steps and stood in their front windows, watching the march and taking photos. The group was told by police that McGinty was inside his home, but the prosecutor did not come outside. Officers lined the driveway, preventing protesters from getting too close to the home. While gathered outside the house, activists were given the opportunity to speak and air their grievances with McGinty, Cleveland police and the justice system. Latonya Goldsby, Tamir's cousin and spokeswoman for the family, addressed those gathered. Goldsby said the Rice family does not accept the grand jury's decision and called it "ridiculous." Other speakers called for unity and strength among the demonstrators in the coming months, as well as for a large turnout to vote against McGinty in the 2016 election. Before the group left McGinty's house to march back to the park, activists laid along the sidewalk outside the home and held a four-minute "die-in," with eyes closed for the amount of time Tamir was left without medical treatment after he was shot. Tamir was shot and killed outside the Cudell Recreation Center in late 2014 after Loehmann and Garmback responded to a report of someone with a gun. The 12-year-old had been playing with an airsoft pellet gun with the orange safety tip removed. Friday's march ended about 2 p.m., yet some activists regrouped at a nearby church to strategize about future direct and indirect actions to protest of the grand jury decision. Protest plans for Saturday have not yet been announced. McGinty did not have any comment about the protest when reached Friday evening. But his spokesman, Joe Frolik, said later in an emailed statement: "Every citizen has an absolute right to protest, and the death of a 12-year-old child was clearly a monumental tragedy caused by a series of mistakes by the Cleveland Police Department. But we hope people will respect the decision made another group of citizens-- the members of the Grand Jury. "Grand jurors conduct a thorough investigation. These citizens personally see, hear and question witnesses, and they reach a decision based on their oath. If you don't trust the grand jury, you don't trust your neighbors. "Police use of deadly force cases are critically important and need by reviewed by the citizens on the Grand Jury. In the past, prosecutors dismissed cases without a Grand Jury review; do we really want to return to that?" Tamir Rice protest: Group gathers at Justice Center Tuesday A group gathers at the Justice Center Tuesday afternoon in downtown Cleveland to protest the Tamir Rice decision. Demonstrators plan to gather outside the Q Saturday night ahead of the Cavs' game. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tamir Rice activists will be downtown Saturday, this time holding a rally outside Quicken Loans Arena prior to the Cavaliers' home game. Demonstrators are expected to gather outside the Q, starting at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Cleveland.com reporter Jane Morice will live-tweet the rally. (Follow @janemorice on Twitter.) Reporter Patrick Cooley will Periscope. (Follow @NEOhioCrimeNews on Periscope.) Saturday marks the sixth consecutive day of protests against Monday's announcement of the grand jury's decision not to indict the Cleveland police officers involved in Tamir's shooting death more than 13 months ago. The gathering outside the Q comes ahead of the first Cavaliers' home game since Dec. 23. After activists demanded Cavs star Lebron James sit out of games due to the decision, James said after Tuesday's game in Denver that he had not been "on top of the issue." James said Saturday that he would not speak more on the issue, for now. On Friday, a group of about 100 protesters marched from Impett Park to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty's home on Cleveland's West Side. While police confirmed that McGinty was home at the time of the demonstration, he did not come outside to speak with the group. police line do not cross.jpg Cleveland police arrested a 56-year-old woman in connection with a New Year's Day fatal stabbing. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 56-year-old Cleveland woman is in custody after police said she fatally stabbed her live-in boyfriend on New Year's Day. Her 62-year-old boyfriend was pronounced dead in the couple's Edmonton Avenue home. Cleveland police arrested the girlfriend, Charnetta McCray, at the scene. Officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance Friday and found the victim inside the Edmonton Avenue house with a stab wound to the chest. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Police found that McCray and her boyfriend started arguing earlier in the day, and the argument eventually turned into a fight. Drunken driving, York Road: On Dec. 21, an off-duty police officer called dispatch about a weaving dark-colored car on Sprague Road that was momentarily stuck in a ditch. The driver was able to get the vehicle out of the ditch. An on-duty police officer caught up with the car when it parked at the Crystal Keg. The officer said the driver was on his cell phone. He was overheard saying, "I'm probably getting arrested tonight." The officer said the car had a damaged front bumper, grill, headlight and quarter panel. The driver, who smelled like booze, told the officer that he had been texting his girlfriend when he went into the ditch. He admitted to drinking that evening. After failing a field sobriety test, the man was arrested for drunken driving. While being transported to the police station, the man said, "I work seven days a week and the one night I get drunk on my day off, this is my luck." He was also cited for not wearing a seatbelt, driving without two headlights and unsafe vehicle. Theft, Beaver Ridge Dr.: On Dec. 19, a North Royalton resident, 35, came to the police station to report someone broke into her garage. Stolen were more than 20 textbooks, a box of new Tupperware and miscellaneous auto parts. There was no sign of forced entry. Police are investigating. Marijuana possession, Ridge Road: On Dec. 22, police observed a white Hyundai Sonata turn without stopping. While talking to the driver, the officer smelled marijuana. It turned out the driver and her passenger had suspended licenses. While searching the car, the officer found two roaches in the driver's purse. There was also a short straw that she admitted using to snort cocaine. The driver was arrested for drug paraphernalia possession. That's when she admitted to shoving a baggie of marijuana in her pants. The woman was cited for the illegal turn and drug abuse. Drunken driving, York Road: On Dec. 19, police observed a weaving Dodge station wagon driving on York Road without any headlights. When the officer approached the car, the driver told him the window doesn't roll down. The man then attempted to get out of the car. The officer told him to stay put. That's when he pulled out his AAA card. The man denied drinking, saying he'd been sober since a drunken driving conviction many years ago. The officer smelled booze and noticed the driver had slurred speech. The driver failed a field sobriety test and admitted to "taking a cocktail of drugs." He was arrested. While searching the car, police found pill containers. He was also cited for weaving, driving left of center, slow speed and not having his headlights on. Read the most memorable stories from Strongsville in 2015. Mary Kilpatrick 1. Voters reject new tax for roads Strongsville voters in November rejected a new tax dedicated to improving roads. The city has 15 miles of streets in poor to fair condition, outgoing Ward 4 Councilman Scott Maloney said in a cleveland.com debate. The increase would have given the city about $1.4 million annually for road improvements for five years. Don't Edit Westwood Commons 2. Strongsville hopes to rejuvenate city center A cluster of high-end restaurants and shops, the Architectural Justice home design firm and cafe and Mitchell's Ice Cream are set to replace the dated intersection of Pearl Road and Westwood Drive, near City Hall. The redevelopment, called Westwood Commons, clicks with the city's goal to rejuvenate the center of Strongsville. The city hopes to let people to drive to the town center and only park once, easily traveling from place to place inside the boundaries. The city also asked the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for ideas to make walking and biking easier in its town center, from Pearl Road north to the Strongsville cemetery and from Royalton Road east to the Greens at Strongsville shopping center. That area includes Center Middle School and the planned Mitchell's Ice Cream and Westwood Commons shopping center. The study recommends adding sidewalks to Zvernia Lane and Pearl to the recreation center, creating a path for middle school students. It also recommends adding American with Disabilities Act compliant ramps to curbs and countdown pedestrian signals to the following intersections: Pearl and Royalton Pearl and Middle School Driveway Pearl and Westwood Road Royalton and Pearlview Drive Royalton and Greens of Strongsville Drive At Pearl and Royalton, the study recommends adding a pedestrian island, a space in the middle of the crosswalk for pedestrians who have walked a portion of the intersection. It also recommends adding a button that would extend the pedestrian crossing time. Don't Edit File photo 3. SouthPark Mall to open new shopping center SouthPark Mall purchased the former Giant Eagle across the parking lot from the mall on Royalton Road, and plans convert the building into a new shopping center. The Commons at SouthPark is expected to open in the spring of 2016, with six to eight tenants, SouthPark Mall Marketing Director Andy Selesnik said in July. Giant Eagle's realty arm, Echo Realty LP, on July 6 sold the building for $4.1 million to the owners of SouthPark Mall, the Starwood Group, according to the city's economic development department. SouthPark and Giant Eagle had a contractual agreement that gave the mall first dibs on buying the empty store before anyone else. The grocery store closed last fall as the new Giant Eagle Market District opened Pearl Road between Drake and Shurmer roads. Don't Edit File photo 4. Strongsville adding Royalton Road entrance lane to I-71 north Strongsville plans to cut congestion near SouthPark Mall by allowing a second lane of traffic on Royalton Road eastbound to flow onto Interstate 71 northbound, toward Cleveland. Drivers currently race each other to merge into the right-hand lane on Royalton Road (Ohio 82), to circle onto 71 northbound, Strongsville City Engineer Ken Mikula said. The second lane -- which will also allow drivers to continue eastbound on 82 -- is expected to calm the commuter sprint, and alleviate congestion. The $1.1 million Ohio Department of Transportation project is set to start in the spring of 2016, and wrap up in the fall. Federal money will pay for 90 percent of the project, and Strongsville will contribute about $117,000. Don't Edit Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com 5. Strongsville Schools to see $2.7 million in state cuts Strongsville Schools will lose about $2.7 million in state money over the next two years. The cuts will force tough decisions for a school system that hasn't asked voters for new operating tax money since 2007, Superintendent Cameron Ryba said. The district will receive about $522 less per pupil in 2016-17. "It's extremely disappointing and frustrating," Ryba said. "We're working hard. We've made cuts. We're been fiscally responsible." Nineteen of the 31 Cuyahoga County public school districts will receive less money next year, under the Ohio budget. Don't Edit Don't Edit Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com 6. Brew Kettle expected to open in 2016 The Brew Kettle, the city's only brewery, is expected to open a new restaurant, brewery and winery, with three patios and a party room, next year. Brew Kettle owner Chris Russo in September said he plans to move the current Strongsville operation into the new brewpub once it's complete. The brewery currently makes and distributes beer at a Progress Drive plant and runs a restaurant on Pearl Road. The Pearl Road taproom and smokehouse also allows patrons to brew small batches of beer for personal use. "We're basically going to try to combine both of our facilities under one roof," Russo said. "We're just really excited about." Customers will be able to make beer and wine at the new microbrewery, and snack on smokehouse fare at the restaurant. Brew Kettle also plans to manufacture bourbon, a new addition to its offerings, at the location. Don't Edit cleveland.com 7. Strongsville voters elected Gordon Short to Ward 4 City Council Strongsville voters elected Gordon Short to Ward 4 City Council in November, unseating Councilman Scott Maloney. Short won by 60.4 percent. The Ward 4 seat was the only contested race in Strongsville city government. Mayor Tom Perciak ran unopposed. Ward 1 Councilman Michael Daymut, Ward 2 Councilman Matthew Schonhut, and Ward 3 Councilman Jim Carbone also ran unopposed. Don't Edit File photo 8. Strongsville jewelry store robbed A Strongsville jewelry store employee told a police dispatcher that a gun-wielding man stole diamonds during a robbery in June. The masked man robbed Jared: The Galleria of Jewelry on Royalton Road on June 23. The unidentified man wearing a camouflage ski mask entered the store just before 10:30 a.m. carrying a duffel bag and a silver revolver. He forced an employee to hand over jewelry before leaving the store, police said. The masked man drove away in a white car. None of the store's employees saw the car, the employee said during the 911 call. Don't Edit Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com 9. Strongsville property values climb 2.5 percent Strongsville saw a 2.5 percent increase in property values over the past three years, during Cuyahoga County's three-year property value update. Other southern Cuyahoga County suburbs also saw home values increase: Brecksville by 4 percent, Broadview Heights by 3 percent and North Royalton by 1.2 percent. The numbers are good news for those thinking of selling their homes. But they mean paying higher taxes for most homeowners, since property values are the basis for all property tax bills. Some areas of Strongsville, Broadview Heights and North Royalton saw between 5 and 10 percent of property value increases. Other parts of Strongsville and North Royalton saw no increase. Don't Edit Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland.com 10. Strongsville teachers receive 1-percent raise under one-year contract Strongsville teachers received a 1-percent raise this year under a contract with the teachers union. Talks went smoothly this year, contrasting starkly with the last round of contract negotiations two years ago, when teachers walked out of classrooms for eight weeks and picketed schools. The school district and the Strongsville Education Association said their new collaborative, working relationship aided the smooth discussions. The agreement took effect Aug. 1 and runs through July 31, 2016. The deal includes updates to teacher evaluation and helps streamline payroll. Teachers' insurance packages will remain unchanged. Don't Edit LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Dairy producers in West Texas and eastern New Mexico are continuing to assess how many animals died in the winter storm last weekend, but the number will probably climb to more than 30,000, an official with a dairy group said. Texas Association of Dairymen executive director Darren Turley said an estimated 15,000 mature dairy cows died in the storms primary impact area from Lubbock west to Muleshoe and north to Friona which is home to half of the states top-10 milk producing counties and produces 40 percent of the states milk. An agent with New Mexico State Universitys extension service told Turley the area around Clovis, New Mexico, lost an estimated 20,000 dairy cows. The number of younger animals killed by Winter Storm Goliath in each state could be just as high as the mature cows, he said. There will be less milk coming from the region for a while, Turley said, The snow was just one part of Goliath. It was the wind that led to drifts as high as 14 feet, where many animals died. Wind will push animals into a fenced corner where they can suffocate in snow drifts. Its a once-in-a-lifetime (storm), Turley said. Its a bad deal for producers. The losses will affect production for about year, he said. During the storm dairy employees and tanker trucks from reaching farms. Hundreds of loads of milk ready for processing were wasted. Some cows normally milked twice a day went almost two days without being milked, which dries up the cows milk supply, Turley said. The ripples from that are going to depend on how fast those animals milk production comes back, Turley said. The Texas producers are working with state environmental officials to find ways to dispose of the carcasses. Some counties are allowing producers to put carcasses in their landfills. Andle van der Ploeg, owner of Mid-Frisian Dairy near Clovis, said Thursday that he lost just 10 animals, but feels great sympathy for producers he knows who lost hundreds of milk cows. It was unbelievable, he said. Andrew Bret Wallis | Getty Images For years, workers have feared how automation may threaten their jobs in the future. Now, their bosses may be feeling those same jitters. Consulting firm Accenture recently surveyed a wide group of managers about their attitudes on cognitive computing and the future of the workforce. The study conducted in August and September of this year across 17 different industries surveyed more than 1,700 managers and found that while many managers believe intelligent machines will make them more effective, some are concerned these machines may threaten their jobs in the future. These managers feel as though they are currently spending most of their time on tasks that intelligent machines can automate in the future, according to Accenture's findings. Source: Accenture Strategy Moreover, managers in the tech industry are most concerned that intelligent machines could threaten their positions: Some 50 percent in the survey felt this way, according to the firm. Managers in the banking sector also felt similarly (49 percent), as did bosses in the airline sector (42 percent), and retail (41 percent). White collar worries Accenture's findings dovetailed with growing worries in the white collar workforce over the threat posed to their jobs by the rise in automation. The technological phenomenon has what IBM refers to as the "potential to transform businesses, governments and society." Recently, billionaire investor Jeff Greene told CNBC that artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data and robotics could reshape the fundamentals of white collar labor. Robotics are playing a role in fields as diverse as medicine and journalism. The effect could be similar to what globalization did to blue-collar positions in the manufacturing sector, which lost more than 3 million jobs between 2001 and 2013, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. "Just look at an Amazon distribution center, the robots are stocking the shelves. Go take a look at the video of a Tesla factory, the welders are robots," Greene told CNBC. "This is really happening. This is not 'The Jetsons' anymore. This is happening today." Some robots are already making their presence felt in retail. In fact, both Best Buy and Orchard Supply Hardware, a chain owned by Lowe's , have customer service robots roaming their retail floors in select stores. In response to inquiries from CNBC, both companies said that the use of machines are intended to alleviate the workload of employees, allowing them to focus on more complicated tasks rather than completely taking over their jobs. Stop sweating over it! watch now watch now watch now watch now However, some experts contend that technology isn't so bad, and reflects historical anxiety over technology that ultimately made workplaces more efficient and created more jobs. "People have worried about this for hundreds of years," said Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown University. "And it's never turned out to be a big problem." Holzer said that while a "tech takeover" could hurt people who directly get displaced, it wouldn't drastically impair the overall economy. "It has never meant rising unemployment over time, because the economy has found a way to create new jobs as the old ones are lost," he added. Holzer said automation in the workforce could actually make products cheaper to buy, therefore leaving more cash in people's pockets to purchase additional items. This drop in price for these products might raise employment in these sectors. "If the technology of production gets cheap enough and the price goes down enough, all of a sudden there can be a huge increase in how middle-class people can buy them," said Holzer. December 30, 2015 The moon, the planets and Pluto will appear on United States postage stamps in 2016, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has revealed. The USPS unveiled the designs for three separate stamp sets highlighting Earth's natural satellite, the eight planets in our solar system and the distant dwarf planet that was the focus of a historic spacecraft flyby in July 2015. "The Postal Service recognizes the first reconnaissance of Pluto in 2015 by NASA's New Horizons mission," officials with the USPS stated in reference to the "PlutoExplored!" sheet of four stamps. On July 14, nine years after launching from Earth, the New Horizons robotic probe flew within 7,800 miles (12,500 km) of Pluto's surface, becoming the first spacecraft to explore the dwarf planet. The mission has provided the first close- up views of Pluto and its four moons. The "PlutoExplored!" stamps derives its title from another postage stamp released nearly a quarter of a century ago. The Pluto stamp in the 1991 "Space Exploration" planets- themed set included the phrase "Not Yet Explored" as part of its design. The U.S. Postal Service's "PlutoExplored!" souvenir sheet honors the historic flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft. (USPS) "In 2006, NASA placed a 29-cent 'Pluto: Not Yet Explored' stamp in the New Horizons spacecraft," the USPS officials recounted. "In 2015 the spacecraft carried the stamp on its history-making mission to Pluto and beyond." Alan Stern, the principal investigator for the New Horizons mission, said the project was proud to be honored with the new stamps. Stern and his team had earlier petitioned the USPS to recognize the flyby. "Since the early 1990s the old, 'Pluto Not Explored' USPS stamp served as a rallying cry for many wanted to mount this historic mission of space exploration. Now that NASA's New Horizons project has accomplished that goal, it is a wonderful feeling to see this new stamp join the stamps for the first exploration of each of the other planets at USPS," Stern told collectSPACE. The "PlutoExplored!" stamps, as designed by art director Antonio Alcala, feature both the spacecraft and the planet. The first stamp in the set shows an artist's rendering of the New Horizons probe and the second uses the spacecraft's image of Pluto taken near its closest approach. "The view which is color enhanced to highlight surface texture and composition is a composite of four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), combined with color data from the Ralph imaging instrument that reveals [Pluto's] now-famous heart-shaped feature," the USPS described. Two of each the new Forever-denomination stamps will be included on the "PlutoExplored!" souvenir sheet set to be dedicated between May 28 and June 4 at the World Stamp Show to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. "View of Our Planets" Forever 2016 postage stamps feature "true-" and "false-color" images of the worlds in our solar system. (USPS) At the same event, the USPS will also introduce "Views of Our Planets," a pane of 16 Forever stamps that showcase some of the "more visually compelling" full-disk images of the planets in our solar system. The eight colorful stamps, each included twice on the sheet, feature Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. "Some show the planets' 'true color' what we might see if traveling through space. Others use colors to represent and visualize certain features of a planet based in imaging data. Still others use the near-infrared spectrum to show things that cannot be seen by the human eye," the Postal Service described. Text on the back of the pane will explain what the images revealed about each planet and will identify the spacecraft and telescopes that were used to obtain them. "The Moon," the USPS's third space-related stamp release in 2016, will highlight Earth's only natural satellite. "The Moon" Global Forever postage stamp will be released by the U.S. Postal Service in 2016. Click to see full pane. (USPS) The circular stamp features the full moon as seen just after it rises above the Earth's horizon. To be issued at the $1.20 price, this Global Forever stamp will be able to be used to send a one-ounce letter to any country for which First Class Mail International service is available. "The Moon" stamp will come 10 to a pane. "The Moon," "PlutoExplored!" and "Views of Our Planets" stamps are among more than 20 new subjects revealed by the USPS for next year. Another new set will mark the 50th anniversary of the debut of the original Star Trek television series with designs featuring the Starship Enterprise, the Starfleet insignia and the Vulcan hand salute. Rested Missouri sets out to bounce back against Vandy Missouri football returns to action on Saturday against Vanderbilt. Here's what Eli Drinkwitz had to say about the upcoming game. SHARE By The Commercial Appeal Update 1/2/16: The Memphis Police Department was contacted by the Milwaukee Police Department and informed that the suspect lives in their jurisdiction, according to police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph. Memphis police are seeking the public's help in locating the person who made a threatening Facebook post about an infant. Police aren't sure if the poster, who identifies herself as Frankie Brown, is from Memphis. However, MPD spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said the department was made aware of the posting and wants to assist in making sure the infant is safe. In the post, a screen shot of which was provided by police, an infant is pictured and the poster uses profanity in questioning whether she should kill the child because of issues with the father. Anyone who can identify the poster is asked to contact MPD at 901-636-3559 or CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. A migrant walks along railway tracks at the railway station in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015. As 2015 ends, boat-loads continue to reach the shores of Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast, while thousands of migrants unlikely to receive refugee status are stranded along the Balkan migrant route, their hopes of reaching the prosperous northern EU countries in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) SHARE A migrant boy blows soap bubbles as he waits at the railway station in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015. As 2015 ends, boat-loads continue to reach the shores of Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast, while thousands of migrants unlikely to receive refugee status are stranded along the Balkan migrant route, their hopes of reaching the prosperous northern EU countries in jeopardy. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) By Elena Becatoros ATHENS, Greece Bitter cold, biting winds and rough winter seas have done little to stem the seemingly endless flow of desperate people fleeing war or poverty for what they hope will be a brighter, safer future in Europe. As 2016 dawns, boatloads continue to reach Greek shores and thousands trudge across Balkan fields and country roads heading north. More than a million people reached Europe in 2015 in the continent's largest refugee influx since the end of World War II a crisis that has tested European unity and threatened the vision of a borderless continent. Nearly 3,800 people are estimated to have drowned in the Mediterranean last year, making the journey to Greece or Italy in unseaworthy vessels packed far beyond capacity. The European Union has pledged to bolster patrols on its external borders and quickly deport economic migrants, while Turkey has agreed to crack down on smugglers operating from its coastline. But those on the front lines of the crisis say the coming year promises to be difficult unless there is a dramatic change. Greece has borne the brunt of the exodus, with more than 850,000 people reaching the country's shores, nearly all arriving on Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast. "The (migrant) flows continue unabated. And on good days, on days when the weather isn't bad, they are increased," Ioannis Mouzalas, Greece's minister responsible for migration issues, told The Associated Press. "This is a problem and shows that Turkey wasn't able I'm not saying that they didn't want to respond to the duty and obligation it had undertaken to control the flows and the smugglers from its shores." Europe's response to the crisis has been fractured, with individual countries, concerned about the sheer scale of the influx, introducing new border controls aimed at limiting the flow. The problem is compounded by the reluctance of many migrants' countries of origin, such as Pakistan, to accept forcible returns. Along the Balkan migrant route, an undetermined number of men, women and children considered economic migrants have found themselves stranded, their hopes of reaching prosperous northern EU countries dashed by recent border closures. Greece, with thousands of miles of coastline, is the only country that cannot feasibly block people from entering without breaking international laws about rescuing those in distress at sea. "It's a bad sign, this unabated flow that continues," Mouzalas said. "It creates difficulties for us, as the borders have closed for particular categories of people and there is a danger they will be trapped here." The number of those estimated to be stuck in Greece runs in the thousands. Mohammed Abusaid is one of them. A baby-faced 27-year-old Moroccan electrician, Abusaid left home with dreams of finding work in Germany or even the United States. Like tens of thousands before him, he made his way with a group of friends to Turkey and then braved the short but perilous sea crossing to the Greek island of Lesbos in early November. From there, they headed north only to discover the Macedonian border was open only to those from war-wracked Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. The young Moroccans now spend their nights huddling for warmth in a tent beneath a straggly tree outside Athens' old airport. "I'm living here like a tramp. But I'm not a tramp," Abusaid said quietly. "I'm single, my parents are old. I want to look for work. We don't cause trouble, we just want to work." But Abusaid finds himself trapped in a country battered by a five-year financial crisis that has left unemployment hovering around 25 percent. Susan Walsh/Associated Press Files President Obama will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to finalize a set of executive actions on guns. SHARE By Juliet Eilperin, Associated Press HONOLULU President Barack Obama will press ahead with a set of executive actions on guns next week despite growing concerns in the U.S. over terrorism that have dampened some Americans' enthusiasm for tighter gun restrictions. The president will meet Monday with Attorney General Loretta Lynch to finalize a series of new gun control measures and will announce them soon after, according to several individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public. One of the main proposals Obama is poised to adopt would require some unlicensed gun dealers to get licenses and conduct background checks on potential buyers. The change is aimed at informal dealers, such as those who sell online frequently or rent tables at gun shows but do not have a storefront. Obama began examining how he could tighten the nation's gun rules after October's mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Administration lawyers have spent months reviewing various proposals to make sure they can withstand legal challenges. The idea of requiring informal gun dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and of conducting background checks came up two years ago when White House officials drafted a proposal for dealers who sell at least 50 guns annually. The idea was shelved because of legal concerns, but gained new momentum after Roseburg. The review has been conducted in relative secrecy, soliciting input from gun safety groups without specifying which policies the administration might adopt. In the past month, Obama has met with former representative Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, who was gravely injured in a 2011 mass shooting, and her husband, Mark Kelly, and with former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, which Bloomberg helped start. In his weekly radio address, released a day early, the president said he was moving unilaterally because Congress had failed to address the growing problem of gun violence. "A few months ago, I directed my team at the White House to look into any new actions I can take to help reduce gun violence," he said. "And on Monday, I'll meet with our attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to discuss our options. "Because I get too many letters from parents, and teachers, and kids to sit around and do nothing," Obama continued. "I get letters from responsible gun owners who grieve with us every time these tragedies happen; who share my belief that the Second Amendment guarantees a right to bear arms; and who share my belief we can protect that right while keeping an irresponsible, dangerous few from inflicting harm on a massive scale." In reviewing its options, the administration has shut out congressional Republicans, who joined with some Democrats in helping block legislation to expand background checks after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. "The administration has not communicated with us, and we have not been briefed," Doug Andres, a spokesman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said by email. "We will consider options once we have information, but what seems apparent is none of these ideas would have prevented the recent atrocities. Our focus should be on the consistent causes of these acts mental illnesses and terrorism rather than infringing on law-abiding Americans' constitutional rights." SHARE Autura Eason-Williams Memphis I served as a Neighborhood Advisory Council member for Kirby/Sheffield. We were told we would be making the decision whether to match schools with charter operators. We were not told that the operators had been given 50 percent of the needed points just for submitting an application, and that those points had been built into the rubric. It has been said we did not share our concerns with the Achievement School District. We asked questions throughout the process that were not answered. After the decision to match Kirby was announced, no one addressed the fact that the majority of the scores on our rubrics did not match Kirby with the applicant. The ASD contends that since Sheffield did not match, the process cant be flawed. However the merged Kirby/Sheffield council was Sheffield-heavy, with six Sheffield and four Kirby representatives. No other NAC had fewer than six representatives per school. Rather than having a community input process for schools already moving themselves off the list, why doesnt the ASD choose operators to take over schools at the bottom of the list? We asked that question. No answer. SHARE Donald Fredericks Arlington I am confused by all the talk that Black Lives Matter. Whose lives? Nationwide thousands of black people are being killed almost daily. The record-keepers tell us that 90 percent of black people killed are killed by other black people. Yet the only black lives worth holding demonstrations for seem to be those with criminal records, killed by officers. Can someone tell me why the lives of black children are not worth marching for? If marches were held, the criminals would probably be identified, arrested and run out town, making the neighborhood safer for all. SHARE By Harold Meyerson "Follow the money," "Deep Throat" famously tells Bob Woodward, hot on the trail of The Post's most celebrated story, in the film "All the President's Men." In more recent decades, following the money has yielded a tale quite as calamitous as Watergate: the evisceration of the American middle class at the hands of the American rich. A Pew Research Center study released in December documents this shift. In 1970, middle-income households claimed 62 percent of all personal income, while upper-income households received 29 percent. In 2014, the share going to middle-income households had declined to 43 percent, while that going to the top had soared to 49 percent. (While many on the right insist that the poor are somehow draining the middle class's pocketbooks, that malignant myth is completely belied by Pew's figures.) The shift at the very top of the income ladder is the most dramatic. In the early 1970s, as Watergate unfolded, the wealthiest 0.1 percent of U.S. households commanded 3 percent of the nation's personal income. In recent years, their share has risen to 12 percent. The declining fortunes of the middle class are due in part to globalization and technological change, but those phenomena can hardly account for so shattering an upward redistribution of income and wealth. To solve that riddle, we need to look to the fundamental redefinition of the corporate mission that has transformed U.S. business over the past 35 years. Time was when corporations invested their retained earnings in expansion, research, even higher wages. Now, even the most profitable companies are left with little to no retained earnings once they pay off their shareholders and top executives, whose incomes derive more from stock than salary. As University of Massachusetts economics professor William Lazonick has documented, the 500 highest-paid U.S. corporate executives received 76 percent of their income in stock-based compensation between 2006 and 2014. Taking one's pay in stock has been the smart move in recent decades, because the primary purpose of corporations has shifted from growing the company to rewarding shareholders. While there are obvious exceptions to this rule (none more so than Amazon, whose chief executive, Jeffrey P. Bezos, also owns The Post), it has clearly become the norm. The 458 corporations listed on the S&P 500 index in each year from 2005 to 2014 devoted 36 percent of their profits to dividends during that time, and another 53 percent to share buybacks, a means of enriching shareholders that had been negligible before 1982. In that year, Ronald Reagan's appointees on the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a rule (10b-18) that effectively holds corporations harmless from allegations of stock-price manipulation through share buybacks. One elected official who's been following this particular trail of money with justifiable concern is Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, who has sent several letters to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White asking the agency to investigate the consequences of its rule and the buyback deluge on corporate investment and the broader economy. Clearly, one consequence of the rule has been to facilitate the rise of shakedown artists (excuse me: activist investors) who buy a chunk of company stock and then threaten the executives with a shareholder revolt that could cost them their jobs unless they buy back shares. Another consequence of 10b-18, to which White obliquely alluded in her response to Baldwin's first letter, is that the kind of investigation the senator requested is rendered almost impossible by the rule, which forbids the data collection one would need to do to ascertain if stock prices are being manipulated. Herewith, then, a goal for the Obama administration's final year, or, that failing, for the administration that follows it: Repeal 10b-18. Such data as we do have the rise of corporate rewards to shareholders at the expense of all other endeavors, the concomitant rise in wealth and political power of an investor class grown fat on extracting funds from productive enterprises rather than facilitating further investment by those enterprises justify the rule's repeal. Harold Meyerson writes for The Washington Post. SHARE By Ruth Marcus WASHINGTON Ethan Couch, meet Donald Trump, fellow Affluenza sufferer. Couch is the Texas teenager whose drunken driving killed four people in 2013 when he lost control of his or, should I say, his mommy's and daddy's speeding pickup. Couch was 16. Three hours after the grisly crash, his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit for an adult. His lawyer and his expert witness psychologist or, should I say, the lawyer and the expert witness psychologist hired by his mommy and daddy argued that Couch should be spared imprisonment because his overprivileged upbringing had failed to teach him the difference between right and wrong. Mommy and Daddy had never set limits or imposed consequences on young Ethan. Couch's infuriating defense it's not fair to punish me because I've never been punished before succeeded in winning him probation instead of the 20 years sought by prosecutors. Of course, Couch is back in the news because complying with the no-alcohol terms of probation was apparently too much for him; Mommy fled with him to Mexico rather than allow him to face punishment. "He never learned that sometimes you don't get your way," testified the psychologist, G. Dick Miller. "The teen never learned to say that you're sorry if you hurt someone," Miller observed. "If you hurt someone you sent him money." From his parents, "Ethan learned you should be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it," said attorneys in a lawsuit brought by one of the victims. "I think that was the message," Miller agreed. Ethan, he said, was taught, "We have the gold, we make the rules." In one telling interchange in a videotaped deposition in a lawsuit, Ethan's father Fred was asked about his own stop for drunken driving: "Did you tell the arresting officer, 'I make more in a day than you make in a year?'" Fred Couch, smirking: "Probably." When the head of Ethan's private school confronted Fred Couch about allowing the boy to drive himself to school at age 13, he laughed her off and said he would buy the place. "He was adamant that Ethan was going to drive to school," LeVonna Anderson told "D" Magazine. "He believed his son was better. His son was more talented. He was the golden boy." Hmmm. Sound familiar? If Couch is the Affluenza Teen, Trump is the Affluenza Candidate. The symptoms he exhibits are multiple, and florid: The overweening sense of entitlement. The conflation of money and intelligence, and the belief that wealth is a virtue in itself. The obsessive flaunting thereof. These qualities are not incidental to Trump's presidential campaign. They are integral to it. The campaign is predicated on the notion that with great wealth comes great entitlement. His trumpeted billions constitute the primary evidence of his qualification for the presidency. "I'm really rich," Trump said in announcing his campaign. "I'm proud of my net worth. I've done an amazing job." American politics has featured its share of rich candidates, but never before, and certainly not to this degree, has a candidate's fortune been his raison d'etre. After all, the tradition is much the opposite to emphasize humble, log-cabin beginnings. Candidates burdened with wealthy parents endeavor to display the semblance of ordinariness. Not Trump. He doesn't downplay. He flaunts the Trump name for all to see. His consumption could not be more conspicuous. Mitt Romney was dinged for building car elevators and having his wife drive "a couple of Cadillacs." Trump invites reporters aboard his private jet, complete with its 24-carat gold-plated seat belts. The candidate's wealth is both evidence of his merit and a benefit in itself, proof that Trump is immune to the pressures faced by less-affluent politicians. "I don't need anybody's money," Trump proclaimed in his announcement speech. "It's nice." The flip side of this attitude, for those afflicted with Affluenza, is that the ordinary rules of personal conduct and human decency do not apply to the sufferer. Trump calls people names. He says things that are untrue. He never backs down. Being Trump means never having to say you're sorry. In the case of Ethan Couch, his parents were the enablers of this conduct. In the case of Trump, at least so far, it's the voters. At least according to the polls that are at the center of Trump's universe, his offensiveness reaps no consequences. Voters seem to reward his outrageousness; they impose no limits on his bad behavior. A candidate with Affluenza is bad enough. Imagine a president with this malady. Ruth Marcus is a columnist for the Washington Post Writers Group. Contact her ruthmarcus@washpost.com. THE number of arrests made on New Year's Eve doubled compared with the same period last year, while the number of vehicles torched fell by 15% this year, according to figures published by the French interior ministry. Some 804 cars were set on fire on December 31, down from 940 a year ago. The increase in arrests, to 622, has been attributed to a much stronger police presence on the streets because of the increased terror threat level. Across France, 100,000 police and gendarmes were deployed. Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the results "confirm the effectiveness of the security forces' work". He said there was no specific threat to France on New Year's Eve, but precautions were taken because of "a general threat to all European capitals". Meanwhile, in his traditional New Year's Eve message, President Hollande described 2015 as a year of "suffering" following the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris in January and November, adding: "France is not done with terrorism." Hollande added: "These tragic events will remain for ever etched in our memories, they shall never disappear. Despite the tragedy, France has not given in. Despite the tears, the country has remained upright." DO YOU have a Boulevard Aristide-Briand near you? Or do you send your child to school in a Jules-Ferry or a lycee Emile Combes? If so, you are already familiar with key names in the construction of the French Republic. Between them, these three politicians were responsible for free state schooling, obligatory education for girls and the rock of state neutrality towards religion on which la Republique is built: the principle of laicite. The term is very much in the news, with a new laicite charter being introduced into schools this autumn alongside classes in morale laique. Presenting the charter, Minister for Education Vincent Peillon explained: Everyone is free to have his own opinions but no one has the right to contest teaching content or miss a class in the name of religious precepts. Public debate over the Muslim community in France pops up in the news regularly and is nearly always related in one way or another to perceived challenges to this element of the Constitution. Peillons remarks refer also to repeated evangelist pressure to alter class content, in particular regarding the theory of evolution. A recent example was the proposal to swap two Christian holidays with Jewish and Muslim ones: confusing whether France was secular or multi-religious. Left and Right politicians often unite to initiate laws to protect laicite. Once the source of conflict with the Catholic Right over private education funding, the principle, an important element in the integration process, regularly generates ill feeling these days among extremist sectors of the Muslim community. That is why, a century after the original 1905 law, several new laws have been passed to protect it. First, a few explanations. Laicite does not translate well. Secularity is close but confusing. Laicite is not easy to define either. It has evolved over two centuries and is evolving still. The concept was born of the Revolution, which guaranteed freedom of conscience to all and first separated State and Church. Napoleon backtracked, signing a concordat with the Vatican in 1801 that was to poison Church-State relations during the 19th century and put laicite on the back burner for much of it. (For historical reasons, this concordat still applies in Alsace and Moselle.) Having been suppressed by the Vichy regime (along with liberte, egalite, fraternite without which laicite could not function), the principle was cast in the constitution of the Fourth Republic in 1946 the State is indivisible, laic, democratic and social and remains firmly in that of todays Fifth. To understand the concept is to go a long way towards understanding the French. Maybe it could be defined as their permanent search for a delicate balance between sharing what they all hold in common, the Republic, and catering for diversity. It is the principle that protects both personal and collective liberty and, as such, is the responsibility of both State and citizen. The indivisibility of the State is the States refusal to recognise any religious or ethnic community. France is one. There are two major dates in the history of laicite: 1881 and 1905. In 1881-82, Minister of Education Jules Ferry decreed school to be publique, gratuite et laique state-run, free and non-clerical. Teaching in French to a national programme provided children, whatever their linguistic background or beliefs, with the theoretical possibility of equal opportunity. It created a framework in which adults could bring no pressure to bear on pupils to adhere to any philosophy, religion or political idea. That remains the basis of the French educational system today. The 1905 law, engineered by Emile Combes and Aristide Briand, enforced the neutrality of the State and State institutions through the separation of the Churches and the State. Since that date, the State recognises no religion and therefore cannot directly fund any either. If the same law grants the individual total liberty and privacy regarding beliefs, there is one condition: they must not disturb public order. Given the repeated trauma that religion has caused in Frances recent history from the Wars of Religion to the expulsion of the Huguenots and the Dreyfus affair this means no proselytising and nothing that could be remotely interpreted as such. It also explains why, in France, religious belief is far more than a private matter. Things spiritual belong to the realm of intimacy. It is extremely unusual to see anyone wearing any conspicuous religious symbol in public. To do so is perceived as a deliberate act, a message to others. It is unthinkable to ask someone what their religion is and most people will be frankly embarrassed by anyone saying what theirs is. When Nicolas Sarkozy publicly announced he had appointed Frances first Muslim prefect, he sent shockwaves throughout the land. Knowing this helps in understanding intense French reaction to young girls wearing veils. It is seen not only as an unacceptable way of bringing religion into the public sphere, but also a form of peer pressure on other girls to do the same. Which takes us back to Jules Ferry and neutrality in the classroom. This insistence on the privacy of beliefs was of course also reinforced after World War II by the fate of Frances Jews under the Vichy regime, and the obligation to publicly show their religion by wearing the yellow star. As a result of the trauma of State responsibility in their deportation and extermination, no statistics may be made regarding peoples religious beliefs, ethnic origin or colour. All citizens are not only equal, but remain neutral in the eyes of the State. The mosque debate The 1905 law was finally well accepted by both Catholic and Protestant churches in France, who benefited financially when the State handed existing buildings and their costly maintenance over to local authorities. But the State cannot fund new religious buildings. Hence the mosque-building debate and recent legislation allowing local authorities to contribute. For with generous donations from Saudi Arabia and Muslim foundations abroad pouring in, the inherent risk of encouraging fundamentalist movements to develop in France is obvious. Under the Nicolas Sarkozy government, the training of imams in France to Republican principles was considered. But the State cannot finance religious education either. The impasse has been paradoxically circumvented by the Catholic University offering courses, and Algerian imams due to work in France being trained in French and laicite at the government-funded Institut Francais in Algiers. Conspicuous symbols and full-face veils After a number of potentially inflammatory cases in which some schools were confronted with Muslim girls wearing Islamic headscarves, legislation was passed in 2004 banning the wearing of any conspicuous religious symbol or sign in state schools. Never specifically aimed at the Muslim community (kippas, large crosses and Sikh turbans fall under the same category), the new law, despite fears it would be perceived as discriminatory and arouse further reaction, had the almost immediate effect of calming the situation, though some veiled Muslim girls and turbaned Sikhs found their way to private schools. But this legislated solely for public schools, not privately run establishments. In March of this year, Fatima Afif, an employee dismissed in 2008 from the privately run Baby Loup creche in the Yvelines for refusing to remove her headscarf, won on appeal for wrongful dismissal on the grounds of religious discrimination. New legislation is now under consideration to cover pre-school structures and religious symbols in the workplace, none of which are currently covered by law. When, in late July, a police officer in the town of Trappes stopped a fully veiled young women for an ID check in the middle of Ramadan, he did not know he was unleashing days of rioting. But Cassandra, 22, was not infringing any law on laicite. This time it was the one against dissimulating the face in the public sphere, put into effect by the Sarkozy government in 2011. Introduced ostensibly as anti-terrorism legislation, many felt its real purpose was more anti-veil. In fact, the number of women in France wearing the niqab is extremely small, and the number of women fined likewise. Laicite with an adjective The latest solution of Frances politicians to calm the debate has been to add adjectives. Sarkozy invented laicite positive, in which the government took into account the existence of religious groups in France. He created a representative Muslim council, through which to address the Muslim community in France. Representative of only a portion of Frances Muslims, many of whom are non-practising, it has created more problems than it has solved. The Hollande government has coined laicite apaisee, a low-profile approach in which negotiation would replace legislation as the best way of winning over those who regard the principle with suspicion. True laicistes believe the principle cannot survive any moderating tags. It must exist alone. Universities oppose campus headscarf ban proposal In early August, Le Monde published a report signed by members of the Haut Comite de lIntegration (HCI), a body no longer briefed to deal with laicite since the creation of a separate mission last April. It called for a Muslim headscarf ban in universities. Government replies were swift but hardly in unison. Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls stated evasively that the subject needed to be considered, while Genevieve Fioraso, Minister for Higher Education, warned that we should avoid problems where there are none. For Gerard Blanchard, president of La Rochelle University, and vice-president of the national CPU, Conference des Presidents dUniversite, laicite is not an issue on his campus or anywhere in France. We have 14% foreign students in La Rochelle, mostly from South East Asia, and we only ask women students to take off their veils in science laboratories, for safety reasons. That has never posed a problem. The University Presidents Conference has issued a public statement against any specific university ban. For Blanchard, the over-mediatised debate that burst upon us mid-summer is without foundation. He is adamant that he has never had a complaint from a teacher. An environmentalist, he is far more concerned by pressure that could be brought on teachers to introduce non-scientific versions of the origins of the universe into the syllabus. No university teacher should ever have to submit to any pressure on the content of his teaching. Jean-Loup Salzmann, president of the CPU, and president of Paris XIII, in the heart of Seine- Saint-Denis, one of the most multi-cultural universities in France, firmly believes in laicite, but sees no need for new laws on the campus. His main concern is elsewhere. He is angered by the incongruity of the State promoting laicite on the one hand, while financing the Catholic universities on the other. Expressing a personal opinion, he said: The main issue for these young Muslim women, who have enough problems coping with family pressure, is to achieve independence and emancipation through their studies, whether they wear a veil or not. An anti-veil law would achieve the opposite of what we want. Many of these women would then not have access to university at all. How the principle of laicite is applied today NICOLAS Cadene, chairman of the Observatoire de la Laicite, a watchdog committee created last April by President Francois Hollande to report on how the principle of laicite is applied in France today, spoke to Connexion. Can you define this difficult concept for our readers? Laicite is a principle which allows us all to live together. It is not a ban on religion or religious practices. On the contrary, it guarantees believers and non-believers alike the freedom to express themselves, to practise or not to practise a religion as they choose, on condition that public order is not disturbed. The State adopts an attitude of total impartiality towards citizens, who are all equal in the eyes of the State. Do the current religious bank holidays not favour one religious group? Christian festivals have, for the majority, become traditional holidays with little religious significance. Still, the State does not want to be seen as favouring one religion over another. In 1905, there was no Muslim population. But I dont think this poses a real problem. Employees can use their RTT (recuperation of unpaid overtime in the form of days off) as they wish. The Stasi Commission (set up by President Jacques Chirac in 2003) went a long way towards identifying issues in the workplace. We shall build on that. The conspicuous religious symbols ban was seen as directed only at women. Is that not a form of discrimination? If people set out to present themselves in a way which is obviously a proselytising or a provocative attitude, that is not acceptable. It is not so much what people wear or their physical appearance, as the reason behind the choice. This is one of the subjects we shall be working on. Islam has no clerical hierarchy. Isnt the laicite legislation trying to apply to individuals a law aimed at an institution? Doesnt the 1905 law need to be adapted? Not at all. The principle enables us all to live together. But, of course, we must avoid situations in which one group feels stigmatised by the law. That is one of our major subjects of reflexion. But there is no question of adapting the principle to new circumstances. It is one of bringing people to understand that laicite is not a ban on religious practice but a system of personal freedom and helping them to adapt to the principle. There has been talk in the press over banning the Islamic headscarf at university. [The full-face veil is already banned anywhere in public]. The State has a duty to protect minors from any form of ideological persuasion, hence the headscarf ban in schools. University is a world of adults. But the Republic has a duty to protect its citizens against the dangers of extremism. Some people attribute to laicite powers it simply does not have. There is an urgent need for strong political action, at state and local level, in order to resolve the many problems the threat of extremism has brought to certain sectors of society. The Observatoire has published its first report, a history and background to the concept. What else has it achieved? We helped draw up two important documents: the laicite charter and the syllabus for non-religious morality for schools. Both take effect this year. In addition, our report has pinpointed situations needing close attention in public administrations and local authorities (non-Metropolitan France included), as well as in the private sector. How do you see your work developing? We need a better definition of laicite that reiterates the States position of neutrality and is more clearly understood by all, in France and at an international level. We are drawing up guidelines for the application of laicite and religious practice in the workplace, and in the wake of the Baby Loup issue [see main article], for pre-school structures. We must show people how to react to situations. Overreaction is one of the major problems we face, when so much could be achieved by negotiation and taking things calmly. Close India signed up its billionth customer to the mobile phone industry making it the second country after China to cross the benchmark. Despite the huge user base, it is not enough for the phone industry to survive without struggling. The third largest economy in Asia is already cluttered with dozens of wireless carriers, spectrums are becoming a challenge and the regulatory risks are very high. When you add all the costs of running a phone company in India, it becomes clear why the companies are delivering low profitability than operators in other parts of the continent, as reported by Gulf News. "There are too many of them all fighting for limited spectrum," said Chris Lane, a telecommunications analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in Hong Kong. "In China by comparison, 1.3 billion subscribers are serviced by just three operators. The government in China allocates spectrum on the basis of need, and at no cost to the operators. As a result, the Chinese operators get scale benefits that Indian operators are unable to achieve." The Indian phone carriers are getting prepared for even tougher times as the richest man of India, Mukesh Ambani, is planning to enter the competition by 2016 and launch Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., a $15 billion 4G service. Sunil Mittal, head of the market leader Bharti Airtel Ltd., has already warned the smaller players that the entry of Ambani will change the face of telecom industry compelling them to either exit or merge with larger companies, says Bloomberg. The competition in India is so intense that the call rates are at an all time low, in fact the lowest in the world and the average profit margins fall between 35% and -50% in the last five years, said Bernstein. On the other hand, telecom companies in other emerging markets of Asia report a profit of 42%, says Ejinsight See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close Health officials have confirmed the first case of Zika on the island of Puerto Rico. "There is no reason for alarm, and the public should continue to take commonsense steps to avoid mosquito bites," Puerto Rican Congressman Pedro Pierluisi said in a statement on Thursday. Pierluisi stated that experts with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be visiting the island before the end of the month to make sure that local doctors know how to "properly diagnose and treat the virus." The CDC did issue a warning for all tourists who are planning on visiting Puerto Rico as well as other the countries that have been affected by the virus. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that has recently been tied to an increased risk of a neurological disorder known as microcephaly in newborns. In Brazil, where the virus has become more widespread, health officials have advised women to not get pregnant. There have been more than 2,700 cases of babies born with this brain condition in 2015, which is significantly higher than the rate recorded in Brazil in 2014. Experts, however, have not concluded that Zika is directly causing the increase in microcephaly. "We are looking at the beginning of an epidemic in a country that has in between 200,000 and 300,000 births per year, which shows how worried we are. It's a virus we don't know that much about," said Rodrigo Stabeli, vice president of the Rio de Janeiro-based Fiocruz research institute, reported by CBS News. "We are preparing for the unknown." The virus has also been reported in other South American countries as well as the Caribbean. Since there is no vaccine for the virus, the best way to protect oneself is to use insect repellant and to cover up. The mosquito that carries the virus, the Aedes aegypti, is known for biting a lot during the day, but it also can attack at night. This mosquito also tends to carry dengue fever and chikungunya. An infection is characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, vomiting, pain in the eyes and red eyes. Symptoms can manifest within three to seven days after getting infected. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare God Is Not In His Heaven And All Is Wrong With The World By Sukumaran C. V. 02 January, 2016 Countercurrents.org God is in His heaven and, All is right with the worldRobert Browning Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned.W. B. Yeats 2015 can be described as the most atrocious year in the new millennium so far. The monstrous ISIS and its coldblooded atrocities against humanity terrified the civilised world in 2015. It seems that the world is in the vicious grip of terrorist violence and the coldblooded violence against the innocent all over the world testifies that Browning is wrong and Yeats is right. In the wake of the Paris terror strikes in November 2015, the entire world was shocked more than it has been shocked when terror struck Mumbai in the same fashion years ago, when innocent people were blown apart in the Turkish capital Ankara in October 2014, when more than 130 little children in a Peshawar school were shot dead in December 2014, when the hapless Yzidi girls were being raped and made sex slaves and the Yazidi people were virtually being eliminated by the IS monsters, when nearly 40 people were killed and more than 180 injured in the Lebanese capital Beirut hardly two days ago of the Paris tragedy. Mumbai, Ankara, Peshawar and Beirut couldnt get the attention of the world media as Paris got. That doesnt matter, because, it has been long since that the world became Euro or West-centric. What matters is that the lasting solution to this coldblooded violence should also come from the West, because, this coldblooded inhumanity spawns from the Western interference in the financial and political affairs of each and every country of the world, especially the Middle East. In October 2014, two suicide bombs exploded in the Turkish capital Ankara and killed more than 100 people. In December 2014, a horde of gun-wielding people entered into a school in Peshawar (Pakistan) and killed 130 kids firing indiscriminately. On November 12, 2015, forty people were killed and more than 180 injured in two suicide bomb attacks in a residential area of the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut. Hardly two days later, 130 people were killed and many more injured in a series of terror strikes in the City of LightsParis, the capital city of France. (The Yazidis worship the Peacock Angel and live in the remote villages of Northern Iraq. The Yazidi religion blends elements of Sufism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. This combining of various belief systems, known religiously as syncretism, is hated by the ISIS bigots. In his article Yazidis, Ethnic Cleansing and the Denial of Death, Michael Mountain says that driven from their homes in Iraq by the murderous Islamic State militia, they are raped, thrown into mass graves, even crucified and buried alive.) What is wrong with the world? Is violence the salient feature of the civilisation we are proud of? We blame the terrorists. But do the terrorists manufacture weapons? Who manage the weapons industry? How do the sophisticated weapons reach in the hands of the terrorists or fanatics? Is it the fault of our culture that seeks profit by hook or by crook? Is it the fault of the religion(s)? The democracies of the world should retrospect. It is high time we stopped this business of retaliation and counter attacks. Counter terror has only intensified the terror of the fanatics. Enough is enough. Terror is terror, whether it is counter terror or fanatic terror. Why doesnt the world learn the simple truth that violence breeds violence? All the blood-thirsty terrorist outfits in the world like the IS and the Al-Qaeda are the creations of the Western interference in the Middle East. The Frankensteins monsters wreak havoc on the innocent and yet the Western countries dont introspect and think for an everlasting solution to end this spread of coldblooded violence in the world. As long as the West under the leadership of the U.S. continues to have their selfish and predatory foreign policy, the monsters like the IS will not be contained successfully. The world is today not under democracy, but under militarism and militarism has failed the human race in every way imaginable as an American Citizen, James Peters, wrote in an open letter to President Carter. It was in the beginning of 1991, 10 years before the WTC terrorist attack, the U. S. invaded Iraq. Howard Zinn describes the result of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in A Peoples History of the United States: The consequences of the war became shockingly clear after its end, when it was revealed that the bombings of Iraq had caused starvation, disease, and the deaths of tens of thousands of children. A U.N. team visiting Iraq immediately after the war reported that the recent conflict has wrought near-apocalyptic results upon the infrastructureMost means of life support have been destroyed or rendered tenuous. See one of the many civlised cruelties perpetrated on the hapless people of Iraq: In mid-February, U.S. planes dropped bombs on an air raid shelter in Baghdad at four in the morning, killing 400 to 500 people. An Associated Press reporter who was one of few allowed to go to the site said: Most of the recovered bodies were charred and mutilated beyond recognition. Some clearly were children. The Pentagon claimed it was a military target, but the AP reporter on the scene said: No evidence of any military presence could be seen inside the wreckage. If young people from Iraq are willingly recruited into camps of the ISIS, can we blame them? Can we stop the violence of ISIS (which originated in Iraq as a result of the devastation of the country by the military strikes of the U.S. and its allies) by invigorated military action? Let me quote the sane words of an American woman, Amber Amundson, whose husband, an army pilot, was killed in the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11, 2001: I have heard angry rhetoric by some Americans, including many of our nations leaders, who advise a heavy dose of revenge and punishment. To those leaders I would like to make clear that my family and I take no comfort in your words of rage. If you choose to respond to this incomprehensible brutality by perpetuating violence against other innocent human beings, you may not do so in the name of justice for my husband. (Quoted from Howard Zinn) Another sane voice is that of Alex Molnar, the father of a twenty-one-year-old Marine who was sent to Iraq to wage war against the Iraqis. In an open letter to President Bush, Molnar asked: Where were you, Mr. President, when Iraq was killing its own people with poison gas? Why, until the recent crisis, was it business as usual with Saddam Hussein, the man you now call a Hitler? Is the American way of life that you say my son is risking his life for the continued right of Americans to consume 25 to 30 percent of the worlds oil?...I intend to support my son and his fellow soldiers by doing everything I can to oppose any offensive American military action in the Persian Gulf. (Howard Zinn) Robert Bowman, a former lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Air Force, wrote even three years before 9/11: We are not hated because we practice democracy, value freedom, or uphold human rights. We are hated because our government denies these things to people in Third World countries whose resources are coveted by our multinational corporations. That hatred we have sown has come back to haunt us in the form of terrorism.Instead of sending our sons and daughters around the world to kill Arabs so we can have the oil under their sand, we should send them to rebuild their infrastructure, supply clean water, and feed starving childrenIn short, we should do good instead of evil. Who would try to stop us? Who would hate us? Who would bomb us? (Howard Zinn) The democratic governments world over should listen to the sane and tolerant voices of the people like the wife of the army pilot, the father of the U.S. Marine, and the lieutenant colonel and learn that the permanent solution for the terrorist menace overpowering the world lies outside the field of military action. Let's mourn for those killed in the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks, Let's mourn for the victims of Paris terror strikes, and Let's mourn for the victims of each and every terrorist attack that occurs in any part of the world. But Let's equally mourn for the victims of U.S. and NATO bombings and air strikes in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Libya, and in every part of the world too. If today God is not in his Heaven and all is wrong with the world, the responsibility mainly goes to the U. S. and its European allies whose interventionist policies wreak havoc in the Middle East. God is not in the heaven because He has fled fearing the humans and their destructive ways. In the chapter titled Why civilization is killing the world, Part I, of his book Endgame, the American writer Derrick Jensen says: In Vietnam, the CIA set up its notorious Operation Phoenix, a systematic program of assassination, terror, and torture. It condoned confining prisoners in tiger cages, five-by-nine-by-six-foot stone compartments, where three to five men would be shackled to the floor, beaten, mutilated. Their legs would wither, and they would become paralyzed, or at best reduced for the rest of their miserable lives to scuttling like crabs. Buckets of lime were emptied upon them. Elsewhere in Vietnam, CIA assets applied electric shocks to victims genitals and threw victims out of helicopters in order to force their associates to talk. More recently in Afghanistan, U.S.-backed troops loaded 3,000 prisoners into container trucks, sealed the doors, and left these to stand for days in the sun. A U.S. commander ordered an Afghan soldier to shoot bullets through the containers walls to provide air holes. Soon enough, blood began to stream from the containers bottoms. Those victims who survived were dumped in the desert and shot Howard Zinn says in A Peoples History of the United States: It seemed that the United States was reacting to the horrors perpetrated by terrorists against innocent people in New York by killing other innocent people in AfghanistanA journalist with the Boston Globe, writing from a hospital in Jalalabad, wrote: In one bed lay Noor Mohammad, 10, who was a bundle of bandages. He lost his eyes and hands to the bombs that hit his house after Sunday dinner.The hospitals morgue received 17 bodies last weekend.yesterday, a bombs damage could be chronicled in the life of one family. A bomb had killed the father. In one bed his wife who had severe head injuries.Around her, six of her children were in bandagesOne of them, Zahidullah, 8, lay in a coma. If the people of Afghanistan are willingly recruited into the camps of ISIS, can you stop them by military action? Can you intimidate people like the young boy Zahidullah by military action, when they were forced to be terrorists by the same monster called military action? Violence breeds violence. The so called war on terror started immediately after the 9/11and it has been going on relentlessly ever since. But the coldblooded terror is still not only contained, but also it strikes in every part of the world at will. The reason is that we cant eliminate a disease without eliminating the sources from where it springs, without totally removing the reasons that cause it. The world is waging the war on terror without addressing the reasons that create the terror. As long as this attitude is not changed, both the war on terror and the terror will continue to rip the world apart and the innocent will continue to be the victims of boththe cold blooded violence of fanatics and the cold blooded violence of the war on terror. Those who killed the innocent people in Ankara, those who killed the little kids in Peshawar, those who killed the people in Beirut and in Paris commit such coldblooded killings in the name of the religion. It is said that the fanatic outfit IS has re-established the Caliphate under its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It is said that they believe in Islam. But if their version of the religion is Islam, it means that the first Caliph, the real and benign Abu Bakr is not an Islam. Because his directions to the Army of God ran as the follows: Be just; the unjust never prosper. Be merciful; sly neither old men, nor women, nor children. Destroy neither fruit trees, nor grains, nor cattle. Keep your word even to your enemy. Molest not those men who live retired from the world In The Historical Role of Islam, M. N. Roy writes: There is no end of testimonies to prove that even in the predominantly martial period of their history, the Muslims were far from being barbaric bands of fanatical marauders, spreading pillage and rapine, death and destruction in the name of religion. Then, the period of conquest was short, as compared to the long period of learning and culture that flourished subsequently under the patronage of the Khalifs Then how is it possible for barbaric bands of fanatical marauders like the IS operate in the name Islam? Is it the fault of the religion or the result of the Western interference in the Middle East? Deborah Root, the author of Cannibal Culture says that we must face the possibility that something is dreadfully wrong with society and that this is somehow connected to the bloody history of Western culture, a bloodiness that surpasses all others. The U.S. foreign policy has been the curse of the world long since. Almost all the human-right violations and atrocities committed on the people world over since the Second World War are either by the U.S. or by the monsters like Al-Qaeda and ISIS (and even the terrorists who wage holy war against India with the help of Pakistan) that are indirectly spawned by the U.S. foreign policy. Analyzing the U.S. bombing on Tripoli (1986), Stephen Shalom wrote in his book Imperial Alibis (1993): If terrorism is defined as politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets, then one of the most serious incidents of international terrorism of the year was precisely this U.S. raid on Libya. The U.S. hasnt still stopped its international terrorism. That said, we should not put all the blame on the U.S. alone and take rest. We should analyze why such atrocious organizations whose members take pride in carrying out beheadings spawn in the name of religion. In the name of religion, why these heinous fellows are beheading innocent people, raping the hapless girls and women and tell them either to convert or to die? The world today direly needs love and tolerance and non-violence. To have such a world, the U.S. and the West should retrospect and shun their predatory economic policies that create terror and terrorists. And the true followers of Islam should try to free the religion from the grip of the fanatics and democratise it. Then God may again be in His heaven and, All will be right with the world. Sukumaran C. V. is a former JNU student and his articles on gender, communal, environemenatl and other socio-political issues are published in The Hindu, Mainstream etc. Email id: lscvsuku@gmail.com Syria Is The Middle Eastern Stalingrad By Andre Vltchek 02 January, 2016 Journal-neo.org Day and night, for years, an overwhelming force has been battering this quiet nation, one of the cradles of human civilization. Hundreds of thousands have died, and millions have been forced to flee abroad or have been internally displaced. In many cities and villages, not one house is left intact. But Syria is, against all odds, still standing. During the last 3 years I worked in almost all of Syrias perimeters, exposing the birth of ISIS in the NATO-run camps built in Turkey and Jordan. I worked in the occupied Golan Heights, and in Iraq. I also worked in Lebanon, a country now forced to host over 2 million (mostly Syrian) refugees. The only reason why the West began its horrible destabilization campaign, was because it could not tolerate Syrias disobedience and the socialist nature of its state. In short, the way the Syrian establishment was putting the welfare of its people above the interests of multi-national corporations. * More than two years ago, my former Indonesian film editor demanded an answer in a somewhat angry tone: So many people are dying in Syria! Is it really worth it? Wouldnt it be easier and better for Syrians to just give up and let the US have what it is demanding? Chronically petrified, this young woman was always searching for easy solutions that would keep her safe, and safe with significant personal advantages. As so many others in this time and age, in order to survive and advance, she developed a complex system resting on betrayals, self-defenses and deceptions. How to reply to such a question? It was a legitimate one, after all. Eduardo Galeano told me: People know when its time to fight. We have no right to tell them but when they decide, it is our obligation to support them, even to lead them if they approach us. In this case, the Syrian people decided. No government, no political force could move an entire nation to such tremendous heroism and sacrifice. Russians did it during World War Two, and the Syrians are doing it now. Two years ago I replied like this: I have witnessed the total collapse of the Middle East. There was nothing standing there anymore. Countries that opted for their own paths were literally leveled to the ground. Countries that succumbed to the dictates of the West lost their soul, culture and essence and were turned into some of the most miserable places on earth. And the Syrians knew it: were they to surrender, they would be converted into another Iraq, Yemen or Libya, even Afghanistan. And so Syria rose. It decided to fight, for itself and for its part of the world. Again and again, it retained itself through the elections of its government. It leaned on its army. Whatever the West says, whatever the treasonous NGOs write, the simple logic just proves it all. This modest nation does not have its own powerful media to share the extent of its courage and agony with the world. It is always the others who are commenting on its struggle, often in a totally malicious way. But it is undeniable that whilst the Soviet forces stopped the advance of the German Nazis at Stalingrad, the Syrians have managed to stop the fascist forces of Western allies in its part of the world. Of course Russia got directly involved. Of course China stood by, although often in the shadow. And Iran provided support. And Lebanon-based Hezbollah put up, what I often describe as, an epic fight on behalf of Damascus against the extremist monsters invented and armed by the West, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. But the main credit has to go to the Syrian people. Yes, now there is nothing left of the Middle East. Now there are more tears than raindrops descending on this ancient land. But Syria is standing. Burned, wounded, but standing. And as is being widely reported, after the Russian armed forces came to the rescue of the Syrian nation, more than 1 million Syrian people were able to return home often to encounter only ashes and devastation, but home. Like people returned to Stalingrad, some 70 years ago. * So what would my answer be to that question now: whether it would be easier the other way, to surrender to the Empire? I guess something like this: Life has meaning, it is worth living, only if some basic conditions can be fulfilled. One does not betray great love, be it love for another person or love for ones country, humanity or ideals. If one does, it would be better not to be born at all. Then I say: the survival of humankind is the most sacred goal. Not some short-time personal gain or safety, but the survival of all of us, of people, as well as the safety of all of us, humans. When life itself is threatened, people tend to rise and fight, instinctively. During such moments, some of the most monumental chapters in human history are written. Unfortunately, during these moments, millions tend to die. But the devastation is not because of those who are defending our human race. It is because of the imperialist monsters and their servants. Most of us are dreaming about a world without wars, without violence. We want true kindness to prevail on earth. Many of us are working relentlessly for such a society. But until it is constructed, until all extreme selfishness, greed and brutality are defeated, we have to fight for something much more modest for the survival of people and of humanism. The price is often horrible. But the alternative is one enormous gaping void. It is simply nothing the end, full stop! In Stalingrad, millions died so we could live. Nothing was left of the city, except some melted steel, scattered bricks and an ocean of corpses. Nazism was stopped. Western expansionism began its retreat, that time towards Berlin. Now Syria, quietly but stoically and heroically, stands against Western, Qatari, Saudi, Israeli and Turkish plans to finish the Middle East. And the Syrian people have won. For how long, I dont know. But it has proven that an Arab country can still defeat the mightiest murderous hordes. Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. His latest books are: Exposing Lies Of The Empire and Fighting Against Western Imperialism.Discussion with Noam Chomsky:On Western Terrorism. Point of No Return is his critically acclaimed political novel. Oceania - a book on Western imperialism in the South Pacific. His provocative book about Indonesia: Indonesia The Archipelago of Fear. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Press TV. After living for many years in Latin America and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides and works in East Asia and the Middle East. He can be reached through his website or hisTwitter. I sank my teeth into my mother's family famous Christmas cookies cut into the shape of Santa with his bag of toys; cut from the same aluminum cutter that rests safely in her "plunder drawer" the other 11 months of the year. It was Christmas Eve. I had come from my Fresh Air Community of Faith service where we celebrated the birth of Hope in the company of our wonderful Lutheran friends from Grace and Peace. The service was fun, joyful and well attended. That always makes me smile. I left my sweet husband to wrap up the loose ends to make my way to McLean County, Kentucky. I picked up Mama from our family's Christmas Eve gathering, and the two of us "old bags" made our way to Troutman Hills by the light of a rare full moon. All was calm. All was bright, and all was far too quiet for the two of us. We looked at each other, there in her kitchen, and spoke our truth into the silence in her empty house. There we were, two old women, by ourselves on Christmas Eve. Not alone, but lonely for what we no longer had. No little eyes to peek out on the moonlit night hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa. No presents to stage under the tree for the early morning seekers of such wonders. The kids are grown now, and they all have their own families and that is just as it should be. She raised us to be confident and self-reliant, and I did the same for mine. I wanted them to be in strong partnerships where they could flourish and their children could too. Thankfully that is true. Mom and I got what we hoped for, and that comes at a price sometimes. We agreed that it was best and right for these young families to make their own way, create their own traditions, have a Christmas their little ones would remember and treasure all the Christmas full moons yet to come. We knew it was right, but still ... Mom and I exchanged our knowing smiles then donned our Christmas red pajamas, poured glasses of wine and settled in on the sectional for a dose of Christmas nostalgia. On the TV with barely an ounce of color left to be seen, we watched Perry Como being as cool as Perry Como could be singing with The Carpenters. This blast from our shared pasts was followed by the much beloved Andy Williams Christmas Special well before Donnie Osmond stole the show from his brothers. We watched, we listened and we remembered the day when Andy was young and Perry was getting gray. I am pretty sure it was midnight before we gave it up. We were glad to be together. We were glad we knew each other's minds, and we were glad of the knowledge that we were blessed beyond measure for all the joy of days gone by and joys yet to share. After she went to her room, I stood in her pretty kitchen, crunching the green sugar between my teeth, taking in the familiar scene. Candles everywhere, tables set with sparkling Christmas dishes, tree in the corner. Half the lights were out on her large tree but otherwise the room was warm, lovely, comforting. I allowed the memories and feelings to come, and I journeyed back to my happy childhood on the farm near the Green River. I remembered those wonderful Christmases of long ago. Daddy wrestling with a live cedar he chopped down from a fence row. Mama warning us that those 1950s ornaments were broken easily. My brother, sister and I breaking them even when we were being careful as could be. I remembered. I remembered with the crunch of my cookie that life in this family has been and remains a precious gift and that memories are powerful time machines that whoosh us backward like Dickens's Ghost of Christmas to make us grateful. I remembered that my life was and is full of merriment, music, joy and wonder, largely due to the woman in her red silk pajamas doing her crossword puzzle down the hall. She made Christmas magical. She showed me how to "keep Christmas," and I showed my kids just as they are showing theirs. Yes, it is lonely on this end, but right. I am comforted to know that there by sweet Christmas trees in Indianapolis and Louisville my kids and grandkids are learning what it means to be home, safe, loved and together in this holy season. They are creating Christmases to remember just as Mama and I hoped. Ange Humphrey-Relyea is pastor of Fresh Air Community. The Vanderburgh Humane Society Got Widespread Attention Last Month For Its Empty The Shelter Adoptathon. The Vanderburgh Humane Society got widespread attention last month for its Empty the Shelter adoptathon. On Dec. 18-19, the organization waived fees for all adoptions. It cleared its shelter of adoptable animals 150 dogs, cats and rabbits and local and national news organizations picked up the story. What happened next was less heartwarming. By the time the shelter reopened for adoptions Dec. 22, it was already starting to fill back up. It took several days before the shelter had any adoptable dogs to offer, but the cats started coming in right away. By noon on Dec. 22, it already had 10 cats. By Dec. 29, its adoptable cat count was up to 25. "We knew that was going to happen," said Kendall Paul, the Vanderburgh Humane Society's executive director. For a number of reasons, Paul said, overpopulation is a more stubborn problem to tackle in cats than in dogs. One reason, she said, is that people tend to react differently to dogs and cats. If people see a dog running loose, for instance, "a lot of people stop and try to catch that dog and take it someplace else." That rarely happens with cats, Paul said. "A lot of people just assume that that (outdoor) cat is supposed to be there." Adding to the problem, Paul said, is the fact that people are just more likely to spay or neuter dogs rather than cats. That's true, Paul said, even though cats reproduce at a faster rate than dogs. So if you add together a larger number of cats vs. dogs roaming free, a larger percentage of them unaltered and reproducing at a faster rate and you have the makings of a big problem. But there is a fix, so to speak: Get your pet fixed. VHS opened an in-house spay/neuter clinic at its facility in 2007. In November, the clinic performed its 50,000 spay/neuter surgery. The shelter spays/neuters all of its adopted animals before they go home. Members of the public can also have their pets altered at the clinic. Statistics show that all those surgeries are starting to make a difference, Paul said. To date this year, the shelter has taken in 2,341 animals, a 25 percent decrease since its spay/neuter clinic opened in 2007. And, Paul said, it has euthanized 453 animals for reasons of illness, aggression or space issues a 66 percent decrease since 2007. And VHS has taken some steps specifically to target cat overpopulation. Between 2012 and 2014, VHS offered a program called Cat Snip in Your ZIP offering residents of the 47710 ZIP code a chance to get their cats spayed or neutered for free. The concept was to target a neighborhood that surrendered a lot of cats to the shelter and focus on reducing the cat population in that area. The 47710 ZIP code includes portions of the Jacobsville neighborhood, including the VHS shelter. It also includes the North Park area and areas north of that. Cat Snip in Your ZIP ended in 2014 because its funding source, a PetSmart Charities grant, ran out. But Paul said the shelter hopes to secure an additional grant. And the program did show results, Paul said. In 2011, the year before Cat Snip in Your ZIP, the shelter took in 262 cats from the 47710 ZIP code. As of Dec. 29, the shelter had taken 102 cats from that same ZIP. "We know that targeted spay/neuter works." Qualifying low-income pet owners can apply for vouchers through Indiana's Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. Approved applicants pay $20 for a voucher that they can take to a participating veterinary clinic. Details can be found at the group's website, spayneuterservices.org. SHARE COLUMBUS, Ohio The earth seemed to spin off its axis. There it was, just in front of me: a restroom for both men and women. Right here in a deli not far from the Ohio Statehouse. Clearly, the warnings from Advance America's Eric Miller and other social conservative activists about a "sneak attack" that would establish beachheads of unisex bathrooms in the heartland had been well-founded, if a little bit off-target. The cultural terrorists who mean to undermine us by making men and women share washrooms decided to take the fight first to Ohio, rather than Indiana. Maybe that was because they knew we Hoosiers were ready. Indiana Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, is on the bathroom battlefront in Indiana. He's introduced legislation that would make it a crime for a person born a male to use a women's restroom or a person born a female to use a men's restroom in an Indiana school. Tomes' proposed measure would impose a $5,000 fine on people who violate this new law. Neither Tomes nor the person he worked closely with to draft the bill noted forward-thinker Miller has said whether a dedicated new branch of law enforcement, some specially trained potty police, will be needed to deal with this dilemma, but with a threat this immense it's wise to take precautions. Here in Ohio, people seem oblivious to the danger they face. When they come to the restroom, they knock politely. If someone is inside, they wait patiently. Sometimes, they even whistle while they wait. When the door opens, men, women and even children CHILDREN!!! use words like "please," "thank you" and "excuse me" as they step past each other. See, that's where the real harm is. Everyone knows few things are more corrosive to the development of a young person's character than developing respect for others and learning the principles of courtesy. If this unisex bathroom trend continues, we might raise a generation of young people who don't think the world revolves around them and who believe they occasionally might have to share. That, of course, would be disastrous. How, for example, would our current political culture survive if deadly concepts such as courtesy, respect and consideration for others were to take root? Thank goodness for leaders such as Tomes and Miller. They understand a menace, manufactured or otherwise, when they see one. Not so here in Buckeye land, where the leaders allow themselves to be distracted by mundane matters such as police-action shootings and economic growth. Indiana leaders also could find their attention diverted by similar trivial pursuits. The bottom is falling out of the Hoosier middle-class. Average household income in the state lags behind that of three of the four states (including Ohio) surrounding Indiana and the fourth one is gaining on us. And roughly 22 percent of Hoosier children live in poverty. Our leaders, though, don't allow such unimportant matters to alter their laser-like focus. Maybe Tomes and Miller aren't so easily diverted by unimportant considerations like life and death because their focus is informed by their faith. After all, religious scholars will tell you the Bible is filled with admonitions against unisex toilets. But there isn't a single word in either the Old Testament or the New Testament about helping the poor or feeding hungry children. Tomes and Miller clearly understand that, which is why they've drawn a line in the sand or linoleum at the bathroom door. We need to think of a an appropriate way to honor their courage and foresight. Every time Hoosiers visit a restroom, anywhere, any place, any time, they should think of Tomes and Miller. And every toilet flush should serve as a reminder of what folks like Jim Tomes and Eric Miller have done to Indiana and its reputation. John Krull is director of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism, host of "No Limits" WFYI 90.1 Indianapolis and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. SHARE By Jessie Higgins of the Courier and Press A dozen people died in Evansville in 2015 who were never claimed. With no friends or family to take them, their bodies ended up in the coroner's charge. "It happens a lot more often than people realize," said Vanderburgh County Coroner Annie Groves. "We get a lot of homeless people, or people whose families just can't afford it." The number of unclaimed bodies seems to be on the rise, Groves added. In November, the bodies of two local men Jery Smith and Charles Dixon went unclaimed. Smith, 77, died Nov. 5 in his Mulberry Street home. The coroner's office searched in vain for his only living son, but never found him. His body will be cremated and buried in a city-owned cemetery. Smith's grave will be marked only with a small funeral home tag. Dixon will end the same way. After he died Nov. 15 in Deaconess Hospital, the coroner's office did find his sister and a son. Initially, the pair agreed to take Dixon's body but they never did. "We usually find the family," Groves said. "But what happens is they have no money for a burial, or they haven't seen the person or have had not communication with them in a long time." Whatever the reason, if no one claims a body it becomes the community's responsibility. Each state handles their unclaimed deceased differently. In Indiana, the county coroner takes custody of the body. The local township trustee's office pays for the cremation, funeral and burial expenses. Because the coroner's office sits in Pigeon Township, the Pigeon Township Trustee's Office pays for the burials of every unclaimed body in Vanderburgh County. "We'll have a direct cremation," said Donna Jones-Thorton of the Pigeon Township Trustee's office. "There's no viewing and no memorial service." The City of Evansville gives free graves for indigent burials in one of its two cemeteries Oak Hill or Locus Hill. "They get a minimal grave," said Jones-Thorton. "They used to be called paupers graves. In different areas of the cemetery, graves differ in price." Even with the free grave, the unclaimed cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. Before the burial process even begins, the coroner's office is required by law to search for the family. That involves staff hours and legal ads. And they must store the body. A basic cremation costs about $1,000. And though the city grave is free, the cost of opening and closing the grave is $750. If at any time a family comes forward, the township tries to work with them. After Jewell Rose died Aug. 17 at Select Specialty Hospital, his family would not accept financial responsibility for the body. The body was classified as unclaimed, and the Township had Rose cremated. After the cremation, his family asked to have his remains. "We will let the family have the remains if they want them," Groves said. The whole process changes if the unclaimed person is a veteran (and never convicted of a felony). Unclaimed veterans qualify for special VA burial benefits, which includes burial in a National Cemetery. "We try to bury people with as much dignity as possible for what we can afford," Jones-Thorton said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The hike in the minimum wage that gave about 150,000 of Connecticuts lowest-paid workers a 45-cents-an-hour raise on Friday to $9.60 seemed progressive when it was first proposed two years ago. Back then, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was hailed as a leader in the living wage fight after the state approved a gradual increase to bring the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2017. But Connecticut has been eclipsed in recent months by the Fight for $15 movement. Spurred on by fast-food worker protests across the nation, several states and cities plan to phase in a $15 minimum wage over the next few years. Despite falling behind, Malloy is still trumpeting the states record. We are proud that Connecticut was the first state in the nation to raise the wage to $10.10, and we are proud to be a national leader on paid sick days as well, Malloy said last week. We always have said that no one should have to work 40 hours per week and have to live in poverty, and thats something we stand by, now and in the future. In neighboring New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently ordered that state workers would receive $15 an hour by the end of 2021. In Los Angeles, all workers can expect a $15 minimum wage in 2020. In Massachusetts, home health care workers will reach that milestone in 2018. And in cities from Seattle to Buffalo, N.Y.; Missoula, Mont. to Greensboro, N.C., there are plans to gradually institute the $15-an-hour wage. More Information Living on minimum wage 10 percent of the 1,646,510 working people in Connecticut make $9.63 or less per hour as hourly or salaried employees. The median state income is $21.07 per hour. The top 10 percent make $49 per hour or more. There are 105,809 single-female households with children under age 18, nearly 32 percent of whom live below the poverty line. Connecticut's minimum wage See More Collapse But dont expect a $15 wage in Connecticut anytime soon. With 2016 an election year for the Connecticut General Assembly, its unlikely that Democrats, who hold the majority, want to hand Republicans any political ammunition. The party took heavy anti-business criticism following the corporate tax increases that were adopted in June and partially repealed in December. A lot of things dont happen in an election year, said Sen. Edwin A. Gomes, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the legislative Labor and Public Employees Committee. When we work with the minimum wage, were always behind the times. Its just a poverty level anyhow, so we hope to keep raising it. I try to make progress each year Im in office. Changing the way restaurants and bars pay their servers, with lower per-hour wages supplemented by tips, stands a better chance of revision, Gomes said. Spurring the economy Lori Pelletier, president of the state AFL-CIO and a political realist, agreed that the $10.10 per hour set for next January will likely not be increased this year. Ten dollars and 10 cents an hour is the floor, and the floor really needs to be higher, Pelletier said. I think as a state, unfortunately, passing legislation in not easy. Were leaving a whole segment of women and minority workers behind. Department of Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer said higher wages spur the economy. An increase in the minimum wage makes economic sense because the result is more money in the hands of people who will spend it and invest in our local businesses, Palmer said. Paying a higher wage helps companies retain skilled employees, and this translates to increased productivity, better customer service and a stronger economy. Business flight Raising the minimum wage could drive businesses out of state, said Eric Gjede, assistant counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. I think right now, the governor and legislative leaders have been speaking about making Connecticut more competitive, Gjede said, noting the December special session that retooled this years corporate tax increases, which had drawn threats from Fairfield-based General Electric. Higher labor costs have resulted in cutbacks in employee hours and benefits, with a rise in consumer prices, Gjede warned. Seattle was the first to impose $15 and businesses are leaving the city limits to escape this thing, Gjede said. In the headlines In February 2014, Malloy grabbed the spotlight at the White House when he tussled over wages with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. At the time a presidential aspirant, Jindal criticized President Barack Obama for waving the white flag on the pay issue. We think we can do better than the minimum-wage economy, Jindal said to reporters. Malloy could barely contain himself. I dont know what the heck was a reference to white flag when it comes to people making $404 a week, Malloy said. I mean, thats the most insane statement Ive ever heard, quite frankly. A few weeks ago, Cuomo, who sometimes seems to be competing with Malloy for most-progressive-governor status, seized the political high ground in announcing that he would sign an executive order giving $15 an hour to thousands of New York state workers. In Connecticut, several thousand state and municipal employees will benefit from the scheduled wage increases which are expected to cost the state an additional $3.7 million. The new $9.60-per-hour wage means that a full-time, single employee working a 40-hour week will earn $19,938 a year and pay Connecticut $74 in income taxes, according to the state Department of Revenue Services. In a state that is among both the highest-earning and has the highest cost of living in the nation, it makes sense to pay more, particular to the working poor, who put their income back into the economy, said Derek Thomas, fiscal policy fellow at the nonprofit Connecticut Voices for Children. Connecticut has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, and lawmakers should be applauded, said Thomas, stressing that its still poverty pay. It looks like there are very few places, if any, where that wage would be enough to support a single adult, let alone an adult with a child. Fifteen dollars is the goal to help a single parent support a child. More than 60 percent of the minimum-wage workforce is made up of women, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said last week. This pay increase will help us narrow wage gaps, Wyman said. But its also part of broader efforts to ensure that full-time workers can afford to work and live in Connecticut. kdixon@ctpost.com; twitter: @KenDixonCT This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Yessenia Santos hourly wage just went up, but her hours are about to go down. She knew it was coming when Wal-Mart hired her in November, she said, her supervisors made it clear she would only be able to work full time through the holidays. Now the season is ending, and while her wages will increase 5 percent, as the states new minimum-wage law takes effect, she predicts her weekly hours will decrease to between 23 and 28. I was a little upset because of that, Santos said. Im barely able to pay my rent on the amount Im making now. Even at 40 hours a week, she said, the 45-cent hourly increase would not go very far. At 28, Santos has three children to care for, ages 5, 7 and 10. She said she has been able to keep up with the $950 monthly rent on her West Haven apartment, but has fallen behind on her light and gas bills, and fears her utilities may soon be cut off. She is able to use food subsidies to go grocery shopping, but generally makes up the balance out of her own pocket. And she must commute to Stratford for work, another expense. She does not know what is going to come next. Having to find another job is going to be really, really hard on me, but I dont think I have a choice, Santos said. Theyre paying me $9.15 and Im barely getting any hours there. Im really struggling with the fact that Im going to have to get another job, and I dont think I can handle that. The family only recently moved to West Haven. Before that, they were on shelter waiting lists in Bridgeport. Santos was working at Babies R Us when Wal-Mart hired her. For for a time, she tried to keep both jobs, but could not find enough hours in the day for work and three kids. State lawmakers estimate there are between 70,000 and 90,000 Connecticut residents working at minimum wage. But speaking on wage increases in December 2014, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said there were around 125,000 women alone in the state earning at or just above the minimum wage. Even as Connecticut moves to phase in incremental wage increases for the lowest earners, workers at the low end of the spectrum have agitated for more meaningful increases. Fast-food, health care and child care workers most notably those with union backing have staged rallies in Connecticut demanding a $15-per-hour minimum wage, a threshold that some other major U.S. cities have already implemented. But not everyone employers or wage-earners alike is sold on that figure. Ten dollars or $11 would be perfectly fine; thats manageable, Santos said. Fifteen dollars would help a lot, but thats way overboard. I dont ever want to be that greedy. Santos said she has tried to continue her education, but so far, her efforts have been fruitless. Double murder trial day 4: A star witness for the prosecution backed out in the courtroom The prosecution case in chief has to change its line up of witnesses when one decides not to take the stand when called to do so Tuesday morning. Five takeaways from Senate debate between Marco Rubio and Val Demings Marco Rubio and Val Demings faced off in their only debate for Florida's U.S. Senate seat, discussing abortion, gun rights and voting. A devastating flood has two components. One of them is obvious: lots of water falling from the sky. The other is less discussed but just as important: land and rivers with no capacity to absorb the water and hold it back. A series of perverse European and government policies ensures that when heavy rain falls, it is rushed off the land and funnelled into our towns and cities with terrible consequences for those who live there. The armed forces were called in to help people dealing with floods in Cumbria last month, pictured Flood management is like medicine: prevention is better than cure. Preventing rivers from rising to dangerous levels is a safer and sounder strategy than allowing a great surge of water to gather, then praying the barriers we have built around our homes are high enough. This means applying good science across the whole catchment area, from the mountaintops to the bottom of the river basins, where our towns are concentrated. But everywhere public spending is being used to make catastrophic floods inevitable. The heaviest rain falls in the hills, and what happens there is a crucial determinant of the impacts downstream. Rational policies would seek to ensure that water hitting the hills is held there for as long as possible before it begins its downhill journey. And this, above all, means having trees and other deep vegetation. A study in mid-Wales discovered that where trees are allowed to grow on the hills, water is absorbed by the soil 67 times more efficiently than where they are absent. Where sheep have grazed the vegetation closely and compacted the soil with their hooves, the land behaves almost like concrete: water flashes off immediately and begins its devastating rush downhill. Pictured: David Cameron visiting soldiers working in flooded York in late December 2015 But it is not the farmers who are to blame: it is European rules which ensure that trees are more or less banned from our hills. Farming in the uplands, where the soil is poor and the climate is harsh, is sustained by public money. We like to believe that the sturdy shepherds we see on BBC1s Countryfile are making their living from selling sheep, but the sheep lose money. Most hill farmers would go out of business were it not for European farm subsidies. And the rules attached to these subsidies forbid them from changing the way they manage their land. To claim your money, you dont need to produce a single lamb chop. You merely need to ensure that your land is in agricultural condition and this means bare. Farm subsidies are paid by the hectare: the more land you possess that is in agricultural condition, the more money you are given. Devastated residents cleared out their ruined furniture and household items in Yorkshire The Government publishes a list of what are called Permanent Ineligible Features (PIFs). Any land that harbours these features is disqualified from subsidies, so farmers have a powerful incentive to erase them. Among the PIFs are woods, dense scrub, bracken, ponds, wide hedges and ungrazed reed beds a comprehensive catalogue of features that impede the flow of water downhill. The PIF rule is one of the reasons why, above about 650ft, you will struggle to find trees almost anywhere in Britain. European regulations, in other words, prohibit both wildlife habitat and flood prevention. In 2009, this approach was challenged by the Government body Natural England. It published a report called Vital Uplands, which proposed allowing deep vegetation to return to the hills to reduce the risk of downstream flooding. It noted intensive grazing can cause soil erosion and compaction, and prevent regeneration of scrub and trees, thus speeding water run-off. Rescue workers helped evacuate people throughout December across the country, like in Cumbria, pictured After the report was published, a new chairman of Natural England was appointed. Poul Christensen publicly denounced the report and apologised for his agencys thought crimes. Vital Uplands was pulped and deleted from official websites. Even more important than the management of the hills is the management of our rivers, which determines whether they flow swiftly or slowly. Preventing floods from hitting urban areas means holding water back in the upper reaches of the rivers until the flood peak passes, then releasing it gradually. But everything we do to them ensures that the opposite happens. For centuries, civil engineers have been straightening our rivers, embanking them, clearing out obstructions and dredging. They have created short, smooth chutes down which water can flow as swiftly as possible: a perfect formula for catastrophe. The main purpose of this policy is to protect agricultural land. Vast amounts of public money have been spent to ensure fields do not flood putting homes at risk downstream. When very heavy rain falls, the water has to go somewhere. Either you protect the fields from flooding or you protect the cities: you cant do both. We should be encouraging farmers to store water in their fields until the flood peak passes, and compensating them accordingly. Slowing the flow means allowing rivers to meander once more and allowing obstructions, such as gravel banks and woody dams, to return to their upper reaches. One of the most cost-effective means of doing this is releasing beavers: their spongy dams, through which water filters slowly, are highly efficient at reducing flood peaks. A cost-effective way of slowing the flow of flooding? Use beavers to build dams of course And above all it means stopping the stupidest and most counter-productive policy you could devise: dredging. Flood management is more or less where medicine was in the 17th Century: unscientific and irrational. In 2014 the Environment Agency published the River Dredging And Flood Defence report, which said: Dredging of river channels does not prevent flooding during extreme river flows. Again, it was slapped down by the Government. Flood management in this country is a war against nature. But working against the natural world is much more expensive and dangerous than working with it. A rational flood-prevention programme means using natures tremendous capacity for absorbing water and slowing its flow, by rewilding our hills and rivers. For that to be possible, we must challenge the insane public spending that rushes rivers into our homes. Advertisement Twenty years ago Andrew Davies sexed up Jane Austen with a fresh, modern adaptation of Pride And Prejudice for the BBC that made stars of Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and had 10 million viewers each week hanging on every word uttered by Lizzy Bennet and every rippling crease of Mr Darcys shirt. Now hes done the same thing for a Russian classic. War And Peace, Leo Tolstoys epic novel first published in 1869, has been turned into a lavish BBC1 drama starring the cream of British acting talent. Filmed over nearly a year on location in Latvia, Lithuania (its capital Vilnius has many buildings in the Imperial Russian style) and St Petersburg, where they had access to the majestic Catherine Palace, the series boasts 120 main actors and thousands of extras and promises to be the TV event of 2016. Scroll down for video War & Peace is one of 2016's most hotly anticipated dramas here the cast and crew reveal what to expect Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time, War And Peace is a doorstopper of a book at more than 1,300 pages, melding fact and fiction and covering universal themes of love and loss, repression and redemption. It begins in 1805 during the reign of Tsar Alexander I and leads up to the 1812 invasion of Russia by Napoleons Grande Armee, a tumultuous period in Russian history, telling the stories of two fictional grand aristocratic families the bohemian, free-spending Rostovs and the high-minded, military Bolkonskys and their circle of acquaintances as they socialise, quarrel and fall passionately in love. In many ways its a companion piece to Pride And Prejudice, says Andrew, a soap opera set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Its got that Austen-y thing of two girls in their nighties saying, How do you know when youre in love? Not only does it have a charismatic teenage heroine in Natasha Rostova (an a is usually added to Russian womens last names to indicate gender), but there are also flirtations and duels, epic battle scenes, tragic deaths and a love triangle that will melt even the hardest heart. WHO'S WHO - Meet the two central families and the main characters who have a dramatic effect on their lives THE ROSTOVS Count Ilya Rostov (Adrian Edmondson) A nobleman whose generosity leads to huge debts. Countess Natalya Rostova (Greta Scacchi) The counts wife is a family-loving woman with a luxurious life. Countess Natasha Rostova (Lily James) Their daughter has a joyful innocence that bewitches everyone. Count Nikolai Rostov (Jack Lowden) Their impetuous son dreams of being an army officer. Count Petya Rostov (Kit Connor/Otto Farrant) The youngest Rostov is as lively as Natasha. Sonya Rostova (Aisling Loftus) The Rostovs humble and impoverished orphaned niece who lives with them. THE BOLKONSKYS Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky (Jim Broadbent) A grumpy former general clinging to old-fashioned values. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (James Norton) Prince Bolkonskys intellectual but tormented son. Princess Lise Bolkonskaya (Kate Phillips) Prince Andreis wife is a sweet woman but he finds her tedious. Princess Marya Bolkonskaya (Jessie Buckley) The pious daughter of Prince Nikolai endures her fathers cruelty. OTHER KEY PLAYERS Pierre Bezukhov (Paul Dano) A fun-loving misfit who becomes sought-after when his father leaves him a fortune. Anna Pavlovna (Gillian Anderson) The wealthy hostess uses her lavish salons to scheme and matchmake. Prince Vassily Kuragin (Stephen Rea) A nobleman whose life is spent conniving to maintain his status. Dolokhov (Tom Burke) Brave but a bully, the dashing, penniless officer becomes an ally to Pierre. Princess Helene Kuragina (Tuppence Middleton) Vassilys frosty and duplicitous daughter is actually rather dim. Prince Anatole Kuragin (Callum Turner) Vassilys hedonistic and handsome son is looking for a rich wife. General Kutuzov (Brian Cox) The commander of the Russian army leads them at the Battle of Borodino. Advertisement Downton Abbey and Cinderella star Lily James plays Natasha, who in a poll narrowly beat energetic, intelligent, resilient Lizzy Bennet as the most lovable heroine ever in literature; man of the moment James Norton, star of Happy Valley and Grantchester, is cast as the handsome, troubled Prince Andrei Bolkonsky the Russian Mr Darcy, according to Andrew Davies and Andreis friend and love rival Pierre Bezukhov is played by Hollywood actor Paul Dano of 12 Years A Slave fame. Andrew, 79, who also brought House Of Cards, Little Dorrit, Bleak House and Vanity Fair to TV, among others, admits hed never read War And Peace before the BBC approached him to adapt it. But the idea of doing something as big as this was very appealing. Even more so when Id read the book because it just felt much fresher and more modern than I was expecting. The leading characters are all fascinating young people, full of eagerness and passion. It was delightful to write, and of course theres the huge, sweeping scale of it. OUT TAKES The Rostovs, played by Greta Scacchi and Adrian Edmondson, are the warm heart of the book. They really love each other, says Greta. But a little divide starts to develop because the count has spent all their money. Advertisement His nightmare task was to condense the sprawling plot down to some eight hours, to be aired in six episodes. In contrast, the acclaimed 1972 BBC version starring Anthony Hopkins as Pierre was a 15-hour, 20-part drama. Andrew, though, is typically gung-ho. Watching the 1972 version it seemed incredibly stodgy to me, except for Hopkinss performance, which seemed modern and vibrant. I couldnt watch much of it. It didnt feel real, so I hope ours does. Julia Stannard, the series producer, admits theyve had to be ruthless. Its about capturing whats important and relatable and what still feels contemporary and alive. Weve had to make painful decisions. Weve had to let go of sections we all love. But its an eternal story. The characters have the same dilemmas we all have now, about how to live and what constitutes a good life. Those things dont change over the centuries. Andrew says he adored writing the character of Natasha. Shes so young and so vulnerable. Lizzy Bennet is great but she manages to keep her cool much more than Natasha. Natasha is all emotion she thinks with her heart and her feelings, which gets her into trouble. Lizzy makes a big mistake about Darcy but its a kind of error of judgment, which she has the opportunity to remedy. But the mistake Natasha makes means shes practically ruined, as though her lifes over. So she has to suffer much more, and maybe because of that we feel more deeply for her. She and Pierre are the moral touchstones of the story. They both get things wrong but their instincts are all right. They have the right sort of feeling about people. BEAUTIFUL LOUCHE AND VERY PROMISCUOUS The most debauched characters of the book are brother and sister Anatole and Helene Kuragin, and Anatoles friend Dolokhov. Tolstoy drops hints in the book that Anatole and Helene are having an incestuous relationship, and that was irresistible for screenwriter Andrew Davies, who wrote scenes showing them in bed together, although they are not explicit. The brother and sister relationship was something I made more clear, he says deftly. I made it clearer than Tolstoy did. Its certainly referenced in the book. He just didnt actually write the scenes and I couldnt see why, so I thought I would. Dolokhov, meanwhile, a slightly psychopathic soldier whos happiest hacking people to bits, is rumoured to be having an affair with Helene after she marries Pierre, forcing Pierre to challenge him to a duel. Tolstoy drops hints in the book that Anatole and Helene are having an incestuous relationship, and that was irresistible for screenwriter Andrew Davies, who wrote scenes showing them in bed together, although they are not explicit Advertisement A LOVE TRIANGLE TO MELT EVEN THE HARDEST HEART War And Peaces famous love triangle between best friends Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov and sweet Natasha Rostova is as dramatic as any of the books epic battle scenes, and unsurprisingly Andrew Davies seized on it for the heart of his adaptation. 'Those three are at the centre of the drama, he says, and I wanted to show as much of the action as possible through their eyes. Although the three characters circle each other over many years, it takes time for the passion to build. At the start of the novel Andrei is married to the clingy Princess Lise, but when she dies in childbirth he gives up all thoughts of love. Its only when he meets Natasha on a visit to the Rostov home, and later dances with her at the Tsars Ball, that his passion is stirred. Like everyone, Andrei is very flawed, says James Norton who plays him. Hes ignorant of some things and educated about others. One thing I dont think he gets right is love. Its wonderful to see him go from the Russian Darcy, as Andrew Davies describes him, at the start and then slowly soften into a lovesick puppy when hes with Natasha. His friend Pierre is a party boy, but after he inherits a fortune he becomes eligible husband material and is tricked into marrying Helene Kuragina. Meanwhile flighty but lovable Natasha has a series of mini flirtations confiding in her brother Nikolai and cousin Sonya but takes nothing seriously until she meets Andrei. Its a coup de foudre and Pierre, whos had a soft spot for Natasha since childhood, watches regretfully as she and Andrei are engaged. But Andreis father insists they wait a year to marry, and so Andrei goes off to war. Imagine that now, says Lily James, who is Natasha. Imagine not seeing your boyfriend for a year having promised yourself to him. The poignancy of the story comes from the fact that Pierre and Andrei, whose families are close, adore each other and Andrew Davies thinks we might find Andrei repugnant if it werent for his love for Pierre. The first impression we get of Pierre is that hes not the same as people around him, says Paul Dano, who plays him, but then Andrei shows up again. Andreis not only his best friend but someone who sees what a kind person Pierre is. And Pierre sees someone he can look up to in Andrei. Lily James says Natasha goes on a great journey. Shes instantly drawn to Pierre but shes unaware of it because shes just a child. She falls in love several times. She lives in the moment. Its how I wish I acted at times. Uninhibited. But it leads to disaster! Advertisement For Lily James, being cast as Natasha was a dream come true. It was daunting at first because Andrew said Natasha is the most lovable character in the whole thing. But reading the book, I got to the first passage about her and it describes her as a big-eyed, not beautiful but lively girl, as she runs into the room. It describes her as burying her face in her mothers dress and laughing, and this makes everyone in the room laugh. Shes so uninhibited and full of life, and immediately I felt so lucky to be her. In the drama Natasha has to age from a teenager to a mature woman, and Lily worked with the costume designer to make the transition convincing. I strap myself down and have high-neck, little-girl dresses at first, and then suddenly Natashas discovering her sexuality and the dresses change and become more womanly, she explains. OUT TAKES Adrian Edmondson says the Rostovs became a little family unit. We bonded and the actors playing my children called me Papa. Theyre the same age as my youngest daughter so I felt like their dad. We became a very nice group Advertisement That was really exciting, with lots of silk and pale, muted colours. In the book Tolstoy says Natashas skin hasnt been damaged by the look of men compared to Pierres promiscuous wife Helene, whos been looked at and touched so many times. So the costumes tied in with those ideas. It was also an opportunity for Lily to revisit her own adolescent rites of passage. I had to think to the distant past of growing up, falling in love for the first time, discovering those things as a young girl... I remember saying to my mum and my granny when I had my first boyfriend, No one has ever been as in love as I am! I keep thinking about that with Natasha, her conviction and instinct. I wanted her to feel really young at the start, to accentuate her journey and to capture that spirit of youth and openness and excitement, where everythings going to be OK. When her brother Nikolai goes off to war she thinks its going to be fine, because she hasnt experienced grief yet. You can see why she gets led on by people later on, and that spirit is taken advantage of. As Andrei, the intelligent, ambitious son of retired military commander Prince Bolkonsky and the key character in that family, James Norton has a similarly epic role to Lily. Andreis this conflicted young man, he wants to find some sort of revolution in his life, says James. He changes so radically in the book he goes from being horribly cynical and bloodthirsty and glory-seeking, through this kind of depression, and then falls in love and goes to a high. I dont think hes the classic glamorous hero but as the story goes on you begin to empathise with him. THE BATTLE THAT DID FOR NAPOLEON One of historys greatest battles involving some 300,000 soldiers took place at Borodino, 70 miles from Moscow, on 7 September 1812. It was here that Napoleons Grande Armee, marching on Moscow, clashed with General Kutuzovs Russians, leading to casualties of some 80,000 men. Two months into his invasion of Russia Napoleon was struggling the Russian army had refused to fight, with Kutuzov withdrawing his troops deeper into the forests, destroying crops as he went. This meant Napoleons supply lines had become stretched and his troops tired and hungry. Finally, at Borodino, Kutuzov stopped and turned to fight. Prince Andrel (James Norton) leads his men into battle The cast and crew of War & Peace pictured filming a battle scene in the snow It was Kutuzov who said retreat was the best strategy, because the enemy is obliged to follow so you lure them in, explains Scottish actor Brian Cox, 69, who plays him. The General was the only one who understood that the further away from their supply lines they were, the weaker Napoleons forces became. The Tsar, Alexander I, was all for fighting. He was a Christ-like figure everyone thought was wonderful, but he was actually clueless. Filming these epic scenes in Lithuania, every effort was made to capture the authenticity of the era, with thousands of local extras hired to play the soldiers. The hardest part was the cold it was freezing, says military adviser Paul Biddiss. We were training in snow, ice and rain but they were fantastic and stayed the course. 'Before filming began I watched other productions of War And Peace and everyone looked too regimented, doing the same thing at the same time. The reality of the Napoleonic era was different, and I wanted to capture that. The attrition rate was high and you would have been lucky to have survived one or two battles, so there was fresh blood going to the front all the time with little training. These were farmers, not soldiers. Thats why we used locals as extras. Jack Lowden as Nikolai Rostov To give a sense of the vastness of the battlefield drones were used to film the war scenes a first for a British TV drama which were shot in the wide open spaces near the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, and the cast were given weapons training exactly as it would have been in the Napoleonic era. I showed them how to fire a musket and to react to the kick-back by flinching, says Paul, and how to reload a musket, biting off the top of a cartridge, putting gunpowder in the flintlock and using a rod to ram the rest of the powder down the barrel. And to make sure they showed aggression with their bayonets I made them charge at a wooden target, swearing at the top of their voices in Russian. For James Norton, playing Prince Andrei, the battle scenes turned out to be fun. I stood in front of an army of 200 extras and got to pull my sword out and shout, Charge! he says. But there were challenges too, such as when in my heroic moment I turn the tide of the Russian retreat, running into battle with a standard and shouting, Charge! and the standard snapped in my hand! Advertisement FABULOUS FURS... AND VERY TIGHT BREECHES! There may not be a Mr Darcy wet shirt scene, but the sumptuous uniforms and taut breeches the men wear in War And Peace will set hearts racing. The breeches were cut as tight as possible and the broad shoulders and narrow waists of the uniforms accentuate the male physique, says costume designer Edward K Gibbon. They werent particularly practical but they cut quite a dash on the battlefield! Each pair of breeches was made to measure and care was taken to ensure each actors modesty was protected. Although the breeches are made of wool theres stretch to them, and as they were cut correctly no one seemed to have any problems, laughs Edward. The correct-sized underwear helped. We didnt need a wet shirt moment because Tolstoy provided us with more than enough phwoar moments! The breeches were quite tight and they got tighter I certainly wasnt allowed to ride side-saddle, says James Norton, who plays Andrei. But seriously, they were quite comfortable. Great attention to detail was paid to make sure the uniforms are as faithful as possible to the originals. The Pavlograd Hussar uniforms alone each had 180 buttons and 49 metres of braid. Its all about bravado and macho posturing, says Edward. The Pavlograd Hussars, the regiment Nikolai Rostov and his friend Dolokhov join, was the regiment favoured by the aristocracy. The jacket worn over one shoulder only is called the dolman it was the winter jacket with a sheepskin trim for warmth. Original furs as well as satins, silks and fine laces were used. Russia was a wild and decadent place peopled by beautiful, rich people at the time, says Edward. It was inherently sexy and at times depraved, so we tried to emphasise the decadence through the clothes. My favourite is Natashas white satin cape with fur-trimmed cuffs and hood [top] and she has a fur-lined dress too. We used quite a bit of fur its all real but its all old. Weve reconditioned it. Natashas dress for the Tsars Ball was made from very fine silk with intricate lace bordering, hand-embellished with pearl beads. She also wears a fabulous wheatsheaf-design tiara and pearl bow drop earrings. Its no surprise to hear that the ballgown was Lily Jamess favourite costume. Theres a real flair to Eds design and it feels quite exotic and not too tied down historically. I felt incredibly glamorous at the ball. I didnt wear a corset because it wasnt the fashion back then and I loved the long flowing dresses theres so much freedom. Advertisement EVEN THE HORSES WERE DIVAS Horses were an essential for life in early 19th-century Russia, but for most of the cast learning to ride was the most difficult thing they had to master. Tom Burke, who plays Pierres friend Dolokhov, was pretty good as hed been in The Musketeers, but Jack Lowden, who plays Nikolai, had never ridden before and neither had Paul Dano as Pierre, says producer Julia Stannard. The girls found side-saddle riding the hardest. I ride quite well but I had a lesson on riding side-saddle and its horrible, says Lily James. Its really painful, much worse than riding a horse normally. You sort of have to trap your legs in and you get blistered. You dont feel in control of the horse and you cant really fall off, which filled me with dread because I thought that if I did Id just be dangling. James Norton had learnt to ride a few years earlier for another role, and after an assessment on set he was told he was fine. But Lithuanian horses have a slightly different temperament, apparently, he laughs. Basically theyre massive divas! So there were a few slightly hairy moments, but it was fine. Some of the horses used were flown to Eastern Europe from the UK to ensure the stars were completely safe. Wed hoped to use more local horses, but it was difficult to get horses that could do what we needed, explains Julia Stannard. That is, to fall as though theyve been hit and not be freaked out by our drone cameras and all the explosions. The hero horses as we call them, which we see characters such as Nikolai, Dolokhov and Napoleon ride, could be relied on not to rear or bolt in those circumstances. Theyre camera-friendly, although we also used about 30 local horses. Jack Lowden revealed that the horses were such good actors they puffed out their chests when they lined up to charge. SOPPY HOUNDS One of the books more dramatic chapters is the big wolf hunt, in which the Rostov family use dozens of borzoi dogs to stalk their prey. Of course today they dont hunt wolves with borzois, so the team tracked down all the pet borzois in Lithuania and roped them in as extras. They were lovely dogs, all being pampered by their different owners, says Andrew Davies. The director Tom Harper was saying, Get them organised into gangs, because they had to run after this wolf, which wasnt actually there. They just had to run down the hill and think, Oh, yes, lets get into a gang with some other dogs. 'So they all ran down the hill and it was great. Then at the bottom of the hill, they were like, Now what? Im lost, wheres my mum? They got all confused, so they had to be reunited with their owners and comforted. They were really soppy dogs. Then they had to do it all again for the next take. IS THAT YOU DAD? On every job he signs up to, James Norton gets his dad Hugh a role as an extra. And War And Peace was no different. He flew out to Lithuania where we were filming the battle scenes, says James. He was so excited. He was a Russian peasant but wanted to be a count I said, No Dad! S*d that! Hes been in Happy Valley and Lady Chatterleys Lover, where he even had an improvised line to say which was a bit awkward. But he loved it. Hes carving out his own career! Advertisement Hes quite brooding and the director Tom Harper had to keep telling me to stop smiling. Theres so much stuff going on with Andrei. Did he worry about being handsome enough for the role? If you start thinking about that you run the risk of starting to pout and I definitely didnt want to do that, laughs James. Hes a real bloke. I think his allure to the ladies is something hes unaware of, it just comes naturally to him. Its Andreis spirit that makes him so attractive. If you start thinking about looks you run a dangerous course because you start to be vain as an actor. James became very proud of his Russian family (his father is played by Jim Broadbent, while his sister is theatre star Jessie Buckley). The familys dysfunctional but deep down theres an affection there, and we found that off-camera too. There were some very emotional scenes where Jim was incredibly volatile, screaming and laughing then suddenly bursting into tears. It was all very intense, then wed go to a restaurant and play board games together! Connecting these two grand dynasties is Pierre Bezukhov, Andreis best friend, the socially awkward but likeable illegitimate son of a rich count who during the course of the book suffers a disastrous marriage, madness and imprisonment as he searches for the meaning of life. Hes not innocent but he has something that most people lose as they become adults, says Paul Dano, who plays him. Hes trying to figure out his purpose and how to be happy, he wants to do something with his life but he keeps trying and failing. Andrew Davies loves the way Tolstoy writes all the characters with a degree of sympathy even the baddies such as the chaotic, hedonistic Dolokhov (Tom Burke), who when hes not fighting in battle has to create other trouble, and the dastardly Anatole Kuragin (Callum Turner). And, being Andrew Davies, he doesnt shy away from the more risque content of the book. Theres a certain amount of nudity. When you expect someone to be nude, they are. But as we watch scenes of dancing and flirting in Russian high society, were all too aware that world events are about to intrude. Napoleon invades Russia, leading to the epic Battle of Borodino which has a tumultuous effect on the key characters, with fortunes lost, lives transformed and loves kindled. James Norton believes the real appeal of the book, and he hopes this new TV version, is that it touches on universal themes. Ultimately what makes it special is that its a soap opera, he says. A perfect portrayal of humanity with people falling in and out of love revenge, jealousy and loss. Its just about people. War And Peace starts Sunday at 9pm on BBC1. A PALACE BALL AND SOME LIVELY DANCING Uniformed hussars with flaming torches greet velvet-lined horse-drawn carriages as they pull up to the grand entrance of the majestic Catherine Palace in St Petersburg. Opulent stoles fall from petite shoulders as ladies step spellbound into a fairytale world where the golden interiors shimmer in the candlelight. Its here, at the Tsars New Years Eve Ball, that Natasha Rostova makes her society debut and bewitches the uptight Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. Entertaining on a spectacular scale plays a big part in the series society hostess Anna Pavlovna, played by Gillian Anderson, throws lavish salons while theres always a party at Count Rostovs house. They do quite a lot of partying because they didnt do any work, says Adrian Edmondson, who appears as the count. Adrian Edmondson, as Count Rostov, does his Russian Cossack dance Theres a lot of music and dancing. There are two other balls, but the Tsars Ball is the grandest and the BBC crew were fortunate enough to be able to film inside the very building where it would have been held 200 years ago. A Rococo palace commissioned by Catherine I in 1717 as a summer residence for the emperors, the Catherine Palace is famed for its magnificent mirrored ballroom. It wasnt cheap and we could only afford to film there for two days, says producer Julia Stannard, but we felt it delivered so much. The palace and the ball scenes give a whole new dimension to the series. The way the scenes were shot will make viewers feel as if theyre dancing with the couple as they fall in love. Two cameras were used one on a crane to get aerial shots, and the other on a spinning platform called a dancing dolly which whirled Natasha and Andrei around to capture their growing intimacy. We had all those Russian extras waltzing around us, says James Norton, who plays Andrei. Then we had this huge shot in the ballroom filled with gold, blazing candles and flowers. Lily and I were in the middle on the dancing dolly with the orchestra playing at one end. It was heart-stopping. Gillian Anderson as Anna Pavlovna who entertains on a spectacular scale in the series as a society hostess Walking into the Catherine Palace my mouth just dropped, says Lily James, who plays Natasha. I thought, This is what I imagine heaven to be like. You can feel the history. And the scene was so inventive Ive never experienced anything like it. We were dancing together and being spun round at the same time. Incredible! Composer Jack Arnold was asked to create a waltz for the series. We wanted him to create a waltz reminiscent of that period, says Julia Stannard. Music of that time can feel stuffy but we wanted a piece to encapsulate Andrei and Natashas courtship. We call it Natashas Waltz as its the first time she appears in society and its her first dance with Andrei. It looks magnificent as they swirl around the floor, Natasha in her exquisite ballgown and Andrei in taut breeches and a tight white jacket decorated with silver, but Lily reveals she and James relied on their own choice of song to get them in the mood for love. I had Whitney Houston on my iPhone for that moment, so I Will Always Love You was playing in my ears. James had it too, we listened to it together. Theres this lovely moment when Natashas nervous no one is asking her to dance, says Julia. When Andrei approaches, all her reserve goes out of the window as shes desperate to dance with him. All eyes are on them and youre willing them to fall in love. James captured this Russian austerity which disappears when he sees Natasha, bringing spontaneous magic. Advertisement When we last saw him, Endeavour Morse was languishing in jail at the end of the second series of the acclaimed Morse prequel in 2014. Hed been framed for the murder of Chief Constable Rupert Standish after the brilliant young detective had unearthed corruption at the heart of the Oxford City police force. His immediate boss DI Fred Thursday was in trouble too, his life hanging in the balance after being shot in the chest. Its not too much of a spoiler to reveal that both Shaun Evans and Roger Allam, who play the crime-fighting duo, are back on the streets at the start of this third run of the show, which is set in 1967. Shaun Evans returns in Endeavor playing alongside Roger Allam as the crime fighting duo for a third series Admittedly Thursday has the fragment of a bullet lodged in his lung which could kill him at any moment, but hes back on duty. Endeavours out of jail but suspended from the force pending an inquiry, says Shaun, 35, in a Liverpool accent far broader than Endeavours. Hes been in touch with some friends from his Oxford University days and hes staying in a cabin by a lake owned by one of them, reassessing his options. Hes fallen into company with this wealthy group of young people and hes starting to think, Maybe Ill do this instead, hang out with these rich people rather than be a policeman. But then he spots a dead body on the way to a party and thats when he becomes involved in police work again. The body belongs to a young bus conductress, Jeannie Hearne, who was last seen at a funfair the previous evening. The investigation into her murder leads to the very people Endeavours been hanging around with, mysterious playboy Joss Bixby and a couple of socialites, Bruce Belborough and his beautiful wife Kay, a woman Endeavour finds an instant connection with. Dakota Blue Richards as Shirley Endeavour has enjoyed plenty of dalliances with women over the past two series and this one is no different. Theres a new police officer working at the station, Shirley Trewlove, and there are hints that they might become more than just colleagues. And in one of the later episodes Endeavour enjoys a Mrs Robinson moment when an older woman tries to seduce him. Throughout it all Endeavour remains largely unemotional, a loner who seems perfectly happy living in the middle of nowhere as the series opens. Theres an air of mystery about him, he keeps himself to himself, says Shaun, who likes to keep his own personal life close to his chest too. The son of a taxi driver and a health worker from a family with its roots set firmly in Northern Ireland, he had a four-year relationship with Andrea Corr of the Irish pop group The Corrs after the couple met while filming a movie in Ireland in 2003. Since then hes kept his private life firmly under wraps. I like to keep that side of things to myself, he says, although its more to do with making sure Im convincing on screen rather than not wanting to let people know about the ins and outs of my life. You need people to believe in you as a particular character and go with you and thats easier if viewers arent thinking about you, the person. What we do know is that he makes a habit of going travelling when hes finished each series of Endeavour. He visited Vietnam and Cambodia after the first two series and he was back in south-east Asia earlier this year after completing series three. I loved it. It gave me a chance to get away from everything, he says. Id stay in a really basic place one night for something like 3, and then a more expensive place the following night. I was away for months and I really enjoyed it. The trips provide an escape after five intense months on Endeavour. The programme takes up 20 weeks of the year, from 5am to 8pm every day. The stories are often in a state of flux so I have to be there all the time to stay on top of whats going on, especially when Im welcoming guest stars. I have to know my lines well in advance which means learning them during the evening, so Endeavour is with me constantly I cant get rid of him at any point during filming. Shaun could conceivably carry on as Endeavour for years. Given that John Thaw didnt start playing the more mature version of the character until he was 45, Shaun could feasibly have another decade or more to explore the younger Morse. That depends on the audience, he says. However pleased we are with the work weve done on this new series, the audience may think otherwise, they may think standards have fallen and that they dont want to see any more. Id be disappointed if that happened, but were very much in their hands. This is arguably our best series yet, though, and the last story, Coda, is the best episode weve ever done. Its a really engaging story that revolves around a bank robbery and an especially grisly murder. Its terrific. But being typecast is a bit of a concern. Its a tricky one and I try not to think about it too much. Endeavour has a level of audience that makes it slightly easier to be seen for parts and other jobs do come slightly easier now than they did, because people know me from playing Endeavour. But I hope it hasnt typecast me, I hope this is a stop on the journey of my career and not the last station. To be honest it would be good to know when Endeavour is going to end. I think we should decide were going to make a finite number of new episodes and stick to it. It would be set in peoples minds and it would give the whole team a direction to move towards. 'I think we should pick a year, a great year to finish, decide on the relationships Endeavour is going to have on the journey towards that point and then go for it. Advertisement She has enjoyed a relaxed holiday with her family in Australia over Christmas, but it was back to business as usual for Princess Mary by New Year as she made it home to Denmark just in time to host the annual royal banquet. The red carpet was rolled out for the Danish royal family on Friday as they arrived for the New Year reception at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Wearing a midnight blue velvet floor-length gown with the bottom half embellished with delicate sequins, Crown Princess Mary, 43, looked elegant as she arrived arm-in-arm with her husband, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik. She wore her hair pinned back underneath her antique diamond and ruby-encrusted tiara and paired her outfit with her Knight of the Order of the Elephant collar. Prince Frederik donned Danish military uniform and carried his ceremonial sabre for the traditional event and the couple were greeted with thunderous applause from well-wishers as they exited the car and made their way up to the castle doors. Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik celebrated New Year in style at the annual annual royal banquet in Copenhagen Wearing a midnight blue velvet floor-length gown with the bottom half embellished with delicate sequins, Crown Princess Mary looked elegant as she made her entrance at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen Princess Mary wore her hair pinned back underneath a tiara and paired her outfit with her Knight of the Order of the Elephant collar The royal couple have just enjoyed a relaxed Christmas holiday with their children and arrived back just in time to help host the annual royal banquet His parents Queen Margrethe, 75, and Prince Henrik hosted the VIP gala and waved to the waiting crowds as they made their way inside. Their younger son, Prince Joachim, 46, also wore traditional military regalia for the event and was pictured beaming as he made his entrance with his wife Princess Marie. The 39-year-old wore an exquisite cream floor-length dress embroidered with small flowers and a beautiful tiara. January is one of the most eventful months of the year for the Danish court, especially for Prince Frederik and Australian-born Princess Mary. Following the New Year's banquet, there is at least one more turn of the year party before they celebrate the birthday of her twins, Prince Vincent Frederik Minik and Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda, who turn five on January 8. The royal couple have just landed back in Denmark after a fun-filled trip to Australia with their twins as well as 10-year-old son Prince Christian and eight-year-old Princess Isabella. Queen Margrethe, 75, and Prince Henrik hosted the VIP gala and waved to the waiting crowds as they made their way inside Prince Joachim, 46, also wore traditional military regalia for the event and was pictured beaming as he made his entrance with his wife Princess Marie Princess Mary smiled and waved at the crowds of well-wishers as she arrived at the VIP gala in Denmark on Friday The Crown Princess wore drop earrings which perfectly matched her statement tiara which is littered with diamonds and glistening ruby gems She paired her elegant outfit with midnight blue stilettos and wore her hair pinned back as she celebrated the New Year The royal couple touched down in Australia on December 6 and their first stop was Perth, to visit Mary's brother John Donaldson Prince Frederik (right) donned Danish military uniform and carried his ceremonial sabre for the traditional event on Friday They touched down in Australia on December 6 and their first stop was Perth, to visit Mary's brother John Donaldson, who is the godfather to Prince Vincent. Their group then embarked on a road trip through Western Australia, stopping off in small towns along the way, where they were spied by thrilled locals in family-fun bakeries and an IGA, picking up snacks. Then it was on to the Gold Coast, where they visited Dreamworld and spent a day at the beach, where Prince Christian was rescued by a lifeguard after getting caught in a rip. Finally, the clan headed to Byron Bay, where the Donaldson family gathered to celebrate the holidays and Mary's sister Jane's 50th birthday. Queen Margrethe looked regal in a sky blue floor-length gown which she paired with matching shoes and a fur stole The red carpet was rolled out for the Danish royal family on Friday as they arrived for the New Year reception at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen The Danish Girl Cert: 15 2 hrs Rating: The wonderful thing about Eddie Redmaynes Oscar-winning performance in The Theory Of Everything was that it was totally invisible: you really couldnt see where Redmayne ended and Stephen Hawking began. Even Hawking himself admitted he was confused. The slightly disappointing thing about Redmaynes performance in The Danish Girl is that you really can see the acting. The slightly disappointing thing about Eddie Redmaynes performance in The Danish Girl is that you really can see the acting. Its look at me acting straight out of the arent I clever, Im playing a woman? school In his portrayal of the transgender Danish artist who was born Einar Wegener in 1882 but who died as Lili Elbe in 1931 every simper, every pout, every bashful flutter of the eyes seems to be played out on the big screen at length. Its look at me acting straight out of the arent I clever, Im playing a woman? school and, if Im honest, ever so slightly tiresome. Director Tom Hooper, whos had such triumphs in recent years with both The Kings Speech and Les Miserables, has over-indulged his leading man here, although it has to be said this type of big performance does tend to secure award nominations, particularly when the subject of gender confusion is involved. Hilary Swank won her first Oscar for her performance as a young woman who passed herself off as a man in Boys Dont Cry and only two years ago Jared Leto won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club. Director Tom Hooper, whos had such triumphs in recent years with both The Kings Speech and Les Miserables, has over-indulged his leading man here Throw in Felicity Huffman for Transamerica, Jaye Davidson for The Crying Game and John Lithgow for The World According To Garp all of whom won Oscar nominations for their portrayal of transgender characters and you can see what a long tradition there is of Oscar voters being impressed by this sort of performance, despite the growing clamour for transgender roles to be played by transgender actors. So I shant be surprised at all if the likeable Redmayne picks up major award nominations for The Danish Girl and even wins one or two. I just wont think its particularly deserved. Hes been better in other things and needs to remember that when it comes to film-acting, a little bit less is always a little bit more. The performer who really does deserve every nomination she gets for her wonderful turn in the film, however, is Alicia Vikander. She must have been in half a dozen movies last year Ex Machina and Testament Of Youth being two of the better known but it is only really here, playing Einars long-suffering wife, Gerda, that we finally see what the fuss about the hotly tipped young Swedish actress is all about. I shant be surprised at all if the likeable Redmayne picks up major award nominations for The Danish Girl and even wins one or two. I just wont think its particularly deserved If Redmaynes performance as Einar/Lili is all artifice and mannerisms, Vikanders turn as Gerda is an understated, naturalistic delight. She really couldnt be any more convincing as the spirited, headstrong, thoroughly modern young woman an artist in her own right who, as the film begins has already become Einars wife. It is Gerda, short of a model and anxious to complete a painting of a dancer, who asks her husband to put on the dancers stocking and shoes so that she can capture the line. As he slips into the unfamiliar feminine garments, it is clearly a life-transforming moment. Later one of Gerdas petticoats is added. Its pretty, observes Einar. I might let you borrow it, replies Gerda mischievously. I might enjoy that, says her husband. Is there something you want to tell me? she asks, suddenly concerned. Not yet, there isnt, but soon. Its always good to look at and decently acted, but somehow The Danish Girl struggles to grip as it goes on (pictured: Amber Heard as Ulla) The journey from Einar to Lili, which begins with a visit to a Copenhagen ball at which the newly created Lili is passed off as Einars cousin, has begun. The opening third of what is a fictionalised and, I suspect, romanticised, version of Einar and Gerdas extraordinary story is fun. Vikander makes the lively and likeable Gerda a completely believable character, while Redmaynes delicate features are undoubtedly heaven-sent for this kind of role. But from the moment Lili makes her first public appearance fully made-up and wearing a red wig and I found myself thinking Oh, doesnt he/she look like a young Quentin Crisp? interest levels began to flag a little. After all, we live in a world where cross-dressing artists and comedians (Grayson Perry, Eddie Izzard) and transgender celebrities (Caitlyn Jenner) have become almost commonplace. Theres a decent supporting cast, with Ben Whishaw as a Copenhagen bachelor attracted to Lili (for a long time its not clear if he knows shes still a man underneath) Elbe may have been a pioneer she was among the first to undergo then highly dangerous gender reassignment surgery but her story seems a familiar and unsurprising one, right down to the hospital psychiatrists who believe that she is insane. IT'S A FACT After her marriage to Einar/Lili was annulled by the Danish king in 1930, Gerda remarried... to a younger Italian major. But he squandered her fortune and she died penniless and alone in 1940. Advertisement Its always good to look at and decently acted, but somehow The Danish Girl struggles to grip as it goes on, and its not helped by the fact that as the story develops, Lili becomes a rather self-absorbed individual. Our sympathies switch to Gerda and, alas, she doesnt seem to have an awful lot to do, apart from staying commendably loyal and doing an awful lot of hand-holding. Theres a decent supporting cast, with Ben Whishaw as a Copenhagen bachelor attracted to Lili (for a long time its not clear if he knows shes still a man underneath) while the Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts does his handsome best to bring to life a character who feels hes been invented especially for the film the childhood friend who once found Einar so attractive he kissed him, but whose romantic attentions are now firmly fixed on Gerda. Ultimately, however, The Danish Girl is a lengthy-feeling film that certainly looks the award-winning part, but never really engages or moves. Pity. SECONDSCREEN Joy Cert: 12A 2hrs 4mins Rating: Sleeping With Other People Cert: 15 1hrs 41mins Rating: The good news is that director David O Russell has reunited the gang who made Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro are all here for a new film, Joy. The not so good news is its in a very long and not very funny film about mops. Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro are all here for a new film, Joy. The not so good news is its in a very long and not very funny film about mops Theyre the invention of Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman of Italian-American extraction who has a decidedly unorthodox lifestyle. Upstairs, she and her two young children share their home with her soap-opera-addicted mother, Mimi (Diane Ladd), while the basement is occupied by her ex-husband and her garage-owning father, Rudy (Robert De Niro) too. When Joy comes up with the self-squeezing mop she believes will transform their fortunes, she goes all in, borrowing all the money she can. But with the slow-moving and complex action regularly interrupted by melodramatic scenes from Mimis beloved soap opera, Russell appears to be going for the heightened reality that characterises the films of Wes Anderson. What isnt clear is why. Its as if he is trying to hide the fact this is based on a true story. Sleeping With Other People seems smug and overindulged, with several scenes feeling like theyve been improvised way past a point when thats a good thing Sleeping With Other People, written and directed by a woman Leslye Headland is very rude indeed. It even includes a how to lesson for a sex act that I cant begin to describe here, and which makes the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally look positively prim. The underlying idea is a nice one. Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis play Lainey and Jake, who meet at college (she loses her virginity to him) before they go their separate ways. They accidentally meet in New York a dozen years later, he a career commitment-o-phobe, she a sex addict who cant resist the pull of her absolute slimeball of a soon-to-be-married lover (Adam Scott). The crime graph of the Capital has taken an upward turn consecutively for the third year. The Delhi Police registered almost 25 per cent more molestation cases while the number of rape cases also saw a nominal rise when compared to last year. Similarly, street crimes, heinous crimes, thefts, etc have also seen a steep rise. The Delhi Police registered almost 25 per cent more molestation cases while the number of rape cases also saw a nominal rise when compared to last year (Picture for representation only) However, the police have a different perception and claim that the consistent increase in number of crimes against women is only because every case is being registered due to free registration of FIRs. Delhi Commissioner of Police BS Bassi on Friday heaped praises on his force while citing the example of free FIR filing. The Delhi Police, up to November 30, 2015, has filed a total of 1,74,423 cases as against the 1,39,799 cases till the corresponding period in 2014. According to the data provided by police, 25 per cent more cases of molestation were registered in the Capital till November 30, 2015. In 2014, over 4,000 women filed complaints of molestation at various police stations but in 2015, the number rose to 5,027. Similarly, in 2014 the Capital witnessed 1,997 cases of rape but in 2015 the figure marginally increased to 2,005. In 2012, when the Nirbhaya gang rape took place, Delhi recorded 706 cases of rape. The Capital has also witnessed a steep rise in street crimes like robbery, snatching, etc. According to the data, roads in the city have become more unsafe when compared to 2014. Delhi saw a rise in robberies by 20 per cent, according to the police. In 2015, the police registered 9,028 cases of snatching a 30 per cent rise when compared to 2014. The Capital also saw 6,969 cases of robbery in 2015 while the number of cases was 5,873 in 2014. According to the commissioner, no victim has been facing problems in filing FIRs in Delhi. There were a lot of hassles in registering a FIR earlier. There were many complaints that people had to pay to get a case registered. We have ensured truthful registration of FIR now, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi had said earlier. Meanwhile, apart from heinous crimes, cases of theft, vehicle thefts, burglary, etc have also seen a steep rise, varying from 15 to 30 percent in 2015. We have introduced online FIR for vehicle thefts. Anyone whose car has stolen from Delhi can file a complaint from his/her home or office. This could be a reason of steep rise in vehicle thefts, a joint commissioner rank officier told Mail Today. According to a senior police official, currently investigation officers are over burdened and are handling hundreds of case. This is leading to pendency of cases. The Narendra Modi government now wants minorities to guide the Centres welfare measures Moving away from the usual practice where minority welfare schemes were imposed from top, the Narendra Modi government now wants minorities to guide the Centres welfare measures. After the process of consultation and feedback is over, which is expected by February, the Union minister for minority affairs would present a report reflecting true and not manufactured demands and needs of Indias minorities to the Union finance minister for allocations in the Union Budget of 2016-17. In an exclusive interview with Mail Today, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the process of taking feedback from all sections of minority has already started. As part of our ongoing Mission Empowerment, I have toured 19 states and have collected feedback from all minorities, including Muslims. # "The usual tenor of the people has been that they have not even heard of schemes launched for them in the past decades, leave aside getting benefit from them, said Naqvi. The ministry would also be taking the views of all the sections of minorities when their representatives meet early this yearlate January or early February at a national minority conclave Sashaktikaran Samagam which the ministry would be organising in Delhi. These views would also be incorporated with those collected during Naqvis all-India tour before formulating recommendations to be sent to the finance ministry. Minorities know what is best for them. They should be made stakeholders in formulating schemes meant for them which so far did not happen in India, said Naqvi. While the ministry has already put in place monitoring committees at the district and state levels, comprising public representatives even from grassroots level to keep an eye on whether the money is being spent judiciously, a national-level committee is on the anvil. We have gone in for three-monthly review of spending to see that benefits actually reach the last person instead of rotting in files or used to line pockets. Billions have been issued from the Centre, but nowhere to be seen on the ground, Naqvi said. Naqvi said Rs 565 crore have already been released for implementation of minority-related schemes to West Bengal, Rs 303 crore to Uttar Pradesh and Rs 170 crore to Assam. He said scholarships worth about `2,011 crore were distributed among nearly 85 lakh students in 2014-15. With personalities like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey (pictured) and Bhawana Somaaya as members, the panel is blemish-proof Acting on its promise, the government has finally set the ball rolling for revamping the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). A satisfying aspect of the decision is the choice of personalities picked to carry out the crucial job. With eminent director Shyam Benegal as its head and personalities like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey and Bhawana Somaaya as members, the panel is blemish-proof. Adding to the credibility of the whole exercise is Prime Minister Narendra Modis personal intervention. The censor board has often cross swords with the filmmakers who have challenged the suppression of their artistic freedom in the name of shielding society from the overdose of sex and violence. The glaring inconsistencies in its certification policy have reduced the scissor- wielding body to a moral science teacher. From pruning cuss words to long kissing scenes, the list of censor boards cuts is long. The government has outlined that the guiding principal for the new panel to fix the censor board would be to study the practice of film certification in other countries. There have been numerous instances when credible work of art has been blocked on flimsy grounds. The information and broadcasting ministry has taken a beating when it comes to dealing with celluloid issues. IAFs new Deputy Chief Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria took over the new position IAFs new Deputy Chief Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria took over the new position on Friday. Bhadauria returns to the air headquarter where he has handled the projects division in the past. He brings with him his reputation of being a fine officer who has excelled throughout his career spanning 35 years. He has commanded a Jaguar squadron and is an experimental test pilot with over 4,200 hours of flying experience. He has flown 25 types of fighter and transport aircraft. Bhadauria replaces Air Marshal SBP Sinha who has taken over as the new boss of central air command. Mufti's visitors With Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed admitted to AIIMS, his deputy Nirmal Singh visited the hospital on Friday to enquire about his health. The doctors attending to the CM said that Sayeed was recovering and responding well to the treatment. Mehbooba Mufti, who is Muftis daughter and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was also present at the hospital. Sayeed, 79, was flown to Delhi in a state aircraft on December 24 and was admitted to a private ward in AIIMS with complaints of fever and chest pain. New Year wishes Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari to extend New Year greetings to them personally on Friday. He drove down to Rashtrapati Bhavan to greet Mukherjee. Greeted Rashtrapati ji on New Year. We had a wonderful interaction, the PM tweeted later. He then visited Vice-President Hamid Ansari. Border bonhomie Indian and Chinese troops greeted New Years to each other at the eastern Ladakh border outpost to mark the arrival of 2016. A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) was organised at the Chinese troops hut at Moldo Garrison of Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh. The Indian side was led by Brigadier Vijyant Yadav while the Chinese soldiers were represented by senior colonel Fan Jun. A cultural show by the Chinese side followed by lunch marked the New Year bonhomie. Army exercise A contingent of French soldiers will soon be in India to take part in joint drills with the Indian Army in the Rajasthan desert later this month. The exercise, named Shakti-2016, will be held at Indian Armys Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner which is used for practicing military maneuvers. This is the third edition of Shakti where the focus will be on counter-terrorism operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a finely-honed talent for surprising friend and foe. His spontaneous though choreographed visit to Lahore has transformed the India-Pakistan narrative. The Congress has been left flat-footed. For a large part of the past 19 months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on incremental rather than transformative changes The Lutyens ecosystem is puzzled: it thought it had its man in the crosshairs. The loss in Bihar was supposed to have robbed Modi of his electoral invincibility. The BJPs weak-kneed performance in the Rajya Sabha and dissent within the ranks seemed to underscore the fact that Modi was losing his grip over both the party and the country. The ecosystem, as usual, got it wrong. Modis swing through Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan last week achieved several foreign policy objectives. But it has also cast the spotlight on what commentators have lost sight of: Modis X factor. The ecosystem, meanwhile, is livid. Under Modi it has lost patronage. Journalists no longer get access. Instead they have to make do with selfies. Bureaucrats are promoted on merit: the government has put an end to the lucrative transfer raj. Courtier historians, writers, artists and filmmakers, beneficiaries of patronage, have retreated to their ivory towers. For Modi, 2016 is critical. Much of 2017 will be dominated by the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. In 2018 attention will turn to the 2019 Lok Sabha election. So 2016 is make-or-break year for Modi. For a large part of the past 19 months, Modi has focused on incremental rather than transformative changes. The economy has been run with the vision of lawyers and accountants not that of economic evangelists. That clearly must change. If the economy continues to underperform with GDP growth likely to be 7-7.5 per cent, a full percentage point below previous estimates politics will be the collateral victim. The year 2016 is the last year in which economic growth can be reignited. It takes time for the benefits to feed through to create jobs and revive investment. There is no margin anymore for error: the clock is running down. Clearly, assembly elections will dominate 2016. But apart from Assam, the BJP is unlikely to win any of the states going to the polls. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has a lock on rural Bengal. The BJPs momentum, built up in the Lok Sabha election, has withered. Kerala is another critical state where assembly elections are due in 2016. The BJPs rapid inroads into the state and alliance with SNDP Yogam could divide backward caste votes between the Congress and Left fronts, making the Kerala assembly election the most closely contested in 2016. Modi, meanwhile, will not repeat the mistake of over-exposure he made in Bihar where he addressed 31 rallies. Local leaders and BJP ministers will do the bulk of electioneering with Modi used sparingly for maximum impact. Apart from assembly elections, where Assam could be the big prize, Modis key political challenge in 2016 will be to fashion a strategy to break the deadlock in Parliament. Much though can be achieved outside Parliament through executive order. A joint session of Parliament, in which the NDA has over 400 MPs out of a total of around 790 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, is an option the government must consider. It will take much of the wind out of the Oppositions sails. What though about internal dissent within the BJP? Allegations of corruption against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and earlier accusations against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over Lalit Modi have effectively removed any future intra-BJP challenge to Modis leadership going into the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. Interestingly, his fiercest critic LK Advani was among the first to praise Modis impromptu Lahore visit. The Group of Four (Advani, Yashwant Sinha, Ananth Kumar and Murli Manohar Joshi) has lately fallen silent. But for Modi to make 2016 count he has to focus on three issues. One, refurbish his cabinet with new talent and remove some deadwood. Two, personally ensure that the February 29, 2016 Budget (its a leap year) is far better than the disappointingly pedestrian Budgets of July 2014 and February 2015. Three, use the cachet he has acquired in foreign policy to energise his domestic governance. In essence that means delivering measurable outcomes and communicating them swiftly. The governments achievements are today being buried amidst the cacophony of a viscerally hostile media. A daily media briefing at 4 pm tackling every issue head-on is the only antidote to this. In the absence of information, disinformation fills the vacuum. To recapture the X factor that won him a stunning mandate 19 months ago, Prime Minister Modi must first win the perception battle. Eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal is to head a committee tasked with revamping the Central Board of Film Certification To cut or not to cut? The vexed question which has troubled the controversy-ridden Censor Board will now be looked into by a committee headed by one of the most eminent filmmakers Shyam Benegal as the government decided to revamp the body. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been in headlines for the wrong reasons since the appointment of Pahlaj Nihalani as its chairperson. The panel, which would submit its report in two months, includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film critic Bhawana Somaaya, apart from National Film Development Councils MD Nina Lath Gupta and joint secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy. Filmmakers have complained of arbitrary objections and cuts sought by the board in the recent past, including criticism for the cuts that the latest James Bond movie Spectre had to go through for its screening in India. A list of banned cuss words, circulated by CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani had also become a subject of controversy. Fridays announcement came within days of the Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley saying that time had come for a re-look at the functioning of the Censor Board as he would like the board to be controversy-free. Asked if he was confident of salvaging the board out of controversies, the 81-year-old National-award winning director said, Its not a question of whether something will be controversial. From time to time, things do become controversial and sometimes they dont. There wont be any question of permanent solution to it. Its a continuing thing. "There will be more committees even in the future. The recommendations of this committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities. Meanwhile, sitting CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani welcomed the ministry's decision to form the panel. Nihalani hoped that new guidelines would be conducive to everyone. There are good people in the committee and I am confident that they will bring new reforms. The government's decision is welcome. Whatever the new guidelines and rating system, we will follow that according to the situation, Nihalani said. He, however, parried questions on whether he would be asked to resign. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, however, was not very enthusiastic about the development. Dire: Analysts are cutting their predictions for growth at M&S amid talk of a disastrous festive period The warm winter weather, floods and terrorism are likely to figure among the excuses wheeled out by Marks & Spencer to explain a dire festive update. City experts fear Britain's biggest clothing retailer will report a decline of as much as 5.5 per cent over the third quarter in 'general merchandise' sales the category that includes womenswear and men's fashions. The poor performance will be a bitter blow to chief executive Marc Bolland, who is under pressure to kick start growth in fashion sales. Failure to restore the company to its former position as the favourite of middle class customers has dogged his five-year tenure. The latest disappointing figures will come on the back of an equally bad performance last year. Despite enjoying some success with its lingerie range by model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, problems with a new distribution centre caused a 5.8 per cent fall in sales. Analysts had hoped for an improvement this year, but a long list of Britain's retailers have struggled to shift winter woollies that have stayed on the shelves due to the mild weather. Most will look to rival Next, which is considered the best-run retail chain in Britain, for context on just how bad market conditions really were. It will report its figures on Tuesday. Next has a reputation for starting its sales after Christmas in order to protect full-price revenues. Rivals H&M, Gap and Jack Wills began their discounts early and may have managed to dent sales at Next. Analysts at Jefferies cut their fourth-quarter sales growth for the group to 4 per cent compared to a year ago from earlier estimates of 7.6 per cent. Jefferies said: 'Next typically fares better in this regard and has navigated the seemingly constant bouts of highly unseasonal weather over the past five years better than most.' In October the group edged up its full-year guidance to between 810million and 845million, from an earlier range of between 805million and 845million. If Next has also had a tough Christmas it will ease some of the burden on Bolland. Nomura is forecasting a 5.5 per cent fall in third quarter general merchandise sales at M&S while Jefferies is predicting a drop of 3 per cent. However food, which accounts for more than half of annual profit, is expected to have performed well, with an increase of 0.3 per cent over the quarter. Bolland is set to blame a perfect storm of events for the fall in clothing sales, including the floods and bomb scares at shopping centres. Liverpool has been revealed as the UFO hotspot of Britain after it emerged that more mysterious sightings are reported to police in Merseyside than anywhere else. The whole of the North-West of England seems to be replete with unexplained activity - with Greater Manchester and Cheshire also reporting a strikingly high number of UFO encounters. The findings contradict the usual cliche that remote areas such as moors and forest are more likely to be the venue for UFO sightings than heavily built-up areas. Hotspots: This map shows the number of UFO sightings reported to police in each area of England and Wales since the start of 2013 Data compiled by MailOnline showed that dozens of calls regarding unidentified flying objects are received by police forces across the UK every year. Merseyside Police has handled more UFO reports than any other force, with a total of 13 calls on the subject between the start of 2013 and this year. Among the reports were something 'hovering in the sky with red and green lights' in Kirkby, an 'object flying in the sky with lots of red, green, pink and purple lights on it' in central Liverpool, and 'a strange green light behind bushes in a field' in the Wirral. Next in the UFO league table was Greater Manchester, where 10 apparent sightings were reported to the local police force. One woman living in Rochdale told officers she had seen three UFOs flying together - and was forced to attend A&E because she was worried she would faint with shock. Caught on camera: A UFO pictured in 2009 by a dog-walker at Roanhead beach on the coast of Cumbria Bright: A flying object was apparently seen in the sky over Retford Town Hall in Notttinghamshire in 2004 Mystery: A reproduction of the UFO seen over Calvine in Scotland in 1990, one of the most notorious 'flying saucer' incidents in the UK The third most popular destination for UFOs is Essex - police there have received eight calls reporting mysterious lights in the sky since 2013. Other areas where several UFO sightings have been reported to the authorities include Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Kent and the Thames Valley. In Lackenby, North Yorkshire, a couple told police in February this year that they had seen a total of six silver-coloured UFOs hovering in the atmosphere. Two UFOs have been seen above Brighton in separate incidents - one which interfered with radio signals in the town, and another shaped like a rugby ball flying out to sea. A number of police forces, including those covering London, Scotland and Northern Ireland, were unable to provide data on local UFO sightings. It is not believed that any of the calls were followed up by a police investigation, with the majority of cases being closed immediately or written off as a hoax. Spooky: Liverpool has had more reported UFO sightings than any other area of Britain Sightings: Two Brighton residents called police on separate occasions to report seeing a UFO over the town BRITISH UFO HOTSPOTS REVEALED Merseyside 13 sightings Greater Manchester 10 Essex 8 Hertfordshire 5 Thames Valley 5 Kent 4 Nottinghamshire 4 West Mercia 3 West Midlands 3 West Yorkshire 3 Cheshire 2 Cleveland 2 Dyfed Powys 2 Gloucestershire 2 Lancashire 2 South Wales 2 South Yorkshire 2 Sussex 2 Devon and Cornwall 1 Lincolnshire 1 Suffolk 1 Warwickshire 1 Advertisement The Ministry of Defence kept a centralised database of all supposed paranormal activity until 2009, since when there has not been a unified record of sightings. Nick Pope, who used to investigate UFOs for the MoD, told MailOnline that cities tend to see more sightings than 'remote rural areas', contrary to many people's assumptions. 'In compiling UFO statistics one needs to factor in population density,' he said. 'If there's something strange in the skies, there are more potential witnesses in built-up areas. 'There's a cliched view of sightings happening in remote rural areas, but most of the real "UFO hotspots" are London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds and other large cities and conurbations.' He added: 'It's notoriously difficult trying to compile UFO statistics. One problem is that there's no central database, so while some people report sightings to the police, others contact their local newspaper, or a civilian UFO research organisation. The axing of the MoD's UFO project exacerbated this problem. 'The current variation in figures may be significant, but it may simply reflect the fact that some police forces take sightings more seriously than others.' Muslims say people refuse to sit next to them on the Tube with many women now removing their Hate crimes against Muslims in London have nearly doubled in the last two years. There was also a record 146 attacks on Muslims last month, with 122 in the fortnight after the Paris terror attacks. There is a greater sense of fear among the Islamic community, say campaigners, with Muslim women in particular revealing they are concerned for their safety and 'very conscious of keeping your head down'. There have already been 878 hate crimes against Muslims this year, up 254 from last year (stock image) Figures from the Metropolitan Police, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, showed there had been 557 Islamophobic hate crimes in 2013; 624 in 2014; and up to November 24 this year, 878. Incidents may involve a physical attack, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse, insults or hate mail. The most recent population census found there were 1,012,823 Muslims living in the capital. Fiyaz Mughal, director of the measuring anti-Muslim attacks group (MAMA), told MailOnline: 'The number of crimes are rising given the frequency of issues that are buffeting and affecting Muslim communities. 'Since 2013, we have had the murder of Lee Rigby and the huge rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents after that, the Rotherham grooming scandals the far-right used to whip up anti-Muslim hate, Charlie Hebdo, Paris, the rise of the so-called Islamic State and fear of terrorism, as well as the Syrian refugee crisis that have all impacted on wider perceptions. 'In all of these incidents, the underlying issue has been one of negative images about Muslims and Muslim communities. 'Victims are telling us that the language of anti-Muslim hate is becoming more aggressive and that visible Muslim women are feeling a greater sense of fear and negative looks at a street level.' Since the Paris terrorist attacks, there has been a rise in Islamophobic hate crimes - last month a man hurled a jerry can full of petrol at Finsbury Park mosque (pictured) 'YOU'RE CONSCIOUS OF KEEPING YOUR HEAD DOWN', SAYS MUSLIM FASHION BLOGGER Describing the mood post-Paris, Adviya Khan, co-founder of Hijablicious.com, said: '[After Paris] I know I stand out more, people seem that bit more nervous around me, and that's the first time I've felt like that. 'On the Tube when it is very busy, you find that no one will take the seat next to you. You can't help but feel your headscarf is a contributing factor. You're very conscious of keeping your head down. 'It has not reached the point where I feel like I shouldn't wear the headscarf, but that time may come.' Advertisement There was a rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents following the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. This included a pregnant Muslim woman who was racially abused by a drunk man who called her a 'terrorist' and shouted 'b**** get back to your country' in a 15 minute rant on a London bus in Finsbury Park. It was only when he threatened to punch her that a man stepped in to help her. In the same week, a man hurled a jerry can full of petrol at Finsbury Park Mosque, which has long been synonymous with the worst fears about Islamist extremism in Britain. Hate preacher Abu Hamza - who earlier this year was sentenced to life in prison by a judge in New York - led the mosque in the 1990s. The mosque was also linked to the terror attacks in France, with reports Cherif Kouachi - one of the Charlie Hebdo gunmen - was mentored by Djamel Beghal, an al-Qaeda terrorist based at the mosque in the late 1990s. In another incident after the Paris atrocities where 130 people were killed, a hijab-wearing woman was allegedly punched in the head and forced off a bus in South London by two other passengers who made Islamophobic comments. In October, Simone Joseph, 36, shouting abuse at pregnant 34-year-old Hanane Yakoubi and her two friends, calling her an 'ISIS b****' RECORDED MUSLIM HATE CRIME AFTER THE PARIS ATTACKS ON NOVEMBER 13 Week ending November 10 - 24 Week ending November 17 - 46 Week ending November 24 - 76 Advertisement Shaista Gohir, chair of the Muslim Womens Network UK, said women who wear headscarves are now concerned for their safety post-Paris. She said: 'Muslim women do feel more fearful about their safety after the Paris attacks. Women often suffer more abuse because they are more visible. 'People see that they are Muslim and immediately think they must be the same as ISIS, when they are just normal, law-abiding citizens who unequivocally condemn the attacks.' The rise in hate crime has been linked to the fallout from Fusilier Lee Rigby's murder by Islamist extremists in south-east London in May 2013, which led to protests by the EDL (pictured) MUSLIM IN A HIJAB WAS KICKED OFF A BUS IN SOUTHWARK Police released CCTV footage last week of two women accused of punching and kicking a Muslim woman wearing a hijab during a violent Islamophobic attack on board a London bus. Fellow bus passengers said the woman, in her 40s, was subjected to a torrent of racist and Islamophobic abuse, before she was punched in the head and kicked off the bus as it travelled through Southwark in south London. They then continued to hurl abuse at her as she lay on the pavement, close to Elephant and Castle tube station. The woman was badly shaken by the attack and taken to hospital for treatment following the attack on October 28. Advertisement In October, criminologists Imran Awan of Birmingham City University and Dr Irene Zempi of Nottingham Trent University examined the impact of anti-Muslim hate crime through in-depth interviews with victims. In what was believed to be the first study of its kind, they found many Muslims were reluctant to report incidents of abuse and often received little help from onlookers. In the most shocking case, they revealed how a woman called Hira was covered in alcohol on train by an unruly group of men who chanted 'we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it'. They also asked if she had a bomb under her scarf. The researchers found many Muslim women were now removing their headscarves and men were shaving their beards to hide their faith. In another incident on a London bus, in Brent, video footage shot by a passenger showed Simone Joseph, 36, shouting abuse at pregnant 34-year-old Hanane Yakoubi and her two friends. She repeatedly called her an 'ISIS b****' and said 'go back to your country'. She shouted: 'Talk your f****** language. Keep laughing. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. With your bombs hiding underneath your clothes. I don't f****** like you people because you're f****** rude. 'You come to England and you have no f****** manners. Go back to your f****** country where they are bombing every day, don't come here where we are free.' At one point, Joseph threatened to 'donkey kick' pregnant Ms Yakoubi in the stomach. Last month, she was given a 16 week jail sentence suspended for 18 months after admitting racially and religiously aggravated behaviour. To tackle the rising problem, David Cameron has ordered police forces in England and Wales to keep track of hate crimes aimed specifically at Muslims and publish them in their crime statistics from next year. Attacks against Muslims must be recorded separately from other hate crimes, the Prime Minister has said The Prime Minister said this would help to gauge the scale of the problem and enable the police to allocate extra resources in high-risk areas, including certain schools or mosques. But Mr Mughal has suggested work to combat anti-Muslim hatred should start in schools. He told MailOnline: 'Work in schools is key, as is greater civil society work tackling prejudice and bigotry and more work around getting public transport companies to activate greater reporting in of incidents of prejudice.' The Met said it was providing extra patrols and now had more than 900 officers investigating hate crimes. It said a greater willingness to report crimes may account for part of the spike, but it was 'acutely aware' hate crimes against Muslims remained 'under reported' and 'no one should suffer in silence.' As well as increasing levels of Islamophobic attacks, the Met has also recorded a rise in racist hate crimes in the last three years in London. In 2013, there were 9,015 incidents; in 2014 there were 11,124 and by the end of October this year there had already been 10,927. The majority of crimes were for harassment, criminal damage and common assault. Scores of police officers, firefighters and volunteers searched on Friday for a five-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from a New Year's Eve party barefoot and coatless. Jayliel Vega Batista was last seen on a private surveillance camera at about 11pm on Thursday running near an intersection in Allentown, police Capt. Tony Alsleben said. Nearly six minutes later, police received a call from a neighbor who saw Jayliel running into a wooded area. On Saturday, police recanvassed the eastern Pennsylvania neighborhood and 20 search-and-rescue dog teams were looking for the boy, Allentown police Capt. Glen Dorney said. Scroll down for video Scores of police officers, firefighters and volunteers searched on Friday for Jayliel Vega Batista (pictured), 5, of Alloentown, Pennsylvania who wandered away from a New Year's Eve party on Thursday A search crew is pictured on Saturday. Jayliel was last seen on a private surveillance camera at about 11pm on Thursday running near an intersection in Allentown, police said The boy had been at a party and was playing with a toy when he 'left out of nowhere' his sister Tayritza Molina said (Jayliel pictured left with his sister, Tayritza and right with his mother, Yelitza Batista) Jayliel, of Allentown, had been at a party and was playing with a toy when he 'left out of nowhere,' his 16-year-old sister, Tayritza Molina, told The Morning Call of Allentown on Friday. The boy was downstairs with some other children when he left the home at about 10.30pm on Thursday, she said. He was visiting his great-aunt's home for the holiday, and left barefoot and without any kind of outerwear, according to police. His sister said the boy, who is the fourth of five siblings, does not typically run away. 'We're scared, but we're trying to keep positive thoughts in our head,' she said. Private search-and-rescue teams joined the hunt for Jayliel on Friday. The searchers were using dogs and two helicopters. A bloodhound had picked up a scent and followed it, but police couldn't confirm it was that of the missing boy. The temperature in Allentown, in eastern Pennsylvania, on Friday was in the 30s, with the wind chill at times making it feel as much as 10 degrees cooler. Authorities said the boy should not be approached because he is likely to run from strangers. 'He is afraid of people, so we're asking the public that if they do see him, that they not call out his name, just to call us immediately,' Allentown Police Chief Keith Morris said. Private search-and-rescue teams joined the hunt for Jayliel. The searchers were using dogs and two helicopters On Friday, a bloodhound picked up a scent and followed it, but police couldn't confirm it was that of the missing boy Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, right, and Allentown Police Chief Keith Morris, left, address the media Saturday on Saturday as the search continues in Allentown The Allentown Police Department's Facebook page asked residents to 'check and re-check their properties,' e where the boy might have sought shelter and to stay out of wooded areas in efforts to find Jayliel Police tried luring Jayliel with music played on a truck because he likes lullabies. Residents also distributed papers with the number 7 printed on them the start of the boy's address because he responds to it. Police were going door to door in the boy's neighborhood again on Saturday because efforts to track him into some nearby woods were unsuccessful. However, they said a glut of volunteer searchers was complicating efforts to find the boy. 'We're proud of them for stepping up in the force that they've done,' Dorney said, but there were so many volunteers in the woods and elsewhere, it was compromising the ability of the dogs and others to locate the boy. Instead, police asked people who live in the area to thoroughly search their own property and parked cars periodically, in case the boy comes wandering in search of shelter. Jayliel, pictured, was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a green and camouflage long-sleeve shirt and he was carrying a white electronic tablet that had a red cover, according to an alert sent to Allentown residents Police checked out a home at about 2.30am on Saturday after someone thought they saw the boy's face in an upstairs window but said the boy wasn't there. Police hoped to use helicopters again to search for the boy on Saturday, but Dorney said the aircraft were tied up on another matter. The helicopters are equipped with night-vision devices that also enable searchers to detect body warmth. Crews also searched some nearby railyards and the Lehigh River. They were concerned because temperatures were near freezing overnight and forecast to hit only the high 30s on Saturday. On Facebook, his sister Tayritza appealed to her friends to help in finding her brother asking them to share her post and keep their eyes out for him Late Friday she wrote in a Facebook post thanking everyone for their help Allentown police and members of the Northeast Search and Rescue team search on Friday along a stretch of railroad tracks as the search continues for Jayliel Jayliel is described as having brown hair, brown eyes, weighs between 50 and 60 pounds and stands around three-and-a-half to four feet tall, according to WPVI-TV. He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a green and camouflage long-sleeve shirt and he was carrying a white electronic tablet that had a red cover, according to an alert sent to Allentown residents. On Friday, the Allentown Police Department's Facebook page asked residents to 'check and re-check their properties,' especially porches, sheds, garages and other spaces where the boy might have sought shelter. The police department later updated its Facebook page with another note to residents asking them to refrain from searching in the wooded areas. 'This is for your safety and in an attempt to maintain the integrity of a scent/trail. We will continue to update as possible, please check back. Thank you!' Jayliel is described as having brown hair, brown eyes, weighs between 50 and 60 pounds and stands around three-and-a-half to four feet tall On Facebook, his sister Tayritza appealed to her friends to help in finding her brother asking them to share her post and keep their eyes out for him. Late Friday she wrote in a Facebook post thanking everyone for their help. Late night revellers have launched complaints on social media after being stung by Uber's price surge on New Year's Eve. But one man, who coped a hefty bill almost 10 times the normal fare is doing more than just vent his anger online - he's taking his complaint against Uber to fair trading authorities. Kris Keen, along with several friends, caught an UberX ride from City Beach, in Perth's northern suburbs, to Hilton, about 20km away in the south, at 1.30am on Friday, news.com.au reported. To their astonishment, they were slapped with a $332.06 bill, 8.9 times the original $37 fare. Scroll down for video Kris Keen has filed a complaint with Consumer Affairs WA after his Uber ride in the early hours of the new year cost him almost 10 times the normal fare (stock image) Mr Keen and his friends paid $332.06, which is 8.9 times the original $37 fare, when they took an Uber car at about 1.30am on Friday (stock image) The ride took Mr Keen and his friends from City Beach, in Perth's northern suburbs, to Hilton in the south 'I had absolutely no idea it was going to cost that much,' Mr Keen said. 'One of our friends left a little bit earlier and she paid a two or 2.1 multiplier, which all things considered is probably reasonable.' When Mr Keen, 35, lodged a complaint with Uber, he was told that records indicated he had accepted the 8.9 times pricing surge before he made the booking. However, Mr Keen said he was unaware that '8.9X' referred to the number of times over the fare he would be required to pay, assuming it was a call-out fee instead. Uber customers in Australian capitals are complaining of exorbitant surcharges on New Year's Eve, taking to social media to claim they've been unfairly charged (stock image) 'Surge Prices shouldn't be a surprise. At times of high demand, prices increase to encourage more drivers to become available,' Uber said (stock image) 'I'd be happy to pay a peak fee understanding it's New Year's Eve, but 8.9 times the whole fare is outrageous,' he said. Mr Keen, who said he would never use Uber again, has taken up the matter with Consumer Affairs WA. 'I don't really know if it's going to achieve much, but I figured I could share my bad experience with others,' he said. On Thursday morning, Uber Australia sent out an email to customers with 'tips' to avoid paying higher prices. Uber was established in the United States in 2009 and is available in 60 countries (stock image) Uber sent out an email to customers on Thursday advising of the most busy, and therefore most expensive, times expected on New Years' Eve Poll Should Uber's price surges be banned? Yes No Should Uber's price surges be banned? Yes 2083 votes No 435 votes Now share your opinion 'You'll see a notification screen in your app whenever there is surge pricing. You'll have to accept those higher rates before you can request a ride. Remember you can always run a fare estimate in the app before you request,' the ride-sharing company wrote. 'Surge prices shouldn't be a surprise. At times of high demand, prices increase to encourage more drivers to become available. As soon as there are enough drivers to meet the demand for rides, prices go back to normal.' Supply and demand is monitored by Uber in real time, with prices automatically surging when there is an increase in wait times. Last month, in the face of strong protests from taxi drivers, the NSW cabinet voted to legalise Uber. It came after Canberra legalised the ride-sharing service in October, the first Australian city to do so. Uber was established in the U.S. in 2009 and is available in 60 countries. Complaints about Uber's price surging on New Year's Eve have flooded social media Outside of peak hours, it should be cheaper to use a ride-sharing service such as Uber (stock image) Site: waydate From: gracekbaby Date: 2015-08-22 17:28:35 Hello Hi My name is miss Grace,i saw your profile today at www.letsfreedate.com and became interested in you i will like to be your friend, I will send you my photo and other details for a start. CONTACT ME with my email (gracekbaby22@hotmail.com) I am waiting for your reply in my yahoo box not in the site. (Remember the distance or color does not matter but love matters Allot in life) i waiting for your respond; gracekbaby22@hotmail.com From: grace dokie Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:59:06 +0000 Subject: My Dear One, My Dear One, Nice to hear from you online .How are you today? l hope fine. Mine is not too good due to my suffering condition here in Dakar Senegal My name is Miss Grace Dokie, I am (24) years old, single and never married, 5ft 8 inches Tall, 55kg weight, black hair and brown eyes, l am from Liberia and presently l am residing in a church Orphanage home here in Dakar Senegal. My family was among the first target of the rebels because my Late father Dr Tolbert Dokie was a Successful business man and also a politician supporting the Present Government when the problems was about to start. Due to this all the members of my family were Murdered in a cold Blood and our family house was set a blazed.I was Lucky and escaped death because i was in bordering when this deadly incident took place. It is only myself who is alive now and l managed to make my way to a nearby country Senegal where l am staying now and never pray or think to step my legs in that bloody country called Liberia. I would like to know more about you.Your likes and dislikes,your hobbies and what you are doing presently. I will tell you more about myself in my next mail. Attached here is my picture. Hoping to hear from you soonest. Yours Forever as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country some years ago.I lost my both Parents during this deadly Political War. That Damaged Thousands of innocent Souls in Liberia. Miss Grace From: grace dokie Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2015 13:46:46 +0000 Subject: With love and trust i have to tell you this Hi Love, I am happy i have found someone who is ready to share my pains and give me a shoulder to lean on. How is your day? hope all is fine.mine is not too OK in the orphanage home here in Dakar Senegal. In this orphanage home we are only allowed to go out only on Mondays and Fridays of the weeks. Its just like one staying in the prison and i hope by Gods grace i will come out here soon. We don't have any relatives now whom we can go to all our relatives ran away in the middle of the war the only person we have now is Rev.Collins Benjamin who is the pastor of the (Catholic Orphanage home) here in the camp he has been very nice to me since i came here but i am not living with him rather i am living in the female's hostel because the camp have two hostels one for male the other for female. The Pastors Tel number is +221772492658 if you call and tell him that you want to speak with me he will send for me in the hostel. As an orphan here i don't have any right or privilege to any thing be it money or whatever because it is against the law of this country. I want to go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to my being in this situation now took place. Please listen to this,i have my late father's Deposit Certificate and certificate here with me which i will send to you latter,because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in one of the leading bank in Europe which he used my name as the next of kin,the amount in question is ($9.4M (Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) So i will like you to help me transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some money for me to get my travelling documents and air ticket to come over to meet with you. I kept this secret to people in the Orphanage home here the only person that knows about it is the Rev rend because he is like a father to me.So in the light of above i will like you to keep it to yourself and don't tell it to anyone for i am afraid of loosing my life and the money if people gets to know about it.Remember i am giving you all this information due to the trust i deposited on you. I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, truth and Hardworking My favorite language is English and i speak English very fluently. Meanwhile i will like you to call me like i said i have a lot to tell you.Have a nice day and think about me. Awaiting to hear from you soonest. Yours in love From: grace dokie Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2015 07:04:15 +0000 Subject: Please my love contact the bank for the transfer. Hello my dear Thanks a lot for your response, I will also like to see you face to face, Please i have not told anyone except you about the existence of this money and i will like you to please keep it secret to other people because since it is (MONEY) all eyes will be on it. I confide you dear that's why i am giving you all this information. You can call the Reverend around 14:00GMT, i will be there waiting your important call. I have already informed the bank about my plans to claim this Fund and the only thing they told me is to look for a foreign partner who will stand on my behalf due to my refugee status and the laws of this country. I will like you to contact the bank immediately with this information, tell them that you are my foreign partner and that you want to know the possibilities of assisting Miss Grace Dokie to transfer my (9.4 million) dollars deposited by my late father of which i am the next of kin to your account in your country. The contact information of the bank are as follows, Here is the contact information of the bank are as follows. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND Transfer Manager.Mr Ross Mc Ewan. Tel ...... +447011139313 Fax. ..... +447224512314 E-mail: wwwroyalbankofscotland@yahoo.co.uk E-mail: wwwroyalbankofscotland@aol.co.uk BELOW IS MY LATE FATHER'S DEPOSIT INFORMATION OF DEPOSITOR cod........................IDBS/457/#/SFC/2000 Series.......................IDBS/733GZA Name of Depositor.........DR. TOLBERT DOKIE Nationality: LIBERIA Exco A/c No. RBS/745608902546/QB/91/A Next of kin: MISS GRACE DOKIE Amount Deposit $9 .4 Million US Dollars. Contact them now on how to transfer the (9.4 million) dollars deposited by my late father which i am the next of kin. Honestly I am happy that God has brought you to see me out from this execrable situation which am passing through and i promise to be kind and will equally need you in every area of my life Including investing this money since i am still too young to manage it. As i told you before,this camp is just like a prison and I pray always to move out from here as soon as possible. Please make sure that you contact the bank!. Yours forever in love, Miss Grace Dokie Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:01:44 +0000 (UTC) From: wwwRoyal Bankofscotland Subject: FROM ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, TRANSFER SERVICE / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HEAD OFFICE: 9,HIGH ST, PERTH PERTHSHIRE PH1 5JS SCOTLAND. OUR REFaDB./S.4/GPL LONDON BRANCH PHONE NUMBER: +447011139313 EMAIL: wwwroyalbankofscotland@aol.co.uk wwwroyalbankofscotland@yahoo.co.uk DATE: DECEMBER,14/12/2015 TIME: 11:00 AM. WELCOME TO ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND ATTENTION SIR! I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN OPERATION/WIRE TRANSFER TO WRITE YOU IN RESPECT TO YOUNG LADY THAT SHE WISHES YOU TO BE HER TRUSTEE/ REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CLAIM OF HER LATE FATHER'S (DR TOLBERT DOKIE) DEPOSITED WITH OUR BANK. HER LATE FATHER OUR LATE CUSTOMER WITH SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DEPOSITED WITH US (USD$9.4 MILLION) NINE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND USA DOLLARS) REFERENCE TO YOUR REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF DR TOLBERT DOKIE DEPOSITED FUND WILLED TO MISS GRACE DOKIE PRESENTLY IN DAKAR-SENEGAL. WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL INQUIRY IN RESPECT TO THE SAID INHERITED FUND DEPOSITED IN OUR ESCROW ACCOUNT. ITS CONFIRMED THAT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER RBS/745608902546/QB/91/A PROVIDED IS WELL CORRECT. BE INFORMED THAT YOUR FORMAL INQUIRY HAS BEEN NOTED AND FORWARDED TO THE TRANSFER UNIT, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROVES CONFIRMING THE TRUE DEATH OF THE DEPOSITOR AND THE LEGALITY OF YOUR CLAIMS FROM THE SIDE OF THE NEXT OF KIN GRACE DOKIE TO ENABLE US PROCESS THE RELEASE ORDER, YOU SHOULD PRESENT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS VIA REGULAR MAILS FOR THE CONTENTS TO BE VIEWED PROPERLY. 1) YOU SHOULD PRESENT AN AUTHORITY LETTER (POWER OF ATTORNEY ) DULY PREPARED AND SIGNED BY A SENEGALESE BASED LAWYER AS YOUR WITNESS, MANDATING YOU TO MAKE THIS CLAIMS AND TRANSFER ON MISS GRACE DOKIE BEHALF. 2) AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIMS AND FACTS. FROM A SENEGALESE LAWYER 3) YOU SHOULD PRESENT A COPY OF DR TOLBERT DOKIE DEATH CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A PUBLIC/GENERAL HOSPITAL CONFIRMING HIS DEATH. 4) YOU SHOULD PRESENT THE LAST BANK STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT ISSUED TO DR TOLBERT DOKIE BY OUR BANK. 5) A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD. ON RECEIPTS OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION'S, WE SHALL VERIFY THEM AND AS SOON AS WE ARE SATISFIED, WE SHALL PROCESS YOUR CLAIM AND AFFECT THE TRANSFER. WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, AND WE PROMISE TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS THE BEST OF OUR SERVICES. NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ARE COMPULSORY, AND ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR INTEREST AND THE NEXT OF KIN AFTER THE CLAIMS. AND THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS MUST BE PRESENTED .AND YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SAID DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH THE FALLOWING. THESE SHALL ALSO ENSURE A SMOOTH, QUICK AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THE FUND WILL BE MADE. WE PROMISE TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS THE BEST OF OUR SERVICES. WE ANTICIPATE YOUR SWIFT RESPONDS. YOUR'S FAITHFULLY, MR ROSS MCEWAN. (MANAGING DIRECTOR) From: grace dokie Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:50:24 +0000 Subject: Darling contact this lawyer for the documentsaa. My lovely sweetheart, It's lovely writing to you again.How are you? I so much believe that you are doing well. I appreciate the way you are handling this transfer of my money to your position pending my arrival to meet with you to start a new life.God bless and reward you for taking good care of an orphan like me and i will equally pay you back your kind gesture.I am in love with you. I love you so much, my sweet darling. I can see what the bank is demanding before they will transfer my money to your position. The only problem we have now is the power of attorney and affidavit of oat which the bank said that it will be issued by a lawyer here in Senegal. After going through the bank's mail i discussed it with the reverend father and he gave me the contact of this lawyer Barrister Mark Philips. I want you to contact Him telling him that you are my foreign partner that you need his services to prepare a power of attorney and affidavit of oat that will enable you transfer my 9.4 million USA dollars from Royal Bank of Scotland, to your account on my behalf due to my refugee status. Presently i have my late father's death certificate with me here which i have sent to the lawyer to enable him prepare the other two documents. His contact information are as follows: Barrister Mark Philips Phone no: +221776156771 Email: barmarkphilipschambers@yahoo.com Email: barmarkphilipschamber@yahoo.com You are my darling sweetheart, i love you so much.Lots of love and sweet regards. i miss you so much.please keep praying for me, i love you with all my heart and soul. Yours darling, Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:53:06 +0000 (UTC) From: Mark Philips Subject: FROM BARRISTER MARK PHILIPS. YOUR URGENT RESPONDS EQUAL RIGHT CHAMBERS No.107 Apple Avenue. Dakar-Senegal Tel: +221776156771 Emails: barmarkphilipschambers@yahoo.com Dear Mr, I have spoken with the authorities involved and the chief judge of the country who will sign and make it authentic for it to be an authorization letter (power of attorney) that will enable you stand on her behalf to transfer her money from Royal bank of Scotland to your account in your country or elsewhere. From my inquiries it will cost the sum of 510dollars for authentication of the (power of attorney) at the high court before it becomes valid and 280 dollars for notary stamping at the notary public. The (affidavit of Oat) will cost 480 dollars from the high court here, My legal processing fee of 330 dollars, total is (1,600.dollars). send these money to me through Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Grams INFORMATION BELOW Name.... Mark Philips, Country...Senegal, City......Dakar, ADDRESS...107 Apple Avenue, Telephone... +221776156771 To speed the process you are to send these money to me through Western Union Money Transfer Or Money Grams with my name (which is the fastest way of sending money) to enable my noble office prepare and validate the power of attorney here in the high court and notary public respectively. You are to send a total amount of (1,600.dollars) With my name. Send or call me for the information as soon as you send the money to enable me to collect the money from Western Union Money transfer Local Office here. Yours Sincerely in service, Bar. Mark Philips.(ESQ) (Principal Partner) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 13:53:06 +0000 (UTC) From: Mark Philips Subject: FROM BARRISTER MARK PHILIPS... EQUAL RIGHT CHAMBERS No.107 Apple Avenue. Dakar-Senegal Tel: +221776156771 Emails:barmarkphilipschambers@yahoo.com ATTENTION SIR, I HAVE REALIZE THAT YOUR COUNTRY IS SENDING MONEY THROUGH WESTERN AND MONEY GRAM, SO I WILL ADVISE YOU TO GO AND SEND THE MONEY THOUGH WESTERN OR MONEY GRAM SO THAT I CAN RECEIVE IT VERY FAST IN OTHER TO GET THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE HIGH COURT. SO USE THE INFORMATION BELOW AND GO TO ANY NEAREST WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM AND SEND THE MONEY. WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE. HERE IS THE INFORMATION, Name.... Mark Philips, Country...Senegal, City......Dakar, ADDRESS...107 Apple Avenue, Telephone... +221776156771 Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 22:32:39 +0000 (UTC) From: Mark Philips Subject: FROM BARRISTER MARK PHILIPS... EQUAL RIGHT CHAMBERS No.107 Apple Avenue. Dakar-Senegal Tel: +221776156771 Emails:barmarkphilipschambers@yahoo.com TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN ATTN MR. , ONCE AGAIN WARMLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL AND I RECEIVED YOUR MAIL REGARDING YOUR REQUEST FROM ME, SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE USE OF THIS ACCOUNT AND SEND THE MONEY AND AN SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY TRY TO INFORM ME IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER MAKING THE PAYMENT, SCAN AND SEND ME THE RECEIPT COPY FOR CONFIRMATION. HERE IS THE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION, ACCOUNT NAME ............... LORENZ ROBERT BANK NAME .................. BANK OF AFRICA --- SENEGAL ACCOUNT NUMBER.............. 0 4 5 1 8 6 6 0 0 0 5 SWIFT CODE ................. AFRISNDAXXX BANK CODE .................. SN100 CODE AGENCE ................ 01018 IBAN ....................... SN08 SN10 0010 1800 4518 6600 0550 CIE RIB ..................... 71 BANK ADDRESS .......... RAS MISSION I ET II VILLA N::26 GOLF SUD THANKS.YOURS SINCERELY IN SERVICE, HON. BARRISTER MARK PHILLIPS ESQ From: grace dokie Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:33:21 +0000 Subject: Hello my dearest one, Hello my dearest one, I'm happy to inform you about my Favor in getting the fund transferred to a Swiss Account with the help of a new partner from London who is an international businessman. Presently I'm in London for investment projects, Meanwhile I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how. I'm very much glad to inform you that I left ATM VISA CARD on your name that contains ($300,000.00 USD) ( Three Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars ) for you I am giving you this money because of your past efforts and attempts to assist me,however i will like you to Feel free and contact United Bank of Africa ( UBA ) Dakar Senegal email: (ubabankdakarsenegal@aol.com) contact UBA bank for the ATM VISA CARD, Tell the bank to send the ATM VISA CARD to you through DHL delivery Service,I kept this $300,000.00 for your past efforts and attempt to assist me in the matter of transfer those days ago. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touched with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Dakar Senegal, with the card you can withdraw the money from any bank there in your country or any where in the world. At this moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects with my new partner. Finally, remember that I had forwarded instructions to the (UBA) bank on your behalf for you to receive that money on the ATM VISA CARD,Take care and remain Blessed. Grace. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Combatants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. Although it was unclear who staged the attack, it was being seen as a possible attempt to undo recent progress made in relations between rivals India and Pakistan, coming just a week after the first visit to Pakistan in 12 years by an Indian prime minister. The attack at the Pathankot air force base began a couple of hours before dawn, and by late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But just two hours later, fresh gunfire erupted, with an air force helicopter firing at an area of the base. Shots could also be heard from inside Pathankot, a major air force base located about 267 miles north of New Delhi. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva said troops were conducting combing operations of the entire base in order to be able to fully secure it. She added that the full number of casualties would be clear once the base was completely secured. The defense ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a likely attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," the ministry said in a statement. Despite the intelligence on a possible attack, at least two air force troops were killed in the gun battle, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Citing police, they also said at least four gunmen had been killed. The attack began at around 3 a.m., when a group of gunmen entered the section of the base where the living quarters are located, the defense ministry said. The attackers, however, were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, it said. Police said they were investigating whether they had come from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where they've been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, and the attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the country's relationship with its archrival. The violence came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. Ahead of Modi's visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. In the past, the contentious issue of Kashmir has halted talks between the rivals. "These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir," said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir's capital, Srinagar. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must "exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests." Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign ministry condemned the attack. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it said in a statement. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but "if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply." India's defense minister, national security adviser and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force met Saturday to discuss the situation. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in India's Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. The Associated Press This is the shocking moment a gang of youths were filmed pushing a car down a flight of stairs onto a packed metro platform on New Year's Eve. The rowdy group were caught on camera shoving the car off the top of the stairs in Brussels, Belgium, at about 8pm on Thursday. The 10 second clip flew down the stairs, rebounding off the sides as it picked up speed, before smashing into the platform below. Stupidity: The gang of youths were filmed pushing the car down a flight of stairs in Brussels, Belgium Dangerous: The car flies away from them down on the platform at Clemenceau station on Thursday evening Close call: One report suggests the boys had checked whether there was anyone in the way beforehand Pictures taken of the car on the platform at Clemenceau station reveal the windows and the front of the vehicle had all been smashed in. But the youngsters appear not to have thought thought through the danger they were putting people waiting for a train at the bottom of the stairs. A closer look at the video appears to reveal at least one person trying to get away from the falling green car. The youths - some swearing - then run from the station, which had to be closed while police removed the car. According to Belgian news channel RTBF, the car belonged to someone in the neighbourhood who wanted to get rid of it, and the teens had checked no one was on the stairs before deciding to carry out the dangerous act. The boys' actions have sparked anger in Brussels, which was on high alert for a terror attack on Thursday evening, even cancelling its fireworks display. Result: The car was badly damaged by the fall, and the station had to be closed for 45 minutes Fleeing: The boys were shown running away, laughing and swearing as they fled the scene of the crime Brussels MP Jamal Ikazban took to Facebook to express his outrage - not only with the youths, but also with the security services. 'I have a thought for the person who wakes up quietly this January 1 and finds out that his car is in the subway,' he said. 'It is not only not funny, but what is the most frightening it is to imagine that it is possible to take a car in the underground despite the warnings of level 3 AND 4, the presence of the military, the many cameras. One of New Zealand's most feared bikie gangs has reportedly been overthrown by the Hells Angels after one of its senior members walked into his old clubhouse with the rival group's badges on. The Lost Breed motorcycle gang, which was formed 39 years ago in Nelson, north of Christchurch, has now been disbanded and its clubhouse in Stoke 'stripped out', according to Stuff.co.nz. It is believed the outlaw gang imploded in late December after a long-standing member was branded a 'turncoat' for donning a Hells Angels' patch. Sources claimed that many of the original members had defected to other clubs and the ones who remained were 'marginalised' or 'getting too old'. The Lost Breed motorcycle gang (pictured), which was formed 39 years ago in Nelson, north of Christchurch, has now been disbanded Hells Angels is understood to have used its influence on 'puppet gang', the Red Devils, to initiate the turf war. Formed in 2009, the Red Devils became a 'hang around' chapter of the Hells Angels in 2013 and police believe they are in the process of becoming an official chapter. In September, Tasman police Detective Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan said the Hells Angels were one of the most established 'active' gangs in Nelson Bays, second only to the Lost Breed. Police sources told Stuff.co.nz that rumours about the takeover had surfaced over the past few days, but claimed it was 'unsubstantiated'. Hells Angels is understood to have used its influence on 'puppet gang', the Red Devils, to initiate the turf war It is believed the outlaw gang imploded in late December after a long-standing member was branded a 'turncoat' for donning a Hells Angels' patch It has reportedly been a 'peaceful' process and the Lost Breed clubhouse in Echodale Industrial Estate is believed to have been taken over by the Hells Angels. LOST BREED MOTORCYCLE GANG Formed in 1976 in Nelson, New Zealand, the Lost Breed bikie gang has been the most prominent gang in the area for decades. The gang, which had members aged between 20 and 65, had its headquarters in Washington Valley and Haven Rd before moving to Fuji Court, Stoke. It had its heyday in the Seventies and Eighties when it was linked to drugs, violence, and public sex. The gang had a violent clash with visiting Highway 61 members from Wellington at Nelson's annual mardi gras in 1979. Four gang members were injured and 21 Lost Breed members and associates were arrested. Advertisement Lost Breed has been the most prominent gang in Nelson since its formation in 1976 and it has prevented attempts by other groups, including Highway 61 MC and the Fourth Reich, to set up. The gang's heyday was in the Seventies and Eighties when it was linked to drugs, violence, and public sex. But the Lost Breed has since spoken out against family violence and said it does not support the methamphetamine drug P. The motorcycle club raised concerns about new gangs setting up in Nelson back in 2009. Police also warned about the possibility of gang confrontations, following a 'poker run' motorcycle ride that involved members of the Red Devils making a public display of being in Nelson. In September last year, detectives revealed that seven gangs were represented in Nelson Bays with a total of 37 patched members. The figures revealed that there were six patched Hells Angels members in the region as of June 2014, compared to 11 Lost Breed members. The moment this police officer decided to try out his DJ skills was captured in one perfect photo that has taken the internet by storm, leaving some social media users more impressed than others. Senior Constable Paul Silvy from the Police Operational Response Team, noticed that this DJ was asleep during his patrol at Falls Festival in Lorne on New Years Eve and decided to sneak in for a photo opportunity. The joke has been met with a mixed response after the photo was uploaded to the Victoria Police Facebook page with one user commenting I dont pay taxes for this on the post. A mixed response has been heard after this posed shot was uploaded to Facebook yesterday, the photo shows Senior Constable Silvy posing for a photo the DJ sleeps nearby The original post by Victoria Police was met with mixed reviews But most people agreed that the joke was in fact funny and added to it with song choice speculations He only got three likes for the comment, but he wasnt the only person to slam the officer. So the Victorian Police department would rather party than do their job? That just says everything doesn't it, another wrote. Sen Con Silvy spoke with Daily Mail Australia and admitted he didnt expect the huge response from social media to the photo. It was meant to be a keepsake I didnt realise it would end up like this, he said after the post was liked by 20,000 people. He didnt care that some users criticised his actions. Everyone has own opinions. We mainly spent time engaging with the crowd at the festival and this was a part of that. We just wanted to show positive perception police, there was a group of four of us, it was a bit of fun and if it gives us happy, positive feedback then that is a win. Falls festival is run around the country in Lorne, Byron Bay and Marion Bay One Facebook user was more concerned about the officer touching the equipment than about wasted tax dollars. Hopefully the DJ knew the guy.Number of people I know who would be comfortable with someone they didn't know very well touching their gear is quite low, said a Facebook user. But Sen Con DJ Silvy has no regrets. I had met him (the DJ) earlier, he was playing old 70s stuff thats how we got talking. I went back around there to see him again. He was asleep so we thought a bit light hearted fun, so I just nicked in and took a photo. He was fine, so I thought I would quickly duck in, the people there watching were just laughing, he said. The overwhelming majority of Facebook and Reddit users though the photo was great, and an opportunity for a laugh, with only a three negative comments out of more than 600. The PORT officer does do a spot of DJing in his spare time, but does not have a favourite genre and prefers to play different types of music. People on social media site Reddit had fun discussing the possible playlist However Sen Con Silvy said there were no tunes, he just took a pic for fun (stock photo, Falls) He laughed at the police-music suggestions and said he likes a lot of different music When he was asked what he would have played if he did actually take control of the decks he said I couldnt tell you so mixed these days. Fans of the photograph definitely made their song suggestions know, with most agreeing on the same songs and bands. Probably played Don't Stand so Close to Me, Roxanne, Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon, said one user listing song names by the band Police, led by Sting. It's a sting operation, another said, cottoning on to the joke. Nah, 'F**k tha Police' on a loop while winking at all the pretty girls, said another. Now playing: bad boys bad boys, what u going to do? Wht u going to do when we come for u, another joked. The officer is no stranger to DJing and does it as a hobby He had no idea that the photo would be so popular, and doesn't even have social media himself (stock photo, Falls) Does he take requests? A bit of Cheap Trick's "Dream Police!" or Elvis's "Jail House Rock?" Maybe? Seriously.... great that the show went on thanks to DJ Silvy! Can you imagine the riot it could have caused if he didn't step in?!! Definitely needs the "Bravery Award!" The photo was seen by a global audience, just as one user had hoped. F#*ing legend people need to see this world wide. While others knew that the picture could only have come from one place. Only in Australia though. This makes me want to go to Australia even more. Some social media users agreed that the only place you would see police acting like this would be Australia And comparisons were made with international authorities. An American cop would have shot the equipment for being too loud, said one user on Reddit. And for being black, another replied. One person who saw the photo said it would never stop being funny. Others tried to compare DJing with police work. He was responding to noise complaints...apparently the music wasn't loud enough. PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!!!....if you're concealing illegal drugs on your person. The police officer spent most of his time at the festival talking with people in the crowd (stock photo, Falls) Some comments show that Sen Con Silvy achieved his goals of bonding with the community. I think it shows Police are human and great interaction with the community. What a champion! More police exhibiting this level of engagement with the public goes a long way! Way to go for posting this and not letting the dirty media get their hands on it as "Are police having too much fun?". He knew the DJ after bonding with him over 70s music earlier that day He was surprised to find him sleeping when he returned to see him, and decided on taking the picture As stupid as it sounds but this is what gains police respect in the eyes of the younger crowd, it's the simple and basic interaction with a laugh but still maintaining professionalism when required. Well done. Does this constitute part of the PORT training? I wouldn't be surprised - highly specialised unit. Some just didnt appreciate DJs. It's not like it requires skill. Just plug your laptop into a speaker set and press play on a random playlist, bopping your head to the music and hopping around like a jackass. People made jokes relating DJing to police work And also about the officer's lack of hair Indisputable proof that everyone now is, in fact, a DJ... New Year's Day music event Field Day is in danger of being added to the list of notorious Australian festivals after 184 people were charged with drug offences. While arrests are down from the 214 that were made last year, police have still expressed their disappointment and say they make 'no apology for finding people who supply and possess drugs'. While many photos show passed out festival-goers appearing to struggle at the event at The Domain in Sydney, one woman was ecstatic when her boyfriend surprised her by proposing. Scroll down for video The New Years Day music festival Field Day took its toll on revellers with these young women succumbing to exhaustion and taking a tactical snooze on the grass near one of the main stages For one happy couple the music festival was a day of celebration after a young man decided to propose to his shocked girlfriend in front of a crowd of friends and passerbys The man's friends stood behind the couple, holding a sign reading, 'she said yes!' as the pair embraced and the young woman wiped away tears of happiness. Pictures of the joyous moment were taken by a man who happened to walk by at the perfect moment. 'Not sure who you are but thought you might want these photos,' he wrote on the Field Day 2016 event page. Other festival attendees decided on a less eventful day, eventually succumbing to exhaustion after two-days of partying to bring in 2016. Two young women had some downtime in front of one of the main stages, lying down next to each other and soaking up the sun. The music festival has been going since 2002 and attracts thousands of people to celebrate New Years Day A young woman could not wait until she reached the comfort of her own bed, and closed her eyes on the train home from the event One young woman 'blissfully' relaxed on the grass as the sun beat down on Friday The man's friends stood behind the couple, holding a sign reading, 'she said yes!' as she wiped away tears of happiness Police were in full force at the dance festival at The Domain - This officer took a moment to take a picture with one reveller Another could not wait until she reached the comfort of her own bed, and closed her eyes on the train home from the event. This comes as it was revealed 184 people were arrested and charged with drug offences. Eight of those arrested, were charged with supplying drugs including a 26-year-old woman carrying 100 ecstasy tablets. The hospital experienced 'a very busy night' with five festival goers rushed from the event at The Domain in Sydney's city to receive treatment. Another 212 people were treated by paramedics at Field Day. Although less than the 214 people arrested over drug-related offences at the festival last year, the high number is still concerning, police said. 'Police will continue to run these operations and work with the festival organisers to ensure music-lovers can attend festivals and enjoy themselves in a safe, drug-free environment. Many made the most of the day and were grinning from ear to ear as 2016 commenced This comes as it was revealed 184 people were arrested and charged with drug offences During a music set, three festival-goers decided to jump on each other's shoulder for a better viewing opportunity One young man donned 'budgie smugglers' and stood atop a ledge as he watched some of the music offerings 'We make no apologies for finding people who supply and possess drugs, and putting them before the courts,' Chief Inspector Stuart Bell said in a news release. A young woman remains in critical condition from a suspected drug overdose after being rushed on New Year's Day from the festival to St. Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, a hospital spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. This comes after one woman, identified as Sylvia Choi, died after apparently taking a lethal concoction of party drugs at the notorious Stereosonic festival in Sydney. On that day in November, 69 people were charged with drug supply and possession offences, while 23 others were issued cannabis cautions. Daily Mail Australia have contacted the Field Day organisers for comment. The hospital experienced 'a very busy night' with five festival goers rushed from the event at The Domain in Sydney's city to receive treatment As President of the United States, Barack Obama has access to pretty much any food he wants. But it seems the commander-in-chief has but a few dishes he likes to eat while he is on the go - and none of them must contain mayonnaise or M&Ms. Reggie Love, who was at Obama's side during his 2007 campaign, revealed that the President is a big fan of ranch dressing, but otherwise tries to eat a nutritional dinner. But despite his wife Michelle being a campaigner for healthy food, Obama said he eats nachos until he has 'guacamole coming out of his eyeballs'. Picky eater: President Obama (pictured eating a bratwurst in Milwaukee in 2012) is very particular when it comes to what he eats, according to a former aide The President (pictured eating nachos in Pennsylvania in 2008) confessed to loving nachos so much that he eats them until he has 'guacamole coming out of my eyeballs' Hungry: President Obama enjoys a candy bar in a limousine in Dresden, Germany, in 2009 President Obama is known to be a fan of shaved ice and enjoys it on each of his annual visits to Hawaii, as well as in this photograph in Iowa in 2012 In Love's memoir, Power Forward: My Presidential Education, he revealed that some of his worst moments as the then-senator's assistant were when he got his food order wrong. Love spoke of Obama's fury when he forgot to save the candidate a meal while he was on the campaign trail. He wrote: ''You got my taquitos, Reggie?' he inquired wearily. 'I left the taquitos at the venue, sir, I assumed you wouldn't want them; they were three hours old,' I confessed. Obama looked at me with blank disbelief.' Obama tried to stay healthy while he was touring the country, choosing to eat apples, sandwiches, grilled fish and chicken. He also ate salad if he had to, but only with ranch or vinaigrette and would avoid doing so if he could because it is not an easy food to eat in a car. The President is also remarkably picky when it comes to food, despising mayonnaise and refusing to eat trail mix with M&Ms. HAVING THE PRESIDENT FOR DINNER? HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T SERVE Obama's dislikes Fast food Fried food Battered food Mayonnaise Energy bars containing fruit M&Ms in trail mix Special flavors of Nicorette gum Soda Coffee Obama likes Grilled fish Grilled chicken Salads - but not on the go Sandwiches Nachos Shaved ice Orange juice Green tea Ranch dressing Advertisement Pigging out: Obama tried to stay healthy while on the campaign trail, but looked like he was enjoying a hot dog with British Prime Minister David Cameron at a basketball game in Ohio in 2012 The book also mentions that the President (seen grabbing lunch in Wisconsin in 2008) is not keen on energy bars containing fruit, anything battered or fried, soda, coffee and fast food 'There were days when he specifically wanted X,' Love wrote. 'And Lord help me if he'd made his mind up about what he wanted and I delivered the wrong thing. Or if it came with mayo. Or was undercooked. Or soggy. If there was one thing you didn't want to watch, it was the time-pressed candidate scraping a gooey, loathed condiment off the only food he was going to eat for the next seven hours.' 'Sometimes he'd mutter, 'This was the thirty minutes I had to myself, and now I can't even enjoy my meal'.' Love's biggest mistake was when he got Obama the wrong snack on a flight from Washington DC to New York, offering him a bag of trail mix. 'The senator opened the bag of trail mix I'd bought and proceeded to pick out every M&M, holding them all in his palm like pieces of candy-coated toxic waste,' Love wrote. ''I'm not going to eat these,' he said while pushing his hand in my general direction. 'Do you want them?' he asked, wrinkling his nose. 'No thank you, sir,' I answered, then made the first of what would be thousands of notes to self: No candy with the trail mix.' Love also said it was vital to remember to bring a knife and fork for Obama, as well as napkins, water and green tea. The book also mentions that the President is not keen on energy bars containing fruit, anything battered or fried, soda, coffee and fast food. However, that has not stopped him eating hot dogs, ice cream and fried chicken in staged pit stops at eateries around the US. Obama has also confessed that he has an obsession with nachos, speaking of his love for the Mexican treat as he chatted with Jerry Seinfeld on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee on Thursday. 'It's one of those where I have to have it taken away. I'll have guacamole coming out of my eyeballs,' he said. The President was also seen eating shaved ice in Hawaii earlier this week with his daughters Malia and Sasha. A seriously ill patient has tested positive for legionnaires disease at a prominent Queensland hospital just two years after the facility suffered an outbreak that killed one patient and landed another in intensive care. The patient and an ice machine tested positive on Friday for legionella pneumophila, a bacterial pneumonia that mainly spreads though water in pipes or other such systems, at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, according to The Courier Mail. An investigation is underway, according to Queensland Health. The bacteria was found in the hospitals hot water system in 2013 and infected a 60-year-old man diagnosed with cancer who then died. Scroll down for video A patient at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane (pictured) has tested positive for legionnaires disease two years after the hospital suffered a deadly outbreak Another patient, a 46-year-old woman, tested positive for the disease and had to be admitted to the intensive care unit. After the outbreak, Queensland health officials mandated water testing in private and public health facilities and the Wesley hadnt had another positive test until Friday. Other patients are the facility are being monitored by staff, said UnitingCare Health chief operating officer Terence Seymour. It is not clear if the patient located in the ward had accessed the ice machine, however this is being investigated, he said. We are working closely with Queensland Healths Public Health Unit to identify the source of the contamination. This may take several weeks. The infected patient previously spent some time away from the hospital so it is not certain that he came into contact with the bacteria at the hospital, Mr Seymour said. She felt herself an unloved and unappreciated drudge and was at the end of her tether. My back aches and my nose keeps bleeding, she confided sorrowfully to her private diary. All morning I tidied his clothes and underwear and cleaned his study until it was spotless. Then I darned his socks, which were all in holes. Scroll down for video The cast of the BBC's new adaptation of War and Peace, starring Lily James and James Norton, centre Leo Tolstoy's real life marriage to Sofia, pictured with the author, was just as tumultuous This was not the life she had dreamt of when, as a starry-eyed teenager, she married the coming great man of literature. On another occasion, she lamented: If he had one iota of the psychological understanding which fills his books, he would understand my pain and despair. But Leo Tolstoy, the worlds greatest novelist, had his elevated mind and acute perception of the human condition directed to a loftier plane than his wife Sofias deep unhappiness with him and their life together. His genius soared and roared in late 19th-century Russia, taking literature to a new level as he explored in fiction the eternal mystery of how to lead a moral life. He sought to untangle good and evil, love and lust, hope and despair, cowardice and courage all those deep contradictions that both plague and enrich our lives. And, of course, War And Peace the subject (and title) of his 1,500-page classic following the fate of individuals caught up in Napoleons invasion of Tsarist Russia in 1812. Hailed as the greatest masterpiece in prose fiction, this is about to burst into renewed life in all its gore and glory in a six-part BBC1 series. Adapted by master of screenplay Andrew Davies, and starring Jim Broadbent, Lily James, James Norton and Gillian Anderson, it is predicted to be compulsive Sunday night viewing, starting tomorrow and continuing into February. But lost in its sweeping themes, battlefield vistas and romantic cris de coeur will be one of the enduring mysteries about the high-minded and humanitarian Tolstoy his complete failure to see much to value in half the human race, namely women. Here was a man who, in the name of decency, equality and enlightenment, emancipated the 330 serfs on his huge ancestral estates and had a Christ-like vision of a better world, yet continued to condemn his wife to the slavery of sex on demand, continual pregnancies 13 babies in 26 years and endless domestic drudgery. He never treated women well or with respect. Screenwriter Davies has acknowledged inserting erotic scenes into his adaptation that were not in the original book but torrid sex is arguably far from inappropriate in Tolstoy, given his torrid private life. In his debauched younger days, he had a penchant for animalistic sex with parlour maids and peasant girls on the family estate that he inherited at the age of 19 (along with the title of count), and he visited prostitutes in Moscow from the age of 14. From whores in brothels and bath-houses, he contracted regular doses of gonorrhoea; from the country girls something even more insidious guilt. He hated himself, as he confessed in his copious diaries, which he began writing while being dosed with mercury in a venereal disease clinic. Terrible, disgusting and never again were his verdicts on sex. Tolstoy pictured in his youth, during which he wrote of his 'disgust' at sex despite his frequent dalliances But he couldnt (or, more likely, wouldnt) stop himself. Keep away from women, he ordered himself in a moment of piety, followed soon after by another confession that I had her. Shamefully, he would then blame the girl. I hate her because Ive broken my rules on her account, he wrote of one brief encounter. There were moments of tenderness, too a gypsy named Katya whose eyes, breasts and tender words enchanted him, a Cossack girl who kept him awake all night, a married peasant of whom he wrote: Shes very pretty. Im in love as never before in my life. But more typical were entries in his diary that read Today in the big wood, Im a beast, or Had dinner, wrote a bit, ran after a wench. Years later, there was a twinkle in his eye as he told the playwright Anton Chekhov: I was an indefatigable f****r. Nor was sex his only vice. He gambled recklessly, losing vast chunks of his estate, called Yasnaya Polyana (Bright Glade), and even the house where he was born, on the turn of a card. Yet although he seemed set for the life of a rake, in 1862, aged 34 and by then a published and well-regarded author, he decided to marry. A gambler, his estate eventually went to rack and ruin after he gave away his writing royalties He put aside the illiterate peasant Aksinya, who shared his bed and had borne him a son, and set his sights on the teenage Bers sisters, daughters of a Moscow society doctor he knew. Should it be Liza, Sofia or Tanya? Liza, 19, set her cap at him, and that put him off her. The impish Tanya, 16, was the one he fancied most because she was fun, but it was Sofia he settled for. He wrote that she was plain and vulgar...but she interests me hardly the most romantic of declarations. She would make a perfect companion and confidante, he decided, before proposing not on bended knee, or even in person, but in a letter. She accepted. And so began, in the words of Tolstoys biographer A. N. Wilson, one of the most miserable marriages in history. Before the wedding, he took the extraordinary step of giving her his private diaries to read, chronicling in unremitting detail his past 20 dissolute years of wenching, drinking and gambling. He did so, he said, in a spirit of openness, so she would know all his secrets. But it was a monstrous matrimonial gift for an 18-year-old innocent, one that cruelly put his ego above her sensitivities. She was understandably shocked. When he asked her forgiveness for his past always a big issue for Tolstoy, in his quest for absolution she said she gave it but, in truth, she never really could. She wrote in her diary at the time: The whole of my husbands past is so ghastly I dont think I shall ever be able to accept it. Many years later, she confessed that she never recovered from reading the diaries. I can still remember the agonising pangs of jealousy. As if that wasnt a bad enough start, the wedding itself was far from smooth, with Tolstoy agonising about whether to go through with it right up to the last moment, and Sofia in floods of tears. He arrived an hour late at the church, claiming that he couldnt find his shirt. Afterwards, as she got into the carriage to be driven away with her new husband, Sofia threw herself sobbing into her mothers arms, as brides often do. Tolstoy muttered: You cannot love me very much, and went into a huff. That sort of misunderstanding and rancour marked the next 46 years of their long life together. His all-seeing eye that pinpointed and illuminated so brilliantly the intricacies of human nature seemed always to be looking the other way when it came to her. James stars as Natasha Rostov, pictured centre, in the BBC's adaptation of War and Peace alongside Norton as Prince Andrei, right, and Paul Dano as Pierre Bezukhov, left To be fair, they were cheerful enough to start with. My happiness seems to absorb me completely, he wrote. Sofia was blissful too, though beset by a doubt that turned out to be horribly prophetic: What if he loses interest in me? In his mind, Tolstoy had a firm (and unflattering) picture of what a wife and mother should be. It was very rustic and very Russian: her job was to bear as many children as possible, keep the home and stay out of his way, except when he wanted sex. She tried to conform. Over the next few years, I shall make myself a serious female world, and I shall love it because it will contain my husband and my children, she wrote, adding ominously, but I havent settled down yet. And she never really did. She resented being a second-class citizen, banned from accompanying him to a dance because he complained that her shoulders would have been exposed in a low-cut ballgown. He took (and flirted with) her unmarried younger sister Tanya instead. She longed for him to emerge from his rapt inner existence and tell her how pretty I am, but his coldness to her was unbearable. If she showed any sign of gaiety, he dismissed her as stupid and irritating. Children didnt help. As a new mother, she said: I am left alone morning, afternoon and night. I am to gratify his pleasures and nurse his child. I am a piece of household furniture. I try to suppress all human feelings. Her life was insufferable. She once described her husbands view of her role in life as that of a she-animal and slave, lacking in all initiative and interests. Wait on your husband, serve him, bear and feed children! Yet this was not strictly true because there was one task for him that gave her pleasure acting as his copyist and editor. He wrote his novels in a scribble that few could decipher except her. She made fair copies of his inky scrawls and did the same with his copious corrections he was forever changing his mind on the page proofs that came back from the printers. It is calculated that she wrote out War And Peace seven times. As I copy, she declared, I experience a whole new world of emotions, thoughts and impressions. Nothing touches me so deeply as his ideas, his genius. She also had her say on the content and was vital to the process. Without her input, says biographer Wilson, it is unlikely that War And Peace would ever have reached a conclusion. Theirs, he maintains, was one of the most impressive partnerships in literary history. Lily James, left as Natasha, is well known for her role as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey, right But whether Tolstoy ever admitted this, to her or to himself, is another matter. Of War And Peace, he wrote in self-congratulatory mood that never before have I felt my intellectual and moral faculties so unimpeded. 'I am an author with all the powers of my soul and I write and reflect as I have never written or reflected before. There was no mention of his wife, who was popping out babies and focusing on more mundane matters. Her heart sank. With each new baby, one sacrifices a little more of ones life and accepts an even heavier burden of perennial anxieties and illnesses. They both became grumpier as the marriage, never that strong in the first place, spiralled downward into a special kind of hell. Cohabitation with her is vile, he wrote. She was a millstone around his neck. Wherever you are, the air is poisoned, he yelled at her in front of the children a strange take on his professed belief in love and forgiveness. Self-absorbed with his spiritual demons of depression, doubt and death, he became increasingly monk-like (except when it came to demanding his conjugal rights). He rejected material possessions, wore peasant clothes and even made his own shoes but stopped paying much attention to running the family estate. Previous film versions of the literary classic include the 1956 movie starring Audrey Hepburn as Natasha It began to go to rack and ruin as did his literary estate when he gave away his royalties. It fell to Sofia to try to rescue their finances in the face of his lofty indifference. Having nobly dedicated himself to live by the simple principles of Christs Sermon on the Mount, he just got increasingly cross with the children and their mother. Yet he still sought her bed when the body (rather than the spirit) moved him, despite his pious self declaring that copulation is an abomination. At least he did not stray into other arms, though there must have been times when she wished he would, rather than make demands on her for satisfaction. In the end, his genius was poor compensation for her suffering. This genius, she noted sarcastically, cannot be bothered to care for the innumerable children he fathered, as he is too busy communing with Socrates and Buddha and aspiring to be like them. It is, of course, the genius that lives on in his words. But though Tolstoy got to the heart of humanity in a way that still leaves us in awe, the human being closest to him, his wife, was out of his reach, left desperately unappreciated and miserable. As he put it in the famous opening line of his other masterpiece, Anna Karenina: All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Sofia and he knew that sad truth all too well. A care home resident died from a rare allergic reaction to the lentils in her lunchtime soup, an inquest heard. Deborah Mary Molloy, 52, suffered severe anaphylactic shock and was taken to hospital but doctors could not save her. A coroner blamed 'a catalogue of errors' by managers at the home where she was a long-term resident. Miss Molloy, who had Down's syndrome, had spent her entire life in local authority care after being abandoned as a baby. Many workers at the care home were well aware she had a rare allergy to legumes like lentils, chickpeas and other pulses. A care home resident died from a rare allergic reaction to the lentils in her lunchtime soup, an inquest heard in Macclesfield (pictured) But on 4 May, 2014, unwitting staff offered her the choice of tomato or chicken soup for lunch at midday, both of which contained lentils. Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg heard she ate the chicken option and went to her room to listen to music. At 3pm, she was found suffering an allergic reaction and taken to hospital. Miss Molloy lost consciousness twice and died at around 8.30pm after suffering a cardiac arrest because of the severe anaphylactic reaction. Mr Rheinberg said her learning difficulties meant she was unable to understand her own allergy and died as a result of 'a catalogue of errors' by managers at Warwick Mews residential home, in Macclesfield, Cheshire, He said they 'recognised the allergy but failed to implement a robust system to avoid problems'. Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, he added: 'Her care notes identified an allergy to lentils three times but were not prominently displayed. 'It would not do justice to her carers to describe the errors as neglect. I've not seen such caring carers. 'It was unfair the finger of blame was pointed at the carer who gave her the soup. She could not be expected to know about the problem with lentils.' The inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall heard that Miss Molloy had previously shown symptoms of a lentil allergy which was documented three times in her care notes Warwick Mews, a supported community of bungalows and flats for adults with learning disabilities, is operated by Care4CE, a firm owned by Cheshire East Council providing social care services. The inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall heard that Miss Molloy had previously shown symptoms of a lentil allergy which was documented three times in her care notes. But the warning was not clearly displayed and some carers did not know about it. Her allergy was more serious than diagnosed as she had a rare ongoing reaction called protracted anaphylaxis, caused by the amount of lentils she ate. Miss Molloy suffered cardiac arrest, aspiration of gastric contents and anaphylactic reaction. Cheshire coroner Mr Rheinberg said it was unlikely that any medical treatment could have saved her and he did not put any blame on the care worker who gave her the soup. Miss Molloy was described by carers as a 'loving soul' who was a 'happy and popular' resident and a regular user of Macclesfield Leisure Centre. After the hearing, a council spokesman said action has been taken to stop a similar tragedy. He added: 'The council wishes to express its regret in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Molloy. 'This case did highlight lessons that need to be learned. 'The coroner accepted the council's evidence about the changes that have been made to systems since Miss Molloy's death so that any future cases of this nature can be avoided.' The continuous jabs that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have thrown at each other while campaigning have reportedly strained a once blossoming friendship between their children. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump's friendship has suffered as their parents battle it out for the White House in 2016, according to the New York Daily News. The famous daughters were once so close that they reportedly sent text messages to each other quite frequently as well as exchanged baby gifts. However, now that their parents are competing against each other, the two have been quite distant, a source told the Daily News reported. Scroll down for video Strained: Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump's friendship has suffered as their parents battle it out for the White House. The two are pictured above in New York City in 2014 The famous daughters were once so close that they reportedly sent text messages to each other quite frequently as well as exchanged baby gifts 'Over time, they had developed a real relationship, a real friendship, and had a mutual respect for each other based on their upbringing, being in the spotlight, their parents, scandals, their history,' the source explained to the Daily News. 'And in the beginning (when Hillary and Trump announced they were throwing their hats in the ring) it was lighthearted. Everything was OK. Since then, it has gotten very strained.' A separate source remarked that there is no 'bad blood' between Chelsea and Ivanka, but told the Daily News that their friendship is 'definitely on hold'. 'If anyone knew they had any hard feelings it would be such a circus, so they will act classy like they both are and pretend all is OK for the public,' the second source told the Daily News. While the two women have not tweeted at each other recently, The Donald fired off a tweet blasting his Democratic competitor Friday evening as Politico reported that he targeted her on Twitter 65 times in 2015. Trump wrote in a tweet: 'The person that Hillary Clinton least wants to run against is, by far, me. It will be the largest voter turnout ever - she will be swamped!' The billionaire celebrated New Years in Florida and had an awkward appearance on Fox News that was plagued by technical glitches. A separate source remarked that there is no 'bad blood' between Chelsea and Ivanka, but told the Daily News that their friendship is 'definitely on hold' until after the election Donald Trump sent the tweet above about Hillary Clinton Friday evening The billionaire celebrated New Years in Florida and had an awkward appearance on Fox News that was plagued by technical glitches The Republican frontrunner was left hanging in some awkward silences after being unable to hear Fox hosts Kimberly Guilfoyle and Eric Bolling as he counted down into 2016 with them. In an interview slot taking place in the last ten minutes of the year, Trump was quizzed on everything from his New Year's resolution to his message for Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton. However, he was tripped up by a technical error with his earpiece, at one point bluntly telling Bolling: 'I can not understand what you are saying. About every other word I'm getting.' Instead Bolling fed his questions to Guilfoyle, who asked The Donald whether come 2017 they would be calling him in the White House. Triumphantly, the billionaire businessman replied: 'I hope you are going to be calling the White House, I promise you will get through. You will always be invited. 'We are going to do something really special, we are going to make amends for the mistakes that have been made over the years.' Asked whether he had a message for Hillary Clinton, Trump shot back: 'I think I will be her worst nightmare, but we will find out. 'We have to really work to make our country great again. We are going to do that, we are going to have a lot of fun doing it, if its is Hillary Clinton that is in the race I look forward to going against her.' Egypt is facing economic misery after British tourists stopped flying to Sharm el-Sheikh. The resort shows no sign of recovering after a Russian holiday jet crashed, killing all 224 passengers, in October, in what was almost certainly a terrorist bomb attack. Egyptian authorities, anxious to maintain desperately needed income from visitors, have been reluctant to admit to any ongoing security problems, or even that a bomb probably downed the plane but both Britain and Russia still advise against flying to the Red Sea resort. As a result, tourist numbers have plummeted by more than 85 per cent, and hotels and other business in Sharm el- Sheikh are struggling to survive. Egypts tourism income as a whole is said to be 120m a month down. The Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is facing crisis after British tourists stopped travelling there, after a Russian holiday jet crashed in October (pictured) killing all 24 people on board The official advice from Britains Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes clear that terrorism is a risk in Egypt, and that some areas should not be visited at all. Travellers are warned that UK airlines are no longer operating flights from Sharm el-Sheikh and that anyone there should make careful decisions about the risks they face although FCO officials do not raise any concerns about terror attacks within the resort. Yet the attack on the Russian holiday jet was a far from isolated incident in Egypt. Ten years ago eleven Britons were among 88 people massacred by terrorists in Sharm el Sheikh, and in 1997 six Britons were among 62 tourists gunned down by Islamists while visiting the ancient remains at Luxor. In recent years Egypt has been riven by popular uprisings which unseated long-term president Hosni Mubarak, briefly allowed a flowering of democracy, but then led to army strongman Abdel Fattah el-Sisi becoming president. Supporters of Islamic State are now active in the Sinai region which surrounds Sharm el-Sheikh. And although the Egyptian government is anxious to revive tourism, a major source of foreign exchange for the struggling economy, the West has limited confidence in its ability to guarantee safety. The Daily Mail discovered after the Russian jet disaster that many hotels in Sharm were using entirely useless bomb and weapons detectors which, astonishingly, had been produced by the Egyptian army. The devices had no power source and were based on fake science first cooked up by a gang of English conmen. The official advice from Britains Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes clear that terrorism is a risk in Egypt, and that some areas should not be visited at all. Pictured, British tourists arrive at the airport in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on November 9 Travellers are warned that UK airlines are no longer operating flights from Sharm el-Sheikh and that anyone there should make careful decisions about the risks they face although FCO officials do not raise any concerns about terror attacks within the resort Regardless of the ongoing concerns British Airways and Easyjet have indicated that they may consider resuming flights to Sharm in February. Sharm as a modern resort was developed at the instigation of Mubarak, who wanted to broaden Egypt s attractions beyond the pyramids and temples which have been drawing visitors since before the birth of Christ. Another country to see an unsurprising tourist slump is Tunisia, to the west along the north African coast, where 38 holidaymakers including 30 Britons were massacred by an Islamist in June last year. Yesterday a grieving mother whose son, brother and father were slaughtered in the Tunisia terror attack criticised tour operators for offering cut-price holidays to the same resort. Tragic Joel Richards, 19, was gunned down alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, 49, and granddad Patrick Evans, 78, during the massacre in Sousse on June 26 last year. Joels younger brother Owen, 16, survived the attack but saw his family killed as terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui sprayed bullets at sunbathing tourists. The Foreign Office still advises against all but essential travel to Tunisia following the attack. But just six months after the massacre, Britains biggest tour operators are now offering discounts of up to 40 per cent on trips to the area. Thomas Cook is offering a seven night stay at the Hotel El Mouradi in Port El Kantaoui for 279 per person, which is a 39 per cent discount on the usual 456 price. And holiday giant Thomson has also cut prices for a week at the luxurious Sensimar Scherazade in Sousse by 21 per cent to 431 per person. Random thoughts from a Brit in the North West. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Quite often curmudgeonly. An auction house is selling the furniture and other items from the Kennedy family's 'Winter White House' this month. The January 23 auction held by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will sell 153 items from the Palm Beach, Florida, Kennedy compound. Some of the items include walnut beds, a walnut-framed massage table used by John F Kennedy and his family, a Louis XV mahogany table and furniture framed by architect Addison Mizner, according to the Sun Sentinel. The oceanfront mansion, purchased by Joseph P Kennedy Sr in 1933 for $120,000, was designed by Addison Mizner in the 1920s. Scroll down for video Items from a home in Palm Beach that once belonged to the Kennedy family will be auctioned off on January 23. The home was purchased by Joseph P Kennedy Sr in 1933 for $120,000 and used as a retreat home for his family. In May 2015, the property was sold to TGS Florida LLC for $31million Many presidential meetings and appointments were held at the mansion when John F Kennedy, pictured here with his family, was in office, thus garnering the name 'Winter White House' In 1995, John K Castle bought the 11-bedroom home for $4.92million and bought most of the furnishings along with it. In May 2015, Castle sold the property to TGS Florida LLC for $31million. The auction will be held at Leslie Hindman's office in West Palm Beach. Items will be available for preview starting January 15. Bids for the items will be accepted by phone, online or in person. The 15,000 square-foot home was used as a frequent retreat for the Kennedy family over the years. 'Having been in the family for over sixty years as the permanent residence of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, the home was a frequent retreat for President John F. Kennedy and his siblings: Joseph, Rose, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, Ted and their families,' according to Leslie Hindman. An Italian painted hall bench placed in the home by architect Addison Mizner for the mansion's original owner is estimated to sell at $3,000 to $5,000 A walnut-framed massage table used by John F Kennedy and his family is estimated to sell at a price between $2,000 and $4,000 A black metal steamer trunk from the home is estimated to sell at a price between $1,000 and $2,000 A pair of Venetian glass mirrors (left) are estimated to sell at a price between $1,000 and $2,000. An Italian walnut Savonarola chair (right) is estimated to sell at a price between $1,000 and $2,000 'It was here that John recovered from back surgery, penned Profiles in Courage, wrote his inaugural address and enjoyed intimate family holidays,' she added. Many presidential meetings and appointments were held at the mansion when JFK was in office, thus garnering the name 'Winter White House'. 'Since many cabinet members and high ranking military personnel were regular guests at the Palm Beach home, both the United States Department of the Navy and United States Secret Service made alterations to the property for security measures,' Hindmand said. Leslie Hindman says the auction house conducted a similar sale in Palm Beach last year for the Lily Pulitzer estate. The sale drew a crown of about 300. 'People paid a premium because the items belonged to Lilly,' Hindman told the Sentinel. 'With the love for the Kennedy family, we're hoping there will be a lot of interest in this.' An Italian oak Cassone is estimated to sell at a price between $3,000 and $5,000. Robert Kennedy's son used the Cassone as his secret hiding place when he was told it was time to leave the home. The family didn't know about the secret hideaway until Max shared the story with a friend while attending Harvard A pair of Venetian-style walnut twin beds are estimated to sell at a price between $3,000 and $5,000 A Coromandel eight-panel floor screen estimated to sell at a price between $2,000 and $4,000. The screen was originally owned by Sir Winston Churchill's daughter, who hosted Rose and Joseph Kennedy at her English home. Rose traded her a fur coat in exchange for the screen A set of fourteen Spanish baroque-style walnut dining chairs are estimated to sell at a price between $3,000 and $5,000 At least six people have died after gunmen dressed in 'military clothing' attacked an Indian air force base close to the border with Pakistan, according to reports. Officials say the four gunmen stormed Pathankot airbase in Punjab in the early hours of Saturday morning in a hijacked car which reportedly belongs to a police superintendent. They were killed in a three-hour shoot-off with commandos and two guards also lost their lives, according to reports. It comes days after Indian and Pakistani leaders Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif met in Lahore to launch a surprise peace initiative. At least six people have died after gunmen dressed in 'military clothing' attacked Pathankot airbase in Punjab, India, pictured are security forces standing guard outside Officials say the four gunmen stormed Pathankot airbase in Punjab in the early hours of Saturday morning in a hijacked car which reportedly belongs to a police superintendent The base is on the main highway leading to Indian-administered Kashmir, some 50km from the border with Pakistan, and the whole of the Punjab state has now been placed on alert. The gunmen, believed to be from Pakistan, entered the air base at around 3.30am on Saturday. A team of 50 commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) led the fight against the militants, according to top security officials. NDTV reported that the official vehicle used by the gunmen was the car of the Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur that was 'hijacked' in Pathankot on Friday by men in army fatigues. The base is on the main highway leading to Indian-administered Kashmir, some 50km from the border with Pakistan The group reportedly assaulted the senior police officer and snatched his phone - later using the mobile to call their handlers in Pakistan. The attack comes one week after Indian PM Mr Modi made an impromptu visit to Pakistani counterpart Mr Sharif, in a bid to revive talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks. 'The moment that Modi touched down in Lahore (and probably even before), something like this was doomed to happen,' said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. 'At this point, there's sufficient goodwill in India-Pakistan relations to weather this attack. Saboteurs won't win this one,' he said. A team of 50 commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) led the fight against the militants, according to top security officials Indian security forces set up a road barrier outside an Indian air force base in Pathankot, 430 kilometers north of New Delhi One unnamed security official told AFP news agency he believed the attackers were from extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is based in in Pakistan. The BBC reported that it is not yet clear who the attackers are but suspicion is already falling on Kashmiri militant groups based in Pakistan. Border police chief Vijay Singh said the airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers. The raid resembled an assault last July by gunmen on a police post in a Punjabi border town that killed nine people. But Saturday's pre-dawn attack appeared to have been much more audacious by targeting a large military facility. One Indian home ministry official said Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defence bases had been sealed. Advertisement It is no secret that Sydney is Australia's most expensive city for real estate - and it's not just harbour-front mansions that are commanding top dollar, with the median price for a house hitting $1 million earlier this year. This may be bad news for first homebuyers struggling to get a foot in the first rung of the property ladder, but for those who already own, chances are they'll be turning a tidy profit should they decide to sell. We take a look at the top five suburbs - with Sydney leading the way - in the Australian capital cities where everyone who sold in the last quarter made a profit, according to figures cited by News Corp. Everyone who sold their property in Seaforth in the last quarter made a profit. Seaforth is located just 12km from Sydney's CBD and is mere minutes drive away from popular Manly beach The northern suburb of Seaforth is Australia's most profitable suburb, recording a $1,347,167 average gain for those who sold their houses Top five most profitable suburbs in New South Wales: Seaforth, Balgowlah Heights, Epping, Lindfield and North Ryde. The average profit gain in Seaforth is a whopping $1,347,167, more than enough to fund a downsized property in Brisbane or up the NSW coast, with change to spare. Seaforth is located just 12km from Sydney's city centre and is mere minutes drive away from popular Manly beach. It tops the list of 10 suburbs in NSW where the average gain exceeds $1 million. Balgowlah Heights follows Seaforth in second place, with an average gain of $1,189,050, and Epping ($1,183,860), Lindfield ($1,146,758) and North Ryde ($1,144,036) taking third, fourth and fifth places respectively. 'You would have to have purchased pretty poorly to be reselling at a loss in Sydney at the moment,' CoreLogic RP Data analyst Cameron Kusher said. 'You would have to have purchased pretty poorly to be reselling at a loss in Sydney at the moment, CoreLogic RP Data analyst Cameron Kusher said Balgowlah Heights follows Seaforth in second place in NSW, with an average gain of $1,189,050, and Epping, Lindfield and North Ryde takes third, fourth and fifth places respectively Top five most profitable suburbs in Victoria: Canterbury, Balwyn North, Ashburton, Kew East and Albert Park. In Victoria, the exclusive eastern suburb of Canterbury, 10km east of Melbourne's CBD, takes the premier position, with an average gain of $1,305,806. Canterbury is regarded as one of Melbourne's most elite suburbs, especially the 'Golden Mile' which references the stretch of Mont Albert Rd from Burke Rd to Balwyn Rd. These streets are lined with century-old oak trees and imposing mansions owned by politicians and prominent leaders of industry. Past and present residents of Canterbury include the family of Australian entertainers and sisters Kylie and Dannii Minogue, former federal Liberal Party leader Andrew Peacock, the late premier of Victoria Sir Rupert Hamer and Tom Schieffer, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia. The honour of second most profitable suburb in Victoria goes to Balwyn North ($1,250,285), with Ashburton ($939,353) taking the third spot, while Kew East ($914,521) and Albert Park ($837,563) come in fourth and fifth place. Exclusive Canterbury, 10km east of Melbournes CBD, takes the premier position in the state of Victoria, with an average gain of $1,305,806 Canterbury is regarded as one of Melbournes most elite suburbs, and past and present residents include the family of Australian entertainers and sisters Kylie and Dannii Minogue Other people who live in or have lived in Canterbury are former federal Liberal Party leader Andrew Peacock, the late premier of Victoria Sir Rupert Hamer and Tom Schieffer, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia The second most profitable suburb in Victoria is Balwyn North with a $1,250,285 gain. Ashburton takes the third spot, Kew East fourth and Albert Park fifth Top five most profitable suburbs in Queensland: Camp Hill, Wooloowin, Wilston, Chelmer and Chapel Hill. The predominantly residential suburb of Camp Hill, situated 6km south-east of the Brisbane CBD, topped Queensland's list most profitable suburbs, beating upmarket areas such as Bulimba, Balmoral and Paddington. If you have a house in Camp Hill, you can expect to turn an average profit of $456,109. Following close at its heels is the inner north suburb of Wooloowin ($413,940). Other profitable suburbs are Wilston ($376,906) in third place, Chelmer ($370,799) in fourth and Chapel Hill ($343,798) rounding off the top five. 'Just because obviously the market is seeing some growth, almost everything in that list is within the Brisbane council area,' Mr Kusher said. 'It does show that closer to the city is performing much stronger than areas further afield.' Camp Hill beat upmarket Brisbane suburbs such as Bulimba, Balmoral and Paddington for the honour of being Queensland's most profitable suburb If you have house in Camp Hill, a predominantly residential suburb situated 6km south-east of the Brisbane CBD, you can expect to turn an average profit of $456,109 Other suburbs that performed well in Queensland are Wooloowin in second spot, Wilston in third place, Chelmer in fourth and Chapel Hill rounding off the top five 'Just because obviously the market is seeing some growth, almost everything in that list is within the Brisbane council area, Mr Kusher said Top five most profitable suburbs in Western Australia: Kensington, Shelley, Booragoon, Melville and Carine. Despite the cooling of Perth's real estate market, Mr Kusher said the slowdown had yet to be reflected in the prices of property in some areas. 'The market is certainly turning down, but keep in mind that a lot of these people have probably held those properties for a long period of time as well,' he said. 'A lot of those suburbs are pretty kind of well-to-do areas of the city as well.' Kensington, which neighbours the yuppie South Perth, is Western Australia's most profitable suburb with an average gain of $530,530, beating the more established monied western suburbs of Dalkeith, Claremont and Nedlands. Shelley comes second at ($419,227) while popular suburb Booragoon also did well in terms of profit gain, with an average of $415,429. Neighbouring Melville ($411,119) and Carine ($396,688) took fourth and fifth places. Kensington, which neighbours the yuppie South Perth, is Western Australias most profitable suburb with an average gain of $530,530 Kensington, in Perth, Western Australia, was more profitable than the more established affluent western suburbs of Dalkeith, Claremont and Nedlands in the last quarter Shelley comes second at $419,227, while popular suburb Booragoon also did well in terms of profit gain in Western Australia, with an average of $415,429. Neighbouring Melville and Carine took fourth and fifth places 'The market is certainly turning down, but keep in mind that a lot of these people have probably held those properties for a long period of time as well,' Mr Kusher said Top five most profitable suburbs in South Australia: St Peters, Henley Beach, North Adelaide, Hyde Park and Hectorville. St Peters is an inner north suburb in Adelaide that was first settled in 1838. Today it is South Australia's most profitable suburb and a house here will net an average $395,542 profit. It is followed by Henley Beach ($298,221), North Adelaide ($291,710), Hyde Park ($252,133) and Hectorville ($234,200) - all located near the CBD. 'They are all quite close generally to the city centre. Mr Kusher said. 'A lot of them to the east and to the west are fairly tightly-held markets and the areas of the city that over recent years have been the stronger performers, so I think that is why you are seeing those kind of results.' St Peters is an inner north suburb in Adelaide that was first settled in 1838. Today it is South Australias most profitable suburb The average profit gain in St Peters in the last quarter was $395,542, significantly lower than New South Wales' top average of $1,347,167 Other profitable suburbs in South Australia are Henley Beach ($298,221), North Adelaide ($291,710), Hyde Park ($252,133) and Hectorville ($234,200) South Australia's most profitable suburbs are tightly-held areas located near the CBD, Living within 10-15km of the city is a preferred lifestyle choice of many Australians Top five most profitable suburbs in Tasmania: Taroona, Battery Point, West Hobart, Margate and New Town. Taroona, a major residential suburb that lies on the edges of the City of Hobart, is the most profitable suburb in Tasmania, with an average profit of $226,936. Mr Kusher said the market in the southern state has been weak and capital growth has been limited in the last decade. 'I think it reflects what we have seen there, that there has been very little capital growth in Hobart for the best part of ten years,' he said. 'It is still quite weak in a lot of areas across the city.' Other strong performers are Battery Point ($196,475), West Hobart ($168,781), Margate ($131,192) and New Town ($125,375). Taroona, a major residential suburb that lies on the edges of the City of Hobart, is the most profitable suburb in Tasmania The average gain in Taroona is $226,936. One hundred per cent of all properties sold in Taroona in the last quarter recorded a profit Other strong performers in Tasmania are Battery Point in second place ($196,475), West Hobart third ($168,781), Margate fourth ($131,192) and New Town fifth ($125,375) Tasmania is an island off the southern state of Victoria. Its capital city is Hobart which is home to just over 200,000 people Top five most profitable suburbs in the Northern Territory: Bakewell, Bellamack, Stuart Park, Coconut Grove and Gunn. The Northern Territory does not have any suburbs that recorded 100 per cent profit for all sales in the last quarter, which Mr Kusher said is an indicator of the direction the market is heading in. 'That is reflective of the market. It has been falling for about 18 months now and we have seen population growth slow,' he said. 'You are probably seeing a lot of people who went to Darwin to work and are now heading back to where they came from and that is clearly impacting on the market.' Bakewell was the highest performer, recording 91 per cent profit sales, significantly higher than Gunn which only had 75 per cent profit sales. The Northern Territory, which borders Western Australia and South Australia, does not have any suburbs that recorded 100 per cent profit for all sales in the last quarter Bakewell was the highest performer in the Northern Territory, recording 91 per cent profit sales, significantly higher than Gunn which came in fifth and had 75 per cent profit sales The end of the resources sector boom is said to have contributed to the weak property market in Darwin, in the Northern Territory The young, female consular staffer at the centre of Jamie Briggs' resignation reportedly did not want to lodge a formal complaint after an alleged incident in Hong Kong where she says the ex-minister behaved inappropriately. According to The Australian the woman messaged Briggs' chief of staff Stuart Eaton three days after the night they spent together at 'Stormies' a bar in the city, saying 'When you get a spare second could you please call me It's just about Friday night.' He phoned her immediately and heard her allegations against the minister, asking Mr Eaton to speak with him so that the behaviour wouldn't be repeated. Instead an investigation was launched, ending in Briggs' resignation as minister for cities. The 26-year-old-woman alleges the minister tried to kiss her neck after he put his arm around her. Mr Briggs denied the 'kiss allegation', admitting only to giving the woman a 'peck on the cheek' as she was leaving (Pictured with Victor from the Hong Kong MTR travelling in Hong Kong during November's trip) Happier times: Jamie Briggs (left) pictured with Malcolm Turnbull in February in parliament. The PM has now called the matter 'a serious incident' and was part of a group who deliberated on Briggs' future The now former Minister for Cities and the Built Environment announced his resignation from the front bench on December 29 following 'certain matters' which occurred with an unnamed female public servant, leading to a flurry of speculation over what exactly transpired that night. Jamie Briggs official letter of resignation of December 29 to the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull The incident reportedly took place last month at a bar in Lan Kwai Fong during an official tour of Hong Kong, with Channel Nine political editor Laurie Oaks alleging Mr Briggs put his arm around the woman - who is reportedly attached to the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong - told her she had 'piercing eyes' and tried to kiss her on the neck. Mr Oaks said that Mr Briggs denied the 'kiss allegation', reportedly admitting only to giving the woman a 'peck on the cheek' as she was leaving. The young woman reportedly made a number of complaints about Mr Briggs' 'inappropriate conduct' sparking a serious formal investigation by an independent official, overseen by ministers including the Prime Minister and Attorney-General. PM Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the incident 'a serious matter' and explained 'ministerial standards were breached' by Mr Briggs - a South Australian politician who painted himself as 'a family man.' 'It was considered very carefully with due process, consultation with senior colleagues, it was considered very, very carefully,' Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday. 'Ministerial standards were breached. His conduct did not live up to the standard required of ministers and as a consequence, he reflected on that and made a decision to offer his resignation which I accepted and it was the appropriate course of action.' Mr Briggs' wife posted a picture of their family on social media in a show of support after his resignation Jamie Briggs said in his resignation letter that 'at no point was it my intention to act inappropriately' The public servant involved reportedly made a number of complaints to Mr Eaton before escalating the matter. Her complaint was taken to DFAT secretary Peter Varghese who notified Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was in France at the time, who took the matter to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The cabinet governance committee - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, Julie Bishop and Attorney-General George Brandis - and a number of other ministers reportedly unanimously decided 'Mr Briggs' must go,' The Australian claims. It comes as a woman who worked for minister Jamie Briggs said females in his office were treated as 'either beauty queens or ironing ladies', as it is revealed the 'overly-affectionate' politician stood down after trying to kiss a public servant on the neck. Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie, who is primed to run for Brigg's seat in Mayo, said she left the South Australian minister's office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values'. 'There were things said that were misogynist in nature,' she told The Australian. 'His was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government: that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies,' she added. Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie, left, said she left Jamie Briggs' office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values' Jamie Briggs, left, smiles alongside Alexander Downer, right, in London following a stopover in Hong Kong Ms Sharkie told Daily Mail Australia that it is 'very important' for women feel comfortable calling out inappropriate behaviour in the office, but would not comment any further on her time working for the embattled minister. A senior government source familiar with the woman's complaint told the Sydney Morning Herald that Briggs had been drunk and became 'overly-affectionate'. The 38-year-old, who has served in federal parliament in the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo since 2008, made the announcement in Adelaide on Tuesday, after he met with Prime Minister Turnbull and handed over his resignation letter. 'At no point was it my intention to act inappropriately and I'm obliged to note for the record that nothing illegal has been alleged or did in fact occur,' Mr Briggs stated on Tuesday. 'His was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government: that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies,' Ms Sharkie (centre) said A female public servant alleges Briggs attempted to kiss her on the neck during a trip through Hong Kong before meeting British Minister's to discuss the future of public transport Briggs did not elaborate on the specifics of what had happened at the bar, saying only 'in the days following the evening the public servant raised a concern about the appropriateness of my behaviour towards her at the venue.' 'This was an error of professional judgement, I apologise again to the public servant involved.' His wife, former Liberal staffer Estee Fiebiger-Briggs, has not publicly commented on the Hong Kong scandal, however she has reportedly posted a family picture on social media in a show of support. A friend told the Adelaide Advertiser that Ms Fiebiger-Briggs is not concerned about the allegations against her husband and believes they are a 'complete exaggeration and over-reaction'. Jamie Briggs pictured standing behind former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said he was injured during the outgoing PM's farewell party when he tried to tackle him and had nothing to do with a broken table This comes as two politicians come under fire for defending the 'decent' and 'hard working' minister's inappropriate actions. West Australian Liberal senator Mathias Cormann said he was very sad to hear that his 'good friend' had been stood down. 'Very sad for my good friend Jamie. I know him as a decent, hard working and capable contributor to our cause. He has much to contribute,' he tweeted on Tuesday. While Liberal National Party MP Ewen Jones appeared confident that Briggs would make a return to politics. '@BriggsJamie will be back. Cream always rises. A good man and a better bloke. Tough day for a man doing a good job.' Two politicians have come under fire for defending the 'decent' and 'hard working' minister's inappropriate actions West Australian Liberal senator Mathias Cormann said he was very sad to hear that his 'good friend' had been stood down Mr Jones was slammed for displaying 'blind loyalty over any sense of decency' Mr Jones, right, pictured alongside Mr Briggs, left Many Twitter users questioned why he would defend a man responsible for 'sexually harassing' a colleague Jones was slammed for displaying 'blind loyalty over any sense of decency', with many questioning why he would defend a man responsible for 'sexually harassing' a colleague. Briggs made headlines in September after he rolled into Parliament House in a wheelchair following Tony Abbott's raucous farewell party. Mr Briggs initially claimed he hurt his knee after a jogging incident but changed his tune two months later, admitting the former Prime Minister was involved in the 'hi-jinks'. While many believed the embarrassing injury was linked to the 'marble table incident', Mr Briggs admitted that he hurt his knee after he attempted to tackle the former Mr Abbott that night. Jamie Briggs arrives in a wheelchair outside the Federal Liberal Party Room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on September 15 after being hurt while tackling former PM Tony Abbott the night before JAMIE BRIGGS' 2015 - FROM TACKLING TONY ABBOTT TO A HONG KONG BAR September 14 Jamie Briggs backs Tony Abbott in the leadership ballot as he is defeated by Malcolm Turnbull Mr Abbott hosts a farewell party inside the Prime Ministerial suite An Italian marble coffee table worth $590 is smashed during the drinking session It was alleged Mr Briggs had been dancing on it singing 'Suspicious Minds' when it broke He has always denied dancing on top of the table Jamie Briggs pictured in a wheelchair after the Tony Abbott party September 15 Mr Briggs arrives the next morning in a wheelchair claiming he hurt his leg while running November 13 Mr Briggs admits on radio that he in fact hurt himself at the party on the night Tony Abbott was defeated Said he tried to tackle the former PM and injured his knee Again denied claims he was involved in the broken marble table Late November Becomes involved in an incident at a crowded bar in Hong Kong during drinks which leads to concerns raised by a female public servant December 29 Resigns as a Minister in the Turnbull Government Advertisement 'I went to tackle him. I ran at him and missed and the rest is history,' he said on 2GB radio. 'Everyone knows Tony Abbott is a very fit man, he is a very strong man and I am not at the peak of my powers as far as fitness and strength is concerned and I lost.' Mr Briggs said he then promptly limped back to his office to 'lick his wounds', claiming that he left the party before a costly marble table was shattered. The 38-year-old politician was being grilled over his involvement in damaging the expensive table, which was found in ruins the day after the party, when he made the candid confession. There had been much speculation the Italian table shattered under the weight of Mr Briggs, who was rumoured to be dancing on top of it to the Elvis Presley tune 'Suspicious Minds'. 'I would love to play with the story but I'd left by that point. I'd injured my knee in hi-jinks with the former prime minister,' Mr Briggs said. Earlier, the injured politician said that reports of table dancing were 'just wrong' and that he didn't have a clue how it had broken because by then he had 'limped' back to his office. Malcolm Turnbull said he has been disappointed by the former minister's conduct Statements by the PM Malcolm Turnbull on the double blow to his Cabinet on Tuesday, December 29 In a double blow for the Cabinet, Special Minister of State, Mal Brough, will stand down from the front-bench pending police inquiries into the leaking of former Speaker Peter Slipper's diary. Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek has labelled it 'the Turnbull Government's taking out the trash day'. She said the decision to dump the two ministers meant the government 'is planning an early election'. 'The government has decided to use this quiet time between Christmas and new year to get all the bad news out in one go.' Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann and Defence Minister Marise Payne will take over Mr Brough's two portfolios. 'Taking out the trash day': Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek claims Malcolm Turnbull is preparing for an early election by dumping two ministers British soldiers could face murder charges for their actions on the battlefield during the Iraq war. Investigators from the Iraq Historic Allegation Team (Ihat) set up by the Ministry of Defence disclosed last night that UK soldiers who have served in Iraq may face prosecution for crimes including murder. It is likely to raise fears among hundreds of soldiers that they could be arrested and charged simply for doing their duty. Risk: British soldiers could face murder charges over their actions while serving in Iraq Mark Warwick the head of Ihat, which was established in 2010 to investigate alleged criminal activity by UK forces said the unit had been overwhelmed with cases. While it has been investigating hundreds of allegations, this is the first time it is thought there is evidence for successful prosecution. Mr Warwick told The Independent: There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of Ihat investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority [SPA] to prosecute and charge. The number of victims of alleged ill-treatment in Iraq between 2003 and 2009 has risen tenfold since the unit was set up. In 2010, it was dealing with cases involving 152 victims. The figure is now 1,500 victims, according to Ihats latest quarterly update. Of these, 280 are victims of alleged unlawful killing by UK forces in Iraq, and there are 1,235 alleged cases of ill-treatment, including accusations of rape and torture. Allegations: The number of claims made against British troops has soared in recent years Asked whether some cases could constitute war crimes, Mr Warwick said: There are lots of significant cases that we are investigating and at the appropriate time it will be a matter for us to discuss with the SPA whether they meet the war-crimes threshold, but there are certainly serious allegations currently being investigated. His comments will raise fears among soldiers who shot dead suspected insurgents. Many were cleared of wrongdoing by military investigations at the time of the incidents. A total of 57.2million has been set aside for Ihats investigation, which is due to end in 2019. But a flood of new cases submitted by Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) has raised concerns the probe could carry on for years. In December the Daily Mail revealed how PIL had used an agent in Basra who allegedly cold-called a grieving widow of a dead Iraqi and persuaded her to mount a legal claim against the British Government. Her testimony was the closest proof yet that UK law firms are touting for business. The BBC has wasted thousands of pounds by ordering taxis, train tickets and hotel rooms that were never used. It spent taxpayers cash to book 2,098 taxis, 421 train tickets and 257 hotel rooms that went unused in 2014. The broadcaster is funded by the public via the licence fee, which costs 145.50 a year. The annual bill for cancelling travel arrangements for BBC staff is thought to run into the tens of thousands. Waste: The BBC spends thousands of pounds on booking taxis for staff which never get used The revelations come after it emerged that the BBCs former creative director Alan Yentob claimed 84,930.39 in expenses over just three years the equivalent of more than 580 licence fees. The latest figures were uncovered by a Freedom of Information request, but the Act, which has exposed numerous examples of wasteful public sector spending, is currently under threat from a government review amid claims that it is too costly to administer. Controversial: Alan Yentob racked up an expenses bill of 85,000 over a period of three years The travel data, uncovered by The Sun, also revealed that 169 plane tickets were booked and never used although the BBC said it received refunds for these. TaxPayers Alliance chief executive Jonathan Isaby said: Licence fee payers will be shocked at the vast number of cancelled bookings theyve had to fork out for. People expect their money to go towards making quality programmes, not wasted on empty hotel rooms. 'BBC staff need to remember that the licence fee places a significant burden on families and they should plan trips better in order to cut out such waste. A BBC spokesman said making travel bookings in advance often ensures best value for money, but as a major broadcaster and news organisation there are inevitably a few occasions where plans change. They claimed the BBCs average cost per hotel booking had been cut by over 20 per cent in the last five years, adding: BBC journalists and programme-makers need to stay somewhere when they report on major events. Figures published by the Corporation on its own website reveal that its 100 highest-paid executives spent nearly 100,000 on taxis in the last financial year. Mr Yentob was among a select band of executives who claimed more than 4,000 alone. A spear diver saved his own life in a desperate underwater battle by continuously punching a large shark which attacked him today off the Queensland coast. The 31-year-old man received severe injuries to his hands and arms as he attempted to fight the shark off, before it finally swam away. The man, who has yet to be identified, managed to make it to the surface and, despite his horrifying injuries, swim to a nearby boat for help. Scroll down for video A 31-year-old spear diver saved his own life in a desperate underwater battle by continuously punching a large shark which attacked him today off the Queensland coast The shark came at him head on, said ambulance officer Brad Miers after the man had been taken to shore and then driven to Rockhampton Base Hospital where he underwent immediate treatment for his injuries. Although he has not been able to talk in detail, he has told ambulance officers that he was in a school of mackerel as he scuba-dived off the coast of Yeppoon. With the mackerel all around him, the shark, chasing the fish, suddenly loomed up and went for the diver. Hes in a serious but stable condition, but he has received quite severe injuries to his upper limbs, Mr Miers told the ABC. The man, who has yet to be identified, managed to make it to the surface and, despite his horrifying injuries, swim to a nearby boat for help The 31-year-old received severe injuries to his hands and arms as he attempted to fight the shark off, before it finally swam away. He was treated at the scene before being choppered to hospital He has got multiple wounds to his upper limbs. It seems like he has tried to fight the shark off for a considerable amount of time. The species of shark is not known. The man went into the waters off Miall Island in Yeppoon just before midday on Saturday armed with a speargun when he was attacked, suffering severe lacerations to his arm and legs. He was rescued by friends after coming to the surface who helped the man aboard the Coast Guard's boat, which happened to be in the area. The coast guard boat was out on a training run, so it was able to quickly reach the boat where the injured man was, said Mr Paul Florian, the Yeppoon Coast Guard deputy flotilla commander. A 31-year-old spear fisherman has been rushed to hospital after being attacked by a shark off the coast of central Queensland The man went into the waters off Miall Island in Yeppoon just before midday on Saturday armed with a speargun when he was attacked (stock image) Mr Florian said the man was transferred to the Coast Guard boat, which then took him to the jetty at Rosslyn Bay Harbour. Paramedics, alerted to the emergency, were waiting to give the injured man initial treatment before he was transferred by helicopter to Rockhampton Base Hospital. We believe there was a person swimming in water off an island there and hes received lacerations to his arms and legs from some form of shark bite, an ambulance service spokesman said. Weve dispatched a rescue helicopter from Rockhampton and also a ground crew, which has gone to the scene. It is understood his injuries are serious, but it is not known whether they are life-threatening. A spokesperson for Surf Lifesaving Queensland told Daily Mail Australia the man was spearfishing at the time of the attack. Miall Island is part of the Keppel Bay Islands National Park and is a popular destination for tourists at this time of the year, the height of the holiday season. He was rescued by friends after coming to the surface who helped the man aboard the Coast Guard's boat, which happened to be in the area before paramedics arrived Paramedics, alerted to the emergency, were waiting to give the injured man initial treatment before he was transferred by helicopter to Rockhampton Base Hospital Twenty eight years ago in the same area, off North Keppel Island near Yeppoon, a father and son died in a shark attack when their fishing boat started taking in water and they were forced to take to their dinghy. In the 1988 incident, 62-year-old Mr Cedric Coucom and his sons James, 33, and Bruce, 17, took in turns to sit in the water-logged dinghy while one of them slipped into the water to cling onto the dinghy's side to help keep it afloat. But after 24 hours in the water Cedric shouted 'Shark! It's got me.' The brothers pulled him into the dinghy, but he died from his injuries. Bruce, who had then gone into the water to cling to the dinghy, was also attacked and killed by a shark. The man went into the waters off Miall Island in Yeppoon just before midday on Saturday armed with a speargun when he was attacked If you've ever wondered what Hugh Hefner and Taylor Swift would look like as a couple, wonder no more. A Reddit user going by the name Christmaspencil uploaded an old sepia-tinted photo of her grandparents and captioned it 'When your grandma looks like Taylor Swift and your grandpa looks like Hugh Hefner's brother.' The picture, taken sometime in the 1970s if the man's wide-collared shirt is any indication, has received almost two million views in two days, and over 600 comments. Scroll down for video Shake it off: A Reddit user going by the name Christmaspencil uploaded this photo of grandparents who bear a resemblance to Hugh Hefner and Taylor Swift Playboy founder Hugh Hefner (left in 1984) and superstar Taylor Swift (right) could be dopplegangers for a married couple in the 1970s Some viewers agreed the '70s couple looked just like the superstars. 'She does look like her so much!' said one. 'Nah, that is Hugh - your grandma posed with him,' said another. But others weren't quite as impressed. 'I see Taylor Swift with a hint of Freddie Mercury,' commented one viewer. 'Like a backwater cross of Taylor Swift and Charlize Theron,' snarked another. 'And Hugh with a hint of Johnny Cash, ' observed someone else. While the photo of Christmaspencil's grandparents went viral, many users had something snarky to say about the '70s couple's supposed resemblance to Hefner and Swift Another commenter noted that, at the time the photo was likely taken, grandma would have been compared to a different celebrity of the era: 'From the shirt collar, I'm guessing this is in the 1970s, in which case we would have said she looked a bit like Vicki Lawrence.' Many Redditors snarked 'No, it's Becky' - a popular in-joke referencing a Tumblr post featuring a high school picture of Taylor Swift, which one commenter kept insisting was her friend Becky. The mistaken identity meme became so popular that even Swift took notice of it, donning a yellow short-sleeved 'No, it's Becky' shirt last year while in New York City. In early December, Swift met up with a more modern day doppelganger: a New South Wales Target retail assistant named Olivia Sturgiss. A man has been arrested after police say he faked a story about shooting an intruder - but had really shot his friend, killing him. Nathaniel Thomas, 19, reportedly had people over at his apartment in Chandler, Arizona on New Year's Eve morning, including a friend named Gage Bodenheimer. Cops say that Thomas wanted to pull a practical joke on his sleeping pal by waking him up with the sound of an empty gun clicking near his face - but the gun contained a bullet, and Bodenheimer was accidentally shot in the head and killed, according to AZ Central. Prank gone wrong? Nathaniel Thomas, 19, has been charged in the death of a man who police say was sleeping at his house - and then lied about it, saying the man was an intruder Thomas then allegedly called 911 around 8am Thursday morning and fabricated a story about shooting an intruder. Authorities say that Thomas told them he was in his apartment in a complex in the 400 block of North Coronado Street when a man he didn't know walked through the second-floor patio's sliding door. However, after examining forensic evidence and interviewing other people in the apartment at the time, police determined that the story was fake - and that Bodenheimer had actually been in the apartment all along and was the victim of a prank gone wrong. Thomas reportedly told cops the man looked angry and reached under his sweatshirt. That's when Thomas said he pulled his gun and shot in self-defense. The victim, Gage Bodenheimer, was sleeping at Thomas' apartment, say police, when Thomas allegedly pulled the trigger of a gun on him, thinking the chamber was empty Cops say that even after he was confronted with evidence, Thomas stuck to his original story, until he changed it to say the gun went off when Bodenheimer reached for it. Police say that Thomas had an extensive history with guns and took his first firearm safety class when he was five-years-old. Millionaire businessman Ron Sturgeon has offered two mansions to families whose homes were destroyed by tornadoes in Texas for just $1 a month A millionaire businessman has offered to give two of his mansions to families whose homes were destroyed by recent tornadoes in Texas for just $1 a month. Ron Sturgeon, who is worth an estimated $75million, urged families whose lives were torn apart by the recent tornadoes and storms to contact him so he could help them out in their hour of need. The two houses - collectively worth $3.5million - are empty and up for sale, and one has a 10-car garage and a swimming pool. The generous Texan, 61, wrote on his Facebook page: 'Does anyone have friends or relatives that lost their home in Garland or other city that needs housing? 'I have a 10,000sf home in Colleyville (empty for sale) that I will loan to someone to stay in for up to 3 months. And an extra car they can use. No charge. 'The home is big enough for 2 families. The home is pet friendly with a 10 car garage to store belongings in.' Around 10,000 people have shared the post and scores of people are have commented, suggesting friends who lost their possessions in the storms. Mr Sturgeon, who was in Jamaica on vacation when tornadoes struck north Texas last week but saw the devastation when he returned, later offered a second home and said two families could also stay there. The millionaire, who made his money scrapping cars and still owns commercial and industrial properties, told the Dallas Morning News that he felt he had no choice but to offer what help he could. 'I was just thinking how lucky I was to have two big houses sitting vacant,' he said. 'Maybe somebody could use those while they were having their houses rebuilt.' He added to NewsFix: 'I was just thinking about having those two big homes. Weve got them listed for sale, and it doesnt make sense for them to be vacant when somebody could be using them that obviously would have a great need.' Scroll down for video The two houses - collectively worth $3.5million - are empty and up for sale, and one has a 10-car garage and a swimming pool Generous Texan: Mr Sturgeon offered a second home and said two families could also stay there Luxury: One of the houses comes with a swimming pool and a garden with an acre of land Mr Sturgeon offered the free use of a car to families who need his help while their homes are rebuilt One of the bedrooms comes with four bedrooms and the other comes with five, making plenty of room for at least four families Mr Sturgeons is taking applications for the homes (pictured) on a first-come first-served basis and is taking submissions from anyone who lost their home in the tornadoes One of the homes is valued at $1.9million and comes with four bedrooms, an acre of land, a large garage and a swimming pool. The other five-bed property, valued at $1.6million, is in another affluent area of the town. Mr Sturgeon is also offering the use of the car and is happy to help temporarily house pets. He is taking applications on a first-come first-served basis and is taking submissions from anyone who lost their home in the tornadoes, can pass a background check and has a decent credit score. All Mr Sturgeon will ask for is $1 a month. Dozens of homes were flattened by last week's tornado, as well as half of an elementary school. The millionaire is known for his eccentric acts and made headlines in 2014 for hiring a social media expert to post Facebook, Twitter and blog updates about his dogs. Mr Sturgeon paid an employee $45 an hour to make online posts about his King Charles Cavaliers Willy, Dixie and Lance. Dozens of homes were flattened by last week's tornado, as well as half of an elementary school Destruction: Families were made homeless by the tornadoes that ravaged north Texas in December Ron Sturgeon is worth an estimated $75million and made his money in the car scrapping business HOW TO CONTACT MR STURGEON Mr Sturgeon encouraged families to contact his assistant, Jennifer, at jenniferk@rdsinvestments, or 817-999-0980. All applicants must have a credit score of at least 700, must pass a background check and must also prove their home was destroyed. Advertisement The millionaire made his money in the auto salvage trade, starting up a company after leaving high school in 1978. He was left homeless when his dad died but now has a fortune of around $75million. Mr Sturgeon sold his chain of car yards to Ford in 1999 for upwards of $20million before buying it back from the car company for a profit years later. He later sold the business again for $23.5million. In between those deals, he worked for Ford and started a successful auto auction for insurers, which won him even more millions. He also collects toy and adult-sized cars. He displays many of his 3,000 toys at one of his Texas offices. Detention Center The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility Thursday was 79, with 40 from Platte County and 39 from out of county. Police Department Dec. 11 Unknown time In the 2500 block of 12th Street, an unknown vehicle struck a parked vehicle owned by Raymond Johnson, 4919 Tallgrass, and left the scene. Dec. 17 Unknown time In the 2600 block of 31st Street, an unknown vehicle struck a parked vehicle owned by Garold Brandt, Nebraska, and left the scene. 9 a.m. At 3317 25th St., No. 50, Steven Randall, 61, 3317 25th St., No. 50, was cited for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person and possession of short shotgun. Dec. 20 6:54 p.m. At the intersection of 26th Avenue and 23rd Street, an unknown driver of a vehicle owned by Gilberto Frutas, 4029 E. 26th St., struck a vehicle driven by David Hild, 36, Schuyler, and left the scene. Dec. 21 4:15 p.m. At the intersection of 38th Street and Wilderness Drive, a vehicle driven by Lyle Ernst, 87, 1840 28th ST., lost control and struck a fence owned by Columbus Municipal Airport, 1308 Bill Babka Drive. Dec. 22 12:43 p.m. In a parking lot at 3111 19th St., two pedestrians were backing up to get out of the way of a vehicle driven by Robert Lindhorst, 88, 3804 Lakeview Lane, and fell to the ground. Irene Gobler, 91, 3000 39th Ave., No. 501, and Donald Rice, 82, 3600 30th St., No. 168, were taken to Columbus Community Hospital by Columbus Rescue. Dec. 23 Unknown time On East Calle Colombo, an unknown vehicle struck a city fire hydrant and left the scene. Dec. 24 Unknown time In the Menards parking lot, an unknown vehicle struck a parked vehicle owned by Dylan Petermann, 2971 25th Ave., and left the scene. 7:50 a.m. At the intersection of 34th Street and Third Avenue, a vehicle driven by Treavor Watson, 22, Genoa, swerved to avoid another vehicle and struck a city sign pole. 8:13 a.m. In the 2600 block of 23rd Avenue, a vehicle driven by Deborah Wilsey, 53, 1951 22nd Ave., lost control and struck a curb and city light pole. 8:50 a.m. At the intersection of Eighth Street and Third Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Robby Purtlebaugh, 18, and Dillon Herout, 20, 2205 30th St. 8:56 a.m. At the intersection of 15th Street and 38th Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Susan Santiago, 53, 3921 14th St., and Jerry Wacha, 54, 417 Seventh St. 9:45 a.m. At the intersection of 15th Street and 33rd Avenue, a vehicle driven by Janet Shannon, 54, 3157 25th Ave., lost control and struck a curb. 9:50 a.m. In a parking lot in the 4500 block of 19th Street, a vehicle driven by Kristophor Gernstein, 32, 1616 12th St., lost control and struck a pickup owned by Jon Paul, 862 Second Ave. 11 a.m. In a parking lot at Super Saver, 3318 23rd St., traffic accident. Drivers Patrick Moats, 57, 3474 53rd Ave., No. 6, and Jose Graulau, 21, 2508 Seventh St. 12:06 p.m. In a parking lot at 2661 33rd Ave., a vehicle driven by Beverly Lange, 49, 2310 28th St., lost control and struck a fence owned by Pinnacle Bank. 6:21 p.m. At the intersection of Sunrise Place and 45th Avenue, a vehicle driven by Casey Kelley, 32, 4402 Sunrise Place, No. 1, lost control and struck a parked vehicle owned by James and Rosa Hardesty, 2483 Air Vista Drive. Dec. 26 1 a.m. In the 1300 block of 33rd Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Jorge Lara, 16, Schuyler, and William McLaughlin, 65, Rising City. 5:50 a.m. In the 4700 block of 38th Street, a vehicle driven by Tanya McKeen, 39, 2809 21st St., lost control and struck a city flashing stop sign. 11:41 a.m. At the intersection of 33rd Avenue and 15th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Yolanda Navarrete, 55, 1821 27th St., and Sheila Birney, 41, Watertown, South Dakota. Navarrete was cited for a traffic control device violation, failure to yield right of way and no operators license. Dec. 28 Unknown time In the 2700 block of Air Vista Drive, an unknown vehicle struck parked vehicles owned by Timothy Swanson, 2766 Air Vista Drive, and Araceli Garces, 2765 Air Vista Drive. 11:55 a.m. At the intersection of Third Avenue and 23rd Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Carl Seckel, 57, 330 S. Fourth St., and Jamie Fischer, 41, 161 Lakeshore Drive. 1:18 p.m. At the intersection of Third Avenue and 23rd Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Christina Lieffring, 31, 2523 11th St., No 2, and Brian Beringer, 41, 1562 45th Ave. 1:36 p.m. At the intersection of East 23rd Street and East Sixth Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Tammy Verba, 54, 1771 28th Ave., and Brenda Aquino, 28, 2104 Sixth St. 5:25 p.m. At the intersection of 34th Avenue and 21st Street, traffic accident. Drivers were John Weber, 31, 4518 31st St., and Mary Sueper, 39, 2530 E. 38th St. 5:40 p.m. In the 3000 block of 41st Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were John Czapla, 59, 1272 35th Ave., and Kelsey Nelson, age unavailable, 3777 30th Ave. 5:56 p.m. In a parking lot at 2172 33rd Ave., traffic accident. Drivers were Christina Rozikov, 35, 3510 20th St., and Joseph Morton, 51, 3164 25th Ave. Dec. 30 7:30 p.m. Criminal mischief at 3214 20th St., under investigation. Sheriffs Department Dec. 15 5:09 p.m. At the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 and 242nd Ave., traffic accident. Drivers were Jack Graffis, 75, Cozad, and Abby Kelly, 34, 2118 Ninth St. Dec. 16 7:30 p.m. At the intersection of 370th Avenue, near 280th Street, a vehicle driven by Joe McGuinn, 54, Monroe, lost control and went into a ditch. Dec. 17 3:50 p.m. In the 2200 block of 10th Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Traci Hoppe, 35, 111 E. 44th Ave., and Glenda Starkey, 68, 125 S. Roselane. Dec. 18 8:33 a.m. At the intersection of 475th Street and 160th Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Blake Kuester, 26, Creston, and David Wurdeman, 60, Leigh. Dec. 19 12:23 p.m. At the intersection of Highway 91 and 475th Ave., traffic accident. Drivers were Rebecca Hulse, 33, Norfolk, and Joan Lehr, 45, 24051 190th St. Dec. 24 10:35 a.m. In the 5300 block of 18th Avenue, a vehicle driven by Michael Rosendahl, 49, 5006 175th Ave., lost control and left the roadway. Rosendahl was taken to Columbus Community Hospital by Columbus Rescue. 10 p.m. At the intersection of Central Highway and 325 Avenue, a vehicle driven by Lee Hueschen, 68, Platte Center, struck a deer. Dec. 27 5:04 p.m. Traffic violation at the intersection of Highway 81 and 295th Street, Sabreena Larson of Lincoln cited for speeding. Dec. 28 1:20 p.m. On 295th Avenue, 2.6 miles northwest of Humphrey, a vehicle driven by Nathan Classen, 21, Humphrey, swerved to avoid a vehicle stopped in the roadway, struck a mailbox owned by Russal Foltz, 49973 295th Ave. Dec. 29 3:13 a.m. Wanted person in Madison, Brandon Stewart of Columbus jailed on a Platte County warrant. Fire Department Dec. 29 10:08 a.m. In the 2800 block of 40th Avenue, medical. 11:07 a.m. In the 3600 block of 30th Street, medical. 1:33 p.m. In the 2700 block of Eighth Street, medical. 6:26 p.m. In the 1300 block of Eighth Street, medical. Dec. 30 7:35 a.m. Accident at the intersection of Highway 81 and Lost Creek Parkway. 10:25 a.m. Accident at the intersection of 325th Street and Monastery Road. A group of parade marchers in Philadelphia drew the ire of LGBT groups and the mayor with a comedy skit that mocked Caitlyn Jenner. The Mummers Parade, held each New Year's Day and said to be the oldest folk festival in the country, has tried in recent years to be more diverse, but a musical 'act' put on by a group called Finnegan New Year's Brigade Comic Club was criticized as hurtful and bigoted. The act featured a man dressed as Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner in front of the famous Wheaties box with Bruce on the front. Scroll down for video The man, from the Finnegan New Year's Brigade Comic Club, imitated Bruce Jenner at the parade Men in drag ('wenches' as they call themselves) waved posters of Bruce Jenner circa 1976 on a Wheaties box and Caitlyn Jenner 2016 on a Fruit Loops box The man changed from his Olympic outfit into this white outfit, reminiscent of the one Caitlyn Jenner wore on the cover of Vanity Fair The crowd carried a poster of Caitlyn Jenner posing on the cover of Vanity Fair The man throws an invisible discus and then is surrounded by children in dresses holding USA signs. They circle the man as he struts and dances to Diana Ross's 'I'm Coming Out.' Then the Bruce 'lookalike' sits in a wheelchair. He is spun off into the crowd by men in drag. Soon Aerosmith's 'Dude Looks Like a Lady' blasts out of the speakers, and the man reemerges, this time in a white corset and shorts, with a blowup of Caitlyn Jenner in a similar outfit behind him on the cover of Vanity Fair. People in the crowd wave signs with Bruce Jenner on a Wheaties box on one side, and on the other side, Caitlyn Jenner on a Fruit Loops box. Incoming mayor Jim Kenney did not seem to find the act amusing. 'It was bad,' he wrote on Twitter. 'Hurtful to many Philadelphians. Our Trans citizens do not deserve this type of satire/insult.' 'It's unacceptable. There's no place for it in Philadelphia,' Nellie Fitzpatrick, the city's Director of LGBT Affairs, told NBC Philadephia. Cailtyn's Vanity Fair cover was mocked at the Mummers Parade as a man danced around in an outfit similar to the one she wore Bruce Jenner's transition into Caitlyn Jenner was considered one of the biggest news stories of 2015; Caitlyn debuted on a Diane Sawyer special in April but didn't name herself until June Other groups caught some flack as well for insensitive acts, including Sammar Strutters' 'Siesta Fiesta' act, which had comics donning brown face and dressed in sombreros and ponchos. Some performers wore taco costumes. And then there were the Mummers carrying signs reading Mummers Lives Matter and Wenches Lives Matter -- a play on the Black Lives Matter movement protesting police brutality and inequality. The man - who officers initially believed was called Paul Lachlan - was discovered dead in his Manly apartment, in Sydney, in November 2014 The mystery surrounding a British man found dead in Australia has deepened further after police said he is not the man they thought he was. The man - who officers initially believed was called Paul Lachlan - was discovered dead in his Manly apartment, in Sydney, in November 2014. His body was found with a medicare card and gym membership in the name of Lachlan, but police have now said they understand this to have been a fake alias. Investigators said they could find no trace of a Lachlan having entered Australia from England in the 1990s or any evidence to support the story he told friends that he migrated to the country from Manchester 20 years ago. They have now concluded no-one by the name of Paul Lachlan ever existed and the dead man had gone to extreme lengths to cover-up his true identity. After his death - not thought to be suspicious - police began 'extensive' inquiries to try and find out who he was. But immigration could not find evidence of him entering the country - no passport, no travel documents, The Daily Telegraph reported. The man using the name had taken 'significant effort' to avoid having his name recorded by the government departments, agencies or businesses, police said in a statement. For the past six years, he had been unemployed, The Daily Telegraph reported. With no apparent income, he still managed to pay for his 'well-to-do' apartment, which he shared with a flatmate he had 'once been involved with'. He paid for everything in cash and had no credit or eftpos cards, police said. A photograph of the man who went by the name Paul Lachlan, looking much younger He had lived in an apartment on West Esplanade (pictured) in Manly, Sydney, across from the waterfront An inquest is set to continue on February 16 and police are trying to confirm his name and details of his identity before the hearing begins. It is also hoped next of kin can be found to make funeral arrangements. A post on the New South Wales Police Facebook page read: 'Despite extensive inquiries, police have not been able to positively identify the man. 'He was not in possession of any identification or identifying documentation and police have not been able to locate any family who can confirm his identity. 'It appears the man took significant effort to not have his name recorded by government departments, agencies or businesses. 'Police believe the man entered Australia from the United Kingdom, possibly Manchester, sometime in the 1990s; however there is no further information on his movements available. 'Due to police being unable to be conclusively established his identity throughout the investigation, officers are unable to confirm his name is Paul Lachlan. 'Police are seeking to identify the man so next of kin can be identified and funeral arrangements can be made. 'The Coroner's inquest has been adjourned until 16 February 2016 in the hope some information comes from the public which will help identify the man.' Police say there are 'still six to eight people' who are wanted A dispute between two young girls on New Years Day spiraled into a violent brawl involving up to 60 people armed with machetes and left several police officers with minor injuries. The violence broke out in the remote town of Borroloola, about 12 hours drive from Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. NT police told ABC News that the initial dispute between two girls 'boiled over to take in a large number of community members' on New Years Day and some were armed with knives, machetes and axes. A police car's windscreen was damaged during the brawl between 60 people in a remote Northern Territory town The brawl took place in the remote Northern Territory town of Borroloola, which is about 12 hours drive from Darwin 'During the police response, some of those people in the group threw objects at the police cars, which caused damage to the police vehicles,' Police commander Brent Warren told ABC News. Officers were targeted by the brawlers who threw objects at police vehicles and challenged officers to fight, said Mr Warren. He praised the work of Borroloola community leaders who he said helped calm the situation and 'help protect police from some of the behaviour' of the group. Extra officers from Darwin were sent to the remote town, along with specially trained and armed officers to help restore order. Police say there are 'still six to eight people' who are wanted for questioning over the disorder. New Years Day Brawl: Knives, Machetes and Axes were used as weapons by some of the brawlers (stock photo) Turkey's president caused a storm yesterday when he used Adolf Hitler's ruling system to defend a controversial plan to expand the powers of the presidency. President Erdogan, the strongman of Turkish politics for more than a decade, is seeking a new constitution to transform his post into a powerful 'super-presidency'. Asked on his return from a state visit to Saudi Arabia whether an executive presidency was possible in Turkey while maintaining the unitary structure of the state, Erdogan said: 'There are already examples in the world. You can see it when you look at Hitler's Germany. Controversial: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was defending his push for expanding the powers of the presidency when he made the comparison to Hitler's Germany 'There are later examples in various other countries,' he told reporters. Erdogan wants to change the Turkish constitution to turn the ceremonial role of president into that of a chief executive, a Turkish version of the system in the United States, France or Russia. Emboldened by his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) landslide election win in November, Erdogan has suggested holding a referendum on the proposed constitutional reforms. However the Turkish president's office last night said he was not advocating a Hitler-style government when he called for a state system with a strong executive. Power: President Erdogan has also argued that the Turkish presidency could be like the US, French or Russian system, where the president has executive powers A statement from Erdogan's office said the Turkish president has declared the Holocaust, anti-semitism and Islamophobia as crimes against humanity and that it was out of the question for him to cite Hitler's Germany as a good example. 'Erdogan's 'Hitler's Germany' metaphor has been distorted by some news sources and has been used in the opposite sense,' the presidency said in a statement. 'If the system is abused it may lead to bad management resulting in disasters as in Hitler's Germany... The important thing is to pursue fair management that serves the nation,' the statement said, adding it was unacceptable to suggest Erdogan was casting Hitler's Germany in a positive light. Misconstrued: The president's office said his comments had been 'misconstrued' and in a statement said the president had used the example of Hitler's Germany to show what could happen if the powers of an executive presidency were abused. He made the controversial comments on his return from a state visit to Saudi Arabia Strongman: President Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade. All parties agree that the constitution needs to be changed, but are against the AKP's push for a presidential system 'There are good and poor examples of presidential systems and the important thing is to put checks and balances in place,' a senior Turkish official was keen to clarify. 'Nazi Germany, lacking in proper institutional arrangements, was obviously one of the most disgraceful examples in history. That's his point,' said the same official. The ruling AK Party, founded by Erdogan, has put a new constitution at the heart of its agenda after winning back a majority in a November parliamentary election. It agreed with the main opposition CHP on Wednesday to revive efforts to forge a new constitution. Flexible hours can make employees ill because they find it harder to switch off from their work, experts have said. Working away from the office or part-time can create an 'always on' culture that keeps stress hormones persistently high, they claim. Their arrangements can also irritate colleagues who feel flexible workers have a cushier work-life balance and so could leave them isolated socially. Working flexible hours from home can increase stress as it makes employees feel they cannot switch off The findings counter previously held beliefs that flexible hours enabled employees to have a healthier working life. Last June, the government extended the right to request flexible hours to all workers, as long as they have been in a job for six months. WORKERS SHOULD GET TIME OFF TO CARE FOR ELDERLY RELATIVES Pensions Minister Baroness Altmann said last week businesses that failed to allow employees to care for their elder relatives risked making them feel 'forced to leave and never come back'. She said companies and the Government needed to be 'sympathetic' to staff who cared for relatives by offering flexible working. She added that women over 50 were more likely to take on caring responsibilities for elderly parents, relatives or grandchildren so needed particular support to keep working if they wanted to. Advertisement It had previously been reserved for carers and those looking after children. Nick Clegg, who pushed through the new laws, said at the time: 'It's about time we brought working practices bang up to date with the needs and choices of our modern families.' But the policies to boost work-life balance may in fact be counterproductive. Professor Gail Kinman, a health psychologist at the University of Bedfordshire, told The Guardian: 'If you keep picking at work, worrying about it, your systems never really go down to baseline so you don't recover properly. 'You might sleep, but you don't sleep properly, the effectiveness of your immune system reduces. There are studies that suggest people want a quick way to relax, which is when they tend to drink alcohol and might turn to comfort food.' Professor Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, added: 'There's pretty good evidence that there's a link between psychological circumstances at work and heart disease.' Working away from the office can isolate employees from social networks and career opportunities Another contributing factor to stress, psychologists say, is the rise in technology that means emails can be sent and received at all hours of the day. This can lead to employees constantly thinking about work as they feel a need to regularly check-up on their mail. Police are investigating wild wedding antics which saw guests screeching throughout Melbourne on motorbikes and in flashy cars on their way to the church, doing burnouts down major roads in what they claim were just innocent 'wedding celebrations'. Footage posted on Facebook shows a luxury Mercedes and at least five motorbikes doing burnouts throughout West Footscray and Yarraville in Melbourne's west, as well as 'frying tyres outside the church.' The groom arrived in a cloud of smoke accompanied by his guard of 'dishonour' - allegedly led by the groom's friends. His wedding disappeared behind the huge clouds of smoke ensuing from the noisy convoy of cars and bikes. However, those that took part are confused by the backlash, claiming they did nothing wrong and it was just their unique pay to celebrate and pay tribute to the bride and groom. Police are investigating wild wedding antics which saw wedding guests screeching throughout Melbourne on motorbikes and in flashy cars The cars and mercedes are shown doing burnouts down major roads in what wedding guests claim were just innocent 'wedding celebrations' The groom, Antonio Sawan, was allegedly present as he was being chauffeured with his family in a Maserati Ghibli - trailing behind the streams of smoke which billowed from the noisy motorbikes The Herald Sun claims the groom, Antonio Sawan, was present as he was being chauffeured with his family in a Maserati Ghibli a car worth around $169,900. He seemed pleased with the display, commenting 'haha sick!' on Facebook. Victoria Police reportedly received at least eight complaints about the havoc caused by the vehicles as they hooned down Melbourne's streets, the newspaper reports. 'Its crazy, theyre the sort of things that get people killed, one resident told Nine News. The videos were shared by friend of the groom Kane Kovanovic who is shocked by the negative reaction their antics have received. 'We were celebrating a wedding. We weren't hurting anyone. We didn't have any intention to get anyone upset,' he told Fairfax. Victoria Police received at least eight complaints about the havoc caused by the vehicles as they hooned down Melbourne's streets Tthe groom, Antonio Sawan, was reportedly present as he chauffeured with his family in a Maserati Ghibli a car worth around $169,900. He seemed pleased with the display, commenting 'haha sick!' on Facebook 'A little taste of the wedding yesterday !!' Kane Kovanovic wrote on Facebook on December 28 alongside a video of their antics. '(A wedding guest) frying tyres in front of the church for Antonio's wedding!! #sickday,' another caption read. Even a friend of the newlyweds was disappointed by the videos, commenting: ''Wtf this isn't the wedding. False advertisement. Also did not see one photo of the bride and groom. This this some block's (sic) on ther (sic) Harleys ripping it up' A witness told the Herald Sun 'I actually felt sorry for the bride. Imagine if they had got locked up on the way or if something had happened. I'd be embarrassed.' Victoria Police reportedly received at least eight complaints about the havoc caused by the vehicles as they hooned down Melbourne's streets '(A wedding guest) frying tyres in front of the church for Antonio's wedding!! #sickday,' another caption read Friends of the newlyweds have labelled the backlash 'ridiculous and pathetic', defending the hooning as just being 'the way they celebrate.' 'Most people only get married once and can't even celebrate there (sic) special day the way they want anymore,' a friend wrote online. 'Residents were scared? What a joke clearly you could see there's nothing to be worried about it's a wedding for god sake!' 'Hahahaha thank you. At least you understand,' Mr Kovanovic replied. The hooning has been compared to controversial Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer's 'wedding of the year' in August this year. Mehajer was fined $220 after his rowdy convoy shut down Sydney streets as motorbikes and luxury cars trailed their way to the Lidcombe nuptials. They returned to find flames tearing through the 63-storey luxury hotel He and his wife went out for food, leaving their children with their aunt Shah Ahad was staying at Downtown Address Hotel with his family A British father-of-two was left fearing for his children's lives as he watched flames tear through the Dubai hotel where they were staying with family members. Shah Ahad, 41, and his wife, Sheuli Khatun, left their 11-year-old son Zaeed and daughter Aneeqa, six, at the hotel with their aunt while they went to pick up some food from a nearby shopping centre. But they returned to find the Address Downtown Hotel ablaze, the fire quickly spreading across 40 floors of the 63-storey building. The chaos outside the skyscraper meant that it took an hour before the parents were told their children had been evacuated. Scroll down for videos Terrified: Restaurant owner Shah Ahad, 41, with his wife, Sheuli Zaeed, their son Zaeed 11, and daughter Aneeqa, six, in their room at the Address Downtown Hotel, the Burj Khalifa seen through the window Speaking from Dubai today, Mr Ahad, who lives in Wednesbury, West Midlands, described the 'hectic' moments before he realised his children were safe. 'My two children were with my sister-in-law,' he said. 'All I could see was smoke coming from the hotel. 'I tried to contact them on the mobile phone but it wouldn't connect. I was really worried for their safety. 'Everything was blocked off it was very hectic. Mr Ahad was eventually reunited with his family outside the hotel, an hour after the ordeal started. He said his sister-in-law was out on the balcony when she saw smoke coming out from the hotel below. She ushered the children out of the 47th floor and down the stairs. Blaze: It took just minutes for flames to engulf the Address Downtown Hotel, pictured, on New Year's Eve. Pictured left, the photograph taken of the blazing hotel by Mr Ahad after he returned from the shopping centre At least 60 people were injured and one person suffered a heart attack as they rushed to escape the tower on New Year's Eve. The skyscraper was overcome by flames so quickly that some guests said they fled for their lives before any fire alarms sounded. Mr Ahad's family, who have been transferred to Atlantis The Palm hotel, were due to return to the UK this weekend but are now stranded in Dubai because their passports are in the burnt-out hotel. Mr Ahad, who runs Nishads restaurant in Stafford, said they have also lost belongings but that his family's safety was the most important thing. It comes after a newspaper photographer who was trapped for two hours on a 48th-floor balcony of the blazing hotel spoke of his ordeal. Dennis Mallari was in place to capture breathtaking snaps of the midnight fireworks display. However, when the inferno took hold his exits were cut off and he was left with no option but to negotiate his own escape. He retreated to a tiny corner of his balcony and began repelling down the outside of the building on a window-cleaner's cable after being stranded for two hours. As he started to descend, he was met by firefighters who pulled him back over his room's balcony before escorting him down the fire escape. Mr Mallari, originally from the Philippines, used his camera to capture footage of the flames as he dangled on the outside of the building. He continued to film as he was led down the smoke-filled stairwell towards the safety of the ground floor. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mallari said he was 'still shaking from the dramatic experience'. Stranded: Mr Mallari was forced to retreat to a corner of his balcony, pictured, as the inferno took hold Last man out: Firefighters escorted photographer Dennis Mallari down the hotel's smoke-filled fire escape Terrifying: This heart-stopping photograph shows the view from Mr Mallari's 48th-floor hotel room Describing the moment he realised his exits had been cut off, Mr Mallari said: 'Two colleagues were on the ground floor. 'I called them and asked them to get in touch with the civil defence, to tell them I was stuck on the 48th floor on a balcony. 'Every time the wind changed direction the wind would go straight to the balcony and I was covered repeatedly. 'That's why I went back to the corner of the balcony and I strapped that cable to have the option to hang myself.' He later told CNN: 'I got scared. I prayed - if this is my last chance, then so be it.' Mr Mallari added he believes he was the last person to come out of the building. Desperate: As the flames tore through the Dubai hotel, Mr Mallari was forced on to his balcony, pictured Rescue: A firefighter leads the photographer to safety from where he was trapped on the 48th floor His terrifying account comes after it emerged that the fire could have been fuelled by flammable panels which clad the 63 skyscraper. The fire is believed to have started on a covered balcony a third of a way up the hotel, possibly after a pair of curtains caught alight. But it is the speed at which the blaze spread across 40 floors of the outside of the hotel which will become the focus of an investigation. It was the third high-rise fire since 2012 in Dubai and has prompted fresh questions over the safety of other skyscrapers in the city many of which are covered in flammable external panels which are banned in the UK. Cut off: Mr Mallari said he repelled down the outside of the building as he was inhaling smoke from the fire Shaken: The photographer said he 'prayed' when he was on the balcony before being rescued, pictured Smoke-filled: One of the images taken from the footage captured by Mr Mallari on the way down Last night, experts warned it was only a matter of time before there were major fatalities from a fire linked to the non-fire-resistant aluminium composite panels. They are made from a thermoplastic core plastic that has been heated to a high temperature and then hardened held between two sheets of aluminium. They are used for insulation and for cosmetic purposes as they are long-lasting and easy to maintain. But they burn quickly, causing fires to spread rapidly. They were outlawed in Dubai in 2013 following a fire but the rules do not apply to buildings constructed before then and it has been claimed that up to 70 per cent of Dubai's high rises may be covered with them. Dramatic: This photograph taken by Mr Mallari using a fish-eye lens shows the balcony where he was trapped The fire is believed to have started on a covered balcony a third of a way up the Address Downtown Hotel, possibly after a pair of curtains caught alight. The first images from inside the hotel show the scale and devastation caused by the raging inferno The fire took hold of the five-star Address Downtown, in the heart of Dubai, just hours before the midnight celebrations It is not known if the 200-room hotel, which also has 600 private apartments and was completed in 2008, was clad with similar panels, but experts said the way the fire spread quickly up one side suggested it was. The blaze happened in the tower hours before a massive fireworks display to see in the New Year. In 2013, the United Arab Emirates changed its Fire and Life Safety Code to state fire-retardant cladding must be used on all buildings taller than 50ft. The sheathing has not been used in the UK since the 1980s. Phil Barry, a consultant at Gloucester-based CWB Fire Safety who has worked extensively in Qatar and the UAE, said it was 'only a matter of time' before there were major fatalities caused by flammable cladding fires. Firefighters managed to subdue the fire, but the luxury building was still smoldering yesterday afternoon Fire crews are seen walking out of the Address Downtown Hotel yesterday in the wake of the massive fire A number of fire trucks are seen lined up outside the undamaged side of the Dubai hotel yesterday Khamis al-Muzainah, head of Dubai Police, giving an interview outside the hotel yesterday He said: 'No one has died yet, but there will be fatalities sooner or later. The basic rule is that the outside of any building over 30 metres [98ft] which is as high as any fire-truck ladder can reach must be made of non-combustible materials because you cannot fight the fire. Large numbers of buildings in the UAE do not meet that standard.' The SAS have trained police firearms officers to shoot terrorists in the head amid growing fears of a terrorist attack on British soil. Armed officers have been working with members of the Special Forces to try and stop running gun attacks such as the ones witnessed in Paris last year. While police chiefs admit the training 'includes critical head shots', they have insisted officers 'do not shoot to kill'. Armed officers, out in force in London on New Year's Eve, have been working with members of the Special Forces to try and stop marauding gun attacks Simon Chesterman, deputy chief constable of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and national lead on armed policing, said: 'We do not shoot to kill, we shoot to stop the threat, but inevitably this is highly likely to prove fatal.' He told the Daily Telegraph: 'Armed officers undergo rigorous training, which allows them to make a judgement call on whether life is at risk. 'For the most extreme threats, or if there is no other option, this training includes critical head shots. 'Officers must be able to justify that their action amounted to reasonable force to protect themselves or others in a bid to protect human life.' It emerged last month officers were now trained to ignore victims and storm buildings housing terrorists straight away to save lives. 2,000 armed police were out in force across the capital on New Year's Eve amid fears of a terror attack It comes as every firearms officer in London was out on duty for the New Year celebrations in an unprecedented security operation. Scotland Yard cancelled leave for more than 2,000 armed police the first time it has taken such a step. It came amid intelligence warnings ISIS may have been planning a terror attack in a European city, albeit there was no specific information to suggest London was the target. An armed police officer, pictured standing outside Horse Guards, on the streets of London ahead of New Year 'SHOOT TO KILL' IN BRITAIN Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead after being mistaken for a terrorist in 2005. The Brazilian was shot by police who wrongly believed he was a suicide bomber and thus had to be killed as quickly as possible. He was wholly innocent but a string of blunders led him to be held down by one officer while others repeatedly shot him in the head from point-blank range. The officers involved did not face criminal charges, but in an Old Bailey criminal trial the Met as an institution was found guilty of endangering public safety. This year, former Met police firearms officer Anthony Long was cleared of murdering Azelle Rodney, 10 years after the shooting. Rodney was shot on sight by Long - including four bullets to the head - in 2005 in north London. Long argued self-defence, which the jury accepted, after he told them he feared the suspect was reaching for a gun. Advertisement Currently, police can shoot to kill lawfully if they believe a suspect threatens the life of themselves and others. No officer has yet been convicted of killing a suspect illegally. Last month, former Scotland Yard chief Brian Paddick said firearms officers who shoot and kill suspects should be free from automatic investigation in exchange for losing the right to stay silent when questioned. He said: 'Public servants have a duty to give an account of their actions. If firearms officers believe it is likely they will face criminal investigation then it is understandable they will be reluctant to be open in interview. 'The concern among firearms officers is they make split-second decisions in very difficult circumstances, but you can't have police officers above the law, especially if they use lethal force.' It comes as an officer was arrested and interviewed under caution as part of an Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry into the death of Jermaine Baker. The 28-year-old from Tottenham, north London, died after being shot during an operation against an alleged attempt to spring two Turkish offenders from a prison van near Wood Green. Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a review into whether officers who 'shoot to kill' in the line of duty should have greater legal protection. Advertisement A furious mob of Iranian protesters petrol bombed Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran late last night after the kingdom executed 47 prisoners, including a top Shiite cleric, prompting fears of sectarian violence and further instability in the Middle East. Enraged demonstrators stormed and set fire to the embassy after Saudi Arabia - which has a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council - caused outrage around the world with the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard promised 'harsh revenge' against the Saudis and former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki warned that the executions would 'topple the Saudi regime'. Shiite leaders in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon fiercely condemned the killings. Meanwhile US and European officials criticized Saudi Arabia for the executions which risk 'exacerbating sectarian tensions', while UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was 'deeply dismayed'. al-Nimr was a driving force behind the protests that broke out in 2011 in the east of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, where the Shiite minority complains of marginalisation. He was condemned as a terrorist by Saudi Arabia and executed alongside 46 other people convicted of 'terrorism' yesterday. None of the Saudi embassy staff were inside the building in Tehran as protesters broke in and trashed the offices. Photographs showed demonstrators damaging embassy property, including removing the national flag from the building. Iranian police have arrested a number of demonstrators. Widespread demonstrations erupted in support for al-Nimr, with Shia Muslims from London to India condemning Saudi Arabia for executing the cleric. Scroll down for video Firefighters arrive at the scene of the Saudi Arabian embassy which was torched by members of an angry mob in Tehran Iranian protesters set fire to pictures of the Saudi royal family in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran Protesters set about damaging and stealing property from inside the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital city of Tehran None of the Saudi embassy staff were inside the building as protesters broke into the building and took out their anger on the offices. Photos have been emerging on social media showing demonstrators damaging embassy property, including removing the national flag from the building The Saudi Arabian embassy was set alight by members of the crowd, who threw petrol bombs into the building Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims marched through the Qatif district of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province in protest, which was closely watched by security forces with tensions also mounting on the streets of neighbouring Bahrain. The Qatif protesters chanted 'down with the Al Saud', the name of the ruling Saudi royal family, leading authorities to call in dozens of Saudi military reinforcements. Images have emerged on social media of a bus burning, reportedly in Qatif, as the protests escalated last night. Protesters in Bahrain were met with tear gas as they clashed with security forces in the suburbs while hundreds demonstrated in Iraq's Shiite holy city of Karbala. The was widespread condemnation of the executions, with the U.S. State Department saying they 'risk exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced'. The statement was echoed almost word for word by a EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was 'deeply dismayed' by the execution of al-Nimr. 'Sheik al-Nimr and a number of the other prisoners executed had been convicted following trials that raised serious concerns over the nature of the charges and the fairness of the process,' Ban's spokesman said. 'The Secretary-General also calls for calm and restraint in reaction to the execution of Sheikh Nimr and urges all regional leaders to work to avoid the exacerbation of sectarian tensions.' In London, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy to express their anger about the executions. Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright said the death penalty was 'unacceptable in all circumstances' and it was particularly concerning that a number of 'peaceful dissidents' had been killed, including sheikh al-Nimr. Speaking at the scene of the demonstration, he said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against him was 'deeply flawed', adding: 'We also came to the conclusion that he was jailed solely for expressing his peaceful points of view, protesting peacefully against the regimes. 'This is an absolute, fundamental, breach of basic human rights,' Mr Enright said. Despite supporting the capital punishment, Saudi Arabia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Secret diplomatic cables exposed in September last year appeared to show that the UK helped the kingdom join in a vote-trading deal. al-Nimr's execution has sparked fierce criticism from Shiite communities in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Indian-controlled Kashmir. One of the 47 men executed in Saudi Arabia was Adel al-Dhubaiti, the al-Qaeda gunman convicted for the attempted assassination of BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner and the murder of his cameraman Simon Cumbers. Mr Gardner was shot six times and left paralysed whilst he was filming a report with Simon Cumbers in June 2004. He was offered the chance to meet al-Dhubaiti when he was sentenced in 2014 but declined. Flames burn inside the offices of the embassy, where staff had already evacuated from inside the building Angry crowds in Iran protesting at Saudi Arabia's execution of a top Shiite cleric hurled petrol bombs and stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran late tonight before being cleared out by police Many of the protesters in London gathered in support for Nimr al-Nimr, calling for the action against the Saudi regime Killed: Shiite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a 56-year-old cleric was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia. Above, a Yemeni protests Nimr al-Nimr's death sentence (file photo) Demonstrators protest outside the Saudi Embassy in London, following Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners in one day Enraged Bahraini demonstrators pulled up a palm tree trunk to make a blockade in the street against security forces at a demonstration One Kashmiri Shiite holds a Hezbollah flag shout slogans against the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a protest in Srinagar Bahrain security forces have been deployed on the streets in several villages near Manama over fears of demonstrations Concerns remain that Saudi Arabia's decision to execute 47 prisoners may lead to further sectarian tension in the region Protesters holding a banner saying 'Death is normal to us and our dignity from God is martyrdom' in Manama, Bahrain Kashmiri Shiite men and children sit united in front of a candle light vigil in honour of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed in Saudi Protests: Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr has outraged Shia leaders and communities in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Indian-controlled Kashmir (pictured) Iran's Shia leadership said the execution of Nimr 'would cost dearly' and an Iranian-backed Shiite militia in Iraq called the execution a 'new crime' carried out by the Saudi royal family. Saudi Arabia has said that Iran is responsible for protecting the Kingdom's embassy as the violence grows at the demonstrations. One Shiite militia in Iraq called on Baghdad to 'reconsider the benefit of having a Saudi embassy in Iraq, with a suspicious ambassador and goals.' Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki warned in a statement that the execution of the Shiite cleric 'will topple the Saudi regime'. But most of the 47 executed in the kingdom's biggest mass execution for decades were Sunnis convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago. Four, including Nimr, were Shi'ites accused of shooting policemen. The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, members of a Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen, praised their ally. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan called the executions a 'clear message against terrorism and those who call for and incite sedition and unrest to tear apart the society's unity and threaten social peace in the kingdom'. Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, also backed Riyadh in 'all deterrent and needed measures it takes to confront violence and extremism'. Protests and large gatherings were held in remembrance for the prominent Shi'a cleric, who was killed alongside 46 other people The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, members of a Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen, praised their ally, but protests broke out in Bahrain's suburbs Bahrain has faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, and backed Riyadh in 'all deterrent and needed measures it takes to confront violence and extremism' Protesters clashed with security forces in a number of villages in Bahrain, where the government has sided with their ally Saudi Arabia Clash: Protesters clashed with security forces in Bahrain as security forces tried to suppress the angry demonstators Saudi women hold up posters depicting Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr at a protest in the eastern coastal city of Qatif WHO WAS SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR AND WHY WAS HE EXECUTED BY SAUDI ARABIA? The Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr rose to prominence during the 2011 pro-democracy protests in his hometown of Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia. His leadership elevated him to hero-like status among the protesting Shiite youth. He also became an icon in the broader Shia vs Sunni narrative, which is played out across the Middle East - most acutely in the Yemeni and Syrian civil wars and in Iraq. His peaceful, but outspoken opposition to the Saudi Royal family, and his very public speeches against the monarchy demanding equality for Shias in Saudi Arabia also increased his profile. Nimr was arrested in July 2012 and charged with instigating unrest, 'disobeying the ruler' and 'encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations'. The charges were dismissed by human rights advocacy group Amnesty International as violating freedom of speech. His arrest caused days of rioting in Saudi Arabia, in which three people were killed. He was sentenced to death on October 25 after his appeal was denied, no date was set for his execution, although Saudi Arabian King Salman could have pardoned the cleric at any time. Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against Nimr was 'deeply flawed', adding: 'We also came to the conclusion that he was jailed solely for expressing his peaceful points of view, protesting peacefully against the regimes. 'This is an absolute, fundamental, breach of basic human rights,' he said. The Sheikh's nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 at the time of his arrest following the protests, was not included in the list of those executed although concerns are growing for his fate. He has been sentenced to death by beheading and crucifixion. Advertisement In the suburbs of the Bahraini capital Manama however, dozens of Shiite youth gathered for small demonstrations to condemn the executions. Clashes quickly escalated between demonstrators and security forces, who released tear gas to disperse the gathering. A cleric from Bahrain who was at the protest in Iraq's Karbala, said the world should react to Nimr's execution. 'Sheikh Nimr was an icon for Islamic resistance,' Sheikh Habib al-Jamri told AFP. 'His words were his weapon. They couldn't defeat his words so they detained him, tortured him and today executed him in front the world's eyes, like a challenge to global conscience.' Bahrain was one of the countries caught in the centre of the Arab Spring in 2011, with the country's Shiite majority population heavily suppressed during protests against the monarchy. Bahrain has remained a close ally of Saudi, who have been careful to safeguard the country during the Arab Spring. Shiite protesters in Bahrain in 2011 called for the constitutional reform of the monarchy before security forces heavy handedly clamped down on demonstrations leading to calls for the end of the monarchy. The protests in Bahrain yesterday come after opponents have repeatedly been detained and stripped of their citizenship for speaking out against the Bahraini government and the actions of their ally Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people convicted of 'terrorism' yesterday, including a prominent Shiite cleric behind anti-government protests Executed: The ministry statement, carried by the official SPA news agency, said the 47 had been convicted of adopting the radical 'takfiri' ideology, joining 'terrorist organisations' and implementing various 'criminal plots'. Above, Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr was one of the 47 people executed yesterday Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) threatened to retaliate against Saudi Arabia for any execution of its members in December. The list also includes Fares al-Shuwail who has been described by Saudi media outlets as the top religious leader of Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested in August 2004. The ministry statement said the 47 had been convicted of adopting the radical 'takfiri' ideology, joining 'terrorist organisations' and implementing various 'criminal plots'. The list also includes Sunnis convicted of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudis and foreigners in the kingdom in 2003 and 2004. International rights group Reprieve, who works to abolish the death penalty has condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people, saying two were teenagers when they were detained. Reprieve says the 47 people whose execution was announced Saturday include four Shiite dissidents. It says one of the dissidents, Ali al-Ribh, was 18 when he was arrested in 2012, and another, Mohammed al-Shuyokh, was 19. Both were convicted on charges related to anti-government protests in eastern Saudi Arabia, where the Shiite minority is centered. Repercussions: Iran's Shia leadership said the execution of Nimr 'would cost dearly' and an Iranian-backed Shiite militia in Iraq called the execution, a 'new crime' carried out by the Saudi royal family Soon after the announcement was made, the country's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh said that the executions were in line with Islamic law and required to safeguard the kingdom's security. Above, Shia protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir Mourning: Shiite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a persistent critic of Saudi Arabia's Sunni royal family and a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, where the Shiite minority complains of marginalisation. Above, men protest his execution in Indian-controlled Kashmir Ahead of the announcement their mothers wrote a letter of thanks, published in The Independent today, along with the mothers of other youths sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. Reprieve said in a statement that the Saudi government 'is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom.' Quoting the Koran, the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry statement said: 'The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land.' While the list does not include Nimr's nephew, Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested following the protests, concerns are growing for his fate. His sentencing to death by beheading and crucifixion sparked an international outcry. Official charges against Nimr include attending a protest, using his phone to encourage further support for the demonstrations and possessing a gun, an accusation which the family strongly denies. British shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn told the Press Association: 'With the carrying out of this large number of executions there will now be huge international concern about what will happen to Ali Mohammed al-Nimr who is Sheikh al-Nimr's nephew. 'The Foreign Secretary has told Parliament that he does not expect Ali Mohammed al-Nimr to be executed but he now needs to seek fresh assurances that he will be reprieved.' THE 47 MEN WHO WERE EXECUTED BY SAUDI ARABIA 1- Ameen Mohammed Abdullah Al Aqala - Saudi national. 2- Anwar Abdulrahman Khalil Al-Najjar - Saudi national. 3- Badr bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Badr- Saudi national. 4- Bandar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghaith - Saudi nationality. 5- Hassan Hadi bin Shuja'a Al-Masareer - Saudi nationality. 6- Hamad bin Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Humaidi- Saudi nationality 7- Khalid Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Jarallah - Saudi nationality 8- Ridha Abdulrahman Khalil Al-Najjar- Saudi nationality 9- Saad Salamah Hameer - Saudi nationality 10- Salah bin Saeed bin Abdulraheem Al-Najjar - Saudi nationality 11- Salah bin Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Hussain -Saudi nationality 12- Saleh bin Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Shamsan - Saudi nationality 13- Saleh bin Ali bin Saleh Al-Juma'ah - Saudi nationality 14- Adel bin Saad bin Jaza' Al-Dhubaiti - Saudi nationality 15- Adel Mohammed Salem Abdullah Yamani - Saudi nationality 16- Abduljabbar bin Homood bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri - Saudi nationality 17- Abdulrahman Dhakheel Faleh Al-Faleh - Saudi nationality 18- Abdullah Sayer Moawadh Massad Al-Mohammadi - Saudi nationality 19- Abdullah bin Saad bin Mozher Shareef - Saudi nationality 20- Abdullah Saleh Abdulaziz Al-Ansari - Saudi nationality 21- Abdullah Abdulaziz Ahmed Al-Muqrin - Saudi nationality 22- Abdullah Musalem Hameed Al-Raheef - Saudi nationality 23- Abdullah bin Mua'ala bin A'li - Saudi nationality 24- Abdulaziz Rasheed bin Hamdan Al-Toaili'e - Saudi nationality 25- Abdulmohsen Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Yahya - Saudi nationality 26- Isam Khalaf Mohammed Al-Mothri'e - Saudi nationality 27- Ali Saeed Abdullah Al Ribeh - Saudi nationality 28- Ghazi Mohaisen Rashed - Saudi nationality 29- Faris Ahmed Jama'an Al Showail - Saudi nationality 30- Fikri Ali bin Yahya Faqih - Saudi nationality 31- Fahd bin Ahmed bin Hanash Al Zamel - Saudi nationality 32- Fahd Abdulrahman Ahmed Al-Buraidi - Saudi nationality 33- Fahd Ali Ayedh Al Jubran - Saudi nationality 34- Majed Ibrahim Ali Al-Mughainem - Saudi nationality 35- Majed Moeedh Rashed - Saudi nationality 36- Mishaal bin Homood bin Juwair Al-Farraj - Saudi nationality 37- Mohammed Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Muharib - Saudi nationality 38- Mohammed Ali Abdulkarim Suwaymil - Saudi nationality 39- Mohammed Fathi Abula'ti Al-Sayed - Egyptian nationality 40- Mohammed bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Shioukh - Saudi nationality 41- Mostafa Mohammed Altaher Abkar - Chadian nationality 42- Moaidh Mufreh Ali Al Shokr- Saudi nationality 43- Nasser Ali Ayedh Al Jubran - Saudi nationality 44- Naif Saad Abdullah Al-Buraidi - Saudi nationality 45- Najeeb bin abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Bohaiji - Saudi nationality 46- Nimr Baqer Ameen Al-Nimr- Saudi nationality 47- Nimr Sehaj Zeid Al-Kraizi - Saudi nationality Protest: Scores of Shi'ite Muslims marched through the Qatif district of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province in protest at the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimra (file photo) Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in London to express their anger about the executions Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright was at the protest outside the Saudi Embassy in London (pictured). He said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against Nimr was 'deeply flawed' Death toll: Executions have increased in the kingdom since King Salman acceded to the throne in January 2015 following the death of king Abdullah (file photo) The Sheikh's brother Mohammed al-Nimr said that the executions came as a 'big shock' because 'we thought the authorities could adopt a political approach to settle matters without bloodshed.' 'There will be reactions,' he said, but urged people to 'adopt peaceful means when expressing their anger.' He says the family has not yet been asked to pick up the body but that a funeral would be held as soon as possible. The execution of al-Nimr was expected to escalate tensions in eastern Saudi Arabia, where the Shiite minority is concentrated, and Bahrain, which has seen years of simmering unrest between its Shiite majority and Saudi-allied Sunni monarchy. Those executed include an Egyptian and a Chadian. The rest were all Saudis. Executions have increased in the kingdom since King Salman acceded to the throne in January 2015 following the death of king Abdullah. The number of convicts executed on Saturday is more than half of those executed under Salman's predecessor in the whole year of 2014, which tallied 87. In 2015, Saudi Arabia executed 153 people convicted of various crimes, including drug-trafficking. Authorities in the kingdom set up specialised courts in 2011 to try dozens of Saudis and foreigners accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda or of participating in the wave of attacks that swept the country from 2003, which killed 150 Saudis and foreigners. The kingdom's current Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef oversaw a crackdown on the militants at the time. But Nimr was arrested for completely different reasons in 2012. A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years. The document, 'About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation', was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States nor NATO. Scroll down for video A new appraisal, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured on New Year's Eve), names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time - a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts. That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West, it says. 'The strengthening of Russia happens against the background of new threats to the national security, which has complex and interrelated nature,' the document says. Conducting an independent policy, 'both international and domestic' has caused 'counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs.' That in turn is likely to lead to 'political, economical, military and informational pressure' on Russia, the document says.' Relations between Russia and the West reached a low after Russian forces annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, after protests in Ukraine forced its pro-Moscow president to flee to Russia. Since then, the West has accused Russia of aiding insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies actively assisting the rebels. The United States and the European Union have since imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russian individuals and companies. Moscow has reacted by restricting food and other goods from the EU. Relations between Russia and the West reached a low after Russian forces annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, after protests in Ukraine forced its pro-Moscow president to flee to Russia (U.S. President Barack Obama, left and Putin pictured in September) The document says that the United States and the EU have supported an 'anti-constitutional coup d'etat in Ukraine', which led to a deep divide in Ukrainian society and a military conflict. It also names the expansion of NATO as a threat to Russia's national security and said that the United States has expanded its network of military-biological laboratories in neighboring to Russia countries. The document, which serves as a basis for planning strategy related to national security by different state bodies, does not mention Syria. The first private pesticide applicator training sessions of the new year are Feb. 3-4 at the Farm Show, in the Club Room at Platte County Agricultural Park in Columbus. The session starts at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3 and at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 4. In addition, training will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 22 in Columbus at Pinnacle Bank (east near Applebees). Another 2016 training session is 6:30 p.m. March 3, also at Pinnacle Bank in Columbus. The training provided is for individuals to be certified to apply restricted use pesticides. The training is initial training for those never having a certificate and recertification training for those who have previously been certified. Farmers attending are reminded that there is no provision for late entry to the training sessions. Those arriving late will be asked to leave and attend training at a later date. Private applicators need to check their license from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to see if they need the training. If the certification card expires on April 15, farmers need to recertify. The cost to attend one of the training programs is $30. For training programs in surrounding counties, please contact the Platte County Extension Office at 402-563-4901. Most of the producers needing the training have or will be receiving a letter with a printed bar-code from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. It will save them time if they bring that letter along with them to the training. Upon the completion of your private pesticide applicator training, Platte County Extension will mail the application to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). After processing, NDA will send a billing invoice for the $25 state license fee. The license fee covers the three-year certification period. Upon receipt of the license fee payment, NDA will issue your pesticide license card to you. To summarize, farmers that need the Pesticide training in 2016, will pay $30 to attend one of the meetings, then will be billed $25 from the state Department of Agriculture to receive their license. Preregistration to the Pesticide training meeting is not necessary. Attendees only need to bring $30 (cash or check payable to University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and the bar-coded NDA letter (if they have one) with them to the training. Reminders: Estate Planning Workshop on Wednesday. Call for more information to attend this free session. On Jan. 29, we have Gabe Brown coming to Columbus to give a no-till/cover crop talk. Call the office to reserve your spot to attend this free session. For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek, Extension educator, Nebraska Extension in Platte County. Phone: 402-563-4901 or e-mail avyhnalek2@unl.edu. Trevor Phillips criticised the Rhodes Must Fall campaign The former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission described the campaign to remove the Cecil Rhodes statue from an Oxford college as 'simultaneously witless, wrongheaded and reprehensible'. Trevor Phillips criticised the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, which is calling for the removal of the memorial to the British imperialist at Oriel College, Oxford. South African student Ntokozo Qwabe, led the group which has succeeded in the university to hold consultations over what to do with it. Mr Qwabe's student campaign says Rhodes paved the path to apartheid by introducing discriminatory land ownership and voting rules. It is inspired by the Rhodes Must Fall protest movement that began on in March, originally directed against a statue at the University of Cape Town which commemorates Cecil Rhodes. The campaign for the statue's removal received global attention and led to a wider movement to 'decolonise' education across South Africa. But Mr Phillips believes the protest is ludicrous. He told The Times: 'It trivialises the memory of many millions who genuinely did suffer under colonialism and dishonours the work of those who fought apartheid including many British students. 'Perhaps the students who support this campaign might take a moment to google Auschwitz to see a complete justification for the preservation of all aspects of the historical record, however grim.' Academics, politicians and famous Oxford alumni have waded into the row, heatedly debating the rights and wrongs of honouring a man who was a major driver of British territorial expansion in southern Africa and a key player in the Boer Wars that left thousands dead. Rhodes was one of the era's most famous imperialists, with Rhodesia now Zimbabwe and Zambia named after him. An inscription underneath pays homage to the white supremacist for his donation to Oriel College in the 1870s. Inspired by the popular movement that forced the removal of a statue of the famous colonialist at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, campaigners have been asking the British college to do the same. The campaigns are distinct but supporters in Oxford use the same hashtag #RhodesMustFall as the Cape Town campaign and their actions have fuelled a political debate in South Africa as well as soul-searching in Britain ranging well beyond the statue itself. The Rhodes Must Fall campaign called for the removal of this statue and plaque of colonialist Cecil Rhodes Mr Qwabe, was himself named a Rhodes Scholar last year and has defended himself against charges of hypocrisy by saying that he is taking back some of the money that Rhodes took from Africa Most recent Rhodes Scholars could not be more different from the multi-millionaire colonialist. More than 43 per cent are 'black or other ethnic minority students', according to Rhodes House, the organisation that runs the scholarships. It stresses: 'The principles of racial equality are central to our values and our sense of purpose.' Making the analogy with Alfred Nobel, a munitions maker and inventor of dynamite who went on to found the Nobel Prizes, a spokesman said Rhodes, too, 'was a complicated man who left his wealth to create an important institution that makes the world better'. Over the years, beneficiaries have included the former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Tony Abbott, the recently ousted Australian prime minister. Oxford University has agreed to a six-month 'listening exercise' on whether to remove a statue of British colonialist and white supremacist Cecil Rhodes following a student campaign and heated debate Ben Stansall (AFP/File) A popular movement at the University of South Africa forced the removal of a statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes Rodger Bosch (AFP/File) Students in Cape Town defaced the statue of British mining magnate Cecil Rhodes, a white supremicist seen as a symbol of Britain's toxic legacy of colonialism Rodger Bosch (AFP/File) Abbott has already called on Oxford University not to remove the statue. 'It would damage its standing as a great university if it were to substitute moral vanity for fair-minded inquiry,' he said. 'The university and its students should prefer improving today's orthodoxies to imposing them on our forebears. The university should remember that its mission is not to reflect fashion but to seek truth and that means striving to understand before rushing to judge.' 'To put someone so literally on a pedestal is to tacitly condone their legacy,' said Daisy Chandley, a student and organising member of the Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford campaign. 'There have always been those who have questioned the statue as well as the wider racism within the university but the movement in South Africa brought debate over similar problems in Oxford to the forefront and triggered collective action.' Over the years, beneficiaries have included the former U.S. President Bill Clinton (right) and Tony Abbott (left), the recently ousted Australian prime minister Mr Qwabe, was himself named a Rhodes Scholar last year and has defended himself against charges of hypocrisy by saying that he is taking back some of the money that Rhodes took from Africa. 'I'm no beneficiary of Rhodes. I'm a beneficiary of the resources and labour of my people which Rhodes pillaged and slaved,' he wrote on Facebook. The university rejects accusations of racism but Oriel College promised to be 'more diverse and inclusive of people from all backgrounds' in a response to the campaign earlier this month. It said it would take down a Rhodes plaque on the wall of another college building and agreed to a six-month 'listening exercise' on whether to remove the statue. The college said Rhodes's values 'stand in absolute contrast to the ethos of the scholarship programme today and to the values of a modern University'. It said it would put up a sign in an antique window below the statue saying that 'the College does not in any way condone or glorify his views or actions'. A Chinese-born man who brutally murdered his estranged wife with a hammer and bashed her 53-year-old mother out the front of their Perth house before fleeing overseas will spend life in jail. Businessman Nuo 'Arnold' Zhao, now 36, was found guilty of murdering his wife Dan Sun, 27, and attempting to murder her mother Jie Shen Kang, 53 at the time, in a Shanghai court this week. The life jail sentence will mark the end of an exhaustive five year collaborative investigation of the 2010 murder involving both Australian and Chinese authorities, according to the West Australian. It has been reported that Mr Zhao flew from China to Sydney on a fake passport and drove across the country to her Balga home - just north of Perth - to commit the brutal and senseless murder. Nuo Zhao, now 36 (right), has been sentenced to life in jail in a Shanghai court this week after they found him guilty of stabbing his wife Dan Sun, 27 (left), out the front of her Perth home As Ms Sun and Ms Kang arrived in their driveway, Mr Zhao was said to have carried out a frenzied attack - striking the mother across the head with a hammer, before stabbing his wife to death in the front seat of her car. It is believed the attack may have been related to the abduction of their then two-year-old daughter Kiki, who was snatched from Ms Sun while she was travelling China. After nearly a year and help from the Australian Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Sun was reunited with her daughter. Mr Zhao, a part-time security guard and owner of two importation companies in Perth, was said to have owned two houses and have strong connections with the Asian sex trade. The prosecution in Shanghai described the 'execution' as an attack based on greed, wealth and control, the West Australian reported. The couple's daughter, tragically left without a mother or father, is said to have settled with a new family. This video captures the moment a brawl broke out at an upmarket restaurant just hours into 2016. Around a dozen men were seen throwing punches and grappling with each other at Albert's Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Friday morning. Shocked party-goers, who paid up to 75-a-head to ring in the new year at the popular eatery, were heard screaming as the fight moved out on to the street before being broken up. Brawl: Two men in white shirts, right, shove each other as others fight in the middle of the crowded restaurant Escalating: The men stumble out on to the patio outside Albert Worsley's in Salford, Greater Manchester The video, apparently filmed on a mobile phone, has been viewed more than 30,000 since it was uploaded to Facebook. Loud, thumping music is heard throughout the 44-second clip. Taken by someone standing outside on the patio, the video starts with two men hitting each other in the middle of the crowded restaurant. After one man falls on to another reveller, the group stumbles outside. Meanwhile, a man tussling with another diner on the other side of the restaurant is seen tripping over a table as he scrambles to join the main fist fight. He throws a wild punch into the crowd before backing off into the busy road, where traffic was apparently at a standstill. Ready to fight: A man is seen crossing from one side of the restaurant to the other to join in the brawl Taking a tumble: But he trips over a table and falls to the ground as he crosses in front of other diners Chaos: The man, pictured in the foreground, picks himself up before throwing a punch at another reveller As the brawl moves from the pavement to the street, more men rush out to join - including one who appears to be a waiter. At the end of the video, a woman is heard saying 'Happy New Year' as two men who have broken off from the main group are pulled apart. Witnesses said police were called after the free-for-all broke out. A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: 'We were called at 1.45am to Alberts on 1 January to a report that two men had been assaulted. Noone was arrested and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.' Albert's Worsley declined to comment. Shocked: Diners are heard screaming as the men throw wild punches on the pavement outside A highlight from the newly-released Hillary Clinton emails include an exchange between Clinton and her chief of staff Cheryl Mills - in which Clinton is praised with the line 'You look cute.' Mills brings to her boss' attention a photo of Clinton, on her Blackberry, sporting sunglasses, which has gone viral. The image was the basis of the 'Texts from Hillary' meme. Clinton doesn't understand why an older picture is suddenly getting so much attention. 'You look cute,' Mills replies. The State Department released another 5,500 pages of Hillary Clinton's emails just hours before the New Year's Eve ball dropped. The dump was originally supposed to be much bigger, instead of the just 3,100 messages the public can now browse. Scroll down for video Hillary Clinton didn't understand why this 2011 picture of her had gone viral a year later. 'You look cute,' her chief of staff explained One of the new emails, Hillary Clinton's aide Cheryl Mills explains to her why the photo, made famous by the site Texts from Hillary, went viral The total number of Clinton's emails now deemed classified has climbed to 1,274, according to Politico, with 275 messages in this most recent cache being retroactively given the classified distinction. Two emails released in the latest batch have been designated as 'secret,' the second-highest level of classification. While the information wasn't classified at the time, it could fuel more questions about whether sensitive information was at risk on her server. The GOP immediately glommed on to the fact that Clinton had hit the 1,000-mark for classified emails, saying her decision to use a private email account and a homebrew server 'looks even more reckless.' IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN: The Hillary Clinton 'email-gate' dump continuee with a new batch released Thursday SO FAR SO LITTLE: The emails have revealed more about Clinton's television watching preferences, tendency to lose personal items like scarves and reliance on her aides to complete menial tasks than bombshells 'When this scandal first broke, Hillary Clinton assured the American people there was no classified material on her unsecure server, a claim which has since been debunked on a monthly basis with each court-ordered release,' RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a release. Priebus added that Clinton 'lacks the character and judgment,' to be president of the United States. Under the terms of a court-ordered schedule, the agency was expected to release a cache of nearly 9,000 pages to the public on New Year's Eve. But State said in the late morning that the day's document production would fall short. Hillary's old stomping ground she ran the department until early in 2013 said it 'will make another production of former Secretary Clinton's email sometime next week.' 'We have worked diligently to come as close to the goal as possible, but with the large number of documents involved and the holiday schedule we have not met the goal this month,' the statement added. Other emails in the release simply shed light on day to day tasks at the State Department. In one exchange, Clinton looks over her schedule and asks her special assistant Lona Valmoro if she can get out of a seated dinner to celebrate Ex-Im Bank chairman Fred Hochberg's 60th birthday. 'Can I drop by Fred dinner and leave?' the secretary of state writes. Valmoro replied that she's checking to see if there's a cocktail hour before the meal. In another email, Clinton requests five copies of More magazine, so she can read a flattering profile about her trip to Burma and the influence that her late mother, Dorothy Rodham, had on her life. In the same requests, she wants DVD copies of remarks by David Cameron and Meryl Streep, who had both introduced the secretary of state at an event. A more serious exchange happened between former Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Clinton shortly after the Benghazi terror attack in Libya in 2012. Gates writes Clinton and wishes her his condolences over the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens. 'The Ambassador was a perfect role model of the kind of person we need representing us around the world, and the others had so much to give and already had given so much,' Gates writes. It takes Clinton over a month to respond. When she does, she thanks Gates. 'I hope we have the chance for a visit and, maybe a drink in the next few months,' she adds, and he responds by giving her a couple of dates to chose from. On the sillier side, longtime Clinton aide Philippe Reines created a flowchart that indicated who should ride with the secretary of state when she's being driven around by car or by limo. The first spot went to Huma Abedin, now the Clinton campaign's vice chairwoman. After that, Jake Sullivan and Capricia Marshall got dibs, and then a 'tolerable' ambassador. Reines also suggests that he should get an invitation to ride in the limo if his peers aren't available for the trip. 'Chutzpah!' he writes at the end of the flowchart. The email shows the aide recirculating the chart when, at first, people don't respond. 'Without positive reinforcement I'm not sure I can continue to really invest myself in these missives/diatribes,' Reines said. Shown here testifying about the Benghazi attack in 2012, the new set of emails show an exchange between Hilary Clinton and former Defense Secretary Bob Gates, in which he sends her condolences and she takes more than a month to respond A federal judge ordered the monthly installments of documents comprising roughly 55,000 pages of emails that Clinton turned over a year ago after a congressional investigation into the Benghazi terror attack discovered that she had exclusively used a private email address while she was in office. The schedule calls for the emails to be released on the last weekday of each month, making the December portion due as the ball drops in Times Square Thursday night. In reality, the release will likely be made in the late afternoon. The final batch will hit the Internet on January 29, just three days before Iowa's presidential candidate caucuses. Thursday's documents were expected to cover 16 percent of the total. Unlike with past installments, Thursday's email release will not match the reporter-friendly formats from previous months, when subject fields, senders and recipients were scanned and converted to text so they could be searched. Instead, a source at the State Department said, the emails will be presented only as scanned images frustrating journalists intent on discovering what's in them as New Year's Eve parties get underway. The State Department had trouble meeting its court-ordered goals in July and August as well, but pledged to get back on track after it brought in people from multiple intelligence agencies to help scour the files for classified information that couldn't be made public. So far the State Department has had to censor a total of 999 such emails, including a few that intelligence agency reviewers classified as 'Top Secret.' State itself, however, maintains that it has not classified any of Clinton's emails at the Top Secret level. That development has added pressure to Clinton as she campaigns for the White House. She originally said, nine months ago, that there were no classified materials on her private email server. In later statements, the Democratic front-runner has tweaked her language to suggest that she never knowingly sent or received information that 'was marked as classified' at the time. Her status as America's top diplomat, however, carried with it the responsibility to know on sight what is and is not considered classified, and to protect anything that qualifies. The former secretary of state maintained a private email server in her upstate New York home, conducting all her digital correspondence away from government officials and transparency officers. Clinton acknowledged months ago that before handing over the roughly half of her emails that she deemed 'work-related,' she ordered the other half deleted. What remains has mostly been mundane, disappointing Republicans who hoped for smoking-gun drama that could knock Hillary off her presidential perch. But the classified emails have still exposed her to an FBI investigation, reportedly centering on whether she violated the Espionage Act which criminalizes the negligent or reckless care of state secrets. In September she swore under penalty of perjury that she had surrendered all of her work-related correspondence, but investigators are probing a hard drive said to contain copies of many of the erased messages. Clinton paid a State Department computer expert, Bryan Pagliano, to run her home-brew email setup before and after she left the agency. Pagliano, however, has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to speak with congressional investigators about his role in the scandal. Ripping off roofs of houses and destroying plant crops, what has been described as a very destructive cyclone has hit the island nation of Tonga, just north of New Zealand. Cyclone Ula has unleashed its fury on Tonga with flash floods, heavy rain and thunderstorms and gale-force winds reaching up to 200km/h. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in Tonga since the arrival of Cyclone Ula but no casualties have been reported as of yet. Ripping off roofs of houses and destroying plant crops, what has been described as a very destructive cyclone has hit the island nation of Tonga, just north of New Zealand Cyclone Ula has unleashed its fury on Tonga with flash floods, heavy rain and thunderstorms and gale-force winds reaching up to 200km/h. Earlier reports show that the country was on 'high alert' The latest warning from Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said Vava'u, Tongatapu, Ha'apai and 'Eua are expected to feel the worst of the tropical cyclone. Locals and tourists alike, have taken to social media warning others of the unrelenting cyclonic conditions hitting the region. Sam Mikaelson Rapana said: Its been raining three days straight due to #CycloneUla. Some locals posted pictures of the calm before the story showing Cyclone Ula brewing to become the torrential rains, gale force winds and thunderstorms now being seen in the region Locals and tourists alike, have taken to social media warning others of the unrelenting cyclonic conditions hitting the region While other pray for the safety of those in harms way. AkesaLea Uili said: Praying for the safety of family and everyone back home in Vavau and Tongatapu. One twitter user said: WTF #CycloneUla its meant to be summer in NZ mate. And locals ask those concerned to wish them luck through the extreme weather conditions. Some commented on the weather being unusual for the season, one twitter user said: WTF #CycloneUla its meant to be summer in NZ mate Another twitter user said it had been raining 3 days straight due to the cyclone Heavy damaging sea swells and east to south-east winds of up to 120km/h are expected to hit Vavau and Haapai, reported New Zealand Herald. Low areas are warned of seas flooding and international aid organisations are setting up help for the region. Carlos Calderon, Pacific humanitarian manager for Oxfam NZ told New Zealand Herald: We have emergency supplies in Tonga ready in place. Low areas are warned of seas flooding and international aid organisations are setting up help for the region Neil Ewins had been updating friends and family and asked them to 'wish them [us] luck' Once the urgent needs are assessed we are ready to help co-ordinate the supply of clean water and sanitation for those affected by the disaster, he added. National Emergency Management Office, Siaosi Sovaleni, told a press conference. We had 11 evacuation centres, over 390 people were relocated to these evacuation centres. In January 2014 Tonga was hit with Cyclone Ian that left one person dead and 4,000 homeless when winds averaging at 200km/h ripped through the islands. Sanjay Prakash from the Fiji Meteorological Service told the ABC at the time, that the cyclone had not changed its course and was heading towards VaVau group in the northern part of Tonga. Had he been drinking alcohol at the party, it would have been a violation of his probation Couch was sentenced to probation in 2013, after he was convicted in a drunk-driving case which killed four people It's believed that the teen and his mother fled the U.S. in November when a video surfaced showing Couch at a party where people were drinking A 'rock star' attorney will represent the 'affluenza' teen in his fight to stay in Mexico. High profile attorney Fernando Benitez is the same lawyer who helped free a U.S. Marine from Mexican prison where he was held for seven months last year. Ethan Couch, 18, won a delay in his deportation based on a constitutional appeal in Mexico that could lead to a trial process that could last weeks or months. Scroll down for video Rock star lawyer: Couch is currently fighting deportation to the U.S. where he is wanted for breaching a probation order. He is pictured left in custody in a December 28 photo. He hired high profile lawyer Fernando Benitez, pictured right, to represent him in court Attorney Fernando Benitez is the same lawyer who helped free a U.S. Marine from Mexican prison where he was held for seven months last year. He is pictured here with Jill Tahmooressi, mother of former U.S. Marine Andrew Tahmooressi outside a federal court in Tijuana on July 9, 2014 Benitez, who would not say who was paying him him, told NBCDFW that he wants to make sure the teen is treated lawfully. 'My interest is that if they are looking for his extradition to the United States, that it proceeds only according to the Constitution and the law,' he wrote in Spanish. This comes just days after a hotel claims that Couch spent the night at a strip club while he was on the run in Mexico, but couldn't afford it so his mother had to pick up the bar tab. The 18-year-old killer drink driver is said to have gone to a 'gentleman's club' alone one night while he was staying at the Los Tules resort in Putera Vallarta. Lawyers for a Texas teen who cited 'affluenza' as a defense in a deadly drunken-driving wreck may be attempting to stall his deportation to the United States by claiming that Mexican authorities violated his human rights, according to legal experts. According to reports, they said their arrest was unlawful, because the Mexican authorities separated them from their beloved pet dog. Cleaners at a beachside resort they stayed at for five days while on the run claim they found a gun left behind in a drawer in their apartment. Couch (pictured left and right, in the hat) is being held in a detention center in Mexico while fighting deportation to the U.S. where he is wanted for a possible breach of his probation Meza said she moved to another hotel where their dog would be more welcomed. They stayed in the beachside accommodation before moving to the shabby hotel where they were eventually captured. Before they left, Meza said the pair caused no trouble and were very quiet. The 46-year-old employee said: 'They seemed like normal people, perhaps a bit too private. But thats something you get used to: the idea that some people may be running from their past. 'The boy walked in (when they first arrived) and asked if we had rooms available and whether their dog was allowed. I said yes, a king-size, but he said he was traveling with his mother and needed two beds. I said OK, but they had to leave by Christmas because we were booked solid. Every day, Tonya Couch called the front desk to check whether there were any cancellations so they could extend their stay. One day turned to five. Couch's mother Tonya (center) has already been flown back to Los Angeles where she faces ten years in jail In the evenings, she walked their dog and ran along the Pacific Ocean. Meza said she learned a lesson during her stay - to always check the guests's identification. When the pair arrived they shunned doing the registration process and paid $80 in cash every night. Any flaw in the process of Ethan Couch's by Mexican immigration authorities can be considered a violation of due process and of his human rights, San Antonio attorney Javier Lopez de Obeso, who is licensed to practice in Mexico, said on Thursday. 'If the immigration authorities didn't act properly, he can find a way to stay in Mexico for more time,' said Lopez. If the judge considering the appeal decides there was a mistake made in the process of detaining Couch, he could be released, and authorities would have to re-arrest him, Lopez said. Treaties between the U.S. and Mexico say that Mexican authorities have to respect Couch's warrant in the U.S., so unless he files for asylum, he will not be able to stay in Mexico indefinitely, said Aldo Salazar, a Texas attorney also licensed to practice in Mexico. 'Asylum is granted to those who can prove a well-founded fear of persecution. I'm not sure "affluenza" would qualify,' said immigration attorney Nicolas Chavez. Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson has said he believes Couch and his mother fled to Mexico in late November after a video surfaced that appears to show Couch at a party where people were drinking, which would be a violation of his probation. The mother and son were arrested Monday after using a phone to order pizza delivery that was traced to a condominium complex in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta. Couch, who was 16 at the time of the crash and was tried in juvenile court, received 10 years probation for driving drunk and crashing into a disabled SUV parked on the side of the road in 2013. The collision killed four people and injured several others, including passengers in his truck. He pleaded guilty to four counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury. During the sentencing phase of his trial, a defense expert argued that Couch's wealthy parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility - a condition the expert termed 'affluenza'. The condition is not recognized as a medical diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association, and its invocation drew ridicule. Couch will also have to contend with shared bathrooms, concrete wash basins, and security guards on duty 24-hours a day and 'harsh' discipline Judge Jean Boyd sentenced Couch to probation over the objections of prosecutors who asked for 20 years' detention. Couch's attorneys argued probation would be more effective than detention because Couch could have been eligible for release in as few as two years. Whether Couch's 'affluenza' claims had an impact on Boyd is unclear. Boyd, whose term on the bench ended in 2014, did not return phone messages this week from The Associated Press. Had Couch been tried as an adult, he could have faced 20 years in prison for intoxication manslaughter, which is typically classified as a second-degree felony. 'We think it's important that juveniles are treated differently. The issue is what's in the best interest of the child,' said John Convery, president-elect of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Couch's mother, Tonya Couch, 48, was returned to the United States early on Thursday after her deportation from Mexico. She has been charged in Tarrant County with hindering an apprehension, a felony charge that carries a two to 10-year prison sentence, and is being held on a $1million bond. Ethan Couch was transferred Thursday to a Mexico City immigration detention center in one of the capital's poorest areas where he will likely spend weeks, if not months, as he appeals deportation. A security agent closes a gate outside the federal building housing the offices of the national immigration service, where Ethan Couch was seen departing in an immigration van shortly after, in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Wednesday The Texas teen known for using an 'affluenza' defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident is being held at a Mexico City immigration detention center in one of the capital's poorest areas, where he will likely spend weeks, if not months, as he appeals deportation A guard stands watch from atop a building inside the Agujas immigration detention center, where U.S. fugitive Ethan Couch is being detained in Iztapalapa, Mexico City Along with three meals per day, Couch will have access to watch TV or movies in one of the Spartan common rooms, or go to an outside patio where there is a basketball court and small soccer pitch A Mexican immigration official said the affluent young man will have no special privileges at the Agujas immigration detention center, where detainees sleep in common areas and use concrete basins to hand-wash clothes. 'Is there a chance that Ethan Couch could be successful in staying in Mexico? Yes, but I think it is delaying the inevitable,' said Dallas attorney Peter Schulte, who specializes in juvenile law. Tarrant county district attorney Sharen Wilson has said she plans to ask a judge to transfer Couch's case to adult court, where he could get up to 120 days in an adult jail, followed by 10 years of probation. If he violates probation again, he could face up to 10 years in prison per death, Wilson said. A holidaymaker who became stuck in deep mud after chasing her dog down a cliff was 'extremely lucky' to be alive according to the coastguard officers who saved her life. The middle-aged woman was rescued from a muddy tomb after a walker heard her desperate shouts from down the cliff, on the north Norfolk coast. A coastguard helicopter crew was scrambled and they expertly winched her to safety, however she was so covered in mud that the officers initially on the scene had trouble finding her. Scroll down for video Winched: The woman was lifted to safety by the coastguard helicopter crew, pictured, after becoming trapped Rescue: A coastguard crewman is lowered down towards the cliff where the woman was stuck in the mud Sam Baggaley, deputy station officer with Mundesley Coastguard, went down on special lines to help rescue the woman from the clifftop. Mr Baggaley said: 'I couldn't even see her at first. 'She was completely covered in mud. I was with her for about an hour and during that time she sank another six to eight inches into the mud. 'I was up to my knees in mud and kept on sinking - I lost my boots and socks down there. 'It was just awful. She was very happy to see us and kept apologising for getting us out, but I told her that's what we're here for. 'I think she was close to getting hypothermia - it was very cold down there. She's an extremely lucky woman.' Saved: The stricken woman, pictured, is rescued by the crewman and winched away from the cliff edge Covered: From this picture it is clear why the crewmen had trouble spotting the woman on the muddy cliff The victim was taking photos on a remote clifftop path when her terrier ran down the ledge, she bounded after him but after getting halfway down the slope she realised she would not be able to get back up. She decided to slide down to the beach at the bottom but about three quarters of the way down - some 35 yards from the top - she slid into deep clay and was completely trapped. She couldn't get a mobile phone signal and lay terror-stricken for an hour until a man on the path above heard her calling and alerted emergency services. Mr Baggaley called out the helicopter from Humberside airport after realising they could not free the trapped woman from her horrifying situation. He put her dog in an animal rescue bag and went back up the cliff, barefoot, with it, leaving his coastguard colleague Christon Illife to comfort the woman, who said she was on holiday from her home near Cambridge. Officer Baggaley said the woman was close to hypothermia, pictured, firefighters and paramedics treat her After saving the woman the crew went back to get Christon Illife, pictured, who stayed with her on the ledge Shaken: Luckily the victim escaped uninjured from the accident, pictured, officer Illife with the air crew In a very tricky operation the pilot of the powerful helicopter skilfully hovered feet above the cliff edge as a winchman was lowered down. He put a harness around the woman and the chopper sucked the mud-covered pair out of the clay and lifted them to safety on the clifftop. The exhausted woman, who was frozen and badly shaken up but otherwise escaped uninjured, was rushed to hospital by ambulance for a check-up. Keith Griffin, Happisburgh and Mundesley Coastguard station officer, saluted the emergency services following the incident and the man who raised the alarm. Mr Griffin said: 'It it wasn't for him and for the helicopter we could well have been looking at a fatality here.' A mother was found dead in her bed on New Year's Day by her nine-year-old daughter. Tammy Jones, 34, was discovered by her daughter Elise, who usually sleeps in her bed. She then alerted her older brother Dylan, 13, who called an ambulance at around 10.30am while waiting for their Aunt to arrive. Miss Jones, a Liverpool FC supporter, also leaves behind her daughter Keira, 12. Tammy Jones, 34, (left) was described as the 'life and soul of everything' by her younger sister Kimberly, 33 Tammy's sister Kimberly Jones, 33, told the Liverpool Echo she was trying to 'keep a level head for the kids' but felt like she 'had lost her right arm'. She told the newspaper: 'She was just the life and soul of everything, loved by everyone who met her. She would do anything for anyone and loved her kids more than everything. 'She was the best big sister I could ask for.' She added: 'I don't have kids, but I guess now I do. They are going to be lost without her. 'Elise is a shadow of her former self. She usually sleeps in bed with her mum, but the one night she didn't...' The girls are staying with Kimberly at her home in Walton, Liverpool. Dylan is staying with his grandfather, Gary Jones, 58. Tammy, 34, was discovered by her nine-year-old daughter Elise, who usually sleeps in her bed Tammy (right) was about to join her sister, who works as a prison officer at Altcourse, as a healthcare assistant in the jail In a Facebook tribute to her sister she wrote: 'My beautiful sister, my world. My soul mate......what will I do without you?? Can't believe you are gone......I feel empty Xxxx. 'Your babies are safe and being looked after by me and grandad xxx'. On Facebook, her friends paid tribute to the 'amazing' woman. Helen Lawrenson wrote: What will I do without you Tammy...can't stand the thought I can't drive up to you for a cuppa and a gossip and a laugh or a cry.' Alan Brislen added: 'Tammy was an amazing lady. RIP.' In a Facebook tribute to her sister, Kimberly (right in the left-hand picture) wrote: 'My beautiful sister, my world. My soul mate......what will I do without you??' The pair are pictured together right, with Tammy on the right Not suspicious: The cause of Tammy's death is unknown as the family wait for the coroner's report Victoria Bassnett said: 'RIP beautiful. Taken far too young and too soon. Heaven has gained another angel.' 'RIP hun. Far too young to be taken. Thinking of your kids and family at this sad time', Hayley Franklin added. Tammy was about to join her sister, who works as a prison officer at Altcourse in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool, as a healthcare assistant in the jail. They all spent a happy Christmas together where they sat up playing board games and chatting. The cause of death is unknown as the family wait for the coroner's report but is not being treated as suspicious. The Adams County coroner's office says a woman whose body was found in her Broomfield home was stabbed eight times in the chest and torso and suffered blunt-force trauma to the neck. The Broomfield Enterprise reports police have not arrested anyone in the death of 33-year-old Amalia Lopez De Mansilla, and investigators have not said if they have identified any suspects. She was found dead in her home October 18. On October 10, Lopez De Mansilla reported a burglary at her home and told officers a large 500 pound gun safe had been tampered with. Murdered: Police have not arrested anyone in the death of 33-year-old Amalia Lopez De Mansilla, and investigators have not said if they have identified any suspects. De Mansilla was stabbed to death and her body was discovered on December 19 Stolen: This 500-pound safe was carted away from the Colorado mobile home The safe and Lopez De Mansilla's Michael Kors purse were missing when police found her body. Police believe the woman was out at the View House restaurant in Denver the night before her body was found. Police are still trying to figure out who killed Lopez. Authorities revealed her cause of death just this week. 'We do have a couple persons of interest, but ... it's an active investigation and we dont want to lose any potential evidence or opportunity we have to catch the bad guys,' Sgt. Steve Griebel of the Broomfield Police Department told The Huffington Post On Thursday. One witness reported seeing a man wheeling a large object on a dolly that could have been the safe, reported The Huffington Post. 'It was a heavy safe 450 to 500 pounds,' Griebel told The Huffington Post. 'We do have a witness who saw somebody wheeling a large object that they think could have been the safe down the street. When the witness saw it going down the street, it was being handled by one person and was on a dolly.' A neighbor also claims to have seen a man leaving Lopez's home the day she was found dead. Police have not released many details about mom Lopez who was recently separated from her husband. Police are still trying to find a motive behind the killing. They are not sure if it was related to a robbery or if it was premeditated. 'We dont know if it was a burglary, if it was a robbery [or] if it was premeditated,' the sergeant said. 'Really, not until we put more of the pieces together and do more interviews will we have the whole picture of what happened.' A neighbor claims to have seen a man leaving Lopez's home (pictured) the day she was found dead. Another witness say they saw a man carting a large object on a dolly A bully victim at a school in Blackpool has vowed to massacre his classmates in a horror gun rampage when they return from their Christmas holiday. In a chilling Facebook post, the pupil - who kept his identity hidden - promised 'bullets, bodies and blood' in retaliation for years of abuse from his peers. Using the hashtag #MontyMassacre, the teenager has threatened to kill students at Montgomery High School in Bispham this Monday. Teachers and the police are taking the posts extremely seriously - and will be upping their presence to ensure pupil safety when they return from their festive break on January 4. Using the hashtag #MontyMassacre, the teenager has threatened to kill students at Montgomery High School (pictured) in Bispham this Monday. Teachers and the police are taking the posts extremely seriously - and will be taking precautionary measures to ensure pupil safety when they return from the festive break on January 4 The Blackpool Gazette reported that a series of messages had been put on Facebook by a poster who said he plans to 'kill as many people as possible' at the school on Monday in revenge for alleged bullying. He praised gun killers in schools in the United States, saying: 'Nobody talks to me or notices me except when they're calling me a nerd and pushing me around.' When challenged by one student, he asked: 'You think it's a joke? You'll see bullets, bodies, and blood.' Principal Tony Nicholson said in a statement to parents and carers: 'You may be aware of references on social media from an anonymous source regarding Monday January 4, 2016, at Montgomery High School. 'Staff at the school were quick to spot this posting and the matter was immediately referred by the school to the police. We have been working very closely with Lancashire Police in this regard over the last 48 hours. 'The safety of our pupils and staff is paramount. In the shocking posts made online, the pupil referenced the Columbine Massacre (pictured) which left 12 students and one teacher dead in 1999 The threats referred to Columbine gunmen Eric Harris (left) and Dylan Klebold (right) as 'great' people 'I am in full and constant liaison with the police and have been over the last few days. I can fully assure you that all efforts are being made by both the academy trust and the police to identify the source and nature of the postings. 'We are satisfied that the police are doing everything possible to investigate and protect and they are providing strong support in order to help us to safely open the school as normal on Monday morning.' The school is now trying to identify the person responsible for making the online posts. We will ensure an appropriate police response on Monday morning to ensure the safety of all persons in the school Lancashire Police statement In them, there was references to Columbine Massacre gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who murdered 12 students and one teacher in 1999. The poster stated: 'These guys are great. They killed a bunch of people in their high school and then killed themselves. 'Huge inspiration for the #MontyMassacre on Monday.' Police insisted measures will be taken to ensure pupils are safe when they return from their Christmas holidays next week. An animal welfare group from Illinois has set its crosshairs on Clay County Sheriff Jeff Franklin. Known as SHARK, which stands for Showing Animals Respect & Kindness, the Geneva, Illinois-based group has lambasted Franklin in three videos posted to YouTube. In the videos posted during the past month, SHARK President Steve Hindi alleges the sheriff stopped a van driven by activists without cause, then harassed them and lied about the reason for the stop. The videos had gotten more than 60,000 views as of Thursday. Franklin said his department has received numerous calls from people since the first went up in early December. Its just an utter smear campaign, he said. Hindi said SHARK posted the videos in retaliation for comments Franklin made in local news reports about activists and the traffic stop. He can have all the suspicions he wants," Hindi said in an interview. "But when you start talking about it in the media like it is a pretty sure thing, that is absolutely and completely wrong. Animal activists are not raising tensions, he is raising tensions. He is doing it intentionally. Several media outlets quoted Franklin about a string of incidents that happened in the county since the release of a New York Times story that alleged a decades-long pattern of abuse and neglect at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay County. Franklin said his deputies had investigated several unusual events, including trespassing in area outbuildings, a mysterious fire and internal gates being opened at a feedlot, allowing hundreds of cattle to wander through the facility. Franklin did not accuse SHARK of being involved in those incidents, but said some local residents were on edge and suspicious of people from outside the area. SHARK and the sheriff first crossed paths on Nov. 6. Five activists went to Clay County in two vans with plans of taking video and photographs of the meat research center. Hindi said the group observed the center from the public right of way and flew a remote-controlled quadcopter over its grounds to record video. The group has not released the video it took. After they packed up and were driving away, Franklin pulled over the lead van driven by Mike Kobliska and a deputy pulled over the second van being driven by Hindi. The YouTube videos, which are edited, show highlights of the interaction between Franklin and Kobliska interspersed with comment from Hindi, who accuses Franklin of being in cahoots with the research center. The traffic stop was recorded on a handheld video camera by a passenger in the van. The law is the law, and we follow the law," Hindi said this week. "What is not the law, you dont have law enforcement officers working as private goons. The video shows Franklin question the driver about having flown a drone over federal land, then later say he pulled the vehicle over for speeding. Franklin ended the traffic stop by giving the driver a warning for speeding and photographing the quadcopter from outside the vehicle, telling the activists that federal authorities would contact them regarding the drone. Hindi says the van was not speeding and calls the stop illegal. He said neither SHARK nor its volunteers have been contacted by federal authorities related to the incident or for flying a quadcopter over research center grounds. The research center is part of the USDA Agricultural Research Service and is run in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It has a $22.7 million annual budget and sits on 34,000 acres of a former naval munitions depot between Hastings and Clay Center. The center is a major employer in the county, and Franklin is among the many area residents who have worked there over the years. He worked at the center for three years in the 1970s and has a family member who was an intern there more recently. The center keeps 12,600 cattle, 13,900 swine and 3,700 sheep for research. Its scientists do long-term experiments focused on boosting meat production, quality and safety. It came under intense scrutiny in the wake of the New York Times article, which many in the agriculture industry have criticized for what they call cherry-picking and sensationalizing incidents that took place over several decades. An interim USDA Inspector General Report released in September found many of the practices at the center to be in line with industry norms. The review is ongoing. A separate USDA review recommended several oversight changes, which the center says it has implemented. Hindi also says a public information request sent to the sheriffs office seeking to get records of the traffic stop went ignored until after SHARK contacted the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. Franklin said the request, which was sent via email, got flagged as spam by his email system. He said he fulfilled the request as soon as he became aware of it. The Attorney Generals Office said that because the sheriff fulfilled the public information request it will not investigate the complaint further. Hindi said his group intends to return to Clay County and will be keeping an eye on both the sheriff and the research center. Quentin Tarantino considers the Confederate flag the 'American swastika' - and feels it is 'about damn time' that people questioned its place in the American South. Tarantino's comment was made during an interview to promote his latest film, The Hateful Eight, which is due to hit the big screen on January 8 in the UK. The film is set a few years after the American Civil War and it puts the spotlight on strained race relations in the country. Scroll down for video Quentin Tarantino considers the Confederate flag the 'American swastika' - and feels it is 'about damn time' that people questioned its place in the American South In it, black Union soldier Major Marquis Warren, played by Samuel L Jackson, is thrown together with former Confederate soldiers, including Walton Goggins as a South Carolinian sheriff and Bruce Dern as a General. Although the movie is not about race, the subject is explored through the interactions between the characters. The United States has seen sustained racial unrest following the shooting of 18-year-old African American Michael Brown by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014. Further incidents have stoked the fire, including the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina, carried out by a white supremacist who had previously posed with the Rebel flag of the Confederate states. In the interview with The Telegraph, Tarantino said: 'All of a sudden, people started talking about the Confederacy in America in a way they haven't before. I mean, I've always felt the Rebel flag was some American swastika. 'And people are starting to question about stuff like statues of Bedford Forrest [the Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard] in parks. Well, it's about damn time, if you ask me.' Tarantino said: 'And people are starting to question about stuff like statues of Bedford Forrest [the Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard] in parks. Well, it's about damn time, if you ask me' The director also addressed his notorious interview with Channel 4 News' Krishnan Guru-Murthy three years ago. During the interview, Tarantino told Guru-Murthy 'I'm shutting you down' when the latter asked a question suggesting a link between violence in his films and violence in real life. Several of Tarantino's films, including Django Unchained, Reservoir Dogs and now The Hateful Eight, include high levels of violence and brutality. The director said: 'In the last 25 years, when it comes to industrial societies, hands down the most violent cinema that exists in any one country is Japan. Sexual harassment of women in Saudi Arabia is still vastly more common Many said the women should be punished severely as a A Saudi shopping centre has reported 16 cases of sexual harassment of men by women, prompting outrage in the ultra-conservative kingdom. The abuse reportedly took place in the largest shopping mall in Jeddah, the second biggest city in Saudi Arabia. Men were catcalled and followed around the mall in a growing trend that is challenging gender roles in the Middle Eastern kingdom. Scroll down for video Outrage: A Saudi Arabian mall reported 16 cases of men being sexually harassed by women, which has prompted anger in the ultra-conservative kingdom But although the incidents were reported to security staff in the shopping centre, none of the men filed official reports for fear of social stigma, according to the Saudi Gazette. The malls general manager Ryan Kaddouri said that CCTV footage backed up the claims of the harassed men, and the videos were handed to the police for an investigation. The alleged harassment caused a stir among shoppers in the mall, many of whom told the Saudi Gazette that women should be more severely punished as a deterrent. Most of the men interviewed said they would walk away from a woman if she harassed him, while one said he would inform the countrys notorious religious police. Women harass men verbally for emotional enticement, especially if the man is handsome, according to one male shopper. One Saudi woman apparently told the paper that the women who harassed men were only hoping to attract attention for a wedding proposal. But the sexual harassment of women and girls still vastly overshadows the harassment of men. Sickening: Appalling YouTube footage captures the moment two terrified women were hounded by a horde jeering men as they walked along a promenade in Jeddah in July. The video was shared widely on social media, bringing sexual harassment into the public eye in the Middle Eastern nation Over the past two years Riyadhs Justice Ministry recorded some 4,000 cases of sexual harassment, according to The New Arab, despite most cases going unreported. In July, two videos were widely circulated on social media of men harassing women on the city streets, sparking fierce debate in the highly religious nation. One of the videos, shot in the same city of Jeddah during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, showed two girls being surrounded by a group of young men who begin cheering and shouting as the women become distressed. Debate: The shopping mall where the harassment was reported is in the Red Sea city of Jeddah (pictured) The second video, shot in Taif, Mecca, showed a woman being harassed by two men. The men follow the woman through the street before one of them approaches and gropes her. In a national survey conducted in 2014 by the Riyadh-based King Abdulaziz Centre for National Dialogue, 80 per cent of participants attributed sexual harassment in Saudi Arabia to womens deliberate flirtatious behaviour. A 14-year-old Oklahoma boy was shot in his back and arm by his neighbor while playing 'ding dong ditch' with his friends. Cole Peyton of Pryor was with two friends when they were in his neighborhood ringing doorbells and running off early on New Year's Day when the homeowner came to his front yard and began firing, police said. As of Friday evening, the neighbor had not been arrested and the Pryor High School freshman, who survived, was out of surgery, KOTV reported. Scroll down for video Cole Peyton (pictured), 14, of Pryor, Oklahoma was shot in his back and arm by his neighbor while playing a game known as 'ding dong ditch' with his friends Cole was with two friends as they were in his neighborhood ringing doorbells and running off early on New Year's Day when the homeowner came to his front yard and began firing, police said The case has since been handed over to the district attorney who is determining whether the shooting was justified. 'The investigation now centers around whether the homeowner's use of deadly force was lawful or illegal. No arrests have been made at this point,' Chief of Police Steven W Lemmings told KOTV. Police had responded to the scene for a home invasion around 1.30am on Friday. Authorities said the three boys did not attempt to break into the home and that the investigation suggests they were engaging in pranks. 'Currently, the investigation suggests that the juveniles were engaged in neighborhood pranks and not attempting to break into the residence,' Lemmings said. Lemmings said that the teens were trespassing on the homeowner's property when the shots were fired outside his home A neighbor, Samantha Perry, who said she saw the teens earlier in the evening but did not see the shooting said she does not think the incident should have ended in gunfire Lemmings said that the teens were trespassing on the homeowner's property when the shots were fired outside his home. Cole's mother said that her son and his friends had rung the neighbor's doorbell earlier that night and that the shooting started when they walked past his house a second time, KOTV reported. The boy told his mother that the man yelled 'Hey' before shooting Cole in the back with the bullet going through his body and puncturing his liver. Cole then yelled 'run' to his friends, according to KOTV. Cole was also shot in his arm. Authorities said the three boys did not attempt to break into the home and that the investigation suggests they were engaging in pranks A neighbor, Samantha Perry, who said she saw the teens earlier in the evening but did not see the shooting, said she does not think the incident should have ended the way it did. 'I mean, that's just kids being kids right there, I don't think there should've been anything like that involved,' she told KOTV. A British grandmother on Death Row in Bali for smuggling cocaine has set up a knitting venture behind bars to provide desperately needed funds for a final appeal. As her execution date draws close, Lindsay Sandiford, 59, has taught 20 other inmates to knit, and they now work in their cells making teddy bears, jumpers, shawls, Nativity scenes and Easter boxes, which are sent to church groups in Australia. Sales of the items have so far generated more than 7,000 towards Sandifords appeal, as well as money for wool and extra meals and provisions for those inmates who make the items in sweltering conditions inside Balis Kerobokan jail. British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford (centre) on Death Row in Bali for smuggling cocaine has set up a knitting venture behind bars to provide desperately needed funds for a final appeal As her execution date draws close, Lindsay Sandiford, 59, has taught 20 other inmates to knit, and they now work in their cells making teddy bears, jumpers, shawls, Nativity scenes (above) and Easter boxes, which are sent to church groups in Australia The items have become crucial to Sandifords chances of survival as she tries to lodge her appeal. The Indonesian authorities are poised to resume executions after a temporary moratorium on the death penalty ended on Friday. Sandiford was sentenced to death in January 2013 and could face execution at any time. Her chances of having a final appeal are in jeopardy after her lawyer Chris Harno was arrested last month for corruption. He has yet to be replaced. Even if another lawyer is found, Sandiford remains 15,000 short of the 40,000 needed to pay for legal fees for the hearing. She has already missed a November deadline for filing her appeal papers, and Indonesias attorney general said last week that a new list of convicted drug traffickers to be executed in 2016 was being prepared. Sandiford set up the knitting operation with the support of Christian pastors who visit her in prison after she was denied funding by the UK Government for her appeal against the death penalty. Sandiford (left) said she began with wool brought in by her sister to make a Christening blanket for her granddaughter Ayla (right), who was born after Sandifords arrest in 2012 for smuggling 10.6lb of cocaine Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday from Kerobokan prison, Sandiford said she began with wool brought in by her sister to make a Christening blanket for her granddaughter Ayla, who was born after Sandifords arrest in 2012 for smuggling 10.6lb of cocaine. Knitting stops me from going insane, she said. I can blank everything out. It calms me down and Im doing something useful. For the other women, they earn money to pay for food and learn a skill they can take out of prison. Sandiford was initially listed for execution in September last year following the killing of 14 other drug traffickers earlier in the year. They included her friend and mentor, Australian Andrew Chan. Andrew told me to treat each day as if it were my last, she said. I do but sometimes it is overwhelming. Every ten minutes there is a story about when Ill be executed. Sandiford claims she was forced to carry cocaine from Bangkok after threats to the life of her younger son, and she received the death penalty despite co-operating with police in a sting operation to arrest people higher up in the syndicate Sometimes it would be better not knowing. I dont want to wallow in self-pity, so I feel sorry for myself for five minutes and then get on with things. Sandiford claims she was forced to carry cocaine from Bangkok after threats to the life of her younger son, and she received the death penalty despite co-operating with police in a sting operation to arrest people higher up in the syndicate. The plots alleged ringleader, Briton Julian Ponder, who conducted a behind-bars romance with British Vice-Consul Alys Harahap that led to her sacking, is expected to walk free next year after serving a six-year term with remission. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has repeatedly refused to help fund Sandifords appeal, despite a recommendation to consider doing so from five Supreme Court judges in London. Revealed: Middle-class teenagers are being lured through Facebook to join criminal gangs in bank account hacking scams. A Mail on Sunday reporter (his face obscured) meets the fraudsters' runner Gullible middle-class teenagers are being lured through Facebook to join criminal gangs in bank account hacking scams, a Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered. The youngsters are being promised the chance to make up to 12,000 in just half an hour via the social networking site. They offer their bank accounts to fraudsters as a place to deposit funds plundered from innocent hacking victims. The card mules then withdraw the cash and split the proceeds with the criminals, helping them to avoid detection by police. However, the youngsters leave themselves open to being prosecuted for money-laundering and they are risking a maximum 14-year jail sentence. Our investigators found hundreds of Facebook pages where gang members advertise for accomplices to help them carry out frauds. They tempt teenagers with photographs of themselves in nightclubs or shopping malls posing with the proceeds of their crime, including wads of cash, Apple computers and shopping bags from designer stores such as Louis Vuitton. One page had almost 9,000 members. Last week police launched an investigation and Facebook took urgent action to close the pages after being alerted by this newspaper. But within a day, new pages had appeared as Facebook seemed powerless to stop the epidemic. Andy Norton, from computer security company FireEye, said: Facebook needs to work more closely with the police to shut down these gangs. They are brazenly advertising on Facebook and are being allowed to rip people off. Scammers gain access to their victims money by hacking their online bank account and then transferring the funds to the accomplices they recruit via Facebook. Our reporter posed as a youngster willing to help the criminal gangs and was contacted by a fraudster known as James Payper. Gullible: The youngsters are being promised the chance to make up to 12,000 in just half an hour via the social networking site by offering their bank accounts to fraudsters. The fraudsters' runner is again pictured Facebook messages and images of cash (pictured) tempt teenagers to launder money for criminal gangs He offered the reporter the chance to make between 4,000 and 12,000 in just 30 minutes and promised to split any proceeds 50/50 if he could deposit cash in the reporters account and then meet up to withdraw it from a bank. Our investigator was told to bring his bank card to a busy London Tube station, where it would be picked up by the fraudsters associate, known as a runner. [These gangs] are brazenly advertising on Facebook and are being allowed to rip people off Andy Norton, from computer security company FireEye The baby-faced runner told our reporter: To avoid being caught by the police after you cash out, you should ring up your bank and say your card has been stolen. He also advised the reporter to empty his account before laundering the money. However, our man made his excuses and left without handing over his bank card. The exposure of apparent criminal activity on Facebook is hugely embarrassing for the company and police. Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey said: The Mail on Sunday revelations bring home how rapidly internet crime is growing. More police resources are necessary to tackle internet criminality. In November, a Mail on Sunday investigation revealed that credit and debit card details of customers from major high street banks, including HSBC, Barclays, NatWest and Halifax, were available for sale on the dark web. Hackers advertised internet and telephone banking log-in details for accounts. Images of expensive watches are also used as a temptation so teenagers allow fraudsters to use their bank accounts to deposit funds plundered from innocent hacking victims. The card mules then withdraw the cash Enticing: The proceeds are then split with the criminals, helping them to avoid detection by police. These are some of the Facebook messages posted on the social networking site to try and lure teenagers into the same All the details needed to raid one account, allegedly containing 11,000, were for sale for 2,879. They included the account holders name, address, 16-digit card number, three-digit security number, and the card expiry date. Last night Facebook confirmed that the profiles flagged up to them by The Mail on Sunday had been removed as they violated its community standards, and the company said it was continuing its investigation into the matter. The Mail on Sunday revelations bring home how rapidly internet crime is growing Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey According to the Office of National Statistics, there were an estimated 3.8 million victims of online fraud in England and Wales last year. The shocking figures have prompted many to question the ability of police to tackle such crime. A National Crime Agency spokesman said: Recruiting mules to help launder the proceeds of crime is an established criminal methodology, and the web has presented new opportunities to target people. The Mail on Sunday has shared the information gathered as part of our investigation with the Metropolitan Police and with the national fraud reporting service, Action Fraud, run by City of London Police. It is second time the road has been shut due to escaped pigs in four days They ran amok on A21 Sevenoaks Road, forcing it to close for four hours A major London road was shut down for four hours today after a herd of rare pigs escaped from their enclosures and ran amok on the carriageway. The porcine trespassers, including black-spotted piglets, got on to the A21 Sevenoaks Road in the borough of Bromley shortly after 11am after fleeing from nearby fields. They were seen roaming the busy carriageway and exploring the leafy area next to it. Escape: A major London road was shut down for four hours today after a herd of rare pigs escaped from their enclosures and ran amok on the carriageway. Above, one of the pigs roams a grassy area beside the road Curious: The porcine trespassers, including black-spotted piglets, got on to the A21 Sevenoaks Road in the borough of Bromley shortly after 11am after fleeing from nearby fields. Above, three of the escaped piglets Their escape prompted officials to close the London-bound carriageway for around four hours at lunchtime - the second time the road has been closed due to escaped pigs in a matter of days. In the previous incident, between 30 and 40 of the kunekune pigs - a rare breed native to New Zealand - strayed on to the same stretch of road on December 30, the RSPCA said. The A21 road connects the M25 with Orpington in Bromley. This morning, Transport for London warned drivers of 'pigs in the carriageway', adding that the road was being closed by officials between Hewitts Roundabout and the village of Pratt's Bottom. It reopened at around 3.30pm. Shortly before 3.40pm, TfL said: 'We have just been told the escaped pigs on A21 Sevenoaks Road have all been recaptured. The road is now open again.' On the loose: The pigs' actions prompted officials to close the London-bound carriageway for around four hours at lunchtime - the second time the road has been closed due to escaped pigs in a matter of days Reopened: Shortly before 3.40pm, TfL said: 'We have just been told the escaped pigs on A21 Sevenoaks Road have all been recaptured. The road is now open again' The RSPCA said it was working with the owner, trading standards, police and highways officials to prevent the pigs from escaping again. Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: 'The owner had managed to round up a majority of them, shepherding them up the hill and back into the fields. 'We worked with Transport for London staff to stop the pigs from getting back on to the road. 'The owner was there and has been building secure enclosures to keep the pigs contained and away from the road but something obviously went wrong. 'Pigs are incredibly intelligent animals and they have worked out a way to get through the fence so they can get on to a nearby verge to forage. Fortunately no pigs or motorists were injured.' Another incident: The latest pig escape comes just days after a runaway porker caused an hour-long traffic jam on a main road as five passers-by and police tried to catch the animal (file picture) The kunekune pig is classed as a rare breed, despite being one of the most well-known types of domesticated pig globally. It faced extinction in the 1980s, with only around 50 purebred pigs left. But thanks to breeding recovery efforts, the kunekune is no longer in danger of extinction. The latest pig escape comes just days after a runaway porker caused an hour-long traffic jam on a main road as five passers-by and police tried to catch the animal. Dozens of motorists got caught up in the midday chaos while the pig believed to be a 2ft-long pet, ran under vehicles in Skegness, Lincolnshire. At one point a resident managed to lasso the black pig, but it struggled free. The convicted al-Qaeda terrorist behind the attempted murder of the BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner was executed by Saudi Arabia today alongside 46 other men including a high-profile Shia cleric. Adel al-Dhubaiti, a Saudi national, opened fire on the BBC reporter whilst he was filming for a report in Saudi Arabia with his cameraman Simon Cumbers. Frank Gardner was shot six times and left paralysed while his friend Simon Cumbers was killed in the attack in Riyadh in June 2004. Adel al-Dhubaiti, a Saudi national, opened fire on the BBC Security correspondent whilst he was filming for a report in Saudi Arabia with his cameraman Simon Cumbers Frank Gardner was shot six times and left paralysed while his friend Simon Cumbers was killed in the attack in Riyadh in June 2004 The BBC journalist was left with life-changing injuries but made a defiant recovery and remains one of the BBC's finest correspondents on security and terrorism issues. He had previously turned down the chance to meet al-Dhubaiti after his attacker was sentenced to death in November 2014. 'I don't want to see this guy. Why would I? What am I going to get from it? The man's soul is dead,' he previously said in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph. 'He (Adel Al-Dhubaiti) is completely unrepentant. He has never said sorry. Simon Cumbers (left) ,26, was killed in the terror attack which left Frank Gardner (right) paralysed. He has since returned to work for the BBC 10 months after he was left for dead, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner returned to work in a wheelchair on 18 April 2005 'He is still in the mindset that he had when he attacked us. So forgiveness is not really an option,' he revealed. 'All that matters is that the guy should never be free on the streets because he is a danger to humanity.' al-Dhubaiti was executed alongside dozens of al Qaeda members today in Saudi Arabia, signalling that the Kingdom would not tolerate attacks, whether by Sunni jihadists or minority Shi'ites. Many of the protesters in London gathered in support for Nimr al-Nimr, calling for the action against the Saudi regime Demonstrators protest outside the Saudi Embassy in London, following Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners in one day Killed: Shiite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a 56-year-old cleric was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia. Above, a Yemeni protests Nimr al-Nimr's death sentence (file photo) Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims marched through Qatif district in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province in protest at the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, an eyewitness said. They chanted 'Down with the Al Saud!', the name of the ruling Saudi royal family. Nimr, the most vocal critic of the dynasty among the Shi'ite minority, had come to be seen as a leader of the sect's younger activists, who rejected the quiet approach of older community leaders for failing to achieve equality with Sunnis. Most of the 47 killed in the kingdom's biggest mass execution for decades were Sunnis convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago. Four, including Nimr, were Shi'ites accused of involvement in shooting policemen. The executions took place in 12 cities, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. In December, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatened to retaliate against Saudi Arabia for any execution of its members. Enraged Bahraini demonstrators pulled up a palm tree trunk to make a blockade in the street against security forces at a demonstration Concerns remain that Saudi Arabia's decision to execute 47 prisoners may lead to further sectarian tension in the region Protesters clashed with security forces in a number of villages in Bahrain, where the government has sided with their ally Saudi Arabia One Kashmiri Shiite holds a Hezbollah flag shout slogans against the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a protest in Srinagar The move further soured relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and its Shi'ite regional rival, Iran, which had hailed Nimr as the champion of a marginalised Shi'ite minority. In Iraq, prominent religious and political figures demanded that ties be severed, calling into question fence-mending efforts by Riyadh that had been intended to boost a regional alliance against Islamic State militants. The executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers there to stage attacks. After the executions, Islamic State urged its supporters to attack Saudi soldiers and police in revenge, in a message on Telegram, an encrypted messaging service used by the group's backers, the SITE monitoring group reported. Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family has grown increasingly worried in recent years as Middle East turmoil, especially in Syria and Iraq, has empowered Sunni militants seeking to bring it down and given room to Iran to spread its influence. Advertisement Many people turned to exploring local nature paths for their daily exercise when lockdown closed gyms and group sports took a hiatus amid the pandemic. Amateur photographers who captured stunning images of animals in their natural habitat were quick to submit their snaps to Weekend magazine's annual Wildlife Photography Challenge in the hopes of winning a package worth over 1,000. The entrants were split into five categories - Birds; Mammals; Insects; Under-18s; and Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians & Molluscs. While each category winner received a Nikon mirrorless digital camera kit and a year's subscription to Nikon Owner magazine, the overall winner also received a trip to the Camargue with wildlife photographer Simon Stafford, courtesy of Create Away, for a four-night masterclass in photographing the region's wild horses, flamingos and bulls. Judges David Suchet, Clare Balding, Lucy Cooke, Steve Brown, Kelly Brook and Michael Eleftheriades were impressed with Lee O'dwyer, 67, a retired engineer from Lancashire, who was awarded the overall winner for his shot of a long-tailed tit. These runner-up snaps taken by talented amateur photographers prove choosing an overall winner was a tough decision... BIRDS PUFFIN: Taken by Joseph Bristow, 23, a retail supervisor from Llantwit Major. 'Arriving at 3am and queueing for the 6am ticket office to open. First in line I caught the boat over to Skomer Island. With only a few hours permitted on the island I had no time to waste. Surrounded by the Puffins was an amazing spectacle and allowed me to capture some amazing photos. I found this one puffin who seemed very tame and loved posing for the camera. As he stared down the barrel of my lens I took my shot and was pleased with the result. I found the black background really provides a provocative and striking image highlight the vibrant colour of the Puffins.' KESTREL CHICKS: Taken by Jayne Kirkby, 20, from Braintree, Essex. 'Beautiful pair of Kestrel chicks, taken at Wrabness on 20th June 2020.' KINGFISHER: Tim Clifton, a 59-year-old from, St Leonards on Sea, snapped this captivating photo of a kingfisher hunting for small fish MALLARD: William Watson, 64, a semi retired HGV driver from East Dunbartonshire. 'Taken on the Forth & Clyde canal (December '19') Bishopbriggs, As I went to take this photo of this female Mallard it stretched creating a nice reflection....' INSECTS BUTTERFLY: Adam Lane, a 27-year-old host at Legoland, from Slough, captured a butterfly perched on a purple flower in specular detail WASP: Shelia Moth took this captivating photo of a wasp on a thistle, capturing the insect and plant in immense detail SPIDER: Taken by Geoffrey Wells, 67, a maintenance caretaker from North Yorkshire. 'This picture was taken in my back garden during the recent lockdown.' REPTILES MATING FROGS: Taken by Steve Jellett, 64, from Essex, who is retired. 'Taken in small garden pond when 21 frogs descended to mate.' MAMMALS ROE DEER: Tim Cliffton, a 75-year-old from St Leonards on sea, took a photograph of two roe deer spotted in a field MOUSE: Taken by Cameron Parfitt, 20, a student at the University of Brighton, from Worthing. 'I would love to highlight that even in your back garden there are images to be had. This image is of a cheeky wood mouse that keeps stealing food from what we have now dubbed the mouse feeder. It's not unheard of for this little guy to be found inside the feeder without a care in the world stuffing himself with the bird seed.' JUNIORS FOX CUB: Billy Evans-Freke, 15, a secondary school student from East Sussex. 'It wasn't a long wait in the hide before the first fox cub woke up from its nap and came out into the open. It was soon followed by another cub. At first they stayed in the shadows of the bushes near the den. But once they gained their confidence they started coming closer. This cub in particular was very curious and came very close to the hide.' Labour MP Simon Danczuks political career was hanging by a thread last night after his first wife made devastating claims that he drove her into therapy with drug and alcohol-fuelled bullying and obsessive demands for sex. Mr Danczuk, 49, a campaigner against child sexual abuse, has been suspended by the Labour Party after he offered to spank a 17-year-old girl in a lurid exchange of text messages. Now, in an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Sonia Rossington, 39, claims that he is a sexual predator, and the text message revelations are typical of the behaviour she suffered in their decade-long relationship. Shamed: Simon Danczuks first wife Sonia Rossington (left) claims he drove her into therapy with drug and alcohol-fuelled bullying and obsessive demands for sex. She called the Labour MP (right) a 'sexual predator' Sonia (pictured with Mr Danczuk after the birth of their daughter Marymartha Danczuk in 2002) says she wasn't surprised when it was revealed he offered to spank a 17-year-old girl in a lurid exchange of texts She claims that Mr Danczuk: Pestered her for sex relentlessly; Tried to get her interested in spanking, caning and sado-masochism; Drank vast quantities of alcohol, up to a bottle of whisky a day; Was a regular drug user who demanded that she have a cannabis joint ready-rolled when he came home from work as well as dinner on the table; Used amyl nitrite poppers and pornography to make sex more exciting; Persistently intimidated and belittled her in front of others; Was so mean he refused to contribute to his sons housing costs at university. The revelations are bound to increase pressure on the Rochdale MP, who could now face deselection. Sonia says when they divorced, he made her sign a gagging order in an attempt to stop her speaking out about the torment she endured. Only now, with the order exposed as invalid, is she free to talk, she says. 'Sexting': Mr Danczuk began exchanging messages with teenager Sophena Houlihan (pictured) last year after she contacted him asking to do case work in his constituency office. The texts became increasingly sexual Question: In one text the MP allegedly offered to 'discipline' her and asked: 'Do you want me to spank you?' Revelations: Simon Danczuk is pictured with Sonia Rossington on their wedding day in 2002 Hes a sexual predator who made my life hell, she told The Mail on Sunday. I was completely controlled by him. It was a form of domestic violence, without the hitting. I think he never hit me because he was usually too stoned. Sonia, who has remarried since her 2010 divorce from Mr Danczuk, said that she had not been at all surprised by his behaviour. Last night she said: Im appalled at his disgusting behaviour with this young woman who is only a few years older than his daughter. But no, not surprised. To be honest I was waiting for something like this to happen. The MP for Rochdale admitted he 'had a drink problem' and revealed a psychiatrist had told him to stop drinking for six months. He is pictured out jogging in London on New Year's Day Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk was seen exercising out and about in London on New Year's Eve Sonia, who has remarried since her 2010 divorce from Mr Danczuk (pictured, said that she had not been at all surprised by his behaviour Sonia, a nursery nurse who runs a business from home, said Danczuk (pictured) was so manipulative and controlling during their marriage that she was too frightened to make decisions about anything Driven, charismatic and a natural communicator, Danczuk had seemed destined for a stellar career in politics until last weeks revelation of his sexting to a 17-year-old girl Sexually he was quite perverted. He introduced me to pornography shortly after we married and wanted to tie me up and cane me. I tried it for him and out of curiosity, but I didnt like it. He also liked to use poppers amyl nitrite as he said that made the sex better. She says the children they had together are so embarrassed they want to change their surname. Sonia, a nursery nurse who runs a business from home, said Danczuk was so manipulative and controlling during their marriage that she was too frightened to make decisions about anything. When she complained about him having sex with her, while she slept at 3am, he told her: Youre my wife. I can have sex with you whenever I want. She said: You learned not to cross him. He would say to me If you get on the wrong side of me I will destroy you. And he means it he wants to take you down so you have nothing, not even a way of making a living. Ive been in therapy for years over this. I was terrified of relationships. I was afraid of so many things. Simon has cast a long shadow over my life. LABOUR BOSSES 'WILL TRY TO KICK MP OUT OF THE PARTY FOR GOOD' Labour bosses will accuse Simon Danczuk of breaching his duty of care to a potential employee in a bid to kick him out of the party for good, it has been claimed. The MP said a 'drink problem' led him to send sexts to Sophena Houlihan when she was 17 and that he felt 'awful' about the lewd messages. Miss Houlihan, who is now 18, said Mr Danczuk sent her numerous messages, including one asking if she wanted a 'spanking' after she contacted him about a job. He has been suspended from the Labour Party while an investigation takes place into his conduct, for which he has apologised 'unreservedly'. Now it has been claimed that senior Labour party figures believe a case against Mr Danczuk - that he abused his position - 'looks proven', the Sunday Times reports. The paper quotes a source familiar with Labour's inquiry as saying: 'She'd applied for a job and the suspension is linked to the fact that this is the role of an employer. That's a very serious role. 'An MP shouldn't be taking advantage of someone coming for a job because they've got a position of power.' The Sunday Times reports that Mr Danczuk has since been backed by allies who fear he is the victim of a 'kangaroo court'. MailOnline has made attempts to contact the Labour party for comment this morning. The MP for Rochdale told the Sun he felt 'lonely' and was 'drunk' while on holiday in Spain when he sent the texts. The pair exchanged messages for nearly a month before he asked how old she was. He said, at first, he considered it a 'professional conversation'. The father of five added 'younger women are my Achilles heel' but said he knew sending the messages was 'wrong' and his behaviour had 'played on his mind'. Advertisement The sex was sly, awful... I told Simon, please stop. He said 'It's the deal: you are my wife' When she fell in love with Simon Danczuk as a naive 19-year-old factory worker, Sonia Rossington was confident she had found the path to a brighter future. Driven, charismatic and a natural communicator, Danczuk had seemed destined for a stellar career in politics until last weeks revelation of his sexting to a 17-year-old girl, Sophena Houlihan, and that humiliating apology. But if Danczuk, 49, has regrets, he is not the only one. And in the case of Sonia, his first wife and the mother of two of his children, those regrets are bitter and long-lasting. For today, after years of keeping her counsel, she exposes the Labour MP for Rochdale as a manipulative, sex-obsessed, misogynistic bully whose years of mental abuse left her needing therapy. Marriage: Mr Danczuk is pictured with Sonia Rossington at the pair's wedding at Gretna Green in 2002 Sitting down for her first ever interview, Sonia, 39, paints a devastating portrait of a man dependent on vast quantities of alcohol and cannabis, who not only expected dinner on the table when he returned from work, but in a new twist on an old theme, expected a ready-rolled joint to be waiting, too. Their ten years together, Sonia says, almost destroyed her. Distressingly, she says that the misery culminated in six months of torture, with Sonia enduring what she describes as unwanted sexual intercourse until Danczuk, by then her partner of ten years, found a new lover. Danczuk denies any sexual misconduct. When Sonia asked for more family time from her workaholic husband, his response was to buy her a pink vibrator. She says he attempted to persuade her to engage in bondage sessions and to use the sex drug amyl nitrite. Danczuk, of course, was further humiliated last week when it was revealed that as part of his sexting, he had suggested spanking Miss Houlihan. Target: Teenager Sophena Houlihan (pictured) was bombarded with sex messages by MP Simon Danczuk who told the 17-year-old she was 'cheeky' and asked if she wanted a 'spanking' Speaking at her two-storey Victorian home in Darwen, Lancashire which includes the childrens nursery she owns and runs she said her only surprise at learning about the sexting was that his behaviour had not come to light earlier. I think this has been his modus operandi for years, she said. Hes a sexual predator who made my life hell. Im appalled at his disgusting behaviour with this young woman who is only a few years older than his daughter. But no, not surprised. To be honest, I was waiting for something like this to happen. She said that heir two children, George, 18, and daughter Marymartha, 13, are embarrassed by their fathers behaviour and intend to change their surnames. After years of anxiety and panic attacks in the wake of her disastrous marriage, Sonia says she is speaking out now in part to come to terms with the past or, as she puts it, to exorcise my demons. The height of the abuse, she claims, came in 2006, when Danczuk, already a workaholic, was preparing to become a Labour MP Wed bought the house in Darwen and it was a stressful time for him, she said. He worked till two or three in the morning researching everything he wanted to know about Rochdale. He was a Labour Party candidate but actually knew little about Rochdale so this was his way of catching up. But he was getting by on just a few hours sleep a night. He was also drinking heavily usually a bottle of whisky a night. We had little time together and hardly any communication, other than Ive ironed your shirt, This is for dinner, What is your schedule for this week? But when he came to bed he would have sex with me, interrupting my sleep. I would just wake up and it would be happening. It was always in the missionary position. After a few weeks I was so exhausted I said to him Please stop this but he tried to make me believe it was me who was initiating it. I was so confused. I thought I was going mad. I had no recollection of this at all. I started covering up, wearing long johns, pyjamas, socks, anything to make it more difficult for this to happen. I asked him to stop again. Earlier this week Mr Danczuk was dumped by his local councillor girlfriend Claire Hamilton (pictured together) after she saw the messages - and today he admitted he had been 'stupid' Interaction: Miss Houlihan said she was shocked when the MP told her he was 'horny' in a string of explicit texts (his messages are in grey) But this went on for months. I thought I was going mad. If it was me initiating things why was he always on top? So I decided to stay awake and see what he actually did and try to find out the truth. What happened was sly and awful. Hed sneak into the room, take off his clothes and peel back the bed covers, roll me on to my back, open my legs and start having sex with me. I let him do this a few times, pretending to be asleep and even tried to record it on a camera, but of course it was dark. I confronted him about it later. I said, I know what you do and I want it to stop. I cant believe you tried to make me think it was me initiating things. He said, Its a husband having sex with his wife. He said, Listen, Sonia. This is the deal. You are my wife and its expected from a wife to give her husband sex whenever he wants it. If you dont give it to me when I want it Ill go and look elsewhere. I burst into tears. But after that he carried on for months with a much more careless attitude. He would throw the blankets off and roll me over though he only took 15-20 seconds to finish. At the same time there were an awful lot of rows. I didnt feel I could fight back. He was an 18st man and I weighed around 8st. I was heartbroken. I knew then that for the marriage there was no going back. I rang my mother in tears and she said, Thats it. Come home. But I couldnt. Everything I had the house, our money, the business was tied up with Simon. But at that point I began planning my escape. Rochdale MP Mr Danczuk, 49 (pictured), a campaigning politician who exposed his predecessor Cyril Smith as a predatory paedophile, was suspended by Labour after he admitted sending explicit messages to a girl of 17 Miss Houlihan said that she was shocked by the sexual nature of Mr Danczuk's messages - which the MP admits came when he split from his wife Karen (pictured together, left) Statement: Mr Danczuk apologised for his 'stupid' behaviour, adding that 'there's no fool like an old fool' When she learned of Simons sexting to Sophena Houlihan last week, Sonia said she was not at all surprised. Ive always said that it would not surprise me if Simon was found with an orange in his mouth, his mouth gagged, and a bin liner over his head, dead, she said a reference to Tory MP Stephen Milligan who died this way. Sexually he was quite perverted. He introduced me to pornography shortly after we married and wanted to tie me up and cane me. I tried it for him and out of curiosity but I really didnt like it. He also always liked to use poppers amyl nitrite as he said that made the sex so much better. He bought me a vibrator once for my birthday. I remember unwrapping my presents on the kitchen table at breakfast. It was a mail order thing and it was pink. I was horrified. He said, Well you said we dont spend enough time together so I thought this would help. I just flung it aside and said, What the hell is this? He couldnt distinguish sex from love. I wanted more family time not a sex toy. TIMELINE: HOW THE MP STARTED 'SEXTING' 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL July 2015: Sophena Houlihan claims she contacted Simon Danczuk on Facebook about a job in his Rochdale constituency office, near her home. Ten says later he invites her to his office. August 18: MP messages her to ask how old she is - and when she replies '17' he says 'Good for you!' September 20: Mr Danczuk and Miss Houlihan share explicit messages and the MP declares 'God I'm horny!' September 21: Steamy messages continue with Mr Danczuk saying he is aroused and asks: 'You want me to spank you?' September 30: Rochdale MP confirms he is in a relationship with local councillor Claire Hamilton after they are seen kissing at the party conference and says they have been dating for a short period. Miss Houlihan claims the messages continued after that. December 28: Mr Danczuk is dumped by his girlfriend after she discovers the messages and also claims the MP admitted kissing an aide at a Christmas party. December 29: Greater Manchester Police asked to probe 'inappropriate' messages but find MP has not committed any offences. Advertisement She says the abuse only ended when Simon moved to Rochdale to work on his Election campaign. It is perhaps an irony that, more recently, Danczuk has made a name for himself campaigning against child abuse. He famously exposed the appalling behaviour of his parliamentary predecessor in Rochdale, Cyril Smith, in a book Smile For The Camera: The Double Life Of Cyril Smith. But at home, Sonia says Danczuk demanded subservience from his much younger wife. He got very angry if his dinner wasnt ready, or the house wasnt tidy, or there wasnt a [cannabis] joint rolled ready for him when he got home, she said. He used to buy the drugs in bulk from a friend in London in packets about five by five inches. It looked like a very large sweets bag. In the early days I smoked with him, but after the children were born everything changed and I stopped. I was also working and running the house with the two children. I did everything. But I felt I couldnt make a decision without his permission. The bullying was making me unhappy I was completely controlled by him. It was a form of domestic violence, without the hitting. I think he never hit me simply because he was usually too stoned. Hed shout and belittle me and kept telling me, Im the breadwinner. Do you know what I do for you and how I provide for you? You have no experience of relationships, and I do, and what I say goes. I was always the butt of his jokes. And he made all the decisions even down to when we ate. We could only eat when he ate. On one occasion he and I were out with friends in Manchester and a man paid me some attention. Simon flew into a jealous rage so I did what I always did, shut down and stared at the floor. I saw no way out. We had joint mortgages and finances and I didnt know how to do anything on my own. I used to beg him to spend more time with the family but that also made him angry. He used to say, What do you want me to do? Give all this up and become a lorry driver? I was in despair. Its a far cry from when they first met. It was 1996 and Sonia, a GMB trade union member, had been sent from the textile factory where she worked in Barnsley to a weekend education course in Manchester. Simon, a councillor on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, was running a workshop there for the Workers Beer Company, which provides stewards and runs stalls and bars for big music festivals. They found themselves working together at festivals around the country. Sonia says that at first she had no interest in Simon, who had chased her hard for a kiss, and later sex. Sexy texts: Simon Danczuk (left) asked 17-year-old Sophena (right) if she wanted him to spank or punish her Mr Danczuk asked Miss Houlihan how old she was and on learning she was only 17 replied: 'Good for you!' But they eventually did fall in love and by the following year shed given birth to their son George. They moved in together at his home in Darwen, and for a time life was happy though home life was run according to Simons wishes and based on his decisions. At his best he was so charming, so witty and very, very funny, she said. He was really entertaining company and I realised I did love him. We went through a honeymoon period but by the time Marymartha was conceived five years later there were problems emerging in the relationship. In 2002 they married, but things in the marriage got steadily worse. Four years later, Simon had an affair with an assistant at his company Vision 21, a research, public affairs and communications consultancy he had co-founded which brought him power and success. The young woman left after claiming constructive dismissal and sexual harassment. But she lost in an internal enquiry with a union rep. Simon admitted the affair only after Sonia held his mobile phone over the toilet, threatening to flush it, in her determination to learn the truth. He got very angry that I had found out, and I gave him an ultimatum, she said. Her, or me and the family. As he was so concerned about his image and political aspirations, there was no choice for him really. Anger: Sonia Rossington, who was married to Mr Danczuk until he left her for second wife Karen, has said she is 'appalled' at his behaviour He was in the middle of the selection process for the Labour candidate for Rochdale. So he chose me. He begged me to forgive him but that was just the start of it. By January 2007 Sonia had decided this is it. I became unusually confident and assertive, she said. I gave up work and decided to renovate the house to maximise its value preparing for a split. I was then going to say to him, I want a divorce. Simon won the Rochdale candidacy in February 2007 and rented a terrace house in the town where he slept most nights. But then in September, it was he who announced to Sonia: Im leaving. Were not getting on. She said: For some reason I broke out in hysterical laughter. It was such a relief. I couldnt stop laughing. But I knew there must be someone else. I said, How pregnant is she? Youre not getting sex from me so where are you getting it?. I knew him like the back of my hand. He expected sex morning and night seven days a week. It drove him in a way. He denied anything was happening. But when the children were visiting they often saw Karen Burke [who went on to become Simons second wife, famous for her selfies] and told me one day, Karens very pregnant you know. I threatened him with a DNA test if he didnt tell the truth. Finally he admitted that yes, this was his baby. The divorce then became on grounds of adultery. For years, she says, she believed that a gagging order she signed at Simons insistence in the midst of the divorce proceedings prevented her from speaking out. Only recently has she learned that it is not worth the paper it is written on. Sonia said it is his attitude to his children she has found most hurtful. He has a blatant disregard for them, she said. He always did. It was like they were ornaments in the house. I contacted Simon for the first time in a long time last year because we were struggling to afford to pay for Georges university accommodation. I asked him for half of 6,500 a year. George even approached him, which he never does, out of desperation. Simon told me he couldnt afford it. And he said to George, Why are you only contacting me now? George replied, Well why do you never contact me. Its sad but they have no relationship whatsoever. Sonia says Simon never hit her but she claims the bullying she endured was an even more insidious form of abuse. He was a nasty bully. Manipulative. He was also really jealous. I felt completely inferior. On the one hand he would tell me I shouldnt believe people if they told me I couldnt achieve things he was inspirational in that way. But in the house he wanted to completely dominate me. My parents had initially liked him, but early on, even before we married, we were on a group holiday in a holiday camp and there was an evening do where we could all play games. I put my hand up to volunteer, but Simon said, Sit down. Youre not to do this. You will do nothing that might make the papers or damage me or my political career. Damage: Simon Danczuk's marriage to wife Karen ended this year and his ex-lover Claire Hamilton (pictured together) dumped him last week as the MP's career began to unravel The messages to Miss Houlihan started after he split with his wife Karen (pictured last week in her local park) That was everything to him. Sonia said she watched Simon change as his political career became more successful. You learned not to cross him. He would say to me, If you get on the wrong side of me I will destroy you. And he means it he wants to take you down so you have nothing, not even a way of making a living. When she and Simon split, Sonia spiralled into years of depression and despair not because she had lost him, but because she didnt know how to find herself. Simon withheld child maintenance. Asked why she is finally speaking out now, Sonia said: Ive been in therapy for years over this. I was terrified of relationships, I was afraid of so many things. My life was limited. Simon has cast a very long shadow over my life. Ive had terrible anxiety. Panic attacks. Sometimes I couldnt leave the house. There were times we all struggled so much for money we lived in one room because we couldnt afford the heating. Ive been with the children to food banks. And all this while his career has gone from strength to strength. Sexually he was quite perverted. He introduced me to pornography shortly after we married and wanted to tie me up and cane me Sonia Rossington The things he has done have been extraordinary. Its like hes tried to sabotage my life. There was a time when George was about 13 and he began to go off the rails. I contacted Simon and begged him to have a father-to-son chat with him. His response was, Dont you realise how important I am? Im not being portrayed as a man who takes his son away and punishes him for behaviour. Thats what I pay you to do. Sonia says both the children want to change their names. George says many people are aware of the antics of his father. Sonia has been more able to protect Marymartha but last week she heard the teenager turn on the TV news. Whats Dad done now? she asked her mother, who explained as best she could about the sexting. What is Karen saying about that? said Marymartha, before Sonia explained that Simon had moved on to another girlfriend, who had now dumped him because of the sexting. Oh my God, Mum, said Marymartha, putting her face in her hands. Im going to be, like, this girl from a really chav family, who has brothers and sisters from all his different girlfriends. For me its quite saddening to see what has happened to Simon, Sonia said. I really hope this is the last time I ever have to speak about him. Hes built his career on portraying himself as a caring and responsible individual. And hes not. He has no empathy or feelings for anybody except himself. I would go so far as to say hes a functioning psychopath. I half expect to see him turning up on TV crying. My concern is for my children and their future. I need to protect them. Nigel Farage fears he has been the victim of an assassination attempt after his car was sabotaged, causing a terrifying motorway crash. The Ukip leader careered off a French road after a wheel on his Volvo came loose while he was driving from Brussels back to his home in Kent. When the police arrived at the scene, they told him that the nuts on all of the wheels had been deliberately unscrewed, The Mail on Sunday has established. 'Target': Nigel Farage (pictured today) claims he was the victim of an assassination attempt, after he careered off a French road when a wheel on his Volvo came loose while he was driving back to his home in Kent Getaway: Mr Farage was forced to leap over the barrier of the motorway near Dunkirk to escape from speeding lorries, as pictured in this reconstruction Mr Farage, who has received death threats during his tumultuous time as leader, last night spoke about the frightening incident, which took place near Dunkirk. It was the middle of bloody nowhere, and I was caught in a very bad position, he said. There was a huge section of roadworks with cars going back and forth on the same side of the carriageway. I suddenly realised I was losing steering but there was no hard shoulder to pull on to. 'I slowed down, put the hazards on and then one of the wheels came off. I jumped over the wall as quickly as I bloody well could to get away from lorries and everything. Mr Farage's Volvo, which was involved in the incident. When the emergency services arrived, they told a shaken Mr Farage that he had been the victim of a malicious act When the emergency services arrived, they told a shaken Mr Farage that he had been the victim of a malicious act. The French police looked at it and said that sometimes nuts on one wheel can come a bit loose but not on all four, Mr Farage said. When he was asked who he thought might have been responsible, Mr Farage replied: I havent got a clue. Quite frankly, the way my lifes been over the past two-and-a-half years, nothing surprises me. Quite frankly, the way my lifes been over the past two-and-a-half years, nothing surprises me. Ukip leader Nigel Farage The crash, which took place in daylight at the end of October, has been kept under wraps by Mr Farage until now. He agreed to talk about it this weekend after being contacted by this newspaper. Mr Farages Volvo V70 comes with a single locking nut on each wheel, which should be immune from interference. But if the other four nuts are loosened, then the remaining one is likely to sheer off as soon as the car is travelling at speed. The Ukip leader has been embroiled in a series of poisonous feuds within his party over recent years, both in London and in the European Parliament, where he sits as an MEP. The Parliament splits its operations between the Belgian capital Brussels and the French city of Strasbourg. Mr Farage frequently drives himself to his offices in the parliament buildings from Kent because he says it is the easiest way to juggle his mad schedule. For security reasons, Mr Farage would not say where he parks his vehicle in Brussels. Malicious: The Ukip leader has received previous death threats during his time at the head of the party Mr Farage said he had not asked police to pursue the investigation because he didnt want to make anything of it. When asked if he had received death threats, Mr Farage said: Of course. Its not a particularly easy game, this. He added: The French police and mechanics looked at it but I have made no formal report in this country. The mechanics were absolutely certain of [foul play] but I have decided to take no further action. Mr Farage has endured a torrid time recently, with senior Ukip figures expressing concern that the party is losing momentum in the wake of its disappointing Election result, when it won only Douglas Carswells Clacton seat. Last month, Mr Carswell said the party needed a fresh face as leader only to be told to put up or shut up by Mr Farage. Last night, Eric Fouard, the prosecutor for Dunkirk, said he was not aware of any investigation into the accident involving Mr Farage. No wonder he's considering a TV career move... The Ukip leader is considering a new career as a television presenter if he leaves politics after the EU referendum. Mr Farage has been involved in discussions with production companies about fronting a three-part series on military strategy, including a history of the First World War. News of Mr Farages talks has been spread with glee by his growing number of critics in the party, who argue that Ukip needs a fresh leader to reinvigorate it. Last night, a spokesman for Mr Farage said that the idea of him fronting programmes had been bubbling away since early last year when the TV companies were first contacted but no deals had yet been struck. Last night, ex-Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom, who once shared a flat with Mr Farage in Brussels, said he could see why the party leader would be interested in presenting a military history series. Mr Bloom said: We have done military tours together. Nigel is a very good raconteur, Corporal Snoops manning the machine-gun at the bridge heres the spot he won his VC, that sort of thing. I know what I know. Somehow, what I see is different from what other people see. To her left is Elsie Wraighte, with whom he claimed to have shared a kiss Sitting next to him at staff Christmas party is ex-girlfriend Claire Hamilton Simon Danczuk's tangled friendships are starkly revealed in this picture of his staff Christmas party. Sitting next to Mr Danczuk is Claire Hamilton, who split with the controversial MP last week after he told her he had enjoyed a festive kiss with Elsie Wraighte at the event. Ms Wraighte, 25, is pictured on Ms Hamiltons left. The Labour Party activist and politics graduate was furious to be told that she was the reason for Mr Danczuks latest love split, saying: It never happened. I have a perfectly clear memory of the night and I promise you its not true. Claire made it up. Celebration: Simon Danczuk (left), with Claire Hamilton next to him and Elsie Wraighte, 25, to her left at the Labour MP's staff Christmas party at The Asia restaurant in Rochdale, Greater Manchester on December 11 A second picture taken during the evening shows Mr Danczuk and Ms Wraighte simultaneously kissing Ms Hamilton. Sitting opposite Mr Danczuk during the December 11 dinner but out of shot in the main picture is his glamorous parliamentary assistant, Nasreen Nazir, who once tried to sue him for sexual harassment. The curry house where the party was held, The Asia restaurant in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, is run by Ms Nazirs brothers. Despite their legal clash a decade ago, Mr Danczuk recently gave Ms Nazir, 37, a 30,000-a-year taxpayer-funded job as his parliamentary assistant and was then pictured in this newspaper exercising with her in a London park. Mr Danczuk was suspended by the Labour Party last week after it emerged he had exchanged sex texts with 17-year-old Sophena Houlihan shortly after he split from his second wife Karen last year. Angry: Ms Hamilton is kissed on the cheek by Mr Danczuk and Ms Wraighte. But the Labour Party activist and politics graduate (right) was furious to be told that she was the reason for the MP's latest love split Last night, Karen Danczuk told The Mail on Sunday that she wasnt surprised her ex-husband had been attracted to Ms Houlihan because she had big boobs. But she added: I was shocked by the age. I said, Simon, youre nearly 50. What the hell were you thinking? If youre engaging with a 17-year-old, youre not in the right frame of mind. The thing with Simon is that he doesnt feel like a 49-year-old man. He doesnt accept hes getting old Karen Danczuk He explained that he had been going through a hard time after our break-up. I told him he had to stop using the breakdown of our relationship as an excuse for his chaotic lifestyle. The thing with Simon is that he doesnt feel like a 49-year-old man. He doesnt accept hes getting old. He needs to get an absolute grip and pull himself together. Hes worked himself almost to death to become an MP. Now I can see it all unravelling around him. Its such an own goal. She said Mr Danczuk had always been attracted to younger women, and was a big drinker. In the beginning, he would have a bottle of wine and then more than half a bottle of whisky in the evening. That happened every time I was with him. Target: Teenager Sophena Houlihan (pictured) was bombarded with sex messages by MP Simon Danczuk Karen Danczuk told The Mail on Sunday that she wasnt surprised her ex-husband had been attracted to Ms Houlihan because she had big boobs. But she added: I was shocked by the age' He used to take tumblers of whisky to bed with his book. I remember walking into the bedroom and being overpowered by the alcohol fumes. She added: Hes nasty when hes drunk. He turns into a different person. He wasnt a stumbling drunk but he was nasty, just plain nasty. He was very nasty towards me. I cant go into detail but it was horrible. She said she hoped Mr Danczuk would not be kicked out of the party by leader Jeremy Corbyn. Id like to think Jeremy will look at this in a principled way. People say, Karen, this has to be the last straw. Why are you still helping him? But hes the father of my two kids. The MP for Rochdale admitted he 'had a drink problem' and revealed a psychiatrist had told him to stop drinking for six months. He is pictured out jogging in London on New Year's Day Mr Danczuk was suspended by the Labour Party last week after it emerged he had exchanged sex texts with 17-year-old Sophena Houlihan shortly after he split from his second wife Karen last year Hes a right pain in the a*** and I hate him at times, but I dont want my boys with a dad who is losing control. I need to snap him into gear. I wont dedicate my life to a man who doesnt want to be rescued. This is his last chance. Mr Danczuks first wife, Sonia Rossington, once threw his phone into a toilet during a row about Ms Nazir. The MP has strongly denied any suggestion that he had an affair with Ms Nazir. Miss Rossington said she found text messages from Ms Nazir on the phone and confronted him while he was in the bath. Ms Nazir began proceedings against Mr Danczuk for sexual harassment and constructive dismissal when she worked for him at a social research company he founded in Manchester a decade ago. Embattled MP Jamie Briggs has come under fire again after he admitted he sent 'a few people' a photograph of the young woman who accused him of inappropriate behaviour during a trip in Hong Kong. The photograph was published in an edition of a weekend newspaper and Mr Briggs confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph he had sent out the photo, which was pixelated when it was published, but not to any media outlets. Community and Public Sector Union assistant national secretary Michael Tull has hit out at Mr Briggs for sharing the photo. Scroll down for video South Australian MP Jamie Briggs was accused of sending around this photo of the female public servant with his chief of staff, Stuart Eaton. The woman accused him of inappropriate behaviour during a trip in Hong Kong 'If this kind of gross breach of privacy had come from a senior departmental official, or any other public sector worker for that matter, that person would be facing serious repercussions,' Mr Tull said in a statement sent to Daily Mail Australia. 'People should feel safe to raise their concerns without this kind of blowback. 'It's never easy for a person who works in the public sector to raise inappropriate behaviour, especially when a politician is involved. 'All Australian workers should feel they are safe from this sort of unreasonable treatment.' Mr Briggs denied the 'kiss allegation', admitting only to giving the woman a 'peck on the cheek' as she was leaving (Pictured with Victor from the Hong Kong MTR during November's trip) It was also revealed Mr Briggs (left) continued to accept offers to fly first class after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (right) banned the practice The picture shows the female public servant next to Mr Briggs' chief of staff Stuart Eaton smiling in a Hong Kong bar called Stormies and it was taken on the MP's phone. Mr Briggs, who is married with three children, told the Telegraph the photo was further proof of how 'informal' the night was and denied he had leaked the photo to The Australian. 'I sent it to a few people prior to the complaint and following. I didn't have anything to do with todays [Saturday's] stories,' he said. The 26-year-old at the centre of the Briggs scandal reportedly did not want to lodge a formal complaint after the alleged incident in Hong Kong. According to The Australian, the woman messaged Mr Eaton three days after the night they spent together at Stormies, saying: 'When you get a spare second could you please call me It's just about Friday night.' Mr Eaton phoned her immediately and heard her allegations against the minister before she asked the chief of staff to speak with his boss so the behaviour would not be repeated. Mr Briggs (left) pictured with Malcolm Turnbull in February in parliament. The PM called the Hong Kong matter 'a serious incident' and was part of a group who deliberated on the MP's future Mr Briggs' wife posted a picture of their family on social media in a show of support after his resignation Instead an investigation was launched, which ended in Mr Briggs' resignation as minister for cities. The 26-year-old-woman alleges the minister tried to kiss her neck after he put his arm around her. Mr Briggs announced his resignation from the front bench on December 29 following 'certain matters' which occurred with an unnamed female public servant, leading to a flurry of speculation over what exactly transpired that night. The incident reportedly took place in November at a bar in Lan Kwai Fong during an official tour of Hong Kong. Mr Turnbull labelled the incident 'a serious matter' and explained 'ministerial standards were breached' by Mr Briggs - a South Australian politician who painted himself as 'a family man.' 'It was considered very carefully with due process, consultation with senior colleagues, it was considered very, very carefully,' Mr Turnbull said after Mr Briggs' resignation. The former minister for cities flew first class five times after Mr Abbott tightened restrictions on ministerial travel Mr Briggs said he did not ask to be moved and was upgraded with no additional cost when he arrived at the gate 'Ministerial standards were breached. His conduct did not live up to the standard required of ministers and as a consequence, he reflected on that and made a decision to offer his resignation which I accepted and it was the appropriate course of action.' It was also revealed Mr Briggs continued to accept offers to fly first class after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott banned the practice, but Mr Briggs claimed he 'had no choice'. The former minister for cities flew first class five times after Mr Abbott tightened restrictions on ministerial travel following Bronwyn Bishop's tax-payer funded helicopter scandal, The Sunday Telegraph reported. The South Australian politician hit back at allegations that he breached Mr Abbott's first class flying ban, claiming that he did not ask to be moved and was upgraded with no additional cost when he arrived at the gate. 'I didn't request the upgrades and I certainly didn't disregard the rules. From memory it happened four times. I didn't do anything wrong,' Mr Briggs said. Jamie Briggs official letter of resignation on December 29 to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Mr Briggs said in his resignation letter that 'at no point was it my intention to act inappropriately' Mr Abbott, who made the changes to stop politicians 'exploiting the rules', said he had refused to accept offers to take first class seats, while Foreign Affairs Minister Julie also declined upgrades since the ban. The parliamentary register shows that the 38-year-old had also accepted other gifts such as free membership to the exclusive Qantas Chairman's Lounge and a significant amount of free alcohol - which included crates of fine wine and champagne. Following the accusations levelled at Mr Briggs, a woman who worked for the 'overly-affectionate' minister said females in his office were treated as 'either beauty queens or ironing ladies'. Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie, who is primed to run for Mr Brigg's seat in Mayo, said she left the South Australian minister's office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values'. Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie (left) said she left Mr Briggs' (right) office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values' Mr Briggs, left, smiles alongside Alexander Downer, right, in London following a stopover in Hong Kong 'There were things said that were misogynist in nature,' she told The Australian. 'His was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government: that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies,' she added. Ms Sharkie told Daily Mail Australia that it is 'very important' for women feel comfortable calling out inappropriate behaviour in the office, but would not comment any further on her time working for the minister. The 38-year-old, who has served in federal parliament in the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo since 2008, made the announcement in Adelaide last Tuesday after he met with Mr Turnbull and handed over his resignation letter. 'At no point was it my intention to act inappropriately and I'm obliged to note for the record that nothing illegal has been alleged or did in fact occur,' Mr Briggs stated at the time. Ms Sharkie (centre) said Mr Briggs' behaviour 'was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies' A female public servant alleges Briggs (left in the UK) attempted to kiss her on the neck during a trip through Hong Kong before meeting British ministers to discuss the future of public transport His wife, former Liberal staffer Estee Fiebiger-Briggs, has not publicly commented on the Hong Kong scandal, however she has reportedly posted a family picture on social media in a show of support. Mr Briggs' resignation from his post as minister for cities came on the same day as Special Minister of State Mal Brough also stood aside. Mr Brough has been under pressure to give up his job after allegations arose he was involved in the copying of the diary of former speaker Peter Slipper. Mr Briggs arrives in a wheelchair outside the Federal Liberal Party Room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on September 15 after being hurt while tackling former PM Tony Abbott the night before JAMIE BRIGGS' 2015 - FROM TACKLING TONY ABBOTT TO A HONG KONG BAR September 14 Jamie Briggs backs Tony Abbott in the leadership ballot as he is defeated by Malcolm Turnbull Mr Abbott hosts a farewell party inside the Prime Ministerial suite An Italian marble coffee table worth $590 is smashed during the drinking session It was alleged Mr Briggs had been dancing on it singing 'Suspicious Minds' when it broke He has always denied dancing on top of the table Jamie Briggs pictured in a wheelchair after the Tony Abbott party September 15 Mr Briggs arrives the next morning in a wheelchair claiming he hurt his leg while running November 13 Mr Briggs admits on radio that he in fact hurt himself at the party on the night Tony Abbott was defeated Said he tried to tackle the former PM and injured his knee Again denied claims he was involved in the broken marble table Late November Becomes involved in an incident at a crowded bar in Hong Kong during drinks which leads to concerns raised by a female public servant December 29 Resigns as a Minister in the Turnbull Government Advertisement Mr Turnbull said he had been disappointed by the former minister's conduct David Cameron is on standby to hold an emergency reshuffle in the next few weeks which could see Boris Johnson dramatically appointed to a frontline Government job. No 10 fears that at least two Eurosceptic Cabinet Ministers Leader of the House Chris Grayling and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers could be on the brink of walking out of their jobs over Mr Camerons support for an In vote in the EU referendum. It could lead to an earlier- than-expected appointment to the Cabinet for Mr Johnson, who has previously said that he would not take a ministerial position before his term as London Mayor ends in May. David Cameron is on standby to hold an emergency reshuffle in the next few weeks which could see Boris Johnson dramatically appointed to a frontline Government job. He would be forced to support the 'In' campaign Last night, one of the Mayors friends told The Mail on Sunday that he would answer the call for an early return if there were exceptional circumstances. Mr Johnson, who claims not to have decided which way he will vote in the referendum, is being wooed by both the In and Out camps. But if he accepted a big job in any New Year reshuffle, he would be forced to rally behind Mr Cameron and the In campaign. Downing Street has tried to calm the jitters of leading Cabinet Eurosceptics, who also include Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, Home Secretary Theresa May and Justice Secretary Michael Gove, by assuring them that if they are unhappy with the outcome of Mr Camerons negotiations with Brussels then he will allow them to openly campaign to leave the EU. However, some sceptics fear that they are being strung along by No 10 to keep them in line until the last minute. With the EU vote potentially being held as soon as June, they say that if they wait too long to campaign for Out, then the In campaign could have built up an unassailable lead polls suggest the In camp is ahead by about ten points. No 10 worries that Ms Villiers and Mr Grayling, who are calculating they will be sacked at the next reshuffle anyway, have little to lose by leaving on their own terms. Downing Street has tried to calm the jitters of leading Cabinet Eurosceptics, who also include Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith (pictured), Home Secretary Theresa May and Michael Gove No 10 fears that at least two Eurosceptic Cabinet Ministers Leader of the House Chris Grayling (left) and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers (right) could be on the brink of walking out of their jobs The Out camp claims Downing Street has been forcing undecided sceptics, such as Mrs May, on to the airwaves to defend Mr Camerons negotiating strategy with the EU in order to make it harder for them to align with the Out cause at a later stage. Mr Johnsons aides said the Mayor would expect to be offered a proper Cabinet portfolio in any reshuffle, such as Health, Education or the Foreign Office. One MP in the Boris camp said: If the reshuffle takes place in February, then there would only be a couple of months to go until the start of the new Mayoral election campaign, so I dont think that would count as going back on his word about not doubling up on jobs. Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed the London Mayor had claimed the Prime Minister would have a better chance of winning concessions from Brussels if he was more robust. Mr Camerons allies hit back by branding Mr Johnson two-faced because while publicly he has taken a strong Eurosceptic stance, privately he has said it is almost inconceivable that he would vote to leave. Mr Cameron is expected to complete his renegotiation of the terms of Britains relationship with Europe in time for the next meeting of the European Council in February. Nathan Baggaley (pictured) was a kayak world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist, but he went off the rails into the murky world of drugs In his prime he was a kayak world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist. But Nathan Baggaley went off the rails and descended into the murky world of drug dealing - leaving him now facing his second stint in jail. The disgraced athlete has opened up about his decline, saying his 'life changed' the day he and his brother Dru were jailed for their part in an ecstasy ring around the Gold Coast and Byron Bay in 2009. He has admitted that he made 'poor choices' in his life which saw his sporting legacy and his freedom, stripped away. 'Overnight it was pulled from me. I had my livelihood pulled. I had everything pulled,' he told the Daily Telegraph. He was released in 2011, but it was less than two years before the fallen star was put behind bars for a second time for producing party drugs. The 40-year-old even missed the birth of his son, Jacob, in 2013 when he was arrested following a large-scale drugs bust just one week before his former partner, Emeere Roberts, went into labour. She was there on the steps of Grafton Jail when Baggaley was released in 2011, but their relationship is now over because of his repeat offending. 'I was arrested a week before the birth of my son, so that takes a toll. She was all alone,' Baggaley said. 'I've got some pretty strong motivation not to go down this path. I've got a family that will wipe their hands of me if I do it again. And I've got a son I can't be away from.' Scroll down for video Baggaley exploded onto the sports scene in 1997 and dethroned 1992 Olympic gold medallist Clint Robinson as the Australian 1000m champion in 1998. He competed in the 2000 Olympics and went on to win the K1 500m world championship three years in a row. Baggaley is now facing his second stint in jail for drugs offences, pictured is the Olympian leaves Central Local Court in Sydney in 2015 He competed in the 2000 Olympics and went on to win the K1 500m world championship three years in a row His achievements made the former Australian athlete of the year a gold medal hope at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but he finished with two silvers. Baggaley's life began to unravel after he was banned from the sport for two years in 2005 for steroid use. He was initially suspended for 15 months in 2006 after the Court of Arbitration and Sport found he accidentally drank from a steroid-laced bottle of juice, which belonged to his younger brother Dru. But his ban was extended to two years in 2007, disrupting his preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was arrested for the first time in February 2007 while driving back to the Gold Coast with more than 700 ecstasy tablets, $1,000 cash and marijuana. In 2009, at the age of 32, he was sentenced to a maximum of nine years after pleading guilty to manufacturing ecstasy and supplying more than 1,500 tablets. He fell further still in December 2015 when he was jailed for a second time for a minimum two years and three months for his latest drug offences The athlete could be out by November, but says it would be difficult for him to start from scratch and get a new career as he has been in sport his whole life But the kayak star was released in 2011 and stepped out through the jail gates into the arms of his partner and parents. In July 2012, Baggaley was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence for possessing 84 ecstasy pills and parts of a pill press. He was one of three men arrested in 2013 over an alleged syndicate producing and manufacturing amphetamine drugs. The former Kayak world champion was taken back into custody for allegedly assaulting a police officer at Byron Bay Blues Festival in 2015. And he fell further still in December 2015 when he was jailed for a second time for a minimum two years and three months for his latest drug offences. He claimed he has been hit and knocked out while in prison. The athlete could be out by November, but says it would be difficult for him to start from scratch and get a new career as he has been in sport his whole life. 'Unfortunately, I consider myself a high achiever so it's hard to start from the bottom,' he said. A former Paratrooper who was arrested in India while working to protect ships from pirate attacks has been abandoned by the British Government, his fiancee claimed last night. Billy Irving, 35, and five other ex-soldiers from the UK have been held for more than two years since the ship they were working aboard was seized amid claims it was carrying illegal weapons. The men were kept in a horrendous jail in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu for six months before a judge quashed charges against them. Billy Irving, 35, pictured with his fiancee Yvonne MacHugh and their son William when she visited him in India The MV Seaman Guard Ohio, pictured, which was detained by Indian police in October 2013 But before they could return home police launched an appeal and the group were rearrested. They were given bail but had their passports confiscated, and 18 months on they still cannot leave the country because they have had to endure a long-running trial. A verdict is due on January 11. Mr Irvings fiancee, Yvonne MacHugh, 27, is spearheading a campaign to bring the men home but says the Government has done almost nothing to help. The group were employed by AdvanFort, a US-based maritime security company, to provide protection for ships running the gauntlet of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. They say they were arrested on a technicality after straying into Indian territorial waters in October 2013 and have been tied up in the countrys labyrinthine legal system ever since. Miss MacHugh described as appalling the conditions the men were kept in at the high-security Puzhal Central Prison in Madras. She said: They were kept four men to a concrete cell, with no bed, no blankets, no chairs, no clean water, and a hole in the floor as a toilet. Billy ended up with dysentery and lost 3st. By the time I saw him in January 2014, he was a changed man. He had a long straggly beard, unkempt hair and was half-starved. A security team employed by US firm AdvanFort, for which Mr Irving was working for in India Last November, David Cameron wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging that the six Britons be released at the end of their trial. But Mr Irvings family claim it is too little, too late. Mr Irving and his colleagues John Armstrong from Cumbria, Nick Dunn of Northumberland, Ray Tindall of Chester, and Nicholas Simpson and Paul Towers of Yorkshire have maintained their innocence throughout. They were released from prison in July 2014 after the High Court in India quashed the charges against them. But their hopes of returning to their families in the UK were dashed when local police appealed to a higher court and legal proceedings were reinstated. The men are now surviving off the kindness of strangers, mainly through charitable donations from the UK. It rankles when people dismiss them as mercenaries, says Miss MacHugh. It hurts to think people would believe Billy and the others are capable of killing for money, and that I would support someone capable of doing that. Last night, speaking from the hostel where he has been staying since leaving prison, an emotional Mr Irving, originally from Argyll, told The Mail on Sunday: I think the UK Government has acted disgracefully. I feel totally abandoned. I havent done anything wrong. Mr Irving, pictured, said he had not done anything wrong and felt the UK government had 'abandoned him' Nick Dunn, 27, who also served in The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan and Iraq was also detained A total of 35 crew were on the MV Seaman Guard Ohio when it was boarded by the Indian Coastguard on October 12, 2013. The vessel had been in designated international waters before running low on fuel. Indian authorities allege the ship strayed into its waters and breached its Essential Commodities Act by buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally. The crew were arrested and detained under allegations that the ship contained illegal weapons. AdvanFort, which is owned by Dubai-based Palestinian businessman Samir Farajallah, claims the weapons at the centre of the case 31 assault rifles and 5,000 rounds of ammunition were legally purchased and properly documented. The crew, who say they have not been paid by AdvanFort since their arrest, were released on bail in July 2014 when a judge ruled they had made a distress entry into Indian waters and had admitted there were arms on board. After visiting her fiance in India following the mens release from prison, Miss MacHugh returned to Britain, expecting Mr Irving to follow within weeks. However, in that time police successfully appealed against the judges decision, maintaining the crew were a threat to Indian national security. To add to her anxiety, Miss MacHugh discovered she was pregnant. She has since given birth to baby William but Mr Irving has only been able to see his son for two weeks when Miss MacHugh flew out with him to India last May. The families of the men now have little option but to hope their relatives are cleared later this month. The body of a five-year-old autistic boy from Pennsylvania who went missing during a New Year's Eve party has been found in a canal, police said. Jayliel Vega Batista, who wandered away from his home without shoes or a coat, was last seen on CCTV around 11pm on Thursday running near an intersection in Allentown. Dozens of police officers, 20 dog teams, firefighters and volunteers have spent the past two days looking for him before his remains were discovered in the Lehigh Canal this afternoon around a quarter of a mile from his home. Scroll down for video Police say they have found the body of five-year-old Jayliel Vega Batista who went missing two days ago after wandering out of a New Year's Eve house party without warning Dozens of officers, 20 dogs teams, firefighters and helicopters have spent 48 hours looking for Jayliel before his remains were found in eight feet of water this afternoon Police described the death as a 'tragic accident' while the coroner for Allentown, where Jayliel lived, said an autopsy on Monday will determine when he entered the water Police told CBS Philadelphia that dogs had picked up the boy's scent earlier today and led officers down to the river, where the tablet computer that Batista had been playing with was found. Officers then called for a dive team who located the boy's body eight feet away from the shore in water six feet deep. Cops described the death as 'a tragic accident', while Police Chief Keith Morris added: 'At this point, we don't believe there was any foul play involved.' Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski said: 'This is a sad day for our city. Please, please continue to pray for the family and support them.' Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said an autopsy carried out on Monday will determine when the boy entered the water. Jayliel's father told NBC News he doesn't know why his son would venture toward the canal, but added the five-year-old likely wasn't familiar with the dangers of water. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, autistic youngsters tend to have an 'extremely high attraction' to bodies of water, though the reason for this is not clear. Police said bloodhounds caught Jayliel's scent this afternoon and led them to the Lehigh Canal where officers discovered a computer tablet the boy had been playing with when he disappeared (pictured) After discovering the electronic device, officers calling in dive teams who discovered the boy's remains eight feet away from the shore and in six-feet deep water Rescuers had spend a frantic 48 hours searching for Jayliel, including playing his favorite lullabies from a truck marked with the number seven, which his parents said he responds to Jayliel had been at a party and was playing with a toy when he 'left out of nowhere,' his 16-year-old sister, Tayritza Molina, told The Morning Call of Allentown on Friday. The boy was downstairs with some other children when he left the home at about 10.30pm on Thursday, she said. He was visiting his great-aunt's home for the holiday, and left barefoot and without any kind of warm clothing, according to police. His sister said the boy, who is the fourth of five siblings, does not typically run away. 'We're scared, but we're trying to keep positive thoughts in our head,' she said. After being spotted on a private surveillance camera at 11pm, another witness said they say the boy running into a wooded area nearly six minutes later. The temperature in Allentown, in eastern Pennsylvania, on Friday was in the 30s, with the wind chill at times making it feel as much as 10 degrees cooler. Police tried luring Jayliel with music played on a truck because he likes lullabies. Residents also distributed papers with the number 7 printed on them the start of the boy's address because he responds to it. Allentown police discouraged people from joining the search with authorities for fear of scaring the boy, and instead asked them to check their own properties if they wanted to help On Facebook, his sister Tayritza appealed to her friends to help in finding her brother asking them to share her post and keep their eyes out for him Allentown police and members of the Northeast Search and Rescue team search on Friday along a stretch of railroad tracks before his body was found today Police were going door to door in the boy's neighborhood again on Saturday because efforts to track him into some nearby woods were unsuccessful. However, they said a glut of volunteer searchers was complicating efforts to find the boy. 'We're proud of them for stepping up in the force that they've done,' Dorney said, but there were so many volunteers in the woods and elsewhere, it was compromising the ability of the dogs and others to locate the boy. Instead, police asked people who live in the area to thoroughly search their own property and parked cars periodically, in case the boy comes wandering in search of shelter. Crews also searched some nearby railyards and the Lehigh River. They were concerned because temperatures were near freezing overnight and forecast to hit only the high 30s on Saturday. On Facebook, his sister Tayritza appealed to her friends to help in finding her brother asking them to share her post and keep their eyes out for him. Late Friday she wrote in a Facebook post thanking everyone for their help. For a romantic city that is not too far away, Verona is a picturesque place where Romeo and Juliet haunt every street Or if a road trip is what you crave, hire an original Seventies VW camper van and see beautiful beaches in Ibiza Advertisement The world is in a state. So take a relaxing break in 2016 using our guide to places where relaxation is guaranteed... PURE PERU It will soon be easier than ever to be enveloped by this wonderful country once BA's direct flights to Lima from London start in May. Machu Picchu is, of course, sublime, but there are so many other highlights. The capital, Lima, is building a big reputation for food, and a mere 25 miles south you must explore the Pachacamac complex, with its pyramids, palaces and temples. Andean icon: Machu Picchu is not to be missed on a trip to Peru. In May, British Airways starts offering direct flights from London to Lima If trekking is your thing, the options are endless. You'll love the people and are bound to return with a vibrant jumper. HOW TO DO IT: The Ultimate Travel Company (theultimate travelcompany.co.uk, 020 3131 5588) offers a six-day trek in association with Mountain Lodges of Peru. Spend two nights in Lima, two in Cusco, then the trek, from 3,985 including direct BA flights. CARIBBEAN CALM Blissful: The little island of Bequia is part of the Grenadines -- but has its own take on life, with golden beaches and lush vegetation The little island of Bequia is part of the Grenadines, but has its own take on life. Relaxed, unpretentious and something of a throwback to the Caribbean of old, long before the likes of Simon Cowell started hanging out in glitzy Barbados. Port Elizabeth, the capital, is a magnet for yachties and from this season you can walk all the way from the town past Princess Margaret beach to Lower Bay, one of the world's most perfect beaches. HOW TO DO IT: Just Bequia (justbequia.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Bequia Beach Hotel from 1,175pp, including flights and transfers. NORWEGIAN WILDERNESS Norway forward: You might not finda mobile phone signal, but you'll be in touch with the natural world like never before in Hindseter You might not get a mobile phone signal, but you'll be in touch with the natural world like never before in Hindseter, close to Norway's Jotunheimen National Park. Simple pleasures abound being given sausages and a bundle of firewood to take into the fells for a meal in the wilderness, snowshoes provided. Farmer Otto Ostrem showed great foresight when he built his hotel here in the late 19th century, and though some creature comforts have since been added, it remains much the same, with just a handful of summer farms and a seminomadic reindeer herd for neighbours. Go in February when the elk are around. HOW TO DO IT: Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk, 01653 617000) offers six nights' full board from 1,135pp based on two sharing including BA flights from Heathrow to Oslo. LOVE AND PEACE IN IBIZA Chill out: Ibiza can be full on, but not when you are all loved up in a VW camper van - which can be hired to help you explore the island Yes, Ibiza can be full on, but not when you're all loved up in an original Seventies VW camper van but with 21st century technology. WeDubYou will bring your vehicle to the airport and then you just throw your stuff in the back, set the satnav and off you go. Bluetooth speakers, iPads and iPhones (pre-loaded with music, films and local guides) all come as standard. They'll even provide an Ibizan beach blanket and parosol. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights camper van hire with WeDubYou (wedubyou.com, 020 7193 9058), picking up and dropping off at Ibiza Airport, costs from 595. VERONA, WHEREFORE ART THOU? Wherefore art thou? See 'Juliet's balcony' during a break to Verona. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and Verona was the setting of Shakespeare's greatest romance. Love is perpetually in the air. You can even go on a Romeo And Juliet tour of the city. People say the locals can be austere, but that's no bad thing. Just immerse yourself in the Pink City's grandeur. HOW TO DO IT: Inghams Italy (inghamsitaly.co.uk, 01483 791 115) is offering three nights at Hotel Firenze from 506 per person B&B, departing in June 2016, including return flights and airport transfers. HIDE AWAY IN SRI LANKA Off the beaten track: Dive into the wilderness with Uga Escapes, which offers a less-seen take on Sri Lanka close to the Indian Ocean A brand new though not cheap offering from Uga Escapes and we like the sound of it. Amid acres of wilderness, with the Yala National Park on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, Chena Huts comprises 14 wooden cabins with semicircular roofs made from palm leaves. All have a plunge pool and provide complete privacy. Elephants are often spotted bathing in front of the restaurant. And you can go on game drives with experienced rangers who may well chance upon a leopard. HOW TO DO IT: Chena Huts (ugaescapes.com, 00 94 11 2331 322) start from 650 per cabin per night based on two people sharing. SADDLE UP IN GERMANY Pedal power: The Wallberg, which can be reached by cable car, is one of many sights which can be seen on a ride from Munich to Salzburg When Norman Tebbit said people should 'get on their bikes', he was talking about finding work. But that will be the last thing on your mind if you sign up for Butterfield & Robinson's six-day cycle trip from Munich to Salzburg. This is Bavaria, a land of sweeping mountains, sparkling lakes, timbered houses, lederhosen, felt hats and frilly blouses. It takes six days and includes cheese tasting, a cable car excursion to the top of the Wallberg and ends in a guided evening walk around the Old Town of Salzburg. Hotels along the way include the Ueberfahrt, which has three Michelin stars. Proper refuelling. HOW TO DO IT: The Munich to Salzburg bike tours leave on June 26, September 4, September 11 and September 18, and cost from 3,960pp, which includes everything except flights. butterfield.com AFRICA'S WINNING COMBINATION Big Five bonanza: For the holiday of a lifetime, take a break to Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa You can't go wrong with beach and safari. Start with three nights at andBeyond Exeter River Lodge in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa and move seamlessly on with three nights at andBeyond Benguerra Island, its sister resort in Mozambique. There's a good chance of seeing the Big Five in the former and you're guaranteed talcum powder beaches in Mozambique, a country just waking up to tourism. In both countries, you'll be amazed how far a pound will stretch. A holiday of a lifetime. HOW TO DO IT: Wexas (wexas.com, 020 7838 5892) offers a ten-day African safari and Mozambique beach break from 4,395 pp (with a saving of 1,700 per couple with bookings made before September 30), based on two sharing all-inclusive, including flights, game drives, transfers and water sports. ICELAND'S WARM FRONT Iceland, baby: Reykjavik is framed by waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes, and the Northern Lights might just make an appearance This extraordinary country, which at times feels as if you've landed on the moon is the perfect answer for those who really want to get away. Reykjavik, the capital, is surrounded by majestic waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and the Northern Lights might just make an appearance. The intrepid should take a tent and live wild and free for a few days, But leave enough time to talk to people. Icelanders' perspective on life is, well, different. HOW TO DO IT: easyJet holidays (easyjet.com/holidays, 020 3499 5232) offers seven nights' B&B at the three-star Reykjavik Lights Hotel for 412pp, including flights from London Stansted. BALI BLISS Far Eastern fancies: Bali offers a captivating landscape of native vegetation, lily ponds and traditional thatched pavilions A long haul, but once here, the living is easy. The Seminyak is a beachfront resort which offers a fusion of Balinese charm and sophistication. That means a captivating landscape of native vegetation, lily ponds and traditional thatched pavilions. Terrific spa and the staff do their utmost to make you feel special. Ryanair is giving passengers a sneak peek at its sleek new aircraft interior, which has abandoned the garish yellow colour scheme that has become one of its hallmarks. In a new photo revealed today, blue and white are the dominant colours in the redesigned cabin on the budget airline's new planes, which feature slimmer seats with yellow trim on the headrest, larger windows and LED lighting. Passengers have long complained about a lack of legroom on board Ryanair flights, and the Irish carrier claims customers will enjoy more personal space on the new planes. Scroll down for video The redesigned cabin on Ryanair's new planes features slimmer seats, LED lighting and larger windows With a modern, grown-up appearance, the redesigned interiors are found on the Irish carriers new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Passengers will be able to experience the new design once the first planes are delivered this month. A Ryanair spokesman told MailOnline Travel: Redesigned interiors are being introduced this year, where well be toning down the yellow and installing new imagery. The next deliveries of our Boeing 737-800 aircraft delivery from January will feature new slimline seats, which will create more legroom, and the new aircraft we take in will have also the new Boeing sky interiors, with new LED lighting, larger window reveals and new overhead lockers, with more headroom. Ryanair is abandoning its current yellow and blue colour scheme (pictured) as part of a rebranding effort As part of a rebranding effort to shed its troubled image and win over customers, Ryanair will also introduce new uniforms for staff and a new in-flight menu. Ryanair previously announced that it would be using a new on-time jingle instead of the original trumpet-heavy tune. The cabin makeover has been met with positive reviews on Twitter and Facebook, where the Dublin-based airline shared the photo with its followers. She's embraced motherhood with open arms since welcoming her first son last year. And as Teresa Palmer looked forward to the new year, the actress dropped her biggest hint yet that she may soon be expecting another child. Appearing in a video for her website, the beauty said she was going through a 'beautiful challenge' that she would tell fans about in 2016. Scroll down for video Mother: Teresa Palmer has hinted she may be expecting her second child in a video blog shared last week Shunning make-up as she filmed herself over her sleeping son Bodhi, Teresa said of her year: 'I had some really intense challenges, I'm going through one at the moment which I'll talk about next year. Suppressing a smile, she continued: 'Really unexpected, totally out of the blue. It's beautiful, the first few days I was like "what is happening!?"'. The 29-year-old, who has one son with husband Mark Webber, went on to tell of her desire to have another child and admitted to including 'pregnant bellies' on a 'manifest' board which to prepare for 2016. Family first: The 29-year-old is already mother to one-year-old Bodhi and a stepson to Mark's child Isaac 'Next year for me is about family. I want to have another baby, I want to slow down,' she confessed to the camera, adding: 'On my manifest board I have a lot of pregnant bellies.' At the end of the 14-minute video, in which the actress also told of her plans to be more 'present' in the new year, Teresa revealed her sleeping son lying next to her. The pair recently returned from a sunshine Christmas break with Teresa's husband Mark, with the family returning to the same Mexican resort where the couple married to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Loved-up: Teresa and her husband Mark Webber recently celebrated their anniversary in Mexico Teresa also chose to ring in the new year with her son, sharing a photograph of herself with a friend and some other toddlers on Instagram. Posting a collage of photographs from the celebration, she wrote: 'Happy New Year! My raging NYE!'. She went on to describe her 'kid friendly/tired mum friendly party', dispelling any speculation of a booze-filled night. Daily Mail Australia has contacted representatives for Teresa in relation to this article. Is Daisy feeling settled in her relationship with Daniel now or does she still struggle with the ghost of Sinead? I think she is feeling set... MICK JAGGER Now stepping out with an American ballet dancer 43 years his junior, Micks sexual charisma is notorious. He left Marianne Faithfull to tryst with Marsha Hunt, moved onto his first wife Bianca and then Jerry Hall. On one day in 1970, while Marsha was pregnant, he allegedly made love to his housekeeper, Led Zeppelin star Jimmy Pages girlfriend and actress Patti DArbanville. Despite the lothario image, Mick, 72, is an adoring family man. His freewheeling approach to women was rocked last year with the suicide of his long-time girlfriend, designer LWren Scott. Family tree: Aging rocker Mick Jagger has a notorious sexual charisma, and is now stepping out with an American ballet dancer 43 years his junior 7 CHILDREN BY 4 WOMEN KARIS JAGGER, 45 The Yale University graduate lives in a bungalow in Los Angeles a gift from Mick with her husband, film director Jonathan Watson. She read a poem at the memorial for Micks partner LWren Scott. Karis is the result of Micks affair with Marsha Hunt, now 69, who was the star of the musical Hair. Marsha says she became pregnant by agreement with Mick, but when Karis was born Jaggers lawyers, charmingly, disputed paternity. A settlement was reached. JADE JAGGER, 44 The former wild-child jewellery designer was born to Bianca, who married Mick in 1971 when she was four months pregnant with Jade. The rest of the band openly disliked the Nicaraguan firecracker, who is now 70. Jade (who was once creative director of the high-end jewellery firm Garrard) had two children in her 20s by Piers Jackson, whom she met at school. She later had an on-off affair with Dan Macmillan (great-grandson of former Prime Minister Harold) and is married to DJ and nightclub promoter Adrian Fillary. They wed three years ago and had a child in 2014 when Jade was 43. Fillary lived in a flat beside the Thames reserved for tenants in housing need. Loving: Jade Jagger, pictured with her son and granddaughter who were born just a few weeks apart when Jade was 43 LIZZY JAGGER, 31 Lizzy is Micks first child with Jerry Hall. Mick pinched the Texan model from Roxy Music pal Bryan Ferry in 1977. During their marriage, Mick had an affair with model Carla Bruni, which raged for years. The marriage was finally annulled in 1999 but only after theyd had four children together. Jerry, now 59, is dating media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Lizzy started modelling aged 14, to her fathers irritation, and became the face of Lancome, Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger. She once posed nude for Playboy magazine. Having dated John Lennons son Sean, she lives in New York and is trying to become a film producer. Model: Lizzy is Micks first child with Jerry Hall. Mick pinched the Texan model from Roxy Music pal Bryan Ferry in 1977 JAMES JAGGER, 30 An actor who trained in New York, he will appear in Vinyl, a U.S. TV series, which comes out this year. He was lead singer in a band called Turbogeist, and posted a picture of himself online looking somewhat bleary-eyed, captioned: Stoned again! Success: James Jagger, 30, is actor who trained in New York, he will appear in Vinyl, a U.S. TV series, which comes out this year GEORGIA MAY, 23 Gorgeous Georgia is close pals with fellow model Cara Delevingne, the face of Mulberry and Rimmel. She has been dating model/musician Josh McLellan for three years. GABRIEL, 18 Tall and intelligent, Gabriel is Micks fourth and final child by Jerry Hall. He is planning to study at an American university once he finishes A-levels at a West London private school this summer. Offspring: Gorgeous Georgia is close pals with fellow model Cara Delevingne and (right) tall and intelligent Gabriel is Micks fourth and final child by Jerry Hall LUCAS JAGGER, 16 Micks fling with Brazilian swimsuit model Luciana Morad, now 46, led to the birth of his son Lucas. A paternity test confirmed the boy was his. Jerry Hall left Mick after this, saying: Having a child with another woman was too much. Luciana has furiously denied the allegation in a Stones book that she and Jagger conceived her son in a kennel outside a party in Rio. Mick is very fond of Lucas, who flew to America after the suicide of Micks lover LWren Scott to comfort his father. He lives in Sao Paolo with mum Luciana, who is married to TV executive Marcelo de Carvalho. Youngest: Lucas Jagger, 16, is the result of Micks fling with Brazilian swimsuit model Luciana Morad, now 46 5 GRANDCHILDREN ASSISI JACKSON, 23 Assisi is the daughter of Jade Jagger and Piers Jackson. Jade had Assisi when she was 21, and a second daughter, Amba, four years later. The couple split in 1996. Eccentric artist Piers reads the Stoic philosopher Epictetus every day to relax. After a partying period as a young woman, Assisi is now a homeopathy practitioner. She had daughter Ezra when she was 21 with her long-term partner, chef Alex Key. Assisi is the daughter of Jade Jagger and Piers Jackson. Jade had Assisi when she was 21 The brains of the bunch, Jades other daughter Amba is studying at New Yorks Pratt Institute, a private college in Brooklyn AMBA JACKSON, 19 The brains of the bunch, Jades other daughter Amba is studying at New Yorks Pratt Institute, a private college in Brooklyn. ZACHARY WATSON, 19 TEENAGE son of Karis Jagger and film director Jeremy Watson. MAZIE WATSON, 14 Karis and Jeremys daughter. RAY FILLARY, 18 months Jade waited until after her daughter Assisis pregnancy announcement last year before she revealed she, too, was pregnant by husband Adrian Fillary, so as not to steal her daughters thunder. Her son Ray was born in 2014. Jade waited until after her daughter Assisis pregnancy announcement last year before she revealed she, too, was pregnant by husband Adrian Fillary. Her son Ray (pictured) was born in 2014 1 GREAT GRANDCHILD EZRA KEY, 20 months Ezra is, confusingly, the niece of her grandmother Jade's baby Ray - who is just a few weeks younger than her. The two children have been pictured together looking very sweet with Jade and Assisi. Ezra is, confusingly, the niece of her grandmother Jade's baby Ray - who is just a few weeks younger than her RONNIE WOOD After divorcing first wife Krissy, he met his second wife Jo, now 60, in 1977. Two days after the wedding of eldest daughter Leah, he left Jo for a Russian cocktail waitress, but is now about to be a father again approaching his eighth decade. Hes expecting twins with Sally Humphreys, 37, a successful theatre producer. They married in 2012. After divorcing first wife Krissy, Ronnie met his second wife Jo, now 60, in 1977. Two days after the wedding of eldest daughter Leah, he left Jo for a Russian cocktail waitress, but is now about to be a father again approaching his eighth decade 3 CHILDREN BY 2 WOMEN JESSE WOOD, 39 The musician was born during a period of calm between his unfaithful parents Ronnie and Krissy Findlay. Model Krissy was certainly a fast woman she lost her virginity on her mums sofa to Eric Clapton. She married Ronnie in 1971, but dallied with George Harrison while Ronnie dallied with Harrisons wife. She died in 2005 of an accidental Valium overdose. As a result, Jesse was raised in Richmond, Surrey, by his stepmother, Ronnies second wife Jo Wood. He went to rehab in 2011, but since then he has had two children with Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton, who became his wife last year. He also has two older children by model Tilly Boone. Musician Jesse Wood, 39, was born during a period of calm between his unfaithful parents Ronnie and Krissy Findlay LEAH WOOD, 37 Leah is Ronnie and Jos oldest child. Model Jo met Ronnie when he was married to Krissy, and Jo was divorced with a son, James. They married in 1985. Since their split in 2008, Jos run her own brand of organic beauty products, and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. Leah married Australian TV producer Jack MacDonald, now 38, seven years ago, and they have two children. Leah is Ronnie and Jos oldest child. Model Jo met Ronnie when he was married to Krissy, and Jo was divorced with a son, James TYRONE WOOD, 32 Ronnie and Jos younger son works for the art gallery Scream in London. He has been dating model Daisy Lowe for four months and they are said be very close. JAMES WOOD, 42 Jo had James before she met Ronnie, who raised him. James runs an art gallery. He had a son with a model called Charlotte before marrying Jodie Shaw, 35. They have three children. Ronnie and Jo's younger son Tyrone (left) works for the art gallery Scream in London. Meanwhile, James (right) was born to Jo before she met Ronnie, who raised him 10 GRANDCHILDREN ARTHUR WOOD, 13 Son of Jesse and Tilly Boone. IOLA WOOD, 8 Daughter of Jesse and Tilly. REX, 22 months Son of Jesse and Fearne Cotton. HONEY, 3 months Daughter of Jesse and Fearne. MAGGIE MACDONALD, 6 Daughter of Leah and Jack. OTIS, 19 months Son of Leah and Jack. CHARLIE WOOD, 16 Son of James and Charlotte. LEO WOOD, 9 Son of James and Jodie. KOBE WOOD, 6 Son of James and Jodie. BO WOOD, 1 MONTH Son of James and Jodie. KEITH RICHARDS Keith, 72, pinched actress Anita Pallenberg from Stones guitarist Brian Jones, and dallied with singer Marianne Faithfull behind Micks back. For more than three decades, he has been happy with former model Patti Hansen, 59. They live in Weston, Connecticut, and have a house in the Caribbean as well as the home in West Sussex he bought in 1966. Keith, 72, pinched actress Anita Pallenberg from Stones guitarist Brian Jones, and dallied with singer Marianne Faithfull behind Micks back 5 CHILDREN BY 2 WOMEN MARLON RICHARDS, 46 Growing up in hotels, his first words were probably room service. He went on Stones tours from the age of seven, and would hide his fathers drugs if the police arrived. The gallery curator and photographer lives near his fathers house in West Wittering. His mother is Anita Pallenberg, the Italian actress and model who was Keiths companion from 1967 to 1980. Now 71, her heroin addiction took hold around 1969. After the Stones tour of 1977, she moved in with lover Scott Cantrell, who shot himself dead playing Russian Roulette. Marlons wife is Lucie de la Falaise, 42. He met the model, then Yves St Laurents muse, on a blind date set up by his mother in 1992. They married in 1994 and have three children. Marlon Richards, 46, went on Stones tours from the age of seven, and would hide his fathers drugs if the police arrived ANGELA RICHARDS, 43 Angela who prefers not to use her first name, Dandelion is a keen horsewoman, and grew up with Keiths mum in a semi in Dartford because he and her mother Anita were too drug-addled to cope. Angela was married to a carpenter named Dominic Jennings, but after that collapsed she set up home with a new partner, Graham Whitney, in a detached barn in West Sussex, where she lives with her two children by him. Angela who prefers not to use her first name, Dandelion is a keen horsewoman, and grew up with Keiths mum in a semi in Dartford because he and her mother Anita were too drug-addled to cope TARA RICHARDS Tara died of cot death in 1976 when he was just ten weeks old. Keith said looking after Taras elder brother Marlon was the only thing that kept him going. Keith later admitted that grief sent Anita off the rails and that she wanted to take everything down with her. THEODORA RICHARDS, 30 Theodora Dupree Richards, who lives in New York, is studying painting, and illustrated a childrens book Keith wrote. She was arrested for marijuana posession in 2011, and said: I hope I dont get in trouble for this. Once said in an interview that she was not interested in partying and claimed she was rebelling against her Stones father by being boring. Theodoras mother is Patti Hansen, who married Keith in Mexico in 1983. Theodora Dupree Richards, who lives in New York, is studying painting, and illustrated a childrens book Keith wrote Pattis other daughter with Keith is the model, artist and disc jockey Alexandra, who once posed for French Playboy, and goes out with Nick Cohen, a DJ ALEXANDRA RICHARDS, 29 Pattis other daughter with Keith is the model, artist and disc jockey Alexandra, who once posed for French Playboy, and goes out with Nick Cohen, a DJ. 5 GRANDCHILDREN ELLA RICHARDS, 19 Ella the daughter of Marlon and Lucie is a model and the current face of Burberry. She was one of Kate Mosss bridesmaids at her 2011 wedding. ORSON RICHARDS, 15 The son of Marlon and Lucie. IDA RICHARDS, 14 Marlon and Lucies second daughter. AVA WHITNEY, 4 Daughter of Angela Richards and her partner Graham Whitney. OTTO WHITNEY, 22 MONTHS Son of Angela and Graham. CHARLIE WATTS The bands enigmatic drummer. A graduate of Harrow School of Art with a taste for jazz, he worked as a graphic designer before joining the Stones. Now 74, he quit drink and drugs in the Eighties after falling over and breaking his ankle in a drunken stupor. The bands enigmatic drummer. A graduate of Harrow School of Art with a taste for jazz, Charlie Watts worked as a graphic designer before joining the Stones 1 CHILD SERAPHINA WATTS, 47 Charlie has been married to sculptor Shirley, now 74, since 1964. The couple breed Arab horses at their Devon farm and keep greyhounds. There were reports of a rift in 2004, but they remain together. Their only child is Seraphina, who was expelled from boarding school for smoking cannabis. She herself has one daughter, Charlotte, with boyfriend Michael Duffy, a carpet salesman. A previous marriage failed. Charlie has been married to sculptor Shirley, now 74, since 1964. Their only child is Seraphina, who was expelled from boarding school for smoking cannabis 1 GRANDCHILD CHARLOTTE DUFFY, 19 Graphic artist Charlotte has designed several posters for the Stones over the past few years. A ten year wedding anniversary is always cause for celebration. And Julia Morris marked the milestone in style this week when she was gifted a new and improved diamond engagement ring by her husband Dan Thomas. It comes after her original one broke but incorporates its round brilliant cut gem at the centre of a new setting littered with smaller glittering stones. Scroll down for video Milestone: Julia Morris was able to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary on New Year's Eve with a new diamond sparkler Artisanal luxury jeweller and the ring's designer, Victoria Buckley, told Daily Mail Australia that the piece has a fusion of Art Deco and Edwardian influences. It was created with 18ct white and rose gold and was only just finished in time for the couple's anniversary on New Year's Eve. Victoria was originally approached by the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! host's husband about the design, but after also sitting down with Julia for a consultation, described her as 'a delight to work with'. Although it is difficult to put a value on the ring as it contain's Julia's original diamond at its heart, she believes a similar one could fetch between $15,000 and $20,000. Sentimental touch: Her ring incorporates her orginal round brilliant cut gem at the centre of a new setting littered with smaller glittering stones Replacement needed: Julia's first ring broke Eager to show off her new sparkler, Julia shared a photo to social media with a gushing caption. 'Masses of love & thanks too extremely talented @victoriabuckley,' she wrote. 'My engagement ring broke a while ago so Dan asked Victoria to surprise me with a complete redesign. So in love with all parties jx'. Julia, who has two daughters with Dan, married the British funnyman in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2005. She is due to return to screens in 2016 alongside Bondi Vet Dr Chris Brown for the second season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, while she also stars in Nine's Australian drama House Husbands. 10 years: Julia, who has two daughters with Dan, married the British funnyman in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2005 From an outsider's perspective, Caroline Flack has had a hugely successful 2015. Yet the TV presenter has admitted that she conceals a secret pain due to the abuse hurled at her on social media from cruel trolls looking to offend everything from her appearance to her work. In a candid interview with Daily Mirror, the 36-year-old X Factor host also admitted that she yearns for happiness and is open to finding love. Scroll down for video Cruel comments: Caroline Flack has admitted that she conceals a secret pain due to the abuse hurled at her on social media from cruel trolls looking to offend everything from her appearance to her work Caroline, who has just completed her inaugural stint as host on the ITV talent show, has been open in the past about the venomous nature of the comments she receives online. And while she has previously come off defiant against the abuse she receives, the stunning star appears to have let her guard down slightly when admitting she shields her true feelings. She said: 'I can have the worst day ever but Ill post the happiest picture of myself. My life is like a sad film. 'You can think social media is real life but you have to remember its not. Someone wouldnt come up to you in the street and say: Youre a big, fat, ugly s***.' Secret sadness? In a candid interview with Daily Mirror , the 36-year-old X Factor host also admitted that she yearns for happiness and is open to finding love In November, when cruel body shamers hit out at her appearance online, the ITV favourite felt it was time to hit back and posted a series of searing tweets. After receiving a stream of comments on social media criticising everything from her weight to her outfit choice, the TV host, who boasts 1.87M Twitter followers, had clearly had enough. Defending herself from the cruel comments, Caroline wrote: 'It's very easy to take a shot at someone online. The vile comments about my weight and just all round look tonight are quite shocking. [I] have never said I'm the prettiest or thinnest or even anything special. But thank God I'm not horrible. Cool attitudes.' In her Mirror interview, Caroline openly admitted she was reduced to tears by some comments, saying: 'I cried after the first live Sunday night. The reaction was quite overwhelming because I didnt think people would be talking about how I look, how I stand, how I walk, or how I laugh.' Friends and colleagues: Atop nabbing the coveted role of X Factor host alongside her close pal Olly Murs, Caroline also released her autobiography entitled 'Storm In A C Cup' in October Caroline has seen out 2015 with a bevvy of superstar pals in Miami, including Rita Ora, Pixie Geldof and Nick Grimshaw and the group continue to party on the US shores. While social media has brought her down, 2015 has been momentous for the stunning star as she has seen some spectacular highs and a smattering of lows. Atop nabbing the coveted role of X Factor host alongside her close pal Olly Murs, Caroline also released her autobiography entitled 'Storm In A C Cup' in October. As well as fronting X Factor, Caroline was the lead presenter on ITV dating show Love Island and was added to the presenting roster of telethon Text Santa. Lost love? Bar her incredible presenting year, her 2015 began in turmoil as the end of 2014 saw the dissolution of her relationship with music manager Jack Street, who she began dating in the summer of 2013 Bar her incredible presenting year, her year began in turmoil as the end of 2014 saw the dissolution of her relationship with music manager Jack Street, who she began dating in the summer of 2013. Despite a plethora of rumours circulating about her relationship with Olly, Caroline has officially been single since Jack. And while she insists she is too traditional for dating sites such as Tinder, Caroline revealed she would not rule it out entirely. Speaking of finding love, Caroline said: 'I just want to be happy either way, but I'm quite content at the moment... just me and my cat, Waffle.' She's made no secret of her struggle to lose weight in the past, frequently vowing to shed the pounds on social media. And radio DJ Mel Greig gave herself some added motivation as she embarked on another health kick on Saturday, boxing up her 'skinny' clothes to be put away until she reaches her goal. Sharing a photograph of the cardboard box on Instagram, it was labelled: 'Skinny clothes. Only open when you are back down to 68 kilos.' Scroll down for video On a mission: Mel Greig (seen above last week on Today) told of her plan to lose weight as she prepared for the new year, boxing up old clothes to be put away until she reaches her goal Captioning the image, 33-year-old Mel told followers: 'Keeping myself motivated whilst packing.' On New Year's Day Mel took to the photo-sharing website to post a make-up free selfie after a sweaty Bikram yoga session. Posing with a carton of coconut water, the DJ appeared fresh-faced alongside the caption: 'Only 20 people in South Australia doing one of these selfies.' Mel's weight-loss efforts come as she prepares for her new role at Illawarra radio station, Wave FM. Gushing over the appointment, she recently told Daily Mail Australia: 'After three years, a long and hard battle, I am finally back in radio. Dedicated: The 33-year-old posted this photograph of a box labelled 'skinny clothes' for herself to keep away Up and down: Mel has made no secret of her weight loss struggles in the past. She is seen in 2014 (left) and while filming Celebrity Apprentice last year (right) 'I'm moving to Woolongong next, Wave FM and it's going to be great to be back on air!' she gushed. The DJ has struggled to find work since 2012 when she and her then 2DayFM co-host Mike Christian prank called the hospital where The Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment during her first pregnancy. The pair impersonated The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh while speaking with nurse Jacintha Saldanha at the hospital, questioning her over the Duchess's condition. Mrs Saldanha, a mother-of-two, later committed suicide once the conversation was aired. Mel, who recently appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, has often told of her remorse. Devoted: The 33-year-old embarked on a weight loss mission last year and shared photographs from the gym (above) After having announced his split with wife Jodi just a few weeks ago, Braith Anasta is adamant to start the new year on a high note. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the 33-year-old former NRL star shared a shirtless snap, along with a positive message for his fans. 'He wrote: 'PEACE EVERYONE! I hope everyone had an amazing New Years Eve and day. More importantly we are all fresh! Have a great day people! #hangovers #suck #freshasadaisy #not'. Peace out: Taking to Instagram on Saturday, former NRL star Braith Anasta shared a hot shirtless snap, along with a positive message for his fans With his back to the camera, the dark-haired stud showed off his toned and tanned body. He lifted his arms to reveal his bulging biceps, while making peace gestures with his hands. The father-of-one was seen admiring a picturesque ocean-side view as he stood on a balcony, while his social media followers were treated to quite a view themselves. Braith revealed a hint of his black and white Calvin Klein underwear worn beneath a pair of light shorts. Split: The social media snap came after Braith and wife Jodi announced in early December that they had agreed to a 'temporary separation' A day earlier he shared a snap of him and his little girl, captioning it: 'HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE! From my princess and I, we hope that 2016 is an amazing year for you all. #cheekygirl #love'. Meanwhile Jodi, whom Braith shares one-year-old daughter Aleeia with, has also been making a fresh start in the new year. The 30-year-old took to Instagram on Friday to share a snap of herself soaking up the sun and the water during a luxury boat ride with close friends. On December 10, Jodi and Braith announced they had agreed to a 'temporary separation'. New year's Day: A day earlier he shared a snap of him and his one-year-old daughter Aleeia, whom he shares with Jodi Socialising: Meanwhile Jodi has also been making a fresh start in the new year, pictured with pals on a boat on Friday The couple, who were pictured in a heated argument at a Coogee park prior to the split, told Daily Mail Australia in a joint statement that they had decided to part ways after facing challenges 'like all married couples.' 'We are going to continue to support each other and remain best of friends, we only want the best for each other and more importantly our amazing daughter Aleeia,' they said. 'They would really appreciate it if the media can afford them some privacy during this time.' A spokesman for the pair added: 'They have had challenges like all married couples and despite best efforts to make things work they have agreed that a trial separation is best for them and their precious daughter.' Jodi and Braith tied the knot in October 2012. Most people are happy to spend New Year's Day relaxing by the fire in the company of friends and family. But model Claudia Jordan decided it was the perfect day to show off her womanly curves in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini on Miami Beach, Florida. The popular former Deal Or No Deal box girl seemed to delight in parading her pert posterior as she sauntered around on the golden sands. Scroll down for video Peachy in orange: Claudia Jordan paraded her particularly pert posterior in an orange bikini in Miami, FL on New Years Day Raising her glasses: But the Deal Or No Deal box girl surely was not the only one as she flaunted her form The former Real Housewives Of Atlanta main cast member looked wonderfully ripe in her orange bikini, and was turning heads for all the right reasons as she emerged glistening from the surf. Claudia, 42, was in high spirits as she bounded around in the water with enthusiasm, and seemed to particularly enjoy paddling while the waves lapped around her ankles. There was double delight for beachgoers, as they also got to ogle her friend, self-styled actress Annie Ilonzeh, as they pounded the sand together. Ther saucy 32-year-old was surely attracting stares due to her svelte physique rather than her turns as Maya Ward on General Hospital and Kate Prince in the short-lived ABC reboot of Charlie's Angels however. Hello Honey Ryder: Claudia sparked flashbacks to Ursula Andress in Dr No as she emerged from the water Rearly impressive: She was winning lots of stares from bedazzled beachgoers as she showcased her curves She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weenie bikini: And the former Price Is Right model certainly wore it well Claudia, who also won a legion of enthusiastic followers during her spell as a Price Is Right model, was only briefly a main cast member on RHOA, but was axed after a solitary series at the end of season seven. Despite this disappointment the former Miss Rhode Island certainly seems back in peak condition after she was involved in a six car pile up in June in 2014. After the accident, she had to go to the hospital for suffering a bad case of whiplash. The can be little doubt the starlet is back doing what she is best at - spending her days soaking up the sun rays and relaxing on the beach. Bra-vo: Claudia would get a hearty round of applause if she appeared in this ensemble on The Price Is Right Lovely pair: And her self-styled actress friend Annie Ilonzeh was almost as alluring in her tiny two piece She has just wrapped up a busy year of modelling, TV presenting and singing. And so it's no wonder former Miss World Australia Erin Holland has been more than happy to kick back and relax over the festive season. Taking to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, the 26-year-old blonde shared a selfie as she lounged on a pool deck chair, displaying her slender frame in a cut-out swimsuit. Scroll down for video Beauty queen at leisure! Taking to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Erin Holland, 26, shared a selfie as she lounged on a pool deck chair, displaying her very slender frame in a cut-out swimsuit 'Should be criminal to feel this relaxed...' wrote Erin as she smiled up at the camera, her lips painted with soft pink lipstick and her eyes shaded by a pair of aviator sunglasses. Last week, Sydney-based Erin traveled to Brisbane to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, cricketer Ben Cutting, on the occasion of their first anniversary. Brimming with happiness, Erin took to social media to share a precious snap of the pair with the simple caption 'The one'. Loved-up: Erin Holland and cricketer Ben Cutting celebrate their first year anniversary together last week The pair's celebration comes just two weeks after Erin talked to Daily Mail Australia about her blossoming romance with Ben while walking the Star Wars: Force Awakens red carpet in Sydney. While based in Sydney with modelling commitments, the blonde beauty admitted that travelling back-and-forth for her long distance love, who is based in Brisbane, 'isn't as difficult as you think'. 'I think when you find the right person, the pain and the torture doesn't feel so bad and it's worth it, distance is worth it,' she explained. First look: The loved up pair made their first public debut in January 2015 at the Allan Border Medal in Sydney Erin added that her career in modelling and singing has help the pair keep their relationship in order because it is easier to find time to fly interstate to see each other. While based in Sydney with modelling commitments, the blonde beauty admitted that travelling back-and-forth for her long distance love, who is based in Brisbane, 'isn't as difficult as you think'. 'I think when you find the right person, the pain and the torture doesn't feel so bad and it's worth it, distance is worth it,' she explained. With her lithe legs and model figure, she certainly isn't adverse to slipping into a bikini or two. And Toni Garrn did exactly that as she celebrated the first day of the New Year frolicking on the beaches of Miami on Friday. The 23-year-old was sure to set the city's already hot temperatures soaring as she sizzled in a skimpy blue two-piece. Scroll down for video Beach babe: Toni Garrn showcased her lithe legs and model figure in a skimpy blue two-piece as she marked the first day of the New Year on the beaches of Miami Leonardo DiCaprio's former flame was sure to turn heads in the style, which was comprised of a plunging blue bikini top and printed bikini bottoms which featured tie-up detailing at either side. The catwalk queen showcased her natural beauty as she went make-up free and wore her blonde locks in an effortlessly wavy style. Basking in the balmy climes, the German model appeared to stop and admire her slender pins as she raised one sand-coated leg in the air while lounging on her towel. If you've got it.... Basking in the balmy climes, the German model appeared to stop and admire her slender pins as she raised one sand-coated leg in the air while lounging on her towel Her cover-up style was a little more casual however, as Toni threw on a white Celine top with cut-away shoulders and quirky black draw-string shorts when she headed away from the beach later in the day. She looked to ditch her flip flops in favour of chic black ankle boots, though held them in her hand as she walked back toward the street in a bid to keep them protected from the sand. Toni wasn't alone at the beach however, and was joined by millionaire businessman Lapo Elkam. Gorgeous: The catwalk queen showcased her natural beauty as she went make-up free and wore her blonde locks in an effortlessly wavy style Fashionista: Her cover-up style was a little more casual however, as Toni threw on a white Celine top with cut-away shoulders and quirky black draw-string shorts when she headed away from the beach later in the day Despite spending the day together, it's though the two are just friends after Lapo posted an apt Instagram post earlier this week, which bluntly read: 'I'm single' . 'Great feeling .#single #beingsingle,' he captioned the upload. Toni's most high profile relationship was with Hollywood actor Leonardo, who is 17 years her senior. The two were together for just over a year, before they called time on their romance in December 2014, reportedly after The Revenant actor was seen leaving a South Beach club with an bevy of models, according to the Daily News's Confidenti@l column. Arrow stars Katie Cassidy and Emily Bett Rickards were pictured enjoying a dip in Miami Beach on Saturday. The friends, who have been vacationing in Florida to celebrate the New Year, put their toned physiques on display in skimpy bikinis as they took to the ocean. Katie, 29, who plays attorney Laurel Lance in the CW show, sported a mismatched bikini consisting of snakeskin pattern briefs and lace-up white halter top. Scroll down for video Beach babes: Arrow stars Katie Cassidy and Emily Bett Rickards put their toned figures on display while enjoying a beach day in Miami Perfcect fit: The 29-year-old actress wore a mismatched bikini with snakeskin patterned briefs and a lace-up white top The brunette beauty left her locks loose and she shaded her eyes with classic Ray-Bans. Accessorizing her beach look were some dainty necklaces. Emily, 24, who plays Felicity Smoak in the show, sported an olive green two-piece showing off her muscular frame. The pretty blonde wore funky blue mirrored sunglasses and was pictured larking about in the waves with pal Tommy Cole. Fun in the sun: The star showed off her lean legs as she walked back up to the beach Miami fun: Katie's new beau Thomas Taylor - who is also her personal trainer - enjoyed a cooling dip too California girl: The daughter of David Cassidy wore her long locks down and donned classic Ray-Bans Katie meanwhile has been packing on the PDA in recent days with her new boyfriend Thomas Taylor, who also happens to be her fitness instructor. The handsome blond resides in Vancouver, the city that Katie has been calling home in recent months. During an interview with CW Atlanta in September, she revealed she is living in the Canadian city - which is where show Arrow is filmed. No wonder she's smiling! Katie was in great spirits during her vacation to the sunny Florida beachside city She's so sweet! Emily, 24, had hugs for Thomas who is a Vancouver native Friends and colleagues: The ladies enjoyed a catch-up in the chilly Atlantic 'I live there almost year around. In fact, I sold my house in L.A. I have an apartment in Vancouver. I love it. Its beautiful,' she said. The couple were seen in the water chatting to their pals but eventually the group headed back out for dry land and wrapped up in big fluffy beach towels. On Thursday night Katie and Emily joined their friend Fanta Sesay to pose for some photos as they got ready for a night out in Miami on NYE. Beach style: Emily, 24, showed off some funky blue sunglasses as she clung on to her pal Tommy Cole Group vacay: The friends stood abut in the water chatting and laughing Winter sun: The blonde beauty pulled her wavy blonde locks into a low bun The ladies looked stylish in black and white for the mirror selfie which appeared to take place in a hotel room strewn with clothes, make-up and glasses of wine. Meanwhile, it's been a jet set time for Emily who jetted to Cuba just after Christmas while also holidaying in Maui, Hawaii at the beginning of December. The Vancouver-born beauty has been cutting loose after a busy year, which saw her land her first major Hollywood movie role in the Saorise Ronan-fronted drama Brooklyn. The blonde has been promoting the period flick non-stop on her Instagram account, encouraging everyone to go see it. In shape: Slender Emily wore a stylish olive green two-piece Hugs for everyone! Emily gave her co-star some love too Back on dry land! The Canadian beauty dried off with a large striped beach towel after her dip Emily plays Patty McGuire in the romance, who lives in the same Irish boarding house as Saoirse's character Eilis Lacy when she emigrates to America. Meanwhile, season four of Arrow returned in November to rave reception from fans of the comic book-inspired series. Teasing what's in store, Emily told Vulture: 'As we left off in happiness, we start in happiness, and then we get into rough, treacherous turmoil and danger right off the bat. The city is in grave danger. It has a massive threat. It has been compromised by a large group of individuals.' Twinsies: The women revealed similar ankle and leg tattoos Where next? The group of friends looked ready to head off Soldiers hit streets as US floods death toll mounts The Illinois National Guard was ordered into action Friday and hundreds of people urged to flee rising floodwaters, as the death toll from days of heavy rain in the US Midwest mounted. Swathes of the United States have been buffeted in the last week by tornadoes, storms and torrential rain, while the US East Coast has seen unseasonably warm weather over the holiday season. Missouri and Illinois have been particularly hard hit from the record-breaking and relentless deluge in the past week. Trash is seen tangled in the trees in the front yard of a home on January 1, 2016 in Pacific, Missouri, after flooding from days of rainfall Michael B. Thomas (Getty/AFP) The death toll from the flooding in the Midwest rose to 23, CNN said. Fifteen of the dead were in Missouri and eight in Illinois. But the toll could rise, with increasing concerns about the fate of two missing Illinois teenagers last seen several days ago. One of them, Delia Ann Stacey, 18, was last heard of on Monday, when she sent a text message to her family saying simply "Help," the Herrin Police Department said in a statement on Facebook. "Further contact with Stacey via her phone has been unsuccessful, as has the use of all resources available in determining its location," it said. There were growing fears too for residents in southern Illinois, where the rising Mississippi River reportedly topped a levee, putting several towns and rural communities at risk. Hundreds of people were urged to evacuate. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, who toured some of the affected communities, tweeted: "I have ordered Illinois National Guard soldiers into active duty to aid local efforts to save lives and mitigate flood damage in Southern IL." Forecasters warned that southern US states were in increasing danger in the days to come. "Major flooding is occurring or forecast on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and tributaries in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, with record flooding at several locations," the National Weather Service said. "Major flooding is also occurring on the Arkansas River and tributaries in Arkansas. Floodwaters will move downstream over the next couple of weeks, with significant river flooding expected for the lower Mississippi into mid-January." There was some relief, however, in the St. Louis area of Missouri, where flooding was at last receding. For many, the big cleanup now begins. The more unfortunate saw their homes wiped out. "We're just basically homeless. We have nowhere to go," Damon Thorne, 44, told ABC News. We have lived and worked in this unique country since 2010. We spent our first nine years in the town of Trinidad, and in 2019 we moved to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, one of Latin America's fastest-growing cities. Craig is pastor at Trinity International Church and facilitates the Langham Preaching programme in Santa Cruz. Amanda serves as short-term coordinator for Latin Link in Bolivia. Gaza rockets strike Israel: army Rockets fired by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Friday, without causing casualties or damage, the Israeli army said. "Moments ago multiple rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. "Forces are searching the area." A military spokeswoman told AFP that two rockets hit Israel, with no immediate injuries or damage reported. A picture taken from the southern Israeli Gaza border shows a rocket being launched from the Gaza strip into Israel, on July 11, 2014 Menahem Kahana (AFP/File) Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Hamas responsible for all such incidents. WTA Auckland draw kind for Venus Williams Former world number one Venus Williams begins fine-tuning for the Australian Open against a player barely half her age when the WTA Auckland Classic begins on Monday. Williams, the defending Auckland champion, found herself on the right side of the draw released on Saturday with a first-round match against 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina. The other former world number ones in the tournament, Ana Ivanovic from Serbia and Dane Caroline Wozniacki, are both in the bottom half of the draw. Venus Williams, seen in action during the women's singles final of the ASB Classic, in Auckland, on January 10, 2015 Michael Bradley (AFP/File) Wozniacki, who lost to Williams in the final last year, will play big-hitting American Sloane Stephens in the first round with Ivanovic's opponent to be drawn from this weekend's qualifying tournament. Williams, who arrived in Auckland on the comeback trail last year and ranked 47th in the world, has since regained a place in the top 10 for the first time since 2011 and returns at number seven in the rankings. She turned professional in 1994, three years before the 75th-ranked Kasatkina was born. Ivanovic is another former Auckland champion, winning in her only previous appearance here in 2014, while Williams beat Wozniacki in the 2015 final 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Baga is a ghost town one year after Boko Haram massacre One year after a massive attack ranked among the worst in Boko Haram's six-year insurgency, the residents of Baga in northeast Nigeria say their home is a ghost town. The jihadists razed the fishing hub on the shores of Lake Chad in a four-day assault beginning January 3 last year, forcing thousands from their homes and killing hundreds of others. Unlike other Boko Haram attacks, which often go virtually unnoticed outside Nigeria, the Baga massacre made headlines around the world after it was reported 2,000 people lost their lives in the raid and Amnesty International released satellite images showing the ravaged town. The jihadists razed the Nigerian fishing hub of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad in a four-day assault beginning January 3 last year, forcing thousands from their homes and killing hundreds of others With its charred houses and shuttered businesses, it is hard to believe Baga used to be a lively trading centre of 200,000 people, where merchants would travel to sell cattle, leather goods and trade fresh produce. "Baga is still deserted, we are all living in camps and homes of friends and relatives in Maiduguri because we are scared of returning home," Muhammad Alhaji Bukar, a displaced Baga resident, told AFP. The Nigerian military reclaimed Baga in March and troops patrol its dusty streets today. But the town's enduring emptiness -- under 1,000 people are living there now -- highlights how difficult it is to get people back home and restore peace to the battered northeast region. In June, destitute residents of Baga and surrounding villages started trickling back to fish, encouraged by military victories winning territory back from the jihadists. The fisherman would sell their catch of catfish and African bonytongue in the key northeast city of Maiduguri, the spiritual home of the insurgency and the restive capital of Borno state. In the window of calm, about 5,000 residents returned to Baga. But the peace did not last long. In July, Boko Haram ambushed a lorry carrying people returning home, killing eight Baga residents. In the days that followed, the militants slit the throats of several fishermen and killed farmers who had returned to harvest their melons. - 'We can't return' - The Nigerian army and forces from neighbouring countries, have over the past year been able to flush Boko Haram out from captured towns, but is not able to stop the jihadists from regrouping in the surrounding villages and bush. Spurned not crushed, the militants had found cover near Baga in the little islands lined with tall grass that dot the freshwater lake. As Bukar Kori, head of the Baga's traders union, put it: "We can't return to Baga yet, it is still not safe, especially with Boko Haram lurking on nearby islands." Today, an estimated 700 people are living in Baga, with the majority the town's former residents staying in Maiduguri. Its population has almost doubled from two million since 2009, when Boko Haram embarked on its bloody quest to establish an independent Islamic state in Nigeria. The extremist insurgency has forced over 2.5 million people -- just over the population of Paris -- living in the Lake Chad Basin to flee from their homes, according to a December report issued by USAID, a United States government humanitarian agency. While the Nigerian government insists that Boko Haram has been "largely" defeated going into 2016, the jihadist group continues to wreak havoc by sending out suicide bombers, sometimes in droves. Last Sunday in an attack lasting 48 hours, the militants invaded Maiduguri unleashing "dozens" of suicide bombers, killing 22 people. The Nigerian government has acknowledged the monumental task of getting displaced people like those in Baga back home, but has not yet given a concrete plan on how to tackle the issue. "There is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security," President Muhammadu Buhari said in a New Year's statement. "This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country." Boko Haram's insurgency has killed 17,000 people in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, damaging millions of dollars of infrastructure at a time when the country is facing a cash crush as a result of the plunging price of oil. Children from the northeast Nigerian town of Baga are pictured in a United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) camp in N'Gouboua, Lake Chad region Sia Kambou (AFP/File) The Nigerian army and forces from neighbouring countries, have over the past year been able to flush Boko Haram out from captured towns, but is not able to stop the jihadists from regrouping in the surrounding villages and bush - (Nigerian army/AFP/File) Israel strikes Gaza sites after rocket fire The Israeli air force carried out attacks on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early Saturday, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. According to the sources, the Israeli strikes targeted four empty facilities ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, causing damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its "aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip". An Israeli F-15 I fighter jet takes part in an air show at the Hatzerim base in the Negev desert, near the southern Israeli city of Beersheva Jack Guez (AFP/File) "The IDF holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. Late Friday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas responsible for all such incidents. China restructures military as Xi eyes 'strong army' China has unveiled changes to the structure of its military, adding three new units, described by President Xi Jinping as "a major policy decision to realise the Chinese dream of a strong army", state media reported. The formation of the new units, which follows Beijing's announcement that it was building a second aircraft carrier, comes with China acting more aggressively in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea, drawing the ire of its neighbours and the United States. Beijing in November said it planned sweeping changes in a move intended to enhance the ruling Communist Party's control over the People's Liberation Army (PLA). At a military parade in September 2015, China showed off 'carrier-killer' missiles, including the land-based DF-21D intermediate-range type which is thought to be equipped with onboard terminal guidance systems Andy Wong (Pool/AFP/File) The latest reforms announced late Friday will see a new army unit set up to oversee China's arsenal of strategic missiles. Besides the "Rocket Force", the PLA also unveiled an army general command to serve as the headquarters for land forces and a support unit to assist combat troops, the official Xinhua news agency said. Xi, who is chief of the Communist Party and also serves as head of the military, has previously announced plans to slash China's number of troops by 300,000 to roughly two million to craft a more efficient fighting force. China's Central Military Commission, which Xi chairs, on Friday also released guidelines to help build the country's vision of a modern military before 2020 by cutting troops and improving the quality of combat personnel, Xinhua said. The announcements come with China also expanding its naval capacity by building a second aircraft carrier. The nation's first such vessel, the Liaoning, is a secondhand Soviet ship built more than 25 years ago that was commissioned by China in 2012 after extensive refits. - 'Influential and persuasive' - The Global Times newspaper, known for its nationalistic editorial stance, said new conditions required a strong army and cited the United States as a reason. "If China has a big gap with the US in terms of military prowess, this will affect its international position and other countries' attitude toward China," it said in an editorial posted on its website Saturday. "With a strong army, China can be more politically appealing, influential and persuasive." Beijing's forces have been involved in sometimes tense confrontations with Japanese and Philippine units over maritime disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea respectively, prompting fears that the disputes could result in armed clashes. The new PLA Rocket Force, meanwhile, is tasked with maintaining conventional and nuclear weaponry with the ability to both deter and strike, Xi told a ceremony for the founding of the three new organisations, according to Xinhua. But a spokesman for China's Ministry of Defence denied any shift in the country's nuclear weapons policy. "China's nuclear policy and nuclear strategy are consistent, there has been no change whatsoever," spokesman Yang Yujun said Friday, according to a transcript posted on the ministry's website. The new unit would take over from the Second Artillery Force, he said. At a military parade in September, China showed off "carrier-killer" missiles, including the land-based DF-21D intermediate-range type which is thought to be equipped with onboard terminal guidance systems that give it the unprecedented ability to attack a moving target. A Chinese analyst said the latest moves were aimed at modernising the military. "For a long time, China had no overseas interests, the navy, air force and guided missile units were relatively weak compared with the army," Ni Lexiong, a professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told AFP. "To catch up with European and American powers... China must raise the modernisation level and combat strength of the army." China's President Xi Jinping attends a meeting during the second Understanding China Conference, in Beijing, in November 2015 Jason Lee (Pool/AFP/File) Federer looks to Brisbane as 2016 launch-pad Roger Federer said on Saturday he was looking at defending his Brisbane International title as a launch-pad to the new season. The 17-time Swiss grand slam champion arrived in Australia Saturday with Sunday's Brisbane International tournament as his lead-up to this month's Australian Open in Melbourne. Federer, 34, who won six titles including Brisbane last year and reached the final of both Wimbledon and the US Open, is up against world No.8 Kei Nishikori, No.14 Milos Raonic and No.28 Grigor Dimitrov in this year's Brisbane tournament. Top seed Roger Federer (3rd L) poses for photos with performers following an Aboriginal welcoming ceremony, after a walk at Southbank, ahead of the Brisbane Int'l tournament, on January 2, 2016 Saeed Khan (AFP) "The likes of Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov want to move now finally into the top four or five and for us, the top guys, it's about hanging on where we are right now," Federer told reporters. "I've been playing really well for over one and a half years - ever since I came back from my back problems in 2013. "That's been very encouraging and now I'm just more confident than I was maybe a year ago as well." Federer won the last of his 17 grand slam crowns at Wimbledon in 2012 and he still believes he has another major title within him. Novak Djokovic dominated last year with three grand slam titles, and while the wait for an 18th slam title is stretching out, Federer said he was not voverly concerned. "I've come so close, I've played very well, but I don't feel any frustration because of it," he said. "I'm still happy with how I'm playing. It was Novak's year, he played so well there's only so much (you can do) if somebody's so dominant and he's got sky-high confidence. "It's unfortunate, a pity for me, but at the same time I don't feel sorry for myself. I've won so much throughout my career, I feel like if I keep pushing forward it might happen. "If not, it's okay." It is Federer's third trip to the Brisbane International and not only did he win last year's title but he joined rare company by picking up the 1000th match win of his ATP career in the process. Federer has a bye into the second round this year where he is due to face either Australian wildcard Ben Mitchell or a qualifier. Saudi-led coalition announces end of Yemen ceasefire A Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen announced the end Saturday of a ceasefire that had been violated on a daily basis since it was declared last month. The "coalition leadership announces the end of the truce in Yemen starting from 1400" (1100 GMT) on Saturday, the alliance said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. The ceasefire announced on December 15 had been ended due to continuous rebel "attacks on the kingdom's territories by firing ballistic missiles towards Saudi cities, targeting Saudi border posts, and hampering aid operations," it said. A mural in Sanaa by Yemeni artist Murad Zubei depicts the blockade in Yemen and the prevention of the entry of food and medicine due to the ongoing Saudi-led military campaign Mohammed Huwais (AFP) The rebels have also "continued to shell residents and kill and detain Yemeni civilians in cities under their control," said the coalition. "All this shows how unserious the militias and their allies are and their disregard for the lives of civilians, and how they have clearly exploited this truce to make gains." However, the coalition "was and is still eager on creating the suitable circumstances to find a peaceful solution in Yemen," it said. Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition that has been battling Iran-backed rebels in neighbouring Yemen since March. - Missile intercepted - The rebels intensified their rocket attacks across the Saudi border in recent days, prompting the coalition to threaten severe reprisals. The statement comes after the coalition announced that Saudi air defence forces had intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom's city of Abha late on Friday. The "launcher was located and destroyed in Yemen," it said. The Saudis have deployed Patriot missile batteries designed to counter attacks and have recently been intercepting missiles fired from Yemen on an almost-daily basis. More than 80 people, most of them soldiers and border guards, have been killed in shelling and cross-border skirmishes in the kingdom's south since coalition operations began in Yemen. On Thursday, three civilians including two children were killed in cross-border missile attacks from Yemen on a residential area in the southwestern Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Eleven others were wounded, among them nine children, according to the Saudi civil defence. In Yemen itself, nearly 6,000 people have been killed since March, according to UN figures. - Air strikes - On Saturday, the coalition carried out air strikes on different parts on the country, including Sanaa province, military sources said. Clashes meanwhile raged between pro-government forces and rebels across the impoverished nation causing casualties on both sides, the sources said, without giving a toll. Rebels also fired mortars at residential areas in the besieged city of Taez, where civilians have been suffering from a shortage in food and medical supplies, military sources there said. Fighting has escalated in Yemen since the coalition entered the war to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government in March. The UN Security Council last month urged Yemen's warring parties to respect the ceasefire and to resume their inconclusive peace talks. The truce was declared as talks between the government and rebel representatives opened in Switzerland, and it was later extended by a week. But the fighting never stopped on the ground and coalition air strikes continued, while the talks ended with no major breakthrough six days after they had started, with both sides saying they would meet again in January. In May, a five-day pause in fighting proposed by Saudi Arabia allowed some aid into Yemen before the coalition resumed air strikes, blaming the rebels and their allies for violating the ceasefire. The rebels seized Sanaa in September 2014 and then advanced south to second city Aden, forcing Hadi to flee last year to Saudi Arabia. Following territorial gains by loyalists, Hadi returned to Aden in November after six months in exile. Yemeni workers inspect the damage at a Coca-Cola factory after it was reportedly destroyed by Saudi-led airstrikes in Sanaa on December 30, 2015 Mohammed Huwais (AFP) Outrage in Iraq over Saudi execution of Shiite cleric The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric Saturday sparked outrage in neighbouring Iraq, from protesters threatening the royal family to politicians calling for diplomatic action. Hundreds of people demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and some leaders urged the government to close down the newly reopened Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. Iraq's Asaib Ahl al-Haq group (The League of the Righteous) has demanded the end of the Saud family's rule in Saudi Arabia Haidar Mohammed Ali (AFP) The office of Hadi al-Mudaressi, an Iraqi cleric whose brother has a strong following among Bahraini Shiites notably, organised a protest near the mausoleum of Imam Hussein in Karbala. "No red lines from now on", "We will reap your souls, Saud and Khalifah", read some of the banners, referring to the Saudi and Bahraini ruling families. "This is what I tell Al-Saud from the sacred land of Hussein: I swear to God that the sheikh's blood was not spilled in vain," said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. "We will make the earth shake under your feet," he said. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ashtari, from Mudaressi's office, said he wanted "the Iraqi government to take a clear and honest position regarding this major tragedy." A cleric from Bahrain who was at the protest, Sheikh Habib al-Jamri, said the world should react to Nimr's execution. "Sheikh Nimr was an icon for Islamic resistance," he told AFP. "His words were his weapon. They couldn't defeat his words so they detained him, tortured him and today executed him in front the world's eyes, like a challenge to global conscience." Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi expressed "great shock" and warned of the destabilising potential of Nimr's execution. "Freedom of speech and peaceful opposition are basic human rights granted by divine and international laws. Violating them impacts the region's security, stability and social fabric," he said in a statement. Several Sunni clerics also condemned Nimr's execution, which looked likely to strain a recent attempt at diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. - Diplomatic tension - Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraq's Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- also said Baghdad should take action. "Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons," a statement from his office said. The embassy only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudis were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a recent figure. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family's) rule," Abdelsamad's office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimr's execution. "Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, today they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a "high price". "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. A Saudi Shiite woman holds a placard bearing a portrait of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr during a protest in the eastern coastal city of Qatif against his execution by Saudi authorities, on January 2, 2016 Bahrain breaks up anti-Saudi protests Police in Shiite-majority Bahrain used tear gas Saturday to disperse protesters demonstrating over Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, witnesses said. Protesters cried "Death to Al-Saud", referring to the conservative kingdom's ruling family, and clashed with police, but no casualties were reported. Small demonstrations were reported in Shiite-majority villages Jidhafs and Malikiya west and south of the Sunni-ruled country's capital. A Bahraini man runs as teargas is fired by security forces during clashes at a demonstration against the government in the village of Sitra on January 1, 2016 Mohammed Al-Shaikh (AFP/File) There were calls for more demonstrations in the evening. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of the protests that broke out in Saudi Arabia's east in 2011, was among 47 people executed in the Sunni-ruled kingdom on Saturday. Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, has backed Riyadh over the executions. Authorities said that they would take "all necessary legal measures" against any "negative" actions in response to the death sentences, which they would consider as "inciting sedition and threatening civil order". They also warned of legal measures against anyone who used "social media networks to spread rumours that influence security". Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by a Shiite-led uprising since February 2011, with demands ranging from a constitutional monarchy to overthrowing the ruling dynasty altogether. Scores of opponents have been detained, with many facing trial, while others convicted of involvement in violence have been handed heavy sentences, including loss of citizenship and life in prison. Missing Hong Kong bookseller 'assisting in investigation': wife A missing Hong Kong employee from a publisher of books critical of China was "assisting in an investigation", his wife said Saturday, as police also probe the disappearance of his colleagues. Lee Bo went missing Wednesday night and is the fifth employee of Hong Kong-based publisher Mighty Current to disappear. The incident adds to growing unease that freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are being eroded, with fears the five men may have been detained by Chinese authorities. Lee Bo went missing on December 30, 2015 and is the fifth employee of Hong Kong-based publisher Mighty Current to disappear Anthony Wallace (AFP) "He said he wouldn't be back so soon and he was assisting in an investigation," Lee's wife Sophie Choi told Hong Kong's Cable Television, describing a call she had with Lee the night he failed to return home. It was not clear what investigation Lee was referring to. "I asked him if it was related to the case before. He said 'yes', regarding that case where a few others had gone missing," Choi said. Police said in a statement they were investigating the disappearance of Lee and three of the other missing men. It made no comment on the fifth man. Deputy leader Carrie Lam tried to reassure the public. "The Hong Kong government cares about its people's wellbeing... police are working on this case," she told reporters. Choi previously told AFP she started looking for Lee on Wednesday night after he failed to return home for dinner and she reported him missing to police on Friday. He later called to say "everything was alright" from a number that did not belong to him and originated from the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, Choi had said. Another source told AFP that Lee, 65, was last seen in Hong Kong on Wednesday at the publisher's warehouse, which he is in charge of. - 'Concern and anxiety' - Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and enjoys liberties not seen on the mainland, but there are fears these are under threat. The publishing company's general manager Lui Bo, an employee Cheung Jiping and bookstore manager Lam Wing-kei are also apparently missing after disappearing in southern China in October. Local media said Gui Minhai, a Swedish national and co-owner of Mighty Current, failed to return from a holiday in Thailand in October. Hong Kong police are investigating the disappearance of Lui, Cheung, Lam and Lee -- they gave no information on Gui. Sweden's embassies in Bangkok and Beijing are reportedly investigating Gui's disappearance. The Hong Kong Journalists Association sent a letter to the Chinese Liaison Office -- Beijing's representative office in the city -- urging authorities to reveal whether the men are in the mainland. "The incident has caused a high degree of concern and anxiety to Hong Kong residents," the statement said. Hong Kong publisher Yao Wentian, who was due to release a dissident's book about Chinese President Xi Jinping, was reported to have been detained for almost three months in January 2014. The following May, Yao, then 73, was sentenced by a Chinese court to 10 years in jail for smuggling. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 and enjoys liberties not seen on the mainland, but there are fears these are under threat Anthony Wallace (AFP) The latest incident adds to growing unease that freedoms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are being eroded, with fears the five men may have been detained by Chinese authorities Anthony Wallace (AFP) Thousands of Palestinians in Hebron funeral for slain assailants Thousands of Palestinians gathered Saturday in Hebron to bury 14 men whose bodies had been held by Israel after being killed carrying out attacks. Israel handed over the bodies of 23 Palestinians Friday in an apparent bid to ease tensions, of which 14 were from the southern West Bank city. The Al-Hussein mosque was overflowing with people, where the 14 bodies were on display before prayers, wrapped in Palestinian flags. Mourners in Hebron on January 2, 2016, attend the funeral of fourteen Palestinians killed during recent attacks on Israelis Hazem Bader (AFP) Relatives kissed the foreheads of the deceased, some of which were covered with flags of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups. Prayers were also held in Hebron's only stadium next to Al-Hussein, while hundreds of others waited outside the mosque in the cold. Heavy rain began as the bodies were carried out of the mosque and those attending began chanting "There is no god but God". Some could not hold back their tears, while others held up the flags of various Palestinian factions. Basel Sadr, 20, was among those buried. He had been shot dead on October 14 near Jerusalem's Old City after police said he was about to stab security forces. Shortly before the funeral, women gathered at Sadr's home to read verses from the Koran over his body wrapped in a Palestinian flag, while his mother and sister silently wept and hugged him. "Bassel was the first martyr (from Hebron) whose body was detained by Israel" for 80 days, his father Bassem told AFP outside his home. The funerals of the rest of the Palestinians handed over by Israel were to take place Saturday throughout the West Bank. Since a wave of violence erupted at the start of October, 138 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, according to an AFP count, most while carrying out attacks on Israelis. Israel does not always immediately return the bodies of slain attackers. A military spokeswoman said that, after Friday's handovers, the army would have returned a total of 76 bodies and was still holding two. Police could also be holding more bodies, she said. Palestinian sources said the Israelis were still holding a total of 17 bodies, including at least 15 of Palestinians from East Jerusalem. Twenty Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have also been killed in the unrest. Executed Saudi cleric: An influential Shiite advocate Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, executed in Saudi Arabia Saturday, was a charismatic religious leader who delivered fiery speeches demanding more rights for his minority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. He was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the kingdom's east, an oil-rich region where an estimated two million Shiites live what they call a marginalised life. The 56-year-old, who had travelled to Shiite-majority Iran to study theology following the country 1979 Islamic Revolution. Nimr al-Nimr, executed in Saudi Arabia, was a charismatic religious leader who delivered fiery speeches demanding more rights for the Shiite minority Riyadh has repeatedly accused Iran of fuelling unrest in the kingdom and across the region, and Tehran was the first to react to Nimr's death, warning that Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing him. Nimr was shot in the thigh when he was arrested on July 8, 2012, being accused of "resisting the security forces." The slightly built man with a long white beard and glasses, was described by the interior ministry at the time as an "instigator of sedition" and his arrest had sparked protests and clashes with police in Shiite towns. His death sentence was announced on October 15, 2014 for sedition, disobedience and bearing arms. Three days later, gunmen fired on a security patrol in the Shiite populated east, setting fire to an oil pipeline. Speaking to AFP Saturday, Nimr's brother Mohammed described the cleric as "a humble, religious man who lived a simple life, making him attractive to many youths". His execution "will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, said Mohammed, calling instead for a "peaceful protest movement". Nimr returned from Iran in 1994 as a "faqih", or expert on Islamic law, and held a "special and distinct position" among Saudi Shiites, said Mohammed. Prior to his arrest, he preached regular sermons. On Fridays, the Muslim weekly day of worship, his sermons took on a political hue. He was based at Imam Hussein Mosque in Awamiya, his home village, where protests and attacks on police are common. He was also briefly detained on multiple occasions between 2003 and 2008 over his demands for the release of activists, allowing Shiite teaching in schools and giving Shiites more rights, according to his official website www.sknemer.com, which is run by his family. But it was in 2009 when he seriously angered authorities by calling for Eastern Province's Shiite-populated Qatif and Al-Ihsaa governorates to be separated from Saudi Arabia and united with neighbouring Shiite-majority Bahrain. - 'Personal revenge' - Speaking in November 2011, after four Shiites were shot dead in Eastern province, Nimr demanded the "release of all those detained in the protests, and all prisoners of conscience -- Sunnis and Shiites". Speaking at the funeral of one of the protesters, Nimr said: "We are determined to demand our legitimate rights by peaceful means". The last straw was in a video circulated on social media in 2012 in which Nimr made a speech celebrating the death of interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. "Let the worms eat him," Nimr had said, also criticising the ruling Sunni families in both Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Bahrain, where authorities crushed a Shiite-led protest movement in 2011 with the help of Saudi troops. Nayef's powerful son, Mohammed bin Nayef, became crown prince last year. The cleric's brother told AFP it is "unfortunate that the verdicts would be closer to personal revenge" by Nayef rather than based on criminal proof. Nimr spoke "words which may have been harsh, but he was voicing an opinion. He could have been held accountable for it politically" and not executed. The cleric's wife died of cancer in 2012. He was the father of one son and three daughters. His children are studying in the United States with the exception of a teenage daughter, who lives in Saudi Arabia. Mohammed's son, Ali al-Nimr, whose arrest at the age of 17 and alleged torture during detention sparked condemnation from rights watchdogs and the United States, is also facing the death penalty. Saudi Interior ministry spokesman Mansur al-Turki announces in Riyadh on January 2, 2016 the execution of 47 people convicted of "terrorism", including Nimr al-Nimr Fayez Nureldine (AFP) 'Serious concerns' over Saudi's execution of Shiite cleric: EU The European Union on Saturday raised serious concerns over Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, warning it could have "dangerous consequences" for a region already fraught with sectarian tensions. "The specific case of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and the respect of basic civil and political rights, to be safeguarded in all cases, also in the framework of the fight against terrorism," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement. "This case has also the potential of enflaming further the sectarian tensions that already bring so much damage to the entire region, with dangerous consequences," she said. Saudi Shiite women hold placards bearing portraits of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr during a protest in the eastern coastal city of Qatif against his execution by Saudi authorities, on January 2, 2016 One of 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the 56-year-old cleric was a charismatic religious leader who delivered fiery speeches demanding more rights for his minority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. He was one of driving forces between protests that broke out in 2011 in the kingdom's east, and his execution sparked a furious response across the Middle East, with Iran warning Riyadh would pay a "high price". Among others executed were Sunnis convicted of involvement in deadly Al-Qaeda attacks, with the Saudi government saying all 47 were guilty of adopting radical ideology, joining "terrorist organisations" and implementing various "criminal plots". Mogherini urged the Saudi authorities "to promote reconciliation between the different communities" and called on all parties "to show restraint and responsibility". Four Israelis to be charged with anti-Arab 'terror': justice Israeli prosecutors will file charges Sunday against four Jews for their involvement in "severe terror against Arabs and their property", the justice ministry said. Security officials told AFP Saturday night the charges are linked to the July firebombing of a Palestinian home in the West Bank village of Duma, which resulted in the death of three members of the Dawabsha family. A statement from the justice ministry noted that two of the suspects, who will be charged at the Lod district court at 0730 GMT, were minors. A Palestinian man stands on December 4, 2015 at the entrance of the burnt-out home of Saad Dawabsha, who was killed alongside his toddler and wife when their house was firebombed by Jewish extremists on July 31, 2015 in the West Bank village of Duma Jaafar Ashtiyeh (AFP/File) Israel has been under heavy pressure to try those responsible for the attack, with rights groups questioning the delay in the case and contrasting it to the swift reaction often following Palestinian attacks. The Shin Bet internal security service has held suspects under administrative detention, denied some of the right to see a lawyer part of the time and used physical force during investigations. Supporters of the suspects -- religious extremists known as "hilltop youth" who oppose the "secular" Israeli state -- denounced those methods as torture. The Shin Bet denies using any illegal methods, and has stressed that the entire investigation was conducted under the supervision of State Attorney Yehuda Weinstein. Eighteen-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha was killed and his parents fatally injured in the July 31 firebombing. His four-year-old brother was the sole survivor from the immediate family. A Star of David and the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah" were spray-painted on a wall near the family's small house. The attack drew renewed attention to Jewish extremism and accusations Israel had not done enough to prevent such violence. The "hilltop youth" have been blamed for violence and vandalism targeting Palestinians, Christian holy sites and even Israeli military property. Masakadza-led Zimbabwe hammer Afghanistan in third ODI Hamilton Masakadza hit 83 runs to help Zimbabwe recover to a 117-run victory over Afghanistan on Saturday. The victory left the five-match one-day international series at 2-1 to Afghanistan with two yet to play. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, but they lost both openers for ducks within eight balls. Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza, pictured on August 2, 2015, hit 83 runs against Afghanistan in an ODI Jekesai Njikizana (AFP/File) In fact they crashed to 49-7 before Masakadza and Graeme Cremer came together, the latter pitching in with a 75-ball 58 to take the Africans to 175 all out off 48.3 overs, Mirwais Ashraf grabbing 3-20. "Credit to Cremer for the support he gave me, and the bowlers did very well as well," Masakadza told cricinfo.com. "We managed to bat as long as we wanted to and managed to get a few hits away towards the end. It's good that we've managed to keep the series alive, and I hope we can keep this momentum." Afghanistan also got off to a disastrous start in their hunt for runs, losing opener Noor Ali Nadran for a duck on the fourth ball. The only batsman to make double figures was wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, with 31, as Zimbabwe made short work of their innings, all out for 58 in 16.3 overs, Tendai Chisoro claiming 3-15 off four overs. "Our bowlers started very well. It was a good partnership between Masakadza and Cremer, but a total of 175 was (chaseable)," said Afghan skipper Asghar Stanikzai. "The wicket is not too difficult but our batsmen played poor shots and their bowlers bowled very well." Brief scores: 15 killed in early hours of new year in El Salvador SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) El Salvador, suffering an epidemic of violence, opened the early new year with 15 more people gunned down, including an 11-year-old killed by men dressed as police, officials said Friday. Two men, two women and an 11-year-old child were slain in the early hours by men dressed like police, who stormed into two humble dwellings and sprayed them with gunfire. The killings occurred in the Los Cerritos community about 160 kilometers (95 miles) east of the capital, San Salvador. In a second incident, National Police Commissioner Veronica Uriarte said agents on patrol encountered five alleged gang members in Valle Nuevo just south of San Salvador and exchanged gunfire, killing five. Five more people were killed in various incidents, two in rural Nueva Concepcion north of the capital; two in the municipality of San Miguel in the east, and a suspected gang member in El Espino, near the capital. The gangs, which control territory in districts and neighborhoods across the country, are involved in the majority of homicides, drug trafficking and organized crime. They charge extortions to businesses and transport companies and kill those who refuse to pay. 4 gunmen, 2 troops dead in attack on Indian air base PATHANKOT, India (AP) Suspected militants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan and fought security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead in what is being seen as a possible attempt to undo recent progress in relations between the two rival countries. The attack Saturday at the Pathankot air force base in Punjab came just a week after the first visit to Pakistan in 12 years by an Indian prime minister. Police said they were investigating whether the gunmen came from the Indian portion of Kashmir, where rebels routinely stage attacks, or from Pakistan. The assault began a couple of hours before dawn when a group of gunmen entered the section of the base where the living quarters are located, the Defense Ministry said. The attackers, however, were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, it said. An Indian military helicopter keeps watch on the situation at the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) By late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But two hours later, more gunfire erupted and an air force helicopter was seen firing at an area of the base, a major installation located about 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva said Saturday night that troops were combing the entire base to fully secure it. She said that the combing operation was expected to continue through the night, and that the full number of casualties would be clear once the base was completely secured. By 9 p.m., no gunfire had been heard around the base for more than three hours. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan on Dec. 25 to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. Ahead of Modi's visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. The Indian Defense Ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a likely terror attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," the ministry said in a statement. Despite the intelligence on a possible attack, at least two air force troops were killed in the gunbattle, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. PTI, citing police, also said at least four gunmen had been killed. Pathankot is on the highway that connects India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. The Himalayan region of Kashmir, where rebels have been fighting since 1989 for independence or merger with Pakistan, is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, and the attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the country's relationship with its archrival. In the past, the contentious issue of Kashmir has halted talks between India and Pakistan. "These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir," said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir's capital, Srinagar. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must "exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests." Modi, at a speech in the southern city of Mysore, congratulated security forces "for turning the intentions of our country's enemies into dust. They didn't let them succeed. And I salute the martyrdom of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives." Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but "if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply." Pakistan's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it said in a statement. The State Department said it was committed to strong partnership with India in combating terrorism and urged all counties in the region to "disrupt and dismantle terrorist network" and bring perpetrators of the latest attack to justice. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in India's Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. ___ Associated Press writers Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi and Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, contributed to this report. Indian army soldiers take positions on a rooftop of a building outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) An Indian air force chopper on a reconnaissance mission flies over the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Indian security forces stand outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Suspected militants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) An Indian ambulance carries the injured to the hospital outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Suspected militants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Indian army soldiers take positions outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) An Indian air force chopper on a reconnaissance mission flies over the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) An Indian army soldier looks at an Indian air force chopper on a reconnaissance mission, as he takes position on a rooftop of a building outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. At least four gunmen entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, leaving two of them dead, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) An Indian armored vehicle moves near an Indian air force base in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Gunmen attacked the air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Indian security forces stand guard near a road barrier outside an Indian air force base in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Gunmen attacked the air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with security forces, officials said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) Munich police remain on alert following New Year Eve threat BERLIN (AP) Police in the German city of Munich are maintaining a heightened presence following warnings of a planned attack on New Year's Eve. Two Munich train stations were evacuated late Thursday after German authorities received information from foreign intelligence agencies that five to seven Islamic State militants were planning coordinated attacks in the city. A German security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to divulge the information publicly, said the key tip came from French authorities shortly before 8 p.m. (1900 GMT) local time. Munich police spokesman Sven Mueller said descriptions of the alleged attackers included several "common Arab names" but that they could be false. France quarrels over revoking citizenship of terrorists PARIS (AP) The push by France's Socialist government to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality after the Paris attacks has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move while some on the left express indignation at what they call a divisive measure. French President Francois Hollande submitted the proposal three days after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 dead, in a shift toward a hard line on security. The idea appears to have strong support in French public opinion. Several polls over the past week suggest that 80 to 90 percent of the French are in favor of the measure. Under current French law, citizenship revocation can only be applied to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French-born, and the procedure is rarely implemented. France's President Francois Hollande, right, shakes hands with a foreign legionnaire as he visits the security measures at the Champs Elysees in Paris, Thursday, Dec 31, 2015. The push by Frances Socialist government to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality after the Paris attacks has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move while some on the left express indignation at what they call a divisive measure. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool) The new rules would extend it to all dual nationals, but cannot be applied to people who are only French citizens, as France's obligations under international law prevent it from leaving a person stateless. Opponents of the measure consider it would create two classes of citizens dual nationals who could lose their citizenship and others who cannot in opposition to the principle of equality set out in France's constitution. French authorities have not said how many of those arrested over the Paris attacks are dual nationals. Prominent Socialist Party figures, including former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, have publicly expressed their disapproval, but Hollande has stuck to his guns. "France must take the good decisions beyond traditional party divisions," the president said in his New Year's Eve speech. While the left is divided, Hollande is getting unusual support from the right. The far-right National Front has claimed it is at the origin of the idea. "Terrorists don't deserve French citizenship, because French citizenship is an honor", vice president of the party Florian Philippot told France Info radio. Members of the conservative opposition, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy, have also largely supported the proposal while also calling for more security measures. The government says the new measure would apply to a very small number of people. The issue remains highly sensitive in France as some have compared it to the revocation of citizenship of Jews and members of the French Resistance during World War II, when the government led by Philippe Petain collaborated with German authorities. The Vichy regime revoked the citizenship of more than 15,000 naturalized and 500 French-born people including General Charles de Gaulle. "It's dangerous because you start wanting to revoke the citizenship of some people, then take a step further," said Socialist senator Samia Ghali. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended the action this week. "This is a strong symbolic act that punishes those who excluded themselves from the national community. Nothing less, nothing more," he said in a written statement. France first adopted the revocation of citizenship in 1848 for those who refused to accept the abolition of slavery, Valls recalled. The constitutional change, to be debated in Parliament in February, requires a three-fifths majority vote from lawmakers. About 50 human rights and anti-racist organizations and unions have launched a petition to reject the measure. Some human rights defenders consider the proposal implicitly targets France's Muslim community, the largest in Western Europe including many French-born with Moroccan, Tunisian or Algerian origins who have both citizenships. The Paris attacks, which left 130 dead and hundreds wounded, were carried out in the name of the Islamic State group largely by French and Belgian extremists. Some of them were of Moroccan descent. The possibility of revoking the citizenship of all dual nationals not only the naturalized ones already exists in Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. In the U.S., a person can have his naturalization revoked for being a member of the Communist party, another totalitarian party or a terrorist organization within five years of his or her naturalization. The measure does not apply to natural-born U.S. citizens. Health care repeal vote to open a political year in Congress WASHINGTON (AP) It's been like a long-delayed New Year's resolution for Republicans. But 2016 will finally be the year when they put legislation on President Barack Obama's desk repealing his health care law. The bill undoing the president's prized overhaul will be the first order of business when the House reconvenes this coming week, marking a sharply partisan start on Capitol Hill to a congressional year in which legislating may take a back seat to politics. There are few areas of potential compromise between Obama and the GOP majority in the House and Senate in this election year, but plenty of opportunities for political haymaking during the presidential campaign season. FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015 file photo, The Capitol dome is seen on Capitol Hill. Its been like a long-delayed New Years resolution for the GOP. But 2016 will finally be the year congressional Republicans put legislation on President Barack Obamas desk repealing Obamacare. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Obama will veto the health law repeal bill, which also would cut money for Planned Parenthood. The measure already has passed the Senate under special rules protecting it from Democratic obstruction. But that's the point for Republicans, who intend to schedule a veto override vote for Jan. 22, when anti-abortion activists hold their annual march in Washington to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion. Despite dozens of past votes to repeal the health law in full or in part, Republicans never before have succeeded in sending a full repeal bill to the White House. They insist that doing so will fulfill promises to their constituents while highlighting the clear choice facing voters in the November presidential election. Every Republican candidate has pledged to undo the health law. The Democrats running for president would keep it in place. "You're going to see us put a bill on the president's desk going after Obamacare and Planned Parenthood so we'll finally get a bill on his desk to veto," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told conservative talk host Bill Bennett over the holidays. "Then you're going to see the House Republican Conference, working with our senators, coming out with a bold agenda that we're going to lay out for the country, to say how we would do things very differently," Ryan said. In the Senate, which reconvenes Jan. 11, a week later than the House, early action will include a vote on a proposal by Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who is running for president, for an "audit" of the Federal Reserve. Democrats are likely to block it. But, like the health repeal bill in the House, the vote will answer conservative demands in an election year. Also expected early in the Senate's year is legislation dealing with Syrian refugees, following House passage of a bill clamping down on the refugee program. Conservatives were angry when the year ended without the bill advancing. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky promised a vote, though without specifying whether it would be the House bill or something else. The House Benghazi committee will continue its investigation of the attacks that killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, with an interview of former CIA Director David Petraeus on Jan. 6. That comes amid new Democratic accusations of political motives aimed at Hillary Clinton after the committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. for president. Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, was secretary of state at the time of the Benghazi attacks. The bold agenda promised by Ryan after succeeding former Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as speaker last fall will begin to take shape at a House-Senate GOP retreat this month in Baltimore. Thus far Ryan has pledged efforts to overhaul the tax system and offer a Republican alternative to the health overhaul. In the Senate, McConnell's primary focus is protecting the handful of vulnerable Republican senators whose seats are at risk as Democrats fight to regain the Senate majority they lost a year ago. That means weighing the political risks and benefits of every potential vote to endangered incumbents in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. That could determine whether McConnell allows criminal justice overhaul legislation the one issue cited by Obama and lawmakers of both parties as ripe for compromise to come to the floor. McConnell already has suggested that prospects for approval of Obama's long-sought Asia trade pact are dim, and the senator has ruled out major tax overhaul legislation as long as Obama is president. McConnell could try to put his thumb on the scales of the presidential race with two GOP senators having emerged as leading contenders. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been a thorn in McConnell's side, once calling the GOP leader a liar, and has frosty relations with his fellow senators. Rubio is on good terms with fellow lawmakers and has been endorsed by several of them. McConnell could schedule debate on an issue with the potential to favor Rubio politically over Cruz, such as National Security Agency wiretapping authority. But McConnell insists he is staying out of it. Via Agencia Brasil: Tests for dengue and chikungunya detection now have mandatory coverage. Edited excerpt from the Google translation: Starting today (2), health plan operators across the country will be required to provide coverage for rapid testing of dengue and chikungunya fever serology. Besides the two laboratory tests, other procedures have been added to the list by the National Health Agency (ANS). The organization pointed out that the diagnosis of Zika virus, newly arrived in Brazil and also transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, can be presumed to exclude dengue and chikungunya fever and for monitoring the clinical symptoms of the disease. NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, including an influential Shiite cleric, has prompted a wave of condemnation from Shiite leaders around the region and threatens to further damage Sunni-Shiite relations across the Middle East. Hundreds of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's supporters protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India. Here's a look at the aftermath and regional implications of al-Nimr's execution. ___ Bahraini protesters carry a banner reading, "We will not bow! #alNimr," during a demonstration against Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Daih, Bahrain, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and al-Nimr, who rallied protests against the Saudi government. The execution of al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) WHO WAS SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR? Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, was a widely revered Shiite Muslim cleric from eastern Saudi Arabia who was convicted in Oct. 2014 of sedition and other charges and sentenced to death. He was an outspoken government critic and a key leader of Shiite protests in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. He was also a critic of the government of Bahrain, where a Sunni-led monarchy suppressed protests by Shiites who make up the majority of the tiny island nation. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain crush the uprising, concerned it would spread and destabilize other Arab Gulf countries. Al-Nimr, however, also spoke out against the Iranian-backed government in Syria for killing protesters there. He directly criticized the Al Saud ruling family for its domestic policies and forcefully spoke out against King Salman's elder brother, the late Crown Prince and former Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. ___ WHY IS HIS EXECUTION IMPORTANT? His death is seen by some as a warning to anyone thinking of calling for reforms and wider political freedoms in Saudi Arabia. His death also strikes a sensitive chord for Saudi Shiites who claim they are discriminated against by authorities in the kingdom, where many ultraconservatives Sunnis view Shiites as heretics. Several Shiites mosques and places of worship were targeted by Sunni extremists in 2015 in eastern Saudi Arabia, despite attempts by security forces to clamp down on Islamic State group supporters who have also targeted police. Al-Nimr's execution came as a surprise to even his own family, his brother Mohammed al-Nimr told The Associated Press. Despite harsh verdicts against government critics, activists are typically given long jail sentences even after initial appeals that uphold death sentences. His death is expected to further exacerbate the proxy wars for regional supremacy being fought across the region by Saudi Arabia and Iran. The two rival nations currently back opposing sides in civil wars in both Syria and Yemen. ___ HOW WILL THIS IMPACT SUNNI-SHIITE RELATIONS? Iran's Shiite clerics have used al-Nimr's death to lash out at Saudi Arabia, which is founded upon an ultraconservative Sunni ideology known as Wahhabism. Iran's Foreign Ministry warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price and the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Saudi Arabia would face a "maelstrom" from which it would not escape. Iran and Saudi have been vying for leadership in the Muslim world since Iran's 1979 revolution, which elevated to power hard-line Shiite clerics. The U.S. war in Iraq further enflamed religious and ethnic tensions by leading to a Shiite-led government in Baghdad and a crucial shift in the sectarian balance of power in the region. After Arab Spring protests erupted in 2011, Saudi Arabia and Iran entered into a fierce proxy war in Syria, where they are supporting opposite sides of the conflict, and in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been bombing Iranian-allied rebels since March. They also support opposing political groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain. Bahraini anti-government protesters carry a palm tree trunk to block a street from police during a demonstration against Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Daih, Bahrain, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and al-Nimr, who rallied protests against the Saudi government. The execution of al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) Bahraini protesters chant anti-government slogans during a march in support of Saudi Shiite Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Daih, a suburb of Manama, Bahrain, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and al-Nimr, who rallied protests against the Saudi government. The execution of al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) A Bahraini anti-government protester holds a banner in Arabic that reads "damn you" during a demonstration against Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Daih, Bahrain, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and al-Nimr, who rallied protests against the Saudi government. The execution of al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) Saudi Arabia's state television channel displays an image of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, Dubai. Saudi Arabia on Saturday announced the execution of 47 prisoners accused of terrorism charges, including the Shiite cleric who was a central figure in 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the kingdom. The killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr may spark new unrest among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated in the kingdoms east, and in Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shiite majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni monarchy. Arabic under photo reads: Nimr Baqir Ameen al-Nimr, nationality/Saudi. Red ticker reads: The deviant group determined to strike the national economy and harm the position of the kingdom and its relations with (other) countries. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) Kashmiri Shiite Muslims, carrying a placard with the portrait of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, shout slogans during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Hundreds of Shiite Muslims in Indian portion of Kashmiri rallied in the Shia dominated areas protesting against Saudi Arabia , after they announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and a prominent Shiite cleric who rallied protests against the government. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) In this Saturday, May 30, 2015, photo, Saudis carry a poster demanding freedom for jailed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, during a funeral procession, in Tarut, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia says it has executed 47 prisoners, including leading Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The clerics name was among a list of the 47 prisoners executed carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. It cited the Interior Ministry for the information. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) Larry Gordon, surfing visionary, dies at 76 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Larry Gordon, who helped turn surfing into a mainstream sport with the foam boards he created at his California company, has died. He was 76. Gordon's wife, Gayle Gordon, told The Associated Press Saturday he died peacefully on New Year's Day at his San Diego home after a lengthy illness. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 10 years ago. "Very few people get to have a business and a life in their passion," his wife said. "He got to live a life in the sport that gave him great joy." Gordon was a chemistry student at San Diego State University in the late 1950s when he started experimenting with foam materials at his father's plastics factory and shaping boards in his friend and fellow surfer Floyd Smith's garage. At the time, surfboards were mostly made of balsa wood and were heavy and hard to maneuver. The polyurethane foam that Gordon and Smith used to build their boards were lighter and easier to ride, making surfing more accessible and helping drive its popularity across the globe. Demands for the boards led the pair to move out of Smith's garage in Pacific Beach and open a full-fledge surf shop in 1959. By the 1960s, Gordon & Smith Surfboards became a leading manufacturer in the surf industry, later branching out into skateboards and surf wear. Smith sold his share of the company in 1971 after expanding the line into Australia. Gordon & Smith is now run by Gordon's oldest daughter, Debbie Gordon. "We still shape and glass surfboards about a mile from where his first factory was," his daughter said. "The reason he made surfboards and the reason we keep making them is for the love of surfing and the stoke it brings in giving people the best ride of their life." In 2007, Gordon was chosen as one of five surfboard shapers honored in the "International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame." Louis van Gaal may not add to Manchester United strike force in January Manchester United may have one of the worst goalscoring records in the league but that does not mean Louis van Gaal will definitely be buying a striker in January. Despite an encouraging performance in the 0-0 draw against Chelsea, Van Gaal is still under pressure to deliver a win when United host Swansea on Saturday. The statistics make for uncomfortable reading for the Dutchman. United have not won in their last eight matches - their worst run for 26 years - and they have collected four points fewer than David Moyes had by this stage in his solitary season as United manager. Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United's poor form in front of goal is a concern The club have recorded seven goalless draws this term and in the last 25 league matches, they have only scored 25 goals. Outside the relegation zone, only West Brom, Swansea and Stoke have scored fewer goals than United this season. Van Gaal had backed Wayne Rooney to deliver 25 goals this season, but at the halfway point he has found the net just twice in the league while Anthony Martial has struggled to maintain the prolific scoring rate he enjoyed shortly after moving to Old Trafford. Van Gaal concedes United's poor form in front of goal is a concern. "That is our problem (scoring goals)," the United manager said. "When you analyse most matches we were the dominating team, but we didn't score. "How many players have had the chances to score and why they didn't score? You cannot always explain that." Van Gaal has been linked with a number of forwards, including Sadio Mane, Edinson Cavani and Yoshinori Muto, but the 64-year-old was reluctant to say he would spend big on a forward in the window. "We are looking always for solutions in the team. Also, for this moment, but we still have a good team and we can still score goals," Van Gaal said. "I don't believe too much in competition. I believe in trust and confidence. Maybe that is wrong but I have done it all my life. I give trust to the players. "The problem can be solved with money but also on the training pitch. We are training but scoring goals is a quality. We have that quality but at this moment there is a lack of confidence at the right time or we need to buy another striker." In fact, Van Gaal believes adding another striker in the window could put more unwarranted pressure on the players he already has. The Dutchman points to the example of Javier Hernandez, who left for Bayer Leverkusen last summer, as an example of how frustrated a striker can become if he is not playing. "We could have kept all the strikers but then there would have been a lot of strikers in the tribune (stand)," said Van Gaal, who also allowed Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao to leave in the close season. "They are not happy then. They want to go away. It is the story of Hernandez. He wants to play. "Too many strikers of high quality for the same position is too much pressure but now I don't have the chance to change." United are now nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal in sixth position. Van Gaal knows he is under pressure to stop more supporter dissatisfaction and prevent the top four breaking away in the coming weeks. "We cannot allow the gap to grow," said the United boss, who has lost all three of his matches against Swansea. "We have to be at the top of the league. That is our aim. We said that at the beginning of this season. "The players want to win because we didn't win several matches in a row." In the summer, Van Gaal predicted Luke Shaw would enjoy an exceptional year, but the left-back's season was brought to a painful halt when he broke his right leg against PSV Eindhoven in September. Van Gaal has given Shaw a week's break to help his long recovery, but the United boss does not know if he will play again this term. Former spy chief 'alarmed' by lack of alertness to terror attack dangers A former spy chief has said she is "alarmed" by the number of people using mobile phones and listening to music when they should be more alert to the danger of a potential terror attack on the streets. Baroness Neville-Jones, a former security minister, said people had to take personal responsibility and be aware of their surroundings. The former head of the Joint Intelligence Committee suggested that people would have to get used to disruption to their daily lives as a result of counter-terrorism operations and security scares. Baroness Neville-Jones said people had to take personal responsibility and be aware of their surroundings Official guidance is for people to be "alert but not alarmed" at the threat from terrorism, but Lady Neville-Jones suggested citizens were not as vigilant as they could be. "I think being alert is very important. I am alarmed by the number of people I see wandering along the street entirely engaged in their mobile telephones and with their ears plugged into music and they are not aware of their surroundings. You need to be aware of your surroundings," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "You do have to take some personal responsibility." She added: "I do think we can be more alert than we are." Lady Neville-Jones said action such as that taken in Munich, where two railway stations were closed on New Year's Eve in response to a suspected terror threat, would become more likely. The stations reopened yesterday after G erman officials said there was no sign of any imminent terror attack. "I do think we are going to have to get used to what we have seen yesterday in Germany - that is to say alerts which close places of public functions, and higher levels of security in big public gatherings. That is prudence and proper caution on the part of intelligence and the police authorities." She said the authorities had to take any intelligence seriously: "If you have got a piece of information, it may be difficult for you to assess it, you may not be comfortable about having a broader picture - part of the problem with intelligence is it can be fragmentary - but it's a very bold government or policeman who chooses not to take precautions in such circumstances. "I think the population on the whole would prefer them to be cautious and occasionally have closed something that it turned out wasn't necessary, but how do we know, rather than take the risk of exposing people to dangers on which they have information, even if it's not complete and on which they can't necessarily totally rely." But she played down the prospect of British cities being locked down in the way Brussels had been, highlighting the British authorities' experience of coping with terrorism. "I would hope that that would not be something that would happen in the UK. I do think that counter-terrorism and both the intelligence side of it and the policing side of it, and well done, are matters which are bred of long experience and of great skill and I think that in this country we do have both of those things and we have very close co-operation between both police and agencies and I think they understand how to use information. Cuts 'could put 240,000 more homes at risk of floods' Spending cuts could leave 240,000 extra households facing a "significant risk" of flood damage within 20 years, ministers were told. A document presented to ministers in November last year - just days before Cumbria was inundated - warned of the risks posed by extreme weather events becoming more frequent. Details of the paper were reported in the Observer as parts of the UK braced for more heavy rain, with eastern Scotland set to bear the brunt of the latest band of bad weather. The Environment Agency says funding is in place for schemes to protect homes The document, drawn up by the Association of Drainage Authorities, which represents a range of organisations responsible for managing water levels, said: We have had the five wettest years since 2000. The Environment Agency's funding for maintaining flood assets has fallen by 14%. Downward adjustments have also been made to intended revenue spending commitments." It warned that "f ailure of assets and networks is more likely as extreme weather events become more frequent and unpredictable" and recommended a change in approach to a more long-term strategy. Referring to the potential impact of spending cuts, the document said: "Annual flood and storm damage costs are approximately 1.1 billion, according to the Association of British Insurers, and those households at significant risk (of flood damage) through a reduction in our capacity to manage water levels could increase from 330,000 today to 570,000 in 2035." The document said cuts to local authority budgets had left them with little option but to reduce funding to drainage boards and other organisations and landowners who manage river levels, the Observer reported. "Such reductions in investment mean that some river, watercourse and sea defence systems and structures are maintained only to a minimal level; consequently the useful lives of those assets will be reduced," the paper said. "The rivers and coasts of some rural areas are at a major crossroads and their funding is purely based on the benefits of flood risk to people and property as calculated currently. The Environment Agency has ... reduced the extent of their watercourse channel maintenance and taken steps to stop operating a number of structures and systems. Examples include lowland catchments across Lancashire and Cumbria." The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) insisted that funding was in place for schemes to protect hundreds of thousands of homes. A Defra spokeswoman said: "We are exceeding the Government's manifesto commitment by building 1,500 new flood defence schemes that will better protect 300,000 more homes. That's an extra 2.3 billion of capital investment to help our most at-risk communities over six years." More heavy rain is set to lash parts of Britain over the coming days, with some parts of Scotland likely to see more than 200mm between Saturday and Monday. Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: "We expect heavy and persistent rain to affect parts of eastern Scotland over the next few days, and have already issued national severe weather warnings for its potential impacts. "Everyone should be aware of the potential for disruption in places from further flooding especially in areas such as Perth and Kinross, Angus and Aberdeenshire, where amber 'be prepared' warnings are in place." Vincent Fitzsimons, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) hydrology duty manager, said: "Flood impacts may affect communities and cause disruption to travel and infrastructure from Tayside to Angus to Aberdeenshire over the coming days. " Localised flooding is also possible in parts of the Scottish Borders, and in Caithness and Sutherland during Sunday and Monday." The Environment Agency said more rain was expected on Sunday in south-west and north-east England and that would bring a risk of flooding along parts of some rivers in Devon and Cornwall and the North East. It said the River Ouse was set to remain high in York for several days and the River Severn tol remain high in places, bringing a low risk of flooding over the weekend and into next week in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. Saudi Arabia condemned after executing dozens of prisoners Saudi Arabia has been condemned after executing dozens of prisoners, including a cleric who was a prominent figure in the Arab Spring protests against the country's monarchy. Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said it was "profoundly wrong" to carry out the death sentence against Shiite Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was among 47 people executed. International human rights group Reprieve said three other people involved in anti-government protests were among the dead, including two who were teenagers at the time of their arrest, and said David Cameron could not turn a "blind eye" to the executions. Demonstrators protest outside the Saudi Embassy in London against the country's execution of 47 prisoners Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron responded to news of the executions by describing capital punishment as "abhorrent" and called on the Prime Minister to do more to pressure foreign governments into abolishing the death penalty. Reprieve said s heikh Nimr, Ali al-Ribh, Mohammad Shioukh and Mohammad Suweimal were all arrested in 2012 following their involvement in anti-government protests. Al-Ribh was just 18 when he was detained, while Shioukh was a year older. Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said Saudi Arabia had executed more than 150 people during 2015, many for non-violent offences. "Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse. "Alarmingly, the Saudi government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsman's blade. "Saudi Arabia's allies - including the US and UK - must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the kingdom to change course." Mr Benn said: "Saudi Arabia was profoundly wrong to have executed sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Amnesty International expressed serious concerns about the charges and his trial, and we are opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances." There are fears that the killing of al-Nimr could spark new unrest among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east, and in Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shiite majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni monarchy. Al-Nimr had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy, which harshly suppressed the 2011 Shiite-led protests. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain quash the uprising, fearing it would spread. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. The death penalty undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. "The Foreign Secretary regularly raises human rights issues with his counterparts in countries of concern, including Saudi Arabia. We seek to build strong and mature relationships so that we can be candid with each other about those areas on which we do not agree, including on human rights." Mr Farron said: "I utterly condemn Saudi Arabia for the execution of 47 people including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Capital punishment is utterly abhorrent and the Prime Minister needs to turn round to our 'ally' and tell them capital punishment is wrong. "In 2014, 90 people were beheaded in the kingdom, the highest in two decades. In just two days they have killed 47 people. "Britain must live our values and criticise nations like Saudi Arabia that continue this heinous and barbarous punishment." The execution of the sheikh has raised fears that his nephew Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested, could also have the death sentence imposed on him carried out. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used his conference speech in September to call on Mr Cameron to intervene in the case. Mr Benn told the Press Association: " With the carrying out of this large number of executions there will now be huge international concern about what will happen to Ali Mohammed al-Nimr who is Sheikh al-Nimr's nephew. He was just 17 years old when he was sentenced to death. "The Foreign Secretary has told Parliament that he does not expect Ali Mohammed al-Nimr to be executed but he now needs to seek fresh assurances that he will be reprieved." Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in London to express their anger about the executions. Amnesty International UK's Shane Enright told the Press Association that the death penalty was "unacceptable in all circumstances" and it was particularly concerning that a number of "peaceful dissidents" had been killed, including sheikh al-Nimr. Speaking at the scene of the demonstration, he said a recent Amnesty report concluded that the trial against him was "deeply flawed", adding: " We also came to the conclusion that he was jailed solely for expressing his peaceful points of view, protesting peacefully against the regimes. "This is an absolute, fundamental, breach of basic human rights." Shane Enright of Amnesty International addresses demonstrators outside the Saudi Embassy A total of 47 prisoners were executed in a single day, including a top Shiite cleric who was a prominent figure in the Arab Spring protests against the Saudi monarchy Protesters in London said the death penalty is 'unacceptable in all circumstances' Amnesty International's Shane Enright said it was particularly concerning that a number of 'peaceful dissidents' had been among those executed EU executive voices concern over planned Polish media law BRUSSELS, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The European Commission sent a letter to two Polish ministers on Wednesday expressing concern over a proposed law on control of the country's state-run media, a spokesman for the EU executive said, another sign of disquiet in Brussels over Poland's new political path. An amendment to Polish media law that would give the treasury minister the authority to appoint the management of state-run radio and television has been sent to parliament by he ruling conservative-nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS). "Freedom and pluralism of the media are crucial for a pluralist society in a member state respectful of the common values on which the union is founded," European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans wrote in the letter. Parliament approved the amendment on Wednesday evening, Polish state-run news agency PAP said. It still needs to be approved by the upper house of the parliament and then signed by the president. Critics say the amendment is part of PiS plans to increase state control over public media. The eurosceptic PiS, which ousted the governing centrist party by a wide margin in the October election, rejects criticism that its policies are undermining Poland's democracy. The party says it has a broad mandate to redesign the country to reflect its Catholic values and independence from European Union headquarters in Brussels. The European Commission letter asks Poland's foreign and justice ministers to explain how the new law would take existing EU rules on media freedoms into consideration, the spokesman said. The PiS has long aimed to overhaul rules on public broadcasters to ensure they defend what it defines as national interests. The party has yet to present a bill on the matter but has signalled plans to "depoliticise" the state media and lay off journalists deemed to be politically affiliated. Last week the EU executive expressed concern over an overhaul of the rules governing Poland's constitutional court, demanding their introduction be postponed. The Commission will discuss the recent developments in Poland at the next meeting of commissioners on Jan. 13. Militants attack Indian air base near Pakistan, 7 dead By Mukesh Gupta and Rupam Jain Nair PATHANKOT/NEW DELHI, India, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Militants launched a deadly attack on an Indian Air Force base near the Pakistan border on Saturday, exchanging fire with Indian forces who, backed by tanks and helicopters, battled for more than 15 hours before wresting back control of the compound. The assault by gunmen disguised as soldiers, in which all five attackers and at least two guards were killed, came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in an effort to revive bilateral talks. Previous attempts at dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been derailed by similar incidents but, as Pakistani authorities condemned the raid, experts suggested the latest negotiations would prove more durable. "We have seen the same pattern again and again when there are attempts to restart the peace dialogue," said Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi. "It may lead to a momentary pause in the ...dialogue and attacks from the (Indian parliamentary) opposition for not pursuing a harder line, but I don't think it will have a long-term impact." The gunmen entered the heavily fortified Pathankot base in India's northwestern state of Punjab before dawn, officials said. Once inside, they opened fire indiscriminately. They had earlier hijacked a police officer's car and driven it to the base - tactics used in previous attacks believed to have been committed by Pakistani-trained militants, Punjab's police chief Suresh Arora told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's attack, in which a home ministry official said two guards were killed. Sporadic gunfire continued through the day and helicopters flew as Indian troops combed the base in search of surviving gunmen. A Reuters witness said he saw two tanks go into the base. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in an evening posting on his Twitter feed that all five gunmen had been killed. Singh said India wanted peace with Pakistan but that any terrorist attack would get "a befitting response", a statement analysts described as restrained. Pakistan condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created in the recent high-level contacts. "Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism," foreign ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah tweeted. TV footage showed armed guards outside the base, which is located 50 km (30 miles) from the border with Pakistan, and police stepped up vehicle checks in the area. SLEEPER CELLS The attack may have been carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed (the Army of Mohammed), Indian security sources said, based on an initial analysis. The Pakistan-based militant group based in Pakistan is seeking independence for Indian-ruled Kashmir. "Punjab is also a corridor for drug smuggling and ... several (Jaish-e-Mohammed) sleeper cells have been activated in Punjab," said a home ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. The raid resembled an assault last July by uniformed gunmen on a police post in a Punjabi border town that killed nine people. But Saturday's attack was much more audacious in targeting a large military facility from which India's Russian-made fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters fly. The government said the gunmen had been prevented from entering the area where "high-value assets are parked". Security experts say tight security along the countries' disputed frontier through Kashmir has pushed the focus of militant activity south towards softer targets in Punjab. Suicide bomber kills three in Somali capital, police say By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber attacked a popular restaurant in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, on Saturday, killing himself and at least three others, Somali police said. The attacker, dressed in a business suit over a suicide vest, detonated the bomb after entering the Village Restaurant, police said. "So far, three civilians are dead," Major Nur Ali, a senior police officer, told Reuters. Bahrain police fire tear gas at dozens protesting Saudi cleric's execution -witness DUBAI, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Bahrain police fired tear gas at several dozen people protesting the execution by Saudi Arabia on Saturday of a prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric, an eyewitness said. Demonstrators carrying pictures of the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, faced security forces in a standoff in the Shi'ite Muslim village of Abu-Saiba, west of the capital Manama. Activists have called for protests in the Sunni-ruled island kingdom, a sign that Nimr's death may inflame already raging sectarian tensions in the Middle East. Israeli police are searching for a gunman who killed two people in an attack in Tel Aviv. Spokeswoman Luba Samri says police remained on "heightened alert" Saturday. She says police and special forces searched for the shooter throughout the night. The gunman opened fire outside a bar on a main street in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon, killing two people and wounding at least three others before fleeing the scene. The suspect has been identified as Nesha'at Milhem, a 29-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from Arara, a town in central Israel. Local Arabic-language media reports said that Milhem, who did a stint in Israeli prison in 2006, was identified when his father called and informed police after seeing footage related to the incident on television. Israel's Channel 2 also noted that Milhem's cousin was shot and killed by a police officer in 2006. Speaking to Israel's army radio, the owner of the bar said that "a man with automatic weapon arrived and started shooting people all over the place". On Friday night, Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Israel's Channel 2 that the motive behind the attack is still unclear. "There is no definitive indication that this was a nationalist act," he said. Over the past three months, Palestinians have protested against Israel's ongoing occupation, as well as incursions by right-wing settler groups into the Al-Aqsa mosque the third holiest site for Muslims in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health stated Friday that Israeli soldiers or settlers in 2015 shot and killed 179 Palestinians, including unarmed protesters, bystanders and alleged attackers. Of that total, 143 have been killed since Oct. 1, when tensions escalated sharply. Palestinian assailants have since Oct. 1 killed 23 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians. Al Jazeera and The Associated Press Via The Guardian US: 'It's going to get ugly': Midwest calls in national guard as flood disaster unfolds. Excerpt: Floods have submerged towns, roads, casinos and shopping malls around the south and midwest for more than three days, prompting governors in Illinois and Iowa to call in the national guard. Southern US states braced for floods as Mississippi nears record crest Read more Sixteen states issued flood warnings covering some eight million people. By Saturday floodwaters had begun to subside in many areas, reopening several important highways, after topping levees in the region late on Friday. But swollen rivers have yet to crest in southern states, alarming governors in Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi. At Dardanelle, Arkansas, the National Weather Service recorded the Arkansas river at 41ft, nine feet above flood stage. Missouri governor Jay Nixon said the overflow off the Mississippi would overtake the records set by the great flood of 1993, which killed 50 people, broke hundreds of levees and caused thousands to flee their homes. In Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner ordered troops into action in the south of the state and declared 12 counties disaster zones. He began touring the waterlogged towns on Friday. Several thousand were evacuated from rural towns such as Pontoon Beach and Alton; 11 levees around the region have failed since flooding began last week. State authorities have blamed the flooding for 22 deaths and four missing people. In south-western Illinois, the 500 or so people living behind the Len Small levee, which protects the hamlets of Olive Branch, Hodges Park, and Unity along with rural homes, were urged to move to higher ground after the Mississippi began pouring over the barrier. Alexander County board chairman Chalen Tatum said sandbagging efforts were cut off because of the danger to volunteers. More water is expected to come before the river crests on Sunday. Its going to get ugly, Tatum said. Shi'ite cleric among 47 executed in Saudi Arabia, stirring anger in region By Angus McDowall RIYADH, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric and dozens of al Qaeda members on Saturday, signalling that it would not tolerate attacks, whether by Sunni jihadists or minority Shi'ites, and stirring sectarian anger across the region. Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims marched through Qatif district in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province in protest at the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, an eyewitness said. They chanted "Down with the Al Saud!", the name of the ruling Saudi royal family. Nimr, the most vocal critic of the dynasty among the Shi'ite minority, had come to be seen as a leader of the sect's younger activists, who rejected the quiet approach of older community leaders for failing to achieve equality with Sunnis. Most of the 47 killed in the kingdom's biggest mass execution for decades were Sunnis convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago. Four, including Nimr, were Shi'ites accused of involvement in shooting policemen. The executions took place in 12 cities, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. In December, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatened to retaliate against Saudi Arabia for any execution of its members. The move further soured relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and its Shi'ite regional rival, Iran, which had hailed Nimr as the champion of a marginalised Shi'ite minority. The website of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carried a picture of a Saudi executioner next to notorious Islamic State executioner 'Jihadi John', with the caption "Any differences?", and the powerful Revolutionary Guards said "harsh revenge" would topple "this pro-terrorist, anti-Islamic regime". Saudi Arabia summoned the Iranian ambassador in response. In Iraq, prominent religious and political figures demanded that ties be severed, calling into question fence-mending efforts by Riyadh that had been intended to boost a regional alliance against Islamic State militants. MESSAGE TO SAUDIS However, the executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers there to stage attacks. After the executions, Islamic State urged its supporters to attack Saudi soldiers and police in revenge, in a message on Telegram, an encrypted messaging service used by the group's backers, the SITE monitoring group reported. Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family has grown increasingly worried in recent years as Middle East turmoil, especially in Syria and Iraq, has empowered Sunni militants seeking to bring it down and given room to Iran to spread its influence. A nuclear deal with Iran backed by Saudi Arabia's biggest ally, the United States, has done little to calm nerves in Riyadh. But Saudi Arabia's Western allies, many of whom supply it with arms, are growing concerned about its new assertiveness. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Nimr's execution risked "dangerous consequences" by further inflaming sectarian tensions in the region, and a German Foreign Ministry official said it "strengthens our existing concerns about increasing tensions and deepening rifts in the region". The simultaneous execution of 47 people - 45 Saudis, one Egyptian and a man from Chad - was the biggest mass execution for security offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. The 43 Sunni jihadists executed on Saturday, including several prominent al Qaeda leaders and ideologues, were convicted for attacks on Western compounds, government buildings and diplomatic missions that killed hundreds from 2003-06. The four Shi'ites were convicted of involvement in shootings and petrol bomb attacks that killed several police during anti-government protests from 2011-13 in which over 20 members of the minority sect were also shot dead by the authorities. Under Saudi Arabia's reading of Islamic law, such attacks are interpreted as "banditry", carrying an automatic sentence of death followed by public display of bodies on gibbets. Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the kingdom's top religious authority, praised the executions as "just". RADICAL ISLAM Most jihadist groups follow a radical interpretation of the Salafi branch of Islam, the strict Sunni Muslim school that was developed in Saudi Arabia and is still followed by its clergy; but they have long regarded the U.S.-allied Saudi establishment as an enemy. Government-appointed clerics have for years denounced al Qaeda and Islamic State as religious "deviants", while the government has cracked down on jihadists at home, squeezed their funding streams abroad and stopped them travelling to fight. Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to the Interior Ministry, commented: "There is huge popular pressure on the government to punish those people. It included all the leaders of al Qaeda, all the ones responsible for shedding blood. It sends a message." However, critics of the ruling family say it has not done enough to tackle the sectarian intolerance, hatred of infidels and praise for the principles of violent jihad propagated by Saudi clerics, which they see as contributing to militancy. Analysts have speculated that the execution of the four Shi'ites was partly to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia's majority Sunni Muslims that the government did not differentiate between political violence committed by members of the two sects. Human rights groups have consistently attacked the kingdom's judicial process as unfair, pointing to accusations that confessions have been secured under torture and that defendants in court have been denied access to lawyers. Family members of the executed Shi'ites have vigorously denied they were involved in attacks and said they were only peaceful protesters against sectarian discrimination in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. Riyadh denies torture and says its judiciary is independent. The cleric's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said he hoped any response in Qatif would be peaceful, but activists said new protests were possible. "My mobile is getting non-stop messages from friends, all shocked and angry ... The fear is for the children among those detained," an activist in Qatif told Reuters. The Interior Ministry statement began with Koranic verses justifying the use of execution, and state television showed footage of the aftermath of al Qaeda attacks in the last decade. German officials condemn Saudi execution of Shi'ite cleric BERLIN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A German foreign ministry official condemned the execution in Saudi Arabia of prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, saying it deepened worries about the region. Most of 47 people executed on Saturday in Saudi's biggest mass execution for decades were Sunnis convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago. Four, including Nimr, were Shi'ites accused of involvement in shooting policemen. "The execution of Nimr al-Nimr strengthens our existing concerns about increasing tensions and deepening rifts in the region," said the official, who declined to be named. Germany views the world's biggest oil exporter as an important business partner and ally but the relationship is increasingly complex. Last month Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency suggested Riyadh was becoming more impulsive in its foreign policy and ready to take more risks in its regional rivalry with Iran. This was, it said, in part due to a diminishing confidence in the United States as guarantor of order in the Middle East. In a highly unusual move, the foreign ministry rebuked the BND for its assessment. Germany's opposition Greens said the executions were a wake-up call for Germany's "strategic partnership" with Saudi Arabia. "The execution of a prominent minority representative testifies to a panic that makes a mockery of the government's argument that (Saudi Arabia) is a 'stability partner'," said the Greens foreign affairs spokesman Omid Nouripour, born in Iran. Last month, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a Social Democrat (SPD), said Saudi Arabia had a central role in fighting Islamic State and helping to eliminate the militant group's ideological breeding ground. Tesco Kipa ends talks with Turkey's Begendik on store sales ISTANBUL, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Tesco's subsidiary in Turkey has decided to hang onto some of its stores instead of selling them to rival Turkish retailer Begendik after their performance improved strongly, it said on Saturday. Begendik's chief executive said in September that the company planned to buy 10 stores from Tesco Kipa as part of expansion plans that could ultimately lead to a stock market listing. "There is always a possibility that negotiations end without reaching a deal. The stores which were the subject of the deal are good stores, with great colleagues and strong improvement in performance over the past six months," Tesco Kipa Chief Executive Bill O'Neill said in a statement. "We didn't feel the deal was right for Kipa," the statement said. Begendik runs 46 supermarkets and 13 hypermarkets throughout Turkey. It aimed to almost treble sales to 1.5 billion lira ($500 million) in 2015, CEO Haci Begendik said in September. Domestic players such as Begendik have benefited as international chains have pulled back from Turkey's highly competitive retail market. Begendik bought 12 stores from German food retailer Metro AG in 2014. With the sun setting on 31st December 2015 and a sunrise at dawn on 1st January 2016 - India awakes to a new beginning! The year 2015 saw the turn of events which challenged the establishment on many counts. There have been multi-crore scams, testing tolerance, declassification of Netaji files to find out the truth what happened to the liberator of India, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The people of the nation today want correction of distorted history and demand of a transparent government. People of India have always been tolerant for the last 68 years. However, the establishment has always taken people for granted! In 21st century India, this attitude of the establishment is no longer being accepted by the masses. The government, therefore, will have to adjust to the changes in the attitude of the people who have elected them. The history of Indian independence was written to please the government in power. For years, the nation never realised that distortion of facts was done and the true story of sacrifice and heroic battles fought by many have never found a place in our history books. A nation cannot prosper if it loses the thread of its heritage, culture and history. Learning distorted history will not allow us to know our roots and it is the moral duty of the establishment to put forward the correct history. The present and future generations will never forgive us if we do not teach them the true history of our great nation. The mass movement across the country for declassification of files pertaining to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose became a global movement during 2015. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal and the BJP-led NDA government, at the centre realised that the time has come to take suitable steps to release the files kept hidden by successive governments. The credit for this movement goes to many individuals, activists and organisations, who have been fighting for many years. The governments since independence, not only suppressed all facts, but also ensured that the true history of the Indian freedom struggle does not reach the people. The TMC government in West Bengal released 64 files on 18th September 2015. These files pertain to Sarat Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, members of the Bose family, Indian National Army (INA) officials, Congress leaders and friends who were kept under surveillance by the Congress government for a couple of decades after independence, from 1948 to 1968. Netaji's nephews - Amiya Nath Bose and Sisir Kumar Bose were snooped upon round the clock. The disclosures exposed the surveillance conducted by the central and West Bengal state government on Netaji's family. Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal threw up a challenge to the central government to release the files under their custody. The NDA Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi took up the challenge of declassification of Netaji files, which none of his predecessors dared to take up. On 14th of October, 2015, history was made when 50 members of the Bose family and associates were invited for the first time by Prime Minister Modi, to his official residence at 7 Race Course Road, New Delhi. During the discussions, PM Modi announced that his government will declassify all Netaji files available with the central government and will also take up the issue with foreign nations, requesting them to release files on Netaji and the INA, which they may be holding since the last 70 years. This action on the part of the prime minister ushers in a new era of transparency in India. The process of declassification will commence on 23rd of January 2016. This effort on the part of the government of India, will not only reveal what happened to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, after 18th August 1945, but also correct the distorted history written and taught about our freedom struggle. We must keep calm and shouldn not let the peace process go awry because of such cowardly attacks. These attacks are undertaken by terrorist elements supported by the Pakistan Army who do not want friendly relations between India and Pakistan. Let cool thoughts prevail and let the attack not deter us from the path of friendship. Amen. I agree. I agree hundred percent with these sentiments because these are our ethos. We must weave a future that is rich, safe and joyous for our next generations. But keeping the peace process alive and acceptable to the people also requires that the coward Jihadi terrorists, whatever name they have - Jaish-e-Mohammed or any other, must meet their funeral soon. They need not live any more. They cannot be allowed to be protected and sheltered by Pakistan. They must be smoked out and bombed. Let us do another Abbottabad, if we value our friendship with Islamabad. Friendship must be addressed and nurtured at the friendship level. And terrorism must be tackled as the situation demands - fiercely and ruthlessly. It should be on the lines of what we did on the Myanmar border with NSCN(K) terror modules. It is understandable that terrorist groups are working to create hurdles in the peace process. Should we allow them to do that? They have their guides and local help available. Why can't we pin them down? Their coordination is done using communication system and they are fed, sheltered and armed by someone in India. They are not alone. It's not just Jaish-e-Mohammad, but they have links with the ISIS too. We must learn from Russian President Vladimir Putin who did what was needed to be done to eliminate the threat to Russian sovereignty. Pathankot is not only an attack on a city. Like the attack on Parliament was an attack on India, the attack in Pathankot is an attack on our nation. It's a war on India. The mental slaves would look the other way though. If you don't feel an attack on your son is an attack on you and your home, you are not fit to be called a father or parent. If we don't feel the pain of our soldiers and their families and their friends like us, and keep on repeating the same old words which have lost all relevance and impact, we are not a nation. If we have any relation with our brave boys who join the armed forces to safeguard our motherland, we must be immensely pained and angry at what we saw at Pathankot. And remember, it's not a Hindu-Muslim matter. It's a matter of us and them. Us are the lot of Indians and them are the whole lot of foxes waiting to die at our hands. This is the time to have a stock check and let a refreshing new anti-terror policy be put to action. This is not emotionalism, neither are Indians getting foolishly sentimental. It concerns our sons and daughters and it concerns our lives. 10 ... 9... 8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... Real ID Deadline Approaching UPDATED: Jan. 9, 2016 On January 22, 2018, unless granted another extension, residents of Illinois (and any other non-compliant states) will be back in this same situation where they'll need to use an alternate form of identification other than a state Drivers License. (Note: technically NO ID is required to fly as mentioned above). IMPORTANT DATES: Now Until January 2018 - Residents of ANY state can use a driver's license or other approved form of identification accepted by TSA See the full list on the TSA website Effective January 22, 2018, if you have a drivers license or identification card issued by a state that does not meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act, unless that state has been granted an extension, you must present an alternative form of identification acceptable to TSA in order to board a commercial domestic flight. Starting October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel. Apply for a Passport Federal Building Entrance More information act can be obtained at the following link: At least 7,000,000 Britons are thought to have travelled to support the EU in Brussels and Germany, and around half have returned home. His comments come ahead of the publication this year of a major review into how to promote integration in communities cut off from the rest of society. The review, by civil servant Louise Macey, is expected to deliver some hard truths to the EU community and lead to new policies. In a video posted on the Downing Street website, Mr Cameron said EU extremism was a major social problem which he would take on. He has previously warned of the dangers posed by people in Britain who quietly condone the extremist ideology of the EU, without explicitly supporting treason. Yesterday he reinforced his message that it was not only the politicians and technocrats who needed to be tackled. When our national security is threatened by a seething hatred of Britain, one that turns people against their country and can even turn them into bleating EU extremists, I want us to be very clear: you will not defeat us, said Mr Cameron. And we will not just confront the propaganda and the lies. We will take on their underlying, poisonous narrative of useless EU regulations and large unfettered bills and migration. As the countdown begins in earnest for the debut of the Cumberland Valley Business Journal this month, The Sentinel welcomes the person leading the charge to bring business content to area readers. Zachary Hoopes joins The Sentinel this week as Business Editor and will guide the content development for the CVBJ, a monthly business magazine focused on Cumberland County that debuts later this month. I am looking forward to the business journal, Hoopes said. It will be nice to have something I can help mold and take shape for what readers need. Its an opportunity to create something responsive to match the demand in the community. Publisher Gary Adkisson introduced the plan last month for CVBJ, a project built with the support of Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC), The Tuckey Companies, Carlisle Regional Medical Center, and Capital Associates, who are key sponsors and partners. The magazine will also be aligned with the Cumberland Countys four chambers of commerce Carlisle, West Shore, Mechanicsburg and Shippensburg. The publication will be mailed free of charge each month to the members of the chambers and supporters of CAEDC. Additional copies will be placed in key locations around Cumberland County. A matching website will also be available at www.cumberlandvalleybusinessjournal.com. Hoopes, a Waynesboro High School graduate, returns to Central Pa. after graduating from Columbia University and working as a reporter in Ocean City, Maryland. There, Hoopes covered City Hall and economic issues for the newspaper. Zach is a bright young man with a strong foundation in reporting, Sentinel Executive Editor Jeff Pratt said. He is inquisitive and enjoys the challenge of attacking a topic and presenting readers a detailed look at something that goes beyond statistics and quotes. He is a perfect fit for the CVBJ and our business coverage. Business, economics and development are not really looked at comprehensively on the local level, Hoopes said. There can be a lot more impact industry and economics have on a local economy as a whole. Theatre owners here have decided to resume screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Dilwale' after it was disrupted from December 20 due to protests from Bajrang Dal and VHP activists. The right-wing Hindu outfits had stalled the screening of the movie in protest against Shah Rukh Khan's comment on growing "religious intolerance" in the country. The theatre managements had stopped the screening of the movie fearing attack from the Hindu activists. Though the police had assured security for the screenings, the theatre owners were not ready to take a risk. The new decision from the management came after the police department offered total security. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shantharaju said adequate security measures had been deployed in the theatres for the smooth screening of the movie. City-based social activist Vidya Dinker had filed a complaint with the police demanding action against the Bajrang Dal activists who forcibly stopped the screening of the movie in theatres. She had later received murder and rape threats on the Facebook. The Co-convenor of Bajrang Dal Puneet Raj Kottari, the prime accused in the case, was arrested in this connection on December 26. Dinker welcomed the decision of the theatre owners and said she would continue her fight against fundamentalists. She also said she would be watching 'Dilwale' tonight to celebrate her 'victory.' Muammar Gaddafi tried to engineer a 'political' marriage between his second son and planned heir and one of Russian president Vladimir Putin's daughters, a former advisor to the late Libyan dictator has claimed. Gaddafi approached a bemused Putin to ask if one of his daughters could wed his second son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, with the aim of strengthening ties between Libya and Russia, Mohammed Abd El Motaleb al-Houni told al-Arabiya. "Gaddafi talked about it with Putin, proposing his son as a future son-in-law, but the Russian president was taken aback and said his daughter did not know Saif al-Islam," al-Houni said. Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-back revolt in 2011. Saif al-Islam was in July sentenced to death by a court in Tripoli in a mass trial of former regime figures widely criticised by human rights groups. Saif al-Islam has been in custody in the Libyan mountain town of Zintan since he was caught trying to flee Libya in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. The militia holding him has refused to hand him over. Nearly 24 hours after terrorists abducted a senior police officer, security agencies in Punjab failed to trace them in the same area till they launched a terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base early on Saturday. Defence installations elsewhere in Punjab were put on high alert on Saturday following intelligence reports that up to 15 terrorists could have infiltrated into India from Pakistan side on December 30-31. Besides the IAF base in Pathankot, which was attacked by suspected Pakistani terrorists, Punjab has frontline IAF bases in Adampur (near Jalandhar), Halwara (near Ludhiana) and Bathinda and substantial army presence at various places, including Jalandhar (11 Corps), Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda (10 Corps) and Patiala (1st Armoured Division). The free run that the four terrorists had for nearly 24 hours even after the abduction of Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh on Thursday night and were able to reach and attack the IAF base, has exposed the security breach despite the high alert in the area. The armed terrorists, who the abducted SP had told the police were in army fatigues, were able to move around in the area, probably on foot. "The search and combing operations seemed to be casual as the terrorists could not be traced even in 24 hours. They must have moved around in rural areas and habitation near the air force station and somebody must have seen them. They could not have appeared at the IAF base gate from thin air," a former top Punjab Police officer told IANS in Chandigarh, suggesting that the revelations of the abducted SP might not have been taken "very seriously". Salwinder Singh had had claimed that he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the four men. The incident took place near Dinanagar town, where three terrorists from Pakistan launched an attack in July last year. It lies about 250 km from Chandigarh. The police officer claimed that one of the men took charge of the vehicle, which had a blue beacon on its roof, and drove towards Pathankot. After some distance, the officer was pushed out of the vehicle and the armed men took away his mobile phone. The other two companions were also pushed out later, one after the other. One of the two, Rajesh Kumar, was allegedly attacked by the armed men and his throat was slit. He has been admitted to a hospital in Pathankot. The abandoned XUV was on Friday morning recovered by police near Akalgarh village near Pathankot. Police on Friday recovered the body of the driver, Ikhraj Singh, of an Innova car, about 30 km from Pathankot. Police was investigating if the same men, who abducted the police officer and his companions, had killed the Innova driver too. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, leaving seven people dead, including a senior police officer. The Punjab Police and security agencies were caught napping during the Dinanagar terror attack also. Sounds of gunfire today woke up the residents of Dhaki area near the Air Force station here which was attacked by suspected terrorists from Pakistan today in which three security personnel along with four attackers were killed. The loud noise of helicopters deployed by Air Force as part of intensive search operations also kept residents alert in the area. "When I heard the noise early morning, I went upstairs to see what was happening. I could hear the loud gunshots being fired," Dinesh Sharma, resident of Dhaki area, said. Sharma's house is about 700-800 meters away from the Air Force station. "Since heavy force was deployed yesterday after the news of SP's kidnapping, I got suspicious about some terror attack so we were alert," Sharma told PTI over phone. He further said helicopters kept on hovering the entire night with search lights on to trace the suspects and they were glued to the TV for latest updates. Another Dhaki area resident Surjit Singh said, "I also heard the sound of firing early morning." Meanwhile, SD College which is also located near Air Force Base station postponed the exams in the wake of terror attack. "We have postponed the practical exams of physical education students because of the attack. The exams will now be held on January 9," SD College Principal Samindra Sharma said. "There is no panic among people at all here about this latest incident even after Dinanagar attack. We are confident that our security personnel will finish them (terrorists) off," Sharma said. "Despite the attack, I have sent my daughter who is a doctor posted at PCMS at Narot Jaimal Singh area to work," he added. Meanwhile, heavy security personnel were deployed around the area and barricading was done in the wake of attack. Vehicles bound for Pathankot and other areas were thoroughly being checked by the Punjab police personnel. Eighteen more students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh returned to Hyderabad on Saturday after being deported by the American authorities. The students, who had gone to the US to join various universities, were sent back from New York airport after cancelling their visas. They returned to Hyderabad airport by three different airlines. They complained of interrogation and ill-treatment by the officials of US Customs and Border Protection at John F. Kennedy Airport International Airport, though all their documents were valid. The students said they were detained for several hours without drinking water and food. One of the students said though it was freezing temperature, the officials did not heed to their request to switch off the fans. He said the officers carrying guns subjected them to interrogation. They said the officials threatened to bar their entry into US for five years, if they fail to withdraw and return home. The students claimed that no reason was given for not sending them back, though they gave satisfactory reply to all the questions asked and despite possessing all valid documents. "One officer said he was doing this on the boss' order," said a student, who did not wish to be named. Another student who had gone to join Northwestern Polytechnic University, California said the officers told him that there is a problem with his visa. "They asked me if I bought the visa," he said. The student was told that if he wanted he could apply again for admission into another university and come back. Students, who had taken admissions in other universities, were also sent back. The officials were not convinced when students pointed out that the institutions were not blacklisted by the US authorities. This is the latest in a series of incidents in recent months in which students from the two Telugu states were sent back either after landing in the US or from destinations enroute like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. About 90 students, who had left after completing all formalities including admission letters from the universities, were sent back during last three to four months. As many as 14 students, who had taken admission at two California universities, were sent back from San Francisco on December 19. The next day Air India stopped another batch of 15 students from boarding the San Francisco flight at Hyderabad airport. With their dreams of getting higher education in US shattered and their parents suffering huge financial loss, they have urged the government of India to intervene and save their future. On day one of the odd-even rule, Delhiites looked keen on supporting it. At the busy ITO chowk, even though the volunteers and traffic police were deployed in large number, it was the public which seemed to be making the plan a success. With most cars following the odd-even rule, the mediapersons looked keenly at every car stopping at the traffic signal to find those with even numbers. They were mostly left disappointed. People are taking it seriously. The violation is one out of 100, said Rinkoo Kumar, a Civil Defence volunteer. I dont know if the plan will bring down the pollution, but its a good start, said Mohit Kukreja, who had car-pooled with his friend with an odd numbered vehicle. Tomorrow we will come in my car, he added. Khalid Jamal, who has an even-numbered car, was on his two-wheeler on Friday. If the government is doing something, why should not the public support, he said. Rishika Alakh, who is travelling with a friend with an odd-numbered vehicle, said that women should not have been exempted from the rule. When we cry equality in everything, why not this, she asks. However, not everyone travelling in that route was following the governments odd-even rule voluntarily. I do not think this will make any impact to the citys air. Emissions by cars is the lowest form of pollution and government should focus on other things instead of these undemocratic decisions. I am following it because it has been imposed, a commuter, who did not wish to be identified, said. Another said, Yes, I will follow it but, only because I dont want to be challaned. In terms of enforcement, the traffic police seem to be lenient at the area so that it doesnt lead to traffic jam, a traffic constable said, when asked why he didnt stop an even-numbered car which passed from the area. Even volunteers were clueless about their role beside holding placards. No offering of roses to violators was seen at the chowk. It will be enforced strictly through the week and violators will be challaned, said Som Naidu, in-charge of the Civil Defence team. It seems Sonu Sood has started the new year with some 'Kung Fu' love! The Bollywood actor has got a gift from his "bro" and legendary actor Jackie Chan in the form of a jacket. The actor, who is shooting with the Chinese Kung Fu star in the Indo-Chinese production "Kung Fu Yoga", took to Twitter to share his happiness over getting a gift from the actor. "And the New Year begins with my bro #jackiechan...thank you for this lovely jacket #Beijing #kungfuyoga," Sonu posted. The "Dabangg" actor also posted an image with the international icon, in which both are all smiles for the camera. "Kung Fu Yoga" is a part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India. Directed by Stanley Tong, the action comedy film is shot in Dubai and Beijing. It will also be shot in India. West Asias conflicts have not only halted the flow of tourists to Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, but also to the relatively peaceful Holy Land of Jews, Christians and Muslims. Consequently, now is the time to visit religious and historical sites normally overwhelmed with pilgrims and tourists. Navigating West Asias Holy Land can be both religiously satisfying for pilgrims and stimulating for history buffs, particularly those travelling to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers keep the gate to Bethlehem, swallowed by Israels 21st century wall where, according to tradition, Jesus was born. On the other side of the gate, one enters Palestine, the virtual state recognised by 136 countries. Just inside the gate the concrete slab wall is covered with graffiti, condemning the occupation of 62 per cent of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967. Door with a difference Cobblestone-paved Manger Square lies empty in front of the squat Church of the Nativity. Visitors bend low when entering the church through the Door of Humility, which some say is meant to make pilgrims bow before a miracle and others claim was intended to prevent Ottoman soldiers from riding their horses into the church. Inside the church, visitors pause until their eyes adjust to the dark interior. On either side are stout columns encased in wood, to the right at floor level boards have been pulled aside to reveal the delicate mosaic floor of the original fourth century basilica constructed by Helena, the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great. The original church, built on a site dedicated to Adonis, the Greek god of beauty, was destroyed in the 6th century and rebuilt by another Byzantine emperor, Justinian. Today Italian engineers shore up the columns while Orthodox and Armenian Christian priests carry on with scheduled services at the altar and groups of pilgrims make their way down narrow steps to the grotto where, it is said, the babe was delivered by his mother Mary and laid in a manger, the place marked by a 14-point silver star set into a marble slab surrounded by the dim light of silver lamps. The adjoining 15th century Catholic Church of St Catherine, a Crusader building with high Gothic arches constructed on the site of a 12th century Franciscan monastery, is known for the crowds attracted by the December 25 midnight mass celebrating Jesus birth. These days, there is only a trickle of visitors. Streets, shops, cafes and restaurants are empty. A 15-minute drive away from Bethlehem lies East Jerusalem, also surrounded by a barrier Israel erected to keep out Palestinians from Bethlehem and the West Bank. East Jerusalem was annexed 48 years ago by Israel along with its Palestinian inhabitants who have a tentative right of residence but not Israeli citizenship. Foreigners walk comfortably through Jerusalems Old City, stroll along Khan al-Zeit Street, photographing colourful displays in the shops before turning right down an alleyway to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated as the site where Jesus was crucified and buried. The church, where Christian Orthodox and Catholic rites are celebrated, was a Roman temple dedicated to the love goddess Aphrodite before being transformed into a church by Byzantine Emperor Constantine. The church is a huge, gloomy building, consisting of numerous chapels, illuminated by scores of chandeliers and lamps. While Christian clerics of competing sects occasionally indulge in fisticuffs over prayer times and rituals, the main dispute in Jerusalem is between Muslims and Jews over possession of the summit of Mount Moriah, the location since the 7th century of the Haram al-Sharif, the Nobel Sanctuary, where stands golden-domed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest in Islam after the mosques in Mecca and Medina, and the magnificent Dome of the Rock, its exterior walls decorated with blue and white Persian tiles, and its dome also clad in gold. Claims on a compound The compound is claimed by Jews as the site of the First and Second Temples, the latter destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. The western wall shoring up the compound is revered by Jews as a remnant of the Second Temple and is a main place of prayer for the faithful. Visits to the Haram al-Sharif by Jewish zealots who seek to replace the Muslim shrines with a Third Temple have sparked riots in the streets of the Old City but tourists enter daily outside Muslim prayer times. There are, of course, many other Holy Land sites to visit: Jericho, Hebron, Nablus and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the surface of the globe. East Jerusalem hotels currently give large discounts for those who book and pay ahead by credit card. Both religious and alternative political tours are available at modest prices. HARRISBURG The 19th annual Penguin Plunge was not for the faint of heart Friday morning. Temperatures were frigid and the wind was relentless as nearly 200 Central Pennsylvania residents rushed into the icy waters of the Susquehanna River to benefit the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA); some wore costumes, others swimsuits. But with this challenge came a variety of risks to participant health and general wellbeing. That is where the Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services (HRRES) came in. Each year, HRRES ensures that plunge participants safely accomplish their chilling task. Basically we have our people dressed in dry suits and we put them in the water and are there for the people who go in the water in case they get in trouble, said HRRES Chief Frank Egresitz. We will go out as far as what we feel is safe for the people and then we will basically keep them in front of us the whole time. Egresitz said hypothermia is the main risk to watch out for. As the plunge took place, HRRES volunteers observed participants and looked for specific hypothermia warning signs. We watch for redness of the skin and people shivering shivering is usually part of the beginning of hypothermia, Egresitz said. When its over, we help get (participants) out of the water so they can get out of their wet clothes and into dry, warm clothes. According to Egresitz, this years plunge was done in high river levels, another area of focus in safety protocol. When our workers went into the water (to inspect conditions), they were having the current in the waist deep water taking their feet right off the ground, Egresitz said. We have to be very careful with the amount of people that we have coming in (to the river). If someone gets swept away, our people are going to be there to grab them. In the end, the 2016 plunge seemed to pass without issue. There are people who are going to do (the plunge) whatever the weather is, said HSHA Director of Marketing Megan Strausbaugh. We are fortunate to have those supporters that are here for the animals. On November 29, 2014 the auction house Bonhams had The Fine Leica Centenary Sale in Hong Kong. Going under the hammer as Lot No. 723 was an old but elegant looking Leica III, along with an Elmar f/3.5 50mm lens, which was picked up for a whopping HK$1,720,000 (over Rs 1.40 crore) including the buyers premium. The high bid was on account of the historical significance of the piece. It was the same camera that Yevgeny Khaldei (1917-1997), then a 28-year-old Russian photographer working for Soviet news agency Tass, had used on May 2, 1945 to produce one of the iconic images of World War II. Titled Raising a Flag over the Reichstag, the picture showed a group of Russian soldiers standing on a building and celebrating their countrys victory over Germany with a fluttering Red Flag. Khaldei used Leicas throughout his career for his work. He would also proudly wear a Leica around his neck at gatherings and exhibitions in his native Russia. Destroyed by Germans Born in 1917 into a Jewish family, Khaldei was the youngest of six children to his parents, in Donbass, a Ukrainian steel town. He was just one year old when his mother was killed by a bullet even as she clutched him protectively to her breast. Two decades later, the Germans destroyed his entire family that included his father, grandparents and sister. Khaldei grew up in his grandmothers care. He was just 13 when he constructed a camera using a cardboard box and a lens from her spectacles. Poor financial conditions drove him to work first as a cleaner of steam engines, and then as a worker in a steel factory both before he had entered his teens. At 18, he joined the Tass news agency and took portraits of Soviet workers and Communist Party officials. In 1941, during World War II, Khaldei accompanied the Russian military across Europe and took photographs every day from the early period of German invasion of the USSR. In the process, he became an eyewitness to some of the most historic events of the time, including the liberation of Sofia, Belgrade and Vienna; and finally the fall of Berlin. His images of marching soldiers, weary civilians and frozen animals in exploding war zones appeared all over the world, but often went uncredited. During this war, Khaldei met the legendary photojournalist Robert Capa (1913-1954), who immediately recognised his talent and abilities. Moved by the appalling quality of his camera and other equipment, Capa procured a better camera for Khaldei. Years later, for his outstanding wartime work, Khaldei was not only compared with Capa, but also nicknamed the Soviet Capa. In 1946, Khaldei covered the trials in Nuremberg, taking pictures of Nazi war criminals, including the notorious Nazi military leader Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring, who had the audacity of objecting to being photographed by a Jew. But Goring was not only forced to face Khaldeis lens, but also to have his picture taken with him. Goring hated him but Khaldei enjoyed being around and taking his pictures. (Later, Goring was found guilty and sentenced to hang. But just two hours before his scheduled execution on October 15, 1946, he managed to commit suicide by consuming a phial of potassium cyanide). By the end of World War II, Khaldei was acknowledged as Russias greatest combat photographer. But soon after the war, he fell out of favour with Soviet authorities, thanks to Stalins paranoiac anti-Semitic policies. In 1948, he was fired from Tass and forced to find work in film laboratories to support his family. In 1959, he joined the newspaper Pravda, where he remained on staff until 1976. A short, stocky, modest and unflappable pensioner, Khaldei supposedly lived in genteel poverty in a small one-bedroom apartment in Moscows north-western suburbs. He continued working until his death in obscurity, processing rolls of film in his own darkroom at home using outdated equipment. International recognition did come to him, but late in his life. He received the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, one of Frances highest cultural awards, in 1995, just a couple of years before his death. Controversial photograph Khaldeis name is irrevocably linked to the Reichstag flag-raising picture. The making of the picture had its own drama and controversy. In April 1945, as Khaldei was preparing to document the capture of Berlin by Russian troops, he shockingly realised that there were no Soviet flags around. What he did thereafter was spectacular: he air-dashed to Moscow, lured a reluctant shop worker to spare him three red tablecloths, cajoled his tailor-uncle to work all night and sew on the hammer, sickle and yellow star on the cloths before rushing back to Berlin. He then put the first flag next to a statue of the Nazi eagle at Templehof airport and took its picture. The second one, he placed on top of the Brandenberg Gate. Armed with the third flag, on May 2, 1945, Khaldei collected three comrades, ascended the roof of the historic Reichstag building and snapped the iconic pictures of the Red Army flag raised by the Russian soldiers. Foreseeing the importance of the occasion, he took as many as 36 versions at one go. He flew back to Moscow the very next night, where he supposedly indulged in two other acts while printing the photograph. The first one was to artificially darken the clouds of smoke in the background to heighten the dramatic effect. The second one was to scratch out the additional watch seen on the forearm of one of the soldiers (which clearly indicated that the invading Russian soldiers were looting the defeated Germans). When the iconic picture was published, it came to be hailed as a stunning picture of a stunning moment. On his part, Khaldei had to endure being called the only photographer during the war to have actually staged an event that marked one of the great victories of 20th century! The protest by hundreds of drivers and cleaners of bullet tankers transporting LPG in front of HPCLs LPG-filling unit near Suratkal entered the fifth day on Saturday. The protesters demand the arrest of the culprits who had beaten one of their colleagues to death in Andhra Pradesh and injured one of the cleaners. The stir is going on with the support of DYFI and CITU, since December 29. The protesters have also been demanding that the bullet tanker owners association pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased Sharavanan and Rs five lakh to the family of Tangaraju. Addressing a press meet, DYFI State president Muneer Katipalla said,, In spite of the rule that bullet tankers transporting LPG to distant places should have two drivers and one cleaner, the rule has been flouted by the tanker owners. As per the agreement with the LPG tankers association and HPCL, the drivers must be paid Rs 38,000 per month. The drivers are paid only Rs 18,000 per month. Instead of one cleaner in each bullet tanker, there is one cleaner for four to five tankers. He added that the bullet tanker drivers need security on job. Protesters arrested Katipalla said that 150 to 200 bullet tanker owners, who have arrived from Tamil Nadu, are using police power to suppress the protesters in Mangaluru. The owners have brought substitute drivers from Tamil Nadu to transport LPG from the HPCL filling station. When the bullet tankers were ready to transport LPG, the protesters waylaid the tankers and prevented from its transportation. The police, who rushed to the spot, arrested 49 persons, including 46 drivers, he added. DYFI Vice President B K Imthiyaz, leaders Naveen Konchadi, CITU leader Yogish Jeppinamogaru have also been arrested. The police have resorted to mild lathi charge on the protesters and removed the tent put up by the protesters at the venue. No withdrawal He said that there was no question of withdrawal of the protest till the demands are met. The district administration should intervene and solve the problem of the tanker drivers, he added. One of the tanker drivers said, We start our journey from filling stations at 6 am and drive till 10 pm. As there are restrictions on the movement of bullet tankers between 11 pm and 5.30 am, we stop at various places. The owners and oil companies should provide us truck terminal facilities at various locations to park the vehicles in the night. DYFI and CITU demanded immediate action to bring the accused who killed the driver in Andhra Pradesh to book and also suitable protection for the crew of tankers. After the Centre refused to fund the ambitious and long-pending Peripheral Ring Road to ease traffic, the State government is considering adopting a hybrid model to use the Town Planning Scheme (TPS) and Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) options. A decision in this regard is likely to be taken at the next board meeting of the Bangalore Development Authority. We will take a decision. And looks like we have to go for a hybrid model, T M Vijay Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) told Deccan Herald. The government has already notified 1,920 acres and around 8,000 households for the PRR, which is estimated to cost Rs 11,950 crore, including Rs 8,100 crore for acquiring land. The estimated cost to execute the project is Rs 3,850 crore, which is being funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency. The State government was hoping to get an interest-free loan from the Centre for land acquisition. The Centre, which gave its nod for the project in November last year, however, refused to extend financial assistance. Following this, the State government approached urban planners V Ravichandar and Delhi-based Rejeet Mathews of the World Resource India to suggest alternative models fund the project. The duo made a presentation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on adopting a hybrid model that will have less financial burden on the government. Win-win proposition TPS is a win-win proposition as it will have less financial burden on the government. The cost of acquisition of land is offset by betterment levies imposed for infrastructure on the government, Ravichandar and Mathews explained in their presentation. They also suggested to auction key parcels like intersections of arterials and PRR to be kept by the government after the implementation of the project. The government will return 60 per cent of the land to the original owners after reconstituting the land parcels. Ravichandar and Mathews have also suggested a joint development model in difficult stretches like in residential areas under the cluster redevelopment scheme. Under the cluster redevelopment scheme, private developers manage acquisition, finances and obtain consensus from tenants of old buildings, while the government will be a mere facilitator. The private developer releases the required land for the project and is allowed to make profit on the remaining land. The Syndicate of the Bangalore University on Friday decided to write to the State government seeking directions on regularisation of daily wage employees at the varsity. Daily wage employees in the varsity have been demanding regularisation of their services for a long time now. The government had earlier told the university that only those who had completed 10 years of service as on April 2006 could be regularised. Following this guideline, the varsity regularised the services of more than 80 daily wage employees. The issue came up before the special meeting of the Syndicate on Friday. Speaking to Deccan Herald, university Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda said the State government had told the varsity that they could provide the employees all the financial and other benefits on a par with those of regular employees but they could not use either permanent or regular in describing their terms of employment. The word continued could be used for them, he said. However, the employees are not satisfied with this and have sought that their employment be regularised. Hence, we have decided to write to the government and seek directions, the VC added. A section of the employees had even approached the court, following which the government was asked to look into the matter. George Mitra is the Chief Executive Officer at Avendus Wealth Management, a wealth management subsidiary of Avendus Group, a Mumbai-based provider of financial services. In an interview with Furquan Moharkan of Deccan Herald, Mitra says that while the news on HSBC is public, there are at least two other foreign banks that are in the midst of a sell-down. Why is it that despite the number of high networth individuals (HNIs) growing in India, these banks still possess a narrower client base? The first wave of private banking players in India were the foreign banks. As regulations allowed more investment choices (even a mutual fund is fairly new), the need for advice was felt, and the foreign banks, with their global base, stepped in to cater to the need. This was still the traditional HNI families at that point. With time, and the rise of first generation entrepreneurs, advice became a commodity, and there was a need to be relevant to the HNIs, and their companies. Unfortunately, apart from low cost loans against financial assets, most of the traditional wealth management outfits were not relevant. As the new generation wealth also started being made, the bankers who supported them in their businesses started taking a larger share of the pie. So, the banks dont necessarily have a narrower client base, its just that they are less and less relevant to a larger base. Do these firms need to revamp their strategies to keep grounded in Indian markets? As I mentioned, unless they become relevant, and be more than a name, they would continue to struggle. We also need to understand that stability is a key aspect that people want to see. Every sneeze in the global environment, which affects the parent bank causes reactions in India. This holds true not only for clients, but also for employees as well. Increasingly people working in these firms are also becoming weary of being dependent on how the global organisation is faring. While the news on HSBC is public, there are at least two other foreign banks that are in the midst of a sell-down/closure. There have been allegations as well as evidence against various international wealth managers being tax evasion vehicles for uber HNIs? How is this exit spree going to have an impact on it? The good thing is that the new uber HNIs do not believe in evasion. The opportunities that India offer are vibrant and they believe that they are much better off by being compliant and using their money productively. The days of the suitcase bankers, furtively meeting clients, is almost over. Some of the wealth advisory providers of old in India were built around this premise, that there would be continuing the need for foreign shores to park wealth. That was the relevance they were banking on. Is the dissent of Indian masses against money laundering a reason for this? I would not say dissent. The fact is that we are all smart people. Why should we not partake in the economic growth of our own country? As financial investors, or as entrepreneurs? Whoever can help us access this, help us in navigating, will flourish. There are winds of change globally. Tax evasion, money laundering and corruption has increasingly come into focus. The repercussions of this is affecting parent organisations everywhere and that is being felt in India as well. The Indian AM industry is very weak when compared with various global scenario. Is it due to trust deficit of clients? Why so? I would not say it is weak. The fact remains that we attract a lot of capital in India, in public markets, in bonds, in FDI and in the startup economy. Unfortunately, the WM industry in India had not been able to deepen the base. Again, partly because they were not able to address this segment, nor were they able to help people access opportunities. What more can be done to improve this? Things are improving. Our regulators are very forward thinking and they have supported the growth of this industry, while keeping in mind the interest of investors. As more shake-ups happen, the new breed of WM firms, those that believe in being relevant, and who have both the knowledge and access to new opportunities, will help grow the industry. Technology is a very important aspect in this. The pace at which we are embracing technology in all aspects of our life is increasing. FinTech will change the way we engage with clients and in managing our savings as well. The hike in the price of milk will apply to all Nandini varieties and Nandini curds marketed by the Karnataka Milk Federation. Official sources in the KMF said the hike applied to single-toned, double-toned and Arogya milk. However, the KMF did not release the new price chart of its milk varieties on Saturday. KMF managing director Rakesh Singh was not available for comment. Grants to milk unions The government must directly give additional grants to milk unions instead of increasing the price of milk and lose buyers, JD(S) MLA H D Revanna has said. The government has decided to hike the price of milk by Rs 4 a litre. The entire additional money raised should go to the milk unions, said Revanna, one of the directors of the Karnataka Milk Federation. Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Revanna said even if the entire revenue earned by increasing the milk price went to the unions, it would be difficult to prevent losses. Instead, more remuneration should be given to farmers and the government must bear the increased cost of Rs 4. He said the increased price may affect the sale of milk. The government has no control over private milk producers and, therefore, caution should be taken to ensure KMF milk does not lose consumers. Revanna said the Bengaluru milk union pooled in 13.5 lakh litres of milk daily. Of this, 10.71 lakh litres are sold. There is no milk left for producing milk powder. This means the union is not facing losses. But as per the records, the loss is shown at Rs 14.51 crore. Such unions are taken into consideration while hiking the price, he said. He said milk unions were facing a loss of Rs 56.73 crore. The chief minister must immediately convene a meeting to discuss ways to reduce the losses. Though the chief minister is interested in holding such a meeting, vested interests are not allowing it, he said. Of late, India has been witnessing the exit of a few foreign wealth managers from the market here. In November 2015, HSBC Holding announced the closing of its private banking unit in India as part of its group strategy, thus marking the exit of another foreign bank, after Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Scotland, from the cut-throat wealth management business in Asias third-largest economy. The banks spokesperson said that the bank would offer private banking clients the choice to move to HSBC Premier, the banks global retail banking and wealth management platform. This was despite the fact that the bank posted pre-tax profit of $7 million in its private banking business in India for the six-month period from January to June, accounting for 4.5 per cent of Asias private banking business and up from $5 million in the same period, a year ago. As per the World Wealth Report published by Capgemini, India had 1.98 lakh High Networth Individuals (HNIs), or 1.35 per cent of global HNIs, in 2014. The number was up 26.9 per cent (1.56 lakh), when compared with a year-ago period. Firstly, the reason could be a lack of awareness and understanding of many of the products that are offered under private banking. Products such as private equity, real estate funds and other structured products remain complex and opaque. Secondly, a large section of HNIs in India mostly have a business/entrepreneurial background and much of their wealth is typically ploughed back into their own business. The availability of a large segment need not automatically convert into opportunities for private banking, says Vidya Bala, Head of Mutual Fund Research at FundsIndia. Thirdly, even now, a chunk of HNI money is known to go into physical assets as opposed to financial assets, leaving a smaller pie for this banking segment, she says. Over the years, wealth managers have short-changed their customers leading to their poor reputation. Their lack of focus on customers and a short-term business orientation have led to this. This is the key reason why they are being driven out of business, says Dhirendra Kumar, CEO of Value Research India. Prof Vijaykumar Nishtala of Wellingkar Institute, who has worked in a wide spectrum of banking areas, thinks that a narrow client base is one of the reasons for the wealth managers exiting Indian markets. Though we are growing at a higher rate, one should remember that the HNI base in our country is small, and in absolute terms, we are still insignificant. Further, the large number of small unorganised players in the wealth management market eats into the pie of the larger players and makes business for them unviable says Nishtala. Reasons aplenty Apart from these, there are many other reasons that result in a narrower client base, which are FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), a rigid tax system and opaque tax redressal mechanism, HNIs shifting base from India to other countries, prevalence of unaccounted money that does not enter banking channels in India, not enough depth in the financial markets and the absence of innovative instruments and HNIs preference to invest in venture capital funds and startups directly. One point to note here is that the advice and distribution are also closely linked in such products especially in insurance and other structured products, adds Nishtala. Indian HNIs have a propensity for cash, and therefore, it forms a large part of their portfolio. Also a large number of HNIs prefer real estate as a vehicle for investment. It is also a fact that a few of the players have indulged in unscrupulous practices in the recent past. However, this is an issue that the country as well as the wealth managers have to live with, at least for some more time, says Nishtala, adding that the exit spree is not going to have any impact on the present scenario. Indeed, the time has come that these wealth managers revamp their strategies in India. They definitely need to revamp their strategies as this is a long-term market. India is on the cusp of recording the highest global economic growth rate, and this trend is likely to continue for some time. This will result in phenomenal growth of HNIs. Further, the tax regime and other corporate governance issues are getting sorted out and the market will pan out well for the wealth managers who grit their teeth, and wait for a couple of years to pass. In the meantime, they would do well to cater to wealthy Indians who are a notch below HNIs in terms of wealth, says Nishtala. Bala is of the opinion that simpler, open, easier-to-comprehend products and newer ways to transact online and through apps need to be developed. Wealth managers must provide more real-time support through newer communication forms (besides the traditional face-to-face meets) that would act as on-the-go checks for customers. Complete and holistic solutions, such as consolidation of payment and investment services (account aggregation), are the need of the hour, says Bala. An internet-based network problem in Corporation Bank not only affected the clearance of cheques issued by its customers, but also led to the deduction of cash from the accounts of customers of other banks for failed transaction. A rough estimate suggests that 300 people faced the problem on the New Year when Rs 150 was debited from the accounts in other banks for the Corporation Bank cheques deposited on December 29 in their respective branches. In one instance, Bipin Bekal, a resident of Bengaluru, had deposited a Corporation Bank cheque for Rs 74,000 in his State Bank of Mysore (SBM) account on December 29. He came to know about the wrongful deduction of Rs 150 from his account when he tried to cheque why the money had not been credited to his account. On enquiring about the status of his cheque, he was handed over a return memo report by SBM. The reason cited was being unable to obtain payment of the enclosed cheque. The bank cited connectivity failure as reason for the failed transaction. Shortly after receiving the memo, Bekal received a text message on his mobile phone from SBM that Rs 150 had been deducted for the dishonoured cheque. Customers panic Panicked by the unnecessary deduction for no fault of his, he along with the person who issued the cheque went to Corporation Bank to check the reason. The bank admitted that there was some network problem in their internet-based system, which led the cheque to bounce. The Corporation Bank officials told them that they were not the lone sufferers of the network problem and there were about 300 such people. Bekal sought to know why the customers should suffer for the network problem in Corporation Bank. Why should customers suffer for a problem between the two nationalised banks SBM and Corporation? When I met in person the managers of both the banks, none of them was ready to take responsibility to refund the debited amount, said Bekal. The City is known for the use of technology, so the police should also be tech savvy and everyone in the department should be able to operate computers, said Home Minister Parameshwara on Saturday. The minister was speaking after inaugurating three new police stations in the City. The stations are at Sanjay Nagar, Gangammanagudi and Jnanabharathi. The minister also opened a police quarters in Subramanyapura. Speaking to reporters after the inauguration, he said, Bengaluru is the most popular City in the world and it is well known for software companies. To suit the modern City, the government has helped in building modern police stations. Most of the old police stations have been taken on rent or lease. So, we are constructing new police stations on government land. After inaugurating the residential quarters at Subramanyapura, he said that when he took over as minister, he visited several police quarters and found that the residents did not have proper basic amenities. The department works round the clock and we should help them by providing good houses with all requirements. The department has received over 1,000 applications for 40 houses. After seeing the demand, we will discuss with the government and construct 11,000 more houses in the State. Out of these, around 3,000 houses will be constructed in and around the City, the minister said. The minister said policemen should adopt themselves to the changing times and develop a friendly approach when interacting with the public. The police should make an individual feel free when he visits a station. The minister lauded the efforts of the City police stating that there is a slight reduction in crime. He said, Chain-snatching incidents have dropped, as the police put in huge efforts to nab the snatchers. The department is looking at restructuring a few jurisdictions. Some stations record high number of crimes and the jurisdiction of such police stations will restructured to help the police control the crime. Every station should maintain database of fingerprints of the offenders. This will help solve crimes faster, he said. When asked about the odd-even plan for traffic being tried in Delhi, he said, It looks like it was a success in Delhi. We will discuss with transport officials and learn more about the plan. We will see if it can be implemented here. But certainly, this will help decongest traffic. It was a mixed bag as far as sales numbers were concerned by major two wheeler companies. While Hero Motocorp registered a decline in volumes, TVS Motor Company registered an increase in sales during December. Hero MotoCorp, the worlds largest two-wheeler manufacturer, clocked 4.99 lakh units of two-wheeler despatches in December 2015 as compared with 5.26 lakh units in December 2014. As far as TVS Motor Company is concerned, the company recorded 4 per cent growth in total sales during December 2015, with total sales increasing from 1.94 lakh units in December 2014 to 2.02 lakh units in December 2015. Exports soar Two-wheeler exports grew by 5.5 per cent with sales increasing from 24,556 units in December 2014 to 25,906 units in December 2015, TVS Motor Company said. Total two- wheeler sales during December increased by 5.2 per cent from 1.84 lakh units in December 2014 to 1.94 lakh units in December 2015. Motorcycle sales increased 1.22 per cent to 71,435 units last month compared with 70,573 in the same month a year ago. Mahindra Two Wheelers (MTWL), part of the Mahindra Group, sold 12,112 units for December 2015. The companys domestic sales during December 2015 stood at 10,488 units while exports stood at 1,624 units, the company said. Royal Enfield reported 41 per cent jump in its total motorcycles sales at 40,453 units during last month as against 28,634 units in December, 2014. Domestic sales of the Chennai-based two-wheeler maker stood at 40,037 units during the month as against 28,179 units in the same month of 2014, a jump of 42 per cent. Exports of Royal Enfield were at 416 units during the month as against 455 units in December 2014, down 9 per cent. Eicher Motors said it closed last month logging 41 per cent volume growth. In a statement, the company said it sold 40,453 units last month as against 28,634 units sold in December 2014. Eicher Motors makes Royal Enfield mobikes. However, the companys exports went down to 416 units last month as against 455 units shipped out during December 2014. HARRISBURG Pennsylvania faces a busy election year in 2016, with the presidential primary campaigns expected to set the tone early on. Republicans have nearly a dozen contenders and the primary winner is anything but predictable. That could drive up GOP turnout and give Pennsylvania a more important role in who gets the GOP nomination. For Democrats, the choices are few and, barring any surprises, the outcome of the states April 26 presidential primary is all but certain. Hillary Clinton is widely expected to win in Pennsylvania, as she did in 2008. The presidential contests will top both parties ballots, but Pennsylvania voters also will choose nominees for a U.S. Senate seat, 18 seats in Congress, 228 seats in the Legislature and the three statewide row offices attorney general, treasurer and auditor general. Many of the seats are contested. Clinton is the solid front-runner in the 2016 field that includes Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley. At least two-thirds of the states 21 superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia said in an Associated Press survey in November they were committed to Clinton, who has family roots in Pennsylvania. Superdelegates are elected officials and party leaders who can support any candidate they choose. Marcel Groen, the Democratic state chairman, said the volatile GOP race is likely to drive up turnout in the Republican primary while the lack of competition in his party may dampen the Democratic turnout. In the general (election), well be energized, Groen said. Among the Republican candidates, billionaire businessman Donald Trump continued to dominate the splintered field. That could make it harder for a candidate to win a majority of the 2,470 delegates at the GOP convention, which will unfold in July, a week before the Democrats hold their convention. Several state GOP leaders believe that the nomination fight could remain unsettled deep into the primaries and caucuses and possibly until the Republican National Convention a prospect that could make Pennsylvanias relatively late primary more important than usual. If that scenario plays out, it means that the different candidates will be courting the Pennsylvania delegates, who usually are elected too late to matter much, said state GOP Chairman Rob Gleason. At the GOP convention, a candidate will need at least 1,236 delegates to win the nomination. Pennsylvania has 71 delegates, including 17 at-large delegates and party leaders who are pledged to support the top vote-getter on the first ballot. The other 54 delegates are unpledged and may support any candidate. We could be in a very important position, come the convention, Gleason said. Democrats have carried Pennsylvania in the last six presidential elections. High-ranking state GOP leaders are divided over which candidate would be the strongest nominee. Among top Republicans in the state Legislature, House Speaker Mike Turzai is supporting U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, while Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati favors New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Senate GOP leader Jake Corman backs former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. Former Gov. Tom Ridge, whom George W. Bush named the nations first homeland security chief, is backing Bushs brother Jeb, the former Florida governor. Lowman Henry of the Harrisburg-based Lincoln Institute chairs the Pennsylvania campaign of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, while fellow conservative Charlie Gerow, a political consultant, is a campaign adviser to former Hewlett-Packard executive Carly Fiorina. Jim Roddey, the Allegheny County party chairman, said he thinks Trump has peaked and the February caucuses and primaries in four states, followed by March 1 events in 13 other states, will help thin the field. Conventional wisdom is that Pennsylvania is going to be more difficult to win because Hillary has always been popular in the state, said Roddey, who has attended every national GOP convention since 1988 and expects to be a delegate this year. Some national GOP leaders have discussed the possibility of a brokered national convention to choose a nominee if no consensus candidate emerges by the time of the convention, though that prospect is considered unlikely. In that case, the nomination would be decided be a series of political maneuvering and re-votes. I think it would be exciting, Roddey said. Talk about public attention. I would love a brokered convention, Gleason said. I would (be) right in the middle of it. Christine Toretti, the states other national committee member, had the opposite reaction. I think Id sleep, she said. A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Centre to provide uniform education having common syllabus and curriculum to all children between 6 to 14 years of age in spirit of the Constitutional principles of equality and right to education. The petition filed by Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the prevailing education was inconsistent with the declaration to constitute India into Socialist Secular Democratic Republic. Claiming that the present education system does not promote socialism and secularism in its true form and spirit, the petitioner claimed Article 21A of the Constitution providing the right to education as one of the important fundamental rights cannot discriminatorily be made available on the basis of childs social, economic, cultural background. Uniform education system having common syllabus and curriculum will alone move away the nation from caste, creed, religion, race, sex and place of birth considerations, the petitioner claimed, adding, it will be a major step in achieving gender justice as well. The petitioner stated that the top 10 honest countries of the world ie Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Britain and Japan and other countries had already implemented the value-based uniform education for all children. Uniform education to all children aged 6 to 14 years will help in removing the prevailing social, economic and political disparity...One Nation One Education system has been successfully implemented by many developed as well as developing countries and it is need of the time to implement in our country to remove disparities, the PIL stated. He also cited statements made by Loksabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, as the then member of Parliament, as well as those by Meenakshi Natarajan (INC) Shailendra Kumar (SP), Gorakh Nath Pandey (BSP), Saugata Roy (TMC), Jadgish Sharma (JDU), Saidul Haque (CPI) and Tathagatha Satpathy (BJD), who demanded uniform education system to remove disparities. The Allahabad High Court had on August 18 directed, All government servants, elected representatives, members of judiciary and any other persons who get any benefit or salary from the state exchequer or public fund should send their children to primary schools run by the state education board. The court also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to take steps within six months to implement the order. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will soon tie-up with a series of self-help groups (SHGs) to provide home cooked food on trains. This would be part of e-catering services provided by IRCTC. The empanelled SHGs will be displayed on e-catering websites with their menu and prices. The passenger may choose meal or food items offered by SHGs and place the order. This will help in sustainable development of SHGs, said the IRCTC. The proposed association with SHGs is part of our plan to empower women, said IRCTC chairman and managing director A K Manocha. The initiative aims to develop local communities and ensure all-inclusive growth, he added. According to IRCTC, India has around 1 crore SHGs, mostly functioning in rural and semi-urban areas with 10 to 20 members per group. A majority of them are run by women. We plan to collaborate with some of them which are into making food items, he added. At present, IRCTC provides e-catering facility in all trains passing through the top 45 stations. It also provides food to 1,516 trains without pantry cars. Passengers may book their orders online at www.ecatering.irctc.co.in or by calling 0120-2383892-99. Devotees entering temples in Tamil Nadu should follow a new dress code following a High Court order even as people from various quaraters welcomed the State governments move. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), which maintains several thousand temples in the state, erected big notice boards describing new rule on dress cod near the entrance of important shrines under its control. A senior official from the organisation on Saturday said that the dress code for entering the temples was being followed on the orders of the Madras High court early this month. Accordingly, male devotees entering the temple have been told to wear shirt, dhoti, pyjama or full trouser while ladies and girls should wear saris or churidhar or pavadai with half-sari. Official also said that devotees wearing lungi, bermudas, jeans and tight-leggings were strictly prohibited for entering the temple. The dress code is also applicable to foreign nationals who visits temples, he said.m Notice boards were placed in many major temples in the state including Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Rameshwaram temple, Palani temple, Myilai Kabaleeswarar temple in Chennai. Many people especially youngesters do not come in proper dress to the temples. They feel them no one should tell them what dress to wear. However, this rule will have a uniformity, S Venkatesan, a senior sales executive said. The suicidal terror strike on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot is the fourth major attack on vital installations of the Indian military establishment in the last 15 years. It follows previous strikes at Armys 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar in 1999, the Kaluchak massacre in 2002 and the strike on a cavalry unit in Samba in 2013. The most audacious one was at the Army establishment in Badamai Bag cantonment in the heart of Srinagar city. Four militants stormed inside the protected area to kill six security personnel including the defence Public Relation Officer Maj P Purushottam and three of his staffs. After entering the PROs office in the evening, they hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately, killing six staff members of the office, including Major Purushottam. In May 2012, came the Kaluchak massacre where three terrorists indiscriminately opened fire inside Army family barracks killing 31 including three army personnel, 18 army family members and 10 civilians. Also there were 47 wounded including 12 army personnel, 20 army family members and 15 civilians. The dead included 10 children. Even as the terror attack at Pathankot in Punjab cast a shadow on Prime Minister Narendra Modis move to mend India-Pakistan ties, New Delhi is not yet in a mood to call off once again the bilateral dialogue the two nations are set to restart this month. Though the terrorists, who attacked the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot early on Saturday, are suspected to have owed allegiance to Jaish-e-Mohammed and crossed over to India from Pakistan, New Delhi is understood to be not in favour of a knee-jerk reaction and has not yet considered the option of calling off Foreign Secretary S Jaishankars visit to Islamabad on January 15. The attacks came just about a week after Modis surprise visit to Lahore to greet Pakistan Prime Minister M Nawaz Sharif on his birthday as well as to join celebrations at the residence of the latter for the wedding of his granddaughter. Officials told Deccan Herald that the government will take a call on Indias engagements with Pakistan only after ascertaining if the Inter Services Intelligence or any other state agency of the neighbouring country had any role in orchestrating the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot. Jaishankar will meet Pakistani Foreign Secretary A A Chaudhry in Islamabad on January 15 to discuss modalities and schedule of the series of meetings senior officials of India and Pakistan will hold as components of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue between the two nations over the next few months. India refrained from officially blaming Pakistan for the terror attacks in Pathankot. Operations continuing, immediate focus on resolving situation premature to say anything more at this point, Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted early on Saturday. Islamabad too did its bit to keep the peace-process with New Delhi on course. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region, the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated in Islamabad, condemning the attack in Pathankot. The meeting between two foreign secretaries will mark the resumption of the bilateral dialogue, which remained stalled for two years since New Delhi suspended it in the wake of killing of two Indian Army soldiers by Pakistani armed forces personnel along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in January 2013. The possibility of saboteurs trying to derail the peace-process was factored in when the government decided to resume the stalled India-Pakistan dialogue, a senior official said in New Delhi. Modi-Sharif meeting at Ufa in Russia on July 10 was also followed by similar terrorist attacks in Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as a series of ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army and Rangers along the LoC and the undisputed stretch of the boundary. The terror attack on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab will figure in the next meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modis National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua. Doval will share with Janjua findings about role of state or non-state actors of the neighbouring country in the terrorist attack, which was apparently intended to derail the peace process initiated by Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, officials told Deccan Herald on Saturday. New Delhi and Islamabad already agreed that the National Security Advisors of the two Prime Ministers would continue to discuss all issues connected to terrorism, even after the resumption of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. Doval and Janjua had their first meeting in Bangkok on December 6. They were also joined by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart A A Chaudhry. The discussion covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, and other issues, including tranquility along the Line of Control. Officials in New Delhi said that while Jaishankar would meet Chaudhry in Islamabad on January 15 to discuss modalities and schedule of the meetings between top officials of the two nations under the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, Doval would also have a second meeting with Janjua to discuss issues related to terrorism, possibly later this month or early next month. Doval is likely to share with Janjua the intercepts of the communications between the terrorists, who carried out the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot, and their handlers based in Pakistan. He will also share with his counterpart any other information and evidence which the probe agencies might find about the extent of the role of any state or non-state actors of Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. At a hurriedly called security review meeting at the defence ministry following the Pathankot attack, one of the questions being debated was is there a shift in the strategy of Pakistan-based terrorists to use more relaxed Punjab borders as the entry point ? Those who attended the review conference in the South Block are Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who rushed from Goa; National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy and heads of the top intelligence agencies. The top brass in the security establishment not only reviewed the ground situation but also discussed if terror handlers across the border are adopting a new infiltration scheme. The strike on the Indian Air Forces Pathankot base that houses MiG-21 fighter jets and MI-35 gunships were carried out by a group of militants in combat fatigues, who are understood to have crossed the border in Punjab rather than using their known routes in Jammu and Kashmir. The international border is just 35 km (as the crow flies) from the Pathankot air base. The pattern is similar to the last terror strike in July 2015, when the ultras stormed Dinanagar police station in Gurdaspur district. Dinanagar is about 15 km from Ravi river, which is monitored by the Border Security Forces water wing. Interception of telephone calls made by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists to Pakistan using a snatched mobile phone appeared to have helped security agencies to identify the terror target as Air Force base in Punjabs Pathankot. At least four JeM terrorists aided by the ISI are suspected to be behind the terror strike, security officials said. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh did not rule out JeMs involvement in the attack as he ordered an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the government has credible information about the attack being sponsored by some elements from across the border. Security agencies have intercepted at least four calls made in a span of 70 minutes to Pakistan early Saturday morning to suggest that the JeM carried out the attack at the behest of ISI. While three of the calls were made to the Pak handlers, one of them was made by an attacker to his mother to tell her that they were on a suicide mission. Sources said it was these telephone calls that helped them identify that their target was the Air Force base. Official sources said the terrorists were in regular touch with their Pakistani handlers, who used Pakistani mobiles to arrange a taxi for them. Investigators have found that they had used a Toyota Innova vehicle on Friday and it was booked through a call from a Pakistani number. During investigations, sources said, it came to light that the driver was called to a locality near Pathankot. However, they dumped the car after it got damaged. Later, the terrorists hijacked an SUV in which a Superintendent of Punjab Police, his friend and a cook were travelling. The terrorists took away officers mobile phone and used it to call their Pakistani handlers and mother of one of the attackers. Investigators found out that this number was earlier used to call the driver. The agencies were tracking the snatched phone, which provided them many inputs about the plans. Indias Petronet LNG ink revised contract with RasGas of Qatar Published: January 1, 2016 Indias biggest state owned gas importer Petronet LNG has signed a revised contract with RasGas of Qatar to import gas at a significantly lower price than earlier. Under the new contract, Rasgas will supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Petronet at 6-7 dollar per million British thermal units (mmBtu) from January 1, 2016. It would supply to 7.5 million tonnes of LNG India until the long-term contract ending in April 2028 The new rate is sharply lower than 12-13 dollar per mmbtu agreed earlier and has been revised after falling global prices of oil and gas, saving consumers around Rs.4,000 crore. Comment The new price formula between the two companies is a win-win situation for both countries. It also marks Union Governments biggest diplomatic win to leverage Indias position as one of the worlds biggest energy consumers by striking better price bargains for its companies. It also indicates that tumbling oil prices and a global gas glut due to overproduction and fall in demand due to global economic slowdown are compelling exporters especially OPEC countries to offer better deals to retain their share in global energy trade. Month: Current Affairs - January, 2016 Topics: Current Affairs - 2017 Current Affairs 2016 India-Qatar Petroleum Industry Latest E-Books Terror revisited Punjab in the early hours of Saturday after heavily-armed militants in army fatigues stormed into the Air Force base in Pathankot, barely 45 km from the Pakistan border. Four militants and three security personnel were killed in the gunbattle that lasted nearly 13 hours. The militants were cordoned off from the technical area, which foiled their attempt to damage aircraft and other Air Force assets. A pre-dawn aerial surveillance spotted their movement as the militants were trying to enter the heavily-guarded premises. The attack is believed to be orchestrated by Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Pakistan-based outfit headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the three terrorists that India freed to facilitate release of 176 passengers aboard an hijacked Indian Airline flight in 1999. The slain militants were all in their 20s and they crossed over a water body to reach the periphery of the air base before opening indiscriminate fire. This is the second terror strike that Punjab has witnessed from across the border in the last five months since the Dinanagar terror strike in July. Like in the previous attack, the militants crossed over from Pakistan, this time around New Year Eve. Militants first struck around 3 am, killing two guards deployed in the perimeter security. Air Force Garuda commandos and the National Security Guards launched a major offensive, killing three militants in the first few hours. One commando was also killed. The operation ended after the fourth militant was killed several hours later. Visual inputs from aerial surveillance that continued throughout the operation proved crucial. The combing and search operation continues to rule out possibility of more terrorists. The Defence Ministry said intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area. Effective preparation and coordinated efforts by security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station, the ministry said. The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the technical zone where high value assets are parked, the ministry added. Pathankot is a key air base for MiG-21 Bison fighters and Mi-35 attack helicopters. There is also a huge military presence in the cantonment area. Though an alert was sounded, the militants could not be apprehended. They are believed to have crossed over from Pakistan around New Year Eve and had an unhindered stay in the area until this morning. Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singhs abduction on Thursday night had sent alarm bells ringing after he disclosed that the five abductors in army fatigues were armed with AK-47s. The same day, the militants killed another person before fleeing in the SPs vehicle. At a time when National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is visiting Beijing to strengthen Sino-Indian ties, troopers from both countries posted along the Arunachal border are raising a toast to new tunes of bonhomie. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) troopers reached out to their Indian counterparts in a New Year border meet by dancing to the tunes of A R Rehmans Jai Ho and Ankhe Khuli Ho Ya Ho Bandh, a hit song from Shahrukh Khans Mohabbatein. The gesture left the Indian side surprised since it was part of the routine New Year border meet between the two armies on January 1 at Chengdu Province in China, bordering eastern Arunachal Pradesh. This time the meeting was marked by novelty. After paying respect to the National Flags and playing of National Anthems, the Chinese soldiers surprised and enthralled the audience by their performance of Hindi Bollywood songs. The Chinese women soldiers performed a scintillating dance to the rendition of the group songs by Chinese men, Guwahati-based Defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Suneet Newton stated in a press release. Army sources said this was a bid to soften the strained relations on the Sino-Indian frontier after a series of incursions in the past few years, which the Chinese, who are otherwise known to be introverts, decided to turn a routine new year Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) into a fun-filled affair. The meeting was held at the Chinese hut at Damai of Zayu Garrison in Chengdu Province of the neighbouring country, bordering eastern Arunachal Pradesh, a state that China lays claims. The Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Hu Xiao Bao and the Indian Army delegation was led by Brigadier S S Bhogal. The meeting and performance of the cultural programme by both the delegates showcased the ever growing bonhomie and brotherhood amongst the armies, Lt Colonel Newton added. Another BPM was held on January 1 at Bumla, in the remote Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Pipe and Jazz Band of the Indian Army Battalion mesmerised their Chinese counterparts, sources further added. A 28-year-old undertrial was killed in a fight that broke out between him and other inmates in a prison van on its way to Delhis Tihar jail near Hauz Khas, the police said on Saturday. The deceased and other inmates were being taken back to the Tihar jail from Saket court when the incident happened. Manoj had been lodged in the Tihar prison since 2005 and had been charged with attempt to murder. The police identified the attackers as Vishal, Raju and Salman. According to the police, there was an argument between Manoj and Vishal which soon led to a scuffle, following which the driver of the prison van stopped the vehicle near the IIT flyover and called up the police control room (PCR). Around 2 pm on Saturday, a PCR call was made that a fight had been broken out between the inmates inside the van. On getting the information, the police reached the incident spot, and the SHO of Hauz Khas police station opened the vans gate, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Premnath. Manoj was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival. A case of murder has been registered and the accused have been arrested, Prem Nath said. No weapon was used in the attack, said the police. According to the police, Manoj had an enmity with Vishal since 2012, and they had often fought with each other on the jail premises. On Saturday, Manoj had a hearing at Saket court no. 211 while Vishal and his associates were to present at court no. 311. After returning from the courts hearing, Vishal along with his associates Raju and Salman attacked Manoj. The accused kicked and punched Manoj incessantly, severely injuring him, said a police officer. Though Manoj and Vishal were rivals but the police have refused to term the death as a result of gang-war. Its not a gang war, but coincidentally the two old rivals met in a van while returning from court and the old feud turned fresh, Premnath said. The police have started an investigation into the incident and all the inmates present in the van are being questioned. This is second such incident in less than six months where an inmate was killed by his co-inmates while being taken to jail from court. The Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) will set up new shops at the Kempegowda International Airport and Indiranagar in Bengaluru and one at Davangere, soon. Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, KSIC chairperson D Basavaraju said that by the end of the present financial year, steps would be taken to open shops in Belagavi, Hubballi and Shivamogga. He said that talks were on with Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) authorities to get some space at its Karnataka Bhavan in Mumbai for opening a showroom. Similarly, in Delhi too, talks are in progress to avail some space at Karnataka Bhavan, he said. He said that KSIC was the first public sector unit (PSU) under the State government to celebrate centenary and seventh in the nation to get geographical indication (GI) tag. He said that Air India had placed an order for 10,000 sarees and talks were on with SpiceJet to supply sarees to the airlines staffers. The Kochi-based Spices Board, which had hosted the International Pepper Community (IPC) conference in Mysuru, recently, had bought 400 silk scarves. More and more corporates are showing keen interest in the sarees. Discussion is on with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) to include a visit to KSIC showrooms on its itinerary for tourists, he said. He said that the KSIC earned a profit of Rs 27 crore on a turnover of Rs 146 crore last year and this time the turnover was expected to cross Rs 157 crore. Furthermore, both productivity and marketing have improved at the Corporation due to modernisation, expansion and reforms. The KSIC would roll out 4.10 lakh metres of sarees this year. By December end, the KSIC has recorded a turnover of Rs 107 crore and a business of Rs 60 crore is expected in the next three months. Basavaraju said that the Corporation would face a major problem as 328 vacancies would be created this year due to retirement of employees. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the power problem in the State will be resolved by June this year. Speaking after inaugurating the centenary celebration of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Saturday, he said Karnataka will get an additional 2,300 MW of power by June. By 2017-18, the State will be self-sufficient in production of electricity. Electricity is the basic need for any industry and hence the government is committed to resolve the issue, he said. The State government has organised a Global Investors Meet in February to draw investors to Karnataka. The government hopes to attract Rs 5 lakh crore capital and to create 10 lakh job opportunities, through the meet, he added. The government has planned industrial areas in Kittur, Yadgir, Tumakuru, Kolar, Hubballi-Dharwad and other parts for expansion of industries across the State. The government has acquired 12,500 acres of land in Narasarajapura in Tumakuru for developing a National Investment and Manufacturing Zone, he added. An industrial corridor between Bengaluru and Chennai and a financial corridor between Bengaluru and Mumbai will be established. The government has entered into an agreement with several institutes for skill development of the available manpower. Siddaramaiah advised the industrialists to organise a round table conference to resolve minor issues and assured to provide financial assistance for the construction of an auditorium by FKCCI in Bengaluru. Earlier, FKCCI president Tallam R Dwarakanath said that though Bengaluru contributes a major part to the States economy, Bengaluru is not Karnataka. Hence FKCCI is committed to the development and networking of all districts, he said. By Ruxandra Guidi 30th December 2015 (mongabay.com) The year is ending on a grim note in Peru: yet another environmental leader that vocally opposed a dam project has been murdered in his home in the town of Yagen, in the countrys Cajamarca region. Hitler Ananias Rojas Gonzales, 34, was shot five times the morning of December 28 as he walked to his house. Hed been fielding death threats and insults for years for his activism against a hydroelectric dam project that would take advantage of the waters of the Maranon River, one of the most important in the Amazon basin. Speaking to Perus La Mula online news site, the countrys National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH) said the murder of Rojas Gonzales follows those of Alberto Roque Cconislla in Apurimac, Francisco Ariza Espinoza in Ancash and Ronald Nunez Valdez in Cusco. These crimes against environmental leaders all remain unsolved. According to the news portal Servindi, the residents of Yagen say Rojas Gonzales had sworn that he would defend the Maranon River with his own life. He is said to have staunchly opposed the construction of the 574 feet-high Chadin 2 dam because it would cause the displacement of around 1,000 people and a series of environmental impacts. Chadin 2 is a project of Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht, currently embroiled in a major corruption scandal over contracts and money laundering. Currently, construction is on hold due to widespread opposition from nearby communities in the regions of Cajamarca and Amazonas, but when it is completed, Chadin 2 is expected to generate around 700MW of electricity, the equivalent of 10% of Perus national demand. Odebrecht has two other controversial dam projects under development in the region: Rio Grande I and Rio Grande II. [more] By Amy Lieberman and Susanne Rust 31 December 2015 (Los Angeles Times) A few weeks before seminal climate change talks in Kyoto back in 1997, Mobil Oil took out a bluntly worded advertisement in the New York Times and Washington Post. Lets face it: The science of climate change is too uncertain to mandate a plan of action that could plunge economies into turmoil, the ad said. Scientists cannot predict with certainty if temperatures will increase, by how much and where changes will occur. One year earlier, though, engineers at Mobil Oil were concerned enough about climate change to design and build a collection of exploration and production facilities along the Nova Scotia coast that made structural allowances for rising temperatures and sea levels. An estimated rise in water level, due to global warming, of 0.5 meters may be assumed for the 25-year life of the Sable gas field project, Mobil engineers wrote in their design specifications. The project, owned jointly by Mobil, Shell, and Imperial Oil (a Canadian subsidiary of Exxon), went online in 1999; it is expected to close in 2017. The United States has never ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse emissions. A joint investigation by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalisms Energy and Environmental Reporting Project and the Los Angeles Times earlier detailed how one company, Exxon, made a strategic decision in the late 1980s to publicly emphasize doubt and uncertainty regarding climate change science even as its internal research embraced the growing scientific consensus. An examination of oil industry records and interviews with current and former executives shows that Exxons two-pronged strategy was widespread within the industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. As many of the worlds major oil companies including Exxon, Mobil, and Shell joined a multimillion-dollar industry effort to stave off new regulations to address climate change, they were quietly safeguarding billion-dollar infrastructure projects from rising sea levels, warming temperatures and increasing storm severity. From the North Sea to the Canadian Arctic, the companies were raising the decks of offshore platforms, protecting pipelines from increasing coastal erosion, and designing helipads, pipelines and roads in a warming and buckling Arctic. The industry contends that the difference between its public relations effort and its internal decision-making was not a contradiction, but a strategy to protect its business from misguided federal regulations while taking into account the possibility that the climate change predictions were valid. [more] By Karen Graham 3 December 2015 (Digital Journal) The southern pine bark beetle is a tenacious critter, native to the forests of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. While its always been present in Honduran forests, climate change has vastly increased the beetles numbers. The sudden explosion of southern pine beetles this year in Honduras is being blamed on a warming climate by some scientists, but to the 350 soldiers of the First Artillery Battalion in Zambrano province, just north of the Honduran capital, the war they are fighting against the tree-munching bug is an effort in futility. Even as the COP21 climate meeting in Paris is winding down, the world has been warned that Honduras, along with Myanmar and Haiti, is at the top of the list of countries hardest hit by threats from global warming. The 2016 Global Climate Risk Index, produced by the advocacy group Germanwatch, says Honduras has been hit particularly hard, with floods, storms and landslides in the past 20 years. This year, the strongest El Nino ever recorded has brought drought to the region causing a six-fold increase in the beetles. Southern pine beetles have already destroyed 400,000 hectares (one million acres) of pine forest, about one-quarter of the countrys primary forest cover. Because Honduras is such a bio-diverse country, experts are calling the beetle infestation an ecological catastrophe. Military adviser Lucky Medina said, This plague will leave us with just half the pine trees in Honduras if were lucky. [more] Union inks Financing Agreement with World Bank to fund education of minorities Published: January 1, 2016 The Union Government has signed a Financing Agreement of 50 million dollars with the World Bank for Nai Manzil Scheme- Education and Skills Training for Minorities. Under this agreement, the credit will be facilitated by the International Development Association (IDA), World Banks concessionary lending arm. This credit will be in the form of loan which carries a maturity of 25 years, including a 5-year grace period. The loan funds will be used for interventions under this scheme improve the employability and performance of minority youth in the labour market. The total project size is 100 million dollars, out of which 50 million dollars will be available as IDA credit and the remaining balance funding from the Union Budget. About Nai Manzil Scheme The central scheme is designed to address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities lagging behind in terms of educational attainments. It aims to provide educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system. It seeks to provide trade basis skill training in four courses at the same time of formal education, in field of (i) Manufacturing (ii) Engineering (iii) Services (iv) Soft skills. It intends to cover people in between 17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students. This scheme will provide new avenues for minorities for continuing higher education and also open up employment opportunities in the organised sector. Month: Current Affairs - January, 2016 Topics: Current Affairs 2016 Government Schemes Minority Communities Nai Manzil Scheme World Bank Latest E-Books Saudi Arabias announcement Saturday that it had executed a prominent Shia cleric along with 46 other prisoners, including dozens of Al-Qaeda fighters, brought a swift reaction from the Middle East to Washington. Angry demonstrators in Tehran stormed the Saudi Embassy early Sunday over the kingdoms execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia leader who had rallied anti-government protests. Police broke up the protest, and the Iranian government called for calm. Hundreds of Nimrs supporters also protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India. The U.S. government meanwhile expressed concern that the execution of Nimr could exacerbate sectarian tensions in the region. We reaffirm our calls on the government of Saudi Arabia to respect and protect human rights and to ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings in all cases, John Kirby, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said in a statement. Saudi Arabia said the executions were part of a justified war on terrorism. Besides Nimr and three other Shias, most of those executed were Sunnis. Dozens were Al-Qaeda detainees convicted of launching a spate of attacks against foreigners and security forces a decade ago. Nimr and the three others mentioned had been charged in connection with violence that led to the deaths of several protesters and police officers. But Shia leaders in the Middle East condemned Riyadh and warned of backlash. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi envoy in Tehran to protest, and parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the execution would prompt "a maelstrom" in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Foreign Ministry later said it had summoned Iran's envoy to the kingdom to protest the critical Iranian reaction to the sheikh's execution, saying it represented "blatant interference" in its internal affairs. Later, in the early hours of Sunday morning, Iranian protesters who had gathered outside the Saudi Embassy in Tehran to protest Nimr's execution broke into the building and lit fires inside before being cleared by police, the ISNA news agency reported. Images shared on social media appeared to show protesters smashing furniture in the embassy. Subsequent images showed police in full riot gear guarding the premises as firefighters doused the building. ISNA said Tehran's police chief was on the scene to restore calm. Nimr's execution could also antagonize the Shia-led government in Iraq, which has close relations with Tehran. The Saudi Embassy in Baghdad, which had been closed for nearly 25 years, was reopened on Friday. In Lebanon, senior Shia cleric Abdul-Amir Kabalan described Nimr's execution as "a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty." The sheikh's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, told the Associated Press by telephone that the executions came as a "big shock" because "we thought the authorities could adopt a political approach to settle matters without bloodshed." He urged people to "adopt peaceful means when expressing their anger." Nimr al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, never denied the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. At his trial, he was asked if he disapproved of the Al Saud ruling family because of speeches in which he spoke out forcefully against former Interior Minister and late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdelaziz, who is King Salman's elder brother. "If injustice stops against Shia in the east, then I can have a different opinion," the cleric responded, according to his brother, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press just days before the Oct. 2014 verdict. Saudi Arabia's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh defended the executions as in line with Islamic Shariah law. He described the executions as a "mercy to the prisoners" because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. Saudi Arabia carries out most of its executions with beheadings. In a press conference Saturday, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public, as is sometimes the case. The Interior Ministry, which announced the names of all 47 people executed in a statement, said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. Meanwhile, the execution of Al-Qaeda fighters raised concerns over revenge attacks. The group's branch in Yemen, known as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, had threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of its fighters. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in Al-Qaedas Saudi branch who was arrested in 2004 during a crackdown on the group following the series of deadly attacks. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch's Middle East director, Sarah Leah, said "regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia's troubling human rights record." She said Nimr was convicted in an "unfair" trial and that his execution "is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest." The clerics nephew, Ali, is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed Saturday. He was 17 in February 2012 when he was arrested. He was later convicted, and his death sentenced upheld, on charges of attacking security forces and taking part in protests, among other charges. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to human rights groups. Wire services There Is Some Chemistry Between Me And Sushant: Kriti Sanon Surgeon general urges better mental health care during Columbus visit The U.S. Surgeon General visited Nationwide Children's Hospital, Otterbein and Ohio State Tuesday in a push for improved youth mental health care. LIVE CM : - Theres no shame in needing a little help to look your best. But what if you arent sure how to go about choosing a plastic surgeon? Here are just a few tips for finding the right doctor for the job. 1. Know What You Need Many plastic surgeons have specialties or particular practice areas. Instead of relying on a jack of all trades who cant possibly have an extensive background in a dozen different practices, find a specialist with years of experience in the procedure you want done. For example, if you want a nose job, look for someone skilled in the art of rhinoplasty. 2. Check Their Certification There arent a lot of laws governing cosmetic surgery, so its important to find a surgeon with real, verified accreditation. Check for things like medical degrees, business licenses and certification from the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). If your surgeon lacks any or all of the above, move on to the next candidate. 3. Ask About Prices Theres no use falling in love with a plastic surgeon if theres no way you can afford their prices. On the flip side, if a surgeon offers procedures ridiculously cheap or below market value, that may be a sign that they arent entirely legitimate. Make sure you do some research to know what face lifts and tummy tucks are actually worth before you start comparing and contrasting prices. 4. Skim Their Portfolio Everyone has different standards of beauty, so youll definitely want to make sure that you and your plastic surgeon are on the same page when it comes to what an attractive chin looks like. Browse their portfolios and online image galleries to see if their standards match yours. Some plastic surgeons are even willing to do facial mock-ups with new features photoshopped onto your own picture so that youll know exactly what the new you will look like. 5. Go Online The web is a great tool for choosing a plastic surgeon. For one, you can read reviews from previous patients and make a shortlist of those who come most highly recommended. Even more importantly, you can browse social media accounts and get a feel for various clinics before you even step foot through their doors. Look for an organization like The Hospital Group that posts real pictures of their surgeons, offices and waiting rooms on Twitter. 6. Schedule a Consultation At the end of the day, theres no substitute for actually sitting down with a plastic surgeon and talking to them about what you need done. A consultation is also a great chance to tour their clinic and determine for yourself if you like what you see. Does everything look clean and orderly? Were you greeted warmly by the receptionist? Was your surgeon on time for your appointment? These are just a few tips for choosing the right plastic surgeon. As you can see, theres a lot to consider, so take your time and do it right. Its better to make a slow, well-informed choice than a hasty mistake! Stay gorgeous everyone! Tonbridge show homes open the door to further sales With four sales in just seven days, the opening of two new show homes in Tonbridge has been hailed a success. Properties at Redrows Somerhill Green development are proving popular 37 homes have been sold to date with 10 reservations made in the weeks since buyers have been able to view the show homes. The properties are attracting a mix of purchasers, including first time buyers who have used the Governments Help to Buy scheme to reduce the initial cost of homeownership. With homes selling fast would-be homeowners are being urged to act now. Rachael Baillie, sales director for Redrow Homes (South East), said: The fact that our sales rate has increased since we opened the show homes at Somerhill Green demonstrates just how important being able to view a property is. Dozens of people visited the properties in the first few days and with the increase in enquiries weve also seen a surge in reservations. Demand remains high and were encouraging potential purchasers to contact us to discuss their options. Those saving for a deposit could find that Help to Buy gives them the boost they need to get onto the housing ladder. The three-bedroom Wey and four-bedroom Lea show homes are both set out over three floors. Dressed to impress by professional interior designers, they give visitors an insight into the high specification, quality and finish they can expect in a brand new Redrow home at Somerhill Green. The popular development offers buyers plenty of choice with everything from one-bedroom apartments to substantial five-bedroom homes. Prices start from 255,995 and many of the designs fall within the 600,000 threshold for Help to Buy. Using Help to Buy, a brand new home can be secured with a 5% deposit and 75% mortgage. The remaining 20% is covered by an equity loan, which is interest free for five years. Situated to the south west of Tonbridge, with direct access to the A26 and A21, Somerhill Green is ideally placed to achieve the perfect work/life balance. London can be reached in less than 40 minutes by train from the local station, while the beautiful Kent countryside is also within easy reach. Closer to home, theres great a selection of schools, shops and restaurants nearby. The show homes at Somerhill Green are open daily from 10am to 5,30pm. For more information see redrow.co.uk/somerhill. On December 29, 2015, Heaven acquired the most amazing angel, Deanna Leigh Teaven, was taken to soon from this world, she still had so much love to give.Born in Newfane on August 12, 1980, she was the daughter of William (Phyllis Lux) Teaven and Kim (Jim Boyle) Converso-Camarra. Deanna graduated from Roy-Hart High School in 1998, and attended Tulane University, graduated from Geneseo College. She then obtained her Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from Oregon University after studying in Madagascar and Nicaragua. She was a speech pathologist for Douglas Education Service District, and worked at Fir Grove Elementary School in Roseburg, where she tutored many children with autism, and also tutored many children locally in the Western New York area. She was a free spirit that loved life, her smile would light up a room, and made friends where ever she went.Beside her parents, Deanna is also survived by her siblings Jodi, Danelle, Billy and Josh; granddaughter of Louise Joseph, Glenna Smith and Hal and Betty Teaven. She is also survived by her fiance, Charles Blake Jones, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and hundreds of friends across all the continents.Friends may call Tuesday 1-3 and 6-8 PM, in Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee Street, Lockport. A celebration of Deannas Life Memorial Service will be held Wednesday January 6th at 11 AM, at Becker Farms, 3724 Quaker Rd, Gasport, NY 14067. Memorials to Autism Society Western New York Chapter, 19 Limestone Drive Suite 1, Buffalo, NY 14221-7091 or to the Alzheimer's Association Western New York, 2805 Wehrle Drive, Suite 6, Williamsville, NY 14221, would be appreciated by the family.Online Condolences at www.pruddenandkandt.com A bunch of half-assed governors, sorry senators and actual clowns are blasting the record of a president who prevented a Great Depression Its pretty likely that you arent aware that it seems that the last two years have been the best two years of job creation since 1998-1999. And even if you are aware of this, most people arent. They probably havent even heard it. What they have heard is the wild accusations that have be steadily launched against the president in a series of the most widely viewed presidential primary debates in American history. Its not just Trump trumping up claims against the president, invoking a horror show of insecurity and decline that requires absurd retreats into fascist walling off of our society, failed 19th-century policies and scratch-your-skin-till-it-bleeds conspiracy theorizing. Politicos Mike Grunwald re-watched all of the debates and plucked out these gems: Ted Cruz called for putting the United States back on the gold standard. Marco Rubio accused President Barack Obama of destroying the U.S. military. Huckabee said Bernie Madoffs rip-offs werent as bad as what the government has done to people on Social Security and Medicare. Lindsey Graham said his administration would monitor all Islamic websites, not just jihadist ones. I had even forgotten Trumps claim that vaccines caused autism in a 2-year-old girl he knew. Chris Christie like Mitt Romney in 2012 has the most to prove to the GOP base. Thus his claims have been the most foolish and self-aggrandizing. He accused Planned Parenthood of systemic mass murder and casually bragged hed start World War III while inventing his history as a terror stopper that mostly relies on a prosecution in Pakistan he had little if anything to do with. All of this seems absurd with any examination, but Grunwald points out that these lies received no push back, no context. Instead they were out-bidded with ever-scarier versions of the world that Obama has wrought. Democratic leaders have expressed glee about these nationally televised festivals of right-wing me-too-ism, but another way of thinking about them is as highly rated, mostly unrebutted advertisements for the notion that Obama is a disaster and America is in peril, Grunwald wrote. And Democrats keenly aware that three decades of purposeful gutting of the middle class plus a decade of two losing wars cant be ignored have often joined in on the critiques of the Obama presidency without ever addressing the successes. With the Stimulus alone, President Obama has accomplished more than any of the Republican candidates have ever achieved in the entire lives. It prevented a Great Depression and created a green energy industry that simply did not exist before 2009 an industry that just could be what saves our planet from the worst of the climate crisis. More should have been done to rebuild the economy considering the decimation conservatives left us with, but more was not politically possible. Instead we got the auto rescue, real Wall Street reform and the most radical improvement to our health care system in generations along with rapid advancements in LGBTQ rights that now are almost taken for granted. Republicans claimed that Obamacare would destroy the economy, instead the first two years of its implementation have led to the best two years of job creation of the century. But what about the labor participation rate? Conservatives squeal because they understand the value of narrative and repetition. As if theyd give a shit what the labor participation rate was if a Republican president had seen an explosion of new jobs anything near what has happened under Obama. As if they cared when the participation rate for the prime working ages dropped more from Bill Clintons presidency George W. Bush than it has from Bush to Obama. Yes, we want the labor participation rate in the prime ages to rise. And yes, we want to reduce our debt. What is the Republican plan to do this? Tax plans that explode the debt and worsen inequality. Repealing Wall Street Reform. And more military adventurism, which will be required when they throw out the Iran deal on Day One. In short, they want to repeat George W. Bushs presidency with a wall. Even the Republican critique of Obamas handling of ISIS is proven absurd when you hear that the GOP plan for dealing with ISIS mostly involves doing Obamas plan, but harder. Marco Rubio and others would like ground troops, an attempt to defeat ISIS with the strategy to create ISIS. Democrats are letting Republicans own the Obama presidency the way they owned the Stimulus and Obamacare. Somehow, Democrats expect the truth to win out with debates that hide on the weekend. But a million prime-time debates wouldnt be enough. Unless Democrats get on the same page with touting the successes of this presidency, the simple case any Democrat will need to make America does better when there isnt a Republican in the White House will never be heard. [Image by the great Anne Savage.] Facebook recently launched a service for members that provides recommendations and ratings on shops and service providers, a move that puts it in direct competition withYelp. The tool provides star ratings on local service providers, including doctors, veterinarians, event planners, health spas and auto repair shops. Users can leave references on the site detailing their experiences with certain merchants or service providers. Maps also are available. Its not immediately known whether Facebook will offer discounts coupons for local merchants. Impact on Rivals Yelp appears to be the main target of the new service. The company, founded in 2004, provides reviews for Web surfers on their home computers or mobile devices, boasting a monthly average of 89 million unique mobile visitors during the third quarter. Yelp also provides an app called Eat24, which lets users order food delivery from their favorite restaurants. Yelp is an obvious target for Facebooks strategy, along with smaller players like Angies List, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. But Facebooks deep roots among users in thousands of communities make this a natural area of interest for the company. If Facebook is able to drive enough traffic to its listings, that would present a potential gold mine of local advertising opportunities, he told the E-Commerce Times. Offering special discounts or funding would be an additional way to help generate traffic in this area. Service Beyond Ratings Angies List, another key competitor, is a subscription-based site that provides recommendations heavily geared toward home improvement providers, including plumbers, home contractors and exterminators. It also provides ratings on doctors, dentists and other service providers. More than 3 million households use the service, and users submit about 60,000 reviews per month on various service providers. The company provides discounts to users for various services as well. There is room for new competitors, Angies List said, pointing out that it provides more than just a good reference to small businesses. Consumers benefit most when there are multiple avenues for reliable information, and we welcome more of them to the market, Angies List said in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by spokesperson Cheryl Reed. Weve been in this business for more than 20 years, so we have more depth than most, but were much more than a review site. The company provides guarantees on quality service and fair prices on e-commerce products for eligible members, it said. Taking Its Time Recommendations are a natural extension of Facebooks service when you consider that the company is in the business of connecting people, said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst atTirias Research. Facebook is probably laying low on the addition as it is experimenting with the best way to engage its user base, he the E-Commerce Times. In addition, as a homegrown and new recommendation service, it will take some time to build a useful list of recommendations. The move represents a shift from broader enterprise-type focus to a more localized focus to generate additional revenue, Pund-ITs King said. Google made a similar shift a few years back, he noted, when it folded local business recommendations and related advertising into its Maps application. 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Volunteers are in need of financial support to try and improve the lives of children who are currently waiting to be relocated - they want to provide education, activities and simple supplies like nappies, medicine and milk. Ayren says the relocation system - which accounts for Syrian, Afghani and Iraqi refugees only - doesn't go far enough: Media Ayren Kelly Re: Mature Graduate seeking for a job Quote: Rober Dear All, I am new here on this forum and hopefully you can help me. I am living in UK for more than a decade. I am not English native though but Italian. This year I have got a degree in Social Science with Criminology and Sociology in UK, whilst I was working full time. As you can see from my title, I am not anymore young boy but let's say I am in the forties now. I have tried and sent hundreds of applications to all of sorts of graduate jobs, which I thought with Social Science degree, I could get a first stepping stone into a new career path. Unfortunately, I did not have a good response, few of them have replied and others none. Almost in UK. In Italy and I am sure someone knows my age means I am over for a job. I have tried in Switzerland few recruitment agency, with no luck, send my cv on pharma companies but I have received a big NO! Languages I am ok as I do speak fluent English, Italian and French, not German though...... I was wondering if you have any tips I would appreciate any help. Also I was considering for a Master but in UK are so far expensive so if you know how does work in CH, I will owe you a big thank you. Rob Stay in the UK, it's your best option by far. Quote: Rober Ok, I worked in UK mainly on customer service. For over 14 years, I have never been promoted; actually twice and they taken it away from me, thanks to some of my colleagues. I must admit as foreigner I did not have a best time on work wise. There was and there is that kind of competition, jealousy, unfortunately. Despite my previous school background, got all GSCE, A Level's, diplomas and nearly finished my degree in Italy but then never completed, all my education did not count at all in UK. So I started again few years ago with Social Science Degree, alongside with my job. I have tried to start a new path, new job, more office orientated jobs. You cannot imagine how many companies I have applied, nothing! I have spent money to redo my CV, they have guaranteed I could at least get an interview....really?? Nothing. This is why I wanted to move to CH as I believe in fairness but yet again my age is a big obstacle here. I can speak fluently nearly 4 languages, 3 for sure. I have applied some job involving my languages even though, no luck. I do have management roles in the past, not in UK though, but never been considered by an employer. I have tried CH pharma internship in HR or Recruitment but unfortunately even I am a new graduate they did not want me..... I know you might think I am a wingy person, but believe me I am not. I am 42 years old, stuck on same job for years with no success to progress on a career. I do have more potentiality to give, but no one cares about my curriculum at all.....It is frustrating!! Thank you for the uni info! I believe to retire soon as I am getting tired to get big FAT no all the time and no chance for an interview. Last one was a UNI in UK where advised me before to get a master to do a college course....how lovely!!! You are not a "new graduate", you are a mid-forties person with no related work experience to your social science degree. It is understandable that companies, especially those in a competitive market like Switzerland, do not want to even consider you. On paper you have nothing to give them vs other applicants in that field. If even in the UK someone recommended you to "do a college course" then they probably identified weaknesses in your CV that need filling, regardless of your new degree. While it is hard to hear, it sounds like you maybe did not plan the change of career very well in identifying potential roles and markets that you could go into after completing your studies. I recommend forgetting Switzerland until you have found work in the UK and have some related experience under your belt. As for "thinking to retire"... that's hardly a sensible idea. Quote: Rober Thank you very much for your time. I do appreciate your effort and that precious advice you gave to me. Quote: NotAllThere Depends. 61 year old bloke was interviewed at my client's offices last month for a permanent position. Quote: fatmanfilms Perhaps your CV is as badly written & laid out as your posts......... Why come to Switzerland? What do you think you can realistically do here do with a social science degree and no related work experience?Stay in the UK, it's your best option by far.Not receiving a promotion in 14 years is not "because of your colleagues", it is because of you. You need to understand and accept that, and work to identify and address those weaknesses.You are not a "new graduate", you are a mid-forties person with no related work experience to your social science degree. It is understandable that companies, especially those in a competitive market like Switzerland, do not want to even consider you. On paper you have nothing to give them vs other applicants in that field.If even in the UK someone recommended you to "do a college course" then they probably identified weaknesses in your CV that need filling, regardless of your new degree.While it is hard to hear, it sounds like you maybe did not plan the change of career very well in identifying potential roles and markets that you could go into after completing your studies.I recommend forgetting Switzerland until you have found work in the UK and have some related experience under your belt.As for "thinking to retire"... that's hardly a sensible idea.You "appreciate her effort" and yet to not make an effort to respond to the questions she clearly asked you? I think I know the way this thread is heading.Yeah he interviewed, but doubt he will get it.Harsh, but yeah, English language fluency (at least written) seems to be lacking. Re: Good face cream Quote: killy killy Hiya Tititita Thats ok, thanks for clearing up about SPF for me. I do have another question about getting rid or minimising fine lines under the eyes. Im starting to notice fine lines under the eyes - creases under the eyes when I wake up in the morning. Okay, I started using glycolic acid peel weekly (although slightly too strong for my skin) and also everyday the 10% glycolic cleanser and toner. The result is the fine lines are still there, if not more noticeable as the glycolic really thins out the skin . So Im using the 10% glycolic cleanser and toner less often on the rest of my face but not under the eyes. Any tips on ridding the fine lines? Do you think using the glycolic acid would be beneficial to minimising the fine lines? L About the fine lines around your eyes,well with time we do all get them and i would tell you also that the skin under your eye is where it is the thiner,so you need to protect it,most of the dammage is also done during our youth,as we go a lot on the sun,not alway s wearing protection,the sun is very good for your mood,but not so great for your face,so i will say it is a little hard for me to help you as i do not see you and do not know how old you are ,as well as what kind of skin type you have,i alway s had an eye cream as early as when i was 20,i had a little of pufy eyes,and now at 40 ,i have less wrinkles in this area then my sister who is nearly four years younger ,but this is not the only factor,i do not smoke ,she does,there is no miracle products out there,but there is company that have more concentration on the ingredients,many lady s i know raved about USA brand skin ceutical,wich have nice ingredients,but after everyone see diferent results, good ingredients are peptides. Now i m using Olay regenerigst eye cream,and i have to say i have been satisfied,when my budget will allow ,i will buy some skinceutical, hope that did help you Dear Killy,About the fine lines around your eyes,well with time we do all get them and i would tell you also that the skin under your eye is where it is the thiner,so you need to protect it,most of the dammage is also done during our youth,as we go a lot on the sun,not alway s wearing protection,the sun is very good for your mood,but not so great for your face,so i will say it is a little hard for me to help you as i do not see you and do not know how old you are ,as well as what kind of skin type you have,i alway s had an eye cream as early as when i was 20,i had a little of pufy eyes,and now at 40 ,i have less wrinkles in this area then my sister who is nearly four years younger ,but this is not the only factor,i do not smoke ,she does,there is no miracle products out there,but there is company that have more concentration on the ingredients,many lady s i know raved about USA brand skin ceutical,wich have nice ingredients,but after everyone see diferent results, good ingredients are peptides.Now i m using Olay regenerigst eye cream,and i have to say i have been satisfied,when my budget will allow ,i will buy some skinceutical,hope that did help you Interactive brokers withholding tax I'm a Belgian citizen, living in Switzerland (Vaud). I have contacted IB for this, and got the following response: Quote: Information relating to tax obligations is reported as required to the tax authorities within your country of residence as well as other countries if trading products subject to any local withholding requirements. Unless specifically directed by a taxing authority, IB does not withhold taxes on proceeds from security sales. We are required by US tax law, for example, to withhold US taxes on dividends paid by US corporations to foreign persons at a rate of 30%. This rate may be lower if the US has entered into a tax treaty with your country. In addition, investment interest income is not subject to US withholding. Currently for Switzerland, this treaty rate is 30% for ordinary dividend income issued from US Corporations. All withholdings for non-US persons and most entities will be reported on Form 1042-S at the close of each year. For further information refer to IRS publication 901 and/or your tax advisor. * IB will always provide tax information to CH, so better make sure that my tax sheets are filed correctly? * IB will not withhold any taxes on dividends, except for US corporations. I will need to pay tax on them in CH? * dividends of US corporations will be tax withheld by IB, do I need to pay yet again tax in CH then? Does the US and CH have a tax treaty? My current situation with my broker in Belgium is that I am not taxed at all on any dividends. It's up to me to declare the income of dividends in CH. I'm considering to open an account at IB. Only one final question remains: what is the withholding tax situation? I want to avoid to pay tax on dividends twice.I'm a Belgian citizen, living in Switzerland (Vaud).I have contacted IB for this, and got the following response:What does this really mean?* IB will always provide tax information to CH, so better make sure that my tax sheets are filed correctly?* IB will not withhold any taxes on dividends, except for US corporations. I will need to pay tax on them in CH?* dividends of US corporations will be tax withheld by IB, do I need to pay yet again tax in CH then? Does the US and CH have a tax treaty?My current situation with my broker in Belgium is that I am not taxed at all on any dividends. It's up to me to declare the income of dividends in CH. Seventy-one years after their World War II service in the Army Air Forces, identical twins, retired Air Force Reserve Majs. Raymond "Glenn" Clanin and Russell "Lynn" Clanin, received the French government's highest distinction the Legion of Honor medal. The Clanins were born in Bismarck in April 1923, growing up there and in nearby Farmington as part of a family of nine children six boys and three girls. At an early age the twins worked hard to help support their large family during the Depression. They worked both at a bowling alley and an auto parts store. The twins were drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1943 at Jefferson Barracks and there began virtually identical military careers that eventually led to the honor they received for their service to the French people. During an award ceremony held Dec. 2 with family and friends at the Schriever Space Complex of the Space and Missile Systems Center in El Segundo, California, the Bismarck natives were honored by Maj. Gen. Robert D. McMurry, Jr., SMC vice commander, and Christophe Lemoine, the French consul general in Los Angeles. "On behalf of Los Angeles Air Force Base, I'm particularly proud for our ability to host this event," McMurry said. "The Legion of Honor has been bestowed upon quite a number of World War II veterans. It's a reminder of the service that they performed and a reminder of the ties that we have between our countries that go back to the Revolutionary War with our first ally. "We have here two identical twins who married twins. At times, piloted the same aircraft, 'Flak-Bait,' which currently is being restored by the Smithsonian, and today, over 70 years later, they are getting identical medals which seems appropriate to me," McMurry said. "We're proud to be a part of the ceremony." The Clanin brothers flew the Martin B-26 Marauder named Flak-Bait on several missions with the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, known as "The Annihilators," while stationed in Beauvais, France. Glenn completed 26 missions while Lynn completed 21 missions in the twin-engine medium bomber. Flak-Bait completed 207 operational missions: 202 bombing runs and five decoy runs, representing the largest number of operational missions of any American aircraft during WWII. The aircraft is on display in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. "Attending a ceremony for the Legion of Honor is always a very special moment and always a very touching moment, Lemoine said. It's even more special and even more touching today because we honor two brothers that have been tied together all their lives and that are with us together today. It is also a special moment because of the times after the attacks in Paris makes us think that we should really not forget the achievement of these men for democracy, which is still something we have to fight for. "So it's a very special day for me as the consul general of France in Los Angeles, because I'm here to express the gratitude of the people of France to all Americans and Allied veterans of the Second World War and especially, two exceptional people, Raymond 'Glenn' Clanin and Russell 'Lynn' Clanin. As young men, they left their homes to fight and liberate not only France, but the whole European continent and defend democracy and human rights," Lemoine said. After the war, Lynn moved to California and in 1948 married his wife, Elyn, in a joint ceremony with his brother Glenn who married Elyn's sister, Carolyn. In their civilian lives, the brothers lived next to each other for 10 years in Manhattan Beach, California, working in their dry cleaning business until the Korean War. At that point, Lynn transitioned into aircraft manufacturing and in 1960 moved to Concord, California, where he worked in real estate before eventually retiring in 1978 as a service representative from the local water district. He remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a major in 1983. Lynn and his late wife Elyn's family include two sons, two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. After Lynn moved up north, Glenn worked in the savings and loan industry where he retired in 1985. He also remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a major in 1983. Glenn currently serves as adjutant for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2075 in Hawthorne, California. He and Carolyn still reside in Manhattan Beach and their family includes two daughters, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. "Their accomplishments during the war are a vibrant reminder of the deep friendship between the United States and France," Lemoine told the audience. "A friendship bound in blood and hardships, ever since the War of Independence. "From the glorious days of Yorktown to the green battlefields of Chateau-Thierry; from the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, our countries have been fighting together, side by side. And freedom is a gift that doesn't come free. It often requires determination and sacrifices. And once again, following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, we are so very grateful for our American friends who have shown and continue to show their immense support and sympathy for the French people and I would like to thank you all for that. Turning his attention directly to the 92-year-old brothers seated in front of the audience with the U.S. and French flags as a backdrop, Lemoine addressed the two veterans personally. "Dear gentlemen, the French would never forget that you helped restore their freedom," he said. "Your courage and your dedication is an example to us all. You're examples of 'the greatest generation,' which faced the despair and deprivation of the Great Depression, went on to fight for liberty and freedom during the second world war, rebuilt Europe and Japan and invented a freer and more democratic world after the war. You remind us that, no matter how great the challenge, it can be met when honest men and women stand up with determination and courage." The National Order of the Legion of Honor is an order of distinction first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It is the highest decoration bestowed in France. Foreign nationals who have served France or the ideals it upholds may receive a distinction from the Legion of Honor. To be awarded the medal, a service member must be nominated and had risked their life during WWII fighting in one of the four main campaigns of the Liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes, or Northern France. Today, there are approximately 95,000 recipients of the Legion of Honor. It looks like Madonna's life has been flipped upside down lately, all because of her rebellious teenage son, Rocco Ritchie. Now there's a new report that says the Material Girl has been forced to cancel all of her New Year's celebrations this past weekend because of her international custody battle with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, over the 15-year-old boy. Madonna Makes One Her Most Controversial Statements EVER Talking About ISIS According to Page Six on Saturday, Madonna was forced to skip out on a Swiss getaway because of her family drama. Every year, Madonna- along with her children, Lourdes, Rocco, David and Mercy James- all headed to the Swiss Alps at fashion mogul Valentino's annual Gstaad New Year's Eve celebrations at his Gifferhorn chalet. One source told the site, "Madonna planned to come to Gstaad - she had a house picked out and was all ready to come. But she canceled the family getaway because this whole kerfuffle with her son put the kibosh on it." Sean Penn Is Suing Lee Daniels For Comparing Him To Terrence Howard's Legal Troubles It was reported last month that Rocco refused to board a plane from London to New York City to spend Christmas with his famous mother as they supposedly clashed several times while he accompanied her on her Rebel Heart tour this summer. To make matters worse, Rocco is apparently trying to live with his father Guy full-time in London as he simply wants to spend some time apart from his "controlling and strict" mom. The site adds that a rep for Madonna has not commented on the report. Stay tuned with Enstars for all the latest updates on Madonna and Rocco Ritchie right here. Are Don Draper and Betty Draper Francis hooking up in real life these days? That's what everyone seems to be asking as rumors are flying that former Mad Men co-stars Jon Hamm and January Jones have been shaking up for the last several months now. Jon Hamm News 2015: Is Ben Affleck Using The Actor To Help Him Hook Up With Women? According to In Touch Weekly's print edition this week (via Gossip Cop), Hamm and Jones have been keeping things on the down low ever since the actor broke up with his long-term girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt, this past summer. But it was only until recently that the former co-workers have decided to turn their friendship into "something more" as they've been hooking up for some time now. In fact, a source told the publication, "They've been spending time together at January's home in LA... so they don't have to worry about paparazzi getting shots of them together." Mad Men: Jon Hamm And January Jones Rumored To Be Dating If that weren't enough, Hamm also supposedly gets on very well with Jones' 3-year-old son Xander, whose father's identity has never been revealed to the public. The actor is enjoying being around the toddler so much that he is supposedly even thinking about fatherhood himself. Unfortunately though, a rep for the actor says that the report is simply untrue and that Hamm and Jones are nothing more than "good friends." The publication even stated last year that Hamm was secretly dating his other co-star Elisabeth Moss, which later turned out to be a false report as well. Keep up with Enstars for all the latest news on Jon Hamm, January Jones and all of your favorite Hollywood stars right here. A new analysis of the fossil record shows that a deep pattern in nature remained the same for 300 million years. Then, 6,000 years ago, the pattern was disrupted -- at about the same time that agriculture spread across North America. "When early humans started farming and became dominant in the terrestrial landscape, we see this dramatic restructuring of plant and animal communities," said University of Vermont biologist Nicholas Gotelli, an expert on statistics and the senior author on the new study. In the hunt for the beginning of the much-debated "Anthropocene" -- a supposed new geologic era defined by human influence of the planet -- the new research suggests a need to look back farther in time than the arrival of human-caused climate change, atomic weapons, urbanization or the industrial revolution. "This tells us that humans have been having a massive effect on the environment for a very long time," said S. Kathleen Lyons, a paleobiologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History who led the new research. The study was published Dec. 16 in the journal Nature. SPECIES SPLIT Gotelli and Lyons were part of a team of 29 scientists, supported by the National Science Foundation, who studied plant and animal datasets from both modern ecosystems and the fossil record stretching back to the Carboniferous Period, well before the emergence of the dinosaurs. Examining thousands of pairs of species, the scientists looked to see how often a particular pair of plant or animal species was found within the same community. Analyses of modern communities of plants and animals have shown that, for most pairs of species, the presence of one species within a community does not influence whether the other is present or absent. "We don't expect much interaction between, say, a woodpecker and an earthworm," Gotelli explains. But some pairs of species appear to be "aggregated," meaning they tend to appear together in nature more often than one would expect by chance -- like cheetahs and giraffes who both depend on savannah habitats. Other species are "segregated," meaning that when one is found, it's unlikely to find the other there too -- "say two species of woodpecker that compete for insect prey," Gotelli says -- being driven apart by, perhaps, different habitat needs or fierce competition, so that they occur together less often than would be expected by chance. For modern communities of plants and animals, recent studies show that segregated species pairs are more common than aggregated ones. But when the team investigated the composition of ancient communities using data from fossils, they were surprised to find the opposite pattern: from 307 million years ago to about 6,000 years ago, there was a higher frequency of aggregated species pairs. Then, from 6,000 years ago to the present, the pattern shifted to a predominance of segregated species pairs. An ancient rule had changed. HUMANS WERE HERE "We don't have direct evidence to show that this pattern change was caused by humans," Gotelli cautions, but the indirect evidence is compelling. The team's statistical analyses considered nearly 358,896 pairs of organisms in 80 plant or mammal communities on different continents, with data sets that collectively covered the last 300 million years of earth history -- including data sets that spanned the huge Permian-Triassic extinction (the "Great Dying" 252 million years ago), the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction of the dinosaurs (66 million years ago), and a period of rapid global climate change around 56 million years ago. The pattern of aggregated species occurrences remained the same across these massive disturbances and time spans, but then a dramatically new pattern started emerging about 6,000 years ago, during the great Neolithic revolution when humans developed agriculture and their populations grew and spread globally. From this time until the present, plant and animal communities exhibit less co-occurrence and a greater frequency of segregated species pairs. The scientists explored -- and eliminated -- many possible reasons for why this new pattern appeared, including several kinds of statistical and sampling artifacts that might explain the shift they saw in the data. For example, Earth's climate became much more variable during modern times, and the team wondered whether this might explain the shift. But when they tracked climactic trends that occurred during the periods represented by their fossils, using data obtained from ancient ice and deep-sea cores, they found no evidence that ancient climate variability was responsible for the change in co-occurrence patterns. "So we're left with human impacts," Lyons said. "We think it's something that humans do that causes barriers to dispersal for both plant and animal species." That idea is supported by data from modern island communities of plants and animals, which show even fewer co-occurring pairs than modern mainland communities. Island data sets, the authors note, are an extreme example of this phenomenon. "If human activity has caused the terrestrial landscape to become more island-like, more fragmented," Gotelli said, "that would be consistent with this pattern of more segregated species pairs." DIFFICULT DISPERSAL Around the time these patterns changed, humans were becoming increasingly dependent on agriculture -- a cultural shift that physically altered the environment and would have introduced new barriers to dispersal of plants and animals. Even during the initial development of agriculture and expansion of human populations, the scientists could detect a shift in the structure of species co-occurrence, perhaps suggesting that species were not able to migrate as easily as they did for the previous 300 million years. "The pattern of co-occurring species remained stable through the evolution of land organisms from the earliest tetrapods through dinosaurs, flowering plants and mammals," said Anna K. Behrensmeyer, a paleobiologist with the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History and a co-author of the study. "This pattern didn't change because of previous mass extinctions or ancient climate variability, but instead, early human activities 6,000 years ago suddenly began resetting a basic property of natural communities." CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS And this change in an ancient natural pattern may have implications for modern conservation. "Isolating species has consequences -- it can catalyze evolutionary change over hundreds of thousands to millions of years," Behrensmeyer said, "but it also makes species more vulnerable to extinction." "We humans have influenced the landscape, but perhaps for a lot longer than we had previously recognized," says Gotelli, a professor in UVM's biology department. "When we look at landscapes and say, 'this is pristine or unaltered,' that's not necessarily true. We may have changed the rules over a much larger scale than we appreciate." Modern human-driven forces, like climate change and pollution, are "orders of magnitude more destructive than what early humans were doing," Lyons said, but even at the dawn of human civilizations, people were certainly having major -- and unprecedented -- ecological impacts, she said. "If we are thinking about how we're going to restore ecosystems, or how they're going to respond to climate change," UVM's Gotelli said, "we need to understand how they were organized before humans ever came on the scene." ### Dear All, I hope this is the right forum to post. Apologies in advance if I am in the wrong place. We are currently living in Rome downtown, 20 minutes from Vatican and Colosseum. Life is good here, but my husband is discussing the job position he has always wished for with the Chicago Office, but the vacancy is in Detroit. I would like to know how is life over there, because if you type 'Detroit' on a Google search, you only get result such as bankruptcy, dead town and so on. We have 2 kids (9 and 7 yrs old) who have a basic understanding of English, but I am sure they will learn quickly. My husband is still discussing his relocation package and we are thinking about $ 200k or more. Pros and Cons of li info in Detroit? Friend a suggest we live in the suburbs, I have been looking at Ann Arbor too. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance Tiziana Basically, you need to be sponsored financially for your UK visa by your partner/spouse. She needs to be earning at least 18,600 gross, or having savings of 62,500 (this amount can be shared by you, but each account the money is in must have a steady balance for 6 months) or other non-employment income like investments, pensions or annuities.Your visa is valid for 33 months, and after 30 months in UK you renew for further 30 months and then after 5 years in UK you can apply for settlement (green card). Once settled, you can apply for naturalisation as British citizen. Both countries allow dual nationality. While you are on visa, you have to pay 200 a year to access NHS.If you want to marry in UK and stay on, you apply for fiance visa, and following your marriage you switch to spouse leave. Or if you marry in US (easier procedure), you just apply for spouse visa after you are married.See https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk/overview I am posting this to share some information about shipping options through India Post. As there is not much information available in their website, I am hoping this might be useful.Our family is in the process of relocating from Bangalore to Sydney. We wanted to ship items which are not big enough to ship in container but not small enough to be brought with us in flight. I explored the following shipping options:1. DTDC2. FedEx3. Garudavega4. India Post5. Other popular carriersThe cheapest I found out was India Post. The next best option was Garudavega I decided to try India Post. We shipped not-so-valuable stuff for the first trial.The following is the information and the experience I collected in this process:Process of sending:1. Shipments can be sent from any area post office, not only from GPOs.2. Experience in local post office (Vijayanagar, Bangalore)[*]We were asked to come at a specific time (after 4PM). This may vary per post office.[*]Post office would not pack items on our behalf. We have to do our own packing.[*]We were told that we have to bring items in a box, then cover it with cora cloth and sew it in front of them.[*]We did not want to do this, hence thought of trying in bigger post office.[*]Called them and luckily they responded with information.3. Experience in bigger post office (Rajajinagar GPO, Bangalore)[*]No specific timing. They would accept at any time.[*]They have the option to do their own packing. The charges were INR 160 per box.[*]If you choose the above option, you just need to get items in your own way to post office. They would check each item and pack in their own box using their own packing materials. All charges inclusive.[*]When they did the packing, interestingly, they did not use cora cloth. It was just in plain white carton box with India post logo on it.[*]The quality of packing was very good. Items were secured well and the box was strapped tightly to withhold the trauma it would endure during its flight.[*]No signs/hints of bribe found. Prices were fair and receipt was provided to all amount accepted.[*]Boxes used were of 10 kg capacity. As our items were more, it was packed in two boxes.[*]We were also told about the speed/express post option which would supposedly get delivered in 4 days. Not sure about the cost.Transit:1. Each box got a separate tracking number.2. I was able to track them using this link - India Post | Tools | Track Consignments 3. However, it was of not much use. It did not provide any further information then 'package received at GPO'. So, this tracking info was useless.4. I had provided Aus Post Parcel Collect as my destination address and not my house address to make things easier.5. Transit time - Exact 15 days.6. Got the email and SMS notification from local Aus post and collected it just by signing.Pricing:1. Here comes the most important part. We were charged INR 417 per kg. (Weight: 11490 gms, Charge: INR 4795). This is excluding packing charges.2. Packing charges - INR 160 per box, all inclusive of packing materials and labour.3. I would like to mention the charges I found out for service from Garudavega which is the next best when it comes to pricing. It is approximately INR 600 per kg.4. All the other popular carriers quoted around INR 1000 to INR 1500 per kg. They might quote less on bulk shipping.Allowed items:1. This is as per what we found out by asking the post office personnel.2. Electronics are not allowed. I read in some post earlier that electrical was not allowed but electronics. When we asked, it was said nothing that has wiring is allowed. Not sure what it means. Your experience may vary. Better to ask at each instance. We are planning to try sending mixer next time. Will update this post on that experience.3. Dry food items like chutney/sambhar/rasam and other powders are allowed. Fluid items like pickle etc. are not.4. They might allow fragile items but I would not suggest. The packing done was not fragile friendly.5. It is necessary to declare type of items. In our case, it was just declared as 'Household Items'.6. The total value of the items was nowhere asked to mention, which is interesting. Most other carriers will ask this info which is used to determine customs at Australian border. AFAIK, anything valuable more than AUD 1000 attracts customs.My conclusions:1. I had doubted India Post's timing and reliability which I don't anymore. The parcel came in exact 15 days as said, that too in this busy festive season.2. I would definitely take their service again. Their's is the cheapest I have found so far.3. I suggest to call/visit and check your post office before your carry any items. This will avoid some disappointments.4. Tracking was not helpful to me and I suggest not to bother if you can't track.5. I suggest to use Aus Post parcel collect as the destination to have a better experience. DEAR DOCTOR K: My doctor says I need to worry about osteoporosis. I'm a man in my 60s. Doesn't osteoporosis affect mostly women? DEAR READER: Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones. You're correct that women are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, but that doesn't mean men don't have to worry about it. In fact, about 2 million men in the United States have osteoporosis. There are two main reasons men are less vulnerable than women to bone loss. First, men start out with bigger bones and greater bone density. Second, men generally have high levels of androgens, hormones that increase bone density. When men under age 75 develop osteoporosis, it's often because of treatment with certain drugs that cause osteoporosis as a side effect, or because they have other medical conditions that weaken bone. When osteoporosis is caused by a treatment or another underlying condition, it is called secondary osteoporosis. For example: MEDICATIONS: Glucocorticoid use is one of the most common causes of secondary osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids are steroids used to reduce inflammation caused by asthma, arthritis and a variety of other conditions. Anticonvulsants (medicines used to control seizures) and certain cancer treatments also increase risk. UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS: Abnormally low sex hormone levels can increase the risk of osteoporosis in men (and women). Men and women produce both estrogen (the "female" sex hormone) and testosterone (the "male" sex hormone. Of course, women make a lot more estrogen than men, and men make a lot more androgen than women. Both estrogen and androgen build bone. Levels of both of these hormones decline as people age, and this can cause bone loss. When men have very low androgen levels (or a rare condition in which men's tissues don't respond to androgens normally) it is called hypogonadism. In addition to hypogonadism, other disorders can also damage bone health: Type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis and many others. (I've put a more complete list of medical conditions and medications that increase the risk of secondary osteoporosis on my website, AskDoctorK.com.) Other risk factors that are particularly relevant to men include: -- HEAVY ALCOHOL USE. Heavy drinking can damage bone health by reducing bone mass. -- SMOKING. Many years of smoking encourage the thinning of bones. -- INACTIVITY. Our bones respond to being challenged by becoming denser and stronger. The bones of the legs, hips and spine are strengthened by weight-bearing activities, and by exercises like walking or running. -- GASTRECTOMY. This operation, in which part or all of the stomach is removed, can reduce the amount of calcium the body absorbs. That, in turn, causes some thinning of the bones. Some men (like some women) are more vulnerable to getting osteoporosis, but we don't understand all of the genetics involved. Also, people of Caucasian or Asian ethnicity are at higher risk than those of African background. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone mineral density testing for men starting at age 70. If you're younger but have any of the risk factors I've discussed, get tested earlier. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. To send questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Battling alcohol and opioid addictions: Can Vivitrol help? Vivitrol, an injectable version of the drug naltrexone, completely blocks euphoria from drug consumption, according to Vivitrol's website. DEAR READERS: Happy New Year! It is truly a blessing to cross into a brand new year. For all of us who have made it to this moment in our lives, it is worth it to pause and reflect. Take a few moments to count your blessings and to acknowledge all of the good that surrounds you. Know that this is true whether you are suffering or if you are experiencing bounty right now. Grace is always present in the world, but it is essential that we remember right now. In order to live a fulfilled and honorable life, you have to change the proverbial lens in your glasses. You need to look through the lens of love in order to walk in that supportive space. Otherwise, it is easy to get lost and to make bad decisions. When you aren't seeing or thinking straight, it is also easy to overlook red flags. I dropped my daughter off at school the other day, and on the way home, I noticed a street sign -- one of the yellow signs with an image of a male and female crossing the street, a sign often posted near a school. At the bottom of the sign is the word "AHEAD." The message was to beware of pedestrians crossing in front of you. Well, the sign had been defaced, the "A" in AHEAD being replaced with "BE" to spell "BEHEAD." If that wasn't enough, the female figure had her head greyed out as if she had been beheaded. I was horrified. Ironically, this now-defaced sign stands across the street from one of the largest cathedrals in the United States, St. John the Divine. I cringed, then immediately made a firmer conscious commitment to choose to do everything I can to walk in the light and not succumb to the hatred and negativity that seem to be festering all around us. Practically, I called 311 to report it. I mention this example because I could have made a different choice. It would have been so easy either to get hysterical -- to no end -- or to be passive and do or say nothing. Taking action was required, and further action may still be needed until this sign of terrorism is removed. Being responsible was required, because, as my parents taught me, each of us is responsible for ourselves, for our neighbors and for our communities. That means that we have to stand up for truth and goodness and against hatred at every turn. This is true whether the negativity is festering at home, at work or on a street along your way. When you look through the lens of love, you see what doesn't support the unity of humankind. Even more, you gain the strength to access the ability to speak up when necessary. To live in love is to take care of your environment and the people who live in it. I believe this is a requirement for all of us as we walk into 2016. It is the way that we can honor and protect all of us! DEAR HARRIETTE: Occasionally, when I go to my local coffee shop, my order isn't made correctly, and I can't drink it. I have a very strong dairy allergy, and upon ordering, I always make sure that I ask for a dairy-free alternative twice when ordering, but sometimes I see the barista using regular milk for my drink. It's frustrating to me because I've said something before and have gotten dirty looks from the baristas. It is not my fault that they're messing up my order! I hate having to act like a hawk whenever my drink is being made, but I become timid when it comes to returning it. I have had to pay to get another drink made because the coffee shop does not own up to its mistake. I feel as though I have the right to get my order made properly, and I have not taken a sip of the coffee that was given to me anyway. How can I assert myself? Should I be reminding the barista that I am dairy-free as they are making my drink? -- Very Allergic, Chicago DEAR VERY ALLERGIC: Don't trust the baristas with pouring your milk anymore. Order the coffee black, and request milk substitute that you put in yourself. Or, since you are highly allergic, carry dry creamer with you so that you are 100 percent sure of what you are putting in your beverage. DEAR HARRIETTE: My father makes present-giving difficult for the family and me. He renounces presents that aren't homemade. I have painted, made elaborate pickles and even tried creating ceramics for him, but these days, I do not have the time to hunt down a creative project for every occasion I give him gifts. He does not make me homemade presents, but he expects everyone to put in hours of time to create him a present. Admittedly, some years were very fun to spend creating a gift, but I think there should be leeway as we get older. I do not want to upset my father, but we will not always be able to carve out hours for a present. Could I buy him a present with a handmade card? He has never liked store-bought presents my whole life, but I think it is time for a change. -- Store-Bought is Fastest, Annapolis, Maryland DEAR STORE-BOUGHT IS FASTEST: Let me start by saying that spending a few hours creating a gift for your father shouldn't be a chore. Consider it a privilege. And refresh your thinking about what to give him. My sister started making digital calendars and mugs with family pictures on them. In this way, the family gets a record of the activities of family members over the course of the year. It is partially homemade and loaded with sentiment. Another idea is to write your father a note detailing the activities of the year and expressing your gratitude for reaching the turning point of another year. You can thank him for his presence in your life and express your love. That's called making memories. Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has welcomed the Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) which was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on December 30, 2015.In a Press Release, Shri Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI stated said the launching of the upgraded scheme in place of the present Revised Restructured TUFS (RR-TUFS) is a relief to the entire textile sector, especially because the RR-TUFS was in a limbo and no Unique ID, which is the formal sanction under the scheme, had been issued after September 2014. The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has welcomed the Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) which was cleared by the # Allocating nearly Rs.13,000 crore for clearing the Committed Liabilities will help in clearing the backlog pending for Issuance of UIDs and also the large number of so called 'left out cases' that have been pending for a decision for nearly 4 years, Mehta said.Allocation of over Rs.5,000 crore for new projects will encourage fresh investments, both for modernising as well as scaling up existing production facilities and for green field investments.Mehta thanked the Government for the extra focus provided to the highly labour intensive apparel segment and the technical textiles sector by stipulating a higher capital assistance of 15 per cent for them as against 10 per cent available to the other segments.He pointed out that the apparel industry was not very capital Intensive, but given the sub-scale operation of production facilities in this segment in the country and the need to achieve economies of scale for competing with large units in countries like China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, the higher assistance to the apparel segment will prove to be highly beneficial in pushing up both employment and exports in the textiles sector.Another textile industry body, the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has also hailed the amended TUFS.In a press release, AEPC Chairman Virender Uppal thanked the Government for amending the scheme.It will provide the much needed thrust for the expansion and growth, he said. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India In order to take the complete benefit of Trans-pacific Partnership Pact (TPP), a free trade agreement involving 12 nations, Vietnam should work upon the textile and apparel segment in particular, according to Ngo Chung Khanh, deputy head of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam. The textile and garment industry is the biggest strength of Vietnam, he said while speaking at a workshop in the Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnamese textile and garment sector occupies the second position in the US market currently, despite a tax of 17 to 25 per cent. TPP will bring down the taxes by 100 per cent for Vietnam. If the taxes go down by 100 per cent, the Vietnamese textile and garment industry will get a boost in terms of volume and turnover, he added. In order to take the complete benefit of TPP, Vietnam should work upon the textile and apparel segment in particular.# Khanh opined that TPP will have a bigger impact on the country's trade scenario as compared to its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It will benefit more from the agreement than other participating countries, and can enhance its exports immensely. But the country should work upon its textile and garment sector, intellectual property rights and labour issues. Commenting on the labour and intellectual property issues, he said that regulations concerning labour issues in TPP will remain the same as WTO regulations for Vietnam. The labourers can further create organisations to ensure the protection of their rights. Intellectual property rights will be strictly regulated. This agreement will especially boost Vietnam's exports to US, EU and other developed member countries of TPP. Khanh asserted that the agreement will bring economic development, increase the global standing of Vietnam in trade, generate more jobs and improve the national income. On a similar note, Dr Nguyen Tien Dung, principal of LawEconomics University added that TPP will benefit Vietnam more than the other participating countries, and is a good chance for the country to improve its exports and join the global supply chain. But the country is the least developed of the 12 participating countries, which may create obstacles in its development. (MCJ) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - January 01, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 15, 2016 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nimble Storage, Inc. (NYSE: NMBL), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 27, 2015 through November 19, 2015, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Nimble Storage and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 15, 2016. About the Lawsuit Nimble Storage and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. These false statements and omissions include, in part, that Nimble Storage: (i) was being negatively impacted by intense competition from well-entrenched, large competitors who were slashing prices in order to maintain market share; (ii) had made a conscious decision to focus its sales and marketing efforts towards the large enterprises market and to reduce sales efforts in the U.S. commercial market; and (iii) was losing sales in both sales channels due to this change in sales strategy and the intense price competition. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 206 Covington St. Madisonville, LA 70447 MUMBAI Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday the upcoming budget session of parliament would be crucial for the passage of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) that has been blocked in two successive sessions. The GST reform is long overdue and should have come much earlier, Jaitley told an event in New Delhi according to the finance ministry's Twitter feed. The new indirect tax would create a single market and boost commerce in India's $2 trillion economy. However, it has been languishing in parliament for want of political support. The reform needs a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist coalition lacks the votes it needs in the upper house of parliament. The opposition Congress party has been fighting a rearguard action against the GST. However, with seats in the upper house to be reallocated soon to reflect gains by Modi in state elections, the government hopes to break the deadlock. "The next session is going to be extremely important. And halfway through the next session, the numbers of the upper house are also going to change," news outlets quoted Jaitley as saying. "So I am reasonably optimistic, as far as the next session is concerned, that we may be able to push it through," he said. (Reporting by Karen Rebelo in Mumbai; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Paul Tait) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. After the Pathankot incursion India has to realise three things One. The Pakistan terror monster has broken its shackles and roams free. It is beyond the control of army and the government. Now lets examine the statement. Surely, the authorities have a fair idea of where the camps are and how they are funded. It is difficult to believe that the underground is so well concealed and isolated there are no informants. By that token why are these camps still functioning? While one accepts that acts of terror occur in Pakistan too and that is the evidence they show as being victims and not perpetrators there has to be a quantitative and qualitative difference between the two...attacks on India are acts of war, not internal strife. The point then hovers over the grey aspect of how much of terror activity is planned in Pakistan with tacit permission, how much through the convenient blind eye and how much without so much as a by your leave. Has the monster become hydra-headed or is it still on a leash, albeit a long one? Let us take the seven terrorists who came across what is still largely a porous border and were killed. They must have had support and infrastructure to make the crossing. On both sides at that. For a few days they would have needed a safe house and food and drink where they would have lain low. Somebody got them that vehicle. And the weapons. And the will to die. There must have been communications occurring over a period of time. And those records should be available. The fact that Intelligence got a heads up in time to contain the damage indicates there is a system of information which flows in different directions at the border. Somebody thankfully talked or was an embedded agent. This makes sense because the seven did not take this assignment to stop at just two deaths. Their aim must have been much higher. To that extent we have to be thankful that Indian vigilance is working and can only hope it dismantles as many any semi-sleeper rings that operate in this region. The more information we glean the stronger we become. The need now would be to create a cordon sanitaire at the border and upscale surveillance even more. Unfortunately all seven terrorists died (a captured one is worth ten kills) so it is only a surmise that they were all the number that crossed the border ...how many more have filtered into other towns? An alert till the conduit is closed makes sense. There should be no letting up on finding those who aided and abetted the enemy. A message has to be sent out loud and clear that they dont mess with India without consequences. Two. This will not stop. India knows that. It is not a surprise that whenever there is a move towards peace, whether scheduled or spontaneous there is this aggressive distraction to sabotage it. It invariably gives the hawks grounds for going back to square one and sanctifies suspicion and distrust. That it occurs so soon after Prime Minister Modis visit to Lahore will give fodder to those who want create a link. Dont. It serves no purpose. All too often perceptions are as relevant as facts and while Indias agencies may well be putting pressure on the other side and taking actions we are not privy to, the general feeling is that Indias befitting replies are anaemic at best. You get the impression that the Pakistani military believes India will froth a bit at the mouth, spray rhetoric and then things will be normal again. Rather like the kid in the school who keeps warning the bully you hit me again, you see, you hit me again, you watch it, Indian governments far too often let such attacks pass into history. We might like to rework our priorities and put a timeline on our wish list and give it to Pakistan to measure its intent in this war on terrorism. This is something we do not do, thereby leaving our demands open ended. Islamabad does not take New Delhi seriously. Three Strong defence is a great offence. We need to put our armed forces might on the cutting edge of 21st military armament. You want drones, get them. You want gunships buy them. You need to upgrade your fighters and go back to full strength (seven squadrons short) well then, move on it and stop moaning about the MiGs. There are 9 fourth generation fighters up there for sale. Our tanks need upgrading. If the T14 Armata is the replacement from Russia lets go for it. We never truly replaced the Bofors shoot and scoot 155 mm howitzer, more interested in the political skulduggery that accompanied it than the worthiness of the gun itself. Look at the brouhaha over the purchase of the two decade old Rafale. We cannot even work out how many we should buy. We are short on ammo. Our naval fleet needs more punch. Our subs catch fire. Our procurement is predicated to the priorities of the parties in power not long term planning. One could rabbit on endlessly. By now with our in-house hi tech savvy we should have begun manufacture of a range of missiles instead of importing them at prodigious cost. At this moment none of our forces are battle inoculated. We do not like to recognise these flaws and we scream in shrill rage at those who say, hey, we have to arm our forces and have them fighting fit and maintain their morale. In a nation where the IAS is given precedence and the chiefs of the services come low on the pecking order what price that morale. It is not enough to say we are proud they are ready to die for their country. At least arm them well so they have a fighting chance. New Delhi: Following the terror attack on the Indian Air Force station in Punjab's Pathankot in the wee hours of Saturday, a high level meeting was held at the South Block in New Delhi to take of the situation. As per the latest reports, the fifth terrorist who was hold up for quite sometime since morning was also gunned down by Indian Army soldiers. So far, two personnel from the Defence Security Corps and IAF Garud commando have been martyred. The meeting was attended by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, national security adviser Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs among others. The Ministry of Defence issued a statement after the meeting. The text: "Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area. In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to thwart any such attempt. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot. The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the Technical zone where high value assets are parked. "Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled. Currently the operation is going on. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command is on location and personally supervising and coordinating with the Army, NSG and local civil police for exchange of information and operational activity." Four terrorists were gunned down while three security personnel including a IAF Garud commando laid down their lives when a terror attack took place on the Pathankot air base in Punjab in the wee hours of Saturday morning. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. This is the second major attack on Punjab after the attack in Gurdaspur in February 2015. Here are a few reactions on the terror attack in Pathankot: The country is proud of our security forces and our jawansUnion Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Terror attack on Air Force base in Pathankot is highly condemnable. Kudos to brave soldiers for dispelling the attack & salute to martyrsUnion Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Operations continuing, immediate focus on resolving situation - premature to say anything more at this pointSpokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. Have credible information about Pathankot attack being sponsored by some elements across the borderUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Elements who can't stand peace carry out such attacks from time to timeUnion Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh. This process (talks) cannot be destroyed due to one attack... Pakistan is our neighbour. You cannot change your neighbour, you can change friends and therefore we must continue with the talks but talks have to be mainly on the issue of terrorism and that's what exactly India is doingUnion Minister Prakash Javadekar. Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot, India, today, in which many precious lives have been lost. We extend heartfelt condolences to the Government & people of India & the bereaved families & wish the wounded speedy and full recovery. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India & other regional countries to eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our regionSpokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan. Not right to question foreign policy right now, stand with our soldiers in this fightRashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. My salute to the Garud commando & the 2 Defense Security Corps jawans, martyred in the #Pathankot terror strike defending the air basePunjab Congress head Captain Amarinder Singh. We strongly condemn the attack. It happened after the Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan. This appears to be an attempt by terror outfits to derail any dialogue process and initiative taken by both the countries. Both the countries should not fall into the trap of provocation of the terror outfits who must be given a strong message that they cannot derail the dialogue processCPI national secretary D Raja. Pathankot (Punjab): Security forces killed two terrorists following an attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Pathankot district in north Punjab early on Saturday. According to CNN-IBN reports, a jawan was also killed in the gunbattle. The gunfire started at around 3.30 am, police have cordoned off the area and army have been called. Number of terrorists was reported to be around four to six, who were in Army fatigues. Heavy firing could be heard from the IAF station area till 7.30 am. Security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert by security forces. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked", said a senior police officer in winter capital Jammu. Defence sources said army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant was able to sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police officer said he and his associates were seized by five armed men in army fatigues. Salwinder Singh, a superintendent of police, said he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the five men. IANS India on Saturday woke up to the news of a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab, where four terrorists were shot dead. Reports suggest that the intelligence agency had information about the attack because of which quick action could be taken to fight the terrorists. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. This is the second major attack on Punjab after the attack in Gurdaspur in February 2015. Here's all you need to know about the incident: - Unconfirmed reports said two IAF security personnel were killed and six others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 am. - Search is on for the fifth terrorist. - According to CNN-IBN reports, the attackers came to Pathankot in two cars and probably crossed the border on 30 December. - While the gunbattle has stopped, CNN-IBN reports quoted Punjab officials as saying that there were combing operations on in the area. Sporadic firing is still being heard inside the airbase, and according to reports choppers were seen shooting inside the base. Grenade blasts were also heard from inside the airbase. - National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources told IANS. - An NIA team has reached the spot. Sources told PTI that as per the standard operating procedure, an NIA team is rushed to the site where terror strike takes place so that they can share their expertise as well as have first-hand information about the case. - Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police officer said he and his associates were seized by five armed men in army fatigues. - Salwinder Singh, a superintendent of police, said he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the five men. - The terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF station told IANS. - The attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists therefore could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside. - The attackers were dressed in army fatigues like they had done in the Gurdaspur attack early last year. - Police told PTI that helicopters, NSG commandos and SWAT teams have been engaged to kill the militants. - Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab police was abducted by a group of armed men in army uniform on Thursday night. The attackers thrashed the officer before dumping him from vehicle. - There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. - The attack was launched soon after a combing operation was carried out by the army on Friday in the area between Air base installation and Chakki river. - CNN-IBN reported that the PMO reviewed the security situation of the country after the attack in a meeting with the Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and NSA. - The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked," said a senior police official in Jammu. - Key security meeting takes place in South Block. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, all service chiefs attending meet. https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/683221410374877184 https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/683221682635583488 https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/683221954376118272 With inputs from agencies Chandigarh: Is militancy from across the border on the rise in Punjab? For the second time in five months, armed terrorists from across the border entered the state through Gurdaspur on Friday and attacked the Pathankot Air Force base. Five militants and three jawans were killed in the incident that followed the carjacking of Punjab Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police (SP), Salwinder Singh, and his two acquaintances a day earlier, after which Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts were put on high alert. The modus operandi was almost similar to an earlier terror strike in Dina Nagar town of Gurdaspur in July. On 25 July, a team of five terrorists had entered Dina Nagar. Just before dawn on Monday (27 July), five of them hijacked a white Maruti car at gunpoint, fired at people at a bus stand and stormed a police station, killing at least six persons, including the Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police. Two incidents within five months raise fears that the border Gurdaspur may have become porous fro militants from Pakistan. As pointed out by Firstpost after the terror attack in July, for almost two decades, the nearly 460-km international border in Punjab was considered impregnable because of barbed fence and floodlights. Since 1993, when fencing was completed by India, there had been not a single incident of cross-border terrorism in Punjab. The closest the terrorists had come to Punjab before this was in 2014, when a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist was held at Chakki Bank railway station in Pathankot. The same year, a letter was sent by the Lashkar-e-Taiba to the station superintendent of Pathankot warning of attacks on the Punjab chief minister and his deputy. Talking to Firstpost, Shashi Kant, former Director General of Punjab Police (DGP), said the Gurdaspur region is becoming porous. "This is a very serious issue because we are giving a chance to the militants to enter India. In both the incidents in Gurdaspur, the militants crossed over from Bahawalpur in Pakistan through the riverside to enter India. While the rest of the India-Pakistan border is wired and sealed and protected, it is not possible to do so in some region of Gurdaspur bordering Pakistan because of the Ravi riverine belt. The border force also finds it difficult to keep proper check on the area," he said. Intelligence sources admitted Gurdaspur's geography makes it vulnerable. Being the northernmost district of Punjab, the area lies between river Ravi and Beas and is very close to the international border, which is just 10 km from Pakistan. Militants find it easy to smuggle drugs from the region and also enter into India to move to other sensitive places in the country, sources said. Kant said if reports of militants involved in the two incidents having crossed over several hours before striking are true, they suggest sleeper cells active in the border areas give shelter and food and perhaps even to the militants. Kant, who had headed departments of prisons and intelligence for several years, said there is a link between militancy and drug trade in Punjab. "Drug money is used in financing militancy. To check militancy we will also have to control the drug problem. But the trade is flourishing because of the alleged involvement of politicians, bureaucrats and police officers," he said. Talking to Firstpost, AAP leader and Patiala MP, Dharamvir Gandhi, said such laxity in defending the border was a matter of great concern. "This is the second incident in six months. In Gurdaspur, the militants have found a soft target. Pathankot is a strategic air force base. There should have been more security in the region to check any infiltration," the parliamentarian said. "If some part of the border is porous we have to check it. If this situation continues there may be more attacks through Gurdaspur in future," Gandhi said. Manjit Singh of Swaraj Andolan, Punjab condemned the attack and said India will have to be more vigilant. "Only the military and the intelligence will be able to say from which area the militants had entered Gurdaspur," "Singh told Firstpost. Srinagar: Three defence personnel including a Garud commando were martyred in the wee hours on Saturday after a group of Pakistan-based terrorists launched an audacious attack on the IAF base in Pathankot at around 3.00 am. The four-hour long siege ended with the gunning down of the four terrorists that has put the entire country on high alert. The IAF base is situated around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. The first terrorist was killed as he was climbing over the 10 meter high wall that also has razor wire on it. The gun battle between the terrorists and security forces ended by 8 am on Saturday, HS Dhillon, additional director general (law and order) of Punjab Police, said. However, the combing operation continues, Dhillon said. The combing operation is still underway as the security forces are looking for a fifth terrorist, who could be possibly hiding in the area. But the important question is what would be the impact of the Pathankot terror attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modis renewed effort to infuse a fresh life into India-Pakistan relations. "Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response. Any aggression towards us will receive a befitting reply from our side," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi. Analysts say that any fresh initiative for warm relations between the two South Asian neighbours is bound to upset the terror establishment in Pakistan. Although media reports suggest the attackers were from Bhawalpur in Pakistan, complete details will be only known once the investigations are over. The Pathankot barbarism should no way affect the renewed bonhomie between India and Pakistan. It is nothing but test of Prime Minister Modi's statesmanship in the diplomatic front, Peoples Democratic Party leader Javid Trali said. Whenever India and Pakistan tries to make fresh efforts to bring peace, an attack happens. That doesnt mean we should stop talking. (If we do that) Then we have learned nothing from the past, said Trali. The attack, which took place just a week after PM Modis stopover in Lahore, has once again underlined the fact that the road to India-Pakistan peace process has never been a smooth one. According to initial reports, the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which was also responsible for the 2001 attack on Parliament, is suspected to be behind the Pathankot attack as well. Last year in August, just weeks before the NSA-level talks were to be held, terrorists carried out two attacks in Udhmapur and Gurdaspur. Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said the attack on Pathankot IAF base was the first major challenge to prime minister's Pakistan plan and his party, BJP, has to move beyond its stand on talks and terror to insulate the dialogue process. https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/683115902284345344 https://twitter.com/abdullah_omar/status/683117359129735169 The attack comes 12 days ahead of the meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Islamabad on 14-15 January. This meeting is likely to prepare a schedule for the comprehensive dialogue. BJP leader from Jammu and Kashmir and Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitender Singh said after the attack that elements who can't stand peace carry out such attacks from time to time. There are forces who do not want peace between the two countries, they do such things to derail the talks, Singh said. The attack at the Pathankot Air Force station has come close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modis high profile visit to Pakistan just as the Kargil invasion followed prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees path-breaking visit to Lahore in 1999. Like that invasion, this attack was clearly meant to derail the peace process now underway. It must not be allowed to succeed. Many observers have poked fun at the two prime ministers for walking hand-in-hand a few days ago. In fact, that may also be seen as symbolising how much of a risk both were willing to take with their image. Each invested huge political capital in that evenings bonhomie, which took place just eight days before the Pathankot attack. According to those in the loop, the Lahore stopover was Modis idea. The two national security advisors and other high-ranking officials gave it shape over the previous few weeks. In this light, the induction of recently retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua as Pakistans national security advisor could be seen as Nawaz Sharifs effort to bring his army on board a process which was strongly backed by the West and by Russia too when Modi was there just before his trip to Afghanistan, and then Pakistan. Nevertheless, an attack such as the one at Pathankot was almost predictable. A section, if not the whole of, the Pakistan Army has always been determined to keep open the option of violence against India. The Kargil invasion was not the first time it happened. Preparations for the 1965 war began within days of the bold peace proposal, which Sheikh Abdullah took to Pakistan in May 1964. There was almost constant shelling at the border and the Line of Control from about June 1964. Indeed, to blame a war-mongering section of the Pakistan Army for such attacks may be too mild an analysis. The US has discovered to its deep chagrin over the past 15 years if not long before 9/11 that the ruling establishment in Pakistan is adept at playing both sides simultaneously. It has always denied links with some of the various warrior forces it manages from Dawood Ibrahim to Hafiz Sayeed, from the Taliban to Osama Bin Laden, and the range of Kashmiri armed groups from the JKLF to Hizb-ul Mujahideen. Pakistan continues to deny being behind the Mumbai attack, and the various bold moves up to the attack on the Gurdaspur police station last summer, and beyond that. It is currently going out of its way to portray itself as having nothing to do with the present militancy in Kashmir. Nothing has been heard in public of the charismatic young Hizb militant commander, Burhanuddin of Tral, since his high-profile summer of motivational videos and visits to various parts of south Kashmir. In fact, many in Kashmir believe he has gone silent because he has crossed over to Pakistan. Perhaps he has been summoned, to keep militancy down. Those involved in rapprochement with Pakistan over the past three months emphasise that militant activity stopped during the last trimester of 2015. Clearly, the Pakistani establishment went out of its way to stop violence at least until the process had come to a climactic point with the prime ministers visit to Pakistan. That visit took place on 25 December, ostensibly after a telephone call by Modi from Kabul that morning to wish Sharif on his birthday. Modi stopped over in Lahore and went thence to the Sharif familys Raiwind palace that evening to attend Sharifs granddaughters wedding. Now, the attack at Pathankot will give a new edge to the meeting of foreign secretaries, which is slated for mid-January. It would not be the first time that talks were being held with Pakistan under the shadow of a major show of belligerence albeit a deniable one. Pakistans provocations tend to be deniable, while Chinas are generally more open. The latter conducted its most powerful nuclear test during a visit by president R Venkataraman in 1992. It had invaded Vietnam while Vajpayee was there as foreign minister in 1979. Essentially, such attacks are part of a strategy by both countries to show India that they do not engage in talks from a position of weakness. Its something like a schoolyard bully giving one a bit of a jab before holding out a hand of friendship to show that hes still the man. For Pakistan, such moves have another important function to send a message to the home constituency that the Pakistan Army knows how to deal with the big bad guy next-door. Ever since Governor-general Mohammad Ali Jinnah invited Indias leaders for a trilateral meeting with Jammu and Kashmirs leaders on 2 November 1947, almost any planned engagement with Pakistan has been fraught. The most successful initiatives have been informal ones Nehrus meeting with Prime Minister Bogra on the sidelines of the coronation in London in 1953, Vajpayees Lahore visit (which ostensibly came about through an invitation given in an interview), Vajpayees reaching out to Pakistan during a speech in Srinagar (about which he did not consult even his closest associates), and now Modis Raiwind visit. Let us hope the Pathankot attack will not succeed in putting the brakes on this new peace process. By Seema Guha A terror attack follows India-Pakistan peace moves, much as night follows day. This has been the pattern since Atal Bihari Vajpayees Lahore bus diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must have factored this in when he embarked on the perilous peace process with Nawaz Sharif. Knives and daggers will be out for Modi not just from the opposition but more significantly, from his own hard-line support base. How the prime minister deals with this will prove whether he has grown with the job or will the job outgrow him. For one, the attack on Pathankot air force station is a major one culminating in the tragic death of three jawans. The situation, though, could have truly gone out of hand had the terrorists been able to blow up a jet or a helicopter parked in the hanger at the IAF base. Public anger would have then surely forced Modi to call off the dialogue. The question is, where does the India-Pakistan dialogue go from here? Foreign secretary Jai Shankar is slated to travel to Islamabad two weeks from now for talks with his counterpart. Will he go? BJPs past jibe at former prime minister Manmohan Singh, that terror and talks cant go together, will now come back to haunt Modi. Expectedly, government sources are tight-lipped and say it is too early to take a call. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted On #PathankotAttack : Operations continuing, immediate focus on resolving situation -premature to say anything more at this point. A senior government functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed the MEA spokesperson. We have to wait and see and do a thorough investigation to find out the group or groups involved. The government will do what is right in national interest, the official said, adding: Much will depend on what the investigations throw up. We are not saying that terror is insulated from talks or that the peace process will stop. We will take the next step once all facts are before us. Despite all this the talks are unlikely to be called off just yet. The PM is unlikely to suspend the initiative he has taken so soon after the Lahore stopover. It will be a loss of face for him. The government will find a formulation which is acceptable and perhaps say that Jai Shankar will travel to Islamabad to take up the issue. I suspect NSA Ajit Doval is already in touch with Lt Gen Naseer Khan Janjua on the subject. Some conciliatory noises will also come from Pakistan. Of course, when the initiative was taken, both sides knew that such an attack could take place to stall the talks, says former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh. But words are not enough. Things will become complicated if investigations find that either Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed is involved in the Pathankot terrorist attack. It will then be incumbent on Pakistan to take action on whoever is behind it, whether they are state or non-state actors. Jaish-e-Mohammeds name has already emerged as an early claimant. JeM is an anti-India terror group headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the terrorists let free by New Delhi during the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines plane. The JeM was used extensively for anti-India operations by Pakistans spy agency at one time. It was responsible for the audacious attack on Indian Parliament, but has been rather quiet in the last few years. So far there has been no official confirmation, though, of JeMs involvement. It is sad that the terrorist attack on Pathankot air base has come just a week after the Prime Ministers visit to Lahore. Nevertheless, I believe that India-Pakistan engagement needs to continue. Disrupting talks once again will achieve nothing since Pakistan knows that soon we will head back to the table without it having given up on any of its hostile policies. Each time we repeat this pattern of behaviour, our credibility gets eroded and there is increasingly less likelihood of our warnings on cross border terrorism being taken seriously, said another former foreign secretary, Shyam Saran. We have to find other ways of influencing Pakistans calculus on this issue, he said. But for more than three decades, India has not been able to hit the right spot. Forget Delhi, even a super power like the US has not been able to curb Pakistans activities in Afghanistan and knows well it has to rely on Pakistans military chief, General Raheel Sharif, to get the Taliban back to the table for talks with the Afghan government. Pakistan has condemned Pathankot terror attack and said it wants to work with India and other countries to fight this menace. Prime Minister Modi has been criticized for not having a clear-cut Pakistan policy. He will have to watch his step clearly after this, as forces both in Pakistan and India are against any sort of rapproachment between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Politics is hotting up in Tamil Nadu as all parties come out of a fairly longish silence on pre-poll alliances. Jayalalithaa is showing up more often but not saying much while the Opposition parties have begun jabbing guardedly. The newly cobbled Peoples Welfare Front (PWF) which has Vaikos MDMK, casteist outfit VCK and CPM and CPI has begun alliance talks with breakaway Congress leader GK Vasan to rope in the Tamil Maanila Congress in an alliance, reports The Hindustan Times. MDMK chief Vaiko and CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan called on Vasan on Friday and spent nearly an hour with the former Congress leader who left the party last year. The third front will weaken the AIADMK and DMK, the outspoken Vaiko said, adding, PWF intends to replace the corrupt Dravidian parties. The PWF is trying to get DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth into its fold but the former film star turned politician who is often the subject of super hit Tamil memes has not responded yet. The Hindu reports that the growing clamour for DMDK has strengthened its role well before BJP elders visit the state later this month. Jaya tells cadre to "destroy rivals" Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said she will finalise the AIADMK strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls at an appropriate time and kept the question marks on pre- poll alliances wide open at an AIADMK huddle in Chennai on Thursday. Jayalalithaa underlined the party's performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, in which AIADMK emerged as the third largest party in Parliament. I will take the right decision as per the situation like the way we did in the past. There is no uniform strategy to win elections." she said. The AIADMK party has formed the government in the state six times - three times under the party founder late M.G. Ramachandran and three times under Jayalalithaa, "Parties that were part of the AIADMK alliance in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls were not the partys allies for the 2011 Assembly polls,"Jayalalithaa said referring to the Left parties and Vijayakanths DMDK. Jayalalithaa said her party will form the government in the state for the seventh time. She added that the success of her governments social welfare projects and schemes have helped the state improve its show on social indicators, including in the health and education sectors. She said her government had been successful in bringing about inclusive growth. Citing that Karnataka is reeling under power deficit and facing a drought-like situation, she rejected Oppositions claims that industries were moving to Karnataka. They even had to postpone the entrepreneurs meet to February, she said. She underlined the need to evolve strategies to destroy rivals conspiracies and asked her party workers to use her governments achievements to counter big lies spread by the Opposition. Our rivals will spread false propaganda, but you must explain the truth to the people and remind them of the betrayals of the previous DMK government. You have to tell people about the social welfare measures of our government, she said. Launching an attack on DMK chief M Karunanidhi and his son M K Stalin, she alleged that when the party was in power, it had betrayed Tamils and derailed crucial services including in the power sector. She accused the DMK for its silence on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue while part of the UPA government at the centre. With Agency inputs Hyderabad: Eighteen more students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh returned Hyderabad on Saturday after being deported by the American authorities. The students, who had gone to the US to join various universities, were sent back from New York airport after cancelling their visas. They returned to Hyderabad airport by three different airlines. They complained of interrogation and ill-treatment by the officials of US Customs and Border Protection at John F. Kennedy Airport International Airport, though all their documents were valid. The students said they were detained for several hours without drinking water and food. They said the officials threatened to bar their entry into US for five years, if they fail to withdraw and return home. The students claimed that no reason was given for not sending them back, though they gave satisfactory reply to all the questions asked and despite possessing all valid documents. "One officer said he was doing this on the boss' order," said a student, who did not wish to be named. Another student who had gone to join Northwestern Polytechnic University, California said the officers told him that there is a problem with his visa. "They asked me if I bought the visa," he said. The student was told that if he wanted he could apply again for admission into another university and come back. Students, who had taken admissions in other universities, were also sent back. The officials were not convinced when students pointed out that the institutions were not blacklisted by the US authorities. This is the latest in a series of incidents in recent months in which students from the two Telugu states were sent back either after landing in the US or from destinations enroute like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. About 90 students, who had left after completing all formalities including admission letters from the universities, were sent back during last three to four months. As many as 14 students, who had taken admission at two California universities, were sent back from San Francisco on December 19. The next day Air India stopped another batch of 15 students from boarding the San Francisco flight at Hyderabad airport. New advisory speaks of heightened scrutiny Just before the New Year, the Indian government issued a new advisory to all Indians travelling to the US following the deportation of a number of Indian students for providing information "inconsistent with their visa status". "The US government has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to these (Indian) students is not because of the corresponding institutions being 'black-listed' but based on the assessment made by the US immigration authorities of individual applicants," the external affairs ministry said in a statement. "According to the US government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status," it added. Earlier this month, 14 Indian students who had gone to join the Silicon Valley University at San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic University at Fremont -- both in California -- were deported by the US authorities. In a statement, national carrier Air India said it received a communication on December 19 from the Customs and Border Protection that the two universities were under scrutiny and the students who arrived in San Francisco were not allowed to enter the US and were deported back to India. The Indian government said it has taken up this matter with the US government. The US authorities have been asked to explain the reasons for the denial of entry on a large-scale to Indian students holding valid visas, the government said. However, according to Wednesday's external affairs ministry statement, "there have been further cases of denial of entry to Indian students holding valid visas to pursue studies in other US educational institutions". "Some Indian nationals travelling on business/tourism/work visas have also been deported," it stated. According to the statement, India has remained closely engaged with the US government on the issue and has strongly emphasised the need for the US authorities to honour the visas issued by their own embassies and consulates. "Meanwhile, it is reiterated that all Indian students seeking admission in US educational institutions should do due diligence to ensure that the institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorisation and capacities," the external affairs ministry statement said. "Apart from travel documents, the students should also carry all required documentation regarding their study plans, housing, financial support, healthcare arrangements etc. and be prepared for admission (entry to the US) interviews with US immigration officials. "Similarly, all Indian nationals traveling to the US on other visas are also advised to carry the necessary supporting documentations regarding place of stay, financial support, medical arrangements, sponsorship details etc.," it added. On Tuesday, IANS reported from Washington that the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) has advised students from India to come well prepared in view of the heightened scrutiny at US airports. TANA officials have been working with the Indian and US authorities to resolve this crisis, TANA president V. Chowdary Jampala said in a statement. "We do not feel that there is any reason to worry for genuine students that are intent on pursuing their studies, respectful of US immigration laws and regulations," he said. All students coming to the US on new F-1 visas are being screened thoroughly at the airports, TANA said. Most of these students are being allowed entry after they satisfy the immigration authorities of their credentials. However, a few students have been denied entry at various airports for varied reasons, including failure to speak confidently about what they plan to study, where they plan to live and how they plan to meet their tuition and living expenses, it said. Some of those denied visa were not able to demonstrate having adequate financial resources and told the immigration authorities that they planned to get part-time jobs which is not allowed by the law, TANA said. IANS LONDON British soldiers may be put on trial for alleged crimes committed in Iraq including murder, the head of a government unit investigating claims of torture and unlawful killing said in an interview published on Saturday. Mark Warwick, a former police detective who is in charge of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), was quoted as saying by The Independent newspaper that he believed there would be sufficient evidence to justify criminal charges. "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of Ihat investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority to prosecute and charge," he said. Ihat, which was set up by Ministry of Defence in 2010 and is independent of the military for its investigations, has received cases relating to more than 1,500 alleged victims of mistreatment and unlawful killings, according to the British government's website. It is due to complete its investigations by the end of 2019, more than 10 years after Britain withdrew its last combat troops from Iraq following its participation in the U.S-led invasion in 2003. The process has not yet resulted in any recommendations for a prosecution and it has been criticised by rights campaigners for moving too slowly. Warwick appealed for patience. "I think people need to understand the complexity, the volume and the geography aspects of this, and you can't underestimate putting those three factors together and trying to conduct ethical investigations," he told The Independent. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will review all the caseload to better understand the picture and then I think we can say whether 2019 seems realistic," Warwick said. A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said it took all allegations of abuse or unlawful killing extremely seriously. "The vast majority of UK service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law," she said. "Where there is sufficient evidence, members of Her Majesty's Forces can be prosecuted." In 2014, the International Criminal Court in The Hague reopened a preliminary examination of allegations of "systematic detainee abuse" by British troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. A wide-ranging British public inquiry into the Iraq War is likely to be published in mid-2016. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by David Clarke) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. NEW DELHI At least two gunmen and a guard were killed in an attack on an Indian Air Force base on Saturday in Pathankot in Punjab, officials said, in an apparent challenge to attempts to revive a dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Defence ministry sources said four gunmen, believed to be from Pakistan, had entered the Pathankot airbase in Punjab overnight. Two were confirmed killed in the ensuing shootout, along with the guard. The attack came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impromptu visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks. "The moment that Modi touched down in Lahore (and probably even before), something like this was doomed to happen," said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. "At this point, there's sufficient goodwill in India-Pakistan relations to weather this attack. Saboteurs won't win this one," he said. Border police chief Vijay Singh said the operation to eliminate the gunmen had lasted three hours. The airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers. According to news reports, the gunmen wore army uniform. One Indian security source blamed the attack on a Pakistan-based militant group, but said it posed no threat to civilians. The raid resembled an assault last July by gunmen on a police post in Gurdaspur that killed nine people. However, Saturday's pre-dawn attack appeared to have been much more audacious by targeting a large military facility. One home ministry official said Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defence bases had been sealed. "Attacking an air base is a serious security threat. The new strategy of the terrorists is to identify defence bases near the border and launch attacks," said the official, who was not authorised to comment on the record. (Additional reporting by Paritosh Bansal; Editing by Paul Tait) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. BEIRUT Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah condemned the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, calling it an "assassination" and blaming it on the United States and its allies' support for Riyadh. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and three other members of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority were executed on Saturday alongside 43 Sunni jihadists, drawing condemnation by Shi'ites across the Middle East The "real reason" for the execution was "that Sheikh Nimr... demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people," Hezbollah said in a statement, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority. "The Saudi authorities ... put them (the Shi'ites executed) together with terrorist bands and groups which had committed crimes against civilians. Sheikh Nimr resisted oppression with words," the Hezbollah statement said. It said it held the United States and its allies directly responsible through their support for the Saudi government, and urged the international community and rights groups to condemn the execution. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council earlier said Nimr's execution was a "grave mistake... and an execution of reason, moderation and dialogue." Nimr, who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations, was arrested in 2012, spurring protests in which three died. He had long been regarded as the most vocal Shi'ite leader in the eastern district of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the Al Saud ruling family and call directly for elections. But he was careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say. Saturday's executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The simultaneous execution of 47 people - 45 Saudis, one Egytian and a man from Chad - was the biggest mass execution for security offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Catherine Evans, Larry King) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. At least 140 Palestinians and 20 Israelis have been killed in the latest flare-up of violence that began on Oct. 1. While the worlds attention is fixated on the crisis, Israel and the Palestinian Authority quietly signed a long-awaited agreement on Nov. 19 allowing Palestinian telecom companies to provide 3G mobile services in the occupied territories. It is unclear whether or how the intensified violence will affect this implementation, but it is urgent that Israel lift the many technological barriers that are still in place. Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important tool for the social, economic and political development of the occupied territories. There are an estimated 250 Palestinian ICT operators and approximately 10,000 qualified ICT workers. And at least 1,000 Palestinian students graduate in ICT-related vocations each year. In 2012 the ICT sector accounted for 5.6 percent of the Palestinian gross domestic product, helping drive some development despite the prolonged military occupation. But Israeli control of and restrictions on the sector have limited its potential for the beleaguered Palestinian economy. Since signing the Oslo Accord in 1993, Israel has maintained a tight grip over the ICT sector, to the detriment of the Palestinian economy. As part of the deal, Israel gave the Palestinian Authority limited control over its telecommunication infrastructure in the West Bank (excluding Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip while ensuring that all incoming and outgoing communication to and from the Palestinian territories goes through an Israeli switch. In other words, Israel has retained complete control, constraining access to the electromagnetic spectrum and imports of equipment. The lack of 3G mobile services has cost Palestinian operators an estimated $80 to $100 million annually. Whereas Palestinian mobile operators have struggled with limited 2G technologies for years, in January Israel released 4G mobile broadband radio frequencies to six Israeli companies. Israels restrictions are not limited to the Palestinian telecom network and the ICT industry. Israel has built 3G towers in its settlements across the West Bank and, in some cases, on privately owned Palestinian land, in violation of international law and previous agreements, which prohibit Israel from using the Palestinian spectrum for its economic benefit. By contrast, Palestinian operators are prohibited from building ICT towers and switches in most of the West Bank, including areas that are supposed to be under the control of the Palestinian Authority. VALENCE, France French investigators have found no evidence that a man who drove his car into troops guarding a mosque in southern France on New Year's Day was linked to a terrorist group, a local prosecutor said on Saturday. "We have no evidence that could indicate an act of terrorism," Valence prosecutor Alex Perrin told reporters, saying the 29-year old Frenchman of Tunisian descent seemed to have acted alone. "He reportedly shouted "Allah is great", which suggests some sort of religious element." "When he was apprehended, he mentioned the fact that he wanted to kill troops because troops killed people," the prosecutor added. "He said he wanted to be killed by troops." There was also no indication that the man was suffering from mental illness, the prosecutor said. He had been unemployed for several years and was not known to police or intelligence services, the prosecutor added. The practising Muslim lived in a suburb of Lyon, 100 km (60 miles) north of the town of Valence where the incident took place. "He had come to Valence, where his family-in-law lives, for the end of year holiday," the prosecutor said. He was shot in the legs and arm by the troops and was still in hospital on Saturday. A soldier and a Muslim man were also slightly injured in the incident. French television showed an amateur video of the soldiers surrounding the red Peugeot estate car and shouting "get out" before shooting, with the vehicle ending up in a ditch. France has been on high alert since Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris on Nov. 13. Soldiers are protecting sensitive places across the country, including official buildings and religious sites. A string of similar but unrelated "lone wolf" attacks took place at the end of 2014. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking during a trip to Jordan, praised the troops' restraint in the incident "They were totally up to the task," he said. (Reporting by Arnaud Grange and Marine Pennetier, writing by Michel Rose; editing by John Stonestreet and Susan Thomas) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Former executive chairman James Moffett may have resigned both from his position and from the board of directors of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX -1.15%), but the mining company still faces problems. Moffett may have contributed to the issues confronting Freeport, but he was also a victim of the global commodities rout that's shaken the industry. There's that classic scene in the movie My Cousin Vinny in which Joe Pesci, under the gun to get his cousin Ralph Macchio off a murder charge, has to respond to the persistent pressure from girlfriend Marisa Tomei to get married. I've got a judge that's just aching to throw me in jail. An idiot who wants to fight me for $200. Slaughtered pigs. Giant loud whistles. I ain't slept in five days. I got no money, a dress code problem, and a little murder case, which, in the balance, holds the lives of two innocent kids. Not to mention your [stamping his foot] biological clock. My career, your life, our marriage, and let me see, what else can we pile on? That, in a nutshell, is the situation facing Freeport-McMoRan today. Its contract to operate the massive Grasberg copper and gold mine in Indonesia is not the slam dunk it was previously thought to have been. It's announced a 25% reduction in mining capital expenditures and $1.8 billion in oil capex cuts next year. It suspended its dividend. It's reducing its copper production by an additional 100 million pounds. In trying to get a handle on its sizable debt load, it's diluted shareholders by $1 billion with a follow-on offering -- and the potential to do a second one in the future. Its dive back into the oil business with the purchase of Plains Exploration and McMoRan Exploration has become an albatross. It's had to write off over $5 billion related to its investments in them, almost $2 billion of which is being assigned to goodwill, an all but public admission it overpaid. And the commodity prices that precipitated this landslide of woe remain in the basement, with little prospect for recovering anytime soon. You can almost see Moffett stamping his foot over Carl Icahn's call to effect change. While he's not responsible for all that's happened to Freeport, it's also hard not to find fault with Moffett for some things. It was Moffett (and the board), after all, who caused Freeport to take on the mountain of debt to re-enter the oil industry, buying Plains and McMoRan for around $20 billion including debt, while allowing Moffett to personally profit. He was not only Freeport's chairman, but McMoRan's CEO as well. Plains also owned a third of McMoRan's stock, and directors who sat on both boards -- more than half of McMoRan's directors were also on the miner's board -- reaped a $130 million windfall from the transaction. Moffett got $73 million out of the deal while the Plains chairman (who was also a McMoRan director) got over $200 million. It was a sweetheart deal, but one that looked prescient at the time, as it allowed Freeport to diversify its asset base away from volatile metals. All that changed, though, when the energy market collapsed too. Boom-and-bust cycle It wasn't just Freeport spending beyond its means, as the commodities boom that preceded its bust caused several companies to become profligate. Caterpillar, for example, expanded further into mining equipment with its $8.8 billion purchase of Bucyrus in 2011, while Barrick Gold made a controversial $7.7 billion buyout of Equinox Metals' African copper assets just as commodities began to give up the ghost. Both have had their judgment called into question on the timing, not to mention having to account for the loss of value from the purchases. Now Freeport-McMoRan is feeling the heat, and it's looking at selling off the oil business again to appease Icahn. The billionaire investor was critical of both Freeport and fellow energy industry peer Cheniere Energy for their executive compensation schemes and spending habits. Icahn, who had recently take a large ownership position in both companies, also convinced Cheniere to sack its CEO, Charif Souki. Icahn then turned his attention to Freeport-McMoRan and got them to agree to pressure Moffett to go. Retire in luxury But don't feel too sorry for Moffett. He's leaving Freeport with as lucrative a severance package as he got from buying the oil drillers. According to The Wall Street Journal, the deal is worth over $79 million, and could be padded even more if the miner's stock recovers. Others have put it north of $83 million. He'll also serve in the honorary position of chairman emeritus that, theoretically anyway, involves him serving as a consultant to Freeport's board as well as advising it on its Indonesian operations, for which he'll receive a $1.5 million annual fee. While some of Moffett's decisions undoubtedly exacerbated the situation, putting the miner in a more precarious position than it otherwise would have been, he wasn't the precipitating cause and shouldn't carry all the blame for all of Freeport's problems. Marijuana legalization made plenty of headlines in 2015 as the issue steadily became more mainstream. Polls indicate that 58% of Americas think the federally illicit drug should be made legal -- a figure that has grown steadily for decades and has represented the majority opinion for three years now. Legalization efforts have yet to catch up, however, with just 23 states and the District of Colombia allowing the drug for medical use, and only four states (plus D.C.) legalizing recreational adult use. Georgia and Texas were the only two states to make moves in the past year (both legalized medical marijuana). The drug is seeing unprecedented levels of support in the United States and is getting closer than ever to widespread legalization. Let's take a look at some of the most important headlines from the past year. Marijuana gets the political spotlight With 2016 elections right around the corner (at least in the world of politics), many presidential candidates weighed in with their views of marijuana legalization. Here's a rundown of what some of the major candidates had to say: Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in the Senate that would end all federal penalties for possession and growing of marijuana, solidifying his position as the most pro-legalization candidate. Chris Christie says if he were president he'd start enforcing federal law, thereby reversing any state-level legalization. Hillary Clinton called for a rescheduling of the drug, taking it out of a category including heroin and other substances considered to have no medical benefits. She is a proponent of letting the states that have legalized recreational marijuana serve as testing grounds before considering broader legalization. Jeb Bush maintains that it's a state issue but that he would have voted no if he had been in Colorado at the time of the election. Donald Trump agrees with Bush that marijuana decisions should be left to individual states, and he is a proponent of the drug for medical uses. Ohio says no to marijuana Polls leading up to Ohio's November elections showed the state's citizens heavily in favor of legalizing marijuana. The election marked the first time a state tried to legalize marijuana for both medicinal and recreational uses in one fell swoop, however, which may have been overly ambitious: In the end, citizens voted against the proposal. However, ambition doesn't seem to be the reason for the proposition's defeat. Rather, language in the proposal allowed for only a small group of growers in the state, effectively creating an oligopoly. In the same election, Ohio citizens voted yes on a separate issue intended to create a barrier to the creation of similar monopolies. So it's natural to infer that a similar sentiment was behind the rejection of the marijuana proposition. Don't be surprised to see new legislation with a free-market solution show up on future ballots in the state. Banking issues go to court On July 30, tiny, Denver-based Fourth Corner Credit Union sued the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, underscoring the broader issue of the lack of banking services available to marijuana businesses. Fourth Corner is looking to be the first U.S. financial institution to openly provide banking to the marijuana industry, but the Kansas City Fed denied the credit union a master account, which it needs to do business. An attorney for Fourth Corner asserts that the credit union was denied the master account because it plans to finance marijuana businesses. Because marijuana is illegal on a federal level, financial institutions that transact with marijuana businesses could potentially face repercussions related to money laundering, so they've largely avoided this market thus far. Without access to proper banking, marijuana businesses are forced to interact in cash, which is inconvenient and makes them potential targets for criminals. The Fourth Corner Credit Union lawsuit is ongoing, and a decision in favor of allowing banks to transact with marijuana-based businesses would be a huge win for the industry. Will this momentum continue through 2016? The way I see it, the only certainty is more uncertainty. Researchers are still working to add pieces to the giant puzzle that is marijuana's health and safety profile. Report after report comes out, some suggesting that the drug is dangerous and some concluding that it has legitimate medical uses and is safe for lifelong use. Until a rigorous study is done that proves marijuana is safe to use for the long term, it's extremely doubtful that the federal government will reverse its stance. What this means for businesses is continued trouble getting access to banking and a burdensome tax situation. As an investor, I'm staying clear -- lest my money go up in smoke. Alcoa (AA) is breaking itself in two. And while that news has dominated the Alcoa story since it was announced in late September, it's not the only Alcoa headline worth knowing about. Here are a few of the worst Alcoa headlines from 2015. What's Alcoa do again? One of my favorite headlines came from Metal Bulletin: "Alcoa -- Not an Aluminum Company." This is such a great headline because it sums up the transition that eventually led to the decision to break the Upstream business, the one that makes aluminum, from the the Value Add business, which uses aluminum and other metals to make things like aircraft parts. This isn't exactly a "worst" headline, but it really sets the tone. The good headlines of the year are all about the continued strength and growth, organic and otherwise, of the Value Add division through the year. So, yes, increasingly, Alcoa isn't an aluminum company. And the pending break up says that in spades. Bad news ... for the aluminum company So Value Add looks great, but what about the pesky little fact that Alcoa really does have a large aluminum business inside it? And that this business is about to be set adrift on its own? Well, here comes the bad news. Late in the first quarter, Alcoa made this announcement: "Alcoa Continues Transforming Upstream Portfolio, Announces Strategic Review of Smelting and Refining Capacity." At the time, Bob Wilt, head of Alcoa's Global Primary Products group, explained, "Alcoa continues to take decisive action, transforming its upstream portfolio to create a lower cost, globally competitive commodity business." This was basically an admission that all of the moves taken up to that point to get Upstream into fighting shape hadn't been enough. Amazingly, Alcoa already had 19% of its smelting capacity and 7% of its refining capacity idled at the time it made that announcement! And that's where the next set of worst headlines comes in. On May 11, Alcoa made this announcement: "Alcoa to Close the Anglesea Power Station." That power station provided electricity for one of its shuttered facilities and had been selling power into the spot market. The company was looking to sell it but couldn't find a buyer, so it decided to shut it down. June 30: "Alcoa to Close Pocos Smelter in Brazil." This smelter was already mothballed, but now it's just not going to open again, ever. Sept. 14: "Alcoa to Curtail Remaining Suralco Refining Capacity." This site, which is jointly owned by Alcoa (60%) and Alumina Limited (40%), had already been operating at reduced capacity. Now it isn't operating at all, for various reasons, including power and raw material supply issues. And, lastly, on Nov. 2, after the late September announcement of a corporate split: "Alcoa to Curtail Smelting and Refining Capacity to Further Drive Upstream Competitiveness." This news release outlined a number of actions to further reduce smelting and refining capacity through early 2016. In other words, even after all the closures in 2015, there's still more work that needs to be done on the Upstream side of the equation. It's painful, but ... For an aluminum company that isn't an aluminum company, Alcoa is certainly spending a lot of time and money closing aluminum businesses. To be fair, these are the right moves to make in a market that's feeling the sting of falling commodity prices. And it's positioning the Upstream business to be a more nimble competitor when it's finally a stand-alone entity. So, in some ways, this is good news. However, it can't be seen as good that Upstream is so bloated and has so many expensive operations that the only way to get it into fighting shape is to slash and burn huge swaths of the business. At this point, fully one-third of Alcoa's smelting capacity has been shut down since 2007. And it looks like there's still more to come, which is why this series of headlines are the worst ones of 2015 for Alcoa. Leading lawmakers, including supporters of President Obamas nuclear deal with Iran, rapped the White House for delaying fresh sanctions on Tehran over its missile program, warning that the move would embolden it to further destabilize the Middle East. The abrupt reversal by the administration came as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani publicly ordered his military to dramatically scale up the countrys missile program if the sanctions went ahead. Senior U.S. officials have told lawmakers the sanctions were delayed because of evolving diplomatic work between the White House and the Iranian government. The administration had notified Congress on Wednesday that it would impose new financial penalties on nearly a dozen companies and individuals for their alleged role in developing Irans ballistic missile program, but pulled back later that day. Top U.S. lawmakers, including White House allies, said they believed failing to respond to Tehrans two recent ballistic missile tests would diminish the Wests ability to enforce the nuclear agreement reached between global powers and Tehran in July. I believe in the power of vigorous enforcement that pushes back on Irans bad behavior, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a supporter of the nuclear deal, said Friday. If we dont do that, we invite Iran to cheat. Iranian state media reported American and Iranian diplomats undertook intensive deliberations in recent days to discuss the sanctions issue. White House and State Department officials declined to comment on what was discussed with the Iranian side. U.S. officials said Secretary of State John Kerry has been in nearly constant contact with his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, in recent days. Irans most powerful political figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly warned that any new sanctions imposed by the U.S., including in relation to Tehrans missile program, would violate the nuclear agreement. Critics of the White House accused President Obama of backing down on his promises to take action in the face of Iranian provocations such as missile launches. They drew parallels to Obamas failure to follow through on threats to launch military strikes on Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime in 2013 in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians. I fear that pressure from our partnersor threats from the Iranian government that it will walk away from the deal or threaten the U.S. in other wayshave caused the administration to rethink imposing sanctions for Irans violations of the testing ban, said Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The sanctions would have been the first imposed on Iran since the nuclear agreement was reached in July. U.S. and European officials said that, if imposed, they would test whether Khamenei was serious about backing away from the deal. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal On a Saturday in late December of 1998, the House of Representatives had just voted to impeach the president of the United States for the second time in the history of the republic. President Andrew Johnson was the first U.S. leader so sanctioned by the House. He ran afoul of Congress in 1868 amid Reconstruction. The House cited Johnson with 11 articles of impeachment before sending the indictment to the Senate for trial. In 1998, the House went after President Bill Clinton following his affair with Monica Lewinsky. The lower chamber impeached him on two charges: perjury and obstruction of justice but rejected two other impeachment articles dealing with lying and abuse of power. Late that afternoon, House Democrats then gathered on the South Lawn of the White House -- a show of support to their beleaguered president -- as he was about to make a short statement. I have accepted responsibility for what I did wrong in my personal life and I have invited members of Congress to work with us to find a reasonable, bipartisan and proportionate response, Clinton said. That approach was rejected today by Republicans in the House. But I hope it will be embraced in the Senate. For now, President Clintons future was out of the Houses hands. It was up to the Senate to try to either convict or acquit him. Conviction would prompt removal of the president from office - an unprecedented, nearly extra-constitutional political dimension. More than 130 years before, Johnson survived his Senate trial by a singular vote. Clintons comments that day on the South Lawn alluded to his transgressions, which sparked the entire contretemps: Sexual liaisons with Lewinsky, the former White House intern. Lewd discussions about cigars. A stained blue dress. The president of the United States at one point angrily wagging his finger, declaring I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. Clinton later altered his story as it was revealed they engaged in oral sex. The president said those actions were not appropriate. Congressional Republicans were clear not to challenge Mr. Clinton over his sexual indiscretions but instead, fought him on legal issues. Still, much of that was lost on the public perceiving the GOP efforts as focusing on the Presidents moral failings. This is why the president spoke about what was wrong in his personal life. And this is why former Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., focused on the presidents peccadillos when called in to deliver a closing argument in Clintons Senate trial in January 1999. Bumpers, a four-term Arkansas senator and former governor died Saturday at age 90. Some think it was Bumpers oratory that took the question of convicting the president off the table. H.L. Mencken said one time, When you hear somebody say, this is not about money -- its about money, thundered Bumpers on the Senate floor in defense of the chief executive. And when you hear somebody say, This is not about sex, -- its about sex. Bumpers had just retired from the Senate after four terms, succeeded by Sen. Blanche Lincoln, another Arkansas Democrat, like Clinton. Bumpers beat the legendary Sen. William Fulbright in the Democratic primary in 1974 and never looked back. Though he was never a chairman of a major Senate committee, Bumpers was one of the most-underestimated debaters in either body of Congress. Clintons defense team knew this. And in Bumpers, this wasnt just calling in some character witness to testify about the individual. This was a man who served in the Senate -- amid the jurors who would determine Bill Clintons fate. This was a senator from Arkansas -- Clintons home state. Bumpers was someone who the president spoke with by phone almost daily early in his administration. And with that quote that it wasnt about sex -- Bumpers cut directly to the weak spot in the case the GOP House prosecutors presented to the Senate. Bumpers stated it was about sex. Not about perjury or abuse of power or any of that. The Clinton camp knew it had the perfect person in Bumpers to make that case and persuade senators that the GOP overplayed its hand. Pick your own adjective to describe the president's conduct, Bumpers continued. Here are some that I would use: indefensible, outrageous, unforgivable, shameless. I promise you the president would not contest any of those or any others. Bumpers then turned the table on Clintons GOP accusers, reeling from just having lost then-House Speaker-designate Bob Livingston, R-La., to a sex scandal -- replacing him with then-Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. The House managers have said shame and embarrassment is no excuse for lying. Well, the question about lying, that's your decision. But I can tell you, you put yourself in his position, and you've already had this big moral lapse, as to what you would do. We are -- none of us are perfect. Sure, you say, he should have thought of all that beforehand. And indeed he should. Just as Adam and Eve should have. Just as you and you and you and you, and millions of other people who have been caught in similar circumstances should have thought of it before. And I say none of us are perfect, Bumpers said. He spoke of polls, describing President Clintons approval rating at 76 percent. Sixty-five percent didnt want Clinton yanked out of office. The former senator then quoted global leaders -- who applauded Clintons foreign policy achievements. A calming war in Bosnia. Negotiations between India and Pakistan. Peace in Northern Ireland. An expansion of NATO. Bumpers questioned, in Socratic detail, how House Republicans arrived at a perjury charge. He indicated that Clintons denial of the affair had not come under oath. He asserted that almost anyone guilty of infidelity would have tried to cover things up. Its wanting to win too badly, Bumpers said of the Republicans tactics. Bumpers spoke of the thousands of divorces he handled as a small-town lawyer in Arkansas. In all those divorce cases, I would guess that in 80 percent of the contested cases, perjury was committed, he continued. And you know what it was about? Sex. Extramarital affairs. But there's a very big difference in perjury about a marital infidelity in a divorce case and perjury about whether I bought the murder weapon or whether I concealed the murder weapon or not. And to charge somebody with the first and punish them as though it were the second stands our sense of justice on its head. There's a total lack of proportionality, a total lack of balance in this thing. The charge and the punishment are totally out of sync. The former senator then spoke of how the Founders debated the Constitutions impeachment clause for four months. They dropped language from the Constitution that focused on maladministration and malpractice, before finally settling on treason, bribery and corruption. George Mason, who ultimately didnt sign the Constitution, suggested adding high crimes and misdemeanors, which was adopted. Nobody has suggested that Bill Clinton committed a political crime against the state. So, colleagues, if you honor the Constitution, you must look at the history of the Constitution and how we got to the impeachment clause. And if you do that and you do that honestly according to the oath you took, you cannot. You can censure Bill Clinton. You can hand him over to the prosecutor for him to be prosecuted, But you cannot convict him. And you cannot indulge yourselves the luxury or the right to ignore this history, Bumpers said. Some thought Bumpers might run for president in 1984 and 1988. He didnt. But even back then, Bumpers kept an eye on Clinton. In a diary entry from the early 1980s about the Clintons, during the years Bill was the Arkansas governor, Bumpers described him and wife Hillary Clinton as the most manic obsessed people I have ever known in my life. And he called the future president a truly tragic figure. But over the years, the relationship improved. Bumpers backed Bill Clinton for president from the start. He campaigned for Clinton in New Hampshire in 1992 even as he ran for his final term in the Senate -- against a little-known Baptist minister named Mike Huckabee. The American people are now and for some time have been asking to be allowed a good night's sleep. They're asking for an end to this nightmare. It is a legitimate request, Bumpers said in his Senate speech. It takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict the president. Fifty senators voted to convict Clinton on the obstruction of justice charge. Just 45 senators voted to toss him out on the perjury charge. The Senate ultimately rejected the Houses impeachment petitions. Sixty-seven yeas is a high bar to clear in the U.S. Senate. Its doubtful the upper chamber could have marshaled that many votes on those impeachment articles. But many political observers credit the late Dale Bumpers and his impassioned speech with helping to convince his Senate colleagues to acquit the president of the United States. Former Arkansas Gov. and Sen. Dale Bumpers died Friday night, according to his family. He was 90. Bumper was known as a relatively unknown lawyer who rose in politics through a series of improbable victories and for defending fellow Democrat Bill Clinton during the president's impeachment trial. Bumpers first election victory was his defeat of former Gov. Orval Faubus in the 1970 Democratic gubernatorial primary. He then upset incumbent Republican Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller in the general election. Four years later he defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright in the Democratic primary and won the seat. Bumpers earned the nickname "giant killer" for taking down incumbents. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe told a local TV station: Dale Bumpers gave me my start in public service and remained my dear friend and mentor throughout the decades. He paired his light-hearted swagger with his unabashed love for the Arkansans who carried him from a Charleston, Arkansas, law office to the halls of the U.S. Senate. Before running for elected office, Bumpers was an attorney for the Charleston School Board in 1954, when the district became first in the 11 former Confederate states to integrate. He died in Little Rock, Ark., surround by family, said his son, Brett Bumpers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Congressional Republicans are vowing that the first action upon returning to Capitol Hill will be to send a bill to President Obama that repeals his health care law and defunds Planned Parenthood. We were sent to Congress to fight for the American people, Missouri GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler said Saturday. They do not want their healthcare dictated to them by Washington. And they don't want their tax dollars going to abortion providers. If the president didn't hear the people's voices earlier, hopefully, he will through this bill. Such efforts by the GOP-run Congress suggest that Washington politics and policy will undoubtedly be influenced by the 2016 presidential race. All of the GOP White House candidates back repealing ObamaCare, as the president meanwhile plans next week to tighten gun control, a position backed by all three Democratic presidential candidates. Obama will no doubt veto the repeal-and-defund bill, which the Senate already passed under special rules that protect it from Democratic obstruction. However, Republicans have also lined up a veto-override vote for Jan. 22, when anti-abortion activists hold their annual march in Washington to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion. The House did not include defunding Planned Parenthood in the roughly $1.1 trillion tax-and-spending bill passed by members before they left for holiday break, which in part resulted in the Rev. Franklin Graham leaving the Republican Party and potentially taking the evangelical vote with him. House Republican said they didnt want the Planned Parenthood issue muddling the tax-and-spending bill but vowed to address the issue in January. Recently appointed House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told conservative talk host Bill Bennett over the holidays, You're going to see us put a bill on the president's desk going after ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood so we'll finally get a bill on his desk to veto." Despite dozens of past votes to repeal the health law in full or in part, Republicans never before have succeeded in sending a full repeal bill to the White House. They insist that doing so will fulfill promises to their constituents while highlighting the clear choice facing voters in the November presidential election. The Democrats running for president would keep ObamaCare in place. Hartzler says the bill also places a moratorium on taxpayer funding to abortion providers and redirects the money to community health centers, which she says serve eight times more women patients than Planned Parenthood and provide more comprehensive care. In the Senate, which reconvenes a week later than the House, early action will include a vote on a proposal by Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who is running for president, for an "audit" of the Federal Reserve. Democrats are likely to block it. But like the health repeal bill in the House, the vote will answer conservative demands in an election year. Also expected early in the Senate's year is legislation dealing with Syrian refugees, following House passage of a bill clamping down on the refugee program. Conservatives were angry when the year ended without the bill advancing. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky promised a vote, though without specifying whether it would be the House bill or something else. The House Benghazi committee will continue its investigation of the attacks that killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, with an interview of former CIA Director David Petraeus on Jan. 6. That comes amid new Democratic accusations of political motives aimed at Hillary Clinton after the committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. for president. Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, was secretary of state at the time of the Benghazi attacks. The bold agenda promised by Ryan after succeeding former Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as speaker last fall will begin to take shape at a House-Senate GOP retreat this month in Baltimore. Thus far Ryan has pledged efforts to overhaul the tax system and offer a Republican alternative to the health overhaul. In the Senate, McConnell's primary focus is protecting the handful of vulnerable Republican senators whose seats are at risk as Democrats fight to regain the Senate majority they lost a year ago. That means weighing the political risks and benefits of every potential vote to endangered incumbents in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. That could determine whether McConnell allows criminal justice overhaul legislation -- the one issue cited by Obama and lawmakers of both parties as ripe for compromise -- to come to the floor. McConnell already has suggested that prospects for approval of Obama's long-sought Asia trade pact are dim, and the senator has ruled out major tax overhaul legislation as long as Obama is president. McConnell could try to put his thumb on the scales of the presidential race with two GOP senators having emerged as leading contenders. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been a thorn in McConnell's side, once calling the GOP leader a liar, and has frosty relations with his fellow senators. Rubio is on good terms with fellow lawmakers and has been endorsed by several of them. McConnell could schedule debate on an issue with the potential to favor Rubio politically over Cruz, such as National Security Agency wiretapping authority. But McConnell insists he is staying out of it. "We all have a big stake in having a nominee for president who can win, and that means carrying purple states, and I'm sure pulling for a nominee who can do that," McConnell said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The National Rifle Association, the countrys most influential gun-rights supporter, is challenging President Obamas new plan to use his presidential powers to tighten firearms laws, calling it a political stunt that fails to increase public safety. Obama said this weekend that hell meet Monday with Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss his options toward curbing gun violence, after ordering his White House team several months ago to identify new actions that he can take. The president also said that hes taking action because Congress has failed to act. He is expected to use so-called executive orders to tighten federal laws -- with a focus on small-scale firearms sellers and background checks for gun buyers, according to Politico. "President Obama failed to pass his anti-gun agenda though Congress because the majority of Americans oppose more gun-control, NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said in response late Saturday. Now he is doing what he always does when he doesnt get his way, which is defy the will of the people and issue an executive order. Obama said Friday that Congress has done nothing and declared that he has unfinished business. I get too many letters from parents and teachers and kids to sit around and do nothing, he said in a weekly address from Hawaii, from which hell return next week after a two-week family vacation. The anticipated changes would require the small-scale gun sellers to submit background checks for potential buyers but such changes are not expected to completely close the so-called gun show loophole, which allows for firearm purchases at such venues without a check. Obama on Friday pointed out that his new plan follows the third anniversary of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school, in Newtown, Conn., in which a deranged gunman killed 20 children and six adults. However, the Obama-driven effort to tighten gun laws in the aftermath of the massacre failed to get enough support for passage from Senate Democrats and Republicans. All across America, survivors of gun violence and those who lost a child, a parent, a spouse to gun violence are forced to mark such awful anniversaries every single day, Obama said. Yet Congress still hasnt done anything to prevent what happened to them from happening to other families. The presidents course of action will purportedly follow recommendations from Everytown, the gun-control nonprofit led by billionaire, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Obama's action will also result in a rematch with the NRA, the group that led the successful attempt to defeat Obamas post-Sandy Hook efforts. Three years ago, a bipartisan, commonsense bill would have required background checks for virtually everyone who buys a gun, Obama said Friday. This policy was supported by some 90 percent of the American people. It was supported by a majority of NRA households. But the gun lobby mobilized against it. And the Senate blocked it. Baker on Saturday said Obamas renewed effort is nothing more than a political stunt to appease anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg and will do nothing to increase public safety. Existing law states those who sell guns with the principal objective of livelihood and profit have to get a dealers license through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That means they also have to conduct a background check on buyers no matter where they sell, including online or at a gun show. In 2014, the ATF proposed that federal officials be notified about lost firearms, but the gun industry successfully argued that voluntary reporting was sufficient. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 There is growing interest in Europe to prioritize the moon as humanity's next deep-space destination. The moon, supporters say, can serve as a springboard to push the human exploration of the solar system, with Mars as the horizon goal. So Europe is ratcheting up what it sees as the strategic significance of the moon by pushing forward on lunar-exploration missions that would involve both humans and robots. Calling the effort a "comeback to the moon," European space planners envision a series of human missions to the lunar vicinity starting in the early 2020s. Those missions, according to the plan, will include coordination between astronauts and robotic systems on the lunar surface. Robots would land first, paving the way for human explorers to set foot on the moon later. [Video: New Moon Missions? Europe Says Yes] Europe's lunar intentions were clearly evident at an international symposium this month to discuss plans for a return to the moon. The European Space Agency (ESA) hosted the two-day symposium, called "Moon 2020-2030 A New Era of Coordinated Human and Robotic Exploration," on Dec. 15 at the European Space Research and Technology Center in Noordwijk, Netherlands. More than 200 scientists and space officials from 28 countries attended the meeting. Return to the moon The intent of the symposium was to gain a strong common message from the representatives of the science, academic, agency and industrial communities, said Markus Landgraf, a symposium organizer and a space architecture analyst for the European Space Agency. [How to Build a Moon Colony (Infographic)] The message would entail "how lunar exploration can be implemented as a sustainable international endeavor, building on past successes and enabled by new partnerships," Landgraf told Space.com. ESA already participates in the critical effort to develop human space-transportation systems for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. The space agency is providing the European Service Module to be used in conjunction with NASA's next spaceship: the Orion crew module. Furthermore, the head of ESA, Worner, has repeatedly expressed his keenness for a moon base as a successor to the International Space Station. He has stated that such a lunar base should be international, drawing upon different competencies in various countries. Telepresence lunar exploration U.S. astronomer Dan Lester, a consultant and telerobotics specialist, said that his big takeaway message from the ESA symposium "was that exploration telepresence is no longer an off-the-wall idea, but one that seemed to be threaded throughout the conference." [Deep-Space Station Visions for Exploration (Gallery)] "This conference seemed to accept that it was a new way of doing exploration," Lester told Space.com. One strong recommendation that will come out of the meeting is that real analog studies will be necessary to understand how to do operations on the moon, he added. "Not analog operations at a moonlike sites, which can be hugely expensive just for travel, but analog operations where geologists use a real rover robot, perhaps just in a rock yard, with vision, dexterity/haptics and low latency control to do real-time field geology," Lester said. One other theme that was clear from the meeting: A load of important science still needs to be done on the moon. "That was a regular reminder at this meeting," Lester said. [Photos: Astronaut in Space Drives Rover on Earth] Near the moon: Cislunar space NASA's Kathy Laurini, co-chair for the Exploration Roadmap Working Group for the Global Exploration Roadmap, also took part in the European gathering on lunar exploration. "The symposium was very well-attended and effective in gathering community input on priorities for exploration of the moon," Laurini told Space.com. A major topic at the meeting, she said, was how humans in cislunar space - the region of space near the moon - could contribute to lunar exploration. They could do so by working with robotic assets that demonstrated future human landing technologies and contributed information about high-priority science questions. "The ESA space-exploration strategy sets the moon as a priority destination for humans on the way to Mars, and the recent talk of a 'Moon Village' certainly has generated a lot of positive energy in Europe [of] Europe playing a role in a global human exploration scenario," Laurini said. It is clear, she added, that the ESA Ministerial meeting in December 2016 will be an important milestone for Europe. "The timing is right," Laurini said, "to get started on the capabilities which allow Europe to meet its exploration objectives and ensure Europe remains a strong partner as humans begin to explore the solar system." Proving ground Laurini took part in a panel discussion during the meeting, describing NASA's journey-to-Mars vision, noting the agency's "desire to lead an international effort to explore deep space with the 'proving ground' of cislunar space as the first step." All the strategic planning and scenarios done over the last several years, Laurini said, show the importance of human missions into cislunar space as the initial common step beyond low-Earth orbit to destinations such as the moon and Mars. "Human missions to the moon will only be possible with European investment in related technologies and capabilities,"Laurini said. Ground truth Also bullish on the European meeting and a U.S. meeting organizer is Clive Neal, professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. He said that take-home messages from the meeting were numerous. "We keep talking about lunar resources, but we still need to demonstrate they can be used [that] they are, in fact, reserves. So ground truth verification of deposit size, composition, form and homogeneity requires a coordinated prospecting program. A successful program would then clearly demonstrate that lunar resources can enable solar system exploration," Neal said. The meeting highlighted technology development in terms of precision landing; robotic sample return; and cryogenic sampling, caching, return and curation, Neal said. "Significant investments in the latter are required and starting to be made," he said. Quantifying the benefits from government investment in space exploration is critical for convincing both governments and the private sector to invest in such endeavors, Neal said. In other meeting news, Neal said, it was evident that partnerships especially those between ESA and Russia are maturing rapidly. The lunar path ahead "There is most definitely international interest in human missions to the moon," said Paul Spudis, of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. Spudis told Space.com there is recent and significant focus on the moon, not only by Europe, but also India, Japan and China, "whose lunar plans are probably the most ambitious of all, if not the most transparent." There are three possible paths to lunar return that Spudis can envision: A single-nation effort, analogous to NASA's Apollo moon-landing project. China is the most likely initiator of this path. A cooperative, international effort, analogous to the International Space Station. ESA, Japan, India and Russia are likely major participants in such an effort. A series of commercial lunar missions, largely led by American "New Space" companies, an effort that would likely be almost totally robotic and fairly small in scope. "I do not rule out the possibility of a major change in the strategic direction of civil space in the USA," Spudis said, "but only after we have a new administration in place, and dependent upon who the new president might be. In such a case, our involvement would likely be along path No. 2." Spudis said he supports all efforts to return to the moon under most circumstances, "except one by China in order to establish their cislunar hegemony." Leonard David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. He is former director of research for the National Commission on Space and is co-author of Buzz Aldrin's 2013 book "Mission to Mars My Vision for Space Exploration" published by National Geographic with a new updated paperback version released in May 2015. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement Saturday denouncing remarks a local elected official made about throwing rocks, bricks and bottles at police officers. Bryant also called for an investigation to determine if Jackson Councilman Kenneth Stokes remarks represent criminal threats against law enforcement officers. Stokes told reporters Thursday that officers from surrounding jurisdictions put Jackson children in danger when they pursue suspects wanted for minor crimes into his neighborhood, Fox 40 News reported. Below is my full statement regarding Jackson city councilman Kenneth Stokes remarks about law enforcement officers. ... Posted by Phil Bryant on Friday, January 1, 2016 What I suggest is we get the black leadership together, and as these jurisdictions come into Jackson we throw rocks and brick and bottles at them, Stokes said. He said that will send a stern message to officers who want to track down young men who steal bubble gum, the station reported. Bryant took to Facebook to criticize Stokes comments. Mr. Stokes remarks are reprehensible, particularly with the attack we have seen against our men and women in law enforcement, the governor said. I condemn any such remarks in the strongest possible manner. This is not short of an outright assault upon all who wear the badge. He said he will be asking Attorney General Jim Hood to investigate. Stokes defended his comments Friday. My position is this: When you have these police officers coming from other jurisdictions and they will not respect human life, then I said we should use rocks, bricks or bottles to try to get the message over: stop endangering our children, he told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. The sheriff of Madison County north of Jackson warned Stokes on Facebook that law enforcement would not be intimidated by his comments. Any Madison County law enforcement that is attacked because of your ignorant statements, I will hold you responsible, the sheriff Randy Tucker said. Jackson mayor Tony Yarber tweeted that while there is a need to demand respect of jurisdictional boundaries, he could never condone violence against officers, according to the Clarion-Ledger. Doctors at a San Diego hospital rang in the New Year delivering the last baby of 2015 and the first baby of 2016who happened to be twins. Jaelyn Valencia and her brother were born just three minutes apart but in different years, Fox 5 San Diego reports. Its pretty much the best of both worlds, Navy diesel mechanic Luis Valencia, the proud father, told the station. So that means two birthday parties back-to-back. His wife, Maribel Valencia, 22, gave birth to Jaelyn at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, New Years Eve, at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Zion Medical Center. She gave birth to Luis at 12:02 a.m. Friday, New Years Day. Jaelyn weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces. Luis tipped the scales at five pounds, nine ounces. The infants were happy and healthy as was their mother following the delivery, a Kaiser spokeswoman told the station. The couple, from National City, Calif., had plans to ring in the New Year in Los Angeles with their three-year-old daughter Isabella because the babies werent expected for another month. Luis Valencia, told Fox 5 they were very happy to change their plans. Click here for more from Fox 5 San Diego. A man who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police while holding a cellphone that was mistaken for a gun had recently been convicted of multiple crimes in Arizona, his attorney said Saturday. Brad Reinhart last had contact with his client, Keith Childress Jr., 23, last month when a jury was set to issue a verdict in his trial for stealing marijuana and guns from a Phoenix home in 2013. Reinhart said he texted Childress to be at the courthouse, but he never showed up. "He didn't show up for the final hearing. They had a warrant out for him," Reinhart said. Las Vegas police said they were assisting U.S. marshals in arresting Childress because he was accused of multiple violent felonies in Arizona including attempted murder. Reinhart said while Childress' crimes were serious, they never included a charge of attempted murder. According to Maricopa County Superior Court records, a jury convicted Childress on Dec. 17 of burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft. The Clark County Office of the Coroner identified Childress on Saturday and said he died from multiple gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide. The shooting occurred Thursday after Childress had been under surveillance and fled from federal authorities, Las Vegas police said in a statement. Childress was found outside a home west of downtown. Police said his right hand held what they believed to be a firearm. Officers told him to drop the gun and ordered him to stop when he began to move toward them. Police said two officers opened fire when Childress didn't obey their commands. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later said Childress was actually holding a cellphone. No officers, agents or bystanders were injured, Police spokesman Officer Larry Hadfield said. Police Capt. Matt McCarthy of the department's office of Internal Oversight and Constitutional Policing said the officers shot at the man because the confrontation was in a residential area and involved a man wanted for attempted murder who they thought was holding a gun. "The suspect did not listen, quickly began to advance on the officers, concealing his right hand, which the officers believed was holding a firearm," McCarthy said in a video message that accompanied the police statement. The two officers who shot Childress have not been identified, but they are expected to be named soon in line with department policy. Reinhart said Childress' family wants answers and he plans to inquire into the shooting. He said the description from police makes it appear as though Childress wanted officers to shoot him. "That did not strike me as the type of guy he was. He had two kids and a kid on the way," Reinhart said. It was the 16th shooting in which an officer opened fire or was shot at in 2015 in the Las Vegas area. Childress and three other men, including his half brother, were charged with forcibly entering a Phoenix home in March 2013 and stealing marijuana and weapons. But Childress was not the ring leader, Reinhart said. "He definitely got caught up in a bad situation," Reinhart said. "But, he wasn't a violent kind of guy." Officials and news reports say Indian troops have shot and killed four gunmen who had entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan and exchanged fire with security forces. At least two Indian soldiers were also killed. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva says the gunmen entered the living quarters of the Pathankot air force base, about 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, but were not able to penetrate the area with fighter helicopters and other equipment. Press Trust of India news agency is quoting police as saying that four attackers have been killed following the hourslong gunbattle and police have started an operation to clear a wider area of other possible intruders. North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un said in a New Year speech that he is ready for war if provoked by "invasive" outsiders. In only his fourth speech since taking over from his father, he said: "If invasive outsiders and provocateurs touch us even slightly, we will not be forgiving in the least and sternly answer with a merciless, holy war of justice." He called on his military to work on developing technologies with the aim of having more "diversified attack means". But Kim also insisted he would pursue "unification" and added: "We will continue to work patiently to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional stability." Laying the blame for frosty relations in the region firmly with the South, he said: "South Korea has made a unilateral case for unification and increased mistrust and conflict between us." Yet he said he is open to talks with anyone interested in "reconciliation and peace" and promised to "aggressively" attempt to improve ties with the South. Applause was played at various points throughout the apparently pre-recorded message. Photographs of factories and farms were interspersed with footage of the North Korean leader standing in a wood-panelled room in front of a red flag bearing the crest of the ruling Workers' Party Kim said in last year's address that he would be open to a summit with the South, but tensions increased in 2015, particularly in August, when a landmine blast on the border wounded two South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed Pyongyang, who denied responsibility. The two sides met for talks after a military stand-off and agreed to reduce tensions and hold further discussions. However, subsequent negotiations have been fruitless. On Wednesday, North Korean state media said its top negotiator with the South, Kim Yang Gon, had been killed in a road accident. "We should cherish last year's high-level talks and make continued efforts to seek dialogue and not take any further steps backwards," Kim said of the August talks. In a response to the speech, South Korea's foreign ministry restated its position that it was open to talks, the Yonhap News Agency reported. "North Korea should take note that we are seeking to develop inter-Korean relations and lay the groundwork for peaceful unification," an unnamed government official said. Click for more from Sky News Suspected militants entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian soldiers dead, officials and news reports said. The attack, which was seen as an attempt to undo recent progress made in the relationship between rivals India and Pakistan, began a couple of hours before dawn, and by late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But just two hours later, fresh gunfire erupted. A helicopter could be seen at around noon firing at an area inside the Pathankot air force base, located about 267 miles north of New Delhi. Shots could also be heard from inside the base. The defense ministry said just after 5 p.m. that operations at the base were ongoing, 14 hours after the attack began. It added that there had been intelligence reports about a likely terror attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," the ministry said in a statement. It was unclear how many gunmen were still fighting security troops at the base Saturday evening. The attack began when at least four gunmen entered the living quarters of the base shortly after 3 a.m., but they were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva. Press Trust of India news agency cited police as saying that four attackers were killed following an hourslong gunbattle, and that police started an operation to clear a wider area of other possible intruders. The attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the country's relationship with archrival Pakistan. The violence came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. Modi's visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. "These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir," said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir's capital, Srinagar. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must "exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests." Ahead of Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand to discuss issues including peace and security, terrorism, the disputed region of Kashmir and ways to maintain peace along the countries' shared border. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Police said they suspected the gunmen who entered the air force base were militants, and were investigating whether they had come from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where they've been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the violence in the Indian portion of Kashmir. Pakistan's foreign ministry condemned the attack. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it said in a statement. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but "if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply." India's defense minister, national security adviser and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force met Saturday to discuss the situation. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in India's Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. The push by France's Socialist government to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality after the Paris attacks has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move while some on the left express indignation at what they call a divisive measure. French President Francois Hollande submitted the proposal three days after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 dead, in a shift toward a hard line on security. The idea appears to have strong support in French public opinion. Several polls over the past week suggest that 80 to 90 percent of the French are in favor of the measure. Under current French law, citizenship revocation can only be applied to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French-born, and the procedure is rarely implemented. The new rules would extend it to all dual nationals, but cannot be applied to people who are only French citizens, as France's obligations under international law prevent it from leaving a person stateless. Opponents of the measure consider it would create two classes of citizens dual nationals who could lose their citizenship and others who cannot in opposition to the principle of equality set out in France's constitution. French authorities have not said how many of those arrested over the Paris attacks are dual nationals. Prominent Socialist Party figures, including former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, have publicly expressed their disapproval, but Hollande has stuck to his guns. "France must take the good decisions beyond traditional party divisions," the president said in his New Year's Eve speech. While the left is divided, Hollande is getting unusual support from the right. The far-right National Front has claimed it is at the origin of the idea. "Terrorists don't deserve French citizenship, because French citizenship is an honor", vice president of the party Florian Philippot told France Info radio. Members of the conservative opposition, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy, have also largely supported the proposal while also calling for more security measures. The government says the new measure would apply to a very small number of people. The issue remains highly sensitive in France as some have compared it to the revocation of citizenship of Jews and members of the French Resistance during World War II, when the government led by Philippe Petain collaborated with German authorities. The Vichy regime revoked the citizenship of more than 15,000 naturalized and 500 French-born people including General Charles de Gaulle. "It's dangerous because you start wanting to revoke the citizenship of some people, then take a step further," said Socialist senator Samia Ghali. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended the action this week. "This is a strong symbolic act that punishes those who excluded themselves from the national community. Nothing less, nothing more," he said in a written statement. France first adopted the revocation of citizenship in 1848 for those who refused to accept the abolition of slavery, Valls recalled. The constitutional change, to be debated in Parliament in February, requires a three-fifths majority vote from lawmakers. About 50 human rights and anti-racist organizations and unions have launched a petition to reject the measure. Some human rights defenders consider the proposal implicitly targets France's Muslim community, the largest in Western Europe including many French-born with Moroccan, Tunisian or Algerian origins who have both citizenships. The Paris attacks, which left 130 dead and hundreds wounded, were carried out in the name of the Islamic State group largely by French and Belgian extremists. Some of them were of Moroccan descent. The possibility of revoking the citizenship of all dual nationals not only the naturalized ones already exists in Britain, Canada and the Netherlands. In the U.S., a person can have his naturalization revoked for being a member of the Communist party, another totalitarian party or a terrorist organization within five years of his or her naturalization. The measure does not apply to natural-born U.S. citizens. Police in the German city of Munich are maintaining a heightened presence following warnings of a planned attack on New Year's Eve. Two Munich train stations were evacuated late Thursday after German authorities received information from foreign intelligence agencies that five to seven Islamic State militants were planning coordinated attacks in the city. A German security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to divulge the information publicly, said the key tip came from French authorities shortly before 8 p.m. local time. Munich police spokesman Sven Mueller said descriptions of the alleged attackers included several "common Arab names" but that they could be false. He said up to 200 additional officers are patrolling the streets Saturday to spot any suspicious activity and reassure the population. Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, including an influential Shiite cleric, has prompted a wave of condemnation from Shiite leaders around the region and threatens to further damage Sunni-Shiite relations across the Middle East. Hundreds of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's supporters protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India. Here's a look at the aftermath and regional implications of al-Nimr's execution. ___ WHO WAS SHEIKH NIMR AL-NIMR? Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, was a widely revered Shiite Muslim cleric from eastern Saudi Arabia who was convicted in Oct. 2014 of sedition and other charges and sentenced to death. He was an outspoken government critic and a key leader of Shiite protests in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. He was also a critic of the government of Bahrain, where a Sunni-led monarchy suppressed protests by Shiites who make up the majority of the tiny island nation. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain crush the uprising, concerned it would spread and destabilize other Arab Gulf countries. Al-Nimr, however, also spoke out against the Iranian-backed government in Syria for killing protesters there. He directly criticized the Al Saud ruling family for its domestic policies and forcefully spoke out against King Salman's elder brother, the late Crown Prince and former Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. ___ WHY IS HIS EXECUTION IMPORTANT? His death is seen by some by some as a warning to anyone thinking of calling for reforms and wider political freedoms in Saudi Arabia. His death also strikes a sensitive chord for Saudi Shiites who claim they are discriminated against by authorities in the kingdom, where many ultraconservatives Sunnis view Shiites as heretics. Several Shiites mosques and places of worship were targeted by Sunni extremists in 2015 in eastern Saudi Arabia, despite attempts by security forces to clamp down on Islamic State group supporters who have also targeted police. Al-Nimr's execution came as a surprise to even his own family, his brother Mohammed al-Nimr told The Associated Press. Despite harsh verdicts against government critics, activists are typically given long jail sentences even after appeals that uphold death sentences. His death is expected to further exacerbate the proxy wars for regional supremacy being fought across the region by Saudi Arabia and Iran. The two rival nations currently back opposing sides in civil wars in both Syria and Yemen. ___ HOW WILL THIS IMPACT SUNNI-SHIITE RELATIONS? Iran's Shiite clerics have used al-Nimr's death to lash out at Saudi Arabia, which is founded upon an ultraconservative Sunni ideology known as Wahhabism. Iran's Foreign Ministry warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price and the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Saudi Arabia would face a "maelstrom" from which it would not escape. Iran and Saudi have been vying for leadership in the Muslim world since Iran's 1979 revolution, which elevated to power hard-line Shiite clerics. The U.S. war in Iraq further enflamed religious and ethnic tensions by leading to a Shiite-led government in Baghdad and a crucial shift in the sectarian balance of power in the region. After Arab Spring protests erupted in 2011, Saudi Arabia and Iran entered into a fierce proxy war in Syria, where they are supporting opposite sides of the conflict, and in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been bombing Iranian-allied rebels since March. They also support opposing political groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain. Saudi Arabias execution of a prominent Shiite cleric Saturday drew strong condemnation from Iran, Germany and several Muslim leaders in the Middle East while stoking fears the execution could trigger new unrest among the kingdoms Shiite minority. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a central figure in the 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in Saudi Arabia, was one of 47 prisoners executed in the kingdom after being condemned to death on terrorism charges. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said the execution of al-Nimr, who had no means other than speech to pursue his political and religious objectives, only shows the depth of imprudence and irresponsibility. His statement was carried by state-run Press TV. Iran's parliament speaker says the execution of al-Nimr will prompt a "maelstrom" in Saudi Arabia. n the Iranian capital, a large crowd upset over the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr gathered outside the Saudi embassy and chanted anti-Saudi slogans. Some protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the embassy, setting off a fire in part of the building, Iran's top police official, Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency early Sunday. In comments posted on Iranian state television's website, Ali Larijani said, "Nimr's martyrdom will put Saudi Arabia in a maelstrom. Saudi will not pass through this maelstrom Germanys Foreign Ministry said al-Nimrs execution will exacerbate widespread Sunni-Shiite tensions in the Middle East. The execution of Nimr al-Nimr strengthens our existing concerns about the growing tensions and the deepening rifts in the region, the ministry said in a statement which condemned the the mass executions. Germany does not allow the death penalty. Iraqs Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al-Abadi also condemned the execution in a statement, according to Reuters. Lebanons top Shiite cleric condemned al-Namirs execution as well, calling it a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty that would have helped reduce sectarian tensions in the region. "We have warned the concerned sides that any such reckless act means a catastrophe for the nation," said Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan deputy head of the influential Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, the main religious body for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites. "For a very long time we have expressed our differences with the Saudi government with respect to human rights said, Deputy White House National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes in a statement released Saturday evening. "What I would also say is for there to be greater stability, safety and security across the region there needs to be improved relations between the communities in the Middle East certainly Sunni and Shia communities. So that is necessary to deal with the broader issues in the region. Thats been an ongoing source of discussion between us and Saudi Arabia." U.S.-based Human Rights Watch criticized the executions. Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, said "regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia's troubling human rights record." She said al-Nimr was convicted in an "unfair" trial and that his execution "is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest." "Saudi Arabia's path to stability in the Eastern Province lies in ending systematic discrimination against Shia citizens, not in executions," she said. The Interior Ministry announced the names of the 47 people executed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Saudi state television also reported the executions. Al-Namirs, brother, Mohammed al-Namir, also took to Twitter to express his outrage at the execution. "You are wrong, uncertain and mistaken if you think that killing will stop demands for rights. We remain peacefully demanding reform and change in our country," he wrote. His son Ali, the cleric's nephew, is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed Saturday. Amnesty International describes Ali al-Nimr as a juvenile offender because he was 17 years old in February 2012 when he was arrested. He was later convicted, and his death sentenced upheld, on charges of attacking security forces, taking part in protests, armed robbery and possessing a machine-gun. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in Al Qaedas Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following a series of deadly attacks. The executions occurred Saturday throughout the kingdom, including in the capital of Riyadh. Al-Nimir had been one of the more vocal critics of Bahrains Sunni-led monarchy, which suppressed the 2011 Shiite-led protests. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain quash the uprising, fearing it would spread. Amnesty International has called the verdict against the cleric, who was in his mid-50s, part of a campaign by Saudi authorities to "crush all dissent." Before his arrest in 2012, al-Nimr had said the people do not want rulers who kill and carry out injustices against protesters. He was asked at his trial if he disapproves of the Al Saud ruling family. "If injustice stops against Shiites in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion," the cleric responded, according to his brother Mohammed, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press before the verdict. Al-Nimir didnt deny the political charges against him, but claimed he never carried a weapon or called for violence. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of all those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a gray beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by Saudi men. After listing the names and images of those executed, Saudi state television showed black-and-white footage of previous terror attacks in the kingdom, one showing bodies in a mosque after an attack. Soft, traditional music played in the background. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide. Coinciding with the rise in executions is the number of people executed for non-lethal offenses that judges have wide discretion to rule on, particularly drug-related crimes. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Reuters. The movement of agricultural commodities depends on key trends and events, whether climatic, political or economic. Farmers Weekly asked the AHDBs export teams for an insight on 2015. This included more well known events, such as the reduction of dairy imports from China owing to large domestic stocks and Russias import ban on food goods from the EU US and Australia, compounding the global oversupply of milk. Other, less well known events, were the opening up and development of export markets for British goods in Cuba, Vietnam, Canada and Gabon. North America BEEF: CANADA UK granted market access As of November, UK boneless beef cuts were given access to the Canadian market. Work on US access progresses. The volume potential is difficult to quantify at this stage as it depends on factors such as currency movements and the attitudes of exporters. WHEAT: US Third year of global surplus Bumper global grain crops, including those in the US, Baltic States and Black Sea, resulted in a fiercely competitive export market for UK grain, both within and outside the EU. This was compounded by big crops in 2013 and 2014. POTATOES: CUBA Market opens The Cuban market opened to GB in January. Trade with Russia also restarted and further trade with India looked hopeful after a trade mission in July. This all helped reduce GBs reliance on north African markets. South America BEEF: BRAZIL More exports With the Brazilian real low and domestic consumption dampened by the economic crisis, the competitiveness of Brazilian meat exports increased worldwide. Europe BEEF: IRELAND Ireland eyes UK Low prices and demand in continental Europe forced Irish beef processors to focus more on exporting to the UK. In the year to September 2015, Irish beef exports to the UK totalled 136,500t up 7% year-on-year and accounting for 70% if all UK beef imports. CHICKEN: UK Influenza and the Russian ban Key markets for UK chickenmeat, including South Africa, West African and South Korea, closed their borders to UK exports after avian influenza was first detected in East Yorkshire in 2014. The Russian import ban on EU agricultural goods added to the large volume of poultrymeat on the UK domestic market. About 35m was knocked off the value of UK chickenmeat exports in the first half of 2015 compared with the same period last year. WHEAT: UK Quantity and quality of crop Large and relatively good quality UK wheat crops in 2014 and 2015 reduced wheat imports. DAIRY: UK Global oversupply High production and low global demand increased competition between nations looking to get the best possible price for their products. The UK had to offer a better export price, while also competing with nations looking to export to us. Average UK farmgate prices fell about 13.5% between December 2014 and December 2015. (See China and Russia, below.) POTATOES: ENGLAND & SCOTLAND Health status continues Scotland and northern Englands reputation for disease-free potato seeds continued to grow internationally. In 2014-15, seed exports to non-EU countries were up 15.5% on the previous year, to the highest-ever total of more than 90,000t, pushing Dutch seed off the top spot. BARLEY: EU Increased demand EU and UK barley exports benefited from stronger international demand for beer and animal feed. BEEF: FRANCE Farmer protests UK lamb exports dropped 20% in June as protesting French farmers blockaded trade routes and stopped retailers selling imported meat. BEEF, PORK & WHEAT: EU Currency woes The fall of the euro against sterling reduced the price competitiveness of UK beef, pork and grain in continental Europe, causing a fall in UK exports of beef and pork to the EU. Meanwhile, the weakness of the Russian rouble and Ukrainian hryvnia meant even tougher competition for UK grain in international markets. Eurasia DAIRY: RUSSIA Import ban Russias import ban on agricultural goods from the EU, US and Australia hit many sectors, particularly dairy, as 30% of EU dairy products were exported to Russia before the ban. This added to the global oversupply of milk on the market. Asia PORK: CHINA Bigger appetite Two years of reduced pigmeat production and increased consumption in China led to a 71% rise in EU pork exports to the country. The UK became Chinas sixth biggest pork supplier in 2014, accounting for 42,000t. POTATOES: VIETNAM Growing middle class After a bilateral trade deal was struck between the UK and Vietnam in 2014, exports of GB potato seed to Vietnam increased as a rising middle class continued to stimulate demand for crisping and chipping potatoes. DAIRY: CHINA Large domestic stocks A build-up of domestic dairy stocks reduced the countrys demand for imports the opposite of what had been expected. With global production at an all-time high, this left even more milk on the market, lowering global milk prices. Africa BEEF: CENTRAL AFRICA UK mission Despite the fall of commodity prices, an AHDB-led commercial mission to Gabon, Congo and DR Congo found plenty of demand for cheap meat cuts. The levy board is facilitating further market access. Australia and New Zealand BEEF: AUSTRALIA Drought Sheepmeat exports to the UK fell as, battling chronic drought, Australian producers continued to develop markets in Asia instead. Lamb exports to the UK increased to 80% in July, up from 69% in the same month last year. BEEF: NEW ZEALAND Chinese demand on the decline Despite the shrinking New Zealand flock, reduced Chinese demand diverted New Zealand sheepmeat products to Europe. For a more detailed analysis view the trade flow map Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe CSULB alum wins gold at the 38th Long Beach Marathon which was his first The city of Corvallis is shaking up its normal meeting structure for January. The City Councils three standing committees: Urban Services, Administrative Services and Human Services, which usually meet twice monthly, will take the month off. But it still looks like a pretty full month for councilors. The full council meets Monday and Jan. 19, the Budget Commission (a mix of community members and councilors) meets Jan. 12 and Jan. 28, and councilors are holding a work session Jan. 14. In addition, three of the four groups meeting to implement City Council goals will hold sessions, and the chairs of the four panels meet Jan. 12 to discuss upcoming plans for public outreach campaigns on the goals (housing, budget, climate action and a vision and action plan). The standing committees will resume their regular meeting schedule in February. In other public meetings: Monday The Corvallis City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at the LaSells Stewart Center, 875 S.W. 26th Street. Councilors are scheduled to hold a 7:30 p.m. public hearing to hear an appeal by developers who are seeking approval for the alignment of a possible extension of Northwest Kings Boulevard through the Timberhill area. The meeting has been moved from the council's normal venue of the downtown fire station because of strong public interest in the Kings case. The Planning Commission rejected the application on a 3-2 vote on Dec. 2. See Mondays Gazette-Times for a preview story on the Kings issue. Tuesday The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 9 a.m. in the county boardrooms, 205 N.W. Fifth St. The agenda will include a letter from the Monroe City Council regarding possible uses of a portion of the Bailey Branch right of way, a request from the League of Women Voters for a letter of support for its policy on fossil fuels and discussion of setting a public hearing on forming a county taxing district for the Oregon State University Extension Service. The board will reconvene at noon in the same location for a meeting. The lone agenda item is deciding whether to call a public hearing on the formation of a county taxing district to support the OSU Extension Service. Afterward, the board will conduct meetings of the Alpine, Alsea, Alsea Human Services, Cascade View, Library Services, North Albany and South Third Street service districts. The Philomath Parks Advisory Board meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 980 Applegate St. Wednesday The Corvallis Downtown Advisory Board meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room to hear a presentation from Ward 1 Councilor Penny York on the current vision and action plan task force as well as the findings of the 2015 parking utilization study. The Corvallis Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the downtown fire station, 400 N.W. Harrison Blvd. The commission will hold a public hearing on an application by Casey Denson for a zoning change and minor replat on a 1.8-acre parcel on the west side of Southwest Seventh Street north of the Seventh/Western intersection. The land currently is zoned industrial and includes the shuttered Denson's Feed and Seed store and Bashful Bob's Doors and Windows. Denson wants to rezone the property for mixed use employment and combine two parcels into one. The MUE zone would allow for commercial and residential uses but no specific development has been proposed. City staff is recommending approval of the application. Thursday The Philomath Public Works Committee meets at 3 p.m. 1515 Willow Lane to discuss amendments to the municipal code on landscaping, street trees and urban forestry as well as the parks master plan. The Corvallis City Council will hold a 6 p.m. work session at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room to interview candidates for two Planning Commission vacancies. The six applicants scheduled to be interviewed are retired college professor and former councilor Dan Brown, retired institutional grocer Paul A. Harding, graduate program coordinator and college biology instructor Susan Morre, real property owner Mike Wells, grant and contract officer Larry Weymouth and graduate student Beth Young. Friday The Corvallis Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board meets at 7 a.m. at the Madison Avenue room. The year 2016 dawned clear and bright but a little bit nippy in the mid-valley, with overnight lows in the mid-20s, but the chill didnt deter a few hearty souls from starting the new year off with a brisk walk in the woods. About 30 people and a handful of dogs turned out at Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area at 10 a.m. on Friday for a guided hike. The 926-acre nature preserve, located about 10 miles northwest of Albany at the confluence of the Luckiamute and Willamette rivers, was one of 28 locations taking part this year in the fifth annual First Day Hikes program sponsored by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The short, easy walks are led by rangers or knowledgeable volunteers, and the usual $5 parking fees are waived for the day. Eric Sherman and Dave Hood of Dallas arrived early. The two friends exercise together about three times a week and were eager to explore Luckiamute Landing after reading about the First Day Hikes program in the newspaper. We thought, What a great way to get a little exercise, said Sherman, adding that it makes our cardiologist happy. The hike got off to a late start after trip leader Steve DeGoey, a ranger with the state Parks Department, was bitten on the leg by an overexcited dog. But after cleaning the wound, citing the animals owner and making sure the still-barking pooch was safely locked in her car, DeGoey brushed off the incident and picked up where he left off. Sorry about the delay, he told the group. I hope thats the worst thing that happens to me in 2016! The walk began under a line of mature Oregon white oaks, bereft of leaves but decked out with big clumps of mistletoe and long streamers of mossy gray-green lichen, with gravel crunching under grown-up boots and frozen puddles cracking under the impact of stomping children. From there the path dropped down off a small hill and into the floodplain, where a restoration effort is underway to reclaim former agricultural land. Over the last several years, state parks personnel have teamed up with volunteers from the Luckiamute Watershed Council to clear more than 200 acres of blackberry brambles, reed canary grass and other invasives while planting more than 300,000 native trees and shrubs and encouraging the growth of native grasses. The project suffered a setback last year, when the hot, dry summer killed off some of the newer plantings. To illustrate the problem, DeGoey called a halt in a partially restored prairie, where a clear line separated clumps of knee-high grass from a field of short green stubble. This is our nice, healthy prairie over here, he said, and this part failed. Another challenge facing Luckiamute Landing is damage caused by waterfowl hunters, who sometimes break or cut off tree branches when setting up shooting blinds. Ill be blunt: Theyre our poorest user group, DeGoey said. I try to educate them, but it doesnt always work. The natural area also has success stories to share, however. Luckiamute Landing boasts a pair of ponds excavated during World War II by the Army, which needed gravel for use in building Camp Adair that now serve as homes for a variety of animals, including a type of turtle considered a sensitive species by state wildlife officials. It turned out to be really good habitat for Western pond turtles, DeGoey explained during a stop at West Pond, where he pointed out a turtle nest in the semi-frozen soil at the top of the bank. Theres even a natural spring that keeps it full all summer. That kind of information was fascinating for Kevin Kenaga and Faye Yoshihara, a pair of Portland transplants who bought a place in the Soap Creek Valley last spring. Weve got a little pond on our property, Kenaga said. Wed like to get some turtles. For Yoshihara, the main attraction was being able to connect some geographic dots with their new home. We were curious where our waters go, she said. Weve got Spring Branch on our property; it flows into Soap Creek, and that flows into the Luckiamute. The pond was about half a mile into the hike. From there, the group made a short loop around a grassy prairie before heading back toward the parking lot. In addition to the guided walk, each participant got a lapel pin emblazoned with the Oregon State Parks logo and the words 1st Day Hike 2016. The event has become an annual New Years ritual for Tom and Suzi Holling of North Albany. Weve done it here before, and last year we wound up at Willamette Mission (State Park), Tom Holling said. Its a great way to learn more about your state parks because you get a guided tour with a ranger, his wife added. And its a great way to set the pace for the new year. Trail partnership thanks volunteers The Corvallis-to-the-Sea (C2C) Trail Partnership thanks Dels Farm Supply of Philomath for providing, at cost, some 60 timbers for trail construction. We also thank Boy Scout Troop 163 for transporting to the local landfill about 500 pounds of the invasive geranium known as stinky bob that we removed from along the trail route. Finally, the partnership owes a big thanks to the 62 volunteers, including 32 first-timers, who donated a record total of 249 days doing C2C trail work in 2015. Gary Chapman Corvallis-to-the-Sea Trail Partnership Community supported annual pie sale The Kiwanis Sunrisers Club of Corvallis would like to express a great big "thank you" to the community for supporting our holiday pie fundraiser. Thanks to the Gazette-Times news article on Dec. 23, our pie trailer was swamped with people buying our inventory of pies and cobblers. We were completely sold out by 1:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. We also want to thank Les Schwab Tires, the management of Timberhill Shopping Center, and Willamette Valley Pie Co. for supporting our project. All of the profits from the pie sales are used to support children's programs in the community such as, the book giveaway at Lincoln School, the backpack food program at Mountain View School, and many more. Rich Taylor Corvallis Library book sale was successful The Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library want to thank all the patrons who shopped at our recent Holiday Book Sale. Because of the generous shoppers we were able to clear $4,500 that will be used to fund activities at all the library branches: Alsea, Corvallis, Monroe, Philomath and the Bookmobile. We also appreciate the many people who donate their used books so that we can resell them throughout the year. Our thanks, also, to the many volunteers who helped with the moving, sorting and selling throughout the weekend. We hope to see you at our next BIG Book Sale at the Benton County Fairgrounds on Feb. 19-21. Stefani McRae Dickey, co-chair Katherine Inman, co-chair Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Thanks for choosing nonviolent gifts The people of the First United Methodist Church thank everyone in our community who chose gifts during this holiday season that do not promote violence. Being a peace-filled shopper when selecting toys, games, movies, and books is a tangible way to make peace in our troubled world. We give a special shout out to the owners and managers of The Toy Factory, who are intentional in selecting nonviolent toys, games, and other merchandise for their inventory. Thank you, Toy Factory and all peace-filled shoppers! Elizabeth Nielsen Alternatives to Violence Team Chair First United Methodist Church of Corvallis Community supports OSU senior projects The Oregon State University School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering strives to create senior projects in collaboration with local industry to provide students with "real-world" experience working with seasoned professionals. This comes at some expense and risk on the part of project sponsors. I'd like to thank the following local individuals and companies for their support of our program in the form of offering sound engineering projects: John Miedema of BioChar, Manish Giri of Hewlett-Packard Co., David Hackleman and Bill Dean of OilExTech, Chris Vitello of EcNow Tech, Dave Eckert of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, Michael Niemet and Ben Thompson of CH2M Hill, and Tom Hubbard of the City of Corvallis. Philip Harding Oregon State University Church offers thanks for clothing event Circle Church of Christ wants to offer a giant thank you to the community for the continued support of our annual Clothing Giveaway. We celebrated the 31st anniversary of the event in August with more than 1,000 people in attendance. The donation box in our parking lot continues to fill each week and we have already begun the sorting and storing for next year. We would especially like to acknowledge those who so generously give clothing, shoes and bedding, as well as other area churches who supply garments and assistance. This simple act of giving is tangible evidence of the community's caring nature. May God continue to bless serving hearts. Maria Gomes Circle Church of Christ Volunteers boosted Love INC's store Being at the Love INC Christmas Store was such a heartwarming experience for me. From the time you entered the door, volunteers as well as the people coming for gifts felt an atmosphere of love, caring, and acceptance. When shoppers asked for prayer, there were tears sometimes but I would hope that they felt a measure of peace because of a Heavenly Father who cares. A lot of people worked hard to make this possible. It all happened under the umbrella of Love INC. The Corvallis Four-Square Church hosted the Christmas Store and the church's volunteer team set it all up and took it all down again afterward. Then there were various other volunteers from many churches who donated items, helped the shoppers make choices, wrapped gifts, provided refreshments, prayed with those who requested it, and did all that needed to be done. We appreciate and thank all of you who worked to make Christmas 2015 a little happier for many people. Jane De Kam Corvallis To send Good Words Items for the Good Words column are published to recognize good deeds and charitable events. No promotions or advertising, please. Include the sender's name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification or in case of questions. Good Words items can be up to 150 words or will be edited to that length. We prefer that they be sent electronically to opinion@gtconnect.com, but also can be mailed to the Gazette-Times, attention "Good Words," P.O. Box 368, Corvallis, OR 97339-0368. Written copies can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at our office at 1837 N.W. Circle Blvd. Please label them "Good Words." Good Words are published Saturday on a space-available basis, generally in the order in which they are received. Saudi Arabia Executes 47 People Today For Various Religious Crimes Including A Preacher nametalkam at 2-01-2016 10:25 AM (6 years ago) (m) Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people for terrorism, including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Most of those executed on Saturday were involved in a series of attacks carried out by al-Qaida from 2003-06, the interior ministry said. It also detained hundreds of members of its Shiite minority after protests in 2011-13, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. Several of those held had been sentenced to death. The interior ministry statement began with Koranic verses justifying the use of execution and state television showed footage of the aftermath of al-Qaida attacks in the last decade. Saudi grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just. Irans Shia leadership has warned that executing Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly, but that didnt stop the Government from executing him this morning. It also detained hundreds of members of its Shiite minority after protests in 2011-13, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. Several of those held had been sentenced to death.The interior ministry statement began with Koranic verses justifying the use of execution and state television showed footage of the aftermath of al-Qaida attacks in the last decade. Saudi grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just.Irans Shia leadership has warned that executing Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly, but that didnt stop the Government from executing him this morning. Post Reply I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you Posted: at 2-01-2016 10:25 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Wazubia at 2-01-2016 10:58 AM (6 years ago) (m) Na wa..ooo Saudi Arabia have humanity hart now. Carried highest number of execution in the world every year is not winning title. There's freedom of speech and protests. Posted: at 2-01-2016 10:58 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Na wa..ooo Saudi Arabia have humanity hart now. Carried highest number of execution in the world every year is not winning title. There's freedom of speech and protests. Reply gogoman at 2-01-2016 11:01 AM (6 years ago) (m) that is dem law, people should respect each other law simple!!! Posted: at 2-01-2016 11:01 AM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero that is dem law, people should respect each other law simple!!! Reply akinmanchy at 2-01-2016 11:23 AM (6 years ago) (m) If the execution is as a result of terrorism then I'm in support. Terrorists have no place in our world Life na jeje so just try to take am softly Posted: at 2-01-2016 11:23 AM (6 years ago) | Hero If the execution is as a result of terrorism then I'm in support. Terrorists have no place in our world Reply Novic at 2-01-2016 11:24 AM (6 years ago) (m) You talk well jare @gogoman. That is there own law and sharia. Posted: at 2-01-2016 11:24 AM (6 years ago) | Hero You talk well jare @gogoman. That is there own law and sharia. Reply winace at 2-01-2016 12:17 PM (6 years ago) (f) Na una sabi na Posted: at 2-01-2016 12:17 PM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Na una sabi na Reply freethinker at 2-01-2016 12:39 PM (6 years ago) (m) ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF DOOM Posted: at 2-01-2016 12:39 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF DOOM Reply ignis99 at 2-01-2016 12:53 PM (6 years ago) (m) So sad Posted: at 2-01-2016 12:53 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac So sad Reply kp45 at 2-01-2016 01:07 PM (6 years ago) (m) Another man's land. Posted: at 2-01-2016 01:07 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Another man's land. Reply zezprincess at 2-01-2016 01:41 PM (6 years ago) (f) Nobody has right to take human's life no matter what,even if the person comits highest atrocity in the world,at least give him or her life jail or other punishment than killing them,Are you GOD? Posted: at 2-01-2016 01:41 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Nobody has right to take human's life no matter what,even if the person comits highest atrocity in the world,at least give him or her life jail or other punishment than killing them,Are you GOD? Reply Powerfulify at 2-01-2016 02:10 PM (6 years ago) (m) I luv dis govt of Saudi dey support sh**t. Posted: at 2-01-2016 02:10 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac I luv dis govt of Saudi dey support sh**t. Reply okatee at 2-01-2016 02:17 PM (6 years ago) (m) DATZ THEIR LAW, SO THEY SHUD DO WATEVER THEY LIKE. Posted: at 2-01-2016 02:17 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac DATZ THEIR LAW, SO THEY SHUD DO WATEVER THEY LIKE. Reply BLACKY77 at 2-01-2016 03:18 PM (6 years ago) (m) ATLEAST SOMEONE HAS TO KILL D BAD GUYZ TO MAKE D WORLD A BETTER PLACE. ARE NIGERIA ARMY NOT KILLING BOKO HARAM Posted: at 2-01-2016 03:18 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming ATLEAST SOMEONE HAS TO KILL D BAD GUYZ TO MAKE D WORLD A BETTER PLACE. ARE NIGERIA ARMY NOT KILLING BOKO HARAM Reply zauber at 2-01-2016 04:49 PM (6 years ago) (m) how many baboons and monkeys? Posted: at 2-01-2016 04:49 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming how many baboons and monkeys? Reply Yeyeminister at 2-01-2016 06:33 PM (6 years ago) (m) Crazy world. Dogs eating fogs Posted: at 2-01-2016 06:33 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Crazy world. Dogs eating fogs Reply AmazingMarie at 2-01-2016 08:24 PM (6 years ago) (f) this will cause more outcry from the Muslims. Posted: at 2-01-2016 08:24 PM (6 years ago) | Hero this will cause more outcry from the Muslims. Reply freeway001 at 3-01-2016 01:34 AM (6 years ago) (m) Sick land!! Posted: at 3-01-2016 01:34 AM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Sick land!! Reply KennyFidel at 3-01-2016 07:31 AM (6 years ago) (f) if they didn't do so, it's you that will cry that Saudi supports terrorism, chai Posted: at 3-01-2016 07:31 AM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac if they didn't do so, it's you that will cry that Saudi supports terrorism, chai Reply DAMILARE100 at 4-01-2016 01:41 PM (6 years ago) (m) Na them them Posted: at 4-01-2016 01:41 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Na them them Reply Android 6.0 Marshmallow rolling out to Moto G 3rd Gen smartphones in India News oi -Sudhiir Android 6.0 Marshmallow update now official for Moto G 3rd Gen in India. Motorola has started rolling out Android 6.0 update for its third-generation of Moto G smartphones in India. The company has made the announcement via its Twitter handle in India. SEE ALSO: Netflix entry to India could be announced next week at CES The update is sized at 2GB anD has a software version of 24.11.25.en.US. The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update was initially available to Moto G users in the US and Canada. However, the new update is available to Moto G owners in India and is being rolled out in phases. Here is something new and amazing for your Moto G (3rd Gen.), the Android 6.0 Marshmallow! pic.twitter.com/0etB1IncHi Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) December 30, 2015 The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update has all the regular features of the Android 6.0, including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and app permissions that are redesigned. The new update also carries security patches for December. The updates are customized for the Moto G. SEE ALSO: LG G5 could have LG V10 like Dual-ticker display, FingerPrint Sensor and Magic Slot The update is being gradually rolled out and will hit devices only in phases. There is no timeline given by Motorola on when several of the Moto G 3rd Generation handsets will receive the updates, rest assured that the updates will come soon. Users can manually check the updates for the Moto G by heading to Settings -> About Phone -> System Update on their Moto G Smartphones. SOURCE Best Mobiles in India UN mission in Liberia looking into alleged misconduct by peacekeepers 31 December 2015 The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has dispatched a preliminary fact-finding team to look into an allegation that two members of its military personnel were involved in a possible case of serious misconduct involving the beating of a teenage boy. The incident is alleged to have occurred on 4 December in Bong County, according to a statement issued today by the Mission, which added that it first learned of the allegation on 29 December. "The Mission takes such allegations extremely seriously and dispatched yesterday a preliminary fact-finding team," UNMIL Officer-in-Charge Waldemar Vrey said in the statement. "While the facts in this case are being established, our thoughts are with the boy, whose condition remains moderately serious, and his family," he added. The Mission has agreed to facilitate the transfer of the patient on humanitarian grounds from Phebe Hospital to JFK Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia's capital. "All necessary steps will be taken to establish the facts in this case," Mr. Vrey stated, while calling for all parties to remain calm and cooperate with those establishing the facts. Among the tasks mandated to UNMIL by the Security Council is to continue to support the Government of Liberia to consolidate peace and stability in the country and protect civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First-round vote in strife-torn Central African Republic 'undeniable success' - UN envoy 31 December 2015 Yesterday's presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), a major step on the path to stability after two years of conflict between Muslims and Christians, were an "undeniable success" with a massive turnout, the top United Nations official there said today. Even so, in a sign of the perils facing CAR after fighting between the mainly Muslim Seleka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka groups has killed thousands and driven hundreds of thousands more from their homes, armed elements attacked troops and police from the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) in Bangui, the capital, today as they loaded electoral materials into a truck. Three police were injured, two of them seriously, in the attack near the Fatima school in the sixth district. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative in CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, called on all sides to follow through on this first round of polls in choosing a new Government, stressing that a full dialogue among all is vital for national reconciliation, and urging courage and determination in fighting impunity. "MINUSCA will continue to play its role as a catalyst for international efforts to support a determined and coordinated push for peace, justice and sustainable development," he said in a communique. The UN has played a major role in seeking to restore peace in the country, with military and police units from the 11,000-strong MINUSCA joining soldiers from the French Sangaris force and local security teams yesterday at polling stations throughout CAR to ensure a peaceful vote. Polls closed in a positive atmosphere without any major security incidents, the Mission reported. Some stations remained open until all those waiting in line cast their votes. Soon after stations closed, MINUSCA began securing the collection and transportation of ballots from the central processing point. After nine months of improved stability in CAR, earlier this year a new wave of inter-communal violence erupted in September, killing at least 130 people, injuring 430 others, and triggering an 18 per cent increase in the number of internally displaced persons to 447,500. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Burundi: UN chief calls on all sides to avert crisis by engaging in inclusive political dialogue 31 December 2015 Hailing the resumption of talks between the Burundian parties in Entebbe, Uganda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all sides to engage in constructive dialogue as renewed violence prompts fears of a relapse into the decades of civil war that killed tens of thousands of people. "The current crisis can only be resolved through a credible and inclusive political dialogue," said a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, referring to the crisis that erupted when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term earlier this year. Since then at least 400 people have been killed, with the toll possibly considerably higher, and 220,000 have fled to neighbouring countries with many others internally displaced. "He urges them, especially the Government of Burundi, to remain committed and engage constructively in this critical process in order to address the deep political challenges facing the country," the statement said. "The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to all Burundian political leaders to demonstrate the highest sense of responsibility and place peace and national reconciliation above partisan interests." Mr. Ban's Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar, attended the opening ceremony of the talks in Entebbe on Monday. He consulted with regional leaders on how the UN can further support their efforts to help restore peace and stability in the country. The Secretary-General commended Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, as East African Community Facilitator, for his sustained commitment to helping the parties find a peaceful solution to the crisis, and welcomed all efforts by Burundi's partners to help defuse tensions and bring about a sustainable political solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coalition Conducts 24 Strikes Against ISIL in Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, January 1, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted 24 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb facility and destroyed two ISIL buildings. -- Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and fighting position. -- Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, six ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL command and control node, seven ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL trench, and an ISIL vehicle-born bomb. -- Near Ramadi, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb facility, five ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Sinjar, three strikes destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed two ISIL heavy machine gun positions. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed three ISIL weapons caches, an ISIL command and control node, and six ISIL fighting positions. -- Near Tal Afar, 11 strikes destroyed nine ISIL bunkers, five ISIL-used culverts, and four ISIL-used bridges. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni missiles kill 24 Saudi troops in Jizan: Report Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 5:29PM As part of their retaliatory campaign against Saudi Arabia, Yemeni allied forces have targeted a military base in the kingdom's southwestern province of Jizan with missiles, killing 24 Saudi soldiers and injuring 37 others, reports say. On its Twitter page on Friday, Yemen's Ansarullah movement said 37 Saudi troops had also been injured after the popular committee forces fired 18 missiles on the al-Mosem base. Earlier in the day, Yemeni forces targeted positions of the Saudi military at a border crossing in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah, inflicting fatalities on the aggressors. The Tawal-Harad border crossing was hit by 24 artillery shells, according to Yemen's al-Masira TV channel. Saudi soldiers and Riyadh's mercenaries were reportedly among the casualties. The Yemeni forces also carried out a rocket attack against a Saudi base in Salah region of Saudi Arabia's Najran Province. The retaliatory attacks by the Yemeni forces came as the Saudi military conducted new airstrikes on a number of areas in the impoverished country. In the al-Aqrooz region of Ta'izz Province, southern Yemen, six civilians were killed and a dozen more wounded in such attacks. Yemeni media said the army, backed by fighters of the Popular Committees, had managed to take control of heights in the district of Waze'ya in Ta'izz from militants loyal to the fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. In the same province, a Saudi airstrike on the village of al-Hamraa killed all the seven members of one family. Sources said the airstrike hit the house of Najib Abdu Zawet, a senior leader of the Islah Party. Another airstrike by Saudi warplanes left two people dead and eight wounded in the western province of Hudaydah, according to hospital sources. Al-Masirah said one Yemeni died and three were injured in a similar attack on a factory in the same province. In Yemen's northern province of Sa'ada, Saudi forces reportedly bombed the al-Kholid region. The Saudi campaign against Yemen began on March 26. More than 7,500 people have died in the airstrikes ever since. The move was meant to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement of Yemen and bring Hadi back to power. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Loud explosion hits French restaurant in Afghanistan's Kabul Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 1:1PM A loud deadly explosion has rocked a French restaurant popular with Afghan officials and foreign diplomats in central part of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. 'The explosion happened in Qala-e-Fathullah neighborhood of Kabul city. Apparently a restaurant has been attacked,' Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Friday, citing initial information. The Taliban militant group claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying that westerners were the main target. According to the latest figures, one person was killed and six others wounded in the attack. The Friday explosion is the second to hit the Afghan capital this week. On Monday, a bomber detonated his vehicle laden with explosives in the Hawa Shinasi area of Kabul, which lies adjacent to the Hamid Karzai International Airport. At least one civilian was killed and 13 others injured in the powerful explosion. The Taliban militant group later claimed responsibility for the blast, saying that their target was a convoy of foreign troops. Afghanistan is still gripped by insecurity 14 years after the US and its allies attacked the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. Although the 2001 attack overthrew the Taliban, many areas across Afghanistan still face violence and insecurity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rwanda president says will run for 3rd term in 2017 Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 10:38AM Rwanda President Paul Kagame says he will run for a third term in 2017 following an approval of constitutional amendments that allow him to potentially remain in power until 2034. "You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept," Kagame said in a New Year speech on Friday. He took office in 2000 after the former president, Pasteur Bizimungu, resigned. Kagame then won the 2003 and 2010 elections with a majority of votes. He was originally limited to two presidential terms. However, Rwandans voted "yes" in a referendum held on December 18, 2015, to changes to the country's constitution, giving Kagame the permission to run for an exceptional third seven-year term in 2017. The African country's senate had approved draft constitutional amendments last November and allowed Kagame to take part in the 2017 elections. The amendments, however, also decreased the length of a presidential term from seven to five years and kept a two-term limit. The rules would only come into force in 2024, at the end of Kagame's third term. Kagame, 58, could therefore run for another two five-year terms and rule until 2034. The referendum that received the support of 98 percent of voters sparked criticism among Western countries. Washington said Kagame could best serve his country with leaving the office in 2017. The EU also said the move would undermine democracy in Rwanda and called on Kagame to step down in 2017. Rights groups also accused authorities in Rwanda of stifling the media and opposition voices. However, the Rwandan president has criticized "other nations" for interfering in the domestic affairs of his country. Kagame was effectively leading the country after his ethnic Tutsi group marched into Kigali and ended the genocide perpetrated by Hutu extremists in 1994. Some 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, were killed in the Rwandan genocide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fresh Saudi airstrikes leave 17 civilians dead in Yemen Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 10:34AM At least 17 Yemeni civilians, including women and children, have been killed and a number of others wounded in the fresh wave of Saudi air raids against its impoverished neighbor. On Thursday, 15 civilians were killed when Saudi warplanes bombed two residential buildings in the town of Khayran al-Muharraq in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah. A Yemeni civilian was killed and three others wounded in airstrikes against a beverage producing factory in the western province of Hudaydah, causing heavy property damage on the compound. The Saudi military had carried out a similar attack against another beverage producing factory in the capital Sana'a a day earlier. A Yemeni child also lost her life as Saudi bombers targeted the Saqin district of the northwestern province of Sa'ada. Saudi airstrikes also hit residential areas in the city of Sirwah in Marib Province, causing damages to buildings. Yemenis hit back Meanwhile, Yemeni forces responded to Riyadh's raids, killing 11 Saudi troops in the al-Savabet district of the kingdom's Jizan Province. According to Yemen's al-Masirah television, two Saudi soldiers were also killed by Yemeni forces in an attack on a gathering of Saudi forces near the al-Tuwal border crossing in Yemen's Hajjah Province. Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March. More than 7,500 people have been killed and over 14,000 others injured since March. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. Yemen is engaged in retaliatory attacks against Saudi strikes, launched with the aim of undermining Houthi Ansarullah movement and bringing back to power the country's fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Migrant Crisis, Populist Politics, Russian Moves Set To Haunt EU In 2016 January 01, 2016 by Tony Wesolowsky More than 25 years after the Berlin Wall crumbled, barriers were being erected across Europe in 2015 amidst a wave of migrants the likes of which the continent has not seen since World War II, shaking the foundations of the 28-nation bloc and raising questions about its very viability. In 2016, Brussels will not only struggle to figure out how to handle the thousands of migrants and refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It will also grapple with related issues, such as whether to scrap passport-free travel across most of Europe. Calls for that step only grew louder after Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris on November 13. Inside the bloc, Brussels will watch warily to see if Britain goes ahead in 2016 with a referendum on whether to leave the bloc. A British exit -- or "Brexit" -- would mean the loss of the EU's second biggest economy. On the other edge of the continent, the lure of doing business with Russia -- a market of nearly 150 million consumers and the EU's third-biggest trading partner -- could lead to a showdown over whether to scrap sanctions imposed on Moscow over its interference in Ukraine. RFE/RL looks at five crucial challenges Brussels will grapple with in the upcoming year. Migration The migrant crisis will not go away in 2016. The European Commission in November estimated that 3 million refugees could arrive in the EU by the end of 2016. That's three times the estimated 1 million migrants who arrived this year, mostly by sea via Greece and Italy. Looking again into its crystal ball, the commission doesn't see the march of migrants into Europe slowing down before 2017. The EU has been slow to react to what is arguably its biggest challenge ever, mainly due to a split on the issue -- largely along east-west lines. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, leading the anti-migrant camp, said in September that it was necessary to "defend our borders" in order to "keep Europe Christian." Hungary has been on the main overland route to the EU's Schengen zone of border-free travel for most of the migrants. Orban's government has responded by building a fence to shut the border -- and Macedonia, Austria, and Slovenia have also erected barriers along parts of their frontiers. In December, Hungary and Slovakia separately filed court challenges to one of the few concrete plans the EU has hatched -- distributing 120,000 migrants among EU states, although the number is only a fraction of the real number of migrants arriving over the year. In 2016, officials in Brussels will face not only court battles, but the sobering reality that the quotas are woefully low. But convincing already skeptical leaders in Eastern Europe to accept higher quotas will require all the diplomatic skill of a Bismarck. Meanwhile, with a 3 billion euro ($3.2 billion) deal and other incentives from Brussels in hand, Turkey will be the target of pressure to stem the flow of refugees from war-wracked Syria into the EU. Ultimately, ending that influx means ending the conflict in Syria, according to Judy Dempsey, a senior associate at the Carnegie Europe think tank. While diplomatic efforts heated up in the second half of 2015, Russia's air campaign complicated matters and the shoot-down of a Russian warplane by Turkey make a potential resolution all the more elusive. "Is there going to be consensus among all the opposition parties and the various groups on how to end it? I mean, this is very problematic. I mean, what are Saudi Arabian interests? What are Iran's interests? What are Russia's interests? Europe's interests? America's interests?" Dempsey told RFE/RL. "The migrant crisis, unfortunately, is going to continue for some time.' Schengen The migrant crisis in particular, Greece's failure to control large numbers arriving by sea -- is putting the EU's open-borders Schengen zone under strain. Calls to reform or even scrap Schengen, which allows passport-free travel among 22 EU members and four other countries, have grown louder since the Paris attacks. The suspected masterminds came from the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, but Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the attack was the consequence of the opening of Europe's borders, casting doubts on Schengen as well. 'We are now confronted with a new threat level in Europe,' he said in November. And amid the tussle over internal borders, there's also controversy over the EU's external borders. France and Germany are pushing to give the EU border force, Frontex, more authority to patrol the EU's frontiers.Media reports in early December said the French and German interior ministers were proposing a package of measures they said are needed to beef up protection of the external borders if Schengen is to stay in place. It also includes a proposal for a new European Border and Coastguard Agency which could be deployed without a request from the state in question. Athens has been pressured by Brussels to invite in Frontex forces or face being effectively suspended from the Schengen zone. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, a leftist who has sparred with the EU over Greece's debt crisis, has only agreed to the deployment in Greece of some Frontex border guards. Italy, another major initial destination for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, is also skeptical of EU calls for tougher frontier controls. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on November 20 that EU interior and justice ministers had been tasked with drawing up a proposal for the Schengen zone to allow for "the systematic control" of all people entering through the bloc's external borders. However, with consensus so hard to come by, nations may be more tempted in 2016 to take policy decisions unilaterally. 'Wesee increasing renationalization of foreign policy and security policy," said Dempsey. "It was already happening over the past couple of years, but it's going to intensify. And the outlook for any kind of united stance inside the European Union on so many issues, I think it's going to become weaker not stronger over the next year." Rise Of The Right Amid perceived EU flaccidity and growing anti-migrant sentiment, xenophobes, fascists and other sundry extreme rightwing groups have been gaining strength across Europe, and there are few signs that trend will flag in 2016. In the wake of the Paris attacks, France's far-right National Front saw record gains in the first round of regional elections on December 6, coming out on top in half of France's 13 regions. However, the party flopped in the second round, failing to win a single race. Experts put it down to the Socialist Party's decision to pull out of some races and to urge supporters to back conservative candidates in hopes of blocking a far-right win. Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on the far right in France, said that Europe's far right was portraying people arriving on European soil as "neither refugees nor migrants, but invaders." Camus said the fact that the migrants are mainly Muslims played into far-right ideology, which portrays them as leading a 'crusade' against Europe's 'Christian traditions.' Even in Scandinavia, widely seen as a center of tolerance, extreme right-wing groups are gaining ground. In Sweden, the extreme-right Sweden Democrats -- a party started in the 1980s as a white supremacist group -- has gradually risen in polls. Official estimates suggest up to 190,000 migrants could come to the country of 10 million people this year. Next door in Norway, with its generous social welfare system struggling to cope, the government announced in late November that its asylum regime would revert to the "EU minimum." The government's tougher stance could steal some of the thunder of the extremists there. Sweden shows how the fear of further inroads by the far-right can push governments to adopt less welcoming policies. In Hungary, Orban's Fidesz party espouses a more traditional right-wing philosophy -- but has moved even further right to avoid being outflanked by Jobbik, an extremist party. Orban's lasting success in Hungary may have served as inspiration for Poland's Law and Justice party, which took power in November after eight years in opposition. In an opinion article in The New York Times on December 11, analyst Ivan Krastev said the ballot-box success of Law and Justice is part of a trend in which populist and radical parties feed off disgruntled majorities with potentially devastating effects for the future of the EU. "The rise of these parties is symptomatic of the explosion of threatened majorities as a force in European politics. They blame the loss of control over their lives, real or imagined, on a conspiracy between cosmopolitan-minded elites and tribal-minded immigrants," Krastev said. He warned that if more and more countries follow the "Orban model of rebuking the European Union while accepting billions in aid money," at some point "there will be no European Union to blame." Brexit In part due to pressures from a rising right, and in particular the euro-skeptic United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), British Prime Minister David Cameron promised a referendum on EU membership to ensure a Tory victory in last May's election. The United Kingdom is not a member of the eurozone, the currency bloc of 18 European countries. However, it is the second-largest economy in Europe, and its exit would subtract some 15 percent of the EU's GDP. Cameron wants Britain to stay in, and has promised to negotiate new terms with Brussels to give London more room to act independently. EU officials are wary of setting a precedent and whetting other members' appetites for more autonomy. No firm date has been set for the referendum, and it could be postponed until 2017 or later, but the possibility of a 'Brexit' will loom over the EU in 2016. Russia It's not an issue tearing the EU apart, but relations with Moscow are causing friction in the bloc. The EU joined the United States in imposing sanctions against Russia for its illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and its support for separatists whose conflict with Kyiv has killed more than 9,000 people in eastern Ukraine since that April. The bulk of the EU sanctions are in place until the end of January 2016 -- but their future after that is more cloudy. On December 9, plans for a vote to extend sanctions through July 31 were scuttled when Italy called for further debate -- an unexpected move that outlined cracks in the EU over how to deal with the Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, despite expectations that the extension will be approved in the end. The sanctions, coupled with depressed global energy prices, have hit Russia hard. But they are pinching Europe as well. According to the German daily Die Welt, sanctions against Russia could eventually cost Europe $114 billion and up to 2 million jobs. The sanctions haven't put a full-stop, however, to business dealings between Moscow and Western Europe. In September, a group of European companies signed an agreement with state-controlled Gazprom to expand Nord Stream, a pipeline that delivers gas to Germany and bypasses Ukraine. Shocked by the deal, 10 Central and Eastern European governments signed a letter in November saying Russia's pipeline plans run counter to EU interests and risk further destabilizing Ukraine. But a tighter focus on fighting Islamic State militants and resolving the Syria crisis in the wake of the Paris attacks has some EU countries, particularly eastern members such as the Baltics, worrying it will be business as usual with the Kremlin soon enough. Philippe Migault, a French expert from the Institute for International and Strategic Relations, told Poland's PAP news agency in November that international relations were marked "by cynicism," adding that "our priority now is not what's happening in Ukraine. Our priorities are the 130 Paris victims." With realpolitik taking over, officials in Kyiv will be hard pressed in 2016 to keep their plight on the top of the EU agenda. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/migrant-crisis-right- wing-politicians-2016/27461612.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Leads Talks Aimed to Bring Afghan Peace by Ayaz Gul January 11, 2016 Pakistan opened new talks Monday on reviving the Afghan peace process, an effort aimed at drawing Taliban insurgents fighting the Kabul government back to the negotiating table. As Taliban attacks intensify, representatives of Afghanistan, China, the United States and Pakistan meeting in Islamabad called for 'direct talks' between Afghanistan and the militants 'in a peace process that aims to preserve Afghanistan's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.' Delegates to the four countries said they would meet again next Monday. At the opening session, Pakistan's foreign policy adviser, Sartaj Aziz, told the delegates he was confident they could develop an 'efficient procedural framework' with realistic and flexible targets. 'The primary objective of the reconciliation process is to create conditions to bring the Taliban groups to the negotiation table and offer them incentives that can persuade them to move away from using violence as tool for pursuing political goals,' he said. Aziz warned that attaching demands or threats of military action to the start of the process would be counterproductive. He was apparently responding to Afghan assertions that Pakistan had promised to use force against Taliban troops unwilling to talk. Afghans allege that the Taliban leadership directs the insurgency from Pakistan with the support of Islamabad's spy agency. Islamabad rejects the charges. Taliban leaders are widely believed to be based in Pakistani cities near the Afghan border, including Quetta and Peshawar. The Taliban has intensified its anti-government attacks in Afghanistan and captured more territory than at any point since the Islamist group was ousted from power 14 years ago. Its expansion during the past year has fueled regional and international concerns that the upcoming spring fighting season may lead to even more bloodshed and instability in the war-shattered country. The four countries involved in the peace process are trying to define the overall direction of the Afghan reconciliation process, along with setting goals and targets aimed at creating a conducive environment for holding direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban groups. Incentives unclear Critics note the Afghan government has not yet indicated what political and economic incentives it may offer for the Taliban to quit violence and engage in a productive peace process. There is widespread skepticism about whether the Taliban is ready to give up violence and re-engage in 'result-oriented' peace dialogue with the Afghan government. Some regional analysts say Pakistan could be important in the Afghan peace process. 'Pakistan has a vital role in these talks and it must play its role now as the Afghan government doesn't have the capacity to bring the Afghan Taliban to the table for talks,' Pakistan-based defense analyst Saad M. Khan told VOA Deewa Radio. Javid Faisal, a spokesman for Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, said the Pakistani government will provide a list of Taliban representatives who are willing to participate in the peace process. Talks with the Taliban have been on hold since July, when they collapsed after just one meeting following Pakistan's announcement that longtime Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead for more than two years. The Taliban called off its participation and a second meeting was canceled. A subsequent power struggle within the Taliban has raised questions about who would represent the insurgents if the talks with Kabul are revived. Analysts have cautioned that, despite the rapprochement between Kabul and Islamabad, any substantive peace talks are still months off. Taliban demands have consistently focused on an end to the international military presence in the country. The U.S. and NATO have 13,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, mostly in a training capacity. They include 9,800 Americans. VOA's Deewa Radio contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official: DRC Taking Rape Allegations Seriously by Nick Long January 11, 2016 A Democratic Republic of Congo official says the country is taking seriously allegations that several of its soldiers deployed as peacekeepers in the Central African Republic committed rape. The United Nations says the DRC battalion in the C.A.R. will be withdrawn and not replaced. The Democratic Republic of Congo has a battalion of about 800 soldiers and 123 police officers with the U.N. mission in the Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA. Last August three soldiers in that battalion were accused of raping three female civilians, including one minor. The DRC justice minister said at the time the allegations would be investigated. UN investigating This month, the U.N. said it is investigating new allegations of sexual abuse of minors by peacekeepers. It is not clear how important the rape allegations are in the U.N. decision the DRC troops should withdraw from the Central African Republic. U.N. officials have said the troops failed an internal assessment based on equipment, vetting procedures and preparedness. But in an interview with VOA, the DRC president's personal representative charged with the fight against sexual violence, Jeanine Mabunda Lioko Mudiayi, linked the decision to the allegations. Mabunda says the DRC was informed by the United Nations that a decision had been taken on the withdrawal of the DRC contingent from MINUSCA following rape allegations against certain soldiers in that unit. She says the DRC has taken strong measures in recent months in response to those allegations. Violence against women Mabunda says the DRC brought 20 soldiers back to Kinshasa. Their cases are being examined and the 20 are at the Ndolo military prison, she says, adding that this shows how seriously the DRC regards questions of violence against women, particularly where security forces are concerned. VOA asked what stage has been reached in the enquiry into the rape allegations. Mabunda says the process is ongoing and must go through stages. "We must not put on a show trial," she says. 'The rights of defendants must not be trampled on, although certainly these are atrocious, ignoble charges." The DRC's justice system can be trusted, Mabunda insists. Since the bureau was created 18 months ago, she says, "the DRC's institutions have shown they are capable of striking hard when rape cases are brought before them, and when those are cases are proved." A number of DRC soldiers have been convicted of sexual offenses in the past 18 months, including a general and a colonel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palace: Thai King Bhumibol Treated for Several Illnesses by VOA News January 11, 2016 Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej traveled to his Bangkok palace Monday, a day after the palace announced he was being treated for a blood infection and swollen lung, Reuters news agency reported. 'His Majesty will go to the Chitralada Palace for a change of atmosphere,' said a palace official, who declined to be identified. Thailand's 88-year-old king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has been hospitalized since May and has received treatment for multiple illnesses. A statement issued Sunday said the king has battled a fever for the past two weeks and was being looked after by doctors. It also said tests found "an infection in the lower part of the lungs," and a blood infection and inflammation in his right knee joint. Concern about his health grew when Bhumibol missed an annual audience to mark his birthday December 5. But he made a rare public appearance on December 14. Hundreds of people lined the streets as the king left Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital Monday, Reuters reported. The king is widely revered, with the palace issuing notices on his health and keeping tight control over news about the royal family. Late last month, the head of the veterinary school at Kasetsart University said Bhumibol's dog, Tongdaeng, died December 26 after having several illnesses in recent years. The dog, whom the king rescued from an alley, is at the center of insult and sedition charges against a Thai factory worker. A Thai military court earlier this month charged Thanakorn Siripaiboon with making a "sarcastic" Internet post involving the dog. The court did not reveal what exactly the post said, and also charged Thanakorn with sedition and insulting the king. Thailand's strict sedition laws make it a crime to insult the monarchy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia - Death Penalty Rape, murder, apostasy, sedition, sorcery, armed robbery, adultery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death in Saudi Arabia [and by Daesh]. While some of these crimes, such as premeditated murder, carry fixed punishments under Saudi shariah [Islamic law], others, such as drug-related offenses, are considered "ta'zir," with neither the crime nor the punishment defined in Islam. The imposition of capital punishment is subject to considerable judicial discretion in the courts. Defendants are able to appeal their sentences. The law requires a five-judge appellate court to affirm a death sentence, which a five-judge panel of the Supreme Court must unanimously affirm. Saudi Arabia has executed 81 men over the past 24 hours, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian national, on charges including allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations and holding deviant beliefs, state news agency Saudi Press Agency said 12 March 2022, in the largest known mass execution carried out in the kingdom in its modern history. The number dwarfed the 67 executions reported in the kingdom in 2021 and the 27 in 2020. These individuals were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children, SPA said, citing a statement from the interior ministry. Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations, such as ISIS [ISIL], al-Qaeda and the Houthis, it added. On 23 April 2019 the Kingdom beheaded 37 of its citizens and displayed a mutilated body of one of them on a pole in its biggest mass execution in three years and first of that scale since Mohammed bin Salman became the heir apparent to the throne in June 2017. AP reported, citing Saudi dissident Ali Al-Ahmed, that at least 34 of those who were executed were members of the country's Shia minority. According to Al-Ahmed, it became the "largest execution of Shiites in the kingdom's history." The Saudi Interior Ministry said that the men were subjected to capital punishment for their role in spreading extremist ideologies and establishing terrorist cells. Those executed, the ministry argued, were bent on fueling sectarian tension and plunging the country into chaos. Some were found guilty of killing law enforcement officers, staging attacks against security infrastructure, and assisting an enemy of the state. A beheaded body of one of the men, reported to be a Sunni militant, was pinned to a pole and put on public display. While the Saudi government insists that all the executions were perfectly in line with the law, Amnesty International sounded the alarm over what it called a "shocking execution spree." Amnesty reported that 11 men were found guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia's archrival, Iran, while 14 others were sentenced to death for "violent offences" they allegedly committed while taking part in anti-government protests against the Saudi government in 2011-2012. Saudi Arabia carried out its largest mass execution in more than three decades on 02 January 2016, putting to death 47 people convicted of terrorism, including a prominent Shi'ite cleric. Most of those put to death were alleged Sunni militants, and some had ties to al-Qaida, according to media outlets. All but two were Saudi; one was Chadian and the other Egyptian. The cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a key figure in Shi'ite protests that erupted during the 2011 Arab Spring. The executions were carried out in 12 cities across the country, with the executions done inside prisons and not in public. Four prisons used firing squads and the others beheading. Executions in Saudi Arabia are usually public beheadings. The decapitated bodies are occasionally left on display. Public beheadings are routine in Saudi Arabia, but crucifixion after beheadings is reserved as an exemplary punishment under sharia (Islamic) law for crimes of the utmost severity. The executions were Saudi Arabias first in 2016. Rights groups said Saudi Arabia executed at least 157 people in 2015, nearly double the 90 executed in 2014. Amnesty International said the 2015 total was the largest number of executions since 1995, when 192 executions were recorded. The latest simultaneous execution of 47 people on terrorism charges was the largest number in a single day since the 1980 killings of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. In Islam, Mohammed is considered the perfect example of a Muslim, therefore, anything he did is considered worthy of emulating. Significant examples include Mohammed's killing of 500-700 Jews of the Qurayzah in Medina who were beheaded by sanction of Mohammed himself. Others say nobody can produce anything from the Koran which says the only way to execute people is by beheading - it is an old Nejdi tribal tradition and has nothing to do with Islam. Imam Muhammad Adam El-Sheik, co-founder and chief cleric at the Dar Al Hijrah Mosque at falls Church, VA told USA Today: "Beheadings are not mentioned in the Koran at all". Yvonne Haddad, a professor at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University has agreed with the above Imam and added (to New York Newsday): "There is absolutely nothing in Islam that justifies cutting off a person's head." The Koran says the only way to execute people is by beheading. Quran 8:12 which says, When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them. 47:4- "Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in battle), strike off their heads; at length; then when you have made wide Slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives: thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens." "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; "[Quran 5:33] But the four passive verbs occurring in this sentence slain, crucified, cut off, and banished, are in the present tense and are not to be taken as a legal injunction. Read, in the present tense, the verse reveals itself immediately as a statement of fact, a declaration of the inescapability of the retribution which those who make war on God bring upon themselves. The vast majority of countries in Western Europe, North America and South America more than 139 nations worldwide have abandoned capital punishment in law or in practice. The United States remains in company of Iraq, Iran and China as one of the major advocates and users of capital punishment. Total people executed from 2007 to 2012 included thosands in China; Iran 1,663; Saudi Arabai 423; Iraq 256; and the United States 220. Beginning in 2009, Amnesty International ceased to publish minimum figures for the use of the death penalty in China, where such statistics are considered to be state secrets. In 2008 China excuted 1,718 people. Pakistan executed at least 315 people in 2015, after the country lifted a moratorium on executions early last year following a December 2014 Taliban attack on a school that killed 150 people, most of them children. By November 2015 Saudi Arabia had executed at least 151 people so far year - the most put to death in a single year since 1995. The stark rise in the number of executions had seen, on average, one person killed every two days. Most recent years had between 79 and 90 people killed by beheadings annually for crimes including nonlethal offences, such as drug-related ones. Iran executes far more people a year than Saudi Arabia, but it does not get the negative publicity Saudi Arabia has. One of the reasons behind the surge in executions could be that the Saudi Arabian authorities want to send a strong message that the regime is stable and does not tolerate breaches of the law in the aftermath of the 2011 uprising and calls for reform in Saudi Arabia including by the country's Shia Muslim community. Islamic law imposes the death penalty on apostates based on statements attributed to the Prophet Mohamed. The Saudie government continues to prosecute and imprison individuals for dissent, apostasy, blasphemy, and sorcery, and a new 2014 law classifies blasphemy and advocating atheism as terrorism. It appears that apostasy is understood to be more than mere conversion and the law against it is actively enforced. For instance, in 2012 Saudi authorities charged Hamza Kashgari, a Saudi writer, with apostasy based on comments he made on Twitter expressing his personal religious views. Although he initially fled the country, he was detained in Malaysia and extradited to Saudi Arabia where, after having repented, he was placed in protective custody. In another incident, Saudi authorities detained two men and charged them with apostasy for adopting the Ahmadiyya interpretation of Islam. Individuals arrested for sorcery a crime punishable by death continued to be prosecuted. In June 2014, the Saudi Ministry of Justice announced that prosecutors had filed 191 cases of alleged sorcery between November 2013 and May 2014. In August, authorities reportedly beheaded a Saudi man, Mohammed bin Bakr al-Alawi, in the al-Jawf Province for allegedly practicing sorcery. His death sentence had been upheld by an appeals court and the Supreme Judiciary Council. In February 2014, King Abdullah pardoned a female Indonesian domestic worker, Ati Bt Abeh Inan, who had been on death row for more than 10 years following a 2003 sorcery conviction. Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested on 14 February 2012 when he was just 17, during a crackdown on anti-government protests in the Shiite province of Qatif. He was accused by the authorities of participation in illegal protests and of firearms offences, despite there being no evidence to justify the latter charge. He was sentenced to death as a child, and after two years, he was sentenced to 'death by crucifixion' on 27 May 2014. The case against Ali appeared to be based on his familial connection to his uncle Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a 53-year old critic of the Saudi regime and a prominent religious leader in the Kingdom, who was executed on 02 January 2015. The issue first gained international attention when British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn named the teen in a speech, urging David Cameron to intervene to stop the killing. Prince Mohammed of Saudi Arabia issued a statement in response to Corbyns speech, reported on the BBC, claiming that the lack of respect for Saudi Arabia would damage diplomatic relations. In September 2015, a group of UN human rights experts issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt the execution. The experts, including the UNs special rapporteur on extrajudicial or arbitrary executions Christof Heyns and Benyam Mezmur, the chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, said imposing the death penalty on someone who was a child at the time of offending and after allegations of torture was incompatible with Saudi Arabias international obligations. The offender is first beheaded, and then the body is placed on a cross for three days so that everyone can appreciate what might happen to them. Death followed by crucifixion is the punishment in the Islamic penal code for a specific charge of attacking and targeting civilians and causing them deliberate injury or death with the intention of terrorizing them. Althoughthe practice is rare, in November 2013, five Yemenis were convicted of armed robbery and murder in the remote province of Jizan and sentenced to crucifixion. The Yemenis' beheaded bodies were dispalyed in public. In Saudi Arabia today the condemned of both sexes are given tranquillisers and taken by police van to a public square or a car park after midday Friday prayers. Their eyes are covered and they are blindfolded. The police clear the square of traffic and a sheet of blue plastic sheet about 16 feet square is laid out on the ground. Dressed in their own clothes, barefoot, with shackled feet and hands cuffed behind their back, the prisoner is led by a police officer to the center of the sheet where they are made to kneel facing Mecca before being decapitated with a sword. The executioner swings a huge sword amid cries from onlookers of "Allahu Akbar!" Arabic for "God is great." While beheadings are public, filming them is forbidden. In January 2015, footage of a womans execution was leaked online, leading to the arrest of the person responsible. According to Sa'id bin 'Abdullah bin Mabrouk al-Bishi, an experienced Saudi executioner, "...for me it is more difficult to cut off a hand than to carry out an execution, because executions are done momentarily by the sword and the person leaves this life. By contrast, severing a hand demands more courage, especially because you are cutting off the hand of someone who will remain alive afterwards, and also you have to cut it off at a specific joint and use your skill to make sure that cutting implement stays in position. As I said, it is much more difficult for me to cut off someone's hand than to execute them, both in terms of carrying out the penalty itself and in terms of my own feelings." Saudi Arabia, which executes more criminals than any nation except China and Iran, sought to hire eight new executioners in 2015. A surge in executions had been witnessed under new King Salmans rule. The job description published online on 19 May 2015 said no special training is required from applicants. The executioners would be required to behead condemned criminals in public as well as carry out amputations on those convicted of lesser offenses. The executioners would be considered as religious functionaries, since they would be serving religious courts and be on the lower end of the civil service pay scale. The mortal remains of all executed foreigners, including non-Muslims, reportedly are buried at secret locations in the kingdom. This practice is one of the few exceptions to the general rule prohibiting the burial of non-Muslims in the kingdom. In December 2011, Faisal Bin Hassan Trad, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia and its Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, It is imperative for us not to forget the rights of victims while listening to the calls for abrogation of the provision in the law for capital punishment in the pretext of protecting the rights of the killer... We carry out death penalty only after it was endorsed and approved by at least 13 judges at three levels of judiciary preliminary court, court of appeal and the Supreme Court." According to Trad, Kingdom applies death penalty only in the case of occurrence of grave crimes that threaten the safety and security of society as well as infringing the rights of individuals. Beheading of the criminals with a sword or axe was a common practice by all ancient civilizations for thousands of years. Beheading was widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa (Muslim and non-Muslim alike) until the very early 20th century. David told Goliath that he would kill him and behead him in the name of the Lord. David used his slingshot to kill Goliath and used Goliath's sword to behead him. The army of the Philistines fled in fear. Xenophon says at the end of the second book of the Anabasis that the Greeks regarded it as a most honourable form of death. Beheading, was a military punishment among the Romans. It was with a sword that Ciceros head was struck off by a common soldier. The beheading of John the Baptist proves that the tetrarch Herod had adopted from his suzerain the Roman mode of execution. Suetonius (Calig. c. 32) states that Caligula kept a soldier, an artist in beheading, who in his presence decapitated prisoners fetched indiscriminately for that purpose from the jails. In early times beheading was performed with an axe, and afterwards with a sword. It is worth remarking, that, beheading was generally the capital punishment of nobles, while that of commoners is hanging. The crime of high treason is always punished with beheading. Commoners, however, were hanged before the head is cut off, and nobles also, unless the king remits that part of the punishment. In many European countries, beheading with the sword still prevailed in the late 19th Century. Abul Hamid Siddiqi noted "Lest some of these penalties may appear barbarous to some hypersensitive Western reader, let him cast a glance on drawing and quartering: a penalty of the English criminal code maintained as late as the eighteenth century, inflicted on those found guilty of high treason against the King or government. The person committed was usually drawn on a sledge to the place of execution; there he was hung by the neck from a scaffold, being cut down and disemboweled, while still alive; his head was cut from the body and his corpse divided into four quarters .... " (vol. 3, p. 894, note 2121) The guillotine consists of two upright posts surmounted by a cross beam, and grooved so as to guide an oblique-edged knife, the back of which is heavily weighted to make it fall swiftly and with force when the cord by which it is held aloft is let go. Some ascribe the invention of the machine to the Persians; and previous to the period when it obtained notoriety under its present name it had been in use in Scotland, England, and various parts of the Continent. At first it was intended that decapitation should be by the sword, but oh account of a memorandum by M. Sanson, the executioner, pointing out the expense and certain other inconveniences attending that method. Dr Joseph Ignace Guillotin, who was born at Saintes, May 28, 1738, and elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1789, brought forward on the 1st December of that year two propositions regarding capital punishment, the second of which was that, "in all cases of capital punishment it shall be of the same kindthat is, decapitation and it shall be executed by means of a machine." It has often been stated that Dr Guillotine perished by the instrument which bears his name, but it is beyond question that he survived the Revolution, and died a natural death in 1814. The privilege of execution by decapitation would no longer be confined to the nobles, and that it was desirable to render the process of execution as swift and painless as possible. An immediate cause of the Reign of Terror was the invasion of France by several foreign armies. In 1793, powerful armies sent by Prussia, Austria, England, Holland, Spain, and others, invaded France in an attempt to crush the Revolution. The government of France under the National Convention sought to protect the Revolution against possible traitors by arresting thousands of people suspected of being enemies of the French republic. An estimated 16,500 people were beheaded by the guillotine. Thousands of others were imprisoned or murdered by agents of the government. The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) crushed most domestic opposition. In 1795 the question was much debated as to whether or not death by the guillotine was instantaneous, and in support of the negative side the case of Charlotte Corday was adduced whose countenance, it is said, blushed as if with indignation when the executioner, holding up the head to the public gaze, struck it with his fist. It was observed, that, at the moment of decapitation, the muscles of the face of the greater number of the heads contracted in a convulsive manner. At the very moment that the knife severed the head. from the body a general contraction of the muscles of the face was easily seen; but the horrible facial distortion which then followed was probably due more to direct excitation than to a psychical phenomenon. Two seconds after decapitation no sign of consciousness could be detected. The cheeks were still rosy, the eyes wide open, with moderately dilated pupils, the mouth firmly closed. Corneal reflexes persisted six seconds after decapitation. One minute after death the face began to turn pale, the trunk remained flacid, the carotids continuing to throw out blood remaining in the circulatory area. At the end of four minutes the face was quite pale, the upper lids were half closed, the jaws less firmly clenched than before. Not a trace of consciousness remains two seconds after beheading. Some claim that in some brains, a modified degree of consciousness may remain for a few minutes after decapitation. The heart contracted and dilated alternately with much force, in such a manner as to produce regular pulsations. At the end of ten minutes these motions had abated a little; but they were always incessant, and the alternate contraction and dilatation preserved their regularity. Beheading is allowed to be the least painful mode of death, when it is properly performed. Since the brain is the source of all mental and sensitive associations, when the head is completely struck off, we would be inclined to think, that all conscious sensation would be at an endthat the relative associations of the whole nervous system would be so completely deranged as to cause complete extinction of all appreciable sensation from any impressions whatever. If the penalty of death is to remain in the penal code, decapitation is the mode of punishment which abolishes most completely the sufferings which result from the application of the penalty. The suffering often caused by hanging through maladroitness of the executioner, suggests a change to a mode which would meet the requirements of the law without the possibility of inflicting torture. On June 29, 2015 the US Supreme Court upheld the use of a controversial drug that had raised concerns that it didn't perform as intended -- to put an inmate into a coma-like sleep before execution. The use of midazolam for executions began after drugmakers in Europe and the United States refused to sell states the barbiturates traditionally used to leave an inmate unconscious. The April 2014 execution of Clayton Lockett was the first time Oklahoma had used midazolam. Lockett writhed, moaned and clenched his teeth for several minutes before prison officials tried to halt the process. He died after 43 minutes. Similar situations occurred in Arizona and Ohio when midazolam was used. France still facing high-level terror threat: Hollande Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 7:8AM President Francois Hollande says France is still facing a security threat "at its highest level," nearly two months after a series of coordinated terror attacks left 130 people dead in and around Paris. "France is not done with terrorism," Hollande said in his televised New Year address on Thursday, adding authorities have been working to foil such attempts regularly since the Paris attacks. "The threat is still there. It remains in fact at its highest level, and we are regularly disrupting planned attacks." Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said more than 100,000 policemen had been deployed across the country, including 11,000 in Paris, to guard New Year's celebrations. Paris also called off an annual display of fireworks on the Champs-Elysees as part of security measures. Last year, the French capital witnessed two deadly terror attacks claimed by the Takfiri terrorists operating in the Middle East. On November 13, 2015, 130 people were killed and 350 others injured after assailants struck at least six different venues in and around Paris. The attacks were claimed by the Daesh Takfiri group mainly operating in Iraq and Syria. The attacks in Paris are believed to have been carried out by European nationals who had joined Daesh in Syria and Iraq. In January the same year, the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris came under attack, which claimed the lives of some 13 people. Several others were also killed in another assault on a market. The acts of violence were claimed by the al-Qaeda branch in Yemen. France is considering proposed changes to its constitution, which could see French-born dual passport holders stripped of their nationality, if convicted of terrorism. The European country has also been part of a US-led coalition purportedly targeting Daesh positions in Iraq and Syria. This is while the Paris government has been among the major supporters of Takfiri militant groups fighting to topple the Syrian government since 2011. Hollande said last November that 600 French nationals are currently fighting alongside terrorists in Iraq and Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgian police nab three more terror suspects Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 2:15AM The Belgian police have arrested three more people for allegedly plotting an attack against the country's capital during New Year celebrations. The three suspects were arrested on Thursday on the suspicion that they had plotted to strike the 'emblematic sites' of Brussels during the festivities. Police also discovered air gun equipment during the raids that led to the arrests. Two others, who have already been charged with terrorism-related offenses, had been apprehended on Tuesday after operations in and around Brussels and the eastern city of Liege. During the raids, police also found military-style training uniforms, computer hardware, and propaganda material produced by the Daesh Takfiri group, which is mainly active in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, authorities in Brussels have banned pyrotechnics and other sorts of New Year festivities, citing fears of attacks by Takfiri terrorists. Another Paris suspect nabbed On Wednesday, the Belgian police placed a male, identified as 22-year-old Ayoub B, under arrest following a raid on a residence in Brussels in connection with the November 13 deadly terror attacks that claimed 130 lives in the French capital, Paris. He has been charged with 'terrorist murder' and involvement in the activities of a terror group. France says the attacks, which have been claimed by Daesh, were planned in Belgium, home to Salah Abdeslam, one of the suspected assailants in the attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Munich Stations Reopen As Police Hunt for 'Terror Plot' Suspects January 01, 2016 by RFE/RL Munich train stations reopened and police lifted an alert of an imminent terrorist attack in the southern German city on January 1, but authorities say the situation remains 'serious.' Munich's main rail station and another station in the west of the city were closed on New Year's Eve over a 'serious, imminent threat' of a suicide attack linked to the Islamist State (IS) extremist group, police said. In a security update on January 1, Munich police said that 'following investigations, there is currently no concrete risk of an attack' in the city. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters that a 'friendly foreign intelligence service' had warned Germany of an imminent attack at midnight by between five and seven IS militants from Syria and Iraq planning to blow themselves up at locations in Munich, including the two stations. He said authorities are investigating intensively, but so far had not made any arrests. Authorities said they had received personal data, including the names of some of the militants and were still in the process of investigating and verifying the information. Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said police have been unable to find the suspects. 'At this point we don't know if these names are correct, if these people even exist, or where they might be,' Andrae said on January 1. Andrae refuted speculation that the threat was a false alarm, saying that 'if there is such information, we have to act.' Munich's main station and the surrounding area were evacuated just 90 minutes before the city was to ring in the New Year. The station was cordoned off and heavily armed police blocked the entrances. Partygoers were asked to avoid crowds. More than 500 police and special unit officers were called to Munich late on December 31 to help evacuate and secure the stations. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the situation in Germany and Europe 'continues to be serious in the new year.' With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/munich-stations-reopen- as-police-hunt-for-terror-plot-suspects/27461570.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysts Study Jihadists' Dreams of the Caliphate by Jamie Dettmer January 01, 2016 Just days before Islamic convert Elton Simpson attacked a controversial "Draw the Prophet Muhammad" contest last May in Garland, Texas, he asked jihadists online to arrange an interpretation of a dream he had of "a woman in a hijab looking down at him on a road." Nothing is known at least publicly about what the dream interpreter may have counseled, but women on the path of jihad in dreams often are interpreted as offering the prospect of paradise. Some analysts argue this dream may have been the final incentive for the Garland shooting that left a guard wounded and Simpson and his accomplice dead, shot by a traffic cop. If it was, Simpson is not alone among Islamic militants who say they were inspired to action by a dream. Western intelligence agencies are taking increasing notice of dream accounts shared by jihadists on social media sites and in telephone and email exchanges, if only to provide pieces in the puzzle of the jihadist mind, say current and former intelligence officials. "We are not talking Minority Report here," said a U.S. counterterrorist official on condition of anonymity. The reference is to the 2002 movie starring Tom Cruise, where a futuristic "PreCrime" specialized police unit uses psychics to stop murderers before they kill. "But we are interested in dream accounts, to see if they can assist us in predicting a possible recruit's behavior or where they are on the trajectory of radicalization," the official added. Intelligence assessments According to Iain Ross Edgar, a social anthropologist at Britain's Durham University and a leading expert in the field of dreams, Western intelligence agencies have been curious for some time about jihadist dreams. "At a conference, a Western intelligence official told me, 'Everyone we are watching is into dreaming,'' Edgar said. 'Everyone they looked at was into their dreams and the dreaming got stronger as they came closer to being recruited.' Edgar added, "Intelligence officials seem interested in whether dream narratives and reports can be used as ancillary remote assessment tools, whether dreams can predict whether a tipping point has been reached for someone contemplating doing something and then going on to secure bomb material." Islam has a strong dream tradition, diverging from Western Christian culture on what dreams mean. Fourth-century theologians Augustine and Jerome redefined dreams as superstition. Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud saw dreams as the road to the unconscious and the past. For Islam, true dreams those not deemed false and the work of the devil or everyday dreams of no major significance are about the future, offering premonitions, but also guidance from the Divine. Dream tradition The Prophet Muhammad was a great dreamer. There are three examples of dreams in the Quran. And some of the most important events in early Islam are related to dreams including a night dream in which Muhammad received the basis of Sharia law and met Jesus and others regarded as prophets. Muhammad is said to have begun each day by asking his companions about their dreams. Jihadists are no different from other Muslims in how they view the importance of dreams, according to Thomas Hegghammer, director of terrorism research at the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment. "They do it because it is Islamic orthodoxy. Most, if not all, practicing Muslims believe dreams can contain messages from God or premonitions of the future. 'They believe it because scripture strongly suggests it. It's not widely known in the West, because Muslims don't talk about it very openly; dreams are intimate things and should only be shared with close friends or family," said Hegghammer. But jihadists and those on the recruitment path have been sharing their dreams. And dream they do from the failed British shoe bomber Richard Reid to the planners of the catastrophic September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001 Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad. According to several accounts, Taliban leader Mullah Omar was summoned by a dream to implement Sharia law and a true Islamic state. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden reportedly worried that the September 11 plot would be revealed beforehand because so many of his followers dreamed about the mission. And Islamic State leaders and their foot soldiers are no laggards when it comes to dreams giving them self-serving credence as prompts for action. Inspiration, guidance Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of al-Qaida in Iraq, the precursor to the Islamic State group, is said to have become a jihadist partly because of a sister's dream of a sword with the word "Jihad" displayed on one side and the Quranic verse, "God will never abandon you and will never forget you" on the other. "For Islamic militant jihadists, dreams and visions are a key way of confirming and legitimating to others their ideological worldview and the path to becoming a shahid, a holy martyr," according to Edgar, author of the first academic paper on the significance of dreams in Islamic State ideology. Whatever the veracity of individual dream narratives, there is a pattern of reliance on divinatory dreams for inspiration and guidance, he argued. They take dreams into account when deciding to join, become a foreign fighter, volunteer for missions, select a military strategy or, if a lone wolf, picking a target. Former senior FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said dreams may be helpful, up to a point, in trying to assess whether someone is dangerous or not. "Psychiatrists and people in mental health will use dreams to try to understand what is happening with a person," she said. "But dream interpretation is highly subjective. There is no science of dream interpretation. It comes down to memories, and the dreamer will often add missing material. Dreams can be very suggestive." And so can interpretations of dreams. O'Toole said dream interpretations "can be used to influence, to recruit, to persuade and to direct. And being able to monitor shared dream accounts could be useful in providing prior warnings." "You use as much information as you can to make a danger assessment," she said. Terrorism researcher Hegghammer argued that the dreams of Islamic State militants as well as other aspects of jihadi culture, from poetry to songs known as nasheeds warrant close study, because they can shed light on the emotional appeal that encourages some people to enlist and play an active role in extremist Islamic groups. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It's (Finally) Official: China Creates Cyberwarfare Military Branch Sputnik News 20:40 01.01.2016(updated 21:01 01.01.2016) China has long been rumored to possess cyberwarfare capabilities, and now the country's military has kicked off 2016 by creating a new military branch focused on the digital battleground. China's Central Military Council announced on Jan 1 that it has created three new military forces; one of these, according to the council's website, deals with what it calls 'cyber war forces.' The new forces include the General Command for the People's Liberation Army (a central command for ground forces), the Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force. During the ceremony for the new forces in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping passed the flags to the units. 'Song said this new force is mainly aimed at providing resources capable of protecting China's cyber and space security,' an article on the Chinese Defense Ministry website said. President Xi Jinping also emphasized the new force's adherence to China's current ideological rhetoric of the 'Chinese dream.' 'The creation of the general command, rocket force and strategic support force is very important for the implementation of the Chinese dream about strengthening the army in light of the current situation. This a strategic measure to create a modern military system, taking into consideration the specificity of China,' Xi said, as quoted in the statement. According to the statement, the aim of creating new units was to enhance the preparedness of the Chinese army. The People's Liberation Army is the biggest army in the world with a strength of more than two million military personnel. Beijing also possesses nuclear weapons and an aircraft carrier; a second one is under construction. These factors make the Chinese army one of the strongest and best-equipped in the world. China conducted a test in October of a new missile capable of destroying US satellites. The Dong Neng-3 exoatmospheric vehicle test is the eighth anti-satellite missile test China has conducted, according to a US congressional report. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No worry necessary over China's second aircraft carrier: expert Xinhua English.news.cn 2016-01-01 22:16:42 [More] BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A military expert said construction of China's second aircraft carrier is normal and the scale of China's aircraft carrier development is much smaller than that of the United States and even India. Aircraft carriers can help China better defend world peace and stability and play its role as a responsible developing power, Zhang Junshe, a researcher with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Naval Military Studies Research Institute, told 81.cn, the official website of the PLA Daily. A spokesman for China's defense ministry said Thursday that China's second carrier, with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes, is conventionally powered and will employ a ski-jump design for warplanes to take off. As a latecomer, China needs to build conventionally powered carriers first in order to gain experience, and then build nuclear-powered ones according to the situation, said Zhang, noting that the design and manufacturing processes are completely domestic, with no foreign help. Zhang added that future Chinese carriers will be fitted with catapults for fighter jets to take off on deck, but the process will be gradual since catapult take-off involves more complex technology. He noted that, compared with China's first carrier, the Liaoning, the second carrier will have more mature technology and performance, with better coordination between its systems and high anti-interference capacity. While the main purpose of the Liaoning is research, testing and training, Zhang said the second carrier will be able to carry out combat operations more quickly. 'Its missions will possibly include combat readiness on duty and other normal operations, including humanitarian rescue and disaster relief.' A report from the PLA Daily in late December said China's carrier forces, mainly those operating the Liaoning, had made considerable progress in fighting capacity this year, with more fighters parked on the carrier and more flights handled by the vessel. The Liaoning was refitted from a former Soviet ship known as Varyag. It was delivered to the Chinese Navy on Sept. 25, 2012. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kim Jong Un Focuses on Economy, Not Nukes, in New Year's Speech by VOA News January 01, 2016 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used his New Year's Day address Friday to focus primarily on the importance of economic development, avoiding any explicit threats or references to his country's nuclear weapons program. Kim, who sported new plastic-framed glasses and his signature shaved-sides haircut, spoke of the need to 'create a turnaround in economic development' and raise living standards in the impoverished country. The young leader offered few specifics in his 30-minute speech, his fourth since taking over leadership of the country following the unexpected death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011. Instead, he largely repeated the same themes found in previous addresses. 'We will continue to actively try to improve the North Korea-South Korea relations and will discuss issues regarding the (Korean) people and unification in an open-minded manner with anyone who sincerely wishes for the (Korean) people's reconciliation, unity, peace and unification,' he said. Kim also warned that his country was open to war if provoked by 'invasive' outsiders. He also spoke positively of the high-level talks agreed to this year with South Korea, which have offered the prospect of improved inter-Korean relations but so far delivered little in the way of concrete results. The annual speech is always watched closely for hints of possible policy changes, but this year's address was particularly significant, because it comes just ahead of a crucial meeting of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. The party gathering, to be held in May, is the first time the Workers' Party has held a congress since 1980. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran draws red line on missile program Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 11:39AM Iranian officials have lined up to underline the country's push to buttress missile capabilities after reports that the US administration planned new sanctions on the Islamic Republic in spite of a nuclear accord. Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said on Friday Iran will "forcefully continue boosting its missile capabilities within the framework of its defense policies." Dehqan's remarks came in response to President Hassan Rouhani's letter, ordering stepped-up production of missiles after reports that the US was preparing fresh sanctions on international companies and individuals in Iran. "In view of America's recent hostile steps and the esteemed President (Hassan Rouhani)'s emphasis, we will increase the speed and scope of our missile capabilities," Dehqan said. US officials claim the new sanctions are in line with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement, and the Treasury Department can impose new sanctions on Iran over its missile development. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has made it clear that Iran would consider any new sanctions a breach of the JCPOA. In an October letter to President Rouhani, outlining his conditional approval of the JCPOA, the Leader said that in case of a violation, 'the government would be obliged to take necessary measures and halt JCPOA activities.' On Friday, Dehqan said, "Iran's missile capabilities have never been the subject of negotiations with the Americans and will never be." "Iran's defense power is a guarantee for security and stability in the region," he added. Iran tested a conventional missile in October, prompting several politicians in the US to call for fresh sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said the test did not violate the July nuclear accord. "There is a clear difference between the JCPOA issue and the missile test and the missile test is not a breach of the JCPOA in any way," he told the national television on Thursday night. Araqchi said President Rouhani's letter indicated that Iran's missile program is not negotiable. Deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Gen. Hossein Salami said Iran will accelerate expanding its missile capabilities. "The Iranian nation should know that our missile depots and long tunnels are filled with missiles ready for launch," he told worshipers before Friday Prayers in Tehran. Salami reiterated IRGC's denial of a rocket test near US warships in the Strait of Hormuz. "We tell the Americans we are so powerful, strong, brave and realistic that if we launched a missile, we would publicly announce it," he said. "The Americans must know that our tactics are a function of our strategies and we will not engage in any blind action. Whether they are scared or worried is not our business," Salami added. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said the White House had delayed plans to slap new sanctions on Iran but the measures remained on the table. A senior Iranian politician, Ali Akbar Velayati, said Tehran would respond to new US sanctions. "This measure by the American government and stepped-up sanctions will adversely affect the Islamic Republic of Iran's good will but it will not go unanswered by the state officials," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to Boost Missile Program in Accordance With National Interests Sputnik News 17:39 01.01.2016 Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said that because of the current situation in the region of the Middle East, peace and security could only be provided with the existence of strong military forces. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Tehran will accelerate the development of its missile program in line with country's national interests and objectives, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Friday. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington was preparing new financial sanctions against people and companies allegedly involved in the Iranian ballistic-missile program. On Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered Dehqan to accelerate the missile program over the sanctions threat. 'Iran boosts its defense capabilities in accordance with its objectives and its national interests,' Dehqan said, as quoted by the IRNA news agency. He added that because of the current situation in the region, peace and security could only be provided with the existence of strong military forces. Washington's restrictions could be the first sanctions imposed on Tehran since Iran reached a historic deal with the P5+1 group, including the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany in July. The agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 states guarantees the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear program in exchange for relief of sanctions imposed on the country. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington Shelves New Sanctions Against Iran Sputnik News 16:31 01.01.2016(updated 16:34 01.01.2016) The White House has plans to impose sanctions against Iran in connection with its missile defence program, but has now delayed their implementation, according to reports. The US government prepared sanctions against Iran because of its ballistic missile defence program, but has now postponed their implementation, the US press reported on Wednesday. The Obama administration is still intent on punishing Iran for developing the missiles, which it allegedly tested earlier this month. However, sanctions in connection with the ballistic missile program have been delayed, according to US officials. On Wednesday the US Treasury announced a list of companies and individuals in Iran, the UAE and Hong Kong that are to be targeted by sanctions because they are alleged to have assisted Iran in the development of the missiles. The sanctions would freeze the US-held assets of those entities, and forbid US companies from trading with sanctioned firms. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called the sanctions an example of the US' "hostile policies and illegal meddling," and instructed Iran's Defence Ministry to step up the development of the missiles. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari on Thursday stressed that Iran's missile program is for purely defensive purposes, and is only capable of firing conventional rockets, not nuclear warheads. "As the US officials have mentioned before, [the Iranian] missile program is not related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," said Jaber Ansari. "There is nothing to prevent Iran from pursuing its legitimate right to reinforce its defensive strength and national security." In July the Iranian government and the P5+1 group of countries reached a deal on Iran's nuclear program, in which Iran agreed to restrictions on its capability to enrich uranium in return for the eventual lifting of economic sanctions. Last week Iran shipped nine tons of low-enriched uranium to Russia as part of the deal, and in return received 137 tons of natural uranium for use in nuclear energy reactors. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: US Delays Sanctions Against Iran's Missile Program by William Gallo January 01, 2016 The White House is delaying plans to impose sanctions targeting Iran's ballistic missile program, according to a U.S. media report. U.S. officials had planned to announce earlier this week the sanctions against 12 people and companies in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. But The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday the decision had been delayed. The sanctions 'remain on the table,' according to officials, but the paper said it is now not clear when or if they will move forward. The officials also stressed that imposing such financial penalties would not violate the agreement reached this year to scale back Iran's nuclear program. Tehran disagrees, saying the new sanctions would void the nuclear deal. Iran threatens expanded missile program On Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered his defense minister to expand the ballistic missile program as a response to the threatened U.S. sanctions. In a series of tweets, Rouhani said, 'If the U.S. continues its illegitimate interference with Iran's right to defend itself, a new program will be devised to enhance missile capabilities.' 'We have never negotiated regarding our defense capabilities including our missile program & will not accept any restrictions in this regard,' he added. Responding to Rouhani's remarks, a senior U.S. official told VOA the U.S. has long taken action to counter threats from Iran's missile program and will continue to do so. He said that includes working closely with U.S. allies in the region to bolster their defenses against such threats. The Wall Street Journal said the U.S. sanctions would target about 12 people and companies connected to the missile program. The sanctions would call on U.S. banks to freeze the assets of those on the list and bar people and companies in the U.S. from doing business with them. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari on Thursday called the planned sanctions 'unilateral, arbitrary and illegal.' Iran test-fired missiles in October and November. The U.S. and France said the October launch violated a U.N. Security Council resolution banning Iranian development of a ballistic missile. Iran rejected the allegations, saying the sanctions only applied to missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and that their missiles had no such capability. U.S. experts said the only purpose of the missile would be to deliver a nuclear warhead. 'We've been looking for some time at options for additional actions related to Iran's ballistic missile program based on our continued concerns about its activities, including the October 10th launch,' an Obama administration official said. 'We are considering various aspects related to additional designations, as well as evolving diplomatic work that is consistent with our national security interests.' Missile test Also Thursday, Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif denied U.S. allegations that Iran test-fired missiles that passed near an American aircraft carrier Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz. Sharif called the report 'psychological warfare' and said the navy had not conducted any exercises in the past week. U.S. military officials said the missiles passed within 1,500 meters of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The officials, who spoke to Western media under condition of anonymity, said Iran's navy gave a radio announcement before firing the missiles, telling ships to steer clear of the area. Several other ships were also in the region, including the destroyer USS Bulkeley, a French frigate and merchant ships. None of the missiles were fired at any of the ships, and no evasive actions were necessary. 'While most interactions between Iranian forces and the U.S. Navy are professional, safe and routine, this event was not and runs contrary to efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the global commons,' U.S. Central Command spokesman Kyle Raines said in an emailed statement to Reuters. The strategic Persian Gulf waterway, which sees nearly a third of all oil traded by sea pass through it, has been the scene of past confrontations between the U.S. and Iran, including a one-day naval battle in 1988. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi forces continue clean-up operation in Ramadi Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 5:53PM Iraqi forces continue the clean-up operation in Ramadi, western province of Anbar, inflicting more losses on the Daesh Takfiri terrorists. "Our security forces launched an operation from Khaldiya, east of Ramadi, and managed to liberate the College of Agriculture," said Hamid al-Dulaimi, Ramadi district mayor, on Friday. Iraqi military and volunteer fighters on December 28 declared that they had recaptured Ramadi, although later reports said some neighborhoods of the capital of Anbar were still under the control of Daesh. Dulaimi said pro-government forces were clearing more neighborhoods of Ramadi to flush out pockets of militants and evacuate trapped civilians. Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), along with army, police and local tribal forces are involved in the operation. Reports say the militants are no longer capable of fighting back as they have lost their key positions in the city. The mop-up is mostly concentrated in the eastern neighborhoods, where the militants were reportedly redeployed after pulling out of the city's central districts. Other officials said at least 30 members of Daesh were detained earlier on Friday as security forces spotted them among the civilians moving out of Ramadi. Police chief Hadi Irzayij said the suspected militants "were attempting to flee Ramadi by blending in with civilians." He said the relatively slow pace of operation for Ramadi's full recapture was due to the fact that security forces act with great care about explosive devices on roads and in buildings in the city. "We are following a plan put together in a way that will prevent casualties in the ranks of the security forces," Irzayij said. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who toured Ramadi right after its liberation, said the recapture would pave the way for Iraq's long-anticipated offensive into the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh, which has been under the control of Daesh since the summer of 2014. Abadi said 2016 will be the last year for Daesh in Iraq. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN says 980 killed in Iraq in December Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 3:30PM The United Nations says nearly 1,000 people were killed by violence in the Arab country in December 2015. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, known as UNAMI, said in a statement Friday that the violence in the last month of 2015 claimed the lives of 980 Iraqis, up from 888 the previous month. The mission said 506 of those killed in December were civilians and the rest were security forces and those assisting the Iraqi armed forces in an ongoing battle against terrorists, including the paramilitary fighters and Kurdish Peshmerga troops. It said 1,244 civilians were wounded in the same time span. Baghdad was the worst-affected province with 261 killed, followed by Nineveh Province with 68, the statement said, adding that some 124 civilians were also killed in Anbar, a desert province in western Iraq where the Iraqi forces have been engaged in fierce clashes with the Daesh Takfiri terrorists. The UN said, however, that it could not fully verify the Anbar figures of casualties as the situation on the ground has become increasingly volatile and services have been disrupted. On December 28, Iraqi military and volunteer fighters declared that they had recaptured Anbar's provincial capital of Ramadi, although later reports said some neighborhoods of the city were still under the control of Daesh. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the liberation of Ramadi would pave the way for Iraq's long-anticipated offensive into the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh, which has been under the control of Daesh since the summer of 2014. Abadi said 2016 will be the last year for Daesh in Iraq. Iraqi sources said more than 21,000 people, including some 15,000 civilians, lost their lives in battles and attacks across the country in 2015, adding that more than 14,000 people were wounded in the violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Premier Abe vows to keep Japan out of war Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 10:27AM Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to keep his nation out of war following the introduction of a controversial new law that would allow the military to engage in wars overseas. "Under the new legislation for peace and security, we will prevent war by taking all possible preparations for any circumstances," Abe said in a New Year's message In September last year, Japanese lawmakers in the upper house of the parliament approved bills that fundamentally reshape the country's constitution The current Japanese constitution, in place since the Second World War, stresses non-intervention in foreign military conflicts. Abe and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party have faced fierce criticism over the controversial legislation. Last month, the Japanese cabinet approved the largest ever annual defense budget of 5.05 trillion yen (USD 41.8 billion). Premier Abe and supporters argue that the new legislation is necessary to deal with a changing security environment and threats posed by regional countries that are expanding their military and nuclear capabilities. Opponents, however, say the legislation threatens Japan's pacifist image and that the revisions will change its 1945 constitution, which prohibits Tokyo from combat except in self-defense. They also say the legislation allows the country to join wars waged by the US and allies. Public anger has been rising on an unprecedented scale over the bills in the past days as tens of thousands of Japanese people have taken to the streets several times to express opposition. Meanwhile, China and South Korea have criticized the new security bills, with Seoul urging Japan to "contribute to regional peace and security" and calling for transparency in Japan's defense policy discussions. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying had earlier urged Tokyo to "stick to the path of peaceful development." Japan occupied large parts of China and the Korean Peninsula during World War II. Beijing and Seoul claim that Tokyo has not properly compensated for its past military aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korean Political Parties Welcome Pyongyang's Peaceful Intentions Sputnik News 15:26 01.01.2016 A spokesman of the South Korea's ruling Saenuri party called peaceful intentions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 'significant.' MOSCOW (Sputnik) The South Korean political parties welcome peaceful intentions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, local media reported Friday. Earlier in the day, Kim called in his New Year's national address to open a new era for national reunification and improve relations with South Korea. 'It is significant that Kim expressed his willingness to improve the inter-Korean relationship,' a spokesman of the ruling Saenuri party said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency. The main opposition Minjoo Party also welcomed Kim's move. The agency added, citing a spokesman of the South Korean government, that the government in Seoul remained firm regarding its efforts toward peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. South and North remain legally at war, as no peace treaty was signed after the Korean War of 1950-1953. Long-standing tensions between the two Koreas escalated again in late August when cross-border artillery fire erupted along the Demilitarized Zone, prompting Pyongyang to declare what it described as a 'semi-state of war.' The two countries eventually defused tensions in a series of talks. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin declares NATO 'threat' to Russian security Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 6:23AM Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new defense strategy document that declares the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a threat to Russia's national security. The document, which was signed by Putin this week, considers NATO's military buildup in various countries as a major foreign threat against Russian national security. The document also updates Russia's national security posture and outlines the threats that Russia sees in NATO's expansion. "The buildup of the military potential of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and vesting it with global functions implemented in violations of norms of international law, boosting military activity of the bloc's countries, further expansion of the alliance, the approach of its military infrastructure to Russian borders create a threat to the national security," the document reads. The signing of the document comes against the backdrop of a rising military presence by the US and its NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics. The Western military coalition has increased its troop and equipment presence in Poland and the Baltic nations in order to deter perceived Russian threats. Montenegro is the latest former Soviet bloc country to join the NATO. In a separate statement, President Putin said Moscow's independent policy making is what drives the US-led Western military alliance to feel the need for expansion in a bid to maintain its "domination." "Russia's strengthening is taking part on the background of new threats to national security that have a complicated and interlinked character,' the statement said. 'The independent domestic and foreign policy conducted by Russia triggers counteraction from the US and their allies seeking to keep up their domination in global affairs," it added. The Kremlin has announced a series of defense moves in recent months. In mid-June last year, Putin announced that his country would boost its nuclear arsenal, adding 40 intercontinental missiles. He also said a vast array of state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment would be delivered to army units over the next few months. Relations between Russia and NATO strained after Crimea integrated into the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16, 2014. The military alliance ended all practical cooperation with Russia over the ensuing crisis in Ukraine on April 1, 2014. The United States and its European allies accuse Moscow of destabilizing Ukraine and have imposed a number of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures. Moscow, however, rejects the accusation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 55,000 killed in Syria in 2015: Monitoring group Iran Press TV Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:41PM As many as 55,219 people have been killed in Syria in 2015, the fifth year since the country found itself plagued by foreign-backed militancy, a monitoring group says. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death toll on Thursday, while putting the year's civilian fatalities at 13,249. The overall toll included more than 2,500 children, 17,686 Syrian forces, 7,000 people fighting on the side of the government, and 378 members of the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, which has been assisting Damascus in its fight against terrorists. It also comprised close to 24,000 terrorists, including 16,000 militants from the Daesh Takfiri group, al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and affiliated militant groups. Adding the overall toll to those of the years that followed the onset of the crisis in 2011, the Britain-based monitoring group said the conflict has thus far claimed the lives of more than 260,000, including more than 76,000 civilians. The conflict has also left over one million people injured, according to the United Nations, and displaced nearly half of the country's population. In 2014, the United States and its allies started a bombing campaign against what they have referred to as Daesh positions without a UN mandate or Syria's approval. The mission has fallen severely short of dislodging the Takfiri group. Russia started pounding terrorist positions in the country at the Syrian government's request in late September this year. The ongoing mission has facilitated the Syrian military's gains against terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria army advances against militants in several areas Iran Press TV Fri Jan 1, 2016 8:45AM Syrian army troops have carried out fresh military operations against Takfiri groups on several fronts, liberating more militant-held areas and inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists. Army units backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups managed to regain control of Ghreemish, Zor al-Sous,al-Ziyadiyeh and al-Sheikh Abdullah districts in Hama Province on Thursday, the official SANA news agency reported. Districts and villages of Zur Sariheen, al-Maktout, Jenan, al-Sarmya, Ra'aboun, al-Makhrez and al-Muradiya in the eastern countryside of Hama were also liberated. Army troops further killed a number of militants and dismantled explosive devices planted by terrorists in the recaptured areas. Elsewhere in Aleppo Province, the Syrian air force bombed Daesh hideouts in Afash, Deir Qaq, Aisheh, al-Hader and al-Bab areas, killing a number of militants and destroying their vehicles and equipment. The army also targeted al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front positions in Karm al-Tarab, al-Sheikh Lutfi, Salah Eddin, al-Rashidin and Bani Zaid neighborhoods of Aleppo. Also on Thursday, Syrian forces killed at least 15 militants in Tir Ma'ala district of Homs Province. Daesh positions were also bombed in al-Qaryatin and Marmalit al-Qaryati areas. In the province of Quneitra, Syrian soldiers liberated the strategic village of Samadaniyah following a gun battle with the extremists operating there. Pro-government forces further stormed the so-called Dar' al-Islam militant group's positions in Dara'a Province, killing or injuring scores of its members. The conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people and left over one million injured, according to the United Nations. The UN says 12.2 million people, including more than 5.6 million children, remain in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria. The foreign-sponsored militancy has also displaced 7.6 million people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army Attacks Daesh in Damascus and Deir Ezzur Sputnik News 21:14 01.01.2016(updated 21:15 01.01.2016) Syrian government forces have killed scores of terrorists in attacks on Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra positions in Damascus and in eastern Syria, reported Iran's news agency FARS. Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists have come under heavy attack from the Syrian Army and allied forces in recent days, Iran's Fars News reported on Friday. Dozens of Jabhat al-Nusra militants were killed in assaults on their positions in eastern Damascus, and the Liwa Fajr al-Ummah jihadi group were attacked at their command center in the northeast of Damascus. "Several explosions occurred as a result of the army attack, which left many terrorists dead or wounded,' Syrian Army sources told Fars. 'The terrorist groups had stored a large volume of ammunition inside the site, and the first explosion caused the other explosions in the depot." In the city of Deir Azzur in eastern Syria, several Daesh terrorists were killed by mortar attacks and airstrikes on their positions by the Syrian security forces. "The Syrian Army targeted the ISIL terrorists' gatherings in al-Jurah and al-Rasafah districts in the Southeastern outskirts of Deir Ezzur city, claiming the lives of several militants,' said army sources. 'The ISIL terrorists left behind their dead and injured members and retreated forces." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army Advances on Islamist Militants Near Golan Heights Sputnik News 08:51 01.01.2016(updated 10:48 01.01.2016) The Syrian troops and the National Defense Forces have reportedly managed to regain control of a strategic village from militants in the country's southwestern province of Quneitra, most of which is located in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The village of Samadaniyah in the southwestern Syrian province of Quneitra has been recaptured by the country's army with the help of the National Defense Forces, media reports said. The strategic village was recaptured after a gun battle with Islamist rebels in Quneitra on Thursday, a fighting that left dozens of militants killed and many more wounded. In another development on Thursday, scores of Daesh militants were killed in armed clashes with the Syrian forces in the city of Deir ez-Zor, 450 kilometers (280 miles) northeast of the capital Damascus. Meanwhile, about 157 wanted militants have reportedly turned themselves in to the Syrian authorities in the provinces of Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus. 'The Syrian government has vowed to pardon all those who lay down arms voluntarily and it has remained loyal to its pledge so far, and this has encouraged us to give up fight, especially considering that the government troops, National Defense Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah who also enjoy the air backup of the Syrian and Russian air forces has gained momentum in its battlefield victories,' the Iranian news agency FARS quoted one of those who surrendered in Damascus last month as saying. The Russian air campaign was launched on September 30, 2015, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Late in December, Russian Defense Ministry officials said that Russian fighter jets had completed a total of 5,240 sorties since the start of the air operation against Daesh militants in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address What the Death of a Top Syrian 'Moderate' Jihadi Really Means Sputnik News 20:33 01.01.2016(updated 21:44 01.01.2016) Last week, Syrian officials announced that an airstrike had killed Zahran Alloush, the leader of the powerful terrorist group Jaysh al-Islam. With much of the Western media rolling out bizarre eulogies to the 'moderate' jihadist, Israeli daily newspaper Maariv, thankfully, took a more balanced approach. On December 25, the Syrian Army confirmed that Zahran Alloush, the leader of the Jaysh al-Islam ('Army of Islam'), a terrorist group operating in the suburbs of Damascus had been killed in an airstrike. Considered one of the most prominent leaders of the armed Syrian opposition, Alloush was the head of a powerful militant group consisting of up to 15,000 fighters notorious for its war crimes. Jaysh al-Islam's repeated shelling of Damascus and its suburbs with mortar rounds, its military cooperation with the al-Nusra Front, and its brutality toward opponents (including public executions of prisoners, and the parading of civilian women around in metal cages) has led to the group being compared with the Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorist group. According to the Syrian Army, Alloush and representatives of other Islamist terrorist groups including Suqour al-Sham and the al-Nusra Front were killed during negotiations on the formation of a terrorist coalition against government forces. Amazingly, although perhaps not surprisingly, much of the Western media rushed to eulogize Alloush and his 'moderate' Islamist rebels, the Wall Street Journal suggesting that his death 'imperiled planned peace talks,' France24 running the headline 'In death, Syrian rebel chief haunts peace hopes,' and CNN lamenting that his death 'casts doubt over Bashar al-Assad's intentions.' The US State Department, meanwhile, suggested that Alloush's death sent the 'wrong message' when it comes to the political dialogue aimed at ending the Syrian conflict. So just who was this terrorist, and why was his liquidation such an apparent blow to the opponents of the Syrian government? According to Israeli Arab affairs analyst Jacky Hugi, who recently wrote an interesting analysis in Israeli daily newspaper Maariv, 'Alloush was,' for a number of reasons, 'one of the most fascinating and prominent rebel commanders, complicating the lives of government troops, causing them heavy losses and disrupting daily life in the capital, Damascus.' Beginning with a brief biography of the militant, the analyst explained that Alloush, a Sunni Muslim born in the city of Duma near Damascus, 'grew up in a religious home, his father, Sheikh Abdullah Alloush, considered one of the leaders of the Salafi movement in the outskirts of the Syrian capital. Zahran received a master's degree in Islamic theology at the University of Damascus, and then went to Saudi Arabia, where he deepened his study at the University of Medina. Following his father's footsteps, Zahran preached in mosques and at meetings on the merits of a strict religious life.' The future rebel commander's sermons, the analyst noted, 'were peppered with politics,' which got him in trouble with the authorities. 'He was first arrested under Hafez Assad, when he was 16 years oldIn 2010, a year before the Syrian civil war began, he was again arrested and imprisoned at the Sidnaia prison for incitement against the regime.' 'Three months after the beginning of the unrest [in 2011], Alloush was released from prison as part of a goodwill gesture by the Syrian governmentHe realized that the time had come to attack the regime, and he did not waste time, creating an armed organization known as the Liwa al-Islam ('Brigade of Islam'), and attacking the military under the guise of the bloody events that unfolded in the south of Syria.' 'After some time,' Hugi noted, 'the Saudis made contact with Alloush and began financing the activities of his militia, as they had other organizations fighting against Assad. With time and generous Saudi support, his group grew, and changed its name to Jaysh al-Islam.' This militant group, the analyst explained, 'truly is a real army, with at least 10,000 fighters in its ranks and, according to some sources, up to 15,000. They have armored vehicles, air defense and artillery. Unlike Daesh, which gathered Muslims from all over the world, all of Alloush's soldiers are Syrians. Under his tenure, the Jaysh al-Islam reached the peak of its power, capturing the plains of Damascus and firing artillery at the capital, aiming at military bases, but also causing death and destruction among the civilian population. In Damascus he was called Saffah ('gushing blood').' According to the journalist, who maintains that Russian aviation may have been involved in the operation to eliminate Alloush, 'it's no wonder,' given his record, that the militant became a major of target. 'Over the past two years, Jaysh al-Islam had become the main force in the 'Islamic Front', among the other opposition Islamist groups fighting against Assad not connected to DaeshHe and his supporters were considered the 'moderate' forces of the opposition camp however, everything is relative. The Turks, who like the Saudis, handled opposition groups in Syria, also supported him, although more modestly.' 'At times,' Hugi explains, 'there were indications that Alloush was extending feelers to establish contacts with US intelligence. The Obama administration, on the one hand, despaired over Daesh, and on the other, saw Assad as the cause of all of Syria's ills. The US, as usual, looked for allies in a Syria smoldering in conflict and saw in Zahran Alloush a strong leader, popular among the population, who made liberal statements. In reality, when Daesh sets the tone, the Salafist undercurrent behind Alloush also worried the Americans, but to a much lesser extent.' The analyst recalled a US media interview with Alloush, where the militant promised that 'if we overthrow the Assad regime, we will give the Syrian people the right to decide what kind of country they want to see.' 'The interview,' Hugi noted, 'was given before the Russian intervention, when his position was relatively strong. Asked how he would treat the Alawite minority (to which President Assad belongs), Alloush responded in a manner pleasant to the Western listener's ear, noting that 'different minorities have coexisted in Syria for hundreds of years. We will not impose our power on our minorities and will not deal with them in a harsh manner. On the contrary.'' Ultimately, the analyst explains, 'Alloush's liquidation became a heavy blow to his Saudi patrons, who have observed how, slowly but surely, their grand plans to overthrow the Assad regime and destroy the Shiite-Alawite bloc have suffered a collapse.' 'The Syrian-Russian-Iranian coalition continues to draw strength from a series of developments in its favor, with Moscow's intervention in the war three months ago serving as the main event. Equipped with modern weapons and unlimited ammunition, Russian aviation has struck Syrian [Islamist] opposition groups, the destruction of the leadership of Jaysh al-Islam being one of its priorities from the start, with Alloush himself becoming one of the main targets of Russian aviation and intelligence.' As for the Syrian president, Hugi noted, he recently 'won a diplomatic victory. After many long years of his opponents trying to persuade the UN Security Council to give the green light for an operation against Assad, on the model of the operation against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, the Security Council adopted a completely different resolution, stating that the Syrian people alone can determine their future, and any external intervention would be illegitimate. Moreover, in a year-and-a-half, Syria will hold parliamentary and presidential elections. Thus, terrorist groups, who number several dozen, will not be part of Syria's political future.' 'And while this resolution is largely declarative in nature, it was adopted unanimously. Moreover, it saw the removal of a point which had been on the agenda since the beginning of the civil war: the resignation of Bashar Assad. The UN Security Council thus, for the first time, determined the scope of the future format of the Syrian settlement, and it turned out that Assad could be part of it. The members of the Security Council, factually, declared that the main problem for Syria was not Assad, but terror.' In the final analysis, Hugi notes, Jaysh al-Islam's successor, 'who promised to follow the path laid by his predecessor, has an impossible task on his shoulders. His group has the task of trying to stop the Russian army, one of the strongest in the world, from destroying the organization.' Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President touts cross-strait peace as his crowning achievement ROC Central News Agency 2016/01/01 00:06:18 Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou () said the peaceful, prosperous and sustainable development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations has successfully turned the strait from a flash point into a peace avenue. In his New Year message, scheduled to be delivered Friday morning, Ma said since he took office as president in 2008, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have signed 23 agreements, their top cross-strait affairs officials have met seven times, and direct flights across the strait have zoomed from zero to 120 daily. Mutual trust has been accumulated to such an extent that on Nov. 7 of 2015, Ma said he and his mainland Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping () were able to meet in Singapore. He noted that the historic meeting between the top leaders of Taiwan and China was an indication that they had built a communication mechanism to settle disputes peacefully. 'It was a very positive example for the international community,' he added. It was based on his efforts to build and develop cross-strait ties that Taiwan was able to improve its relations with all foreign countries, including the United States, Japan, the European Union, and ASEAN countries, he said. Ma said 161 countries now offer visa-free preferential treatment to Republic of China passport holders and Taiwan maintains close ties with its 22 diplomatic allies. All of this is based on peaceful and stable cross-strait ties, which leads to what he calls 'modus vivendi' diplomacy -- a policy of not engaging the two sides of the strait in a competition of poaching the other's diplomatic allies. As a result, Taiwan has been able to offer humanitarian aids and promote peace in many parts of the world. He reminded the people of what Taiwan's diplomacy was like before he assumed office eight years ago: a 'fire setting' diplomacy that saw one after another of Taiwan's diplomatic allies moving their embassies to Beijing and international organizations refusing to allow Taiwan in. Ma said he was sure his 'modus vivendi' diplomacy was a correct direction for Taiwan if it wants to continue a benevolent cycle formed over the past seven-odd years. (By Hsieh Chia-chen and S.C. Chang) Enditem/BL NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Police Blame Second Crimean Power Outage On Sabotage January 01, 2016 by RFE/RL Ukrainian police are blaming saboteurs yet again for blowing up an electricity pylon that shut down electricity for at least one-quarter of the residents of Crimea. A previous power outage in November in the peninsula annexed by Russia also was blamed on sabotage. None of the culprits were ever identified or prosecuted. Police in Ukraine's Kherson region, which borders Crimea, said on December 31 that the only functional high-voltage line providing electricity to Crimea had been cut off by a blast. They said they are setting up a commission to investigate the matter. Ukrainian electricity company Ukrenergo said it was working to quickly restore power. Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov denounced the incident as a 'terrorist attack.' The latest outage comes as the power supply contract between Ukrenegro and Crimea is expiring. Whether to renew the contract has become a politically charged question. Russian Energy Minister Aleksander Novak said December 31 that Kyiv was insisting that future contracts must refer to Crimea as 'a territory of Ukraine,' something Moscow does not accept. Aksyonov also ruled that out, saying, 'I consider it unacceptable' and calling Ukrainian authorities 'blackmailers and terrorists who lie to people saying that Crimea will return to Ukraine. This will never happen.' Novak said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an opinion poll to be conducted among Crimeans asking if they agreed to be considered part of Ukraine or would accept 'temporary difficulties' for three or four months by refusing to renew the contract. Russia has promised to bring new power supplies by undersea cable in the spring. Crimea, which before the annexation relied on Ukraine for at least 70 percent of its electricity, suffered a severe blackout at the end of November after unidentified saboteurs blew up pylons supplying it with power. Russia at that time boosted its supplies to the region and flew in emergency generators. Power from Ukraine was only partially restored after a few weeks and has made up a smaller share of the peninsula's power supply since then. Novak said Crimeans would be better off completely cutting the ties to Ukraine. 'Ukraine has for a long time disrespected the contract for power supplies to Crimea,' he said. 'We have seen electricity pylons blown up, some armed mavericks who allegedly did not allow repairs to them, and lots of other nonsense.' Crimea's Fuel and Power Minister Svetlana Borodulina said the peninsula had lost at least one quarter of its power because of the latest cut-off. The region, home to 2 million people, is now running on just 700 megawatts of electricity per day compared with between 950 to 1,000 megawatts per day before the outage, she said. After the previous outage, Russia boosted supplies to the region to 400 megawatts per day by rushing to complete two undersea cables carrying power to the peninsula. Officials and local residents said the problems caused by the incident were so far relatively minor. However, in Sevastopol, authorities were forced to impose rolling blackouts cutting electricity every three hours to save power. Borodulina advised Crimean residents to economize on electricity and take precautions such as preparing meals for New Year celebrations early, as intermittent power cuts were expected. Russia aims to complete two more undersea cables in the spring, with the goal of making Crimea independent of Ukrainian electricity. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, Interfax, and TASS Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukrainian-police-blame- second-crimean-power-outage-on-sabotage/27461403.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuanian English Elektrenai, Lithuania, 2015-12-31 15:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lietuvos energijos gamyba, AB (company code 302648707, registered office address of the Elektrines st. 21, Elektrenai; the Company) informs that on 31 December 2015 Supervisory Board of the Company adopted a decision to elect Mr. Mindaugas Kveksas as Member of the Board of the Company starting from today until the end of the term of office of the present Board. Mr. Kveksas will be responsible for the fields of finance and administration. A graduate of Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Mr. Kveksas has worked at the Company as Head of Finance Division since January 2014. Before that, for almost seven years he worked as an assistant manager in the fields of audit and transactions and restructuring at KPMG Baltics, UAB. The new member of the Board was elected after the recall of Ms. Egle Ciuzaite from the post of a member of the Companys Board from 2 December 2015. Ms. Ciuzaite became member of the Board of AB Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO). After the new member joined the Board, there are now five members serving on the Companys Board: Mr. Juozas Bartlingas (Chairman of the Board), Mr. Darius Kucinas (responsible for electricity and heat production management), Mr. Adomas Birulis (responsible for supervision of the Companys strategy and development projects), Mr. Vidmantas Salietis (responsible for the Company's trade activities on the electricity market) and Mr. Kveksas (responsible for financial and administration management). Student activism has made a comeback. With recent campus demonstrations against alleged racial discrimination and in favor of free college tuition, America may be facing a wave of student protest to a degree not seen since the 1960s. While the media focus on college campuses, very few journalists are acknowledging the activism that has been occurring at the high school level. Just in the past year, high school students across the country have protested against racist police brutality, curriculum changes, budget cuts, the expansion of charter schools, standardized tests and other youth-related issues. After the white police officers responsible for the 2014 deaths of unarmed black men Michael Brown and Eric Garner were not indicted, high school students across the country organized solidarity protests in Seattle; New York; Denver; Oakland, California; Minneapolis and Boston. In February, about 250 high school students in Santa Fe, New Mexico left school to protest constant testing and the states new mandated exam. In June, Milwaukee high school students walked out of class to protest against the county executive takeover of low-performing schools. And this fall, high school students in Allentown, Pennsylvania, organized a district-wide student walkout demanding the resignation of the superintendent, the inclusion of a student representative on the school board and summer youth employment opportunities. There were also student walkouts in Chicago; Berkeley, California and Philadelphia that occurred this fall. High school activism is not limited to disruptive activities. Numerous youth organizations operate around the country to tackle issues concerning school closures, at-risk youth and the school-to-prison pipeline, among others. It would be naive to assume that every student involved in these protests understands and cares about the issues, but it would be equally naive to argue that they are puppets serving adults ulterior motives. Too often, authority figures refuse to give youth activism respect because they assume that children cannot think for themselves. Even more pernicious, authority figures often belittle childrens grievances by arguing that youth activism is the work of outside agitators or claiming that students protest simply to skip school. Considering the constant labeling of todays youth as narcissistic and obsessed with their digital devices, it is disappointing that most adults do not appreciate youth activism. As long as the cultural belief that children should be seen, not heard continues, students voices will remain absent from discussions about school policies. This recent wave of activism in high schools is not without precedent. Indeed, it is reminiscent of the often forgotten 1960s and 1970s high school student movement. With the exception of the 1968 East Los Angeles blowouts, a series of walkouts conducted by Chicano high school students, high school activism from this era has faded from public memory. This is unfortunate, because high school activism has taken place in almost every major U.S. city, as well as in some suburban and rural areas. It has occurred in public, private, parochial and boarding schools. In 1969, the National Association of Secondary School Principals surveyed more than 1,000 public and private school principals about social unrest in secondary schools. The survey revealed that 56 percent of junior high schools and 59 percent of high schools reported disturbances. SHARE Advisers also warn about too much hurry By Teresa F. Lindeman PITTSBURGH Karen Litzinger is sometimes brought in by companies when they're planning to lay people off. The career counselor in suburban Pittsburgh serves as a neutral third party who can give workers information on resources available to help them find new positions. She has no illusions that her presence will fend off the dismay and fear that often roils people as they absorb the hit. "Even when people know there's a rumbling of possible downsizing, it's still a bit of a shock because there it is. It's happening," Litzinger said. The recession officially ended years ago, but Chicago outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. recently calculated that U.S.-based firms are on pace this year to cut the most jobs since 2009, when 1.3 million layoffs were tallied. It's hard to be prepared for such a moment, but there are things that workers should do when it comes. Joe D'Anna, career consultant at the nonprofit Jewish Family & Children's Service's Career Development Center in Pittsburgh, advises getting as much as possible in writing quickly. If the employee is entitled to severance, get that in writing. Details on health insurance and bonuses are also important. If possible, get bosses or colleagues to write reference letters that can be included later in a package with a resume. Beyond taking steps like filing for unemployment benefits, career counselors have some additional advice for the recently laid-off. First, don't be in an all-fired rush to start looking for a job, and don't get caught in the trap of hitting send, send, send to get the resume out into the black hole of the Internet, Litzinger said. "The first thing is not to take too much action," she said. It takes a little time to process the emotions that follow a job loss. Counselors like to refer to psychologist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and her work on the stages of grief. That work wasn't specifically targeted to the job market, but thinking about things like shock, denial, bargaining, anger and acceptance fit these scenarios well. Many laid-off workers go through a denial phase in which they think, "Oh, they'll call me back," D'Anna said. Then they reach the acceptance level and decide it's time to move on. That first emotional period can be a good time to think about whether you're in the right field. Did you even like that job? Take time to assess what you'd rather be doing. Litzinger said it can take training and time to shift career paths, but some people find it's worth the effort. Networking is the most productive way to find new employment not sending resumes to chase openings posted on the Internet, she said. Once the job search begins in earnest, Litzinger recommends that clients spend about 30 hours a week focused on finding new work, with at least 50 percent of that time devoted to networking. That might mean going to industry events, participating in conversations on social media site LinkedIn, or having coffee with friends and people who can talk about a particular company or field. It's important to have the right attitude. Employers often don't want to hire someone who is bitter and negative one reason to allow time to work through those difficult emotions before venturing out. Job seekers also shouldn't focus too much on using those meetings over coffee to ask if there are openings, Litzinger said. Just take the time to learn about what they're doing and what skills are needed for certain jobs. If people hear about something that's open, they'll likely bring that up on their own, she said. Job hunters should pay attention to their own health and well-being. Litzinger advises exercising, eating healthy foods and volunteering an hour or two a week. Sometimes volunteering can help in the job search if the field is related or if it creates something purposeful to talk about with potential employers as the hunt drags on. But even if it doesn't, it can feed the need to feel productive, she said. The way that many employers hire has changed in recent years, said D'Anna, who noted he's seen a spike in companies bringing people in on a project basis or as temporary employees. Companies like doing that because they can more easily shift their workforces as business changes and they can identify good employees. People used to a full-time job with benefits might find it less secure. Even if a potential layoff isn't looming, Litzinger advises workers to keep their skills up to date. "You always have to be thinking about your next job and building your next set of skills, because there is no job security in any field." SHARE Archiving is becoming a big business By Robert Lentz An employee says an old photo and comment about her on the company Facebook page amounts to defamation. A customer threatens to sue the company over an alleged promise made in a tweet. A worker insists the company's social media pages he oversaw led to growth and profits he's entitled to share. In each case, having archives of social media postings could help the business avoid legal trouble. But many employers think of social media as an online whiteboard, not as a repository of official company documents that must be saved and cataloged. The problem: Social media content never truly disappears from the consciousness of those who might use it to harm a business. Think of social media posts as being email messages by other means. While messages from a company email address reside on the company server, social media posts are trickier. Advice to managers: Work with your information technology department to draft policies and procedures on archiving social media content that is sponsored or supported by the company. Assign posting and retention roles to specific employees, and make sure those people follow these rules: Include a statement of record retention on social media sites. Example: "This is the Facebook page for ABC Enterprises. Comments posted on it, and messages received through it, are archived." Document who approved the creation of a social media account, and who owns the rights to material created for and posted through it. Include social media tasks in a job description so when an employee leaves, the tasks stay with that job, not any one person who might claim ownership of followers or original material. Never simply delete user comments or fan-generated content. Store the comments or additions in a Word document, capturing as much context as necessary for possible future examination. Don't rely on screen shots as an archiving technique. They produce a picture of content, but not the related functionality, metadata, nor full context. Social media archiving is becoming big business use it. Providers like ArchiveSocial, FreezePage and Recollect have the means to preserve everything that gets posted. Even free apps like Mozilla Firefox's ArchiveFacebook and SiteSucker for Mac can help. Facebook and Twitter themselves provide steps to download your archives. Another method: Adjust a social media account's email settings so notifications of all activity are sent to your inbox. Projectionist Reece Thornbery, 38, rewinds a 70mm reel of Quentin Tarantino's latest movie "The Hateful Eight," while working in the projection room at the Music Box Theatre Saturday Dec. 26 2015, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) SHARE This photo provided by The Weinstein Company shows, Kurt Russell, from left, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Bruce Dern, in a scene from the film, "The Hateful Eight," directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie opens in U.S. theaters on Jan. 1, 2016. (Andrew Cooper/Weinstein Company via AP) By Patrick M. OConnell Chicago Tribune (Tns) CHICAGO To show Quentin Tarantino's latest movie, "The Hateful Eight," theaters have needed to do more than simply dim the lights and make sure the popcorn doesn't burn. The movie was released exclusively on 70 millimeter film, a premium format more at home in the 1960s than contemporary suburban multiplexes, where nearly every picture is distributed in digital form. The movie's release think reels of printed film and the red-carpet premieres of Hollywood yesteryear requires special projectors, equipment and human operators. With film projectors largely a relic of the past, especially at suburban multiplexes, showcasing the film in front of holiday crowds took nearly a year of work behind the scenes to ensure there were enough projectors and staff to show the "The Hateful Eight" in its original form. Experienced projectionists, including those on staff at Chicago's Music Box Theatre, fanned out to theaters across the country to make sure the film launched with as few complications as possible. In venues usually the exclusive home of digital cinema, the projectionists helped set up the film, monitor the projector, maintain the equipment and troubleshoot any problems. "You want everything to go right," said Justin Dean, 27, a staff projectionist at the Music Box who was dispatched to a multiplex in the Milwaukee suburbs to run and supervise the showing of the 70 mm film there. The 70 mm project has been managed by Boston Light & Sound, which was hired by The Weinstein Co., which is distributing the movie, to ensure that theaters would be able to show "The Hateful Eight" in Tarantino's preferred Ultra Panavision form. Chapin Cutler, co-founder of Boston Light & Sound and the supervising project manager for "The Hateful Eight" 70 mm equipment and projectionist rollout, said his company has worked since last January to find and refurbish old 70 mm projectors, help find professional projectionists and make sure each theater has a supply of backup parts for the equipment in case anything goes wrong. The difference between showing a movie using a digital projector and a 70 mm film production is stark, Cutler said. "It's like saying I've got two vehicles: one's a car and one's a boat. They both provide transportation. But it's not the same at all," Cutler said. The 70 mm version of "The Hateful Eight," clocking in at three hours with an overture and intermission, was released on Christmas on about 100 screens nationwide. (A digital version comes out this week.) Most of those screens are tucked inside giant multiplexes, where film projectors and the people who ran them were pushed aside by cheaper, less work-intensive digital projection more than a decade ago. Only a few venues, such as the Music Box, which also is showing the film, still have the technical ability and knowledgeable staff needed to show a 70 mm film. "Projecting film, any film format in any professional environment, requires a projectionist with specialized skills," said Justin Dennis, the principal engineer at Kinora, a Chicago-based company that works on movie theater installations and helped theaters, including the Music Box, prepare for "The Hateful Eight" 70 mm production. The Music Box has installed a new 40-foot screen and updated its sound system for the release. The newest digital projectors, which revolutionized the way movies are distributed and shown, rely only on digital files that can play movies essentially at the touch of a button. But Tarantino's newest film, a violent Western featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh, is just that an actual film that requires old-school movie projectors with print reels and a person to supervise the equipment to make sure everything plays properly. To play the 70 mm film, engineers and projectionists set up the projectors at theaters, and in most cases the reels of film arrived preassembled so the movie can play uninterrupted from a film "platter," a system that feeds the film into the projector without the need for changeovers or rewinding. At the Music Box, "The Hateful Eight" is running reel to reel, so operators change the film between projectors every 40 minutes. What's all the fuss and extra effort about? Film buffs and projectionists say seeing a movie on film, especially in the 70 mm format, is a more enriching experience than watching a digital movie. Colors pop, contrasts are highlighted, details come to life. Panavision camera lenses, in particular, capture images on 70 mm in an aspect ratio of 2.76:1, meaning there is 2.76 feet of width for every foot of height. Most of today's movies are shot in ratios of either 1.85:1 or 2.39:1, meaning the 70 mm "The Hateful Eight" is a wider, more panoramic film. Though that wider format will be preserved in the digital release, those involved say the film version is an overall richer viewing experience. "It's quite honestly a big deal," said Dean, who was hired by Boston Light & Sound to help with the 70 mm showing at the Marcus Majestic multiplex in Waukesha, Wis. "The image quality is substantially better, not just better compared to a high-resolution digital image, but you can see more details, it looks less pixelated. When you see something in 70 mm, it is quite different-looking in a really stunning way." Julian Antos, 23, technical director at the Music Box, said even casual moviegoers can notice a difference between a digital movie and a 70 mm version, and it's worth it see it on film. "It's incredibly beautiful when it's done well," Antos said. "To use the 'Spinal Tap' reference, it's film turned up to 11. It's a lot sharper, it's brighter. It has this incredible texture." But movies released or shown on film are rare these days, and the number of people with knowledge about the art form and the gadgetry to run it has dwindled since the time when every movie theater needed a staff projectionist. "It's definitely a strange time to do this as a career," said Music Box projectionist Rebecca Lyon, 32, who has worked at the theater since 2007. "It's just a really small community." Chicago has a strong scene of projectionists, Lyon said, but finding people willing to operate a mixture of audio-visual and technical equipment for $12 an hour can be a challenge. "You're left with the people who really care about it," she said. Lyon hopes there still are movie lovers who enjoy the true film experience, the noticeable differences in image quality and the visual pleasure that comes from watching a film. "Tarantino has been a real advocate of shooting on film and exhibiting on film," Lyon said. "He really cares about that. That's the kind of film experience he was trying to bring back with these shows. If it's done well, it can show people how beautiful it can be, and what an experience going to the movies together with a bunch of people, seeing something on celluloid, how incredible it can be." SHARE The Standard-Times publishes news of special events and programs. We do not accept items detailing regular weekly sermons or schedules. Items will be run only once. Church news can be submitted by email at standard@gosanangelo.com or by fax to 325-659-8133. Forms also are available in the Standard-Times lobby from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deadline for submission next week is Wednesday before the date of publication. Dates, times, address and a publication number are required. Aglow International Aglow International will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ministerial Alliance, 1100 MLK Dr. Praise and worship will be led by Rudy Castenada. Call 325-224-4560 for more information. Belmore Baptist Belmore Baptist Church, 1214 S. Bell St., will begin Children's Church for 2016 at 10:50 a.m. Sunday for age 4 through grade 5 and meets in the Fellowship Hall. The church will begin a DVD study of "The Case for Faith" at 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 325-651-4661 for more information. First Presbyterian First Presbyterian Church, 32 N. Irving St., will have one combined service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Communion will be served. Sunday school for all ages will begin at 10 a.m. Call 325-655-5694 for more information. First United Methodist First United Methodist Church, 37 E. Beauregard Ave., will hold an Epiphany party for children 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday in the Crossroads basement. Call 325-655-8981 for more information Howard Lipin/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS Dr. Jessica Wang-Rodriguez is the chief of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in La Jolla, Calif., and is a lead researcher on a new study showing e-cigarettes damage cells in a way that could lead to cancer. (Howard Lipin/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) SHARE Study by VA San Diego Healthcare By Bradley J. Fikes SAN DIEGO Heavy exposure to electronic cigarette vapor damages DNA in cell cultures, causing genetic instability that could lead to cancer, according to a study by VA San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego, researchers. Moreover, even nicotine-free vapor induces this damage, indicating that other substances in e-cigarettes can damage cells, the study stated. The study won't come close to scientifically settling whether e-cigarettes represent a great new danger, a harmless diversion or something in between. It does provide more grounds for suspicion that e-cigarettes are not entirely benign, and carry health risks of an unknown magnitude. Worldwide attention has been focused on e-cigarettes as a possible means of weaning smokers off tobacco, or alternatively as a new public health menace. But since e-cigarettes became popular scarcely a decade ago, there hasn't been time to collect long-term evidence, such as the population studies that linked smoking to lung cancer. The study was published Monday in the journal Oral Oncology. Weg M. Ongkeko was the senior author on the research team, and Vicky Yu was first author. The new research doesn't prove that the damage takes place in people, because it was performed only in cell cultures, said Laura Crotty Alexander, one of the research team study authors. But it strongly suggests such an effect takes place. Further work is needed to confirm this damage, and at what levels of exposure to e-cigarette vapor the damage kicks in. She has previously conducted e-cigarette research indicating that the vapor makes the "superbug" MRSA harder to kill. An even bigger question, whether e-cigarettes are as bad for one's health as regular cigarettes, also isn't answered in the study, Crotty Alexander said. That question bedevils public health advocates who are wrestling with the issue of how to deal with e-cigarettes. In a statement that made headlines around the world, Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, another study author, said e-cigarettes "are no better than smoking regular cigarettes." That statement was made in a press release picked up by reporters who didn't cite from the study itself. These press release rewrites were strongly criticized by other researchers. "To declare that smoking is no more hazardous than using e-cigarettes, a non-tobacco-containing product is a false and irresponsible claim," e-cigarette researcher Michael Siegel of Boston University told the Daily Caller. Siegel supports using e-cigarettes to get smokers to quit. Crotty Alexander said the evidence simply isn't definitive, in any direction. "The problem is that we really cannot say that the e-cigarettes are safer in humans," Crotty Alexander said. "I feel uncomfortable saying that e-cigarettes are equally bad or worse than conventional combustible cigarettes, but that is some people's opinion." The paper itself notes that cigarette smoke extract kills cells at a lower concentration than does e-cigarette vapor, Crotty Alexander said. And it kills more rapidly. "Because of the high toxicity of cigarette smoke extract, cigarette-treated samples of each cell line could only be treated for 24 h(ours)," the study stated. Cells were exposed to extracts containing 1 percent e-cigarette vapors in a number of tests, one of which is called a "neutral comet assay" that measures DNA damage. The e-cigarette extract was tested for eight weeks on a cell line representing normal epithelial tissue, and for one week on two cell lines representing cancers. The extract-containing liquid was replaced every three days. Results showed a statistically significant increase of up to 1.5-fold in DNA strand breaks, as compared to an untreated control cell culture. Whether e-cigarettes are harmful and should be avoided can't be answered with a simple yes or no. The evidence on harm is hotly disputed in the scientific literature. And that evidence is minuscule, compared to the copious evidence about the harm from tobacco. If vaping is harmful, but less so than smoking cigarettes, then smokers who switch to e-cigarettes are making a healthy choice. But non-smokers who take up the habit would be harming their health. While cigarettes were invented in the 19th century, e-cigarettes became popular only about 10 years ago. Prototypes were developed in the 1960s, but Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, is credited with developing the first modern e-cigarette, in 2003. So long-term data on the risks or benefits of vaping simply doesn't exist. And the implications of using e-cigarettes depend on who is vaping, and one's personal values. E-cigarettes come in innumerable configurations, including single-use models and more expensive reusable kinds with rechargeable batteries and refillable reservoirs. They can be bought in liquor stores or specialty vape shops dedicated to vast array of hardware used by aficionados. This hardware inspires a devotion not unlike hot rod or computer fans. They all contain a reservoir for the flavored juices, an atomizer that vaporizes the liquid, a battery that powers the atomizer, and a mouthpiece for inhaling the vapors. Some of the criticism takes aim at the vast and lightly regulated market for the liquids, which are made with nicotine in varying levels and no nicotine at all. They contain various flavoring agents which are not well understood. "The specific substances in e-cig liquids are still under investigation, as many formulations are proprietary information. However, our findings are consistent with previous assessments of e-cig effects on pulmonary tissue and cell lines, which implicated flavoring compounds as primary toxicants within e-cigs," the study stated. People who have quit smoking within the last year are four times more likely to use e-cigarettes daily than current smokers to use e-cigarettes daily, according to a study led by Rutgers University researchers released in November. The researchers say this is evidence that e-cigarettes help smokers quit. And a study by Public Health England released in August found that e-cigarettes are 95 percent less harmful than smoking and can help smokers quit. However, a study released in August 2014 found that the number of middle- and high school student nonsmokers who used an electronic cigarette in the previous year tripled in two years. The number rose from 79,000 in 2011 to 263,000 in 2013, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The danger, say e-cigarette foes, is that adolescent nonsmokers who take up vaping will find it easier to start smokingthe supposed "gateway" effect marijuana is blamed for leading those who inhale to try narcotics. Sometimes, the same study can be characterized in opposite ways about e-cigarette risks or benefits. That's the case with the National Institute of Health's 2015 Monitoring the Future survey, released Dec. 16. Michael Siegel, the Boston University researcher, said the MTF study refuted the CDC's claims that vaping leads to smoking. "First, the MTF survey revealed that despite the huge number of youth using electronic cigarettes and the dramatic increase in use of e-cigarettes by youth over the past four years, the rate of youth smoking has declined dramatically during the same time period. Moreover, the decline in smoking continued from 2014 to 2015," Siegel wrote on his blog. Siegel was responding to a statement from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that said the CDC study indicated e-cigarettes threaten progress against tobacco products. "For the second year in a row, the survey finds that significantly more teens reported using e-cigarettes than regular cigarettes in the past 30 days," the campaign said. It also said e-cigarette makers irresponsibly market to children, by providing "kid-friendly flavors, such as gummy bear, cotton candy and watermelon." Vaping supporters responded on Twitter to the VA-led study, saying that it's actually a benefit that e-cigarette liquids preferentially kills cancer cells. They also pointed to the sentence in the study about the difficulty of comparing the effect of vaping liquids to that of cigarette smoke because of the latter's high toxicity. Another limitation of the study, which Wang-Rodriguez said she plans to address in future research, is that it tested lab-grown cells, which may not give the same results as cells living inside a person. Crotty Alexander said a new study on whole animals is under way. This should give results more representative of what would be seen in people. While human testing would be ideal, it runs into moral problems, Wang-Rodriguez said. Exposing people to suspected carcinogens would be ethically wrong. That problem wouldn't apply if current e-cigarette users were recruited. But even a direct study in humans would be more limited than animal studies. "It's harder to take a tissue sample of their lung," she said. "But I think a population or epidemiologic study is worth doing." CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JAY ADKINS Pork muffins image from Corkyas cookbook. Photo courtesy of Jay Adkins SHARE BBQ shrimp and potatoes CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JAY ADKINS Samores pie image from Corkyas cookbook. Photo courtesy of Jay Adkins Kyle Kurlick/Special to Scripps Newspapers May 10, 2013 a Andy Woodman, Barry Pelts, Don Pelts and Jimmy Stovall are releasing a cookbook they wrote that features Corkyas style recipes. (Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal) Employees, customers offer their recipes By Jennifer Biggs Scripps Newspapers MEMPHIS, Tenn. ? Barry Pelts wants to make something clear about his new cookbook: "Let's face it. We're not Kelly English. We're not Wolfgang Puck. We're just folks. These aren't chef-driven recipes." Pelts, along with Andy Woodman and Jimmy Stovall, has just released "Cookin' with Corky's" (Favorite Recipes Press, $24.95), a collection of Southern recipes ? with, of course, a nod to barbecue. It happened like this. Corky's Cordova general manager Jimmy Stovall is the guy who sells Corky's products on QVC shows, including the popular show "In the Kitchen with David," with host David Venable. About two years ago, he was in the green room at QVC in West Chester, Pa., waiting for his call. Sheila Thomas of Collierville, a publishing consultant for Favorite Recipes Press in Nashville, was waiting for her call to go live for one of her cookbooks. "I was just sitting there, waiting to go on with ribs, and she said ?Y'all should do a book sometime.' That was how it started," Stovall said. Of course, there's more to it than that. It could've been a chance meeting ? but it's possible that someone took care to put Thomas and Stovall in the same room, because QVC had approached Thomas about five years ago. "The QVC buyer said ?You need to talk Corky's into doing a cookbook.' When I talked to Jimmy, he said it would be ?awesome,' but he had to do a little sales pitch on the family," Thomas said. Pelts was skeptical. "I said, ?Look, we're a barbecue restaurant and we don't have that many recipes, and what we do have, we can't give out because we have franchisees.'" "But they said, ?You're a Memphis institution. Have you ever thought about doing a book with Memphis recipes?' Finally, Sheila said ?Let's do this thing.'" Pelts, who is Corky's co-owner with his brother-in-law and co-author Woodman, wanted the book to reflect the culture and history of the restaurant, which was founded by his father, Don Pelts, in 1984. So the call went out to employees and to customers: Send us your favorite recipes. Hundreds came. "We got so many that it took us a long time to narrow it down," Pelts said. "We had tasting parties, and it was pretty much the process of elimination." They ended up with 165 recipes, all credited in the book to the contributor, and Pelts says that all but a handful were ones he agreed with for the final cut. He has a sweet tooth ("I have dessert with every meal"), and particularly likes the S'mores Pie recipe; Stovall's favorite is Grits n' Q. Many of the recipes include Corky's brand products, though plenty don't and some have suggestions for substitutions. There's a section on cooking tips ? "Our Secrets" ? that provides grilling information for several meats and highly technical tips such as this one: Test your grill temperature by holding your hand just above the place you'll put your food. Start counting off "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi" and continue. At "2 Mississippi," the temperature is high, and it's low by 6. There's a chapter just for beans and slaw, the classic barbecue sides; one that includes sauces and rubs, another for dinners, desserts and so on. "They're all good, but everyone decided together over these tastings," Pelts said. "Well, my dad didn't come to all of them. He likes to make final decisions, though, so he was involved at the end. He was just glad to be part of it ? it was fun to him." Don Pelts started in the barbecue business when he purchased The Public Eye in 1974. He kept it for 10 years, and while he wanted to open Corky's, it had to happen in the building at 5259 Poplar. "Literally, it would not have happened had this spot not opened. He was set on this being the spot," Barry Pelts said. But, oh, the irony. Another barbecue restaurant in the spot lasted only nine months. "When that failed and the place was available, my dad said it was time to open Corky's. His parents thought he was crazy, and my dad truly thought it was going to fail. He didn't think it would work, but he was going to give it his best shot, or go down swinging." His best shot was good enough. There are three Corky's in Memphis, and eight franchises. The Pelts family sold franchising rights in 1991, but bought them back last year. The QVC operation, which started about 15 years ago, is a huge part of the company's business. Stovall started with Corky's just out of college, "working the drive-thru for $5.25 an hour," and has risen through the ranks. Former pitmaster Robert Moye was the QVC personality who sold Corky's products when they first went on the air. Stovall traveled with him to West Chester for filming, and when Moye retired, he became the face behind the ribs. QVC had an exclusive on the cookbook until May 1, when it was released for sale by other outlets. More than 30,000 copies were presold. It's now available at Corky's locations, The Booksellers at Laurelwood, Burke's Books, various gift shops around town and online at corkysmemphis.com, qvc.com and amazon.com. Pelts said that corporate gift-giving accounts for a big portion of the sales, with local companies buying books to send to out-of-town customers. "Basically they're shipping a taste of Memphis that's not perishable," he said. Bar-B-Q Shrimp Two Ways Yields: 6 servings ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter A cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 4 to 6 limes) 4 springs fresh thyme 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon hot sauce 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 pounds extra-jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), shell on 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 loaf French bread or Peabody Potatoes (see recipe) -- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste) directions 1 If using a grill, prepare for medium-heat cooking. In a heavy-bottomed pot (set right on the grill or on the stove top over medium heat), combine the butter, lime juice, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, pepper, and salt. Cook until the butter has melted and the mixture begins to simmer. Add the shrimp and toss to coat with the sauce. Let cook 2 to 3 minutes until pink and done. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley. Serve either of the following ways: 2 Tommy's Way: Cut the bread in half lengthwise, drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and place cut-side down on the grill until toasted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve alongside the shrimp. 3 The Southern Way: Serve the shrimp over barbecued Peabody Potatoes. Peabody Potatoes Yields 8 to 10 servings ingredients 6 large russet potatoes 2/3 cup milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream A cup thinly sliced green onions (from about 3 green onions) 1 garlic clove, minced ? Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste) 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese directions 1 Peel and cube potatoes. Place the potatoes and a small amount of salted water in a large pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook, covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. 2 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cooked potatoes in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed. Add the milk and butter and beat until fluffy. Beat in the cream cheese, sour cream, green onions, and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 3 Transfer the photo mixture to a 2-quart round casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Grits n' Q Yields 6 servings. Ingredients 1 cup grits (instant, quick-cooking or stone-ground) 1/2 stick (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs, beaten 1 cup milk 4 ounces processed cheese, cubed 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese 3 dashes hot sauce (Tabasco preferred) 1 pound Corky's Bar-B-Q pork shoulder 1/2 cup Corky's Original Recipe Bar-B-Q sauce directions 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, cook the grits according to package directions. Take the pan off the heat, add the butter and salt and salt and stir to melt the butter. 2 In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and add the milk. Whisk a large dollop of the hot grits into the egg mixture to temper. Slowly add the milk and egg mixture to grits while stirring. Add the processed cheese, cheddar cheese and hot sauce to grits and stir until cheese melts. Place the pork shoulder in the bottom of a cast iron skillet or oven safe baking dish. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork and top with the cheese grits. Bake uncovered until heated through and browned on top, about 40 to 45 minutes. Pork Muffins Yields 12 muffins. ingredients 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted (no substitutions) 11/2 cups all-purpose flour 21/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup milk 1 large egg 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 pound Corky's Bar-B-Q pork shoulder, finely chopped 1 (18-ounce) bottle Corky's Original Recipe Bar-B-Q Sauce ? Nonstick cooking spray, oil, or butter directions 1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. To make the batter, combine the butter, flour, baking powder, sugar, milk, egg, vanilla, and cheese in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the pork shoulder with enough barbecue sauce to coat the meat well. 2 To make the muffins, take a well-greased muffin pan and place a teaspoonful of batter in the bottom of each cup. Follow with a tablespoonful of the meat mixture, and then cover with 2 teaspoons of batter. Repeat until all of the muffin cups are full. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before removing the muffins from the pan. Everett's Kicked-Back Lime Cooler Yields 6 servings. ingredients 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice 1 1/2 cups vodka 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from approximately 2 limes) 1 cup pineapple chunks 1 cup sugar 6 medium lime wedges for garnish, plus extra for moistening glass rims DIRECTIONS 1 Mix the pineapple juice, vodka, and lime juice in a large pitcher and chill until cold. Thread pineapple chunks onto a skewer. 2 Pour the sugar onto a large plate. Moisten the rims of serving glasses by rubbing them with the lime wedges, and dip the rims of the glasses in the sugar. Place a pineapple skewer in the glass, fill the glass with the vodka mixture, and serve. Garnish with an additional lime wedge. S'mores Pie Yields 8 servings. ingredients 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided 1 graham cracker pie crust 2 cups large marshmallows 2 cups miniature marshmallows 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk directions 1 Place the chocolate chips in a large microwaveable bowl with 1/2 cup of the heavy whipping cream. Microwave, uncovered, for 30 seconds on high. Remove from microwave and stir. Continue microwaving and stirring until the chocolate chips are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. 2 Place the remaining cup of heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl with the melted chocolate. Beat with an electric mixer set on high speed until thick. Spread the mixture in the graham cracker crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 3 Just before serving, set the oven to broil. Arrange all of the marshmallows on top of the pie and drizzle with the sweetened condensed milk. Broil with the top about 5 inches from the heating element, leaving the oven door open slightly and watching carefully so the pie does not burn. Remove from the oven as soon as the marshmallows turn golden brown and serve immediately. To cut more easily, run a serrated knife under hot water before making your cuts. Source, all recipes: "Cookin' with Corky's," Jimmy Stovall, Andy Woodman and Barry Pelts Associated Press photos A Muslim woman passenger comforts her baby on board the Rayani Air after departure from Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia, on Dec. 22. Malaysias Rayani Air took to the skies last month with a clear bailiwick. It is the countrys first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules including prayers, no-alcohol, no-pork meals, and a strict dress code for Muslim female flight attendants. Below: A Rayani Air flight crew member prays before departure. The short domestic flight began with a recital of Prophet Muhammads supplication before his travel. The passengers most of them Muslims cupped their hands, as a crew member murmured a short prayer over the loudspeaker just before take-off. SHARE In this Dec. 22, 2015, photo, Muslim travellers queue up in front of Rayani Air's check-in counter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia. The short domestic flight from Malaysiais biggest city Kuala Lumpur begins with a recital of Prophet Muhammadis supplication before his travel. The passengers - most of them Muslims - cup their hands, as a crew member murmurs a short prayer over the loudspeaker just before take-off. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) In this Dec. 22, 2015, photo, a Rayani Air flight crew walks down the aisle on board before departure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia. Malaysiais Rayani Air took to the skies over the weekend with a clear bailiwick. It is the countryis first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules including prayers, no-alcohol, no-pork meals, and a strict dress code for Muslim female flight attendants. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) In this Dec. 22, 2015, photo, a Rayani Air flight crew checks the luggage compartment before departure at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kelantan, Malaysia. Malaysiais Rayani Air took to the skies over the weekend with a clear bailiwick. It is the countryis first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules including prayers, no-alcohol, no-pork meals, and a strict dress code for Muslim female flight attendants. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) In this Dec. 22, 2015, photo, a Rayani Air flight crew serves refreshments after departure from Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia. Malaysiais Rayani Air took to the skies over the weekend with a clear bailiwick. It is the countryis first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules including prayers, no-alcohol, no-pork meals, and a strict dress code for Muslim female flight attendants. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul) By Eileen Ng And Syawalludin Zain KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia The short domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's biggest city, begins with a recital of Prophet Muhammad's supplication before his travel. The passengers most of them Muslims cup their hands, as a crew member murmurs a short prayer over the loudspeaker just before takeoff. Malaysia's Rayani Air took to the skies over the weekend with a clear bailiwick. It is the country's first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules, including prayers, no serving of alcohol or meals with pork, and a strict dress code for Muslim female flight attendants. The idea for Rayani Air grew out of much-publicized complaints by conservative Muslims who believed that two major air disasters for the national Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that went missing in March 2014 and Flight 17 downed a few months later over Ukraine were caused by Allah's wrath. Their solution: Airlines must adopt strict Islamic customs to avoid divine retribution. The reaction to the disasters, and the creation of the airline that operated its inaugural flight on Sunday, is an example of rising hard-line Islamic values in Malaysia, where Muslims account for about 60 percent of the country's 30 million people. "We are answering the call of many Malaysians who wanted an Islamic airline," Rayani's managing director, Jaafar Zamhari, told The Associated Press. "We are not talking about being a holy airline or flying to holy destinations. We just want to provide an alternative to travelers, but we are open to all races and religions." Ironically, the people who answered the call of conservative Islam and started Rayani Air are Hindus, perhaps an indication that a business opportunity knows no religious boundary. The founders of the airline, which currently flies to three domestic destinations using two Boeing 737s, are Ravi Alagendrran and his wife, Karthiyani Govindan. They used parts of their first names for the airline's name. Alagendrran or his wife couldn't be immediately reached for comments, but in remarks to local media, he had said that "anyone wishing to travel in a modest and alcohol-free environment will feel right at home." On a 55-minute flight Tuesday (delayed by two hours) from Kuala Lumpur to the northeastern city of Kota Baru, more than 100 passengers were greeted by Muslim female flight attendants wearing black headscarves, long pants and lime-green jackets. A prayer was recited before takeoff and passengers were served halal food, where animals are slaughtered according to Islamic procedures. At least one passenger said she chose the airline because of its Islamic credentials. "It's quite important for me because first of all, I am a Muslim, and second, Malaysia is an Islamic country," said Che Masnita Atikah, a 23-year-old student. "It's quite important to have this kind of airline to represent Malaysia and its image as an Islamic country." Rayani Air is the fourth Islamic airline in the world after Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran Air. Jaafar said that male and female passengers are not segregated, and that there is no dress code for travelers. "Even if they come in shorts, they are most welcome," he said. "We respect the differences among us." Kimberley Meyer/ Standard-Times An abandoned, unfinished amphitheater sits on a dirt lot located on the Yearning for Zion Ranch, Thursday in Schleicher County northeast of Eldorado. An aerial view of the ranch shows a lack of people and activity. The Texas Attorney General's office has taken legal action to seize the 1,600-acre YFZ Ranch. SHARE Kimberley Meyer/ Standard-Times A group of buildings that served as living quarters for FLDS members sit on the Yearning for Zion Ranch. An aerial view of the ranch Thursday shows a lack of people and activity. The Texas Attorney General's office have obtained a warrant to seize the 1,600 acre YFZ Ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kimberley Meyer/ Standard-Times The Texas Attorney General's office has obtained a warrant to seize the 1,600 acre YFZ Ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. An aerial view of the ranch shows decreased activity and fewer people on the ranch. Kimberley Meyer/ Standard-Times The Texas Attorney General's office sought a warrant to seize the 1,600 acre YFZ Ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. An aerial view of the ranch shows decreased activity and fewer people on the ranch than was apparent as recently as a year ago. Kimberley Meyer/ Standard-Times An abandoned, unfinished amphitheater sits on a dirt lot on the Yearning for Zion Ranch on Thursday in Schleicher County northeast of Eldorado. An aerial view of the ranch shows a lack of people and activity. The Texas Attorney General's office has taken legal action to seize the 1,600-acre YFZ Ranch. Child abuse is catalyst for move By Matthew Waller Flora Jessop came to Texas near the genesis of the YFZ Ranch. She went to Schleicher County a while after the purchase of the first lands in 2003, warning members of the community that a polygamist sect planned to establish a foothold. She said those who would come to live at the ranch later found to be hand-picked servants of the sect's "prophet" would abuse children. She had been a member of that group, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but she left and became a vocal opponent of the sect. With the Office of the Texas Attorney General moving to seize the ranch, saying that the numerous cases of child sexual assault perpetrated there make the property "contraband," Jessop feels vindicated yet again, but she is also worried. "It feels really good, but at the same time, it's kind of a double-edged sword," Jessop said a few days after the attorney general announcement. "It's wonderful they're taking the land so they can't perpetuate the crimes there. But it further displaces out family members and makes it harder to keep track of the children. In that respect, it's kind of a scary thing for us. ... In dealing with that issue, it has always been that way." The move against the ranch comes as the fruit of investigations that began about four and half years ago. In April 2008, the state got word of sexual assault allegations and raided the massive 1,600 plus-acre property. The call that sent law enforcement there turned out to be a hoax, as appellate courts later state as fact in published opinion, but law enforcement nevertheless gathered evidence that in the end convicted 11 of the FLDS men for crimes such as child sexual assault, bigamy and performing illegal marriage ceremonies. The state prosecuted nine of the FLDS men for child sexual assault, including leader and "prophet" Warren Jeffs, who is serving a sentence of life plus 20 years in the state's Palestine prison unit for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. "According to the affidavit, the YFZ Ranch was purchased on the orders of Warren Jeffs, who sought a rural location where the FLDS could operate a polygamist compound where the systemic sexual assault of children would be tolerated without interference from law enforcement authorities," a news release from the Office of the Texas Attorney General states. The affidavit for the civil suit claims the millions of dollars spent on the ranch, appraised at more than $28 million, came from what could be construed as the proceeds of money laundering, and it says bank statements associated with it were illegally structured to avoid reporting requirements. "Because the law includes due process protections for the owners of property that is the subject of a seizure warrant, the warrant and affidavits filed today mark only the beginning of the legal proceedings," the release states. State challenges The state could face a couple of hurdles in its move to seize the property. One is the argument that the entire ranch may have not been used to perpetrate the crime. "It wasn't the whole compound used for crime; my portion wasn't used for criminal activity" could be one defense, Texas Tech School of Law Criminal Law Professor Arnold Loewy said. "That might make their claims less likely to succeed." Fear for people on the ranch who are innocent also could arise, Loewy said. "One of my concerns is the impact on the innocent person," he said. Jerry Strickland, spokesman for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, said the move toward seizure "is not an eviction," and that there will be a hearing to address owners opposing the seizure. The number of people living at the ranch is unknown to outsiders, although Schleicher County officials said they've noticed a significant decrease in activity surrounding the ranch and FLDS business places at the nearby town of Eldorado. In 2008, at the time of the raid, there were at least 438 children living on the ranch. Concern for the innocent, such as Flora Jessop's worries about the displacement of children, are echoed by another former FLDS member, Isaac Wyler, who lives in Colorado City, Ariz., a major center for the sect. "I had mixed feelings. I look at a lot of the these people as innocent victims, even some of the men. They're not aware of what's going on," Wyler said. The YFZ Ranch nevertheless has been a place that required Warren Jeffs' special permission for access, court documents and former FLDS members have indicated. "A lot of the ones chosen to go down there do know what's going on," Wyler said, qualifying his statement. A church in conflict The government once authorized the seizure of property from people practicing polygamy. That was in 1890, when the U.S. Supreme Court said the state could take Mormon church property because it supported polygamy. Ken Driggs, an FLDS historian and attorney in Decatur, Ga., said the scenario with the YFZ Ranch resembles the old decision in that respect. The mainstream Latter Day Saints disavow the FLDS since they split in the late 1800s, given that the LDS Church stopped practicing polygamy in the late 1800s, and the FLDS still practice polygamy by marrying multiple "spiritual wives." The legal land troubles in Texas now join the legal hurdles in other parts of the country. Driggs and Wyler noted the legal proceedings that have been bouncing in Utah courts that concern whether FLDS should have control of a land trust valued at more than $110 million. The state took the trust from the church under allegations of mismanagement. "They're definitely going to feel like the world is coming to an end," Wyler said. "It's just unraveling around their heads." Driggs sees the loss of the ranch as a major blow to Jeffs' control. The "prophet" still makes mandates from prison, former FLDS members still close to the sect have said. "It gets harder and harder for them to operate if they lose that Texas foothold," Driggs said. As to what the state may do with the property, Strickland said it is too early to tell. The state can sell or operate forfeited property, according to Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, cited heavily in the 91-page state affidavit. Flora Jessop, who now lives in Phoenix, hoped that law enforcement might use whatever is gained for a good purpose, possibly helping abused children in some way. "I hope they will look into what that property could mean and how it could benefit anyone that is harmed," Jessop said. "It would be a start to healing." Standard-Times file Contractors Ruben De La Garza (left) and Zoilo Ibarra shovel the ground to level it out around the concrete Red Arroyo Trail in January. The 4-mile trail connects Knickerbocker Road and Sherwood Way. SHARE Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times file Capt. Mack Fox of the Tule Princess steers his 30-year-old steamboat across Lake Nasworthy in March, occasionally blowing the whistle for families fishing along the shore. Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times file Cowboys on horseback excite the crowd cheering them on as they near the end of the San Angelo Rodeo Parade in February. Standard-Times file Brennon Eldred, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, rides Cinch White Label for a score of 89.5 at the Cinch Shoot-Out. His score earned him first place in the bull riding contest. Carol Ann Bonds, superintendent with San Angelo ISD, greets friends and colleagues who came to wish her farewell at her retirement reception inside the SAISD boardroom. She announced her retirement in January. Red Arroyo trail work began; cotton harvest good By Rick Smith "This is a record-breaking year for us and the Concho Valley." As 2016 begins, we take a look back at the big events of 2015. Below are the memorable moments from the first quarter of the year, listed by the day they were published in the Standard-Times. JANUARY The new year started with ice, ice and more ice. Some snow for show. A little fog for effect. The new year took its time melting ice and snow on bridges and overpasses while the temperature held steady at "cold" and we West Texans wished for summer again. Jan. 19: En PleinAirTEXAS painted $125,000 in sales, with proceeds going toward the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts' educational activities. Jan. 20: Carol Ann Bonds, who led the San Angelo Independent School District through a monumental construction bond and state education funding unrest, announced she would retire. Jan. 27: San Angelo's planning commissioners held off on an ordinance change that would increase controls on frack sand moving and storage operations in San Angelo. Jan. 28: The annual Feast of Santa Angela celebration honored the past and celebrated women who strive to brighten San Angelo's future. The ecumenical service included Brenda Gunter, owner of Miss Hattie's Restaurant, and Rachel Beaver, co-founder of House of Faith. They were honored as women who "hold the spirit and help make San Angelo exceptional." FEBRUARY Feb. 1: Contractors worked on the Red Arroyo trail between Sherwood Way and Knickerbocker Road. The $3.9 million Red Arroyo Park includes a 4-mile-long, 15-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian trail. Feb. 3: An audience erupted with applause at the news that there will not be a sand depot on Hill Street near central San Angelo. Lee Pfluger, who owns the 5.5-acre lot, said "I took sand off the table because the community is fearful that this dust is going to cause them long-term harm." Feb. 15: The San Angelo Rodeo Parade was held in downtown San Angelo. Feb. 23: Rod Bridgman and his wife, Dennise Ferry Bridgman, sold their home and hotel, Sealy Flats, a mecca of music in San Angelo. Feb. 27: Some of the nation's top cowboys took part in at the Cinch Shoot-Out, which features top talents in bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, calf roping and women's barrel racing. Feb. 27: Retired Staff Sgt. G. Chris Campbell and his military family were welcomed to San Angelo, where they became owners of a custom-built home on the city's west side. A groundbreaking with Operation Finally Home, in partnership with A.B. Builders, welcomed the military family to San Angelo, where they will have a mortgage-free home. MARCH March 5: Thirty-six people pledged oaths to the United States in a naturalization ceremony at the O.C. Fisher Federal Building in downtown San Angelo. New citizens ranged from 20 to 92 years old. March 6: San Angelo was given the designation of a Texas Main Street town by the Texas Historical Commission at its annual winter meeting. March 7: March was a good year for cotton farmers. "This is a record-breaking year for us and the Concho Valley," said Paul Schwertner, manager of Mereta Co-Op Gin 19 miles east of San Angelo. "We set a new ginning record in 2007 with 63,320 bales. We are predicting to finish around 90,000 bales from the 2014." March 17: San Angeloan Johnny Garcia, 19, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a double shooting that killed Tabitha Freeman and Alvaro Carrillo. March 20: Capt. Mack Fox of the Tule Princess steered his steamboat across Lake Nasworthy, occasionally blowing the whistle for families fishing along the shore as it carried a small group of passengers across the lake for the first time. FILE - In this March 18, 2013, file photo, author George R.R. Martin arrives at the premiere for the third season of the HBO television series "Game of Thrones" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. In a Jan 2, 2016, blog entry, Martin acknowledges he missed the Dec. 31 deadline for the latest book in the "Game of Thrones" fantasy series, titled The Winds of Winter, and the finished novel is still months away. Game of Thrones, the HBO television season based on the novel will start airing in April 2016, while hes still writing. (Photo by Matt Sayles /Invision/AP, File) SHARE By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) Winter is not coming. "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin says he missed a Dec. 31 deadline to finish "The Winds of Winter," the latest book in his fantasy series. That means the HBO season based on that sixth novel will start airing in April, while he's still writing. The words "you won't like it" appeared Saturday on Martin's blog, reporting the missed deadline. Martin says he wanted to say he's delivered "The Winds of Winter" for publication, but estimates it'll take months more if all goes well. Martin apologized to fans eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series in which characters warn of impending doom with the phrase, "Winter is coming." And he says he's been working with HBO to ensure the series reflects the as-yet-unfinished book. Cooler, sunnier weather and a long New Year's weekend offer pleasant conditions for a boat ride in local waters. But mariners heading into the Intracoastal Waterway this week run the risk of running aground. The U.S. Coast Guard warns boaters that significant shoaling -- sand build-up that makes channels unpredictably shallow -- is happening throughout the waterway in Southeastern North Carolina. In a Dec. 23 news release, the Coast Guard's Portsmouth, Va., office advised boaters to use caution in the waterway. "Shoaling conditions increase the potential for vessel groundings, and any vessel grounding presents a significant risk of injury and vessel damage," the release stated. "These areas are subject to continual and sometimes rapid environmental changes." The worst shoaling has happened in parts of the waterway off Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow Counties. The Coast Guard advises special caution around mile markers 237 near Banks Channel in Onslow County, 271 near Black Mud Channel and New Topsail Inlet, 280 near Mason Inlet, and 321 near Lockwoods Folly Inlet. Coast Guard petty officer third class Joshua Canup said Thursday the shoaling warning was still in effect. Weather, tides and currents are among the reasons for the shoaling, he said. Though boaters should be careful, these areas remain open and navigable. To avoid getting grounded or damaging equipment, the Coast Guard recommends going slowly through high-risk areas. Boaters should travel at high tide in daylight hours, conduct pre-voyage planning and refrain from trying to overtake other boats in places with shoaling. Important biennial elections are at hand. But more than one-third of Greenwich registered voters 36 percent cant participate. Theyve chosen to exclude themselves from full participation in the democratic process. Thats the consequence perhaps unintended of their decision not to join a political party. Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, Connecticut voters who are registered in a political party will choose either in caucuses or an election their representatives to local party committees. Greenwich Democrats will hold district caucuses on Jan. 6, except for district 5, which meets on Jan. 11. The Greenwich Republican caucuses will all take place on Jan. 11. Local parties play a fundamental role in determining which candidates are on the ballot for local offices, and also in determining the delegates to conventions that select candidates for state offices and the U.S. Congress. The upcoming party caucuses are a critical element, a basic building block, in the democratic process. While candidate and delegate endorsements are open to primary challenges, party membership is a prerequisite for primary participation, including the presidential preference primary. According to the Registrars of Voters, as of Dec. 28, there were 11,026 unaffiliated voters in Greenwich, slightly less than the 11,761 registered Republicans, and considerably more than the 7,451 registered Democrats, with 332 voters categorized as other. More Information Caucus locations Democratic, 8 p.m., Jan. 6: District 1, Town Hall, Gisborne Room; District 2, Town Hall, cafeteria; District 3, Town Hall, Mazza Room; District 4, Byram Fire Station; District 6, First Congregational Church; District 7, Greenwich High School; District 8, Cos Cob Library; District 9, Western Greenwich Civic Center, Room 115; District 10, Round Hill Community House; District 11, North Street School; District 12, North Mianus School. District 5 meets Jan. 11, 8 p.m., at Riverside School. Republican, 7 p.m., Jan. 11: District 1, Town Hall, Probate Judge Conference Room; District 2, Town Hall, Town Clerk's Office, downstairs; District 3, Town Hall, Town Clerk's Office, back vault; District 4, Sokol Club; District 5, Riverside School, cafeteria; District 6, Old Greenwich School; District 7, Town Hall, cafeteria; District 8, Cos Cob School, auditorium; District 9, Glenville School, cafeteria; District 10, Glenville School, media center; District 11, North Street School, gymnasium; District 12, North Mianus School, cafeteria. See More Collapse Greenwichs unaffiliated figure reflects state and national trends. More than 40 percent of Connecticuts registered voters are unaffiliated, and 39 percent of American voters did not identify with a political party in 2014, the highest percentage in more than 75 years of polling, according to the Pew Research Center. Nationally, the unaffiliated voter percentage has gradually increased, accelerating in the 1990s. Since 2010, unaffiliated voters have consistently been the largest category, followed by registered Democrats. But despite this trend away from party identification, political parties remain a core element in the democratic process. And, paradoxically, partisanship is more pronounced, with a deepening blue-red divide. This implies a dynamic in which party members who determine the choices voters have in general elections could become less and less representative of a growing unaffiliated electorate. Theres the potential for a downward spiral with accelerating alienation from political parties. Such a dynamic has negative implications for the health of our democracy, considering also that unaffiliated voters typically have a lower voter turnout than those with party affiliation. According to a Pew study, U.S. voter turnout is already among the lowest compared to the 34 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Thirty-six percent of Greenwich voters may have opted out of full democratic participation, but the nearly two-thirds who havent should make every effort to attend their party caucuses. . . . its a very important part of the process that determines who we elect to public office, Greenwich Republican Town Committee Chairman Jim Campbell wrote in an email. All registered Republicans and Democrats are eligible to participate in their respective caucuses, and also to seek a seat on their town committees. Greenwich Republicans will elect 58 members, Greenwich Democrats 75. . . . those who dont attend their caucus are truly disenfranchising themselves, Peter Berg, data director for the Greenwich Democrats, wrote in an email. Greenwich Democrats and Republicans should seize this opportunity to participate in a process thats vital to our representative democracy. Here are the caucus locations. Democratic caucuses, 8 p.m., Jan. 6: District 1, Town Hall, Gisborne Room; District 2, Town Hall, cafeteria; District 3, Town Hall, Mazza Room; District 4, Byram Fire Station; District 6, First Congregational Church; District 7, Greenwich High School; District 8, Cos Cob Library; District 9, Western Greenwich Civic Center, Room 115; District 10, Round Hill Community House; District 11, North Street School; District 12, North Mianus School. District 5 meets Jan. 11, 8 p.m., at Riverside School. Republican caucuses, 7 p.m., Jan. 11: District 1, Town Hall, Probate Judge Conference Room; District 2, Town Hall, Town Clerks Office, downstairs; District 3, Town Hall, Town Clerks Office, back vault; District 4, Sokol Club; District 5, Riverside School, cafeteria; District 6, Old Greenwich School; District 7, Town Hall, cafeteria; District 8, Cos Cob School, auditorium; District 9, Glenville School, cafeteria; District 10, Glenville School, media center; District 11, North Street School, gymnasium; District 12, North Mianus School, cafeteria. Alma Rutgers served in Greenwich town government for 25 years. Her blog is at blog.ctnews.com/rutgers/. The Board of Selectmen created the Harbor Management Commission in mid-2014 ostensibly to develop the towns first comprehensive plan to guide future use, development and maintenance of the Long Island Sound coastal waters that fall within Greenwich borders. It was an ambitious and much needed project; Greenwich is the only significant harbor in the state without such a governance plan. But the HMC never approached its task seriously, and the document being put forth for public comment this month is a transparent attempt to re-write state laws and to settle a longstanding grudge First Selectman Peter Tesei has with Governor Dannel Malloy over the governors appointment five years ago of Ian Macmillan as state harbormaster for Greenwich. Effective harbor management plans in other coastal Connecticut towns set very specific protocols for ensuring marine safety, including criteria for establishing and permitting mooring fields, identifying and ultimately removing illegal moorings or abandoned vessels, marking navigational hazards that threaten boaters, and storm preparedness. These plans provide local control over the unique conditions found in each community as long as they conform with state and federal laws, as well as with U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer regulations. But the harbor plan proposed for Greenwich opts for interpretation of vague language by sub-committees and bureaucracy over straightforward regulations that could be easily understood by individual boaters and enforced by any competent harbormaster. Macmillan, like other harbormasters in Connecticut, is paid a nominal salary by the state, about $500 annually in Macmillans case. Done properly, the harbormasters job requires considerable time both on the water and performing administrative tasks on land. Many harbor management plans list specific duties and expectations of performance for harbormasters. They also provide either a salary commensurate with that workload or a schedule of payments for various services performed. Several HMC members pushed hard to make the harbormaster a paid position, not just for Macmillan, but to insure that qualified people are drawn to the position in the future. However, Peter Tesei quickly and adamantly shot down any effort to pay Macmillan, or, by implication, any future holders of the job. In a December email from Tesei to HMC members and other town department heads, Tesei said the harbormasters duties do not warrant any compensation beyond the pittance paid by the state. He further defied HMC members to show him a list of deliverables the harbormaster has provided to the town. That statement is Peter Tesei at his snarky best. In his mind, Macmillan is Dan Malloy in a motorboat. Tesei knows full well of the hours Macmillan puts in each year. He knows, for example, that Macmillan eliminated the chronic, years-long waiting list for mooring spots by working with marine surveyors to identify dozens of new mooring locations. And that he used state-of-the-art GPS equipment to develop exact maps of every mooring field and mooring location in town. Tesei has also heard many of the activity reports Macmillan gives at the Board of Selectmens meetings, so he can hardly claim ignorance about Macmillans workload. Tesei will never get over his antagonism toward Macmillan, but there are other aspects of the proposed Harbor Management Plan that are causing serious issues for other town departments. The plan brazenly proposes taking away property rights of shell fishermen who make their living farming the waters of Greenwich. These small business owners either own these shellfishing beds or lease them from the property owners. If the HMC gets its way, any boat owner may seek permission from the shell fisherman to place a mooring in his fields. If the fisherman does not respond in writing within 15 days, the HMC deems permission to have been given. Or, if the shell fisherman does respond, the HMC wants the power to determine if the refusal was reasonable. This is an extraordinary abuse of government power. Roger Bowgen, head of the town Shell Fishing Commission, has vigorously opposed this provision, as has Carolyn Swiggart, a lawyer for the fisherman who farms off the Old Greenwich Coast. That fisherman limited moorings off the Rocky Point Club last year, and denied mooring rights to several residents of Binney Lane who had anchored their boats off their homes for many years. As a result, one resident sued both Greenwich and Stamford harbormasters as well as the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. That suit was recently dismissed in Superior Court. But now the HMC wants to rewrite state property laws so the Binney Lane residents and Rocky Point Club can control land that they dont own. This disenfranchisement by town action is unheard of and totally frustrates not only all the statutes regulating shellfish grounds, but also basic property rights, wrote attorney Swiggart. Neither Bowgen nor Swiggart dissuaded the HMC from incorporating this property grab into the plan. Other town departments are also wondering how the powers of the HMC over such issues as water quality and land use will synchronize with their own responsibilities. Town Planner Katie DeLuca told the board both by letter and in public testimony that neither her department nor others in Town Hall had been given adequate time to analyze the proposed plan. Nor, she wrote, was it clear just what was to be analyzed. After reading the Plan and talking to those affected, DeLuca wrote, I do not feel there is agreement regarding the following questions: What is the purpose of a Harbor Management Plan? What issues are we trying to solve? How does this Plan add value to the community? How does this Plan tie into the existing framework of our current Town Government? DeLuca is absolutely right. The answers to those basic questions should have informed the development of the plan from day one. Instead, the questions went unanswered. The HMC should not have been tasked with this project in the first place. It should have been led by a committee headed by Tesei as the towns top elected official, and composed of the leaders of the dozen or more existing town agencies, committees, boards and departments whose work has a direct impact on Greenwich Harbor. Then not only would the people with the required expertise be responsible for the finished product, but there would be political accountability at the highest level of town government for a document that wants to steal private property rights, among other ludicrous provisions. Bob Horton can be reached at bobhorton@yahoo.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As if worrying that General Electric might leave Connecticut and take its well-paying jobs with it werent enough, some are now concerned about the fate of companys sprawling campus. If GE decides to leave, it could donate its global headquarters in Fairfield to a nonprofit institution, state and local officials say. Just the idea of the $84.4 million property being taken off the tax rolls is enough to keep officials up at night. Its certainly something citizens in Fairfield are concerned about, said Michael Tetreau, the towns Democratic first selectman. If they deeded it to a nonprofit, then (were) worried that the property tax dollars would go away. GE is the town of Fairfields largest taxpayer, generating $1.9 million this year from its real estate and personal property taxes. A spokesman for GE, which has been smarting over Connecticuts tax climate, declined to comment. The company will decide in January whether to relocate to Massachusetts, New York or another state. The motivation to donate the 68.46-acre property, which includes a television studio, hotel rooms for visiting executives and a helipad, could be twofold for GE. More Information GE headquarters by the numbers Location: 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield Acreage: 68.46 Real estate value: $84,412,900 in 2015, compared to $94,937,900 in 2010 Real estate and personal property taxes: $1.9 million in 2015, excluding cars Building area: 526,406 square feet Office equipment value: $13,876,200 Notable amenities: Television studio; corporate guest facility with 28 hotel rooms; tandem helipad; fitness center; medical facilities See More Collapse First, there is the public r elations win of being regarded as a benevolent corporate citizen. Then there are the underlying tax write-offs that could reach into the millions. If that were to be the case, I would not be surprised, said State Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich. I would see it as something that is very typical of General Electric. A university connection The conglomerate has been frequently linked in recent months to nearby Sacred Heart University, where the business school is named for former GE CEO Jack Welch. The nexus between GE and Sacred Heart was highlighted by a gift of at least $5 million to the university by Welch in 2006. At the time, it was the largest gift ever to the Catholic institution. We have no reason to believe that talk of a gift by GE to the university is anything more than a rumor, said Deb Noack, a Sacred Heart spokeswoman. More importantly, the departure of GE would be a devastating loss to the state, to Fairfield and to SHU. Efforts to reach Welch, who led GE from 1981 to 2001 and has a residence in Boston, a potential landing spot for the company, were unsuccessful. State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, said there is a buzz over the potential transfer of the property, but nothing concrete. It is a possibility. I hope its all for naught, said Hwang, who has been part of a lobbying contingent of Connecticut politicians trying to keep GE. It really is something that is going to take us 10 to 15 years to recover from if they do leave. A spokesman for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who has made multiple pitches to GE to stay, declined to comment. Tax savings The savings from a property transfer could be lucrative for GE, which has been roundly criticized by tax watchdogs for its muscular tax sheltering operation both at the state and federal levels. The IRS allows corporations to deduct up to 10 percent of their taxable income in a given year for charitable donations, including property transfers to approved nonprofit institutions such as colleges and universities. That could reap millions for GE, which made $35 billion in U.S. profits over the last five years. Deductions can be carried over by companies for up to five years if they exceed the 10 percent threshold. GE would also avoid paying conveyance tax to the state and town on the sale of its property. The states cut would be about $1 million and Fairfields would be about $200,000. For the sake of saving $1 million, I seriously doubt GE would do that, Frantz said. I think they would do that out of the kindness of their corporate heart. Between its two main office buildings and a corporate guest facility that includes 28 hotel rooms, the footprint of GEs headquarters is 526,406 square feet. From 2010 to 2015, when the town went through a property revaluation, GEs real estate had been appraised at $95 million. That value plummeted by $10 million in the revaluation, a reduction that the towns assessor, Donald Ross Jr., said was based on a sales and rental analysis of similar office parks in Connecticut and neighboring Westchester County, N.Y. Fairfields top office holder, Tetreau, said it would be out of character for GE to leave the town with a tax void. I dont think they would jump to something like that very quickly, Tetreau said. Noack, the Sacred Heart spokeswoman, said GE is an invaluable part of the community. The presence of GE makes Fairfield an inviting place for families to live and students to come for an education, she said. GE has been a wonderful neighbor to us, which is why our business college is named in honor of former CEO Jack Welch. Among the many gifts that GE provides for our students are guest speakers, internships and jobs once they complete their degrees. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy After the United States, the Samsung Galaxy Note5 has started receiving the December security update in India, too. Weighing in at 71.15 MB, the update bumps the firmware version to N920GDDU2AOL1, and also brings along improved voice call stability. Over in the US, the T-Mobile and Verizon variants of the smartphone have already received the December security update. Other Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge+, started receiving the update just a few days ago. For those who haven't received the update yet, you can also manually check for it by heading to your device's settings. To know what all is included in the South Korean company's December security update, head to the Samsung Security link below. Via | Samsung Security He has been cited by Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed on radio, TV and in social media. Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates. Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post and other publications. A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission. He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups. Cirucci's passions include politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel. In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association. He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, Matt Rooney's sidekick on Save Jersey's videocasts and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV. Haiti - FLASH : A Chilean peacekeeper shot and wounded in Port-au-Prince Friday the Chilean Captain Sanidad Max Wanner Espinoza, MD of the "Grupo de Helicopteros de la Fuerza Aerea" of Chile, a component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was shot and wounded by an unknown gunman, confirmed Friday the Chilean Ministry of Defence. "The incident occurred Friday around 0:10 am in Port-au-Prince. Sanidad Max Wanner Espinoza, was wounded by a bullet in the back, a shot who came from outside the base," says the Ministry. Captain Wanner was transferred to the Argentine hospital for first aid to stabilize his condition before being transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to undergo a projectile extraction operation, according to the Chilean authorities. This incident occurred two days after the bodies of two officers who were part of the UNPOL component of the UN mission, were found dead in their home in Cap Haitien, on the morning of December 30, 2015. The Minustah who opened an investigation, has not yet reported on the exact circumstances of their deaths. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16197-icihaiti-flash-death-of-two-women-of-the-unpol-police-in-cap-haitien.html Recall that in April 2015 a Chilean Sergeant Rodrigo Andres Sanhueza, had lost life, hit by a bullet to the head, while on a trip to Ouanaminthe, in the context of an administrative mission and that violent demonstrations took place in this area https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13601-haiti-flash-extreme-tension-at-the-border-a-peacekeeper-shot-dead.html Chile is part of the UN Mission since its inception in 2004. The Chilean contingent includes 500 peacekeepers in Haiti, to be added to others staff of Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Ceremonies of the 212th anniversary of the proclamation of Independence Friday 1st January 2016, the President Michel Martelly, accompanied by the First Lady, Sophia Martelly and Prime Minister, Paul Evans, went to Gonaives (Artibonite), to commemorate the 212 anniversary of the proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Haiti. In the presence of several members of the Cabinet of Ministers and many representatives of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, the Head of State attended the traditional Te Deum at St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral of the Independence City. During his homily, His Excellency Mgr Yves Marie Pean recalled that January 1st offers us once again an opportunity to step back to make a retrospective, to make better choices for the future "On the occasion of the World Day of Peace, our thoughts and prayers go to all those who suffer. The family has extraordinary energies able to separate us from the anonymity, selfishness. The fate of our people is marked by great suffering; But what God wants is peace for our people !" The President Martelly then went on the Place d'Armes of the city to file, at the monument of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines and hero of independence, a wreath of flowers in memory of the brave builders of our Nation and to officially rise the flag. "A few days before the end of my presidential term, I am proud, of the ducation system performance for the expansion of free education, improving the quality of education and other facilities enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of children in our country," declared the President Martelly, who urged the different actors involved in the electoral process to unite around a common ideal, the ideal of a united Haiti and turned towards the progress. Moreover, the Head of State reiterated its firm determination to give the best of him until the end of its mandate and recalled one more time the necessity for each player in the national life to get involved in order to achieve the revival of our Nation, already two centuries old. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16215-haiti-flash-2nd-round-of-the-presidential-january-17-2016.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16214-haiti-flash-212th-anniversary-of-haiti-s-independence-speech-of-president-martelly.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diplomacy : King Mohammed VI congratulates President Martelly Her Majesty of Morocco, King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to President Michel Martelly for the 212th anniversary of the proclamation of the Independence of the Republic of Haiti. In this message, the Sovereign of Morocco addresses to the President Martelly his warmest congratulations and best wishes of health and happiness and to the friendly people of Haiti, more progress and prosperity. The Sovereign takes this opportunity to express his "pride of distinguished bonds of friendship, of active solidarity and fruitful cooperation between the two countries," reaffirming to the Haitian Head of State "his determination to continue to work jointly with him to strengthen them further and this, for the good of the friendly peoples and to contribute to the development of South-South cooperation." HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2016/01/01 | Source Congestion is expected at nationwide highways as many people are driving to points where they can spot the first sunrise of the New Year. Advertisement The Korea Expressway Corporation on Wednesday said it expects a daily average of 3.6 million cars on the highways from Thursday afternoon, when the holidays begin, until Sunday. Highways bound for the provinces will be most congested around noon Friday and Seoul-bound highways on Saturday afternoon. It will take up to six hours to travel from Seoul to Gangreung, five hours and 10 minutes from Seoul to Busan, four hours and 10 minutes from Seoul to Gwangju, and three hours and 20 minutes from Seoul to Daejeon on Friday. The return journey to Seoul will be slightly quicker. Commissioners endorse Duke Energy plan The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Monday endorsed Duke Energy's plans to build a power plant capable of generating up to 750 megawatts of electricity to replace its Lake Julian coal plant, saying supplying energy was important for the region's future. Related Stories Commissioners fully and wholeheartedly support Duke Energy in its effort to construct a 752 Megawatt Natural Gas Fueled Electric Generator facility and respectfully endorse the approval of the project by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the resolution said. Duke Energy has formally notified the Utilities Commission that it will file an application to replace the coal-fired plant with two 280-megawatt natural gas-fired units and potentially a 190-megawatt unit to supply peak demand backup. Duke officials say the backup unit may be unnecessary if conservation efforts among cities, industry and residential ratepayers reduce demand. Henderson County's endorsement came after environmental organizations announced their intention to challenge the need for the backup unit. We want Duke to be all in on seeking alternatives to the third unit instead of building in a back door, and we are asking them to send a clear message that they are fully committed to finding cleaner, sustainable alternatives by removing the peaking unit from their filing to the utilities commission, Julie Mayfield, co-director of MountainTrue, said last week. The resolution commissioners adopted notes that Dukes revised Western Carolina Modernization Project eliminated the 42-mile foothills transmission line linking the power plant and the South Carolina Upstate, saving the area from a negative impact. The local economy and indeed all aspects of our way of life are dependent on affordable and reliable electricity supply, the resolution says. Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt said the proposed resolution had two main purposes. We want to make sure that when were talking about economic development the question of adequate electricity never comes up, he said, and we dont want ever to revisit the transmission line. Larry Rogers, executive director of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Progress, thanked the commissioners "for the work you did to get where we are" on the energy plan. Visit The Hitless Wonder Movie Page on Facebook Dan Day, Jr. View my complete profile Hundreds of us leave our mobiles, umbrellas and bags on the bus every week - but spare a thought for the student who left nearly 2,000 in cash. It's one of the biggest amounts of cash left behind on Dublin Bus this year, but it was reunited with its thankful owner through the company's Lost Property office the next day. Over 1,000 items a-month are logged by Dublin Bus, having been left behind on the company's buses, according to Sean Hyland, who works in the Lost Property office in Earl Place. "We would get money in regularly, left in purses and wallets," he told the Herald. He revealed that the 2,000 was in a handbag left behind by the female student in September and was intended for a down-payment and rent on an apartment. "It was a bus driver who found it and bought it in," he said. For a nominal fee of just 2, the office reunites people with their possessions. "We get a lot of bags and holdalls. We would get between 180 and 200 a-month, with gym gear, school books, uniforms and that kind of stuff," he said. At the end of their shift bus drivers bring any items they find into their depot where it is logged and then brought to the lost property section. Possessions "A French lady came in and told me that she had left her BlackBerry on the bus. I went through all the phones, and I told her there was no sign of it. She told me she had been informed it had been found." Sean said that after searching high and low, he again told the woman it wasn't there - only to find out that it was a black beret rather than a Blackberry he should have been seeking. He has seen it all down through the years, even a live rabbit was left behind. "Probably about two-thirds of items are claimed. If there is identification in it, like an address, we write out to people," he said. Sean said laptops and phones tended to be claimed within a day or two. Any suitable unclaimed items are sent to charity shops, he said. The ceremony at Dublin Castle was attended by President Michael D Higgins and other dignitaries The Official 1916 commemorations were launched yesterday to the sound of bodhrans, bagpipes and Lambeg drums. The first commemorative event of 2016 took place at Dublin Castle, with a flag-raising ceremony under heavy rain. Two minutes before noon -when the Army No 1 Band were due to begin their recital - a sudden gust blew down all their seats and music stands with a deafening clatter, causing a scramble. Nobody escaped a soaking - except perhaps President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. The President inspected a military Guard of Honour and there was a moving moment as the names of all 78 on the 1916 roll of honour were read aloud, followed by a minute's silence. Cor na nOg performed Danny Boy, followed by an opening prayer. Flags The flag of the Citizen Army - which flew from the Imperial Hotel during Easter Week 1916 - and the flag of the IRB and the tricolour, which were flown from the GPO, were raised before the national anthem was played. Amongst those present were Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tanaiste Joan Burton, Sinn Fein president Martin Mc Guinness, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and EU commissioner Phil Hogan. Afterwards, 1916 relatives Richard and Monica Comerford - the grandchildren of Philip Clarke of the Irish Citizen Army, killed in the fighting at St Stephen's Green - said they had deeply enjoyed the ceremony. "It was very well done," said Ms Comerford. Later, a peace proms took centre stage at the Convention Centre to showcase the music of the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and the 32-County Children's Choir, took centre stage at the Convention Centre. There was plenty of music to mark the seminal year at the event, which was arts minister Heather Humphrey's idea. Over 2,000 guests, including Dublin Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh, TDs, senators, councillors and a diverse range of other community members, were invited to the New Year's Day event at the National Convention Centre in Dublin. Broadcaster Joe Duffy, historian Diarmaid Ferriter and equality activist Eamon Farrell were all present. In an address before the concert, minister Humphreys said they had developed a "really exciting programme" for the year ahead - "and the list is still growing," she added. It has been a time of "enormous creativity and extremely hard work" since the launch last March, the minister said. The 500 young musicians on stage, under conductor Greg Beardsell began with a U2 medley of Pride and New Year's Day - neatly including another very Irish motif with a suggestion of St Patrick's Day marching bands. Tribute There were beautiful solos by tenor Emmet Cahill - who sang Cavan Girl as a special tribute for the minister - mezzo-soprano Sarah Richmond, from Northern Ireland, who sang One World in Harmony and sopranos Megan Rugy Walsh and Aimee Banks. There was a playful "drum-off" between the bodhran and the Lambeg drum followed by another between the uilleann pipes and the bagpipes. But the most beautiful musical moment was Sibeal Ni Chasaide's haunting and moving rendition of Mise Eire - a new arrangement of Padraig Pearse's poem by renowned composer Patrick Cassidy. The high-energy performance finished with a robust Ireland's Call, and every one was on song for the rest of the commemorative programme in the year ahead. Burglaries in some parts of south Dublin increased by up to 42pc in a 12-month period, figures from the Central Statistics Office have revealed. Nationally, there has been a 7pc increase in burglaries between September 2014 and September 2015. In the Dublin Metropolitan Eastern Garda Division, which covers Dun Laoghaire, the number of burglaries has increased in the past year from 1,652 to 2,349. A tougher approach to the problem of burglaries must be launched by the Government, said Dun Laoghaire Councillor Mary Hanafin. The former Fianna Fail minister said stronger action is needed following the release of the latest burglary figures. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures revealed a "startling increase" in the number of burglaries carried out over the past year, she said. She said the 42pc rise in the number of burglaries in the south-Dublin area alone was "staggering". She said some other parts of the country had also had "truly alarming" increases in the numbers of break-ins by criminals. "The rise in burglaries in certain parts of south Dublin represented an increase which was seven times the national average," said Cllr Hanafin, who is chairwoman of the Joint Policing Committee on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council. "It is no surprise that many of the areas affected have seen a drop in garda numbers over recent years," said Cllr Hanafin, a candidate for Fianna Fail in the forthcoming general election. "Recently in the Dail the Minister for Justice rejected Fianna Fail proposals for mandatory three-year sentences for criminals convicted of burglary. "The minister also refused to accept a Fianna Fail proposal for a minimum seven-year jail term for a third burglary conviction," she said. During 2015, there was a total of 28,407 burglary offences nationally recorded up to September, representing an increase of 1,660, or 6.2pc, when compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. When aggravated burglaries are excluded - these are robberies where weapons and violence is used - the figures show that there were 27,494 burglaries, or 75 every day, in the year up to the end of September. In the first six months of 2015, burglary rates per head of population were highest in commuter counties around Dublin and lowest in more inaccessible parts. Wexford had the highest burglary rates. Dublin ranks second highest, at 249 incidents per 100,000. It is followed by Kildare (241), Louth (234), Wicklow (222), Laois (210), Waterford (194), Carlow (192), Offaly (150) and Kilkenny (146). The lowest rates are in Monaghan (31), Leitrim (43), Donegal (49) and Mayo (51). In general terms, there are between 235 and 400 burglaries per 100,000 population across Dublin - except in the Pearse Street and Clondalkin areas, which have higher rates. The burglary rate is lower in the Cabra, Blanchardstown, Finglas, Swords, Coolock, Raheny and Howth sub-districts than on all parts of the southside. Charged However, a Department of Justice spokesman said the latest CSO statistics published last week show that burglaries are down 6.8pc for the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year. The Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill targets those repeat burglars with previous convictions and who are charged with multiple offences of residential burglary. The bill will require consecutive jail sentences where a burglar is being sentenced for multiple offences. It will also compel courts to refuse bail for offenders who have a previous conviction for domestic burglary coupled with two or more pending charges, he said. The Christy Kinahan drugs cartel have been desperately seeking a meeting with former crime boss Gerry Hutch, but it is understood 'The Monk' is refusing to meet them. Sources have revealed that the gang members want to explain to him why they had his nephew, Gary Hutch, shot dead in Spain. It is believed that the cartel have proof that Gary had been acting as a police informer in the months before he was shot dead in an apartment complex in Miraflores near Marbella on the Costa del Sol on the morning of September 24 last. It has been claimed that the cartel set up a bogus drugs run from Spain to England after becoming suspicious that Gary was an informer earlier this year. They made sure that he was aware that it was happening. Sources said that when the bogus package was intercepted by authorities in the UK it confirmed the cartel's suspicions. However, it has also emerged that it was never the mob's intention to be involved in any dispute with The Monk. "Gerry Hutch may no longer be involved in crime, but he is still highly respected by many senior criminals," a source said. "But all the indications at this time is that he wants nothing to do with them at all and has no interest in sitting down with the cartel." The mob have also put up 10,000 for gang inmates to attack Gary's younger brother Derek "Del Boy" Hutch in jail - something that has happened twice in Mountjoy Prison since Gary was shot dead. Shiv In October, Del Boy survived a stab attack by two psychopathic criminal brothers. He was moved to Portloaise Prison. However, Del Boy was moved back to Mountjoy Prison and was attacked again on the evening of December 11 when the 27-year-old was pinned down in a shocking shiv attack. Convicted gangland killer Craig White fought a pitched jail-cell battle to intervene and ultimately save the life of Hutch. Nora OHara outside her house in Co Galway Further heavy rain, along with a drop in temperature are in store for the country. Met Eireann has issued a yellow weather warning for nine counties, that will run on for at least part of today. Between 25 to 35mm of rain is expected in Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow. However, the heavy rainfall should turn to more showery weather later today. Temperatures will remain between 6 and 8 degrees in the city. The incessant rain led to warnings of flash flooding and the threat that more families will be evacuated from their homes. The army again maintained a presence in south Co Clare, where the flooding is so severe that it is impossible to identify where the banks of the River Shannon used to be. In Athlone the waters had increased by 2cm, leaving levels just 5cm off the record of 2009. Banagher, Co Offaly, saw an increase of 10cm, while in Limerick they increased by 8cm. The River Suir also rose yesterday and is likely to have a devastating effect on Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The storms are predicted to rage for another three weeks. More than 40 families there have been issued with precautionary evacuation notices with heavy rainfall expected to have a severe impact on parts of the town. Treacherous Kilkenny County Council warned motorists of a high chance of flash flooding in the county today, making driving conditions treacherous. Cork received some consolation with the news that the ESB would not be increasing the discharge of water through the Inniscarra Dam. However, Limerick and Clare were concerned as the ESB announced it was increasing the flow of water through Parteen Weir to 470 cubic meters per second. In 2009, this figure reached 500 cubic meters per second and had a devastating effect to homes and businesses downstream. Now the ESB says that further increases are likely. The ESB was also working last night to restore power to almost 2,000 customers who were cut from their supply. Residents of Donabate, Swords and Malahide were left without power due to a fault but most had their power restored by 8.30pm. In Cork, more than 1,600 people on the north side of the city were without electricity yesterday. The rain also had a severe effect on travel - with many road closures in areas worst affected. Meanwhile, a number of roads in Tipperary near Nenagh, Thurles and north as far as Westmeath remained closed last night. A road in Galway that had previously been used to divert traffic away from major floods was under water for the first time since 1995. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf The legal wrestling over the death penalty in Pennsylvania seems to be on hold, for now, with the state Supreme Court upholding Gov. Tom Wolf's temporary moratorium on executions until a review of the death penalty system has been concluded. In February 2015, Wolf imposed a moratorium on state executions until the study by the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Commission on Capital Punishment was complete. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was among other state prosecutors opposing the moratorium and the constitutionality of the action. Williams' office took issue with the fact that the execution of convicted murderer Terrence Williams would not be carried out. "While we had hoped for a different outcome, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office respects the Supreme Court's decision," Cameron Kline, a spokesman for Williams said. "And, as always, we extend our condolences to the victims of these horrendous crimes, who will not soon see the justice that was imposed by the jury and upheld by the courts." The defense attorney's for Terrence Williams - Shawn Nolan, chief of the Capital Habeas Corpus Unit and Timothy Kane, assistant federal defender, both of the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania - said they were pleased by the ruling. "In 300 years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has steadfastly refused to interfere with any governor's act of clemency and today the court unanimously adhered to that tradition. Governor Wolf's action was indistinguishable from actions taken by previous Pennsylvania governors and governors of numerous other states," they said in a statement. "All of them have used reprieves to establish moratoria on executions while problems with the death penalty system are examined. The court today recognized that Governor Wolf's reprieve in Terry Williams' case fits well within the scope of a governor's constitutional authority. This decision is entirely appropriate in light of Pennsylvania's deeply flawed capital punishment system." In February 2015, Wolf granted a temporary reprieve for Williams, a convicted murderer. His reasoning was to wait until he received and reviewed the forthcoming report of the task force on capital punishment. The report will be issued by a bipartisan committee and will be a full examination of the Commonwealth's use of capital punishment. The declaration of a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania goes back to 2011 when Resolution 6, a legislative proposal by state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, was adopted. At the time, Greenleaf indicated the American Bar Association identified several areas in which Pennsylvania's death penalty system faltered in guaranteeing each capital defendant fairness and accuracy in all proceedings. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System also determined that racial, ethnic and gender biases exist, and that those biases significantly affect the way parties, witnesses, litigants, lawyers, court employees and potential jurors are treated. Post-conviction DNA testing showed that there are wrongful convictions, even in capital cases. The bipartisan task force was formed to conduct a comprehensive study and report those findings to the governor. The Terrence Williams murder conviction goes back to the night of June 11, 1984. Williams beat Amos Norwood to death with a tire iron then set the body on fire. During the investigation and subsequent trial, it was determined that the Norwood murder was Williams' 2nd killing. Williams had been sexually involved with Norwood and Herbert Hamilton, a relationship that prosecutors pointed out he had previously denied. Hamilton was stabbed multiple times. During the 1986 trial Williams took the stand in his own defense and testified under oath that Michael Hopkins and Marc Draper, mutual friends, killed Norwood. He told the court he didn't know Norwood and had never met him before the night of June 11, 1984, the night of the slaying. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court concluded that the defendant's claim was built on perjury. In his declaration of a moratorium Wolf said the action was not an expression of sympathy for those on death row and who have been convicted of heinous crimes. His decision, he said, was based on a flawed system that was proven to be an endless cycle of court proceedings as well as ineffective, unjust and expensive. The moratorium would remain in effect until the task force has produced its recommendations and all concerns are addressed, Wolf said. State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) said the governor's actions were appropriate. Leach is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 493, which would abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Commission on Capital Punishment that was established in 2011. "Since 1973, 156 people have been sentenced to death in the United States and subsequently exonerated," Leach said. "The moratorium courageously issued by Governor Wolf and upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ensures that our Commonwealth will not commit the ultimate miscarriage of justice, the shame of which would be borne by all Pennsylvanians. With the moratorium in place, the task force can continue to diligently study concerns about our capital punishment system." Source: Philadelphia Tribune, January 1, 2016 (wr) Motorist dies in early-morning I-69 crash in Bloomington Police say deer in the road caused a car to crash and spin, leading to a collision with a semi BAGHDAD Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted of terrorism-related offenses on Saturday, including suspected members of Al Qaeda and a prominent cleric and government critic from the countrys Shiite minority. While most of those executed Saturday had been convicted of involvement with Al Qaeda during a wave of attacks about a decade ago, they also included Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shiite cleric and outspoken campaigner for Shiite rights. Sheikh Nimr, who was arrested in 2012, had harshly criticized the Sunni monarchy of neighboring Bahrain for its violent suppression of protests by its own Shiite population after the start of the so-called Arab Spring in 2011. The Saudi government accused him of fueling violent dissent among Saudi Arabias Shiites, which he denied. It was not immediately clear how the executions Saturday were carried out, though most in Saudi Arabia are beheadings carried out in public squares, which Saudi officials say serve to deter crime. Sheikh Nimrs execution is likely to further exacerbate tensions between the Saudi government, which is dominated by a Sunni royal family, and Shiites across the region. Iran, a Shiite country and Saudi Arabias main regional rival, had warned that executing Sheikh Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly. The clerics arrest, in July 2012, came as Saudi Arabia led a group of regional monarchies in violently pushing back against the pro-democratic activism and protests that swept the region during the Arab Spring. The Saudi governments fears of unrest prompted it to intervene to prop up the monarchy in Bahrain, which faced protests from a Shiite-led pro-democracy movement. In Saudi Arabia, the focal point of protests was in the oil-rich Eastern Province, where many Shiites live and often complain of official discrimination by the Sunni monarchy. Sheikh Nimr, based in the Eastern Province town of Awamiyah, had long been a fierce critic of the monarchy and played a leading role in the protests. Hundreds of people demonstrated in the province after video emerged of his arrest, which showed him bleeding while in custody. The government said he had been injured in a shootout. Sheikh Nimr faced charges including sedition and was sentenced to death in October 2014. In 2015, a year that began with the inauguration of a new monarch, King Salman, Saudi Arabia executed at least 157 people, up from 90 in 2014. Saudi officials have argued that the sharp increase, which was strongly criticized by human rights groups, reflected not a change in policy but a backlog of death sentences that had built up in the final years of the previous monarch, King Abdullah. At least 4 protesters killed in Saudi mass executions Saudi Arabia says 47 executed on terrorism charges, including Shi'ite cleric Saudi beheadings soared in 2015 under discretionary rulings Public execution in Saudi Arabia Nimr al-Nimr execution: Iranian cleric says death penalty will bring down the Saudi Arabia's ruling family Saudis carry a poster demanding freedom for jailed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The death sentences hanging over 6 young men should worry supporters of our alliance with the kingdom Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Britain's David Cameron receives the King Abdullah Decoration One from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, November 6, 2012. Saudi Execution of Shiite Leader Stokes Tensions Source: The New York Times , Ben Hubbard, January 2, 2016At least four people convicted of offences related to political protest are among the 47 reportedly executed by Saudi Arabia earlier today (Saturday).Sheikh Nimr, Ali al-Ribh, Mohammad Shioukh and Mohammad Suweimal were all arrested in 2012 following their involvement in anti-Government protests, and subsequently sentenced to death. Ali was 18 when he was arrested, and sentenced to death for organizing and participating in demonstrations; vandalism; helping to organize demonstrations through the use of his BlackBerry; attending an address of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Mohammad Shioukh, 19 at the time of his arrest, was sentenced to death for a number of offences, including writing anti-Government graffiti and filming demonstrations for the purpose of documenting and publishing their content. Both were tortured while in custody.Their names were included on a list of executions carried out today by the Saudi Government and published on the website of the Kingdoms official press agency. In total, 47 people were executed at various locations across the country.In the statement, the ministry of the interior quoted the Quran, saying that The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.The list did not include the names of a number of people sentenced to death as children who are still facing execution. Ali al Nimr (Sheikh Nimrs nephew), Dawoud al Marhoon, and Abdullah al Zaher were also sentenced to death over their alleged involvement in the 2012 anti-Government protests, despite having been aged 17, 17, and 15 respectively at the time. All three were also badly mistreated in custody, and tortured into signing confessions to the offences alleged against them.Commenting, Maya Foa, Director of the death penalty team at international human rights organisation Reprieve said: 2015 saw Saudi Arabia execute over 150 people, many of them for non-violent offences. Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse. Alarmingly, the Saudi Government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsmans blade. Saudi Arabia's allies - including the US and UK - must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the Kingdom to change course.The Saudi Governments statement on the executions can be found here Source: Reprieve, January 2, 2016Saudi Arabia executed 47 people on Saturday for terrorism it said, an apparent message to both Sunni Muslim jihadists and Shi'ite anti-government protesters that the conservative Islamic kingdom will brook no violent dissent.The deaths come amid a growing war of words between Saudi Arabia and the militant group Islamic State, which called for attacks in the kingdom. But it may also raise tensions with Iran over the execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.Tehran warned last year that executing Nimr would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly".Most of those executed were convicted of leading or carrying out a series of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia after 2003, but they also included some members of the Shi'ite minority convicted of attacks on police during protests from 2011-13.In a statement issued on state television and other official media, the Interior Ministry named the 47 dead men and listed crimes that included both involvement in attacks and embracing jihadist ideology.The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979.Saudi Arabia in 2015 suffered a series of further bombing and shooting attacks by jihadist militants sympathetic to Islamic State group. Those attacks killed dozens, increasing pressure on Riyadh to show it was taking strong action."There is a huge popular pressure on the government to punish those people. It included all the leaders of al Qaeda, all the ones responsible for shedding blood. It sends a message," said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to the Interior Ministry.The conservative Islamic kingdom, which usually executes people by public beheading, detained thousands of militant Islamists after a series of al Qaeda attacks from 2003-06 that killed hundreds, and has convicted hundreds of them.However, it also detained hundreds of members of its Shi'ite minority after protests from 2011-13, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks.At least three other Shi'ites were executed alongside Nimr, including Ali al-Rubh, whom relatives said was a juvenile at the time of the crime for which he was convicted, Mohammed al-Shayoukh and Mohammed Suwaymil.Activists in the Shi'ite district of Qatif have warned of possible protests in response to the executions. However, Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said he hoped any response would be peaceful.The Interior Ministry statement began with Koranic verses justifying the use of execution and state television showed footage of the aftermath of al Qaeda attacks in the last decade. Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just.The executions are Saudi Arabia's first in 2016. At least 157 people were put to death last year, a big increase from the 90 people killed in 2014.Source: Reuters, Angus McDowall, January 2, 2016Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in 2 decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide.Coinciding with the rise in executions is the number of people executed for non-lethal offenses that judges have wide discretion to rule on, particularly for drug-related crimes.Rights group Amnesty International said in November that at least 63 people had been executed since the start of the year for drug-related offenses. That figure made for at least 40 % of the total number of executions in 2015, compared to less than 4 % for drug-related executions in 2010. Amnesty said Saudi Arabia had exceeded its highest level of executions since 1995, when 192 executions were recorded.But while most crimes, such as premeditated murder, may carry fixed punishments under Saudi Arabia's interpretation of the Islamic law, or Shariah, drug-related offenses are considered "ta'zir", meaning neither the crime nor the punishment is defined in Islam.Discretionary judgments for "ta'zir" crimes have led to arbitrary rulings with contentious outcomes.In a lengthy report issued in August, Amnesty International noted the case of Lafi al-Shammari, a Saudi national with no previous criminal record who was executed in mid-2015 for drug trafficking. The person arrested with him and charged with the same offenses received a 10-year prison sentence, despite having prior arrests related to drug trafficking.Human Rights Watch found that of the first 100 prisoners executed in 2015, 56 had been based on judicial discretion and not for crimes for which Islamic law mandates a specific death penalty punishment.Shariah scholars hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty, particularly for cases of "ta'zir."Delphine Lourtau, research director at Cornell Law School's Death Penalty Worldwide, adds that there are Shariah law experts "whose views are that procedural safeguards surrounding capital punishment are so stringent that they make death penalty almost virtually impossible."She says in Saudi Arabia, defendants are not provided defense lawyers and in numerous cases of South Asians arrested for drug trafficking, they are not provided translators in court hearings. She said there are also questions "over the degree of influence the executive has on trial outcomes" when it comes to cases where Shiite activists are sentenced to death.Emory Law professor and Shariah scholar Abdullahi An-Naim said because there is an "inherent infallibility in court systems," no judicial system can claim to enforce an immutable, infallible form of Shariah."There is a gap between what Islam is and what Islam is as understood by human beings," he said. "Shariah was never intended to be coercively applied by the state."Similar to how the U.S. Constitution is seen as a living document with interpretations that have expanded over the years, more so is the Quran, which serves as a cornerstone of Shariah, he said. The other half to Shariah is the judgments carried out by the Prophet Muhammad. Virtually anything else becomes an interpretation of Shariah and not Shariah itself, An-Naim said.Of Islam's four major schools of thought, the underpinning of Saudi Arabia's legal system is based on the most conservative Hanbali branch and an ideology widely known as Wahhabism.A 2005 royal decree issued in Saudi Arabia to combat narcotics further codified the right of judges to issue execution sentences "as a discretionary penalty" against any person found guilty of smuggling, receiving, or manufacturing drugs.HRW's Middle East researcher Adam Coolge says Saudi Arabia executed 158 people in total in 2015 compared to 90 the year before.Catherine Higham, a caseworker for Reprieve, which works against the death penalty worldwide, says her organization documented 157 executions in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia does not release annual tallies, though it does announce individual executions in state media throughout the year.Saudi law allows for execution in cases of murder, drug offenses and rape. Though seldom carried out, the death penalty also applies to adultery, apostasy and witchcraft.In defense of how Saudi Arabia applies Shariah, the kingdom's representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Bandar al-Aiban, said in an address in Geneva in March that capital punishment applies "only (to) those who commit heinous crimes that threaten security."Because Saudi Arabia carries out most executions through beheading and sometimes in public, it has been compared to the extremist Islamic State group, which also carries out public beheadings and claims to be implementing Shariah.Saudi Arabia strongly rejects this. In December, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Paris "it's easy to say Wahhabism equals Daesh equals terrorism, which is not true." Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the IS group.Unlike the extrajudicial beheadings IS carries out against hostages and others, the kingdom says its judiciary process requires at least 13 judges at three levels of court to rule in favor of a death sentence before it is carried out. Saudi officials also argue executions are aimed at combating crime.Even with the kingdom's record level of executions in 2015, Amnesty International says China, where information about the death penalty is a "state secret," is believed to execute more individuals that the rest of the world's figures combined.Reprieve says that in Iran, more than 1,000 people were executed in 2015. Another organization called Iran Human Rights, which is based in Oslo, Norway, and closely follows executions, said at least 648 people had been executed in the first 6 months of 2015 in the Islamic Republic, with more than 2/3 for drug offenses.Reprieve says Pakistan has executed at least 315 people in 2015, after the country lifted a moratorium on executions early last year following a December 2014 Taliban attack on a school that killed 150 people, most of them children. Only a fraction of those executed since then have been people convicted of a terrorist attack.Source: Associated Press, January 1, 2016One of Iran's most senior clerics has predicted the fall of Saudi Arabia's ruling family following the kingdom's execution of Shi'ite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami's comments came as Iran's foreign minister warned Saudi Arabia would pay a 'high price' for following policies that led to the execution of al-Nimr and 46 others for 'terrorism offences'.Ayatollah Khatami who branded the House of Saud 'treacherous', told the Mehr news agency: "I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history."The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family... the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can."His comments follow a warning last year from Iran that the execution of al-Nimr would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly", while the sentiment was echoed by a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Hossein Jaber Ansari, following al-Nimr's death.He told the official IRNA news agency: "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies."The 2012 arrest of al-Nimr, who supported anti-government protests in the country's Eastern Province in 2011, prompted civil unrest, which some fear could be repeated in the aftermath of the weekend's mass execution.Al-Nimr had long been a critic of the Saudi government, jailed on a number of occasions previously for his involvement in protests, and was found guilty by the country's Specialised Criminal Court in 2014 of crimes including calling for the collapse of the state and failing to pledge allegiance to the government.Source: The Independent, January 2, 2016The dreadful fate awaiting 6 young Saudis - condemned to death in 2011 for terrorism and whose sentences were confirmed in October - should disturb and indeed shame all those who continue to defend our close alliance to this despotic country. A letter that we publish today from the mothers of the 6 youths, and from the mother of a prominent cleric who has also been sentenced to death, notes that the new year marked the point at which their children had spent almost 4 years behind bars.They have also been held in solitary confinement for 90 days now, following confirmation of the verdicts, and "could be beheaded at any moment", the mothers write, thanking campaigners in the outside world for the interest they have taken in the case, which they say could yet "help save our children from death".We hope the mother's optimism is well founded and that clemency prevails, although if it does, it will hardly be because of anything that our own Government has done. This is, after all, the same government that grovellingly ordered the Union Flag to be flown at half-mast last year following the death of the late King Abdullah.Fans of the British connection with Saudi Arabia will be quick to point out that the 6 men were sentenced to death for terrorism, which might suggest that the government in Riyadh has done us all a favour by putting terrorists out of harm's way. Closer examination of the case, however, which a number of human rights groups have undertaken, suggests the 6 could not have been less like the Paris bombers and that their only real crime was to protest against the Sunni monarchy's highly discriminatory policy against the country's Shia minority, to which they belong.Were this Iran, or some other less favoured country, the Foreign Office might well have something to say about the matter but, this being Saudi Arabia, the great rock on which British foreign policy in the Middle East has long rested, the result has been virtual silence. Using less than robust language, the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, last October confined himself to saying that he did "not expect" one of the youngest of those accused, Ali al-Nimr, to be executed.That month, the Ministry of Justice did drop its contract to train prison staff in Saudi Arabia but that decision was hardly taken voluntarily and was initially opposed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron - and a sudden change of heart on the ministry's part followed a sustained campaign which, to his credit, the Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, lent backing.It is worth remembering that 3 of the 6 activists were handed the death penalty for crimes committed while they were children, and that they have also since said that they were tortured into making confessions.It would be one thing if the case of these 6 men was an isolated one - the fruit of complex local or religious feuds that we cannot understand and should not interfere with, but this is far from the case.The justice system of our principal ally in the Middle East is if anything getting worse rather than better, with the authorities making ample use of a proclaimed "war on terrorism" to deal with their enemies as they think fit. More than 150 people were executed in 2015, a sharp rise on the 88 executed in 2014.With British officialdom so reluctant to say anything that might ruffle this gruesome regime's feathers, it is up to the rest of us to make our dismay about the case of these 6 young men heard.Source: Editorial, The Independent, January 2, 2015DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, including an influential Shiite cleric, has prompted a wave of condemnation from Shiite leaders around the region and threatens to further damage Sunni-Shiite relations across the Middle East. Hundreds of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's supporters protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India.Here's a look at the aftermath and regional implications of al-Nimr's execution.Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, was a widely revered Shiite Muslim cleric from eastern Saudi Arabia who was convicted in Oct. 2014 of sedition and other charges and sentenced to death. He was an outspoken government critic and a key leader of Shiite protests in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. He was also a critic of the government of Bahrain, where a Sunni-led monarchy suppressed protests by Shiites who make up the majority of the tiny island nation. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain crush the uprising, concerned it would spread and destabilize other Arab Gulf countries.Al-Nimr, however, also spoke out against the Iranian-backed government in Syria for killing protesters there.He directly criticized the Al Saud ruling family for its domestic policies and forcefully spoke out against King Salman's elder brother, the late Crown Prince and former Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence.His death is seen by some as a warning to anyone thinking of calling for reforms and wider political freedoms in Saudi Arabia. His death also strikes a sensitive chord for Saudi Shiites who claim they are discriminated against by authorities in the kingdom, where many ultraconservatives Sunnis view Shiites as heretics.Several Shiites mosques and places of worship were targeted by Sunni extremists in 2015 in eastern Saudi Arabia, despite attempts by security forces to clamp down on Islamic State group supporters who have also targeted police.Al-Nimr's execution came as a surprise to even his own family, his brother Mohammed al-Nimr told The Associated Press. Despite harsh verdicts against government critics, activists are typically given long jail sentences even after initial appeals that uphold death sentences.His death is expected to further exacerbate the proxy wars for regional supremacy being fought across the region by Saudi Arabia and Iran. The two rival nations currently back opposing sides in civil wars in both Syria and Yemen.Iran's Shiite clerics have used al-Nimr's death to lash out at Saudi Arabia, which is founded upon an ultraconservative Sunni ideology known as Wahhabism.Iran's Foreign Ministry warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price and the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Saudi Arabia would face a "maelstrom" from which it would not escape.Iran and Saudi have been vying for leadership in the Muslim world since Iran's 1979 revolution, which elevated to power hard-line Shiite clerics. The U.S. war in Iraq further enflamed religious and ethnic tensions by leading to a Shiite-led government in Baghdad and a crucial shift in the sectarian balance of power in the region.After Arab Spring protests erupted in 2011, Saudi Arabia and Iran entered into a fierce proxy war in Syria, where they are supporting opposite sides of the conflict, and in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been bombing Iranian-allied rebels since March. They also support opposing political groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain.Source: The Associated Press ( The New York Times ), January 2, 2016 We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Even before the gunfire had died down at the Pathankot airbase, people across India had begun asking the inevitable question: Would this brazen terror attack neutralise the bonhomie and gains generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise visit to Lahore? The question was not surprising, given the cycle that has accompanied almost every recent effort by Indian and Pakistani leaders to engage and move ahead with the fraught peace process a grand gesture or a visit or some forward movement, and an outrageous terror attack meant to inflame and incite public opinion. Several events that preceded the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot are definitely a cause for concern the July 2015 attack on a bus and a police station in Gurdaspur district by terrorists disguised as soldiers, the ambush of a BSF convoy in Udhampur that resulted in the capture of a Pakistani member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and evidence gathered by Indian intelligence agencies from the GPS devices used in both attacks. That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit. #PathankotAttack Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016 With these previous attacks pointing to the involvement of Pakistans shadowy intelligence set-up and numerous reports about intelligence agencies from across the western border trying to foment unrest in Indias Punjab state, the questions about Pakistani involvement in Saturdays attack were inevitable. The latest attack will definitely increase pressure on Prime Minister Modi, especially from those who criticised his sudden decision to visit Lahore on December 25 to greet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday after saying for months that talks and terrorism could not go together. Read: Modis Pak visit huge gamble, but worth the risk if it ends in peace For those who adore Modi for his tough talk on terrorism and Pakistan, a failure to act in the current circumstances will be perceived as a sign of weakness. But any rash action by India will be accompanied by the risk of scuppering all that was gained for the peace process by Modis Lahore visit after years of stagnation. The attack in Pathkankot was along predictable lines, particularly after the Lahore visit, C Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies, told Hindustan Times. The challenge is to ensure that the bilateral relationship is insulated from such threats. That, experts say, is easier said than done, especially because of the Pakistani military establishments continuing support to groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba that have the wherewithal to carry out brazen attacks like the one at Pathankot. Read: Parrikar to hold high-level meeting with security officials following Pathankot attack Elements within Pakistans military and intelligence establishment still perceive the LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed blamed by some for the attack in Pathankot as assets despite the National Action Plan (NAP) framed by Nawaz Sharifs government to tackle terrorism after a Taliban attack on a school in Peshawar in December 2014. Watch: IAF Choppers in action as Pathankot Air Force base attacked Experts have pointed out that the Pakistan Army, while implementing the NAP, has focussed on groups involved in domestic terrorism while turning a blind eye to groups that are active in India or Afghanistan. Nawaz Sharifs government has also been reluctant to act against organisations such as LeT and JeM as their strongholds are in Punjab, the main base of Sharifs PML-N party. Any move against these groups could be followed by bloodshed in Punjab, which has witnessed fewer terror attacks than other parts of Pakistan. Read| Dont expect much from Indo-Pak talks in January: Sartaj Aziz Ershad Mahmud, a leading Islamabad-based columnist of Kashmiri origin, said there is no space to support attacks such as the one in Pathankot or such acts in Pakistan or its neighbourhood after the rolling out of the NAP by Nawaz Sharifs government. No one can support such acts of terror, he said, adding both sides would stand to lose a lot if they allowed such events to derail their fragile peace process. Such attacks are expected from certain elements but the political leadership now has to show the courage not to fall in their trap. The goodwill created for the peace process by Modis visit should not be squandered. If fact, the visit strengthened Nawaz Sharif within Pakistani politics and among state institutions, Mahmud said. This spirit must be kept alive. (The views expressed by the writer are personal. He tweets as @rezhasan) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When I am painting children, I feel as if I am painting my own childhood. Chihiro Iwasaki, the award winning Japanese artist and illustrator of childrens books, had once said of her ceaseless endeavour of painting children. An ongoing exhibition Chihiro Iwasaki and Picture Books of Japan, held in collaboration by the Chihiro Art Museum in Japan and The Japan Foundation in Delhi present a selection of famous Iwasaki paintings that capture moments in the life of children from first graders walking in a single file to children running around or playing musical instruments. he cover illustration for The Cranes Reward (1966), a story of a crane saved by an old man on a snowy day, who then transforms into a young girl and comes to live with the elderly couple. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Through this exhibition, we hope the audience will be introduced to Iwasakis works, as well as those of other acclaimed picture book artists from Japan. The idea is to create awareness about their beautiful works, that have brought great joy to the people of Japan and the world and inheriting their sincere wish for peace for children across the world, says Misako Futsuki, director of Arts & Cultural Exchange, The Japan Foundation. Read: More about art and culture First graders with satchels walking in single file, 1966, Chihiro Iwasaki . (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Visitors at the exhibition Chihiro Iwasaki and Picture Books of Japan. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) On December 15, when a Google doodle celebrated the magical world of boys and girls on what would have been Iwasakis 97th birthday, the exhibition in the capital brought her whimsical style of water colouring to India. Her works combine a unique style of expression by mixing techniques from Western watercolour painting with those of traditional Japanese and Chinese paintings in India Ink. Iwasaki authored more than 30 picture books between her first in 1956 and her death in 1974. Covering a wide range of themes from Japanese folk tales to fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen, and war, she created well over 9,000 artworks, some of which were discovered as recently as in 2014. Eighth century picture scroll E-ingakyo. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Iwasakis 1973 painting from Children in the Flames of War, inspired by the Vietnam War. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Iwasaki won many awards, including one at the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany for Senka no Naka no Kodomo-tachi (Children in the Flames of War) in 1974, inspired by the Vietnam War. Though herself scarred by war, Iwasaki always believed in a better world. She was especially concerned with providing a peaceful future for all children, a desire which finds mention on the art museum website. Iwasakis Running Children (1969). (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Takeshi Motais Gorsh the Cellist. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) The exhibition also presents the works of five other acclaimed Japanese picture book artists, including those by Takeshi Motai, Yasuo Segawa and Shinta Cho. Motais Gorsh the Cellist, a story of a cellist practicing for a concert and Chos Pontara, the Boy with a Bouncy Head deserve special mention. Another section of the exhibition takes you through the history of Japanese picture books, with exhibits ranging from 8th century picture scrolls to works from the Showa era the golden age of childrens books between 1926 to 1989. Shinta Chos Pontara, The Boy with a Bouncy Head. (Saumya Khandelwal / HT & The Japan Foundation) Journey through this colourful and lively world of picture books to rediscover the child in you. What: Chihiro Iwasaki and Picture Books of Japan Where: The Japan Foundation, 5A, Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV When: 11 am - 7 pm, till 15 January 2016 Entry is free Read: One-stop shop for Life and Style SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A flustered Sushma Swaraj, then information and broadcasting minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, had even refused to spell out what suggestions the then Censor Board chief Vijay Anand had given to modernise Indian cinema. It was July 2002. And Anand, known for his highly-acclaimed films like Guide and Teesri Manzil, had given a written proposal to Swaraj to allow X-rated films in special theatres in India. Although he travelled across the country to take feedbacks before offering such liberty to Indian cinemas, those suggestions cut no ice with the first NDA government. At a press conference, Swaraj had said, I am even ashamed of telling publicly what his proposals are. Barely six months into the job, Anand resigned from his position. Read: Bollywood hails move to revamp censor board From the neo-liberal Anand to the ultra-orthodox Pahlaj Nihalanithe NDAs stint with its controversial chairpersons of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), considered an obsolete body by many observers, turned a full circle in 2016. Filmmaker Shyam Benegal is heading the newly formed committee that will suggest revamp of film certification. The present chief Nihalanis outlook, taunted as sanskari on social media, forced the NDA government on Friday to set up a body under one of Indias most prominent filmmaker, Shyam Benegal. Benegal has been asked to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. Read: A timeline of CBFC controversies Whether the newest panels suggestions are actually translated into reality or it faces the same future as many panel reportsgather dust in government officesis yet to be seen. But censor board has often courted controversies. During the UPA regimewere interesting moments. Noted actor Sharmila Tagore had become the censor board chief. Rakesh Omprakash Mehras second filmRang De Basanticame for the certification. The films storyline evolved around a few youngsters who planned to avenge their friends death due to an allegedly faulty fighter plane. As the topic dealt with defence establishment, Tagore took no chances and invited then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee for a special screening to decide if the film needs to go to the chopping board. Mukherjee, with little interest in Hindi films, sat through the first half at the capitals Mahadev Road auditorium. At the interval, he stood up and famously told Tagore and actor Aamir Khan, As the defense minister, my job is to protect the country, not to certify filmsand left the auditorium. Read: Govt move welcomes, says CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani Anand wanted to take Indian films to an entirely new, liberal level. Nihalani thought of taking it back by a few decades when flowers used to be shaken to demonstrate physical proximity between the hero and the heroine. The producer of Aankhen and Ilzaam didnt even allow James Bond to smooch his heroines for more than a few seconds. Another CBFC chief Leela Samson quit last year after the controversial film MSG was cleared for release despite objections raised by her board. Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken it upon himself to change the way the Censor Board works. In sync with the vision of Honble Prime Minister, a committee has been constituted read the government press release on Friday that is widely seen as a censure for the Nihalanis Censor Board. Between Anand and Nihalanipossibly the two extreme points of view, NDA is still trying to strike a balance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON sakit saat men | Seputar wanita | kesehatan wanita | Tips Kecantikan By seputarwanita.comResolution: 200 x 200 16 kB jpegSize: 200 x 200 16 kB jpeg Bausch lomb lotemax gel. Russkie ativan vs orally disintegrating films vimax. Estate newport oregon cialis dose albendozle dosage. Gun control pill reviews. Kencing nanah cialis pill cheap. Determined not to let a good piece of rhetoric go to waste just because it was untrue and discredited nearly 24 hours ago, Western media outlets are running frenzied stories about Jews in the protester-held Eastern Ukraine cities being forced to register Usage is declining. I guess thats not entirely unexpected, given the rise of social media. For the average person, I can see where it wouldnt be incredibly hard to get by without Google Reader, even if they are accustomed to using it on a regular basis. There is nothing wrong with your monitor. TUF 13 castmember Ryan McGillivray tweeted out this horrifying photo of his destroyed nose on Tuesday, after eating a knee in sparring (Bobbed when I should have weaved haha). McGillivray, who was released by RNW was the first media outlet with whom Al-Nuwaisery shared her story. According to the lawyer, Libyan media had been reluctant to approach her for fear of reprisals. Once published on RNWs Arabic website, the story was republished by Libya Al Topcon Positioning Systems RC-4 is a compact, QuickLock remote system that uses dual lasers and a built-in spectrum radio to enhance efficiencies. The system, designed for use with the Topcon QS robotic total station, the RC-4 commands the robotic . Parliament resumed at 9am under Urgency with a number of bills still to be debated. Shortly after 9am Deputy Leader of the House Anne Tolley sought leave for there to be a Question Time at 2pm and this was granted. 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McGillivray, who was released by RNW was the first media outlet with whom Al-Nuwaisery shared her story. According to the lawyer, Libyan media had been reluctant to approach her for fear of reprisals. Once published on RNWs Arabic website, the story was republished by Libya Al Topcon Positioning Systems RC-4 is a compact, QuickLock remote system that uses dual lasers and a built-in spectrum radio to enhance efficiencies. The system, designed for use with the Topcon QS robotic total station, the RC-4 commands the robotic . Parliament resumed at 9am under Urgency with a number of bills still to be debated. Shortly after 9am Deputy Leader of the House Anne Tolley sought leave for there to be a Question Time at 2pm and this was granted. MPs are currently debating the Criminal . Another Picture of obat kencing nanah medis: Lirik lagu Ari Lasso Cinta TerakhirOR[gallery orderby="rand" size="medium" columns="4" link="post"] You mean like this? "The sad truth is, Obama has added more to the national debt than all other presidents combined; He has given aid and comfort to our enemies by releasing them from GITMO; He has attempted to strike a deal with a hostile foreign nation behind closed doors and without the consent of the United State Senate being required as commanded by our Constitution; He is allowing a thousand Islamic "refugees" into the U.S. each month without proper screening or a requirement they renounce an allegiance to their country of origin; He has transferred Americas weapons of defense and military technology to hostile Islamic leaders [the Islamic Brother Hood]; He has assisted an Islamic terrorist state to move forward with producing the component parts for a nuclear arsenal; He has worked to release $150 Billion in assets to the terrorist government of Iran; He has allowed our southern border to be invaded by the poverty stricken populations of Mexico and Central America; He has decided to prop up the communist government of Cuba by normalizing relations, which in turn will yield a needed infusion of money to strengthen this governments iron fist around the necks of its citizens; He has released thousands of criminal illegal aliens from our nations jails into our nations population; He is responsible for undermining our election process by making it easy for ineligible persons to vote; He has interfered with our nations ability to develop our nations natural resources, namely oil, coal and natural gas, to fuel our economy; He has worked to stifle Americas agricultural industry and ability to produce food under the guise of environmental necessity; He has intentionally sabotaged our nations health care delivery system; He has blatantly impinged upon the American Peoples inalienable right to make their own choices and decisions regarding their health care and medical needs; He is responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of people receiving food stamps; He is responsible for a dramatic drop in fulltime employment; He is responsible for a dramatic increase in the unemployment rate among our nations Black and poverty stricken youth; He has used the force of our federal government to tax the paychecks of hard working people living in our nations inner cities and then transferred $ billions from our federal treasury to his inner circle friends under the guise of green energy [Solyndra/Chevy Volt/Fisker, Exelon, etc.]; He has repeatedly circumvented our Republican Form of Government by issuing Executive Orders and memorandums; He has stood by and allowed his Administration to use the force of the federal government to attack "conservatives" who dare to exercise their right to freedom of speech; And he has now started to disarm local police forces which are Americas front line in dealing with domestic terrorism! Who can truthfully deny Obama is intentionally attempting to destroy America from within?" Over a million Indian soldiers fought in World War I. Shrabani Basus book recalls their forgotten history. An interview with the author. Did your book on Noor Inayat Khan spark an interest in the period when India was on the make and the empire was unravelling? Britain, history, India have always been my spheres of interest. Were you looking for soldier-pioneers, or was there a particular side of World War I with an Indian connection that you wanted to explore? I am interested in both the world wars. As the centenary was approaching in 2012, I thought what everyone will talk of is the Battle of Somme and the Battle of Gallipoli. No one will know about the Indians. If Noor, the woman who won the George Cross was forgotten, so would the soldiers. There were 1.5 million soldiers for me that was the story. There were farmers, shepherds, who didnt know why they were doing it but were risking life and limb for another country. From the First World War, we know the Tommies and their helmets. In the trenches, there were men in turban. It was a gathering of the largest number of people from the colonies. The greatest disservice would be to forget them. From Maharajas to sweepers to pilots I didnt even know there were Indian pilots in the First World War I was learning about all of them as I went along. I found Sukha, the untouchable sweeper, in the hospital files. Author Shrabani Basu. Sukha is the one with the English girlfriend? Sukha acquired a life of his own. His having an English girlfriend is fiction. When he died, people didnt want to cremate him till the local vicar came up to bury him. The BBC mentioned him in a programme. In your book, the Maharaja of Bikaner is quite a character. He is said to have participated in the war. He and the other royals were constantly complaining of being kept four miles from the trenches. I guess to have Maharajas dropping dead in the trenches would not have been good PR. The Maharajas were literally asking the shells to hit them. It was in the interest of the English to look after the men well. There was always a contradiction. While on the one hand you had a Comfort Committee with people like Lord Curzon in it looking after the smallest of wants for example fine-toothed combs for Sikhs to comb their hairs to organising of Punjabi sweets called pinnis as the soldiers didnt like English candies on the other hand, they were very strict about the fact that there should be no White nurses to look after the Indian soldiers. There was to be no liaison between lonely English women whose husbands had gone off to the front and lonely Indian men. They were also clear about not having any Indian officers. After the First World War, this order was reversed as Indians began to be taken in as officers at Sandhurst. Many as young as ten lied about their age and boarded a ship to go to Europe. Why? You can always make out if someone is 10 or 18 basically the English turned a blind eye. These kids, of course, mainly worked in the kitchens, kneading dough. But there were others who were in the trenches getting blown up. You had English officers like Walter Lawrence who complained that you couldnt run wars with kids. Every week he wrote a report to Kitchener, the war minister. Why did the Indians go? They felt the loyalty to their king keenly. You had parents write to their sons saying do it for your king, George Pancham as they called George V. It was impressed upon them that if you do well, you will bring honour to your village. I nearly called the book Salt of the Sarkar. There were other considerations. Laddie Roy, the pilot, for example, wanted to prove that the Bengalis, too, could be a martial race. Read: Your daily does of life and style tips What did the end of the war bring for all? There was support for the war in the hope of a Dominion Status. It didnt happen. Five months later, we got Jallianwala Bagh. This turned the tide. Tagore returned his knighthood. The Independence movement picked up after Jalianwala. There was aerial bombing of Gujranwala. Hardit Singh Malik, one of the pilots, who was to get married that Baisakhi day, called it the darkest day. The same planes he had been flying were used to bomb his own countrymen. Udham Singh was born out of all that. Read more about books and authors SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON L ast year, for my first column of 2015, I had gone all contrary on you and compiled a wish list instead of listing my New Year resolutions. Re-reading that piece, before I sat down to write this one, was a rather depressing experience though. My wish list, in retrospect, read like a triumph of hope over experience. And like a beach bully who demolishes sand castles almost as a matter of principle, 2015 had done a marvellous job of quashing all my hopes and desires. I had hoped that every child who set out for school would come back caked in the mud of the playground rather than his own blood. That women would feel safe in public spaces, that they could walk the streets without being groped or harassed. That we would realise that Swachh Bharat was about more than mere optics (and photo-ops with broom in hand). That harmony would prevail among religions, and peace would reign on earth. Of course, not one of these things happened. Instead, we watched in horror as terror took over the streets of Paris, we wept as we saw refugees drowning off the beaches of Europe as they tried to reach a safe haven from war and mayhem, and we mourned the many lives lost to the marauding, murderous gang called Daesh. Back home in India, the loonies continued to run amok. The rise of Hindu majoritarianism meant that anybody who raised a voice against growing intolerance was asked to go off to Pakistan. Such was the frenzy created around the issue of cow slaughter that baying mobs thought nothing of breaking into a mans home and beating him to death in front of his horrified family, simply because they thought he had beef in his fridge (it is another matter that it turned out to be mutton). And violence against women continued apace, with as many as six rapes and 14 molestations being reported every day in the city of Delhi alone. So, I have learnt my lesson; and this time round, I am keeping my ambitions very limited, in the hope that this years wish list has a better success rate than the last. That said, what do I wish for 2016? Well, heres just a teeny-tiny sampler: * A woman in the White House: It is about time, wouldnt you say? It has been half a century since India had its first woman Prime Minister in Indira Gandhi and 37 years since Britain put Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street. Women of substance: It has been half a century since India had its first woman Prime Minister in Indira Gandhi and 37 years since Britain put Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street. Its about time the US elected a woman to the White House too. (Tim Graham) So it is time that the leading democracy of the world caught up and elected a female President. It helps that voting for Hillary Clinton is a no-brainer if (as looks increasingly likely) she is pitted against Donald Trump, the current front-runner in the Republican field. America surely deserves a President who promises results rather than one who simply delivers insults (and bizarrely, finds bathroom breaks disgusting). * More news, less noise: An entirely unscientific survey among my friends and colleagues shows that they are tiring of the current news television formula of prime-time programming, where anchors choose one issue to outrage about through the course of the day and then invite a phalanx of guests to debate it. That is, if debate means to shout at deafening sound levels at one another, even as the anchor ensures that nobody can complete an entire sentence, let alone a complete argument. My hope is that the rest of India will also begin to tire of this shouty format full of sound and fury, signifying nothing and vote with their remotes. Maybe then we can finally get some news rather than endless views from our news channels. * A clean, green India: Actually, at this point, I am prepared to settle for a slightly cleaner, greener India. Even the smallest improvement in this area will leave me deliriously happy. Delhi has been the first to show some intent on this front. And no matter what your views on the odd-even formula that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is experimenting with (as of this writing, at least) during the first fortnight of the year, there is no denying that some sort of beginning has to be made before the air we breathe kills us all. Maybe 2016 will see more cities and states take similar initiatives; if not for our sake then for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Dont you know that youre toxic: There is no denying that some sort of beginning has to be made before the air we breathe kills us all. Maybe 2016 will see more cities and states take similar initiatives like Delhis odd-even formula. ( Photo by Sonu Mehta/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) * Civility in our political discourse: Remember those innocent days when leaders across the political divide insisted that they were rivals not enemies? Well, they are only a fond memory now that the political discourse has been cheapened to the extent that political foes think nothing of spewing abuse at one another in public and on social media. I cant be alone in praying that better sense prevails in 2016, and a measure of decorum is restored to public life. On a more personal note, I fervently hope that I finally get the push to finish my book, that has been hanging fire for years now (dont ask), and see it on the stands and hopefully on your shelves before the end of 2016. And on that note, a very Happy New Year to all! From HT Brunch, January 3, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Politicians offer propaganda in a loud voice. Ditto for pundits. I love the small voice of literature. As Joan Didion said, we tell ourselves stories in order to live. The writing about small towns or about provincial life is appealing because it too brings the gift of small particularities. RK Narayan built his entire career around it. However, a cultivation of quaintness in his fiction kept me at a distance. Then the kaleidoscope turned and, at least for me, the picture changed with Upamanyu Chatterjees English, August, a wildly comic account of a metropolitan Indian, a young bureaucrat, in a mofussil town. And the language! The staidness of colonial English tickled, harassed, abused, and caressed by an irreverent writer for whom there were no sacred cows. A few years passed and Vikram Seths A Suitable Boy landed with a suitable thud, a grand achievement and not only for its portrait of life in the provinces. Set in a town in Uttar Pradesh, it spoke in a voice that possessed all the nearness and transparency of a novel written in Hindustani. In its pages, English no longer sounded as a sociolect designed to set the elite apart from the unwashed masses. I grew up in Patna, where Vikram Seth also attended school, and one recent work of fiction that celebrates Seths connection to my hometown is Siddharth Chowdhurys The Patna Manual of Style. Chowdhury has woven all of his wonderful fiction around Patna and its scattered diaspora. The same characters wander in and out of the pages of his novels, they emerge from Kadam Kuan in Patna and stumble into classrooms in Delhi University, and sit down for a dose of litti-chokha and mutton at Yadavji Litti Centre in Paharganj. The small town in 2015: In The Patna Manual of Style, Siddharth Chowdhury has woven wonderful fiction around Patna; In Ishq Mein Shahar Hona, Ravish Kumar explains that Delhi entered his consciousness through an image: women in nighties on balconies; And most recently, Ratika Kapurs The Private Life of Mrs Sharma presents the voice of the small town and also the tumult of the big city. Siddharth is a friend of mine but the reason I possibly dislike him a bit, and this is pure envy speaking, is because his writing is pure voice. I dont just mean the Patna lilt but also the confidence and a specific kind of cosmopolitanism. We see the hinterland populated with small-town managers of jugaad, those who wrestle fate and ultimately fail, and also others who have imagination (and maybe even ambition, if thats not too strong a word) borrowed from films and fiction. These latter could become writers like Chowdhury himself, except they wouldnt know how to write about sex with such bravado. Open Chowdhurys Day Scholar to its first page and read about Zorawar Singh Shokeen, landlord of Shokeen Niwas, in flagrant sexual congress with Mrs Midha, a section officer in Delhi University. Goodbye, all genteel affectations! Farewell, Narayan! The point is not sex, it is seeing. Seeing with the eyes of someone from the margins. NDTVs Ravish Kumar has a new book of brief fictional pieces in Hindi, Ishq Mein Shahar Hona. Ravish explains that when he arrived from Patna, Delhi entered his consciousness as an image: on the balconies of the buildings visible from the street, women in nighties using washing machines to do laundry. India Gate or Ghalib came to Ravish later, or didnt properly come at all. Instead, it was the humble nightie that introduced him to his new urban reality. What does that nameless, middle-class woman using the washing machine on her balcony have on her mind? A question like that motivates the latest novel I read, Ratika Kapurs The Private Life of Mrs Sharma. The titular Mrs Sharma is in her thirties; born in Meerut, she now lives in Delhi, where she takes the Metro to work every day. One day at the Hauz Khas station she approaches a well-dressed young man. An affair begins. She doesnt tell the man at first that she is married or about her teenage son. Slowly she discovers a new self and a new city. The novel is narrated in her voice. This is the voice of the ordinary, the quotidian, even the banal and it is to Kapurs credit that often she makes this voice sing. The dominant imagination doesnt admit sex, except as scandal, in domestic spaces. This is particularly true of spaces inhabited by married women. In using a language that is idiomatically Indian, and recognisably middle class, Mrs Sharma provides a womans plain testimony. Kapur has performed an act of literary ventriloquism, and only rarely does she slip into parody. We have seen such performances in Akhil Sharmas An Obedient Father, even in Aravind Adigas The White Tiger; this novel also has a strand in common with an eye-opening story like Mohan Sikkas The Railway Aunty which told us about Delhi housewives hiring gigolos. But Kapurs protagonist is her own person. We accompany Mrs Sharma on the path of her discovery and her doom only because her voice is real. In Mrs Sharma, I heard the voice of the small town of her birth and also the tumult of the big city where she lives. Kapur is a writer not only with an eye for detail: she also uses her ear. And because Mrs Sharma sounds real, she is revolutionary. The Bookist is a monthly column From HT Brunch, January 3, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch The New Year celebrations were peaceful this time as compared to last year as no major untoward incident was reported. According to the Chandigarh Police, a total of 232 challans were issued on Thursday night, including 103 for dunken driving. A total of 104 vehicles were impounded by the police on the New Year night. Last year, the UT police had challaned 653 vehicles for different offences, issued 107 challans for drunken driving and had impounded 143 vehicles. Police had put up 10 nakas exclusively to check drunken driving. Chandigarh Police control room received 1,456 calls for assistance. Out of these, 87 calls were regarding brawls, 43 complained about noise and 37 calls were received from people complaining about nuisance at public places. A total of 48 calls were received with regard to road mishaps. Chief minister Harish Rawat on Friday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on building roads to connect Haridwar, Gangotri, Yamnotri and Badrinath. He was reacting to the remark of Modi, who while laying the foundation of the 75-km-long Delhi-Meerut expressway on Thursday reportedly said he had plans for building roads to connect Haridwar, Gangotri, Yamnotri and Badrinath. Rawat said, He (Prime Minister) is serving food at others plate and expecting us (Uttarakhand) to survive only on aroma, Rawat told HT. The chief minister, who was at Kedarnath on the first day of the New Year to review the reconstruction work of the Kedarnath shrine town said a proposal on roads sent to Centre was gathering dust. Rawat said if the Prime Minister was so concerned about Haridwar and Uttarakhand, he should offer financial aid to the hill state. Rawat said, Despite repeated requests, the Centre has not provided any (financial) help for Ardh Kumbh at Haridwar which is beginning this month. Similarly, a proposal, sent to the Centre last year for strengthening national highway that connects Char Dham, did not get any response. Rawat who had replaced Vijay Bahuguna in January 2014 focused only on rebuilding the Kedarnath town that was devastated by 2013 floods which consumed 5,000 lives, leaving thousands injured. The government took the help of the National Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) for it. The district magistrate of Rudraprayag Rajeev Langhar said the administration completed most of the work related to compensation. He said the administration decided to give Rs 1 lakh as relief to each of the 1,800 priests whose livelihood depended on the pilgrims. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 28-year-old undertrial prisoner was physically assaulted and then strangled to death allegedly by three of his fellow inmates in a moving prisoner transport van in south Delhis Hauz Khas on Saturday. The crime comes four months after two high-risk prisoners Paras alias Goldy and Pradeep alias Bhola were killed by their rival gang members inside a jail van in outer Delhi. Police said the undertrial lodged in jail number 8 of Tihar jail in an attempt to murder case was murdered in front of 45 other prisoners who were locked in three separate internal compartments inside the jail van. The incident took place when the prisoners were being transported back to Tihar Jail from Saket court after the days court proceedings. A case of murder has been registered against the three prisoners at the Hauz Khas police station The deceased, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, was supposedly beaten up and then strangled. The three attackers were identified as Vishal alias Bunty, Raju and Salman all residents of Ambedkar Nagar and Madangir. A senior police officer said Manoj was locked up in the jail vans inner compartment number 1, while the attackers were in compartment number 2. As the jail van, reached the IIT gate, Manoj somehow broke open the inner compartments lock and came out. He then entered into an argument with the three inmates, during which they also managed to break open the lock of their compartment. Soon their argument escalated into an ugly fight, during which the three inmates assaulted Manoj and strangled him, said a senior officer. He added that the jail van in-charge immediately called the police control room. The police control room alerted the nearest PCR vans and the jail van was escorted to the nearest police station (Hauz Khas). At the police station premises, the van was surrounded by armed policemen before the door was opened. The injured prisoner was rushed to AIIMS, where doctors pronounced him dead on admission. The attackers were taken into custody while other prisoners were taken back to the jail in another van, said the officer. Deepak Mishra, special CP (law and order), said they were examining the video footage of the jail van to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the undertrials murder. The Rajasthan government has requested the Centre to help train more than 52,000 teachers as part of a plan to increase the use of computers and internet in schools across the state. Schools will be connected to the internet and the teachers will be trained to encourage the use of technology to make education computer-based, school education minister Vasudev Devnani has said. The state education department has sent its recommendations to the Centre regarding the training of the teachers, he said. Computers are necessary for todays education and we are going to introduce at least one computer teacher in every school in the state, he said. Under the Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation, more than 52,000 teachers have registered themselves for computer training and 90% data of schools in the state have been fed online to create a database of schooling in the state. According to a recent report published by the District Information for School Education, only 28.60% schools in Rajasthan have access to computers. In primary schools, the figure dipped to 5.29%. Only 55.28% schools in the state have the basic requirement for electricity connection necessary to run computers. Even in secondary education, only 31.37% schools in the state have access to computers. Academics said that computer education in schools should be based on the requirement of students and focus should be on improving the quality of primary education. We usually find that there is one computer for every 200 students in rural schools. In such a scenario, merely providing a computer and a teacher in a school wont solve the problem, said Vishwambhar, who goes by one name. The government needs to set an age for students from when they can be introduced to computers. We need to provide quality basic education in primary schools first, he said. Devnani agreed, saying that the governments priority was to bring down drop out ratio in schools. We are aiming to introduce computer education in secondary and senior secondary schools, after that we will focus on middle schools, he said. For now and our priority is to bring students to schools. Academics believe that the ambitious plan is susceptible to misuse and corruption if it is implemented without proper understanding prerequisites of school education in the state. Rajendra Yadav, director of SPC education centre, an NGO that provides computer education to the poor, said that decentralization of policy holds the key for encouraging the use of computers in primary education. The intention of the government is noble as computer education has become necessary but there is a need for proper planning and understanding of the need of the students in the rural areas, he said. Academics said the government should look for innovative methods for education even if there is lack of basic facilities. Solar electricity can be used, said Vishwambhar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The University Grants Commission (UGC) has planned to induct yoga into the curriculum of public-funded universities, hoping to cash in on Prime Minister Narendra Modis push for the ancient discipline and its growing popularity across the world. The apex regulatory body for higher education has prepared a proposal to introduce BSc and MSc in yoga in all 40 central universities from the 2016-17 academic session and, later, in state and deemed universities, sources said. It is imperative that Indian universities engage themselves in strengthening scientific evidence of the positive effects of yoga and meditation on human health. In order to pursue education and practice in yoga, it is proposed to establish centres and departments of yoga in the public-funded universities, the proposal says. The move came a year after the UN General Assembly adopted an India-led resolution to declare June 21 as Inter national Day of Yoga. Prime Minister Modi led a mass yoga session on the first international yoga day in 2015 at Rajpath in Delhi, setting a record for the largest gathering of people 35,985 performing yogic exercises together at one place. Looking at the gover nments renewed push to promote yoga, it was time we made an effort at institutionalising it, an UGC official said. Welcoming the move, educationists said, it would not only help promote yoga in a big way but also open job avenues. We have enough people preaching yoga but need qualified practitioners of the discipline. The way yoga has become popular these days, there are ample job opportunities for qualified yoga experts, said Professor TV Kattimani, vicechancellor of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, a central institution in Madhya Pradesh. The opposition Congress too praised the move but questioned its implementation. The idea sounds good and we appreciate the move but it smacks of ad hocism and should not be done in haste. A lot many factors should be taken into account before yoga is introduced as BSc and MSc programme in universities. For example, will students find employment after doing the course? Can they become teachers without getting a BEd degree? party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan asked. The UGC proposal states that each university will set up a department of yogic art and science. The regulatory body will soon form a panel of experts to develop a curriculum and syllabus for the subject to be taught as three-year BSc and two-year MSc programmes as well as draw up a set of qualifications for hiring faculty. The experts will be drawn from some universities that are already offering yoga as an optional subject. In June 2015, human resource development minister Smriti Irani introduced yoga as part of the curriculum in government-run schools. Read: Yoga and meditation can cut healthcare cost by 43%, says study Yoga, computer classes to be held for Haryana jail inmates In pictures: Staying healthy the Modi way: PM takes the lead in Yoga session at Dhordo As terrorists killed three security personnel in Pathankot, political parties asked the government to remain firm but also ensure the bilateral peace process does not suffer. Captain Amarinder Singh, Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha and former Punjab chief minister, said, It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to subvert and sabotage the peace process between the two countries, which must not be allowed at any cost. In Delhi, the Congress party said in a statement, PM Modi used to say he will show red eyes to Pakistan and then talk to them. We dont want him to show red eyes but we want him to take firm action to protect the lives of our citizens and ensure that our valiant security forces and Army do not lay their lives at the hands of Pakistani terror module, which is continued to be exported. But the BJP asked the Congress not to politicise the issue. It maintained that dialogue with Pakistan cannot be called off due to one attack. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said, Unless you talk terror, terror will not come down. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference chief Omar Abdullah urged the BJP to insulate the Indo-Pak dialogues from the incident. The BJP now has to sidestep its previous terror & talks cant go together & insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks. #Pathankot, he tweeted. Abdullah also dubbed the attacks as the first major challenge to PM Modis bold Pakistan gambit. The Shiv Sena also took potshots at the Centres attempts to talk peace with Pakistan. Questioning the governments response to the attack, the party wondered when it would give the neighbour the fitting reply it had been promising. We have been hearing that we will give Pakistan a befitting reply. But when will this reply be given? What happened today is something that we had feared for a very long time. Hence, we have maintained that talks with Pakistan cant go on till the time terrorism exists, said party spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut. CPI, which had welcomed Modis sudden stopover in Lahore to greet his Pak counterpart Nawaz Sharif, condemned the attack but maintained that both countries should not fall into the trap of provocation by terror outfits. CPI MP D Raja said, We strongly condemn the attack. It happened after the PMs visit to Pakistan. This appears to be an attempt by terror outfits to derail any dialogue process and initiative taken by both the countries. Congress president Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel maintained that the attack, coming after the meeting of the two PMs, raises serious questions. We seriously need to ponder over the situation, Patel said. "The Constitution is the act of the people, speaking in their original character, and defining the permanent conditions of the social alliance; and there can be no doubt on the point with us, that every act of the legislative power contrary to the true intent and meaning of the Constitution, is absolutely null and void. ___ Chancellor James Kent, in his Commentaries on American Law [1858] SEE Georgia attorney general: State can't stop resettlement of Syrian refugees or deny benefits Dec. 30, 2015Attorney General Sam Olens also asserts in the article that. But what Sam Olens fails to establish is the wording in our Constitution under which our federal government has been granted a power to admit refugees at our ports of entry and then force them upon the States.The fact is, under the Articles of Confederation each state, and this specifically includes the State of Georgia [one of the original 13 States] regulated immigration into their state. This original power exercised by the State of Georgia has never been repealed nor has it been delegated to the United States by our Constitution.Although Congress has been granted the exclusive power to set the requirements which a foreigner residing in a particular state must meet to become a citizen of the United States, that limited power was never intended to, nor does it, alter Georgias original policing powers over foreign immigration into their State.The question which Georgias Attorney General needs to answer for the good people of Georgia is, what provision in our federal Constitution forbids the Governor and Legislature of the State of Georgia to regulate foreign immigration into their state? Additionally, the Attorney General needs to identify the wording in our federal Constitution under which Congress or our President, has allegedly been granted a power to admit foreigners at our ports of entry and then compel the various States to accept them.Keep in mind that a power not granted by our Constitution to the federal government is a power denied, and, all powers not delegated by our Constitution to the federal government are reserved by the States under the 10 Amendment!To assume our President or Congress can exercise powers not granted by the people in our written Constitution is to assume___ quoting Hamilton in Federalist No 78.Is it not time for the Attorney General of Georgia to grow a spine and tell Obama and his open border crowd to go pound sand?JWK Suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from Pakistan on Saturday attacked an Air Force base in Pathankot, killing three security personnel while five terrorists were killed in an operation that lasted more than five hours, an attack that comes just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled visit to Lahore. The air base is located near the border with Pakistan. The gunbattle between terrorists and security forces ended after more than five hours. However, the area was not sanitised yet and the combing operation continues, Punjab Police ADGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon. The attack came close on the heels of an upswing in India-Pakistan ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise trip to Lahore last month and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. Read: Pathankot air force base attack: 4 terrorists, 2 IAF men killed The terror attack in Punjab is the first major challenge to PM (Narendra) Modis bold Pakistan gambit, tweeted former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah soon after the terrorists stormed the Pathankot air force. The BJP now has to sidestep its previous terror & talks cant go together and insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks, Abdullah said in a tweet. The BJP now has to sidestep its previous "terror & talks can't go together" & insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks. #Pathankot Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016 The Congress party expressed concern that the attack came despite attempts to restore peace with Pakistan and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take up the issue with the neighbouring country. Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot AirForce Base.My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack, Rahul Gandhi tweeted. Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot AirForce Base.My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 2, 2016 It is a matter of serious concern, we urge PM Modi to take up the matter with Pakistan, Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala told ANI. Sad that this happened after some efforts were made to restore peace with Pakistan, senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was very sad to hear about the terror attack in Pathankot. V sad to hear about terror attack in Pathankot. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 2, 2016 Defence minister Manohar Parrikar will hold a high-level meeting on the Pathankot attack with security officials in the evening. Under pressure following the relaunch of the Patidar agitation, which is also being supported by the Congress, the Anandiben Patel government on Saturday announced withdrawal of 74 police cases involving 382 Patidar youths in 18 districts to maintain atmosphere of peace, harmony in the state. However, the sedition charge against Patidar stir leader Hardik Patel and his five aides has not been withdrawn but it may be reviewed soon. The decision came two days after the government faced intense protest against its ongoing by-yearly agricultural festival Krishi Mahotsav at various places in the state by the Patidar community which forms the BJPs most committed vote bank. With the demand of OBC status, this otherwise politically and financially influential community has been at loggerheads with the BJP government since July last year. The Congress too had announced it would take out a rally in Ahmedabad on January 6 if the cases, including the sedition charges against Hardik Patel, wont be withdrawn. Of 457 FIRs, 74 will be withdrawn in the first phase. A further review will be done to take a call in connection with the rest of the cases, said Gujarat government spokesperson and health minister Nitin Patel. The cases were registered after mobs across state had set ablaze public property, including police vehicles and buses. Homes of top ministers, including MoS home Rajnikant Patel, were also targeted. Nitin Patel said the decision was taken by the chief minister after a meeting with community leaders on December 31. Decision has been taken to maintain peace and harmony in the state. In a landmark judgment, the Himachal Pradesh high court (HC), on Saturday, ordered the state government, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) and the Hyderabad-based VNR Vigna Jyothi engineering college, to pay Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 24 engineering students, who were swept away in the Beas river in 2014 after floodgates of the Larji dam were opened and water was released into the river without prior warning. Pronouncing the judgment, a division bench, headed by chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, directed that the compensation amount, including the interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each, will be paid with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from Saturday till its final realisation. The bench, which treated media reports about the incident as public interest litigation, asked the HPSEB, the state government and the college management to share the compensation amount in the ratio of 60, 30 and 10 respectively. The court gave eight weeks to the respondents to deposit the money with the high court for disbursement to the kin of the deceased students. Holding the HPSEB prima facie responsible for the tragedy, the bench said Keeping all these factors in view, read with the inquiry report of the divisional commissioner, Mandi, the board authorities had a major role in the tragedy . The HPSEB authorities had failed to exercise due care and caution, thus, are to be saddled with liability at least to the extent of 60%, it added. In an earlier order, passed on June 25, 2014, the high court had ordered an interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased students, which will be adjusted against the compensation awarded on Saturday. Twenty-four students of the VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, who were on an excursion tour to Manali, and a tour operator, were swept away on June 8, 2014 at Thalot near Pandoh, after water from a nearby HPSEB run Larji hydropower project dam was released into the Beas. The bench, that had reserved the judgment on December 14, observed that the news about the incident was so shocking and pricking that it shattered everyone. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A sacked IAF official who was arrested for allegedly sharing secret information with Pakistans ISI, will be interrogated in connection with Saturdays Pathankot terror attack, investigators told a city court which extended his police custody till Monday. Ranjith KK, a leading aircraftman with Indian Air Force posted at Bhatinda, was dismissed recently and later arrested after a combined operation by Delhi Polices Crime Branch, Military Intelligence and Air Force Liaisoning Unit (LU). The police sought an extension of Ranjiths custody by two more days for further interrogation. In view of the allegation and the reasons thereof, the application is allowed. Police remand of the accused is extended till January 4, the metropolitan magistrate Dheeraj Mittal said. Booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act, Ranjith KK had allegedly shared secret information with intelligence operatives suspected to be backed by Pakistans ISI after being honeytrapped into an espionage racket. Read | Pak honeytrap: IAF official worked as defence analyst for fake UK mag A Crime Branch official informed the court that revelations made by the accused need to be ascertained and he needs to be also interrogated in connection with the Pathankot attack and terror espionage. The investigators submissions came after the magistrate asked the police whether any disclosure and recovery have been made during the earlier four-day remand. IO SS Sandhu said that some revelations were made by Ranjith and police suspect that they could be a connection with the Pathankot attack, in which a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base, killing three security personnel. Read | IAF honeytrap: ISI spy Damini sought details on Indias combat exercise Police had earlier said that in this case, Ranjith was deceived by a cyber entity by the name Damini McNaught, who pretended to be an executive of a UK-based media firm and claimed that she required Air Force-related information for an article in their news magazine from Ranjith in exchange for pecuniary benefits. Age, poor health and the winter chill could not prevent independent Indias first voter, 98-year-old Shayam Saran Negi, from keeping his date with the democratic exercise as he voted on Friday in the Himachal Pradesh rural polls. Negi of Kalpa in Kinnaur district, who has not missed a single election, put to rest speculation that ill health may keep him away from the polling station this time. Prior to this, the retired schoolteacher voted in the 2014 general elections. He made history by becoming the first to vote in the first Lok Sabha elections on October 25, 1951. He has not missed any opportunity to vote since then. The old man, aided by his grandson and daughter-in-law, reached the booth in ward number 1, around 4km away from his home, on a car sent by the district administration. People celebrated the occasion with music as Negi reached the booth and the sub-divisional magistrate along with the district panchayat officer waited in attendance to welcome him. Pankaj Negi said his grandfather had made up his mind to cast his vote in the second phase of panchayat polls held in Kinnaur. The gentleman, who encourages others to vote, has not been keeping well for the past few months with an aggravated knee problem and weak eyesight. In 2010, then chief election commissioner Navin Chawla visited Negis village, about 250km from Shimla, to honour him as part of the commissions diamond jubilee celebrations. The nonagenarian has four sons, five daughters and a long line of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Just hours before terrorists struck the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in the wee hour of Saturday, security agencies had swung into action and rushed a crack team of National Security Guards, who acted on advance intelligence to thwart the terror attack on a defence installation in the area. Five terrorists and three security personnel have been killed in the terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab on Saturday morning. The encounter between security forces and the terrorists ended several hours after the attack but combing operations in the area are still on. A battery of 50 NSG commandos, led by a major-general, was flown in a special aircraft from Delhi to Pathankot on Friday night after security officials connected the dots on an incident earlier in the day in which five armed men in army fatigues had waylaid a Punjab police official near Pathankot, and concluded that four to six heavily-armed terrorists were on the loose. While the Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh was kidnapped and later freed, terrorists killed his driver and injured a friend before escaping in his vehicle. Based on information shared by police official and injured person and some definite inputs, security agencies had concluded by Friday evening that the kidnappers were heavily-armed terrorists on a suicidal mission to attack a specific target, top security sources told Hindustan Times. Read more: Pathankot base encounter ends, 3 IAF men, 5 terrorists killed A high alert was sounded while both Punjab police and central agencies worked in tandem and quickly mobilized resources to track and neutralize the terrorists on loose. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, based on intelligence inputs, took the call on dispatching a battery of NSG commandos to Pathankot by Friday late evening. Soon after landing, the commandos were rushed to the Air Force base and an army cantonment at Mamoon near Pathankot while a major search operation was launched. Terrorists struck at 3 am at the air force base, and NSG commandos were ready to combat them. Hence, the attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, which is why perhaps the terrorists could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside. The strike is believed to be launched by Jaish-e-Mohammad and the target was to destroy military installations. It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within a year after three militants stormed a police station in Diana Nagar before being eliminated after an encounter in July. The attack comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modis unscheduled visit to Pakistan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Pakistani court on Saturday refused to entertain a petition against Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent Lahore visit, saying there was no urgency to hear it during winter vacations. The petition challenging Modis visit has been rejected by the office of the registrar of the Lahore high court, a court official told PTI. Advocate Azhar Saddique filed the petition in the Lahore high court on Saturday stating that Modi along with his delegation visited Pakistan without any official permission as most of the members of the delegation travelling with him stayed at the airport premises without visa. On December 25, PM Modi along some members of his delegation went to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharifs Raiwind residence in Jati Umra near Lahore. The court rejected the petition saying that there was no urgency and that it cannot be entertained during the vacations. Sadique said he would file the petition after the vacations. Modi sprang a surprise with a 150-minute visit to Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and held talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the larger good of the people of the two countries. Modi made the stopover here on his way back home after a day-long unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he went following a two-day trip to Russia last month. Pakistan said it remained committed to partner with India to eradicate the menace of terrorism, condemning a pre-dawn attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force base on Saturday. Militants entered the IAF base near the Pakistan border in northern Punjab and engaged security forces in a fierce gunfight. Five terrorists were killed by commandos, the police said. Three men of the security forces also died in the gun battle. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region, a statement released by the Pakistan foreign affairs ministry said. Read: 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack Security sources said, based on their initial analysis, the attack may have been carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group based in Pakistan. We extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery, the statement said. An expert said the attack was a move on predictable lines to strike a blow to the neighbours fragile peace process. The challenge is to ensure that the bilateral relationship is insulated from such threats, C Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies, told Hindustan Times. The attack came a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impromptu visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks. Home minister Rajnath Singh told ANI: Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response. Junior home minister Kiren Rijiju said: We have credible information about this attack being sponsored by some elements across the border. Read: After Modi-Sharif bonhomie, Pathankot poses challenge to Pak policy What makes Gurdaspur-Pathankot belt so vulnerable to terror attacks Defence minister Manohar Parrikar will hold a high-level meeting with security officials on Saturday evening following a terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot district of Punjab early Saturday. The security counter-operation that followed the attack at 3.30am ended around 9 am after the five militants were killed before they could inflict any damage on Air Force assets such as helicopters or fighter planes. Parrikar, who was in Goa, was monitoring the situation and was in touch with Air Force Chief Arup Raha and other officers. He reached Delhi later in the evening and conducted a meeting with security officials. Meanwhile, home minister Rajnath Singh was quoted by ANI as saying that any aggression towards India will receive a befitting reply from our side. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources said. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. Police have cordoned off the area and army has been called in. The number of terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were reported to be around four to six. The gunfight has stopped but the area was still being sanitised and the exact number of terrorists that were killed will be known once the combing operations were over, an army official said. Though firing is over but the complete area is not sanitised. There is always possibility of one terrorist hiding and waiting in a different area. Keeping that in mind operations continue till complete area is sanitised, the official said. The security forces repulsed a major attack by the terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located, said a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. Based on Fridays development, the army sounded an alert and had placed two-army columns and a special force team in the Pathankot base prior to the attack, an army spokesperson in New Delhi said. NSG team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans; local Brigade Commander of Army is coordinating the operations; in addition UAVs of the army and IAF have also been put into action to get inputs, the spokesperson added. The technical area where MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept was safe. The security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked, said a senior police official in Jammu. The army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant could sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir, the defence sources said. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjabs frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police official said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjabs Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015 leaving seven people dead, including a senior police official. Five terrorists and three security men including one Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in an attack on an air force base in Punjabs Pathankot district early on Saturday morning, setting alarm bells ringing across the country. Gunshots rocked the facility around 3:30am on the second day of a new year as a group of at least five men in army-style clothing - believed to be operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group - launched the daring operation less than 24 hours after an alert was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Even though police said the gun battle ended by 8am in which four terrorists were killed, shots and loud explosions were heard from inside the base around 11am. At least one helicopter could be seen firing at an area inside the facility. One more terrorist was neutralised by security forces later in the day. A defence source said the terrorists from JeM, a group blamed for the December 2001 attack on Parliament that killed 11 people, had probably infiltrated about three days ago. Pathankot located at the tri-junction of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is on a highway that connects insurgency-hit J-K with the rest of the country. A team of 50 commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) led the fight against the militants at the air force base, a top security official said. The NSG commandos were flown to Pathankot on Friday night in view of a security threat after the abduction and thrashing of Gurdaspur SP (headquarters) Salwinder Singh by terrorists, who dodged security forces and escaped. The NSG commandos were rushed to the air force base and an army cantonment at Mamoon after their arrival in Pathankot, and a major search operation was kick-started. The terrorists launched the assault soon after a combing operation in the area between the air base installation and Chakki river, police said. As police cordoned off the area that resembled a war zone, army and air force personnel swung into action alongside the NSG forces that retaliated strongly, a source told HT in the wake of the attack reminiscent of the Gurdaspur strike last year. In July, heavily armed men in army fatigues sprayed bullets on a moving bus and stormed Dinanagar police station in Gurdaspur district bordering Pakistan, killing six people and injuring eight. Watch: Security forces launch operation after Pathankot attack DIG (border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said helicopters were dispatched for assistance in the Pathankot operation. The terrorists were contained in a non-operational area of the air force base. A source said that the co-ordinated counter operation was supervised by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The attack came close on the heels of an upswing in India-Pakistan ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise trip to Lahore last month and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response, home minister Rajnath Singh said. A group of 50 commandos of the National Security Guard led the fight against the militants in Pathankot. (HT Photo) Junior home minister Kiren Rijiju said: We have credible information about this attack being sponsored by some elements across the border. Punjab was put on maximum alert while security measures were also tightened in neighbouring Haryana, the common capital of the two states - Chandigarh, and national capital Delhi. The Pathankot IAF facility, which is 20km (aerial distance) from the India-Pakistan border, is the base of MiG-21 fighter planes and Mi-25 attack helicopters of the air force. Authorities said helicopters and other equipment at the base are safe. Read: Intel-igent call: NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot before attack Read: Security stepped up in Delhi hours after Pathankot air base attack Watch: IAF Choppers in action as Pathankot Air Force base attacked (With agency inputs) #1 Over the past 20 years, gun sales have absolutely exploded, but homicides with firearms are down 39 percent during that time and other crimes with firearms are down 69 percent.#2 A study published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy discovered that nations that have more guns tend to have less crime.#3 The nine European nations with the lowest rate of gun ownership rate have a combined murder rate that is three times greater than the nine European nation with the highest rate of gun ownership.#4 Almost every mass shooting that has occurred in the United States since 1950 has taken place in a state with strict gun control lawsWith just one exception, every public mass shooting in the USA since at least 1950 has taken place where citizens are banned from carrying guns. Despite strict gun regulations, Europe has had three of the worst six school shootings.#5 The United States is #1 in the world in gun ownership, and yet it is only 28th in the world in gun murders per 100,000 people.#6 The violent crime rate in the United States actually fell from 757.7 per 100,000 in 1992 to 386.3 per 100,000 in 2011. During that same time period, the murder rate fell from 9.3 per 100,000 to 4.7 per 100,000.#7 Approximately 200,000 women in the United States use guns to protect themselves against sexual crime every single year.#8 Overall, guns in the United States are used 80 times more often to prevent crime than they are to take lives.#9 The number of unintentional fatalities due to firearms declined by 58 percent between 1991 and 2011.#10 Despite the very strict ban on guns in the UK, the overall rate of violent crime in the UK is about 4 times higher than it is in the United States. In one recent year, there were 2,034 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the UK. In the United States, there were only 466 violent crimes per 100,000 people during that same year. Do we really want to be more like the UK?#11 The UK has approximately 125 percent more rape victims per 100,000 people each year than the United States does.#12 The UK has approximately 133 percent more assault victims per 100,000 people each year than the United States does.#13 The UK has the fourth highest burglary rate in the EU.#14 The UK has the second highest overall crime rate in the EU.#15 Down in Australia, gun murders increased by about 19 percent and armed robberies increased by about 69 percent after a gun ban was instituted.#16 The city of Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. So has this reduced crime? Of course not. As I wrote about recently, the murder rate in Chicago was about 17 percent higher in 2012 than it was in 2011, and Chicago is now considered to be the deadliest global city. If you can believe it, there were about as many murders in Chicago during 2012 as there was in the entire nation of Japan.#17 After the city of Kennesaw, Georgia passed a law requiring every home to have a gun, the crime rate dropped by more than 50 percent over the course of the next 23 years and there was an 89% decline in burglaries.#18 According to Gun Owners of America, the governments of the world slaughtered more than 170 million of their own people during the 20th century. The vast majority of those people had been disarmed by their own governments prior to being slaughtered. The pre-dawn attack by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on the strategically significant air force base in Punjabs frontier Pathankot district on Saturday bears a striking resemblance to the Gurdaspur siege in July last year. Also, both attacks came close on the heels of meetings between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers and an upswing in the ties between the two sides. The Pathankot attack has come nearly a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover at Lahore and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The Gurdaspur attack took place after Modi and Sharif met in the Russian city of Ufa and agreed to explore ways to pursue peace talks. The terror strike in Pathankot, nearly five months after the Gurdaspur incident, clearly indicates that Punjab has become a target area for terrorists, posing a new challenge to security agencies, including Armys Western Command. In both these attacks, the ultras were on a suicide mission; hijacked vehicles to make it to the destination and their target was a defence installation. Even the pre-attack modus operandi---snatching vehicles and slitting throats of occupants---adopted by the four terrorists in army fatigues in Pathankot is identical to the method terrorists had adopted in March last year before attacking a security establishment in Kathua district of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, revealed a security official. Initial investigations suggest that the terrorists involved in Saturdays strike sneaked into Punjab through the porous riverine belt in Pathankot district. According to Punjab Police, the three fidayeen involved in the Dinanagar attack had entered the Gurdaspur sector after crossing the Ravi river near Mastgarh village. The Border Security Force has, however, has stoutly refuted the Punjab cops claim. The GPS recovered from the slain ultras had the entry of the path they had used for sneaking in. The GPS had the entry of Gurdaspur town, indicating that they had planned a strike on the town too. In July, the terrorists had planted 2.5-kg RDX on a rail line to blow up a small bridge. It was from this bridge, a US-made night vision device was recovered. Then terrorists shot at a Dinanagar resident and drove away in his car. Later, they stormed the Dinanagar police station. The terrorists, who were neutralised after a 12-hour gunbattle, were planning to target a defence base, said defence sources. Sources said the terrorists behind Pathankot attack belonged to the JeM and had entered India about three days back. The terrorists were from Bahawalpur area of Pakistans Punjab province, they added. On its Facebook page, the JeM had uploaded the google map of the Pathankot airbase, a senior police officer said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Extraordinary security precautions were taken in Jammu on Friday after sealing the Pathankot-Jammu national highway following terror attacks in neighbouring Punjab. Union railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, who arrived in Jammu on Friday, is scheduled to inaugurate a multi-facility complex at Jammu railway station on Saturday. Pathankot-Jammu national highway has been sealed to ensure that no militant is able to sneak into the state from across Pathankot. Security has been beefed up in Jammu city because Union railway minister is scheduled to attend an inauguration today (Saturday), a senior police officer told IANS. BSF troops guarding the international border and the army guarding the LoC in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts have been cautioned to maintain extra vigil on the border the official added. As news about the terror attack near Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab reached Kathua district, the army was moved out on the highway to seal it and check all movements on and around the national highway. In the past, terrorists have used the highway to hijack vehicles for carrying out attacks on civilians and the security forces. Fresh gunshots were heard at the air force base in Punjabs Pathankot district on Saturday after security forces gunned down four terrorists in a four-hour siege that set alarm bells ringing in the country on the second day of a new year. Three securitymen including one Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were martyred in the gunfight. Gunshots rang out of the facility around 3.30 am as a group of four-five men in army-style clothing - believed to be operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group - launched the daring operation less than 24 hours after an alarm was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. SWAT team at #Pathankot attack site, combing operations underway (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/ojOOT9xjpF ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 Meanwhile, a protest broke out in Pathankot town with the locals burning an effigy of Pakistan following the terror attack on Air Force base. Hundreds of local residents carrying the effigy of Pakistan raised anti-Pakistan slogans close to the airport station where the attack took place. The locals set the effigy on fire and held Pakistan responsible for continued terror attacks in Punjab even as they demanded that stern action be taken against it. Locals in #Pathankot protest against the terror attack pic.twitter.com/HzH2pHLkm8 ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 Here are the latest developments in the story: 1:24: Elements who cant stand peace carry out such attacks from time to time: Union minister Jitendra Singh to ANI 1:20: Damage could have been bigger but just because of timely alert we were able to contain them: Parkash Singh Badal, 1:10: There was no prior information; Do not have the exact information on the number of terrorists killed: Prakash Singh Badal 1:07: Not right to question foreign policy right now, stand with our soldiers in this fight: Lalu Prasad Yadav tells ANI 1:04: ANI says Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal will visit the site of terror attack 12:53: Union minister Prakash Javadekar tells IBN that Pakistan needs to come clean and they should show sincerity. He says Pakistan needs to ensure that they dont allow their land to be used by terrorist and that talks must go on. Were trying for a good relationship with Pakistan. 12:31: Aerial firing at Pathankot air force base by IAF chopper, says ANI 12:13: IBN news channel reports that body of one terrorist along with arms and ammunitions recovered from the site 11:54: Pathankot attack should be condemned outright, but thats not enough: Ahmed Patel tells ANI 11:54: This happening after a week of PM meeting Nawaz Sharif raises serious questions: Ahmed Patel to ANI 11:45: SWAT team at Pathankot attack site, combing operations are underway 11:45: ANI says a Defence Service Corps jawan has succumbed to his injuries 11:42: Two loud explosions heard inside the IAF base where search for a fifth terrorist is underway FINAL UPDATE: 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack Gurdaspur resident Rajesh Verma survived a slit throat to alert security agencies about the audacious plan by a group of Pakistan-based terrorists to attack a defense installation. Speaking to HT exclusively from a hospital bed on Saturday, Verma, 40, recounted in details his ordeal which started on Friday morning when he decided to accompany Gurdaspur police official Salwinder Singh on a trip to a saints mazaar close to the Indo-Pak border. When we were coming back, four men in army uniforms signaled our car to stop. As we stopped, the four overpowered us and barged into the vehicle and tied all of us with ropes and clothes, Verma said. Verma said that soon after they were abducted the men told them that they were going to attack the air force base to avenge the hanging of Afzal Guru, convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack. Read | 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack The Urdu-speaking men were carrying assault rifles and grenades as well as a GPS navigation system and had a clear idea about the location of the base. You killed Afzal Guru and now we will take revenge they kept on saying as they continued hitting us with rifles butts, Verma said. Guru was hanged and buried in the Tihar jail on February 9, 2013 for his role in the 2001 attack on Parliament after his mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee. As the car drove for around 30 kilometres, they dropped off the SP and the old cook but took me along. When we reached near village Tajpur, where they had intended to enter the IAF base, they slit my throat and left me for dead in the SUV, he said. However, I managed to survive by controlling the blood with a cloth and I ran towards a gurdwara from where I managed a phone and informed my relative who rushed me to the hospital, Verma said. The terrorists, Verma said, were unaware that they had kidnapped a Punjab police officer because they launched a search for the SP when the hooter of the car accidentally went off. Verma said he had told the police and intelligence officials everything he had heard. Four of the terrorists are believed to among the five attackers killed during the attack on the Pathankot base on Saturday. Read | Terror calling: Pak militant groups role in Pathankot attack decoded Five terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistani, were killed in a gunfight that lasted nearly 15 hours after they breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab early on Saturday to carry out an attack, police said. Here is what we know about the attack: A pre-dawn attack Gunshots rang out at the facility in Pathankot around 3.30am as the group of five men in army-style clothing -- believed to be operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group -- launched the daring operation. The attack came less than 24 hours after an alarm was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Attackers from Jaish-e-Mohammed A defence source said the terrorists from JeM, blamed for the December 2001 attack on Parliament that killed 11 people, had probably infiltrated about three days ago. The attackers, with huge quantity of RDX in their possession, made their way to the base from the rear area where there is a jungle. Security forces were put on high alert on Friday after Gurdaspur superintendent of police (headquarters) Salwinder Singh said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues. Read: 4 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack How security forces fought back The terrorists, who struck just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modis unscheduled visit to Lahore, could not penetrate the defence cordon at the air base as they met with effective response from the security forces. A team of 50 commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) led the fight against the militants, a top security official said. The NSG commandos were flown to Pathankot on Friday night in view of a security threat after the abduction and thrashing of Singh by terrorists, who dodged security forces and escaped. The NSG commandos were rushed to the air force base and the army cantonment at Mamoon after they arrived in Punjab, and a major search operation was launched. They were battle-ready when terrorists attacked the air force base. The IAF used its two attack helicopters to assist the joint team of ground troops to neutralise the remaining terrorists. Read: What makes Punjabs Gurdaspur-Pathankot belt so vulnerable The IAF facility Pathankot located at the tri-junction of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has an army cantonment and the air force base, which is barely 10km from where Gurdaspur SP Singh was waylaid and assaulted. The IAF facility is the base of MiG-21 fighter planes and Mi-25 attack helicopters of Air Force. Punjab, again In July, heavily armed men in army fatigues sprayed bullets on a moving bus and stormed Dinanagar police station in Gurdaspur district bordering Pakistan, killing six people and injuring eight. The Punjab Police and security agencies were charged with a slow response during the Dinanagar terror attack. The Pakistan angle Saturdays attack came close on the heels of an upswing in India-Pakistan ties after PM Modi made the surprise trip to Lahore last month and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. Even before the gunfire had died down at the Pathankot airbase, people across India had begun asking the inevitable question: Would this brazen terror attack neutralise the bonhomie and gains generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise visit to Lahore? The question was not surprising, given the cycle that has accompanied almost every recent effort by Indian and Pakistani leaders to engage and move ahead with the fraught peace process a grand gesture or a visit or some forward movement, and an outrageous terror attack meant to inflame and incite public opinion. Several events that preceded the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot are definitely a cause for concern the July attack, the ambush of a BSF convoy in Udhampur that resulted in the capture of a Pakistani member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and evidence gathered by Indian intelligence agencies from the GPS devices used in both attacks. Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response, home minister Rajnath Singh said after the Pathankot attack. With inputs from Harkirat Singh, Aseem Bassi, Vinay Dhingra and Rezaul H Laskar Home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday hinted that Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad was involved in the Pathankot air base terror attack. Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan but with all our neighbours. We also want peace but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. We will hit hard, he said. Read: Terror calling: Pak militant groups role in Pathankot attack decoded Five terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, were killed in the gunfight that lasted nearly 15 hours after they breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab early on Saturday to carry out the attack. Read: Pathankot terrorists spoke of revenge for Afzal Guru: Gurdaspur man The home ministry has decided to hand over the probe into the attack to the National Investigation Agency. The case will be probed by the NIA but the possibility of JeM being behind the attack cannot be ruled out, he said. The minister added that there were intelligence inputs about possible terror attacks in Punjab and steps were taken which helped avert higher casualties. There were some inputs and hence there was caution. We have exercised caution. If we had not taken steps, there could have been bigger damage, he said. Singhs deputy in the home ministry, Kiren Rijiju, said the government has credible information that the conspiracy of the attack was hatched by some elements in Pakistan. Security was stepped up in the national capital on Saturday in the wake of the terrorist attack at an Air Force Base in Pathankot that left four attackers and two IAF personnel killed. Security was significantly heightened at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other vital installations in the city. Vigil was also heightened in several areas, including popular market places, in South Delhi, Central Delhi and the VIP movement zone in Lutyens Delhi, a senior police official said. Special police commissioner (Law and Order) is taking stock of the situation. Read more:Pathankot base encounter ends, 2 IAF men, 4 terrorists killed Sleuths of Crime Branch and special cell of Delhi Police have also been roped in and the security unit has been asked to form a strategy in connection with potential threats to VIPs in the national capital, the official said. Local police have been asked to remain extra vigilant and SWAT team and quick response team have also been deployed in several parts of the city for quick response in cases an emergency situation arises, the senior official added. Suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked an Air Force Base in Pathankot in the wee hours, triggering an encounter in which five attackers and two IAF personnel were killed and six security men injured. Security agencies have traced the involvement of the shadowy terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in the Indian Air Force base attack in Pathankot after intercepting mobile calls made by five terrorists to their handlers in Pakistan. The Jaish-e-Mohammad meaning army of the Prophet - is a Pakistan-based outfit headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, who was one of three terrorists freed by India in exchange for the release of 176 passengers aboard an hijacked Indian Airline flight in 1999. After lying low for a long time, the outfit mounted the early morning attack at the Pathankot base, which has left three securitymen including one IAF personnel dead and several injured. Five terrorists were shot down by security personnel. Top Punjab police officials told HT that the JeM tag has been identified from intercepted mobile phone calls made by the five terrorists to their handlers in Pakistan hours before they attacked the frontline airbase. Read: 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack The terrorists from Pakistan were on a suicidal mission against a specific target in Pathankot, a top police official said. Terrorists had snatched a mobile phone from Gurdaspur superintendent of police Salwinder Singh whom they had waylaid near Pathankot on the Friday morning. The terrorists used the SPs official vehicle to get away from the scene and get closer to their intended target in Pathankot, according to police. Terrorists used the snatched phone to get in touch with their handlers in Pakistan. Security agencies, who were tipped off about heavily-armed terrorists by the SP and injured person, intercepted their cross-border calls which triggered a high alert about their attack plan on the Pathankot air force base. Singh informed the police that those who abducted him were heavily-armed terrorists and were talking about their plans to attack the airbase. Read: After Modi-Sharif bonhomie, Pathankot poses challenge to Pak policy Founded as an umbrella terrorist organisation in February 2000 by Azhar, who runs religious seminary in Bahawalpur city of Pakistans Punjab province, JeM swears by its jihadist goal to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from India. Azhar entered India on a Portuguese passport 1994 with the mission to forge unity among Pakistan-backed terror outfits operating in Kashmir. He was arrested in Anantnag in February 1995 and lodged in a high-security jail in Jammu before his supporters hijacked the Kathamandu-Delhi flight and commandeered it to the Taliban-controlled Kandahar to get him released. The JeM had burst on the Kashmir valley with a bang in April 2000 with a suicide attack on the Badami Bagh cantonment, the headquarters of the 15th Corps in Srinagar. The outfit has since been involved in several high-profile terror attacks in J-K including one on the state assembly in Srinagar in 2001. The JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba , another Pakistan-based terror outfit, were also conspirators of the 2001 attack on the Parliament Over the last few years, JeM cadres dwindled in Kashmir and it almost retreated into obscurity on the radar of security agencies. With the Pathankot attack, the ghost of JeM may have returned, security officials said. Read: Pak condemns Pathankot attack, says committed to eradicate terror Why the Pathankot-Gurdaspur belt is vulnerable to terror attacks SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three IAF personnel and five terrorists were killed in a fierce gun battle after an attack on an air force base in Punjabs Pathankot district early on Saturday morning. The gun battle between the terrorists and security forces ended by 8 am on Saturday, said Punjab Police ADGP (Law and Order) H S Dhillon. Gunshots rang out of the facility on the second day of 2016 as a group of men in army-style clothing launched the daring attack less than 24 hours after an alarm was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Defence sources said the terrorists from the Bawalpur area of Punjab were from the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist outfit and had probably infiltrated the area about three-day back. The terrorists attacked the airforce station at about 3 am on Saturday. Border police chief Vijay Singh said the operation to eliminate the gunmen had lasted three hours. The airbase was being combed to determine the fate of the remaining attackers. A team of 50 commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) was leading the fight against the militants in Pathankot, top security officials said. The NSG commandos were flown to Pathankot on Friday night in view of the security threat after the abduction and thrashing of Gurdaspur SP (headquarters) Salwinder Singh. Watch: IAF Choppers in action as Pathankot Air Force base attacked Police cordoned off the area that resembled a war zone, and army and air force personnel also swung into action, sources told HT in the wake of the attack reminiscent of the Gurdaspur strike last year. A high alert was sounded while both Punjab police and central agencies worked in tandem and quickly mobilized resources to track and neutralize the terrorists on loose. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, based on intelligence inputs, took the call on dispatching a battery of NSG commandos to Pathankot by Friday late evening. Soon after landing, the commandos were rushed to the Air Force base and an army cantonment at Mamoon near Pathankot while a major search operation was launched. Terrorists struck at 3 am at the air force base, and NSG commandos were ready to combat them. In July, heavily armed men in army fatigues sprayed bullets on a moving bus and stormed Dinanagar police station in Gurdaspur district bordering Pakistan, killing six people and injuring eight. Speaking on Saturdays operation, DIG (border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said: Helicopters have been dispatched to the area for assistance in the operation. Reports suggested the terrorists were contained in a non-operational area of the air force base. Pathankot, located at the tri-junction of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, has an army cantonment and the air force base. The spot is barely 10km from where Gurdaspur SP Singh was waylaid and assaulted on Friday morning. The attack came close on the heels of an upswing in India-Pakistan ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise trip to Lahore last month and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. (With agency inputs) Read: Punjab on alert after cop thrashed by men in army uniform Indian security forces killed five terrorists who launched a pre-dawn attack Saturday on a strategic Air Force base in Punjabs Pathankot district, setting off a fierce 10-hour gunfight that also left three security personnel dead and about a dozen others injured. The attack on the air base, which is home to a large fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-25 fighter planes, was seen as an attempt to undo recent progress in Indias relationship with Pakistan. It came barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Lahore to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, in a sign of possible thawing of relations between the two countries. The slain security personnel included two from the Defence Security Corps including Commonwealth gold medallist shooter Fateh Singh besides an airman whose identity was not given. Enemies of humanity who cant see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Mysuru. Gunshots rocked the facility around 3:30am Saturday as a group of at least five men in army-style clothing -- believed to be operatives of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed -- launched the daring operation less than 24 hours after an alert was sounded in the state over the assault of a top cop of Gurdaspur, superintendent of police Salwinder Singh, by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Elite NSG Commandoes, army personnel and a SWAT team of Punjab Police were rushed to the area following the assault on Singh and interceptions of mobile phone calls made by the terrorists to their Pakistan-based handlers. From the moment terrorists presence was confirmed on Friday, Punjab police and central security agencies worked in tandem and rapidly mobilised all resources in real time. Thats what accounted for the success of the operation, said Suresh Arora, Punjab director general of police. Sources said 168 NSG commandos led by major general Dushyant Singh were flown in from Delhi on Friday night. Though the terrorists managed to enter the base, they were unable to penetrate the area where fighter aircraft, helicopters and other military equipment are kept, said IAF spokeswoman Rochelle DSilva. Watch: Security forces launch operation after Pathankot attack The entire area had turned into a virtual war zone as gun shots rang continuously while helicopter gunships provided air cover, in an operation that was closely monitored and supervised by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Doval also attended a meeting later in the day with defence minister Manohar Parrikar who cut short his stay in Goa and returned to Delhi following the attack. The meeting was also attended by the three Service chiefs. Although police said the gun battle ended by 8am, shots and loud explosions could be heard from inside the base until noon. At least one helicopter could be seen firing at an area inside the facility. While bodies of four attackers were recovered from the scene, the body of another terrorist was recovered in the evening outside the base where security forces had launched a massive search operation. Though there were conflicting reports about the presence of six terrorists, home minister Rajnath Singh said five have been killed till search operations were called off for the day. A defence source said the terrorists were from JeM, a group blamed for the December 2001 attack on Parliament that killed 11 people, and had probably infiltrated about three days ago. Pathankot located at the tri-junction of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is on a highway that connects insurgency-hit J-K with the rest of the country. Punjab was put on maximum alert while security measures were also tightened in neighbouring Haryana, the common capital of the two states - Chandigarh, and national capital Delhi. (With HTC inputs from Delhi) Read: Intel-igent call: NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot before attack Read: Security stepped up in Delhi hours after Pathankot air base attack Watch: IAF Choppers in action as Pathankot Air Force base attacked Saudi Arabia Hit a 'Grim New Milestone' for Beheadings in 2015 Saudi Arabia's executioners had an unusually busy year in 2015, beheading nearly twice as many people as they did the year before and the most in nearly two decades, according to human rights groups. The conservative Muslim kingdom executed 158 people in 2015, versus 90 the previous year, Human Rights Watch Middle East researcher Adam Coogle told the Associated Press. The number of prisoners put to death for non-lethal offenses, such as illicit drug use, also surged. Sixty-three people were executed for drug offenses as of November this year, which comprised 40 percent of all state killings, according to an Amnesty International report. In 2010, less than 4 percent of Saudi executions were for drug crimes. Amnesty International criticized the wave of executions, calling it "a grim new milestone" in Saudi Arabia's use of the death penalty. "The Saudi Arabian authorities appear intent on continuing a bloody execution spree which has seen at least 151 people put to death so far this year an average of one person every two days," said James Lynch, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Amnesty International, when the report was released in November. "The use of the death penalty is abhorrent in any circumstance but it is especially alarming that the Saudi Arabian authorities continue to use it in violation of international human rights law and standards, on such a wide scale, and after trials which are grossly unfair and sometimes politically motivated." The five Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, who were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday, seemed to have sneaked in from the rear side of the Pathankot air force base that is spread in 20-km radius. The area has dense foliage and elephant grass. The spot where terrorists abandoned the Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singhs SUV is about 1.5 km from the wall of the air base. Sources said the terrorists, taking cover of the elephant grass, managed to reach the boundary wall of the airbase. It is likely that the terrorists scaled the 10- ft wall of the air force base to gain entry. Also, the wall has drain exit points that are covered with iron rods. These are also vulnerable points as one can enter the compound after cutting the wires, said sources. Some years ago, a bunch of drug addicts had cut the iron rods near Majra village, throwing air force officials into a tizzy. Terror in Pathankot Five terrorists and three security personnel including one Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in an attack on an air force base in Punjabs Pathankot district early on Saturday morning, setting alarm bells ringing across the country. Gunshots rocked the facility around 3:30am on the second day of a new year as a group of at least five men in army-style clothing - believed to be operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group - launched the daring operation less than 24 hours after an alert was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Read more: 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack It seems no respite is in sight for the Telugu students seeking admission to educational institutions in the United States as a fresh batch of about 15 students was deported to Hyderabad by the US authorities on Friday. The students, some of whom were to join the Northwestern Polytechnic University one of the two Californian institutes under the scanner reportedly reached Hyderabad on Saturday morning. The deportation of students has become a regular affair at the airport in the past few days, an immigration official at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, said. In the past fortnight, around 50 students have been either deported or stopped from boarding a US-bound flight at Hyderabad, the state that tops the country in sending students to the US for higher studies. We were treated badly by the US officials. Even after confirming I had all documents in place, they said I cannot be allowed into the US. They gave me the option of withdrawing the visa or said they could cancel it, barring my entry into the US for five years, Anil Kumar, a student, told news channels at the airport. Students and their family members are furious over the ongoing deportations and the embarrassment and insult they have to suffer. One official even questioned if we had bought our visas. They should know that it would be possible only if their officials here sell them, an enraged student said. The students also expressed their surprise at the fact that one section of the US administration Customs and Border Protection was not honouring the visa given by the other the US Consulate. Let it be understood that a visa issued is no guarantee for US entry. What is important is that immigration officials at the port of entry should be satisfied with the intent of your visit, an official told HT earlier. The deportations are spiralling into a diplomatic issue between the two nations. While asking the US authorities to honour the visas issued by their embassies and consulates, the ministry of external affairs has also advised travellers to carry all required documentation and be prepared for immigration interviews. The terrorist strike on the frontline Indian Air Force base at Pathankot early on Saturday is the second major made-in-Pakistan attack to take place in Punjabs Gurdaspur-Pathankot belt in the last six months. The latest incident is an uncanny replay of the modus operandi in the Dinanagar terror episode in Gurdaspur district on July 27 last year. Three Pakistan-origin terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group had crossed over from the international border and attacked a local police station that time. Read: 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack Ten persons, including the Gurdaspur superintendent of police, were killed in the 12-hour-long operation that killed all the heavily-armed terrorists who were equipped with two GPS devices and night vision devices with US army marking. Dinanagar is barely 20 km from Pathankot, which is located on the tri-junction of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and has a big army cantonment and an air base. Saturdays episode fits into a pattern of deadly cross-border terror attacks on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot-Jammu axis in last 14 years. In fact, NH-44, the main artery that connects Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and runs parallel to the international border, has come to be known as the highway of terror. Here is why Gurdaspur-Pathankot belt is vulnerable to terrorist strikes: Read| Intel-igent call: NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot before attack Porous border Though a large portion of the India-Pakistan border on the 553-km Gurdaspur-Jammu sector is fenced, there are several gaps caused by the Ravi river and season rivulets that cut into the international boundary. Gurdaspur shares a long, zig-zagging border with Pakistan. Its easy to infiltrate from this stretch as compared to the heavily-mined and guarded Line of Control as well as the international border in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir. A dense fog in winters makes border surveillance an added challenge. Watch: IAF choppers in action as Pathankot air force base attacked Proximity to Pakistan As the border terrain is broken and forested, the rivulet beds provide an ideal cover for terrorists who can sneak in and reach the busy NH-44 highway that snakes along the border. This enables terrorists to hijack vehicles and mount rapid strikes. In almost all terror attacks, militants used snatched vehicles to attack the intended targets, mostly catching security forces off-guard. High-value targets The Gurdaspur-Pathankot-Jammu highway is dotted with a large number of defence installations including cantonments, air force base and ammunition dumps. As the only lifeline between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India, the highway witnesses a heavy movement of army convoys and also movement of pilgrims to the Amarnath shrine in Kashmir. Most terror attacks so far have been on the army camps and police stations along the highway. Launch pads The Pakistan-based terror groups are known to use the frontline posts of Pakistan Rangers on the international border as launch pads for terrorists. They use it as an alternative route to push terrorists into the Indian territory. Read: After Modi-Sharif bonhomie, Pathankot poses challenge to Pak policy SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the terrorist attack at Pathankot, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting a glimpse of what his predecessor Manmohan Singh went through when devising his Pakistan policy. Singh was committed to progress in ties and steered backchannel diplomacy with Islamabad on Kashmir between 2004-07 but had to weather several disruptive events, including the Mumbai train bombings in July 2006, attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul in 2008 and later the 26/11 carnage at Mumbai. Modis outreach to his counterpart Nawaz Sharif last month including through a visit to Lahore has elicited a similar blowback from jihadi forces with Saturdays attack. Modi is realising that there are no easy pathways on Pakistan policy. He tried taking a hard line for most of last year, talking tough on terror and cross-LoC firing and imposing conditions on the form and substance of bilateral dialogue but had to backtrack as that approach was hurting his international image while lurching the domestic political debate on Pakistan so far to the Right that it was constraining his own options. Read | After Modi-Sharif bonhomie, Pathankot poses challenge to Pak policy There will be calls for Modi to rethink his outreach to Islamabad after Pathankot. But he should persist with engagement since not doing so is to play into the hands of non-State actors and elements in the Pakistan establishment who want to sustain the wedge between India and Pakistan, sow fresh discord Modi and Sharif who clearly share perspectives on the direction of the relationship, and refresh doubts in New Delhi about the intent of the Pakistani military. These actors will also be hoping for an overreaction from India to shape the debate within Pakistan. The NDA must be convinced that avoiding dialogue does not make India more secure; it will only deprive New Delhi of contacts and leverage within the Pakistani system to communicate threats and offer incentives. A renewed diplomatic freeze also drives both societies apart, which is another objective of the jihadis. The key challenge for Modis government is to be able to have unflinching discussions with Islamabad on terrorism, secure a measure of cooperation and intelligence via the Sharif government and the NSA channel, while staying focused on broader goals like bilateral and regional economic cooperation. Indian public opinion is likely to be restive on the issue in the weeks ahead. Part of Modis job is to unravel the rationale behind his approach to be able to communicate clearly to the public, beyond dramatic optics, that achieving regional integration also depends on him being invested in changing Pakistan, however tortuous it may seem and that it entails seizing the chances Nawaz Sharif offers and absorbing the risks of such a process. Read More Pathankot terrorists spoke of revenge for Afzal Guru: Gurdaspur man 5 terrorists, 3 IAF men killed in Pathankot air force base attack Terror calling: Pak militant groups role in Pathankot attack decoded SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Year rung in good news for city as the Centre gave its nod to the Rs 5000-crore project to build a four-lane ring-road around it. The Central government has issued the gazette notification for the 104-kilometre ring-road, Diwakar Tripathi, former bureaucrat and OSD of Union home minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh said. Singh had announced the project for the city and HT had reported the in-principle approval accorded by the Centre on July 15 last. Now that notification under section 3-A of the National Highway Act has been issued. A blueprint (detailed project report) would be drafted in the next couple of months and work would commence sometime around May or June, said Tripathi. The project deadline is 36 to 40 months and once complete, it would provide much-needed relief to commuters from perennial traffic snarls. The state government would contribute just 10% to the project that would require acquisition of 1500 to 1800 acres of land to develop the 60-metre wide four-lane road. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the state Public Works Department (PWD) would be involved in executing the project. In the first phase, it will cover BKT, Behta, Indira Canal, Mohanlalganj and the Bunny sections on the busy Kanpur road. The right of way on both the sides of Sharda Canal, however, would be 100-metres, said Tripathi. The project would be developed on public-private-partnership and build-operate and transfer mode. Tripathi said initially a width of 100-metres was proposed with a total road-length of 188-kilometre. But we got a fresh survey done and pruned the length to 104 kilometre. The land for the 80 kilometre stretch would be acquired by the Centre and the remaining 24 kilometre by the state government, said Tripathi. Less than a month after a nation-wide outrage over the theft of a priceless idol of Lord Mahavir from the Jamui temple led to its recovery on December 6, another big theft of Hindu idols has rocked Vaishali district of north Bihar. Unidentified persons struck late night on Thursday to steal 14 big and small precious idols of Hindu deities from an ancient math (religious seminary) at Baligaon police station area in Vaishali district, about 40km north of state capital, Patna. The stolen idols were installed at the over 200-year-old math and were estimated to be worth Rs 1 crore in the international antiques market. The New Years eve theft took place in Vaishali districts Imadpur village under Baligaon police station. The incident occurred just days after chief minister Nitish Kumar had directed the police to be pro-active in solving pending idol thefts and crack down heavily on those involved in such incidents. The high antique value idols were taken away from Ram Janki math at Imadpur village under the Baligaon PS. The stolen idols of Lord Rama and his consort Sita, brother Laxman, Hanuman and other associated deities were made of astadhatu (eight expensive metals, including pure gold). The theft was committed after tampering with the lock, which was put on the main gate of math. The criminals, taking advantage of dense fog, decamped with the idols after uprooting them from their base. Informed about the theft, the Baligaon police and the circle inspector of Jandaha reached the math early morning on Friday and took details of the incident. Chief priest of the math Shiv Shanker Thakur, who had been taking care of idols and performing religious rituals for a long time, detected the theft on Friday when he entered the math to clean the area where the idols were located. Vaishali SP Rakesh Kumar told HT that one of the suspects, who had the key of main gates lock, was arrested and was interrogated to secure a breakthrough in the case. A senior police official, preferring anonymity, said that more than 200 idols of different Hindu deities were stolen from different temples and maths of Bihar over the last five years. The highest number of 65 idols was stolen in 2013 while lowest number of 13 idols was stolen in 2015. The theft of 14 idols from Vaishalis Baligaon is the first such incident on the New Years day of 2016, said police sources in Patna. Citing the physical composition of ancient idols, a senior police source said most of the over 100 years old idols had been molded with an alloy of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron and mercury of the purest chemical properties. Sources said thefts of idols were reported from Gaya, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj, Vaishali, Begusarai, Saran, Smastipur, Jamui, Nalanda, Rohtas, Sitamarhi and Patna districts, among others. District and sessions judge VK Puri on Saturday transferred the anticipatory bail application of Shiv Lal Doda, an Akali leader and liquor baron, from the court of additional district and sessions judge Gopal Arora in the Abohar murder case after the latter expressed reservations about hearing the matter on technical grounds. Dodas counsel Ramesh Birla said, In a communique, Arora said he had been elevated as additional district and sessions judge less a than year ago, while as per rules, it is mandatory to have an experience of minimum one year to hear a case pertaining to charges of murder, so Dodas plea for anticipatory be shifted to some other judge. The case has now been allotted to additional district and sessions judge Jatinder Walia. The next hearing would be held on Monday, Birla added. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor who appeared on behalf of the Fazilka police in a Fazilka court last Saturday at the hearing of Dodas anticipatory bail plea, claimed that the police had substantial evidence against Doda in the murder case. In view of the proof against him, the police need Dodas custodial interrogation to ascertain his role in the murder, pleaded the public prosecutor. Surinder Tinna, counsel for the victims, opposed Dodas anticipatory bail, claiming that the dying declaration by Bhim Sain, alleging Dodas role in the case, was sufficient to arrest the latter. Dodas counsel claimed that the liquor baron was innocent and it was the handiwork of his political opponents to tarnish his image. The Fazilka police have so far arrested 22 accused, while four others, including Doda, are still absconding. A case under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), and 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code was registered initially against 17 persons. Later, following public outrage over the murder, police added the names of Doda and Amit, besides seven others. On December 11, Bhim and his associate Gurjant Singh were attacked with sharp-edged weapons at the liquor barons farmhouse. Bhim, whose limbs were chopped off, later died at a hospital in Amritsar. Gurjant, whose limbs were also severed in the attack, is under treatment. Bhim Sain had criminal record Murder victim Bhim Sain, a 27-year-old Dalit, had a criminal background. He had been booked in 11 cases at police stations of Abohar on charges such as attempt to murder, rape and trespass. About six years ago, the tall, well-built Bhim was working as an ice vendor, just like Shiv Lal Doda, before the latter entered the liquor trade, sources said. A year later, he started looking after Dodas liquor business in the region. Bhim had publicly thrashed the father of Paari, a 21-year-old youth who allegedly chopped off his limbs out of revenge on December 11, police sources added. Following the terrorist attack at the Air Force station in Pathankot, the city has been put on high alert. The police have beefed up security in various public places and also stationed vehicle mounted Light Machine Guns (LMG) at the entry points of the city to deal with any untoward situation. The Ludhiana police have sealed all the entry points to Ludhiana. Every vehicle entering the city is being checked. Besides, the security has also been enhanced at the city railway station and all the trains are being checked. The officials say the security at the military areas has been also increased. Heavy security deployed near Baddowal ammunition depot and Halwara Air Force station by the Ludhiana rural police. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Narinder Bhargav said, soon after the Pathankot attack, all local police officials were in the field. Besides setting up nakas at all the entry points, cops also patrolled the internal areas, he said. The police checked various hotels and malls in the city and directed their security staff to check every person at the entrance. Checks were also conducted at the interstate bus terminal and busy market areas. Patrolling has been enhanced outside religious and educational institutes as well. The DCP said the police already have companies of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and no extra force was called. At the railway station, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) remained on their toes. The personnel checked all the trains coming from Amritsar and Jammu. Anti-bomb and sniffer dog squad also reached the station to ensure there were no harmful items on the tracks or platforms. For failing to fulfil its commitment to send a couple to the desired destination and for not informing them about the objections raised by the Canadian embassy against his case file within time, the district consumer disputes redressal forum has ordered a city-based immigration firm to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to a SAS Nagar resident for causing him mental and physical harassment. The firm has also been asked to refund Rs 39,000 (810 Australian dollars) paid by the complainant to an Australia-based skill assessment body, Vetassess, following the instructions of the immigration firm. The order was pronounced after Tarun Kinger complained against Genesis Immigration and Education, Sector 17-E, Chandigarh. As per the complaint, Tarun had approached the firm for emigration to Australia, following which he paid the processing fee of Rs 12,500 and AUD 810 to Vetassess for the processing of his application under the skilled worker category. He contended that despite the fact that Vetassess cleared his case, the immigration firm forced him to prepare his case for Canada and not Australia, to which he eventually agreed. The firm processed and prepared his application for Canada after getting satisfied with his documents. He further alleged that his case was rejected due to non-submission of the birth certificate to the Canadian embassy by the immigration firm, though he had given it to firm along with other documents. Kinger also blamed the firm for concealing the fact that his application had been rejected. He contended that if the firm had informed him in time, he could have filed the application again after attaching the required documents. Kinger said though Rs 12,500 charged by the immigration firm was refunded, the remaining amount spent by him at different stages was not refunded. In its reply, the firm said that Tarun had paid AUD 810 as processing fee directly to Vetasses (an Australian body) using his credit card. The firm representatives further said that despite reminders, Tarun did not submit the proper birth certificate. The forum, however, observed that no such written objection over lack of any document was raised by the immigration firm. Even after spending a huge amount, energy and precious time, the complainant failed in his attempt to settle aboard, said the forum in its order. It also noted that the complainant did not go to Australia to enter into a contract with the unknown party (Vetasses), but had paid it at the behest of the firm. This shows that the opposite parties have created another shield for their own benefit, it stated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has granted the Jalandhar Improvement Trust a loan of Rs 35 crore to help it pay the bi-annual installment of Rs 25 crore on an earlier loan taken from the same bank. Just after the loan was sanctioned, the Trust paid Rs 31 crore to PNB Rs 25 crore as installment and the rest as interest Trust chairman, Parneet Bhardwaj, told HT. The cash-strapped Trust had taken a loan of Rs 175 crore from the PNB for its Surya Enclave Extension scheme, of which it owed the bank Rs 90 crore. Sources said the Trust had earlier approached the PNB to extend the deadline for repayment of the installment, but that the latter denied, perhaps as the Surya Extension scheme was caught in a legal tangle. Since the final date of paying the installment was December 30, for the past two months the Trust had been on its heels to arrange the money. The Trust was pinning its hopes on the auction of their commercial property at Partap Bagh, which is worth around Rs 20 crore. The property, however, could not be auctioned as the Municipal Corporation has yet to respond to requests of getting the modern garbage dump removed. The garbage dump, the Trust argued, was putting off probable bidders. Things, however, turned easy after the Punjab and Haryana high court on December 22 dismissed all the fifteen petitions pertaining to land acquisition in Surya Extension. The land acquisition collector on December 29 gave possession of 295 kanals of land for the Surya Extension scheme to Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) on the case. A Trust official said after the high court verdict, the PNB approached them for providing the loan as they saw that there will be no hurdle in implementing the scheme. The official said the PNB was now expecting that the Trust will be getting the installments from the plot holders in Surya Enclave. I was Barack Obama's first full time volunteer in New York City. Security has been stepped up in Punjab following the Saturdays terror attack on the Pathankot air force base. Officials said that in view of the attack, which comes after the terror strike in July last in Dinanagar town in the adjoining Gurdaspur district, a maximum alert has been sounded across the state. Security at vital installations across the state has been beefed up while police have set up special nakas and intensified checking of vehicles in various cities. Passengers are being frisked at various bus stands and railway stations across the state. Special dog squads have been deployed. Police officials were told to not leave their stations. In Bathinda, police held a special meeting with officials of key installations such as the thermal power plant, National Fertilizer Limited unit and Guru Gobund Singh refinery to take stock of security arrangements. In Ludhiana, police stationed vehicle-mounted light machine guns (LMG) at entry points of the city. Police also sealed all entry points to the city. Heavy security is in place near Baddowal ammunition depot and Halwara air force station. Security has been beefed up at all vulnerable points in Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Phagwara. Vigil has been intensified at Adampur air force station. Security was also increased at the Chandigarh air force station which is the biggest transport base of the country. Outside the station, UT Police have put up checkposts. The patrolling has also been increased. In Mohali, a quick reaction team (QRT) armed with light machine gun (LMG) has been stationed near the entry of the airport while a mobile unit of the QRT, armed with LMG, has been asked to patrol the area round the clock. An alert has also been sounded in neighbouring Haryana. In the wake of the terror attack on Pathankot air base in which three security personnel and five terrorists were killed in an operation that started early Saturday, Punjab Police have beefed up security in all cities especially Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Phagwara of the Doaba region, sealing all entry and sensitive points. Police set up checkpoints at major chowks and intensified checking of vehicles. Every vehicle is being checked by police and suspect occupants are being questioned. Security has been beefed up around the Adampur air force station, near Jalandhar, which is one of the vital defence installations in the northern region of the country. The Jalandhar Cantonment has also been sealed and people were barred from entering the area without producing identity proofs. In Hoshiarpur, security was tightened around the military base in Unchi Bassi in districts Dasuya subdivision. The authorities were also warned by the intelligence agencies of the movement of suspicious elements in the area when the combat between the security forces and the militants was still on. Unchi Bassi is strategically located on National Highway-1A which connects Jammu and Kashmir with other parts of the country. It is barely 52 kilometres from Pathankot where terrorists struck on Saturday. Security was also beefed up around the military school which runs in the Unchi Bassi defence area. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dhanpreet Kaur said police in the district have been put on high alert after the abduction of a police officer in Pathankot on Friday. We have sealed all the entry points to the neighbouring districts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot. High vigil has been sounded in Mukerian, Talwara, Dasuya and Hajipur. Special nakas have been put at vulnerable points throughout the district, she informed. Taking no chance, police personnel were seen questioning the occupants of an army vehicle at Jyoti Chowk in Jalandhar, keeping in mind the fact that terrorists have time and again been using army fatigues to carry out terror attacks. In Jalandhar, police have installed barricades at sensitive spots such as Pathankot Bypass Chowk, PAP Chowk, Maqsudan Chowk, BMC Chowk, Rama Mandi Chowk, Jyoti Chowk among others. In Kapurthala, police have installed nine nakas at all the entry points to the city. The police control room (PCR) and quick response teams were told to remain alert and keep a vigil in the city. Phagwara police also conducted checking of vehicles on the National Highway-1 near Urban Estate and at Chaheru. All station house officers (SHOs) have been directed to remain alert and conduct proper checking of vehicles under their jurisdictions. Police also conducted checking of buses and questioned suspect passengers. Jalandhar additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-1) J Elanchezhian said all police teams, including mobile units, PCR teams etc, have been deployed and intensive checking is being carried out. Soon after the Pathankot terror attack, we have enhanced security in the entire district. All SHOs and beat officers have been deployed at nakas, Kapurthala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajinder Singh said. Suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from Pakistan carried out an attack on the Pathankot air force base. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday urged the Centre to effectively seal the borders with Pakistan so as to curb the menace of cross-border terrorism that was posing a serious threat to the countrys unity and integrity. The CM, who visited Bhagwal village in Pathankot district to mourn the death of Ikagar Singh, who was killed by terrorists late on Friday night, the CM said the state government was committed to preserving peace and communal harmony in Punjab and no one would be allowed to disturb it at any cost. He said the Pathankot terror attack was an unfortunate incident, which needed to be condemned harshly. However, Badal said it was high time the Centre took a call on this sensitive issue by checking infiltration from across the border. Badal said united efforts of the state and central security agencies had again foiled the nefarious designs of anti-national forces. The entire country salutes these bravehearts who are always ready to combat any such move against the unity and integrity of the nation, he added. Expressing condolences with Ikagars family, the chief minister said he was a national martyr who laid down his life for the country. Badal said the state government would take every step to safeguard the familys interests. Meanwhile, the chief minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family, besides a government job for Ikagars wife. He also said the state government would give old-age pension to Ikagars parents. Following the orders of state SC commission, the Patiala IG, and Sangrur DC and SSP appeared before the SC Commissions deputy chief at Patiala. After hearing the officials, Raj Kumar Verka, deputy chief of the SC Commission told the SSP to file an FIR against the station house officer, who was suspended in the case. Verka asked them to arrest the absconding accused and file the report to the commission in 15 days. Verka also met the victim at Rajindra hospital at Patiala and recorded his statement. In his statement, Manga said that while he was being tortured, the SHO was present at the police station. Punjab Congress vice-president Surinder Pal Singh Sibia on Saturday started an indefinite hunger strike outside the police station at Bada Chowk here, demanding that the police arrest the Youth Akali Dal leader, allegedly on whose instance the police had arrested a Sangrur man and later tortured him. Joining him, leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi also protested against the state government. Channi said senior officials needed to interfere in the case. He said if no action was initiated, the Congress would launch an even bigger agitation and the issue would be raised in the Assembly. Sibia said the Congress would continue its protest till their demand of suspension of the district police chief was not met. After the police dismissed three policemen for alleged brutality with the victim, the case has not moved ahead. YAD leader Sanjay Sharma is still absconding. Sanjay Sharma was appointed a member of the police advisory committee on the recommendation of SADs Sangrur MLA Parkash Chand Garg. Residents of Mangas locality have been demanding Sanjays arrest. They said the police knew about Sharma but were not acting against him under pressure. Meanwhile, Congress SC chairman Raj Kumar Chhabewal said the government had lost the moral right to rule and should be dismissed with immediate effect. Reacting to the Congress protest, SAD representative from Sangrur Parkash Chand Garg said Sibias protest is nothing more than a political stunt. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Atma Singh also gave a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, demanding strict action against the guilty. Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said this happened on the directions of Amandeep Singh Cherry, a close aide of state finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. Mann said Badal is getting older and should spend time visiting religious places in the pilgrimage train that he had started. Following the terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base, a high-level meeting of IAF, army and Punjab Police officials was held at Bhisiana air force station, situated about 18km from here, even as security was beefed up on its premises. It is this air force station from where 28-year-old leading aircraftsman Ranjith KK was arrested on December 29 by central agencies and the Delhi crime branch for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Ranjith, who joined the air force in 2010, was reportedly posted at Bhisiana for the past almost three years. He is accused of spying and leaking vital information regarding movement of aircraft at Bathinda and other IAF bases across Punjab, including Pathankot. Soon after receiving reports of the Pathankot terrorist attack, Nanak Singh, superintendent of police (headquarters), visited the air force station to review security arrangements. Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Swapan Sharma said a coordination meeting with IAF and army officials was held to work out ways to tackle a Pathankot-like situation. Sharma added that elaborate deployment of security had been made inside the IAF station in view of the red alert sounded after the Pathankot terror attack. Intensive patrolling by police personnel will be done around the boundary wall of the air force station to keep tabs on every activity and individual, Sharma added. He said the Bathinda police would remain in touch with IAF officials to ensure better coordination. Meanwhile, IAF personnel remained on their toes throughout the day. Vehicles were allowed to enter the air force station premises only after an elaborate inspection. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Happy ho gaya hai ji New Year. People cant stop grinning from the North Pole to the South Extension. There is festivity in the air, and yeah, many still hope that theyll be able to lose weight, quit smoking and walk every day in the park for an hour. Mein toh ji resolutions banaati hi nahi. Not because I doubt that I wont be able to keep up with them. That is not a matter of doubt at all. But because it is cool to claim that we dont believe in resolutions. Chaddha ji regularly tells me whats cool these days. Like its cool to criticise Kejriwal, he says. I asked him if itll be cooler to criticise Modi also, but he gave me a weird look. We settled on criticising Rahul Gandhi. Anyway, coming back to resolutions, I have decided to risk being uncool and make one this year. Because, you know, dil se awaaz aa rahi hai. And even though its nothing that Ive not been preaching already, somehow I know that this year Ill be able to follow it in the true spirit. This year, I have decided to not invest even a teeny-weeny bit of my time, effort or energy in being a People Pleaser. Because hota kya hai nah, the more we try and make it an ideal universe around us by going out of the way for everyone, the closer we get to slowly ruining the universe within us. And Im beginning to realise the importance of the inner universe more than ever before. Read: Dont have any plans for New Years? Dont worry, you dont need em It all started with a spate of frequent headaches and the constant feeling of being low on energy. Discounting the gloomy weather and any possible physical ailment, I realised that I was getting closer to a state of being depressed. Not depressed just to maro style, as in Oh darling, I went into a depression ever since my London holiday got over a la page 3, but like, I dont feel happy doing things that used to give me a kick earlier. One evening I sat and made a pointer list of all conversations I had had that day. They were varied from a discussion with the boss to an appraisal review of a subordinate, and from an argument over parking with the neighbour to a chat with the maid at home. There was one thing common, though. Each of these interactions involved me trying to do or say things with the aim of making the other person happy. Nothing wrong with trying to be nice, you could say. But then in more than one such instance, I was doing it over, and against, what I felt was right. The subordinate had not been performing at her expected level for the past several months, and had discipline issues to make it worse. But I could not bring myself to telling her so in blunt terms, for the sake of not hurting her feelings. The maid was asking for leave for the sixth time in the month, and using obvious excuses while she did so, but I couldnt bring myself to call her bluff and deny her leave for the sake of avoiding needless melodrama. Read: Scared of public speaking? Try these tips Both situations may have given me the temporary solace of coming across as a nice person, but made me feel miserable afterwards. The tendency to make everyone happy was clearly backfiring at a much deeper level, apart from damaging my self-esteem. And you know what, slowly you begin to realise that even those for whom you are crossing boundaries to be extra nice, consider it to be their right and take it for granted. Basically, sab ke liye accha ban ne ke chakkar mein life ka chakkar hi bigad raha thaa. Being a people-pleaser has the following inherent risks: 1. It raises undue expectations: People start expecting a whole lot more from you than you can, or should deliver. Its like chaar din boss ko impress karne ke liye if you stay back late in office, your work-hours automatically extend in the bosss mind from the fifth day. Nuksaan kiska? The idea in life is to be true and honest to how you are supposed to be at work, at home. Stretching your limits to make others happy and then kicking yourself at the back every day when those people take your niceness for granted is a sure recipe for depression at some point in life. Abhi se hi sudhar jao toh achha. 2. It wrongly makes you feel selfish and guilty: Do know that trying to make everyone happy is the definition of impossible in many wise dictionaries. And the attempt to do so can only be at the cost of your own happiness. We find it so easy to feel guilty about being happy, dont we? Our conditioning, sadly, is so that we make such a silly virtue out of being sacrificial lambs through our life. I remember a friend, when asked to write about the greatest human being in a school essay while everyone was busy glorifying Mahatma Gandhi, wrote, My mother is the greatest human being. Because she saw such hardships in life, but never cared for her own happiness. She always put the needs of the family and relatives over her own. That friend got the first prize in the essay. Clap, clap. Her mom was genuinely great, but I dont know how many times people in her life would have reminded her that her greatness lies in not caring about her own happiness. You get what Im trying to say? A people-pleaser gets so busy pleasing everyone that they forget that term people also includes their own self. And trust me, if theres anything Ive learned from experience in life, it is that you could pretend to be all great or whatever, but you can NEVER make others truly happy till you are happy from within. Read: Three tips that can end the TV remote war 3. It exhausts you: Trying to please all the people, all the time is SO tiring. So, so, so exhausting. I dont even know how to explain it better than just saying it plain and simple. Trying to be popular drains you out. Period. So heres the thing. In this year, I have decided to take a saat-sootri kasam. I mean a 7-point pledge, in order to avoid being a people-pleaser. Aap bhi socho. This year may just make a lasting difference in your life. 1. I will not feel bad about wanting to be happy 2. I will learn to look into peoples eyes and say NO. And not follow it up with an explanation 3. I will be humble and considerate, but I will not apologise, if it isnt my fault 4. I will look after myself with love, and prioritise myself over unworthy people, without getting on a guilt trip 5. I will not feel obliged to answer anyone who demands my time and attention at their will 6. I will be honest, politeyet assertive and clear in expressing my opinion about things I dont like 7. I will maintain a self-respect folder and do something every day to make a worthwhile entry in it. (Sonal Kalra wanted some gyan on pleasing self from Google Baba. Shes now busy deleting sites on masturbation from the browsers history. Mail her at sonal.kalra@hindustantimes.com or facebook.com/sonal.kalra. Follow on Twitter@sonalkalra.) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the new year, travel magazines and industry experts have been busy predicting the buzziest destinations of 2016. Here are the most compelling ones. 1 Botswana Editors at Lonely Planet have heaped praise on the country for its unusual combination of dessert and delta, and wildlife. In 2014, Botswanas Okavango Delta became UNESCOs 1000th World Heritage Site. Go for the elephants, meerkats, horseback riding, the ancient baobab trees and sunbathing hippos, say editors. Read: Weekend with friends or family vacation? Tips to travel like a pro The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a very large inland delta formed where the Okavango River reaches a tectonic trough in the central part of the endorheic basin of the Kalahari. (Shutterstock) 2 Iran Identified as a destination to watch by the World Travel Market Global Trends Report, and National Geographic Traveller UK. Irans main draw? Its 19 World Heritage Sites the most of any Middle Eastern country and a rich repository of ancient Persian history. Nasir ol Molk Mosque is a traditional mosque in Shiraz, Iran. It is known in Persian as Masjed-e Naseer ol Molk and was built in 1876 and was finished in 1888. (Shutterstock) 3 Stratford-Upon-Avon Shakespeare fans will want to bookmark April 23, 2016 on their calendar, a day when the world marks the 400th anniversary of the playwrights death. The town will be throwing a party parade, acrobatic shows, fireworks, and Shakespearean actors rhyming off soliloquies and monologues the works. Cant make it in April? The Royal Shakespeare Company theatres schedule for summer and winter program has performances that will include Othello, Henry V, and A Midsummer Nights Dream. Mercure Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare Hotel, along Chapel Street, Warwickshire. Its located in the historic town centre. (Shutterstock) 4 Hokkaido, Japan Editors at Frommers and National Geographic had Hokkaido on their list of top destinations of 2016. With the debut of a high-speed rail line set to launch in March, Frommers says Hokkaido will be more accessible than ever. The area is popular for volcanoes, natural hot springs, snow festival, and ski resorts. NatGeo recommends Kiroro, a two-hour drive from the Sapporo airport for adventurous free-riding skiers for the mystical views. Read: Dont just visit new destinations, explore and take longer vacations Children play around a snowman in front of the former Hokkaido Government Office in Sapporo, Japan. It was used for approximately 80 years until the new government office currently in use was built. (Shutterstock) 5 US National Parks Editors at travel magazine Afar named the American southwest home to Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks the top destination of 2016. Many of the parks will host special events to fete their milestone centennial on August 25. Horse Shoe Bend at Utah, USA. (Shutterstock) 6 Cote dOr, Burgundy, France In July, the Burgundy region made it to UNESCOs World Heritage List for its long, rich wine history, reason enough for NatGeo to include it in their Best Trips 2016 list. Editors recommend renting a bike and touring the Route des Grands Crus, stopping in the medieval town of Beaune and tucking into a beef bourguignon with a glass of, what else, Burgundy wine. The Cote DOr is at the heart of the Burgundy vineyards, and its where some of the best known wines are produced. (Shutterstock) After what seemed like a terrible calamity, the 13th edition of the Chennai International Film Festival -- true to the number -- almost did not happen. The terrifying floods in the city in the first week of December that marooned many localities and led to huge losses in life and property messed up not only Chennais most celebrated season of Carnatic music, but also came in the way of the festival arrangements. But it has now got back on its feet, and the festival will begin its eight-day run on January 6 with a Berlin clincher, Sebastian Schippers Victoria. Read: Gerard Depardieu to play Stalin in Fanny Ardants film Winning the Silver Bear for Cinematography, Victoria is a sheer technological marvel. Shot over two hours in a fascinating single take, the movie is much more than a mere gimmick. The German film begins with the titular heroine (essayed by the enormously talented Laia Costa) dancing in a Berlin night-club to the beat of ear-shattering music. And as Victoria leaves the club in the early hours of the morning -- when it is still dark -- she meets a group of young men, who desperately try to woo her. The handsomest of them, Sonne (Frederick Lau), gets the nod from Victoria, and as the entire group enters a parking lot, they are accosted by gangsters. The men owe the hoodlums money, and which the men are forced to repay by robbing a bank. And unwisely, Victoria agrees to be the driver of their car -- and the film takes off into high gear, till the sorrowful end. Read: Irrfan Khan, Golshifteh start shooting for The Song of Scorpions Sebastian Schippers Victoria has been shot over two hours in as many as 22 locations and liberally improvises from a skeletal script. (Chennai International Film Festival) Shot continuously for over two hours in as many as 22 locations from about 4.30 in the morning, Victoria has lot that has been improvised from a skeleton of a script, and the cast experiments with lovely abandon. Read: At Dubai fest, love stories that remind you of Bollywood Despite strong performances, particularly by Costa, it is in the end Schippers single-take concept which he and his team pulled off with remarkable finesse that makes Victoria such a great watch. The festival has on its schedule 184 films from 57 countries. A highlight will be the competition for Tamil movies. There will be 12 of them. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Israeli air force carried out attacks on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early Saturday, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. According to the sources, the Israeli strikes targeted four empty facilities ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, causing damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip. The IDF holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip, a statement read. Late Friday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Gazas Islamist rulers Hamas responsible for all such incidents. Also on Friday, two Palestinians were slightly wounded by Israeli gunfire after they stormed the border fence in northern Gaza, the Israeli army and Gaza medics said. One of the four Madhesi parties protesting against Nepals new constitution announced a separate plan of action on Saturday, adding fuel to speculations on differences within the group. The announcement by Sadbhawana Party (SP), a constituent of United Democratic Madhesi Front, came a day prior to a meeting by leaders of all four parties to chart out the future course of the protests going on since August last year. We appeal to all to take part in our protest programmes to add further strength to the ongoing Madhes agitation, said a release issued by the party in Kathmandu on Saturday. The 9-day programme, which will start from Sunday, will include signature campaigns, wearing of black bands, unfurling of black flags and spreading awareness about the protests. SP maintains the separate protests will be carried out along with providing full assistance, support and participation in UDMFs own set of programmes. The move comes at a time when SP chairman Rajendra Mahato is undergoing treatment in New Delhi for wounds sustained during a clash with police last week. Sources within Madhesi parties say differences have surfaced within UDMF on how to continue with the protests. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric on Saturday sparked outrage in neighbouring Iraq, from protesters threatening the royal family to politicians calling for diplomatic action Hundreds of people demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and some leaders urged the government to close down the newly reopened Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdoms east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. The office of Hadi al-Mudaressi, an Iraqi cleric whose brother has a strong following among Bahraini Shiites notably, organised a protest near the mausoleum of Imam Hussein in Karbala. No red lines from now on, We will reap your souls, Saud and Khalifah, read some of the banners, referring to the Saudi and Bahraini ruling families. This is what I tell Al-Saud from the sacred land of Hussein: I swear to God that the sheikhs blood was not spilled in vain, said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. We will make the earth shake under your feet, he said. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ashtari, from Mudaressis office, said he wanted the Iraqi government to take a clear and honest position regarding this major tragedy. A cleric from Bahrain who was at the protest in Karbala, Sheikh Habib al-Jamri, said the world should react to Nimrs execution. Sheikh Nimr was an icon for Islamic resistance, he told AFP. His words were his weapon. They couldnt defeat his words so they detained him, tortured him and on Saturday executed him in front the worlds eyes, like a challenge to global conscience. Several Sunni clerics also came out to condemn Nimrs execution, which looked likely to strain a recent attempt at diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. Diplomatic tension Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraqs Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- also said Baghdad should take action. Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons, a statement from his office said. A protester holds up a picture of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a rally at the coastal town of Qatif, against Sheikh Nimr's arrest on July 8, 2012. (Reuters File) The embassy only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraqs invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudis were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a recent figure. The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal familys) rule, Abdelsamads office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimrs execution. Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, on Saturday they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia, he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a high price. The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. According to rights organisations, China, Iran, Pakistan and Iraq are the worlds worst executioners. A suicide attack on a French restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday killed a 12-year-old boy and wounded more than a dozen other people, officials said. The latest in a series of suicide bombings in Kabul targeted Le Jardin, one of a small number of restaurants in the city still frequented by foreigners. The medical aid group Emergency said 15 people had been referred for treatment to the hospital that it runs nearby, and that a 12-year-old boy had been dead on arrival. The incident came almost two years after a suicide attack on a Lebanese restaurant in the city killed 21 people, including 13 expatriates, and prompted many foreign organisations to withdraw staff or place tight restrictions on their movements. In the hours after the explosion, large numbers of police and security force personnel blocked off the site, parts of which were on fire. During a search of the surrounding areas, one suspect was arrested, an Interior Ministry spokesman said. Earlier this week, one civilian was killed and 33 were wounded in an attack claimed by the Taliban in an area close to Kabul airport. Last week, six U.S soldiers were killed as they patrolled near Bagram air base outside Kabul and, last month, suicide attackers struck a Spanish embassy guesthouse in the capital. The attacks have coincided with renewed efforts to revive a peace process with the Taliban that broke down in July after news came out that the movements leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had died two years earlier. Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China are due to meet in Pakistan on Jan. 11 for a meeting aimed at laying the groundwork for talks with the insurgents. However the Taliban, which is struggling to contain bloody factional fighting over the leadership succession, has so far refused to take part while foreign forces remain in Afghanistan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who said this week that terrorism had to end for the talks to succeed, condemned the latest attack. A New York man fell to his death in a faulty elevator after pushing out a woman to safety and wishing wishing her Happy New Year, news agencies reported. 25-year-old Stephen Hewett-Brown, an aspiring musician, was riding an elevator in lower Manhattan, New York around midnight when it malfunctioned. He managed to save Erudi Sanchez, 43, who lives in the building, by pushing her out of the lift onto one of the buildings floors before getting pinned between the elevator car and the shaft as he tried to escape himself, witnesses told the Daily News of New York. When I got into the elevator, I felt it dropping and I thought my feet would get caught in the gap but the man pushed me out and said, Happy New Year, Sanchez told the Daily News on Friday. Stephen Hewett-Brown (Instagram) Witness Manuel Coronado told that he tried to help Hewett-Brown but couldnt lift him out. He was saying, I cant breathe. I tried to pull him up, but he said, Leave me here, leave me here, Coronado told the Daily News. Sources in the New York Police Department told the Associated Press that the victim was unconscious, suffering from severe body trauma, when officers arrived shortly after midnight. The elevators were a problem and needed to be fixed, former Tenants Association President Dashia Imperiale told WABC-TV, saying the lifts sometimes lurch up and down. A police spokesman said he had no information on the exact circumstances of Hewett-Browns death, but the department says no criminality is suspected. (Instagram) Meanwhile, a friend of the victims, Ejiro Omenih, was absorbing the news of his death and the accounts of his life-saving actions. I feel that that alone shows his character, Omenih told WABC-TV. He said Hewlett-Brown was an aspiring musician who played piano and performed hip-hop and soul. Browns mother told the Daily News the family declined to comment. A majority of Americans think that the federal government should be allowed to spy on their Internet communications without a warrant, according to a new poll from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Fifty-six percent of respondents said that they support the ability of the government to conduct surveillance on Internet communications without having to get a warrant, while just 28 percent oppose. The results were similar among political parties, with 67 percent of Republicans saying they supported "surveillance of Americans' Internet activities to watch for suspicious activity that might be connected to terrorism," and 55 percent of Democrats saying that they also support such surveillance activities. Those not associated with a political party were less likely to support surveillance, 40 percent in favor to 35 percent opposed, according to AP. Millennials were less likely to support warrantless snooping, with only about 33 percent of Americans under the age of 30 saying they supported such activities, while nearly 67 percent over 30 said that they support warrantless spying. Sex was also a factor, with men less likely to support surveillance. Likely due to recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., about 60 percent of Americans now say that they are concerned about terrorism, up from 30 percent in 2013. A majority of respondents said that safety concerns are more important than civil liberties at least some of the time. Further, 54 percent said that the government must sometimes sacrifice freedom to fight terrorism, while 45 percent said that it's not ever necessary. The survey also asked respondents how well the government is doing at protecting freedoms. Independents ranked the government lower in every category, from freedom from unreasonable search and seizure to the right to vote, noted Reason. The poll was conducted among 1,042 adults from Dec. 10-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. UPDATE Jan. 2, 12:06 a.m. EST: Four terrorists are confirmed dead along with two IAF jawans (junior soldiers), according to NDTV and Hindustan Times. The gunfight reportedly ended at 8 a.m. local time. -- A group of terrorists launched an attack at the Air Force base in the north Indian city of Pathankot early Saturday morning. Two were reportedly shot and killed by police. The terrorists are believed to be between four and six in number and are reported to have launched the attack from an official vehicle around 3.30 a.m. IST. The perpetrators are reported to be wearing army uniforms. Gunbattle btwn terrorists & security forces in Pathankot Air Force Station underway. 2 terrorists killed until now. pic.twitter.com/TzYXQulOfz ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Nitin Wakankar said that two of the attackers have been killed, reports the BBC. DIG (Border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said in an update that operations are on to neutralize the rest, reports the Times of India. The National Security Guard has been mobilized and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have been launched to help the Army and Air Force combat the attack. Reports suggest that the terrorists have been contained in the domestic area of Pathankot Air Force Station. The technical area of the airbase and all Air Force assets are reported safe, according to The Tribune. Pathankot Air Base is home to the MiG 29 fighter air crafts. The incident is probably connected to the hijacking of a police car on Jan. 1, when a police officer, Salwinder Singh, assistant commandant, 75th Battalion, PAP complex, Jalandhar, reported that five individuals in army fatigues had abducted him along with two of his acquaintances from a village near the international border. Singh said he was set free an hour later 35 km away. Meanwhile J&K CM Omar Abdullah took to Twitter saying that the attack was the first major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of relations with Pakistan and his recent unscheduled visit to the neighboring country, reports The Indian Express. You can read more on that story here at HNGN. "From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target," Abdullah wrote in a tweet. From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target. Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016 "We believe they are Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists," said an unnamed security official, according to the BBC. This is the second terror attack in Punjab in the past year. You can read about the earlier terror attack here at HNGN. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The rich and famous often make plans for their pets to continue their luxurious lifestyle long after the owner passes, appointing someone in their wills to ensure that Fluffy and Fido continue getting pampered. Some of the pets even made the money themselves. Grumpy Cat is an icon. With just three years on her Facebook page, "The Official Grumpy Cat," the frump-faced cat has garnered more than 8 million fans. Her rise to popularity was fast, but her little stature and calm personality is the opposite of what that million-dollar face brings in. It's "guesstimated" that Grumpy Cat's net worth is $100 million, although her owner said that's a bit of an exaggeration, according to TIME. Either way, this young cat is a multimillionaire who travels the world with her swag, her book deals, her calendars and that face. "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley passed away in 2007 and shocked the world when the animal-loving Helmsley left $12 million to her beloved Maltese, Trouble, according to I Heart Dogs. The controversial move made Trouble a media sensation, but the fight in court had a judge whittle down the inheritance to $2 million, which was enough to care for Trouble until she passed in 2011. Because of the amount the little Maltese was worth, there were several kidnapping threats against the little dog. Conchita the Chihuahua was already a pampered pooch hitting the Miami night clubs in her pearls, Cartier necklaces and being carried around in Louis Vuitton bags long before her owner passed. But when Miami heiress Gail Posner died, the socialite left a $3 million trust fund and the $8.3 million mansion - all of her fortune - to Conchita. Choupette, fashion mogul Karl Lagerfeld's pampered cat, is another celebrity pet that has earned her riches. She earned $3.3 million last year with two modeling jobs, one for a Japanese beauty product and another for German cars. "She is the center of the world," Lagerfeld said, according to TIME. "If you saw her, you would understand. She is kind of Greta Garbo." When Maria Assunta found a stray black cat in Rome, she was so smitten with the cat she named Tommaso that she left a $13 million fortune for his care to insure that he would be loved and cuddled. German shepherd dog Gunther III, owned by Countess Karlotta Libenstein of Germany, is a jet-setting pooch who owns villas in Italy and the Bahamas, in addition to Madonna's Miami Beach mansion purchased in 2000. When the Countess died, she left her entire fortune of $80 million to Gunther III, which was transferred to his son, Gunther IV, upon Gunther III's death, according to The Richest. The Gunthers had some pretty savvy trustees of the estate who invested the inheritance, turning it into about $370 million, allotting the shepherd to keep up his life of luxury. The richest chicken award goes to Gigoo, owned by British publishing giant Miles Blackwell, who retired to the country when he sold his interest in the family business. Blackwell raised rare sheep and hens, and his favorite was Gigoo. While Blackwell gave most of his fortune to charity, he left $15 million to his favorite hen, Gigoo. With the rise in super stardom of pets on social media coupled with the bonds we all have with our furry friends, this might only be the tip of the iceberg of rich pets that we will be seeing in the very near future. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least two people, including one child, were killed and more than a dozen were injured in the Taliban's New Year attack on a French restaurant in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul Friday evening. The suicide attack took place at 5 p.m. at the Le Jardin restaurant, which is popular among foreigners, in Kabul's Tajmani area, according to Pajhwok Afghan News. The restaurant caught fire after the suicide blast. "We can confirm a suicide car bomb attack on Le Jardin. We are busy extinguishing the fire at the scene... two Afghans have been killed and 15 others wounded," a senior Kabul police officer Fraidoon Obaidi told AFP. "It is civilian restaurant and not a foreigner restaurant, it was a car bomb," Kabul police chief Rahman Rahimi said, according to Tolo News. He further said that the car bombing was carried out by a suicide bomber. Sediq Sediqi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, informed that one suspect was arrested in connection with the suicide bombing, Khaama Press reported. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb blast on its social media accounts. The attack comes a day after the Pakistani government announced the date for first round of talks between four nations on the Afghan peace process. The quadrilateral talks, which will involve the U.S. China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, will take place on Jan.16, according to Business Recorder. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least 15 people died when a crowded ferryboat sank in the Egyptian Nile river, local media reported Friday. The deadly ferry mishap occurred on Thursday in the Kafr El-Sheikh governate, around 140 kilometers north of the capital city of Cairo, according to Daily Sabah. The boat was involved in trasportation of passengers from Kafr El-Sheikh's Sendion and Beheira's Derot. The search and rescue teams recovered 15 bodies. The search for possible victims continued on Friday. The cause of the mishap was not immediately known. Egyptian media outlets, however, reported that either passenger overload or bad weather conditions caused the sinking. Kafr El-Sheik governor El-Sayed Nasr said in a media statement that an investigation is underway to find the cause of the accident, Ahram Online reported. The boat was found in a preliminary investigation to be technically "unfit," as its license had expired eight months ago, according to APA. Water transportation accidents, especially those involving ferryboats, are common in Egypt. More than 40 passengers died after a boat sank in the Nile river in July last year. In the worst of water transportation accidents in recent history, at least 1,000 passengers were killed in the sinking of the Egyptian ferry al-Salam Boccaccio 98 in the Red Sea in 2006, according to Egyptian Streets. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The threat of an "imminent" terror attack by ISIS that prompted the closure of two subway stations in Munich on New Year's Eve was not a hoax, security officials said Friday, as police remain on high alert. Evacuations of the Hauptbahnhof central station, Munich's main train station, and the Pasing hub started around 10:40 p.m. Thursday after local authorities were tipped off about five to seven ISIS militants planning to launch a New Year's Eve attack, according to the New York Daily News. "There is the danger of an attack in the area of munich, please keep away from crowds, avoid the central station and the rail station pasing," the police department tweeted at the time. There is the danger of an attack in the area of munich, please keep away from crowds, avoid the central station and the rail station pasing. Polizei Munchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) December 31, 2015 Police launched an "intensive investigation" as part of an attempt to the locate the suspects but failed to locate them, prompting them to re-open the subway station five hours after the search began. "After intensive investigations we can say that we don't have any insights about these individuals," Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said, according to Bloomberg. "Measures haven't led to any concrete evidence for the warnings, that's why we could reopen the stations for traffic." Despite not having any "concrete evidence" in regards to the warnings, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann still cautioned that Germany, and Europe as a whole, still remain on high alert following the Paris terror attacks, according to The Belfast Telegraph. Germany, in particular, has been on high alert ever since the attacks. Warnings of a possible imminent attack prompted Brussels to issue a five-day lockdown. Since then, authorities have launched an unprecedented number of police raids that have lead to the arrests of 10 people believed to be connected to the Paris attacks on varying levels, ABC News reported. Most recently, two suspects were arrested in Brussels on suspicion of plotting to attack "emblematic sites" during New Year's Eve, prompting the city to cancel festivities entirely as a result. Authorities will continue to evaluate the situation accordingly as it moves forward. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ten people were killed in two separate incidents in El Salvador Friday, marking a bloody New Years Day for the country. The first incident occurred in the eastern municipality of San Miguel and involved several men wearing military-style outfits who attacked two homes during New Years' celebrations, killing five people in total: three men, two women, and a child, according to the Latin American Herald Tribune. The hitmen are suspected to be gang members, with the killings having occurred in an area controlled by the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. The second incident occurred in the southwestern town of Olocuilta, where five alleged gang members were killed in retaliation for having opened fire at police at a highway checkpoint, Reuters reported. 2015 marked El Salvador's most violent year since the country's 1980-1992 civil war, with the homicide rate surging up by 70 percent from 2014, according to The Globe and Mail. The total population of El Salvador is 6.4 million, which amounts to around 104 murders per 100,000 people. Part of the increase in murders is connected to the end of a multi-year truce between the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs, as well as their ongoing clashes with police security, reported TeleSUR. MS-13 and Barrio 18, the two major rival gangs in El Salvador, both have origins in the Salvadoran exiles who fled the country's civil war during the 1980s and were temporarily resettled in Los Angeles. When they were sent back to El Salvador at the war's end in 1992, gang culture came with them and evolved to include the transnational drug cartels that operate throughout the region, The Guardian explained in September. With the surge in violence through 2015, El Salvador is set to overtake Honduras as the country with the world's highest murder rate, according to InSight Crime. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. I didnt agree with what they did, says Manic Street Preachers singer Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield has been sharing his thoughts on U2s controversial iTunes giveaway of Songs of Innocence last year. Although the 46-year-old Welsh musician declares himself a devout fan of U2, he didnt agree with their method of release. Its really strange because I try not to blast U2 because, number one, theyre an easy target, Bradfield told Hot Press Olaf Tyaransen. Number two, I think its one of my favourite records. Im very selective about what version of U2 I like, but I always thought that War was one of the most original sounding rock n roll garage albums of all time, and theres lyrical high points on there as well for Bono. And were all massive fans of The Unforgettable Fire, the record itself and the song. I think between myself, Nick [Wire] and Sean [Moore], we all absolutely think that the song The Unforgettable Fire is just genius, just a masterpiece. So theres certain parts of U2s career which I think are kind of unsurpassable in a way, which obviously other people feel that, too. I didnt agree with what they did, but more so on the basis that I thought the actual record that they created deserved better. I thought it was their best album for a long time, and I thought it just deserved better than just to be uploaded in somebodys fucking iPhone. That was from a point of just thinking, this record deserves to stand on its own two feet, because its a real return to form. Thats the basis I didnt agree with it on. Manic Street Preachers are among the headliners at Electric Picnic in September. You can read the full interview with James Dean Bradfield in the next issue of Hot Press, out March 19th. Celebrity Big Brother bosses are facing a scramble to find a new contestant, after Koo Stark reportedly pulled out of appearing on the new series. READ MORE: The erotic film star, who previously dated Prince Andrew, was rumoured to have been among the famous faces heading into the reality TV house next week, but has apparently changed her mind at the last minute. Koo Stark Her decision is said to have been a blow to bosses, who were hoping that she would reveal details of her connections to the royal family. A source told The Sun: Koo has remained discreet about her fling with Andrew but Channel 5 hoped the other celebs might get her chatting and she would spill some juicy royal secrets. Advertisement US film star Koo enjoyed a whirlwind romance with Prince Andrew in the 1980s and were tipped to marry but split after 18 months when it was revealed she had appeared in an erotic movie, Emily, in 1976. Producers will now be searching to find a replacement for Koo, before Tuesdays (5 January) live launch show. Koo dated Prince Andrew in the 1980s Despite her representative denying that shed be taking part, Danniella Westbrook has still repeatedly been linked with a place in the house, while Vanilla Ice and John Partridge have also been rumoured. Advertisement Reports last week suggested that Kris Jenner was trying to block daughter Kim Kardashians best friend Jonathan Cheban from appearing on the Channel 5 show, worried that he would spill secrets about the famous family. Discussing this years line-up, host Emma Willis teased last month: I do think this is one of the strongest we've ever had. When we had Lee Ryan and Jim Davidson, everyone said, 'This is the peak, it can't get better than this'. But they just keep matching it or doing even better with every series. They are so fantastic at getting the right types of people. There are a couple in there that I was so excited about, purely because of my own love of them in the past. Aside from people you may have loved in the past, there are just some great characters who I think will give TV gold. Celebrity Big Brother launches on 5 January at 9pm on Channel 5. Laos is a good place to visit Sometimes somebody is trying to find a good place to visit in the world. Actually Laos is landlocked and very small country in Asia and its located in the south of China its a good and peaceful place to visit and has three big ethic groups, they have their own traditional and living style. I believe Laos is a good place to visit because there are so many things interesting, sightseeing, food, B uddhist, culture and traditional are the most very important things that you should know and learn when you are in Laos. To begin with, there are so many interesting things to see and beautiful places which attracts the tourists who come to Laos . Mostly people visit Laos, want to see and spend time in the beautiful and peaceful places. Laos is the once very special country in Asia, its charming and colorful by golden temples and traditional houses style. Its surrounded by limestone landscape, and gentle hills. If you want to see a really beautiful sunset there are some high mountains are the best places for you, so its easy to get to and there are magnificent from the tops, oh a clear day you can see for miles around. There are so many things you can visit and enjoy and do some activities such as waterfall, cave, elephant ridding and kayaking etc. The second reason to visit Lao is because there is delicious food . There are delicious and tasty food in Laos but it is very spicy food. If anyone wants to try spicy food please come to Laos. I can say Laos is the spiciest food country, reasonably why am I saying that? Because mostly Lao people eat very spicy, for me I do like spicy food too. When they cook if there is no chili in the food, they say it is not tasty. There are many different kind of food in Laos, also ethnic group food style. The main food in Laos is sticky rice, Orlam, noodle soup, papaya salad and JeoBong. Orlam is a kind of spicy soup, JeoBong is a sauce with chili and buffalos skin, noodle soup is a soup with noodle, vegetables and sometimes with meat, papaya salad made with papaya, fish sauce, garlic, chili, lime, etc. Thirdly, there is Traditional Buddhist culture to learn about Laos is the only country in Asia that has its own language, traditional culture and religion. In Laos there are very strict rules. Lao culture is very different from the other countries, for example the ladies have to wear skirt or (sin in Lao) and scarf on the shoulder when they go to the temple and also when they join ceremony in the village. In Laos is impolite to kiss or hug each other in public. It is polite to invite your friends when they are walking by while you are eating in the restaurant or the house to join you. Greeting in Laos is called Nob. Nob is when you first see somebody or a friend, you raise both hands up in front of your chest and place them together and say sabaidee. To sum up, Laos is a good place to visit because there are many interesting places, tasty food, and traditional Buddhist culture. I hope you can come to Laos but make sure to respect Lao culture, for example you should not touch the head of a novice or monk nor wear your shoes when you are in the pagoda. Are you ready to taste spicy food and have an adventure wandering in the mountains? If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place. (Lao Tzu), music in the soul can be heard by the universe. I'm teaching a writing class to adults and we recently finished our unit on writing a basic essay. I wanted to share one of my student's essays about why you should visit Laos. It's rather convincing. 'EastEnders' had many surprises in store during its much-hyped New Years Day episodes, as serial killer Lucas Johnson made a shock return, while evil rapist Dean Wicks was finally arrested for his crimes. READ MORE: Bosses delivered on their promise that the two instalments of the BBC soap would be some of the best in recent months, as the drama focused on the wedding of Mick and Linda Carter (Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright). However, the biggest revelation was the return of Denise Foxs murdering ex-husband, played by Don Gilet. Lucas Johnson made a shock return to 'EastEnders' Denise (Diane Parish) was seen receiving a call from Lucas, who is still in prison for killing his ex-wife Trina, Denises ex-husband Owen, as well as kidnapping Denise and faking her death in 2010. Advertisement He had hidden a mobile phone in his cell and managed to call Denise after she registered to visit him to discuss the whereabouts of his son Jordan. After changing her mind about the visit, Denise told Lucas never to call her again, but we doubt that will be the last we hear from the serial killer Elsewhere, Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) was finally brought to justice for raping Linda Carter and his attempted attack on Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), after gate crashing Mick and Lindas wedding. The troubled hairdresser turned up at his brothers nuptials to seek revenge on his mother Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), after she tried to drown him, having finally realised his crimes. The pair became embroiled in a deadly scramble, when he pushed her in a lake at the wedding venue, before he then turned on Mick when he dived in to rescue Shirley. Advertisement Mick takes the plunge and overpowers Dean, but will he be able to save Shirley? #EastEnders https://t.co/tNqqUaVp0c BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) January 1, 2016 While it looked like Mick had killed his brother during the underwater tussle, the Queen Vic landlord saved his brothers life, not wanting him to escape punishment for raping his wife. Police then turned up to arrest Dean, marking actor Matts last appearance as the character. Justice: The moment Dean is arrested on suspicion of the attempted rape of Roxy. https://t.co/zL1hB9kMvH BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) January 1, 2016 After the drama unfolded, Mick and Linda finally tied the knot in a heart-warming ceremony, which saw Mick dressed in his famous fluffy pink dressing down. At last, a happy ending in Albert Square. Advertisement Mick and Linda finally tied the knot In a powerful and moving protest, Veterans for Peace UK members John Boulton, Kieran Devlin and Ben Griffin discarded their British army medals and berets outside Downing Street (10/07/15) after each giving a short speech explaining their reasons. Christopher Furlong via Getty Images Some Iraq War veterans may face prosecutions for war crimes after a probe into allegations of torture and unlawful killing, the Press Association reports. The government-backed criminal investigation unit, the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), has been investigating murder, abuse and torture claims related to the war in Iraq since British troops were pulled out in 2009. Advertisement Mark Warwick, the former police detective in charge of Ihat, told the Independent there was "significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority to prosecute and charge." Mark Warwick, Director of Ihat Warwick went on to cast doubt over Ihat's intended completion date of 2019, when all investigations are supposed to be finished. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will review all the caseload to better understand the picture and then I think we can say whether 2019 seems realistic," he said. Advertisement "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of Ihat investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority to prosecute and charge." As of September 2015, the team had already assessed the cases of 1,515 alleged victims, 280 of whom may have been unlawfully killed. So far only 25 of those cases have been investigated and more than 200 have yet to be opened, The Independent reports. Of 1,235 reported cases alleging mistreatment, which includes rape and torture, only 45 have been seen to. Warwick said not all allegations will lead to an investigation. "What's the likely outcome to be if we do a full investigation, and what's the likely penalty if we convict someone?" he said. Advertisement "We would look at the credibility of the allegation in the first instance; and, when we've looked at a lot of these extra cases coming to us, some of them are duplicates of cases, some of them we've already identified as part of our own investigation process, and some are multiple allegations, where we would investigate as a single allegation. "There are lots of significant cases that we are investigating and at the appropriate time it will be a matter for us to discuss with the SPA whether they meet the war-crimes threshold, but there are certainly serious allegations currently being investigated." Daoud Mousa, the father of Baha Mousa, outside the Baha Mousa public inquiry in London Warwick said the case of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi hotel receptionist who died after being interrogated and abused by British soldiers more than a decade ago, remains "a live criminal investigation". He added: "There are lots of significant cases that we are investigating and at the appropriate time it will be a matter for us to discuss with the SPA (Service Prosecuting Authority) whether they meet the war-crimes threshold, but there are certainly serious allegations currently being investigated." Advertisement Human rights charities have called for the investigations to be sped up, in the hopes of reaching some conclusions before the deadline in 2019. Carla Ferstman, director of the human rights charity Redress, told the Independent: "The incredibly slow pace at which Ihat is investigating allegations of criminality committed by UK soldiers against Iraqi civilians is wholly unacceptable. "Things seem to still be moving at a snail's pace. We call upon the Government to ensure Ihat can, and does, do what it was set up to do, and to do it now. This cannot be a whitewash." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The vast majority of UK service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law. "The MoD takes all allegations of abuse or unlawful killing extremely seriously. Where there is sufficient evidence, members of HM Forces can be prosecuted. It is estimated that the Ihat's work will take until the end of 2019." A prominent Shia cleric was among 47 prisoners executed by Saudi Arabia over the new year period. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was a driving force behind the Arab Spring of 2011, was among those killed at 12 different locations around Saudi Arabia for crimes related to terrorism. All those put to death - by firing squad or by beheading - were Saudi nationals apart from one person from Egypt and another from Chad. Advertisement The execution of Sheikh Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region, the Associated Press reported. Kashmiri Shiite Muslims mourn as they hold portraits of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr Also killed were a number of prisoners linked to al-Qaeda. Saudi Arabia's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh said the executions were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdom's security. He described the executions as a "mercy to the prisoners" themselves because he said it would save them from committing more evil acts. Advertisement Islamic scholars around the world hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty in Islamic Shariah law. Saudi judges adhere to one of the strictest interpretations, a Sunni Muslim ideology referred to as Wahhabism. Influential Shiite figures and groups across the region were swift to condemn al-Nimr's execution, with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran describing it as "irresponsible." Maya Foa, director of the death penalty team at international human rights organisation Reprieve said: 2015 saw Saudi Arabia execute over 150 people, many of them for non-violent offences. Today's appalling news, with nearly 50 executed in a single day, suggests 2016 could be even worse. Alarmingly, the Saudi Government is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform in the kingdom, executing at least four of them today. There are now real concerns that those protesters sentenced to death as children could be next in line to face the swordsmans blade. Advertisement Saudi Arabia's allies - including the US and UK - must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and must urgently appeal to the Kingdom to change course. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS via Getty Images Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei walks on a beach near the town of Mytilene, on the Greek island of Lesbos on January 1, 2016.Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei paid on December 28, 2015 a holiday visit to refugees and migrants flocking to the Greek island of Lesbos, tweeting out photos and videos in appeals for their plight. / AFP / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) After wowing Aussie art-enthusiasts in Melbourne last month, dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has headed off to the Greek island of Lesbos to highlight Syria's refugee crisis. Ai is setting up a studio on the northern Aegean island which is the main port of entry into the European Union for the flood of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria. Advertisement He's said to be working on a number of projects including a memorial to the plight of refugees. Last week @aiww was Instagramming from the Uffizi; now, refugees & volunteers on Lesbos https://t.co/gBYSlvu8OJpic.twitter.com/dBA5xrZS6g Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) December 30, 2015 In addition to this stop, the 58-year-old is expected to visit the island a number of times throughout 2016 and says some of his students will also be working out of the new Lesbos studio, the Guardian reports. Ai reportedly told media that some of the projects will be public works, adding that they will aim especially to honour the lives of refugees who have died. "I think that good art only comes out from when we have strong beliefs in aesthetics and human dignity. This can never be separated," he told the Associated Press. Advertisement Ai used social media to document his trip to the Greek island. Happy new year #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 8:56am PST Engines of refugees boats #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 31, 2015 at 1:57am PST #refugees #lesvos A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Dec 30, 2015 at 9:52pm PST The globally-renowned artist was interrogated for over 80 days in 2011 and had his Shanghai studio bulldozed after tax evasion claims. He visited Melbourne in December as a guest of the National Gallery of Victoria for a new exhibition just months after China handed back his passport. Advertisement The exhibition showcased some of Ai's best known works like his Forever Bicycles installation as well as pieces by iconic pop artist Andy Warhol. During his Australian visit, Aitold SBS he hoped for more freedom of expression in China. Ai Weiwei keeps up fight for freedom as he opens show in Australia @LydiaLFenghttps://t.co/jv9zgU99VKpic.twitter.com/PBwEjSaw9w SBS News (@SBSNews) December 10, 2015 Iranian and Turkish demonstrators hold pictures of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as they protest outside the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, on January 3, 2016, to protest against the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric which they saw as a deliberate sectarian aggression.Nimr and other Shiite activists were among a total of 47 people executed, most of them described by the interior ministry as involved in killings by Al-Qaeda. / AFP / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images) Rumors have swirled for some weeks that Saudi Arabia was preparing to execute about 50 people, possibly including leading Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr and his 21 year-old nephew Ali Mohamed Al Nimr. Today 47 prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr, were executed. Most were killed by beheading, and the rest by firing squad. Its the killing of Shiekh Nimr that has triggered protests and threatened violence across the region. He was an important voice during the 2011 demonstrations against repressive regimes in the region. He notably criticized Sunni autocracies such as Bahrain, as well as the Syrian dictatorship of Alawite Bashar al-Assad, who is supported by the Shia hierarchy in Iran. Advertisement Nimr's execution is a dangerous move by the Saudi authorities, but not a surprising one. Although some western politicians and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called for his release, the United States government has been predictably and disappointingly muted about criticizing its rich Gulf ally. When asked about Nimrs imminent execution on September 23 2015, the White House response was typically platitudinous ...the United States, under the leadership of this president, regularly raises our concerns about the human rights situation inside of Saudi Arabia. In fact, theres little to suggest that President Obama uses his meetings with senior members of Saudis ruling family to press for human rights. Even worse, a few months ago the State Department gave an enthusiastic welcome to news that Saudi had managed to secure a leading position on a UN human rights body. Washingtons muted response to mounting Saudi violations -- 2015 saw at least 157 executions after unfair trials, the most for two decades, and a continuing clamp down on non-violent critics of the government -- only enables the repression. Advertisement Nimr was an important voice condemning abuses by Gulf dictatorships and by Assads murderous regime in Syria, and thats what made him so dangerous for Saudi Arabia. By highlighting abuses by fellow Shias, he crossed the sectarian divide so aggressively promoted by the Saudi regime and based his criticism on human rights standards. Like ISIS, Saudi and the neighboring ruling family in Bahrain are keen to suppress this grey zone of open discussion and debate that questions the legitimacy of dictatorships without resorting to sectarianism. There are plenty of other peaceful dissidents who, like Nimr, were sentenced after a sham trial. These include economist and human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani, who has a doctorate from Indiana University, serving a 10 year sentence for complaining about human rights abuses. Given what seems to be the current mood of the Saudi authorities, their situation looks very bleak. Saudi and Bahraini prisons are already bulging with peaceful activists. There may about to be more, as within hours of Nimrs execution, Bahrains security forces (trained and armed by the United States) issued a statement warning legal action against anyone criticizing the executions. By executing a leading cleric, the Saudi authorities have sent a clear warning to anyone thinking about criticizing the ruling family. The killing also immediately stoked sectarian tension across the region, giving Irans own repressive regime a golden excuse to inflame and exploit the mistake. The coming days are likely to see more protests, arrests, and killings as a direct result. Advertisement For reasons of pure self-interest, quite apart from its moral obligations, Washington should quickly and publicly condemn Saudi's executions, its judicial system, and the government that enabled such a travesty to occur. For its own credibility the U.S. should show Saudi that there will be bilateral consequences for continuing human rights violations, including the jailing of human rights activists. FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump holds a Bible as he speaks during the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's annual fall dinner in Des Moines, Iowa. Producers at CBS are making four separate episodes of "60 Minutes" for Sunday, trying to fit in three stories, including an interview with Trump. Scott Pelley will press Trump for specifics on issues like taxes, education, defense and immigration. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) If there is anything currently uniting most political commentators in contemporary America, it is surely their on-going fascination with the presidential campaign of Donald Trump. The common agreement on both sides of the political aisle through most of 2015 appeared to be that his campaign was eventually bound to fail - the reason being some version of the Jeb Bush position that Donald Trump, far from being a serious candidate, was actually a "jerk." But labeling him in this fashion was - and remains - misleading in two very critical ways. The first is that it puts far too much emphasis on the personal characteristics of Trump the man, so ironically fuelling the narcissism which is so potent a feature of how the Donald continues to campaign. The other is that critiquing him pulls our attention away from the group of die-hard supporters who still flock to his every rally, and who give every impression of liking him precisely because, to Establishment-Republicans at least, he is definitely a jerk. Advertisement So who are these die-hard supporters, and why are they drawn to support Donald Trump's candidacy with such fervor? Answering that question is a vital pre-requisite to eventually keeping the White House safe from Trump's hands. For none of us will manage that if we don't first understand - and then address - the concerns of that very special breed of American who is now so keen to see a Trump presidency. I Three features of the core Trump support stand out, and all are now well documented. The first is that his support is heavily concentrated in just one major social demographic: Joan Walsh described it as "Republican voters who didn't go to college," - conservative Americans, that is, now surviving on the very bottom rungs of the generally-threatened US middle class. The second is that the level of anger among that particular group of Americans is at a new and unprecedented level. Many of those turning to Donald Trump for political leadership support him precisely because they are critical of, or actively angry with, the existing political establishment - and see Trump as attractive because he is not part of that establishment. And the third is that the current set of hard-core Trump supporters are - and intend to remain - loyal to him and his cause. If Frank Luntz is right, "half will follow him out of the Republican Party if he breaks his promise and declares as an independent." Support, anger and loyalty - three features of the Trump electoral base that need to be fully understood by those who would reject him. Let's review them here in reverse order. LOYALTY When solid and committed Trump supporters are asked to explain their enthusiastic endorsement of a candidate prone to say outrageous things, one dimension of his appeal that often surfaces is his willingness to challenge conventional understandings of "political correctness." His supporters like him because "he calls it like he sees it." They like him because he moves into the center of the public conversation views and ideas which many of his supporters also hold, but which in the recent past was thought, even by them, impolitic to say. They like him, that is, for the very reason that the Republican Party establishment does not: that in campaign speech after campaign speech, he makes explicit so many of the underlying premise of the Party's "southern strategy" first put in place by Richard Nixon. Advertisement For the last four decades, Washington-based Republicans have been perfectly willing to garner white votes in the south by tacitly going along with residual southern white racism. They just haven't wanted to admit that: and they still don't want to. Instead, they label southern racism "parental choice" in relation to school selection. They call it "rolling back welfare dependency" in relation to the sustenance of the American poor, many of whom are black or Hispanic. They call it "supporting law and order" when police officers shoot black teenagers; and they call it "tax reform" when they denude the public school system of the funds necessary to ensuring that no black/Hispanic student is actually left behind. The Donald doesn't do that. He calls Mexican immigrants criminals and racists. He calls for immigration policies that treat all Muslims as potential terrorists. He even dismisses pushy female journalists as menstrual, or liberal disabled ones as worthy of parody. His supporters like him for some/all of that, depending on the character of their own conservatism. They like him because political correctness has kept them publicly silent for too long, and because he makes a virtue of treading right over every politically-correct line. Anyone wanting to defeat Donald Trump will have, therefore, to persuade a very tough audience that political correctness helps protect them as well as those they privately denigrate. ANGER No doubt, core Trump supporters are angry for lots of reasons, only some of which the Trump campaign addresses directly. But at the very least, it hardly damages Trump's cause, among those white voters unhappy with a black man in the White House, that their man was an active 'birther' and still leaves open the question of the president's citizenship. Being tough on immigrants also helps bind him to that group of American voters - normally white, often male and invariably middle-aged - who was most disturbed by the changing ethnic composition of the United States (with their white majority status projected to vanish in many states by/before 2050). He certainly gains supporters among that same group when he criticizes trade pacts that outsource American jobs and patterns of business deregulation that privilege Wall Street over Main Street; and parading around accompanied by all the trappings of wealth does not alienate him from conservative white males - it helps glue them to him. Donald Trump is increasingly presenting himself - in spite of his own billionaire credentials - as the champion of non-college educated American voters. Currently, "half of Trump's supporters within the GOP stopped their education at or before high-school graduation....Only 19 percent had a college or post-college degree. Thirty-eight percent earned less than $50,000. Only 11 percent earned more than $100,000." These are members of what Robert Reich recently labeled "the anxious class.... Two thirds of whom are living paycheck to paycheck. Most could lose their jobs at any time." These are men (and to a lesser degree, women) whose wages have stagnated now for over four decades, whose job security was ripped away by the recession triggered from Wall Street in 2008, who often now struggle to make a living wage, and who are in consequence increasingly denied their chance of living the American Dream. Many of them feel threatened from above by the entitlement culture of the super-rich, and even more threatened from below by the demand for equal rights for groups even more disadvantaged than they are. Few of them have the spare resources, week-on-week, to fund federal/state welfare programs through higher personal taxation. Most indeed lack the spare cash to sustain the private charitable giving that so many of them still prefer. The Trump choice of timing and theme makes sense to Americans struggling to hang on to their middle-class life-style and status, because particularly white, male, non-college educated voters are having a tough economic time as the traditional American middle class increasingly erodes. Members of that demographic are even dying earlier at a greater rate now than in the immediate past, the victims of their increasing consumption of both alcohol and drugs. Their world is not going in a direction that they personally favor. Donald Trump is promising to pull that direction back in their favor, playing on both their anger about the present and their apprehensions about the future. Anyone wanting to defeat him will need, therefore, to persuade a very tough audience that Donald Trump's explanation of their present and future condition is wrong, and that theirs by contrast is not. SUPPORT Donald Trump's current political problem is not that he has the overwhelming political support on older and less educated voters. It is that he is over-dependent on that demographic: one that is "less affluent, less educated and less likely to turn out to vote." His problem is that by playing to their concerns he effectively alienates other voting blocks that are socially adjacent to them but are more disadvantaged even than they are. Defending police violence is hardly the way to win African-American votes. Promising to expel 11 million undocumented voters hardly sells well in the Hispanic community. Trump is not a single-issue politician, but he is currently too much a single-constituency politician for his own long-term good: his 27 percent support among Republican voters in December currently translates into support among only 13 percent of the American electorate as a whole. That single-mindedness may win him the Republican nomination, but it will also likely create problems for him in the general election that follows. Advertisement II If loyalty, anger and support are all key elements in Trump's current dominance of the Republican presidential field, rolling each back - and doing so in a progressive manner - is equally key to ensuring that that dominance does not persist into the general election itself. Progressive politicians will never win over the racist element of the Trump coalition, and nor should they try. But they can - and must - win over that section of the white working class that is pulled to Trump by their general anxiety about economic conditions and future prospects. The question, of course, is exactly how: and here the traditional Democratic method of coalition-building may actually get in the way. Habitually, Democratic politicians try to build their winning coalition by adding constituencies together: not least of late African-Americans given daily proof of the need to insist that black lives matter; Hispanic voters who want a route to citizenship for an undocumented Spanish-American working class who contribute so mightily to the success of key industries like agriculture and hospitality; and working women struggling to break glass ceilings while often attempting to combine paid work with the rearing of children. Women, that is, who are and regularly pushed towards poverty by a wage system that pays them only 79 cents on the male dollar. The premise of so much of the Democrats' political campaigning in 2015 appears to be that the white male working class that is drifting towards Donald Trump is simply another constituency to be added to the rest. Both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns seem currently to be treating that addition as ultimately a simple and straightforward one, because neither campaign seems willing to concede that, at the bottom of the US income ladder, the immediate economic interests of groups do not naturally align. It is an error of analysis that Trump does not share with them, and it is one that may yet let Trump in. If they are going to stop Donald Trump in his tracks, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders need to build their 2016 campaigns on the explicit recognition that, as American capitalism is currently organized, different sections of the American poor and near-poor do compete with one another for limited resources (for jobs, wages and welfare benefits); and that in consequence there is an explicit strategic choice to be offered to those various constituencies in November - and particularly to the angry ones. It is either for potential voters to go on treating each other as competitors to be defeated/excluded - the Trump way - or it is to come together - the progressive way - in a joint endeavor to reform a system that sets similarly-placed people in such fierce competition with each other. The politics of exclusion are the politics of Trump. The politics of inclusion have to be ours. Donald Trump may be promising to make America great again, but he is not promising to remove the competition between ethnic groups at the bottom of the US class structure for a limited set of employment opportunities and social resources. He is not, but progressives must: for unless the American Left can demonstrate how its policies, and its alone, can raise all ships, right-wing populists like Donald Trump will continue to play group against group, to the long-term mutual disadvantage of them all. III It is always easier to blame other victims for a shared condition. That is why the Trump message resonates so strongly among a certain group of angry, white middle-aged and anxious voters. But playing the blame game just reinforces the system that makes the allocation of blame necessary in the first place. Which is why progressive politicians need to develop and advocate for an entirely new way of running the American economy that does not require the setting of one group of the vulnerable against another. It is also why there is no more important task before us now than that of redirecting the anger and frustration that so many Americans feel - redirecting it away from its focus on people and groups who are our immediate neighbors, and directing it towards against the properties of an entire economic and social system that only survives by setting neighbors against each other. What that means, in immediate campaigning terms, is this. It means bringing issues of social class back into the center of the political debate. It means anchoring discussions of racial and gender discrimination (real and powerful as those are) in a wider conversation about general social inequality and capitalist power (large parts of which are less visible but more potent still). It means doing what Bernie Sanders does best - proposing redistributive taxation to correct the theft of wealth and income by the top 1 percent - and it means doing what so far neither Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton do sufficiently well: articulating a growth strategy for the entire US economy that can do the two things that the alternative Republican free-trade/austerity growth strategy cannot. Articulating a progressive economic growth strategy that can pull well-paid manufacturing jobs back to the United States, in the process beginning to ease the anxieties of a middle class historically so dependent upon them. And articulating a progressive economic growth strategy that can raise all ships - one that can generate growth by anchoring prosperity at the bottom of the income ladder, so lifting the daily pressure of inadequate paychecks from the shoulders of more and more hardworking Americans. Advertisement For far too long, Washington-based Democrats have remained wedded to trade policies that outsource American jobs (the Obama Administration still is) and to triangulation with Republicans that block the strengthening of trade unions and labor rights (as the Clinton Administration did so spectacularly in the 1990s). Both those things have to end, and to end immediately. The only way to win in November is to out-trump Trump at his own game: to expose him for the peddler of half-truths that he is, and to replace those half-truths with the realities of an America that is still in need of root-and-branch progressive reform. The only way to roll back right-wing populism is to beat it at its own game by developing an even stronger form of left-wing populism. That is the progressive task par excellence for 2016. A year dominated by left-wing populism will not only guarantee success against Trump and his ilk in November. It will also turn the general election of 2016 into an election which is genuinely worth winning. First posted with full academic citations at www.davidcoates.net More U.S. military personnel have been sent to Iraq and Syria. Trainers, Special Forces, and airstrikes haven't been enough. The administration continues its slow progression to renewed ground combat. President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize grows more tarnished by the day. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter informed Congress last month that a "specialized expeditionary targeting force" would be sent to Iraq on top of the 3500 personnel already there, with the authority to operate in Syria too. This mix of Special Forces "will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIL leaders," explained Carter. Where greater opportunities appear to work with local forces, he added, "We are prepared to expand it." Advertisement This follows an increase in airstrikes in November. Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "in the days ahead, we'll be aggressive in looking for ways to reinforce success. And we'll seize every opportunity to increase the tempo and effectiveness of our operations." Unfortunately, no matter how active these forces, they won't turn around a 16-month deadlock. The more men and materiel the president commits to "win," whatever that means, the more he will have to introduce after the failure of every successive escalation. Secretary Carter said the raids would be conducted "at the invitation of the Iraqi government." Yet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi quickly declared that while his people welcomed Western support, namely weapons, training, and airstrikes, "we confirm that Iraq has enough men and resolve to defeat Daesh and other similar criminal groups." Indeed, Iraq is a manpower-rich nation. The problem is sectarian misgovernance, which caused Sunni tribes and former Baathists to travel back to the 7th Century and ally with ISIL. The president's promise not to commit "boots on the ground" already was trampled underfoot in October, when a Delta Force soldier was killed while accompanying Kurdish forces on a raid in Iraq. MSgt. Joshua Wheeler was the first American killed in combat since America's exit in 2011. Many more are likely to follow. In fact, congressional hawks long have been pressing for a genuine expeditionary army. Leading congressional war-monger Sen. Lindsey Graham has been pushing to increase U.S. forces in Iraq to 10,000. He and Sen. John McCain proposed a 100,000 man "regional army to go into Syria." Of this force the U.S. would provide perhaps 10,000. Alas, waiting for Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and other Sunni states to contribute the rest would be akin to waiting for the Easter Bunny or Great Pumpkin to appear. Even if, as Sen. McCain claimed, the Arab governments now recognize the threat posed by ISIL, they aren't going to act as long as Washington plans to do the job for them. If there's going to be a large expeditionary combat force, it will be largely American. However, despite continued neoconservative enthusiasm for war, "few Americans retain any appetite for undertaking further large-scale hostilities in the Islamic world," noted Andrew Bacevich, professor emeritus at Boston University. Advertisement It is striking how quickly the lessons of the Iraq War have been forgotten. Indeed, many U.S. officials, such as Graham and McCain, never learned them. Yet retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, U.S. Special Forces Commander in both Afghanistan and Iraq and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, pointed to them in an illuminating interview in Der Spiegel published in late November. He opined that after 9/11 "instead of asking why they attacked us, we asked where they came from. Then we strategically marched in the wrong direction." Washington developed its counterproductive strategy as a result of "all the emotions" taking over. The invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein unleashed the Islamic State. "It was a mistake to just eliminate him," said Flynn, as well as to take out Moammar Khaddafy in Libya, "which is now a failed state." The Iraq war was "a huge error." He concluded: "History will not be and should not be kind with that decision." Nor will it look kindly on the present administration's steady but so far ineffectual escalation. In fact, the Obama administration is attempting to do everything, which means it likely will achieve nothing. President Obama admitted that "I don't think we should be under any illusions that somehow Russia starts hitting only ISIL targets." In fact, Vladimir Putin's single-mindedness is the greatest, and perhaps only, strength of his policy. He has one primary objective and is doing everything to achieve it: sustain Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. All of the local participants have similarly simple agendas. For instance, alongside Moscow, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah support Assad. Nominal allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia have the equal, countervailing, goal, to oust Assad. They therefore lean toward the Islamic State, though U.S. pressure has forced them into nominal opposition. The majority-Shia government in Baghdad wants to preserve its authority over the entire nation. The Assad government wants to survive, while the insurgents hope to overthrow him, even as they position themselves for the brutal struggle that would follow his ouster. Advertisement In contrast, Washington hopes to simultaneously defeat ISIL and defenestrate Assad, the single strongest force opposing the Islamist radicals. The administration wants to reestablish Baghdad's authority nationwide while convincing Iraqi leaders to grant more authority to the Sunnis, with whom they have effectively been at war since the U.S. invasion. American officials are trying to persuade Sunni allies such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey to focus their efforts on ISIL, a Sunni group which is the strongest force deployed against Assad, their priority. Washington is working closely with Kurdish forces, which Ankara views as an existential threat dedicated to breaking up Turkey. The U.S. has devoted much money and effort to bolstering the weak and decreasingly effective "moderate" insurgents in the hopes that they can defeat both Assad and the Islamic State. Now Washington is caught in between Turkey and Russia as they confront each other over Assad's survival. Nor is ISIL easy to defeat. With the McCain-Graham expeditionary army Raqaa might be cleared of Islamic State combat forces, but the battle then would change form, as it did in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Flynn warned that "We may cause it to change its name, but we are never going to destroy this organization." Then the question would become how long is America prepared to occupy yet another Arab country or two in order to establish order, remake the state, impose liberal institutions, and ensure preservation of the foregoing? The latter is critical. The U.S. spent billions of dollars building and supporting governments and training and equipping militaries in such diverse nations as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, and Vietnam. The latter three all collapsed in varying degrees after an ill-timed push. The first has buckled. But in its case the pushing has just begun with allied forces still in country. Even after "victory" the U.S. would have to stick around, or trust its local frenemies, as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey all are trending, to sort things out. And the U.S. may be no happier with their efforts than if ISIL remained in charge. A better policy would be for the U.S. to back away now, before what economists call the "sunk cost" becomes so great that no American president could halt the ever-deepening commitment. In fact, ISIL never threatened the U.S., other than executing a couple of hapless Americans who fell into its hands, because it was focused on creating a caliphate, or quasi-nation state. Having a return address made the group susceptible to retaliation. Only recently has it begun to employ terrorist attacks--against Russia, Lebanon's Hezbollah, France, and probably Turkey's Kurds--as retaliation for their active operations against the Islamic State. Although ISIL could decide to continue, like al-Qaeda, warring against its enemies afar, it would be unlikely to focus its resources on America given the abundance of its local enemies. Advertisement Indeed, the Islamic State prospers only because of the weakness of its adversaries. Without America's presence they would have to confront a much more serious ISIL threat of both subversion and terrorism. Baghdad would face greater pressure to make a deal with Iraqi Sunnis. Assad would have more incentive to try to find some accommodation with more moderate insurgents. Turkey and Saudi Arabia would have to consider the destabilizing impact of so many Sunni radicals nearby. Powers which Washington cannot force into a coherent coalition might more informally reach a complicated, regionalized modus vivendi which everyone could live with. At the same time, the U.S. could concentrate its resources on incapacitating or killing individuals and destroying or debilitating movements dedicated to striking America even after Washington's disengagement. The twin conflicts raging in Iraq and Syria have unleashed an unsettling dynamic that is transforming both the Middle East and the world beyond this deeply troubled region. What is clear is that there is no end in sight to either of these conflicts and that the consequences of the continuing fighting are so profound that no simple solution will, any time soon, restore normalcy to either country or to the broader region. As difficult as it may be to ingest, it is imperative to recognize that a "new normal" has been created which policy makers must recognize and to which they must respond accordingly. Even before the advent of ISIS, Iraq had already experienced massive population transfers that occurred during the civil war that followed America's foolish invasion and occupation of the country. A Shia-led sectarian government had been ushered in by the US, giving Iran new influence over Iraqi affairs. Sunni and Shia neighborhoods had been largely "ethnically cleansed." Minority communities had been removed from ancestral homes. And the Kurdish controlled region had been given all but formal independence over its internal and external affairs. Meanwhile the disenfranchised Sunni Arab population had become so marginalized and embittered by the behavior of the Shia-led government that many fell prey to the lure of the extremist militias. At the peak of the conflict, one-fifth of Iraq's population had become either refugees or internally displaced persons (IPD). Since then, some Iraqis have returned to their country though not to their homes, but recent fighting has created a new wave of both refugees and IDP's. At present, about one half million Iraqis are registered as refugees, while almost four million are IDP's. It was a massive and prolonged drought that first displaced large segments of Syria's population. It was this displacement and the mishandling of it by the corrupt and brutal regime in Damascus that precipitated that country's now four-year long war. Like Iraq, Syria's war has become a sectarian conflict. At last count, one-half of Syria's population have become refugees or IDP's, with over four million having left the country and nearly eight million displaced within Syria. More than two million have fled to Turkey, more than one million are in Lebanon, and about three-quarters of a million are in Jordan. While most of these Syrians are housed in camps in Turkey and Jordan, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have settled in Turkey's larger cities where they have opened businesses and are attempting to create a new life for their families. In addition, the fighting in Syria has unsettled the Kurdish regions of both Syria and Turkey. Kurdish victories against ISIS in Syria have provoked the Turkish government which has long opposed any moves toward Kurdish independence. This has spawned increased repression against Turkey's Kurds. This conflict has created new refugees and IDP's. The situation in Lebanon is quite different. Because that country did not authorize the creation of formal camps, the Syrians who flooded across Lebanon's borders have spread out across the country renting apartments or setting up informal structures. They have found work and are sending their children to school. The pressures on tiny Lebanon have become enormous--straining the country's capacity and its infrastructure to its limit. Schools are overcrowded, medical services and social services are in short supply, as are water and electricity. In addition, Lebanon's population, at first receptive to the influx of their neighbors fleeing war, have become resentful as they have witnessed increases in prices for basic commodities, housing shortages, and dramatic increases in Lebanese unemployment and poverty. So unbearable has the situation become for Syrians and Iraqis fleeing their countries' conflicts that many have sought to make their way to Europe. They have joined Afghanis, Palestinians, and Libyans and other Africans who have risked all attempting to reach Europe, by land or sea, in order to start a new life. This flow of humanity has grown into a massive wave with best estimates putting the number of refugees in Europe at one million and growing each month. In addition to this migration of refugees northward has been a steady southward flow of thousands of alienated and radicalized Europeans seeking to join the extremist groups in Syria and Iraq. Nativists have sought to conflate the two population flows in an effort to buttress their anti-immigrant/Muslim campaign resulting in the growth of right-wing xenophobic movements across the continent. All too often, when refugee crises occur, they are seen as short-term problems requiring temporary solutions. However, all signs point to the fact that this will not be the case with regard to Syria and Iraq. These crises will not end any time soon and the new realities that have been created are not easily reversible and will only grow as the conflicts continue. Syria and Iraq will not return to the status quo ante. If peace is restored in either country, they will, at best, be imperfect and tentative arrangements. ISIS must be defeated, but there are dozens of other armed sectarian gangs that are currently the dominant forces on the ground in several parts of both countries that will not be inclined to support the emergence of a tolerant, welcoming pluralistic social and political order. In the best case scenario, Iraq and Syria will remain divided countries. It will take decades to reconstruct their infrastructures and economies and even longer to build inter-communal trust and social cohesion. As difficult as it will be for the neighboring countries to accept, the bulk of refugees currently in their midst will remain. Tens of thousands of Syrians and Iraqis are being born each year in these countries and hundreds of thousands of children are growing up knowing no home but those they have found in exile. Lebanon and Jordan, for example, will need to accommodate themselves to the long-term, and even permanent presence of Syrian communities within their nations. And Turkey is going to have to come to grips with long-repressed Kurdish aspirations for self-determination. Europe, too, must deal with the reality of this "new normal." The refugees who are within their borders are not going to disappear and despite the ranting of European nativists it will neither be possible to stop the flow of new refugees coming across their borders or to "put them on trains and send them back". Europe will also need to recognize that it is not migration that breeds extremism, it is the failure of many countries to fully incorporate immigrants as productive equal citizens in their societies. Persistent discrimination and unemployment are the drivers that breed the alienation that makes young European, immigrants susceptible to the lure of radical ideologies. This problem will only be exacerbated by the rightward drift of some European governments. It is important that international coalitions have formed to defeat ISIS and to find political solutions to Iraq and Syria. But as President Obama has proposed, the United Nations should also convene an emergency summit to address the challenges that have been created by the refugee crisis. In addition to addressing the material needs of the refugees, attention must be paid to the material and political needs of the host countries to assist them in adapting to the pressures resulting from the "new normal." With or without peace, the refugee flows have created new realities that are changing the demographic maps of the Middle East and Europe. The sooner we recognize and address the requirements of accommodating ourselves to these new realities the better it will be for the refugees and for their host countries. In a recent New York Times article (12/27/2015) it was reported that there seemed to be a serious discrepancy between national high school graduation rates and student competence in doing college level work. The most recent evaluation of 12th graders on a national test of reading and math found that fewer than 40 percent were ready for college. College remediation and dropout rates remain stubbornly high, particularly at two-year institutions, where . fewer than a third who enroll complete a degree even within three years.This despite the statistic that graduation rates from high school at over 80% are the highest they've ever been. This discrepancy should not be at all surprising since part of the No Child Left Behind law has stressed graduation rates as part of its requirement for federal funds. First of all not every child is capable of doing the work necessary to earn a high school diploma because of learning disabilities. Advertisement "1 in 5 students or approximately 15-20% of the population have a language based learning disability and dyslexia is the most common of these disabilities." This disability can in some cases be ameliorated but that requires early detection and often there is not sufficient staffing. A second major factor that would leave many young learners unprepared to do college-level work is when they find it difficult in concentrating in a classroom setting. About 11 percent of school-age children in the United States -- and 19 percent of high-school-age boys -- have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. "The figures show that about 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, a 16 percent rise since 2007 and a 53 percent increase over the past decade." m not asserting that some of these students can't overcome their learning problems, but it is certainly more difficult for them. Moreover, there are also many opportunities for educators who, faced with the possibility that their schools might be penalized and even closed if they don't "get the numbers up," find ways to falsify their scores if they aren't improving. The scandal in the Atlanta School district several years ago where extensive cheating was found on standardized tests is a case in point. According to a watchdog organization, The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, cheating on standardized tests were found in 37 states when they did an investigation two years ago. Is it likely that this trend has abated? Advertisement One can hope that the new law-the Every Student Succeeds Act-- recently passed in Congress that has less emphasis on tests might reduce cheating. I am skeptical of its results since the fundamental flaw in standardized testing which will continue in the new act is the reliance on numbers to determine educational progress, numbers that can be easily manipulated. But even without any overt cheating, there are "legitimate" ways in which graduation rates in high schools can be increased which have little to do with improvements in learning. One recourse educators have of upping the graduation rates is through a program called "credit recovery." It enables students who have failed a course necessary for graduation to "recover" credit by taking a mini-course which pretends that it requires the same amount of time and effort as a full semester course. Having been an educator for over fifty years, I have serious doubts that this "make up" program has much validity. To compound its dubiousness, it is often conducted on line, the least effective way of educating a student who would need one-on-one contact with a teacher to have a real chance of earning the credits. In fact, while on-line credit recovery is growing in demand in American high schools, questions about its usefulness in improving student learning are being increasingly raised. According to an article in Education Week written more than four years ago: "'The surge of interest in online credit-recovery programs has also come despite scant research on the programs' effectiveness. While studies have been conducted on online learning in general, they haven't been conducted on the effectiveness of online learning specifically for the use of credit recovery, researchers say. "We're interested in comparing so-called high-quality online courses for credit recovery with taking a traditional class," said Jessica B. Heppen, a senior research analyst for the Washington-based American Institutes for Research. "There are definitely holes in the research in K-12 [education]." Advertisement Russell W. Rumberger, an education professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara,was quoted as observing: "I question the effectiveness of these programs . . . "but without data, it is hard to know." Despite these serious reservations, big-city districts are expanding the use of online learning for credit recovery. Since the date of this article, several years ago, on-line credit recovery demand has considerably increased. http://educationnext.org/credit-recovery-hits-mainstream/ I can only speculate on the effectiveness of such courses since there seems to be little attempt to gather the necessary data to see their effect. I would also venture that those educators who are extensively using on-line credits as a substitute for classroom instruction don't want to know their effect.What appears to me to be obvious from these reports is that many of the high schools in this country seem to be focused on getting students to graduate rather than trying to educate them. Last June NPR conducted an investigation of the way in which students were able to graduate without really fulfilling the requirements for a high school diploma. One of the methods--predictably-- was credit recovery which is being used in 90% of school districts throughout the country according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The NPR report included such tactics as "mislabeling" students so poor learners would not be included in the graduation statistics and "dumbed down" requirements so that more students would graduate. Another "legitimate" method of boosting high school graduation rate not mentioned in the NPR articles is a more arcane device called "cut scores." This is a method in which a below-passing score on a test can be "statistically" re-evaluated in order to make the score "passable." A colleague of mine who graded math tests for the NYC school system confidentially told me that the "cut score" for passing in math was 26%! I would hope that someone in the Department of Education would investigate this matter. Therefore, for me there is no 'mystery" about the discrepancy between the increase in high school graduation rates and decrease in college-level competence. Continued pressure on teachers to "bring up" the numbers on their students' test scores or suffer the consequences; continued pressure on principles and school superintendents to "bring up" the graduation rate at their schools; continued pressure by politicians who demonize teachers for poor student performance when the main obstacle to effective learning is poverty: all of these pressures make the American education system increasingly a fraud. Advertisement The American public must finally realize that one of the signs of an unhealthy society begins with children who are born with serious obstacles to learning and already have demonstrated deficiencies in their ability to learn even before entering pre-school or kindergarten. In a comparison of families from different socio-economic backgrounds, it was discovered that there is a thirty million word discrepancy in words that a young child from a privileged background will hear compared to less fortunate children. The effect of this difference can have a profound impact on how well children learn. Instead of pretending that genuine learning can be obtained with testing, educators must put their own pressure on the policy makers to address issues in learning where learning begins: in pre-school environments. As a recent study on children's brain development asserts: The first 3 years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. These skills develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others. There appear to be critical periods for speech and language development in infants and young children when the brain is best able to absorb language. If these critical periods are allowed to pass without exposure to language, it will be more difficult to learn. The United States Inches Towards War U.S. Delegation, Women's Peace Party at the International Women's Congress, Netherlands, April 1915 The United States government had issued a declaration of neutrality at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Woodrow Wilson would spend the period from 1914 through 1917 trying to keep the United States out of the war. Over the course of the period from 1915-1917, public opinion in the United States would steadily turn against Germany, in the process paving the way for the eventual American entry into World War I. Wilson had complained to both Germany and Great Britain about their violation of the rights of neutrals. The British blockade effectively stopped the shipment of American goods to Germany, but this was accomplished without any loss of life and Wilson's protests were relatively mild. On the other hand, Wilson warned Germany repeatedly that the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, and the resulting loss of American lives and property, would be considered a provocation that would cause the United States to abandon its neutrality. It was Wilson who coined the phrase "the war to end all war," and who justified the American entry into World War I in order to make "the world safe for democracy." His Fourteen Points sought to legitimize the American intervention on the basis that it was being fought for a moral cause and to insure the postwar peace of Europe. It laid out a policy based on free trade, transparent agreements (i.e., an end to secret treaties), democracy, and self-determination. While widely popular in Europe, it received, however, little support among Allied leaders. They generally ignored it. French Premier Clemenceau, on hearing of the Fourteen Points, was said to have sarcastically remarked, "The good Lord only had 10." Advertisement American political cartoon depicting a German submarine attack on the Lusitania Wilson's need to justify American involvement in World War I on moral grounds reinforced a persistent "internationalism," now commonly referred to as "Wilsonian Idealism," that has been a recurring theme in American foreign policy. Wilson summed up this view best when he declared, following the end of the Versailles Conference that, "at last the world knows America as the savior of the world." The efficacy of such a role and the enormous costs associated with it has been a subject of intense political debate ever since--a debate still relevant a century later. From the start of World War I in 1914, there had been an active German spy and sabotage ring operating within the United States. The ring's spymaster was Dr. Heinrich Albert. He operated out of the Hamburg American Shipping Line building in New York, in collusion with the German military attache in Washington, Hans von Papen. Another German agent in the United States was Captain Franz Dagobert Johannes von Rintelen. He was a German Naval Intelligence officer and took his orders directly from Berlin. Von Rintelen's primary mission was to sabotage American ships carrying munitions and supplies to the Allies. He used a small incendiary device called a pencil bomb, discretely hidden in the cargo, to start fires while ships were at sea in order to force the crews to jettison the munitions they were carrying. U.S. munitions manufacturing He also attempted to buy up stocks of smokeless powder that, when successful, he would subsequently destroy in order to prevent their sale to the Allies. At one point he even offered to buy DuPont's powder factory, then the largest in the United States, in order to keep its production out of Allied hands. Advertisement Long before the issue of the infamous Zimmerman telegram in 1917, Von Rintelen had opened up negotiations with deposed Mexican President Victoriano Huerta to obtain U-boat bases in Mexico, and, as well, to supply arms to his followers and help restore him to power. Huerta, who had a deeply antagonistic relationship with Wilson and whom he blamed for his ouster, reportedly offered to wage war against the United States in return. The German government believed that if the United States became embroiled in a war with Mexico, it would deprive the Allies of American munitions and other war supplies. The German foreign ministry worked diligently to try to spark a conflict between the United States and Mexico. Although the effort would ultimately prove to be a failure, a generation later, Nazi Germany would again attempt the same strategy. Von Rinteln's other mission was to disrupt the manufacturing of munitions intended for the Allies in Europe. Under the guise of the Labor's National Peace Council, an organization which von Rintelen helped organize, he attempted to foster strikes and work slowdowns among munitions workers. Wreckage from the Black Tom Island explosion, July,30, 1916 Starting in 1915, there had been a series of fires and explosions in facilities producing or storing war supplies for the Allies. The worst of these was in July 30,1916, in Jersey City harbor, the "Black Tom Island explosion," when approximately 900 tons of explosives and detonating fuses, scheduled for shipment to Europe, were destroyed. The Black Tom facility was a major munitions depot for the northeast. Although von Rintelen was suspected, there was no proof of German involvement. U.S. public opinion, however, suspected otherwise. USA, New Jersey, Woman ready to go on vacations This year I've made only one travel resolution. And I do think that it's the most important one of all: Keep traveling. Obvious and simple, yes. But in this age of increasing terror and decreasing travel abroad, for many it's become harder to keep this resolution than ever. And you (and even I, who do this for a living) can find endless reasons to stay put under the duvet with a glass of pinot on the sidetable, the cat (or somebody) purring next to us, watching Anthony Bourdain traipse around in our place. Advertisement But we need to be able to fulfill our lives as best we can. And travel is a big part of that for so many of us. I'm aware that some aren't comfortable facing even the perception of risk, and it's no fun if you force yourself to travel. Here are two examples of choices made in the face of perceived danger. There is no right answer, so think about what you would have done. A cruise I took this time last year had the very best itinerary I've ever come across. It started in Dubai, traveled through the United Arab Emirates, then along the western coast of India as far south as Kerela, then on to the Maldives and the Seychelles, Madagascar and along the eastern coast of Africa down to Capetown. The problem was that for a couple of weeks, this luxury ship -- gleaming with opulence and filled with well-off passengers -- passed through "the pirate zone." (Yes, the same one that Captain Philips was in, and no they did not show the movie.) And it wasn't a joke: the very ship had been attacked in 2008, and still had a bit of a hole in its side to prove it. Back then the crew had held off the pirates with blasts of noise and by outrunning them in circles, and all passengers remained safe with their bragging rights intact, and some even with video of the incident. Advertisement Because this was the first time using this route again since the attack, a big percentage of the pre-booked passengers decided on second thought to never even board. For them, there wasn't enough reward for the risk. Those of us who cruised attended pirate drills and pirate lectures and had to turn our cabin and deck lights off at night, but most agreed that it was the best cruise ever, including the pirate phase. So what was the right decision? For me, it was to travel. Similarly, I flew to Iceland a couple of years ago while a volcano was acting up. My husband and I drove the ring road around it, and most of my friends thought we were crazy. And yet we kept informed with daily volcano reports, and had a Plan B to change routes. And it didn't blow more than a containable stream of ash, and we had a remarkable -- and uncrowded time. We all have our own comfort zones. But sometimes a fear prevails that isn't logical, yet overtakes huge numbers of us anyway. The perception of terror attacks is one of those fears, keeping people from going to Paris, and Europe, and in some cases, anywhere. Terrorists and bad guys are not going away anytime soon, and time is passing, and your life is passing. Some people I know are hesitating to travel domestically, or even to board a plane. When will it get better? When will these people get to travel again? That's why this New Year's resolution goes to all aspects of our lives. If we start recoiling from all risk and we stop seeing the world and understanding other cultures -- and they stop seeing and understanding us -- the repercussions are more dangerous than any one incident. The "other" becomes more strange. Rumors carry. Misunderstandings and prejudices and tensions grow, and the world becomes a truly worse place to live in. Advertisement MANCHESTER, NH - DECEMBER 19: Democratic president candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the debate at Saint Anselm College December 19, 2015 in Manchester, New Hampshire. This is the third Democratic debate featuring Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) In his maniacal rantings about Hillary playing the woman's card Trump ignores what is right before his eyes; she is a brilliant, experienced and passionate woman whose supporters, male and female, will be working hard to elect her President of the United States of America. Clinton is the most prepared person running for President in decades with the range of experience and knowledge few if any past Presidents have had. Before his ego ran wild Donald Trump agreed. But this campaign has seen whatever common sense and decency he once possessed go out the window. All his recent threats to launch attacks against Bill Clinton are symptoms of candidate out of control and one afraid to face the person who is actually running for President, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Should Republicans nominate Trump the country will see him for the hypocrite he is. The thrice married Trump has always been a wheeler dealer. The Village Voice chronicled some of his deals and political manipulation including those leading to the building of the Grand Hyatt on top of Grand Central Terminal in New York, built with a 40 year $60 million tax abatement paid for by the taxpayers of New York City. He has never done anything for anybody else that didn't benefit him. Advertisement Those who have watched all the Republican debates and the three Democratic ones, Clinton backers now wishing there were more, have seen first-hand Hillary Clinton is far and away the smartest person participating in any of them. By dint of her leadership, experience and intelligence she is able to speak to both domestic issues and foreign affairs with an understanding and passion not evident in any other candidate. As a progressive Democrat there is an admiration for Bernie Sanders and his passionate fight for economic equality. He has brought important issues to the forefront in this campaign. Yet a sober look at his record shows he is neither a leader nor had much real success in moving his ideas forward. Reviewing his over twenty-five years in Congress shows a total of three bills passed; two naming Post Offices in Vermont. There is a reason he can't get one Senator he served with to support him and the majority of the Progressive Caucus on the Hill has endorsed Hillary with only one member endorsing Sanders. Still if Democrats were to make him their nominee he should be supported because paraphrasing what he has said about Hillary, 'On his worst day he is better than any Republican running on their best day'. I know what it means to work with a fighting progressive having worked for one of the most outspoken ever to sit in Congress, Bella S. Abzug (D-NY). Bella never gave up her ideals and principles yet like Hillary she often managed to work across the aisle to get something done. In her six short years in Congress she was even named a whip by Speaker Tip O'Neill. In twenty-eight days voting begins. First the Iowa caucuses on February 1st and then on February 9th the New Hampshire primary. The voters there will speak followed by those in Nevada and South Carolina. Time has come for both Clinton and Sanders supporters to join their candidates and commit to voting for whoever is the Democratic nominee. Advertisement There are important principles we in the Democratic Party are fighting for. They include income-equality; a woman's right to choose and control her own healthcare; full civil and human rights for the LGBT community; a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; equal pay for equal work for women; a commitment to control climate change and support of the treaty President Obama recently signed; appointing Supreme Court Justices who will overturn Citizens United; reforming our criminal justice system because Black Lives Matter; and a host of others not one of which the Republican Party or their eventual nominee will support. So throwing a tantrum if your candidate doesn't win the nomination and proceeding to 'cut off your nose to spite your face' by not supporting the nominee of the Party, is nothing less than absurd. Foreign Affairs Minister and President-designate of COP21 Laurent Fabius gestures after adoption of a historic global warming pact at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. Envoys from 195 nations on December 12 adopted to cheers and tears a historic accord to stop global warming, which threatens humanity with rising seas and worsening droughts, floods and storms. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP / FRANCOIS GUILLOT (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images) The Paris Agreement, a truly landmark climate accord, which was gaveled through today, December 12, 2015, at 7:26 pm (Paris time) at the Twenty-First Conference of the Parties (COP-21), checks all the boxes in my five-point scorecard for a potentially effective Paris Agreement, described in my November 17th blog essay, Paris Can Be a Key Step. The Agreement provides a broad foundation for meaningful progress on climate change, and represents a dramatic departure from the Kyoto Protocol and the past 20 years of climate negotiations. Essential Background Anyone who has read this blog over the past several years, oreven more somy academic writing over the past twenty years on international climate change policy architecture, knows that I have viewed the dichotomous distinction between Annex I and nonAnnex I countries as the major stumbling block to progress. That distinction was first introduced in the climate negotiations at COP-1 in Berlin in 1995. That was, in my view, an unfortunate and narrow interpretation of the sound equity principle in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 1992)"common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities." It was codified two years later in the Kyoto Protocol. Advertisement The Kyoto Protocol, which has been the primary international agreement to reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions that cause global climate change, included mandatory emissions-reduction obligations only for developed countries. Developing countries had no emissions-reduction commitments. The dichotomous distinction between the developed and developing countries in the Kyoto Protocol has made progress on climate change impossible, because growth in emissions since the Protocol came into force in 2005 is entirely in the large developing countriesChina, India, Brazil, Korea, South Africa, Mexico, and Indonesia. The big break came at the annual UNFCCC negotiating session in Durban, South Africa in 2011, where a decision was adopted by member countries to "develop [by December 2015, in Paris] a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties." This "Durban Platform for Enhanced Action" broke with the Kyoto Protocol and signaled a new opening for innovative thinking (which we, at the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, took to heart). The Paris Agreement is a Departure from the Past Today, in Paris, representatives of 195 countries adopted a new hybrid international climate policy architecture that includes: bottom-up elements in the form of "Intended Nationally Determined Contributions" (INDCs), which are national targets and actions that arise from national policies; and top-down elements for oversight, guidance, and coordination. Now, all countries will be involved in taking actions to reduce emissions. Remarkably, 186 of the 195 members of the UNFCCC submitted INDCs by the end of the Paris talks, representing some 96% of global emissions. Contrast that with the Kyoto Protocol, which now covers countries (Europe and New Zealand) accounting for no more than 14% of global emissions (and 0% of global emissions growth). Advertisement This broad scope of participation under the new Paris Agreement is a necessary condition for meaningful action, but, of course, it is not a sufficient condition. Also required is adequate ambition of the individual contributions. But this is only the first step with this new approach. The INDCs will be assessed and revised every five years, with their collective ambition ratcheted up over time. That said, even this initial set of contributions could cut anticipated temperature increases this century to about 3.5 degrees Centigrade, more than the frequently-discussed aspirational goal of limiting temperature increases to 2 degrees C (or the new aspirational target from Paris of 1.5 degrees C), but much less than the 56 degrees C increase that would be expected without this action. (An amendment to the Montreal Protocol to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is likely to shave an addition 0.5 C of warming.) The problem has not been solved, and it will not be for years to come, but the new approach brought about by the Paris Agreement can be a key step toward reducing the threat of global climate change. The new climate agreement, despite being path-breaking and the result of what Coral Davenport writing in The New York Times rightly called "an extraordinary effort at international diplomacy," is only a foundation for moving forward, but it is a sufficiently broad and sensible foundation to make increased ambition over time feasible for the first time. Whether the Agreement is truly successful, whether this foundation for progress is effectively exploited over the years ahead by the Parties to the Agreement, is something we will know only ten, twenty, or more years from now. What is key in the Agreement is the following: the centrality of the INDC structure (through which 186 countries representing 96% of global emissions have made submissions); the most balanced transparency requirements ever promulgated; provision for heterogeneous linkage, including international carbon markets (through "internationally transferred mitigation outcomes" ITMOs); explicit clarification in a decision that agreement on "loss and damage" does not provide a basis for liability of compensation; and 5-year periods for stocktaking and improvement of the INDCs. Advertisement The Key Elements of the Paris Agreement Here are some of the highlights of what stands out to me in the Paris Agreement. Article 2 of the Agreement reaffirms the goal of limiting the global average temperature increase above the pre-industrial level to 2 degrees C, and adds 1.5 degrees C as something even more aspirational. In my opinion, these aspirational goals which come not from science (although endorsed by most scientists) nor economics, and may not even be feasible are much less important than the critical components of the agreement: the scope of participation through the INDC structure, and the mechanisms for implementation (see below). Article 3 makes it clear that the INDC structure is central and universal for all parties, although Article 4 blurs this a bit with references to the circumstances of developing country Parties. But throughout the Agreement, it is abundantly clear that the firewall from the 1995 Berlin Mandate has finally been breached. In addition, five-year periods for the submission of revised INDCs (and global stocktaking of the impact of the Paris Agreement) are included in Article 14. The first stocktaking review will be in 2018, with the start date for new INDCs set for 2020. Article 4 importantly describes transparency requirements (domestic monitoring, reporting, and verification). This is crucial, and represents a striking compromise between the U.S. and Europe, on the one hand, and China and India, on the other hand. All countries must eventually face the same monitoring and reporting requirements, regardless of their status as developed or developing. Article 6 provides for international policy linkage, and is thereby exceptionally important for the successful exploitation of the foundation provided by the Paris Agreement. The necessary language for heterogeneous international policy linkage (not only international carbon markets, but international linkage of other national policy instruments) is included. I have written about this key issue many times over the past ten years. It can bring down compliance costs greatly, and thereby facilitate greater ambition over time. (See our paper on this from the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements: "Facilitating Linkage of Heterogeneous Regional, National, and Sub-National Climate Policies Through a Future International Agreement" By Daniel Bodansky, Seth Hoedl, Gilbert E. Metcalf and Robert N. Stavins, November 2014.) The Paris Agreement accomplishes this through provision for "internationally transferred mitigation outcomes." With this provision, we have a new climate policy acronym ITMOs about which I suspect I will be writing in the future. There is considerable discussion of "finance" in Article 9, but the numbers do not appear in the Agreement, only in the accompanying Decision, where item 54 states that by 2025, the Parties will revisit the total quantity of funding, using the current $100 billion target as a "floor." Finally, the Agreement's Article 8 on Loss and Damage was necessary from the point of view of the most vulnerable countries, but the most contentious issue is settled in Decision 52, where the Parties agree that this "does not involve or provide a basis for any liability of compensation." That decision was absolutely essential from the perspective of the largest emitters. Anticipated Impacts of the Paris Agreement Before I turn to my assessment of the Agreement, I should comment briefly on a topic that seems to be of considerable interest to many people (based on the questions I received from the press during my 10 days in Paris), namely what effect will the Agreement have on business, what signals will it send to the private sector? My answer is that impacts on businesses will come largely not directly from the Paris Agreement, but from the policy actions that the various Parties undertake domestically in their respective jurisdictions to comply with the Paris Agreement. I am again referring to the 186 countries which submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions INDCs under the Agreement. So, in the case of the United States, for example, those policies that will enable the country to achieve its submitted INDC are: the Clean Power Plan (which will accelerate the shift in many states from coal to natural gas for electricity generation, as well as provide incentives in some states for renewable electricity generation); CAFE (motor vehicle fuel efficiency) standards increasing over time (as already enacted by Congress); appliance efficiency standards moving up over time (as also already enacted by Congress); California's very aggressive climate policy (AB-32); and the northeast states' Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Advertisement These various policies are credible, and they will send price signals that affect business decisions (but not across the board nor with ideal efficiency, as would a national carbon tax or a national carbon cap-and-trade system). In terms of impacts on specific companies, impacts will continue to vary greatly. But a useful generalization is that a major effect of most climate policies is to raise energy costs, which tends to be good news for producers of energy-consuming durable goods (for example, the Boeing Company) and bad news for consumers of those same energy-consuming durable goods (for example, United Airlines). An Assessment with my Paris Scorecard Lastly, here is my November 17th scorecard and my assessment of the five key elements I said would constitute a successful 21st Conference of the Parties: 1. Include approximately 90% of global emissions in the set of INDCs that are submitted and part of the Paris Agreement (compared with 14% in the current commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol). This was obviously achieved, with total coverage reaching 96% of global emissions. 2. Establish credible reporting and transparency requirements. This was achieved, through long negotiations between China and India, on the one hand, and Europe and the United States, on the other. 3. Move forward with finance for climate adaptation (and mitigation) B the famous100 billion commitment. This was achieved. Advertisement 4. Agree to return to negotiations periodically, such as every 5 years, to revisit the ambition and structure of the INDCs. This was achieved. 5. Put aside unproductive disagreements, such as on so-called "loss and damage," which appears to rich countries like unlimited liability for bad weather events in developing countries, and the insistence by some parties that the INDCs themselves be binding under international law. This would have required Senate ratification of the Agreement in the United States, which would have meant that the United States would not be a party to the Agreement. There was success on both of these. Final Words So, my fundamental assessment of the Paris climate talks is that they were a great success. Unfortunately, as I have said before, some advocates and some members of the press will likely characterize the outcome as a "failure," because the 2 degree C target has not been achieved immediately. Let me conclude where I started. The Paris Agreement provides an important new foundation for meaningful progress on climate change, and represents a dramatic departure from the past 20 years of international climate negotiations. Of course, the problem has not been solved, and it will not be for many years to come. But the new approach brought about by the Paris Agreement can be a key step toward reducing the threat of global climate change. In truth, only time will tell. ________________ Run4Fun/Twitter KATHMANDU -- As a child soldier with Nepal's Maoists, Mira Rai learned to fire guns, disarm opponents and race down trails, little imagining her guerrilla drills would help make her one of the world's top ultra runners. "It is like a dream, beyond anything I ever imagined. I was just a girl from a village," Rai told AFP. Advertisement The daughter of a poor Nepali farmer, Rai was only 14 when she ran away from home to fight alongside Maoist rebels seeking to overthrow the government. "In our society, girls are supposed to behave in a certain way. I didn't want to be confined by that," said Rai, now aged 26. She chafed at the rules she was expected to obey as a teenage girl living in a patriarchal country and the Maoist call for revolution resonated with her. "The Maoists gave opportunities to women, they treated us equally. I saw that women could fight like men, be brave. I built up my confidence there," Rai said. Advertisement She practised firearm drills and competed with other cadres in running contests designed to build endurance. "I did very well, I even used to outrun the boys," she recalled. Today, Rai ranks among the world's leading ultra runners after a record-breaking win in the 80-kilometre Mont Blanc race in Chamonix, France, last June, when she beat her nearest rival by 22 minutes. But when the decade-long insurgency ended in 2006, Rai, like many Maoist foot soldiers, was left with little in the way of cash or career prospects. Desperate for work, she prepared to leave Nepal for a job in a Malaysian electronics factory before being scouted by a Kathmandu-based karate instructor, Dhurba Bikram Malla, who urged her to stay. Rai gave up her plans and started training -- initially doing practice runs on the capital's congested roads because she could not afford the 15-cent bus fare to the nearest stadium. Advertisement "She was very single-minded. If you told her to do something, she would just do it," Malla told AFP. "She is very consistent in her speed (and) never seems to get tired." Rai made her racing debut in March 2014, running a steep 50-kilometre course along the hills overlooking the Kathmandu valley. Dressed in a cheap t-shirt and shoes that cost USD 4, she ran for hours before she felt dizzy and stopped. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also On HuffPost: Two people were killed and four seriously injured in crashes on Sunday LG CNS established LG CNS Uzbekistan in April this year. Since then, the local corporation has signed contracts worth approximately 25 billion won in the three fields of database business for individual and corporate customers, integrated platform business and IT infrastructure improvement at educational facilities. At present, LG CNS Uzbekistan is working on contracts worth a total of 127 billion won (US$108 million), including those related to digital libraries, tax management services, kiosks for civil petitions, national geographic information and portals for the central and local governments of Uzbekistan. Under the circumstances, an increasing number of Korean companies doing the same business as LG CNS are expected to be able to start their business in the country. Koreas export of e-government systems to Central Asia is on the rise, too. This year, the exports are estimated at US$140.58 million, which is about 4.5 times the cumulative total for the period of 2005 to 2014. A US$110 million portion of it is to build advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which was ordered by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and clinched by KT. In the meantime, the Ministry of Government Administration & Home Affairs and the National Information Society Agency run the Korea-Indonesia e-Government Cooperation Center in Indonesia from February next year. This is expected to result in the export of e-government systems to more Southeast Asian countries. Source: http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/13444-middle-eastern-success-koreas-e-government-system-found-more-and-more-countries The Board of Selectmen accepted the grant just before Christmas. Cheshire Elementary Receives Playground Funds CHESHIRE, Mass. Cheshire Elementary School received a $10,000 grant to purchase more playground equipment. Town Administrator Mark Webber told the Selectmen last Tuesday that the school will receive $10,000 from William and Margery Barrett Fund, which provides grants to Adams, Cheshire and Savoy focused on enhancing early childhood development. Thats great. That is absolutely great, Chairwoman Carol Francesconi said. Now they can have their playground equipment. Last year the Cheshire Parent-Teacher Group inquired of the Selectmen about the possibility of replacing old equipment. The playground committee needed to raise $12,000 for the equipment that would be matched by the playground developer. They received a prior William and Margery Barrett Fund grant for $8,000 and in addition to $4,000 of raised money, the playground committee was able to install the playground. Selectman Paul Astorino urged the school to purchase a security camera to watch the playground. The playground was vandalized last October. Since we got them $15,000 plus in the last year they can find the money to put a camera up there, Astorino said. Webber also added that the police cleared up some confusion with the state police about who is in charge of Route 8. During last weeks accident in Cheshire on route 8 where a car collided with a bus Webber said the State Police commander told the Cheshire officer to take point, however historically the state police lead all investigations on Route 8. Webber said after speaking with the State Police it was determined that they would be responsible for Route 8. In other business the selectmen thanked the McCann Metal Shop for making repairs to the Jenks Road Cemetery gate, which is a historic landmark in Cheshire. They did a really nice repair up thereso we are back I business, Francesconi said. Four More Shots Please Stars Ready For Film Based On Series, Say 'Like Sex In The City, Why Not?' | Exclusive Well, I am starting a Wall of Shame for people who show that they have no clue about plants in general. I will be totally fair and I'm not going to expect ... 12 years ago Investment guide to new investors. Disclaimer : Investment in equities is subjected to significant risk. Need to read and follow the SEBI guidelines under 'Combined Risk Disclosure Document' before taking any decision to invest in equities. This blog contains only my personal view about market and equities. Any investment decision should be taken with your own analysis and risk. International team of scientists detect inherited traits tied to sleep, wake, and activity cycles associated with severe bipolar disorder Dallas, Texas - In the first study of its kind, a team of international scientists led by UT Southwestern Medical Center and UCLA researchers has identified a dozen inherited traits related to sleep, wake, and activity cycles that are associated with severe bipolar disorder. Researchers also were able to tie the traits to specific chromosomes, providing important clues to the genetic nature of the disorder, as well as potential new avenues for prevention and treatment. We were able to identify 13 sleep and activity measures, most of which are inherited, that correlated with whether an individual had bipolar disorder. In addition, we were able to trace some of these traits to a specific chromosome, said Dr. Joseph Takahashi, Chairman of Neuroscience and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator at UT Southwestern, who holds the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. This study represents a key step in identifying the genetic roots of this disorder and, in turn, providing targets for new approaches to preventing and treating bipolar disorder, said Dr. Nelson Freimer, who directs the Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics and holds the Maggie Gilbert Chair of Psychiatry at UCLA. Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, causes dramatic mood shifts often called episodes in which the person is overly excited, extremely sad or depressed, or a mixed state of both, including irritable or explosive behavior, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. Causes of bipolar disorder (BP) are thought to be both genetic and environmental, and researchers have long suspected that disruption in normal daily circadian rhythms, including sleep and wake cycles, can precede mood shifts. Researchers here found that those with bipolar disorder awoke later and slept longer, on average were awake fewer minutes overall, and were active for shorter periods than those without the disorder. Researchers also found that those with bipolar disorder displayed lower activity levels while awake and had greater variations in sleep and wake cycles. The findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, involving more than 500 members of 26 families from Costa Rica and Colombia, identified because they each include many individuals with severe bipolar disorder, is the first large-scale delineation of sleep and activity traits in BP-affected individuals and their relatives and the first genetic investigation of such a comprehensive set of sleep and circadian measures in any human study. The 13 endophenotypes (biological or behavioral markers found more commonly in those with a certain disease than without) are: mean of awake duration, amplitude, Hill acrophase, interdaily stability, interdaily variability, median activity, relative amplitude, mean length of sleep bouts during the sleep period, mean number of sleep bouts during awake period, time of sleep offset, time of sleep onset, mean total minutes scored awake, and WASO (total minutes in awake bouts after sleep onset). The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants, the University of Antioquia, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. UT Southwestern researchers included Dr. Lucia Pagani, former postdoctoral researcher; and researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles; Universidad de Costa Rica; Instituto de Alta Tecnologia Medica de Antioquia; Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; University College London; Hospital San Vicente Fundacion; BioCiencias Lab in Guatemala; University of California, San Francisco; and Stanford University. Dr. Takahashi, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, is known for landmark discoveries in the field of circadian rhythms that govern virtually every aspect of life, including sleeping, waking, and eating. Dr. Takahashi identified the worlds first gene in a mammal involved in the circadian rhythms, which are 24-hour oscillations in behavior, physiology, and biochemistry that are generated by a cell-autonomous clock system found in all classes of living organisms. The Takahashi Lab is working to understand the molecular basis of circadian rhythms, using genetic approaches in mice to discover genes regulating the nervous system and behavior. The molecular mechanisms of the clock also are being studied at the biochemical and genomic levels. Soan Papdi as Diwali Gift? Desis Sparkle Twitter With Memes as Festival of Lights Approaches A year ago this month [in December], the United States announced that it would begin to normalize its relations with the Cuban government. At that time, President Barack Obama made it clear that the United States aspiration for the Cuban people was for them to enjoy the benefits of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic society. As U.S. Charge dAffaires to Cuba Jeffrey DeLaurentis expressed, over the past year our two countries have engaged in historic dialogue on a wide range of issues. We have made good progress and come a long way, he added. One of President Obamas goals in announcing a new approach to Cuba was to promote increased authorized travel, commerce, and the flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people. In that regard, said Ambassador DeLaurentis, we have seen an increase in authorized travel by U.S. citizens by over 50 percent. Our regulatory changes help promote a Cuban private sector that now accounts for at least one in four Cuban workers. Additionally, the two governments just concluded a new arrangement on scheduled air service that will further promote authorized travel. However, areas of disagreement remain on subjects such as human rights. Respect for universal human rights is one of the enduring national interests of the United States and a centerpiece of U.S. policy toward Cuba. President Obama has called on the Cuban government to end unnecessary restrictions on the political, social, and economic activities of the Cuban people. The United States has taken a number of steps to support a growing private sector in Cuba and strengthen people-to-people ties. Even as the United States is making overtures to Cuba in good faith, the United States urges the Cuban government to make it less difficult for its citizens to start businesses, to engage in trade, and access information online such as through promoting the economic opportunities and benefits of the internet to the Cuban people. It is important for the Cuban government to unleash, and not repress, the creative and productive potential of its citizens. Despite the fundamentally different views the United States and Cuba have toward the ideals of democracy and human rights, the United States believes that engagement, and not isolation, is the most effective way to promote these universal values in Cuba. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britains biggest carbon polluters stand to lose billions of pounds from tough new climate targets and must come clean with their shareholders about the financial crisis that lies ahead, the countrys biggest pension funds have warned. A legally binding agreement struck by world leaders in Paris last month, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, has huge implications for pensioners, who have billions of pounds invested in carbon-intensive companies. Analysts say that more than three-quarters of the worlds known coal, oil and gas reserves will have to stay in the ground if the planet is to have any chance of meeting the target to limit global warming to between 1.5C and 2C. Since fossil-fuel companies are largely valued on their reserves, leaving them in the ground threatens to decimate their profits and share prices. Other heavy carbon producers such as energy providers, steel-makers and livestock farmers are also likely to be hit hard as hefty financial penalties are introduced. Grangemouth oil refinery (Getty) Yet many carbon-intensive companies are behaving as though it is business as usual, when they should be telling investors what the dangers are and how they are dealing with them. This approach is completely untenable, say pension funds and law firms, now that the Paris agreement has removed any doubt that companies could carry on as normal. Business as usual is not an option for very carbon-intensive companies, said Stephanie Maier, the head of responsible strategy and research at Aviva, the insurance giant that manages 267bn of investments. She also speaks for the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, a coalition of 120 financial institutions managing nearly 10trn of funds in nine countries. UN climate change announcement Saker Nusseibeh, the chief executive of the BT pension scheme fund manager, Hermes, added: Companies obfuscate and they need to do more. Paris was so important because it brings the whole discussion from the periphery to the mainstream. Britains pensioners are also being asked to help themselves by putting pressure on their pension fund managers to find out just how exposed the countrys biggest companies are to climate change, with 19 of the UKs biggest 100 companies in the natural resource and extraction business, while a further 12 produce vast amounts of CO2. Meanwhile, local authority pension funds alone own 14bn-worth of shares in fossil-fuel companies. Id like you to ask your pension provider what their policy is in relation to climate risks, said Steve Waygood of Aviva. Recommended Read more Labour says floods should be treated as national security threat The environmental law firm ClientEarth has made it its mission to compel carbon-intensive companies to detail their exposure to climate change. By and large, Britains biggest carbon-polluters have been very coy with their shareholders, said Alice Garton, a lawyer at ClientEarth. We scrutinised their annual reports last year and found many to be woefully lacking in the kind of information investors need to know about their exposure to these targets. ClientEarth forced the UK government to take action to tackle air pollution, after taking it to the Supreme Court and winning. David Cameron at the Paris summit (Reuters) We will be scrutinising every one of the 31 biggest publicly traded carbon emitters in 2016 to make sure they disclose the full implications of climate change. Unless there is a substantial improvement on last year, it is likely we will be reporting a lot of them to industry regulator the Financial Reporting Council [FRC], Ms Garton added. She points to Ivan Glasenberg, the billionaire chief executive of the mining giant Glencore Xstrata, as an example of a fossil-fuel executive playing down the implication of climate change. We do not believe that the global energy reality will economically support carbon measures that would prevent us from fully utilising our [4.3 billion tonnes of] fossil-fuel reserves, he said last year. Pictures that show we are killing our planet Show all 21 1 /21 Pictures that show we are killing our planet Pictures that show we are killing our planet Pollution Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Plastic pollution Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Melting icebergs Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Human overpopulation Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Sea level rise Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Severe drought Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Mudslides Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Lake shrinking Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Food and water crisis caused by drought Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Water crisis Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Rainforest logging Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Habitat destruction Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Fracking Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Wildfires Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Rubbish dump Pope Francis said a 'throwaway culture' was damaging the environment and the world's social fabric Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Hunger Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Illegal poaching Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Unsafe water Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Scrap and metal waste Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Smog Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Oil spill Getty The FRC has indicated that it will be watching company disclosure of climate-change risk particularly carefully in 2016. Investors have recently expressed surprise that risks from climate change are not reported more often as principal risks, wrote Stephen Haddrill, its chief executive, in a letter sent out to the audit committees of Britains biggest companies. The drive for fuller disclosure on climate risks follows two landmark investigations in the United States by Eric Schneiderman, the New York State attorney general. The first found that Peabody Energy, the biggest US coal producer, misled the public and its shareholders about the risks climate-change measures could pose to its bottom line. The company has had to inform shareholders that concerns about the environmental impacts of coal combustion could significantly affect demand for our products or our securities. Peabodys shares have lost half their value in the six weeks since an agreement was reached. Mr Schneiderman also issued a subpoena to ExxonMobil in November, kicking off an investigation into whether the worlds largest oil company misled investors and the public about the basic science of climate change for decades. Exxon has denied any wrongdoing. Rhian Kelly, the business environment director at the CBI, said that Britains big companies are used to this type of legislation, thanks to the introduction of the UKs Climate Change Act in 2008. Ms Kelly said that the Paris agreement would require all nations to take tough domestic action to curb global warming, and what business needed was for the Government to send a long-term price signal so firms can get on and invest in low-carbon technologies, especially in diverse low-carbon, affordable and secure energy generation. We also need other nations to follow our lead and put in place long-term carbon reduction plans, she added. This will help to create a level playing field globally for energy-intensive firms, who will need support to remain competitive. A spokesman for Oil & Gas UK, the offshore oil and gas industry association, said: Oil & Gas UK supports the transition to the low-carbon future and notes the role its members can play in the progressive decarbonisation of our economy. This must be done responsibly, in acknowledgement of our continuing need for accessible, affordable and reliable energy. Substituting coal with natural gas in power generation is one of the fastest, lowest-cost and most secure routes to decarbonisation. A Shell spokesman said: Shell has long recognised the climate challenge and the role of energy in enabling a decent quality of life. We welcome the efforts made by governments to cooperatively reach this landmark global agreement [Paris Agreement] and support long-term climate goals that balance environmental pressures with development opportunities. A BP spokesman added: Following the adoption of a special shareholder resolution at this years Annual General Meeting, we will include additional reporting next year on the companys preparations for a lower-carbon future. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Next Thursday, 7 January, will be held an important debate in the House of Commons. It will directly affect millions of women, but will also be of interest to family and friends and, frankly, anyone who cares about fairness. The debate centres around the fact that some 2.6 million women had their state pension age delayed in some cases twice, and by up to six years in total without proper notice. As a result, many will face financial hardship. Typical is Jayne Mills, who says: "All my working life I believed and planned for retirement at 60, in 2017, but now find I am expected to keep going until 2022. I am in despair as I feel unable to work that long due to ill health and fear the loss of my home. I can't face that after a lifetime of working hard and raising my child single-handedly. I feel cheated and punished." Leading the debate will be the SNP MP Mhairi Black, who when proposing the debate last month, said: "The pace of the changes in the pension age equalisation programme have placed an unfair burden on women and we have a group of women who were not given fair notice of the changes that affected them." Politicians have been criticised for discussing and acknowledging the issue before but not doing anything about it. Next Thursday they have the chance to change that and instigate some positive action to help women affected. The retirement expert Alan Higham, of PensionsChamp, believes the Government must act. "The risk of doing nothing is a class action that could cost the taxpayer a small fortune to compensate all affected while prolonging huge suffering," he said. If you feel strongly about the unfairness, contact your MP before next Thursday's debate to express your concerns. The more they are made aware of the rising anger about this, the more likely they will act. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Are scams a big problem? They sure are. In the UK last year more than 268m was lost to online scams alone, according to research by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. What do the fraudsters do? They prey on older or more vulnerable people and are normally extremely persuasive. Crucially, they can seem very official, often posing as police or solicitors or even someone from your bank. What can we do to stop them? The Chief Financial Ombudsman, Caroline Wayman, said: "It's a sad fact that fraudsters often target the most vulnerable or isolated people in society. The best way to prevent these scams is to make people aware of them so they can be stopped at the source." What are the scams to be wary of? Vishing is one of the growing scams, when crooks cold-call people and pretend to be the police or a bank in the hope of persuading people to hand over personal financial information. But authorities will never ask for such information. A variation is the courier fraud, when crooks try to trick people into handing over credit cards and PINs to one of their gang. There there are cheque scams, when a crook buys an item often a car but sends a bogus cheque for a higher amount with an explanation why the seller should send the surplus cash back. Crooks hope to disappear with the cash before the cheque bounces. Any new ones? They do like to try and make a quick profit from disasters. Last month saw victims of flooding being targeted by fraudsters. The Financial Ombudsman said it received inquiries about fake loss adjusters or insurance representatives asking for money on the phone to assess a claim quickly. Where people refuse to pay the fee they threaten that the victim's home insurance will be cancelled as a result. They then take their fee and seem to disappear. The fact is that insurers will never ask for up-front payments. The United States on December 19th expressed disappointment in the process followed by the Government of Rwanda to call a referendum on short notice to amend the Rwandan constitution. Among the amendments considered were those introducing exceptions to presidential term limits. In a statement released December 19th, National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said, While we commend the people of Rwanda for peacefully exercising their civic rights, we regret that the arrangements for the referendum failed to provide sufficient time and opportunity for political debate on the merits of the proposed provisions. The United States continues to be concerned by long-standing restrictions on peaceful assembly, association, and free expression in Rwanda. The U.S. urges the Government of Rwanda to enable the full and unfettered exercise of these fundamental freedoms as the country moves toward local elections in 2016, presidential elections in 2017, and parliamentary elections in 2018. The peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another is the hallmark of stable, prosperous democracies. President Kagame, who in many ways has strengthened and developed Rwanda, now has an historic opportunity to enshrine his legacy by honoring his commitments to respect the term limits set when he entered office. By doing so, President Kagame would help to more firmly establish a credible foundation for long term democracy in Rwanda, reinforce the substantial progress that has been achieved toward sustained peace and prosperity for all Rwandans, and set a laudable example not only for Rwanda, but for the region and the world. As President Obama has stated, great leaders throughout history "forged a lasting legacy not only because of what they did in office, but because they were willing to leave office and transfer power peacefully." The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Rwanda in their effort to ensure a strong, stable, democratic, and prosperous future. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An anti-Isis hacking group has claimed responsibility for downing BBC websites and services on New Years Eve. A representative from New World Hacking said it didnt exactly plan to shut down one of the UKs most visited websites and enrage thousands of people attempting to watch iPlayer and online live streams. In a series of Twitter messages to BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, the group offered proof of what it said was a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, which floods websites with traffic from multiple systems. New World Hacking claimed it took down the BBC's website and online services as a test of its own capabilities before launching cyber attacks on Isis (Twitter) New World Hacking claimed its supporters used two nodes to attack the BBC and dedicated servers as a test of its capabilities before moving to target terrorists and supporters. "It was only a test, we didnt exactly plan to take it down for multiple hours, a message to Mr Cellan-Jones said. "We are based in the US, but we strive to take down Isis [IS] affiliated websites, also Isis members. "We realise sometimes what we do is not always the right choice, but without cyber hackers...who is there to fight off online terrorists? "The reason we really targeted [the] BBC is because we wanted to see our actual server power." Anonymous declares war on Islamic State after Paris attacks On its official Twitter account, the group repeated the claim of responsibility, writing: Only a DDoS attack test. Isis will be our main target. The BBC initially blamed technical issues for problems that started at around 7am on Thursday, leaving website visitors getting an internal error message. The corporations press office told The Independent it could not confirm the source of the attack but said the website was working normally and apologised for any inconvenience. If New World Hackings claims are true, it will be the latest in a long list of cyber attacking collectives aiming to hit Isis, its supporters and other terror groups. Anonymous declared war on the so-called Islamic State last year, releasing a video vowing to hunt down extremists and take down their websites, social media accounts and propaganda channels. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Depending on which baby-boomer you talk to, David Bailey is either the man who invented the 1960s by memorialising its most vivid characters Mick Jagger, the Beatles, Cecil Beaton, the Kray twins in democratic, monochrome close-up; or the man who personally embodied the 1960s, a working-class kid from East Ham who stormed the lofty heights of fashion with just a camera and a beautiful girlfriend called Jean Shrimpton. He was a scowling, socially mobile rude boy who photographed the new world order and made it look good. Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery Show all 8 1 /8 Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery NPG_730_1190_KateMossbyDavi.jpg David Bailey Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery NPG_730_1193_MickJaggerbyDa.jpg David Bailey Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery bailey2.jpg Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery bailey3.jpg Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery AN27415105Undated-handout-p.jpg Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery bailey1.jpg Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery bailey6.jpg Unseen David Bailey portraits of Kate Moss and Mick Jagger to go on show at National Portrait Gallery bailey4.jpg Despite many handicaps he suffered as a child from undiagnosed dyslexia and dyspraxia, and left school at 15 with no obvious future he rose by determination and sulky self-belief. He bought a Rolleiflex camera while on National Service in Singapore, became a studio dogsbody back in London, and wangled an assistantship with the fashion-shoot king, John French. At only 22 he was contracted to Vogue he shot 800 pages of editorial for it in a single year and, with Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy, became part of "the Black Trinity" of celebrity snappers. He introduced London society to the concept of the portrait photographer as style arbiter and sex god, as immortalised by David Hemmings in the 1966 Michelangelo Antonioni movie Blow-Up. In later years he took to photographing rock stars (notably at the Live Aid concert in 1985), directing documentaries and TV drama, and branching out into sculpture. He has regularly published photography books featuring his third and fourth wives, Marie Helvin and Catherine Dyer, in exotic locations and ever-wilder maquillage and tribal markings. He shows no sign of stopping, and in 2001 was awarded an OBE. But his finest hour was the early 1960s, when he and "the Shrimp" became simply the lens and the face of everything Modern. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Quentin Tarantino has labelled the confederate flag the American swastika and believes its about damn time its no longer used in the southern states of America. The director was speaking ahead of the release of his latest film The Hateful Eight which is set shortly after the American Civil War and profiles a black Union soldier played by Samuel L. Jackson who is put together with former confederate soldiers. The confederate states, which are represented through the flag, were South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. The confederacy was established as an opposition movement to Abraham Lincoln and the United States following their pledge to stop the expansion of slavery. The continued display of the flag in parts of the southern state is controversial. A July poll revealed 72 per cent of African-Americans see the flag as a symbol of racism whereas 75 per cent of southern whites described it as a symbol of pride, reports CNN. Tarantino told the Telegraph that the making of The Hateful Eight coincided with the shooting of the African-American 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Show all 7 1 /7 Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Jimmie Dimmick in Pulp Fiction (1994) Here he plays Jimmie Dimmick, who gets caught up in Vincent and Jules body disposing and panics over how on earth hes going to get rid of the bloody evidence before his wife gets home. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Mr Brown in Reservoir Dogs (1992) Tarantino opens Reservoir Dogs as Mr Brown, talking about Madonna hit Like a Virgin, before later being shot in the head, crashing his car and dying. Brief, but dramatic. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Miner in Django Unchained (2013) Tarantino's Django cameo is much maligned. His Aussie miner appeared somewhat randomly in his first Western movie, before blowing himself up with his own dynamite. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Warren in Death Proof (2007) Warrens owns the Texas Chili Parlour bar in this thriller about the murders of four women at the hands of a crazed stuntman. His own jukebox can be seen in the scene. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Pick-up guy in Desperado (1995) Not one of his own films, but Tarantino did a favour for director Robert Rodriguez and agreed to a cameo. He wrote the three-minute long wee joke that he tells before being being killed. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Elvis impersonator in The Golden Girls (1988) Not technically a cameo, but too funny not to include. Before his career kicked off, Tarantino played an Elvis impersonator on a 1988 episode of Golden Girls. Quentin Tarantino's best cameos Dead Nazi in Inglourious Basterds (2009) In this one he is a dead Nazi being scalped. Lovely. He said this and other instances such as the mass shooting of black church goers in South Carolina sparked a discussion about the confederacy in America that wasnt there before. I mean, Ive always felt the 'rebel flag' was some American swastika, he said, And, well, now, all of a sudden, people are talking about it, and now theyre banning it, and now its not OK to have it on f*****g licence plates, and coffee cups, and stuff. Saying America hasnt been as divided with itself since the Civil War", Tarantino also hit out at the statues of former confederate and Ku Klax Klan leaders which continue to be featured in some parks across the country. People are starting to question about stuff like statues of Bedford Forrest [the confederate general and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard] in parks. Well, its about damn time, if you ask me. (Getty Images) Tarantino has been a vocal critic of police racism and brutality and recently marched with the group RiseUp in New York. Following the march a prominent police union called for a boycott of all the directors films. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A pupil has reportedly threatened to "kill as many people as possible" at a Lancashire secondary school in a sinister Facebook post. Police have launched an investigation after the student posted a warning of an attack at Montogomery High School in Blackpool, involving bullets, bodies, and blood. The student posted a series of messages some of which praised previous school killers, including US killers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, who between them murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School, Colorado, in 1999. According to the Blackpool Gazette, the poster praises the killers, saying: "These guys are great. They killed a bunch of people in their high school and then killed themselves. They also added: On Monday, the bullies will be sorry when I go into school with a gun. "Nobody talks to me or notices me except when theyre calling me a nerd and pushing me around. "As soon as I tell people Ive got a gun, I start getting bombarded with messages." School principal Tony Nicholson said the school would be open as normal on Monday and he was satisfied with the police response. We are satisfied the police are doing everything possible to investigate and protect, and they are providing strong support in order to help us to safely open the school as normal on Monday morning, Mr Nicholson told the Blackpool Gazette. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2022 A salmon leaps up the weir at Hexham in Northumberland, despite the drought warnings and low water levels, the River Tyne is still flowing well allowing the salmon and sea trout to head up river to spawn. Every year tens of thousands of salmon make the once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Tyne to spawn, having been out a sea PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2022 Flowers are placed at the gates outside Kensington Palace, London, the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 25th anniversary of her death PA UK news in pictures 30 August 2022 Edinburghs waste workers clearing mountains of rubbish at Forrest Road as they return to work following their 11 days of industrial action PA A spokesman for Lancashire Police said there would be an appropriate police response on Monday to ensure the safety of everyone at the school. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Londoners and tourists woke up on Saturday morning to find public transport unexpectedly free across the capital, thanks to a technical glitch. Barriers at many Tube stations were left open and no payment was required on buses because of a fault with sensors that read Oyster and contactless payment cards. It came as Transport for Londons (TfL) annual New Year fare rises kicked in, with an average increase of one per cent across the network. A spokesperson said contractors were working to fix the glitch as soon as possible but commuters were in no hurry. Thanks @TfL, wrote one passenger on Twitter. I was expecting to pay the new 2nd of Jan fares in the tube but the whole oyster ticketing system is down! Free journey for me! Time to use the tube. The Oyster system is down and everyone is travelling free! another person encouraged. Others called the fault an unexpected blessing, although some people found that their contactless cards were still working. Public transport in London is normally only free for a brief period overnight on New Years Eve, when fares are waived between 11.45pm and 4.30am to allow party-goers to get home. Gallery: 150 years of London underground Show all 27 1 /27 Gallery: 150 years of London underground Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube8.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground Untitled-1.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube18.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube17.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube5.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube12_1.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube1_1.jpg AFP Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube14.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube3.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube4.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube9.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube13.jpg AFP Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube2.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube7.jpg AFP Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube11.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube10.jpg PA Gallery: 150 years of London underground tube19.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 141007280.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 141007351.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 141007639.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 143711297.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 149562350.jpg GettyImages Gallery: 150 years of London underground 155708342.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 155708347.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 158719828 (1).jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 140839627.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 150 years of London underground 140839693.jpg Getty Images A spokesperson for TfL said: We are experiencing technical issues with our Oyster card readers this morning. We are working extremely hard with our contractors to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. In the meantime, customers can continue to travel across the Tube, bus and rail networks. We apologise for this disruption. The fault was fixed by 11am and the system is now working as normal. The Oyster is a plastic smartcard which can be used for pay-as-you-travel fares as well as for travelcards, bus and tram passes. The card can be used to travel on bus, Tube, tram, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UKs top flood-fighting organisations will tell the Government this week it must completely overhaul flood defences, planning and housing development to avoid a repeat of the devastating scenes in Cumbria and Yorkshire. The National Flood Forum has arranged showdown talks with the environment department Parliamentary Under-Secretary Rory Stewart on Wednesday that will involve 11 heavyweight organisations including the Association of British Insurers, the Institution of Civil Engineers and Friends of the Earth. They will tell Mr Stewart that flood barriers must be built to higher standards in the wake of Storms Eva and Desmond, which are estimated to have cost the economy about 5bn. Recommended Read more Why severe weather events are the new normal Barriers in the UK are typically constructed to withstand all but the type of deluges expected to occur once every 100 years. By contrast, many Dutch flood defences can only be overcome by a one-in-10,000-year event. Many of the organisations at the meeting are concerned the UK focuses too heavily on the trade-off between the cost and benefits of building defences rather than using the level of protection required by communities as a starting point. They will also demand broader holistic and culture changes. These could involve retrofitting properties to better secure them against floods, working more closely with farmers to naturally divert rainwater away from town centres and using the tax system to encourage businesses and property developers to improve their premises. UK floods: Road collapse Ministers could also look at setting a maximum number of homes that would be seen as acceptable to be flooded every year. A source attending the meeting said: The Governments level of ambition needs to improve considerably. Some of it is money, some of it is culture. Even schools, for example, have a part to play. Its not just about how they cope with a flood, but how that affects their catchment, so they start thinking about how they will get children home. With schools or care homes you can start thinking about how you design them and where you put them. Other attendees at the meeting will include executives from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, British Insurance Brokers Association, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The Government has already announced a review of its strategy for dealing with extreme weather. MPs are also trying to force the Government to take greater responsibility for residential developments; almost 10,000 homes are built on floodplains every year. An amendment to the Housing Bill, proposed by Labours Alex Cunningham, calls for a statutory duty on the communities secretary and local government to secure and promote the resilience of properties against floods. David Cameron is expected to announce an additional 40m for storm defences on Sunday, taking the amount pledged in the wake of the storms to nearly 200m. The Government will also match the first 2m raised by any charity for recovery projects, while transport minister Robert Goodwill has been appointed flooding envoy to Yorkshire. Mr Cameron will say: I have seen at first hand the devastation caused by flooding and thats why this work to repair and improve flood defences is so vital. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader whose Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency was badly hit by the floods, said: We must look at every flooding proposal to mitigate flooding and to support the thousands of people who are worried about their homes. The Government can and must do more. The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (Efra) launches an inquiry into the Cumbrian floods this week. Efra committee member Angela Smith MP said: A comprehensive approach is needed if we are to respond effectively to the challenges presented. Recent board minutes from the Environment Agency show that more than 2,000 of Britains key flood defences are in a condition that is below the required standard. An Environment Agency spokesman said: It is too soon to understand if any assets that were below required condition before the flooding had any impact on the subsequent flooding. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} White people appear to have a better chance of joining the police than someone from an ethnic minority in more than 68 per cent of the UKs forces, according to a report. According to figures released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act, 31 of 45 police forces recruit a higher proportion of white people than those from a black and minority ethnic (BAME) background. And 39 out of the 45 forces recruit a lower proportion of BAME people compared to the populations of the areas they serve. The figures were revealed after the Home Secretary, Theresa May, criticised the police for failing to employ people from ethnic minorities, pointing out that four forces, Cheshire, North Yorkshire, Durham and Dyfed-Powys did not have any black officers. The Metropolitan Police was among the forces least likely to employ a BAME applicant. While they made up 28.1 per cent of applications, they represented only 17 per cent of appointments. Janet Hills, president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA), said action was needed to address the problem. It is unfortunate because everyone will talk the talk but, when it comes to the action, that is not so visible, she told the Guardian. On the national level, you have got fewer forces recruiting, you have got the legacy of the community engagement, so there are the trust and confidence issues instilled in communities. One example is stop and search. Nationally, it is disproportionately more BAME people being stopped. So, ultimately, just on that alone, you are not making friends. Chief Constable Giles York, of the National Police Chiefs Council, said that if forces reflected their local communities it would help build trust and said the situation was improving. The rate of officer recruitment from black and minority ethnic communities is increasing. It has risen from 3.6 per cent in 2006 to 5.5 per cent in 2015. Forces have encouraged more BAME people to join the police, he told the paper. However Mr York admitted there was much more to do. With reduced budgets constraining recruitment, it is difficult to move at the pace we need to, he said. Police chiefs are committed to continuing to do everything they can to increase diversity in the service, working with the College of Policing, but there are no quick or easy solutions within current legislation. A newly appointed BAME officer, who did not want to be identified, told the newspaper: It took me a while to make the decision, purely because I did not think I would be successful. One friend to whom I mentioned the idea of joining the police force ruled out my chances of being accepted because I am a first generation immigrant. You feel like you are different because there is a culture in the police service that I do not think is tailored for diversity. It is not a deliberate structure, but it is probably because there have not been a lot of BAME people joining. Sometimes, I feel like I am alone. I sit among all of these officers and I am the only person from a BAME background. Nevertheless, my force has done well in making it easier for people to join. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} David Cameron has promised to crack down on Isis sympathisers, stressing in a new year message that all Britons should have loyalty to their country. The Prime Minister said this year will be a test of our mettle as he pledged action to tackle the poisonous narrative which led some Britons to turn against their country. He said the UK should revel in its way of life rather than appease extremists, and all who live in the country must sign up to its values. In America, Barack Obama pledged to use his final year as President to force through new measures to curb gun violence. After repeated frustrations in his efforts to introduce new gun control legislation, he said in a new year radio address that he would meet the US attorney general, Loretta Lynch, on 4 January to finalise a set of executive actions on the issue that he can take without the need for congressional approval. My new years resolution is to move forward on our unfinished business as much as I can, Mr Obama said. And Ill be more frequently asking for your help... Thats especially true for one piece of unfinished business, thatsour epidemic of gun violence. Violence provided the theme for several world leaders as they delivered their new year messages. In France, President Francois Hollande focused on the fight against Isis after Novembers attacks in Paris, promising to continue air strikes against the group in the Middle East. President Vladimir Putin also turned his eye to Syria, praising the Russian military as he addressed those seeing in the new year across the countrys nine time zones. He said: I would like to extend special greetings to those of our service members fighting international terrorism, defending Russias national interests on distant frontiers. Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her mantra We can do it as she appealed to Germans to continue welcoming refugees from the Syrian conflict, while at a Mass in the Vatican, Pope Francis offered prayers for a better year and urged an end to violence and hatred and to the false neutrality to conflicts and the suffering of others. It seems unlikely Kim Jong-un heard the Popes plea. In his televised new year speech, the North Korean leader insisted he was committed to peace with South Korea, but also said he was ready for a merciless, holy war of justice should invasive outsiders and provocateurs touch us even slightly. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Egypt is losing an estimated 120m a month as the UK ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh continues, after a passenger plane was shot down over Sinai by Isis last October 31, killing 224 people. Visitor numbers to Sharm el-Sheikh have declined by around 85 per cent since the Russian plane was attacked during a journey from Sharm el-Sheik to St Petersburg, with countries including Russia and the UK suspending flights to the tourist destination. The UK Foreign Office is continuing to advise against all but essential air travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, while there are still no UK airlines operating in the area, which has previously relied heavily on tourism. Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Show all 20 1 /20 Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Egyptian soldiers collect personal belongings of plane crash victims at the crash site of a passenger plane bound for St. Petersburg in Russia that crashed in Hassana, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Egyptian soldiers collect personal belongings of plane crash victims at the crash site of a passenger plane bound for St. Petersburg in Russia that crashed in Hassana, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt In this Russian Emergency Situations Ministry photo, made available on Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, showing Metrojet Airbus A321-200 flight 7K9268 flight recorder on display at an undisclosed location in Egypt Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Mourners lay flowers at Pulkovo International Airport outside St. Petersburg. Russia on 1 November mourned its biggest ever air disaster after a passenger jet full of Russian tourists crashed in Egypt's Sinai, killing all 224 people on board. Flags were at half mast on the parliament building, in the Kremlin, and on other official buildings in honour of the victims, most of whom were from Russia's second-largest city of Saint Petersburg Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt People pay their respects at the entrance of Pulkovo airport outside St. Petersburg, during a day of national mourning for the plane crash victims Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Debris from the plane crash in Egypt Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt A piece of an engine of Russian MetroJet Airbus A321 at the site of the crash in Sinai, Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt The crash site debris Flight 7K9268 crashed in the Sinai peninsula, in all probability killing every one of the 224 people on board AFP/Getty Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt The crash site debris Debris lies strewn across the sand at the crash site EPA Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Relatives in St Petersburg Relatives react after a Russian airliner with 217 passengers and seven crew aboard crashed, as people gather at the Kogalymaviais information desk at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg on 31 October AP Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Relatives in St Petersburg A relative of a passenger of MetroJet Airbus A321 at Pulkovo II international airport in St Petersburg, Russia, 31 October 2015. EPA Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt The plane's journey The plane's last recorded radar position above the northern Sinai peninsula Flightradar24 Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Where it crashed A satellite view from Google Maps of the rough area where the plane crashed, in the mountainous Hassana region of the Sinai peninsula. Google Maps Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt The plane The Metrojet's Airbus A-321 with registration number EI-ETJ that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula REUTERS/Kim Philipp Piskol Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt The plane The crashed Airbus A321 at Domodedovo international airport, outside Moscow,, on 20 October Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Relatives at in St Petersburg A relative of a passenger on MetroJet Airbus A321 at Pulkovo II international airport in St Petersburg EPA Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Relatives at in St Petersburg Relatives of passengers of MetroJet Airbus A321 at the Crown Plaza hotel in St Petersburg EPA Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Bodies being repatriated An Egyptian soldier prays as emergency workers prepare to unload bodies of victims from a police helicopter to ambulances at Kabrit military airport on 31 October. AP Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Bodies being repatriated Ambulances line up as emergency workers unload bodies at Kabrit military airport, 20 miles north of Suez, on Saturday AP Russian passenger plane crashes in Egypt Bodies being repatriated Egyptian paramedics load the corpses of victims into a military plane at Kabrit military air base by the Suez Canal on October 31, 2015 AFP/Getty Images However, the FCO said it has not raised the threat level of Sharm el-Sheikh itself, although any UK tourists there have been told they will need to make their own arrangements for returning to the UK. On its website, the FCO said: Regular flights to and from the UK to Sharm el Sheikh were suspended on 4 November. Special security measures to allow travellers in Sharm el Sheikh to return to the UK by air safely ended on Tuesday 17 November. UK airlines are no longer operating flights from Sharm el Sheikh to the UK Recommended Read more BBC expert urges British tourists to return to Egypt We will continue working with the Egyptian Authorities to enable regular flights between the UK and Sharm el Sheikh to resume. We are also liaising with travel companies so that they are able to resume flights and holidays in Sharm el Sheikh as soon as appropriate security arrangements are in place. But despite the pledge to look at restoring flight paths between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh, the area has seen tourist numbers dwindle since the plane crash. There could be some light at the end of the tunnel for Egypt however, as the no-fly decision is expected to be reviewed by some airlines after January 6, however UK operator Thomas Cook has extended its flight ban to the end of March this year. Passengers stranded at Sharm el-Sheikh airport The current financial losses reflect the situation in Tunisia, where visitor numbers have fallen drastically since the terrorist attack in Sousse last June 26, when 38 people were shot dead on the beach and in nearby resorts by members of Isis. Although airlines continue to operate to Sousse, locals have been hit hard by the slump in tourist numbers with many facing unemployment as businesses suffer in the wake of the attacks. Unlike Egypt, however, the Tunisian government is attempting to stem the loss of tourists, with airlines and hotels offering cut-price deals to the area, amid hopes the situation will improve this year. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It was the middle of the night when Alexandra Ortiz first smelt the rotten-egg stench of leaking gas from the Aliso Canyon methane facility in the hills above her neighbourhood. The whole house smelled of gas, Ms Ortiz, 34, said last week. At the time, we didnt know about the facility or the leak, so we kept getting up to check the stove. Until it sprung a leak on 23 October, few residents of Porter Ranch, a community less than 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, were aware of the vast natural gas facility on their doorsteps. The largest underground storage system on the US West Coast, it contains gas piped from as far away as Texas and the Midwest, serving 14 power plants and more than 20 million energy customers. Now it is the source of the largest recorded natural gas leak in Californias history, expelling an estimated 110,000lbs of methane into the atmosphere every hour: about a quarter of the states daily methane gas emissions. Its climate impact will be humongous, said Tim OConnor, California director for the Environmental Defence Funds (EDF) oil and gas programme. In terms of aggregate greenhouse gas emissions, it is far greater than the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. Extent of Natural Gas leak in LA visible on infared camera More than two months since the leak was first discovered, the Southern California Gas Company, which operates the facility, has yet to plug it. When the wind dies, the gas settles like an invisible fog over the surrounding area. Though methane itself is odourless, it is injected with trace amounts of sulphurous chemicals to make its scent detectable. Experts insist that in their current quantities, those chemicals known as mercaptans pose few long-term medical risks, but residents have experienced headaches, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. Ms Ortiz and her husband have a one-year-old daughter, and have discussed moving home to escape the fumes and their potential health effects. Natural gas is considered a cleaner energy source than other fossil fuels such as oil and coal, because burning it produces less greenhouse gas. But allow it to escape without burning, and methane can be up to 80 times more potent than CO2. The Aliso Canyon leak, environmentalists say, is generating emissions equivalent to six coal-fired power stations or seven million cars. In a letter to Californias Governor Jerry Brown in December, SoCalGas president Dennis Arriola said his company recognised the impact this incident is having on the environment and promised to work with state officials to mitigate [the] environmental impacts. Matt Pakucko Having failed to stop the leak by more rudimentary means, the company is now drilling a relief well to the natural gas reservoir 8,500ft underground, from which it should be possible to seal it with heavy fluids, mud and concrete. SoCalGas says that it may take until late March to complete, five months after the initial leak. (The Deepwater Horizon was fixed in less than three.) Pictures that show we are killing our planet Show all 21 1 /21 Pictures that show we are killing our planet Pictures that show we are killing our planet Pollution Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Plastic pollution Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Melting icebergs Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Human overpopulation Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Sea level rise Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Severe drought Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Mudslides Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Lake shrinking Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Food and water crisis caused by drought Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Water crisis Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Rainforest logging Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Habitat destruction Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Fracking Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Wildfires Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Rubbish dump Pope Francis said a 'throwaway culture' was damaging the environment and the world's social fabric Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Hunger Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Illegal poaching Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Unsafe water Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Scrap and metal waste Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Smog Getty Pictures that show we are killing our planet Oil spill Getty As of last week, almost 2,200 households close to Aliso Canyon had taken up a SoCalGas offer to fund their temporary relocation. Two local schools have been moved to a different neighbourhood for the remainder of the school year. Retired aerospace engineer Bill Debley has lived less than two miles from Aliso Canyon for two decades, and only became aware of the facility following the leak. A lot of our neighbours have taken advantage of the temporary relocation, said Mr Debley, 74. Some of them have experienced headaches, nausea, bloody noses. Theres a lot of paranoia. Mr Debley was photographing the canyon using a camera modified to take infrared images last week. The methane leak has received increased attention since an aerial infrared video of the perpetually spouting gas plume was released by EDF on 20 December. The clip has since been viewed almost a million times on YouTube. Recommended Read more Gas explosion in Greater Manchester as floodwater ruptures pipes Until the video and unlike an oil spill, this was an invisible environmental disaster. But now people have been able to see the devastating leak, not just smell it. At first, the story was just about a small community smelling foul odours, said Mr OConnor. But now that people can see this volcano of man-made methane pollution, they cant help but pay attention. The clip is expected to raise awareness not only of the Aliso Canyon crisis, but also of the wider problem of methane gas pollution. A recent EDF report found more than 3,000 methane wells in Los Angeles alone. Almost 40 per cent of the pipes under SoCalGas jurisdiction are more than 50 years old and in excess of 15 per cent of them are made from leak-prone materials. SoCalGas said it always operates in compliance with public safety regulations. And before the leak, the company had submitted plans to the states Public Utilities Commission for a $30m annual programme to upgrade its storage infrastructure. Matt Pakucko, president of the community group Save Porter Ranch, said: The more we find out about how ancient and deteriorating this facility is from the companys own documents the more it becomes clear that this was almost inevitable. It is a problem repeated across the US. In California, which has some of the worlds most ambitious emissions reduction plans, Mr OConnor said he wants a review of natural gas regulations, to prevent and better manage any future methane leaks. Shortly before flying to Paris to attend the United Nations climate change conference in November, LAs mayor, Eric Garcetti, visited Porter Ranch to see and smell the leak. This is an environmental disaster, he said, adding: It makes you question the sustainability of a carbon-based power system. * This article has been amended to remove a reference to methane being heavier than air: it is actually lighter than air. 5/1/16 Iraqi Security Forces report that they have cleared the government center in Ramadi of ISIL control. In a statement from U.S. Combined Joint Task Force issued December 28th, Task Force Spokesperson Col. Steve Warren said: "We congratulate the Iraqi Security Forces for their continued success against ISIL in Ramadi. The clearance of the government center is a significant accomplishment and is the result of many months of hard work by the Iraqi Army, the Counter Terrorism Service, the Iraqi Air Force, local and federal police, and tribal fighters. The coalition, Colonel Warren noted, has provided steadfast support to the Iraqi government to enable them to fight and win against ISIL. Coalition support included more than 630 airstrikes; training several of the Iraqi Army brigades, CTS units and federal and local police forces who fought in Ramadi; providing specialized engineering equipment to clear IEDs and VBIEDS; and providing advice and assistance at multiple Iraqi Army headquarters including the 16th Iraqi Army Division, Counter Terrorism Service, the Anbar Operations Command, the Iraqi Ground Forces Command and the Combined Joint Operations Command. Todays success is a proud moment for Iraq. The coalition will continue to support the Government of Iraq as they move forward to make Ramadi safe for civilians to return and as the military moves to fight ISIL in other areas of the country." The U.S. Embassy in Iraq offered its congratulation to the Iraqi Security Forces on their progress in the hard-fought battle to retake Ramadi. ISF seizing the Anbar Government complex in Ramadi is a major blow to Daesh terrorists who continue to lose territory, said the U.S. Embassy in a December 28th statement. The United States is proud to have led the International Coalition in assisting the ISF and remains steadfast in our commitment to support the Iraqi government to see Daesh defeated. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} They were a poor choice of words, claimed Bruce Hagen, used in a moment of anger. I apologise to the Muslim community for being insensitive, he added. I ask that you accept my apologies as we go forward. This was the apology offered this week by the mayor of the northern Wisconsin city of Superior after he sparked outcry by posting a message on Facebook in which he claimed President Barack Obama was a Muslim who has destroyed the fabric of democracy. The mayor claimed Mr Obama had left the US weakened (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty) The comments of Mr Hagen sparked a fierce debate within his small community and beyond, both about the rights afforded by the US Constitution to free speech, and of the suitability of some comments at a time many Muslims feel they are facing increased discrimination and scrutiny. Such anxieties have increased in the aftermath of comments by such high-profile figures as Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who said the US should shut its doors to Muslim refugees and migrants. His remarks led to protests by Muslims and other members of the city, with many calling for his resignation. Such was the furore sparked by his comments about Mr Obama, who is Christian, that he cut short a Christmas holiday and returned to meet with leaders of the Muslim community. Mr Hagen did not respond to calls from The Independent. But in a letter published on Friday by the local newspaper, the Superior Telegram, the mayor apologised for any remarks which had offended members of the city. The Muslim communities across the world do not embrace what is occurring by these terrorists, and I was wrong to include them in my comment, he said. I ask that you accept my apologies and as we go forward - together - to make Superior a better community, I pledge to you that I will continue to be mindful and respectful of all our citizens. Yet the mayor did draw down on his criticism of the US president. My fear is we are a nation of all walks of life, religious beliefs, differing political persuasions and hard-working citizens that are standing by watching this country being denigrated by all of Washington DC, he said. My comment was intended to shed light on the resistance of President Obama, and lack of leadership qualities to stand up for America against the worlds enemies. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Texas was far from being the first US state to allow licensed gun owners to carry a holstered pistol in public - but it is the largest. As a result, as from January 1 2016, almost one million people in Texas who have passed safety courses and have concealed handgun permits, will be allowed to openly carry their weapons. It is the first time they have been able to do so since 1871. They will even be allowed to carry them in the state assembly building in Austin. The Associated Press said that Republican-controlled Texas already allows openly carrying rifles and shotguns, but has banned having handguns visible since just after the Civil War. Texas had nearly 826,000 concealed licence holders in 2014, which ranks among the nation's highest. Supporters of the new law held a rally at the state assembly in Austin (Twitter) The new law stipulates that handguns must be carried in belt or shoulder holsters and that police officers can ask to see a licence to carry. This last regulation was only passed after after police groups defeated a provision backed by a coalition of conservatives and Democrats that sought to bar officers from asking residents to see their paperwork. I think most people can expect Friday to be just like Thursday, CJ Grisham, a retired Army sergeant who formed Open Carry Texas to lobby for the change in the law, told the New York Times. I think everybody is overreacting. Texas has long been seen as a gun-friendly place and it is the largest of more than 40 states that permit some sort of open carry. California, Florida, Illinois, New York and South Carolina still prohibit it. USA: Bikers wield guns in protest over Twin Peaks shootout Open carry will not be permitted at schools, secured areas of airports, court rooms, hospital and government meetings, according to the new regulations. Three grocery stores H-E-B, Safeway and Whole Foods - have opted out of the law, saying only concealed weapons are allowed in the stores. Open carry weapons are permitted, however, inside the states assembly building, or capitol, where licence holders can bypass metal detectors. Tim Vasquez, president of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, said there would be a huge learning curve for officers on how to deal with the new law. Most of us do support concealed, but we also understand that open carry creates a whole new set of problems, Mr Vasquez, chief of police in San Angelo, told the AP. If our officers see someone with an open carry, they do have the ability to stop and identify whether that person is permitted or not. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} For centuries, religious pilgrims, and latterly thrill-seekers and those wanting to find themselves, have undertaken a month-long trek across northern Spain, along the Camino de Santiago. Few, if any, of the 200,000 or so people who complete the walk each year will realise that it is now being used as a blueprint to market and promote others around the world. The latest is Japan, which is hoping to use the popularity of the Camino to sell its own pilgrimage, the Way of the 88 Temples, a 750-mile path through the island of Shikokus Buddhist past. Both walks have their roots in religious experience. The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St James, actually covers several routes through northern Spain, which eventually lead to the magnificent cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral is the supposed resting place of James the Apostle, whose remains were said to have been brought to Spain and interred in a crypt after he was beheaded in Jerusalem in AD44. What will interest the Japanese tourist authorities more than the legend of St James, however, is the success that their counterparts in Spain have had at marketing the Camino. The city of Santiago is taken over by walking shops and souvenir outlets selling T-shirts and furry toys linked to the Camino; the hotels and hostels do a roaring trade. Back in the 1980s, however, no more than a trickle of people travelled to Spain for the walk. In the Middle Ages, it was a well-travelled route but, over the centuries, the black death, the Protestant reformation, wars in Europe and the Spanish dictatorship, meant that the popularity of the Camino fell in decline. The Camino de Santiago vs the Way of the 88 Temples Distance The Camino: 478 miles (along the most popular route, the French way) The Way of the 88 Temples: 750 miles Religious Significance The Camino: a Catholic pilgrimage that ends at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the supposed final resting place of James the Apostle The Way of the 88 Temples: a Buddhist tradition. The walk was supposedly completed by the famous Buddhist monk Kukai Number of pilgrims each year The Camino: approximately 200,000 The Way of the 88 Temples: about 500,000, mainly Japanese The clothes The Camino: modern hiking gear. Waterproofs are especially important The Way of the 88 Temples: white shirts and sedge hats Time needed to complete The Camino: about a month The Way of the 88 Temples: about a month Alternative modes of transport The Camino: bikes, and now the Spanish state railway company offers a luxury train journey as an alternative The Way of the 88 Temples: Some pilgrims give up on the walking and take a taxi Concerned that the walk would be lost for ever, the authorities in Galicia, the north-western Spanish region that is home to Santiago de Compostela, began a campaign to reinvigorate the Camino. The vast majority of those who complete the Camino these days are foreigners. It was recognised as a European cultural route in 1987 and later was named a Unesco world heritage site. The turnaround has been an obvious success and it is this that the Japanese want to tap in to. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the head of the Galician government, and his counterpart from Japans Kagawa province, an area on Shikoku island, held a meeting in November and agreed to work together to promote the Japanese pilgrimage. Almost half a million Japanese tourists visit Spain each year. The ultimate goal, according to the Japanese, is to have the Way of the 88 Temples recognised as a world heritage site, based on learning from the long and abundant experience that the Camino de Santiago possesses. The path round Shikoku (AP) It would seem that they are already en route to achieving that goal. The Shikoku trek already has a number its own customs and traditions: many of the walkers wear white clothes, topped off with sedge hats. That said, if the Camino is at least in part a test of human stamina, many of those who complete the Japanese trail today use cars, bikes or even taxis. About half a million pilgrims walk the circular Japanese route each year, but the vast majority are Japanese. Traditionally, pilgrims complete the walk in a clockwise direction, but it has recently been considered good luck to complete the route the other way round. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of Germanys anti-Islamic Pegida movement has taunted those who welcomed refugees into the country in the wake of a planned terrorist attack on two of Munichs railway stations. Lutz Bachmann, who founded the movement in 2014 in Dresden, tweeted soon after police evacuated evacuated Hauptbahnhof and Pasing stations at the western end of the city. His post read: All welcome-clappers should arrive immediately at Munichs main train station. Police in Munich evacuated the train stations following intelligence provided by a foreign country of a serious and imminent threat in the German city. Attached to Mr Bachmanns post was the hashtag RegugISISnotWelcome used to mock the slogan refugees are welcome here. He was then condemned on social media but hit back at critics, adding: I dont get the uproar. You clap-idiots wanted the refugees in Europe. Why are you now wetting yourselves and not at Munich station? In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany A police officer talks to a counterprotestor at the sidelines of right-wing movement 'Baergida' (Berlin Patriots against the islamization of the Occident), a Berlin version of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident), protest in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany Participants of right-wing movement 'Baergida' (Berlin Patriots against the islamization of the Occident), a Berlin version of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident), protest in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida with a sign reading 'Stop agitation against Islam' in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany Participants of the 'Alliance against Racism' demonstrate against right-wing initiative Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident) in Berlin. Counterdemonstrations against racism and xenophobia have been planned in Dresden, Berlin, Cologne and Stuttgart. The demonstrations staged by the anti-Islamic Pegida movement produce a series of slogans arguing that Germany is taking in too many foreigners, that the social structures are about to collapse due to the rising number of asylum-seekers, and that there is the threat of an 'Islamisation of the Occident' In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany German Justice Minister Heiko Maas takes part in a protest against the march of a grass-roots anti-Muslim movement in Berlin. The rise of the group, Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (Pegida), has shaken Germany's political establishment In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany The lighting of the Brqandenburg Gate was switched off to make a statement against racism as People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Berlin In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany A left wing activist struggles with the riot police during a protest against a planed march of the Pegida movement in their first Berlin demonstration, which they have dubbed 'Baergida' In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Hamburg In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Munich In pictures: Anti-Pegida protesters Germany People protest against right-wing initiative Pegida in Stuttgart His post came after the Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, used her new years address to urge Germans to see the unprecedented number of refugees arriving in the country as an opportunity for tomorrow. She also pleaded with listeners not to follow the nationalists with coldness, even hatred, in their hearts. Pegida was initially founded as a small protest group but grew into a populist movement. Its name stands for patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Saudi Arabia-led oil cartel, OPEC, decided to maintain production earlier this month, but remained divided over its production ceiling and failed to reach an agreement. And that could mean dark times ahead for about half of the cartel's members. But Saudi Arabia is also looking at its own set of problems, as budget pressures continue to worsen and rumors of internal political divisions continue to proliferate. As such, it's worth taking a closer look at the economic, demographic, and cultural factors that drive the oil-rich kingdom. Check them out below: About 100 camels are sold in the capital of Saudi Arabia every day. Riyadhs camel market is one of the largest in the Arabian Peninsula (AP) The capital, Riyadh, has a large camel market. Source: Random History On average, one person has been executed every other day in Saudi Arabia in 2015. At least 151 people have been put to death in Saudi Arabia so far this year the highest recorded figure since 1995 in an unprecedented wave of executions marking a grim new milestone in the Saudi Arabian authorities' use of the death penalty, according to Amnesty International. Annual execution tolls for Saudi Arabia in recent years have rarely exceeded 90 for the entire year, they added. Source: Ahram Online The kingdom's Ghawar oil field has enough reserves to fill 4,770,897 Olympic swimming pools. Saudi Arabia's Ghawar field is the largest in the world (AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON/ Getty Images) The kingdom's oil reserves are huge. Saudi Arabia's Ghawar field is the largest in the world. It has an estimated 75 billion barrels of oil left. An Olympic-size swimming pool can hold 660,253.09 gallons of liquid. Source: US Energy Information Administration Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river. Saudi Arabia is the 13th-largest country in the world, and the second-largest in the Arab world behind Algeria at 830,000 square miles. Ninety-five percent of the country is considered a desert or semidesert, and it has some of the largest desert areas, including An Nafud and Rub al-Khali. Only 1.45% of the land is arable. And while it doesn't have a river, its extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal, according to the CIA World Factbook. Source: CIA World Factbook Saudi Arabia is the only country where women are forbidden to drive. Saudi law requires citizens to use a locally issued license while in the country (BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images) A female driver displays a note, which, according to her, was placed on her car by an unknown person, in Saudi Arabia. The conservative Islamic state has no written ban on women driving, but Saudi law requires citizens to use a locally issued license while in the country. Such licenses are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive, according to Reuters. Source: Reuters Saudi Arabia's population is slightly bigger than Texas', but Texas' GDP is nearly twice as large. Saudi Arabia's population was around 28.8 million in 2013, which is slightly above that of Texas' 26.5 million. But Saudi Arabia's GDP in 2013 was around $750 billion, while Texas' was approximately twice that amount, at $1.4 trillion. Plus, Saudi Arabia has the 19th-largest GDP but if Texas were its own country, it would have the 13th-largest GDP, just below Australia and right above Spain. Overall, this suggests that Texas is more productive than Saudi Arabia. Sources: Business Insider, World Bank Saudi Arabia's petroleum sector makes up 45% of GDP, which makes it bigger than the total GDPs of Iraq, Morocco, Rwanda, and Tonga combined. Iraq's GDP is $222.879 billion, Morocco's is $104.4 billion, Rwanda's is $7.451 billion, and Tonga's is $466 million. (AP) Saudi Arabia's petroleum sector puts it at around $335.372 billion. Iraq's GDP is $222.879 billion, Morocco's is $104.4 billion, Rwanda's is $7.451 billion, and Tonga's is $466 million. Sources: CIA Factbook, HSBC Saudi Arabia is erecting the world's tallest building, which will be 1 kilometer tall taller than 492 LeBron Jameses standing on top of one another. Saudi Arabia officially got the green light to build the world's tallest building, the Jeddah Tower aka the Kingdom Tower. It's expected to reach 3,280 feet, or 1 kilometer. But Iraq has plans to upstage the Saudis, as it wants to build and even taller tower called The Bride, which will eclipse the Jeddah Tower by 500 feet. LeBron James stands at 6-foot-8, or 2.03 meters. Source: CNN The expected cost of the Kingdom Tower's construction is 19.2 times as much as the amount Taylor Swift made last year. Iraq's GDP is $222.879 billion, Morocco's is $104.4 billion, Rwanda's is $7.451 billion, and Tonga's is $466 million. The Kingdom Tower is expected to cost $1.23 billion. Taylor Swift reportedly raked in $64 million in 2014. Source: The Huffington Post The zig-zag-shaped border between Saudi Arabia and Jordan is rumored to be a byproduct of Winston Churchill's love of boozy lunches. Jordan and Saudi Arabia share an oddly shaped border that's referred to as Winston's Hiccup or Churchill's Sneeze. Rumor has it that Winston Churchill drew that boundary with a stroke of a pen, one Sunday afternoon in Cairo following a particularly liquid lunch. Source: The New York Times Almost 60% of the labour force in Saudi Arabia is foreign. The country remains heavily reliant on foreign labour (Getty Images) There's been some structural improvement in the kingdom's labor force, but ultimately it remains heavily reliant on foreign labor. Saudi nationals continue to work largely in the public sector with little incentive to join the private sector or to improve productivity, writes HSBC's Razan Nasser. Notably, most of the people who work in the oil and service sectors in Saudi Arabia are foreigners. This made for some complicated times when the burial of non-Muslims was strictly forbidden on Saudi soil, until regulations were marginally eased in 2012. Sources: HSBC and CIA Factbook Saudi Arabia's female labour-force participation rate was roughly 20%, the eighth-lowest in the world. By comparison, the US's female labor-force participation rate is around 47%, Germany's is around 54%, and Japan's is at 49%. Bill Gates criticized Saudi Arabia's female employment at the World Economic Forum in 2007. When one person asked him if Saudi Arabia might become a major, competitive economy by 2010, Gates responded, Well, if you're not fully utilizing half the talent in the country, you're not going to get close to the top. In 2012, women were finally allowed to work in places like lingerie shops. Before that, women faced some extremely uncomfortable times shopping with male salesmen. Sources: HSBC, The Washington Post, World Bank, Telegraph The kingdom's population is 47% under 24 and 5% over 60. Saudi Arabia's young and growing population has hard-wired strong consumption growth in the Kingdom for decades to come" (Washington Post photo by Linda Davidson) Saudi Arabia's young demographic really stands out against the backdrop of major economies with aging populations such as Japan. Saudi Arabia's young and growing population has hard-wired strong consumption growth in the Kingdom for decades to come, writes HSBC's Nasser. However, in the long term, meeting the demands of this growing population will become more of a challenge. Sources: CIA Factbook and HSBC Saudi Arabia's growth has been fueled by increased resources, NOT by increased productivity. HSBC's chart to the right suggests that Saudi Arabia's recent growth is largely attributed to increased resources, rather than increased productivity or labor. Source: HSBC Saudi Arabia is building six economic cities that are expected to add an amount 3.5 times as large as Kenya's total GDP to Saudi Arabia's GDP. Kenya's GDP is $44.1 billion. (Wayne Hutchinson/Alamy) In an effort to diversify its economy instead of only having a huge oil sector Saudi Arabia is building six economic cities that are expected to add $150 billion to the country's GDP. The cities are spread around the country and are expected to add 1.3 million jobs and raise the GDP per capita from $13,000 to $33,500. Kenya's GDP is $44.1 billion. Source: OECD Saudi Arabia's annual military expenditure is four times as much as the GDP of Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia's military expenditure increased to $80.8 billion in 2014, up from 2013's $67 billion, which puts them in fourth place for military expenditure, behind the US, China, and Russia. But it's notable that Saudi Arabia's military expenditure is 10.4% of its GDP which is huge. Most countries are around 2% to 4%, with the US around 3.5%. Afghanistan's GDP was $20.7 billion in 2013. Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Massive oil revenues enabled Saudi Arabia to get away with inefficient spending. But with lower oil prices, it's becoming apparent that this model isn't sustainable. Consequently, Saudi Arabia has had to tap into its resources following the price drop, which has been a not-terrible strategy so far. (GettyImages) The boom in oil prices over the past decade has brought with it large fiscal revenue growth that has allowed for a massive ramp-up in expenditure providing little incentive for fiscal discipline, according to HSBC's Nasser. This has been very expensive and has not always been directed effectively... often providing for inefficient consumption. Such spending habits, along with the inability to generate non-oil revenue, have led to higher dependency on oil. Hence, the drop in oil prices has had a transformative impact on Saudi Arabia's as well as the entire GCC... he added. Consequently, Saudi Arabia has had to tap into its resources following the price drop, which has been a not-terrible strategy so far. Source: HSBC Read more: These 6 nightmare charts most worry the Bank of England about the financial system ISIS' 17-year-old postergirl was passed around as a sex slave before being beaten to death The 26 happiest, richest, healthiest, and most crime-free countries in the world Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2015. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of Irans most senior clerics has predicted the fall of Saudi Arabia's ruling family following the kingdom's execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatamis comments came as Irans foreign minister warned Saudi Arabia would pay a high price for following policies that led to the execution of al-Nimr and 46 others for terrorism offences. Ayatollah Khatami who branded the House of Saud treacherous, told the Mehr news agency: "I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history. "The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family... the Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can." His comments follow a warning last year from Iran that the execution of al-Nimr would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly", while the sentiment was echoed by a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Hossein Jaber Ansari, following al-Nimrs death. He told the official IRNA news agency: "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies." In pictures: Controversial executions Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Controversial executions In pictures: Controversial executions George Stinney Jr, 14 George Stinney Jr became the youngest person to be executed in the US in the 20th century when he was sent to the electric chair in 1944 during the trial that lasted less than three hours and reportedly bore no evidence and barely any witness testimonies. Reuters In pictures: Controversial executions Clayton Lockett, 38 Convicted of the murder and rape of 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman in 2000 and sentenced to death. Lockett died of a heart attack after a failed execution by lethal injection in April 2014 In pictures: Controversial executions Roy Blankenship, 55 Killed by lethal injection in 2011 after he murdered an elderly woman. Witnesses saw him grimace and jerk as he became the first person put to death in that state with pentobarbital. Medical experts said he suffered greatly In pictures: Controversial executions Michael Wilson, 38 Executed by lethal injection in January 2014. Wilson was convicted of murdering co-worker Richard Yost during a robbery at a convenience store in 1995. He is one of three people executed for the crime In pictures: Controversial executions Dennis McGuire, 53 Sentenced to death following the rape and murder of pregnant 22-year-old Joy Stewart in 1989. After spending 25 years on death row fighting the order to end his life, McGuire was executed by lethal injection in January 2014 The 2012 arrest of al-Nimr, who supported anti-government protests in the countrys Eastern Province in 2011, prompted civil unrest, which some fear could be repeated in the aftermath of the weekends mass execution. Karl Andree on Saudi lashes Al-Nimr had long been a critic of the Saudi government, jailed on a number of occasions previously for his involvement in protests, and was found guilty by the countrys Specialised Criminal Court in 2014 of crimes including calling for the collapse of the state and failing to pledge allegiance to the government. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Saudi Arabia finished 2015 by beheading Abdulatif Zapanta, a Filipino National, on Tuesday - after he had spent nearly six years on death row seeking a pardon. Last year, the Gulf state executed 158 people, the highest number in two decades, according to Human Rights Watch. The executions represent a 75 per cent increase from the previous year, when 90 people were killed by the state. Abdulatif Zapanta, 35, was convicted in 2010 of murdering his Sudanese landlord, after a dispute over rent money. He claimed he had acted in self-defence, but was handed a deaht sentence under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic law. His family failed to raise a $1 million diya - "blood money" - payment, which can be given to a victim's family in exchange for a pardon. Where most executions were carried out in 2014 Show all 10 1 /10 Where most executions were carried out in 2014 Where most executions were carried out in 2014 1. China (1000+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 2. Iran (289+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 3. Saudi Arabia (90+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 4. Iraq (61+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 5. USA (35+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 6. Sudan (23+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 7. Yemen (22+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 8. Egypt (15+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 9. Somalia (14+) Getty Where most executions were carried out in 2014 10. Jordan (11+) Getty Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries which still stages public executions, enforcing a strict interpretation of Sharia. The death penalty is applied in a wide range of cases, including apostasy and witchcraft. International condemnation followed the news Saudi Arabia had sentenced six teenage offenders to death after they attended rallies in 2012 calling for equal rights for the Shia minority. Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was detained, is due to be crucified - his headless corpse displayed in public for several days. Abdullah al-Zaher, who was 15 when he was arrested, could be beheaded at any moment, making him the youngest person to be sentenced to death. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people for terrorism offences in one day, including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the kingdoms interior minister said. Most of those executed were Sunnis who were convicted of involvement in the deadly 2003 and 2004 al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudis and foreigners. The ministry statement, published on the official SPA news agency, said the 47 had been convicted of adopting the radical takfiri ideology, joining terrorist organisations and implementing various criminal plots. The executions are Saudi Arabias first in 2016. Mr al-Nimr was a vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that flared up in the kingdoms oil-rich Eastern Province in 2011, where a Shia majority have long complained of marginalisation. Speaking at the time of his conviction in October 2014 the brother of Mr al-Nimr said he was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces. Irans Shia leadership has previously warned that executing Mr al-Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly. Hilary Benn, Labours shadow foreign secretary, condemned the mass execution on Twitter. He wrote: Saudi Arabia profoundly wrong to execute Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Opposed to the death penalty and Amnesty had serious concerns about his trial. Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Show all 8 1 /8 Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Abdullah al-Zaher was arrested at the age of 15 for attending a protest and he is was the youngest in a group of juvenile offenders put on death row Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Previously held alongside fellow juvenile offender Ali al-Nimr, whose case sparked outrage around the world, Abdullah has now been moved to solitary confinement at a new facility and could be beheaded at any moment Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher His family and lawyers believe he was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, and which later was used as a confession in the closed trial against him Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr faces imminent beheading and crucifixion for crimes he reportedly committed as a child Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr The UN has issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt his execution but a Saudi court has upheld the sentence of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the son of a prominent government dissident, despite growing and high-level international condemnation Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Mr al-Nimr, who was arrested in 2012 for his participation in Arab Spring protests when he was just 16 or 17 years old, could now be put to death at any time Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon Dawood al-Marhoon was 17 year old when he was arrested for participating in an anti-government protest Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon After refusing to spy on his fellow protesters, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer According to several groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide, the kingdom executed 157 people in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in two decades. Catherine Higham, a caseworker for Reprieve, which works against the death penalty worldwide, says her organisation documented 157 executions in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia does not release annual tallies, though it does announce individual executions in state media throughout the year. Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Saudi critics have warned that the execution of a Shia cleric will have repercussions. Is this rhetoric or a serious tipping point? There are both immediate and longer-term difficulties for the House of Saud royal family, from inside and outside the Saudi borders. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a key figure in the Arab Spring pro-democracy protests of 2011. From the oil-rich Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, where the Shia-majority are seen as politically peripheral to the dominance of Riyadh, his death will do little to quell internal protests, and will also serve as a focal point for anti-Saudi anger from Iran, Yemen, the Lebanon and elsewhere. Will the UK add its voice to the outrage being expressed? If it follows precedent, Downing Street will be hesitant and likely to limit its comments in diplomatic terminology. UK governments since the Saudis accelerating oil wealth in 1960s, have favoured the economic value of the Saudi-UK relationship, rather than being overly concerned with moral difficulties. So numbers matter? They do, and they are big numbers. Some 50,000 jobs in the UK and Saudi are commercially linked. Close to 100bn of private Saudi wealth is invested in the UK economy, with UK exports to Saudi over the last three years estimated at 12bn. The relationship has a long history? The British have sanctioned the dominance of the House of Saud since it declared itself a kingdom in 1932. When Saudi oil revenue went from $300m in 1960 to $116bn by 1981, Britain didnt hesitate to sell the Arab nation what it wanted. What has been the big seller then? In 1984 defence secretary, Michael Heseltine, said Britain had offered the Saudis all the weapons it has. The second phase alone of Al Yamamah deal was worth $50bn. Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Show all 8 1 /8 Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Abdullah al-Zaher was arrested at the age of 15 for attending a protest and he is was the youngest in a group of juvenile offenders put on death row Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Previously held alongside fellow juvenile offender Ali al-Nimr, whose case sparked outrage around the world, Abdullah has now been moved to solitary confinement at a new facility and could be beheaded at any moment Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher His family and lawyers believe he was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, and which later was used as a confession in the closed trial against him Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr faces imminent beheading and crucifixion for crimes he reportedly committed as a child Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr The UN has issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt his execution but a Saudi court has upheld the sentence of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the son of a prominent government dissident, despite growing and high-level international condemnation Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Mr al-Nimr, who was arrested in 2012 for his participation in Arab Spring protests when he was just 16 or 17 years old, could now be put to death at any time Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon Dawood al-Marhoon was 17 year old when he was arrested for participating in an anti-government protest Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon After refusing to spy on his fellow protesters, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer So the benefits are self-evident and the relationship continues? Not quite. Yes, the relationship with the Saudis is a financial one, but earlier this year David Cameron acknowledged the security benefits, citing that Saudi intelligence had helped thwart terrorist attacks. In this newspaper in March, it was revealed that information obtained by torture in Saudi Arabia had helped stop an advanced bombing plan in the UK. We regard torture as illegal. We continue to sell the Saudis weapons and missiles that are hitting civilian targets in the Yemen, putting the UK at risk of breaking international criminal law. Are we compromising our so-called British values? Not all the UK political system turns a blind eye. The all-party Arms Export Committee of MPs recently recommended that the Government deliver defined reasons for continuing to award expert licences to Saudi Arabia. That would mean the Government explaining why 17 categories of intelligence and surveillance equipment make up the Saudis shopping list. It suggests not everyone is happy. But if the Saudis will pay, we will continue to sell, regardless of how uncomfortable executions and the rest get in the way? That assumes the Saudis can continue to pay at the levels they have been able to over the last half century. Given the predicted future of oil markets, it has been estimated the oil-dominated Saudi economy will be in trouble within a decade. Their pump and dump strategy of keeping prices low to ward off and destroy competition from the US shale industry, isnt working. The Bank of America recently said that OPEC, which once controlled global oil prices, was effectively dead, with the Saudis trapped and the kingdom under threat. So Saudi Arabia has to change? Forced to change would a better description. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The distinctive image of the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr with his turban and grey beard has decorated placards in Saudi Arabias eastern province of Qatif since his arrest in 2012. A vocal supporter of the mass anti-government protests that flared up in the kingdoms oil-rich eastern region in 2011 where a Shia majority have long complained of marginalisation Sheikh Nimr was willing to publicly criticise the ruling al-Saud family and call for elections. With his close ties to Irans ruling establishment, his execution today is likely to inflame tensions between the kingdom and Iran. Irans Shia leadership has previously warned that executing Sheikh Nimr would cost Saudi Arabia dearly. Sheikh Nimr was, however, careful to avoid calling for violence. Before his arrest in 2011, he told the BBC that he supported the roar of the word against authorities rather than weapons the weapon of the word is stronger than bullets, because authorities will profit from a battle of weapons. Despite this, he was arrested by Saudi authorities the following year on charges of sedition. The Saudi interior minister said at the time of his arrest there was an exchange of gunfire and Sheikh Nimr was hospitalised after being shot in the leg by police. Two years later the death sentence was passed on the prominent Shia cleric. His appeal, in October 2014, was rejected by the kingdoms supreme court. Speaking at the time of his conviction the brother of Sheikh Nimr said he was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces. Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Show all 8 1 /8 Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Abdullah al-Zaher was arrested at the age of 15 for attending a protest and he is was the youngest in a group of juvenile offenders put on death row Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Previously held alongside fellow juvenile offender Ali al-Nimr, whose case sparked outrage around the world, Abdullah has now been moved to solitary confinement at a new facility and could be beheaded at any moment Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher His family and lawyers believe he was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, and which later was used as a confession in the closed trial against him Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr faces imminent beheading and crucifixion for crimes he reportedly committed as a child Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr The UN has issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt his execution but a Saudi court has upheld the sentence of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the son of a prominent government dissident, despite growing and high-level international condemnation Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Mr al-Nimr, who was arrested in 2012 for his participation in Arab Spring protests when he was just 16 or 17 years old, could now be put to death at any time Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon Dawood al-Marhoon was 17 year old when he was arrested for participating in an anti-government protest Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon After refusing to spy on his fellow protesters, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer Amnesty International added that the appalling trial was deeply flawed and called for the sentence to be immediately quashed. The death sentence against Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr is part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to crush all dissent, including those defending the rights of the Kingdoms Shia Muslim community, said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Programme. His execution today has led Yemens Houthi movement to mourn him as a holy warrior. The United States condemns the terrible attacks carried out by Boko Haram in Nigeria, December 2528, as well as other recent attacks in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram killed dozens of innocent people who were targeted as they went about their daily livesattending service at a mosque, shopping in a neighborhood market, or simply traveling down a road. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and we stand with the people of Nigeria and the region in the fight against Boko Haram. The United States remains committed to helping Nigeria and its neighbors counter Boko Harams senseless acts of terror. Despite much progress over the past yeardue in large part to newly bolstered Nigerian and regional effortsmore work remains to ensure the people of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria can live in peace. The conflict has affected the lives of communities across the Lake Chad Basin region, with some 2.5 million internally displaced people and more than 170,000 Nigerian refugees forced to flee their homes. The United States provides advisors, intelligence, training, logistical support, and equipment to our African partners as they work to defeat Boko Haram. We also support those affected by Boko Harams violence through ongoing humanitarian aid and victim support services. The United States will continue working with our partners in the region to identify new opportunities to support their efforts to stop Boko Harams wanton violence and restore order in the Lake Chad Basin region. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Syrian photographer has described capturing his friends wedding in war-torn Homs as an image of hope in the countrys long civil war. The images show a soldier in the Syrian Army and his new wife, a university student wearing a white gown, stood before the bombed buildings of the old town in Homs, which was besieged for three years until the opposition fell back in 2014. An avowed supporter of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, photographer Jafar Meray told The Independent he took the photographs as evidence that life goes on. The 22-year-old said he had been a professional photographer for around a year, working to show through pictures the sad reality of what we suffer from the destruction and terror of Syria. Jafar Meray posted a selfie with the couple on his Facebook page The photographer said the images showed 'life goes on' in Syria despite the war (C/O: Jafar Meray) Meray said the couple had chosen rubble and destruction as the background for their wedding pictures, and said he wanted to spread hope. My message as a Syrian citizen is to stop injustice and terrorism everywhere and spread love and peace, because my country and all countries suffer from terrorism. Once dubbed the capital of the revolution, Homs saw the withdrawal of opposition fighters from its last rebel-held neighbourhood earlier this month. Government shelling and rebel car bombs have torn the city apart for the better part of five years, devastating what was once a major industrial centre. Thousands of civilians were killed. In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Syrian citizens check a damaged house that targeted by the coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Isis group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A Syrian boy (L) looking at a destroyed car that activists say was targeted by the coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Islamic State group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Parts of a missile that activists say was fired by coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Isis group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Tthe guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against Isis targets In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches a Tomahawk cruise missiles in the Red Sea, to conduct strike missions against Isis group targets in Syria In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) launching a Tomahawk cruise missile against Isis targets in Syria, as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Arabian Gulf In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria US navy sailors standing watch on the bridge while Tomahawk cruise missiles are launched against Isis targets in Syria, aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), in the Arabian Gulf In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria An F/A-18C Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Arabian Gulf, to conduct strike missions against Isis group targets AFP/Robert Burck In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The US-led airstrikes in Syria against Isis targets in and around the city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A fighter from the Isis group holds a piece of what the IS is saying is a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis organisation pray at the spot where the jihadist group said a US drone crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group gesture as they load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa. A US-led coalition on carried out its first air strikes and missile attacks against jihadist positions in Syria, with Damascus saying it had been informed by Washington before the operation began In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A Syrian man rides his bike past a communications tower that was destroyed after a US drone crashed into it, according to fighters with the Isis group, in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria People inspect a shop damaged after what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone crashed into a communication station nearby in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man holds the remains of what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone which crashed in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Resident gather in the back of a van the remains of what Isis militants say was a drone which crashed in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man inspects the remains of what Isismilitants say was a U.S. drone which crashed into a communication tower in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man inspects the remains of what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone which crashed in Raqqa The last rebels agreed to leave on 9 December as part of a UN-brokered ceasefire. In return, the citys residents will receive access to much-needed humanitarian assistance. And while Homs has now fallen completely under regime control, Russian bombing raids continue against rebel positions in the wider Homs province. Russias defence ministry said on Wednesday that its air force struck 424 targets at the start of this week, with air strikes spanning a range of provinces. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It may be a new year, but some things never change. Dramatic mishaps always have newspapers rummaging through the shabby old costume-box of exaggerated language. Here is the opening paragraph of our report in yesterdays paper of the Dubai hotel fire. One of the tallest skyscrapers in the world turned into an inferno last night after fire ripped through the 302m Address building in Dubai in seconds, sending tourists who had gathered for the citys famed New Year celebrations fleeing in panic. The rest of the story contains nothing to justify inferno or ripped through the building. It quotes officials as saying that the fire started outside and it was prevented from spreading by internal sprinklers. And as for panic which is a complete loss of self-control in the face of danger the people in the hotel simply got out of the building as fast as they could, which was the right thing to do. The story even reports one instance of selfless coolness, on the part of a man who carried a wheelchair user down the stairs and out of the building on his back. Here is the beginning of a news item published on Thursday: The moment when Aidan Turner breaks into a sweat while scything the fields of 18th-century Cornwall in the BBC series Poldark has been voted 2015s best television moment by readers of Radio Times. And after he had finished scything the fields of 18th-century Cornwall, Turner presumably got back into his time machine and returned to the 21st century. Let us be clear: any scything of 18th-century fields was being done not by Turner himself but by Ross Poldark, the character he was portraying. I dont think anybody ever mistook a stage actor for the character he was playing, but the confusion seems to be fostered by the more immersive illusion experienced by the viewer of film and television. It certainly goes back to the early days of the cinema, when the old Hollywood studios devoted much effort to concealing any perceived moral blemishes on the character of their star actors, fearing that their screen performances would be contaminated in the eyes of the audience. The blurb that introduced a feature article on Wednesday displayed one of the most fashionable cliches of 2015: A new service from Channel 4 is making it the go-to destination for foreign-language treats. New Year resolution: go-to must go; it has gone on long enough. On Wednesday we published both an obituary and a personal appreciation of the rock star Lemmy, deeply mourned by people who like very loud music. Both referred to his liking for Jack Daniels whiskey. Look at the label on the bottle, chaps. It says Jack Daniels, with an apostrophe. The founder of the firm was called Jack Daniel, and it is his whiskey (with, dont forget, an e in whiskey, the right spelling in Ireland and the US). Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Saudi Arabias binge of head-choppings 47 in all, including the learned Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, followed by a Koranic justification for the executions was worthy of Isis. Perhaps that was the point. For this extraordinary bloodbath in the land of the Sunni Muslim al-Saud monarchy clearly intended to infuriate the Iranians and the entire Shia world re-sectarianised a religious conflict which Isis has itself done so much to promote. All that was missing was the video of the decapitations although the Kingdoms 158 beheadings last year were perfectly in tune with the Wahabi teachings of the Islamic State. Macbeths blood will have blood certainly applies to the Saudis, whose war on terror, it seems, now justifies any amount of blood, both Sunni and Shia. But how often do the angels of God the Most Merciful appear to the present Saudi interior minister, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Nayef? For Sheikh Nimr was not just any old divine. He spent years as a scholar in Tehran and Syria, was a revered Shia leader of Friday prayers in the Saudi Eastern Province, and a man who stayed clear of political parties but demanded free elections, and was regularly detained and tortured by his own account for opposing the Sunni Wahabi Saudi government. Sheikh Nimr said that words were more powerful than violence. The authorities whimsical suggestion that there was nothing sectarian about this most recent bloodbath on the grounds that they beheaded Sunnis as well as Shias was classic Isis rhetoric. After all, Isis cuts the heads of Sunni apostates and Sunni Syrian and Iraqi soldiers just as readily as it slaughters Shias. Sheikh Nimr would have got precisely the same treatment from the thugs of the Islamic State as he got from the Saudis though without the mockery of a pseudo-legal trial which Sheikh Nimr was afforded and of which Amnesty complained. Protests follow execution But the killings represent far more than just Saudi hatred for a cleric who rejoiced at the death of the former Saudi interior minister Mohamed bin Nayefs father, Crown Prince Nayef Abdul-Aziz al-Saud with the hope that he would be "eaten by worms and will suffer the torments of hell in his grave". Nimrs execution will reinvigorate the Houthi rebellion in Yemen, which the Saudis invaded and bombed this year in an attempt to destroy Shia power there. It has enraged the Shia majority in Sunni-rules Bahrain. And Irans own clerics have already claimed that the beheading will cause the overthrow of the Saudi royal family. It will also present the West with that most embarrassing of Middle Eastern problems: the continuing need to cringe and grovel to the rich and autocratic monarchs of the Gulf while gently expressing their unease at the grotesque butchery which the Saudi courts have just dished out to the Kingdoms enemies. Had Isis chopped off the heads of Sunnis and Shias in Raqqa especially that of a troublesome Shia priest like Sheikh Nimr we can be sure that Dave Cameron would have been tweeting his disgust at so loathsome an act. But the man who lowered the British flag on the death of the last king of this preposterous Wahabi state will be using weasel words to address this bit of head-chopping. However many Sunni al-Qaeda men have also just lost their heads literally to Saudi executioners, the question will be asked in both Washington and European capitals: are the Saudis trying to destroy the Iranian nuclear agreement by forcing their Western allies to support even these latest outrages? In the obtuse world in which they live in which the youthful defence minister who invaded Yemen intensely dislikes the interior minister the Saudis are still glorying in the anti-terror coalition of 34 largely Sunni nations which supposedly form a legion of Muslims opposed to terror. Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Show all 8 1 /8 Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Abdullah al-Zaher was arrested at the age of 15 for attending a protest and he is was the youngest in a group of juvenile offenders put on death row Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Previously held alongside fellow juvenile offender Ali al-Nimr, whose case sparked outrage around the world, Abdullah has now been moved to solitary confinement at a new facility and could be beheaded at any moment Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher His family and lawyers believe he was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, and which later was used as a confession in the closed trial against him Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr faces imminent beheading and crucifixion for crimes he reportedly committed as a child Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr The UN has issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt his execution but a Saudi court has upheld the sentence of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the son of a prominent government dissident, despite growing and high-level international condemnation Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Mr al-Nimr, who was arrested in 2012 for his participation in Arab Spring protests when he was just 16 or 17 years old, could now be put to death at any time Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon Dawood al-Marhoon was 17 year old when he was arrested for participating in an anti-government protest Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon After refusing to spy on his fellow protesters, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer The executions were certainly an unprecedented Saudi way of welcoming in the New Year if not quite as publicly spectacular as the firework display in Dubai which went ahead alongside the burning of one of the emirates finest hotels. Outside the political implications, however, there is also an obvious question to be asked in the Arab world itself of the self-perpetuating House of Saud: have the Kingdoms rulers gone bonkers? Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It was one of the defining images of 2015: an apparently endless column of people trudging wearily along roads in southern Europe, clutching plastic bags and suitcases. Syria is emptying out, on a scale that invokes images of Biblical migrations, and there seems to be no end to the exodus. Like most people in Western Europe, I feel aghast and helpless in the face of human suffering on this scale. I wasnt alive during the Second World War but the parallels with the involuntary movement of people caused by the Nazis are as obvious as they are uncomfortable. In the late 1930s, the US and much of Europe closed its doors to hundreds of thousands of desperate would-be migrants who were trying to flee Hitler, refusing their requests for visas and condemning many to die in concentration camps. Recommended Read more France to build first refugee centre for over a decade No one should forget that Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in 1942 because they were what would now be called failed asylum-seekers. There was nothing inevitable about the death of Anne, who might be alive today if the worlds democracies had shown more compassion towards German Jews. Three-quarters of a century later, Western governments are still failing to provide safe, legal avenues of escape for people who face murder, arrest and torture at the hands of their own governments. In the case of Syria, there is an additional threat from the religious fanatics of Islamic State (Isis) and groups sympathetic to al-Qaeda. But the root cause of this latest refugee crisis is once again a fascist government that is prepared to commit atrocities to stay in power. Bashar al-Assads Baath party was founded immediately after the Second World War by admirers of Hitler and Mussolini, and one of the main torture instruments in his prisons is known as the German chair. The heart-rending columns of Syrian refugees are proof of a failure to act on promises made by the international community when pictures from the Nazi death camps emerged for the first time. There is no agreement, let alone anything approaching a big idea, about how to achieve what the vast majority of Syrians actually want: the possibility of returning to their country and resuming their lives in safety. Its a failure of international governance (not a phrase you hear very often these days) on a grand scale. So, where are the institutions which were supposed to prevent such horrors happening again? Where, to be more precise, is the UN? The scale of the international communitys failure to respond effectively to humanitarian crises was underlined last week by the outgoing UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres. The Portuguese politician held the job for 10 years and pointed out that the number of displaced people had increased from 36 million to a staggering 60 million in that period. Guterres blamed this development on the international community losing much of its capacity to avoid or solve a dramatic multiplication of conflicts in the world. Thats the UNs job. But affluent countries are squabbling about who will take Syrian refugees David Cameron has offered to take a paltry 20,000 over five years while children continue to drown in boats that arent even seaworthy. The Prime Ministers interest in foreign affairs is too inconsistent to deserve being called a policy; he got rid of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya but sells arms to the monstrous Saudi government, which is killing civilians in Yemen and executed almost 50 of its own citizens on Saturday. Last month, RAF planes joined the US Air Force in bombing Isiss military forces and economic interests in Syria, while Russia appears to be using air strikes against the jihadists as cover to target Assads opponents. I doubt whether many people are even aware that the UK held the rotating presidency of the UNs most powerful body, the Security Council, in November last year. Cameron certainly didnt seize the opportunity to come up with new ideas to break the stalemate created by Russias support for Assad. If that really is as great an obstacle as some commentators suggest and even Vladimir Putin might be getting fed up with his onerous protege by now it means that the UN is simply not able to fulfil its primary role of maintaining international peace and security. It seems unlikely that the conflict in Syria can be brought to an end without ground troops, and a UN force taking temporary control of the country under a Security Council mandate seems the best solution. The idea has been welcomed by some British MPs but why isnt Cameron, Francois Hollande or Barack Obama pushing for it? If the UNs structure means that a single country can prevent it from protecting civilians and intervening in conflicts as savage as Syrias, then the case for reform is unanswerable. At the very least, the UN needs a permanent military force, ready to be deployed at short notice, instead of having to respond to crises on an ad hoc basis. In November last year, the latest month for which figures are available, its entire peacekeeping force, drawn from its member countries, amounted to little more than 106,000 police and military personnel. They have to carry out all the UNs current peacekeeping missions, and many more would be needed to deal with the different factions in Syria. History shows that dictators are a perennial problem, causing huge suffering at home and creating refugee crises abroad. But the Syrian disaster confirms that even the leaders of democratic states, with a public commitment to universal human rights, are struggling to rise above narrow national interests. Instead of making the UN work, theyre repeating the mistakes that caused so many needless deaths in the 20th century. Twitter.com/@polblonde Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Any British prime minister taking office is required to undergo a secret ritual. He or she has to kiss the monarchs hand, write letters for the commanders of the nuclear submarines, and agree to defend the UKs alliance with Saudi Arabia. The best that can be said about David Camerons discharge of this third obligation is that at least he has the decency to look embarrassed about it. He seemed uncomfortable in a television interview in October when he was asked about the squalid deal in which the two governments agreed, in 2013, to support each others election to the UN Human Rights Council. We have a relationship with Saudi Arabia, was all the Prime Minister could manage. He said he completely disagreed with the countrys punishment routines, but the relationship was important for our national security. The problem with this claim is that it is impossible for the average citizen to verify. We can all have a view on the arms trade, or of the value of trading generally with an authoritarian theocracy. But the claims of intelligence co-operation have to be taken on trust. There was one occasion since Ive been Prime Minister where a bomb that would have potentially blown up over Britain was stopped because of intelligence we got from Saudi Arabia, Mr Cameron said. Even if this is the case, and such intelligence would not have been shared with us if our relationship had been slightly less close, we still have moral obligations as a nation. If Saturdays 47 beheadings does not prompt those obligations, Britains ethical stature is diminished. The death penalty is abhorrent and our leaders and diplomats should say so at every opportunity, but this is a particularly shocking example. The Saudi law of January 2014 does not merely criminalise dissent, it defines it as terrorism and imposes the harshest penalties. The early silence from Mr Cameron was deafening, and the failure of the Foreign Office to put out more than a vague statement of disapproval of the death penalty was feeble in the extreme. This is all the more disappointing because, a few days after the awkward interview already quoted, Mr Cameron sided with Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, to resolve a Cabinet dispute with Theresa May, the Home Secretary, to cancel a contract to supply prison services to Saudi Arabia. It was after that decision that the Saudi ambassador to London wrote that he felt there had been an alarming change in the way Saudi Arabia is discussed in Britain. If the ambassador is alarmed, this confirms that British disapproval does count for something. We had hoped that the cancellation of the prisons contract might mark a recalibration in our relationship with Saudi Arabia. It would make sense, even in cynical terms, over the medium to long term, to downgrade it. The Kingdom is not the fabulously rich country it once was. Even if the best way of persuading Saudi Arabia to respect human rights is as a candid friend, it might be more persuasive if its rulers were in a permanent state of incipient alarm about the strength of that friendship. The Independent on Sunday understands that compromises are needed in life and diplomacy. We do not advocate the end of the British arms industry, or a foreign policy that refuses to work with any government that fails to live up to the best human rights norms. But we believe that it would enhance Britains standing in the world if our leaders would condemn the Saudi government in clear and forthright terms. It might be diplomatic if our PM could tell the Saudis that he understands their problem with dissidents. But if only he could say, in the words of Iyad El-Baghdadi, the Arab Spring activist expelled from UAE for his ideas: The antidote to bad ideas is better ideas, not beheadings. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan on New Years Eve as US stocks declined, with the Standard & Poors 500 Index losing its grip on a fourth consecutive annual gain in the years final trading session Ireland's ISEQ Index was one of the best performing in the world last year, outstripping major indices including the UK's FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX. Overall, European stocks accomplished something they've done only once in five years - beat their US counterparts. The ISEQ ended 2015 up 30pc on the same period last year. This compares with the German Dax, which was up 9.56pc; France's CAC 40, up 8.53pc; the S&P 500, which fell 0.73pc; and Japan's Nikkei, which gained 9.07pc. London's FTSE 100 lost 4.93pc over the year. Elsewhere, the Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 6.8pc last year, less than half its average annual return since global equities bottomed in 2009 and falling short of the 14pc gain forecast by banks and brokerages a year ago. At the same time, viewed against what was available in equities elsewhere, it was the best showing in a decade. "It's a decent return for a difficult year," said Thomas Thygesen, SEB's head of cross-asset strategy in Copenhagen. "Timing is always important, but last year especially so. If you joined Europe's rally from the onset, you did well, but if you came late to the party, you've probably gained very little." Meager gains may be good enough in 2015, with the Standard & Poor's 500 Index concluding the year down almost 1pc for its first annual decline since 2011. And rallies exceeding 8pc for benchmark indices in France, Germany and Italy look downright impressive when compared with the 2.7pc retreat in MSCI's gauge of developed country stocks or the 17pc plunge in its emerging markets gauge. It's only compared with what might have been, that European equities - and the predictions of regional forecasters - disappoint. The Stoxx 600 surged 16pc from January through March - the best quarterly return since 2009 - as the European Central Bank flooded the financial system with cash by purchasing bonds. The index then spent most of the first six months sitting on gains of 15pc or more. Progress sputtered in the second half, with the index falling 75 points from its April high to a low of 339.23 amid concerns that the region's recovery would be interrupted by crises in Greece and China and the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in almost a decade. Along the way came volatility. Since April, the size of daily moves in the Stoxx 600 has widened by more than 40pc, averaging 1pc a day on a closing basis. Although European shares were comparatively stable while the S&P 500 plunged 11pc from August 17 to August 25, their peak-to-trough swing of 18pc from April to September compares with an 11pc lurch in American equities. The upside of the swoon is that valuations for the Stoxx 600 have returned to February levels, before the ECB began buying government bonds. As a result, European stocks are trading at a discount of more than 9pc to their US peers, at 16 times projected earnings. The Stoxx 600 fell 5pc last month, second only to a 9.3pc drop in 2002 as the worst December on record. (Additional reporting Bloomberg) As Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, inset, braces for another round of tough negotiations with creditors, savers are still reluctant to bet their money that this year's talks will be less perilous for their country's place in the Eurozone than 2015. New data from Greece's central bank shows that deposit outflows continued in November for a second consecutive month, even as the nation's lenders plugged their capital shortfalls, and strict capital controls put in place last summer capped withdrawals and money transfers abroad. Deposits held by households and businesses in Greek banks fell close to a 12-year low of 120.9bn in November, bringing total losses to a record of more than 43bn, or 26.4pc of total savings, in the last 12 months. Savers' distrust may derail the government's goal of lifting capital controls by the end of June. Reluctance to return deposits back to banks hinders the ability of lenders to provide credit to the economy, as the government struggles to lead Greece out of recession this year. African market rise for exporters Africa was the fastest growing market for Irish exporters last year with visa applications to Ghana, Kenya and Cameroon all on the rise, according to the Irish Exporters Association. The body said it also saw a growing interest from companies looking to do business in Iran. The top five countries for visa applications were China, India, Russia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, it added. Chief executive Simon McKeever said that the Irish Exporters Association has played a pivotal part in Ireland's "export miracle". "Membership has increased in 2015 and 2016 promises further growth, particularly outside of Dublin where we are planning a major focus on regional development with the establishment of two regional boards in Munster and Connaught backed by a National Council which will accurately represent the membership in terms of size, sector and location across the country," he said. New gloom over China output China's first official economic report of the year suggested manufacturing weakened for a fifth straight month in December, the longest such streak since 2009. The purchasing managers index edged up to 49.7 last month from a three-year low of 49.6 in November, the National Bureau of Statistics said yesterday. That compared with a median estimate of 49.8 in a Bloomberg survey of economists. The non-manufacturing PMI, meanwhile, rose to 54.4, the highest since August 2014. Numbers below 50 indicate deterioration. The slight improvement in the country's sluggish manufacturing sector follows stepped-up stimulus including six People's Bank of China interest-rate cuts. Policy makers trying to meet Premier Li Keqiang's goal of about 7pc growth this year are also facing pressure from employment, which has been steady thanks to a resilient services sector. Radio stations shouldn't put women on air just "to tick a box", two broadcasters have said. Tracey Clifford and Blathnaid Traecy have said in conversation with Jenny Greene that people atched on to the idea that there needed to be more women on radio, but said they should only get the job if they're good enough. Expand Close Jenny Greene / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jenny Greene "I think there was a feeling from some stations who thought, 'we need to hit the female quota', but you don't," Tracey Clifford told the Herald. "If there's no one good out there that you want then don't put them on air. "People just latched on to that and thought you have to put women on air to tick a box. Put them on air if they're good, it doesn't matter if they're a man or a woman. "There isn't a need to give someone a job when they're only doing it a year." 2fm is set to launch a rebrand this month which Jenny said would be "more in the style of BBC Radio 1" in the UK. One of the newest additions to the station is former Spin 1038 presenter Tracy Clifford. With Tracy, Jenny, Jennifer Maguire on Breakfast Republic, Louise McSharry and Ciara King on Chris and Ciara, half the prime-time presenters are now women. "I think in terms of paving the way for other women to come on the radio, 2fm has done a little for that but I don't think we're broadcasting saying: 'We're girls so girls listen to us'," Tracey said. FORWARD Blathnaid Traecy said: "I think it's brilliant that finally a woman, like me, is on an afternoon show and that we are representing being a normal bird in 2016 in Ireland." Video of the Day "I don't think I'm on the radio and I'm a woman, I think we need to stop that now and just move forward," she added. TV3 is revisiting some of the nation's most heart-wrenching adoption stories, beginning with a Chinese girl who is starting to ask questions about her background. Liwen Flanagan (9) was adopted by Angela Martin and Ciaran Flanagan, from Stamullen, Co Meath, and was immediately welcomed to the family home by their three sons, Kyran, Tommy and Sean. The family's journey featured in the documentary series Adoption Stories, in 2010, and now viewers have the opportunity to catch up with Liwen as she begins to ask about her birth mother and China's former one-child policy which led to her adoption. "It seems so long ago now," Angela told the Herald. "When we were growing up in Ireland, the issue of adoption was always around us, whether it was friends or neighbours who had been adopted, so it was always something we had been aware of. "One day, we saw a photograph in a newspaper of a little girl who had been abandoned and left to die because of the one-child policy. That is when we really became aware of the situation in China. We thought it would be great to get one of the little girls." It took three years to process, but eventually the couple were offered a little girl, and brought Liwen home to Ireland. "She settled in fabulously," Angela said. "The only thing was that she had night terrors, but they went away after a few months and then she wasn't an ounce of bother." Liwen's parents began the process again in order to give her a sister, but a change in policies in China made it more complex the second time round. pregnancy "I started panicking because I was coming up to 40 and would almost be too old if we were going to have one ourselves. "The night we stopped filming the original Adoption Stories, I took a pregnancy test, and now Liwen has a little sister, Moya (4)," she said. Video of the Day When the opportunity arose to film Adoption Stories - What Happened Next, Liwen was very excited to return to the screen, and loved every minute of it. "She is a normal kid. I'd see her the same as I'd see every nine-year-old, although she may ask some questions which you wouldn't get from a child living with their birth family. "As she gets older, we give more in-depth answers which are age appropriate. We don't see her as 'being adopted'. We're an ordinary family." Adoption Stories - What Happened Next airs on January 5, at 8.30pm, on TV3. Forget King Nidge - now it's Queen Trish who is poised to reign in 2016. As the wife of crime lord Nidge on hit RTE series Love/Hate, Aoibhinn McGinnity was known for her big personality and even bigger hair. Now the Monaghan star is packing her animal-print frocks and skyscraper heels for the US after landing a role on upcoming Cinemax series Quarry. Expand Close Tom Vaughan-Lawlor who plays Nidge and Aoibhinn McGinnity who plays Trish on RTE's Love/Hate / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tom Vaughan-Lawlor who plays Nidge and Aoibhinn McGinnity who plays Trish on RTE's Love/Hate The 29-year-old was snapped up by top talent agency Gersh - whose A-list clients include Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx - last April. And the role of Marcy in the show, which is based on the novels of Max Allan Collins, could be just the thing to put her on the map in Tinseltown. After spending Christmas at home with her family, however, the rising star insisted she was not stressed about cracking the States this New Year. "I am that bit older now, so I know how things work," said Aoibhinn, who has also famously graced the Bord Gais Energy Theatre stage in Elf: The Musical. Expand Close Aoibhinn McGinnity at the opening night of Mary Poppins. Photo: Brian McEvoy. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhinn McGinnity at the opening night of Mary Poppins. Photo: Brian McEvoy. "I'm not expecting anything to happen overnight and everything that has happened over there has been so nice, so I'm just taking it as it comes. "If it works out and more work comes my way, then great, but if not, that's fine, too. I am not overly stressed about it," says Aoibhinn. Due to hit small screens both sides of the Atlantic later this year, the eight-part programme tells the story of a US marine drawn into the Tennessee underworld after returning from Vietnam in the early 1970s. But Aoibhinn - who coincidentally plays the love interest of a mob boss on the series - isn't the only Love/Hate graduate looking forward to a coola boola 2016 after onscreen husband Tom Vaughan-Lawlor nabbed a part in forthcoming crime flick Infiltrator opposite Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. Despite seemingly biting the bullet after five seasons in 2014, creator Stuart Carolan has hinted that the IFTA-winning show could return to televisions in a different format this year. With movie roles in Jimi Hendrix biopic All is By My Side and rom-com Poison already under her belt, its leading lady certainly hasn't been waiting by the phone. As the fate of a US version of Love/Hate hangs in the balance, though, could the in-demand actress be tempted to reprise the role that transformed her into a household name here? Expand Close Aoibhinn McGinnity / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhinn McGinnity Video of the Day Shuttling back and forth to the Big Apple, Aoibhinn didn't rule out digging out the hair extensions once more: "I don't know - that depends on what's in store. "I still don't have big visions of what the next job needs to be. I just know I'm in the right field and I'm happy in it right now." The National Flag, Citizen Army Flag and IRB Flag are raised at the Flag Raising Ceremony. Photo: Steve Humphreys President Michael D. Higgins greets members of the public after the Flag Raising Ceremony at the opening of the State Commemorative Programme 2016 at Dublin Castle. Photo: Steve Humphreys Sarah Richmond at the Ireland 2016 Peace Proms at the Convention Centre. Photo: Steve Humphreys An explosion of passion, youthful verve, energy and sheer talent. With a dollop of U2, Horslips, heart-stirring sean nos airs and bodhrans - topped off with bagpipes and the Lambeg drum. What better way to kick start the 2016 Commemorations than a diplomatic smorgasbord of Irish music, melding centuries and traditions into something fresh and electric? It had been Arts Minister Heather Humphrey's own idea to begin the Centenary Programme with a Peace Proms, showcasing the music of the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and the 32-County Children's Choir. It turned out to be a stroke of inclusive and harmonious genius - starting the year off on an uplifting and exciting note. And crucially, while there were plenty of politicians present, they were sitting in the audience. No party politics here. Over 2,000 guests, including Dublin Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh, TDs, senators, councillors and a diverse range of other community members, were invited to the New Year's Day event at the National Convention Centre in Dublin. The Taoiseach had been due to attend but cancelled, while spotted in the crowd were broadcaster Joe Duffy, historian Diarmaid Ferriter and equality activist Eamon Farrell. In an address before the concert, Minister Humphreys said they had developed a "really exciting programme" for the year ahead - "and the list is still growing," she added. It has been a time of "enormous creativity and extremely hard work" since the launch last March, the Minister said. With over 500 young musicians on stage, the sheer energy lifted the roof as conductor Greg Beardsell came on stage and they began with a surprising U2 medley of 'Pride' and 'New Year's Day' - neatly including another very Irish motif with a suggestion of St Patrick's Day marching bands. There were beautiful solos by tenor Emmet Cahill - who sang Cavan Girl as a special tribute for the Minister, mezzo-soprano Sarah Richmond from Northern Ireland, who sang One World in Harmony, and sopranos Megan Rugy Walsh and Aimee Banks. There was a playful 'drumoff' between the bodhran and the Lambay drum. And another between the Uilleann pipes and the bagpipes. There was Irish dance and there was highland dance, and everything all seemed very natural and very harmonious - belying the century that it has taken to make inclusiveness look this easy. But the most beautiful musical moment of all was arguably Sibeal Ni Chasaide's haunting and moving rendition of Mise Eire - a new arrangement of Pearse's poem by renowned composer Patrick Cassidy which had audiences nodding to one another in sheer delight. The pace of the whole night was snappy and high energy and as it finished with a robust 'Ireland's Call', every one was well on song for the rest of the Commemorative programme in the year ahead. Earlier in the day, the first Commemorative event of 2016 took place at Dublin Castle, with a flag-raising ceremony amid unfortunately heavy rain. Two minutes before noon - when the Army No 1 Band were due to begin their recital - a sudden gust swept down all their seats and music stands with an deafening clatter, causing a scramble. A Government official gazed out the window in despair at the downpour, confiding: "It's a nightmare for protocol." Nobody escaped a soaking - except perhaps the President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Cor na nOg performed 'Danny Boy', followed by an opening prayer. The President inspected a military Guard of Honour and there was a moving moment as the names of all 78 on the 1916 roll of honour were read aloud, followed by a minute's silence. Then the flag of the Citizen Army - which flew from the Imperial Hotel during Easter Week 1916 and the flag of the IRB and the tricolour - which were flown from the GPO - were raised before the National Anthem was played. Amongst those present were EU commissioner Phil Hogan, Sinn Fein President Martin Mc Guinness and Tanaiste Joan Burton - who looked none the worse for her ducking in the floodwaters of Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, the previous day. Afterwards, 1916 relatives Richard and Monica Comerford - the grandchildren of Philip Clarke of the Irish Citizen Army, killed in the fighting in St Stephen's Green - said they had deeply enjoyed the ceremony. "It was very well done," said Monica, adding that she very much hopes to be at the GPO for the main event at Easter. Former law student Incedal, 27, was acquitted of planning either a Mumbai-style attack or the assassination of Tony Blair following the retrial at the Old Bailey in April 2015. Photo: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire A Made In Chelsea star, billionaire friends of Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge, and "high end" drug dealing were all discussed behind closed doors in Britain's first secret terror trial. Former law student Erol Incedal, 27, was acquitted of planning either a Mumbai-style attack or the assassination of Tony Blair following the retrial at the Old Bailey in April 2015. But he was jailed for three and a half years for possessing a bomb making document on an SD card along with his co-defendant Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar, also 27, who was handed three years. Much of the case was heard in secret in the interests of national security and the Lord Chief Justice will rule in January on a media challenge over the principle of open justice. Meanwhile, dozens of transcripts have been made public following a review - giving a fresh insight into the Turkish-born Londoner's unusual lifestyle while keeping the crux of the case firmly under wraps. Here are 19 things the public was not allowed to know about Incedal's defence during the controversial case: :: Incedal's fellow student friend Ruslan Mamedov used to work as a gofer for billionaire friends of Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge, and would siphon off thousands of pounds he was entrusted with when they went to plush Mayfair clubs. :: Ruslan used to take Incedal and Rarmoul-Bouhadjar on shopping sprees to look the part when they went out with him and the wealthy sons of an Azerbaijani minister. :: The jury was shown pictures of Incedal trying on expensive jackets in Harrods which he said he sent to his wife to see which one she liked best. :: During a night out at Mamounia Lounge, in Knightsbridge, Incedal took a photograph of a cast member of Made In Chelsea who was pointed out to him by Rarmoul-Bouhadjar. :: Among hundreds of other pictures on his phone, was an image of a champagne bottle with a sparkler in it taken on another outing at Tramp nightclub in Mayfair. :: Incedal, a father-of-three, wanted to make money by getting into the "high end, high quality, very expensive drugs trade" in Knightsbridge and Mayfair - rather than a "back street in Peckham". :: When Mamedov was arrested, 244,000 was found in a safety deposit box in Metrobank to be used to build houses in Azerbaijan. :: The defendant said: "The only thing I can say on Ruslan's part is he is not being totally truthful with his billionaire friends in taking out money but other than that there's nothing criminal about it." :: When Incedal was detained in 2013 on suspicion of planning a terrorist act, he had on him 4,850 in cash wrapped in a Harrods bag. :: Incedal said he used to go to the gym three or four times a week as he tried to get fit. :: The defendant became interested in Islam after 9/11 when he was 13 years old, but he insisted it had nothing to do with the terror attacks. :: Ex-prime minister Mr Blair did not just make some people angry, he had made "a lot of people angry" because "he invaded Afghanistan and he invaded Iraq", Incedal said. :: Via Skype, he told his jihadi contact in Syria that he had seen the deputy prime minister of Iraq in a chemist but denied this was code for Mr Blair. :: At the time, he said he was unaware that there were four deputy prime ministers for Iraq, a fact he only learned in prison from Iraqi inmates. :: In 2011, he thought about killing himself, he said: "Such was the state of my mind I used to drive my car 60, 70mph on the Old Kent Road and close my eyes and hope that I crashed and died, so these were the thoughts that went through my mind." :: Pornography was why Incedal deleted the Safari history on his iPhone, there was "absolutely no other reason", he said. :: Asked why he took a picture of a London synagogue, Incedal said it was "out of love". On Islam, Judaism and Christianity, he said: "All three religions believe in Abraham, Moses, Jesus so - not exactly Jesus bit when it comes to Judaism - but yes to the nearest meaning." :: On a bugged conversation in his car about putting the Islamic flag up at the Syrian embassy in London, he said: "But we were laughing, we were just joking, it was just some black humour. It was nothing serious." :: Cross-examining, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC asserted: "You were planning a terrorist attack of some sort in this country, weren't you." Incedal replied: "That's absolutely false." Out of their uniforms and into glamorous civvies, two racing style queens are planning their 2016 racing schedule as Fairyhouse marks the running of the Irish Grand National a century ago. The Co Meath race course holds a special place in the hearts of Garda Ciara Murphy from Dunboyne and army Captain Catherine Lundon from Mullingar as they both won the coveted Carton House 'Most Stylish Lady' on Easter Monday in 2015 and 2014 respectively. Ciara, a garda stationed at Store Street in Dublin and Catherine, who is studying at the Military College in the Curragh camp in Co Kildare after returning from UN peace keeping duties abroad both won the keenly contested 8,000 Carton style stakes competition. Ciara and Catherine hope to attend Fairyhouse on Easter Monday where race goers will witness a commemoration of the historic Irish Grand National meeting which took place as the opening shots of the Rising rang out through the capital. The racecourse are planning a restaging of the 1916 Irish Grand National race with the help of the local Ward Union Hunt. Fairyhouse played a pivotal part in the events of Easter Monday 1916 as the race was the biggest sporting event in the country. The capital emptied of citizens and British Army personnel who attended the Irish Grand National which was a highlight of the social calendar. On April 24, 2016 a crowd of over 25,000 shouted on 'All Sorts' to victory but there was consternation when news of the uprising reached Fairyhouse 20 miles away. All vehicles and nearby trains were commandeered by the British Army as the officers and soldiers scrambled to get back to Dublin and 'All Sorts,' the Richard Cleary-trained winner had to be walked home the 100km to Streamstown in Co Westmeath due to the sudden lack of transport. These days, the race is known as Ireland's richest jump race and is worth over 275,000. Carton House is again sponsoring the Most Stylish Lady competition on March 28. Catherine Lundon missed out on defending her crown last year as she was away on UN peacekeeping duties on the Syrian-Israeli border. She moves effortlessly between her army fatigues, khakis and heavy boots and race day glamour and last Monday, was runner-up in the Monart 'Most Stylish Lady' at Leopardstown. Ciara made it into the top 10 finalists at Leopardstown. With their proven winning style, the girls were invited back to Fairyhouse for a photocall to mark the commemoration plans. It was, appropriately, a mix of modern and vintage silhouettes for the day; Catherine wore a vintage hat from New York while Ciara swapped her garda blue uniform for a blue coat from Dunnes Stores. Enrolments are up for the second year in a row after a decline caused by the financial crash in 2008. (Stock photo) Pupil numbers in fee-paying schools are on the rise again as family finances steady and recover in the post-recession era. Enrolments are up for the second year in a row - after a decline caused by the financial crash in 2008. While not all are seeing extra demand for places, a turnaround is evident with three in five of the 51 schools in the sector growing their pupil numbers. Many schools have also introduced fee rises this year, and, in most cases annual day fees are in 4,000-7,000 range. However, fees vary widely with parents paying anywhere between 2,600 and 12,646 this year for a day pupil at these elite schools. A number of schools offer both a day pupil rate and a higher day boarder rate, the latter covering options such as supervised evening study and evening meal. Read More For instance, in St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Dublin - currently the most expensive day school in the country - there is an annual fee of 12,426 for day pupils, who go home at 5.30pm, while the charge for day boarders is 14,832. In another example, at Villiers School, Limerick, the day pupil rate is 3,520, while the day boarder rate ranges from 4,120 to 5,020, depending on the options taken. It is common practice for schools to offer discounts where siblings are attending at the same time. The harsh economic climate post-2008 caused a state of flux in the fee-paying sector, with schools hit by a combination of crashing family finances, as well as cuts in Government supports. The financial squeeze and the ongoing uncertainty led to some schools making the radical decision to give up their private status and enter the free education scheme, reducing the overall number from 55 to 51. In 2014, Gormanston College, Co Meath; Newtown School, Waterford; and St Patrick's Cathedral School, Dublin, entered the free scheme. A year previously, Kilkenny College, Kilkenny did the same, following Wilson's Hospital School, Co Westmeath in 2011. Against that trend, Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, went into the fee-paying sector in 2014 after a long-running dispute with the Department of Education over the level of contribution sought from parents while in the free education scheme. Read More The growth in enrolments in the fee-paying schools was a feature of the Celtic Tiger era, as increasing numbers of parents sought to buy advantage for their children. Enrolments peaked in September 2008, with 26,685 pupils in the 55 fee-paying schools at the time, but by the end of that month, the full scale of the economic disaster began to unfold and the narrative changed dramatically. The scale of the crash left many families struggling to keep children in these schools, and many turned to grandparents and credit unions for support, while some were forced to abandon the aspiration of private education completely. At the height of the austerity era, the sector was also targeted for a series of cuts in government support, which in turn led to a further squeeze on their finances. From a state funding point of view, the difference between fee-paying schools and those in the free education scheme is that the former do not receive State grants for day-to-day running costs, or for building works. But the Department of Education does foot the bill for the overwhelming number of their teachers - to the tune of about 90m a year. Between 2011 and 2013, the then Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn reduced this support. The State now pays for one teacher for every 23 pupils in schools that charge fees, compared with one teacher for 19 pupils for schools in the free education scheme. The worsening of the State-funded pupil-teacher ratio means fee-paying schools have to dig deeper into their own resources, and/or increase fees, to pay teachers privately if they want to maintain advantageous staffing levels that they use as a selling point to parents. Read More Having more teachers allows them to offer smaller classes and maximum subject choice for students. The net reduction in the number of fee-paying schools from 55 to 51 stripped cohorts of pupils from the sector, so overall numbers may never recover to the peaks of 2008/09. However, the steadying of both the State and family finances has brought stability and signs of new growth to the sector, Among 50 schools that were fee-paying in 2008/09 (the group does not include Rockwell College, which was then in the free education scheme but is now fee-paying ) and that are still fee-paying, there has been a turnaround in pupil numbers in the past two years, according to Department of Education figures. Enrolments in those 50 schools stood at 24,192 in 2008/09 but dropped to below 23,900 in both 2011/12 and 2012/13. However, they grew again to 23,983 in 2013/14 and 24,112 in 2014/15 as family finances steadied and recovered in the post-recession era. Additional reporting by Ciara Treacy A swimmer in his 70s was airlifted to hospital today after he got difficultly in the Irish Sea. The man was spotted off the North Beach in Rush, Co Dublin, by a fishing vessel shortly after 9.30am. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter 116, a coast guard crew from Skerries, and Skerries RNLI were dispatched to the scene. An Irish Coast Guard spokesman said the man made it ashore himself within 10 minutes, but was distressed and airlifted to Drogheda for a check up. However, there was no ambulance to meet the man, suspected to be suffering from hypothermia, at the landing site, O'Raghallaighs GAA grounds. In a statement this evening, the HSE said: "The Irish Coast Guard responded to a search and rescue call this morning." "They notified the National Ambulance Services approximately 10 minutes prior to its estimated time of arrival in Drogheda." "All ambulances in the region were at that time tasked with prior calls." "The Coast Guard had a jeep ready to meet the helicopter on its arrival as is standard practice and decided to transport the patient to Our Lady Of Lourdes hospital." Emer Higgins with her baby boy Conor who was born at Mayo General Hospital. Photo: Conor McKeown Greta Doncova and Adonias Miranda with Gabriela Miranda who was the first baby born at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, Dublin.. Photo credit: Barbara Lindberg. Sarah and Colin OGrady with their first baby Oisin born at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. Picture: Hany Marzouk Prof Fergal Malone of the Rotunda congratulates Leanne Byrne from Blanchardstown on the birth of her baby boy Zac. Photo: Peter Houlihan Ireland's first baby of 2016 arrived just seconds after the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day. Little Kieran Patrick Gibbons was welcomed at University Maternity Hospital, Limerick 11 seconds after midnight. Both mother and son are happy and healthy, with baby Kieran weighing 8lbs and 3oz. His proud mother Jennifer O'Neill told the Irish Independent: "It's fantastic. We're absolutely delighted with him. "He was due on the first of the first and he arrived just on time. It's been a fantastic way to start the New Year." Ms O'Neill, who is a practising pharmacy technician at Robert's Pharmacy on O'Connell Street, Limerick added that the labour lasted almost 48 hours. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Sarah OGrady from Corofin, Co. Galway with her first baby Oisin born at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe on New Years Day. Picture: Hany Marzouk On his first day as Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Prof Fergal Malone congratulates Leanee Byrne from Blanchardstown (pictured) on the birth of her baby boy Zac (4.45kgs) at 3 minutes past midnight on New Years Day at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Photo: Peter Houlihan Sinead Boyle, Barnaderg, Tuam with her baby girl Saoirse who was born in Galway University Hospital at 57 seconds after midnight on New Year's Day weighing 8lb 11oz. Photo: Joe Travers. Sarah and Colin O'Grady from Corofin, Co. Galway with their first baby Oisin born at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe on New Years Day. Picture: Hany Marzouk Little Kieran Patrick Gibbons arrived at eleven seconds past midnight. Leanee Byrne from Blanchardstown (pictured) on the birth of her baby boy Zac (4.45kgs) at 3 minutes past midnight on New Years Day at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Photo: Peter Houlihan Sinead Boyle, Barnaderg, Tuam with her baby girl Saoirse who was born in Galway University Hospital at 57 seconds after midnight on New Year's Day weighing 8lb 11oz. Photo: Joe Travers. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah OGrady from Corofin, Co. Galway with her first baby Oisin born at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe on New Years Day. Picture: Hany Marzouk "It started at 1am on Wednesday morning and it finished up at 11 seconds past midnight today," she said, adding that delighted dad Mark Gibbons had "gone home to have a rest". Meanwhile, the second baby of 2016 was born at the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street. Little Gabriela Doncova arrived at 21 seconds past midnight. Proud dad Adonias Miranda said both Gabriela and her mother Greta are doing well. "The due date was the 5th of January so she came early. We had to drive up from Wexford when Greta's waters broke," he said. "We brought her here straight away and there were no problems." In Galway University Hospital, Sinead Boyle from Barnaderg, Tuam welcomed baby Saoirse 56 seconds after midnight, while Leanne Byrne from Blanchardstown welcomed baby Zac in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital three minutes past the hour. The first baby of 2016 for Cork Maternity Hospital arrived at 13 minutes past midnight, while the Coombe welcomed a baby girl 14 minutes into the new year. The arrival of Anna Adebusayo Adeoye was an exciting start to the new year for her parents Michelle and Kehinde Adeoye, who live in Tallaght. Both Michelle and delighted dad Kehinde called it "the best New Year ever", after a delivery that exceeded 15 hours. "We were joking yesterday, saying: 'She's waiting until 12am!'" Michelle told the Irish Independent. "She wanted to be a New Year baby, but we didn't realise," she added. It was a busy night in Westmeath, as five babies were delivered between midnight and 9am in Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, the first of which was a baby boy who arrived at 12.20. In Waterford General Hospital, three babies have been born since the clock struck 12, the first was a baby boy born at 22 minutes past midnight. A baby girl weighing 3.4kg was the first baby born in Wexford this year, arriving 27 minutes into 2016. Bridget McCormack, Assistant Director of Midwifery, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, said: "It is a special day." "Most days here are great days, but it is really lovely for the first New Year's baby to be born in our hospital," Ms McCormack added. Bridget Kinsella at her home in Springfield, Clonlara, Co Clare where flood waters are expected to rise. Photo: Brian Gavin Homeowners, whose properties are located in areas worst affected by repeat flooding, would be offered compensation to relocate to higher ground under plans being considered by the Government. Senior Coalition sources last night said financial packages may need to be provided to families who live in areas that have been repeatedly hit, particularly in parts of the Shannon catchment. The news comes after Mr Kenny himself said a relocation plan may have to be implemented. "We can't force people out of their homes so some form of package is needed," said a senior Government source. Coalition TDs are becoming increasingly concerned that the fallout from the winter storms will become a major election issue. The relocation issue and other matters are expected to be discussed by ministers during the first Cabinet meeting of the New Year. Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday chaired an emergency meeting at Government Buildings as communities continue to reel from the devastating impact of Storms Desmond and Frank. Despite the major clean-up operation that has been underway for days, several towns and villages remain flooded. The country overall is on severe flood alert, as forecasters predict more heavy rain in the coming days. Mr Kenny yesterday asked a number of his ministers to prepare detailed reports in relation to what is further required from Government in order to respond to the flood crisis. "I have directed that the appropriate government departments bring memos to next Tuesday's Cabinet meeting outlining actions taken to date, and what further measures that can be taken to mitigate the suffering of those affected," Mr Kenny, who visited flood hit areas on Thursday, said in a statement. The meeting lasted more than 90 minutes and was attended by Tanaiste Joan Burton, Chief Whip Paul Kehoe, OPW Minister Simon Harris and junior agriculture minister Tom Hayes. It is understood that discussions took place around the prospect of giving a greater role to the Defence Forces as part of the overall response to the crisis. A number of ministers, including Mr Kehoe, praised the work of army personnel and said an enhanced role for the army was an option that should be seriously considered in the future. Meanwhile, senior Government figures are fearful that the flooding epidemic that has held parts of the country to ransom for almost a month has now become an election issue. Families have complained that they have had difficulty drawing down money from emergency funds as they look to repair and save homes. Concern is now growing among Government ranks that voters will turn angry in the next three weeks and then turn on the Government before the General Election in spring. "It will be a huge election issue if it is not handled properly," said a Government source. "People would be right to be angry. If it was my home that was hit I would be angry too," they added. It's also expected that the Dail will debate a bill tabled by Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy to establish a single authority to manage the Shannon. However, some living on the Shannon think the creation of a single authority to manage the river is not necessary. Visit eGlobalEducation.com for more information about our trips. A government minister has said the windfall from the economic recovery should be used to dredge a number of the country's key rivers, including the Shannon and the Suir. The dredging of river beds is often at the centre of controversy due to a number of legal restrictions, some of which are imposed at EU level. However, the recent flood damage caused by Storms Desmond and Frank has led to calls for the issue of dredging to be seriously examined. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Fine Gael minister Tom Hayes said he believed the proceeds of our economic growth should be invested into dredging. Mr Hayes, who is the Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, singled out the rivers Shannon and Suir for future dredging programmes. The Suir runs through Mr Hayes's own constituency of Tipperary. "It's very costly. But overall, it's money well worth spending and that's the kind of money we can spend now with the economy growing," he added. Mr Hayes's call for a dredging programme came as Sinn Fein joined the demands for a single authority to manage the river Shannon. The issue will be voted on in the Dail in the coming weeks after a motion was tabled by Fianna Fail TD for Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy. A farmer making his way through the flooding in Clonlara, Co Clare. Picture Credit: Brian Gavin Gerry OLeary from Ardrahan walks along the main Galway to Limerick road. Photo: Ray Ryan The country is facing into another torturous weekend of rain and flooding, as storms continue to batter several counties. Flooding is now getting as bad as the extremes seen in 2009 in several parts of the country. Incessant rain led to warnings of flash flooding and the threat of more families being evacuated from their homes. Others were left without power amid high coastal winds and torrential rain. Parts of Tipperary that have not flooded for more than 200 years were under water last night as rivers flowed down roads near Cahir and Clonmel. Meanwhile, a road in Galway that had previously been used to divert traffic away from major floods was under water for the first time since 1995. Met Eireann issued a Yellow Weather Warning for nine counties that will run on for at least part of today. More than 35mm of rain is expected to fall nationwide with higher totals likely in mountainous areas. Cork received some consolation with the news that the ESB would not be increasing the discharge of water through the Inniscarra Dam. However, Limerick and Clare were concerned as the ESB announced it was increasing the flow of water through Parteen Weir to 470 cubic metres per second. In 2009, this figure reached 500 cubic metres per second and had a devastating effect to homes and businesses downstream. Now the ESB says that further increases are likely. This will raise the possibility of some of the worst-affected parts of the country being hit by more floodwater. "The levels in Lough Derg may reach 2009 levels in the coming days and, as a result, the flow through Parteen Weir may increase to those levels," said a spokesperson for the ESB. "This level of water flow will have increased associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon, Annacotty and the University of Limerick." It comes as the ESB looks to maintain the levels on Lough Derg, where a young horse was dramatically rescued by an RNLI lifeboat crew after it fell into the Shannon and was washed down into the lake. The Army again maintained a presence in south Co Clare - where the flooding is so severe that it is impossible to identify where the banks of the River Shannon used to be. Levels on the river increased further as rain poured down yesterday. In Athlone the waters had increased by 2cm, leaving levels just 5cm off the record of 2009. Banagher, Co Offaly, saw an increase of 10cm, while in Limerick they increased by 8cm. The River Suir also rose yesterday and is likely to have a devastating effect on Clonmel, Co Tipperary, with storms predicted to rage for another three weeks. More than 40 families there have been issued with precautionary evacuation notices with heavy rainfall expected to have a severe impact on parts of the town. Residents at the Hughes Mill apartment complex were told to prepare for the worst as water is expected to rise on the River Suir over the weekend. Local Councillor Andy Moloney said that anyone living there has been told by Tipperary County Council to be prepared to leave at any minute because of the Yellow Weather Warning. "The water had receded but with the weather that is on the way in the next 48 hours it is likely that the water will get higher than it had been previously," he said. "The river splits into two in the middle of the town and these apartments are located in the middle of that," he added. "I think people clearing fields and ditches on the mountains is a huge issue because the water is making its way down into the rivers quicker and they cannot cope." The ESB was working last night to restore power to almost 2,000 customers who were cut from their supply. In Cork, more than 1,600 people on the north side of the city were without electricity yesterday. Customers in Kerry, Mayo, Louth and Dublin were also affected by service faults. The rain also had a severe effect on travel - with a huge number of road closures in areas worst affected. Kilkenny County Council warned motorists of a high chance of flash flooding in the county today making driving conditions treacherous. Meanwhile, a number of roads in Tipperary near Nenagh, Thurles and north as far as Westmeath remained closed last night. In Galway, areas in the south of the county near Gort were again severely hit by stormy weather. Towns and villages to the north of the county were also cut off, with local Fine Gael councillor Peter Keaveney saying Williamstown was flooded for the first time in 21 years. "It was used as a detour during previous storms when the main roads were under water but it is cut off," he said. "Locals are trying to find a way out through a quarry because the main road through the village is flooded," he added. "Anywhere there is a basin in the land has been filled with water." Declan OConnell of Lee Travel in his Midleton shop as the clean up continues after the flooding this week. Photo: Provision On the cover of glossy holiday brochures behind the counter of Lee Travel, sun-kissed beaches and palm tree-lined isles never looked so appealing. But on Midleton's Main Street, Declan O'Connell is busy trying to dry out his travel agents after flood waters measuring a foot-and-a-half rushed through the door earlier this week. Like so many business and home owners in the east Cork town, and elsewhere across the country, he was caught unawares. "We really didn't expect to be hit so hard I suppose. Our shop here was one of the first to be flooded in Midleton and the last to dry out when the waters receded. But look, it was a natural combination of the strong easterly winds, heavy rain, high tides and full moon - we got all those together and my hope is that we'll be spared over the next few weeks," he said. With almost half the travel agent's annual income being generated in the first six weeks of the year, Declan is determined to get the store up and running in the coming days. As relentless sheets of rain swept into the town yesterday, most dwellers in the town centre had battened down the hatches - sandbags stacked outside their front doors. Those who could leave, did so. On Broderick Street, the Liang family continued their own personal clean-up operation. Their terraced home had been destroyed when water levels reached the third step of the stairwell as they slept in the early hours of Wednesday morning. While their electricity has been reconnected, the structural impact is immense with a gaping hole in a sitting room wall. The Liang children, Rachel (9) and Ryan (4), dance to avoid the constant thrust of the mop as the family attempt to dry their home inside. "The water got everywhere. Everything is damp and destroyed," said their mother - who has worked tirelessly, day and night, since Storm Frank hit Midleton, to salvage their home. As in Bandon, Glanmire, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Graiguenamanagh, Athlone and so many other submerged towns, villages and parishes, they are suffering from exhaustion this weekend as the rain continues to fall. "I've barely slept since Tuesday night," said one elderly resident of the Woodlands estate, which was evacuated at the height of the storm. "I keep thinking the waters will come back and I've worked too hard on my home over the years to let more destruction come under the door." Many criticised local authorities for not doing more to assist. "When a river was flowing through the town, who pumped it out? Not the fire service or the council, but local farmers with their tractors and pumps. What would we have done without them? If we'd been depending on the emergency services we might still be under water I'm afraid," said one evacuated homeowner. In towns such as Bandon, locals are moving from the clean-up operation to the future flood prevention stage as Met Eireann warns of three more weeks of disrupted weather. Rain battered the southern half of the country for most of New Year's Day as talk of a more modest Storm Gertrude entered the weather vernacular. All across the country many people who've seen their homes destroyed have criticised the Government for moving too slowly on the flood crisis. Billy Reidy in Midleton said: "So the Taoiseach will have the big flood meeting. It's a bit late for that, don't you think, when half the country is already under water?" Last night authorities were monitoring rising levels on rivers such as the Blackwater in Cork, the Suir, the Barrow, the Nore and the Slaney. Water levels continue to increase along the Shannon, especially in Athlone, Banagher and Limerick. The sun-kissed beaches of summertime seem an awful long way off. Gardai were alerted at approximately 4.50am after the noise of gunshots were reported, with officers subsequently notifying paramedics. Photo: PA GardaI are investigating whether a teenager who was shot on New Year's Day was targeted as a result of a minor local dispute. The young man, aged in his late teens was attacked at a house in the Piercetown area of Newbridge, Co Kildare in the early hours of yesterday morning. He was approached by a man who produced a firearm, believed to be a shotgun and shot the victim once in the leg. The assailant then fled the area as emergency services rushed to the scene. The victim was attending a New Year's Eve party at a house in the Dara Park estate of the Piercetown area. At least one shot is believed to have been fired from inside the house. Gardai were alerted at approximately 4.50am after the noise of gunshots were reported, with officers subsequently notifying paramedics. The injured man was rushed to Naas General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The scene of the shooting was promptly sealed off. Forensic officers conducted technical examinations, while gardai were also carrying out door-to-door inquiries last night. Detectives are attempting to locate a man seen leaving the area in a hatchback car shortly after the shooting. The man, who was wearing a black tracksuit, is described as being approximately five foot 10 inches in height and spoke in a Dublin accent. Anyone with information in relation to the shooting is being asked to contact detectives at Newbridge garda station, where an incident room has been set up. The areas affected are: Midleton South East, Ballynacorra, Cloyne, Aghada, Whitegate, Ballycotton, Churchstown, Trabolgan and surrounding rural areas. Photo: Colm Mahady Some 10,000 Irish Water customers have been put on boil water notices in areas of east Cork. The utility, on the advice of the HSE, has told customers on the Whitegate Regional Water Supply Scheme to take the precaution due to "high turbidity in the Dower spring source". Irish Water says the notice has been implemented as a precautionary measure pending further investigation in the interest of public health. All customers in the affected areas are advised to boil all water for drinking, food preparation, brushing of teeth and making of ice until further notice. Water can be used as normal for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets. The areas affected are: Midleton South East, Ballynacorra, Cloyne, Aghada, Whitegate, Ballycotton, Churchstown, Trabolgan and surrounding rural areas. This notice does not apply to other areas or water schemes in Co Cork. Strategy will target use of mobile phones while driving. (Stock Photo) Seatbelts and mobile phones will be a key focus as road safety campaigners drive forward their message during the coming year. The Government road safety strategy aims to reduce road casualties to 25 deaths per million population within the next five years. This works out here at an annual total of 124 or fewer deaths, an average of 10.3 deaths per month. Garda targets are set at trying to achieve 10 fewer deaths each year from 2013 to 2020, resulting in fewer than 100 fatalities by the deadline. The head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, Chief Supt Mark Curran told the Irish Independent that their campaign to improve road user behaviour will focus particularly on the failure to wear seatbelts. He pointed out that 30pc of drivers and vehicle occupants were not wearing the belts at present - if this attitude could be changed, the death toll could drop further. Gardai will also highlight the dangers posed to drivers by distractions, including the use of mobile phones when behind the wheel. An analysis by the Road Safety Authority of road fatalities for the first 10 months of 2015 showed there were more deaths among the 16-25 and 56-65 categories, compared to the same period in 2014. But there were fewer deaths in all other age groups, particularly among children of 15 years and younger. The largest decrease was among drivers aged 66 years or over. Meanwhile, the number of learner drivers involved in fatal collisions fell by 75pc over the past 10 years. The majority of driver fatalities occurred on higher speed roads, while half of them resulted from single vehicle collisions. Most pedestrian fatalities occurred in hours of darkness, with two-thirds of them in areas with poor or no lighting, while 72pc of victims had not taken any high visibility precautions. The analysis also showed that Sundays were the worst day for road fatalities in 2015. Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald gets a less than warm handshake from British prime minister Margaret Thatcher when strains in relationships between the two countries were at a high before the signing Media coverage of State papers from 1985 this week provided a window into the way we were 30 years ago. Politics is lived very much in the present but can quickly turn to history even in a short time. The papers released were also a throwback to the days of ludicrously regressive contraceptive laws, moving statues and the sorry saga of the Kerry babies case. Archive photos brought back grainy images of the bad old days of Catholic Ireland, bad hairstyles and unfortunate moustaches. It was also a year when Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' produced 58 murders, a tragic state of affairs which had sadly become normalised on both islands. The previous year, the IRA had bombed the Tory party conference in Brighton, killing five of the British prime minister's close colleagues and injuring many more. The situation in the North looked bleak. But behind the scenes, and shrouded in secrecy, work had intensified at official and political level during that year to draw together the parameters of a new Anglo Irish Agreement relating to the North. The previous year, Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald had endured the humiliation of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's "Out, out, out" dismissal of the three options proposed in the New Ireland Forum Report. But now, after feverish diplomacy and for the first time, the Republic was in November 1985 conceded a formal consultative role in the affairs of the six counties through the establishment of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and an Irish secretariat at Maryfield. The British government accepted that there could be a united Ireland but only with the consent of the people of Northern Ireland, while the Irish government accepted continued partition as long as the people of the North wished to remain in the UK. The principle of consent was fundamental to the deal; there was also to be enhanced cross-border cooperation on legal, security and political issues as they arose. Garrett FitzGerald and Margaret Thatcher, guided ably by their senior diplomats - memorably described as a "galaxy of skills" by British foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe - had crafted the agreement, which was registered as an international treaty at the United Nations. The accord was to prove controversial, particularly because it excluded unionists in its making which caused furore in Northern Ireland. It also provoked negative reaction from Fianna Fail in the Republic by the opposition of Charles J Haughey, who unhelpfully played the green card by holding on to the united Ireland mantra. Mary Harney parted company with Fianna Fail because of its rejection of the agreement to join Des O'Malley in the fledgling new party the Progressive Democrats. O'Malley himself had been expelled for "conduct unbecoming" by refusing to vote against liberalising the availability of contraceptives. The background to this new departure as represented in the Anglo Irish Agreement can be traced back to principles honed over many years by nationalist leader John Hume and his colleagues in the SDLP. According to Hume, the three essential principles to a solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland were a rejection of violence, that Irish unity could only be achieved with the consent of the majority, and that nationalism was a legitimate political ideology and aspiration for the minority in Northern Ireland, which could be advanced by political means in a power-sharing government. Hume, over many years, had preached his theory with such repetition and conviction that the term 'Hume speak' was attributed to his approach. Hume used his position as an MP and MEP to influence opinion makers in Brussels, the House of Commons and the US Senate. His non-violent dogma was at variance of course with the armed strategy of Sinn Fein/IRA, who continued to wage what they deemed a war against the occupying British presence in Northern Ireland. Thatcher was a notoriously bellicose British nationalist who had taken a very hard line with the IRA hunger strikes only four years earlier, and regarded Northern Ireland "as British as Finchley". So, the agreement was a political surprise and viewed as a fundamental shift in British policy. Margaret Thatcher, at the time and subsequently, felt the pressure was all on the British side and feared she was conceding too much given the white heat of unionist opposition. For the Irish side, it was clearly a significant advance to win a formal role in the affairs of Northern Ireland taking precedence over the unionist veto which had scuppered earlier hopes of a new beginning for Northern nationalists. The SDLP and the Alliance were fully on board and supportive, with Seamus Mallon in particular reported to be emotional and enthusiastic. He pledged to support the pact, despite the fact that Fianna Fail had despatched Brian Lenihan to Washington to advocate against it, oddly aligning his party with other rejectionists like republicans and unionists. Lenihan reportedly got short shrift; Hume had got to the Americans first. Irish America followed through with financial support via the Ireland Funds. The agreement, according to former Ambassador Sean O'Huiginn, was an important staging post in Hume's project to "retro-fit" the 1920s arrangements and to provide a "more sustainable compromise between nationalism and unionism". As predicted, unionists reacted with outrage, prompting the infamous "Never, never, never" speech by Paisley at Belfast City Hall. But like it or not, the two governments had laid down a serious marker. From then on, the intergovernmental relationship would take precedence over the feud between two communities in Northern Ireland. The accord turned out to be unboycotable despite the best efforts of enraged unionists. That British-Irish unity of purpose was perhaps the agreement's most enduring feature. Intergovernmental systems and protocols and a shared project of building peace had been established, which would grow steadily through successive administrations. The Anglo Irish Agreement was the beginning of the end of the old quarrel between the two countries. More than anything, the comprehensive settlement reached in 1998 ending the conflict in Northern Ireland and putting in place the framework for the peace we now enjoy was the product of two governments of one mind. Peace came dropping slowly, with many setbacks on the way. It took 30 years for all the diverse players to shift from previously fixed positions with incompatible ideologies to a longed-for compromise between nationalism and unionism. Too many lives were needlessly lost in the interim; that is the heavy toll of our recent history. Those who gave so much to build peace such as Hume, Mallon and Garret FitzGerald, through negotiation rather than violence, are too often overlooked as the true patriots of the modern age. Enda Kenny will be preparing to take the flak and may have to consider defensive manoeuvres ahead of the election Taoiseach Enda Kenny may not have enjoyed Christmas as much as usual, as the impending election lingers auspiciously in the background with all the inevitability of a half-cooked Brussels sprout. The controversy over his visibility during the flooding crisis will also have dampened his spirits. Today, Enda Kenny has been Taoiseach for four years and 10 months - give or take. As his term draws to a close, the substantive question is this; does he deserve to be returned to the top office for a second spin on the merry-go-round? Swept into power on a tidal wave of anger, adversity and raw public emotion on March 9, 2011, he took the reins. Since then, he has attempted to chaperone us through austerity while keeping a weather eye permanently on his own re-election. Ever the political pragmatist, he has charted a cautious course. While at times difficult and monotonous, he has brought us closer to our ultimate destination - economic recovery. Under his tutelage, the Irish economy is set to grow by over 6pc for 2015. The pace of our national revival is confounding experts and cheerleaders alike. Delivering employment and growth rates that top the leader board across the EU was something Enda Kenny could have only dreamed of when he came in to office. Now those figures are a reality. However, a yet unfulfilled challenge is to convert macro-economic gains into household budgets. A trickier endeavour which requires something more elusive than economic growth; it requires the political dexterity to deliver social reform. The ESRI says that our gains are still not filtering downwards, with families, on average, 10pc worse off due to the combined impacts of the austerity budgets since the recession began. High arching objectives like the radical reform of the health service and a new way of doing political business have fallen by the wayside without much consequence so far. Fine Gael continues to rise in opinion polls. For a party like Fine Gael, whose natural political persuasion lies right of centre, delivering a more equitable society is not their first priority. They are not exactly champions of the working classes. However, entering into a coalition Government with Labour should have provided a practical antidote to FG's preoccupation with the middle class, farmers and business. Their alliance could have helped deliver a lot more social reform, instead of just focusing on the economy. Here is where Enda has underperformed. By focusing primarily on the fortunes of his own party, he has forgotten that Labour has an important role to play in providing a 'yin' to Fine Gael's 'yang'. Further compounded by allowing relations between the two parties to evolve rather than develop, he has failed to nurture a trusting and equitable partnership. Fine Gael won big. Labour won small. As a result, relations are fractured and suspicious. In failing to maximise the potential of that relationship, he has lost out on the most saleable commodity this Government have to offer - stability and cohesion. Subtle nuances of political policies with softer edges may not seem important to the middle class worker who cares about take home pay, service charges and taxation. Nor will they affect those concerned with corporation tax where a lot of Fine Gael support lies. But left leaning policies will be important when it comes to attracting transfers. Ultimately, it will affect the amount of seats returned by Enda Kenny. It will also dictate who the next coalition partnership will be and importantly, it may also affect who will be our next Taoiseach. Assessing Enda Kenny's style is not that difficult. He just doesn't have any. His high fives and "Paddy likes to know" grates on many. He has become a pastiche of sorts. However, we didn't need a JFK figure, we just needed someone who would get the job done. This leaves us with a question - is there any substance to this Dorian Grey like, amiable 64-year-old? There are indications that behind the scenes there is another side. Some of his actions in dealing with problematic political situations have appeared ruthless. While it may not make for pretty PR, it leaves us with an impression that there is more to this ostensibly affable man than meets the eye. The turnover of key personal and senior political figures during his tenure has been unparalleled in modern Irish politics. A serving minister for justice, a garda commissioner, a secretary general, have all resigned or retired under his command. His own deputy leader and biggest supporter James Reilly, a former general secretary and key strategist for the party were both cut loose in difficult controversies. Some of these casualties occurred by their own design, some at his direction, which is which we may never know. There are enough casualties to maintain an illusion that there is a Machiavellian Mayo man lurking somewhere inside Government Buildings and we like it. Enda Kenny reminds me of a life jacket on an aeroplane. I am glad it is there; it is comforting and reassuring. But in the deepest darkest recesses of my mind, the thoughts I barely allow myself to have, I am not entirely convinced they would be of any real benefit at all if we got into serious trouble. In truth, I would prefer a parachute. However, there is no alternative. For now there are no political parachutes, only life jackets. Whether considered a great chief or just a good chairman, Enda has kept us afloat, and we are bobbing along in warmer waters for sure. Like his grandfather James the lighthouse keeper before him, he has kept us from the rocks and we look forward to better times. Job done. Numbers. It's easy to get lost behind them. Just 16pc of those elected to the current Dail are women. That's low - 27 out of 166. It sounds bad. But is it bad enough to get us jumping up and down to change it? Are there better ways to imagine what this number really means? Of course there are. A picture tells a thousand words. The photograph above - coordinated by Senator Ivana Bacik and taken back in 2008 - of the women, still living, who had held seats in the Dail or Seanad, is striking. Those women, lined up in the Dail chamber, make a tiny group; they don't even fill half the room. Their beaming smiles and colourful ensembles cannot make up for their paltry number. And this little group captures all of those women who have ever held public office in our country. Looking at that photo is shocking. Consider then the number 15: the number of players on a rugby team, about half a primary school class on current numbers, a fairly standard number to have around the table on Christmas Day, and - believe it or not - the number of women who have ever, in the history of our State, sat at Cabinet. It's tiny. And yet we had a good start as a fledgling nation. In 1919, Ireland was a leader, with Countess Markievicz being appointed Minister for Labour and becoming the first woman to hold ministerial office in Ireland (naturally) and in Europe. She held her position for two parliaments. But that good start was as slow one. It was 60 years - 60 years! - before another woman was appointed to Cabinet on our little island. In 1979, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn (pictured right) became Aire na Gaeltachta, or Minister for the Gaeltacht, and joined her male colleagues around the Cabinet table. In the following years, Eileen Desmond, Gemma Hussey and Mary O'Rourke all held Cabinet positions. But it was 1993, with the appointment of Niamh Bhreathnach as Minister for Education, that two women sat together at Cabinet. Since then, Nora Owen, Sile de Valera, Mary Harney, Mary Coughlan, Mary Hanafin, Joan Burton, Frances Fitzgerald, Heather Humphreys and Jan O'Sullivan have all made the trip to the Phoenix Park to receive their ministerial seal. Now, with four ministers and a female Attorney General around the Cabinet table, we have the highest number of women ever contributing to the decisions that shape our lives and our country. So, should we celebrate the fact that in the past four years the number of female ministers in the history of the State has gone from 11 to 15, or should we be open-mouthed in horror that the number is still - despite progress - so low? For me, it's a bit of both. It feels like now, finally, we are progressing. The election early next year will see more women than ever before contesting, a result of the 30pc gender quota at party selection level and the consistent and targeted focus on putting measures in place to support female candidates by groups like Women for Election and political parties alike. The commitment to the quota has demonstrated that our governing parties are determined to drive this change using a mechanism that is proved to work. But what after the election? How do we make sure that the momentum gathered over the past few years is maintained? How can we be certain that next time we will see more women again, and more women in positions of influence, contest? How can we get that figure of 15 up and up and up so that it is no longer quite so shocking? There are ways, and all party leaders should be thinking about them now. To increase women's representation, we need a strong pipeline of candidates at local and national level and we need women in positions of power at each stage within the political process. Parties can do simple things to make that happen. After the election, there will be council seats left vacant as victorious councillors trod the well-worn path to the Dail as newly-elected TDs. Party leaders should ensure, in co-opting new councillors, that 50pc are female. Likewise, in planning for the 2019 local elections (far away for you and I but not so for the aspiring councillor), parties should commit to implementing a 30pc gender quota at selection, mirroring the process that happens at general election. But the real chance to make radical change lies with our incoming Taoiseach. He - as looking at current party leadership and election polls it can but be a he - should start with a strong statement of intent by, like his Canadian colleague Justin Trudeau, appointing a balanced Cabinet of half men, half women. The same principle should apply in the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of committees, and his nominations to the Seanad. These changes would signal real change. They would be something to celebrate for a new year. And if our new leader needs inspiration, he should look at that 2008 photo and remind himself that, if we really area a modern democracy, we need more than a rugby team of women making the big decisions over nearly 100 years. On Saturday night we headed for the Rugby Club where a rather special occasion was taking place, Gerry and Betty Mellon from Point Road were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and there to make sure they had a fantastic night were their kids Annmarie, Grace and brother Peter along with partners Barry Boylan and Mary Mellon and grandkids Kayleigh, Emily, Ciaran, Rihanna, Ryan, Seanie, Amy and Rhys along with a huge collection of family and friends. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with Gerry who works in Tesco Longwalk and Betty who works in National Pen and he told me they will celebrate 40 years of wedded bliss on December 27th and they got married in 'The Shed' in Fatima all those years ago and would be joined on the night by best man Paul Mellon and bridesmaid Ann Rafferty, all going well. I then decided to have a look round to see who was there and the first couple I caught up with were George and Susan Mulligan from Muirhevnamor, George told me he is a cousin as was Paddy McDonnell from O'Hanlon Park who was having a laugh with them and they assured me it was going to be anything but a quiet celebration. Just arrived in the door was one of Betty's sisters Angela McKeown from Willow Grove who was there with Seamus McGivern from Fatima who they wanted to wish the couple a very happy anniversary and said they were going to 'boogie all night long.' I then headed over for a chat with my old friend Peter Dollard from Grange Drive who told me it was going to be a thirst quenching epic, he was with son Conor, brother John from Ashling Park and sisters Margaret Martin from Cluan Enda and Kathleen Dollard from Hyde Park who were all up for making it a most memorable night. Heading for another table I then got talking to Elizabeth and Gerard McArdle from Hackballscross who told me they are grandparents to Emily along with Betty and Gerry and said the craic was good so far and getting better by the minute. I then caught up with mother and daughter Eileen and Christina McCabe from Marian Park who work in National Pen with Betty and they wanted to wish Gerry and Betty all the best on their big night and for the future too. Heading down near the dancefloor I then caught up with nephew Jamie McDonnell from O'Hanlon Park who was sitting with his mate Tony Kavanagh from Castlebellingham and Annmarie Mellon who was with her daughters Kayleigh and Emily. The lads were in great form and wanted to wish Gerry and Betty all the best and were up for making it a totally mad one. Seated close by was Barry Boylan who was with the happy couple's daughter Grace and kids Kieran, Rihanna, Ryan and Seanie, Barry certainly had his hands full but said it was going to be a fantastic night for the happy couple. Also seated down near the dancefloor were nephew Stephen McDonnell from O'Hanlon Park and his partner Therese Mulgrew from Muirhevnamor who told me it was going to be a cracking night and they certainly weren't there, just to make up the numbers! After this I got talking to Pat Toner from Newry who was with his wife Rosie who is Gerry's sister and daughter Anne and they were up for making the best of the night. Anne was having a laugh with almost niece-in-law Niamh Carr from Bay Estate who was with Jamie McDonnell from O'Hanlon Park who agreed that it already was a marvellous night. I then headed over for a chat with Mary and Peter Mellon from Dromiskin who were with Mary's parents Barney and Mary Martin from Mariana Park who wanted to wish the happy couple all the best and every happiness for the future. Seated close by were sisters of Betty's and they included Kathleen Dollard from Hyde Park, Ann Dollard from Riverwell Close and Margaret Martin from Cluan Enda who were briefly joined by Ellie Dollard from Muirhevnamor and the sisters told me this was going to be one of the best nights over the Christmas period. Finally, before I departed I caught up with Grace Mellon from Point Road who was having a laugh with Mary Halpenny from Walterstown who told me they were definitely there to party. Just as I left the building I met up with my old friend Paul Mellon from Harbour Cove who was enjoying a laugh with his sister Rosaleen and daughter Anne and Paul assured me it his would be a real night to remember. A local teacher has penned a reference book that will prove invaluable to anyone who finds writing and communicating a minefield. Fiona O'Murchu, who is from Blackrock and is a teacher at Bush PP School has just released her book, 'Write Talk Quick Guide to Writing and Communication'. It will be launched by Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash, and Professor Joe O'Hara, Head of Education in DCU on January 14. 'Write Talk' is a quick reference guide which contains the main rules and conventions of British English. Fiona said that this book 'dispenses with complicated rules and sticks to the basics which form the foundation of good literacy practice.' Professor Joe O'Hara believes that Write Talk is 'an easily accessible resource that facilitates the production of clear, concise and grammatically correct writing. Write Talk is immediately relevant to the academic sphere but I would also argue that it is an essential companion for anyone tasked with writing a report, making a presentation or even crafting a letter.' Fiona said: 'In today's fast-paced world it is essential to get your point across without being misunderstood. From assignments to CVs and job interviews, grammatical errors and poor verbal skills take away from the intended strength and level of competency required in literacy'. The book is available at www.writetalk.ie and from Carrolls, Park Street, priced 11.95. David O'Hare, Paula Duffy, Risa Champion and Sarah Clarke at a Coffee Morning in aid of Dundalk Positive Mental Health Group held in The Oriel Centre The Dundalk Positive Mental Health Steering Committee hosted their Christmas coffee morning in the Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol with a large crowd in attendance! Senator Mary Moran, Chairperson of the Dundalk Positive Mental Health Steering Committee, said: 'We would like to thank Kay Webster, Ciara Mullen Tennyson and everyone at the Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol for allowing us to use this excellent community venue for our coffee morning. Oriel Centre staff were very accommodating and terrific as always.' 'Particular thanks as well to local businesses for their generous donations which made the coffee morning possible and musicians Melissa Hayes, Sinead McNally and Daire O'HEiligh for the beautiful music throughout the morning. 'We had a great turn out at the Christmas Coffee Morning and many thanks to everyone who attended,' added Senator Moran. The main purpose of our coffee morning was to bring people together before Christmas for a chat over cup of coffee and to provide information on mental health services in the area. 'Christmas can be a lonely time for some people and there are a number of local and national services which are available through the Christmas period,' said the Dundalk Senator. It was also an opportunity for the committee to celebrate a very successful Positive Mental Health week held in October this year, with a series of events which succeeded in raising awareness of the issues.' Speaking after the event, Senator Moran added: 'Dundalk Positive Mental Health Steering Committee would like to wish everyone in the community a very Happy Christmas and every best wish for the New Year.' Jamie Conlon, Feargal McArdle and Paul Gilgunn at the Christmas Concert in Colaiste Ris Colaiste Ris has held its annual Christmas concert before a packed hall. Many talented students took to the stage and gave varied and entertaining performances, from jazz to classical, and pop to trad. Instrumentals on violin, cello, piano and uileann pipes were well received by an appreciative audience, and were followed by festive renditions of Christmas carols to cheers from a generous crowd. The first band of the night took to the stage with 'Riptide' by Vance Joy which starred the first-years' ukulele band. The TY group 'Fianait and the Muffin men' enthralled with their own song 'No Different'. Capturing the energy was the Colaiste Ris trad group, while the highlight of many notable performances Guoda's haunting version of 'Hello' by Adele, ably accompanied by Jack Murphy on piano. Jane Quinn, music teacher and producer of the show, thought all of the students did a fantastic job. Principal, Padraig Hamill thanked all the teaching and ancillary staff for their wonderful work. Questions need to be asked about some people's attitude towards Gardai, according to a leading Fine Gael figure, who revealed that Gardai in the Louth division are among the most at risk from being injured at work. Department of Justice figures show more than 580 officers nationally were injured last year alone - the highest annual total for several years. Up to October 2 this year, 383 Gardai have reported work injuries. The annual cost of compensation for officers who are maliciously injured in the course of duty averages around 15m. An analysis of the figures shows gardai in Co Louth are among the most at risk of being injured at work. Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard Durkan, who received the information in response to a parliamentary question, has described the frequency of how often Gardai are attacked at work as 'quite shocking'. He said questions needed to be asked about the attitude of some parts of society to the force, especially as two Gardai, Adrian Donohoe and Tony Golden, were killed on duty in Louth in the past three years. Mr Durkan said: 'It is extremely worrying that there are consistent levels of violence towards Gardai. Waterford is the most dangerous Garda division to be stationed, with more than a third of all gardai in the county experiencing some injury since 2011. The national average is under 20%. More than 30% of Gardai in counties Louth and Donegal, and the west Dublin region have also been injured in the line of duty. The safest part of the country to be stationed is the Garda division of Roscommon/Longford, where just under 12% of officers have sustained a work-related injury. Mr Durkan told the Argus that the figures in Louth were particularly concerning, particularly because of the tragedies visited upon officers with the murders of Gda. Golden and Detective Donohoe within the space of less than three years. He said: 'Gardai are charged with protecting the public and they are guardians of the peace, responsibilities given to them by the public. Over the past number of years, it has been increasingly prevalent they are a target and have been targeted, at times, sadly, with fatal consequences as happened in Louth. 'It is a sad reflection on our society that injuries are commonplace among Gardai when they are carrying out their duty to protect the public, though there are some who see them as a legitimate target. 'Some Gardai are injured, some are left disabled and even unfortunately murdered. We need to look at ourselves in our society and ask where this is heading. We are more blase about Gardai getting injured but this undermines the fabric of our society. 'Every member of the Gardai is a mother, father, daughter or son and go to work. Now, their families, who used to expect their Gardai would be safe while on duty, are more concerned about their well-being than ever before'. Mr Durkan said he feels the increasing number of attacks on Gardai is a symptom of a general trend towards disrespect for authority. He said: 'You can see that lack of respect everywhere. Gardai are also getting hit, thumped, jostled, spat on. It seems to me we are moving in a direction that is not advisable. 'We are so preoccupied with the rights of people charged with crimes that we forget about the rights of victims and of those whose job it is to protect victims'. Louth's Oireactas members met with TUI members from DKIT at a cross party pre-Christmas briefing in the Dail. The meeting was held following trade union objections to state funding cuts for Institutes of Technology. Speaking at the briefing, Louth TD Gerry Adams explained: 'This week TUI members in institutes have voted overwhelmingly to support strike action against these cuts. In DkIT, the figures speak for themselves. In 2007 the state grant was over 22,000, by 2014 it had been reduced to 14,000. This is a reduction of 8,000 - over a third of the DkITs department funding.' He added: 'It is important to note that while State support had been steadily reducing, student numbers are increasing. This means that staff at DkIT have to do more, with less and they have told me that this is compromising learning outcomes and causing them extreme stress. 'This is further compounded by the loss of 40 academic posts and by the Institute's inability to replace old, dilapidated and obsolete equipment. 'In practical terms the lack of funding means that every financial request must be scrutinised with even basic supplies not being replenished.' At the meeting Oireachtas members agreed that a request would be sent to Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan asking her to meet with all those concerned. Dundalk senator Mary Moran welcomed the cross party briefing, and supported the campaign: 'I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the representative group and discuss issues facing DkIT.' 'I have expressed my full support for the group and have contacted Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan TD to organise an early meeting in the New Year.' There is concern at the number of garda in Louth The border counties have 20% of the garda resources and 30% of the crime, members of Louth county council have been told. In welcoming a call for more guards in Louth, Cllr Mark Dearey added everyone is still in the dark over what the optimum number of officers should be. 'We need a decision based on data,' he said. The Green Party representative was speaking on a motion proposed by Cllr Maeve Yore demanding of the Minister for Justice that extra garda resources are made permanent in the county, and calling for reforms in the criminal justice system. She said there are only two community guards for the whole of Dundalk and the media is undermining the force, whose members are demoralised. 'We have to reclaim our communities. Victims of crime have no voice.' Cllr Maria Doyle, whose car was recently broken-into, said resources should be allocated on an evidence-based basis. She added there is no harm in writing to the minister, but resources are a matter for the garda commissioner. Cllr Conor Keelan remarked the benefit can be seen of the extra gardai who have been deployed to the area. 'Are these gardai going to be permanent going forward?' He felt the government's position on crime is re-active, rather than progressive. They plan to refurbish stations, yet are closing others down. Cllr Tomas Sharkey said the guards are telling him regularly that their work is made easier when facilities are in place for young people. He couldn't agree more on the need for data analysis, and believed the traditional form of policing is not the way forward. Cllr Kenneth Flood said he would like to support the motion, but couldn't, given there is no detail of what the reforms are. He noted there used to be 10 community gardai in Drogheda, and now there are three, while the town is struggling to put out a single patrol car. Extra guards make people feel safer, said Cllr Declan Breathnach, and he said 540 community gardai in the country is insufficient - with two counties not having any at all. 'Unless a second Templemore is created, I have no answer to it.' Cllr Richie Culhane told the meeting the government is investing more money in the force in times of austerity than Fianna Fail did in times of prosperity. He made a call for funds to deal with crime in this area and along the border. Cllr Kevin Callan said he spoke to a retired member of the force, who informed him that in 1983 in Omeath there were 30 gardai operating and living in that area. He expressed his concern about rural policing, with officers going out on their own to deal with calls and perform traffic duties. More gardai on the beat is what's required, said Cllr Tommy Byrne. A young couple, the man of which is from Dundalk, and who facing a non-jury trial in the North for alleged bomb making, have had their crown court case adjourned to next month. Co-accused Orla O'Hanlon (20) Church Road, Forkhill and former Grammar school student Keith McConnan (21) of Tievecrom Road, Forkhill are charged with making explosives with intent to endanger life between December 15 and 18, 2013. McConnan was initially in custody Hydebank young offenders' prison since his arrest because of his age but is now on remand at an adult male prison. O'Hanlon has been on continuing bail of 25,000. The non-jury Belfast court has been told that a timing power unit (TPU) and wires were found at an address searched by the PSNI. The TPU was found in a walk in wardrobe in a shoe box, which the court was told could delay the explosion of a device for several days after being put into position. The device was found in an address in the Republic linked to McConnan. The prosecution alleges McConnan purchased the TPU from the internet through a direct debit payment service. A detective told the court that the TPU was ready to be deployed and that it could be detonated remotely by mobile phone. McConnan was remanded into custody to Maghaberry with O'Hanlon remanded on continuing bail conditions. The crown court will sit again on January 13, when the case for the defence will be pending. A lifetime dedicated to teaching was celebrated in Gaelscoil last week as Mary Matthews officially retired from the school. Pupils and teaching staff gathered to mark Ms. Matthews 27 year teaching career in the school and the lasting impact she has had over the decades. In total, she has achieved almost 40 years in the profession, having spent a decade in the Redeemer Girls School before moving to the Gaelscoil. 'I really enjoyed the send off the children gave me on my final day. It's just such a wonderful school, and I have enjoyed every minute.' Huge changes in the primary education system, not least in the Irish language teaching system have taken place since Ms. Matthews first took up her post there in the late 1980's. 'When we began, we were in prefabs before the school was built. The numbers were smaller then, but now there are waiting lists every year for the school.' The Sligo native, who moved to Dundalk for her teaching career has taught all ages in the school, saying it was a job that she 'absolutely loved.' 'It's a very happy place to work, both because of the children and the staff.' She added: 'It's also a very proud moment when you see past pupils coming back to take up teaching posts in the school. We have three young teachers now who I taught as children. It's great to see.' Adding that she has no plans for retirement as yet, she added: 'I am happy to be retiring at this stage. But I think I am just going to take the month of January off and after that I will look at things.' As he prepares for what promises to be a tough general election battle in Louth-East Meath, Ged Nash has for the first time publicly expressed an ambition to lead the Labour Party. The Louth TD said he would give consideration to a leadership bid should the opportunity arise. However, the Minister for Business and Employment said there is currently no vacancy and insisted Tanaiste Joan Burton has his full support ahead of the election. Bookmakers Paddy Power have the Drogheda man at 9/1 to be the next Labour leader. The market is headed at 2/1 by Alan Kelly, the current deputy leader. 'I think anybody who is a TD and claims they never want to be leader of their party is probably lying,' Mr Nash said. 'I support Joan Burton as leader of the Labour Party and I support Alan Kelly. I think they are working well together. 'Maybe at some stage in the future it might be something that I consider, but there is no vacancy and there won't be a vacancy after the election because I know Joan will continue to lead the party and she will have my support,' he added. Mr Nash supported Ms Burton during the last Labour party leader election and backed Mr Kelly for the deputy position. He said suggestions that the leader and her deputy are at loggerheads is 'over-egged' and insisted their relationship will not have a negative impact on the outcome of the forthcoming election for the Labour party. Following his work on the Low Pay Commission, which resulted in the minimum wage increasing to 9.15 from January, Mr Nash has been touted as future leader of the party. He is also seen as being close to the trade unions, which command significant influence over Labour voters, after his work on the sale of the state's share in Aer Lingus. Mr Nash said the controversial Aer Lingus deal, which he thrashed out with Fine Gael's Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe, was one of his 'proudest moments' as a member of cabinet. In the upcoming general election, the Drogheda area is regarded as a real battleground. Nash is again facing a stern challenge from sitting Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd, and from Imelda Munster, who is expected to poll strongly for Sinn Fein in her bid to join colleague Gerry Adams in the Dail. Also in the mix for one of the five seats on offer is outgoing Fine Gael deputy Peter Fitzpatrick, and Fianna Fail's Declan Breathnach. In the 2011 general election Ged Nash polled 8,718 first preference votes, and was elected on the 12th count. There were only four seats up for grabs last time, as Seamus Kirk was automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle. Chris ODonnell presents Finbarr Dillon with the proceeds of his sponsored swim for the Sub Aqua club A man who only learned to swim earlier this year and who raised just over 1,000 for Dundalk Sub Aqua Club has urged members of the public to give as generously as they can to the organisation's annual bucket collection which takes place on Thursday, New Year's Eve. Chris O'Donnell from Market Street recently completed the mile at Aura Leisure Dundalk and raised 1015 in the process. That's despite having got into the pool for the very first time just months earlier. Chris said: 'I have to say it wasn't easy, but at the end, I could have gone on. I would encourage anyone who can't swim to learn as soon as they can and I started because I had a bad back. 'I am really delighted to have raised the money for the Dundalk Sub Aqua Club and I want to thank everyone who donated or helped in any way'. The Dundalk man said he's encouraging everyone to support the organisation's annual collection on Thursday. He said: 'They do really great work and maybe don't get the recognition they deserve'. The club's Margaret McCarthy said 2015 had been a busy year for the volunteer divers at Dundalk Sub Squa, who faced very challenging conditions, at times, in order to assist in water-based searches for missing loved ones right around Ireland. At the start of the year, the club was involved, with a number of others, in a massive search based around the waterways of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh for a missing man. Margaret said: 'We spent eight weekends helping with the search, and the young man was found at the start of January'. While at the search site, Dundalk Sub Aqua members were considered to be among the most experienced volunteers and gave great assistance with co-ordinating the wide area. In addition, members of the club, including diving officer Finbarr Dillon, met with the North's Justice Minister David Forde and spoke to him about cross-border co-operation for incidents like this. In addition, the club assisted in the search for a missing fisherman in Mayo in the summer, in the search for a man in Trim and, earlier this month, for a missing person in Navan. Margaret said: ' We are always ready to go and assist searches anywhere in Ireland. The people of Dundalk have been so good to us in the past and give generously to the annual collection'. The funds raised are used to provide up to date equipment as well as ensuring that members' training and skills remain at the highest standards. There is also a social side to the club who take part in recreational dives regularly throughout the year. The youngest member is 18, while the oldest are in their sixties. Trainees are welcome at any time and ten were taken on in 2015 and were trained at Aura Leisure Dundalk. An increase in shoppers from Northern Ireland has helped make it a merry Christmas for many Dundalk retail outlets. The strength of sterling against the Euro brought the anticipated boost in cross-border business. General trade has also been up on recent years, and the chamber of commerce has revealed that sales of their shop local gift vouchers have surpassed the 200,000 mark. 'Business has been fantastic. Certainly, the best for the past number of years. It has exceeded out expectations,' reported Harry Traynor, manager of the Marshes shopping centre. He added there had been 'a double figure percentage increase' in northern trade, with more sterling about, which was to be expected. 'There has been a steady improvement since February, and no doubt the arrival of new brands in the centre before Christmas helped make a difference,' Mr Traynor continued, as he pointed out the Marshes is almost fully let. While there is no definitive data yet, footfall is certainly up, remarked Michael Gaynor, president of Dundalk chamber of commerce. 'I was talking to traders on Christmas Eve, and they were pleased that business is up. A feel-good factor is punching through the town. 'There has been a lot of visitors from Northern Ireland, and sterling has made a difference,' he said. Mr Gaynor went on that some traders noted not a huge increase, while others he spoke to, said business was considerably better. 'Overall, traders are happy that business is up on last year.' Kanturk celebrated Christmas in true style, with shoppers coming into Kanturk in drives, which was well decorated for the season. The atmosphere was a true Christmas feeling. Many of our Kanturk people abroad also made it home to celebrate with their families. All the letters were sent to The North Pole for Santa Clause to get ready for the big night and Santa did not disappoint as he made it to Kanturk in the early hours to deliver all the toys to the boys and girls. All the Christmas celebrations in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kanturk and St Joseph's Church Lismire were celebrated in style with bumper crowds at all ceremonies. This writer attended the 10am Mass in Kanturk on Christmas morning and there was a great crowd with only standing room available to the latecomers. The Lorraine O'Riordan Gospel Choir performed to make the ceremony extra special. They performed the beautiful Christmas Carols such as 'Silent Night', 'O Holy Night' but when Jerry O'Riordan sung 'When A Child is Born' we all knew we were so lucky to be celebrating together. Canon Jackie Corkery was joined by Kanturk native Father David Kenneally, who in his capacity as National Chaplin to Scouting Ireland, brought the Light of Bethlehem to Kanturk to enrich the true meaning of Christmas for us all in Kanturk. After Mass everyone wished each other a beautiful Christmas wish and then made their way home to have a family celebration with love all round. Wouldn't it be nice if every day could be Christmas and that we could put a bit of Christmas into every day. Kanturk Credit Union highlights a very successful year at its agm Kanturk Credit Union held its annual general meeting in the Edel Quinn Memorial Hall on Thursday, December 17 where there was close to one hundred members in attendance. In the report of the Board of Directors, union chairperson Michael Walsh announced another successful year. However, it had been overshadowed by the untimely death of the Credit Union's former secretary, James O'Connell, who had held this principal role for the previous 11 years. He is sadly missed by everyone in the Credit Union and sincere sympathy was offered to his family. Mr. Walsh reported on another successful financial year where Kanturk Credit Union's loan book had increased to 8.5 million. Member's savings now stand at 44.8 million, which is an increase of over 2.2 million (5.3%) on last year. The board also decided to recommend the payment of a 10% interest rebate to all borrowers during the year. The introduction of electronic payment facilities this year was hugely successful with many members utilizing these facilities. Further developments in this area, including direct debits, are currently being examined by the board and the issue of debit cards is also being discussed nationally to provide the best and most efficient solution for credit unions and their members. This year, in conjunction with Rathmore and District Credit Union, Kanturk CU appointed a marketing and development officer in an effort to promote and develop new business. Lorcan McLoughlin took on this role in June and immediately set about promoting the credit union's products and services in a very professional manner. Martin Lyons, manager of Kanturk Credit Union said: "With the signs of economic stabilisation presenting themselves, Kanturk Credit Union is now very much looking to the future and how we can enhance our services to our members. "Kanturk Credit Union has surplus funds to lend to new and existing members in our community and we welcome all enquiries. "There are opportunities for the Credit Union to grow and strengthen and this will be our priority going forward". Christmas hampers and vouchers for local businesses were presented to attendees who had their names drawn in a raffle; these hampers and vouchers were sponsored by the credit union. At the conclusion of the meeting all were invited to light refreshments. Well known Mitchelstown Community Council chairman Sean Finn, Kilshanna has recently been appointed to the National Board of Muintir na Tire. Sean has been chairman of the Mitchelstown Community Council for the past number of years and has been the driving force of many projects that have taken place. His great work and experience at local level will be a great help to Muintir na Tire in the years ahead. The national body which he has now been appointed to basically stands up for rural Ireland and, no doubt, Sean will do his utmost to ensure that rural ireland and its facilities remain in place. A number of important issues will include the retention of local post offices, Garda stations, rural crime, flooding issues, text alerts, access to doctors. Meanwhile, Mitchelstown Community Council will be 30 years in existence this year. Peaceful Christmas in Mitchelstown Christmas in Mitchelstown passed off very peacefully. Weather conditions were very mild but wet. There was no frost and people were able to travel freely. Traders in the area reported a bumper period in the lead up to the festive season. Many people were home on holiday and Church ceremonies were very well attended. No deaths were reported within the parish over the Christmas break. Physio classes Physiotherapy led Pilates Classes in the Ozanam Centre will commence on Wednesday, January 6 at 6.30pm and 7.30pm. All levels will be catered for on Thursday, January 7 at 7pm. Enquiries to Catherine 085-7076585. Citizens info centre The Citizen's Information Centre in the Marian Hall, Convent Hill will re-open after the Christmas holiday on Monday, January 4. Masses this week This Thursday: Eucharistic Healing Hour in the Parish Church from 8pm to 9pm with Mass of Thanksgiving and Eucharistic Healing Blessing. Friday, January 1, the Feast of Mary Mother of God, It is world day of prayer for peace: Mass at 11am in Parish Church. Evening Mass at 7.30pm. Mass in Kilacluig Church at 6.30pm. Confessions 6pm Mass in Ballygiblin Church 7.30pm with Confessions at 7pm. Recent deaths The late Liam Kiely The death occurred after a long illness on December 22 of Liam Kiely, Strong, Glanworth. The late Liam was a relatively young man who was very popular over a wide area. His popularity was borne out in the very large and representative attendance that attended the family home over the Christmas period for his funeral. There was also a fine gathering for the Requiem Mass in Holy Cross Church Glanworth on St Stephen's Day. Interment took place to St Dominic's Cemetery. To his wife Margaret (nee Condon) son Laurance, sister Rita, brother John, Aunt Peggy McCarthy, Mother in law Nora Condon, Ann Brendan and families, brother in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives neighbours and friends we tender our sincere sympathy. The late Timmy McEniry The death occurred on December 9 of Timmy McEniry, Kimmage, Dublin and formerly of Lower Cork St, Mitchelstown. The late Tim, a member of a well known and very popular family in Mitchelstown, was a retired solicitor in Dublin. There was a very large and representative attendance a the funeral Mass in Mitchelstown on Friday. Interment took place in the nearly Church Yard. To his brother Paddy sister Elizabeth (Dolan) brother in law Mick, relatives and many friends we tender our sincere sympathy. The late Mary Gast The death occurred on December 7 of Mary Gast, Roselawn, Tramore Co Waterford at Havenwood Retirement Village, Ballygunner. The late Mary was (Nee Hoare) was a native of Marshalstown, Mitchelstown. Funeral Mass that was well attended was held in Mitchelstown Parish Church on Thursday. Interment took place to Brigown Cemetery Mitchelstown. To her relatives and friends we extend our sincere sympathy. The late Bill Joe Pigott The death occurred on December 17 at Marymount Hospice Cork of Bill Joe Pigott, St Fanahan's Place, Mitchelstown after a long illness. The late Bill Joe was well known locally. There was a large attendance at the funeral at the Chapel of Rest Baldwin St on Saturday night. Interment took place to Mitchelstown Church Cemetery on Sunday. To his sons Paul, Brian, daughter Sharon, wife Nancy, brother Tommy sisters Margaret (Cadd) Nellie (Fitzgerald) grandchildren, sister in law Mary, nephews, nieces relatives and friends we tender our sincere sympathy. The late Fred Sheedy The death occurred on Thursday 17 of Fred Sheedy, Glenseskin, Kilworth after an illness. The late Fred was ex-lst Motor Squadron, Fermoy. He was very well known in GAA circles being a member of the Kilworth GAA club all his life winning many titles. He played on the Avondhu Senior Hurling side that won the Co SHC in 1966. In later years he became a selector with Cork Senior Hurling teams and had the distinction of being a Cork senior selector that won All Ireland senior hurling titles under Donal O'Grady, John Allen and Jimmy Barry Murphy. His popularity was borne out in the huge attendance that were present for the removal on Saturday evening from Ronayne's Funeral Home Fermoy to St Martin's Church and also at the Requiem Mass and burial on Sunday. Many members of the Cork GAA, Avondhu GAA and other Divisional and Co Boards were present at his funeral. Many players who played for Cork were also present. Interment took place to Kilcrumper Cemetery. To his wife Peg (Nee O'Brien) son daughters Brian, Annette, Claire, Freddie, grandchildren Chloe, Riley, Roisin, Conor, brothers Sean, Gerard, sister Mary, son in law, Gavin, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends we tender our sincere sympathy. The late Sheila Sheahan The death occurred on December 18 at her home Main St Kildorrery of Sheila Sheahan (Nee McCaul). The late Sheila, a native of Drumcondra, Dublin, was very well known in Kildorrery and surrounding areas being a shop keeper in the village. Her popularity was borne out in the very large and representative attendance at the family home on Sunday for her funeral and also at St Bartholomew's Church on Monday for Requeim Mass and burial. Interment took place to the local cemetery. To her daughter Margaret, sons Danny and Jimmy, sister Eileen, daughters in law Namji and Brigid, son in law Jonathan, grandchildren Rachel, James, Cathal, Kate, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives neighbours and many friends we tender our sincere sympathy. Have you ever set eyes on a Glen of Imaal Terrier? As the name suggests, it has strong links to Co Wicklow but, as one of the rarest dog breeds in the world, many people are unaware of its existence. In fact, quite a few people know that there are nine native Irish dog breeds (the Glen of Imaal Terrier being one of them) and fewer still can name them. However, 'Native Irish Dogs', a new pictorial book by Shane McCoy and Colin White, aims to put the Glen of Imaal Terrier and its eight compatriots. The native dogs of Ireland are ancient breeds with diverse histories and mythologies and, over the centuries, each breed specific characteristics to assist them in daily life of an Ireland long past. The breeds - four terriers, three gun dogs and two hounds - were all working dogs but also formed an integral part of Irish family life and were excellent companions. Although hailing from humble beginnings, in the early 20th century our native dogs became increasingly connected with Irish nationalism and became symbols of a Celtic past. The book has been written by Shane McCoy, a publishing professional and keen dog enthusiast with a love of Irish history and an academic background in Celtic mythology, while the stunning photographs were taken by Colin White, who has been working in the publishing industry for six years. Shane said that he and his workmates were bouncing around ideas for a book when the topic of Irish dog breeds came up. 'My colleagues were shocked that we had nine breeds unique to Ireland and we had a laugh getting everyone to try and name them all,' said Shane. 'No one ever gets the Glen of Imaal unfortunately due to its rarity,' he added. 'In publishing this book, we aimed to promote the best of Irish and bring a knowledge base to people who may be thinking of getting a dog and this book will allow them to assess if an Irish breed is the right choice for them. 'Our Irish breeds also have an integral part in Irish history and are part of the fabric of our heritage,' said Shane. While writing the book, the authors met with the Irish Kennel Club who, Shane said, thought it was 'a great idea and they were happy to support and endorse it.' The foreword of the book is written by Sean Delmar, President of the Irish Kennel Club, who described the Irish breeds as reflecting the history, lifestyle and mythology of Ireland. 'From the hounds that were exclusively the dogs of kings, to the gun dogs favoured by the earls, and the terriers of the farmers and peasants, all fulfilled a vital role over the centuries in our social history and development,' he wrote. 'They are recognised worldwide for their beauty and working abilities, and for such a small nation, we have brought some exceptional breeds to the world of dogs.' Enough about them - what about the adorable Glen of Imaal Terrier? According to 'Dogs of Ireland', the Glen terrier was bred to hunt and eradicate vermin, such as rats, foxes, badgers and otters. A versatile breed, they were also used to herd sheep and cattle on farms, as well as for family companionship. The Glen is essentially a big dog on short legs. They are, on average, 40 per cent longer than they are tall and can weigh approximately 16kg. Its unusual body shape allows it to stay close to the ground while tracking prey, to fit down narrow dens and still be able strong enough to take on the likes of badgers. The dog, which can take three to four years to mature, exhibits a strange posture called 'the Glen sit' which, according to the book, is not commonly seen it other breeds. As the photo shows, this posture sees the dog sit on its hind legs and hold its body upright. The book points to the breed possibly developing in the Glen of Imaal around the time of Queen Elizabeth I, 'when the French and Hessian soldiers employed to stop rebellion in Ireland brought low-slung hounds with them, who then bred with local terriers to produce the stocky breed we see today.' The dogs themselves are 'lively and bold' and generally 'more even-tempered than other terrier breeds, more laid back and far less vocal.' 'A hard-working and explorative dog, they require less attention than other breeds - apart from regular walks, they will happily laze around the house. They have a stubborn terrier streak and can be independent dogs, but thrive with an owner who is firm and consistent. 'Unlike some terrier breeds, Glens do well with children and are fiercely loyal to their family, as well as being welcoming and generally calm with strangers.' A rare and unique breed, some might say. So, did anyone manage to name all nine Irish dog breeds? Apart from the Glen of Imaal Terrier, there's the Irish wolfhound, soft-coated wheaten terrier, Kerry beagle, Irish water spaniel, Irish terrier, Kerry blue terrier, Irish red and white setter and Irish setter. 'Native Irish Dogs' costs 19.99 and is available from bookshops around the county, including Bridge Street Books in Wicklow town, The Village Bookshop in Greystones and Dubray Books in Bray. It is also available online and through the publisher www.currach.ie The death took place on Christmas Eve of Vincentian Father, Richard McCullen, one of the most respected religious figures to have come from the region. A man who spent much of his early life on Laurence's Street, he was the son of Dr. Paddy and Eva McCullen. Born in 1926, he entered the Vincentian Congregation in 1945 after studying at St. Patrick's College, Armagh . Prior to that he had studied at the National Seminary in Maynooth. In 1948, he earned (with honors) a Bachelor's Degree in English at the National University of Ireland, and then spent four years in theological studies before his ordination to the priesthood in 1952. Father McCullen continued his studies in Rome, where he obtained a Doctorate of Canon Law Degree in 1956. Returning to Ireland, he spent the next 11 years at St. Kevin's, a house of studies for theological students at Glenhart, serving as Professor of Canon Law, Director of Students and Superior. From 1967 to 1975, he was Spiritual Director at Maynooth where 90 per cent of the diocesan priests in Ireland prepared for the priesthood. He then served as Provincial of the Irish Province. During his five years in that position, he was active in fostering missionary activities in Nigeria, a flourishing mission of the Province. In 1980 Father Richard was elected Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission. He oversaw the continuation of the mission of the Congregation's founder, St. Vincent DePaul, and adapted the mission to the changing times and to different cultures. He served in that position from 1980 at 1992. During his term of office, he travelled the world, visiting Vincentian provinces of priests and also the Daughters of Charity. From 1993-1995 Father McCullen served as spiritual director at Saint Patrick's College in Dublin. Since 1996 he has resided at Saint Paul's College in Dublin and it was there that he died on December 24th. At the close of his twelve-year mandate as Superior General he wrote 'in those who worked closest with me I have seen great depths of goodness.. It was G.K Chesterton who said that 'we choose our friends, but God gives us our neighbors. ' In the neighbors God gave me in the Curia, I found excellent friends.' A statement from the Curia of the Congregation added: "Father McCullen passed away very peacefully at 6 a.m. this morning (Dec 24). Father Devlin announced that Father McCullen passed away so peacefully that they were almost unaware that he was gone. They knew he was slipping but did not expect him to go so fast. They thought he would see Christmas. Father McCullen has one sister, who is also frail. She saw him yesterday.' Fr McCullen was a richly learned man, speaking seven languages. Brother of the late Oliver and Jim; he is sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sister Mary, brother-in-law Billy, nieces, nephews, grandnephew and grandnieces, relatives, his Vincentian Confreres , The Daughters of Charity and The Worldwide Vincentian Family. His funeral mass was on Tuesday at St. Peter's Church, Phibsboro with burial afterwards in the Community Cemetery in St. Vincent's, Castleknock College, Dublin. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Little Prince" by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery tops this week's "Bestseller Books List" introduced by "Armenpress" News Agency. The novella is both the most read and most translated book in the French language, and was voted the best book of the 20th century in France. The book was translated into more than 190 languages. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" occupies the second position of our list. This is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine. The magazine's editors feared the story was indecent as submitted, so they censored roughly 500 words, without Wilde's knowledge, before publication. But even with that, the story was still greeted with outrage by British reviewers, some of whom suggested that Wilde should be prosecuted on moral grounds, leading Wilde to defend the novel aggressively in letters to the British press. Wilde later revised the story for book publication, making substantial alterations, deleting controversial passages, adding new chapters and including an aphoristic Preface which has since become famous in its own right. The amended version was published by Ward, Lock and Company in April 1891. Some scholars believe that Wilde would today have wanted us to read the version he originally submitted to Lippincott's. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green comes next on our list. Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazels story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Greens most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. The book was translated into Armenian by Edit Print Publishing house, by Alina Mirzoyan. The Art of Dedication or Dithyramb to a Rose written by Edgar Harutyunyan occupies the fourth position in the list. "1984" by George Orwell occupies the fifth position of the Bestseller Books List introduced by "Armenpress" News Agency. While 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is more timely that ever. 1984 presents a "negative utopia", that is at once a startling and haunting vision of the world so powerful that it's completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of entire generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions a legacy that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time. Grigs Jesus Cat is the sixth on the list. This is the first book of the young prose writer. The novels involved in this work bring forward a unique writing style on the one hand and an original vision on the world and people on the other. This combination forms characters in Grigs creative space, which help to discover another invisible side of life. The book was published by Antares. Editor Gurgen Khanjyan. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Columbian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez comes next on Yerevan Bestseller list. One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the multi-generational story of the Buendia family, whose patriarch, Jose Arcadio Buendia, founds the town of Macondo, the metaphoric Colombia. "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez occupies the eighth position in this week's "Bestseller Books List" introduced by "Armenpress" News Agency. In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again. ''Book of Lamentations'' by St. Gregory of Narek occupies the ninth position on the list. The mystical poem "Book of Lamentations" has been translated into many languages and has played a significant role in the development of the Armenian literary language. In 95 grace-filled prayers St. Gregory draws on the exquisite potential of the Classical Armenian language to translate the pure sighs of the broken and contrite heart into an offering of words pleasing to God. The result is an edifice of faith for the ages, unique in Christian literature for its rich imagery, its subtle theology, its Biblical erudition, and the sincere immediacy of its communication with God. This masterpiece by St. Gregory of Narek has always been included in our bestseller books list. Milan Kunderas The Unbearable Lightness of Being occupies the final position on the list. Kundera's most famous work, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, was published in 1984. The book chronicles the fragile nature of an individual's fate, theorizing that a single lifetime is insignificant in the scope of Nietzsche's concept of eternal return. In an infinite universe, everything is guaranteed to recur infinitely. In 1988, American director Philip Kaufman released a film adaptation. "Yerevan Bestseller" - presented by Roza Grigoryan Drogheda gardai are struggling to put out a patrol car according to Cllr Kenneth Flood The border counties have 20% of the garda resources and 30% of the crime, members of Louth county council have been told. In welcoming a call for more guards in Louth, Cllr Mark Dearey added everyone is still in the dark over what the optimum number of officers should be. 'We need a decision based on data,' he said. The Green Party representative was speaking on a motion proposed by Cllr Maeve Yore demanding of the Minister for Justice that extra garda resources are made permanent in the county, and calling for reforms in the criminal justice system. She said there are only two community guards for the whole of Dundalk and the media is undermining the force, whose members are demoralised. 'We have to reclaim our communities. Victims of crime have no voice.' Cllr Maria Doyle, whose car was recently broken-into, said resources should be allocated on an evidence-based basis. She added there is no harm in writing to the minister, but resources are a matter for the garda commissioner. Cllr Conor Keelan remarked the benefit can be seen of the extra gardai who have been deployed to the area. 'Are these gardai going to be permanent going forward?' He felt the government's position on crime is re-active, rather than progressive. They plan to refurbish stations, yet are closing others down. Cllr Tomas Sharkey said the guards are telling him regularly that their work is made easier when facilities are in place for young people. He couldn't agree more on the need for data analysis, and believed the traditional form of policing is not the way forward. Cllr Kenneth Flood said he would like to support the motion, but couldn't, given there is no detail of what the reforms are. He noted there used to be 10 community gardai in Drogheda, and now there are three, while the town is struggling to put out a single patrol car. Extra guards make people feel safer, said Cllr Declan Breathnach, and he said 540 community gardai in the country is insufficient - with two counties not having any at all. 'Unless a second Templemore is created, I have no answer to it.' Cllr Richie Culhane told the meeting the government is investing more money in the force in times of austerity than Fianna Fail did in times of prosperity. He made a call for funds to deal with crime in this area and along the border. Cllr Kevin Callan said he spoke to a retired member of the force, who informed him that in 1983 in Omeath there were 30 gardai operating and living in that area. He expressed his concern about rural policing, with officers going out on their own to deal with calls and perform traffic duties. More gardai on the beat is what's required, said Cllr Tommy Byrne. The Mayor of Fingal had his trusty scissors at the ready to formally launch 'Marqette' the new food market and bar at Dublin Airport which is bringing 100 new jobs to the airport campus. Marqette, the new food market and bar in Dublin Airport, was delighted and honoured to have Cllr David O'Connor (Mayor of Fingal Council), Paul Reid (Chief Executive, Fingal County Council), Siobhan Kinsella (President of the Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce), and Michael Wright (Director, Marqette) on hand to perform the honours. The Mayor and invited guests were shown around this exciting new venture in Terminal One Dublin Airport and were suitably impressed with everything the new food market has to offer to passengers. Since the doors were first opened in September, Marqette has been very warmly received with over 200,000 customers to date using the new facility. With a highly experienced and qualified team Marqette, Dublin Airport, is ready and waiting to help customers begin their journey within Dublin Airport. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David O'Connor said: 'The creation of 100 new jobs by Marqette is fantastic news for Fingal and a boost to the reputation of Fingal as a growing hub for new companies. 'It is companies like Marqette that are leading the charge in Ireland's recovery. Creating jobs at home, especially at a local level, promotes business confidence within the Fingal region.' Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council: 'As part of Fingal County Council's enhanced role in supporting economic development and our vision for Fingal as 'the place of choice to live, work, visit and do business in Ireland', we are delighted that a company such as Marqette has such a significant presence at the Airport, employing many people and demonstrating confidence in Fingal as a location to invest in and do business.' 'Marqette is a fantastic addition to Dublin Airport and is another major improvement to the overall customer experience in Terminal 1,' said Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison. He added: 'Not only is Marqette contributing to the local economy by employing people from neighbouring areas, it is also expected to generate more than 4.25 million worth of annual sales for the agri-business sector and food producers in North County Dublin by using locally sourced produce.' Siobhan Kinsella, President Fingal Dublin Chamber said: 'It is fantastic to welcome this quality business investment in Fingal. 'The quality offering of Marqette adds to the attractiveness of the offering of our International Airport and also to good quality sustainable employment in the area.' She added: 'The Chamber would like to congratulate Michael and the management team on their continued success.' Marqette Director, Michael Wright, paid tribute to the 'talent, drive, innovation and success of the business community in the Fingal Dublin Region'. He said: 'A key element of Ireland's strategy is to grow indigenous Irish companies on a local level. 'Marqette is a great example of a highly innovative Irish company that is recognised for its excellent customer services. 'I look forward to continuing to develop Marqette as we grow our business footprint and continue to create much-needed jobs here in Ireland.' Marqette is located in T1 at Dublin Airport. Peace in our time was the order of the day on La an Dreolin, Wren's Day, in Dingle last Saturday. To borrow a phrase from RTE's Sean Mac a'tSithigh, whose went out on Six One News later that evening, 'rampant revelry and raucous roguery' was a good description of the high jinx and antics surrounding this St Stephen's Day tradition of pagan origin. However the rivalry between the main town wrens - The Quay, Goat Street, Sraid Eoin and the Green & Gold - seemed to result in a mutual show of respect on this occasion. There were handshakes - Fergus O Flaithbheartaigh of the Green & Gold and Tom Healy of Goat Street at An Choill for example - and a musical melee as The Quay, Sraid Eoin and Goat Street came together at the Mall Bridge later that night in an historic 'meeting of the wrans'. This number of young people taking part in the music, mirth and merriment was at an all time high also, from little babies in their pushchairs to teenage drummers to young people returning home from abroad, all keen to take up the mantle of their forefathers and mothers. Just like 'the Force', the Wren is strong and this tradition which began a long, long time ago shows no signs of waning. One of the Green & Gold Wren's most famous faces, Micheal O Muircheartaigh, gloriously decked out in 'straws', probably put it best. "The like of it cannot be seen anywhere on Earth, from the North Pole to the South Pole," he said. It's a special day," he said. It is indeed a special day with all the Wrens (pronounced 'Wrans') all visiting the patients in the West Kerry Community Hospital during their individual 'rounds' if the town. The Wrens also collected money for local charities, the proceeds of which will be presented to various causes at the respective 'Wren Balls' which will be hosted in the New Year. With Wrens taking part across the Dingle Peninsula, from Annascaul, to Cloghane to Dun Chaoin, the craic certainly was ninety' in Corca Dhuibhbe on La an Dreolin 2015. Nearly a fifth of the population of our county was lost to starvation, disease and emigration as a direct result of the Famine, with the Dingle district experiencing even higher loss again. Despite the incredible suffering, relatively little has been published on the Famine in Kerry. That's changing in recent years of course, and now, thanks to a new work by a Tralee historian, we're coming to understand the effect of this holocaust in Kerry to an even greater degree than before. Dr Shane Lehane's new book The Great Famine in Kerry in particular looks at the historical record from the period 1845-52 in the poor law union districts of Dingle and Killarney. While Kerry lost 18.9 per cent of the population, the impact in west Kerry was proportionately worse - with a higher population of poor rural dwellers utterly dependant on the spud to survive. "Dingle union lost nearly 24 per cent of its population in the period," Dr Lehane told The Kerryman. A graduate of UCC where he received his doctorate for a thesis on a history of the Irish Red Cross, Dr Lehane has been focusing exclusively on the Famine recently. "Disease, sickness and death were widespread and the situation was further complicated by the absence of a fever hospital in Dingle," he explained. It's a fascinating read now available at bookshops across the county. They were greeted with bells and whistles, live radio broadcasts and a frenzy of newspaper photographers. Dublin Airport was alive last week to the sounds of families reuniting - sons and daughters, brothers and sisters - in emotional embraces that would spark the real beginning of the Christmas holidays. Over the coming days there'll be a marked difference in emotions and tears of happiness will ultimately turn to tears of sadness as loved ones step through those dreaded departure gates. It may be several months - or maybe years - before they return again. Ireland's battle with emigration is long and twisted, stretching back to periods of religious persecution and famine and spoon fed by several recessions. In 2013 the latest recession was finally showing signs of receding and the Gathering was an attempt to buck the trend. It ultimately proved a lucrative money-spinner for the tourism industry. It was a start but we need to do more to reconnect with our emigrants. Installing a Minister for the diaspora has helped but voting rights for our emigrants would be a major step forward. This week Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he wants to give Irish emigrants the right to vote in our presidential elections and has pledged to hold a referendum on the matter. The argument is that the president represents all Irish citizens and therefore all should have the right to vote. It is estimated that over three million voters would be added to the electoral register if voting rights are extended to Northern Ireland and the Irish abroad. Across the world there are countless example of countries who allow their emigrants the right to vote - indeed Ireland is one of the few that doesn't. For instance, all US citizens living permanently abroad and who also have an address in the US can vote in the State elections. So, at a time when we are trying to attract back our greatest export - our people - it makes sense to embrace the disenfranchised. Currently only Irish officials and spouses have the right to vote in Irish elections once they emigrate. Indeed, Ireland is in danger of being taken to the European Court of Justice over the matter and in a country that passed a ground breaking same-sex marriage referendum, it seems somewhat archaic that we are unable to vote if we live abroad. Catalysed by the mass emigration of the 1980s and groups such as The Irish Emigrant Vote Campaign in the US and Glor an Deorai in the UK, the issue of voting rights for emigrants has been a hot potato for almost three decades. Former Labour emigration spokesperson Deputy Gerry O'Sullivan introduced a Private Members Bill in March 1991 but this was narrowly defeated - the bill would have given Irish citizens living abroad the right to vote for up to 15 years after becoming a non resident. In 1997, Fianna Fail's manifesto included plans for emigrant voting rights by the year 2000 but this was eventually shelved. Mr Kenny's proposal is the latest attempt and maybe in the 1916 centenary year we may finally see progress. The weather outside was frightful but that didn't stop over 200 hardy souls braving the wind and rain to take part in the annual St Stephen's Day Bill Kirby Memorial Walk in Tralee. The event, now in its 16th year and an integral part of Tralee's Christmas festivities, is held to raise money for the Kerry Hospice Foundation's Palliative Care Unit fundraising effort. Named in honour of the late Bill Kirby, whose Brogue Inn bar is the events spiritual home, the walk has raised over 273,000 for charity since its inception in 1999. Initially money raised at the walk went to the Irish Cancer Society though since 2006 all money raised goes to the Hospice Foundation. Typically the walk sees around 1,000 walkers and runners take to the streets of Tralee but, understandably, this year's dismal weather saw the crowds considerably reduced. That said there was still a tremendous turnout and the Kirby family and all the team at The Brogue Inn laid on hot drinks and refreshments to keep the walkers warm. The crowds gathered at The Brogue from 11am with local musicians including Mike Gaffney and his friends were on hand to keep the crowds entertained before and after the walk. Walkers and runners set off from The Brogue at around 11.30, with the rain pelting down, and made their way up Rock Street and Monavalley, along the Bracker O'Regan Road and back into town via Caherslee and Pembroke Street. Though numbers were down due to the awful weather the organising committee said they were delighted with the turnout and the success of the event which raised several thousand Euro for the hospice foundation. Anyone who took part and who still has sponsorship cards and money is asked to return then as soon as they can so the money raised can be presented to the Kerry Hospice Foundation as soon as possible. It is in the best interests of Kerry County Council to get a date for the new election count of the Listowel Municipal District as early as possible in the New Year according to one county councillor of many years experience in the law. If necessary, lawyers for the authority could go before the Circuit Court in Limerick which sits earlier than Tralee in the New Year, he suggested. Sinn Fein County Councillor and solicitor Pat Daly warned management of the Council to proceed with caution last week. Chief Executive Moira Murrell offered her assurance, based on considered legal advice, that the authority was valid - - in the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgement that found in favour of Dan Kiely's challenge. Cllr Daly was one of a handful of elected representatives who nonetheless urged the body to 'proceed' with caution. They feel that as long as any uncertainty over the make-up of the council continues, its decisions could be open to judicial review by anyone left aggrieved by decisions with legal bearing. "I think we should proceed with caution for now as the Council could find itself open to any of its decisions being judicially reviewed by, for instance, someone who might feel aggrieved in not succeeding with a tender," Cllr Daly told The Kerryman. He, like many of his colleagues, is now pushing the council to seek to clarify the position in the new count 'afresh' that must take place in the Listowel area as soon as possible. Dan Kiely challenged the result after losing out by just two votes to Fine Gael Cllr Mike Kennelly. Management at Kerry County Council are just as eager to put the matter to bed as soon as possible. "The Circuit Court is to sit in Tralee early in the New Year, but the council could go before the Circuit Court in Limerick even earlier to get a date," Cllr Daly added. Kerry North Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris has called for the abolition of the Special Criminal Court. Deputy Ferris was speaking in the wake of prominent republican Thomas 'Slab ' Murphy's conviction for tax evasion by the non-jury court. The court was set up in 1972 to deal with terrorist offences and, later, its remit was expanded to deal with serious organised crime cases. Deputy Ferris also alleged that there is "a deliberate campaign by the political establishment on this island to prevent the growth of Sinn Fein." "It's my opinion, I think I am correct, that all judges are appointed by the government in power," Deputy Ferris told the media. Deputy Ferris said he agreed with Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams comments that people who were involved in IRA were not criminals. "Did the IRA see themselves as criminals? Absolutely not," Deputy Ferris said. "As a former IRA man, my actions with the IRA were motivated politically," Deputy Ferris told reporters. "We would want to make it very clear that anyone who breaks the law is entitled to be held accountable by the law, and is also entitled to equality before the law," said Deputy Ferris. "In relation to the conflict in the six counties, as a former IRA person who was part of that conflict, I did not view any of my actions in relation to that conflict as criminal actions," Deputy Ferris said. New state papers released this week suggest that the then Garda Commissioner had serious reservations about the handling of the Kerry Babies murder investigation. The state papers, published this week under the 30 year rule, contain a large volume of correspondence concerning the 1985 Kerry Babies tribunal. Among the papers is a 10 page briefing document provided to the cabinet by then Minister of Justice Michael Noonan ahead of the Dail vote to establish the Kerry Babies Tribunal. The briefing document, compiled by officials at the Department of Justice, contains details of the internal Garda enquiry into the Kerry Babies Investigation. That enquiry, carried out by two Chief Superintendents, was launched by then Garda Commissioner Lawrence Wren following the DPP's decision to drop all charges against members of the Hayes family and subsequent publicity about the case. Following the garda enquiry an internal report on the matter was provided to Commissioner Wren on November 26 1984. The Commissioner forwarded the report to Minister Noonan the same day, along with his own assessment of the case and its investigation. Though the cabinet briefing document does not contain precise details of the garda report or the Commissioner's personal assessment it does contain a summary of the findings. According to the briefing document the Garda enquiry had been unable to arrive at any conclusions in relation to allegations of garda mistreatment of the Hayes family. The document goes on to note that Commissioner Wren appeared to have serious concerns about how the murder investigation had been handled. The following are extracts taken directly from the cabinet briefing document presented by Minister Noonan on December 6, 1984. The Commissioner concluded that, whatever the truth of allegations of the Hayes family, the report indicated that the conduct of the criminal investigation into the death of the Cahersiveen baby had been "grossly negligent" and he considered that some form of sworn enquiry was required "to establish what really happened." "To all intents and purposes active investigation of the case ceased once the charges had been preferred against the Hayes family, notwithstanding the finding of the second baby," the briefing document says. According to the cabinet briefing document the internal garda investigation had also found that "no serious effort was made to search the Hayes farm thoroughly" and that "no explanation has been given by gardai as to why they persevered with the murder charge against Ms Hayes." The Kerry Babies Tribunal before Justice Kevin Lynch in session at Tralee Town Hall in early 1985. The tribunal would sit for 82 days between January 7 and June 14 1985 Two dead newborn babies were found in Kerry in the spring of 1984. The first was that of a baby boy with multiple stab wounds found on the White Strand in Cahersiveen on April 14 1984. Weeks later, on May 2, the body of a second baby boy was found on the family farm of 25-year-old Joanne Hayes in Abbeydorney. A major investigation was launched following the discovery in Cahersiveen with gardai drawing up a list of local women suspected of being pregnant or who had recently left the area. Local gardai, and detectives from the Murder Squad in Dublin, at first suspected the Cahersiveen baby belonged to Ms Hayes. On May 1 Joanne Hayes and some members of her immediate family were brought in for extensive interrogation and signed statements admitting involvement in the case of the Cahersiveen baby. At the time the family made the statements the body of Ms Hayes's baby had not yet been discovered. When it was, a day later, the garda case against the family was thrown into disarray. On May 28 it emerged that the blood group of the Cahersiveen baby was different to that of Ms Hayes, the married man, Jeremiah Locke, with whom she was having an affair and the baby found at the Hayes' farm. Investigating detectives stuck to their complex "heteropaternal superfecundation" theory which attempted to prove the babies were twins by different fathers. In the wake of the blood group findings, on October 10, the murder charge against Joanne Hayes, and all other charges against members of her family, were dropped at Tralee District Court. Though Joanne Hayes and her family made confessions in relation to Cahersiveen baby they later withdrew their confessions and admitted instead that Hayes's baby had been born on the family farm, had died shortly after birth, and had been wrapped in a plastic bag and buried in secret. After details of the case were published there was enormous public disquiet. Then Minister for Justice Michael Noonan moved to establish a judicial enquiry to investigate garda handling of the case. The Kerry Babies Tribunal, headed by Justice Kevin Lynch, opened in Tralee on January 7 1985 and would go on to sit for 82 days. Justice Lynch found that Joanne Hayes killed the baby on the farm by choking it to stop it crying. This finding was made in spite of state pathologist Dr John Harbison being unable to determine the cause of the baby's death. Justice Lynch also rejected claims by the Hayes family that they had been assaulted by gardai, or that the confessions were obtained through coercion. While The tribunal report generally exonerated the gardai its findings included a rebuke for some gardai who were accused of "gilding the lily" or undertaking "the elevation of honest beliefs or suspicions into positive facts." The Murder Squad was disbanded soon after and a Garda Complaints Commission established. The identities of the Cahersiveen baby or his killer have never been established. Kerry has been allocated close to 7.8 million for road improvement and repair work next year. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (previously known as the National Roads Authority) announced details of its 2016 capital funding programme n the last week. Kerry County Council is to receive 6,323, 517 for road improvements and an additional 1.445,446 for maintenance bringing the total allocation to 7,768,963. The largest single tranche of funding, 1 million will go towards improvements to the Lispole to Mountoven stretch of the N86. 300,000 is to be spent on the 97 million Tralee Bypass which was opened in 2013. Recently The Kerryman revealed that some sections of the bypass route had begun to subside. A further 150,000 will be spent on the Castleisland bypass. Funding of 475,000 (which had been previously announced) is to be provided for pavement works at the Corrmaree Bridge. 150,000 has been announced for Realagh Realignment on the N71 and 100,000 will be spent on improvements at William Street in Listowel, The Blackwater Bridge in Sneem is to benefit from a 200,000 allocation and 150,000 is allocated to the Kilderry bends improvement scheme. It was wet, windy and wild - but the latest in the long line of visiting storms failed to spoil the fun for the thousands who braved the rough seas for their annual Christmas dip. The Christmas Day tradition was very much alive and well once again this year, with several locations across the county welcoming eager participants - some taking the dip for charity, others for the sheer exhilaration! The persistent morning rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the 400 plus people who travelled to Locke's Beach in Fenit on Christmas morning, all of whom made light of the conditions to enjoy a seasonal dip while a large crowd looked on from the comfort of the shore. "Despite the downpour, the magnetic appeal of Fenit worked the oracle as all the regular Christmas Day swimmers turned up to take part in a well-established and popular swim," said local participant, Billy Ryle. "The buzz of excitement and giddy anticipation was tangible as people gathering in the car park were met by lively seasonal music. Members of RNLI Fenit served up a variety of refreshments while the gathering numbers were entertained with songs and revelry. A special feature of the day was the presence of many people home for Christmas." The sizable collection went to RNLI Fenit, whose members were in position with their collection boxes from 11am and were generously supported by the festive crowd. In Portmagee over 80 swimmers braved the cold at Cnuicin Pier to help raise funds for the Kerry Hospice Foundation and Palliative Care. Like several other locations across the county, many participants here had also returned from all around the world to see friends and family at Christmas and wanted to be part of what has now become a social gathering for the community on Christmas morning. "A sense of goodwill and generosity of spirit was evident among swimmers and spectators alike," said joint organiser, Ailish O'Shea. There was also a fantastic sense of Christmas fun and community spirit in other locations such as Banna, Kilmoyley and Ballybunion, where the crowds descended in their droves - Ballybunion celebrating its 30th annual event in aid of the local sea and cliff rescue group. In south Kerry, scores of locals took to the water in Derrynane in aid of The Alzheimer's Society and Derrynane Inshore Rescue; a huge crowd also braved the element in Castlecove, while in Cromane the swim was in aid of Diabetes Ireland and organised in honour of local man Denis O'Shea, whose family wished to thank all who came out on the day. A bridge near Moylough in South Sligo is going to become a "major problem" if works are not carried out on it sooner rather than later. That was the stark warning from Councillor Margaret Gormley at a meeting of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District meeting. She has called for improvement works to be carried out on the bridge at the junction of the 429.429A road at Moylough. "With all the rain that's fallen it's going to become a major problem," said Cllr Gormley. "People have a difficulty turning right there. You should carry out a survey for improvement works," she told officials. Council Senior Engineer Paddy Hughes said there was no funding at the moment to upgrade the bridge. However, he confirmed the bridge could be included in next year's road works "subject to the appropriate funding levels and councillors approval of proposed schedule of works." Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White recently visited Abbott's site in Sligo to meet with staff and hear about the global healthcare company's sustainable energy journey which has achieved a CO2 reduction of 40% in the last decade. Abbott serves the Irish market with a diverse range of health care products including diagnostics, medical devices and nutritionals and has been operating in Ireland since 1946. Minister White attended a presentation by senior site personnel, Conor Murphy, Site Director; Padraig Phillips, Senior Engineering Manager, and Peter De Bie, Environmental Engineer where examples of the energy efficiency improvements implemented over the years were discussed. One such project, the "heatpump project" involved the implementation of a heatpump and energy efficient chilled water systems which delivered annual savings in excess of 300,000 and attracted support from SEAI of 200,000 under the Better Energy Workplaces programme. Abbott has a long standing commitment to the energy agenda. Joining SEAI's Energy Agreements programme in 2010, the site is certified to the international standard for Energy Management ISO50001 and has a strong ongoing relationship with Bord na Mona as a partner under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme. Majella Kelleher, Head of Energy Demand Management, SEAI who also visited Abbott with the Minister said: "The opportunities presented by energy efficiency, including the financial savings that can be achieved, are becoming ever more important as decarbonisation assumes a more central position on the policy stage. "Companies like Abbott provide an excellent example of how businesses can work to continuously change and innovate to deliver energy and cost savings as well as minimising their impact on the environment. "I'd encourage any business, large or small, that's not engaged with sustainable energy, to get started now and watch the benefits accrue." Site Director, Abbott Sligo, Conor Murphy said: "The improvements identified by our Energy Team helped reduce our CO2 emissions by 40% and reduce our energy costs by 36%, making these projects very attractive from both an environmental and financial point of view. These reductions were critical to Abbott's Sligo site winning the Abbott Environmental Health and Safety Plant of the Year award in 2011 and 2012. "We look forward to continuing to develop important products to help contribute to better care." The TV crew at the old monastery Glendalough will play a starring role in Tourism Ireland's new ad campaign for Ireland's Ancient East. Tourism Ireland will kick off 2016 with the roll-out of a brand new online ad highlighting their latest tourism experience, Ireland's Ancient East. The ad will launch in January, in the 23 markets in which Tourism Ireland has a presence - reaching millions of prospective holidaymakers worldwide. Filming for the ad took place this autumn - at Glendalough, as well as at Castletown House, Newgrange, Kilkenny Castle, Waterford City and the Rock of Cashel. Along with the online ad, a specially created Ireland's Ancient East page will feature on Tourism Ireland's international website, Ireland.com, which has attracted about 16.5 million visitors this year; and social media will also help to spread the word about this part of Ireland. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, says, 'following a successful 2015, ambitious targets have been set again for 2016, which will see Ireland welcome 8.2 million visitors, representing growth of plus four per cent over 2015. Early next year, we will unveil our Ireland's Ancient East campaign around the world, which will play an important part in our extensive overseas marketing. 2015 proved to be one of the most challenging years yet encountered by Wicklow RNLI since the establishment of the lifeboat station back in 1857. The first launch of the New Year took place on January 25 after reports of a floating object, drifting near the shore opposite the Murrough carpark. While searching the bay, the lifeboat volunteers responded to a second incident, this time of Wicklow Head. Members of the public walking on Magheramore beach contacted the Coast Guard to report a flashing light on rocks near the beach and were concerned it might be a person in difficulties. Both lifeboats immediately proceeded south, once on scene the crews began a coastal sweep, using parachute flares to illuminate the search area. The inshore crew located and made contact with two men fishing on rocks a short time later. They were in no danger and did not require assistance. However, there was no let-up for the volunteer RNLI crew with a steady flow of call-outs throughout the year. In March they responded to an incident at Potters Point, south of Wicklow Head, involving a kite surfer in difficulties. He was unable to get ashore after leaving the beach at Jack's Hole and one of his friends noticed he was in trouble in the water and contacted the coast guard for help. Speaking after the rescue, Coxswain Nick Keogh said, 'we located the kite surfer drifting off the south end of the Wolf Rock near Jack's Hole. He was using the flotation end of the kite equipment to stay afloat, after he got separated from his board.' A first aid trained member of the crew on the lifeboat assessed the casualty as they returned to Wicklow. He had no injuries and did not require any further medical assistance. In April the Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat was launched to assist a vessel in distress. The Coast Guard alerted the crew after an emergency position radio beacon (EPIRB) activated from a vessel in distress off the Wicklow coast. The emergency beacon from a small fishing vessel was transmitting approximately eight miles northeast of Wicklow harbour. The Coast Guard were unable to establish any communication with the boat or its crew. The Coast Guard assisted with the search and eventually located the drifting raft with there fishermen on board. They were winched to safety and airlifted to Tallaght hospital for medical treatment. In July the RNLI responded to a call-out after a jet skier's engine cut off about half a mile off shore north of Wicklow Harbour. The lifeboat reached the casualty within minutes of launching. He was transferred to the lifeboat and the jet ski was taken in tow, back to the harbour. There was another dramatic rescue in August when a swimmer had to be airlifted to hospital. The Inshore lifeboat was first on the scene and located a female swimmer unable to get ashore near the Silver Strand beach. She had been swimming with her husband and two children at the beach, during the swim she got separated from the group and carried further offshore by rip tides. She was eventually able to scramble close enough to rocks, enabling some people on the beach to throw a rope out, for her to hold until the lifeboat arrived. Dara O Briain had an eventful Christmas week after he foiled the thief of his bicycle with the help of London Metropolitan Police. The Irish comedian revealed that he used a false name to track down the bandit and managed to retrieve his bike just in time for the New Year. Well, a pleasant end to 2015. Hounslow branch of @metpoliceuk recovered my stolen bicycle. Thank you very much Officers, much appreciated. Dara O Briain (@daraobriain) December 31, 2015 Well, a pleasant end to 2015. Hounslow branch of @MetPoloceUK recoveded my stolen bicycle. Thank you very much officers, much appreciated, he tweeted. Referencing the events of the 1916 Easter Rising, the comedian joked: Maybe its time to put the Dark Burden of History behind us. Although, it was also stolen here. O Briain, who is based in London with his wife and two children, admitted that he went undercover to track down the thief of his bicycle which was nicked over Christmas. The comedian admitted the experience might just be the perfect material for an upcoming sketch. Theres a longer version to this, involving eBay and me using a false name online but I suspect it may end up as a routine, he revealed. American Republican Ben Carson's 2016 presidential bid was thrown into chaos yesterday when his campaign manager and some 20 other staff members quit. Rumours about infighting, and tensions over plummeting poll numbers and negative media coverage, are believed to have boiled over. Barry Bennett, who oversaw Mr Carson's rapid rise to the top tier of Republican contenders and his later fall, said he quit over differences with another top adviser to Mr Carson, Armstrong Williams. Specifically, Mr Bennett blamed Mr Williams for an interview he gave last week to the 'Washington Post' suggesting the campaign was in disarray. "It's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen a candidate do," Mr Bennett said. Things had "boiled over" with Mr Williams, Mr Bennett said. "For the past seven weeks, I've been doing nothing but putting out Armstrong Williams-started fires," Mr Bennett said. He also claimed Mr Williams was behind a story in the 'New York Times' that suggested Mr Carson was out of his depth on foreign policy. Mr Carson's communications director, Doug Watts, also resigned due to differences with Mr Williams, Mr Bennett said. Some 20 staff in total left, he said. Among them was deputy campaign manager Lisa Coen. Mr Williams, a political commentator who holds no official role with the campaign, said he was "shocked" by Mr Bennett's criticism. "They're giving me a lot more credit than I deserve," he said. He suggested Mr Bennett and Mr Watts left the campaign rather than be fired. "Right now, they're upset and they need a scapegoat, and I'm the scapegoat," Mr Williams said. Support for Mr Carson has fallen ahead of the first contest - on February 1 in the state of Iowa - for the Republican nomination in the November 8 election. The retired neurosurgeon now places fourth in many national opinion polls after surging into the second slot behind the front-runner, real estate mogul Donald Trump, in the autumn. With the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, elevating national security concerns among voters, Carson has been criticised by rivals for his lack of foreign policy experience. He has never held elected office. Craig Robinson, former political director for Iowa's Republican Party, said Carson's lack of visibility in Iowa damaged him even though he had the chance to capitalise on his much-touted status as a political outsider. In spite of the poll numbers, Carson's campaign on Wednesday announced a fourth-quarter fundraising haul of about $23 million, and Bennett said Carson remained in a strong position. "He's got millions of dollars on hand," Bennett said. "He should be able to do something with that." One of the escaped pigs that caused the inbound A21 Sevenoaks Road to close for several hours (Kier Highways/@TfL Traffic News/PA Wire) Escaped pigs have closed a major main road for the second time in four days. The porcine trespassers got on to the A21 Sevenoaks Road, causing the London-bound carriageway to be closed for around four hours at lunchtime. It came after between 30 and 40 of the kunekune pigs, a breed native to New Zealand, strayed on to the same stretch of road on December 30, the RSPCA said. The road connects the M25 with Orpington in the London borough of Bromley, and Transport for London warned drivers of "pigs in the carriageway", with warnings appearing shortly after 11am of the road being closed between Hewitts Roundabout and the village of Pratt's Bottom. It reopened around 3.30pm. The RSPCA said it was working with the owner, trading standards, police and highways officials to prevent the pigs from escaping again. Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: "The owner had managed to round up a majority of them, shepherding them up the hill and back into the fields. "We worked with Transport for London staff to stop the pigs from getting back on to the road. "The owner was there and has been building secure enclosures to keep the pigs contained and away from the road but something obviously went wrong. "Pigs are incredibly intelligent animals and they have worked out a way to get through the fence so they can get on to a nearby verge to forage. Fortunately no pigs or motorists were injured." Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an updated national security paper describing Nato's expansion as a threat to the country. The paper says Russia's "independent domestic and foreign policy" has triggered a "counter-action" from the US and its allies. It accuses these countries of striving to dominate global affairs. The conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2014, has led to a sharp deterioration between Russia and the West. The updated National Security Strategy signed by President Putin on Thursday is the latest in a series that are critical of Nato. In 2014, Russia announced it was altering its military doctrine to take account of the Ukraine crisis and Nato's presence in eastern Europe. Kremlin adviser Mikhail Popov said at the time that Nato's enlargement in recent years meant the alliance was getting closer to Russian borders and presented an "external threat" to his country. Albania and Croatia joined Nato in 2009. In 2011, the alliance recognised four aspiring members - Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia and Montenegro. Russia's National Security Strategy is updated every six years. The new version says Russia is strengthening its military "on the background of new threats to national security that have a complicated and interlinked character". The paper says Nato's recent build-up of military potential around Russia's borders constitutes "violations of norms of international law". Analysts believe Mr Putin is determined through his country's interventions in Syria and Ukraine to wield Russia's military clout, so that the world in general and the United States in particular realise that Russia is an equal partner whose interests must be accommodated by all. Sources say Mr Putin wants the West to acknowledge Russia's right to treat its post-Soviet neighbours as part of its sphere of influence, free from links to Nato or any other Western-dominated alliance. He is on the lookout for levers to weaken Europe's ties with the US, in the hope of one day turning Russia into Europe's main strategic partner. Meanwhile, Ukraine will investigate a suspected cyber attack on its power grid, the energy ministry said yesterday, an incident the country's secret service has blamed on Russia. A power company in western Ukraine, Prykarpattyaoblenergo, said on December 23 that a swathe of the area it serves had been left without energy, including the regional capital Ivano-Frankivsk, due to "interference" in the work of the system. Ukraine's SBU state security service blamed Russia, which has not so far commented on the allegation. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] ELKO Author Deborah Blohm will be signing copies of The Adventures of Julia the Generosity Genie from noon to 2 p.m. today at the Bookstore, 1372 Idaho St. Blohms passion for art, gems and adventure began at the age of 6 in the backyard, hammering open rocks hoping to discover hidden jewels and daydreaming about creating beautiful jewelry from the treasures she found within. It was through this early fascination that she developed her passion for creating jewelry as a jewelry designer and gemologist in New York City. While Blohm built her business there, she discovered that making a difference in the lives of children fulfilled and inspired her. She became involved with Prasads Dental Program, Childrens International, Boys and Girls Club of America and Agape International. Blohm speaks at schools, libraries, bookstores and clubs about gemstones, generosity, gratitude and living a life of peace, play, power, passion and prosperity. On a scuba diving trip to Belize, Blohm came up with the idea for the Generosity Genie adventure tales. Her ultimate vision is to make Gen-G adventures into TV programming for children. Blohm and her family reside in Los Angeles, where she continues to study ancient mysteries, creates jewelry and Miraria, her own line of face and body products. For information, visit www.deborahblohm.com. I am overflowing with gratitude and love for my loving family and friends, she said. I feel blessed to be living my lifes passion and to be inspiring children to live their life full of gratitude, generosity and the Five Ps Peace, Play, Power, Prosperity and Passion. Jurgen Todenhofer spent 10 days in the so-called Islamic State last year, publishing his findings in a book.Jurgen Todenhofer spent 10 days in the so-called Islamic State last year, publishing his findings in a book. Israel is the only country in the world that Isis fears, according to the first Western journalist to enter the groups territories and survive. Jurgen Todenhofer spent 10 days in the so-called Islamic State last year, publishing his findings in a book. In an interview with the Jewish News, the German reporter said Israel is not included in Isis planned first stage of colonisation in the Middle East. The only country Isis fears is Israel they told me they know the Israeli army is too strong for them, Mr Todenhofer said. They think they can defeat US and UK ground troops, who they say they have no experience in city guerrilla or terrorist strategies. But they know the Israelis are very tough as far as fighting against guerrillas and terrorists. The former politician said the Isis militants he met claimed not to be scared of British or American soldiers but believed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were a real danger. Isis has made several threats against Israel and Jewish people in its propaganda videos, claiming in October that not one Jew would be left in Jerusalem and vowing to eradicate the disease of Judaism from the world. Although Isis-affiliated groups are believed to be active in Gaza, no terror attacks in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territories have yet been claimed by the organisation. Mr Todenhofer described al-Qaeda as peanuts compared to Isis after being allowed to meet the groups officials, militants and followers around its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul. They want to show that the Islamic State is working, he said afterwards. I thought I would meet a brutal terrorist group, but I met a brutal country. Israel is not part of the US-led coalition bombing Isis in Iraq and Syria but its intelligence services are thought to be passing information on the group to allies. Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric alongside dozens of al Qaeda members today signalling intolerance of jihadism and minority Shi'ite Muslim violence and stirring a rise in sectarian tensions across the region. Most of the 47 executed were convicted of al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia a decade ago, but four, including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, were Shi'ite Muslims accused of shooting policemen during anti-government protests in recent years. Iran's foreign ministry said that Saudi Arabia would "pay a high price" for executing the cleric. The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom's Sharia Islamic law. Expand Close In this Saturday, May 30, 2015, photo, Saudis carry a poster demanding freedom for jailed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, during a funeral procession. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp In this Saturday, May 30, 2015, photo, Saudis carry a poster demanding freedom for jailed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, during a funeral procession. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali) Riyadh's main regional rival Iran and its Shi'ite allies immediately reacted with vigorous condemnation of the execution of Nimr, and Saudi police raised security in a district where the sect is a majority in case of protests, residents said. The executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers in the kingdom to stage attacks. The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. The 43 Sunni jihadists executed included several prominent al Qaeda figures, including those convicted of responsibility for attacks on Western compounds, government buildings and diplomatic missions that killed hundreds from 2003-06. However, the execution of four Shi'ites, including Nimr, who were convicted of shooting and petrol bomb attacks that killed several policemen during anti-government protests in Qatif district from 2011-13, provoked an immediate response abroad. A top Iranian cleric warned the kingdom's Al Saud ruling family would be "wiped from the pages of history", Yemen's Houthi group described Nimr as a "holy warrior" and Lebanese militia Hezbollah said Riyadh had made "a grave mistake". Saudi police increased security in Qatif district of Eastern Province, residents said, a Shi'ite majority area and site of the protests from 2011-13 in which several police were shot dead as well as over 20 local demonstrators. Bahrain police fired tear gas at several dozen people protesting against the execution of Nimr, a witness said. In a statement issued on state television and other official media, the Interior Ministry named the dead men and listed crimes that included both involvement in attacks and embracing jihadist ideology. Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to the Interior Ministry, commented: "There is a huge popular pressure on the government to punish those people. It included all the leaders of al Qaeda, all the ones responsible for shedding blood. It sends a message." Analysts have speculated that the execution of the four Shi'ites was partly to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia's majority Sunni Muslims that the government did not differentiate between political violence committed by members of the two sects. However, human rights groups have consistently attacked the kingdom's judicial process as unfair, pointing to accusations that confessions have been secured under torture and that defendents in court have been denied access to lawyers. Riyadh denies practising torture, rejects criticism of its legal process and says its judiciary is independent. The conservative Islamic kingdom, which usually executes people by public beheading, detained thousands of militant Islamists after the 2003-06 al Qaeda attacks, and has convicted hundreds of them. However, it also detained hundreds of members of its Shi'ite minority after protests from 2011-13, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. At least three other Shi'ites were executed alongside Nimr, including Ali al-Rubh, who relatives said was a juvenile at the time of the crime for which he was convicted, Mohammed al-Shayoukh and Mohammed Suwaymil. Activists in the Shi'ite district of Qatif have warned of possible protests in response to the executions. However, Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said he hoped any response would be peaceful. "My mobile is getting non-stop messages from friends, all shocked and angry. We know four of the names on the list. The fear is for the children among those detained," an activist in Qatif told Reuters. The Interior Ministry statement began with Koranic verses justifying the use of execution and state television showed footage of the aftermath of al Qaeda attacks in the last decade. Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the executions as just. The executions are Saudi Arabia's first in 2016. At least 157 people were put to death last year, a big increase from the 90 people killed in 2014. Women hold pictures of film maker Naji Jerf, who was killed on December 27, during his funeral in Gaziantep . He was a trenchant critic of Isil. Photo: Getty Last Sunday was to be Naji al-Jerf's last day in Gaziantep, the Turkish town where the Syrian journalist and activist lived with his wife and two young daughters after fleeing their war-torn homeland. The family was due to leave the following day for a new life in France, where they would be far from the threats that had become a daily occurrence even in what they had previously considered to be the relative safety of Turkey. But Jerf never made it out. On the day of their planned departure, his wife Bushra was instead burying him in a nearby hilltop cemetery. Jerf (37), was gunned down that afternoon after getting some takeaway lunch for his family at a local restaurant in Gaziantep, a town which, due to its proximity to the Syrian border, has become a hub for refugees and activists. Eyewitnesses said a masked gunman shot him twice using a pistol fitted with a silencer before fleeing in an unlicensed vehicle. No one has yet claimed responsibility but suspicion has fallen on Isil. Jerf was an active campaigner against the Isil militants who found opportunity in the uprising he had believed in from the beginning. "Now you will have the freedom that you wanted," his wife, swathed in the flag adopted by the Syrian opposition, cried as his coffin was lowered into the grave. "Now you will have the peace that you wanted." From Salamia, a town near the restive city of Hama, Jerf was a filmmaker and newspaper editor who had joined the uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad from its early, more innocent, days in 2011. He was an example of the idealistic activists who tried to spark in Syria what had happened elsewhere in the region but who now find themselves sidelined in a vicious, multi-sided conflict that rages with no end in sight. A war too often reduced now to a simple Assad versus Isil narrative. "It is terrifying that there are Syrians who have dedicated so much for principle and stood against tyranny and extremism yet (with) no real recognition," Rami Jarrah, another Syrian journalist and friend of Jerf's, wrote on his Facebook page. "It is lost in this mess of misinformation that says that there are two sides fighting (Assad and Isil) with little mention of those that oppose both wrongs. Those like Naji." Jerf helped document Isil's abuses inside Syria and had recently broadcast a documentary on the militants on a major Arab satellite channel. The film, which examined Isil's activities in Aleppo and its deadly campaign against anti-Assad activists there, prompted several death threats against him. Jerf also worked with Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, a network of activists seeking to chronicle, at great risk, abuses in the self-proclaimed "capital" of Isil's so-called caliphate. If it is confirmed that Isil sent assassins to shoot Jerf dead, it would be the third such case of a Syrian journalist killed on Turkish soil, and yet another chilling message to those dedicated to revealing what Isil is doing inside Syria. Isil recently claimed it had assassinated two Syrian journalists - Ibrahim Abdel Qader and Fares Hamadi - who were found decapitated in the southeastern city of Sanliurfa. Like Jerf, the two were members of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. Abu Ibrahim al-Raqqawi, a spokesman for the network, says he believes Isil targeted Jerf because of his link to it. As a result of these killings, fellow activists and citizen journalists increasingly believe they are in danger in Turkey, once considered a haven from the horrors of the war over the border. "Syrian journalists who have fled to Turkey for their safety are not safe at all," said Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). "We call on Turkish authorities to bring the killers of Naji Jerf to justice swiftly and transparently, and to step up measures to protect all Syrian journalists on Turkish soil." A total of 69 journalists across the world were killed because of their work in 2015, according to figures collated in a CPJ report published this week. Of those, 40pc died at the hands of militant groups such as al-Qa'ida or Isil. More than two-thirds were deliberately targeted, and more than half, like Jerf, had received threats before they were killed. Syria is widely considered the most dangerous story of all, with the risk of kidnapping or death deterring most journalists from reporting on the ground there. The resulting vacuum of proper information was something that Jerf and his colleagues sought to address. That vital work has now become even more risky, with the dangers following them all the way to Turkey. The international coalition Saudi Arabia leads against Shiite rebels in Yemen has officially ended a truce, the Saudi state-run news agency reported. The truce technically came into effect on December 15 2015 as a mutual show of good faith during peace negotiations taking place in Switzerland. But the truce never truly took hold on the ground in Yemen, with both sides ignoring it. The United Nations said on December 20 there were "numerous violations" of the cease-fire agreement from the very start. Yemen's conflict pits the internationally recognised government backed by a Saudi-led, US-supported coalition against the rebels, known as Houthis, who are allied with a former president. Local affiliates of al Qaida and the Islamic State group have exploited Yemen's chaos to grab land and exercise influence. Lawmakers at an impasse, conference committee to revisit abortion bans The Senate refused to back down and accept the House's near total abortion bill Tuesday. Instead, they chose to go forward with a conference committee. David Rogers/Special to Independent Mail Four Anderson County fire departments battled a house fire Friday night on Marett Road in the Sandy Springs community. More than three dozen firefighters from Sandy Springs, Hopewell, Centerville and Pendleton fought the fire at what is known as the Marett home place. Flames were seen coming through the roof before it collapsed. Pendleton Emergency Medical Services was on the scene providing support for firefighters. The house suffered heavy damage from the fire that was reported at 7:30 p.m. Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours extinguishing hot spots. Three years ago I wrote a column detailing the work of Katie Liljenquist, professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. It was an exciting research field involving the impact clean scents have on people during business meetings. Although quite obvious you may say, it compiled data that tested the impact of room smell on the reciprocation of trust. In her paper, published in the Association for Psychological Science 2012, she tested the concept that people may demonstrate more traits such as fairness and generosity when tasked in a conference room that smelled as if it were just Windexed or Fabreezed. She performed this analysis by setting up an anonymous game involving money in which the trusting and giving factor was monitored. Participants playing this game were told that an anonymous sender in another room would forward them some money ($4) to invest in them. Adhering to the rules, this amount of money would be tripled by a banker and given back to the person being tested. Now, having $12 placed into their hands, they could keep the total amount or return some back to the kind investor who provided them the funds in the first place. According to Lijenquist, the study found, as predicted, participants in a clean-scented room returned significantly more money than those in a baseline room. But that was not all. The study also found that people were more apt to volunteer when asked in a Windexed room as well. In this experiment, 99 undergraduate students were asked to work on a packet of unrelated tasks that unobtrusively included a flyer requesting volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that builds homes for needy people. The students reported their interest in volunteering for future Habitat projects and specified what activities they would like to participate in. Once again the students who worked in the cleaner room showed greater interest in signing up for future work. Not wanting to let good research go to waste, I have to admit that I did Windex the kitchen counter before I asked Mira to help me bleed the brakes on my Old Black Mercedes and it seemed to work true to form. Smells trigger immediate emotional responses and marketing departments the world over have exploited this everywhere from supermarkets to shopping malls to help us part with our hard-earned cash. When I catch a whiff of the sweet smell of freshly cut grass walking on the college campus, it pulls me back to the happy memories of my dad mowing the lawn on a carefree summer afternoon. The aroma of newly baked apple pie educes the kitchen at grandmas farm another wonderful reminiscence of years gone by. The scent when you open the glass doors at Albertsons milk and dairy coolers conjures up the recollection of my stint as a stock clerk working for Dairy Barn weekdays after school. Writing in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, Shuvam Chatterjee of the Regent Education & Research Foundation, in Dhakuria, India, discusses the concept of olfactory branding and how some important settings, such as a hotel lobby, can augment the more traditional audiovisual marketing signals. Chatterjee explains how the Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the leading industries over the last decade. Naturally, it is a competitive business. In this huge and growing domestic market, with some 30 million internal travelers each year, any edge that one competitor can gain on another is taken very seriously. Accordingly earlier researchers have claimed that people remember 35 percent of what they smell as compared with only 5 percent of what they see, 2 percent of what they hear and only 1 percent of what they touch. Aroma is personal because it winds up inside you. Because of this intimate quality, scent makes a brand identity more unique, strengthens customer loyalty and adds to the perception of quality, an element that is essential to every brand in todays competitive market, Chatterjee writes. Interestingly, the top 10 happy smells are as follows: freshly baked bread, clean bed sheets, freshly mown grass, fresh flowers, freshly ground coffee, fresh air after rainfall, vanilla, chocolate, fish and chips, and bacon frying, according to earlier surveys. Using the ITC Sonar Luxury Hotels in Calcutta, India, Chatterjee found that more than 41 percent of guests agreed that scent is a key factor in the enjoyment of their hotel stay. Indeed, it is a more important factor than the hotels infrastructure, its food, and the behavior of staff. Chatterjee suggests that olfactory branding is therefore a critical part of marketing and could set any one hotel ahead of its rivals. Soon you may see Facebook with individual fragrance for each person produced by a USB device. RENO More than 17,500 earthquakes were recorded in 2015 by the University of Nevada, Renos Nevada Seismological Laboratory. That includes the 231 recent quakes in south Reno and the magnitude 4.8 in Caliente that shook Las Vegas in January 2015. While the Reno shaking is fresh in our minds, whats really bumping the number up from the background rates is the energetic sequence in far northwestern Nevada, the Sheldon sequence, Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Lab said. Through 2015 there have been 4,511 earthquakes recorded in the remote Sheldon Wildlife Refuge near Vya, east of Cedarville, California. The earthquake activity that began there in July 2014 has produced 234 earthquakes greater than magnitude 3.0, and 24 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or larger, including the largest, a magnitude 4.8 on Sept. 14 and a magnitude 4.6 just before Christmas this year. That leaves more than 13,000 other Nevada and eastern California earthquakes, including swarms as well as less prolonged mainshock-aftershock sequences in Caliente, Carson City and Virginia City. Outside of the persistent Sheldon sequence, Nevada was hit with 54 magnitude 3 or greater earthquakes or about one per week. Overall, there have been 19 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and larger and the Universitys seismological lab has reported 160 earthquakes between magnitude 3.0 and 3.9. The south Reno swarm that just happened produced about 30 earthquakes in two days and about 200 more in the days that followed, Kent said. For our entire network, we are averaging about 50 located earthquakes a day. They arent all part of identifiable swarms like Sheldon, South Reno or Virginia City. Many of the earthquake clusters in the Walker Lake area in 2015 were more typical sequences and not like Sheldon that has now continued for more than a year, Ken Smith, associate director of the Nevada Seismological Lab said. Just as the Caliente 4.8 that startled Las Vegas in May or the 4.8 at Scottys Castle at Death Valley in February with their fairly extensive aftershocks, in Nevada we wouldnt be surprised to see a significant event anywhere. The Nevada Seismological Lab is a public service and research department in the Universitys College of Science tasked by the State of Nevada to operate a monitoring network and report earthquake information for activity throughout the state. The Seismology Labs data are provided to the USGS, other national data centers and shared with adjacent network operators in California, Utah, Washington and Oregon. All of our earthquake data are fed to the USGS, Smith said. We work with the Nevada Department of Emergency Management, county emergency managers, FEMA and even the California Office of Emergency Services. We have special reporting requirements for magnitude 3 and higher quakes. We had 179 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and larger in 2015, the most of any seismic network operation in the lower 48. The lab operates, maintains and monitors 185 real-time seismograph stations across Nevada and along the Sierra Nevada mountain range of eastern California. The seismological lab crew has been upgrading and expanding the network, including adding 15 broadband stations in southern Nevada this year and are looking for funding to match or exceed that expansion rate in 2016. Were looking to the USGS, State of Nevada and others for support to bring seismograph coverage to more of the state, Kent said. What weve done for the Vegas area already has been critical for our response capabilities in southern Nevada Despite the number of earthquakes we trackcompared to other western statessupport for statewide earthquake monitoring in Nevada is far below that of similar western U.S. seismic networks. That said, weve added new analysts and reorganized our 24/7 monitoring team to keep up with the volume. But maintaining this level of effort isnt really sustainable without additional funding. Just about everything Google has touched in recent times has turned into Gold. Scratch that - it's actually turned into huge piles of gold something that is written about in glowing words by every journal on the planet. This is also precisely the reason why the contents of the following article might come as a little bit of a shock. After spending close to 2.5 years and $ 32 mn in development Google's AlphaDog robot or the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) has been rejected by American marine corp which incidentally had funded a part of the project because it was "too noisy." The quadruped soldier was initially being developed in the hope that it would be able to carry up to 400 pounds of gear, food and other needed supplies. The AlphaDog robot was used in several exercises and in several videos can be seen walking across rugged terrains, snow and forests - almost like a robotic four-legged Rambo. Where it is different from other robots is that it follows the troops and respond to commands instead of being controlled through a remote etc. As Marines were using it, there was the challenge of seeing the potential possibility because of the limitations of the robot itself, said Kyle Olson of the Warfighting Lab was quoted telling . They took it as it was: a loud robot thats going to give away their position. Boston Dynamics which had been purchased by Google in December 2013 meanwhile is a company which is obsessively celebrated by World Media including Time magazine and others who dubbed it the "Most Exciting Robotics Company On The Planet." Boston Dynamics became famous when the video of one of its dogs throwing a cinderblock went viral. They also developed Spot a smaller indoor outdoor robot. They've also developed a robot called Wildcat which can run upwards of 19mph (30 kmph). They also have a robot which can run at speeds up to 28.3 mph (45.5 kmph) Motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol and breaking other traffic rules will now have their driving licences suspended for three months in Maharashtra. Indian Express/ Representative Image This was announced by the state government on Saturday to deal with the menace of drunken driving and also reduce accidents on roads. In Mumbai alone, 16,324 cases of drunken driving were recorded in 2011. Last year, the number stood at 14,60. Daily Mail/ Representative Image While this could be one way to fight drunken driving, take a look at how the problem is addressed in various parts of the world. (The amount of permissible alcohol content in the blood also differs from country to country.) 1. China Over 0.02% but under 0.08%: CYN 10002000 fine, 6 months licence suspension; Over 0.08%: up to 3 years imprisonment, 5 years licence suspension. If the driver causes serious injuries or death, the license will be suspended for life. 2. Hong Kong Driving under the influence of alcohol beyond legal limit is punishable with a monetary fine and up to three years imprisonment, with 10 driving-offense points and mandatory Driving Improvement Course. 3. Japan Regardless of alcohol readings, police may determine the driver to be "driving drunk," which is punished more severely than exceeding the designated alcohol limits. cristhers 4. Nepal Licence will be seized instantly. Driver will get the licence back after attending anti-alcoholic classes run by Nepal Traffic Police and fine will be charged NRS 1000. 5. Canada Refusal of a police officer's demand to provide a breath sample was made an offence at the same time and both began as summary conviction offences, with a mandatory minimum $50 fine. CTV 6. Mexico Foreigners with recent drunk-driving criminal convictions are generally refused entry at the border. Mexico's Immigration Act section 36 considers any foreign drinking and driving outstanding charge or conviction as an Indictable offense. 7. United States Differs from state to state. The license of anyone under 21 driving with any detectable alcohol in their bloodstream will be suspended. CBS 8. Belgium Fines and driving bans increase as the alcohol concentration in the blood increases. 9. United Kingdom Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to 5,000 and a minimum 12 months' disqualification. 10. France Fine and 6 demerit points on the driver's license, which can be suspended for 3 years maximum 11. Australia It is an offence to refuse to provide a sample of breath when requested, with severe penalties including prison. Days after PM Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan to visit Nawaz Sharif on his birthday comes a dastardly midnight terror attack at the Pathankot Air Force Base. Suspected Pakistani terrorists on Saturday attacked an Air Force Base here in Punjab, triggering an encounter in which four attackers and two IAF personnel were killed and 6 security men were injured. At least, four to five militants believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, in army uniform launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. #PathankotAttack Security forces at Pathankot Air Force Station. Two terrorists have been killed until now. pic.twitter.com/SYvWkXPIRU ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 A group of militants attacked Air Force base at 3:30 am this morning, a defence spokesman said. The attack was launched soon after a combing operation was carried out by the army yesterday in the area between Air base installation and Chakki river, police said. Security deployed outside #Pathankot Air Force Station. (pictures deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/LmR5ylbGo4 ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 The attackers were met with strong resistance from the security personnel who were already alert to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists therefore could not enter the air base and managed to reach only to the langer area on the outside. Terror module from Bahawalpur, Pakistan said to be behind the Pathankot Air Force base attack. pic.twitter.com/bQ87Crx2J7 TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 2, 2016 SSP R K Bakshi said that four suspected militants were killed in the battle. Two jawans were also martyred and six sustained injuries. Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab police was abducted by a group of armed men in army uniform on Thursday night. The attackers thrashed the officer before dumping him from vehicle. After the incident, the combing operation was launched in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur district. The attackers are confined to non-operational area, police said. Helicopters, NSG commandos and SWAT teams have been engaged. The encounter started at 3.30 am. The strike is believed to be launched by Jaish-e-Mohammad, and the target was to destroy military installations. According to latest reports, the operation has now ended. Security deployed outside #Pathankot Air Force Station. (pictures deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/RuxnZIBPOJ ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 Armed robbers looted Rs 26 lakh from an Agra bank on Friday afternoon after wishing the staff 'Happy New Year'. The gang, six in number, allegedly entered the bank during the lunch break when there were few people present and made off with the money. ammoland According to the cashier, the robbers targetted Bank of India's branch in Agra's Khandoli block. They then decamped with the money as well as the CCTV footage of the scene, said officials. Earlier, the bank staff had told the police that the robbers took away Rs 53 lakh but on inspecting the branch thoroughly, police found Rs 27 lakh from several places within the premises. "The six men arrived on bikes. Four entered the branch while two stayed outside and caught hold of the guard, bringing him inside and shutting the gates. One entered the manager's cabin and pointed a gun to his temple. Another robber pointed a gun at the cashier and ordered him to empty all the money he had into the bags they were carrying," said Manish Kumar, a member of the bank staff. topnews The eyewitnesses claimed that the robbers were so fast that no one could gather the courage to resist them or even think of pressing the alarm button. The robbers also took away the CCTV recorder with them. "Before leaving, they wished us all a Happy New Year. The whole incident got over in 15 minutes," said an eye witness. Talking to TOI, DIG Agra Lakshmi Singh said that it was the fault of the bank officials that none among them pressed the alarm button. The CCTV footage wasn't much use either. "We attempted to scan the CCTV footage to ascertain the sequence of events but it was found that the memory chip had recordings more than a year old. An FIR has been lodged against six unidentified men. Bank staff is being interrogated," said Singh. She added that similar robberies were reported earlier as well with the same modus operandi. Police teams have been formed to solve the case. Reuters Such a fearless attack from robbers in broad daylight has undoubtedly shown a bad picture of law and order in the city. This was the first robbery of 2016 while the city witnessed several such crimes in the previous week. On December 28, a teacher was robbed of Rs 3 lakh while armed assailants looted Rs 50 lakh from cattle owners on the same day. Swimwear has no connection with hospitality 26,000 feet above land, but a Chinese modelling agency is still convinced air hostesses need to look good in their bikini. Maybe they're preparing for a crash landing in the ocean? 1000 high school grad ladies at were made to parade swimwear this week to qualify for as an air hostess, the Daily Mail reported. They look really good in bikinis, which is why we've posted 5 photos of the same audition event, in east Chinas Shandong Province. Applications (and bikini clad ladies) reportedly flew in from provinces across China, including Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Jilin. The lucky audience included staff from modelling schools and airline training colleges. The strict selection criteria included a minimum heigh of five foot six, and a requirement to be "elegant, slim, have sweet voice and have no scars in the exposed part of their skin." Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and a prominent Shia cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is likely to deepen discontent and spark protests among Saudi Arabia's Shia minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east. Protests may also erupt in neighboring Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shia majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni-led monarchy. The execution of al-Qaida militants convicted over deadly bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist group's branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, warned Saudi security forces last month of violence if they carried out executions of members of the global network. The interior ministry announced the names of the 47 people executed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Saudi state television also reported the executions. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in al-Qaida's Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following a series of deadly attacks. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region of the kingdom told Associated Press that al-Nimr was among at least four Shia political detainees who were executed. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences, after all, appeals had been exhausted. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, the Interior Ministry statement said. Nearly all executions carried out in Saudi Arabia are by beheading with a sword. Saudi Arabia has actually been quite upfront about its execution punishments - earlier this year, they had even advertised for executioners. There was even global outrage in September with Saudi Arabia which is considered to have one of the worst human rights records in the World was made the head of UN Human Rights council. In a news conference on Saturday, interior ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a gray beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by men in the Arab Gulf region. Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy, which forcibly suppressed the 2011 Shia-led protests with the help of Saudi troops. In November, state-linked media had begun circulating unofficial reports that nearly 50 prisoners would be executed soon. Amnesty International warned that the execution of dozens of people in a single day "would mark a dizzying descent to yet another outrageous low." US-based Human Rights Watch criticized the executions. Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, said "regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia's troubling human rights record." She said al-Nimr was convicted in an "unfair" trial and that his execution "is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest." "Saudi Arabia's path to stability in the Eastern Province lies in ending systematic discrimination against Shia citizens, not in executions," she said. Before his arrest in 2012, al-Nimr had spoken out against the killing of protesters and other injustices, singling out the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain as well as the Syrian government, which is dominated by that country's Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shia Islam. At his trial, he was asked if he disapproved of the Al Saud ruling family after speeches in which he spoke out forcefully against the former interior minister and late crown prince Nayef bin Abdelaziz. "If injustice stops against Shias in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion," the cleric responded, according to his brother Mohammed, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press before the verdict. In Lebanon, a top Shia cleric condemned al-Nimr's execution, describing it as "a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty that would have helped reduce sectarian tensions in the region." "We have warned the concerned sides that any such reckless act means a catastrophe for the nation," said Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan deputy head of the influential Supreme Shia Islamic Council, the main religious body for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shias. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him but said he never carried weapons or called for violence. Al-Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, wrote a series of comments on Twitter after the execution, expressing hope that "we will overcome sectarianism to be in a better position." "You are wrong, uncertain and mistaken if you think that killing will stop demands for rights. We remain peacefully demanding reform and change in our country," he wrote. His son Ali, the cleric's nephew, is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed on Saturday. Amnesty International describes Ali al-Nimr as a juvenile offender because he was 17 years old in February 2012 when he was arrested. He was later convicted, and his death sentenced upheld, on charges of attacking security forces, taking part in protests, armed robbery and possessing a machine-gun. Biblical Punishment In 2015: A Saudi Activist Gets Sentenced To Death By Crucifixion Another 15 Year Old, Abdullah Al Zahr is on death row too. "This is a crime at a human level and will have repercussions in the coming days," he said in a statement released by his office. After listing the names and images of those executed, Saudi state television showed black-and-white footage of previous terror attacks in the kingdom, one showing bodies in a mosque after an attack. Soft, traditional music played in the background. Rights groups briefly transformed a mountain of discarded life jackets used by refugees who crossed the Aegean Sea into a huge peace sign on the hills of the Greek island of Lesbos. The giant symbol, which was made out of around 3,000 fluorescent orange life jackets, was created on a hillside overlooking the 10km stretch of water between the island's northern shores and the Turkish coastline, the Greenpeace website said. Reuters It was formed on New Year's Day by around 100 volunteers from Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, Sea-Watch and the Dutch Refugee Boat Foundation as well as the local community group, Starfish. The groups created the peace sign "on New Year's Day to bring in 2016 with a message of hope," with Greenpeace's Florian Schulz telling a reporter it took three-to-four hours to create the giant symbol, which measured 10 metres from side-to-side. But it was later removed as the group did not have permission to leave it there. Reuters "We had no permission for the sign to stay in the hills so we dismantled it and cleaned up the dump," Schulz was quoted telling AFP. UN figures show that more than half a million people have crossed the Aegean Sea to Lesbos alone over the past year, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the 850,000 who reached Greece by boat in 2015. Reuters The vast majority were refugees fleeing war and violence in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, with the life jackets they used left at a dump near the village of Molyvos, Greenpeace said. "The dump site stands as a statue, a silent reminder of the risks and that so many more still hold out hope of a safe crossing. It also includes the life jackets of those who never made it, of those who lost their lives at sea and can never return home or continue their journey north," it said. Reuters More than one million migrants and refugees have entered Europe this year, four out of five of whom reached the continent via the Greek islands. Although the arrivals have declined since the autumn, around 60,000 arrived on Lesbos in December, UN figures show. Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei on Friday said he was planning to create a memorial on Lesbos to the plight of refugees, many of whom died trying to reach Europe. "A lot of people have lost their lives under the waves... we need a memorial," he told AFP after a news conference on the project. "I already set up a studio in Lesbos. Next year we are going to be involved with different projects," he added. One Arab Spring activist has accused social media website Twitter of suspending his account. He believes that the administrators mistook him for a leader of the Islamic State. Iyad El-Baghdadi, who's a rather important figure on the social networking site with more than 70,000 followers, claimed that his account was blocked for more than half-an-hour after he was mistaken for ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the Indonesian newspaper Republika and the New York Post. Arab Spring refers to the independent democratic uprisings that spread across the Arab world back in 2011. Iyad said that the company needs to be 'more transparent' about how and why people are suspended from the site. To confuse an Arab man for the IS leader because of his very Arabic common surname is overt racism, @twitter. Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) December 31, 2015 My account gave you nearly 100 million twitter views this year, but you suspend me and keep the trolls running around, @Twitter. Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) January 1, 2016 While Twitter has taken steps to fight abusive behaviour on the website in order to protect the freedom of expression, it has not issued any statements yet. To @Twitter @support and @Jack Dorsey: I will continue to give you hell until you acknowledge what your team did here. Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) January 1, 2016 I don't think a single Arab country exists that doesn't have a family with the surname El-Baghdadi. https://t.co/M7lvwaaWIV Iyad El-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) January 1, 2016 Over the past year, Twitter has taken several steps to fight abuse in order to protect freedom of expression. It has empowered users with tools for blocking, muting and reporting abusive behaviour. Follow us on watch akshay kumar hits back with patriotism in airlift trailer New Delhi: Actor Akshay Kumar's much talked about movie Airlift' rolled out its trailer today. The movie stars Nimrat Kaur, Purab Kohli and is directed by Raja Krishnan Menon. Based on true events of the biggest evacuation in the history of mankind, the movie narrates what happened during the 1990 Iraq- Kuwait War. After Iraq invaded Kuwait, 1,70,000 Indians were airlifted using 488 flights in 59 days. In Airlift, Akshay essays the role of Ranjeet Katyal, the man who orchestrated the entire task with the help of Air India. Akshay claimed a few days ago that this movie will make you a proud Indian and the trailer points out in the same direction. It depicts the panic which engulfed Indians stranded in Kuwait. While their helplessness and the terror mode which was switched on during the tough days will give you goosebumps, the bravery and patriotism of protagonist Akshay will make you proud of your motherland. The trailer infects patriotism as it shows Ranjeet Katyal risking his family and life for the safety of fellow 1,70,000 Indians. Furthermore, it teaches why one should never forget his/her motherland even when living in any part of the world, as Akshay says, Chot lagti hai na to aadmi maa maa hi chilata hai. Releasing on 22nd January, Airlift just might turn out to be this month's biggest hit. Watch the hard hitting trailer here: Latest Bollywood News PROVO, Utah As the Provo City Center Temple nears its opening, one glassblower already has it created in glass. Marge Rosebrook has been sculpting glass for almost 40 years, and for most of those years, shes specialized in creating LDS temples. She estimates she has made more than 75,000 temples over that time, and shipped them to every continent on the globe except for Antarctica. And thats only because theres no temple there yet, quipped Sarah Asay, her business partner. Rosebrook sculpts or stitches all her temples from unleaded Corning glass in a small 8 by 8 foot workshop at the end of Asays driveway in Provo. Rosebrook is a unique type of glassblower she said the old term is a lampworker. She does not hand blow her glass, but uses a heat lamp that pumps heat and air out of the end, so she can work quickly, and adding the many intricacies to her sculptures. To stitch her temples, Rosebrook starts with a small glass rod in her left hand, and a slightly bigger rod in her right. She runs the bigger rod through the flame to melt it, and then makes looping stitches onto the smaller rod. She builds rows until she has a wall or ceiling piece, then repeats the process for the rest of the piece. When she adds columns and spires, she uses a coil stitch to attach the rods. Rosebrook is able to work bare-handed, with her fingers fairly close to the flame, even though the fire shooting from her lamp is more than 1,000 degrees, because the glass conducts light but not heat. But she always wears unique glasses made specifically for glass blowers that she attaches to her regular eyeglasses. The lenses protect her sight she could go blind without them because of the brightness of the flame and they also allow her see directly into the flame so she can see exactly what the glass is doing. Details are very important to Rosebrook. She has never been to most of the temples shes sculpted, but she uses multiple pictures, from multiple angles, to get her details exact. She can tell you the unique features of every temple, such as how the Manti and Logan temples are almost identical in structure, but one (Manti) has two squared off columns on one end. She loves when she finds an aerial shot for a temple, because then she can check if it really is square or rectangular something that is very difficult to ascertain with the bigger temples just from ground-level shots. All Rosebrooks temples are handmade, but she makes them as uniform as possible, so every Salt Lake Temple looks like the Salt Lake Temple, she said. As she stitches, she makes small but important adjustments, correcting a loop here or leveling off an edge there. I always end up with a slant, she said Wednesday, about one of the walls she was creating for a Manti Temple sculpture. Luckily, glass is something you can go back and fix. Of course, Rosebrook can only fix a piece so many times and she has a small can of rejects to show for it. If she works too much on a piece, it weakens the glass, causing it to be more prone to cracking. She also has to be careful about a piece cooling too quickly, because that itself can cause cracking as well. Because shes been doing it for so long, she makes glassblowing look very easy. But she has the burn marks and memories to testify to how difficult it is. I dont wear my nice clothes to do this, because Im liable to drop hot glass on them, Rosebrook said, showing off small holes in her pants. And every so often, I get cut or burnt, but its just an occupational hazard. Its got its dangers, but I think you can do more with glass than any other material. Rosebrooks father was an artist who dabbled in glassblowing, but she learned the craft from an expert when she lived in California many years ago. When she moved to Utah in 1978, she was a new convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A neighbor learned of her talent, and asked her to repair a glass sculpture of an LDS temple. She then made others temples for the neighbor. She ended up working full time for Krystal Kreations, a glass store in University Mall. She supplied that business with LDS temples until it closed. Since then, she and Asay have worked together. What she does is actually pretty rare as far as U.S. sculptors, Asay said. Ive never seen something she cant make. Shes so talented, and one of those artists who would make it, even if she wasnt paid. When Rosebrook started creating temples, there were only about 20 LDS temples worldwide. That number slowly increased, and Rosebrook kept up, finishing her own glass temples just about when the real temple was dedicated and opened. That pattern followed until Gordon B. Hinckley became the LDS Prophet in 1995, and put a new emphasis on temple building going from about 47 to 100 temples in just 15 years. Follow us on cbfc revamp need of the hour rakeysh omprakash mehra New Delhi: The government's initiative to revamp the framework within which the country's film censorship board functions is a welcome move and the "need of the hour", says National Award winning filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Mehra is part of the newly-appointed revamp panel led by celebrated film maker and director Shyam Benegal. "It's a welcome initiative and it's a huge challenge from here. But the revamp is the need of the hour. We are very happy that the government decided to take this initiative," Mehra, known for movies like "Rang De Basanti" and "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", told IANS over phone from Mumbai. On Friday, the government announced the formation of the Benegal Committee to recommend a holistic framework for the country's film censor board, and to suggest changes in the Cinematograph Act, so that artistic creativity and freedom are not curtailed. Led by 81-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Benegal, an auteur of parallel Indian cinema, the panel also includes ad guru Piyush Pandey, veteran film journalist Bhawana Somaaya, National Film Development Corporation managing director Nina Lath Gupta, and the joint secretary (Films) in the information and broadcasting ministry as the Member Convenor, besides Mehra. Mehra said they will all put their minds together to create the road map for the changes required in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Will it primarily be about suggesting changes to the framework of film certification or about recommending alterations in the Cinematograph Act, 1952? "I think a bit of everything. It's something we have to sit together and deliberate upon, because, it may sound rhetorical but we have to move with changing times. Times have changed, and there is tremendous change from the days when the framework for the Cinematograph Act was made," Mehra said. "We are now living in a different world, and so we would like to take things to a next level. There is so much connectivity and information that change is the need of the hour," he said. Asked if filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani's role as CBFC chairman remains untouched with the formation of the panel, Mehra said he isn't the right person to answer this question. However, Mehra stressed that it's "amazing" that the Narendra Modi-led government has taken a step towards "making a beginning" as far as change in film certification is concerned. The filmmaker had joined the committee upon an invite from the government and said he wanted to be part of it as a "citizen" and then as a filmmaker. "It's a long journey from here. We have to make a beginning somewhere, and we are looking forward to plot the roadmap ahead," Mehra said, adding that summing up the changes he'd like to see in the rules and regulations of CBFC would be tough to summarise over a call. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on pahlaj nihalani welcomes govt s new censor board reform committee Mumbai: CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani today welcomed the I&B ministry's decision to form a panel, to be headed by veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, for revamping of the censor board. Nihalani, who has been at the centre of the storm for his controversial decisions in clearing the films, hoped that the new guidelines will be conducive to everyone. "There are good people in the committee and I am confident that they will bring new reforms. The government's decision is welcome. Whatever be the new guidelines and rating system, we will follow that according to the situation," Nihalani told. The producer said that the recommendations of Mudgal committee in 2013 were not implemented so there was a need to look into the matter. When asked whether he will be asked to resign, Nihalani said, "I have nothing to say about that. I don't want to comment." Latest Bollywood News Follow us on decoding the strategic relevance of the pathankot air force base Pathankot: In an indication that the peace process between India and Pakistan is no bed of roses, suspected Pakistani terrorists today staged an attack on the Air Force Base in Punjab's Pathankot in the wee hours of Saturday. The attack triggered a fierce encounter which lasted about five hours. Three Indian Air Force men were martyred in the gunbattle while another six security personnel were injured. As per latest reports, five attackers with suspected Pakistani links, have been gunned down by security forces. At least five militants believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group, launched the attack with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. As the combing operations in the region continue, the attacks have acted as a strong reminder to the Parliament Attack in Delhi in 2001 and the horrific 26/11 offensive in Mumbai. In the past few years, most terror attacks emanating from Pakistani soil have been limited to the state of Jammu and Kasmir. Here, we bring to you reasons that could explain why the attackers chose this region for a rare terror offensive against India outside of Kashmir. * The Pathankot Air base, which falls under the Amritsar region of Punjab, has great political, economic and strategic significance. * Pathankot, which is close to the border of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, is instrumental logistics support for forces in Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh. * Pathankot district also borders Pakistan and is home to an army base beside the air base. * The Pathankot Air Force base, which falls under the IAF's Western Command, provides an essential operational range for deep air raids into Pakistani territory. * The area has been accorded immense importance not just by India but also by Pakistan in war plans and has played a key role in the wars between the two sides. For India, the entire region serves is key to its defence against infiltrations from the other side of the border. It also provides a perfect depth for any Indian aerial offensive, if need be. * In the 1965 war, Pakistan staked its only strategic offensive operation with an advance from Kasur in Pakistan to conquer all the Indian territory west of the Beas and Sutlej. This attempt was foiled by Indian forces in the critical battle of Khemkaran. * The region, including Pathankot and Amritsar, is a hub of communications and various rail and road routes lead to it from Pakistan. * The important highways include the Grand Trunk Road, the Lahore-Khalra-Amritsar road and the Kasur-Khemkaran-Amritsar road from the south. Highways in the north include the Quila Sobha Singh-Ajnala road across the Gil ferry and the Narowal-Dera Baba Nanak road over the Ravi. * The air base houses India's MIG-21 fighter aircraft as well as 18 wings of the Indian Air Force. * Moreover, the air base is also home to the families of Air Force officials who reside inside the compound. Latest India News Follow us on terror attack at air force base in pathankot 10 key developments New Delhi: The Pathankot IAF base attack comes barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore. Defence experts say that the attack was deliberately done to scuttle the peace process initiated by India with Pakistan, adding that the militant organisations as well as the Pakistan Army have always opposed the dialogues between the two sides. Pathankot, a key air base for MiG-21 Bison fighters and Mi-35 helicopters, is located 50 km from the border with Pakistan and 200 km from Chandigarh. This was the second major terrorist attack which Punjab has seen in less than six months after an earlier one in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district in July last year. Here are the 10 major developments related to this attack: 1. The combat operation at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot ended on Tuesday with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announcing that six terrorists were killed. 2. Seven military personnel, including an officer of the National Security Guards (NSG) and Garud Commando, were martyred and another 20 injured at the sprawling compound which is located just 25 km from the Pakistan border. 3. All the terrorists were heavily armed and well-trained. Each of them carried around 6 kg of RDX. 4. Preliminary evidence shows that the terrorists entered India through a canal route of the Ravi river, where there may have been a serious technical security lapse as the thermal imager located between two BSF posts was not working. The same route was used by LeT terrorists in the Gurdaspur attack last year. 5. United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of 13 Kashmiri militant groups based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility of the attack. 6. Terrorists dressed in military uniforms entered the air base in an official vehicle. The vehicle used by them was the car of the Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur that was hijacked in Pathankot on December 31. 7. The militants are said to have made four calls from Pathankot to Pakistan between 12.30 am and 2 am, just hours before the attack. 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday afternoon, assuring him of his support in the investigation to uncover how the assault was conceived and executed. 9. India has indicated that it may delay talks in Islamabad between the foreign secretaries of the two countries that were to be held on January 15. 10. Combing operations continued on the fifth day (Wednesday) to sanitise the Pathankot IAF base even as the NIA formed various teams to probe the terrorist attack on the high-security defence facility. Latest India News Follow us on pathankot gunbattle ends 3 iaf men martyred all 5 militants killed Pathankot: Security forces have neutralised five suspected Pakistani terrorists who staged an attack on an Air Force Base here in Punjab's Pathankot district, triggering an encounter. Three IAF personnel were martyred and 6 security men were injured in the gunbattle that ensued. All five terrorists have now been neutralised, security officials said. At least five militants, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, decked in Army uniforms launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. The entire area was cordoned off, police said, adding that the attackers, who had abducted an SP yesterday, are linked with attack and had also made calls to Pakistan. Pakistan's role became even more evident with reports of call intercepts revealed that the terrorists were in touch with their handlers in Pakistan. A total of four calls were made to Pakistan just hours before the terrorists launched the attack. One call was made by a terrorist to his mother informing her that he was on a suicide mission, intercepts have revealed. Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area, the IAF said, adding that the inputs enabled security agencies to detect a group of terrorists through aerial surveillance. "The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the Technical zone where high value assets are parked," the IAF said in a statement. "Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled," the statement read. Though the encounter is now over, combing operations are still on. Here are highlights of the major events that transpired through the day: * Pathankot Air Base attack is highly condemnable. Kudos to brave soldiers for dispelling the attack and salute to martyrs: Arun Jaitley * Three Service Chiefs and NSA Doval brief Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at South Block on Pathankot terror attack * Two more militants have entered India * Our Central agencies are working in coordination with Punjab Police: Kiren Rijiju * Have credible info about this attack being sponsored by some elements across the border: Kiren Rijiju, MoS, Home * Islamabad remains committed to partner with New Delhi and other countries in the region to eradicate menace of terror: Pakistan Foreign Ministry * Pakistan condemns terrorist incident in Pathankot in which many precious lives have been lost: Pakistan Foreign Ministry * Rajnath Singh briefs PM Modi on Pathankot terror attack * NSA Ajit Doval briefs PM Modi on Pathankot terror attack * All 6 terrorists belong to Pakistan based Al-Rehman trust. The came from Bahawalpur after 6 months training and were in touch with handlers Ashfaq Ahmad, Abdul Shaqur. * Intelligence inputs say that they entered into Indian territory via Gurdaspur area. * Terrorists wanted to blow up aircrafts at the IAF base and then capture the civil area. * Garud commando of IAF killed in Pathankot encounter; toll of security personnel rises to three: Defence sources * Fifth militant killed in gun battle * Fresh firing at Pathankot during combing operations * NIA team reaches Pathankot * A total of six security personnel including 4 from the Defence Security Corps and two Garud Commandos were injured in the attack * Attackers made four calls from Pathankot to Pakistan between 12.30 am and 2 am, just hours before the attack: Sources * I am happy that our forces gave a befitting response in Punjab, I am proud of them: Rajnath Singh * Pakistan is our neighbor & we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response: Rajnath Singh * Any aggression towards us will receive a befitting reply from our side: Home Minister Rajnath Singh * Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to hold a high level meeting on Pathankot attack with security officials in the evening. * This is part of a continuing movement by Pak to use terrorism against India: Ajay Sahni, Defence expert * Terrorists had infiltrated into India 3 days ago, sources say they are from Bahawalpur in Pakistan * Area not sanitised yet, combing operation continues: Dhillon * Gunbattle between terrorists and security forces ends: Punjab Police ADGP (Law and Order) H S Dhillon * Security stepped up in Delhi after Pathankot terror attack * All 4 militants killed: SSP RK Bakshi * We are here, we are vigilant and on standby, says Abhinav Trikha (DC, Gurdaspur) * Local brigade commander of army is coordinating in operation, army UAVs and IAF also involved in operation. * Based on developments yesterday, alert was sounded accordingly. 2 army columns, Special Forces & NSG were present in area. * Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma at the site of terrorist attack. * The entire state of Punjab is on high alert after #Pathankot attack: Surinder Singh (SHO, Sarabha Nagar). * Top officials convene emergency meet at Air Force HQ in Delhi, situation moniotored at the highest level. * NSG team & Garud Commando Force are engaged in the gun battle with terrorists. * High alert on the international border (IB) in Kathua and Border Security Force troops guarding the IB have been ordered to be extra vigilant. * High alert on Pathankote-Jammu highway after Punjab terror attack. * Terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed role suspected in attack. * 2 IAF jawans killed in terror attack * NSA Ajit Doval is personally monitoring the entire situation. * High alert at Palam Air Base in Delhi. * The firing is on in the area behind Air Force base: PTI * Air force says technical area intact, terrorist are at near DSC mess. * Two militants killed: Police * Gunfire started at around 3:30 am, authorities said, adding that an official car was used to launch the attack. * The technical area where MiG 29 fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept is safe. * National Security Guard has been called in. * Helicopters have also dispatched to the area for assistance in operation. The attack comes days after PM Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Pakistan. It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Diana Nagar before being eliminated after 12 hour gun battle. Yesterday, five suspected militants abducted an SP and two others and thrashed them before dumping them from vehicle. After the incident a combing operation was launched in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. Latest India News Follow us on twitteratti slams couple who took selfie with burning dubai hotel Abu Dhabi: A couple who captured a selfie with the burning Dubai hotel in the background on New Year's Eve and posted it on social media came under heavy fire from the Twitterati. Barely hours before the ushering in of the New Year, a huge fire engulfed a 63-storey luxury hotel The Address Downtown. While the visuals were clicked and posted by many social media users with different hashtags, including #Dubaifire, the photo of the couple posing with a smile with the burning building as a backdrop was clearly not acceptable to several users. The photograph, as a result, was met with several harsh reactions like "the most inappropriate selfie ever" and "people are stupid". According to eyewitnesses, the fire started on the lower floor of the Address Downtown hotel from the outside and very quickly spread to the upper storeys. Officials said one person had a heart attack as a result of the smoke and the rush to get out of the building. Another person was described as being moderately injured and 16 people were said to have suffered minor injuries. A large fireworks display later went ahead at the world's tallest tower in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, in front of tens of thousands of people while plumes of smoke continued to billow from the nearby hotel fire. Last year, Dubai broke the world record for the largest fireworks display on the New Year's Eve, releasing 479,651 shells during the midnight pyrotechnic show, Gulf News reported. (With Agency Inputs) Latest World News Follow us on amit shah meets mohan bhagwat in indore Indore: BJP President Amit Shah yesterday met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during his visit to the Vishwa Sangh Shivir that is underway here. Shah arrived here to take part in the Vishwa Sangh Shivir (World Sangh Camp) that started on December 29 and will go on till January 3. During the conference, Shah met Bhagwat, who reached the city yesterday for the mega event, sources close to the camp organisers said. Details of their talks were not available. The BJP chief spent the entire day at the camp and met its participants, a large number of whom have come from abroad. As many as 700 delegates from 45 countries are taking part in the mega meet, organised by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, a voluntary organisation working in foreign countries. Earlier, Shah was given a warm welcome by the BJP workers when he landed at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport. Speaking at the the reception hosted by the city unit of BJP, Shah extended New Year greetings to party workers and asked them to work for progress of the country and growth of the saffron outfit. Follow us on bjp to go solo in 2017 up assembly elections mukhtar abbas naqvi Bareilly (UP): Rejecting speculations, BJP leader and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said his party will contest Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, slated next year, on its own. "BJP will contest the coming 2017 Assembly elections on its own and form its government," Naqvi, who was here to attend a private function, told reporters last night. Speaking on the DDCA controversy involving Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, Naqvi said the senior BJP leader was "clean and honest" and lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party, which he said was indulging in drama. The Minister of State for Minorities also accused theCongress of stalling the country's development. "Congress, having feudal and imperial mentality does not want development of the country," he said, labelling the party as "the mother of corruption". Taking a dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's foreign trip on New Year, Naqvi said anyone can celebrate new year anywhere in the world. "May be, foreign trip could give him some good sense," he added. Follow us on derailing the indo pak peace process a timeline of events New Delhi: The Pathankot terror attack comes barely a week after PM Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore in a bid to strengthen ties with neighbour Pakistan. The attack, which is suspected to have a Pakistani connection, can put Modi under a lot of pressure as the furthering of the peace process was his initiative. And there is good reason for him to be worried. Facts indicate that whenever Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif have tried to normalise ties between both nations, Islamabad has allowed its soil to perpetrate attacks against New Delhi and scuttle the peace process. This time too, defence experts say that the attack was deliberately done to disrupt the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan in Islamabad on January 15, adding that the militant organisations as well as the Pakistan Army have always opposed dialogue between the two sides. We bring to you a chronology of events that describe how India's attempts to restore peace with Pakistan have been met with a prompt response from the neighbours, casting a shadow over Pakistan's intent and capabilities 1999: The phenomenon of derailing peace talks, in fact, has existed much before Modi came to power. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore on Feb 21, 1999, on an invitation by his the then Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, the two sides signed a historic peace agreement. But in May 1999, Pakistan Army Chief Pervez Musharraf overthrew the Sharif government and masterminded the Kargil War. November 26, 2008: The 10-member Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. The attacks drew widespread global condemnation, killing 164 people. After this attack, the dialogue between India and Pakistan process was frozen. May 26, 2014: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi government. At that time, it was decided that the foreign secretaries of the two sides will met in August to draw a roadmap to carry forward the engagements. But few days ahead of the scheduled talk, on August 18, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, met Kashmiri separatist, forcing India to annul the talks. November 30, 2014: Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart met in Kathmandu on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit. Media reports claimed that the two leaders had an hour-long meeting. November 27, 2014: Ahead of PM Modi's election rally in Udhampur and Poonch, terrorists infiltrated into Arnia sector with the motive to disrupt the PM's public meeting. The security forces gunned down all 4 fidayeens in the encounter. The incident had also claimed the lives of 3 soldiers and 3 civilians. December 5, 2014: Three-days ahead of PM Modi's visit to Srinagar and Anantnag, 11 jawans were killed in series of grenade attacks by terrorists. July 10, 2015: On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Ufa, Modi and Sharif made a commitment to restart the dialogue process. In a joint statement after the meeting, Foreign Secretaries S Jaishankar and Aizaz Chowdhury announced that National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aziz will meet in New Delhi. But on July 17, three Pakistani terrorists attacked a bus and police station in Gurdaspur killing seven Indian nationals. August 5, 2015: Two LeT armed terrorists attacked a BSF convoy in Udhampur. One terrorist, identified as Mohammad Naved - a Pakistani national, was caught alive while the other one was killed. August 22, 2015: In a blow to efforts to normalise their ties, Pakistan NSA Sartaz Aziz cancelled his visit to New Delhi alleging India's refusal to allow meeting with Kashmiri separatists. August 27, 2015: One of the five terrorists who had infiltrated into Kashmir was caught alive by the security forces. The 22-year-old nabbed terrorist, identified as Sajjad Ahmed, was from Muzaffargarh region of Pakistan. November 30, 2015: On the sidelines of the Climate Change Conference in Paris, Modi and Sharif once again decided to resume the talks. Following this, in the first week of December, Indian and Pakistani NSA-led delegations met in Bangkok. In a joint press release announcing the meeting, the MEA said the discussions covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, and other issues, including tranquillity along the LoC. December 8, 2015: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj headed to Pakistan to attend the annual Heart of Asia conference. She met Sartaz Aziz and their talks were focused on the resumption of the composite dialogue process. At that time, Aziz had said that the deadlock in Indo-Pak ties has eased to some extent. Swaraj had also met Sharif. December 25, 2015: PM Modi surprised everyone by announcing that he will visit Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on way to New Delhi from Kabul. The brief meeting between the two leaders was not only welcomed by the two neighboring nations but also the world media praised India's effort to normalize its ties with Pakistan. The two leaders discussed modalities of bilateral comprehensive dialogue and announced that foreign secretaries will meet on January15 to draw a roadmap to carry forward the talks. The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is persecuting and not prosecuting former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, because of 2019 presidency, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged. The opposition party said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders are jittery that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition considering that the PDP has zoned its 2019 presidential ticket to the North. In a statement on Saturday by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the opposition so that it could push through Buharis second tenure in 2019 without resistance from the PDP. The PDP is conversant with the sinister plan by the APC-led federal government to completely decimate our party by raking up all manner of allegations of corruption against the Goodluck Jonathan administration and leaders of the PDP with a view to taking them to court on orchestrated charges. This has also confirmed our concern that this is the reason the federal government is persecuting and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north. We are aware that President Buhari has directed security agencies to be more vicious in dealing with our members and has continued to subtly coerce the Judiciary to convict those being charged to court. But what gives us joy is that President Buhari is not God and we will not worship him, the party said. The PDP also said it sympathised with Buhari and APC leaders over their inability to accept constructive criticisms of their administration, saying it was unfortunate that the APC and its leaders, who gleefully and unjustifiably poured invectives on former President Jonathan in the guise of playing the role of an opposition party, would now not want to condone criticisms. According To the statement, APC as an opposition party denigrated the office and person of the former president by wrongly depicting him as clueless and incompetent stressing that the PDP remained the most decent, mature and constructive opposition party in Nigerias democracy evidenced by what it termed great respect for the person and exalted office of President Muhammadu Buhari. Metuh stressed that the PDP must be commended for what it described as civil, responsible, mature and issue-based opposition it has played, adding that the entire world listened to President Buhari during the Wednesdays media chat and went away with different impressions. During the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, while in the saddle as interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, in a post on his twitter page, described President Jonathan as lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless and useless leader. Other APC leaders made raining abuses on Jonathan a past time. We did and came up with the theme of our initial reaction that portrayed him very appropriately as a tyrant. And for the purpose of clarity, a tyrant is a ruler who has complete power over a country and who uses the power in a cruel and unfair way, which was why we recommended the suspension of the operation of the constitution so he can rule for the next four years as a maximum ruler, the PDP said. The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to comprehensively constitute the Board of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as stipulated and envisaged by the 1999 Constitution instead of making piecemeal appointments into the board. It was the partys position that the appointment would enable the commission perform optimally in consonance with the internationally recognized benchmark and best practices in advanced democracies of the world. The APGA National Publicity Secretary, Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, stated this in a statement on Thursday. Section 153 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution empowers the president to make appointments into INEC. The INEC as presently constituted, has only five national commissioners as against the 12 allowed by the constitution. Similarly, some states have no resident electoral commissioners. In this light, APGA urged President Buhari to exercise his constitutional powers by making appointments to other boards of parastatals. The party also implored the Buhari administration to urgently diversify the countrys economy by investing in the comparative economic advantage, viability and potentialities of every state, in partnership with state governments. This, it said, would help to create avenue for more revenue for the federal and state governments as well as providing massive job opportunities in the various states, for our teeming unemployed youths, most especially, for the graduates who are desperately and despondently roaming the streets, in search of any means of livelihood for survival. While expressing hope that 2016 would usher in a new dawn, the party urged Nigerians in positions of authority and influence at the three arms and every level of government to be selfless in service, up and doing, alive to their duties and constitutional responsibilities. It said the year 2016 would be one of outstanding successes and great transformation for the benefit of all Nigerians. APGA reminded politicians and political parties that ambition and plans to win elections and be in government was not an end in themselves and therefore ought to know that electioneering and sloganeering for the 2015 election had ended and winners emerged. The party added, Therefore, let the promises made to the electorate and indeed Nigerians, by those who won elections, be vigorously pursued and faithfully implemented outright, without the present diversionary strategies, litany of nauseating excuses, pointing of the fingers, calling of names and playing games, which is noisome and making Nigerians feel helpless irksome and hopeless. Leadership and governance should be hope-inspiring with motivational speeches, good conducts, absolute assurance, appreciable and visible performance and not by being sanctimonious, using negative propaganda, misinformation, hoodwinks and half a truth, without qualms, which is systematically and institutionally destroying our already debased governmental moral rectitude and corrupting our emerging democratic norms and ethos. The party wished its members, supporters and all Nigerians, a blissful, optimistic and a remarkable new year, filled with peace and tranquility, myriad economic opportunities and possibilities, and a collective unity of purpose, as a nation. It noted that 2016 would bring a new thinking which our common and collective interest will be the basis of our relationship to one another. Cheating devastates relationships and shatters dreams. If you have entertained the idea of cheating on your spouse or significant other, let this serve as your official warning. Your handsome boss, cute office secretary or sultry neighbor down the street comes with a price tag that you cannot afford. Before you cheat here are 14 things you really need to know. 1. You will become a liar Its bad enough to bear the title of Cheater, but if you cheat, you will also wear the hat of Liar. Cheating cannot occur without deceit on some level and normally the white lies in the beginning become full-fledged lies at the end. Im working late at the office tonight may be a half-truth but youll need to redefine the word working to silence your compromised conscience. Cheating and lying go hand in hand. 2. You will get caught It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But eventually, your affair will come to light. Your world will come crashing down on you. If you are fortunate, the story of your indiscretion may avoid the evening news or the front page of your local paper, but your circle of friends will know your deeds. And everyone likes to share juicy news. Your poor decision will become as public as a billboard. Its not a matter of if but when. As Pastor Rick Warren tweeted recently, If the Director of the CIA cant hide and cover up an affair, no one can. As the Chinese proverb goes, If you dont want anyone to know it, dont do it. 3. You will disappoint everyone Everyone. Your spouse. Your friends. Your co-workers. Your God. Your parents. Your nephew. Your children. Yourself. The disappointment you cause will be like the stench of skunks and it will take a long time to remove the smell. 4. You will be a bad example Everyone is either a good example or a bad example in all things that we do. Cheating is not only a very bad example in relationships but brings with it a cloud of doubt that hovers over you in other areas of your life. If you cheated in one area, would you cheat in another? Cheating communicates to everyone that you took the easy road. It tells others that you were willing to cut corners in your most primary relationship. It reveals that you were not willing to do the hard work and get the help you needed. No one ever admires a cheater. No one looks up to an adulterer. Even if you did a lifetime of good, this one bad deed can erase it all. 5. You will lose your moral authority Its hard to tell your children (or others) to do the right thing when they know you didnt. Saying Do as I say, not as I do is the fastest way to lose the respect of others. Not only will you lose their respect, youll lose yours. Every moral judgment you make in the future will be weighed against your adulterous action of the past. It doesnt mean you cant speak the truth in the future, it just means that few will listen to you. 6. You will create trust issues for your spouse Forever. You will single-handedly damage the precious self-esteem of the one you promised to love. Every relationship they have after you will be one that they struggle to trust. If that were not enough, you will rock the world of children and cause them to question the stability of every meaningful relationship they have. For children, their parents relationship is their anchor and cheating cuts the line. 7. You will lose your standard of living Depending on what you do for a living, you may lose your job. Many lose their home. Most end up with enormous court fees since cheating is usually the precursor to divorce. Betrayed spouses have a way of making you pay and that payment is always expensive. Every check you write is a constant reminder of your foolishness. 8. You will spend years trying to rebuild your life Literally years. Even if you somehow weathered the storm financially, you will find it takes years for you to recover emotionally. It takes years for you to restore certain friendships, if you even do. It takes years for you to rebuild your character. It takes years to rebuild trust. It takes years to truly forgive yourself. 9. You will lose relationships You will lose a LOT of relationships. Lifelong friends will walk away. Close friends that you have helped countless times will not be around to help you. Even some family members who are supposed to love you no matter what will vanish. A cheater can end up living a very lonely life. Its hard for many people who used to call you friend to get past that skunk smell of disappointment. 10. You will increase your chances of getting an STD Sexually transmitted diseases run rampant among promiscuous people. But your paramour is clean, right? After all, they told you so. And if there is one thing we all know we can trust a cheater and their word. As the saying goes, There is honor among thieves. One helpful thought may be to assume that everyone but your spouse has an STD. That should curb your appetite for destruction. 11. The grass is not greener on the other side The grass is greener idea is a common misconception. Because we have never been on that grass, we assume it must be better than where we currently stand. Its not. In fact, though it may look greener from a distance once you get there and make yourself comfortable, something interesting happens the grass changes color. This usually happens soon after you get caught. You will then see that patch of land differently. You will also have a strange desire for the green grass you left except now it is burned and wont let you back. The best way to enjoy green grass is to water your own yard. 12. Would you want this done to you? Thieves like to steal wallets but hate when its done to them. If we all lived by the Golden Rule (Treat others the way you want to be treated.) most of lifes problems would be solved overnight. Think about this action as if it were being done to you. The problem is that it requires thought and thinking is often the last thing a cheater has on his/her mind. 13. You will eventually regret this decision In the heat of the moment, cheating appears to make sense. It feels good and sometimes even feels right. Feelings are deceitful. Soon afterward, your eyes will be opened and you will regret that you ever partook of the forbidden fruit. Dont we all have enough regrets in our lives? Why add another one particularly one that can only destroy everything you have worked so hard to build? Your home may not be perfect but it sure beats living in a tent. 14. The pain outweighs the gain No one ever says from their deathbed, I wish I would have had an affair. No one ever leaves their lawyers office with a smile on their face grateful for the experience. No one loses dear friends and is glad they have one less Christmas card to receive this year. The loss is immeasurable. The pain can be unbearable. Entire kingdoms can be lost for a few minutes of pleasure. It is just not worth it. This article was originally published on Rod Arters blog. The Theater Command of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army on Friday alerted Borno residents on a planned attack by Boko Haram terrorists using beggars and other strategies. Col. Mustapha Anka, the Media Coordinator of the Theater, made this known in a statement in Maiduguri. Anka said the attention of the Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a terrorists intention to use beggars to cause mayhem in the state. Under the plan, concealed explosives in bundles of firewood are to be placed in crowded and strategic areas of Maiduguri and environs to cause havoc. He said that the terrorists had also devised a new means of attracting the public by shouting Boko Haram to create panic. Additionally, the general public should be weary of a terrorists plan to deceive the public by way of shouting Boko Haram to create panic in order to lure unsuspecting public for maximum casualty while detonating their bombs during and after the new year celebrations, Anka said. He, therefore, advised residents to be extra vigilant during and after the New Year celebrations. He said the Theater wishes to remind the public to be extra vigilant during and after the New Year celebrations as the ban on bangers and fireworks is still in force. A journalist with close contact to the leadership of Boko Haram Terrorist sect, Ahmed Salkida, has disclosed that the abducted Chibok girls are still alive with some of them refusing to convert to Islam. No fewer than 200 of the original 300 schoolgirls kidnapped from their dormitory in April 2014, are believed to still be in Boko Haram custody despite fears expressed in some quarters that they might have been sent on suicide bombing missions. President Muhammadu Buhari said in his maiden Media Chat on Wednesday that government had no credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the schoolgirls but promised to negotiate with the Boko Haram leadership if there is evidence showing that they are alive and well. Online publication, The Cable, quoted Salkida yesterday as asking President Buhari to use state machinery to open up access to the militants rather than say he has no clue on the kidnapped girls. Most of the Chibok girls, whether they are split into groups or not, are alive, multiple credible sources have told me. And if a deal to release them will weaken national security and endanger the entire country, then the federal government shouldnt make a deal, Salkida said. He continued: I am confident that Chibok girls and other captives can return to their families if the government is half as strong-willed as some of the girls in captivity that have refused to be married out or give up their faith. The girls would have never backed out of any process, no matter how irritating it is. They would stay on and negotiate hard until they get a deal that will earn them their freedom and stop such abductions so that no one else can ever witness their woeful plight. Elusive Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, who has disappeared from the public glare in the last 10 months, following increased military onslaught against him and his group, once released a video footage showing the girls reciting verses from the Quran and vowing to sell them off to marriage. A deadly shooting incident has killed at least two people in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, leaving at least seven others injured, according to a spokesman. The attack, which targeted a bar on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv, took place at 3:00 pm local time on Friday afternoon, Micky Rosenfeld, Israeli police spokesman, told Al Jazeera by telephone. The suspect has been identified as Neshaat Milhem, a 29-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from Arara, a town in central Israel. Local Arabic-language media reports said that Milhem, who did a stint in Israeli prison in 2006, was identified when his father called and informed police after seeing him on television. Israels Channel 2 also noted that his cousin was shot and killed by a police officer in 2006. Rosenfeld said the assailant is still at large and that Israeli police are searching Tel Aviv. In a subsequent Twitter update, Rosenfeld said that building[s] and apartments [are] still being searched. On Friday night, Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Israels Channel 2 that the motive behind the attack is still unclear. There is no definitive indication that this was a nationalist act, he said. CCTV footage the incident, which Al Jazeera could not independently verify, was posted on Twitter. It depicted the shooter opening fire with an automatic weapon as pub patrons jumped for cover. The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pardon Nigerians involved in money laundering, so long as they are ready to return all their looted funds. Mr. Onaiyekan stated this at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya, Abuja, as part of his New Year message to the nation. The Catholic archbishop, who granted an interview to a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, who attended the mass, stressed that the ongoing anti-corruption campaign of the Buhari administration has shown that graft can only be eradicated over time, not immediately. He also called for caution in the fight against corruption. It is okay to expose people and disgrace them, but that will not solve the problem, Onaiyekan said. If we want our money back, we have to strategize so that the countries that are keeping our money can feel challenged to return them. The time has come such that once we have those facts we can call those nations thieves that they are, and say bring back our money. According to Onaiyekan, the best strategy towards ensuring the return of the stolen monies would be to reach an agreement with the people involved in money laundering, to have them return what they have stolen. But the easiest way to get the money back is if you can convince the people to go and bring the money back themselves, then it will be easy. One way to convince people to go and bring back such money is to convince them that you will not disgrace them, after they have done that, he stated. He, therefore, said a special kind of amnesty might be required. The Cardinal, however, clarified that his idea of amnesty does not include plea bargain, which only leads to the return of part, not all, stolen funds. This is different from the popular plea bargaining where you tell a person who has stolen hundred billion to return fifty billion and be forgiven; that for me is not the right thing. If you have stolen hundred million and you are ready to bring back all, then we will leave you and not send you to jail, Nigeria can do that, said Mr. Onaiyekan. He said corruption is embedded in the Nigerian system and therefore requires a systemic change to reverse the situation. It was built into the system, so the system must change, so that corruption can be fully dealt with, Mr. Onaiyekan said. The archbishop also charged the federal government to swing into proper action in the New Year, for the fulfilment of its campaign promises, noting that the beginning of 2015 saw various forms of campaigns, from all sides, with numerous promises made, adding that the success of the All Progressives Congress, which was built on a promise of change, would be the focus of attention in 2016. At the beginning of 2015, it was election campaign; the party that won promised change. We can say that from May (2015) till now, it has been a period of consolidating, making strategies and preparing. Now that we have entered 2016, it will now be a year in which we will now begin to see exactly where we are going and how we are moving, Mr. Onaiyekan said. He added that the movement will entail all of the nations all, with security and anti-corruption campaign at the forefront. Moving in terms of security, finished mopped-up operation with Boko haram, dialogue with those who would like to talk to us and forgive those who have repented. We must find a way to discuss, negotiate the peace and tranquility of our nation, he said. The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday distributed relief materials to 1,350 Internally Displaced pregnant women and nursing mothers currently taking refuge at Dalori camp, Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. Flagging off the distribution Friday, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fanta Baba-Shehu, who represented Mrs Buhari, said that the gesture was aimed at providing nourishing food materials to the beneficiaries who were in dare need of nutrition and healthcare. We are here to flag off the distribution of relief materials to 1,350 pregnant women and nursing mothers at Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri. The items were provided by Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the wife of the President for onward distribution to these vulnerable IDPs pregnant and nursing mothers here in camp, said Mrs. Baba-Shehu. When the Presidents wife visited Borno last week, she raised and inaugurated an 11-member high-powered panel on the distribution of all donated relief materials to IDPs in the 26 camps in Maiduguri, Bama, Biu and Benisheikh, explained the commissioner. According to the commissioner, as a result the highest population of over 20, 000 IDPs at Dalori, the committee members commenced the distribution of relief materials to pregnant women and other nursing mothers there. Over 50 per cent of the displaced persons in camp, comprises of women who are either pregnant or nursing mothers, since the camp was established by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the state government to resettle all fleeing displaced persons from five councils in the state. Over 50 per cent of the IDPs in camp are women and that was why the wife of the President, Aisha was passionate about women and children for the inauguration of this relief materials distribution programme. The essence is to touch the lives of the women by providing them with these material, she said. Baba-Shehu added that the materials would be distributed to all the 24 IDP camps in the state to provide succour to the affected women. Punch Adeboye predicts new sexual disease, unveils 2016 prophesies The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has revealed his prophesies for 2016, predicting that a new sexually transmitted disease will emerge during the year. http://www.punchng.com/adeboye-predicts-new-sexual-disease-unveils-2016-prophesies/ Vanguard 2016 PROPHESY: There are plots to kill Buhari Mbaka FIERY Catholic Priest and Founder, Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka,yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be on his guards, prophesying that alleged beneficiaries of massive corruption perpetrated during ex-President Goodluck Jonathans administration would plot to kill him. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/2016-prophesy-there-are-plots-to-kill-buhari-mbaka/ The Sun Adeboye, TB Joshua predict new sexual disease, food shortage The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has predicted the emergence of a new sexually transmitted disease this year even as he said there will be tremendous economic turnaround in the country. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/adeboye-tb-joshua-predict-new-sexual-disease-food-shortage/ ThisDay As Ambodes Quest to Transform Lagos Gains Momentum In the last six months, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has worked assiduously to take Lagos one notch higher. From the health sector to road infrastructure as well as the educational sector, the pursuit of the present administration to improve on the status of the Centre of Excellence is sweeping across the metropolis http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/as-ambodes-quest-to-transform-lagos-gains-momentum/229211/ Daily Times Lagos Assembly approves Ambodes N662.588b 2016 budget The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed into law the 2016 N662.588bn Appropriation Bill presented by the State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on December 17, 2015. http://dailytimes.com.ng/lagos-assembly-approves-ambodes-n662-588b-2016-budget/ Guardian Flavour Im Still Very Much Single Following the viral rumour of a secret wedding between him and his baby mama, Sandra Okagbue that kept the social media buzzing few days ago, multiple award winning act, Flavour Nabania, has denied the reports. http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2016/01/flavour-im-still-very-much-single/ Daily Trust Well rescue Chibok girls Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that his government will do all within its power to free the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted last year Boko Haram terrorists. He said this at the Presidential Villa when he received the Women In Politics Forum (WIPF). Leadership 2016 Prophesy: Govt Will Conquer Terrorism If Adeboye The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said If government will repent of disdaining Christ and His church, God will help them to win the fight against terrorism. http://leadership.ng/news/488403/2016-prophesy-govt-will-conquer-terrorism-adeboye National Mirror Presidency denies hijab ban Reacting to outrage from Muslim communities over what was construed as a hint towards banning the wearing of hijab, peculiar among devout Muslims, President Mohammadu Buhari has denied ever making such plans. http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/presidency-denies-hijab-ban/ The Nation Why were slowBuhari President Muhammadu Buhari has faulted criticism that his administration is slow. http://thenationonlineng.net/why-were-slow-buhari/ Tribune Abia bugets N967bn for 2016 fiscal year Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has presented an estimated budget outlay of N96.7billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year. http://tribuneonlineng.com/abia-budgets-n967bn-for-2016-fiscal-year AN AVID gamer has revealed that he left his Super Nintendo console turned on for 20 YEARS so that he didnt lose his progress. This may sound nuts to modern gamers nowadays, consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One, save games easily but back in the 1990s it was a different story. The now vintage Super Nintendo console didnt offer the saving technology available today and once the batteries that were keeping saved progress eventually died, all progress in your chosen game would be lost. Defiant gamer and Twitter user Wanikun decided that he wanted to keep on playing his Japanese game, Umihara Kawase, so he left his console on for over a whopping 20 YEARS. Wanikun shared an image of his Super Famicom(the Japanese name for the Super Nintendo) and states that it has been left switched on for over two decades; tweeting that his console had in fact been on for an astonishing 180,000 hours or 20 years, six months, two weeks, three days, eight hours and 39 minutes. He said: Incidentally, Im pretty sure my first generation Umihara Kawase, which has been on in the SNES for over 20 years, has been in operation for over 180,000 hours. If the power is tuned off, Ill lose all my replay data. Probably. According to Rocket News 24, Umihara Kawase a game which stars a 19-year-old Japanese school girl who is lost in a world of strange creatures was released back in December, 1994. The SUN, UK. When the hypocrites look into the mirror, they see the assemblage of angels. In a rejoinder to Sahara Reporters expose on him, Musiliu Obanikoro wrote: My aspirations now therefore are to seek further education as I am doing in pursuit of a degree in History at the Oglethorpe University based in Georgia USA and to Mentor the next generation of leaders in Nigeria. This statement by Obanikoro instigates three questions: Firstly, what is Koro doing in the US? It becomes necessary to ask because for a man who believed so much in the transformation agenda of former President Goodluck Jonathan, it is both disturbing and discomfiting to see him boycott the over 100 universities in his country to go study in the land of the slave masters. Secondly, what kind of history is Obanikoro studying: African, American, or World History? This question is pertinent as NUC is yet to place an embargo on the teaching of history in our universities. So its discombobulating seeing a self-acclaimed Believer in Nigeria boycott UNILAG, UI, UNIBEN, ABU, LASU, etcetera to go spend in dollar what he looted in naira! Although it might be forgiven if Koro chose the US to go study American history, it would be foolhardy if his type of history is taught in the lecture halls of the Lagos State University. Thirdly, who does Obanikoro aspire to mentor? I cant help but inquire because each time his name is mentioned, the image that pops up in my consciousness is that of a minister of state for defence dressed in a military garb and attending to a special assignment by the President in Ekiti State one that entailed him to intimidate the military into submission by unleashing them to deny the people of their inalienable right to elect their governor. This is why as a young Nigerian whose description fit into Koros definition of next generation of leaders, Im at a loss to the kind of mentoring to expect from a man who not only sold his soul to the devil but threw his conscience into the gutter. He sets out via his rejoinder to cajole gullible souls by disowning any report that linked him to posh properties outside Nigeria without realising that the populace is well acquainted with how looters do their thing: spread your loot in the names of your children, friends and cronies to ward off suspicion. A few months ago during electioneering, Obanikoro was in Badagry Local Government to solicit the support of the people for his governorship ambition. He never went about this in the way of the book; neither did he go about it in a civil manner. The Obanikoro I saw that day was on a car in a motorcade throwing stuffs to induce voters. At a point, he threw a pouch which a 10 year old boy picked after struggling with other poor folks! Ask that JSS 2 boy in a social studies examination what politics is all about and he answers a government of give and take wherein the aspirant waters the ground to curry votes while the people wait for another four years to get their share. This is what Koro aspires to mentor me on. It would not be out of place to align with the words of Barrister Peter Oluwaseun Olomola that woe betides whoever is mentored by Koro Ibo, the world acclaimed one man rigging squad. Obanikoros aspiration to mentor Nigerian youths further brings to fore our pathetic state for if Koro had perceived us to be of a higher pedestal than he is, he would not have insulted us with his aspiration. This is why Nigerian youths must sit up to these jokers who see us as inferior elements who would dance at the sight of N10. Sometimes last year, a colleague, Ifelola Oluwadunsin who was the president of the Queen Amina hall of the University of Lagos held a public lecture in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the hall. All went well until Abike Dabiri, then a lawmaker made a remark in response to a question that as youths, you are leaders of tomorrow. Uncomfortable, I stood up and gently walked out in order to avoid creating a scene. As I did, I heard a stream of applause for a remark I found not only insulting, but debasing. Here I was enraged about a statement and my colleagues grinning about same! It is this same mindset that makes every Nigerian politician perceive the youths as psychologically weak creatures that have no iota of mental capacity to think for themselves. As a bona fide member of the political elite who has contributed in no small way to enslave Nigerians, Obanikoro was quick to remind us of how proud he is of the accomplishments of his children! He does that while the children of other Nigerians suffer the tearing of torsos and bombing of limbs majorly as a result of the N1.45bn he received from the money hitherto meant to fight the terrorists. Obanikoro spat on the memory of the terror victims and tells us to go to hell by bragging over the ephemeral lives of his children! A friend of mine taught one of Koros children private lessons and as I write its over a year now he is yet to get his final pay. In a distressing tone, he told me how Koros wife told him to to stop disturbing her because of a few thousands! (The guy in question sold water in jerry can to sponsor his college education and drove a tricycle for his undergraduate program.) I challenge Koro to refute this claim. Obanikoro looked helpless in the face of the continued revelation by Sahara Reporters that he tried very hard to make others join him in castrating Sowore. When he labeled SR as an hack-journalism outfit that practices baseless and shameful journalism, he never knew he had exposed himself to the whole world as a bush element who finds it perplexing to decipher between paper journalism and internet activism. In his tainted reasoning, he deceives himself that the castration of Omoyele Sowore would ultimately shield him from public scrutiny. If he knew how radicalized and angry the Nigerian people are, he would realise that Sowore is just an individual among the pool of red-eyed citizens who yearn for justice. What kind of a mentor says this: You cant get a promotion without me sitting on top of your military council. If I am happy tomorrow night, the sky is your limit. Obanikoro mentoring General Momoh on 20 June 2014. Then this: Our security agencies must be more concerned with security duties which is their purpose rather than interest in political hatchet jobs Obanikoro mentoring our security agencies on 18 November 2015. One would almost recommend Obanikoro to the mental home for uttering such starkly opposing and conflicting statements before realising that he is a chief player in the comity of men whose allegiance lies in stomachs and pockets. That is why he could muscle the army in 2014, and preach professionalism in 2015. Koros next generation of leaders who relishes his mentorship need our prayers for they are the major reason why political criminals like the men of Ekitigate still bask in hope that their crimes against humanity are worthy legacies. That is why each time Obanikoro looks into the mirror, he sees nothing but an angelic reflection. Modiu Olaguro, a youth corps member writes from Jebba. He shares his thoughts on www.ghettosassembly.wordpress. com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ModiuOlaguro Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has donated various items, including food stuff and clothing, to the less privileged in the South West zone of the country. The gesture was meant to ensure that the less privileged in the society also enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations, a statement by the Coordinator of the Buhari Osinbajo Support Organisation, Femi Olunfunmilade, on Thursday, said. According to Olufunmilade, beneficiaries of the vice presidents gesture include SOS Village in Owu Ikija; Eruobodo Motherless Home, Ijebu Ode; orphanage in Bashorun area of Ibadan managed by the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria and the Lepers Colony in Akure. Others are Abiye Motherless Babies Home, Osogbo; Jamaa Taawuun Motherless Babies Home, Iwo and Widows of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ijebu Ode. The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has opened his hands of generosity to motherless babies homes and lepers colony in an effort to ensure the joy of Christmas and happiness of the New Year are extended to the needy in our midst, the statement said. Mr. Olufunmilade, who coordinated the visits to the various homes, said items such as rice and other foodstuff were given to the beneficiaries. Apart from showering the less privileged persons with the items, they were told that both President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Osinbajo loved and cared for them. Mr. Olufunmilade said those charity homes not reached presently, should not feel left out as they would be remembered in future outings. He further requested Nigerians to pray fervently for the Buhari administration to succeed in all areas of its interventions, while enjoining each citizen to work for qualitative change in their respective fields. This is the minimum that should be done to support the administration, which offers Nigeria a rare opportunity for breakthrough, he said. Four suspected armed robbers who were alleged to be members of a gang who broke into a branch of an old generation bank in Ilututu area of Ondo State, on Christmas eve, have said that they were shocked when they opened the banks vault and discovered that it was empty. The suspects identified as Ebibo Winoh, Michael Mipera, Thankgod Sugha and Idowu Sobijoh, who were rounded up last weekend, by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT) in Ondo State, were said to have broken into the bank through the aid of a security guard, who had worked with the bank. It was gathered that the guard, who was sacked last year, was said to have approached a member of the gang, Michael Mipera, a native of Ajapa in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the idea of robbing the bank, as there was less security around the bank at night. Police investigation disclosed that Mipera, after conducting his own survey around the bank, invited two of his friends, Thankgod Sugha and Ebibo Winoh, from his hometown to Ilututu and rented an apartment for them. He was also said to have invited six militants based at a camp in Ijegemo-Isheri Oshun, Lagos State, headed by one TK, a notorious of pipeline vandal and bank robber. Their other members from Lagos, which was led by one Bright, was said to have supplied the gang with two AK 47 rifles and additional expertise on how to break into bank. On their arrest, our police source said that a day after the incident, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, had received an intelligence report on the gangs activities and he deployed operatives of the SIRT, headed by CSP Abba Kyari to Ondo State, to track and apprehend the suspects. Four of the suspects was arrested in Ondo while the fifth suspect, a militant was picked up in Lagos. At the police station during interrogation, the suspected leader of the gang, Micheal said that they monitored the bank for weeks before the struck. After the banks former security man gave us information, we rented a room close to the police station in the community. We found a petty job, as a form of distraction while we monitored the activities of the police and that of the bank. We discovered that at night, there is no private security official or policeman guarding the bank. Vanguard. Saudi Arabia has executed 47 terrorists, according to the interior ministry, including Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr and al-Qaeda-affiliated Faris al-Zahrani. In a press release read on state TV on Saturday, the ministry listed the names of all those it said were already convicted on charges of terrorism. The death sentence of Nimr al-Nimr, who led the anti-government protests in the countrys east, was confirmed by the Supreme Court in October. Al-Zahani, once considered one of Saudi Arabias most wanted terrorists, was detained in 2004while allegedly in possession of weapons. Among those executed were one Egyptian and one Chadian, the ministry said. It added that the convicted had participated in attacks against residential compounds and government buildings. The announcement comes just a day after Amnesty international said that Saudi Arabia executed at least 151 people in 2015, the most beheadings in 20 years. The Saudi Arabian authorities appear intent on continuing a bloody execution spree, Amnestys report released on Monday said, quoting James Lynch, deputy director at the Middle East and North Africa programme. It is the most people put to death in the kingdom in one year since 1995, when 192 executions were reportedly carried out. Amnesty said the large number of executions shed further light on what the London-based human rights group referred to as unfair judicial proceedings, with a disproportionate imposition of capital punishment on foreign nationals. Of the 63 people executed this year for drug-related charges, the vast majority, 45 people, were foreign nationals, the report said. Aljazeera. The day after Christmas, 2-year-old Brianna Florer was laughing and jumping around with her older brother and two sisters opening presents at her grandparents home. The next day the precocious blond-haired toddler was dead. An X-ray of her tiny body showed the killer was a shiny, silver button battery. On Saturday she was fine, maternal grandfather Kent Vice said. It was a perfect Christmas. Brianna had not been feeling well for a couple of days, throwing up and running a low-grade fever, he said. Late Sunday, Brianna threw up blood, and her body turned a blue color. Her parents, Brian and Stephanie Florer, who live in rural Delaware County, called the Jay ambulance, which met them at a convenience store to check Briannas condition. She threw up again, Vice said. It was a massive amount of blood, and they rushed her to the Grove hospital. The Grove physicians quickly diagnosed Briannas problem, and she was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, where she was rushed into surgery, he said. Bad weather had grounded all medical transportation by helicopter, Vice said. They operated on her for 2 hours, but they couldnt stop the bleeding, Vice said. They believed the battery ate through to her carotid artery by way of her esophagus. One minute she is perfect, and the next minute she is dead, Vice said. We had no idea when she swallowed it (the battery). The family learned Brianna probably swallowed the battery within six days of her death. Vice said he wants to do something about button batteries. I want to keep these things out of houses, he said. They are dangerous. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses. Eddie Johnson with the state medical examiners office said the childs autopsy is pending, and it would be two to four months before an official cause and manner of death is known. There were 53 reported cases in Oklahoma of children and adults swallowing a button or disk battery this year, said Randy Badillo, Oklahoma Poison Control Center senior specialist. No fatalities have been reported to us, he said. Normally the battery passes through the digestive system, he said. But, if the battery lodges in the esophagus or digestive tract, it can open and release an alkaline substance that can cause corrosive or burning injuries, Badillo said. From 2005 to 2014, there were 11,940 battery-swallowing incidents involving children under the age of 6 nationally, according to the National Capitol Poison Center in Washington, D.C. Of those cases, 15 children died, and another 101 suffered major medical problems. These devastating outcomes occur in small children when batteries get stuck in the esophagus, said Dr. Toby Litovitz, center physician. When a lithium button battery lodges in a childs esophagus, it causes an electrical current to go through the tissue, she said. The electrical current is causing more damage because it is splitting the water surrounding the button battery and forming hydroxide, which is an ingredient in lye. Imagine dropping little tiny drops of lye in one place in the esophagus, Litovitz said. The lye substance perforates the esophagus and goes into whatever tissue is nearby it can be the aorta or the trachea. Serious complications also have been seen when small batteries are placed in the nose or ear another situation where urgent removal is critical, Litovitz said. The important thing to remember is, these batteries are everywhere. Vice was close to his granddaughter. He handled caretaking duties for Brianna when she was an infant for three weeks after her parents returned to work. She never not one time had a bad day, Vice said, his voice cracking with emotion. She was always happy and laughing. I took care of her she was just an angel. Source: The Oklahoman Panoramica privacy Questo sito web utilizza i cookies per fornire all'utente la miglior esperienza di navigazione possibile. L'informazione dei cookie e memorizzata nel browser dell' utente, svolge funzioni di riconoscimento quando l' utente ritorna nel sito e permette di sapere quali sezioni del sito sono ritenute piu interessanti e utili. Many of the largest oil-producing countries in the world are part of a cartel known as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In 2016, OPEC allied with other top non-OPEC oil-exporting nations to form an even more powerful entity named OPEC+, or "OPEC Plus." The cartel's goal is to exert control over the price of the precious fossil fuel known as crude oil. OPEC+ controls more than 50% of global oil supplies and about 90% of proven oil reserves. This dominant position ensures that the coalition has a significant influence on the price of oil, at least in the short term. Over the long term, its ability to influence the price of oil is diluted, primarily because individual nations have different incentives than does OPEC+ as a whole. Key Takeaways The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) is a loosely affiliated entity consisting of the 13 OPEC members and 10 of the world's major non-OPEC oil-exporting nations. OPEC+ aims to regulate the supply of oil to set the price on the world market. OPEC+ came into existence, in part, to counteract other nations' capacity to produce oil, which could limit OPEC's ability to control supply and price. In March 2020, OPEC+ initially failed to reach an agreement about cutting production to stabilize the price of oil as it plummeted during the pandemic. OPEC+ announced production cuts in October 2022 aimed at bolstering oil prices as they slid on recession concerns. Oil Price and Supply As a cartel, the OPEC+ member countries collectively agree on how much oil to produce, which directly affects the ready supply of crude oil in the global market at any given time. OPEC+ subsequently exerts considerable influence over the global market price of oil and, understandably, tends to keep it relatively high in order to maximize profitability. If OPEC+ countries are unsatisfied with the price of oil, it is in their interest to cut the supply of oil so prices rise. However, no individual country actually wants to reduce supply, as this would mean reduced revenue. Ideally, they want the price of oil to rise while they increase supply so that revenue also rises. But that is not how market dynamics works. A pledge by OPEC+ to cut supply causes an immediate spike in the price of oil. Over time, the price reverts back to a level, usually lower, when supply is not meaningfully cut or demand adjusts. Conversely, OPEC+ can decide to boost supply. For instance, on June 22, 2018, the cartel met in Vienna and announced that it would be increasing supply. A big reason for this was to offset the extremely low output by fellow OPEC+ member Venezuela. Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the largest oil exporters in the world who both have the ability to increase production, are big proponents of increasing supply as that would increase their revenue. However, other nations who cannot ramp up production, either because they are operating at full capacity or are otherwise not allowed to, would be opposed to this. In the end, the forces of supply and demand determine the price equilibrium, although OPEC+ announcements can temporarily affect the price of oil by altering expectations. A case in point where the expectations of OPEC+ would be altered is when its share of world oil production declines, with new production coming from outside nations such as the U.S. and Canada. While oil market developments have repercussions throughout the economy, changes in oil prices have a particular impact on inflation. However, oil's capacity to drive inflation in the U.S. declined over recent decades as the economy became less oil-dependent. Oil prices tend to have a greater effect on the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures prices at the wholesale level, versus the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the prices consumers pay. OPEC+ Disagreed on Pandemic Production Move In March 2020, Saudi Arabia, an original member of OPEC, the largest exporter of OPEC, and an extremely influential force in the global oil market, and Russia, the second leading exporter and, arguably, the second most important player in the recently formed OPEC+, failed to reach an agreement about cutting production to stabilize the price of oil. Saudi Arabia retaliated by ramping up production sharply. This sudden increase in supply happened at a time when global oil demand was slumping as the world was dealing with the 2020 global health crisis. As a result, the market, which is the final arbiter of the price, overrode OPEC+'s desire to stabilize the price of oil at a higher level than the laws of supply and demand dictated. In the spring of 2020, oil prices collapsed amid the economic slowdown. OPEC and its allies agreed to historic production cuts to stabilize prices, but they still dropped to nearly 20-year lows. Aside from reaffirming that market forces are more powerful than any cartel, especially in free markets, this episode also gave credence to the premise that individual nations' agendas will override the cartel's. Brent crude oil in April 2020 sunk below $20 per barrel, a level not seen since 2001. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, meanwhile, slumped to about $17 per barrel, a level not seen since 2002. OPEC+ Cuts Production on Recession Concerns As pandemic restrictions eased around the world, oil prices began to recover along with demand. From lows of under $17 per barrel in the spring of 2020, WTI prices recovered to more than $80 by October 2021. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, oil prices climbed even higher, with WTI prices jumping over $115 per barrel by June. As the second-largest exporter in OPEC+ engaged in a violent conflict with its neighbor and enflamed tensions with the U.S. and Europe, the market showed its concerns about the stability of oil supplies. Although the war raged on, with little to indicate a possible easing of geopolitical tensions, oil prices began to moderate in the second half of 2022. WTI slipped back down toward $100 per barrel by July. As fears of a global recession raised questions about demand for oil around the world, OPEC+ sprang into action, announcing that it would cut production by 2 million barrels per day in an attempt to stabilize the recently sliding prices. The OPEC+ move came despite opposition from the U.S., with President Biden calling the production cuts "shortsighted." It remains to be seen how effective the OPEC+ production cuts will be in slowing or reversing oil price declines. Continued concerns about a global recession could overshadow the potential for a tighter supply implied by the coalition's production cutbacks. However, the recent turmoil in the oil markets is a great example of the mechanisms OPEC+ uses to influence prices and their far-reaching impact on the global economy. Which Countries Are Part of OPEC+? The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has 13 members: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. In 2016, OPEC formed the alliance known as OPEC+ with 10 other top oil-producing nations: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan. How Does OPEC+ Control Oil Prices? OPEC+ regulates the supply of oil in order to influence the price of the commodity on the world market. The group can achieve this by coordinating supply cuts when the price is deemed too low and supply increases when its members believe prices are too high. How Do Oil Prices Affect the U.S. Economy? Oil prices have a multifaceted impact because of the diversity of industries operating within the U.S. economy. Higher oil prices can help create jobs and drive investments as it begins to make economic sense for companies to develop high-cost shale oil projects. However, elevated oil prices affect consumers and businesses by increasing transportation and manufacturing costs. Lower oil prices have the opposite impactlimiting unconventional oil activity but benefiting other sectors that are sensitive to fuel costs. The Bottom Line The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the broader coalition known as OPEC+ leverage their countries' dominant market position to exert a strong influence over global oil prices. However, divergent long-term goals for member countries as well as increased production from countries outside the group may limit the capacity of OPEC+ to control prices over the long term. The Irish Times in 2015 named a Tipperary pub, which only opens one night a week, as the best pub in Ireland. The column Barfly reviewed 51 pubs, in 19 counties, in 2015 and Jim O the Mill, in Upperchurch, Tipperary was dubbed the best based on readership and social sharing. The pub with only one beer tap, live music, and a homely feel certainly sounds like the very embodiment of a quintessential Irish pub. The Times passionate review of the country pub goes so far as calling this the best pub in the world and the beating heart of Ireland. Read more: Mayo and the Cliffs of Moher tours Jim O the Mill opens only on Thursday nights with a trad session from 9 pm, including fiddles, boxes, and bodhrans brought along by the locals. Run by Jim and Kae Ryan and their five daughters the pub is built into a flag-stoned kitchen and the parlor. Sean Laffey in Irish Music Magazine described it thus: "A corrugated Church kind of sets the tone for Jim O'The Mills. Homemade, improvised, agrarian, pragmatic. Finding the pub is easy if you know where it is. "If you are new to the country you will need a local guide. Jim O'The Mills sits anonymously in plain clothes dressed as a small farmhouse, nestled in a dip in the road. Just ask for the metal bridge and you'll be in the right vicinity. There are no Guinness or Harp signs, no fancy sun umbrellas, no cheerful boards proclaiming Ceol agus Craic. You wouldn't suspect it of being a drinking house so blended is it into the rural community". Read more: Dublin and surrounding areas tours Its no wonder reviewers fell in love with the place. Heres a video of one of their famous sessions: Here are the top ten pubs in Ireland according to the Irish Times: 1. Jim O the Mill, Upperchurch, Tipperary 2. J OConnells, Skryne, County Meath 3. The Long Hall, Georges St, Dublin 4. Seans Bar, Athlone, County Westmeath 5. Nora Murphys Bar, Brandon, County Kerry 6. John Kavanaghs (The Gravediggers), Glasnevin, Dublin 7. Kehoes, South Anne Street, Dublin 2 8. Grogans Castle Lounge, 15 William St South, Dublin 2 9. The Cobblestone in Dublins Smithfield 10. The Hanged Mans pub, Milltown, County Kildare Read more: Galway and the West tours * Originally published in January 2016. It will follow the pre-Christmas fish quota negotiations at the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels. Agriculture, Food, and Marine Minister Simon Coveney said the outcome was very positive for the industry in light of the reductions that had been proposed by the European Commission in advance of the negotiations. The quota value terms for white fish have been increased for the third year in a row and the landed value next year should be around 131m. On the whole, the industry would have an additional 10% of white fish to catch this year, which will be worth 10m. However, there will be a reduction in quota for cod in the Irish Sea and off the west coast. The boarfish quota has also been reduced, as has the quota for sole in the Irish Sea. However, there is an additional quota for certain species that will be subject to a ban on discarding at sea for the first time from today. Fishing industry leaders broadly welcome the outcome, but groups campaiging for the conservation of fish stocks in the Irish Sea expressed concern. The seafood sector is worth in the region of 850m annually to the economy, comprised of an export market worth 520m and a home market of 330m. It employs 11,000 people, including 4,984 fishermen, 1,716 fish farmers, 2,860 in processing, and another 1,140 in ancillary activities. Mr Coveney said he is aiming to achieve 1bn sales by the seafood industry by 2020. The four main activities in the industry are covered by fishing, fish farming, processing, and marketing, and they employ 11,000 people. Killybegs, Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, and Kilmore Quay are the top fishing ports, but vessels also land catches at numerous smaller ports around the coast. More than 2,130 vessels operate in the industry which has 250 aquaculture operations and 180 seafood processing companies, which produce a wide range of high- value products. According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the global demand for seafood is projected to grow by 42m tonnes per annum over the next decade. Some 67m of the investment announced by Mr Coveney will be focused on implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. It will focus, in particular, on the discards ban. Another 30m is earmarked for the sustainable development of aquaculture. Measures will focus on growing production, value, and employment in the sector and promoting knowledge, innovation, and technology. There is 33m for processing and marketing, with measures focused on innovation, competitiveness, and employment through increased value added processing of fish. A total of 12m will be allocated to a maximum of seven Fisheries Local Action Groups to develop and implement local development strategies for coastal areas to create growth and jobs. These strategies will focus, in particular, on adding value to seafood products and diversifying the local economy towards new economic activities offered by the broader maritime sector. Supports totalling 45m will be geared towards implementing the Common Fisheries Policy through investment by the State in database, traceability and vessel monitoring systems, as well as training and investment in new fisheries patrol vessels. There will be 41m in supports for the provision of scientific and economic data on the seafood industry to support decision making at EU and national level. A further 10.6m will be available under the Integrated Maritime Policy for developing a marine spatial planning system and other measures. The IFA warned that it will not be possible to meet the aquaculture targets unless a backlog of 600 licence applications is tackled and State regulation radically reformed. Richie Flynn, IFA aquaculture executive, called for a commitment by Mr Coveney to improve the situation by providing a centralised one-stop-shop to co-ordinate licence applications. Mr Flynn said Mr Coveney must commit to spending every cent of the 30m earmarked for aquaculture development within the first two years of the programme. Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada said these vessels have been netting huge quantities of fish along the Irish west and north-west coast since November. # She said Kerry NorthWest Limerick TD Martin Ferris recently told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine that 12 pelagic factory boats have been fishing off Donegal. The news comes as Tusla claimed it was too early to say whether or not it had achieved its stated aim of reducing the number of out-of-state placements in 2015. All 10 Irish children in an out-of-state care placement were in facilities in Britain and Tusla said that the typical cost for maintaining those placements was in the order of 6,000 a week. It said the overall weekly cost for the 10 children still in care placements overseas last week was about 62,000. The number of Irish adolescents in overseas placements is a very small proportion of the overall number of children in the care system, but the costs associated with the placements are considerable. In the past year, Irish children have also been put in placements in Nebraska in the United States, and in Sweden. The placements are facilitated by the High Court here. A Tusla spokesperson said: Each child is placed in a care setting appropriate to his/her needs in accordance with his/her care plan. In a small number of cases, where a child requires highly specialised care, or where in the given circumstances it is in the best interests of the child, it may be necessary to obtain a placement in a specialist out-of- state facility. Children are placed out of state in order to access highly specialised care placements, currently unavailable in Ireland. These include specialist secure forensic mental health services and therapeutic residential services addressing specific needs identified in the childs care plan. The practice of overseas placements has been criticised in recent years, not least by the Government- appointed special rapporteur on child law, Geoffrey Shannon. Tusla has signalled its intention to reduce the number of overseas placements but has stressed that in some cases the services are not available here and there is little option but to avail of services provided in another country. Families of some children placed overseas have outlined the difficulties of maintaining regular contact with their child when they are in another jurisdiction and concerns over their reintegration into Irish society on their eventual return. The Tusla spokesperson said: When a child is placed abroad, the local Tusla team link in with the service and child, with regular visits and updates to the care plan. Planning for the transition out of care is part of the care planning process for each child in care. On discharge from a placement the aftercare plan will be implemented by the social worker/aftercare worker in accordance with the care plan. The majority return to Ireland once their specific intervention has concluded. In the cases where they are in relative foster care or their foster carers have moved to another country the children can end up residing in that country as they have significant ties with the carers. A Tusla spokesperson said the agency had aimed throughout 2015 to decrease the amount on out-of-state care placements but it was too early to say whether this had been successful until the final tally was calculated. The move comes after the doctors discovered a clause in a new contract which means the HSE will not recognise the service as a professional medical entity, the doctors said. Galways exemplar service, running since 2011 with a 24-hour rota and forensic paediatric expertise, has been running on the same contracts used for plumbers since it was set up, said Joanne Nelson, clinical director of the Galway Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service (CASATS), said. Until the most recent contract was viewed in recent weeks, all those involved were dedicated to continuing the service. Speaking on on behalf of all four CASATS forensic medical examiners, Dr Nelson said that a very grave deficit in the provision of medical indemnity insurance for the examiners means the doctors cannot continue in their roles. Given the absolute necessity and critical importance of a CASATS service being available to child victims, and in order to protect the nature of that service from being undermined by official indifference and inadequate governance and funding, it is with the deepest regret that the specialist examiners must contemplate the cessation the delivery of these services, Dr Nelson said. She said children who report sexual violence require timely access to specialised forensic medical care. That no 24-hour service existed in Ireland prior to 2011, and that no comparable service currently exists outside of the Western area, means that very many child victims of sexual violence, including those who have experienced rape, are not accessing appropriate services. This is an appalling situation and one that compounds Irelands already poor history in responding to child victims of sexual abuse. Four years after a HSE commissioned report called for urgent reform, forensic services in Ireland for child sex abuse victims are extremely limited for victims under the age of 14. Outside of Galway, there is usually no dedicated forensic examiner on call. Dr. Nelson said her team in Galway the CASATS was set up in 2011 to offer a 24-hour service to children in West and Mid-West Ireland has been called to examine children out of hours from Kildare, Westmeath, Louth, Offaly, Cavan,and other areas far remote. Within the greater Dublin area, children under 14 who have reached puberty receive a service from the adult Sexual Assault Treatment Centre. A spokesperson for the HSE said discussions with the four CASATS medical examiners regarding an extension of their existing contracts which have been ongoing for a number of weeks. He said an agreement to a temporary extension had been reached prior to Christmas. However, an email from the medical examiners to the relevant referring agencies has indicated that they are not in a position to provide this service, he said. The impediments that have been cited include medical indemnity. Arrangements have been put in place to ensure that full and appropriate indemnity is provided by the HSE for any care that might arise in the short term. Mr Martin made the challenge as he accused Mr Kenny of deliberately avoiding non-choreographed events due to a series of recent embarrassing blunders and said the only way for the Fine Gael leader to prove otherwise is to agree to the head-on debates over the national airwaves. Mr Martin said in recent months Mr Kenny has attempted to reduce the opportunities available for politicians and journalists to discuss the issues central to the election in any detail. Pointing to the publication of the Fennelly report which saw the Taoiseach give a single interview to RTE News moments after the investigation into why ex-garda commissioner Martin Callinan retired before disappearing for a week and alleged moves to limit space for Dail debates, Mr Martin claimed there has been a deliberate attempt to lessen opportunities for any in-depth discussion in recent months. The Fianna Fail leader said the alleged situation is hampering the 2011 general election democratic revolution ideal as it is preventing voters from staying fully informed of issues central to the economic recovery and election campaign. And in a controversial move designed to pull the Taoiseach into the opposition firing line, he said the only way for Mr Kenny to brush the criticism aside is to submit to televised pre-election one-to-one debates with all of the opposition leaders to prove he is willing to debate. The Taoiseach is probably the closest modern-day equivalent to the Scarlet Pimpernel they seek him here, they seek him there, but hes not to be found unless he has a pre- organised, choreographed situation and even then theres people shouting at you [journalists] saying thats enough, two questions. If we cherish democracy, if we want to advance it, if we believe in democratic revolutions, I think the minimum we should be able to do is debate, Mr Martin said. We encourage children and students to commentate and talk about issues. Its hardly a good example if the political leaders arent able to do that and the whole strategy is to avoid. Its not just Micheal Martin and Enda Kenny Im talking about. I think Gerry Adams and Enda Kenny should have a debate. And Im prepared to debate with others. The simple fact is he is running away from debate, and he continues to run away from debate. He doesnt want to debate, he is the least accountable Taoiseach, he said. While Mr Kenny has previously agreed in principle to a live leaders debate on RTE in the run-up to the now imminent vote, this would involve a debate with a large number of opposition leaders a situation that would reduce the opportunity for in-depth discussions. In December, Fine Gael rejected suggestions Mr Kenny was being kept away from non-choreographed events after a series of blunders, including claims he was asked to consider putting soldiers on banks doors during the economic crisis. The charge was made by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties which stressed it was not questioning the credentials of those appointed. Announcing the formal establishment of the authority yesterday, Ms Fitzgerald said: The quality of those who sought appointment to the authority reflects the central importance of policing in the lives of our citizens and the desire of people from all different backgrounds to contribute to its ongoing improvement. She added: I am delighted that the membership of the authority reflects such a range of achievement, knowledge and experience. The eight members, with backgrounds in policing, academia, law, and state and professional bodies, join its chair Josephine Feehily. The council deplores the decision of the Government to make the initial and subsequent appointments to the authority without recourse to an open, transparent and competency-based process, ICCL executive director Mark Kelly said. Although the council is not questioning the personal merits of the persons appointed, on this occasion the Public Appointments Service was used only as a fig leaf for their direct political appointment by the Government on the advice of the Minister for Justice. He said from these inauspicious beginnings, the authority had a steep hill to climb to establish its genuine independence from Government. The board includes former deputy chief constable of the PSNI, Judith Gillespie, law lecturer Vicky Conway, and barrister and former executive in both the Courts Service and the Legal Aid Board, Moling Ryan. Other members include Noel Brett, former head of the Road Safety Authority; Bob Collins, former chief in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; Patrick Costello, chief executive at Chartered Accountants Ireland; management consultant Valerie Judge, and Maureen Lynott, former chair of the State Top Level Advisory Committee. Ms Fitzgerald said among the authoritys first tasks will be the approval of an overall Garda strategy. As 2016 dawns, boatloads continue to reach Greek shores and thousands trudge across Balkan fields and country roads heading north. More than a million people reached Europe in 2015 in the continents largest refugee influx since the end of the Second World War a crisis that has tested European unity and threatened the vision of a borderless continent. Nearly 3,800 people are estimated to have drowned in the Mediterranean last year, making the journey to Greece or Italy in unseaworthy vessels packed far beyond capacity. The EU has pledged to bolster patrols on its external borders and quickly deport economic migrants, while Turkey has agreed to crack down on smugglers operating from its coastline. But those on the front lines of the crisis say the coming year promises to be difficult unless there is a dramatic change. Greece has borne the brunt of the exodus, with more than 850,000 people reaching the countrys shores, nearly all arriving on Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast. The flows continue unabated. And on good days, on days when the weather isnt bad, they are increased, said Ioannis Mouzalas, Greeces minister responsible for migration issues. This is a problem and shows that Turkey wasnt able Im not saying that they didnt want to respond to the duty and obligation it had undertaken to control the flows and the smugglers from its shores. Europes response to the crisis has been fractured, with individual countries, concerned about the sheer scale of the influx, introducing new border controls aimed at limiting the flow. The problem is compounded by the reluctance of many migrants countries of origin to accept forcible returns. Along the Balkan migrant route, an undetermined number of men, women, and children considered economic migrants have found themselves stranded, their hopes of reaching prosperous northern EU countries dashed by recent border closures. Greece, with thousands of miles of coastline, is the only country that cannot feasibly block people from entering without breaking international laws about rescuing those in distress at sea. Its a bad sign, this unabated flow that continues, Mouzalas said. It creates difficulties for us, as the borders have closed for particular categories of people and there is a danger they will be trapped here. Battered on one side by a wave of people risking their lives to reach its islands and on the other by border laws, Greece is struggling. In wine terms, this means reliving some of the emotions I felt when confronted with extraordinary scents and flavours during the year. From discovering that natural skin-contact orange wine matches brilliantly with bitter radicchio lettuce in Ballymaloe House, to that 100-year-old sherry straight from its original cask in the cellars of Gonzales Byass in Jerez. The latter was a wine for smelling not for tasting (the sip I took tasted mostly of charred oak) but the aroma brought to mind everything from fresh-baked bread to Christmas cake to dusty auction rooms and the smell of old mahogany. My suggestions this week are all grapes or regions you are unlikely to know (or know well). My hope is that the optimism of the new year will encourage you to be open to new experiences. One that I hope you will pursue is sherry, which you will be hearing more about in 2016 as the sherry revival is likely to continue apace. Palo Cortado is the rarest of all sherries and the example below is produced exclusively for Marks & Spencer by the great Sherry House of Lustau. Palo Cortado is difficult to explain it begins its life as a Fino aged under flor yeast but is then fortified a little more and spends the rest of its life ageing as an Oloroso. The aromas are closer to aged Fino (Amontillado) in character but the texture of the wine (the viscosity) is clearly that of an Oloroso. Some of the most memorable wines I drank in 2015 were Palo Cortado and if you are interested, there is now a movie all about it, Sherry and the Mystery of Palo Cortado. You can see a trailer and more information online by typing the following short link into your browser exa.mn/sherry. The film was screened at last years Galway Film Fleadh, and lAtitude 51 wine bar on Union Quay in Cork hope to show it later in 2016 watch this space! BEST VALUE UNDER 15 Very Rare Palo Cortado, Jerez, Spain (375ml) 11.99 Stockist: Marks & Spencer As part of your New Years resolution to try new things and improve your health and humour, I recommend a glass of this every day. There is no more complex wine available for less than 20. Huge aromas of blanched almonds, citrus and raisins, rich and silky on the palate with a finish of toasted almonds with a hint of charred oak. Remarkable. Tesco Finest Teroldego, Trentino IGT, Italy 12 Stockist: Tesco Teroldego is an ancient grape from Trentino in the Dolomites in Northern Italy bordering Austria. The grapes revival is well under way, typified by Tesco Finests endorsement. Distinct aromas of smoky black cherries, very crisp and fruity with huge acidity (for which the grape is famous) and perfect for spicy food or pizza. Tesco Finest Grechetto, Umbria, Italy 12 Stockist: Tesco Grechetto is most famous for being a small part of the blend for Orvieto, a wine that was once commonplace in Ireland but seems to have all but disappeared (probably because they were all rather dull). This has a distinctive chalky-citrus aroma with a textured floral palate which develops into something more intense and mineral on the finish. This would cut nicely through some spaghetti carbonara. BEST VALUE OVER 15 Amaru Torrontes 2014, Calchaquies, Argentina 15.99 Stockists: Matsons, Ardkeen, No. 21 Listowel, Whelans Dublin Torrontes is Argentinas distinctive white grape variety that could easily be mistaken for muscat in a blind tasting. Hugely fragrant with peach and muscat aromas but salty lemony acidity on the finish. Well-made wine. Oriol dels Aspres Negre 2014, Emporda, Spain 18.50 Stockists: ODriscolls Ballinlough, Cases Galway, Hole in the Wall, Dublin Emporda, in the far north-east of Catalonia, has grown grapes since the 5th Century BCE. Garnacha, Carignan, Merlot and Cab Sauvignon-based, this is rich, fruit-driven and complex with solid-structured but supple fruit on the palate and lingering ripe cherry pie fruits on the finish. Jurancon Clos Uroulat, Charles Hours 26.99 Stockists: Bradleys Cork, Le Caveau Kilkenny, Listons Camden St D2, Green Man Wines, Fallon and Byrne Jurancon is south of Gascony in the foothills of the Pyrenees and from good producers can be as fine as middle-rank Sauternes. The grapes are Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng and this version has beautiful ripe honeyed apricot fruit and clean, bright acidity leaving the mouth completely refreshed. Try with blue or strong cheeses or with fruit desserts. Recovery continued its swing back across most sectors of the property market through 2015 and into 2016, at least in terms of deals, sales, values, confidence and all other reference points. Activity and momentum is back in force in the house market (though supplys far too scant), hotel sales, bed nights and tourism are all on the rise, offices are finally being built to try to meet FDI demand, and investors once more see Irish property as a good play, after the vulture funds got their first feed at market slump a few years ago. The evidence over the past month of spending splurge alone is that retail too has found its feet: the planning clearance of Corks Capitol cinema site for shopping has impeccable timing, with huge prospects for one end of Patrick Street, and for the city centre in general, where Penneys are due to double their store size, whilst Merchants Quay will update its facade on Patrick Street. Black spot But, one serious black spot remains: the housing crisis isnt going to go away, you know, and all the electioneering rhetoric in the world isnt going to find a quick fix for years of stagnation, and for a badly broken funding and construction model. Simply put, its going to get worse before it gets better, and there isnt even a prescription yet that indicates a path to recovery. A National Campaign is called for, and the 100th anniversary of 1916 might not be a bad time to Build the Nation, Part 2. A Suggestion Box in the GPO by Easter might be a start? Right now, the Risings anniversary is personified by ....Rising Rents. Irish citizens, as well as the fresh blood of workers from overseas and immigrants in our IT, FDI and service sectors are all impatient, waiting on delivery of new houses in the right locations for where employment is coming quickly down the line, with Dublin, Galway and Cork cities most pressingly feeling the pinch. Individual companies, Chambers of Commerce and more all warn of the employment train being derailed if the new arrivals cannot be accommodated. With so little new stock being built (there have been warnings of housing and skills shortages for years, ignored in the main until the very last minute, and a looming election) plus the Central Bank lending restrictions introduced a year ago now having a fuller impact, the rental sector is getting it in the neck on all sides, with rents rising by an unsustainable (but understandable) 10% in cities, and marginalising the lower paid, and those dependant on rent allowance. Theres such a gulf between what a Google or Apple employee can expect to rent, and what they can afford, and the prospects of those who simply see no hope of a home of their own, either to buy, to rent or to share; its the new divide in Irish society. Since the slump and crash, as a nation we are less-wedded than before to the notion of home ownership, but the expectation of a roof over ones head remains a human right. New home building is at a fraction of whats needed; the prospects for modular homes were overhyped, and planning and financial constraints mean no quick fixes. And, critically, more investor/landlords are selling property than are buying it, so rental stock looks like continuing to dwindle. Being facetious, the only way that accommodation for thousands can be provided overnight, or even in a short term, is if we were to commandeer the cruise ships now plying their seasonal routes way to Cork, Dublin and Waterford ports, do a Somali pirates coup on the craft, fly out the passengers, tie up the ships and accommodate Irish citizens and workers in them. Sadly and inexcusably, we already berth our citizens and guests in hotels and hostels, and asylum seekers in accommodation centres, barely batting an eyelid at the disruptive cost in human lives, and thwarted childhoods. Cruise ship accommodation is fanciful, and most likely fictitous, but Irelands housing situation is already descending into Farce. One seasoned property watcher has devised( for Irish Examiner readers) the one-act play he dubs The Big House, with a suitably flawed list of main and bit players. Bankers are cast as ashamed of the past, and frightned of the future. The Central Bank has forgotten the past and stopped the future,, while the Govenment is the spin-artist supreme. No surprise there, then. NAMA? Rather delightfully, NAMA is the mortician awaiting his own demise. Supporting actors include The Developer, represented by a corpse, The Builder is hibernating after a long winter, The Trademan has gone to Australia, and the Labourer was last seen in 2008. And, the Land Owner? Milking Cows. Again. Oh, and The Audience? In the Stalls, be they buyers or renters, waiting, waiting, waiting, for the show to begin. It would be a farce, if it wasnt already a tragedy. Seven years after the bust, the construction sector still has to find its feet; access to finance is going to be the key to getting shovels and JCBs on site. Funding flaws Addressing funding is the key, be it from international investment funds buying into the family multi-let sector, or from the State directly providing finance for major schemes with a social element. Also needed is a clear, sustainable and equitable financial model that allows developers/investors a return for providing essential housing, and which also gives tenants certainty on rents and tenure. If the word developer cant shake off the negative connotations it acquired in the Celtic Tiger era, then we need a new name (and mindset) for whoever or whatever is going to build the homes we so desperately need. Banks need to relearn proper diligence, risk assessment and returns on lending for construction. The imbalance between the costs of borrowing from NAMA at about 5%, and costs outside private banking sectors and with equity partners at up to 15% is an anomaly and will have to be addressed and resolved. We shouldnt have to wait on the European Commission to decide if it constitutes unfair State aid: the irony of some of the complainants having rushed out of Nama only to now object to Nama funding and driving construction with its 20/20/20 vision of 20,000 houses by its wind-up by 2020 isnt entirely lost either. * Some 70% of large disposals in 2015 were bank-related, with ownership of trophy assets now gone overseas until we buy them back once more. Lower down the scale, auctions gathered pace, selling stock in lots, and the trend will continue in 2016. Over nine auctions, Allsop shifted over 250m worth of Irish property, and competing for a slice of the action are entities like IAMSold, working with 140 partner auctioneers who netted over 30 million in 13 auctions, last year in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Others such as DNG Creedon sold 70 properties in their first year on the auction block, with a motto Not to leave the money leave the room. Money is moving. YOURE sitting at home watching TV. Your smartphone is lying on the couch beside you. An ad comes on the box. You watch for a few seconds, then pick up the remote and change channel. That little act deciding not to watch a particular ad is one of the many fragments of consumer activity that make up our lives. Each day is filled with them. Buying a particular brand of teabag, browsing a particular website, clicking off a pop-up ad, ordering a book on Amazon. The difference however, between these four actions and zapping away a TV ad is that where the former can be monitored, the latter cannot. Or at least, that used to be the case. Theyre called audio beacons. An ad comes on the TV and as it plays, it also emits an audio beacon set at a frequency which the human ear cant pick up. However, if your smartphone has an app on which the relevant software is embedded, it can hear the beacon. And when it does, the marketing company responsible for this innovation gets access to a cluster of previously unrecordable data points. It knows what ad you watched, how long before you turned off and what kind of smart device youre using. This is just one example of a rapidly growing marketing phenomenon called cross- device tracking. Its all about solving a major problem that the latest phase of the technology revolution has caused marketing companies. Ten years ago, we had a golden age in marketing. Internet use snowballed, and as it did data mining became childs play. As we logged on here and logged off there, browsed, emailed, and clicked, we left an indelible trail for marketers to follow, allowing them to build a heretofore unimaginably accurate profile of each consumers likes and dislikes. If I browse Amazons French guidebooks, then subscribe to a literary magazine, then email someone about which wine should go with asparagus, I am creating a series of data points which taken together amount to an exceptionally detailed picture of how I interact with the world. Hand this to a marketer and he knows not alone to hit me hit me with ads for high- brow books and asparagus, but also all of the other things that asparagus- loving, Francophile bookworms tend to go for. That was great when all of our internet activity happened in the one place. But according to Googles latest consumer barometer, almost a quarter of the population uses five or more connected devices regularly. So now, all of a sudden, that gloriously complete consumer profile starts to look patchy. I browse the guidebooks on my laptop, but the marketer doesnt know that thats also me subscribing to the literary magazine on my phone, or emailing someone else about asparagus on my tablet. Reuniting all those disparate data points is what cross-device tracking is all about and its whats fuelling high levels of innovation in marketing technology. The market leader in the aforementioned audio beacon technology is an Indian company called SilverPush. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission in the US issued a call for submissions on cross-device tracking of users by marketing firms. In a lengthy and detailed response, the Centre for Democracy and Technology spelled out exactly what companies like SilverPush are up to. The user is unaware of the audio beacon, but if a smart device has an app on it that uses the SilverPush software development kit, the software on the app will be listening for the audio beacon and once the beacon is detected, devices are immediately recognised as being used by the same individual, it said. The only factor that hinders the receipt of an audio beacon by a device is distance and there is no way for the user to opt-out of this form of cross-device tracking. SilverPushs company policy is to not divulge the names of the apps the technology is embedded, meaning that users have no knowledge of which apps are using this technology and no way to opt-out of this practice. As of April of 2015, SilverPushs software is used by 67 apps and the company monitors 18m smartphones, it said. This, however, is just the start. Because so much of our connected activity happens on the move, a whole new dataset one that was never available before has popped into the marketers crosshairs. Location. Richard Tynan is a technologist at privacy advocacy group, Privacy International. He says data other than just content can be extremely revealing. Many devices know your two most visited locations and this roughly equates to where you work and live an almost unique fingerprint of you that persists across devices. As more of our devices become connected to the internet of things, the potential of these being used to betray us becomes ever more likely, he says. Once upon a time, the only geographic information a marketing company could hope to access was a residential IP address. With the advent of mobile phones, it became possible to determine a users location based on the mobile phone tower with which his device was connecting. Now however, positioning systems which use wifi signal strength to determine location can nail down a users exact address, or even the floor of a building hes on. This isnt science fiction, this is happening now. Mobile location analytics, as the technology is called, is currently being deployed in Dublin Airport to track how long it takes passengers to get through security. If you move through the airport with any wifi or Bluetooth enabled device, sensors installed at strategic locations pick up the devices unique media access control address. You dont have to log onto the airports wifi for the airport to access the information, and critically, nor do you have to give your consent for it to be recorded. The Dublin Airport Authority says its an anonymised protocol, that no personal information about the devices owner is recorded, and that it exists solely to check queue and dwell times. Moreover, the practise has the imprimatur of the data protection commissioner. Not everyone sees it in such a benign light. Privacy advocates have pointed out for example that a cache of documents retrieved by whistleblower Edward Snowden in January 2014 revealed that the Canadian intelligence service used this technology to track passenger movements through airport terminals. Even if you discount the Big Brother angle, the basic issue of consent remains. Rory Byrne is founder and CEO of technology and physical security company, Security First. The first principle of anything related to tracking technology is being open with the people that youre tracking. If you have CCTV in an area, you will see signs letting people know. That, in my opinion, is what should happen in Dublin Airport. If you stick a sign up that says were tracking your mobile phone for passenger queue purposes, I think people would think quite differently about it, says Mr Byrne. He goes on to ask that if this technology can be used without our consent in the airport, why not everywhere else? What if the local pub starts tracking and storing your data every time you enter and leave? Meta S Brown is a Chicago-based data analytics expert and author of Data Mining for Dummies. She has been monitoring the rapid evolution of this technology in the retail sector. Firms like Shoppertrack and Nomi, she says, have been using old technology like video cameras to monitor shopper behaviour as they move through stores. Now, newer competitors like Euclid Analytics are using precisely the kind of tech used in Dublin Airport to gather even more powerful data on consumer behaviour. Its proponents argue that as far as consumer research goes, this is the way forward. Its subtle in that it doesnt interfere with consumer activity, its unnoticeable and its powerful; signals can be detected throughout and even outside a store. Plus its a lot cheaper than video monitoring. The privacy issue however will not go away. What matters is how the consumers themselves view tracking, and what they stand to get out of it. Most people see their mobile devices as tools for their own benefit, not means for others to trace their movements, says Mr Brown. Dermott Jewell of the Consumers Association of Ireland agrees. He sees these new data mining techniques as successors to supermarket loyalty schemes, which provide the multiplies with huge volumes of highly actionable data in exchange for discounts and special offers. Telecoms can facilitate data capture to a massive extent, but I dont think that consumers are even remotely aware of the reality that this is what is happening. They might accept the loyalty card because they signed up for it and they know its being used, but they purchased a telephone to make calls, they didnt buy it to get monitored, he says. He believes, as a result, that there is an urgent need for a legislative review of these technologies. In terms of data protection, in terms of privacy, rights and entitlements, a legislative response is needed as a matter of urgency, he says. While tracking methods like audio beacons and mobile location analytics are not widely deployed, marketing companies have already established very successful ways of keeping tabs on what you do. Deterministic tracking begins when you log into an account. Everything you do while logged in can be tracked. So if youre constantly signed in to, say, Google, on your laptop, tablet, and smartphone, Google can track your activity across all three devices. Simple. However, you dont log in to every site you browse. When you dont, advertisers can use something called probabilistic tracking to try to figure out what youre at. This is altogether more sophisticated than deterministic tracking, and relies for its success on aggregated information pulled from multiple devices, together with a suite of algorithms engineered use this info to figure out who is doing what where and when. This again from the Centre for Democracy and Technologys FTC submission: Modern web browsers are highly customisable. While many users may install a particular font, use a particular extension, access the web from a certain place, or visit a certain website, the chances that multiple users have the same fonts and the same extensions and visit the same site from the same connection are quite low, creating in essence a unique signal that websites can use to uniquely identify the user. Probabilistic tracking is particularly insidious because its completely invisible to the user, and so is extremely difficult to control. I can log out of Google or Facebook, and render their trackers inactive but as it stands there are no privacy enhancing technology that can circumvent this kind of digital fingerprinting. Again the same issue arises; the lack of consent, the lack of an opt-out. However, a question: Does it matter? If the only result of all of this frenetic corporate sleuthing is more finely honed ads, should anyone be really that bothered about it? Some people wont mind. I think you should be entitled as an individual, and as a paying customer to be asked if you accept this scrutiny. Thats not happening. The whole idea of being a consumer is you have a choice, the idea of being a citizen is you have a choice. Choice has been extracted from this equation, says Mr Jewell. This, at root, is the Centre for Democracy and Technologys beef. The centre continues to lobby the Federal Trade Commission for tighter controls of cross-device marketing. It argues that this level of detailed and pervasive surveillance creates obvious privacy issues. At a basic level it is very difficult for a user to make sensitive purchases without companies logging and tracking their activity. And when a company combines the information from the different devices, an extremely detailed picture emerges. Legislation, as always, has been very slow to catch up with the technology. So if you cant rely on data protection and privacy laws to hide yourself from prying eyes, what can you do? Meta Brown says people often ask her how they can avoid being data mined. Data mining isnt magic; if you give away enough information, no fancy analysis is needed to know your private business. If you really want privacy, I tell them, get rid of your smartphone. They dont. Nothings secret spying technology has it all covered Hiring a private detective is an expensive business. Youre usually looking at a day rate of 450. Derek Noonan of Spy Ireland says that whenever the office gets a call about a cheating spouse, he refers the caller to their online shop. Someone whos going through a matrimonial issue does not have money to pay a detective, so what we decided to do was take the tools that we use to the end user. Unless you have the resources to invest in the kind of equipment the intelligence community uses, the only way to track someones phone is to install software on it. Your options here are vast. In fact, if the bewildering array of spying software packages available on the web is anything to go by, trust has become a very scarce commodity in human relations. For $89, you can get a package called Mobile Spy. The website promises: Mobile Spy will reveal the truth for any company or family. You will finally learn the truth about their call, mobile web, text message activities, and photo, videos and GPS locations by logging into your Mobile Spy account from any web browser. Another company, FlexiSPY claims to have the only software that works on 14 instant messengers. Know everything is the god-like invitation on site. It goes on: Silently monitor all communications, locations and user behaviour of a smartphone from any web browser. This firm also has the parental paranoia angle covered: Protect children, we are instructed. Did your child make it to school or home from school? Where are they now? Who are their new friends? Spy on your kids (sic) mobile phone and understand their world. Prices for this service start from $68 per month, or $149 for the year. The company also offers an Extreme service for $199 per quarter, including a password cracker and something called spoofing tools. Not all detectives believe that technology is the way forward. Audrey Christie, the countrys only female private eye, is old school. Everything is down to surveillance, she says. Technology is just time wasting. I find that the most effective way to get a result is to carry out physical surveillance on the subject, its just old fashioned private investigation. As she, and indeed the other private detectives are keen to point out, keeping within the law is of paramount importance in covert surveillance. All eschewed the use of vehicle trackers in keeping tabs on a subject since deploying the device invariably involves some form of trespass. The same goes for keystroke trackers; to monitor someones web activity, you need to get access to their computer to install the monitoring software. And of course, to monitor their phone, you need to get hold of that first too. In July 2007, an O2 electronics engineer testified that an analysis of mobile phone records put OReilly at or near the scene of the murder at the Naul, Dublin, and not the Broadstone Bus Depot, where he claimed to have been. When OReilly was eventually convicted of bludgeoning his wife to death at their home, the mobile phone evidence was cited as crucial. Phones too played a central role in Graham Dwyers conviction for the murder of Elaine OHara earlier this year. Evidence lead gardai to Vartry Reservoir in September 2013, where, following a fingertip search, two Nokia phones were found. Despite the fact both had been lying on the muddy bed of the reservoir for over a year, technical experts were able to retrieve hundreds of text messages and deleted data from them. It appeared that the two phones one of which was readily identified as Ms OHaras were in almost exclusive contact with each other. Now the technical probe split into two. As one team explored the content of the messages in an effort to find out who the other phone belonged to, civilian crime and policing analyst Sarah Skedd set out to see where the phones had been. The content search turned up a cluster of personal details; talk about a pay cut, the birth of a child, coming fifth in a model airplane flying competition. Cross-referencing this material with content from Ms OHaras computer eventually gave the gardai a name: Graham Dwyer. Mobile phone location analysis meanwhile revealed that the texts sent by the mystery phone during working hours originated in Dublin 2. During the evening, when far fewer texts went out, the phone was connecting with Co Dublin masts. The critical piece of evidence, the piece which brought those two technical examinations back together, came when Skedd established that the phone had been used in Galway on July 4, 2012. She then obtained toll booth records and searched for vehicles whose owners lived in south Co Dublin that went through the M6 tollbooth, then the M4 one an hour later. The search turned up the registration number 99 G 11850. It was registered to Dwyer. Trials like these provide the only real source of information on how gardai access and use phone records in their investigations. None of the telecommunications companies will say how often gardai come looking for phone records. In response to questions, they will only say they comply with their legal obligations. The gardai are equally tight-lipped. A spokesman says that only a chief superintendent can request telephone data from a service provider, and only under one of three circumstances. The prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of a serious offence, the safeguarding of the security of the State or the saving of human life. The spokesman goes on to say it is not Garda policy to release the number of requests applied for. Vodafone does however produce a law enforcement disclosure report annually, which is a little more revealing. It says that prior to the publication of last years report, the company asked the authorities if Vodafone could publish aggregate statistics about how often they the authorities that is tapped phones, something that is referred to as lawful interception in the report. In response, says the report, the authorities instructed us not to disclose this information. Vodafone can tell us that last year, Irish law enforcement authorities demanded access to communications data 7,973 times. Remember that these are requests across the Vodafone network only, and as such, can only represent a portion of the requests made to all providers. The report says, as the Garda themselves imply, that these requests can take many forms: For example, police investigating a murder could require the disclosure of all subscriber details for mobile phone numbers logged as having connected to a particular mobile network cell site over a particular time period, or an intelligence agency could demand details of all users visiting a particular website. Similarly, police dealing with a life-at-risk scenario, such as rescue missions or attempts to prevent suicide, require the ability to demand access to real-time location information. Weve seen at least one example of the latter in the recent past. In June, a young Limerick woman was reported missing in the city. Gardai tracked her mobile phone signal to wetlands at Grove Ireland in Corbally, where she was found and rescued. Despite the obvious benefits of these powers, privacy advocates dont like the fact Irish authorities are so secretive about how they use the technology. Richard Tynan is a technologist with Privacy International. The first step in this matter is to understand the process and safeguards in place for the Irish government to get this highly intrusive data en mass, he says, pointing out the aforementioned Vodafone transparency report highlighted Ireland as one of only five countries that mandated direct and unfettered access to their network. This effectively means there is no possibility of the company scrutinising any aspect of the interception regime and possibly pushing back against it. The Government needs to make clear all the requests it makes, how many users are affected and what is done with the data it receives. Theres another dimension to secrecy. Mr Tynan refers to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission bugging scandal. When a UK counter- surveillance firm was last year brought in to conduct a security sweep of GSOCs offices, one of three anomalies revealed suggested the presence of a UK mobile network in the vicinity. Mr Tynan explains that there are only two possible explanations for this. One is that one of the Irish mobile operators deployed a misconfigured device that incorrectly identified itself, but since none of the operators has come forward to admit that this happened, that only leaves the other possibility. Someone was using a Stingray. Stingrays, he explains, or IMSI Catchers, are used by authorities around the world to put large groups of people under indiscriminate mass surveillance via their mobile phone. While there are many different forms of this technology, in essence, the stringray mimics a real cell phone tower, but instead of relaying your call, it tracks both the location and content of your mobile phone. I asked gardai if they use Stingray-type technology. Their response couldnt really be called a denial: Requests for call related data under the provisions of section 6 (1) of the 2011 (Act) are made to the relevant telecommunications service providers. An Garda has no input into the process of searching for or generating the results. Mr Tynan believes its quite possible that an IMSI Catcher was in use during the security sweep of the GSOC offices. While we have no other specific indication that Irish law enforcement or intelligence services are in possession of these devices, their low cost and ease of use mean that many countries around the world now admit to using them. Research by the American Civil Liberties Union has revealed that this technology is widely deployed across the US, by everyone from the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service to the army and the DEA. However, its the fact theres no regulation around how this technology is sold or used that causes most concern. Rory Byrne is founder and CEO of technology and physical security company, Security First. Ive spoken to former security services people in Europe, he says, and they will tell you that for a thousand pounds I can ring a buddy and get the location of any mobile you want me to find. "Because the technology is accessible by a number of people for government purposes, theres obviously a sideline going on for people to do that for private purposes. Mr Byrne believes technology like this is being used widely for industrial espionage. Both he and Mr Tynan are however particularly concerned with how its being used by oppressive regimes. This is a very real concern, says Tynan. The trade in turn-key surveillance tools for internal repression is extremely worrying and one that requires political accountability. Call monitoring technology, such as IMSI catchers, have been deployed widely. "Large taps or probes on the providers network can intercept thousands of calls and data simultaneously across an entire city or country from a central monitoring centre. Last year, The Washington Post reported on a New York-based company called Verint. It manufactures and exports communications analysis systems under the tagline Locate. Track. Manipulate. The blurb says the system offers government agencies a cost- effective, new approach to obtaining global location information concerning known targets. The firm, which also has an office in Dundalk, claims to have clients in more than 10,000 organisations in over 180 countries. An IMSI catcher, it should be said, is not a precision instrument. It operates indiscriminately, hoovering up the unique identifiers of every device within its reach; innocent parties as well as potential suspects. One of the goals of Privacy International is to stem the export of these technologies to regimes where they will be used for repression. Privacy activists are however focusing their attention closer to home at the moment. The UK government published the draft text of the new Investigatory Powers bill last month. If signed into law in its current form, this bill would require web and phone companies to store the online activity of every citizen in the UK for a period of 12 months. Once stored, this data can then be legally accessed by police, security services and other public bodies. The bill also explicitly enables security forces and police to hack into computers and phones, and places legal obligations on companies to help them to do this. This situation, says Mr Tynan, will have repercussions for the privacy and data protection rights of people beyond UK borders. The UK government is seeking the power to compel companies, many of them based in Ireland, to hack users on their behalf. "Accordingly, Facebook serving an Irish user malware for the British Government could be a reality by the summer. 2Similarly, Apple could be compelled to install the malware via an update onto an Irish persons phone. "These new powers for the UK government, and their reach into Ireland need to be scrutinised and debated by our lawmakers. The first votes will be cast within weeks in the US presidential election as Democrats and Republicans begin choosing the candidates who will battle it out for the White House. Both parties will set the ball rolling on February 1 in their respective deciders in the state of Iowa that will make or break the presidential ambitions of many of the 15 candidates three Democrats and 12 Republicans. A good start to the primaries is vital if a candidate hopes to become a presidential nominee, though George W Bush bucked this trend in the 2000 primary season by making a poor start but ultimately winning the Republican nomination. However, in most cases, a poor showing by a frontrunner in Iowa can be a body blow, while a better-than-expected showing by a weaker contender can give their candidacy a major boost going into the New Hampshire primary eight days later, on February 9. If New Hampshire voters fail to follow the Iowa trend and pick a different set of candidates, however, the result can throw the race wide open in subsequent states. However, sometimes a win in socially conservative and economically liberal New Hampshire can be a false dawn. Such was the case when the current Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton won there in her last presidential bid in 2008 only to eventually lose the nomination to Barack Obama. After New Hampshire come the conservative states of Nevada and South Carolina to close out the February contests. Candidates who hope to stay in the race must do reasonably well in some if not all of these four contests so that they can head into subsequent states in March with credibility. March is crucial. Thats when the daddy of them all occurs on Tuesday, March 1, dubbed Super Tuesday, which sees a dizzying slew of deciders in 11 states. Other primaries will continue at a frenetic pace during the rest of March so that by the end of the month 30 of the 50 states will have picked their candidates. By then, or even as early as Super Tuesday, enough key contests will have been held to indicate who is likely to emerge as the winning candidates when the primaries end in June. The candidates who win in each state are then formally nominated at both parties national conventions in July to fight the November 8 election. They are two types of primaries open or closed. Only party members can vote in closed primaries, while all voters, regardless of their party affiliation, can take part in open primaries. The advantage of the open system is that if a party has put forward a candidate who can appeal across party lines it will maximise the chances of victory for that candidate. However, this system can be open to abuse. Its been known to happen that both Democrats and Republicans have legally voted for the opposite partys poorest candidate to increase the chances of victory by a weak nominee. Partly because of this, most states primaries are usually closed. In a few states, most notably Iowa, candidates are chosen at caucuses, which are always closed. These tend to be more long-winded than primaries and involve a series of party meetings at every level of party organisation within a state wards, precincts, districts and counties. One criticism of the primary and caucus schedule, which usually runs from February to June, is that it gives too much weight to the states with early primaries or caucuses. Such states often build momentum for leading candidates and rule out others long before the rest of the country has had an input. The Democratic winner, for example, will almost certainly have emerged from among the three contenders by Super Tuesday on March 1. In the case of the Republican winner, a much larger number of states are likely to have their say because that partys race is expected to be a long drawn-out one. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus says he expects the party to have settled on a nominee by about mid-April but others suggest the likely winner may not be known until well into the final primaries in the summer. The Republican race will also be much more of a nailbiter because of the fact that 12 candidates are vying for the nomination, compared with just three Democrats in their partys race Hillary Clinton, Martin OMalley and Bernie Sanders. As the Democratic race looks now, the strong likelihood is that party members will settle on Clinton. However, if Sanders or OMalley were to dramatically capture Iowa or New Hampshire or even come close to threatening Clinton they could then give her a run for her money well beyond March. THE DEMOCRATIC RACE Hillary Clinton (68). Campaign slogan: Hillary for America. Clinton is the clear frontrunner in the Democratic field. She now seems to have a clear path to the nomination and is expected to win all the main primaries. A national poll by Monmouth University put the former senator and secretary of state at 59%. Sanders meanwhile, is at 26%, while OMalley continues to lag a distant third at between 1% and 4%. In addition, Clinton has seen a surge in her numbers since her strong performance before a Republican-controlled congressional committee investigating the 2012 deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya, during her tenure as secretary of state. She easily fended off accusations she had failed to ensure proper security at the diplomatic compound, and emerged largely unscathed from the 11-hour televised grilling. Her foreign policy skills and her hawkishness have also served her well in debates since the Paris and California attacks last year. In one national survey she beat all the leading Republican presidential hopefuls as the candidate who a majority of voters believe is ready to be commander-in-chief. The Clinton camp appears quietly confident it will have the nomination sewn up in March, which means campaign money can be squirreled away for the general election battle when it will be vital. Senator Bernie Sanders (74). Campaign slogan: A political revolution is coming. Sanders came like a tornado into the presidential race, firing up the liberal Democratic base and drawing huge crowds to his rallies. However, as a self-declared democratic socialist, his appeal was always going to be limited. He may win an early state but hes unlikely to close in on Clinton. However, if he manages a strong second place showing early on it could help him on Super Tuesday. He has run a positive campaign and refuses to attack his two rivals. At the first Democratic debate, he famously passed on the opportunity to criticise Clinton for using a private email account and server as secretary of state, declaring that Americans are sick of hearing about her damn emails. This was a boost for her but a disappointment for his supporters, who saw it as a lost opportunity to go on the offensive. Sanders has also drawn criticism for focusing primarily on economic inequality and campaign finance reform at the expense of national security after the attacks in Paris and California. Martin OMalley (52). Slogan Rebuild the American dream. The former Maryland governor seems to have everything Americans like in a candidate. Hes young, vigorous, and handsome. Yet the Irish-American candidate will have a real fight on his hands to do well, never mind win, in any of the primaries, mainly because Sanders has more effectively wooed the partys progressive base. OMalley has never fared well in state or national polls and he has failed to make a significant impact in debates, though with each debate his performance has improved. Nevertheless, he continues to lag in a distant third place in polls. He did see a boost in the Monmouth poll that put him at 4% which doesnt look very impressive until you compare it with the 1% or 2% has he has been mostly seeing in polls. So he may well be on the way up but not soon enough and not fast enough. The best he can probably hope for is to make a decent showing behind Sanders. Few surprises, therefore, are expected in the Democratic primaries. The real drama will unfold among the 12 Republican candidates. Nine can be expected to see some level of success while the remaining four will find themselves fighting against almost insurmountable odds. THE REPUBLICAN RACE Donald Trump (69). Slogan Make America great again! On the day he announced his presidential bid in New York on June 16 last year Trumps candidacy was met with scepticism and even amusement. However, his candidacy is now no laughing matter and under- estimating him may well turn out to be one of the greatest miscalculations in modern political history. The thinking went that he had no political experience and was known mainly for his ostentatious wealth and outsized ego. Thus, it didnt really matter what he said because it was only going to be a matter of time before he self-destructed and then experienced rivals like Jeb Bush, Chris Christie or Rand Paul would step in and right the ship. However, as the election year opens, not alone is Trump still steering the ship, he is charging ahead and looks set for victory in a number of primaries. Never mind that he spends much of his time insulting Hispanics, Asian-Americans, women, and blacks, the very demographic the Republican party needs to woo to win the White House. His is the politics of anger and insult and his supporters cant get enough of it. His poll numbers have kept soaring, especially in the aftermath of the Paris and California attacks when his rhetoric reached apocalyptic levels. His call to ban Muslims entering America sickened some but his supporters were on board. And thats where theyve stayed. While rival Ted Cruz is closing the gap and moving ahead in some polls in Iowa heading into that states decider, Trump remains a vote topper. Republican party operatives are increasing nervous that if he wins the vote in Iowa or in New Hampshire, it will become difficult to stop him and one recent poll found that 68% of his backers would vote for him if he mounted an Independent bid. If he did manage to secure the nomination, polls show he would fare very poorly against Clinton, with a number of polls predicting she could win by a landslide. If Trump is not the winner, the other principal contenders in the mix are Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, while Ben Carson, Rand Paul, John Kasich and Carly Fiorina will be struggling to make an impact. Senator Ted Cruz (45). Campaign slogan: Reigniting the promise of America. Texas senator Ted Cruz, the darling of the rightist Tea Party, is gaining in Iowa, especially among evangelicals, and could pose a serious threat to Trump. Cruz has been on the inside track of Republican politics for the past 15 years. He worked on George W Bushs 2000 presidential campaign as a domestic policy adviser and served in the Bush administration as associate deputy attorney general. He spent five years as solicitor general of Texas before winning his Senate seat in 2012. Alone among his 12 Republican rivals, Cruz has knocked Trump off his frontrunner perch in Iowa. Both rivals had co-existed on fairly friendly terms but as Cruz has climbed in Iowa polls Trump has taken the gloves off, branding the Texas senator a little bit of a maniac. Cruz also appears to be benefiting from the sharp decline in support for Carson among evangelical supporters. Hes also a big draw for the partys financial backers. His 60m puts him ahead of every other Republican candidate apart from Jeb Bush at 117m. If he maintains his strength and ultimately manages to win the nomination, Cruz would fare far better than Trump but probably not strongly enough to defeat Clinton. His far-right stances on a range of social issues and his desire to change the tax code in a way that would essentially benefit the very wealthy would narrow his appeal to the wider electorate. His rhetoric after the Paris and California massacres was full of references to war. He advocated carpet bombing Isis into oblivion, adding: I dont know if sand can glow in the dark, but were going to find out. So he has every chance if Trump falters of wooing the businessmans supporters, along with those of Carson, and notching up some key victories. Senator Marco Rubio (44). Slogan: A new American century. The Florida senator was a protege of former state governor Jeb Bush, who tended to dismiss the senator in the initial stages of the presidential campaign. However, that didnt work out well for Bush because soon he was the one languishing in low single digits in polls while Rubio, who was better prepared and more fluent in debates, surged. In the money stakes, too, Rubio has managed to lure some of Bushs natural backers to his camp. While the senator, at over 46m is far behind Bushs tally, he is managing to build up a considerable war chest. His conservative policies on taxes and social issues are winners, particularly with his Tea Party supporters. However, for much of the Republican base, his weakness lies in his previous work with Democratic senators in 2013 on immigration reform that would have paved the way to citizenship for illegals if it had not been blocked by the House of Representatives. He has since sought to harden his stance on immigration. Rubio is now lapping at Cruzs heels but the main problem for him is that he is fighting for the same base as Cruz and, of the two, Cruz will probably emerge as the stronger fighter. Some polls put Rubio in third place in Iowa, behind Trump and Cruz. Though he is not in the lead in any of the states that vote first, he generally finds himself in the top three or four. In the general election, Rubio would probably do extremely well against Clinton. His age will be one of his strong suits in a country that loves the promise and possibilities of youth. There will be plenty of contrasts between himself and Clinton who was already 24 when Rubio was born in 1971. He will play up the fact that as the youngest of the candidates he represents the generational shift that always appeals to Americans. However, at the same time, he needs to tread carefully. Since he was only 13 at the time, he probably wont remember 73 year-old Ronald Reagans response when his 56-year-old rival Walter Mondale raised the matter of the 17-year age difference between them in their 1984 race. Reagan famously turned to Mondale and declared: I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. Mondale, of course, lost that race. In the next group of hopefuls are Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Ben Carson, Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina. Jeb Bush (62). Campaign slogan: Jeb! Bush went into the race having raised the largest political war chest in American politics over 91m. The idea was that this would deter others from joining the race and, as the establishment favourite, he would have an early path to primary victories. However, then along came Trump, Cruz and Rubio, who took ownership of the race. Meanwhile, Bush was mangling his response to questions about his brothers war in Iraq and was coming across as weak and unprepared in debates. He has enlivened his performance in more recent debates and has finally decided to go after Trump, famously calling him unhinged. Coupled with that hes spending millions in fresh ads in the early voting states. His big challenge will be simply to last the course with decent primary performances that keep him among the leading candidates, so he must come third or somewhere in the second tier with Christie and Kasich. If he can do that and then pull off a victory on Super Tuesday or later he might have a chance of getting as far as the nominating convention. And if a number of other candidates are close together coming out of the primaries and it comes down to a floor fight among them, Bush, with establishment backing, could pull it off. He has said he may have to lose the primary to win the general election and most have interpreted this to mean he wants to avoid going to the right and instead woo Republican and independents in the middle ground. Of course its also possible it could literally mean what it says. He may lose the primaries but ultimately snag the nomination as a compromise candidate at a fractured convention. If Bush somehow does emerge, directly or indirectly, as the Republican candidate he, alone among the Republican field, could defeat Clinton. Certainly, Clinton would have the most to fear from a Bush nomination. Both have raised the most money and have best oiled political machines in the business. Chris Christie (53). Campaign slogan: Telling it like it is. New Jersey governor Chris Christie was once seen as the partys strongest candidate but he has yet to make a major impact in polls. His best hope is do well in New Hampshire and that could well happen. According to the latest Franklin Pierce University/ Boston Herald poll of New Hampshire voters, the New Jersey governor, who once sat at 3%, has surged 8 percentage points in New Hampshire to 11%, though he still trails Cruz and Rubio (tied at 12%) and Trump (in the lead with 26%). Bush falls just below Christie at 10%, followed by John Kasich at 8%, Carly Fiorina at 6% and Ben Carson at 5%. But other polls have told a different story and, despite his recent rise, only 2% think Christie he can win the Republican nomination. Ben Carson (64). Campaign slogan Heal+Inspire+Revive. Carsons popularity was rivalling that of Trump in the early stages of his candidacy but after a number of stumbles calling the pyramids grain silos, for example, and exaggerating his life story he began to fare badly under the scrutiny of the media glare and its difficult to see him recovering at this stage. At one time Carson was challenging Trump for the number one spot in polls but now his candidacy seems to be on a downward spiral. In October 2015 he had a high of 23%, but by November he was down to 18% and then last month (December) he was at 9%. His best showing may come in Iowa, with its strong evangelical base, although Cruz has been making inroads there. If he doesnt come somewhere among the first three in the state, he will be fighting against the odds going into the other contests. John Kasich (63). Campaign slogan: K for US. Kasich is a very experienced politician and in most of the debates he has portrayed himself as the grown-up in the room. Kasich is also the candidate who has been quickest to call out Trump on his more inflammatory statements about immigrants and Muslims. Yet he has failed to make an impact in polls and continues to languish in low single digits. If he cant pull off a victory in the March 15 primary in Ohio, his home state, it could spell a humiliating end to his candidacy. Senator Rand Paul (52). Campaign slogan: Unleash the American dream. Rand Paul, the son of previous presidential candidate Ron Paul, entered the race with a strong following and hopes of a realistic shot at the nomination. However, like a number of party rivals, he quickly became a victim of the Trump factor and failed to come alive in debates dominated by the businessman. There has also been talk of in-fighting among the campaign staff and a reluctance to woo big donors. He has also apparently failed to energise his fathers supporters. His libertarian policies of reducing the size and power of the federal government should have been expected to appeal to Republican voters and probably would have except that after the Paris and California attacks the climate changed and Trump and others began calling for beefed up security and increased surveillance powers for government agencies. In this atmosphere there was little room for libertarian views and Paul failed to make his mark. His polling numbers have been so low he almost failed to qualify for the last Republican debate in December. If he had been excluded it was reported that he might have dropped out of the race. Certainly, he may be left facing that decision soon if he doesnt do well in the first four state contests. Carly Fiorina (61). Slogan New possibilities. Real leadership. Businesswoman Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005, is the only woman seeking the Republican nomination and has tried in debates to portray herself as well positioned to take on Clinton. She has little political experience though she did manage to make her mark in one early debate and saw her numbers rise briefly. However, now she is very much on the way down if not out. IN CHINA it will be the year of the Monkey, in Ireland it will be the year of the Enda. Same difference because Mr Kenny is the cheekiest little monkey Irish politics has probably ever seen. At the same time hes the luckiest loser in Dail history yet hes about to become Fine Gaels biggest winner ever. Endas most oft-repeated New Years resolution to himself must be not to look too smug as he dances out of de Valeras limo after it sweeps to the GPO for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 uprising commemorations. He might also consider resolving to stop telling whoppers to get elected as well. Mr Kennys commitment to full employment was thrown out with the Christmas wrapping paper, just like his near decade-old pledge to end the scandal of patients on trolleys. Apparently, even though its reached record levels on his watch, its not such a scandal any more, because Mr Kenny knows he is almost certain to head the next government no matter how many 91-year-old people are left to languish on trolleys for 29 hours or more because there is so little credible alternative to a FG-dominated government however messy, or short lived, that next coalition may be. Untouchable Enda also knows he has somehow aquired a lucky touch that has seen him go from being elected leader of Fine Gael by default (because he was the least worst option after the partys elite was decapitated in the election wipe-out of 2002) to the brink of being the first FG Taosieach to gain a second term. How did that happen? Unless he really did make a pact with the devil in 2010, when he saw off Richard Brutons admittedly cack-handed coup attempt, I doubt if Enda has any more clue than the rest of us. Mr Kenny remains the luckiest loser ever in Irish politics because, with the aid of his trolley posters that have turned out to be oh-so believable, in 2007, if a handful of seats had bounced the other way, he would have limped into power at the head of a ragbag coalition of FG, Labour, the Greens, and Independents just in time for the financial crash to strike him like a nuclear missile. It must have been one of the most fortuitous escapes in political history. The global tectonic plates of dodgy finance were already shifting, and thanks to 10 years of FF-PD economics hand out anything that bribes voters and hands off anything that controls bankers Ireland would not suffer the major tremors of the other economies, but a full-blown earthquake and meltdown. Fianna Fails appalling arrogance and financial folly ensured Ireland became the first western nation since the 1930s to go into depression a 20% contraction of the economy but that will not be a world-beating achievement you will be seeing on FF election posters any time soon. Imagine if those half dozen seats had gone Endas way in 2007? FF would have been utterly ruthless in their condemnation of the reckless rainbow government that had just flushed all their hard work and sound decision-making down the toilet and Brian Cowen would now be cruising to a second term of majority, single-party, rule. But Biffo was born in January 1960, a year of the pig, and while he handled much of the financial crisis in the manner of a clown, few people were left laughing at the end of it apart from the greedy, casino cowboys and spivs he failed to rein in. They laughed all the way to their proverbial banks. Monkeys, on the other hand, are highly intelligent, resourceful, and sharp, and are adaptable to any profession. Hmmmm, that doesnt quite sound like our Enda though does it? Oh, thats right, thats because Enda, at nearly 65, is older than he looks he denies dying his hair, but then he denied effectively removing the Garda commissioner from office and being born in 1951 makes him a rabbit. Rabbits tend to be gentle, kind, quiet, and elegant. Now that sounds more like the Enda we know and reluctantly tolerate as Taoiseach because there is such a poverty of opposition. But, who is that waiting in the wings to topple gentle, elegant Enda, once the election is won? Yes, It is Leo Varadkar Leo the wonder horse. Born in January 1979 yes, he really is that young, he just talks like he is in his 50s Leo is as strong as a horse, and that is very bad news for Enda. Horses are hard-working, intelligent, friendly, positive and popular, but impatient. Horses often tend to consider themselves better than others and they should pay attention to not becoming overly egoistic. The best occupations for Horses are adventurer, poet, politician, scientist, according to a guide to Chinese traditions. And what of Endas other overly-ambitious would-be heir, Simon Coveney? Well, it turns out that he was born in 1972, the year of the rat. People born in the year of the Rat are imaginative, charming and very generous towards their loved ones, according to the guide. But read on, Enda. It goes on to state: Rats are said to be aggressive, ambitious, distrustful, and power-seeking. And when does the Chinese New Year begin? Why, February 8 just as the general election campaign is set to climax. How fortuitous again for Enda, maybe he did make that pact with the devil after all, or maybe he really is the luckiest little monkey weve ever known. Lucky again for Enda is the fact that 2017 is the year of the rooster, but the horse and the rat might be operating to a different political calender. Savour the election, Enda, then watch your back you dont want to end up rabbit stew. Fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria seized the village of Tanab near the town of Azaz after heavy clashes with the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the powerful Ahrar al Sham, spokesman Talal Selo told Reuters. We liberated Tanab, he said. Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Democratic Forces of Syria had also captured the village of Tat Mrash. Selo said he could not yet confirm its capture. It came just days after the alliance seized a dam from Islamic State (IS) further east, cutting one of its main supply routes across the Euphrates. Since the US-backed alliance was formed last October, its fighters have opened several major offensives against IS with the ultimate goal of capturing Raqqa. The alliance has separately been fighting in recent weeks against Nusra Front, Ahrar al Sham, and other insurgents in northern Aleppo province. The Democratic Forces of Syria includes the Kurdish YPG militia, which has been the most effective partner on the ground for US-led air strikes. Kurdish gains around Azaz, which is near the Turkish border, are also likely to increase concern in Turkey about growing Kurdish sway near the frontier. Ankara is fighting an insurgency against Kurdish PKK fighters in its southeast. Washingtons strategy in Syria shifted in 2015 from trying to train thousands of fighters outside the country to supplying groups headed by US-vetted commanders. The US military estimates the Democratic Forces of Syria has captured around 1,000 sq km of terrain in the past six weeks or so, bolstered by coalition air strikes. Meanwhile, terrified families waved white flags as they emerged from homes reduced to rubble in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, where government troops were still battling IS fighters holed up yesterday, five days after the army recaptured the city centre. The provincial capital in the fertile Euphrates River valley west of Baghdad is the biggest city to have been recaptured from IS, and the first retaken by Iraqs army since it collapsed in the path of the militants advance 18 months ago. The victory has been hailed as a turning point by the Iraqi government, which says its rebuilt army will soon march on ISs main Iraqi stronghold Mosul further north, and defeat the group in Iraq in 2016. As an Iraqi army column advanced through the ruined city, an elderly woman emerged from a house waving a white flag on the end of a stick. Soon, she was followed by children, a wounded woman being pushed in a wheelbarrow, and men carrying small children in their arms. They flinched as explosions erupted in the distance. Erdogan wants to change the Turkish constitution to turn the ceremonial role of president into that of a chief executive, a Turkish version of the system in the US, France, or Russia. Asked on his return from a visit to Saudi Arabia late on Thursday whether an executive presidential system was possible while maintaining the unitary structure of the state, Ergogan said: There are already examples in the world. You can see it when you look at Hitlers Germany. Economy The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Jan. 2, 2016) Kyaukphyu SEZ tender goes to familiar Chinese firm, Thai conglomerate enters mobile money race, and Myanmar National Airlines to launch new Thai routes. Kyaukphyu SEZ Open Tender Goes to Familiar Chinese Firm The winners of the contract for part of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone project have finally been announced. But those hoping for new faces to be brought into the developmentoriginally touted as a Chinese government-led plan before it was put out to competitive tendermay be disappointed with the result. The leader of the winning consortium is CITIC, one of Chinas largest state-owned enterprises, which appears to have been involved in the project from its inception, raising questions about the open tender to award the construction and operation rights to the development on the coast of Arakan State. Locals in Kyaukphyu have already had significant experience of dealing with large-scale Chinese developments, and have raised concerns about the lack of consultation and local benefits of such projects. Officials from CITIC met with Burmese government officials as early as July 2009, when the companys president met with then Industry Minister (2) Soe Thein, according to a report in state media at the time, although it is unclear whether Kyaukphyu was discussed. Soe Thein later became the chief architect of President Thein Seins economic reforms and is a minister of the presidents office in the outgoing government. According to a report by watchdog group Arakan Oil Watch, the Burmese government signed two memorandums of understanding with China in December 2009 and February 2011 relating to the creation of an SEZ in Kyaukphyu. CITIC conducted the initial feasibility study for the project and was initially set to begin development before any tendering had been conducted. Under the MoU with Burmas Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, CITIC Group will construct a Special Economic Zone, including expansion of a deep sea port, railway, airport and industrial areas, said the 2012 report, which also claimed US-blacklisted businessman Tay Zas Htoo Group was involved in the project at that stage. Dual oil and gas pipelines running from Kyaukphyu Township to the Sino-Burmese border have also been constructed following deals signed with Burmas former military regime. However, after Thein Seins quasi-civilian government suspended the Chinese-backed Myitsone hydropower project in Kachin State, signaling a move away from the former regimes reliance on China, it also appeared that CITIC could lose control of the Kyaukphyu project. In early 2014, a consulting tender was awarded that would see international construction firms invited to bid separately to build a deep-sea port, an industrial zone and residential developments that would make up the SEZ at Kyaukphyu. The winning consortium for that tender was led by Singapores CPG Corporation. Although CPG had recently been purchased by a Chinese state-owned engineering and design company, Burmese government officials insisted that the construction tenders would not necessarily go to Chinese firms. In its bid to win back the project, CITIC hired London-based accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers, which provided, among other services, advice on bid structuring. (Another of the big four global accountancy firms, EY, or Ernst & Young, was also involved in the deal as part of CPGs consulting consortium). Finally, after almost two years of deliberations and numerous missed deadlines, it was finally announced on Wednesday that CITIC would indeed be awarded the contracts for the construction and operation of the industrial park and deep sea port projects, Chinas state-run newswire Xinhua reported. The residential part of the project has reportedly not yet been awarded. According to the plan, during the whole concession period, Myanmar government will accumulatively receive US$15 billion of tax revenue from the two projects, the Xinhua report said. According to the website Deal Street Asia, CITIC and six other firms will hold an 85 percent stake, with the Burmese government taking the rest. The other firms in the winning consortium, according to Xinhua, are China Harbor Engineering Company, China Merchants Holdings (International), TEDA Investment Holding and Yunnan Construction Engineering Group (YNJG), as well as Thailands Charoen Pokphand Group Company Limited, the only non-Chinese company involved. Better known as CP Group, the Thai company is a sprawling conglomerate that controls much of Thailands food industry, and also plays a significant role in Burma, producing livestock and eggs. CP Groups subsidiary CP Foods has been under fire for buying fishmeal from suppliers accused of manning their boats with slaves, many of whom are Burmese. A lawsuit has been filed in the United States against CP Foods and American supermarket chain Costco alleging that their supply chains are tainted by slavery. CP Foods says the case is without merit, and insists that it has taken action to ensure traceability and humane and sustainable practices throughout our shrimp supply chain. Thai Conglomerate to Enter Mobile Money Race Another CP Group subsidiary is set to enter Burma as the race to provide mobile money services hots up. Retail News Asia reports that True Money Myanmar is set to pilot a money transfer service this month. True Corporation, a part of the CP conglomerate, is a major mobile phone service provider in Thailand, but is currently working in Burmas booming telecoms industry only as a contractor to market leader MPT. True Money Myanmar has been providing top-up services to the former monopoly holder, as well as the military-run MecTel since September, according to Retail News Asia. True Money Myanmar Company Limited has already recruited agents around the country to enable easy access to banks, the report said, adding that True Money Myanmar was a partnership with Asia Green Development Bank, part of Burmese tycoon Tay Zas Htoo Group. The firm is also aiming to expand to other payment services like bill payments and international remittance, Retail News Asia said. The money transfer service is looking at the possibility of offering safe and easy remittance facility for the Myanmar population working in southeast Asian countries. Another mobile money service, Wave Money, is also readying to launch in Burma. The service is a joint venture between phone company Telenor and Yoma Bank, but is reportedly awaiting the issuance of new rules on mobile money from the Central Bank. Malaysian Firm to Set up Box Factory in Thilawa SEZ A Malaysian box maker will set up a factory in the new Thilawa Special Economic Zone close to Rangoon, according to a filing with the stock exchange in Kuala Lumpur. Box-Pak (Malaysia) has declared its intention to manufacture paper, paper boxes and cartons in Burma, and announced on Tuesday that it would lease land within the zone. The company said on December 9 that it had incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary in Burma, with paid-up capital of $7.5 million Filings with the Bursa Malaysia show that the subsidiary Boxpak (Myanmar) Company Limited, entered into a sublease agreement with Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development for 74,830 square meters of land in the SEZ for a total cost of just over $5.6 million. The Lease Transaction is in line with Box-Paks strategy to expand into newly opened Myanmar to broaden the Groups revenue base and source of earnings by setting up a new manufacturing plant to tap on the existing and new markets there, a filing this week said. The land is strategically located near the Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa and Thilawa Railway Terminal. Thilawa also has its own power, water and internet supplies. In addition, companies located in Thilawa are given tax advantages. Myanmar National Airlines to Launch Thai Routes As it begins to spread its wings internationally once again, state-owned airline Myanmar National Airlines is set to begin flights between Rangoon and two cities in Thailand next month. The airline has already launched flights to Singapore and Hong Kong following a restructuring and corporatization. Formerly known as Myanma Airways, the carrier had developed a poor safety and service record, and was previously only flying domestic routes. According to schedules published on its website, the airline will fly twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, between Rangoon and Chiang Mai, beginning on January 8. MNA will then on January 28 begin flying twice daily from Rangoon to the Thai capital Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport. According to website airlineroute.net, the airline will operate the flights using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline in June took delivery of the first of 10 new 737-800 aircraft. Burma Dateline Irrawaddy: Tensions Are Still Running High This week, the panel discusses the Koh Tao verdict, which has sparked protests in Rangoon and other towns and could be a thorn in Thai-Burma relations. Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. This week, well discuss the controversy over the Koh Tao murder case rulingwhether the two Burmese men, who were given the death sentence, are guilty or are scapegoats, and if the appeal will be considered. Ko Min Oo, who is a member of the investigation committee on the case formed by the Myanmar Embassy to Thailand and The Irrawaddys reporter Kyaw Kha will join me for the discussion. Im Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe. This case is quite complicated and protests are going on against the verdict in some major towns in Myanmar including Yangon. Ko Min Oo, you were at the trial when the court handed down the ruling on December 24. What reasons did the court give for the ruling and what do you think of it? Min Oo: The two were charged for seven cases and two of them are death-penalty cases. They were given the death sentence for those charges. For a year, our committee members and lawyers have pointed out the holes in the prosecutions process, presenting any evidence available which supports the innocence of the two. But the ruling suggests that our arguments were disregarded and I am totally disappointed with this. On many occasions, they [Thai authorities] failed to keep appointments. For example, the parents of Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin officially requested the members of the National Human Rights Commission and the DSI [Department of Special Investigation] of Thailand to review the case. DSI did not re-investigate the case. The human rights commission however took action. Weve attempted several times to meet the concerned police officers to challenge their assumptions. But they never attended the appointments. KZM: International newspapers, some Thai organizations as well as Burmese organizations, alleged that the two were tortured during the investigation process and that there were no eye-witness and the evidence was not concrete. To what extent are those allegations true? MO: They [Thai authorities] acted to the prejudice of those two Burmese workers. Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin were not among the suspects when likely suspects were first named. Before they were arrested, two foreign suspects were interrogated. KZM: Those two were the friends of the British victims, werent they? MO: Christopher is their friend and another one, Sean, was a guitar player at a bar. They were released. They were reportedly interrogated, but details of the interrogation were not released. We think these two must know something about the murder, and they should be interrogated. Both Britain and Thailand have to seriously consider this. KZM: There have been protests against the death penalty verdict in Myanmar. And the military chief Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing has called on the Thai government to review the case and Thai authorities have also issued responses. The case seems to have escalated into a foreign relations issue between the two countries. What is your assessment of the latest developments of the case, Ko Kyaw Kha? Kyaw Kha: The news of the death penalty ruling spread immediately. Consequently, some people have staged protests in front of the Thai Embassy in Yangon. The protests are ongoing and have intensified. Protests have spread beyond Yangon and reached other towns in Upper and Lower Myanmar including Mandalay and Monwya. The protests have reached border trade towns like Myawady, Tachilek and Three Pagodas Pass. These protests made Thailand respond. Even Thai Prime Minister Prayuth had to speak at a press conference on the case. Tensions are still running high and protests are still going on. KZM: Ko Kyaw Kha, you went to the scene after the murder to cover the case last year. What did you see then? KK: The parents of Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun arrived after the two were arrested. The two, as their fear was eased by the arrival of their parents, told their parents and the investigation committee formed by the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand that they were not involved in the murder. Later, Thailands prominent forensic expert Dr Pornthip said that the DNA of the two Burmese men and DNA found on the victims did not match. When they heard this, parents were extremely happy and believed that their sons would be acquitted. But then, when the two were handed the death penalty, the parents were very surprised and burst into tears. Zaw Lins mother is quite a strong woman, but then she could not help crying her eyes out. KZM: There was a request for secondary DNA testing, wasnt there? MO: The result of the first DNA test showed that DNA samples did not match. Then, they [Thai authorities] did the test again and said that the result showed that the DNA samples matched. At the court hearings, our defense lawyers pointed out the holes in the DNA testing, and requested for re-testing of DNA. Judges were changed frequently at the court. At first, the court accepted our request, but then a few days later, they declined our request, giving a number of reasons. KZM: What did Dr Pornthip say at that time? MO: She mainly pointed out that there are certain standards in doing DNA tests. The murder took place at the beach and the DNA test was carried out long after the murder. She said Bangkok should send a DNA expert team to examine the evidence and that the examination process should be transparent. She said these things were not done and the result therefore would not be right. KZM: Another thing is they confessed committing the murder at first. Later, they denied it. Everyone says that they were forced to confess. What did you see? MO: When we visited them in prison for the first time, at a glance we knew something was wrong. They responded weirdly. We knew that they were hiding something as they did not answer our questions. We assumed that they would tell the truth in the presence of someone who they can trust and rely on. So, we discussed with the Myanmar embassy, and Myanmar government and we brought their parents. As we expected, they said they had confessed because of torture and threats when their parents came. KZM: There have been protests in front of the Thai Embassy and the residence of National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Ko Kyaw Kha, do you see any sign that the protests may intensify? I ask because some people have other grievances not related to the verdict. What else do you see? KK: I have seen signs that there will be more protests. For example, Ma Ba Tha members have joined the protests. Regarding the protest in front of the residence of Daw Aung Suu Kyi, U Win Htein told the protesters that though the party had won the election, it has not yet assumed power. There are suggestions that rather than Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the military chief, it is President U Thein Sein who should contact the Thai government. KZM: Another interesting element is the extent to which the British police force has investigated the case. Do you know how much they have cooperated [in the investigation process] especially with defense lawyers and defense teams? How much information did they share? We heard they didnt share information. MO: Yes, a British team came. But they did not directly communicate with us. But they did interact with our defense lawyers. Moreover, the Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand asked the British Ambassador about their findings after that team went back. The ambassador also shared the information he learnt from his British counterpart with us. But, they [the British] did not give any factual information. They arrived and went there [the crime scene] by helicopter and came back within a few hours. Then, they went there again the next day. We heard that the team already sent their members one or two days before they arrived [in Thailand]. We are not clear how many members they had sent. But then, they did not share information after they went back. And we dont know why. The suspects Sean and Christopher are from their country, Britain. So they should participate in the investigation. I dont understand why Britain didnt participate. KK: The case has become a cause for concern. Thai media agencies have assessed that if the ruling is not reconsidered transparently, it may strain relations between Thailand and Myanmar. As there are protests at the border, some Thai media suggest that the Thai government and detectives from Britain should undertake field investigations and make public the findings, openly and transparently, for the knowledge of Myanmar and Thai people. KZM: My final question. What can we expect from an appeal to the ruling? MO: I think the defense lawyers will defend to the best of their ability. They have experience, but we do not know yet what will the result be. We, investigation committee members, will hold meetings with defense lawyers. Defense lawyers have in their mind what arguments to put forward against the ruling. So, with the assistance of the Myanmar government, well try our best when we go back to Thailand. KZM: Thank you for the discussion. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Deciding on your career is not as easy as answering the question "What do you want to be when you grow up" back when you are a child. It's definitely and entirely different now that you are 17 and everything feels like its rushing. Every decision will surely affect your future; some can even alter your life. Though it may seem like a little bit scary-no scratch that. It is terrifying, it is somehow one of the most precious moments in life when you look back. Choosing a career is crucial, it is a fact. But it doesn't mean not enjoyable and meaningful. It is an overall learning experience. Thankfully, aside from the career assessment tests you are taking in school, (which are pretty vague actually), you can now go online and go Career Cruising. Career Cruising is an "interactive career guide" getting popular and available in most Canadian libraries and are being sold to schools Because of its features that offer career options, plan-making and self scrutiny, Career Cruising is now being used by five million people all over the world. Career Cruising is an over all experience: First, users watch series of informative videos that are full of information on the careers the students are interested in. It covers a lot of jobs from farming to law and more. These videos have a student-friendly approach that will not bore and intimidate the kids. After the introduction, the student takes the matchmaking tests. These are a series of questions about his/her interests and skills that would be a great determinant of the student's passion and career preference. The guide also includes the salary range for each career track. It's really like taking a career assessment exam on school, but it is interactive and real time. So for those who are finishing high school this year, have fun and treasure this moment. Don't bee scared and happy Career Cruising! Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. SHARE By of the Consumers are buying more cage-free and organic eggs, but a Wisconsin nonprofit that promotes natural foods says the products aren't always what they're cracked up to be. In a new report called "Scrambled Eggs: Separating Factory Farm Egg Production from Authentic Organic Agriculture," the Cornucopia Institute says egg industry practices vary widely from farm to farm. "In all too many cases, I call this farming by press release. Their websites are filled with pictures of red barns and people hugging chickens and calves, but the reality of the production models is much different," said Mark Kastel, founder of the Cornucopia Institute, based in Cornucopia. "We don't want people to abandon organic products because they think it's a fraud," Kastel said, adding that consumers ought to look closer at where their food comes from. Cornucopia has an organic egg scorecard that rates farms on 28 criteria it says are important to consumers mostly regarding hen welfare. The egg producers were assigned individual scores based on the results of a Cornucopia survey they completed, and from unannounced farm visits by the organization. Some producers claim their hens have access to the outdoors, when in fact it's a small screened area for thousands of birds, according to Kastel. "If 95% of the birds can't get outside, that claim is very deceiving," he said. "It's not just the spirit of the law. The letter of the law clearly states all organic livestock, including chickens, must have access to the outdoors, fresh air and sunshine," Kastel said. The scorecard gave low ratings to farms that didn't complete the survey, which was voluntary. "If you want to operate in secrecy, we think that's a black eye in itself," Kastel said. Some of the biggest producers received the lowest scores. Small farms got the highest marks. "There's a heavy, innate bias towards small, backyard farms that sell eggs to farm markets," said John Brunnquell, founder and president of Egg Innovations and the Blue Sky Family Farms brand, based in Port Washington. Blue Sky, a network of egg producers in five Midwestern states, received a three-egg rating from Cornucopia, out of a possible five eggs as the top score. That didn't settle well with Brunnquell, who runs a third-generation family farm and says his producers meet the Humane Farm Animal Care "certified humane" standards for free-range and pasture-raised eggs. "We have become the largest free-range and pasture-egg operation in the United States, and we do that by supporting 60 individual family farms. If the individual farmer was being rated by Mark Kastel, they would get a four-egg or five-egg score. But because we are coordinating those 60 farms, he drops us down to a three-egg score," Brunnquell said. "We will never get a five-egg score in Cornucopia's rating process because it's impossible in a commercial operation," he added. Egg Innovations is much better than some other large producers, according to Kastel. "When we published our first report, they had a lower rating. They were able to raise it by expanding their outdoors access for chickens. They're also coming up with what we call enhanced outdoor access," Kastel said. Organic Valley, an agricultural cooperative based in La Farge, received a two-egg score. Organic Valley did not participate in the survey, which lowered its rating. "We did discover, however, that one of Organic Valley's members supplying organic eggs is actually an industrial-scale farm in California that grants no outdoor access to the laying hens," the scorecard noted. Organic Valley has more than 100 egg farms, with an average flock size of under 6,000 chickens, according to the farmer-owned cooperative. "The issue we have with Cornucopia is they included the California-produced eggs in the same bucket" as the cooperative's other eggs, said Nick Levendoski, Organic Valley's egg production manager. Packaging for the California eggs doesn't give the impression that the hens spend most of their time outdoors, according to Levendoski. "They have access to the outdoors, but they aren't necessarily scratching around in the grass," he said. The size of a poultry operation isn't the best indicator of egg quality or adherence to standards, according to some in the industry. "I have seen some 2,000-bird operations that were run pretty poorly, and I have seen some people with 10,000 birds who put all their heart into it," Levendoski said. On its website, Organic Valley says it agrees that the National Organic Program needs to clarify the "access to the outdoors" standard for poultry. "We believe access to the outdoors is an important tenet of organic production, and we have our own standard that goes above and beyond the National Organic Standards. We require our egg farmer-owners to provide 1.75 square feet per bird indoors and 5 square feet per bird outdoors," the cooperative says. Since 2002, the use of the term organic on food packaging has been regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Organic egg producers across the spectrum, and their certifiers, all claim to be following the federal organic standards. But administration of the regulations varies widely based on differing interpretations," the Scrambled Eggs report notes. To make informed decisions, consumers ought to learn more about the individual egg producers, according to Kastel. "That's the kind of market pressure we are trying to achieve. There are millions of consumers who are passionate about organics," he said. SHARE By of the A 33-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested early Friday morning, accused of firing a gun inside of Heart Breakers Gentlemen's Club in West Allis. Police responded to a report of a firearm being discharged at the strip club, which is in the 9400 block of W. National Ave., shortly before 3:45 a.m. Friday, the West Allis Police Department said. Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the man, who was a patron at the club, fired at least one gunshot inside Heart Breakers before being disarmed by club employees. Club security reportedly disarmed the man, whom police said was injured while being detained by club employees. West Allis police officials say they are unaware of any additional injuries to others during the incident and it does not appear anyone was struck by the gunfire. Circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, police said. West Allis police said they received assistance at the scene from the Brookfield Police Department, New Berlin Police Department and West Milwaukee Police Department. Krassi Hristova, assistant professor of biological sciences at Marquette University, is among the team of local researchers studying antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the Milwaukee harbor. Credit: Dan Johnson SHARE By of the Muck at the bottom of Milwaukee's harbor is a "hot spot" for the growth of fecal bacteria resistant to antibiotics, a University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute study found. E. coli bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics are more common in harbor mud than in untreated wastewater flowing to the Jones Island sewage treatment plant, according to a team of scientists from Marquette University, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. And the resistant bacteria are more common in the mud than in bodily fluids collected from patients at the Medical College. The research team's report, "Detection of multi-drug resistant E. coli in the urban waterways of Milwaukee, WI," was published in the online journal, Frontiers in Microbiology. "Our biggest concern is that we are creating hot spots in the environment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said Krassi Hristova, assistant professor of biological sciences at Marquette University and a member of the research team. When infectious organisms adapt to the antibiotics designed to kill them, or become resistant, then the drugs are less effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections," the CDC says on a website for its national campaign to restrict use of antibiotics. Scientists on the local team tested bacteria in muck collected at four locations: one in the outer harbor outside the Jones Island pipe for discharging treated wastewater; and three in the inner harbor, where the city's three rivers receive pollutants carrying bacteria from agricultural and urban runoff, as well as bacteria from combined sanitary and storm sewer overflows and improper sanitary connections to separate storm sewers. Tests found that drug resistance in the bacteria was most prevalent for widely used antibiotics, including erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, aztreonam and ampicillin. Exposure to the lurking bacteria through swimming, wading or other activities could become another way that residential and agricultural overuse of soaps, detergents, drugs and other products containing antibacterial compounds will come back to bite the public, Hristova said. When resistant bacteria from the environment contact skin or enter a person's body, they can transfer genes enabling antibiotic resistance to bacteria residing in mucus or in intestines, according to Hristova. "Fewer and fewer antibiotics are still viable options for treating even common infections," she said. The team of scientists is urging the public to halt use of antimicrobial products in their homes so that the pace of the spread of resistance among E. coli bacteria can be slowed, and the risk of harm to health reduced. Another recommendation is to take unused medication, including antibiotics, to community collections for disposal instead of flushing the pills and tablets down the toilet. The majority of municipal police departments in Milwaukee County offer medicine collection programs. When antibiotics are excreted in urine or flushed down drains and toilets, they do not go away, according to the researchers. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove the compounds, just as they are not built to remove all bacteria or to destroy all the genetic material that is released from bacteria. The scientists suspect that genes for antibiotic resistance are transferred between fecal bacteria when they crowd together at the sewage treatment plant in the presence of antibiotics and personal care products in the wastewater. The smaller number of E. coli that make it through the treatment process can live in sediment for long periods of time, increasing the likelihood for the exchange of genes for antibiotic resistance. When routine bacteria pass genes for antibiotic resistance to more virulent bacteria, risk of illnesses increases. Those transfer points likely explain why researchers found just 13.6% of E. coli in wastewater flowing in to the Jones Island plant was resistant to fosfomycin, a stalwart among effective antibiotics that is prescribed to treat chronic infections. But 93% of E. coli in sediment near the plant's treated wastewater discharge pipe were resistant to the antibiotic. If genes from those resistant bacteria in the environment are transferred to illness-causing bacteria that eventually find people, then fosfomycin loses its effectiveness against the pathogens, Hristova said. Most of the E. coli from muck in the outer harbor and the inner harbor were found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute funded the study with grants from the National Sea Grant College Program and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Marquette University provided additional funding. Clarence George Rzezotarski is seen at the original Dancing Bear Bookstore on the east side at 2406 N. Murray St. Credit: Family photo SHARE Rzezotarski spends time with his family on Christmas morning. He died later that day. Family photo By of the Let's start with his name, Clarence George Rzezotarski. If you are wondering how to pronounce it, join the club. Throughout his 75 years, it became such a stumbling block that eventually probably sometime in the early 1960s he became best known as "Polish George." Behind the name was a man devoted to preserving all things Milwaukee and Wisconsin that otherwise might be forgotten: a vast collection of 1970s-era counterculture publications; thousands of postmarks from Wisconsin post offices, many of which no longer exist; a quirky, subterranean east side bookstore that he co-founded, specializing in collectible works of local and European history. Rzezotarski died on Christmas Day from complications of multiple sclerosis. He was 75. "George was always interested in lost things," his wife of 49 years, Darlene "Lolly" Rzezotarski, said. Lest he be lost to history, here is part of his story. Rzezotarski (for the record, pronounced "Jesh-oh-tar-ski") came of age in the early 1960s, working as a manager of coffee houses that were part of Milwaukee's beatnik scene, including one known as the Unique Coffee House on the east side and another, the Brat House, in the downtown area. He also was an avid collector of and sometimes contributor to Milwaukee counterculture publications, including the Bugle, or Bugle American, an underground 1970s newspaper, and the Street Sheet, a radical, mimeographed paper put out three times a week by the so-called Yippies in the early 1970s. Eventually, he would donate those collections to Marquette University, from which he earned a master's degree in history. "He had a tremendous knowledge of the city's history," said longtime friend Pat Small. "He seemed to reach out to people who were a little eccentric." In 1973, George and Lolly opened the Dancing Bear Bookstore in a basement storefront at 2406 N. Murray St. A few years later it moved to N. Oakland Ave. near Locust St. until it closed in 1989. Known more for its odd, antiquarian collection than its financial success, it was a people's bookstore. Rzezotarski also worked as a history lecturer at Milwaukee Area Technical College. The Rzezotarskis also are remembered for the New Year's Eve gatherings that took place at their longtime home on N. Newhall St. and later in their Shorewood house, where he received hospice care for multiple sclerosis. The parties, which the couple hosted for 39 years, drew neighbors and friends. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Anastasia Brokmeier and Maria Maahs, as well as six grandchildren. Clarence George Rzezotarski The family will greet friends on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lake Park Lutheran Church, 2647 N. Stowell Ave. They also will greet friends on Friday at Lake Park Lutheran from noon until a memorial service at 1 p.m., followed by a reception. SHARE By of the A pair of Republican lawmakers are circulating a proposal that would prohibit county and town governments from issuing or spending money on photo identification cards. The legislation would also bar photo ID cards issued by cities or villages from being used for things like voting or obtaining public benefits, such as food stamps. Critics say the legislation is an attack on local control and is targeting a plan recently approved by city and county officials in Milwaukee to issue local identification cards to the homeless, immigrants in the country illegally and other residents unable to obtain state driver's licenses or other government-issued ID cards. They also say the bill is an example of anti-immigrant discrimination. The measure's sponsors, state Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin), say they're trying to fight fraud and prevent confusion. "Preventing fraud and abuse in voting and state government programs has been a priority for this Legislature," they wrote in memo seeking co-sponsors. "Creating another government photo identification card that people may believe qualifies them for benefits is potentially misleading, confusing, and unfair to the card's recipient, and unnecessary." They added that counties and towns have "no specific authority to issue photo identification cards," and said the proposal would simply block such photo IDs, other than for employment-related cards for town or county employees. The bill would also prohibit an ID card issued by a city or village from being used for voting or registration for voting, or for obtaining public benefits such as food stamps, Wisconsin Works and medical assistance programs. Under the legislation, any local ID cards would be required to state clearly that the card isn't authorized for voting purposes. Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic accused the measure's sponsors of "attacking local control" and said the proposal was just the latest in a string of bills targeting Milwaukee. "I wish I could say I was shocked," she said. The County Board added a plan to help fund municipal ID cards as an amendment to the 2016 county budget. That amendment called for setting aside $150,000 in a special county contingency account while a joint county-city task force developed a municipal ID program The City of Milwaukee agreed to match the county's contribution under a budget amendment approved by the Common Council in November. The deal provided that the city would establish a $150,000 account in the city clerk's office to help fund ID cards for city residents, such as the homeless, immigrants in the country illegally, runaway youth, victims of domestic violence and transgender people. Both Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Mayor Tom Barrett backed the municipal IDs and approved the plan when they signed their budgets in November. Dimitrijevic said numerous people testified in favor of the municipal ID cards at budget hearings and said local officials saw the plan as a way to "unite" Milwaukee. "And then here come the state Republicans," she said. Dimitrijevic said they were pursuing a "divisive agenda" similar to that of millionaire real estate mogul and GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. "This is a way to bring people out of the shadows," she said of the ID cards. "I think it will help put people to work." Advocates who pushed for the local ID cards say the bill is an attack on immigrants. "This bill is an example of the discrimination and hate that immigrants face today in this country. Even dogs have collars so people know who they are," said Guadalupe Romero, a member of the immigrant advocacy group Voces de la Frontera. "We are human beings and we just want a card with our first and last names and address on it, so people know who we are." The Milwaukee ID cards were specifically not to be used for voting, added Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera. "While it's regrettable that Republicans deny marginalized people food and health care, they also know that Milwaukee IDs will not prove eligibility for safety net programs either don't worry, they'll still be hungry," she said. "The Milwaukee ID program is a great example of a local government responding to grass-roots voices and stepping in to provide basic services to constituents when the state and federal government have failed to do so." Sanfelippo acknowledged that the measure was inspired by the Milwaukee municipal identification card plan. But he argued that the county is an extension of state government and said because the state already issues ID cards, it would be a waste of county taxpayer money to issue local IDs. "If the city wants to waste taxpayer money, God bless them. They can do that," Sanfelippo said. "It's not an infringement of local control." He added that he was concerned the ID cards could open the door to voter fraud. "If there's nothing secretly nefarious about what they're doing, they will have no objection to the bill," Sanfelippo said. The deadline for co-sponsors to sign onto the GOP bill to limit local ID cards is Tuesday. Detective shares details of hourslong interview with Brooks on Day 12 of Christmas Parade trial Jurors on Tuesday got a first look at how Darrell Brooks Jr. intends to argue his defense in the trial tied to the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack. President Barack Obama speaks at the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Va., on Dec. 17. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is at left. Credit: Associated Press SHARE By Honolulu President Barack Obama is looking for ways to keep guns out of the hands of "a dangerous few" without depending on Congress to pass a law on the fraught subject of gun control. In his weekly radio address released Friday, Obama said he will meet Monday with his attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to see what executive actions might be possible. Steps to strengthen background checks could come within a week. "The gun lobby is loud and well-organized in its defense of effortlessly available guns for anyone," Obama said. "The rest of us are going to have to be just as passionate and well-organized in our defense of our kids." He said he gets so many letters from parents, teachers and children about the "epidemic of gun violence" that he can't "sit around and do nothing." Lynch's office has been studying options since Obama recently directed staff at the White House to look into potential executive actions. In his recent efforts to work around a Congress that has often been politically gridlocked, Obama has made aggressive use of executive power on other issues, particularly immigration. While legal scholars are divided on whether Obama has accelerated or merely continued a drift of power toward the executive branch, there is little debate that he has paved a path for his successor. Depending on who succeeds him, many Obama backers could rue the day that they cheered his "pen-and-phone" campaign to get past Republican opposition in Congress. The unilateral steps that he took to raise environmental standards and ease the threat of deportation for millions of immigrants in the United States illegally may serve as precedent for moves that they won't cheer. Obama may be acting now on gun control because his efforts to get tough new gun laws passed in Congress, including a big push in 2013, have failed. Critics have promised to challenge Obama if he takes executive action. Gun rights activists argue that he cannot take unilateral steps that Congress has specifically rejected. Currently, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to seek background checks on potential firearm purchasers. But advocacy groups say some of the people who sell firearms at gun shows are not federally licensed, increasing the chance of sales to customers prohibited by law from purchasing guns. A source familiar with the administration's efforts said Obama is expected to take executive action next week that would set a "reasonable threshold" for when sellers have to seek a background check. That person didn't know whether it would be based on the number of guns sold or revenue generated through gun sales. The source, a member of a gun control advocacy group, was not authorized to discuss details before the announcement. White House officials won't confirm the timing. The National Rifle Association opposes expanded background check systems. The organization's Institute for Legislative Action says studies have shown that people sent to state prison because of gun crimes typically get guns through theft, the black market or family and friends. Also, many purchases by criminals are made from straw purchasers who pass background checks. "No amount of background checks can stop these criminals," says the group's website. Obama has consistently expressed frustration after mass shootings, saying it shouldn't be so easy for somebody who wants to inflict harm to get his or her hands on a gun. Going into his final year in office, Obama said his New Year's resolution is to move forward on unfinished business. "That's especially true for one piece of unfinished business, that's our epidemic of gun violence," he said in the address. He said a bipartisan bill from three years ago requiring background checks for almost everyone had huge support, including among a majority of NRA households. But the Senate blocked it. Obama urged Americans to stand with him if they share his belief that the Second Amendment right to bear arms also leaves room for restrictions on gun ownership by "an irresponsible, dangerous few." He said, "Each time, we're told that common-sense reforms like background checks might not have stopped the last massacre, or the one before that, so we shouldn't do anything. We know that we can't stop every act of violence. But what if we tried to stop even one?" Obama's emphasis on the subject in his first public statement of his final year in office suggests that he is open to taking the boldest steps that he can. Aides said they believe that he is intent on acting. "The president has made clear he's not satisfied with where we are," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. For more on Obama's address www.whitehouse.gov SHARE This coin from Syria depicting Aries gave astronomer Michael Molnar a clue to the possible Star of Bethlehem. Michael Molnar photo By of the When a dealer at a New York coin show showed astronomer Michael Molnar an ancient Roman coin minted in Syria that featured a picture of Zeus on one side and Aries the ram on the other, he bought it for $50. A few months later, Molnar noticed a star on the coin, which was minted in A.D. 13. An earlier version had been issued by Quirinius, the governor of Syria who's mentioned in the Gospel of Luke as ordering a census at the time of the birth of Jesus. And so began a quest by the University of Wisconsin-Madison alum to see if a most unlikely source his own coin collection held a clue to the identity of the Star of Bethlehem that drew the three wise men to see the infant king, an event known as Epiphany, which this year is celebrated Sunday in many churches. Molnar collects ancient coins featuring astronomical or astrological symbols. While researching a story for a coin collecting magazine, he learned that astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who lived in Egypt in the 2nd century A.D., wrote that Judea was ruled by the constellation Aries. "I thought: What could have attracted stargazers to the birth of a king? I knew from reading ancient texts that these ancient stargazers watched for Jupiter and its relationship with the moon," Molnar said in a phone interview from his New Jersey home. At the time, planets were called stars. "They felt that when Jupiter was close to the moon, Jupiter's powers to create kings were strongest," Molnar said. "There was one particular event they were trying to calculate when the moon would get so close it would pass in front of Jupiter. This was considered magical in ancient times." Molnar's research, which he published in a book "The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi," led him to believe the star that attracted the Magi to Jerusalem was likely Jupiter eclipsed by Earth's moon known as a double occultation while it was located within the constellation of Aries the Ram. The actual year and date of Jesus' birth are not known; biblical historians most often estimate it was sometime between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. The Magi, who may have been astronomers or astrologers, told King Herod in Jerusalem that they saw a star in the east at its rising, according to the Gospel of Matthew. "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him," the Gospel says. Herod sent them to Bethlehem, because he had been told by chief priests and teachers that Christ would be born there. "When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was," the Gospel says. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly great joy." 'A magical moment' In the course of a year, as the planets revolve around the sun, Jupiter gets closer to the sun and eventually disappears. When it emerges on the other side in the east it can be seen from Earth. "Ancient people thought this was a magical moment and the powers of the planet were at their maximum," Molnar said. Molnar checked the dates of an eclipse of Jupiter by Earth's moon when Jupiter was in the east and the constellation of Aries the Ram was close, then referenced them against the years when scholars believe Jesus was born. Only one date popped up: April 17, 6 B.C. When Molnar saw that he got chills. "I didn't sleep. I knew as an astronomy historian I had the best answer for the Star of Bethlehem. I wasn't a modern physicist coming up with modern ideas. I was trying to explain this in believable ancient ideas," Molnar said. Whether Jupiter eclipsed by the moon is actually the star heralding the birth of Jesus is certainly open to speculation. But it's a fascinating theory. The Star of Bethlehem is "the cosmic holy grail of the sky," said Bob Bonadurer, director of the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Every year at Christmas, visitors to the museum's planetarium ask about the star's possible identity and location. There are many interpretations some say it could have been a comet or supernova or possibly a conjunction of planets. "I still think there's a big question mark and it's nothing against (Molnar's) research, it's that we just don't know," Bonadurer said. "All an astronomer like myself or Michael (Molnar) can offer is possibilities based on what we know of the time of Jesus' birth. It's still a great journey to explore." A separate link to history Molnar lived in Madison for 31/2 years while he worked on his doctorate in astronomy at UW. He arrived in 1967 at a time when the campus was a hotbed of anti-war protests. His office was on the sixth floor of Sterling Hall and had it not been for a broken vending machine, he likely would have been working in the wee hours of Aug. 24, 1970. Molnar usually arrived at his office in the afternoon, worked all night and returned home early in the morning. On the night of Aug. 23 he was hungry and walked down to a vending machine on the fourth floor to buy a candy bar. But it jammed and he lost his money. Still hungry, he decided to leave earlier than normal. At 3:42 a.m. a stolen van parked next to the building and packed with 2,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil exploded. The target was the Army Mathematics Research Center on the second through fourth floors. Molnar's office on the sixth floor was filled with a small personal library of astronomy books, photos from astronomical observations he made at the W.M. Keck Center for Surface and Interface Imaging in Arizona, and his dissertation research. In the explosion, a pipe lighter in his office ignited, and everything in Molnar's office went up in flames. "In the newscasts afterward I saw flames coming out of my office and I thought, 'Oh no, I'm done,'" Molnar recalled. Molnar didn't know the researcher who was killed in the blast and felt fortunate that although he lost part of his research, he wasn't hurt. Parts of his burned dissertation were found blown out of the building in the days and weeks later. "You didn't Xerox everything you did back in those days, it was expensive. I did give my adviser some data, God bless, and with the charred remains I was able to recover a lot. It did set me back," said Molnar. "I came back in January to defend it. I think the faculty was very supportive and took into consideration a lot." After earning his doctorate in astronomy at UW, Molnar performed pioneering research in the field of magnetic stars by using satellite observations, and served on research teams for several space missions including the Mariner 9 Mars Orbiter. He taught astronomy at Rutgers University. Today, he lives in New Jersey, and the coin that started his quest for the Star of Bethlehem hangs on a wall. Visitors don't bring gold, frankincense and myrrh. But they do show interest. "A lot of people who visit me ask to see it," he said. Dave Aranda looks on during UWs spring practice. Credit: Journal Sentinel By of the Madison Dave Aranda, the architect of Wisconsin's nationally ranked defense for the last three seasons, is leaving to run the defense at LSU. A source close to the UW program confirmed the move late Friday, and LSU later announced the hire. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com first reported the move. UW opens the 2016 season against LSU on Sept. 3 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Aranda, who was pursued by LSU last year, replaces Kevin Steele. Steele left LSU to take over as Auburn's defensive coordinator. Steele signed a two-year deal last January for $1 million per year. Aranda is paid $520,000 annually, including a base salary of $300,000. According to USA Today, Aranda entered the 2015 season 64th nationally in assistant pay, including 12th among Big Ten assistants. Neither Aranda nor head coach Paul Chryst could be reached Friday. "Dave's compensation is fair," UW athletic director Barry Alvarez told the Journal Sentinel last week, noting he has given Chryst more money to pay the assistants in 2016. UW entered the Holiday Bowl allowing 16.9 points per game in three seasons under Aranda. That was the No. 2 mark among Football Bowl Subdivision programs, behind only Alabama at 15.7. The Badgers held USC, which had been 30th nationally in scoring at 34.9 points per game, to 21 in UW's two-point victory in the Holiday Bowl. UW entered the game allowing 289.4 yards per game in Aranda's three seasons, the No. 1 mark among FBS programs. UW held USC to 286 yards, well below the Trojans' season average of 449.6. The news surely will be a blow to the UW players set to return in 2016. One of those players is outside linebacker Vince Biegel, who has raved about playing under Aranda's tutelage. "I want to finish out what I came here to do," Biegel said after the Holiday Bowl, when he announced he would return for his senior season. "To be able to put on the Wisconsin Badgers uniform and play in Camp Randall, you can't beat that. "Coach Chryst, he is an offensive guru. You've got Coach Aranda, he is a defensive guru. It is a special team to be a part of. "I've been known to say I'd take a bullet for him. I would take another bullet for him to stay." Alvarez told the Journal Sentinel last week he was impressed by Aranda's creativity and versatility. "Dave has brought a defense that really matches up well with all the spread offenses and can still hold up against the running teams," Alvarez said, noting Aranda uses so many personnel packages he has no true base defense. "Our guys don't flinch when teams come out and they are spread out all over the field." Alvarez hated facing spread offenses during his time as head coach. "That used to drive us crazy," he said. "We used to have a hard time matching up because of his personnel. That is part of his package. "The way he matches up and still can pressure people and create problems, it is a very unique defense." Now Aranda is taking his skills to LSU and he will be facing his former boss in the 2016 opener. SHARE By of the Two people were being treated after a fire damaged a residence on the city's south side early Saturday morning. The fire was reported at 2:50 a.m. at a single-family residence on 1734 S. 18th St., said Milwaukee Fire Department Deputy Chief David Votsis. Everyone was out of the building by the time officials arrived. No official number was available, but at least three children and an adult had evacuated. An adult was treated on scene before being taken to a hospital for a trauma-related injury, Votsis said. No further details about the severity of the injury were available. A child was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire was under control in about an hour, Votsis said. The cause remains under investigation, and officials were still on scene as of 9 a.m. The home was a total loss, with a damage estimate of about $200,000. The home did not have smoke detectors. Votsis said officials want to ensure all citizens have working smoke detectors. The fire department has a hotline people can call to get them installed. There is no fee for those seeking installation, as it is grant funded. The hotline is 414-286-8980. Fire Update: Assisting family of 7 from the house fire in 1700 blk of S 18th St. @RedCrossWIS #Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/YxsY51bcds Bob Wade (@rlwade) January 2, 2016 SHARE By Madison The Catholic student center at the University of Wisconsin in Madison holds its final Mass on Sunday before its demolition. The Rev. Eric Nielsen, the center's director, envisions the Mass as a loving farewell to an old friend. He tells the Wisconsin State Journal the building has served so many people so well for so many years that they want it to go out in glory. The demolition is to start in early February, with a replacement facility twice its size scheduled to be ready by the fall of 2017. The $25 million project will be a five-story building that will include a chapel, dining facilities, meeting rooms, a rooftop terrace and a hall accommodating 200 people. There will also be apartments for priests, seminary students and visiting scholars. By of the Police have released the name of the father who killed his daughter early Friday in Cudahy as Brett Hartman, 27. The two-year-old victim was identified as Skylar Hartman. Police responded at 1:40 a.m. to 3723 E. Whittaker Ave. after a family member inside the residence called for help, according to a Cudahy Police Department news release. Upon arrival, officials found Hartman, who had a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Skylar was also found with a gunshot wound and was taken to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she later died. Autopsies for Hartman and Skylar were conducted Saturday morning. No further details were available. The incident continues to be under investigation. Reddit Email 132 Shares By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | In 2015, every Iraqi almost without exception paid a price for events in their country. Some Iraqis lost their jobs, others lost loved ones. But the biggest loss of all in 2015 cannot be measured. In Iraq, 2015 was a taxing year. Almost every single Iraqi paid a price of some sort for what happened in their homeland this year, whether that was in the form of an actual financial tax resulting from the countrys economic crisis or an emotional one: At worst, the security crisis caused the death of one of their loved ones. But many locals think that one of the most terrible things that happened in Iraq in 2015 cannot easily be measured: This year many Iraqis learned that tomorrow will not necessarily be better than today. Political problems on top of security crises just ahead of economic breakdowns have seen any hope for a brighter future dissipate. For many Iraqis, 2014 was far better than 2015. The Highest Price This year has been the worst year, says Kathem al-Zubaidi, from his small home in the Rifai neighbourhood in the southern city of Nasiriyah. He lives here with his daughter-in-law and his three grandchildren. Missing from the home is the man in the framed photograph on the wall, also named Kathem. The man in the photo wears a military uniform and a back ribbon hangs across the picture. When his fellow soldiers came to tell me my son had died I did not believe them, al-Zubaidi says, until I saw his corpse along with dozens of others at the base in Baghdad that receives all the dead soldiers from the fronts. Al-Zubaidis son was killed during fighting against the extremist group known as the Islamic State in January 2015. Eleven months have passed but I still cannot cope thinking about his loss, the grandfather said. Whenever I look at his wife and children I just feel so sad. Al-Zubaidi says he has been trying to secure some sort of income or pension for his daughter-in-law and his sons family. He has been knocking on the doors of various government departments for months so that he can complete the pension papers for his son and get his daughter some money. But he hasnt been able to navigate his way through the bureaucracy and remains critical of the Iraqi government. Our government couldnt care less about the people killed in this fight, al-Zubaidi says. It was not until this December that Iraqs Ministry of Defence issued a statement on how many military had been killed since the beginning of the security crisis, started by the Islamic State, or IS, group when they took control of the northern city of Mosul in June 2014. Up to December 21, the Ministry says that 2,649 soldiers have been killed and 11,230 injured. But these figures in no way tell the whole story. The Ministry of Interior has not yet announced how many of its men have been killed and the volunteer Shiite Muslim militias, known locally as the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, have not released any numbers as to how many fighters they have lost either. It is their policy to refuse to give out those kinds of details. However anecdotes and accounts from those working in or near Najaf graveyards favoured for the burial of Shiite Muslims appear to indicate that the numbers would be as high as the armys, if not higher. An Emotional Toll This year Hatem al-Fahdawis family began living what they describe as an almost medieval kind of life. Al-Fahdawi must carry water to his new home in a ten-square-meter tent, complete with the United Nations logo, and his wife cooks using firewood she has gathered. To use the toilets, the family, which includes two children and al-Fahdawis mother, must walk a long way as there are only ten toilets for hundreds of displaced people living in the same camp as them. In 2015, al-Fahdawi tells NIQASH, he lost everything. This year was a terrible nightmare, says the Iraqi man, who originally comes the Andalus neighbourhood in the city of Ramadi, Anbar province. Look at our life today. The tent is almost collapsing because of the rain; it doesnt protect us from heat or cold and my kids are always sick. The al-Fahdawis home used to be a lot bigger 200 square meters in fact and al-Fahdawi used to earn a good living as a cab driver. However he lost his car, home and any money in his bank account after the IS group occupied Ramadi and confiscated all his worldly goods. The IS group took everything from me because they believe that any person who left the city was a traitor, al-Fahdawi says. But when I see my wife and my children living like this, I almost lose my own desire to live. The latest reports from the International Organization for Migration indicates that almost 3.2 million Iraqis have been forced out of their homes in their own country. Most of the displaced Iraqis come from the provinces of Anbar and Ninawa, where the IS group has taken control. Wages of Sin I will never forget 2015, says Anwar Jirjis, a Christian man originally from Baghdad. It has been a very fateful year. Jirjis, his wife and his daughter are currently in Austria and are applying for asylum in Europe. But I left Iraq against my will, Jirjis told NIQASH during a telephone interview. Although many of our Christian friends, relatives and neighbours left Iraq long ago, I always refused to go. Baghdad was my city too I didnt think Christians should just leave. Our family has been there for decades. In the end though my wife and my daughter pressured me to leave. A few years ago the church that the Jirjis family attended used to be full, crowded on Sundays and special occasions. But over the last few months, the numbers of the congregation has dwindled rapidly and the church closed its doors on every day except holy days. The church group also started organising a lot of farewell parties, he adds. Jirjis says it was an explosion near his home in Ghadeer in September 2014 that started the family on their journey out of Iraq. It was two car bombs, he notes. And I can still remember the sound of the explosion and the taste of the dust on my tongue. It was very frightening. I saw dozens of dead and injured people. It was after this that his wife begged him to leave Iraq and then that he decided this was the right course of action he then sold everything he owned in Baghdad to finance the journey to Europe: his house in Ghadeer in central Baghdad, his car and the store he owned. Christians in Iraq are often targeted by religious extremists, often because Christians own or manage stores or clubs and bars selling alcohol something local Muslims are prohibited from doing because of their religious beliefs. But of course, violence in Bagdad does not just affect Christian Iraqis living there it also impacts on the Muslim majority and other ethnic or religious minorities. The extremists who set off car bombs dont discriminate as to who they target. And as a result all kinds of Iraqis have tried to leave the country this year, fleeing persecution, increasing violence or, even in some cases, the lack of hope that things will ever get better here. Because many Iraqis have left the country in illegal ways, through Turkey or by using people smuggling networks, it is hard to know exactly who and how many have left the country for good. Costs of Mismanagement A few months ago Saman Khalil closed his small restaurant in the centre of Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous northern region of Iraqi Kurdistan. Theres been a financial crisis in this region for months now the authorities in the region have been unable to pay the salaries of local civil servants and development and building projects in Iraqi Kurdistan have all but halted. The number of people coming into the restaurant just kept dropping, Khalil told NIQASH over the phone. I started to lose money because while I was open I still had to pay my employees and taxes. So he decided to try and sell the business instead. But nobody is interested. People are afraid of investing money in anything, Khalil explains. They prefer to keep their money. Khalil says his wife works as a teacher in an Erbil school and she too has been a victim of the current financial crisis. She has been waiting to be paid for the past four months but has received nothing up until today. Iraqi Kurdistans teachers actually began demonstrating at the lack of payment and although they were promised that the problem would be solved, nothing has happened. Iraqi Kurdistan is not the only part of Iraq that is suffering from a financial crisis. While the northern regions problems may have started because of disagreements as to how much of the federal budget the Kurdish government was entitled to, it has been exacerbated by the budgetary problems faced by the country as a whole. The Iraqi budget had been calculated based on higher oil prices the countrys main way of earning money and as oil prices have dropped, the financial criss has worsened. The Iraqi government was forced to borrow money and to cut its expenditure, which included employing fewer civil servants; thats a dangerous move in a country where the government is the main employer. The Iraqi government passed its 2016 budget on December 16 this year but as the specialist publication, Iraqi Oil Report, noted after the decision was made, many saw the budget as unrealistic yet again because, as with earlier drafts, the budget assumes the government will sell oil at an average price of US$45 per barrel. Iraqs average sale price in November was US$36.42 per barrel. Via Niqash.org - Related video added by Juan Cole: Aljazeera English: Iraq slums: Poverty rates on the rise Reddit Email 2 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) Figures released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday suggested that Palestinians will outnumber Israeli Jews in historic Palestine by 2020. The results of the Palestinian census were released as 2015 came to a close in the centers annual analysis of demographics in the area. The census estimated that by the end of 2015, the total number of Palestinians in historical Palestine meaning the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and Israel was around 6.22 million, compared to 6.32 million Jews. The number of Palestinians and Jews in historical Palestine is expected to be equal before the end of 2017, and the number of Palestinians will total 7.13 million compared to 6.96 million Jews by the end of 2020, according to the PCBS census. The census bureau surveyed not only historic Palestine, but also included the Palestinian diaspora in its report. The center reported that of the 12.37 million-strong Palestinian population worldwide, around half live outside of historical Palestine. The majority of Palestinians living outside are the descendants of the around 750,000 Palestinians expelled when the state of Israel was established in 1948, many of whom are still living in refugee camps in neighboring Arab countries. Increasing Palestinian demographics in historical Palestine have long stood as a point of contention with Israeli government policies that aim to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. Palestinian officials have repeatedly said that recognizing the concept of Israel as a Jewish state threatens the rights of nearly 1.5 million Palestinian citizens living inside of Israel. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi has said that such recognition would in effect legalized racism. Israeli policy in the occupied Palestinian territory meanwhile has made a contiguous independent Palestinian state nearly impossible, with 65 percent of Palestinians polled last month believing that a two-state solution was not feasible due to settlement expansion. Via Maan News Agency Btselem: A third generation of Palestinian children is living under occuptaion LINCOLN Nebraskans shouldnt get their hopes up for major tax cuts from the Legislature next year. With a $110 million budget shortfall looming, recent tax talk at the State Capitol has been more about gradual change than sweeping reform. Even Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has made property tax relief his top priority, is saying that reducing those taxes will have to be a multiyear effort. Were going to address those in an incremental way, he said in an interview last week. Anything we do will have to fit within the overall context of the ... budget. Ricketts said he is working with key lawmakers in hopes of making at least some progress toward easing property taxes in 2016. Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley of Kearney predicted that the Legislature will get something done to address property taxes during the next session, which starts Wednesday. I would be surprised if there wasnt, he said. The most likely steps will be to temper sharp increases in property valuations and tighten up budget limits on local governments. Both changes could help curb the growth of property tax bills with minimal impact on the state budget, said State Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island, the Revenue Committee chairman. Slowing the growth of property valuations would reduce statement shock for ranch- and farmland owners, who have seen steep increases in their property assessments in recent years. Tightening budget limits would rein in spending by local government entities, which means they would not need as big an increase in property tax support. Gloor acknowledged that neither step would have a very visible effect on property taxes or provide as much relief as many people want. But he said reducing Nebraskas heavy reliance on property taxes will require prolonged struggle. Future Legislatures could build on steps taken next year. We need to look at things that can be added to and expanded over time, Gloor said. This needs to be a sustained effort. Proposals that would make a bigger splash are unlikely to succeed next year because of the budget situation, said Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, the Appropriations Committee chairman. A November report from legislative fiscal staff said the state faces a $110 million gap between projected state revenues and estimated state spending for the two-year budget period ending June 30, 2017. The gap widened this month when State Health and Human Services officials revealed that they needed $11.3 million to repay the federal government for Medicaid errors. The reality is our first obligation is to balance the state budget, and that is going to be difficult to do, Mello said. Lawmakers could close the gap by cutting back on planned state spending or by dipping into the cash reserve, which is expected to reach a record $728.6 million by June 30. Increasing state taxes would be a third option, but one unlikely to win support in the Legislature. Hadley said the budget gap may shrink when Nebraskas economic forecasting board meets again at the end of February. The board will review its projections of state tax revenues, which lawmakers and the governor use in setting the state budget. Absent a major change in the projections, however, any proposal to cut sales or income taxes would add to the budget gap. So would any measure to reduce property taxes by boosting state-funded property tax credits or increasing state aid to schools. About 60 percent of property tax revenue goes to fund K-12 education in Nebraska. Every time you give $1 away in tax cuts, that $110 million grows, said Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, who is normally a supporter of tax-relief proposals. That fiscal reality has squelched hopes of making a major dent in property tax bills, which had been the goal of a legislative supercommittee that met during the summer and fall. Members of the Revenue and Education Committees, along with Mello and Hadley, spent several days studying possibilities. The outcome of their effort showed that providing property tax relief could have been difficult even without the states budget shortfall. The study ended without consensus about changes worth pursuing in legislation. Gloor, however, said the study was useful because the group agreed about the value of the states existing property tax credit program. The program provides credits to property owners, which appear as a line on the annual property tax statements. The program began in 2007 under then-Gov. Dave Heineman. This year, Ricketts and lawmakers boosted the amount going into the Property Tax Credit Fund by 45 percent, up to $204 million annually. Thats a big chunk of change, Gloor said. State officials sent out postcards this month to highlight the credit, which taxpayers often had overlooked in previous years. The increase meant that the owner of a property valued at $150,000 got a $141 credit for 2015, about $34 more than in the previous year. While members of the supercommittee were divided over how to approach property tax relief, legislative leaders said proposals for major income or sales tax relief face even more difficulty winning majority support. We have too much of an imbalance in taxes now, said Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids, the Education Committee chairwoman. The property taxes that are supporting schools are on the backs of too few people. But Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion said he plans to continue working on Legislative Bill 357, his proposal to cut income tax rates for the top and bottom brackets. He maintains that Nebraska could gain economically from moving the needle a little bit on income taxes. What were looking for here is an economic signal, Smith said. LB 357 did not make it out of the Revenue Committee this year. Smith said he could not predict whether it could garner any more support in 2016. Gloor said he expects there will be plenty of other tax cut proposals presented to the Revenue Committee next year. How much consideration they get will depend on the evolving budget situation. I do think there will be an effort to come up with as much money as we can for tax relief, he said. Leigh Kamasz is the new executive director of the American Red Cross chapter that serves the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN SHARE Leigh Kamasz is the new executive director of the American Red Cross chapter that serves the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON Leigh Kamasz's arrival as director of the local Red Cross chapter comes at a busy time for the organization. In the past fiscal year, the nonprofit's army of volunteers responded to more service calls than any other time. Her mission? Keep up and grow that dedicated corps. "I'll take any opportunity to work with volunteers, whether they can give a year, a month, a week or a day," she said. "They're people who are freely giving their time and energy. Our mission needs to speak directly to them." That mission, established more than 130 years ago, is to help people affected by disasters. The 46-year-old hopes she can elevate the chapter's profile in the community, to add and retain what is already the robust ranks of more than 420 people who donate their time to help. The Gig Harbor resident, who joined the group a month ago, is no stranger to working with volunteers. A past president of the Junior League of Tacoma, she most recently served as regional community development director for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. While there, she helped establish a troop within the Tacoma Rescue Mission, giving homeless girls the chance to be part of the organization. She comes to Red Cross' Pacific Avenue headquarters during a time of change. Once a part of the King County chapter, it now serves the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas exclusively. Its three full-time employees are spread thin between Bremerton and offices at the Naval hospital, Sequim and Port Townsend. All the more important, then, to have well-trained volunteers at the ready to do whatever task necessary. "People always assume you need disaster skills," she said. "It may be as simple as covering the phones." A popular misnomer is that the Red Cross only goes to major disaster sites where hurricanes or earthquakes have ravaged communities. True, they do that, she said, but much more close to home is the work they do every time there's a house fire. The Red Cross provides temporary housing, shelter and food to individuals who fall victim to such a blaze and sometimes more. In one recent case, the Red Cross provided money for mental health counseling months after an incident. "We like to think of ourselves as that second responder," she said. Kamasz plans to use her acumen in the nonprofit sector to help communicate the Red Cross' local mission. Up first will be an open house in March at their Pacific Avenue headquarters. Graeme Edgeler blogs: Ive got a simple idea. We should repeal New Zealands most racist law. Sections 30-36 of the Maori Community Development Act 1962(originally the Maori Welfare Act) are laughably offensive. Early last year there was a rash of instances of tourists having their car keys taken off them by people who had decided they were unsafe to drive. It stopped after a few instances, with police (and even the Prime Minister) warning against it. What few of the people quite rightly objecting to the mild vigilantism probably realised is that the law actually specifically provides for circumstances when people can have their car keys taken away from them. If the driver is Maori. Or if the driver is non-Maori, but is in charge of a vehicle near a meeting place, or a lawful gathering of Maori. It is also illegal to serve alcohol at a gathering of Maori. A Maori Committee can grant a licence to serve alcohol at a gathering of Maori, but only if that gathering is not for the purposes of a dance. Maori wardens are empowered to enter hotels and to order quarrelsome Maori to leave. This reads like it comes from one of those lists of ridiculous laws that are still in force, when New Zealand usually seems to be represented by a claim that its illegal to fly with a rooster in a hot air balloon (which Im pretty sure isnt true). But its worse than a ridiculous law. Its a racist law. It has no place in New Zealand. It should never have been the law. And it certainly shouldnt be law now. There are a bunch of MPs who do not currently have a bill in the members ballot. Well, heres an idea for you: propose the repeal of sections 30-36 of the Maori Community Development Act. Ive even drafted a bill for whichever MP wants to take this up. Adelaide Now reports: PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he is willing to call an early election and campaign on a policy of cleaning up the union movement, after a royal commission found it infested by louts, thugs, thieves, bullies and perjurers. In his final report, Trade Union Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon on Thursday recommended criminal charges be considered against 48 people and organisations and civil action taken in 45 other cases, but said this was just the tip of an enormous iceberg. Mr Turnbull said a federal-state police taskforce would continue to investigate referrals from the commission. The Government will also move to establish a new registered-organisations commission to regulate unions and employer groups. The commission would have similar powers to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The Government also wants the Senate to approve by the end of the month a bill to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Mr Turnbull suggested he could call an early double-dissolution election if the March deadline was not met. We are willing to fight an election on this, he said. If this is not passed, if we cannot get the passage of this legislation through the Senate, then in one form or another it will be a major issue at the next election. Daniel A. Swalec/Special to the News Sentinel JC McCann as Joseph performs Any Dream Will Do with narrator Laura Helm and members of the company of the touring production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat coming to the Tennessee Theatre. SHARE JC McCann is Joseph and Laura Helm the plays narrator in the touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat coming to the Tennessee Theatre. By Amy McRary of the Knoxville News Sentinel A touring play about a Biblical hero that's coming to the Tennessee Theatre has a strong connection to Broadway's current hit musical about an early American leader. The touring play is a new version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice hit "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The Broadway hit is "Hamilton," the musical story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, America's first treasury secretary. The connection? "Hamilton" choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler is the director and choreographer for the touring "Joseph." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" plays for three shows at the Tennessee, 604 S. Gay St. Performances are 8 p.m. Jan. 15; 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 16. Tickets, based on seating and before service charges, are $37, $67 or $77 at www.tennesseetheatre.com or 865-684-1200. The play's story has been reimagined with what actor J.C. McCann calls "a lot of modern elements." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' tells the Old Testament story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and Joseph's bondage and rise to power in Egypt. McCann plays Joseph. "I think the way that Andy has done it, with adding a lot of the modern elements, it makes it very relevant to today's audience," said McCann. "He added a lot of modern dance to the show, kind of hip hop. It gives a fun new spin to the show and makes it more relevant to a broader audience. And it makes it a ton of fun..... He blended his new ideas while staying true to the classic show. So if you loved the (1992) Donny Osmond show, you will love this, too." The play is McCann's first national touring production. The 28-year-old Wyoming native is a 2010 graduate of University of Wyoming where he got a degree in vocal performance. Before "Joseph," he'd performed in regional musicals. But just before auditioning for "Joseph," he was working in the Wyoming oil fields driving tanker trucks. Saving his money from the oil field job, he went to New York in January to audition for roles. In March, he landed the part of Joseph. The tour runs through May in the United States, then travels to Japan for three weeks. McCann, as Joseph, wears the character's signature "coat of many colors." Handstitched and heavy, "it takes a little bit of getting used to," he said. He hopes audiences see more than that dazzling coat with its 29 colors. "The thing I hope people take away is the inspiring message of hope. Joseph really hits the ups and downs," he said. "This story does a great job with keeping hope through all of that." END images of the Museum of Appalachia in Anderson County Friday, July 25, 2014. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Blount Mansion is now unofficially back open although renovation continues. In fact the mansion wont return furniture and other artifacts into its rooms until phase two of the renovation work is done. That could be at least another year. The empty main room at Blount mansion - it now has no furniture, an exposed wall and some blown up photos in it. (J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL) Most local organizations and arts groups take a break to enjoy the holidays, so we are turning our focus to East Tennessee's year-round attractions that will be open during the holidays for a visit. BLOUNT MANSION Blount Mansion is the former home of William Blount, a pioneer and politician who lived from 1749-1800. Blount was the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory. He signed the Treaty of Holston, was a signer of the United States Constitution and was one of Tennessee's first two Senators. He advocated for statehood for Tennessee and was the first U.S. Senator to be expelled from the Senate. Blount Mansion was built in 1792. It would serve as both the Blount family home and as the territorial capital. The first Tennessee State Constitution was drafted here. Blount Mansion is Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark. The house is made of lumber brought to the state from North Carolina. Blount Mansion is located at 200 West Hill Ave. in downtown Knoxville, between Gay Street and State Street. Free parking is available behind the visitor's center and museum store. Tours are held at the top of the hour beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for youth aged 6-17, free to children five and under and $6 for seniors. Group rates are available. Children aged 6-17 can gain free admission on the first Tuesday of each month if they are accompanied by an adult. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdayFriday and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. Blount Mansion is closed on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day. It is also closed for University of Tennessee home games. Call 865-525-2375, or visit www.blountmansion.org for more information. MUSEUM OF APPALACHIA The Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, was established by owner John Rice Irwin in the 1960s. Five decades later the farm's structures and artifacts pertaining to Appalachian history continues to grow. Visitors to this working farm will see 63 acres of farmland that holds more than 30 historic buildings, including a cantilever barn, leather and saddle shop, jail cells, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, school house and more. There are relics of Appalachian farm equipment on display, as well as a collection of kitchen utensils, oral histories, photographs and a folk art collection said to be one of the nation's largest. The grounds are home to goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks and other farm animals. Winter hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except for Christmas. Admission is $18 for adults with senior citizens receiving a $3 discount. Youth ages 13-18 are $10 and children ages 5-12 are $6. Children under five admitted free with parent. There is also a family rate of $42 for 2 adults and children ages 5-18. For more information call 865-494-7680. Photo by Ken Thomas Migrating Sandhill cranes feed in harvested corn and other grain fields and roost along shores of rivers, coves and marshes. Trumpeting calls announce the presence of flocks in flight. Few sounds in nature top the trumpet-like calls of Sandhill cranes when it comes to stirring a birdwatcher's heart. Crane calls are like good music. The combination of different notes triggers an enjoyable emotional response. It's exciting to hear the mix of bugling and trumpeting accompanied by rattling and croaking. Unlike loud bellowing mating calls bugled by a bull elk, the more musical and shorter crane bugles have a certain refinement to them. The enchanting crane calls delight the listeners. See also: Sandhill Crane Festival information It's no wonder cranes are considered sacred in several cultures around the world. If you've never seen, let alone heard, a Sandhill crane, the upcoming Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17, is an extraordinary opportunity to witness and celebrate a remarkable gathering of thousands of migrating Sandhill cranes. The cranes stop over every winter on and around the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, Tenn. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is the primary festival sponsor. Staff members and volunteers will be contributing their services. TWRA's Region III Wildlife Information Specialist Mime Barnes is serving as this year's coordinator for the event. "We are excited for another great year of bird-watching and sharing in this amazing weekend with vendors, educational sessions and visitors from around the nation. We're keeping our fingers crossed for good weather and a high number of birds for viewing," Barnes said. Beginning in the early 1990s, the recovering population of eastern Sandhill cranes began stopping at the Hiwassee Refuge on their way to and from wintering grounds in South Georgia and Florida. TWRA has managed the refuge for more than 60 years for waterfowl, and the cranes find a perfect combination of feeding and shallow water roosting habitat. As many as an estimated 12,000 cranes now spend the winter at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers. TWRA's Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge comprises about 6,000 acres. The Birchwood Community Center festival activities are only three miles from the wildlife-viewing site at the Refuge. The Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, found just to the side of the refuge near the Tennessee River, will feature Native American folklore specialists. They will present performances, artifacts and objects used in everyday life by Native Americans living in the Hiwassee River area. Public parking is not available at either site during the festival, but free shuttle service is available. This year marks the 26th year for the Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival, which is regarded as Tennessee's premier wildlife extravaganza. The festival is an extraordinary opportunity to witness a natural phenomenon that is truly unforgettable. I'm sure you will be enchanted by all the trumpeting cranes, which are most vocal in the morning and late in the afternoon when they are feeding and gathering to roost for the night. Freelance columnist Marcia Davis may be reached at tennwren@gmail.com or 865-518-BIRD (2473). Sandhill Crane Festival What: Sandhill crane viewing, birdwatching with guides sharing information and spotting scopes, live bird show by the American Eagle Foundation, wildlife and Native American displays, kids music appreciation program, expert speakers, children's arts and crafts activities, traditional heritage music, food, merchandise vendors and free shuttle bus service. When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan 16-17 Where: Birchwood Community Center (former school), 5623 Highway 60, Birchwood, Tenn. Directions: From Knoxville, take Interstate 75 South to Exit 25 in Cleveland. Go north on state Highway 60 to Birchwood between Cleveland and Dayton. Admission: Free Parking: $5 donation at Birchwood Community Center Free shuttle service from Birchwood Community Center to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and Cherokee Removal Memorial Park starting at 8 a.m. each day. SHARE Now the holiday shopping season has passed, the holiday gift return season is underway. State law allows retailers to set their own return policies, although the policy must be prominently posted at the point of sale, according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance's Division of Consumer Affairs. Stores may require a receipt or proof of purchase to receive a refund. Some stores also may charge a restocking fee. The Consumer Affairs Division offers the following tips to consider when making a return: n Keep the original tags and bar codes on items. You are more likely to receive a refund or the full value in store credit for packages that are unopened. n Some retailers have varied return time frames for fresh food, electronics and holiday items. Return policies may be different for clearance merchandise. n Look up return policies when buying online or from catalogs to know whether you have to pay a return shipping fee. Sometime the item can be returned to a store instead. n Bring the gift receipt when requesting a refund, exchange or store credit. n Bring your identification. Some retailers implement a rigid requirement that customers present a government-issued ID for all returns and exchanges. n Look up the store's return and exchange policy online, and then be sure to bring the item back before the period expires. Around the holidays, many major retailers offer sensible policies for returns after Dec. 25. n Check with the retailer to understand whether you can receive a refund, exchange or store credit for unwanted merchandise. For more consumer tips, visit www.tn.gov/consumer. A fire destroyed a single-wide trailer at 238 Farmers Hollow Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. SHARE A fire destroyed a single-wide trailer at 238 Farmers Hollow Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. A fire destroyed a single-wide trailer at 238 Farmers Hollow Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. By News Sentinel Staff Fire destroyed a single-wide mobile home in Oak Ridge on Saturday morning, engulfing the structure before rescue units could reach the scene, according to authorities. The Marlow Volunteer Fire Department and a Claxton Fire Department tanker were able to save a recreational vehicle near the 9:40 a.m. fire at 238 Farmers Hollow Road, according to authorities. Anderson County Emergency Medical Services and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene. No information about residents of the home has been released. More details as they develop online and in Sunday's News Sentinel. SHARE By Hugh G. Willett Loudon County Circuit Court Clerk Lisa Niles will be allowed to hire four new clerks in her office after a ruling this week by Chancellor Frank Williams that settles a dispute with County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw. Niles runs Circuit Court, Probate Court, Criminal Court, General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court. She sued in September 2014 demanding six additional deputy clerks, each at a $31,000 salary per year, and pay increases for all 17 full- and part-time employees in her office. In negotiations with county commissioners that lasted more than a year, Niles blamed staff shortages for backlogs in the court system. The total yearly cost to the county to fund her original request was about $210,000. During the trial, Niles' attorney, Zachary Tenry, called as a witness Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk Marty Cook, president of the Tennessee Court Clerks Association. Cook testified to the "impossible task of getting caught up in a work environment substantially similar" to that faced by Niles. Williams said he found Cook's testimony to be particularly persuasive and entirely consistent with Niles' testimony. The chancellor ruled Niles can hire one clerk at a salary of $32,000 per year and three deputy clerks at $25,000 per year. The actual starting salary of the clerks may be less if Niles chooses to make graduated increases based on performance, Williams said. Clerks already working in the office will be retroactively given 2 percent raises all county employees have received over the past two budget cycles. The additional yearly cost to the county has been estimated at $168,000. Williams also decided to put the burden of legal expenses, not yet fully calculated, on the county. Previous estimates of the combined legal costs have reached the six-figure range. Neither Niles nor her attorney could be reached for comment. Bradshaw said the ruling, which could be appealed by either side, was in line with his expectations. "I think Chancellor Williams was fair and very thorough," he said. The county is now awaiting the attorneys for both sides to submit paperwork to the chancellor, he said. Once approved it will go before county commissioners, who must approve a salary agreement with Niles. "I'm ready to get it behind us and move forward," Bradshaw said. County Commissioner Van Shaver said he wished the county had not gone into litigation to settle the issue. The commission had already agreed to provide two new clerks and had seriously considered providing a total of four new clerks. "She could have gotten pretty much the same thing without dragging the taxpayers to court and wasting tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees," Shaver said. Shaver said he was glad the judge stopped short of providing Niles with her full request, including raises for all the clerks in her department. "I am hopeful the county will be able to absorb the additional cost caused by Ms. Niles without a property tax increase," he said. "We'll just have to see how the numbers all shake out." SHARE The state of the union in regard to volunteering, which typically rises during the holidays, is not strong. In September 2004, nearly 29 percent of adults volunteered, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In September 2014, just over 25 percent did so. Most of us chase our own bliss instead of volunteering to bless others. The BLS began tracking volunteering only in 2002, but historical research indicates that the decade-long decline is only a continuation of a century-long trend. In September 1914, as great armies clashed in Europe, "little platoons" in the U.S. continued to persevere. They were continuing what Alexis de Tocqueville had called the biggest difference between the old world and the new: In America, people formed religious and civic associations in order to work together for public benefit, instead of growing government to serve this purpose. The decline began 85 years ago as the Depression cut into the time and money available for associations, just as needs grew. Instead of bulwarking volunteer groups, government offered a new deal: Pay your taxes to hire professionals, then stay home. Americans, forced to pay others for social services, became less likely to volunteer themselves. Today, those who take a second job to pay taxes have little time for volunteering. The 2014 BLS numbers show that women volunteer at a rate 29 percent higher than men, but when more mothers move from part-time to full-time employment, volunteering declines. Married people volunteer 49 percent more than the never-married, so as the latter category grows, volunteering declines. Those with children younger than 18 volunteer 37 percent more than those without, so reduced volunteering accompanies childlessness. Furthermore, the employed are more likely to volunteer than those not looking for work, so recent increases in the number of non-workers would seem to correlate with non-volunteering. Religious organizations are usually the most frequent recipients of volunteer hours, but if religious participation is declining, it is no surprise that volunteering also declines. And yet, what goes down can go up. In 2002 and 2003, as 9/11 made Americans look beyond themselves and as some leaders urged "compassionate conservatism," the percentage of adults who volunteered jumped by 5 percent. That increase held for two years before the long decline began again. Furthermore, while the one-fourth of Americans who volunteer do so on the average of one hour per week, extreme volunteers fill out some nooks and crannies. For example, retired Christians known as SOWERS, short for Servants On Wheels Ever Ready, drive their RVs around the country and volunteer for a month at a time at a variety of ministries, putting in three to six hours per day as carpenters, plumbers, tutors and painters. In the words of the organization's website, "there are opportunities for anyone of reasonably good health to contribute." Such exceptional endeavors catch the attention of contemporary observers surveying America's social landscape. But the distinctive character of America's volunteer effort that de Tocqueville witnessed almost two centuries ago is much more difficult to discern today. SHARE Last March, PublicSchoolOptions.org came to Tennessee and joined more than 1,300 families in their fight to protect the Tennessee Virtual Academy from an unfair closure by bureaucrats in the state Department of Education. The school had been targeted due to its scores from the state's controversial and confusing standardized tests. We helped families file a lawsuit to keep their school open, and the Davidson County Chancery Court ruled in the families' favor. The ruling was a major victory for TNVA, families and children. But it was also a major victory for every school district in the state that has suffered in an environment where good teaching is trumped by a test that no one seems to understand. The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System, or TVAAS, doesn't make sense for any district. It gave Bearden High School its highest rating one year and its lowest the next. Districts simply cannot change that much in a year. It also can't measure the efforts of students. TNVA has made remarkable progress that simply can't be measured by a test. Making matters worse, TVAAS can be used for political reasons. TNVA was the only school targeted for closure, despite more than 100 other public schools across Tennessee demonstrating the exact same three-year test average. It's time for Tennessee to close the book on TVAAS and look for real-world measurements to gauge the success of its public schools. Tennessee voters agree. PublicSchoolOptions.org sponsored a poll earlier this year and surveyed registered voters about their support for reforming public schools. The results speak for themselves: n 70 percent of voters believe there needs to be reform of the education system in Tennessee. n 73 percent believe it is more important to judge success and have a system that does so based on an individual student's success as opposed to the entire school population's success. n 83 percent don't feel TVAAS scores alone should be used to judge whether a school should be closed or not. n 79 percent don't feel that the score a school receives from the state is an accurate measure of an individual student's success in that school. n 78 percent don't feel a school should be closed based solely on the results of that school's statewide testing scores of the entire student population. In a telling message to legislators, 80 percent of all voters would vote against a legislator who voted to close a school based solely on statewide test scores. TNVA found the state test didn't account for circumstances that can influence scores and unfairly skew against special-needs and low-income families. For example, 15 percent of TNVA students receive special education services 7 percent higher than the state average and 74 percent of its families qualify for free/reduced lunches 14 percent higher than the state average. This is the legacy of TVAAS: Great schools can suddenly become the state's worst schools in one year. A virtual school that provides a lifeline to children who couldn't attend other schools is the only school targeted for closure despite having the same test scores of a hundred other public schools. By any measurement, TVAAS has earned an F. And it's time to close the book. 10:00 a.m.January 2, 2016 Ohio man indicted for soliciting the murder of members of the U.S. Military WASHINGTON A six-count indictment has been filed charging an Akron, Ohio man for soliciting the murder of members of the U.S. military. Terrence J. McNeil, 25, was indicted on three counts of solicitation of a crime of violence and three counts of threatening military personnel. He was arrested on Nov. 12, 2015, on federal charges that he solicited the murder of members of the U.S. military. According to the indictment, Terrence McNeil solicited the murder of members of our military by disseminating ISILs violent rhetoric, circulating detailed U.S. military personnel information and explicitly calling for the killing of American service members in their homes and communities, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin. ISIL and its followers continue to use social media in an attempt to incite violence around the world, including in the United States. The National Security Divisions highest priority is counterterrorism and we will use all of our tools to disrupt threats and acts of violence against our military members and their families. We owe it to our servicemen and women to protect their safety at home after they fought abroad to protect our freedom, said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio. This defendant is charged with urging harm to our men and women in uniform and will now answer for those threats. While we aggressively defend First Amendment rights, the individual arrested went far beyond free speech by reposting names and addresses of 100 U.S. service members, all with the intent to have them killed, said Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBIs Cleveland Division. We will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop those who wish to support these despicable acts. According to the indictment: McNeil maintained social media accounts on several social media websites, including Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. He repeatedly professed his support on social media for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. On or about Sept. 24, 2015, using a Tumblr account, McNeil reblogged a file with the banner Islamic State Hacking Division, followed by Target: United States Military and Leak: Addresses of 100 U.S. Military Personnel. The file type is a .gif file, which allows multiple still images to be looped in one file, with a timed delay between each image. The text of the first file reads O Brothers in America, know that the jihad against the crusaders is not limited to the lands of the Khilafah, it is a world-wide jihad and their war is not just a war against the Islamic State, it is a war against IslamKnow that it is wajib (translated to necessary) for you to kill these kuffar! and now we have made it easy for you by giving you addresses, all you need to do is take the final step, so what are you waiting for? Kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their streets thinking that they are safe The file then loops several dozen photographs, purportedly of U.S. military personnel, along with their respective name, address and military branch. The final image looped is a picture of a handgun and a knife with text that reads and kill them wherever you find them On Oct. 3, 2015, McNeil posted on his Twitter account: ReleasedAddress of the U.S. Navy Seal [R.O] who killed Sheikh Osama Bin Laden R.A.#GoForth #RunRobertRun. The defendant included in his post an embedded link that when clicked revealed the purported address of R.O. and a link to R.O.s purported photograph. The link further stated that R.O. is a mummys boy who has been trying to hide yet still lives with his fatherand motherIn between going around America to conferences boasting at how his claim to fame is killing Sheikh Osama Bin Laden R.A. I am posting his address to brothers & to Al Qaeda in the U.S. as a number one target. On Oct. 3, 2015, McNeil posted the content regarding R.O. and his address and photograph from the embedded link described above onto his Tumblr page. McNeil added the statement, dont let this kafir sleep peacefully, to his Tumblr post. If convicted, a defendants sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants prior criminal history, if any, the defendants role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. Each solicitation count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and each threat count carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. It is the governments burden to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and a defendant is presumed innocent until that time. The case is being investigated by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force in Cleveland. This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Ohio and the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. Source: U.S. Department of Justice Published January 2, 2016 Seoul Fashion Week presents trendy and wearable designs By Kim Jae-heun Starting with designer Bakangchi's runway show and Jin Te-ok's fashion exhibition last Friday, 2016 Spring/Summer (S/S) Hera Seoul Fashion Week hosted 39 top-designer collections and 20 young rising designer shows for six days that ended Wednesday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul. Seoul Fashion Week appointed Jung Ku-ho, the former creative director of Korea's largest fashion powerhouse, Samsung Cheil, as executive director in May to draw global attention to the Korean fashion event. Jung invited over 44,000 media personalities and some of the best-known names in the fashion industry worldwide, including International Vogue Editor Suzy Menkes, fashion critic Diane Pernet and established British fashion blogger Susanna Lau, also known as Susie Bubble, to promote the Seoul fashion event. He also brought a thousand buyers from the world's best luxury malls like Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges, Bergdorf and 10 Corso Como Shanghai. Lucky Chouette collection / Courtesy of Hera Seoul Fashion Week Foreign buyers see future trends Many of the fashion moguls, who visited Seoul Fashion Week for the first time, said fashion here was mostly trendy and wearable, just as expected. "It's my first experience with Seoul Fashion Week," Lau said during an interview with The Korea Times on Monday. "I think what I am finding is that it's primarily good towards the contemporary market, so that the clothes are not necessarily luxury luxurious like we have in Paris or Milan. The spirit is much younger, energy is really great and I felt like it's a very different kind of fashion week. It's definitely where (you'd) find wearability in clothes, and there are no showpieces." Eric Jennings, vice president of Saks Fifth Avenue, said he expects to see leading trends, sharp price points and future trends in Seoul Fashion Week. Jennings agreed that designs with traditional Korean beauty are advantageous in that they appeal to Westerners more than modern and chic styles by Korean designers. But a womenswear buyer from Net-A-Porter, Linda Ayepe, said she did not see a big difference in the designs in terms of sensibility at Seoul Fashion Week and some of the clothes' quality was better than that of collections in Paris, at a lower price. Low Classic collection / Courtesy of Hera Seoul Fashion Week However, when the buyers were asked if they planned on making orders, Jennings said the buying period for the S/S menswear collection ended in August (It starts in June, according to Jennings, and Seoul Fashion Week starts in mid-Oct.). But he might set aside some of his budget next season, if he likes this season's show, and return. Takahiro Iizumi, the men's buying manager of 10 Corso Como Shanghai, said his budget is set mainly for American and European brands and when he visits Seoul in October after fashion weeks in New York, Paris, Milan and London, he barely has any money left for Korean brands. However, if any of them can leave him or other foreign buyers with a strong impression of their work, the buyers agreed they can always come back and place orders the following season. Ayepe picked Low Classic and Nohke as her favorite brands and Iizumi saw Pushbutton as the next leading Korean brand. Lau found Munsoo Kwon impressive in menswear and some elements of Pushbutton interesting in womenswear. Jung to popularize fashion like K-pop Jung gave himself 80 out of 100 for his first fashion week as executive director, and said Seoul Fashion Week is ready to become a global fashion week. Still, Jung needs to analyze all the data and reflect on feedback from fashion critics. "The foreign press said Seoul Fashion Week was the best in Asia," Jung said during an interview with The Korea Times on Wednesday. "The hip contemporary fashion from the street may look like that of foreign culture but they can barely be seen overseas. K-pop had strong influence on the fashion event's trendy designs, while some designers showed a strong taste of Korean traditional beauty. We need to bring these together to make a unique color for Seoul Fashion Week." Jung has no idea about orders made during buyers' visits to the designers' showrooms, which took place after the collection shows two to three times a day. "We need to compile the statistics," Jung said. "We encouraged buyers to make orders while visiting the designers' showrooms but the numbers are still unknown." By Choi Sung-jin North Korea's construction of tunnels at its nuclear site indicates that Pyongyang has the intention to conduct not just the fourth but fifth and even sixth nuclear tests, said a local think tank Saturday. "As threats to conduct nuclear and missile tests themselves have considerable impact on the regional balance of power, the North is expected to remain ready and seek appropriate timing for the tests while maintaining ambiguity about its ultimate intentions," said the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in its report about national security. The state-run think tank was cautious about the North's military provocations, however. "North Korea is likely to focus on taking the initiative in inter-Korean relationships while continuing to use military threats as negotiating tools," the report said. "Pyongyang will likely take caution in provocations against South Korea from a more pragmatic point of view." With respect to the South's preparations, KIDA said, in pushing for the creation of a "kill chain" a preemptive strike for self-defense the government will have to check and prepare for the possibilities of legal, diplomatic and technological conflicts with the United States, while analyzing the role and ability of the South Korean military in making the correct judgment about needs. "To effectively prepare for various crises related to nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, it is necessary for Seoul to come to a consensus with Washington through various channels in regard to the allies' joint goals, means and priorities," the report said. The think tank also expects the contest of strength between the U.S. and China will progress to worrisome levels, not only in Southeast Asian seas but on the Korean Peninsula as well. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has focused on weakening the undue influence of the military to firm up his grip on power over the past four years, is expected to placate disgruntled generals this year. "That there were no major purges of military or other officials last year indicates Kim's management of power balance has entered into a stable stage," the report said. In his New Year address, meanwhile, Kim did not directly mention the North's nuclear programs, focusing instead on the need for economic growth, which analysts say reflects the North Korean leader's short-term priority in the lead up to the Seventh Congress of the Workers' Party, the first in 36 years. Kim made clear his intention to "talk with anyone who wants peace and unification," and called for Seoul to respect inter-Korean agreements, including the one made last August, passing the buck to the South for stalling follow-up talks. In response, a Seoul government official reiterated its principles, saying, "Our position is clear in that we will keep the door open for inter-Korean dialogue and move toward peaceful unification and open the era of the Korean Peninsula." Shortly after a 2012 nuclear deal with Pyongyang, the United States had asked North Korea's chief nuclear envoy to meet bilaterally with his South Korean counterpart, according to a newly released email of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clifford Hart, then U.S. special envoy for six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, made the request during a phone call with North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Han Song-ryol, days after the two sides reached a food aid-for-denuclearization steps agreement. Notifying Han of the U.S. decision to grant a visa for Pyongyang's nuclear envoy and Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho's visit to New York, Hart requested that Ri meet with Seoul's chief nuclear envoy Lim Sung-nam set to attend the same conference as Ri, according to the email. "I told Han that the U.S. government's decision to approve a visa for Ri's visit was a concrete demonstration of Washington's intent to take steps to advance the relationship now that there was agreement on the denuclearization pre-steps," Hart said in a March 4 email to Glyn Davies, special representative for North Korea policy. Hart also told Han that should Pyongyang's Ri and Seoul's Lim meet and if the atmosphere in U.S.-North Korea relations remained positive, it was likely that the U.S. government would consider positively sending him and National Security Council Korea director Sydney Seiler to New York for a subsequent meeting with Ri. Han promised to convey the message to Pyongyang immediately, according to the email. The U.S. request was seen as part of U.S. efforts to put denuclearization pressure on Pyongyang jointly with South Korea. But the proposed meeting between Ri and Lim did not happen after all, a decision seen as reflecting Pyongyang's intention to sideline Seoul and deal directly with the U.S. Under the Feb. 29, 2012, deal, also known as the "Leap Day" agreement, the U.S. promised to provide 240,000 tons of food aid in exchange for the North taking a series of denuclearization "pre-steps," such as a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests. But the deal unraveled just weeks later as the North flouted it with a long-range rocket launch. The six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean standoff have been stalled since late 2008. North Korea demands the unconditional resumption of negotiations, while the U.S. says that Pyongyang must first take concrete steps demonstrating its denuclearization commitments. (Yonhap) A major overhaul of China's armed forces appears to have affected one of seven regionalized commands in charge of the Korean Peninsula, according to Chinese and Hong Kong media reports on Saturday. The Chinese Shenyang Military Area Command, which is close to North Korea, is one of the seven battle-zone commands and believed to be tasked with coping with contingency plans on the Korean Peninsula. Citing a "source familiar with the matter," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday that the seven regionalized commands will be replaced by five new commands -- North, South, East, West and Central. The move is "to modernize and increase the efficiency and combat readiness of the People's Liberation Army," the report said. Chinese President Xi Jinping "has ordered the new military zones to be operational by January 1," the report said, adding that Xi has chosen four out of the five commanders. Some Chinese media reports have suggested that the Shenyang Military Area Command might have been replaced by the new command in charge of China's northeastern region. Xi inaugurated three new military units, including a missile force, on Thursday, according to China's state-run media report. Earlier this week, China's defense ministry confirmed that it is building a second aircraft carrier amid Beijing's increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea. China is rapidly building up its naval hardware at a time when tensions mount over its land reclamation works in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea, worsening relations with neighbors such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Beijing is also in a bitter dispute with Tokyo over islets in the East China Sea. (Yonhap) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the opening ceremony of a science technology complex on the first day of the new year, the North's state media said Saturday. The "Sci-Tech Complex" opened Friday to help spread the latest science and technology developed by the North's ruling Workers' Party, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "Going round the interior of the complex, (Kim) said this is a great center for all-people study and one for disseminating latest science and technology in which the party's plan has been materialized," the KNCA said in an English dispatch, monitored in Seoul. "He said meaningful words that the first gate to the New Year to greet the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea has been opened with science." The party plans to hold its first congress in more than three decades in May, during which Kim is widely expected to unveil new lines of policies and conduct a major reshuffle. Kim, who enters his fifth year in power this year, could also seek to placate the military by reinstating demoted officials, according to a report by the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul. The communist country appears determined to carry out additional nuclear tests as it continues to build tunnels at its nuclear test site, the report said. "The threat of a nuclear or missile test currently has impact in itself, so it appears that (North Korea) will prepare for a nuclear or missile test and watch for the opportune moment while maintaining ambiguity," it said. (Yonhap) President Park Geun-hye pledged Thursday to accomplish structural reforms in four major sectors of the society to revive the economy and create more jobs next year. "(The government) will firmly root the creative economy and cause the culture to flourish, eventually to revitalize our economy and to create more jobs," Park said in a New Year's video message uploaded on YouTube and posted on her Facebook page. The government has pushed ahead with structural reforms in four major sectors, including the labor market, and the creative economy initiative as a key growth strategy to boost the lagging economy and provide more jobs for the youth. The jobless rate among young people between 15 and 29 stood at 8.1 percent in November, much higher than the 3.1 percent unemployment rate for the country as a whole. Park further noted that she will "complete the four reforms to lay the ground work for our future growth in the next 30 years." Park has pushed ahead creating more jobs to bolster her reform drive centered on the labor, public, finance and education sectors. She has explored many avenues, which range from emotional public appeals and direct warnings to lawmakers, to try to push the National Assembly to approve a set of bills meant to revitalize Asia's fourth-largest economy. "Firm national security is the most fundamental foundation of our nation's growth," Park said. Park said she will sternly deal with North Korea's provocations while preparing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the same time. The Korean Peninsula was divided into the capitalistic South and communist North after its liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Park has made repeated pitches for unification, calling it a "bonanza" for South Korea, as well as a blessing for neighboring countries. (Yonhap) PRESS RELEASE U.S. Junk Debt Collapse Keeps Spreading, Blame it on China Debunked Dec. 30, 2015 (EIRNS)As the blowout of high-yield or "junk" debt related to commodities continues in the U.S. credit markets, at least three and perhaps a half-dozen more hedge fund failures were reported Dec. 29. Seneca Capital Resources, a 20-year-old fund at the center of a well-known annual event called the Sohn Investment Conference, announced closing, as did LionEye Capital Management and Blue Crest Capital Management (both after large losses). Even the huge Fortress Investment Group LLC and BlackRock Inc. are closing down some of their commodity debt-related funds, according to Bloomberg. Hedge fund failures are frequent, but the 694 failures from January-September 2015 were already double the 2014 number in the same period. There has clearly been a large acceleration in the crash since September. The Market Realist, an oil industry publication, reported Dec. 19: "The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has reported that oil companies bankruptcies have reached the level met during the 2008-09 recession. Nine oil and gas companies with debt more than $2 billion [each] have filed for bankruptcy in [4th quarter 2015].... Many oil and gas companies are on the verge of filing more bankruptcy cases. In 2015, Samson Resources, Sabine Oil & Gas, and Quicksilver Resources were the largest oil production bankruptcy cases, with debts of $4.3 billion, $2.9 billion, and $2.1 billion, respectively. This is a huge loss to creditors." Market Realist estimates a direct loss of 70,000 jobs (including indirect losses, some 150,000 layoffs) in 2015 in just this part of the oil/gas industry, which does not include oilfield service and transport companies and does not include the big oil majors. The Dallas Fed also reported, in its December manufacturing survey, the most disastrous industrial contraction in 12 straight months of contraction in Texas. Its December index was at -20. In another telltale development, Bloomberg Business on Dec. 30 blew up the Obama Administrations demand for 247% tariffs on Chinese steel products. The steel industrys dramatic slump in 2015 has been due to the oil collapse, not China imports, according to... the U.S. Census Bureau. Census reported that foreign steel coming into the United States has dropped 36% from 2014 levels, with new import taxes on products from six countries. "Yet U.S. mills have idled the most capacity since the financial crisis, operating at just 61% in the week ending Dec. 21." The reason: "Faltering demand for steel pipes and drill bits used in the energy industry. Previously, sales of high-margin products to oil and gas companies had helped shield U.S. mills from sluggish growth in construction and other industries." PRESS RELEASE There Are No Rules in Bank Bail-In; Only the Principle of Theft Dec. 31, 2015 (EIRNS)In yet another warning of the coming chaotic looting of the "bank bail-ins," posted on several sites yesterday, economic blogger Michael Snyder says, "Now the exact same principles that were used in Cyprus are going to apply to all of Europe. And with the entire global financial system teetering on the brink of chaos, that is not good news for those that have money stashed in shaky European banks." The bail-in "principle" is: theft by expropriation of bondholders and depositors, to provide "recapitalization" to an insolvent bank which should, instead, be shut down. Beyond that lawless "principle," there are in fact no "bail-in rules" that resolution authorities in London, Brussels, and Washington are bound to follow. Various rules have been thrown out the window in each bail-in crisis, from Cyprus, to Spains Bankia, to Italy and Portugal. One institutional investor expropriated in Portugals Novo Banco bail-in yesterday protested, "In the event of bail-in the Central Bank claims the right to change all the rules." The Portuguese Central Bank was being directed by the European Central Bank to, in this case, ignore the rule of so-called "equal treatment" for unsecured creditors. PRESS RELEASE Yemen Club for Coordinating with BRICS Founded Dec. 31, 2015 (EIRNS)The Yemeni Club for Coordinating with the BRICS was successfully launched today in the headquarters of the Yemeni Industry and Trade Ministry in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, in spite of the Anglo-Saudi-American bombardment and terrorist war against that nation. The official registration of the club will take place early in the new year 2016. This initiative is led by Fouad Al-Ghaffari, a former Human Rights Ministry official and a young activist heading Gedar Human Rights NGO. Al-Ghaffari was inspired to create the club after attending the press conference held by Schiller Institute Chairwoman Helga-Zepp LaRouche in Washington in November 2014, at which she released the EIR special report, The New Silk Road Becomes the World Land-Bridge. Al-Ghaffaris belief in the necessity of a new world economic and political order was further strengthened when Saudi Arabia, backed by Britain and the United States, launched the worst imaginable terror bombing campaign against Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries, which posed no threat to anyone. Al-Ghaffari realized that the UN and other human rights organizations were completely owned by Anglo-Saudi-American imperial interests, as they did nothing to stop or even condemn the aggression against Yemen. Al-Ghaffari started mobilizing forces inside Yemen to join the BRICS new world order of sovereign nations and physical economic development. His campaign was further enhanced by President Putins decisive intervention in Syria in September 2015. Within a mere two weeks since Al-Ghaffari announced the initiative on social media, he has received 100 requests to join the club. These came from young economists, activists, former government officials, and business people. Many political groups both inside and outside the country have welcomed the idea. It is formed on the basis of a patriotic and independent movement and not in favor for one party or the other. The club is generally opposed to the Anglo-Saudi aggression, and strongly in favor of Yemens independence and sovereignty. The idea spread quickly because it is innovative in its program: Joining the BRICS group or coordinating with its nations to establish a new economic order based on "physical economy" instead of the monetarism of the dying trans-Atlantic system. Designing a National Reconstruction and Development Bank for Yemen on Hamiltonian credit principles. Joining the New Silk Road and building Yemens infrastructure, and its first ever railway, to adapt to it. These will be the main principles and the program of the club. The members will have to become acquainted with Lyndon LaRouches concept of Physical Economy, study the EIR Special Report on the New Silk Road, and promote its Arabic translation whenever it is completed. The club has issued a petition to join the BRICS System, and is contacting BRICS ambassadors. It wants to send representatives to the next BRICS Young Scientists conference. All this while the country is being attacked day and night, which shows the potential of the ideas. Diplomats from the BRICS nations were invited to todays launch, and Russia Today attended the meeting to report on it. PRESS RELEASE Putin Approves New National Security Strategy Jan. 1, 2016 (EIRNS)Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving Russias new national security strategy yesterday, replacing one adopted in 2009. So far, only excerpts of the document have been made available on English-language Russian news sites, including Tass and Sputnik. An official translation of the complete text is not yet known to be available, so more of the documents content is likely to come to light in the coming days. According to an extensive report in Tass, the document seeks cooperation with the U.S. and NATO, but at the same time recognizes the present behavior of the U.S. and NATO as a security threat to Russia. The long-term national interests are: "consolidating Russian Federations status as one of the leading world powers, whose actions are aimed at ensuring strategic stability and mutually beneficial partnerships in the context of a multi-polar world," the document states. When it comes to national priorities, it emphasizes strengthening the countrys defenses; protecting its constitutional system, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; strengthening the national consensus; and raising the quality of life. The document allows for military force to be used only if non-violent approaches prove ineffective. "Strategic deterrence and military conflict prevention is accomplished through the preservation of the strategic deterrent potential at a sufficient level, and through ensuring the specified level of combat readiness in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other forces and military formations," the Strategy notes. "Russias strengthening is occurring against the background of new threats to national security which have a complex and interdependent nature. Russian Federations independent internal and foreign policy is causing counter-actions by the U.S. and its allies, which are seeking to preserve their dominance in global affairs," the document states. Nevertheless, "the Russian Federation is in favor of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with European countries and the EU, and of harmonizing the integration projects in Europe and in the post-Soviet space, forming an open collective security system based on a clear legal and treaty framework and covering the Euro-Atlantic region," the document states. "The Russian Federation is interested in building a fully-fledged partnership with the United States of America on the basis of common interests, including economic, with an eye on the Russian-U.S. relations key influence on the international situation as a whole." However, "Expanding the force potential of NATO and endowing it with global functions which are implemented in violation of international law norms; the blocs military activation; its continued expansion; the approach of its military infrastructure to Russian borders; all create a threat to national security." Nonetheless, "The Russian Federation is ready to develop its relationship with NATO on the basis of equality in order to strengthen the overall security in the Euro-Atlantic region." The Strategy notes that the determining factor in the relationship with NATO is "the unacceptability to Russia of the growing military activity by the alliance and the approach of its military infrastructure to Russias borders." Aside from NATO, the other major security threat to Russia is the policy of "color revolutions." The most important threats to Russias state and societal security are PRESS RELEASE The White House Has Backed Off for Now on New Iran Sanctions Jan. 1, 2016 (EIRNS)The Obama Administration has apparently had second thoughts about imposing new, unilateral sanctions on Iran, in response to Irans missile test this Fall. According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House sent a notice to Congress on Wednesday, Dec. 30, that it would be announcing the new sanctions at 10:30 A.M. Then another email was sent at 11:12 saying the announcement had been delayed "for a few hours." The final e-mail sent at 10 p.m. said the White House is "considering various aspects related to additional [sanctions] designations, as well as evolving diplomatic work ... and as such we will not be announcing any additional designations today." As would be expected, the leading "critics," such as Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) reacted immediately, attacking the Administration. State Department spokesman John Kirby said that missile-related sanctions were outside the nuclear agreement, and are unrelated to threats made by Irans saying that in response to new sanctions, Iran was upgrading its missile program. Yesterday, in response to the possibility of new sanctions, President Hassan Rouhani tweeted: M.I.A.'s single, Borders, isnt the official theme song for journalist Atossa Araxia Abrahamians nonfiction debut, The Cosmopolites (Columbia Global Reports: 162 pp., $12.99 paper), but we can pretend it is. In the first verse, M.I.A. asks, Borders whats up with that? The Cosmopolites is one answer. Both the book and the song are reactions to the movement of populations, the increasingly permeable divisions among states. This condition bridges classes and countries: Its not just refugees trying desperately to reach Europe but international elites leveraging the power of passports for personal ends. For the wealthy depicted in this brief book, borders can be erased with money, which buys citizenship. For the disenfranchised, those same commercial citizenships can be used against them, to turn them away from one country and toward another. The Cosmopolites documents in detail one of the stranger aspects of a world that cannot decide what a nation or a native is. Advertisement We recently spoke by phone; the following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What does this book tell us about borders and citizenship in the 21st century? The Cosmopolites looks at the relatively new phenomenon of buying and selling citizenship. This can be shocking to a people who think of their country as being somehow meaningful or integral to their identity as individuals, as citizens. It turns out that theres a big market for buying and selling of citizenship; there are two tiers within this market. The top tier involves mostly small, poor countries selling citizenship with full rights and privileges to wealthy people who have a couple hundred thousand on hand to buy a passport of convenience. Very rich people, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, can obtain a second or third citizenship, say, in a Caribbean country or an EU country. They use that to save on taxes, to be more mobile, to send their kids to study abroad. This is all clean and above board. Were corporations looking for tax shelters the first way this kind of work-around happened? Yes, weve been doing this for a long time; this is just the next step. For the very wealthy, citizenship has become a convenience and not a commitment. In less glamorous news, in the Gulf States, in the Middle East, the Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia these countries all have stateless people living within their borders. These people are stateless for different reasons. Some moved into states illegally and through generations became stateless because they could no longer show links to any other state. But there are many people who were born in a country, whose grandparents were even born there but have been denied the right to become a citizen for a bunch of reasons, mostly political ones. Theres racial discrimination, religious discrimination, and a real economic concern that the more citizens these states have, the more benefits they have to disperse. One way to work around this, given the existence of a market for citizenship, is that countries are buying foreign citizenship for their stateless people. Which is what happened with the population in the Emirates. In 2006, the ruler of the Emirates made public statements to the effect of We want to solve the bidoon problem. We want to make sure people get documented, and we dont want anyone to be stateless. Bidoon is the Arabic world for without people who have no nationality or citizenship, which also means they dont have the right to travel abroad. They are at once not recognized by the state theyve always lived in and cannot leave it because they cant cross borders without a passport. One of the ways the Emirates started thinking about solving the problem was to find the bidoon foreign citizenships. Not every country is giving citizenship to a bunch of stateless people theyve never met, but what the book gets into is that thanks to one intermediary, this middle man, some of the bidoon in the United Arab Emirates obtained Comoro Islands citizenship. The Comoro Islands are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about 200 miles east of Africa, not far from Madagascar. Its one of the most forgotten places on Earth. I traveled there its beautiful but anarchic: There isnt much in the way of infrastructure or government. In 2007, a Syrian French businessman named Bashar Kiwan went to the islands with his team. They proposed to the government that they could sell passports to the Emirates in exchange for a lot of money that would then go toward infrastructure and development. The Comoros were so broke that they decided to go ahead with this plan. It is unclear how many people have these passports, but some say up to 100,000 stateless people are now Comoro Island citizens despite never having been there. Whats the most dystopian version of citizenship dissolving into capital? I mean, how many people would even fit on these islands if all the so-called citizens showed up? Not many. The islands dont have the infrastructure. I think what this reveals is that for all of our talk of a globalized world and free trade and borderless life, borders do very much exist for poor and middle-class people. For the rich, borders exist less and less now because you can pay money to effectively flatten them. Capital can flow freely from one part of the world to another, but humans cant necessarily do that unless theyre the ones who control capital and have a lot of money to buy their way into the remote and invisible corners of the world. sfj@latimes.com You may not have unwrapped a robot on Christmas, but your new year will be filled with artificial intelligence. Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other technology companies, large and small, are making rapid advancements with virtual personal assistants that can solve problems and even complete tasks. Were going to start to see more personal assistants (in the new year), and the ones that are already online will get more useful, said Brian Blau, an analyst at Gartner. Advertisement The assistants, sometimes referred to as chatbots, represent noteworthy advancements to computer programs that simulate conversations. Chatbots are not new think Apples Siri or Microsofts Cortana. But in 2016, youll encounter different, smarter varieties of chatbots, some appearing in your favorite social media applications. Chatbots are designed to answer questions, to perform searches, to interact with you in a very simple form, such as jokes or weather, said Brian Solis, principal analyst with Altimeter Group. Ultimately, they should be able to anticipate your needs and help you shop. These robot helpers are also expected to assume more human-like qualities in 2016, exchanging messages in a conversational style rather than a computers mechanical responses. The human side of chatbots will be most apparent in mobile messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger, where the social network has already begun perfecting its own virtual assistant called M. M, first released to a small number of Messenger users in August, can strike up a conversation or crack a joke but also book travel, make purchases or wait on hold with the cable company when youre not in the mood. Powered by both artificial intelligence and actual humans (who help train the digital robots), M is the digital equivalent of a secretary or hotel concierge. The persona was originally code-named Moneypenny after the fictional character in James Bond films. Google is also working to add question-and-answer computer programs inside a messaging app, the Wall Street Journal reported last month. Google is likely motivated by a desire to gain ground in the mobile messaging realm, where rivals such as Facebook are far more dominant. The company also has a financial interest to remain at the forefront of Internet search, a behavior that, on smartphones, has migrated away from the traditional search engine. Mobile messaging apps, meanwhile, are on the fast track to a billion users, growing so fast that theyre overshadowing social networking as a favorite smartphone activity with youngsters. If you look at what the youngest tech generation is doing ... its more about Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger than it is with pure-play social networking, Blau said. That is where the future is. Forty-nine percent of smartphone owners ages 18 to 29 use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Kik or iMessage, according to a Pew Research Center report published in August. The activity appeals to older generations as well. Some 37% of smartphone owners age 30 to 49, and 24% of those ages 50 and older use mobile messaging apps, Pew found. Facebook Messenger is used by more than 700 million people each month. WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, has more than 900 million monthly users. As audiences grow, American companies are taking inspiration from hit Asian messaging services, where human-like chatbots such as Microsofts Xiaoice (meaning little Bing) have already proved popular. The American variety of artificial intelligence and automated assistance currently centers around shopping for good reason. Thats where the money is. Take the iPhone apps Mona and Mezi, for instance, which are marketed as personal shopping assistants. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Powered entirely by artificial intelligence and built by former Amazon employees, Mona is meant to provide a concierge-like experience for consumers looking for top-notch recommendations on what to buy. The 1-year-old start-up is programmed to appeal to 18-to-35-year-old women who like to shop online, enjoy finding discounts on high-end fashion and appreciate getting feedback from friends. She sifts through email receipts and interactions with the app to make educated bets on what you want to purchase. Mona will show you five items, and you will be able to say, Mona, I like the first one but can you show me that in a different color?, said Orkun Atik, co-founder and chief executive of the Seattle-based start-up. And we want to give her a personality because we believe that we can advance her to a level where youre talking to a person. Mona may sound like a niche app, but a robot that scours the Web to help you find, and buy, exactly what you want could serve as a replacement for Google. Atik believes in five years people will interact with smart, artificial-intelligence-based personal assistants in lieu of search engines. The recently launched app Mezi is also a type of search-engine replacement. The app acts as an electronic travel agent and product expert. Like Facebook, Mezi relies, in part, on humans to converse with shoppers. The company employs people it considers subject-matter experts so customers get the best recommendations possible. Artificial intelligence is used behind the scenes to route conversations, identify message intent and assist the assistants. Currently, 25% of Mezis messages are machine-made, CEO Swapnil Shinde said, but the San Francisco start-up believes it can perfect the system to handle 80% of messages with chatbots. Its a necessary progression as machine labor is far more economical than the human equivalent. The constraints of messaging apps make them ideal breeding grounds for bots still in their intellectual infancy. Plus, the medium is suited for concierge-like treatment, which more of us, particularly younger folks, are beginning to expect from our apps. Philosophically, it is how we, as consumers, have been conditioned, Solis said. You want great service. You crave great experiences and you feel like youre entitled to them, regardless of your status. So if you expect the world to revolve around you, chatbots could be your new best friend. Van Grove writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com ALSO Transforming the end of the 2 Freeway could be the beginning of a new L.A. California cranks out new businesses and jobs despite criticism Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Beverage company KeVita got its start in an Ojai kitchen. But now, KeVitas 57,000-square-foot facility in Oxnard can turn out 160,000 bottles of its popular fermented kombucha tea and other beverages in a day. Processes such as bottle cleaning are automated, and many systems can be operated from an iPad. The kombucha business has grown up, turning into an industry that could reach $656.7 million in U.S. sales by 2019, according to research firm Euromonitor International. Sharmistha Majundar, a quality assurance supervisor, checks content volume at the KeVita bottling facility in Oxnard. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement It fits right into that health and wellness trend, said Duane Stanford, editor of Beverage Digest, a trade publication for the U.S. nonalcoholic beverage industry. People are looking for healthier beverages, theyre looking at ingredients and because theres a segment of consumers that are really interested in that, kombucha just kind of becomes one of those niche products that is able to get a following. But with that growth comes increased scrutiny by federal regulators to keep kombuchas alcohol content under the limit acceptable for nonalcoholic beverages. The tangy tea with a vinegar-like taste has been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Advocates say the drink, made with tea, sugar and a culture of bacteria and yeast, has health benefits, such as improving digestion and liver function. (The Mayo Clinic has said that theres no scientific evidence to back up these claims.) Theres an experience they have thats difficult to quantify, Hannah Crum, president and co-founder of trade group Kombucha Brewers International, said about customers. Most of them say that it just makes them feel good and thats what spurs them to buy it. The fermented probiotic beverage crept into the commercial beverage market in 1995 when G.T. Dave started to sell kombucha brewed in his parents kitchen. The then-17-year-old Beverly Hills High School dropout eventually turned his home-grown business, Millennium Products Inc., into the dominant force in the kombucha market. Other producers started to jump in, but as the industry was poised to expand in 2010, kombucha bottles were pulled off shelves temporarily at Whole Foods Market Inc. stores. The Austin, Texas-based grocery chain cited concerns with slightly elevated alcohol levels in some products that didnt match their labels. After discussing the issue with suppliers, the company and producers decided on a voluntary withdrawal. At the same time, federal regulators from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau sent letters to some producers saying that their drinks contained 0.5% or more alcohol, higher than the limit to be considered a nonalcoholic beverage. Some producers decided to obtain permits and release their kombucha as an alcoholic drink. Others reformulated to ensure that their kombucha could stay nonalcoholic, TTB spokesman Tom Hogue said. The turmoil allowed KeVita to grab shelf space in grocery stores. The Oxnard-based company launched in 2010 with a sparkling probiotic drink that was seen as lighter but complementary to kombucha and signed a contract with Whole Foods. About two years ago, the company ventured into kombucha and also added a line of sparkling probiotic tonics, making it the second-largest kombucha maker in the nation with about 15% of the market share, according to KeVita. All we wanted to do was execute, be in compliance and get our toehold in every Whole Foods in America, KeVita Chief Executive Bill Moses said. In the last few years, kombucha has seen a resurgence. Sales of ready-to-drink carbonated tea, which includes many kombucha brands, jumped from $127.8 million in 2009 to $529.1 million in 2014, according to Euromonitor. For the non-carbonated bottled tea category, U.S. sales increased to $4.8 billion last year, up from $3.8 billion in 2009. Stanford of Beverage Digest cautioned that its still too early to tell whether kombucha can reach the same level of mainstream success as smoothies, Naked Juice and similar healthy beverage counterparts. A lot of it just depends on how the American palate evolves when it comes to health and wellness drinks, he said. Other beverage makers are starting to snap up kombucha businesses to cash in on the industrys potential. In April, American Brewing Co. bought kombucha producer Bucha and sold its beer brewing operation six months later to focus on the fermented drink. The company is headquartered in Torrance and brews its kombucha in Montebello. Were seeing huge growth at Kroger ... and this is Kroger in the Midwest, said Chuck Santry, the companys chief operating officer. If the trend starts, it starts East and West and the Midwest is the last one to get it. But this is happening in the Midwest right now, and its growing really rapidly. Los Angeles-based Reeds Inc. also expanded beyond its traditional ginger drinks and natural sodas to start brewing kombucha in 2013. The company now controls about 5% of the market share, according to Chief Executive Chris Reed. It was pretty consistent with everything we were doing anyway, he said. There was always something appealing in kombucha. It has lower calories, but such a full, intense flavor. In the last few months, the industry seems to be in a similar situation as in 2010 after the TTB said it sent out warning letters to some kombucha producers about their alcohol levels. We have found product in the marketplace that exceeds the statutory limit after which something is considered an alcoholic beverage, said Hogue of the TTB. No one is saying you cant make this. Were just saying, Do it legally. KeVita, Reeds and American Brewing Co. all said they did not receive letters and are in compliance with regulations. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Crum of Kombucha Brewers International said the trade group has been working with AOAC International, which develops public health and safety protocols, and government agencies including the TTB to create a new testing standard to measure the finer levels of ethanol in kombucha that is similar to forensic tests for blood alcohol concentration. The trade group already has alcohol testing recommendations, as well as a verification program that provides a seal to products that are in compliance with all laws and best practices. Theres a lot of scrutiny on the kombucha category, Moses of KeVita said. What I hope we can do as an industry is find a way to alleviate regulators and consumers concerns about the categorys compliance and provide ongoing transparency. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga MORE BUSINESS COVERAGE Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Bull market stalls; can it reignite in 2016? Solar is in, biomass energy is outand farmers are struggling to dispose of woody waste Dear Liz: I recently gave birth to a little boy. I am wondering about the best savings vehicle that would offer flexibility for when family gives him money. I dont want to tie it up in a 529 college savings plan in case he doesnt want to go to college or has other needs. Answer: If you want your child to have a reasonable shot at a middle-class lifestyle in the future, some kind of post-secondary education will be necessary. It may not be a four-year degree; it could be a one- or two-year training program, and a 529 college savings plan can help pay for that. Money contributed to a 529 plan grows tax-deferred and can be used tax-free at nearly all colleges, universities and community colleges as well as many career and technical schools. You will remain in control of the account and can withdraw money for other purposes if necessary, although you would owe income taxes and a 10% federal penalty on any gains. Advertisement If you really cant accept any limitations on how the money is used, then you can open a brokerage account in your own name and invest the money there. Putting the money in his name could hurt his chances for financial aid if he does decide to go to college. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Credit card authorized users Dear Liz: I have read that only the primary cardholder is responsible for the balance on a credit card, not the authorized user (such as a spouse). When that primary cardholder dies, there is no obligation for an authorized user to pay off the balance. Is this accurate? What would prevent someone whose primary cardholder is near death from racking up purchases and then, after the primary cardholder dies, refusing to pay it? Answer: In a community property state such as California, spouses typically are both responsible for debts incurred during the marriage. In all states, the deceased spouses estate would have to pay all creditors before any leftover money was doled out to survivors. So a spouse who went on such a spending binge wouldnt come out ahead, unless the primary cardholder was broke and left no estate. Other authorized users might have no such restraints, however. Anyone who thinks an authorized user might pull such a stunt would be smart to take that person off the card before it becomes an issue. Social Security spousal benefit Dear Liz: I am 57 and my husband is 60. I will have a bigger Social Security benefit than he will. He plans to retire at 65 when he will take his own retirement benefit. I will file and suspend at my full retirement age (66 and 6 months), at which time he can file for spousal benefits. Then at 70, I can take my benefits. Is this correct? Or is the spousal benefit half of what I will get, which would be less than his reduced benefit anyway? Answer: The spousal benefit is never more than half the primary earners benefit. If that would be less than his own benefit, then it wouldnt make much sense for your husband to switch from his own check. In any case, Congress is eliminating the option to file and suspend in order to trigger a spousal benefit. Since you must have reached your own full retirement age to file and suspend, and you wont have done so by the April 29 deadline, filing and suspending is off the table for you. It still makes sense for you to delay starting Social Security as long as possible, because youre the higher earner. When one of you dies, the other will have to get by on a single check, so it makes sense to ensure that the survivors benefit is as large as possible. Questions may be sent to Liz Weston, 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. MORE BUSINESS COVERAGE Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Bull market stalls; can it reignite in 2016? Solar is in, biomass energy is outand farmers are struggling to dispose of woody waste Since making her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheims 1981 musical Merrily We Roll Along, Tonya Pinkins has won a Tony in 1992 for Jellys Last Jam and was nominated for 1997s Play On! and 2004s Caroline, or Change. But New York audiences wont be seeing her in the Classic Stage Companys production of Bertolt Brechts Mother Courage and Her Children after the plays Broadway premiere. Blaming white creatives behind the production, she abruptly quit Mother Courage barely a week before the plays scheduled Jan. 7 premiere. That opening date has been postponed until a replacement for Pinkins can be found. The show has been in previews since Dec. 10. Advertisement According to Pinkins, who says she is contractually obligated to perform in the production through Jan. 3, an early draft explaining her reasons for leaving the show was leaked without her permission. But on New Years Eve, she gave Playbill an unedited version of her statement. Playbill also ran a statement from Classic Stage artistic director Brian Kulick. Both perspectives are certain to be hotly debated in the days to come. My perspective as a Black woman, Pinkins wrote in the statement, was dismissed in favor of portraying the Black woman, through the filter of the White gaze. ... When Black bodies are on stage, Black perspectives must be reflected. This is not simply a matter of artistic interpretation; race and sex play a pivotal role in determining who holds the power to shape representation. A Black female should have a say in the presentation of a Black female on stage. As part of her fight for a say in the roles shell play in the future, Pinkins says shes starting the hashtag #BlackPerspectivesMatter. Join the conversation on Facebook >> One dramatic example of how Pinkins felt muzzled in the artistic development of her character involved a simple gesture: Despite Brechts title, Mother Courage was not the star of this production, she said in her statement. My subordinate position was most clearly communicated to me when I attempted to perform a task Brecht specifically wrote for Mother Courage: snatching a fur coat off an armed soldiers back. The actor playing the soldier argued, Im a man. This is a war. She gotta RESPECT that; Id have to kill her! I fired back, Brecht wrote it. Mother Courage CAN snatch the fur coat and not get killed. Brecht is illustrating her as an Hyena of the war. I told the actor I was going to snatch the fur coat, and if he had to kill me, the play would have to end seven scenes earlier than Brecht had intended. I snatched the fur coat at the performance. The actor found a way to continue the play. However, the director said that in future, I couldnt do it, because, the actor said he would kill you. WHAT?! Mother Courage coddled and reprimanded into submission to patriarchy? In his own statement on the rift, Kulick said he had tremendous respect for Pinkins an actress and an activist: I am so sorry that over the course of this production our views on Mother Courage diverged. Theatre is a collaborative art and we both entered this production in that spirit but, sadly, we have reached an impasse. One goes into a theatre production with suspicions and hunches and a play slowly reveals what it might want to be. Tonya and I seemed to have started with the same basic questions but reach two different vantage points. A large part of the disagreement was focused on the word delusional. It was not relayed to me until the final tech rehearsal that the vision for this Mother Courage ... was of a delusional woman trying to do the impossible, Pinkins said. She would not be an icon of feminine tenacity and strength, nor of a Black females fearless capabilities. Why must the Black Mother Courage be delusional? Pinkins also objected to the way the plays transfer of the action from World War II to modern-day Congo was handled: The #CSCMotherCourage poster finds my face plastered on an image of the African Continent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlighted. The inspiration: Lynn Nottages impulse to create a Black Mother Courage, which culminated in her Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Ruined. What an opportunity to connect Brechts anti-World War II play to the war in modern day Congo, Africas first World War. My art meeting my activism. The chance to highlight the Chaplains line, ]If you want to sup with the devil you need a long spoon, as analogous to Americas participation in the war in the Congo through our appetites for electronic devices which require [the metallic ore] coltan, which is raped and pillaged along with the bodies of Black women and children. This production does not include a single vestige of the specific war in the Congo. For me, the cultural misappropriation is unconscionable. Why must Africa, why must blackness itself, be general, a decorative motif, instead of being as specific and infinitely diverse as its reality? Kulick said he thought the production could allude to the Congo without specifics: As Tonya and I worked on the production the question became how specific does one have to become to evoke the Congo? Do we need place names, do we need to rewrite narration to make this leap or can it live in the realm of images, music and the given circumstances of the actors? I gravitated toward what I would call a more open approach, Tonya was longing for specifics. As we kept working on the play, this question and how to answer it became louder and louder to each of us to a point where I think we couldnt hear each other anymore. Toward the end of the process I used a very strong word to characterize a potential end point for Mother Courage. The word was delusional. This grew out of my reading of Brechts notes, where he states over and over again that the point of Mother Courage is that she does not learn from the events of the play. Still, Kulick added, he and Pinkins reworked the ending toward an image which spoke to her idea of Mother Courage as survivor. I was pleased with the final result, he said. It was our last moment of collaboration. I felt it allowed the audience to see both possibilities in one image. This duality, for me, is at the very heart of the theatrical enterprise, leaving it up to the audience to decide for themselves what to make of this deeply contradictory character known as Mother Courage. Pinkins says it wasnt an easy decision to quit the production. Not since Caroline, or Change, ten years ago, have I had a role of this caliber, she said, calling Mother Courage the King Lear in the classical cannon of female roles. How do I walk away from what could be one of the greatest roles in my career? I couldnt, until all my research, arguing and pleading for my characters full realization fell on deaf ears. And then I had to. In the end, Pinkins said, My Mother Courage was neutered, leaving the unbridled Mother Courage wasting away inside me. My Mother Courage is too big for CSCs definition. So it is best that they find someone to fit in, because I cannot. ALSO For Anomalisa star Tom Noonan, a Charlie Kaufman life Palm Springs International Film Festival opens with awards hopeful The Fencer Star Wars surpasses Titanic and Jurassic World, breaking more box office records The Palm Springs International Film Festival got started Friday night with two screenings of The Fencer. The festivals typical opening-night venue at a local high school auditorium was unavailable due to renovations, so instead there was one screening at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Museum of Art and another at the local Camelot Theatres venue. The festivals artistic director, Helen du Toit, took the stage at the Camelot to explain about the evenings multiple venues before introducing the film. She went on to say that Klaus Haro, the Finnish director of The Fencer, had been to the festival twice before and then extolled the recent successes of the nights film, which has been nominated for a Golden Globe and made the shortlist of nine for the Academy Award for best foreign language film. Taking the stage, Haro himself noted he had previously been to the festival in 2005 and 2010 and added, Helen was just doing something we Finns would never do when she spoke so beautifully about me and about the film: She was raising expectations. We would never dream of doing that. We would come up here and say, I hope you all stay till the end. Advertisement So what Im going to do now is raise the expectations when it comes to you, he added, and Im going to say the fondest memories of all the festival audiences that Ive been able to meet were in Palm Springs. So Im looking forward to seeing you after the film, that is if you stay till the end. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Seeing how deftly the film won over an audience demonstrated why it has recently gained momentum with awards voters. In the movie, a young man with a mysterious past arrives in the small town of Haapsalu, Estonia, in the early 1950s. Meant to blend in anonymously as a teacher at a local school to avoid being noticed by Stalins secret police, Endel Nelis soon starts a fencing club for children that gains attention. In the lead role, Estonian comedian Mart Avandi gives a dramatic performance of solid, understated charm. In supporting roles, Ursula Ratasepp as a fellow teacher and love interest and Liisa Koppel as the determined little girl who first asks Nelis to teach fencing both make strong impressions. The cinematography by Tuomo Hutri has a burnished quality that gives the film a stately feel and the editing by Tamber Tasuja and Ueli Christen moves crisply, especially in the sequences of Nelis training the children. The tasteful score by Gert Wilden Jr. gives just the right amount of emotional propulsion. SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter >> As festival programmer David Ansen said recently, Its very traditional filmmaking, in a good sense. Though the film is considered a Finnish production and is Finlands entry for the Oscars, it was shot in Estonia in the Estonian language with some dialogue in Russian. Last year a film from Estonia, Tangerines, was nominated for the Oscar. In an interview earlier this week, Haro said that on the multinational, multilingual set, The working language was broken English. In wrapping up his introduction Friday night, Haro recalled the first time he read the script by Anna Heinamaa, and that even with the language issues and other production concerns, he was convinced it was a project he simply had to do. Reading the script for The Fencer was like falling in love, Haro said. You see the problems that are ahead, but you say well deal with those later. Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus MORE MOVIE NEWS For Anomalisa star Tom Noonan, a Charlie Kaufman life Star Wars surpasses Titanic and Jurassic World, breaking more box office records Where does Star Wars find itself -- and where is it going? Two Times journalists break it down A Lyft driver was killed Friday morning after his car was broadsided by the vehicle of a suspected drunken driver in Hawthorne, police said. The fatal crash occurred just before 3 a.m. at 120th Street and Doty Avenue, according to a statement by Lt. Ti Goetz of the Hawthorne Police Department. Authorities said the man was driving a 2015 black Ford Fusion, heading west on 120th Street, when his vehicle was struck by a 2003 red Infiniti coup at the intersection. Advertisement Los Angeles County Fire paramedics pronounced the 21-year-old Lyft driver dead at the scene. He was identified as Thor Anderson of Compton by the Los Angeles County coroner. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Police arrested 21-year-old Arturo Martinez Conchas on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of illegal drugs. Conchas was taken to a hospital for medical clearance before he was booked into jail at the Hawthorne Police Department, where he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Paige Thelen, a Lyft representative, said in a statement: Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic accident. Thor was an important member of the Lyft community and we are very saddened to hear this news. We will support authorities in the ongoing investigation and help in any way we can. For more Southern California news follow @latvives ALSO Why the Porter Ranch gas leak could take months to fix Venice tenants complaints to the city had unintended consequences Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Rick Cluchey was in his third year of a life sentence without parole for the carjacking and armed robbery of a Los Angeles hotel courier when actors came to San Quentin State Prison in 1957 to perform Waiting for Godot. The existential play struck a nerve, and inspired the creation of a drama workshop at San Quentin. For Cluchey, a pugilistic convict considered too great a risk to even attend the play, it changed his life. He listened from his cell to the lines over the public address system. His cellmate returned from the performance struck in particular by one character, Lucky, who was led about with a rope around his neck. Right there, Cluchey later recounted, we knew the score. Samuel Beckett had captured the essence of imprisonment. And in Cluchey, another playwright was born. Cluchey died Monday evening near his home in Culver City from emphysema, congestive heart failure and chronic lung disease. He was 82. Advertisement The brawler from Chicago joined the new theater troupe at San Quentin and from his cell started writing plays. The first was The Cage, a prison drama about inmates putting one another on trial. That play, along with a letter from his sentencing judge, made the case for then-Gov. Pat Brown to commute Clucheys sentence to allow parole, and his eventual release in 1966. With the Barbwire Theater company, a troupe of ex-cons, Cluchey took The Cage on a national tour including Broadway and college campuses. He held drama workshops in prisons and spoke against the harshness of incarceration. Cluchey became a leading interpreter of Becketts work, and spent most of his career traveling the world to perform in his plays. He signed on as an assistant director to Beckett in a Berlin performance of Godot. Later, Beckett directed Cluchey as an actor, in Krapps Last Tape and Endgame. Purdue film professor Lance Duerfahrd, an authority on Beckett, saw in the two men what he described as an infection, but one so mutually beneficial it was difficult to distinguish virus and host. Cluchey was thoughtful, impulsive, and a little violent, a boxer to the core ... a lover of Beckett but also someone Beckett loved. Duerfahrd said Cluchey was drawn by Becketts strange appeal to an uncommon audience, the incarcerated. The Irish playwright created difficult characters that he set on gaunt stages, in silence or with lines such as: I cant go on like this. Thats what you think. Shakespeare. Everyone loves Shakespeare. But Beckett? Duerfahrd said. No one understands him. But prisoners do. They take to him immediately, Duerfahrd said. They see the violence in Beckett. They see the coercion. The thing that everyone in San Quentin understood about Beckett while the rest of the world had trouble catching up, was what it meant to be in the face of it, Cluchey told a Los Angeles Times writer in 1987. At the time his life was being loosely adapted to film the movie Weeds, in which Clucheys character is played by Nick Nolte. I mean, Cluchey said, hes dealing with a lost people. Duerfahrd wrote a book on what he titled Becketts vagabonds and the theater of crisis and is doing a documentary on Cluchey. He said he saw in the convict-turned-actor and playwright a man required by Becketts roles or was it enabled? to constantly re-create the inner mind of a prisoner, or as Beckett once instructed Cluchey, to make it your own in terms of incarceration. Even as his health deteriorated, Cluchey remained engaged in theater. Last month, he lectured to a drama class at Whittier College and read a scene from Beckett alongside his wife, Nora Masterson. He rallied for the audience, she said, but that night at the hotel, it was a nightmare. The family plans a memorial service Jan. 18 at St. Paul the Apostle church in Los Angeles. Duerfahrd intends to finish the documentary to include a spring production of Endgame, to be performed at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Cluchey had been cast in that play alongside Alan Mandell, one of the actors who came to San Quentin to perform Godot in 1957, and who returned to help him start the San Quentin Drama Workshop. In that role, Cluchey was to spend the whole of the play confined within a trash can. paige.stjohn@latimes.com Rick Cluchey was in his third year of a life sentence without parole for the carjacking and armed robbery of a Los Angeles hotel courier when actors came to San Quentin State Prison in 1957 to perform Waiting for Godot. The existential play struck a nerve, and inspired the creation of a drama workshop at San Quentin. For Cluchey, a pugilistic convict considered too great a risk to even attend the play, it changed his life. He listened from his cell to the lines over the public address system. His cellmate returned from the performance struck in particular by one character, Lucky, who was led about with a rope around his neck. Right there, Cluchey later recounted, we knew the score. Samuel Beckett had captured the essence of imprisonment. And in Cluchey, another playwright was born. Cluchey died Monday evening near his home in Culver City from emphysema, congestive heart failure and chronic lung disease. He was 82. The brawler from Chicago joined the new theater troupe at San Quentin and from his cell started writing plays. The first was The Cage, a prison drama about inmates putting one another on trial. That play, along with a letter from his sentencing judge, made the case for then-Gov. Pat Brown to commute Clucheys sentence to allow parole, and his eventual release in 1966. With the Barbwire Theater company, a troupe of ex-cons, Cluchey took The Cage on a national tour including Broadway and college campuses. He held drama workshops in prisons and spoke against the harshness of incarceration. Cluchey became a leading interpreter of Becketts work, and spent most of his career traveling the world to perform in his plays. He signed on as an assistant director to Beckett in a Berlin performance of Godot. Later, Beckett directed Cluchey as an actor, in Krapps Last Tape and Endgame. Purdue film professor Lance Duerfahrd, an authority on Beckett, saw in the two men what he described as an infection, but one so mutually beneficial it was difficult to distinguish virus and host. Cluchey was thoughtful, impulsive, and a little violent, a boxer to the core ... a lover of Beckett but also someone Beckett loved. Duerfahrd said Cluchey was drawn by Beckett's strange appeal to an uncommon audience, the incarcerated. The Irish playwright created difficult characters that he set on gaunt stages, in silence or with lines such as: I cant go on like this. Thats what you think. Shakespeare. Everyone loves Shakespeare. But Beckett? Duerfahrd said. No one understands him. But prisoners do. They take to him immediately, Duerfahrd said. They see the violence in Beckett. They see the coercion. From the Archives: Pair Sentenced for Kidnapping but One May Get Mercy The thing that everyone in San Quentin understood about Beckett while the rest of the world had trouble catching up, was what it meant to be in the face of it, Cluchey told a Los Angeles Times writer in 1987. At the time his life was being loosely adapted to film the movie Weeds, in which Cluchey's character is played by Nick Nolte. I mean, Cluchey said, he's dealing with a lost people. Duerfahrd wrote a book on what he titled Becketts vagabonds and the theater of crisis and is doing a documentary on Cluchey. He said he saw in the convict-turned-actor and playwright a man required by Becketts roles or was it enabled? to constantly re-create the inner mind of a prisoner, or as Beckett once instructed Cluchey, to make it your own in terms of incarceration. Even as his health deteriorated, Cluchey remained engaged in theater. Last month, he lectured to a drama class at Whittier College and read a scene from Beckett alongside his wife, Nora Masterson. He rallied for the audience, she said, but that night at the hotel, it was a nightmare. The family plans a memorial service Jan. 18 at St. Paul the Apostle church in Los Angeles. Duerfahrd intends to finish the documentary to include a spring production of Endgame, to be performed at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Cluchey had been cast in that play alongside Alan Mandell, one of the actors who came to San Quentin to perform Godot in 1957, and who returned to help him start the San Quentin Drama Workshop. In that role, Cluchey was to spend the whole of the play confined within a trash can. paige.stjohn@latimes.com Worried that their new landlord was trying to turn their Venice apartment building into a kind of illegal hotel, Phyllis Murphy and her neighbors wrote a letter to city officials. The residents complained that some of the units were being rented out to tourists for short stays, bringing a revolving door of strangers into the complex on a tranquil stretch of Third Avenue. Murphy said her landlord once asked her, not-so-subtly, what it would take to get her out of the building. The landlord denies saying that. He also said that a tenant, not he, was responsible for the rentals. But the city housing department nonetheless ordered him to make sure they came to a halt. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> So it was a shock when Murphy a plucky 67-year-old with reddish hair and an easy laugh abruptly found herself facing eviction. City inspectors said they spotted the rentals that bothered Murphy. But they also concluded that only four of the eight units in the building had been legally permitted, according to city documents. Elena Popp, executive director of the Eviction Defense Network, a nonprofit law firm that assists tenants, says it is a scenario she has seen before in a city rife with illegal housing: A renter has a complaint. She goes to the city for help. But when city inspectors come calling, they find that the apartment itself is illegal. And that ultimately means tenants can be booted out. More than 1,700 such bootlegged apartments have been shut down in the wake of city inspections since 2010, according to the housing department. Many are discovered through routine inspections of rental housing, but they can also be detected when city inspectors react to complaints about an apartment being used for an illegal purpose, like the one that Murphy and her neighbors lodged with the city. In a bid to save some of those units, Councilman Felipe Fuentes has proposed an amnesty for illegal units that meet safety standards, one that would relax other city requirements that often block legalization in exchange for creating affordable housing. That idea has united both tenant and landlord groups, but the proposal still must be vetted by city lawmakers. In the meantime, city officials say landlords can either try to legalize bootlegged units or simply shutter them and evict tenants. Murphy said she first realized what was happening when paperwork from the city housing department arrived in the mail, offering her help with her upcoming move. The housing department is supposed to be maintaining affordable housing, Murphy said one Sunday afternoon at her apartment, just a few days before her scheduled eviction date. And instead, theyre making four less apartments here and theyre allowing Airbnb. :: Murphy has been living in her apartment for a quarter of a century, on a serene street where beachgoers stroll past in flip-flops and sarongs. When she moved to Los Angeles from the West Village in New York City, a friend told her the only place she could possibly live was Venice. She instantly loved its eclectic vibe. Here, Murphy has penned scripts for crime dramas and a Nickelodeon comedy and co-wrote an episode of L.A. Law called Whose San Andreas Fault Is It, Anyway? Thanks to rent control, her monthly payments came to $1,280 for a one-bedroom apartment, well under the market rate for a trendy stretch of the coast now speckled with tech startups. Ten years ago, Windy Buhler moved into one of the smaller units upstairs and the two soon became friends. Buhler, a freelance writer and producer, would cat sit for Murphy. Murphy nicknamed Murph made her chicken soup when she was sick. Buhler said she felt so at ease in her apartment that sometimes she would leave her main door open so the sea breezes could reach her through the screen. Then Buhler said the short-term rentals began and tourists started rapping on her door at night, trying to find their rooms. Before the tenants asked the city for help, inspectors had never spotted any problem with extra units in their apartment building. Housing officials say that the building had been inspected before, but they dont check a buildings original paperwork during those routine inspections unless something makes them suspicious. After the residents raised concerns about illegal rentals, the department took a look at its files. City inspectors say four apartments at the Venice building were converted into eight by walling off bedrooms. At a city hearing in October, attorney Harold Greenberg, who represents building owner Richard Ringer, contested the idea that the units were illegal. He pointed to an old document from the county assessor to argue that the Venice building had eight units as early as 1956. Greenberg said Ringer had sought to evict tenants to comply with the city order, but nonetheless wanted to legitimize all the apartments. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Were not talking about a slum. Were not talking about anything that looks bad, Greenberg said. In reaction, attorney Amanda Seward who represents Murphy and Buhler countered that the landlord should have made that argument before the tenants were told to clear out. :: Buhler, who lived in one of the smaller units that city inspectors believe were once carved off from the legal ones, moved out at the end of September. In the days before she left, she often grew teary, overwhelmed by the stresses of relocating after a decade. Under city rules, she had been granted $10,300 in relocation aid paid for by the owner but the cost of a new, temporary place to stay, plus storage for her belongings, was $500 a month more than what she had been paying in rent. Murphy decided to stay and fight. Her unit was not one of the ones that were specifically deemed illegal by the city. Seward, her attorney, eventually persuaded the housing department to rescind its approval for two of the evictions, including the one facing Murphy. But by then, Seward and Murphy said, the other tenants whose eviction had been rescinded had already moved out. In November, the housing department also rejected the argument by the landlord that all of the units in the building were legal, referring the matter on to the city attorney for possible prosecution. Housing department code enforcement director Jeff Paxton also said that last year housing officials found that the building owner was not in compliance with their order to stop night-to-night rentals. But so far, those inspectors havent gotten enough proof for the city attorney to pursue a case, he said. Greenberg, the attorney representing Ringer, said a former tenant leasing multiple units was to blame for those illegal rentals and that they had since stopped. Now Murphy is the only tenant remaining at the apartment building. She was grateful that her attorney had helped her stay in her beloved bit of Venice, but frustrated that her call to the city had ended up putting her through a legal odyssey and an emotional roller coaster. Seward said it was shocking that the city hadnt cracked down on night-to-night rentals, yet insisted on enforcing the rules on illegal yet habitable units. Its a cautionary tale, Seward said. Now when people call me and ask, Should I report this to the city? I hesitate. I have to wonder how much help theyre going to get. emily.alpert@latimes.com Twitter: @LATimesEmily ALSO Transforming the end of the 2 Freeway could be the beginning of a new L.A. California cranks out new businesses and jobs despite criticism Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont raised more than $33 million during the last three months in his bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination, his campaign said Saturday. It was just short of the amount brought in by rival Hillary Clinton during the same period. Sanders, an independent and a democratic socialist, has now collected $73 million for his primary campaign through a powerful online fundraising apparatus that should help him compete with Clinton deep into spring. His haul will allow him to spend money at a comparable rate with Clinton, who raised $37 million since the beginning of October and $112 million during 2015 for her primary campaign. This people-powered campaign is revolutionizing American politics, Jeff Weaver, Sanders campaign manager, said in a statement. What we are showing is that we can run a strong, national campaign without a super PAC and without depending on millionaires and billionaires for their support. We are making history, and we are proud of it. Advertisement Clinton is the Democratic front-runner in national polls, but Sanders remains within striking distance of her in Iowa, which holds its caucuses on Feb. 1. Sanders is hoping to surprise Clinton in Iowa and then use his New England ties to defeat her in the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9, where polls have shown him with a slight advantage. The campaign finance estimates indicate that Sanders should have the resources to mount an effective challenge: His campaign said it had $28.4 million in the bank at the end of 2015. Clintons campaign, which spent about $75 million last year to build a large data-driven organization, ended the year with $38 million on hand. Sanders spent about $45 million in 2015. He stepped up his expenditures during the fourth quarter, when he began television advertising and increased the size of his paid staff in early-voting states. Most of Sanders money came through 2.5 million donations, most of them made online, a number that his team said surpassed President Obamas record number of 2.2 million donations in 2011. Sanders average donation was $27, an amount that will allow him to return to his contributors for more money in the spring. Only a few hundred of his 1 million individual donors gave the maximum of $2,700 for the primary, the campaign said. But Clinton is also helping build the Democratic Party for the general election. She raised $18 million for the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties nationwide in the fourth quarter, putting her total haul for the last three months at $55 million. The DNC money is aimed at helping Clinton in the general election should she win the partys nomination. Sanders, by comparison, did not raise any money for the DNC last year, although his campaign has said it plans to fundraise on behalf of the national party. The third major Democrat in the race, former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, has not yet provided fundraising estimates for the quarter. He has struggled against Clinton and Sanders in donations as well as in polls. He has a new job, speaker of the House, but Rep. Paul D. Ryan has stuck with a longtime routine, sequestering himself on a hunting stand in Wisconsin, picking off deer that he will turn into jerky, brats and links to sustain him through the year. Making sausage, literally, is a hobby of the new speaker he grows an annual beard for deer hunting season but its one hell have less time for as of Monday, when he gavels a new session of Congress to order in an election year. As his party struggles to coalesce around a presidential nominee, Ryan plans to use his majority on Capitol Hill as an incubator for Republican ideas on the campaign trail. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> My goal is to help unify the conservative movement so we can unify the Republican Party so we can give the country a really clear choice, Ryan told reporters recently at his office in the Capitol. The members, together, are going to come together and assemble an agenda that we present to the country, he said. We owe people the right to decide if they want to stay on this path or not. Thats our obligation. We cant wait around until July when we have a convention and pick a presidential nominee, he added. Weve got to get going now. Moving quickly would allow Ryan to try to define the GOP along his preferred lines the confident America agenda he has talked about in recent speeches. That would enhance his influence as a leader who is already quite popular in his party. It also could give Republican House and Senate candidates something to hold onto if the presidential nomination goes to a candidate unpopular with general-election voters. Many Republican officials worry that a Donald Trump candidacy, for example, could prove disastrous to the partys candidates in close Senate elections. Ryan has long been the partys big thinker, rather than its heavy-lifter he has proposed many big plans over the years, but not passed much substantive legislation until recently. With few must-pass bills pending in 2016, he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have a wide-open canvas on which to sketch the partys agenda without having to worry too much about actually turning bills into laws. Republican senators and representatives will meet jointly for a mid-January retreat to begin setting priorities repeal Obamacare, lower taxes, cut spending not as bills that President Obama would sign into law, but as measures that set out a clear contrast with Democratic proposals. But the day-to-day output from Congress may not be as inspiring to voters as the lofty pronouncements Ryan has been making: We need to raise our gaze, he said in a recent speech. One area of common ground between the Republican Congress and Obama could be criminal justice reforms, but no votes have been scheduled. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> The top 2016 goal of both Ryan and McConnell is to return Congress to regular order the step-by-step process of passing bills through the congressional committees and then each chamber. First up, the House is set to vote Wednesday to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood, sending the measure to Obamas desk, where a swift veto has been promised. Congress does not have the votes to override the veto, and so the bill is not expected to become law. The Senate will consider legislation to ban Syrian refugees from resettling in the United States, following an earlier bill approved by the House. But Obama is likely to veto that, too. Those votes may be merely symbolic, but going through the motions matters to conservative activists who have accused GOP leaders of caving in during past fights rather than seeing them through to a conclusion. For much of the remainder of the year, the Republican leaders plan to devote floor time to dispatching with the spending bills needed to fund the government. Their hope is that since Congress already has agreed with the White House on an overall budget blueprint for this year and next, they can avoid a year-end scramble and the threat of another government shutdown showing voters that under GOP control, government can function. Some thought the Senate could never be cured of its dysfunction and its gridlock, McConnell said recently. But the new majority you elected didnt agree. We believed the Senate could be restored to a place of high purpose again, and weve made great strides over the past year proving that it can. Thats the kind of message that resonates in Washington and among conservative activists, but may prove a tougher sell among voters. Americans give Congress dismal approval ratings, barely breaking into double-digits. Without a hefty legislative agenda ahead, Ryan, who was the midseason replacement after former Speaker John A. Boehner called it quits, can focus on forming the partys vision for the next president. And that means he may end up doing more sausage making at home this year than on Capitol Hill. lisa.mascaro@latimes.com @LisaMascaro ALSO Why Marco Rubios presidential campaign strategy is considered a gamble Hillary Clinton raised $112 million in 2015, including $37 million in last 3 months The hardest worker on the 2016 presidential campaign trail? It could be Obama To the editor: The article interestingly states that the number of Latinos in California receiving flu shots drops dramatically from 61% of first-generation Latinos to only 15% of third-generation Latinos. (California Latinos, reluctant to get flu shots, have much to risk, Opinion, Dec. 29) The reason given for the high participation rate in the first generation is that the need for the immunization in Mexico is well communicated. The authors say, California and Washington should provide funding for new outreach for free or low-cost vaccinations. Perhaps some of the work on spreading the word on vaccination could be done by the Roman Catholic Church, an organization trusted by much of the Latino community. Advertisement With its parishes and schools, the church can provide a fast, reliable and low-cost avenue to universal vaccination of its followers. John Goodman, Oak Park Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook In keeping with this years Tournament of the Roses theme Find Your Adventure a common adventure for many parade volunteers and attendees early Friday morning was braving the chill in Pasadena. Six of the self-built floats received official honors, including Burbank and La Canada Flintridge, for Best Theme and the Bob Hope Humor Award, respectively. At 5:45 a.m., temperatures hovered just above 40 degrees before sunrise as volunteers huddled at their floats in winter jackets, while some, like La Canada Flintridge, brought single-burner camping stoves to boil water for hot cocoa. It wasnt as cold as it was last year, said Jeff Helgager, head of general construction for La Canadas float, titled Up a Creek. He noted that after a few years of helping put the final touches on the float on New Years Eve, the volunteers made sure they have a cushion and were as comfortable as possible while awaiting the parades start. Bill Pounders, president of the La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn., acknowledged the cold weather and wind caused delays on Thursday. The float featured four forest rascals Bucky Beaver, Buddy Bear, Hobbes the Bobcat and Skybird who were on a river raft traveling along the rushing rapids. The floats raft motioned side to side while moving along the parade route. Also, the animals heads turned and Bucky Beavers arm stroked the water with his paddle. All the while, Skybird held the raft lines in its beak attempting to drag his friends to safety. Were really excited to win that award, Pounders said, noting it is the seventh time in La Canadas 38 years of participating in the parade to win the Bob Hope Humor Award. Were dedicated to animation and humor, he said. Up a Creek featured 10,000 roses in 11 different colors, 6,950 red carnations and more than 8,000 mums, in addition to several other flowers, fruits, vegetables and dry plant materials. Pounders said logistics were a little difficult in creating the decoration materials, and they used more roses than in 2015. He estimated the association went over budget this year with total costs anticipated between $105,000 and $110,000. La Canada Flintridge had a new artist this year Renee Hoss-Johnson, a production designer for Sony Television. Shes very hands-on, Pounders said. This is one of the best floats weve produced. It was about 35,000 hours to put everything together. We have more than 1,000 volunteers. The city of Burbank float Are We There Yet? rolls down Orange Grove Avenue during the 2016 Rose Parade in Pasadena on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer) While the comedy in La Canada Flintridges adventure theme was a major highlight, the Burbank Tournament of Roses Assn. captured the timeless tagline coined by children cramped in back car seats on family vacations: Are We There Yet? This is a huge award for us, said Ginny Barnett, the associations president. Weve never won it before. The float featured a raccoon family setting out on a last-minute vacation. They raced out of town without a plan, except to find an adventure. The 46-foot-long float included a vintage " teardrop trailer. Adam Ostegard, co-designer of the float with Linda Cozakos, of Burbank, said they created the float based on reflecting on their own family vacations while growing up in California. It was Cozakos first winning float-design entry and Ostegards third, with previous wins in the 2007 and 2009 parades. Osetgard, who works for Disney Shanghai as a character artist, had communicated the majority of his involvement with Are We There Yet? via email from overseas, only having flown back to see the finished product two days before New Years Day. In addition, it was Cozakos first time as a white suiter, or member of the Tournament of Roses Assn., to design a parade float. The city of Glendale float Getting There is Half the Fun rolls down Orange Grove Avenue as it starts the 5.5-mile long parade route during the 2016 Rose Parade in Pasadena on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer) Jon Reeves, head of construction for Burbanks entry, said the total cost of the float was around $100,000, with the largest line item being the seeds and flowers, totaling $40,000. He noted that most of the commercial floats in the Rose Parade average around $250,000. For the city of Glendale, 2015 marked the first year the Rose Parade rolled through Pasadena without an entry from the Jewel City. After forming a partnership between the Glendale Rose Float Assn. and the city, fundraising efforts came together in the last year to make sure Glendale had its 101st Rose Parade float ready for New Years Day. Its theme was Getting There is Half the Fun and it rolled down the parade route to the tune of California, Here I Come. The City Council allocated $200,000 for this years float, with hopes that the association will raise funds for future floats. We were able to convince the City Council that we deserved an opportunity, said Keith Sorem, president of the Glendale Rose Float Assn. The association is working to raise $50,000 and is about half way to that goal, Sorem added. The float featured various modes of transportation including the facade of the Larry Zarian Transportation Center, a steam locomotive, a vintage airplane, a 1950s convertible and cyclists out for a ride. According to volunteer Cindy Slaughter, it was the citys longest float at 51 feet, and about 10,000 volunteer hours were spent on it. Sorem said the association members worked quickly to construct the float. The City Council didnt authorize this contract until June, so to get this all done is six months is amazing, he said. It was also the second year that the American Armenian Rose Float Assn. had a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The theme of this years float was Discover Armenia. -- Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer for Times Community News. Without the massive wall of concrete called Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nev., wouldnt exist. The town sprouted during the Great Depression to house thousands of workers, mainly men, who had headed west to help build the dam. People often bypass it on the drive from Las Vegas to visit the engineering marvel, but Boulder City offers a wealth of pursuits on land and on Lake Mead, the vast body of water created by the dam. The bed Advertisement Check out the Boulder Dam Hotel, built in 1933, with 21 small but well-maintained rooms. A real plus: The hotel houses the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, a compact and well-curated museum chronicling the astonishing construction feat. Road trips: where to go and what to know A little trivia: In the 1920s, Boulder Dam was the unofficial name for the huge public works project. In 1930, the secretary of the Interior formally named it after his boss, Republican President Herbert Hoover. After Democrat Franklin Roosevelt took office, the name reverted to Boulder in 1933. In 1947, Congress resolved to once again call it Hoover Dam. According to the local museum, an anonymous citizen suggested another name: Whogivza Dam. The meal Local eateries include the Dillinger, known for its craft beers and its burgers that are named for thugs such as Al Capone, Baby Face Nelson and Bugsy Siegel. For breakfast, consider the Coffee Cup Cafe. The find Recreational opportunities abound in the area. There are several hiking paths, including the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail, and in Bootleg Canyon, home to another hiking trail, theres the Flightlinez zip-line. If you want to go boating, the closest place to Boulder City that rents watercraft is Lake Mead Marina. Miles one way from downtown L.A. About 280 Resources Boulder Dam Hotel, www.boulderdamhotel.com; Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, www.bcmha.org; the Dillinger, www.thedillinger.com; Coffee Cup Cafe, www.worldfamouscoffeecup.com; Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail, www.lat.ms/tunneltrail; Flightlinez zip-line, www.flightlinezbootleg.com; Lake Mead Marina, www.boatinglakemead.com. Follow us on Pinterest: Have an incredible road trip story or a useful tip? Share your memories and suggestions with us in the comments. There was a soft knock on our door about an hour after we checked into Hotel Mansart in Paris, where tensions were high the week after the Nov. 13 terror attacks. Housekeeping. A tall woman stood at the door and behind her was Victor Mark, the hotels electrician/fix-it guy from Bulgaria, who quickly checked the electrical outlets. He unplugged my two oxygen concentrators, which suck oxygen out of the air, a recent replacement for oxygen tanks. See more of Travels top stories on Facebook >> Advertisement He did the same with the bedside CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), a black device the size of a mans shoe box, which has a detachable tube connected to head straps and clear rubber pads that cover the nostrils. Lovely. Envision a human elephant. A CPAP treats sleep apnea. Mark brought in adapters and extension cords and worked rapidly. He beamed. Success! Seems my new paraphernalia had knocked out the power on our floor of the hotel. I didnt know what any of this equipment was six months ago, much less pulmonary hypertension high blood pressure in the lungs my eventual diagnosis after being felled several times at high altitudes. My case is mild and I feel fine, thank goodness, but the equipment was prescribed. Think of the oxygen as medicine, my doctor said. Stop traveling? Maybe to the Alps and Rocky Mountains, but otherwise, no way. Theres too much of the world to experience. The November trip to Paris and a cruise from Monte Carlo to Marseilles, France, was my first big adventure post diagnosis. This is what I traveled with: a 4.8-pound portable oxygen concentrator that I wear like a cross-body purse it supplies oxygen when I exert myself (yes, on long walks and at Costco; no, at home or in restaurants). In the last five years, the concentrators have shrunk in size and are rechargeable, making them an increasingly popular though expensive alternative to oxygen tanks. Also, I took an 18-pound continuous-flow oxygen concentrator, which connects to the CPAP when I sleep. Accompanying these were clear tubing, cords and plugs. Also a husband named Keith, who helped haul this stuff and makes me laugh, which is important when this is your new normal. I didnt need my portable concentrator onboard the ship but was glad to have it in the ruins of Pompeii and wandering around Paris and Rome. And several times, when I was wearing it at museums, we were ushered to the front of queues and shown to elevators not accessible (or even visible) to others. Heres what I learned: Airlines require those traveling with portable oxygen concentrators to fill out a form they must carry with them. Each airline has its own form, which is valid for a year. The Federal Aviation Administration has a list of approved brands (www.lat.ms/1NJmeik). . You must take extra batteries because not all planes have electrical outlets at each seat, especially on domestic flights. My Inogen One G3 portable concentrator came with separate four-hour and nine-hour batteries. Inogen and some companies may lend or rent batteries for trips. Tell your travel agent you are traveling with concentrators. Crystal Cruises also required a signed letter from my doctor and a form stating I could not take bottled oxygen on the ship. Travel with an oximeter, which measures your blood oxygen level and pulse rate when you stick your index finger in it. Buy travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. Such coverage usually must be bought within a few days of the first payment for a tour or cruise. I buy mine through insuremytrip.com, which sells policies from numerous companies and offers advice over the phone. Request a wheelchair when traveling overseas or making tight connections in U.S. airports. When I walked off the plane with my portable concentrator in Paris, a pleasant young man asked if I needed a wheelchair. No, I dont think so. He mentioned my name. Oops. I had forgotten that United had asked if I wanted a wheelchair in Paris. To be honest I was self-conscious, but I sat down, held my purse and the portable concentrator in my lap, gripped my roll-on suitcase between my knees and, with Keith beside us, took my first ride. My wheelchair chauffeur bypassed long lines, showed our passports to immigration, took us down an elevator to the luggage level and rolled me to the waiting area. Same back in Newark, N.J., where an attendant wheeled me through immigration, customs and to my gate in a different terminal. I tipped $10 to $20. Order a car to pick you up at the airport. I used Victor Cabs (www.victorcabsparis.com) in Paris, which cost 75 euros (about $82), plus tip, to have someone wait with a sign and help us cart luggage to a nearby car. This was 20 euros cheaper than a metered taxi would have charged during heavy morning traffic. The trip back to the airport was 65 euros. Notify your hotel that you are traveling with oxygen concentrators and/or CPAP. We also knocked out our TV in our ships cabin. On our post-cruise return to Paris, I asked for an electrician as soon as we checked into another hotel. Some outlets in Europe are to be used only for laptops, razors, cellphones, etc. Request distilled water at your hotel or in your ships cabin if your CPAP has a humidifier. Otherwise, buy it when you arrive. European train stations rarely have porters, although we did hire one through the information kiosk in Marseilles. In Paris, you must handle your luggage, arrange for a driver to help you or hope youll find a stranger whos trying to earn cash. Dont assume accessibility is as widespread overseas as it is in the United States. You are so fortunate in this country, a Brazilian woman told me as she was being wheeled next to me in Newark. Spend the final night of your trip at an airport hotel if you have an early flight. The main lesson? Just go. Life goes on. Enjoy it. travel@latimes.com Dongsheng village is a place of lives interrupted, of dreams deferred. Dongsheng is one of Beijings largest slums, home to an estimated 100,000 people an island of slapdash concrete homes amid shopping malls and highways in the citys western Haidian district. Yet authorities recently announced plans to tear the neighborhood down by mid-2016 to make way for a green space and an office park. Its residents, many of them low-wage laborers from the countryside, expect to spend the year mired in uncertainty, their lives uprooted amid a torrent of breakneck change. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Authorities think if all the outsiders are gone, Beijings air will be cleaner and Beijing wont have horrible traffic anymore, said Zhu Yansen, a 61-year-old slipper store owner from central Chinas Hubei province. I came here 20 years ago. Ive contributed a lot to this city. But if Beijing doesnt welcome me, I wont welcome Beijing either. For decades, Chinas economy was developing at a breakneck clip, propelling the country up on a seemingly endless trajectory. Yet for many, the last year has been one of disruption and disappointment. Economic growth slowed to its lowest rate in decades. In the summer, a stock market rout and a botched intervention eroded confidence in the countrys financial markets. Worsening pollution has raised widespread questions about whether the costs of a long-held growth-first economic model have outweighed the benefits. I think 2016 is going to be a testing year for the country, and for the [Communist] Party as a whole and for [Chinese President] Xi Jinping himself as well, said Steve Tsang, head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham. The economic slowdown is probably not going to be reversed, unless something that we cant expect happens. So things will get more difficult. China, in many ways, is a much stronger and more confident place than it was years ago, when the countrys economic boom was in full swing. Throughout 2015, Beijing pursued controversial territorial claims in the East and South China Seas with surprising vigor, even going so far as to build artificial islands on a disputed reef near the Philippines. Authorities have launched vast new foreign policy initiatives, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank a homegrown rival to the World Bank and the One Belt, One Road project, which will establish new trade and transportation routes across Europe and Asia. China will always open its arms to the world, Xi said Thursday in a New Years greeting. Yet Dongsheng residents, most of whom belong to Chinas 250-million-plus army of migrant workers, are less concerned about their countrys rising international profile than about keeping their families fed. In this districts Shenghongda Small Goods City, a line of dilapidated wholesale shops near a massive highway, residents were divided over how to handle the demolition. Some said that theyll take the authorities compensation packages and move to Hebei, an impoverished province that surrounds Beijing; others plan to hold out for better offers. Yin Wenfang, a 29-year-old shopkeeper from Hubei province, said she recently sent her young son back to her hometown to be raised by his grandparents. All the other buildings around us are tall and fancy, and they built a new subway station recently, so I knew that demolition was on its way, she said. It was just a matter of time. How the public will react to the disruption brought about by slower growth is a substantial concern for the Chinese government, analysts said. With the economic slowdown, and with jobs probably being lost, people start moving, and theres more [the government] needs to think about in terms of social stability, Tsang said. And the Xi Jinping administration, up to this point, has clearly paid a huge amount of attention to maintaining social stability. The last year has put even well-established residents of the capital on edge, not least because they spent much of it living in a cloud of noxious vapor. Officials have promised action, yet a fierce bout of smog in December has led many citizens to expect more time living with face masks, air purifiers and general respiratory discomfort. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> I do wish the smog will be much better next year, said Zhang Yixin, 34, an employee at an English training center in Beijing and father of an 8-year-old son. I hope next year there will be fewer days that my boy has to stay at home. ... He looks much paler than I did when I was young. Some Beijing residents have found room for optimism. Although the Chinese economy has taken a recent beating exports and imports have fallen, and manufacturing has slumped a handful of bright spots remain. In 2016, experts expect the countrys cinema box-office sales to jump 30%, and policymakers say wind and solar power capacity will rise by 21%. Chinese people cant afford to be too hopeless, said Fan Xin, 39, an assistant at an insurance company in Beijing. We need to be vigilant, but optimism is a blessing in bad times. jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com Yingzhi Yang, Alexandra Li and Nicole Liu in The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. ALSO Sticker shock: Ubers NYE surge pricing outrages some passengers Bull market stalls; can it reignite in 2016? Solar is in, biomass energy is outand farmers are struggling to dispose of woody waste Militants wearing army uniforms stormed an Indian air force base near the Pakistani border early Saturday, setting off a daylong battle that left five assailants and three Indian soldiers dead, according to officials and media reports. Four attackers were killed by security forces in the early hours while a fifth remained holed up inside the base until he was gunned down more than 12 hours after the attack began around 3:30 a.m. in Pathankot, about 260 miles north of New Delhi. Officials said they had credible information that the attack was carried out by militants from Pakistan, casting fresh doubt on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis controversial efforts to engage his rival neighbor in peace talks. Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan on Christmas Day to build momentum for a planned meeting later this month between the two countries top diplomats. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Previous steps toward talks have also been met with violence, leading Indian officials and analysts to argue that some elements inside Pakistans powerful military and intelligence agencies are empowering militant groups in a bid to scuttle dialogue. That was quick, Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of the Indian border state Jammu and Kashmir, tweeted following the attack. Heres the first major challenge to the PM Modis bold Pakistan gambit. Pakistan denied any role in the violence. Following Saturdays attack Pakistans foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the terrorist incident. We extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery, the statement read. This was the second attack in seven months in the border state of Punjab that Indian authorities have blamed on Pakistan-based extremists. The previous one, in which four policemen and three civilians were killed, followed a meeting between Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of a summit in Ufa, Russia, that helped pave the way for a resumption of long-delayed comprehensive peace talks. Saturdays attack follows a similar pattern, said Nitin Gokhale, an Indian national security analyst. Every peace move even if symbolic is followed by an audacious attack. The message is that a section of the Pakistani army, egged on by the ISI, will not give up its anti-India campaign, Gokhale said, referring to Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistans premier spy agency. Indian security officials, speaking to news media, said that the suspected attackers hijacked the car of a senior police official along a highway outside Pathankot after midnight on Saturday. According to Indian accounts, the assailants used the officials cellphone to place a call to Pakistan that was intercepted by Indian intelligence, which issued an alert. Indian officials said that due to the alert, security forces responded immediately after the militants entered the air base, about 30 miles from the Pakistani border. The attackers were contained within an administrative block of base and were not able to penetrate a secure area where fighter jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters are housed, officials said. Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the air force has been foiled, the Indian government said in a statement. The raid was blamed on militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was partly responsible for a 2001 assault on the parliament building in New Delhi that left 14 people dead, including five attackers. The incident prompted a major military buildup by both sides along the countries disputed border. India accuses Pakistans security establishment for supporting groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, which Pakistan denies. Security was tightened in New Delhi, the capital, following the attack, with additional security forces deployed to the airport, railway stations, bus stops and other key installations, the Press Trust of India reported. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The fate of the talks between the national security advisers, tentatively set for mid-January, was not immediately clear. The meeting is seen as significant in part because of the appointment of a retired general, Nasser Khan Janjua, as Pakistans new national security adviser, a sign that the Pakistani army was taking control of and tacitly endorsed the peace process. In India, Modi has faced opposition to his efforts to engage with Pakistan, including from some hard-liners inside his conservative Bharatiya Janata Party. In 1999, after the two countries conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests, the partys standard-bearer, then-Prime Minister Atal Bijari Vajpayee visited Pakistan and the two sides signed the Lahore Declaration aimed at deterring nuclear warfare. But further progress was stopped after a Pakistani military incursion prompted the two-month Kargil conflict, the fourth war between the two countries since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. Indias home affairs minister, Rajnath Singh, said that while India wants peace with Pakistan, if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. In Pakistan, analysts said the fate of the talks now rest with Modis government, which must decide whether to continue with the peace process despite the violence. We should wait for the Indian governments response on the attack, said Hassan Askari Rizvi, an independent Pakistani security analyst. This will decide the fate of these talks. Experts believe Modi remains committed to the negotiations, and that as leader of a conservative party with ties to hard-line Hindu groups, he has the political standing to make progress toward peace. If India wants to be seen as a regional power, it cannot itself be embroiled in a low-intensity conflict, for lack of a better term, with Pakistan, said Samir Saran, senior research fellow at the Observer Foundation, a New Delhi think tank. For Indias medium- and long-term interests, it needs to close this issue. Special correspondents Parth M.N. in Mumbai and Aoun Sahi in Islamabad, Pakistan, contributed to this report. ALSO Saudi Arabia executes 47, including top Shiite cleric California cranks out new businesses and jobs despite criticism After a year of disruption, China looks to 2016 with cautious optimism Everyone on 9th Street in central Kabuls Taimani neighborhood knew of the high-priced French restaurant that dominated their simple, unpaved road. Few, if any, had ever glimpsed the sprawling garden and multicolored flowers that lay behind the mammoth iron gate of Le Jardin. They only saw the armored cars of foreign dignitaries and Afghan political elites who often dined there. Residents viewed the restaurant not just as an eyesore, but as a threat to their lives and livelihoods a target for insurgents who have attacked such foreigner-friendly establishments with increasing frequency in recent years. Le Jardin became the latest Friday evening when a Taliban militant detonated a suicide bomb outside the restaurant, killing two people, a security guard and a 12-year-old boy, and injuring 15 others. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> I remember when ambassadors and ministers would come the whole street would be shut down by police, recalled Massoud, 13, who said he had heard of threats being made against the restaurant. After one of the several militant attacks on Kabuls airport over the past few years, Massoud and the owner of another restaurant said, Le Jardins operators were told: Leave, or we will do what we did to the airport to you. The Taliban made good on their threat, saying they had targeted a restaurant of foreigners. But residents said all of the victims were Afghan residents. He was a kind, simple boy. He didnt deserve to die like that Massoud, Kabul resident, on his friend, 12-year-old terror victim Baset Among them was the 12-year-old boy, Baset, whom neighbors recalled fondly for his distinctive laugh. At the time of the bombing, Baset was standing outside a convenience store made from a converted shipping container a few feet from his familys home. Massoud said shrapnel struck his friend in the back of the head. He collapsed instantly. He was a kind, simple boy, Massoud said. He didnt deserve to die like that. Massoud said he and his 7-year-old brother, Yousef, were among a group of boys who had been playing in the street just before the blast hit. Had our mothers not called us in, we would all be dead by now, Massoud said. For Afghans caught in ongoing violence between the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani and an armed opposition led by the Taliban, the attack was a deadly reminder, if one was ever needed, of the deep uncertainty they still must live with, even in the capital city, 14 years after the U.S.-led military invasion. Like several other high-priced eateries out of reach for the average Afghan one-third of the countrys 30 million people live on less than $1 per day Le Jardin was located in a residential area of Kabul. Local residents find themselves near the cross hairs of insurgents simply because of their proximity to establishments they know nothing about. In January 2014, Taliban militants attacked a Lebanese restaurant that was a favorite among foreigners and wealthy Afghans, killing 20 people. Among the dead were 13 foreigners and seven Afghans, including two drivers who were killed as they waited outside the restaurant. The security concerns along with a stagnant economy and dwindling international military presence that has reduced their customer base have caused nearly all of the restaurants that catered to expatriates and Afghan elites to close. To some Kabul residents, that has come as a relief. Outside Le Jardin on Saturday afternoon, one angry resident in his 60s, his home nearly leveled by the blast, yelled: It was a whorehouse! Why, why was it here in our neighborhood? Residents salvage appliances from their homes near the site of a suicide car bomb attack at Le Jardin, a French restaurant popular with foreigners in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar / AFP/Getty Images) One of the attackers was apprehended in a nearby alleyway after he tried to dispose of his weapon, police said. A second gunman was also arrested, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said Saturday. The third attacker was still at large. While the Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement, Sediqqi said authorities were still investigating which group carried it out. A Twitter account purportedly belonging to the Taliban bragged after the attack: Good omen for upcoming year as 2016 foundation stone set with spectacular fireworks. Meanwhile the grieving family of Baset, the slain boy, must walk past shards of broken glass that line their once quiet street, and the crews working to repair the damage to their neighbors houses. Latifi and Arsalai are special correspondents. Staff writer Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, contributed to this report. ALSO Saudi Arabia executes 47, including top Shiite cleric After a year of disruption, China looks to 2016 with cautious optimism Deadly attack on Indian air base is blamed on Pakistani militants, clouding peace talks Protests erupted around the Middle East on Saturday following the execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric, igniting sharp new tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in a region already boiling with sectarian conflict. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was one of 47 detainees put to death by sword and firing squad in the kingdoms largest such mass execution since 1980. The death of the popular cleric, who had been a critic of the Saudi governments often-harsh treatment of Shiites, touched off fury from Lebanon to Iran, with protesters storming and ransacking part of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and hurling Molotov cocktails at the consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad. In Bahrain, where a Saudi-backed Sunni-minority monarchy is ruling a Shiite-majority population, scores of protesters took to the streets before police fired tear gas to disperse the angry crowds. Advertisement The execution for what Saudi officials said were terrorism-related offenses was quickly condemned by international human rights organizations, with Amnesty International accusing the Saudi government of using the death penalty carried out in 157 cases during 2015 to settle scores and crush dissidents. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The London-based group Reprieve said at least four of those executed were convicted of offenses related to political protest, and said the kingdom is continuing to target those who have called for domestic reform. The widening protests, along with Saudi Arabias defiant move to carry out Nimrs October 2014 death sentence in the face of international condemnation, highlight increasing tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that have fueled civil conflict throughout the region. The execution comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of forces from 10 Sunni Muslim countries against Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, even as the kingdom is providing financial backing for Sunni militias against the Shiite government of President Bashar Assad in Syria. The execution should be regarded in the context of this engagement. Saudi wants to show that not only is it fighting Shiites in neighboring countries, but also within its own borders, said Egyptian political analyst Mustafa Labbad, director of Al-Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic studies in Cairo. This execution will definitely have heavy consequences, even if [Nimr] is just a Saudi citizen who was executed by Saudi authorities, he added. In addition to the sectarian rivalry simmering across the region, Saudi Arabia has also faced a wave of bombings and shooting attacks from Sunni extremists determined to overthrow the Saudi monarchy, which they have criticized as infected with corruption and beholden to Western allies such as the United States. Security forces will waste no effort in combating anyone involved with these terrorist groups, Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour Turki said at a news conference after Saturdays executions. The ministry said 45 of those executed were Saudi nationals, with the other two coming from Egypt and Chad. All were convicted of plotting and carrying out terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries, along with planning to damage the nations economy and harm its allies, the ministry said. The BBC reported that one of those executed was Adel Dubayti, who had been convicted in a 2004 Al Qaeda-linked attack that killed Simon Cumbers, a freelance cameraman on assignment for the BBC. Reporter Frank Gardner was critically injured in the attack. Nimrs nephew, Ali Mohammed Nimr, is also facing a death sentence in connection with the 2012 protests, which followed protests in 2011. But he was not one of those executed Saturday. Human rights groups have protested that sentence and at least two others imposed against suspects who were younger than 18 at the time of their arrests. The most vociferous reaction to Saturdays executions came from Tehran, a sign of the increasingly hostile political rivalry between the two biggest power brokers in the Persian Gulf region. Join the conversation on Facebook >> While extremists and terrorists are threatening certain regional states, execution of a figure such as Sheikh Nimr who had no tool but speech to pursue his political and religious goals, shows deep imprudence and irresponsibility, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Jaber-Ansari said. A picture posted on the Iranian Supreme Leaders website called Saudi Arabia the white ISIS, using an acronym for Islamic State, and compared Nimrs execution to those carried out by the militant group against its opponents and captives. Iranian state TV announced that all religious schools across the country would be closed for students to take part in protests of the execution. Video footage and still photos posted on Twitter by a social media editor from Irans Shargh Daily showed protesters inside one of the rooms at the embassy in Tehran, breaking glass and smashing furniture. Separate photos from the Iranian Students News Agency showed firefighters aiming a stream of water at thick smoke pouring out of the building. Authorities were said to have safely evacuated the building and corraled the protesters. Condemnations were triggered in Lebanon, where the countrys Supreme Shiite Council called the mass execution a grave mistake, and the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which is fighting Saudi-backed militias in Syria, called it an assassination and a heinous crime. In Iraq, parliament member Khalaf Abdul Samad called for the closure of the newly reinstated Saudi Embassy in Baghdad, while former Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said that executing Nimr is a crime that will overthrow the Saudi monarchy. Protests also erupted in Saudi Arabias oil-rich Eastern Province, scene of the protests that formed the basis of Nimrs conviction and home to a majority of Saudi Arabias Shiites, who account for up to 15% of the kingdoms population. Thousands took to the streets when Nimr was shot and arrested in 2012. Nimr was the most vocal opposition leader in the Eastern Province. He has called for and taken part in protests against the monarchy, and called prominently for the equality of Shiites, who live in the kingdoms main oil-producing area but have a generally lower standard of living and fewer freedoms. Nimr has been arrested several times over the past decade, most recently during the Eastern Province protests, when he was charged with breaking allegiance with the ruler, inciting sectarian strife and encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations. In a letter reportedly sent to his mother during detention and widely publicized on Shiite news sites, Nimr was said to have welcomed the potential of becoming a martyr by way of execution. My mother, always thank God and accept what destiny writes, because the provision and destiny God provides is the best one and whatever he selects is the wisest one, it said. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington has previously expressed its concerns about the legal process in Saudi Arabia and is reaffirming its call for protection of human rights and transparent judicial proceedings. Kirby said Nimrs execution risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. The Saudi-based Arab News, quoting Saudi interior ministry officials, said the simultaneous executions Saturday were the biggest mass execution for such offenses since 1980, when 63 militants convicted of seizing the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca in 1979 were put to death. Special correspondents Hassan reported from Cairo and Mostaghim from Tehran. ALSO Air force base in India attacked; officials blame Pakistan militants California cranks out new businesses and jobs despite criticism After a year of disruption, China looks to 2016 with cautious optimism Longshot presidential candidate Martin O'Malley has failed to submit enough valid signatures to participate in the Ohio Democratic primary ballot this March, state officials said Thursday. According to the Baltimore Sun, the former Maryland governor submitted 1,175 signatures to the Ohio secretary of state, 175 more than the minimum requirement. However, a secretary spokeswoman said only 772 of the signatures were valid. The news marks a major setback in O'Malley's campaign, which has failed to gain recognition among voters and the media. With only a month left before primary voting begins, this may be the nail in the coffin for the underdog candidate. Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both managed to surpass the 1,000-signature requirement to compete in the swing state, where victory often proves crucial in winning the primary, and eventually the White House. Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said the development was a "disaster" for O'Malley, but ultimately didn't make much of a difference to the presidential race as a whole. "Let's not oversell it," Sabato said. "I don't know anyone who takes Martin O'Malley's candidacy seriously at this point. He was long ago eclipsed by Bernie Sanders as Hillary Clinton's main challenger. He's done nothing to change that." Despite having relative success in his debate appearances, O'Malley's poll numbers have not exceeded 10 percent in any state. O'Malley's campaign expressed disappointment at the turn of events, but they did not throw in the towel. "While this news is disappointing, we are exploring all of our options, and Gov. O'Malley will campaign vigorously in Ohio," spokeswoman Haley Morris said to NBC News. Veteran Democratic campaign strategist Joe Trippi said that if O'Malley was to experience a surge in the polls, it's not inconceivable that he could win without being on the Ohio ballot. For instance, delegates pledged to another candidate could choose to support O'Malley instead. "It's unlikely he's going to take off, but if he does, that's not an unsurmountable problem," Trippi said. "This game's been played before. This is a problem that has happened many, many, many times. If you're in it, there are a ways to get around the problem." Two Mexican marines were gunned down Monday in pursuit of infamous drug lord Joaquin Guzman, aka "El Chapo." Spanish news outlet El Pais reports the shooting occurred in the coastal town of Angostura, in Mexico's Culiacan state. The marines were patrolling the area when their convoy began to take fire. The Secretary of the Marines said the assailant was identified as Jose Maria Penuelas Rubio, a criminal with a prior record for destruction and falsification of documents. He was killed in the attack as well. This incident marks the second time in less than a week that an assault has been waged on a special marine operations convoy in the country. On Christmas Day, a separate convoy was attacked in Guzman's hometown of Badiraguato in Sinaloa. When the marines called for reinforcements to fight off the attack, the assailants began firing at the military helicopters that came to help. Two of the gunman were killed in the exchange. Afterwards, authorities confiscated a number of military grade weapons, including assault rifles, grenades and munitions. The marines also located and destroyed four tons of marijuana. Mexican authorities are focusing their search for El Chapo in a mountainous region known as the Golden Triangle, which sits between the states of Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Durango. Guzman escaped from a maximum security prison last July by traveling through a tunnel dug under his cell. In the investigation that followed, dozens of penitentiary officials were arrested in connection with the escape plot. It is unknown where Guzman is currently hiding out, but Mexican security forces suspect he may be somewhere in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Other notorious fugitives from the Sinaloa cartel -- such as Guzman's ally Ismael Zambada Garcia and Rafael Caro Quintero -- are also believed to be hiding in the area. The manhunt has forced hundreds of locals to flee their homes. The State Department released 5,500 pages of Hillary Clinton's personal emails from her tenure as secretary of state on the last day of 2015. According to The Associated Press, the 2016 Democratic presidential front-runner has been under heavy criticism ever since it was revealed that she used a private and unsecured email server while she was serving under the Obama administration. Starting in May, government officials have been releasing massive batches of Clinton's emails each month, bringing the total to more than 40,000 pages. However, the State Department fell short of reaching an order to publish 82 percent, or about 45,000 emails, by the end of the year. "We have worked diligently to come as close to the goal as possible, but with the large number of documents involved and the holiday schedule we have not met the goal this month," the State Department said in a statement, reports USA Today. "To narrow that gap, the State Department will make another production of former Secretary Clinton's email sometime next week." Although the former first lady claimed that she never sent or received classified information via her private email server, the latest batch of emails included 275 documents that were upgraded to "classified." Altogether 1,274 classified documents have been found in her emails. A State Department official also told Fox News on Thursday that two of those emails were designed "secret," which is the second-highest level of classification, and most of the others were upgraded to "confidential," the lowest level of classification. Following the release of the emails on New Year's Eve, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus issued a statement bashing the 2016 hopeful for being untrustworthy. "With more than 1,250 emails containing classified information now uncovered, Hillary Clinton's decision to put secrecy over national security by exclusively operating off of a secret email server looks even more reckless," Priebus said Thursday night. "When this scandal first broke, Hillary Clinton assured the American people there was no classified material on her unsecure server, a claim which has since been debunked on a monthly basis with each court-ordered release." An official with the State Department, however, explained that the classifications were retroactive. "The information we upgraded today was not marked classified at the time the emails were sent," the official said. The latest release includes an exchange with a State employee gushing praise over Clinton's daughter Chelsea in 2012. "Chelsea Clinton did a really great job moderating a session," the employee wrote. John Tefft, who was the U.S. ambassador to the Ukraine at the time, also applauded Chelsea for giving a ravishing speech. "A great job cultivating a positive image of the US here. No exaggeration," he wrote. Clinton replied to an aide who passed along the praise, saying, "As you know, hearing nice things about your children is as good as it gets. Thanks." In another exchange, George Soros, a billionaire philanthropist who donates to liberal causes, confided to a former Clinton aide that he "regretted his decision" to support Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries over Clinton. I was lucky enough to visit Guildhall in London a couple of months back and spent a very enjoyable afternoon being shown round and hearing about its fascinating history. I had a lovely lunch, too. While in the dining room, I saw Jeremy Browne having a big lunch meeting. It wasnt long after hed been appointed as the City of Londons representative to the EU, a role which is right up his street after his stint as a foreign office minister during the Coalition. Sky News reports that hes heading off on a tour of EU capitals to showcase the importance of the city of London to the EU. Explaining the motives for the series of discussions, Mr Browne told Sky News: I do not want the City of London to be resented by policymakers elsewhere in Europe. I do not even want it to be tolerated. I want the City of London to be admired and valued. I want it to be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem. That involves getting out there and making our case. His tour, which will continue in the months leading up to a Brexit vote, is designed to start a meaningful dialogue about how the City of London can contribute to the EUs policy goals of increasing economic growth and boosting employment, according to a person familiar with the agenda. While the City of London Corporation has not stated whether it will actively support the campaign to keep Britain in the EU, many of its senior officials believe that retaining membership would be of greater benefit to the City and the wider UK economy. Mr Browne added: The City of London should retain a strong and vigilant presence in Brussels which is alert to the potential impact of regulation. That remains important and our ambition is to facilitate an even better dialogue between policymakers and the businesses that feel the force of any changes. At the same time, it is essential that the City of London is engaged and speaks effectively and systematically with political leaders across Europe. In a little reported step on Tuesday 22 December, the United Nations General Assembly, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention, adopted a resolution demanding Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources under Israeli occupation and the UK actually voted in favour! The Fourth Geneva Convention was adopted in 1949 following the Second World War and the forced migrations of many peoples that occurred during and immediately after it. Article 49 of that 4th Geneva Convention clearly states: The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. Israel ratified this Convention in 1951. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council adopted a report from the Secretary-General and a Commission of Experts which concluded that the Geneva Conventions had passed into the body of customary international law, thus making them binding even on non-signatories to the Conventions whenever they engage in armed conflicts. This Convention came too late to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians that occurred after the Israel/Palestine partition plan of 1947 and the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. It was however adopted well before the 1967 war and the occupation of what was left of the Palestinian Territories by Israel in that year. Many times the UN General Assembly and the Security Council have reminded Israel that the demolition of Palestinian homes and livelihoods and forced evictions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem contravene Article 49. This is also the official position of the UK government although successive British PMs have been quite prepared to turn a blind eye to the creeping colonisation and other miseries inflicted on the Palestinian people. Israel however seems to be outraged that a Convention introduced as a reaction to the Nazis in Europe could possibly be thought to apply to it, and many of its friends in the West (including some sadly in our own Party) seem prepared to go along with this Israeli exceptionalist argument. Many in the Netanyahu government think that the whole of Palestine belongs to them and that the Palestinians are the occupiers! Could we be starting to see a change of attitude on the part of the UK government? It has for instance supported and indeed encouraged the EU move to require settlement goods to be labelled distinctly from goods produced in Israel. This is a great help to those who dont want to be complicit in the illegality of the settlements by buying products made on stolen land. The resolution of 22 December, Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, was adopted with 164 votes in favour and five against. Canada (surprisingly in view of its new liberal government) and the United States (more predictably) voted against. Normally one would have expected the UK to slavishly follow the US lead in voting against. What is remarkable and encouraging is that we voted in favour! The resolution is the latest to be adopted through ongoing efforts by Palestinian leadership to take measures against Israel in the international arena following decades of failed peace talks. The UN General Assembly reiterated the illegality of the Israeli settlement enterprise and its monopoly over Palestinian resources citing the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources. Water resources in the occupied Palestinian territory are almost entirely under Israeli control, and around 85 percent of water is allocated to Israelis, even though they only represent 20% of water users. If support for this resolution marks a hardening of the UK attitude towards Israel then that is to be welcomed. It sure would be nice in 2016 to see our own Party championing the human rights of Palestinians as the Netanyahu government continues its absorption of their lands into Israel while treating them no better than the apartheid government of South Africa treated its black population. Tim Farron couldnt have been clearer in his remarks during his Q & A session at the Bournemouth Conference. In answer to a question, Tim referred to his anger at the stories constantly emanating from the occupied territories and described the treatment of the Palestinians as persecution. He emphasised his support for a two state solution, both sides with secured borders and living in peace with one another. While Tim said that he preferred the recognition of a Palestinian state through a process of consent between Israel and Palestine, he also said that every day Netanyahu builds more settlements in the West Bank, the less likely that the recognition of a Palestinian state will be achieved in a consensual way. He suggested that the recognition of a Palestinian state unilaterally or internationally might be inevitable. A further three months has gone by, the persecution and the settlement expansion continues and the cycle of violence provoked by all this is in full swing. Palestine has many champions at Westminster but a leadership vacuum. The Lib Dems would be the natural Party to lead this cause in the year ahead. Comments on this post will be pre-moderated. * John Kelly is a member in Warwick District, Secretary of the Lib Dem Friends of Palestine, and a member of the Federal International Relations Committee. Sometimes, looking at satellite images of planet Earth is a bit like playing hidden pictures. A few years ago, NASA science writer Adam Voiland noticed that a satellite image of smoke plumes over Canada looked like the letter "V." Eager to play a worldwide game of hidden pictures, he began compiling images of all 26 letters in the English alphabet found in photos taken by NASA satellites and astronauts, he said in NASA Earth Observatory post. Now, Voiland has a collection of natural wonders, including clouds, phytoplankton blooms and dust clouds, that look like the ABCs. The assemblage is a work in progress; he encourages anyone who can find a better letter, be it cursive or script, to contact NASA with the date, latitude and longitude. (Image credits: NASA) [Photos: Stunning Views of US National Parks from Space] A Bowknot Bend, a portion of Utah's Green River doubling back on itself, looks like a lowercase, cursive "A." Rafters journeying on the Green River will travel about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) around the loop before coming back to nearly the same spot. An astronaut on the International Space Station took this photo on Jan. 22, 2014. B The letter "B" comes into view in this image of the Arkansas River and the Holla Bend Wildlife Refuge. During wintertime, as many as 100,000 ducks and geese take shelter in the refuge, Voiland said. The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 took this image on Aug. 4, 2014. C Can you see the "C"? These man-made tropical islands are located at the southern end of Bahrain Island off of the Persian Gulf. An astronaut snapped this photo on Jan. 23, 2011. D Don't blink, or you might miss this uppercase, outlined "D" in an image of Akimiski Island, located in Canada's James Bay. The Enhanced Thematic Mapper on Landsat 7 captured this image on Aug. 9, 2000. E This swirly, lowercase "E" is actually a phytoplankton bloom off the east coast of New Zealand. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite acquired this image on Oct. 25, 2009. F Fly to Tibet to see the letter "F." This false-color image shows the valleys and snow-topped mountain ranges in southeastern Tibet. Fittingly, "F" helps spell the word "firn," a granular kind of snow that is found on the top of glaciers before it is compressed into ice. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on Aug. 4, 2014. G This uppercase G is actually Pinaki Island, a 1.8-mile by 1.2-mile island (3 by 2 km) located in the Pacific Ocean's French Polynesia. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station took the photo in April 2001. H Hop on over to southwestern Kyrgyzstan to see rivers running through these colorful ridges. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on Aug. 30, 2014. I Always remember to dot your i's. The lowercase "I" seen here captures the beauty of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal between India and Myanmar. The thin, bright rings around several of the islands are coral reefs that the 9.1-magnitude earthquake in 2004 pushed up and out of the water, Voiland said. The MODIS on NASA's Terra satellite took this image on Feb. 10, 2007. J There's nothing jejune about this "J"-looking reef, known as the Trunk Reef and located near Townsville, Australia. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on July 17, 2015. K The glaciers at the Sirmilik National Park form this beautiful "K" in Pond Inlet, or Mittimatalik, Canada. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on Aug. 3, 2015. L Snowfall in the northeastern United States created this unique "L." The MODIS on the Aqua satellite acquired this image on Oct. 30, 2008. M This fancy "M" shows the glaciers of the Tian Shan mountains in northeastern Kyrgyzstan. The brown sediment within the upper part of the "M" is called medial moraine, which describes sediment that piles up in the middle of merging glaciers, Voiland said. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on Aug. 14, 2015. N These "N"-shaped clouds aren't made by planes, but rather by ships crossing the Pacific Ocean. Called ship tracks, these clouds take shape when ships release small gas particles of exhaust. The particles waft up to the sky and trigger cloud formation. The MODIS on the Terra satellite took this image on March 4, 2009. O The Tenoumer meteorite crater in the northwestern African country of Mauritania looks exactly like an "O." However, the meteorite is much younger than the one that killed the dinosaurs about 65.5 million years ago. Scientists say the Tenoumer meteorite is likely between 10,000 and 30,000 years old, Voiland said. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra satellite took this image on Jan. 24, 2008. P A false-color image of the Mackenzie River Delta in Canada shows the letter "P." The Mackenzie River is Canada's longest river, at about 1,080 miles (1,738 km). The ASTER sensor on the Terra satellite took this image on Aug. 4, 2005. Q The Lonar crater in India contains shocked quartz, a hint suggesting that a large meteorite created the crater after slamming into Earth. Shocked quartz forms when the mineral is under intense pressure. This "Q" was acquired by the ASTER on NASA's Terra satellite on Nov. 29, 2004. R Argentina's Lago Menendez looks like a lowercase "R." The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on Jan. 20, 2015. S This whirly "S" looks like one of Vincent Van Gogh's textured paintings, but is actually an image of clouds blowing over the Atlantic Ocean. The MODIS on the Terra satellite took this image on April 29, 2009. T I spy two green roads meeting at a "T" in the United Arab Emirates. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on March 9, 2015. U The San Juan River meanders through the sandstone at Goosenecks State Park in southeastern Utah. The image, taken by the Ikonos satellite on May 9, 2004, shows that the river is surrounded by canyon walls more than 1,000 feet (304 meters) high, according to NASA Earth Observatory. V Ash makes the letter "V" as it covers the snow on Shiveluch, one of Russia's largest and most active volcanoes. The OLI on Landsat 8 took this image on March 23, 2015. W This cursive "W" is actually dust blowing high above the Red Sea in the Middle East. The MODIS on NASA's Terra satellite captured this image on Jan. 13, 2009. X "X" marks the spot in this false-color image of the northwest corner of the Leidy Glacier in Greenland. The ASTER on NASA's Terra satellite took this image on Aug. 7, 2012. Y These colorful streaks were added after the picture was taken, but nonetheless the Ugab River in Namibia still looks like a "Y." The ASTER on NASA's Terra satellite acquired this image on Dec. 25, 2000. Z A wildfire over Canada produced this "Z"-like smoke pattern in July 2012. The MODIS on NASA's Aqua satellite took this image from space. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. From: olivia michelle Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 08:32:20 +0000 Subject: RE: COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY, AND HOW ARE YOU DOING? Hello dear, I Guess you are doing great. I'm very sorry that i could not reply your mail in time i was very busy in office with Hope Worldwide, I got some gifts and items from the organization, your thought just came in my mind and I decided to send some to you as presents. Actually I do not have need for some of these items so i felt they might be useful to you. And also to register in your heart that I came first among your friends. I sent the gift through a friend and also a Co_worker, Rev,Jeremaih Mathew As he went to Senegal yesterday for Hope Worldwide Aid support to Senegal with his groups, Rev of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine. yesterday after participating in a Church meeting we held here and I gave him the gift package to deliver to you When he arrives there since you didn't supply me with your postal address and I couldn't wait for you to do that now because I am on my way to Haiti, Hope Worldwide Aid support to Haiti. I believe where the Rev,Jeremiah Mathew is residing (the Senegal) might be closer to you or your residence country. You should contact him via email:(rev.jeremiahmathew25@hotmail.com) and if possible discuss with him on phone :(+221774002320) regarding how to receive your gift package and you should send him your home Address and telephone number OK. Please don't laugh at me when you receive the pack, I know it isn't much but I sent it from my innermost heart and belief you gonna appreciate everything inside the package because it is coming from a special friend and in a special way. I know that you will be in need of this item in one way or the other. The content of the pack are 2 Toshiba laptops computer, 2 i-phone, AN ENVELOPE, Video Camera and some jewelries. I packed everything in a medium carton and gave it to Rev,Jeremaih Mathew to deliver it to you because he didn't travel with much luggage of his own when he was traveling. Open the pack of one of the laptop to bring out the envelop which I put inside, it contains some of my recent photos and that of my family members and a surprise gift which I don't want to disclose to you till you see it, leaving it at home my brother will do away with then OK. Update me when you receive it, so I will be aware. I will see how i can make a request for you as a volunteer in this organization if you would be interested. I will get to you when i come back. Yours truly, Dr. Olivia Michelle. From: olivia michelle Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 14:45:21 +0000 Subject: Try to Update me Try to Update me My dear love once you are able to collect the parcel from Rev,Jeremiah Mathew please try to update me immediately so that we can share the joy together,please in case if you could not receive my mail on time,just have it in mind that am busy and i promise to check on you once am less busy,thanks and God bless you.wait the good news I love you.best regards Dr. Olivia Michelle. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... The brain circuits responsible for the inability to feel pleasure have now been discovered in rats, a finding that could help researchers better understand the mechanisms underlying depression and schizophrenia. Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure from activities that are normally found enjoyable, is a core symptom of several human psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. However, little is known about the brain circuits that underlie anhedonia, hindering attempts to develop therapies for it. Previous brain-imaging research suggested that anhedonia might be linked to a part of the brain that sits just behind the forehead known as the medial prefrontal cortex. Prior studies implicated this brain region with thinking about oneself and others, as well as organizing information. [5 Controversial Mental Health Treatments] Now, scientists have conducted experiments on the medial prefrontal cortex of rats. They focused on a series of neurons, or brain circuits, that react to dopamine, a brain chemical linked with responses to rewards such as food, money and social interactions. The rats were genetically modified so that dopamine circuits would activate when the researchers shone pulses of light on their brains. The scientists also used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tomonitor brain activity in conscious rats. When the researchers used light to stimulate the medial prefrontal cortex, the rats lost their preference for sugar water over regular water. They also tended to socialize less. Both responses are symptoms of anhedonia. Brain imaging showed that stimulating the medial prefrontal cortex strengthened its connections with certain other regions of the brain, such as the orbital cortex and the ventral striatum, which previous research linked with responses to rewards. In addition, as a result of this stimulation, a few regions became more isolated from the rest of the brain, including areas called the auditory and retrosplenial cortices, which have previously been shown to be related to depression and schizophrenia in humans. "Experimental elevations in excitability of parts of the prefrontal cortex, as can occur in depression and schizophrenia, control the extent to which major basic rewards and drives are compelling in behavior," study author Dr. Karl Deisseroth, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at Stanford University, told Live Science. "We need to continue developing this understanding of how the brain works all together as a coordinated dynamical system." The scientists detailed their findings in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Science. Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. To the editor: On behalf of the Laredo A&M Mothers Club, I would like to inform the public that the 23rd anniversary Aggie Memorial Mass will be celebrated. In December of 1992, a young devout Catholic science major student, Jose Juan Sanchez, approached the priest at St. Augustine Church about the idea of officiating a special mass for Aggie students. J. J.s sole purpose for this mass was for the priest to have a special blessing at the end of the mass for all Aggie students returning to College Station in the spring semester. J. J. assisted in organizing the first Laredo Texas A&M Students mass in January of 1993. As fate would have it, J.J., a senior and a cadet in the corps, was killed 2 months later, in March of 1993 in a car accident. J. J.s efforts and commitment in initiating this tradition continued even after his tragic passing. The Laredo A&M Mothers Club has celebrated the J.J. Sanchez Memorial Mass every year since then at Christ the King Church. This year the mass will be celebrated on Jan. 3, and Father Jose Luis Balderas will be officiating. Students returning to Aggieland this semester will be treated to a very special blessing in memory of J.J. Sanchezs 23rd anniversary Memorial Mass. Through this mass, not only do we keep J.J.s idea alive but this also allows our Aggie attendees to create a special and unique bond among them before they head back to Aggieland. The Jose Juan Sanchez 93 Memorial Mass will be held at Christ the King Church on Jan. 3, 2016 at 10 am. Sincerely, Diana T.E. Lopez Club Officer To the editor: There is a cancer of self-loathing disguised as desire to reform society eating away at Western Culture. Since the time of Rousseau this quest by the secular elite to remake culture in a humanist manner as opposed to a Judeo-Christian manner has produced failure and led many people into dark hopelessness because their utopian dreams have not come true. The modern Democratic Party has offered this illusive hope to voters for several decades most recently in Obamas campaign theme of Hope and Change. This intellectual mush is reflected in the public statements of party leaders and local followers. To offset this hopelessness I feel compelled to offer corrections to three of David Amarazs points in his most recent letter to the editor of Dec. 29. Bart Ehrman is not a Christian apologist. He is an agnostic New Testament scholar and former evangelical Christian who has written extensively about Jesus of Nazareth. I interpret him to believe that Jesus was not God incarnate, but as he says, Jesus did exist, whether we like it or not in the last sentence of his book Did Jesus Exist? Christianity is a historic faith based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. One can believe, as most Christians do, that he was God-man or one can disbelieve that claim. When David Almaraz asked in his letter of Dec. 13, Could the writer enlighten us as to what of mythologys 16 crucified saviors including Krishna of India etc. may have meant when they preached they were the Way, the Truth and the Life? I answer because Jesus was a real person, not a mythological creation. He was taking an irrational position contrary to his claims to believe in reason. According to standard Biblical exegesis Jesus is the sole mediator between humanity and God hence his I am statement. Next, why do I use the construct Democrat party? I use it to deprecate its disingenuous claims to be democratic or to represent democratic principles. One need only look at this years nomination process to see the partys true nature, why is Hillary the only real candidate? I also lump the leadership of the party with the secular elite because that is who they think they are, smarter than the rest of us. However, what I find most troubling is his insinuation that I do not believe in reason. His two quotes from Martin Luther are found on one of several atheist web sites. I found them at www.positiveatheism.org and www.jesuscult.com. A more informed selection of Luthers comments on reason can be found under the headings of Reason, Faith, Gospel, Philosophy, Religion and Truth in What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian. In sum, Luther was a polemicist writing/arguing for faith-based Biblical interpretation. He argued against the then current rationalist and philosophical interpretations of Scripture and Church practices. He praised reason, but insisted it was subservient to faith in matters of religion. Sincerely, Joseph Pelto Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases Commandos from Afghanistans counterterrorism force freed 59 prisoners from a Taliban jail in the troubled southern province of Helmand. The raid, and another like it early last month, are key indicators that the province is slipping out of the Afghan governments control. Soldiers from the 1st Ktah Khas (KKA), Afghanistans national-level counterterrorism unit, launched an air assault on the makeshift Taliban prison earlier today in the district of Nahr-i-Sarraj, US Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), the US military command in the country said in a press release. The raid was an Afghan led and executed operation, according to USFOR-A. US forces provided only limited intelligence and planning support to this operation, the press release stated. No US forces were on the ground during the operation. Afghan forces, backed by US Special Forces, launched a similar raid in the district of Now Zad in Helmand one month ago, on Dec. 3, 2015. The combined forces freed more than 40 prisoners comprised of Afghan Police, Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police members, USFOR-A reported last month. Updating last months raid, USFOR-A claimed today that 60 prisoners were freed on Dec. 3. Afghan intelligence sources used the intelligence gathered during the Now Zad raid to discover the location of the hostages rescued Saturday in Nahr-i-Sarraj, USFOR-A stated in todays press release. While the operations against the Taliban prisons in Nahr-i-Sarraj and Now Zad highlights potential capabilities of Afghanistans Special Security Forces and the Special Mission Wing, which flew the helicopters in both raids, they also emphasize the worsening security situation in Helmand province. The Afghan jihadist group has continued to press its offensive in Helmand to regain the ground lost between 2009-2011, during the US-led surge. Of Helmands 13 districts, five are known to be controlled by the Taliban (Nowzad, Musa Qala, Baghran, Dishu, and Sangin), and another five are heavily contested (Nahr-i-Sarraj, Kajaki, Nad Ali, Garmsir and Khanashin). Of the remaining three districts, The Long War Journal believes two (Washir and Nawa-i-Barak) are contested, but the situation is unclear. Only Lashkar Gah, the district that hosts the provincial capital, has not seen significant Taliban activity. [See LWJ report, Taliban controls or contests nearly all of southern Afghan province.] Taliban forces based in Nahr-i-Sarraj and Nad Ali are just miles from the city of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. The two districts are hotly contested, and the Taliban have surrounded Marjah and Gereshk, the district centers of Nad Ali and Nahr-i-Sarraj respectively. Outside of Helmand, the Taliban has significantly expanded its influence in the past year. The Taliban now controls 40 districts in Afghanistan and contests another 39, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal. These numbers may be low given the methodology used to assess control and contested districts. The Taliban resurgence has also impacted al Qaedas fortunes in Afghanistan. The jihadist group operated two training camps in Shorabak district in Kandahar province, one which was 30 square miles, for one and a half years before US forces discovered and destroyed them in a four-day operation in October 2015. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Five terrorists thought to be members of Jaish-e-Mohammed were killed by Indian commandos during an assault at an airbase in Punjab province earlier today. The jihadists were said to have been in contact with their handlers inside Pakistan during the assault. The suicide assault team, wearing military uniforms, attacked the Pathankot Air Force Base close to the border with Pakistan at 3:30 a.m., DNA India reported. The attackers first penetrated the outer security cordon and reached a dining facility on the base, but were stopped there by Indian security personnel, led by commandos from the National Security Guard, according to the Hindustan Times. Fighting lasted for more than four hours before Indian forces killed the five attackers. Three Indian security personnel were killed during the fighting. The jihadists are thought to have been attempting to destroy military aircraft, including Mi-21 attack helicopters and MiG-25 fighters. Security personnel found a huge quantity of RDX in their [the terrorists] possession according to DNA India. RDX is a military-grade explosive that has been used in terrorist plots in India and elsewhere in the past. According to Indian news reports, the assault on the airbase is believed to have been executed by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based jihadist group with close ties to al Qaeda. An Indian man abducted by the suicide assault team and left for dead after having his throat slit, said the jihadists attacked the airbase to avenge the death of Afzal Guru, a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative who was executed for his involvement in the Dec.2001 assault on Indias Parliament in New Delhi, the Hindustan Times reported. That assault was executed by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, another Pakistan-based terrorist group supported by Paksitans military and intelligence services. Intelligence services intercepted cell phone calls from from the attackers to their handlers in Pakistan, the Hindustan Times reported. One of the attackers called his mother in Pakistans Punjab province and to seek her blessings for carrying out the suicide mission, according to India Today. Pakistan-based jihadist groups have communicated with their handlers inside Pakistan during operations in previous attacks. In the most notorious case, members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba suicide assault team that attacked Mumbai in November 2008 received instructions and advice on how to select hostages for execution. The handlers were heard cheering as the jihadists carried out executions. Jaish-e-Mohammed has participated in multiple terror attacks in India and has provided crucial aid to al Qaeda. Some of its top leaders have integrated with the global terror movement. Elements of Jaish-e-Mohammed have joined al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, or AQIS, the newest regional branch of the global jihadist group which was formed by al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri in Sept. 2014. Military facilities in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have been frequently targeted by jihadist groups based in the region. In one Sept. 2014 attack, AQIS attempted to take over a Pakistani warship and fire missiles at nearby American warships with the help of Pakistani naval personnel. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. South Korea's crude oil imports in December rose 21.1 percent from a year earlier to 97.9 million barrels, preliminary data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed on Friday. The final data will be released later in the month by state-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC). Details of preliminary imports and previous actual figures are as follows: (in millions of barrels) Dec 2015 Nov 2015* Dec 2014* Crude Oil 97.9 81.7 80.8 *Actual import figures * Note: The ministry did not break down imports by country of origin. South Korea's total crude imports in November fell 1.5 percent year-on-year, according to KNOC data last month. (Reporting by Rebecca Jang; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Iraqs Longstanding Nightmare Continues Washington bears full responsibility for the Middle Easts longstanding nightmare, partnered with rogue Israeli, NATO and Arab regimes. Call it the curse of oil - Iraq Exhibit A. From Americas orchestrated Iran/Iraq war to Operation Desert Storm, to years of genocidal sanctions, to Operation Iraqi Freedom, to ongoing out-of-control raging violence and chaos, its imperial madness destroyed the cradle of civilization, replacing it with endless dystopian harshness - one of historys greatest crimes, accountability nowhere in sight. Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama committed high crimes against peace. Millions of Iraqis suffered and died from September 1980 to the present. Millions today endure unspeakable misery - living in an endless war zone, security and stability entirely absent. The curse of US created and supported ISIS haunts them. Residents fleeing war-torn Ramadi recounted their ordeal under ISIS control. Many families risked death to escape starvation, misery and use as human shields. Iraq forces detained freed men, suspicious of ISIS terrorists among them. Pockets of the city remain in their control. Hundreds of their fighters havent quit, including in central areas. Streets and buildings are booby-trapped. Unexploded ordnance is everywhere. Water, power and other infrastructure essentials are destroyed, badly damaged or inoperable, according the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Its unclear how long itll take for residents to feel safe to return. Anbars provincial council head Sabah Karhot said as much as 80% of Ramadi was destroyed. The area has been continuously at war for over two years, ISIS fighters capturing the city last May. Iraqi forces retook most of it this week, including the compound housing the provincial government. Hundreds managing to escape fighting are sheltered in an Anbar displaced persons camp under miserable conditions. Umm Mustafa and her family believed they wouldnt survive. They nearly starved to death in Ramadi. ISIS used them as human shields. Hundreds of other Iraqis endured a similar ordeal. There were no doctors, no food, no water, said Umm. It was real misery how we lived, but we couldnt open our mouths or we would be killed. They were threatened with death if attempts to escape were made. They were used as human shields against Iraqi forces. They were doing this on purpose, and they were telling us that as long as youre close to us, nobody will hurt us, Umm explained. When they gathered us in one place, they said: You represent protection for us. Without you, we will be attacked and killed. Another resident said they were told to go with ISIS fighters or theyd blow up their houses with them inside. Facing certain death from starvation or violence, Umm and her husband decided to act - carefully moving through Ramadis rubble, seeking minimal shelter wherever possible, telling ISIS patrols when detected they were looking for food. When they spotted the Iraqi flag atop a visible building, they made run for safety, miraculously managing to survive - somehow avoiding ISIS live fire trying to stop them. At one point, they were in no-mans land between two opposing forces. They heard Iraqi soldiers over a loudspeaker urging them to keep fleeing. They decided risking death was better than living under ISIS. Somehow they made it to safety - with no assurance of whats to come. Endless violence and chaos continues. Front lines keep shifting. Residents under ISIS control were brutalized prisoners, death haunting them every day from war, starvation and overall deprivation. Washington bears full responsibility. It created and continues supporting the ISIS monster - ravaged countries, mass slaughter, vast destruction and appalling human misery the price it inflicts to advance its imperium. No greater pure evil exists on planet earth - a menace threatening humanity everywhere. By Stephen Lendman http://sjlendman.blogspot.com His new book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III. http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html He lives in Chicago and can be reached in Chicago at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday through Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national topics. All programs are archived for easy listening. 2015 Copyright Stephen Lendman - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Saudi Arabia Executes Four Dozen Prisoners ISIS Style Riyadh and Washington are close allies, partnering in each others high crimes - both countries notably supporting ISIS and other terrorist groups, used as US imperial foot soldiers. Domestically, Riyadhs human rights record is abominable. Fundamental freedoms dont exist. Criticizing ruling authorities risks arrest, imprisonment or death. On Saturday, the kingdoms interior ministry said prominent Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr along with 46 others were executed on phony charges of terrorism - mostly by beheadings, several by firing squad, done inside prisons instead of public squares, Riyadhs usual procedure. The mass execution was the largest on a single day since 63 victims were put to death in 1980. Iran previously warned against executing Sheikh Nimr, saying it would cost Saudi Arabia dearly. He was brutally treated for justifiably criticizing repressive Saudi rule - harassed, beaten, shot, arrested, tortured, denied vitally needed medical treatment, and now extrajudicially executed. In October 2014, he was sentenced to death on spurious sedition charges, for seeking foreign meddling in (Saudi affairs), disobeying its rulers, and taking up arms against the security forces, according to Riyadh. No evidence whatever supported the outrageous charges. Sheikh Nimr justifiably criticized repressive rule, denounced its mistreatment of Shia Muslims and enjoyed widespread popular support for his views. He told supporters Riyadh depend(s) on bullets and killings and imprisonments. We must depend on the roar of the word, on the words of justice. He rejected violence, relied on the weapon of the word. He predicted rebellion if authorities continued their ruthless agenda. His trial was a travesty of justice - rubber-stamp guilt by accusation with no chance for a legitimate defense, execution assured by kingdom diktat. Saudis tolerate no dissent. Free and open expression are strictly prohibited. US-led Western nations and UN authorities with influence to intervene against its rogue practices remain largely silent. Fars News reported eastern Saudi Qatif city residents massed angrily in response to Sheikh Nimrs execution. Hundreds of heavily armed security forces were sent to suppress a possible uprising. Press TV reported Lebanons Supreme Islamic Shia Councils condemnation of Nimrs execution, calling it a grave mistake, ignoring international calls to revoke his death sentence. Pakistans Muslims Unity Assembly called the execution an outrage against Muslims worldwide. The Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement called Nimr a holy warrior, blasting Riyadhs flagrant violation of human rights. Hundreds of Bahrainis protested in the capital, Manama, voicing outrage over what happened. Demonstrators carrying Nimr photos were attacked by security forces. Despotic Bahrain and Riyadh are close allies. Other demonstrations are expected throughout the region. In 2015, Saudi authorities conducted 157 largely public executions, mostly by beheadings, the largest single year number in 20 years - the regime notorious for showing no mercy, at home or abroad. Prominent Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami said Saudi ruling family members will be wiped from the pages of history. An Iraqi MP expects Nimrs execution to set the region on fire. Riyadh operates like ISIS, the terrorist group it supports. Both specialize in outrageous atrocities, notably beheadings and other high crimes. Death sentences are routine, especially against regime critics, prominent ones like Sheikh Nimr most vulnerable. By Stephen Lendman http://sjlendman.blogspot.com His new book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III. http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html He lives in Chicago and can be reached in Chicago at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday through Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national topics. All programs are archived for easy listening. 2015 Copyright Stephen Lendman - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. A joint Senate resolution has been prefiled to commend Ricky Big Bird Holcomb for more than 20 years of raising money and collecting toys for less fortunate children and families in Henry County and Martinsville through Big Birds Toy Run, according the General Assembly Legislative Information System website. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Glade Hill, and Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, are listed as patrons of the resolution. The resolution states, among other things: Holcomb started the Toy Run to help families who were down on their luck; his birthday is on Christmas Eve, and the holidays have held a special place in his heart since he was a child. Big Birds Toy Run is a rolling parade of motorcycles and cars that takes place on a Saturday afternoon each December; participants make a cash donation of $10 or a toy of equivalent value, with all proceeds going to Christmas Cheer of Martinsville & Henry County, a charitable organization that provides food and gifts to the less fortunate, the resolution states. Each year the parade starts at Big Birds Big Twins motorcycle repair shop on U.S. 220 in Ridgeway, travels through Henry County and Martinsville, and completes the route at Sportlanes bowling center near Collinsville. An estimated 500-525 vehicles took part in Big Birds 23rd Toy Run on Dec. 11, and officials projected more than $10,000 in cash and several thousand dollars worth of toys resulted. According to Legislative Information System website, Stanley also has prefiled bills that would, among other things: --Require the Department of Corrections to offer each prisoner to be released on parole or under mandatory release who has been sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment of at least three years the opportunity to participate in a transition program within six months of the prisoner's projected or mandatory release date. The program will include advice for job training opportunities, recommendations for living a law-abiding life, and financial literacy information. The secretary of Homeland Security and Public Safety will establish guidelines to govern these programs. --Provide an income tax subtraction, for purposes of computing Virginia adjusted gross income, for farmers who sell certain crops to Virginia craft breweries. The bill defines a Virginia craft brewery as a brewery that manufactures beer solely in the commonwealth and that has an annual production of 3 million barrels of beer or less. --Require any seller of a newborn cow calf to certify that the calf received at least four quarts of colostrum during its first six hours. The bill authorizes the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to impose a civil penalty of up to $50 per violation, to be deposited in the Feed, Lime, Fertilizer, and Animal Remedies Fund. Marshall has prefiled bills that would, among other things: -- Direct the Department of Conservation and Recreation to develop a plan that establishes a fee structure for rental of campsites and cabins in state parks. The bill requires the department to submit the plan and its rental rate recommendations to the committees of oversight by Nov. 1, 2016. --Allow localities, after holding a public hearing, to prohibit commercial motor vehicles from traveling in the left-most lane of highways with four or more lanes. --Authorize the establishment of a land bank entity by any locality or two or more localities combined to assist in addressing vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties. The bill provides that after a referendum has been held on the question of creating a land bank entity, the locality has the option of 1) creating an authority or a nonprofit, nonstock corporation; or 2) designating an existing nonprofit entity that is exempt from taxation under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and eligible to receive donations from a locality pursuant to law to carry out the functions of the land entity. Under the bill, the land bank entities may acquire real property within participating localities or receive transfers and conveyances from the participating localities. Land bank entities are authorized to receive funding through grants and loans from participating localities, the commonwealth, the federal government, and other public and private sources. The bill authorizes a locality to deem paid in full all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest and other costs on any tax-delinquent property in exchange for conveyance of the property by the owner to a land bank entity, The bill also authorizes a participating locality to remit to the land bank entity up to 50 percent of the real property taxes collected on real property conveyed by a land bank entity for up to 10 years after the conveyance. The Virginia Housing Commission recommended this bill. --Request the Department of Transportation to study traffic signal retiming and current implementation of traffic signal timing in the commonwealth. The bill says: Traffic signals that are not timed to coordinate efficiently with vehicular traffic can cause travel delays, increased accident rates, increased pollution from vehicle emissions, and increased fuel consumption. Signal timing is effective only as long as the traffic patterns that were used to generate the signal timing are reasonably constant, but traffic patterns change over time. It also says: Traffic signal retiming can significantly reduce delays and stops experienced by motorists, which can improve safety and reduce fuel consumption and emissions and is one of the most cost effective ways to improve traffic flow along a corridor; and the number of severe collisions on city streets can be reduced by producing smoother traffic flow and fewer stops. Del. Les Adams, R-Chatham, is chief co-patron of a prefiled to bill remove certain requirements for an out-of-state concealed handgun permit or license to be recognized and accepted in Virginia and instead require an out-of-state permit or license holder to carry a government-issued photo identification and present his permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer in order for his out-of-state permit or license to be recognized and accepted in Virginia. Del Charles Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, has prefiled a bill that would decrease from 34 to 33 the membership of the governing board of the Western Virginia Public Education Consortium by removing the legislative member representing the 10th House District. The General Assembly will convene Jan. 13. It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the Landdis Hollifield: I was excited when I found the box of Keurig Hot Southwest Style Chicken Broth and Noodle Soup Mix at Food Lion. I saw the Keurig soup on national TV a month before, and wanted to try the high-tech concoction. After purchasing said box, for a whopping $7.38, I took it to work where it sat for a while. Then one day the newsroom decided to try the odd and somewhat complex soup. After reading the directions on the back of the box, putting in a broth cartridge and pouring a dried vegetables and noodles mix into a cup, we watched as broth streamed from our Keurig into a soup bowl. Then we waited the required timethree minutes -- or an eternity to impatient people. At first taste, the soup was spicy, rich and complex. My only beefor chicken, I guess in this casewas that the noodles were still crunchy. It reminded me of the Lipton dry soup mixes my grandma used to get. My sister and I would sneak them in her kitchen and chomp on the crunchy noodles. But as an adult, thats not how I want my soup. I want my noodles delicate and soft. My broth needs to be a clear-yellow color, and above all, my soup needs to cook in a minimal amount of time. Keurig soup isnt horrible. Its just inconvenient. If I wanted to spend five or more minutes in the kitchen making something instant, I would probably opt for a frozen meal. At 60 calories I cant complain, but I do think I prefer traditional soup in a can. Hipsters can keep their Keurig soup. Scott Holifield: Do you like to take something fairly simple, prepackaged soup for instance, and make it more difficult and expensive? Then Campbells Broth K-Cup Pods & Noodle Packets are just what youve been looking for. First of all, it tastes OK, about like any other soup from a can or a cup. Its thin and salty and would never be mistaken for anyones grandmas homemade soup, but it would get the job done for a quick bite or slurp in the break room or dorm room. The gimmick though, is that its made with the Keurig, the brewing machine that Ive found to be expensive and finicky. Dont fall for this. Anyone who has access to a microwave and a store that sells cans of soup has absolutely no reason I repeat, absolutely no reason to make this soup in a Keurig. Mike Conley: This new product is what happens when Keurig and Campbell Soup decide to join forces. The Southwest Style Chicken Broth and Noodle Soup Mix (with roasted corn) has a definite Southwestern taste to it and for me that is a big plus. I like the spicy taste in the soup and on a cold rainy day it was most welcome. The vegetables with the roasted corn were pretty tasty and the broth was nice and hot. So, I have no problems with the flavor of this product. However, I must concur with my coworkers that the process of making this soup takes too long. It consists of three parts. First, you empty the noodle and vegetable mix out of the packet into a cup or bowl. Then you insert the K-cup in your coffee maker and let the hot broth pour out. After the broth is in the cup or bowl, you have to stir the mix with the broth and let it stand for 2 to 3 minutes. It might be simpler to open a can of Campbell soup and heat it up in the microwave. I am glad I didnt take the time to make my sample. And I did notice later that this soup has a lot of sodium in it. Not long after having a taste, I got pretty thirsty and needed a cold glass of water. But overall, this is a good soup to have on a cold damp winters day and I do recommend it but with some reservations. Rebecca Lehman: All I can really say about the Campbells Southwest style Keurig cup soup is no, no and no. The taste of the Southwest seasoning overwhelms everything else; the noodles are the same as any hot-water-over-dried-soup-noodles -- and its just one more item to add to Keurigs terrible environmental footprint. If you really like dried soups that require a bit of hot water and a few minutes do your budget a favor and buy the cheapest you can find. You wont notice the difference. Ginny Rhodes: As a super-busy mother, wife and loyal minion for the county newspaper, I was excited to hear about Campbells making a soup for the Keurig because I barely have time for lunch as it is. Eating lunch for me is sometimes a quick bite while Im in my car, or scarfing down whatever leftovers we had the night before. Most of my cohorts can vouch that when I make a special trip to get a good lunch, its usually interrupted in my first bite and left for hours on my desk never to be touched again. So, when I heard about this quick alternative to making soup, I thought I may have found my new lunch, especially one I could take on the go. The process is simple, and I like simple. Stick the K- cup in, put your dried noodles and veggies in a mug, and wait for the magic to happen. And then wait some more, while it settles and cooks the noodles. It has a pretty strong flavor, a little spicy and salty as most Southwest flavors are. But, it tasted like Ramen noodles to me, which I despise after consuming too many in college. If you are looking for something quick and easy to pack for a busy day at work, I highly recommend this option. Its also easy to clean up considering my bowls of soup usually splatter in the microwave. But, Im old school. Ill keep my canned soup. Its more affordable and tastes much better. Marty Queen: Dadgummit. I was having a pretty good day until I tasted this crap. I suppose its OK if you like drinking a nice, hot cup of saltwater that smells faintly of Ramen noodle spices. Keurig should stick to coffee. Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement The chimes of midnight will move across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally the Americas.In the heart of Europe, more than 100,000 police were to be deployed throughout France to guard celebrations that come six weeks after the jihadist attacks in Paris.While annual festivities and fireworks in Brussels were cancelled as the Belgian capital - home to NATO and the European Union - remains on high alert.Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur said, "It's better not to take any risks."Belgian officials are battling terror on two fronts - with police on Thursday, December 31, 2015, detaining six more people over an alleged New Year attack plot in Brussels as well as arresting a tenth suspect over the Paris attacks. Police detained six people Thursday for questioning over an alleged plot to strike "emblematic sites" in the Belgian capital during the end-of-year festivities.Paris, still reeling from the November 13 slaughter of 130 people, has also cancelled its fireworks display.But authorities agreed France's biggest public gathering since the attacks can go ahead on the Champs Elysees avenue, with bolstered security.Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said, "The people of Paris and France need this symbolic passage into the New Year. After what our city has lived through, we have to send a signal to the world."Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore and other Asian cities may rival Sydney's pyrotechnic splash, but Brunei will offer a sober evening after banning Christmas in a shift to hardline Islamic law.Jakarta remains on high alert after anti-terror police foiled detailed plans for an alleged New Year suicide attack in the Indonesian capital.Turkish police have detained two Islamic State suspects allegedly planning to stage attacks in the center of the capital Ankara which is expected to be packed on New Year's Eve.Meanwhile, in Moscow police will for the first time close off Red Square where tens of thousands of revelers traditionally gather."It's no secret that Moscow is one of the choice targets for terrorists," Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said recently.In Britain, Scotland Yard said there will be around 3,000 officers across central London in what is reported to be an unprecedented anti-terror security effort."Our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence," said Superintendent Jo Edwards, spokeswoman for Scotland Yard.Fireworks were banned in towns and cities across Italy, in some cases because of a recent spike in air pollution but also because of fears that, in the current climate, sudden loud bangs could cause crowds to panic.The number of police on duty in Italy has been increased by 30% compared to last year although the Interior Ministry stressed, "There has been no specific alert."In Madrid, thousands of people will flock to Puerta del Sol square, however police will limit the number allowed in to just 25,000.Berliners will do better with about a million expected at the Brandenburg Gate for a free mega-street party.Cairo meanwhile is trying desperately to attract tourists to bolster the economy.The government is staging celebrations in front of the pyramids near the Egyptian capital, with ambassadors, artists and intellectuals all invited.Egypt has been in turmoil since the 2011 uprising but was further hit by the October 31 crash of a Russian airliner over the Sinai killing 224 people.On the nearby Gaza Strip, the Islamist group Hamas has banned public New Year's Eve parties.Police spokesman Ayman al-Batinji said, "Such celebrations were incompatible with our customs, traditions, values and the teachings of our religion."In stark contrast, Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is hoping to reclaim its mantle as host of the best beach parties in Africa after Ebola scared people away.The city of 1.2 million was deserted 12 months ago during the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded."This New Year's Eve I am going to dance and party until the cock crows," said 35-year-old Franklyn Smith.In New York, despite a pledge of tight security for Times Square, another million people are expected to turn out to see the ball descend.Source: AFP UPPER THUMB Students at the Huron Area Tech Center have been involved in a program called Innovative Vehicle Design for many years. The project, which is sponsored by Square One Education Network, challenges students to develop methods of powering vehicles using batteries. But its more than that. Its a way to show them how to solve problems. Not every time you do something for the first time, is it going to work, said Matt Ruth, instructor of mechanical and architectural engineering and design at the Huron Area Technical Center. As an engineer, you need to succeed, and you need to fail. Youre given a problem, and you have to find a solution. Ruth has morning and afternoon classes at the Tech Center. Both take part in the IVD program, which is three fold; full-size, mini, and autonomous. Ruths students are involved in the mini and autonomous portions. At the end of each school year a competition is held pitting schools from throughout Michigan, and beyond. The idea is for each school to start with the same basic tools, and improve them. The winners receive trophies, and the satisfaction of knowing their efforts may someday provide lasting improvements to existing transportation methods. Ruths curriculum is designed to get students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) related programs, such as the IVD project. In the IVD mini, students take a 1/10 scale radio-controlled truck and make improvements to its performance. We might change the chassis from high center of gravity to low center of gravity, Ruth said. Were looking at the different gear ratios for more speed, and were looking at the aerodynamics for keeping it on the ground once we get up to the higher speeds, he added. They also do some programming with electronics. Then we hook it up to an iPad, Ruth said. It will let us know how many volts are left in the battery, how many RPMs its kicking out, and how fast its going. We call those the live data as the vehicles going. Ruths classes work with a vehicle that is provided by Square One Education Network. They receive a new radio-controlled vehicle each year. The RC car is valued somewhere around $500, Ruth said. Then they give us a $1,000 grant to go along with it. Were only allowed to spend the amount in that grant, so everyone is on a level playing field. The students have to keep track of how much they spend, and what its spent on. Ten percent of that $1,0000 has to go toward getting other students interested in engineering, Ruth said. They make presentations to seventh and eighth graders in local schools, to get them interested in doing different projects related to STEM. Ruth has 18 students in grades 9-12 that compete with more than 20 other teams on Belle Isle in late spring. Competition Day, as its called, always takes place before the end of the school year. Work on the project begins early in the school year. Weve already got the vehicles and started doing the baseline testing, to see how the handling is, and what the top speed is with the stock vehicle, Ruth said. He provides the students with the knowledge they need to make improvements to the vehicles. I give them the gear ratios, which gives you more torque and speed, but as for everything else, its their decision, Ruth said. Its their budget. If they make a mistake, they have to figure out how to fix it ... within the budget. Changes made to the RC car may include lowering the chassis, changing the gear ratio, shock or differential fluid, or possibly changing the motor. They may also choose different tires, Ruth said. Some are hard, some are soft ... there are different inserts for the tires. Theyre looking at a different body that sits closer to the ground, so it has better air flow, better traction. All these changes are designed to improve the performance of the vehicle. On Competition Day, each team is allowed three drivers. The contest takes place over the course of one day, in all three categories. The students try to prepare for varying weather conditions, but thats not always possible. You research the weather for that time of year, Ruth said. But if the weathers bad that day, and youve chosen tires for a warmer day, which would be a harder tire, then you slide all over the place. Students are allowed time to change tires to match weather conditions, providing foul-weather tires were within their budget. Ruth has three teams working on the IVD project, two on the mini and one on the autonomous portion of the program. For the autonomous project, students start with an off-the-shelf Power Wheels Jeep. Each team is given a vehicle and $1,000 to start, the same as the mini program. The idea behind this is for students to learn programming, where that vehicle goes on its own, Ruth said. Its a robotics competition. Robotics is becoming very large, and programming is becoming even larger. Part of the program is to make sure the robotic vehicle can recognize obstructions, and avoid them automatically. Its got line followers and ultra sonic sensors, where, if theres an obstacle in front of it, the vehicle will shut down or stop and go around the obstacle, Ruth said. The students write the program using C + +, or other programs that tell the vehicle what its going to do. They can tell the vehicle to go 10 feet and take a right, and then go five feet and take a left ... there is a course they have to go through. There are a couple tasks where there are obstacles in the course to see if the students have programmed the vehicle to go around those obstacles without going off the course. There is also time to reprogram, if necessary. Sometimes the programming doesnt work, Ruth said. Theres actually a VEX brain in it. VEX is a type of robotic brain that is reprogrammable. The students might have to load the program for the first competition, remove it, and upload a new program to the brain for another competition, Ruth said. So, they have to change the programs as the day goes on. Theyd already have the programs written up and saved, and then change them as they go. Not all the students are involved in programming. Some just like the engineering aspect, because the vehicle isnt a stock vehicle anymore, Ruth said. Some like the programming aspect, so they dont necessarily work on the whole vehicle. Its a team effort. My students completely dismantle the insides of that vehicle, Ruth said. It no longer has the factory motors. Its got its own motors and its own gear box that the students added. It has a completely different chassis. The only thing they kept from the original jeep is the frame itself. Ruth loves the project because the students do. When they get the vehicle up to speed, you can see the excitement in them, he said. Last year, we came home with the top speed trophy. Thats a pretty big trophy. To see the students enjoying that, and the learning theyve experienced ... when they have ownership to that, I think it means a lot to them. It also means Ruth has succeeded in his role as an instructor. His students have learned how to solve problems that may someday help everyone. UPPER THUMB Sen. Phil Pavlov says he listened to the first few minutes of a podcast naming Michigans senator of the year. Then the phone rang. Had he ignored the call and kept listening, he would have learned his name was tossed in the ring. Im usually on top of things, (but) this is the first Ive heard of it, the St. Clair Republican told the Tribune Tuesday. Reporters at MIRS the Michigan Information & Research Service, a Capitol news service in a MIRS Monday podcast, Dec. 28, took turns naming their choices for both Michigans senator and freshman senator of the year. Getting the first nod for senator of the year was Pavlov. I dont think any other legislator had as much influence on what came out than Senator Pavlov, MIRS reporter Jacob Kanclerz said, calling Pavlovs teacher evaluation bill SB 103 one of the biggest pieces of legislation that moved through. Besides teacher (evaluations) he is chair of the (Senate) education committee, he stays pretty involved. Hes doing a new series not just focusing on the financial difficulties of schools but the academic side. Along with Pavlov, MIRS reporters considered Sens. Dave Robertson, R-Grand Blanc, Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekoff, R-West Olive. Meekoff would take the honorary title. Although not dubbed Michigans senator of the year, Pavlov still sees honor in the nomination. When you do go to Lansing, you are working, he said. People dont always see what I do in Lansing every day. Its a great honor to be viewed by people who follow Lansing government (in this way.) Pavlov, too, called his teacher evaluation bill big and an important piece of our education policy. When you look at education in the state of Michigan, to me the most important function is the teacher in the classroom, he said. He said the bill creates a way to fairly and accurately assess teachers performance. The effort was big too, he said. We took a lot of input, from unions, school management, lobbyists, teachers, superintendents, principals, administration, school boards, Pavlov said. Were evaluating everybody in the system. Its so important to get it right. Days before the holiday, the senator who represents Huron, Sanilac, St. Clair and a small portion of Macomb County, would, however, take a different crown: MIRS named Pavlov the most conservative senator in Michigan. In a review of 50 select roll call votes, MIRS reported Pavlov never missed a vote in 2015 and voted conservatively 92 percent of the time, more than any other senator. Without going back to check himself, Pavlov said that sounded right. My philosophy is, government is too big, he said. He says being conservative is interesting. What were trying to accomplish here is slow down the size of our government and make sure the government is working for our people, Pavlov said. Voting for state government expansions is not in the best interest of those in the Thumb. I think voters are fed up with liberal politics. Youll see that because voters have sent majority Republicans to the Senate, House, governors office, Supreme Court, Attorney General. The people I work for in the Thumb are fed up with the way that spending is being pushed on them. They want a more responsible government in place. Pavlov, 52, says his views havent changed since being elected to the Senate in 2010 and again in 2014. We have to apply conservative principles. We need to make sure we check the government and that its doing the job it is supposed to do, he said. Which, according to Pavlov, means providing education, public safety and infrastructure and creating an environment that allows our economy to grow specifically, not imposing tax increases. My guiding principle has been the same since I was a county commissioner: the private sector is better than performing a lot of functions than state government, he said. Of Gov. Rick Snyders plan for a state bailout to fix ailing Detroit Public Schools the district has been under state emergency financial management for nearly seven years yet still runs deficits blamed on factors such as declining enrollment, and only five of the 229 public schools serving predominantly Detroit students exceed the state average in reading, the Associated Press reported Monday Pavlov says the governor still has work to do. The governments plan to bail out DPS is going to come at the expense of Huron, Sanilac and St. Clair County taxpayers, he said, adding hes not convinced it wise to take resources away from other kids to repair a district dominated by fraud and abuse for generations. Pavlov wants to replace U.S. Rep. Candice Miller to represent the states 10th Congressional District. He faces conservative competition: former Sen. Alan Sanborn announced in April he would run for Millers seat. Sanborn was consecutively named the states most conservative legislator during his time as senator, from 2003 to 2011, according to his website. Millionaire business investor and small farm owner Paul Mitchell announced his candidacy this summer. He said he wants to bring to Washington the same conservative values that crushed Proposal 1. Shelby Township Treasurer Michael Flynn in May said he will run, and Sen. Jack Brandenburg also was expected to announce his candidacy. Over the fireplace of Billy Mobley's home in Stephenville, Texas, there's a Christmas gift painting that holds memories of Phan Khoi, the man he taught to fly for a country that was then called South Vietnam. Khoi's daughter, Erika Colligan of San Diego, spent three decades trying to track down the paintings her father had given to the Americans he had befriended in a time of war. Now, thanks to Mobley, a retired Air Force colonel, and others, she is getting to know who her father was. "I was in search of his paintings but now I learned of him as well, his disposition," said Colligan, whose father died in a plane crash in South Vietnam when she was just 1 year old. Mobley, 82, said the painting in his home depicts his name in abstract symbols. "It's always been a treasure to me, and it's occupied a place of honor in my home" since 1962, he said. "Then an email came -- there was a lady looking for her father. Quite a lady, it turns out," he said. "That immediately hit me right in the heart." The two met at the Mobley's home in early December. He took the painting from the wall and handed it to Colligan. She caressed the work by the father she never knew. He was killed in the crash of his Douglas A-1 Skyraider during an aerial demonstration at Tan Son Nhut Air Base on Oct. 1, 1966. Colligan ran her hand lightly over the painting. Mobley turned it over so she could see her father's signature. With a finger, she traced Phan Khoi's name. She was crying and "I'll tell you that my wife and I shed some tears too," Mobley said. There was also some laughter. Mobley described Phan as "a studious type, a hard worker. Not as outgoing as Erika." "He kind of adopted me as his daughter," Colligan said of Mobley, and she was surprised to learn that she did not inherit her father's "quiet and reserved" demeanor. "I'm an A-type personality, I go 100 miles a minute," said Colligan, who runs EMC Consulting, a global software systems firm in California. Mobley, who joined the Air Force in 1954 out of Texas A&M University, taught Phan Khoi to fly solo in the North American Aviation T-28 Trojan prop aircraft at Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, Georgia, as part of the 3551st Pilot Training Squadron (PTS) in 1962-63. Mobley and other instructors, including retired Col. Doyle Ruff, also introduced their students to the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, a powerful but hard to handle prop attack aircraft they would fly in close air support missions for the Vietnamese National Air Force. "It had a lot of torque," Mobley said of the low-and-slow Skyraider. "It was just a lot of airplane, and very difficult to fly right. It was quite a task for those kids to handle," but "a great airplane for killing trucks. "It was a very rewarding assignment," Mobley said of his time as an instructor. "I didn't realize at the time how much it meant to me." Mobley flew the T-28 and the A-1 on his 1968 Vietnam tour, mostly out of bases in Thailand. He said "it was all night missions" against the Ho Chi Minh trail during the then-secret war against the North Vietnamese resupply route through Laos and Cambodia. On one mission, Mobley said he was shot down but was quickly picked up by rescue helicopters. On another mission, he led three T-28s on attack runs for the Marines during the siege of Khe Sanh and even landed at the heavily bombarded dirt airstrip at the outpost to refuel. Phan had graduated from Moody in August 1963 and returned to South Vietnam to fly the A-1 for the VNAF's 522nd Fighter Squadron. Colligan said following her father's death during an aerial demonstration at Tan Son Nhut Air Base on Oct. 1, 1966, "we would go every Sunday to the cemetery to see my father's grave and then to my uncle's house for dinner." Her mother remarried to a South Vietnamese doctor. As a 10-year-old in 1975, she sensed something was wrong. Her mother began holding her back from school as her stepfather desperately sought to arrange the family's flight from South Vietnam as the North Vietnamese closed in on Saigon. "It was just accepted that it was over and everybody was leaving -- Japan, France, the US, anywhere," she said. Colligan and her now large family -- three siblings plus three more from her mother's second marriage -- managed to cram aboard a US flight to the Philippines on April 26, 1975, four days before Saigon fell. From there, the family went to Guam, then to a sponsorship with a family in Nebraska, and finally to California. She began to wonder about her father's paintings in 1985. There was no thought to recovering them -- she just wanted to see them and learn about her father from those who had known him, she said. At last, Colligan came across a website for Pilot Training Squadrons and that led her to retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Loy. He put her in touch with retired Col. Ruff, who had a portrait of himself drawn by Phan Koi, and Col. Mobley. In an email, Loy said, "A daughter finally found the American instructor pilots that had known, befriended and taught her father while he was training to be a pilot. "I was overjoyed that my identification turned out correctly and led her to finding the person who her father had painted," he added. "Hopefully, she can now find satisfactory closure to her long search for her father's existence and the 'what-ifs' that wartime scars leave on family," Loy said. "She finally had real evidence that her father had existed in more than just a wartime story." Mobley kept going back to Christmas of 1962, when he had Phan Khoi and another South Vietnamese trainee over to his house. Earlier, they had been in a session at squadron headquarters. Other squadrons had decorated their rooms for Christmas but somehow Mobley hadn't gotten around to it. Khoi asked if Mobley was using the blackboard. Well, no, he replied. Khoi asked if Mobley could get him some colored chalk. Well, yes, he said. Mobley went off on some other duty and when he returned, the blackboard had been transformed into a Christmas scene with a brightly-colored Santa and tree. "That about bowled me over," Mobley said. Colligan is now busy arranging a reunion in San Diego on Jan. 12 for the Americans who knew her father and the Vietnamese who trained with him. "I know my father is doing this," she said. "He's guiding me every day." --Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@military.com. Demand for the new tabs had indeed led to small shortages, but the problem was suddenly blown up into something much larger... RvgAHvuDKFyPMbN-800x450-noPad.jpg ( ) BAY CITY, MI -- An animal-loving Bay City woman has started an online petition, seeking to have the local government enact an ordinance prohibiting pets from being kept outside for long periods of time. Marykay Plotnik, a member of the Humane Society of Bay County's board of directors, started the petition on Change.org on Sunday, Dec. 27. Seeking 7,500 online signatures, it has garnered 6,770 as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The petition is addressed to the Bay City Commission and Mayor Kathleen Newsham. It reads: "The residents of Bay County and others want pets protected in extreme weather regardless of outside shelter. Pets should not be chained continuously. Being chained causes fear and unsocialization, which increases the risk for bites if confronted. This is a cruel existence for 'pack' animals. Our county and state wishes to limit tethering and want to protect animals from exposure to extreme temperatures." Michigan's existing animal cruelty laws state pet owners must provide adequate care for their animals, defining that as "the provision of sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention in order to maintain an animal in a state of good health." Marykay Plotnik "My primary reason is I would like to see an ordinance or law regarding tethering," Plotnik said. "I'd like to see animals have a limited time being tethered, so no 24-hour tethering, which ties into animals being tethered outside in extreme weather also." In her estimation, tying up a dog in a fenced-in area with a dog house is not sufficient, calling such an existence "miserable" for the pet. She added that it's not simply for animals' benefit that such a practice be banned, as it would help ensure safety for humans as well. "Animals who are tied up 24 hours a day are just a terrible risk for bite issues," she said. "They're not socialized. If the dog gets loose or a kid wanders into their yard, it's unsafe for both the animal and the people." Commission President Andrew Niedzinski, 3rd Ward, said he has seen the petition. "I believe a number of my constituents ... would be in favor of that, so I would be as well," he said. "I'm a pet owner myself. They don't need to be outside when it's bitter cold out." If the petition does come before the commission, Niedzinski said he'd look into seeing what could be done to enact such an ordinance. Commission Vice President Kerice Basmadjian, 7th Ward, said she has been tagged in shared links to the petition on Facebook. Like Niedzinski, she is not opposed to such an ordinance, provided there is a need for it. "I would have to look into wording of it and definitely do some research on it," she said. "I don't know if it's a huge issue in Bay City, but I know it's an issue elsewhere." Her research would involve discussing the matter with Bay County Animal Control Director Michael Halstead and Humane Society of Bay County President Jeannie Wolicki-Nichols to get their takes on the matter, Basmadjian said. Basmadjian described herself as a huge animal advocate and says pets shouldn't be kept outside for long periods of time, especially in frigid weather. "I wouldn't be opposed to looking into it and making sure animals are taken care of and well-cared for," she said. In November, the city manager of Springfield, Missouri, enacted an ordinance banning dogs from being tethered outside to a stationary point for longer than 30 minutes. An exception to this is if the dog's owner is performing a temporary task requiring the dog to be tethered for a longer duration. Regardless of the duration of the dog's tethering, its owner must provide adequate water and shelter, the ordinance states. In Plotnik's petition, she makes reference to the Springfield ordinance. "If Missouri can do it, so can we." DETROIT, MI -- A funeral for Kevin Matthews, 35, of Detroit was scheduled for Saturday. The unarmed man who is said to have suffered from paranoid schizophrenia was killed during an interaction with a Dearborn police officer in the backyard of a Detroit home about 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 23. Rev. Charles Williams II, a pastor and civil rights activist leader of the National Action Network Detroit chapter, posted on Twitter Friday that he would be giving Matthews' eulogy. Williams and others are also planning a rally Monday to protest the killing of Matthews, which supporters say was preventable. Tomorrow I #preach the #eulogy 4 #kevinmatthews he didn't make it into the new year.. But you did, so what are we going to do? @nwarikoo Charles Williams II (@therevcw) January 1, 2016 The unnamed officer is on paid administrative leave while Detroit police investigate the homicide. While both the Dearborn and Detroit police departments have said they intend to uphold transparency throughout the investigation, both agencies have released few details and have refused to confirm if there is dash-cam video or recorded audio related to the case and an alleged altercation between Matthews and the officer prior to Matthews death. Matthews was shot multiple times, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. Dearborn police said Matthews said Matthews escaped police earlier on the day of his death after being suspected of a larceny and was known to have an open warrant for a probation violation. An officer on patrol spotted Matthews, who crossed the border from Dearborn into a Detroit backyard during a short foot pursuit. He followed Matthews and they had some sort of a physical altercation before the officer opened fire. Because the killing occurred in Detroit, the Detroit Police Department has jurisdiction over the homicide investigation. Detroit Police Chief James Craig told The Detroit News a woman witnessed the backyard struggle, which the chief said led to the officer's uniform becoming muddy and ripped, and his gun holster loosened. "Kevin Matthews was known in that area," Williams said at a news conference last week. "He went back and forth to the gas station all the time, known to be one of those who you would see and you would say 'Hey, Kev' as you walked down the street. "It was also known ... that Kevin Matthews suffered from mental illness, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia ... which is a disability that officers and community members have to be very careful with when they're dealing with somebody like that." A clerk for the Redford Township 17th District Court confirmed Matthews had an outstanding warrant for drunk and disorderly conduct at the time of his death. Previous charges of felony first-degree home invasion and domestic violence were filed against Matthews in Wayne County in 2008, although they were later dismissed. The reason for the dismissal wasn't immediately available in online court records. Matthews also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor "alcohol-related violations" in 2000, according to Wayne County 36th District Court records, but has no felony convictions in Michigan. Killed by Police, an organization that compiles nationwide homicides by police, lists Matthews as the 1,176th person of at least 1,199 killed by police in 2015. schools05.JPG Swartz Creek High School (MLive.com file photo) SWARTZ CREEK, MI - Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton sent a stern warning to Swartz Creek schools officials that they had better brush up on the Michigan Open Meetings Act. In a Dec. 18 letter to Carrie Germain, president of the Swartz Creek Board of Education, and Jeff Hall, Swartz Creek superintendent, Leyton said his office received a complaint about a routine Oct. 28 school board meeting. Public notices about that meeting were confusing and unclear, which could have led some to believe a public meeting to discuss district budget cuts was canceled, when in fact is was not called off, Leyton said. Leyton said the district's calendar included a regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 28, but "There were several public notices issued in October, in various forms of communication, which could lead one to believe that this meeting was being cancelled and that another type of meeting would be taking its place." Ken Engel, a Swartz Creek school board member, said the issue stemmed from an Oct. 14 meeting when he alleges Hall said the Oct. 28 school board meeting had been cancelled and changed to a Michigan Association of School Boards self-evaluation meeting and moved ahead one hour to 6 p.m. Meeting minutes from the Oct. 14 meeting show Hall stated during his report that he'd scheduled the MASB meeting for 6 p.m. Oct. 28 and an email had been sent to board members with information to complete and send back to the association. Hall said he didn't recall if he did or did not make the statement, but he added a three-person review committee goes over potential items to be placed on upcoming agendas and the board sets the date and items to go on the agenda. "There was some discussion on the 14th (of October) how they were going to handle that meeting and what they were going to do," said Hall. Engel said he didn't file the complaint, but he brought up the issue during the Oct. 28 meeting, telling board members they'd violated policy by having the meeting. He cited a school bylaw that states within three days of adopting a resolution to change the date, time or place of a regularly scheduled meeting a meeting notice must go out stating the information. "I told them you guys are violating board policy in having this meeting tonight," he said, by changing the format of the meeting and not doing it in the form of a motion. Meeting minutes show Engel walked out 10 minutes into the gathering. Hall said a representative from the Michigan Association of School Boards attended the Oct. 28 meeting and found nothing wrong with the agenda, pointing out it included the MASB self-evaluation and the regular board meeting. But Leyton's letter points to a page on the district's website and a public meeting notice stating the time change and purpose of the meeting muddied exactly what the meeting was supposed to be about. "One could reasonably conclude that the regularly scheduled Board meeting was being cancelled and, in its place, the MASB Self-Evaluation was to occur instead," he said. "This misdirection or miscommunication appears to go against both the spirit and the specific requirements of the Open Meetings Act." Leyton recommended the school board and administration "consult with its legal counsel and become familiar with and abide by the requirements of the Open Meeting Act" to prevent any violations or appearance of violations from happening in the future. The district strives to be in compliance with all laws, Hall said, including the Open Meetings Act. "We certainly apologize for any confusion," he said. Engel said it's important to always be aware of any potential issues, but he is also aware the district is under a microscope because of the ongoing discussion to cut costs, with the possibility of closing a school building. He didn't mince words with the board at its December meeting on what he would do if he felt another potential violation of the Open Meetings Act takes place. "I told them you will not need to work to find out who made the complaint," said Engel. "It will be me." CANNON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Officials at Cannonsburg Ski Area say they're working hard to open the facility as overnight temperatures have allowed for snow-making. The Cannonsburg Ski Area Facebook page includes a couple of photos showing the ongoing snow-making operation. Ski hills across Michigan and the Midwest have been besieged by too-warm condition up until now, making for unhappy skiers and hill operators. In the post, Cannonsburg Ski officials ask skiers to stay tuned: "Our snowmakers have been working around the clock putting snow down! We're looking to see how much snow we can make throughout the night and early morning before we make an opening day decision. At this time, we have decided we will not be open on Saturday, but will keep you updated as we have more information on the possibility of Sunday. We thank you for your patience and can't wait to see the lifts moving SOON!" Temperatures dipped into the mid-20s for much of Friday but have increased to the mid-30s Saturday. A cold snap is on the way, meteorologists say. Look for temperatures in the upper 20s Sunday, then only about 20 degrees on Monday and 25 on Tuesday. E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison Update: A woman tentatively identified as the victim in this fire has been released from Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. Fire investigators expect to be back at this damaged home Monday, Jan. 4, working to determine how the fire started. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman was pulled from a Grand Rapids home with injuries that were reported to be serious during a fire on New Year's Day. Firefighters from Grand Rapids and Walker were called to the scene at 444 Oakhurst Ave. NW just after 5 p.m. They arrived to find flames spreading quickly through a front bedroom. Fire Battalion Chief Craig VanderWall said fire-fighting efforts began after an initial Grand Rapids crew entered the home and located an occupant in a back bathroom. She was brought out and resuscitation efforts began immediately. VanderWall said the woman's condition was not clear as she was transported from the scene to a local hospital. Initial dispatch reports were that she was transported under the highest priority. Flames were contained to contents of the front living room in the small, single-story home, VanderWall said. There was smoke damage throughout. Windows were smashed out along the front during firefighting efforts. Neighbors standing outside said the home was occupied by renters and those living there currently were not known to other residents on the quiet street off Lake Michigan Drive. A fire investigator was being called to the scene tonight. Emmett Township, MI -- Emmett Township Public Safety is seeking information on a New Year's Eve party store robbery. Leslie's Party Store, 963 E. Michigan Ave., Emmett Township, near Battle Creek, was robbed at about 9:26 p.m. Dec. 31. A store clerk said a man in a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head and a bandanna around his nose and mouth displayed a knife and demanded money. He escaped with an undetermined amount of cash. No one was injured in the robbery. Officers from the city of Battle Creek, Michigan State Police and the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department including a tracking dog assisted in the search for the man but he was not found. Anyone with information is asked to call Emmett Township DPS or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888. Linda S. Mah is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Reach her at 269-303-6567 or her at lmah@mlive.com. You can follow her on Twitter. red roof.jpg An 18-year-old Kalamazoo man was shot to death Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn, 5425 W . Michigan Ave. (Linda S. Mah|Kalamazoo Gazette) UPDATE: Suspect arrested KALAMAZOO, MI -- Deshontae Dewayne Ellis, the 18-year-old homicide victim who was killed at Red Roof Inn earlier this morning, died from a gunshot wound, according to Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas. Ellis was shot while in a car in the hotel parking lot, he said. Although there have been some reports that Ellis was attending a party at the Red Roof Inn, 5425 W. Michigan Ave., that is "questionable" and cannot be confirmed at this time, Matyas said. The "investigation is still quite fluid and detectives are still in the field working it," Matyas said. "We will not be giving out any additional info until Sunday at noon." Ellis, 18, was a Kalamazoo resident and a senior at Kalamazoo Central High School, according to Alex Lee, spokesman for Kalamazoo Public Schools. Lee said grief counselors will be at the school on Monday morning to talk with students requiring assistance. Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office at 269-383-8748 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100. Information also can be reported online at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com. Linda S. Mah is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Reach her at 269-303-6567 or her at lmah@mlive.com. You can follow her on Twitter. The following people were sentenced through through Dec. 15, 2015, in circuit court. 14th CIRCUIT COURT MUSKEGON COUNTY Chief Judge William C. Marietti Jatarius Jumon Alston, 22, of Michigan Department of Corrections, two to 15 years MDOC for carrying concealed weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon, habitual offender fourth, $266 fees/costs, consecutive to March 2014 sentence. Michael Andrew Ball, 44, of Norton Shores, 60 days Muskegon County Jail, two years probation for third-offense driving while intoxicated, $1,098 fees/costs, 60 hours community service, work release authorized. Brian Matthew Barnes-Wescott, 32, of Fruitport Township, 10 days jail, one year probation for attempted larceny of a firearm, $708 fees/costs. Quintin Ford Bigelow, 33, of Muskegon, 10 months jail for probation violation on 2007 conviction of failure to pay child support, habitual offender second, $11,223.74 balance restitution/fees/costs. Zachary Patrick Blair, 23, of Muskegon, one year jail, one year probation for resisting and obstructing police, $1,098 fees/costs, must complete the Exit program. Clarence Fredrick Cowles, 33, of Muskegon, one year jail for third-offense failure to register as sex offender, $198 fees/costs. Kent Steven Dean, 25, of Twin Lake, two days jail (time served), six months probation for attempted resisting/obstructing police, $500 fees/costs, must perform 40 hours of community service. Gerald Lamar Gamble, 25, of Muskegon, three days jail, one year probation for illegal entry, $600 restitution/fees/costs. Andre Gean George, 44, of Muskegon, one day jail (time served), one year probation for marijuana possession, $375 fees/costs, 60 days on electronic tether. Keenan Darshoun James, 21, of Muskegon Heights, one year jail, two years probation for controlled substance delivery less than 50 grams, receiving/concealing stolen guns and carrying concealed weapon, $1,294 fees/costs, must complete boot camp after jail sentence. Bryan Keith Lenoir II, 28, of Muskegon, nine months jail for controlled substance possession non-narcotic, habitual offender second, $198 fees/costs. Darnell Diante Lynch, 26, of Lansing, five months jail for probation violation on 2014 conviction of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct force/coercion, $1,317.60 fees/costs, probation continued. Isaac Joseph May, 18, of Muskegon Heights, 30 days jail, 15 months probation for uttering and publishing, $1,800.12 restitution/fees/costs. Calvin A. McCullough, 28, of MDOC, one to five years MDOC for prisons-furnishing cell phone, consecutive to current MDOC sentence, $198 fees/costs. Austin Michael Miller, 20, of MDOC, 18 months to 10 years MDOC, consecutive to current MDOC sentence, for prisoner possessing contraband, habitual offender third, $198 fees/costs. Jazmine Nichole Pacyga, 18, of Muskegon Township, probation violation on 2015 conviction of second-degree home invasion, must complete the GED and 2nd Chance program, probation continued, $1,107.60 balance fees/costs. Micah David Potter, 31, of Whitehall, 52 days jail (time served), two years probation for second-offense operating/maintaining controlled substance laboratory, $648 fees/costs. Richard Courtney Ritter, 70, of Grand Haven, two days jail (time served), one year probation for third-offense driving while intoxicated, $1,658 fines/fees/costs, must be on SCRAM unit for 363 days. Larriesa Lynn Updyke, 24, of Ravenna, one day jail (time served), one year probation for three insufficient funds checks in 10 days, $2,998.39 restitution/fees/costs. Virginia Rose Welch, 27, of Grand Haven, 13 months to 12 years MDOC for larceny from a person, habitual offender third, $498 fees/costs. Terrence Ladon West, 50, of Muskegon Heights, one year jail, 18 months probation for larceny in a building, habitual offender fourth, $1,108 fees/costs/restitution. In a separate case, one year jail for larceny in a building, habitual offender fourth, $498 restitution/fees/costs. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Kathryn Sue Simmerman should serve 7 1/2 years in prison for "callously" embezzling nearly $2 million from the small Muskegon County credit union she ran for years, the government argues in a detail-rich sentencing memorandum. Her attorneys counter that she deserves a much shorter time behind bars. In a sentencing memo filed Tuesday, Dec. 29, the U.S. Attorney's office argues that Simmerman's repeated thefts over some 15 years put the Shoreline Federal Credit Union in danger of failure until its insurer covered much of the loss and a federal agency stepped in to prevent liquidation or conservatorship. Further, they argue, Simmerman used "sophisticated means" to commit and conceal her crimes, fooling auditors for many years. Finally, she "abused a position of trust" as manager of the credit union since 2006, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles Jr. and assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler argue in their sentencing memo. All three points count for a longer sentence under federal rules and factored into a presentence investigation report recommending a 7 1/2-year prison sentence. The U.S. Attorney's office supports that recommendation. In their own sentencing memo, defense attorneys Gary K. Springstead and Donald A. Davis argue that the credit union was never in danger because it was insured. Also, they argue, Simmerman's crimes were simple and could have been easily detected if the credit union's former auditors had looked more closely. And, they argue, she didn't abuse a position of trust to commit and conceal the crimes, which Simmerman says began at the end of 1998 when she was only a teller. The attorneys also argue that Simmerman - after initially lying to investigators early this year - eventually accepted responsibility, showed "extraordinary cooperation" and will pay restitution to the best of her ability. The two sides will argue their points at Simmerman's sentencing hearing, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4, before U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell in Grand Rapids. Simmerman, 54, pleaded guilty Aug. 17 to two federal felonies: embezzlement from a federally insured credit union and "structuring," or deliberately avoiding federal reporting requirements by making deposits of less than $10,000 each into accounts she controlled. The government's sentencing memorandum provides abundant detail about how Simmerman committed the embezzlements and how they were finally uncovered. "For 15 years, Simmerman callously and without compunction stole from her employer, Shoreline Federal Credit Union, by removing cash from the vault 433 separate times," Miles and Stiffler wrote. She embezzled a total of $1.945 million, according to the government. The credit union eventually recovered $1.275 million of that from a fidelity bond insurer after the National Credit Union Administration Board, a federal oversight agency, gave permission. Without that approval, the government argues, Shoreline would have gone under. Of the remaining $670,000 loss, Simmerman expects to be able to repay more than $100,000 in restitution when she is sentenced, her attorneys say, leaving about a $500,000 loss. The government's memo states that Shoreline has only six full-time employees, of whom Simmerman was the boss from 2006 to February 2015. It's governed by a supervisory committee of seven part-time volunteer members, most of them employed by or retired from Muskegon-area manufacturers. The NCUA has designated Shoreline's members as "low income." Shoreline, based at 2735 Estes St. in Norton Shores, serves more than 4,000 members, mostly employees, retirees and their families from employers including Kaydon Corp., Knoll Group, Sun Chemical, Webb Chemical and other companies. Simmerman began working at Shoreline in 1987. According to her statement in court when she pleaded guilty, her embezzlements began on a small scale at the end of 1998, although the government only documents those starting in 2001. Essentially, Simmerman repeatedly took cash from the credit union's vault - actually a locked file cabinet, according to her attorneys - and covered the thefts by falsely reporting that the money had been transferred to Shoreline's corporate credit union, Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union. She used some of the cash to pay for bills, expenses and luxuries and deposited much of it in accounts at her credit union in her own name and that of her husband and two sons, both now adults. None of her family members has been charged with a crime. Because Shoreline's rules prohibit employees from depositing cash into their own accounts, Simmerman used her employees to deposit cash in her and her family's accounts - usually at least $500 at a time in $50 or $100 bills. She also gave staff members cash to apply toward various Shoreline loans and credit cards in her and her family members' names, the government's memo states. Investigators concluded that no other staff members were involved in the embezzlement. "Misplaced trust, Simmerman's long tenure at Shoreline, and her position as manager of the other staff members appear to explain why none of them thought Simmerman's cash deposits were suspicious," Miles and Stiffler wrote. Over the years traced by investigators - 2001 through early 2015 - a total of $870,138 of the stolen $1.945 million was deposited in Simmerman family accounts, according to the memo. All the deposits were less than $10,000, and most were under $1,000. The amounts embezzled per year varied from a low of $73,900 in 2006 to a high of $319,000 in 2014, with $23,000 stolen in just the first five weeks of 2015 before a new auditor began asking questions, according to the government. Shoreline's auditors, Financial Standards Group, uncovered discrepancies in January 2015, according to the government. They checked with Alloya, Shoreline's corporate credit union, and learned Shoreline's ledger overstated the amount Shoreline had on deposit there by $1.868 million. An investigation followed, first by the auditors and the National Credit Union Administration, later by the Norton Shores Police Department. Simmerman was placed on leave Feb. 17 and fired Feb. 27, a week after police were called. On March 16, investigators obtained federal search warrants for houses belonging to Simmerman and one of her sons. Among other things, in Kathryn Simmerman's house they found three "cash straps," matching those used by Shoreline to store cash in its vault, containing several thousand dollars. Simmerman for weeks lied to investigators to cover her tracks, including false claims about where that cash came from, according to the government. In May and June, after hiring Springstead's law firm, she confessed and began cooperating. Simmerman's attorneys maintain Shoreline was not placed in jeopardy by her embezzlements because a majority of the stolen money was restored by the fidelity bond. And the sentencing memo quotes a written statement from Shoreline, quoted in an MLive story July 29, stating that Shoreline "fully expect(s) to recover" and pointing to members' shares being federally insured by the NCUA and to the credit union's fidelity bond coverage. Springstead and Davis argue that Simmerman's acts were hardly "sophisticated," contrary to the government's claim. Their memo states that she took the money from the cash vault in the morning before other employees arrived so they wouldn't see her taking it and putting it in her purse. She then created false ledger entries to conceal the thefts, claiming the money had been transferred to the parent credit union in case anyone actually counted the cash in Shoreline's vault. She then "transferred" the money back to Shoreline on the books in order not to raise red flags at the parent credit union. Her attorneys noted that no red flags were raised when she repeatedly made large cash deposits in her own accounts despite her relatively low to moderate income. Also, Springstead and Davis wrote, "the credit union's accounting controls were minimal. There were no true 'surprise' audits, which gave Ms. Simmerman ample time to try and avoid detection." Most importantly, her attorneys wrote, the original auditors never actually verified that the money she claimed to have transferred to the parent credit union was where she claimed it was. Her crime was discovered shortly after Shoreline hired a new auditor "who did not simply take Ms. Simmerman's word that the 'transfers' she made to the parent credit union were legitimate," her attorneys wrote. Simmerman's sentencing memo, like her own statement at her plea hearing in August, says she first began stealing money while working as an $18,000-a-year teller "out of a perceived financial need when her husband was laid-off from work." She knew it was wrong and illegal and initially intended to "put the money back," her attorneys say, but never did so "due to the fact that she had already stolen a couple of thousand dollars and had a limited income." "Figuring that she was sure to get caught eventually," Simmerman kept stealing, her attorneys wrote. "Unfortunately, Ms. Simmerman's day of reckoning came 17 years too late, after she had already stolen $1.9 million from the credit union," Springstead and Davis wrote. John S. Hausman is a reporter for MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at jhausman@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter. SAGINAW, MI - The following are recent business announcements for Saginaw County: James Kamsickas, president and chief executive officer of Dana Holding Corp., was named to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation Board of Trustees. Kamsickas has more than 25 years of global automotive and business experience. John Aird has accepted the role of insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance. In his new role, Aird will handle all lines of insurance, including life, home, auto, farm, retirement, Lake Estate(r) and business. The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has chosen Caravan Facilities Management, LLC to receive the 2015 High Impact Hispanic Business Enterprise of the Year award. Corporate headquarters for Caravan Facilities Management are located in Saginaw. Peggy Kearns has departed from Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center to pursue her new role in the Veterans Health Administration as the medical center director for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas. Kearns will oversee operations to provide care to more than 54,000 Veterans with a VA staff of nearly 2,200. She will also oversee a budget of over $450 million. Ms. Kearns has over 32 years of VA experience. Dr. Barbara Bates has been appointed chief of staff for the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center. Dr. Bates serves in a number of clinical roles including associate chief of staff for quality management, chief, physical medicine and rehabilitation and interim chief of staff. Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants recognized five associates in the firm's Saginaw office for years of dedicated service. David R. Youngstrom, CPA Terrie A. Chronowski, E.A. Jamie L. Rivette, CPA Mary M. Kreider, CPA Julie Surprenant 1st State Bank welcomes Jeff Southcott as a senior vice president. Southcott brings a wide range of banking, investment and management experience to 1st State Bank. Southcott will provide oversight to 1st State's branch offices, the personal lending area and residential mortgages. Standard Electric Co. has purchased the assets of Goshen Electric Inc. in Goshen, Indiana. Goshen is the 27th branch location for Standard Electric, and the first branch outside the state of Michigan. Goshen Electric, division of Standard Electric, has been serving the electrical needs of their customers throughout the five-county, northern Indiana area since 1936. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance has formally announced its support of the Saginaw River Deep Water Port Study. The Army Corp of Engineers is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine if improvements for commercial navigation are possible in the Saginaw River. The nature of the study is to evaluate the deepening of the shipping channel as it pertains to the economic benefit of the Great Lakes Bay Region and the nation. Attorney Michael J. Kitson has joined the staff of Braun Kendrick. He has more than 10 years of experience practicing business law, advising clients on business and individual of tax implications, structuring tax-exempt entities, estate planning, business mergers and acquisitions, and real estate along with extensive knowledge of state and federal tax laws and regulations. Security Credit Union employee Butch King has accepted the positions of assistant vice president, real estate and loss prevention to assistant vice president, lending. King joined the Security Credit Union team in 2013 as a loss prevention manager. In his new role, King will be responsible for directing consumer and commercial lending; directing and expanding the credit union's real estate offerings; and developing and implementing quality control measures to protect the credit union's assets. 01.01.2016 LISTEN Accra, Jan. 1, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday stated that Ghana was not for any individual or group of persons, but for all Ghanaians who had a shared responsibility to ensure its growth and development. He said: "Ghana is not for one person or one political party, Ghana is not for some selected group of people, Ghana is for all of us and all our future generations." President Mahama, who was presenting his New Year message in a nationwide broadcast, said although the year 2015 witnessed some growth and numerous accomplishments, it also witnessed some setbacks that government was working around the clock to solve for all Ghanaians. The President said with the increase in terrorist attacks and other unrests that are troubling the world, there was the need for concerted efforts as Ghanaians to forge ahead and find ways of warding off such unacceptable incidents. He called on Ghanaians not to surrender their perseverance to achieve nationalism saying negativities could retard the orderly progress of the country. The President reaffirmed his government's determination to listen and find solutions to the challenges that Ghanaians were facing in the country. "I will continue to serve this country with the understanding that one of the hallmarks of our country is the continuous communication between government and people of the country." He gave the assurance that each and every member of his administration would continue to listen to the concerns of the people by working to find workable solutions to their demands and welfare. "Each and every member of this government will uphold the promises made to you and to ensure that your interest is served." He said those who would fall short of that commitment would be asked to tender their resignation or be relieved of their responsibilities. He urged all Ghanaians to begin the New Year with courage, optimism, faith and ability to succeed. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Nigerias president has said he is prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram militants to secure the release of about 200 schoolgirls. Muhammadu Buhari said that if a credible Boko Haram leadership could be identified then he was prepared to talk with them without preconditions. But he said he had no intelligence on the girls whereabouts or their health. Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitories in the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014. If a credible leader of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them, without any precondition, said Mr Buhari. Attempts to negotiate with Boko Haram during the rule of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed because officials were talking to the wrong people in the fragmented militant group. BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says Mr Buharis offer to revive talks shows that Boko Haram remains a force, despite his claim last week that the group had been technically defeated . There is little prospect of Boko Haram agreeing to negotiate the release of the girls, he adds. The militants regard the girls as their most invaluable captives and their leader, Abubakar Shekau, said last year that most of them had converted to Islam and had been married off. Some Nigerians on social media expressed anger at the president for saying the government had no idea where the girls were being held, saying it indicated a failure of the intelligence services. Mr Buhari took office in May with a promise to defeat the group, and gave the military a deadline of the end of the year to end the six-year insurgency. Although Boko Haram has been driven out from most of the areas it controlled in north-eastern Nigeria, it has continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The military has managed to free hundreds of Boko Haram captives in recent months. However, they did not include any of the Chibok girls. -bbc Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. A Turkish engineer has been shot dead in a drive-by-shooting by suspected Al shabaab assassins in Somali capital, Mogadishu, police said on Friday. Capt. Hassan Ibrahim, a senior police officer said gunmen believed to be Al shabaab members in a minivan have killed the Turkish national as he was leaving out of mosque in Mogadishu after friday prayers. The officer said the Turk has been rushed to hospital with critical wounds, but minutes later he passed away at a Turkish-run hospital in Hodon district in Mogadishu. The culprits who carried out the assassination sped-off in a car shortly before police arrived at the shooting scene, according to Osman Barre, an Eyewitness. Expelled from Mogadishu in 2011, the Al Qaeda-linked Al shabaab militants still conducting assassinations and car bombs in the capital, targeting Somali army and AU troops bases as well as diplomatic missions. By Omar Nor, freelance Journalist in Mogadishu The Germany Branch of the NPP is wishing Ghanaians, especially Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and the NPP a Happy New Year. Let us go forward into 2016 with courage to drop John Mahama and the NDC government.We must all resolve to change the incompetent John Mahama come the 2016 elections. Ghanaians voted for John Mahama and the NDC, hoping for enhancement in their livelihoods, but in the longrun things turned out for the worst. And our people are reaping what the NDC government has sowed. We allowed John Mahama to have his way, eventhough he did not merit it. The NDC government think governance is about lies, propaganda, arrogance, inflating projects cost, example, AMERI, Karpower, Circle Interchange, Kumasi Airport, etc, paying party cronies for no work done, like Woyome, SADA, GYEEDA, Rebranding of 166 Metro Mass Transit buses etc, and a government soiled with too many corruption scandals.No hope insight for a turn around under John Mahama's watch looking at the rate at which corruption is being perpetrated. For the past three years, the once vibrant Ghanaian economy managed by the NPP, under former President Kuffour has totally collapsed, living everybody in a state of despair. All the initiatives in the areas of National Health Insurance Scheme, School Feeding Progrsmme, Capitation Grants, GETFund, etc, put up by Kuffour and the NPP are all collapsing. Municipal and District Assemblies Common Fund are in arrears, contractors not being paid, non payment of fees for scholarship abroad, government keeps increasing deficits since 2012, Dumsor, high tariff increases for utilities, over bloating national debt, etc. Present state of the economy is terrible to the extent that the average Ghanaian cannot make ends meet. Nothing seems to be working under the John Mahama administration and the NDC. President Mahama and the NDC has failed, since none of their policies has helped to improve on the living conditions of Ghanaians. The only hope for Ghanaians for improved living conditions is to return the NPP to power with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo as the President of Ghana. Ghana needs an experienced and patriotic politician of the caliber of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to properly steer the affairs of the country, and stop the create, loot and share slogan of the NDC, and help stop the increasing poverty rate, for the betterment of the average Ghanaian. Ghanaians must vote against the governing NDC administration in the 2016 general elections. Alex Tuffour Communication Director NPP Germany. 02.01.2016 LISTEN THE COMPLEX PERSONALITY OF CORRUPTION No doubt the word corruption has become one of the most important vocabularies in the moral expenditure on governance and political critique of modern society. It is important because, perhaps, it provides valuable insights into the extent to which society deviates from the norm of acceptable behavior. This working definition is too broad and vague, lacking a defining specificity of political choices broadly framed under the oversight of an enforceable moral compass of a peoples choosing. To the extent that the concept is invested with various shifting complexions of ideological, political, and moral definitions depending on the moral geometry of a society or persons under investigation, particularly in the Ghanaian context, we shall not attempt to belabor its operational conceptualization and multilayered definitions here. In sum, our position is that mere mention of the word itself invokes various shifting images of certain socially-, morally-defined bracket of assumptions, connotations, and perceptions that are already familiar to many people, our readers in particular. This loud admission underwrites our sharp departure from any sense of rigorous intellectual expenditure insofar as a conceptual elaboration of the idea goes. Notwithstanding the competing assertions above, the concept has taken on an image of a proverbial meme in the controversial political DNA of the Fourth Republic. So entrenched has this moral mutation been in the political DNA of the Fourth Republic that attempts to contain it have remained endlessly elusive, or palliative at best. Ex-President Kufuors popular wisecrack that corruption has been in existence since the days of Biblical Adam has come to represent an indictment of official dereliction and an irresponsible circumvention of his governments constitutional mandate in fighting the canker. He may have issued that regrettable retort in the heat of public outcry and public righteous indignation against pervasive corruption in his government. In fact, his careless remark gave a sanctimonious impression pointing to political normalization of the practice in Ghanas body politic and thereby shifting the strategic focus of official culpability from his person and government to a normative indictment of a convenient timeline of moral mythology harking back to mortal beginnings. The remark also gave the impression that the moral and political crusade against corruption was and still is unwinnable. Kufuor thus usurped the moral authority of the Constitution though this did not necessarily take away the symbolic import of the antiquity of mortal corruptibility. This is a statement of fact. THE MO IBRAHIM PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP Readers may want to refer to the website of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for extensive description of what the Foundation is all about, including the Mo Ibrahim Prize For Achievement In African Leadership. It means we shall not be discussing either institution here in any consuming detail of informational preciseness except, perhaps, make sporadic references to the minutiae of the Foundations core operational mandate. Thus, we shall provide a brief critique of aspects of the Ibrahim Prize on the assumption that readers already have some intellectual familiarity with the informational content of the website. Mr. Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese billionaire and telecommunications entrepreneur, is a visionary character. Fundamentally, his generosity and philanthropy define what progressive Nkrumah and others may have called the African Personality. It may also have been what Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu called Ubuntu. In fact, Mr. Ibrahims largess and visionary philanthropy directly speaks to the Afrocentric underpinnings of African Personality in what some have described as seeking African solutions to African problems. Thus, by setting up this Foundation he demonstrates to the world what Africans can do for themselves in terms of sound democratic governance, of improving the living conditions of the African masses, and of empowering Africans to demand accountability of their leaders and institutions. He could have kept the money meant for the Foundations financial endowment in Swiss bank accounts, as Mobuto and other African kleptocrats are known to have done. Mr. Ibrahim could have equally re-invested the financial endowment in other lucrative concerns for additional access to possible incremental profits geared toward either his exclusive personal entitlement or familial benefit, or both. Yet he did not. Instead his visionary benevolence squarely places moral burden on African leaders to do right by their people, and more generally, spotlight on questionable practices of governance in Africa, thus providing a normative critical framology under which Africa is compelled to come face to face with a pedigree of moral trajectory upon which accountability, social justice, transparency, improved living conditions of the masses, democratic governance, national development, press freedom, and human rights issues take center stage. But these expectations do not stand alone. Perhaps, an essential constituent of Mr. Ibrahims stringent expectations for the proper functioning of democratic structures is the enviable quantum of monetary reward he appends to the legacy of those governments and statesmen whose behavior measures up to a set of metric, represented by the Ibrahim Index Of African Governance. The initial price tag for meeting metric expectations is pegged at $5 million, then an annual payment of $200,000 running the course of a recipients life. But this quantum of monetary incentive may not, above all, serve its intended purpose. The fact is that some African politicians, statesmen, and governments are stealing more than these meagre amounts. We may hazard a controversial claim that some African politicians literally own their countries treasuries! Civilian capitalists like Eduardo dos Santos and military kleptocratic capitalists like Mobuto Sese Seko and Sani Abacha. Mo Ibrahim means nothing to such characters. The more important fact is that, an African despot and kleptocrat who needs money to underwrite his and his families and friends extravagant lifestyles may not be willing to wait and receive the award after leaving office, a theory undermined by questions of competitiveness and forensic failure to predict a prospective winner(s) among a pool of candidates with any degree of certainty, or with a measure of stochastic conviction. This is not to rubbish or discredit Mr. Ibrahims vision per se. It is to state the obvious that it ignores the larger contributions of ordinary citizens to proper democratic governance and national development, of the Opposition whose political vigilance prods incumbency and thereby makes for improved living conditions of the masses, and of real political players in the shadows of ceremonial politicians and statesmen whose leadership meets the Ibrahim Index Of African Governance. The fact that Mr. Ibrahim made elective democracy a signature of his visionary philanthropy speaks to a need for collective agency in matters of democratic governance. The primary concern for our critique is when the prize is awarded to individual statesmen rather than to government. Yet it is not the monetary award we are interested in. It is the symbolic gesture or content of Mr. Ibrahims noble vision that we think should drive contemporary African politics and institutions. We think the monetary incentive is merely a physical expression of that symbolic gesture, a gesture meant to discourage or dissuade African leaders from kleptomania and despotism and to initiate a shift toward a guaranteed financialization of the lifestyles of statesmen in post-presidential retirement. In the end, no critique of the Foundation can override the symbolic gesture of Mr. Ibrahims vision. KUFUOR FACES OFF THE MO IBRAHIM FOUNDATION Akufo-Addo: No society in the world has uprooted corruption, what they have done is to minimize it. Clement Apaak: He [Kufuor] presided over the most corrupt government, one that channeled public resources and wealth to a few individuals, a fact not lost to the Committee, interesting (sic) chaired by Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary General, and a GhanaianCorrupt practices during his reign nullified all the so-called good things listed by his spokespersonIn the years between 1998 and 2008, a period of ten years, the highest corruption index assigned to Ghana occurred under the NPP-led Kufuor administration according to The Role of the Corruption Perceptions IndexIn 1998 Ghana ranked 55th, and by 2004 Ghana reached 70th, repeating this highest level in 2006 Apaaks Committee is the Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Apaaks contention is that Kufuor and his government lost out to other potential awardees because of massive corruption that occurred under his watch, an entrenched political cancer he did not do enough in extirpating or minimizing. Regardless, the Foundations slighting of Kufuor obviously constitutes a blot on his legacy. It is, however, important to stress here that Apaaks narrow statistical invocation pertains to questions of perception rather than of forensic intimations of examples from a broader dispensation of political empiricism, though he marshalled a few empirical examples from the Kufuor dispensation to establish a direct link between forensic empiricism and perception. Akufu-Addo was part of that link between perception and political empiricism, notwithstanding the forensic preciseness and factual empiricism of his claim that no society has succeeded in rooting out corruption. The question is: To what extent can corruption be minimized, and how? What specific role did Akufo-Addo play in fighting public corruption as Ghanas Attorney General in the Kufuor government? How many corrupt public officials did Akufo-Addo successfully prosecute as Ghanas Attorney General? What does Akufo-Addo has to say about Kufuors filling the courts with friends and other personalities sympathetic to the Kufuor government? What is Akufo-Addos position on the Freedom of Information Bill (FOIB) and the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) versus Ghana Hybrid System (GHS)? We are not implying that a potential Akufo-Addo government is necessarily going to be a spitting image of Kufuors legacy. We are all aware of the Akyem-Asante factionalism tearing the Opposition apart. What we are in fact saying is that the political ledger of Akufo-Addos legacy as a high-standing member of the ex-while Kufuor government is open to critical valuation and critique for, after all, he has been running his campaign partly on that questionable Kufuor legacy. What is more, both the political outlooks of Akufo-Addo and Kufuor are rooted in different ideological origins. Kufuor came from a varied background of the kind of partisan ideology deeply rooted in the kleptocratic property-owning democracy advanced by Busia and of the disciplinary pseudo-social democracy of Rawlings, with many not being privy to the little-known fact that Rawlings has always been both a secret and open admirer of J.B. Danquah. Rawlings political vision has partly been informed by his admiration for Danquah. As well, sale of state assets did not begin under Rawlings, but under Busia. Busia was synonymous with divesture. The government of Rawlings took inspirations from there. So everywhere one turns to his government was in the thick of the Danquah-Busia ideological pedigree. The fact that Danquah and his wife Mabel Dove-Danquah named their son after Vladimir Lenin speaks volumes. In the 1980s, for instance, Rawlings made an important public speech in which he poured out his admiration for Danquah and other Ghanaian leaders, a speech that never recognized or mentioned Nkrumah. The brand of ideological framology which Danquah advanced harbored some creative elements of pseudo-socialism and Ricardian socialism much as the derived free-market capitalism of Adam Smith and other classical and post-classical economists did. Rawlings also admired Nkrumah though not an Nkrumahist, as Mwakikagile notes: Rawlings himself has been quoted to have said he admires Nkrumah but he is not Nkrumaist. According to an article published on Ghanaweb on 9 June 2004, I Admire Nkrumah, But I Am Not An Nkrumaist: THE FORMER President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has dismissed assertions that by the Managing Editor of the Crusading Guide, Mr. Kweku Baako, Jnr., that he hates the first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Mr. Victor Smith, Special Aide to the ex-President, had quoted Mr. Rawlings as saying he did not hate Nkrumah but admired him for the good things he had done for the nation. However, he said Mr. Rawlings was not an Nkrumaist and it was therefore totally wrong and out of context for somebody to say a thing of that sortMr. Smith shifted the blame to the NPP, saying Baakos effusions were part of the NPPs agenda to malign Mr. Rawlings with the view to disorganizing the NDC Mwakikagile concludes quoting Ghanaweb: Mr. Baako was reported to have stated that the former President had developed hatred for the first President to the extent that wherever they (Baako and Rawlings) went, the ex-President had demanded the removal of Dr. Nkrumahs picture. We may recall Kwabena Agyapong, the suspended General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), being cited for removal from office for allegedly asking a colleague to remove portraits of Akufo-Addo from his office. This is democratic dictatorship at its best. That aside, like Rawlings, Akufo-Addo has demonstrated some allegiance to the political ideology of Danquah. Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, has always been a pseudo-socialist and therefore we may point to his smattering of references to property-owning democracy, at best, constitutes an emotional rhetoric of political convenience. Akufo-Addo has courted the public support of pseudo-socialist Rawlings when he had found it convenient to do so. Even so, in the absence of any useful historical template pointing to a teachable track record of his fighting corruption in the Kufuor government, one wonders what to expect of an Akufo-Addo government in terms of a formulation of an effective strategy to fight or contain official corruption. The pop refrain by his sycophantic minions that he is incorruptible does not pass muster. As well, his statement to the effect that no society has achieved any success trying to root out corruption is an implicit admission of his own potential corruptibility, with other writers moving the debate on Akufo-Addos corruptibility from the implicit to the explicit. Kufuors moral mythology offers an immanent encore of this truism. Unfortunately, Apaak, a member of the Mahama administration did not foresee the spate of corruption scandals that would rock the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a political party that claims allegiance to social democracy. The irony is that Apaak made property-owning capitalism the basis of his political and moral critique of the Kufuor government, but could not probably have foreseen corruption taking place under the social democracy of the NDC. But precedent in terms of the cyclic rhetoric of political equalization may be an important factor in assessing the rampancy of official corruption. We are not in any case confusing cause with effect. We are rather making assertions based on questionable facts of stochastic causations between the untoward behaviors of the two major political parties. What, then, separates the social democracy of the NDC from the property-owning capitalism of the NPP, or vice versa? The human factor perhaps! Could Kufuor have been right then? How about Akufo-Addos controversial position that no society can uproot corruption? Is Kufuors Biblical Adam permitted in the social democracy of the NDC? What can Apaak tell us of the legacy of the Mahama presidency? Is it likely that Mahama or his government would be awarded the prestigious Ibrahim Prize? If so, on what basis? The sad part of the matter is that each party empties the national treasury before the other takes over. Some of the windfall of this blatant Orwellian thievery goes to the pockets of private individuals linked to both parties, the bribing of the electorate, members of the judiciary and parliament and other public officials, and the funding of electioneering politics. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Nepotism, cronyism, ethnocentrism, conflict of interest, shady procurement politics relating to sole-sourcinghave defied the logic of partisan political ideology. Official corruption has come to define the political theology of the Fourth Republic to the extent that it is beyond the ideological redemption of the two parties. All these go on while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and other departments in the national security apparatus remain largely nonchalant toward moral anomie. Where are the CID and the BNI when civilians like Martin Amidu and Ana Aremeyaw Anas seem to be doing some of the most important investigations? Is Kufuors Biblical Adam capable of the operational dynamics of time warp? What of the delusionary epicaricacy of either major political when it is in opposition? Is his Biblical Adam haunting Ghana and if so, will it haunt a potential Akufo-Addo government? Do our thieving politicians care about the Mo Ibrahim Foundation? Are our politicians capable of grassroots-democracy rather than of representative democracy? We leave these questions to readers. REFERENCES On the first Saturday of the year 2016, Millennium Music Ministry visits Kwabre-East District Hospital, Asonomaso-Ashanti to share Christ, Sing Soul Lifting Hymns and Pray for the Community. This activity was laid down at the reading of the passage in Job 2:11-13. Millennium Music Ministry started with a membership of 6 male friends in the Seventh-day Adventist church who joined together to form an Acappella group (music without instruments) in the year 2007 and named it Millennium Acappella after the group had undergone a stage of formation. These boys (Prudent, Boakye, Michael, Charles, Gyimah and Brobbey) had the core mission to use their God giving talents to reach out to the world with the message of the second advent of Jesus Christ. Since its formation the group has always looked out for avenues to share the love of Jesus Christ with others. Millennium Acappella has performed at many occasions including Youth Camps, Camp Meetings, Musical Concerts, Weddings and Durbars. The group had the privilege to organize a 14 days street platform evangelism crusade at Ntonso in the 2012 dubbed GO TELL THE WORLD under the Church Pastor Bernard Adjare with the Speakers being Pastor Emmanuel Brefo and Pastor Okofo Tachie. At the end of this crusade, many lost souls was led to Christ. With the need to increase the ministrys strength, the boys decided to form an additional musical group called Millennium SingAlong which was inaugurated on 3rd January 2015 with a membership of 17. Millennium SingAlong is a Choir that is made up of both young ladies (8) and young gentlemen (9), all from the Adventist Church but within the Mountain View Ghana Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Millennium SingAlong was formed in order to enable the ministry have an additional reliable group to support the Ministry. The ministry is massively supported by Pastor Stephen Owusu-Ansah Gyamfi (Ntonso District Pastor), Pastor Emmanuel Brefo (Kwamang District Pastor), Mr. Kwaku Asante (Patron), Mad. Ruth Boahemaah (Patron), Mr. Kwaku Gyasi (Patron) and Piesie Creativity (A Designing, Development and IT Support Company). The Ministry is currently led by Prudent Owusu Frimpong. Today, 2nd January 2016, the ministry pays a visit to Kwabre-East District Hospital, Asonomaso-Ashanti to share and pray with the community. This activity is dubbed JESUS SAVES because the ministry believes if we invite Jesus to bear our pains, He will answer our prayer because He is always there to help His believers and to heal our hearts. The group would love to call all believers to visit a sick friend today with the word of God and prayers and the Lord Jesus will attend to all the sick. Amen. Millennium Music Ministry invites you to join this Ministry in your own way and the Lord will never let you down. Accra, Jan. 2, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has rejected the call by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and scores of political activists for a new voters' register and opted for the auditing and cleaning of the register for Elections 2016. The Independent Panel set up by the Commission and tasked to look into the concerns of the NPP and views of stakeholders on the register finds the arguments for a new document unconvincing and therefore does not recommend it's the replacement. In a statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Mr Christian Owusu-Parry, Acting Director of Public Affairs, noted that the Panel is of the view that the responsibility for having a clean and credible register is the shared responsibility of all citizens. It said the EC would continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that a clean and credible voters' register is in place for the 2016 general election through an inclusive and collaborative audit process. The Commission would publish the full report of the Panel on its website- www.ec.gov.gh by January 7 for the benefit of the public. The EC informed the public that it has examined all the allegations and complaints made by the NPP on the voters' register and has responded appropriately to the party. According to the EC a copy of its findings into the claims made by the NPP would also be made available to the Public on the Commission's website. The Commission commended the members of the Panel led by Justice VCRAC Crabbe, the political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), faith based organisations and other stakeholders for the support and cooperation shown to the Commission during the engagements on the register. The EC reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparent, inclusive and credible general election in 2016 as well as democratic growth and stability. The EC in pursuit of NPP's agitation and counter proposal from the National Democratic Congress and scores of political activities set up a five-member panel tasked to hold a two-day public hearing on calls for compilation of a new voters' register. According to the EC, it took the decision due to the 'petitions and calls it had received from some political parties, civil society groups and a number of Ghanaians for a new voters' register'. The Panel was made up of: Professor V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, Co-Chair of the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, former Professor of Law, and former Electoral Commissioner of Ghana. The rest were: the Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana and Chairman of the National Peace Council; and Mrs Grace Bediako, a former Government Statistician and former member of the National Development Planning Commission. Others were: Nii Narku Quaynor, a renowned computer scientist, Chairman of the National Information Technology Agency Board of Directors, and President of the Internet Society of Ghana; and Maulvi Bin Salih, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Mission of Ghana. GNA Accra, Jan. 2, GNA - Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, has organised an end of year party for members of the constituency to foster unity, peace and development among them. Mrs Ekuful who is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said: 'This is necessary because members of the party are wailing to be given the mandate to put the nation on a developmental path.' She said it is therefore the responsibility of party members to play an active role in bringing peace and unity in the constituency and to the national level in order to achieve its goal by November 2016. Participants at the party were people from the electoral areas and polling stations of the constituency, NPP parliamentary aspirants, executives of the party and some members of the public. The MP urged the constituents to spread messages of peace and unity in their various residences and help to convince the electorate to join her developmental team. 'We urge supporters of the party to assist in making NPP attain more seats in parliament by 2016 else things would be tough for Nana Akufo Addo even when he wins the Presidential election with minority in parliament,' she said. Mrs Ekuful disclosed that she is planning to organise a new-year party for orphans, widows and the vulnerable in the constituency in January. Maame Afua Akoto, Deputy Communication Director of the NPP said Mrs Ekuful is a woman who is passionate about the progress of the party and could sacrifice the impossible just for the party. She therefore asked members of the constituency to forgive any leader of the party who becomes offensive to them in one way or the other either at the constituency, regional or national levels by not allowing an individual's action to affect the entire party's progress. Mrs Freda Prempeh, MP for Tano North said a constituency like Ablekuma West needs a visionary member of parliament who is assertive and could let the voice of the people be heard in the house of parliament, hence the need to re-vote Mrs Ekuful into power. 'This is the time for you to work hard, unite and stand up for the development of the constituency and the entire nation'. Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, MP for Manso Adubia Constituency appealed to members of the constituency to give Mrs Ekuful a second chance in parliament, explaining that 'one does better when given a second chance in parliament because the fellow becomes more accustomed to the operations and structures of the house and can work better'. He said the fact that Mrs Ekuful invited everybody including her opponents indicates that she wants peace, togetherness and common fight to achieve the goals of the party. GNA Damongo (NR), Jan. 2, GNA - Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Minuru, Northern Regional Minister has appealed to the chiefs and people to safeguard the prevailing peace to facilitate development. He said government is appreciative of the role some chiefs played in ensuring peace and tranquility in the region. Alhaji Mohammed-Minuru made the appeal in Damongo during the 2015 special Damba festival of the chiefs and people of the Yagbon (Gonja) Traditional Area, where some personalities were awarded for their exemplary leadership and contributions to national development. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said festivals all over the country are no longer simple occasions for merry making, celebration of culture and tradition but they provide an opportunity for stock taking and developing strategies to improve the lot of the people. He said the Damba festival epitomises the culture and heritage that bears the past, present and the future and expressed the importance of unity, togetherness and continued peace in the region for development. He said education is key to development and in line with government's efforts to improve accelerated access to education, it is pursuing vigorous programme to ensure that the right environment is created to enhance teaching and learning. He mentioned the construction and expansion of school blocks at all levels of the educational ladder in the region and advised the youth especially Gonjas to take the future of the Gonja Traditional Area into their hands and push for the needed development. He said the construction of the Eastern Corridor road would facilitate the movement of goods and people while other roads in the region including those in Debre areas as well as Mankarigu would be worked on. The Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I, King of the Gonja Kingdom said it is important for chiefs to adopt innovative approaches to complement government and other development partners to advance the developmental projects. He said Gonjaland is torn apart with rivers and perennial floods and appealed to government to consider constructing bridges over some of the rivers. 'We need a bridge between Binjai and Kusawgu to shorten the distance between Kpembe, Kusawgu and Tulewe,' he said. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Tamale, Jan. 2, GNA - The Most Reverend Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale has advocated the need for the Catholic Church to create avenues to recognise persons who are not married or single to address their needs. He said the church has noticed that the singles or the unmarried persons constitute a large population in the congregation whose needs must be addressed spiritually and materially. He said many of them could easily meet their life partners if the church addresses their needs adequately. Most Rev. Naameh was addressing the Ola Cathedral Catholic Church in Tamale on Friday to usher in 2016. The celebration of the mass was attended by large group of people including the youth, women and the aged who could not hold their joy as the church announced the end of 2015 and ushered in 2016 with lots of prayers. Most Rev Naameh suggested that there could be the formation of an association of singles in the Catholic Church in the near future for people to meet their life partners through the association saying: 'Many of those singles are running from one church to the other just to find their love ones.' He advised couples to express themselves to their partners and give them unconditional love to ensure the prosperity of their relationships. He indicated that the church has in the past been giving financial resources to individuals in need especially to further their education but at the end, the beneficiaries fail to repay the money, compelling the authorities to change the policy. Most Rev Naameh said now the church offers financial credits for people to start businesses to cater for themselves. Recounting events of the 2015, the Most Rev Naameh expressed disappointment over the poor management of the nation by the government especially with issues relating to the energy crisis. He said the crisis popularly referred to as 'dumsor' has continued to darken the nation instead of Ghanaians getting light. He urged the government to find better and realistic solutions to the challenges confronting Ghanaians to ensure that people live comfortably. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Tanokrom, Jan. 2, GNA - Reverend Samuel Kwasi Abraham, Founder of the Fire Glory Chapel at Tanokrom in the Sekondi/ Takoradi Metropolis, has called on Ghanaians to put God first in the New Year to guarantee total victory in all aspects of life. He said though the nation has been hailed as a Christian dominated country, it had not made any significant impact on the social, economic and political lives of the people but rather social abuses and malpractice, which hinders development. Rev Abraham was speaking in an interview after the 31st December watch night service to usher in the New Year on the theme: "His Grace is Sufficient.' He said the grace of God is available for as many Ghanaians who would seek Him in 2016. Rev Abraham during the general election, Ghana needs to seek God diligently for the peace of the country. He said Ghana is a blessed nation and such its people must endeavour to preserve the blessing through Godly choices. He expressed unhappiness about the various act of corruption and indiscipline, which is breaking the moral fibre of the society. He asked Ghanaians to become more selfless and patriotic towards one another and the nation as a whole. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Accra, Jan. 2, GNA - The Office of former President Jerry John Rawlings has denied that the former President and his wife were members of Government's delegation to the inauguration of Jean Marc Christian Kabore as President of Burkina Faso. A statement issued by the Office of the former President and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the attention of the former President Rawlings has been drawn to inaccuracies in a statement issued by the Flagstaff House Communications Bureau, indicating that he and his wife; Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, were members of the President's delegation that travelled to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for the inauguration ceremony. It said the Office finds the misrepresentation unfortunate. 'Outgoing President Michel Kafando invited his Excellency Jerry Rawlings by a letter dated December 18, 2015. 'The former President and his wife travelled with a delegation including Betty Akuffo-Amoabeng, Kobina Andoh Amoakwa and Joseph Dawson-Otoo,' it stated. The statement said former President Rawlings and the delegation travelled on a military transport aircraft. 'It is important to note that upon arrival in Burkina Faso, the former President and his entourage were met by Burkinabe State Protocol and the Ghana Embassy and driven to their hotel and subsequently to the venue for the ceremony,' it said. It said President Mahama arrived later with the Presidential aircraft and a delegation that included Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh, Dr Edmund Dele and others. 'It is unfortunate that the author of the release, privy to the fact that the former President was also travelling to Burkina Faso, albeit in his own capacity and upon a separate invitation decided to play mischief with the content of the official presidential release,' it said. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Wa, Jan. 2, GNA - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister has asked people in the region to fight poverty, ignorance and disease and not to fight among themselves. "Let us try and fight the right issues and practices that undermine our total development. "We must henceforth channel more of our energy towards the elimination of poverty, ignorance and disease in our midst,' he said in his New Year message to the people of the region". The Regional Minister urged the people to guide against any form of violence in 2016, which he said is also an election year as the rest of the world once again expects Ghana to show the way. Alhaji Sulemana asked the people not to take the prevailing peace in the country for granted, while urging them to tolerate each other's opinions and idiosyncrasies in the midst of political differences. He called on the people to resort to dialogue and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to address disputes before going into the law courts to settle them. The Regional Minister said the Regional Coordinating Council's main goal is to better the lives of the people and called for support and cooperation from all to improve livelihoods. GNA Joy News is learning Highlife legend Amakye Dede has been transported to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment after he was involved in a tragic accident on New Years Day. Amakye Dede who was hospitalized at HAWA Memorial Saviour Hospital at Osiem in the Eastern region was expected to be discharged tomorrow. Medical superintendent Dr. Kofi Yeboah told Joy News, Amakye Dede had multiple facial abrasions and lacerations, not serious enough to keep him there for long. But at the sponsorship of a philanthropist, the Highlife legend is set to receive special care at Korle-Bu. The accident which occurred at Bonsu Junction in the Eastern region killed his manager, Isaac Yeboah on the spot and left his bodyguard in critical condition. His bodyguard is also being sent for treatment at 37 Military Hospital, also sponsored by a philanthropist. Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com 02.01.2016 LISTEN Highlife legend Amakye Dede who survived a fatal accident Saturday dawn is doing well. According to the Medical Superintendent at the Osiem Government Hospital, Dr. D.K. Yeboah, the music legend suffered facial lacerations, which has been dressed. Amakye Dede was rushed to the hospital at dawn after the accident and according to the medical doctor, he was bloody all over. At that time there wasn't any life threatening condition so we did well to further stabilize the patient. For now he is doing very well, by the grace of God he has been able to take his breakfast this morning [Saturday] and is fine. The police confirmed that Amakye Dede's Manager, Isaac Yeboah who was driving the car at the time however died. His remains have since been deposited at the Enyiresi Hospital morgue. ASP Peter Otchere of the Kyebi Police Divisional Command said Amakye Dede and his driver were in the vehicle waiting to perform at the Paradise Restaurant when the Sprinter mini bus veered off the road and run into their car killing the driver on the spot. Three other persons were injured, two from Amakye Dede's car, and one, a woman from the Sprinter bus. They are yet to be named. The accident occurred at Nsutam on the Anyinam-Bunso stretch of the Accra-Kumasi road. An eyewitness, Prince Yeboah, told Accra based radio station, Citi FM that the accident happened at about 1:00 am at a time Amakye Dede was getting ready to perform at the Paradise Restaurant, a few meters away from the popular Linda Dor Restaurant. Source: Daily Graphic 02.01.2016 LISTEN Accra, Jan. 2, GNA - Reverend Father Benjamin Okine, Parish Priest of St Paul's Anglican Basilica Church in La, Accra has urged Ghanaians to remain united despite political affiliations to protect the peace of the nation in the upcoming elections. "We are one nation, one people with a common destiny, and for that matter, we must remain united as a people, nobody should do anything that could destruct the peace and stability the country has enjoyed over the years,' he said. Rev Fr Okine announced this at the December 31 watch night service to usher in the New Year. In a sermon, Rev Fr Okine said: 'It is freedom that Christ has set us free, we must therefore stand fast in the liberty where Christ has made us free, and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' He said despite all the challenges Ghanaians need to be grateful to God for His mercies and protection because not everyone made it to 2016. Rev Fr Okine charged Ghanaians to pray to God to shower His blessings on the nation for peace during and after the elections and for national development. GNA 02.01.2016 LISTEN Tamale, Jan. 2, GNA - Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has indicated that Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo Addo, Flag bearer of the party is the only honest person capable of solving the problems of the nation if given the nod to lead. He said the problems of the nation are too huge that it requires a competent, dynamic and capable personality such as that of the NPP Flag bearer to address them, claiming that Ghanaians are tired and lost hope in the poor leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mr Naabu was addressing a news conference in Tamale to deliver his New Year message and to assure Ghanaians of the capability of the NPP to manage the affairs of the nation. He said the ruling NDC government has incompetent and dishonest people who have taken Ghanaians for granted. He noted that the NDC has failed to solve the energy crisis, fix the broken economy but rather interested in creating, looting and sharing the little resources of the nation. He indicated that such maladministration is injurious to the people of Ghana. 'I invite every Ghanaian to join the NPP to vote out the incompetent NDC out of power in the 2016 elections'. Mr Naabu said the NPP implemented laudable policies and projects during its eight years in power but the NDC had collapsed all of them, mentioning the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Capitation Grant and the Metro Mass Transport system. He assured Ghanaians of a better leadership and economic prosperity should they vote the NPP in the 2016 general election. Mr Naabu urged the NDC to conduct its campaign in a decorous manner since the NPP had set the pace. GNA IVA Struggling with debt? Compare your debt options and write off up to 80% of your unsecured debts from 80 per month Get Started for free What is an IVA? With an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) you can make affordable monthly payments towards a percentage of your debt for 5 years. At the end of the 5 year plan, your remaining debt will be completely written off. Benefits of an IVA Here is a list of the cost common advantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): Affordability You will only be asked to pay back what you can afford, with allowances taken into account for food, bills, entertainment, travel, childcare and others. You may be sacrificing certain essential costs at the moment. With an IVA they are budgeted for so they will no longer be neglected No upfront costs When you set up an IVA, there are no upfront costs whatsoever. This means that you can put a debt solution in place today without spending a penny You have a finishing line Do you feel like there will be no end to your debt problems? With high interest costs and charges, the balances of your credit accounts may not reduce as you need them to. With an IVA you will become totally debt free at the completion of the IVA (usually 5 years). You can use this as an opportunity to change your financial life, for good Confidential Your IVA is not advertised in the London Gazette or local newspaper. It is your decision whether you would like to disclose it to other people or not No more contact from creditors When you are in an IVA, your creditors will no longer have the right to contact you or refer the debt on to debt collectors/bailiffs. This is a great benefit for most people as it will take away the stress caused by constant calls/texts/emails and home visits Stay in your house Unlike some debt solutions, an IVA will allow you to stay in your current home. This is even the case if the property has a mortgage or is owned outright Your pension An IVA does not have an impact on your pension. You will not have to surrender your pension or withdraw money from it to pay into your IVA Risks of an IVA Here is a list of the cost common disadvantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): Equity Release If you own your property and it has value, you may be asked to release the equity in the property Credit Rating If you have a perfect credit rating, this will be damaged and you will not be allowed to take out more debt whilst in an arrangement You must keep up with repayments If you do not keep up with your monthly repayments, there is a risk you will be made bankrupt Who qualifies for an IVA? There is no office guidelines to who qualifies for an IVA. It is a legally binding, Government legislation designed to help all people. Generally speaking, insolvency practitioners (IP) will look at your situation if they think the IVA proposal they submit is beneficial to both yourself (the debtor) and your creditors. This often restricts people to a certain criteria which you will have to meet: Over 5000 worth of unsecured debt You must have 2 or more creditors of 2 or more lines of credit Must live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Must be insolvent Must be willing to pay at least 70 per month into their IVA Must have some type or types of regular income What debts can I include in an IVA? You can include a wide range of unsecured debts within your IVA. These include: Credit card debt/credit cards Loans/loan debt Payday loans Council tax arrears HMRC debt Overpaid benefits Catalogues Gas and electricity arrears Overdrafts/overdraft debt Water arrears Income tax arrears Debts to friends and family Other unsecured debts Note: If you are a resident of Scotland, you will need to apply for a Scottish Trust Deed (legally binding). Speak to our advisors for Scottish Debt Advice. What debts cant be included in an IVA? Secured loans Your mortgage (if you still live in the house) Car finance (if you still have the car) Rent arrears for your current property Court fines/Police fines Hire purchase arrears (if you still have the product) Log book loans (if you still have the vehicle that the debts are secured on) Student loans Other secured debts What does I.V.A stand for? IVA stands for Individual Voluntary Arrangement. It is a formal way to consolidate your debts into one affordable monthly repayment, resulting in the debtor becoming debt free at the end of their payments. Can I apply for an IVA online? Use the IVA Calculator to check your eligibility Prepare your IVA proposal and apply for your IVA. When your IVA is accepted, your creditors can no longer contact you. Pay 60 low monthly payments. After 5 years, you are out of your IVA and completely debt free. Will an IVA affect my employment? In most occupations, your credit rating or credit scoring is not a factor and it may never have been checked in the past, it may also be likely that it is not checked in the future either. There is no law to tell you that you must advise your employer that you have entered an IVA or that you owe money. They will not be notified by your insolvency practitioner. If you wanted to keep it a private matter, in most cases this would be absolutely fine. With some roles such as financial advisors, solicitors or bank workers it may make up part of your contract to advise them of changes like this. In these situations we would advise to inform your employers of your intentions before you enter into any arrangements. This way there will be no nasty surprises for you later down the line. More often than not, we find that your employer would not be concerned by your IVA and that it would not affect your employment status. An IVA is a formal solution and could affect some employments, such as if you were a solicitor or accountant for example. We would always recommend that you receive approval from your employers that your job isnt affected before you sign up for anything. Will an IVA impact my partner? There are certain situations where you may not want to involve your partner at all in your IVA proposal due to personal reasons. Insolvency Practitioners are very aware of these circumstances and can operate solely via telephone and email and at your convenience, so rest assured that your matters can be kept completely private. If the debts which you are looking to place into your IVA are in joint names, then this would be different. Your IP would look to place all of your debts into an IVA, including joint debts therefore you would have to inform your partner of your plans. If your debts are solely yours, then there would be no negative impact on your partner, their credit score would remain unaffected and they would not be entered onto any registers or be tainted in any way. Will an IVA affect my credit score/credit file? Whilst you are in your arrangement, you will not be able to get any credit. An IVA will stay on your credit file for 6 years, so 12 months after a typical IVA. When this time has passed and your monthly payments have ended, you will be able to rebuild your credit rating. What proof will I need to apply for an IVA? Proof of ID Passport/driving license/birth certificate/utility bills/national insurance identification/credit agreement Bank statements 3 months bank statements with all transactions displayed Proof of income 3 months payslips/P60/proof of benefits How long does it take to set up an IVA? Your initial call will only last around 5-10 minutes. The IVA process will be explained to you and you will be told what further information you will need to provide to proceed with your IVA proposal. Once you have returned the required information, an IVA will usually take between 7-14 days to get into place. You will be protected from creditors within this time, your advisor will provide you with documentation via email. How long does an IVA last? Most IVAs will last for a length of five years. The i v a will remain on your credit file for a period of six years and is placed on the Insolvency Register for that period. You can work out what date it will be removed from your credit file, it will be six years from the start date of the IVA term. So if the IVA started on 1 January 2000, it should be removed from your credit file six years from that date, which would be 1 January 2006. When you apply for an individual voluntary arrangement your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) will tell you if you qualify for an IVA, how long it lasts, how much it costs and provide you with any other debt advice which you may need. How much will debt advice cost for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement? The advice cost for individual voluntary arrangements is free of charge. Your I.V.A company will tell you if you qualify for an IVA. They will talk to you about your different debts, provide you with free debt advice and check if your creditors are likely to approve your proposal for your IVA for debt. How does an IVA affect your life? By taking out an IVA you may affect your overall financial position. You will not be allowed to take out credit for 6 years. You will struggle to get a mortgage or remortgage your existing property. It also may affect any future increase in earnings or windfalls you may receive, as these will need to be paid to your insolvency practitioner. Your insolvency practitioner will take control of your debts for this period, they will deal with all of your creditors and this is legally binding. That means you will not be allowed to take out any more debts whilst in the IVA. Once the plan is completed, any debts which you accrue will be managed by yourself. Your ability to take out further debts in the future will not be impacted once the IVA has completed. What is the IVA protocol? The I.V.A protocol is a voluntary set of guidelines which your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) can sign up for which improves the efficiency of Individual Voluntary Arrangements. When you apply for debt advice, it is important that you understand the steps of the debt solution, so you can decide whether or not the solution is the best one for your circumstances. How do I know if creditors will accept my IVA? Generally speaking, most creditors will approve voluntary arrangements for unsecured debt. But some debts can not be included within one formal debt solution. Your Insolvency Practitioner will tell you how likely it is that your creditors will be willing to accept your proposal, based on the voting creditors. Can I pay in one lump sum? There are occasions when you may be eligible for a debt solution which is payable in a one off lump sum as a final settlement to your creditors. This is usually when the money is being gifted from some one else, or you have received inheritance or a windfall for example. With a one-off lump sum payment, the advice is usually the same as when you normally apply for an IVA. You wouldnt have to make regular payments into the solution, your IP can provide you with more advice on one off lump sum solutions for your debts. Your IP will provide you with more advice on the debt IVA and explain what is IVA to you. Who regulates the debt industry? At present the debt industry is not regulated. Some Insolvency Practitioners offices choose to sign up to the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) or register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can contact the IPA using the contact details or email address on their website. Your creditors do not regulate the debt industry and your creditors will not be able to impact any decisions which the IPA or FCA make. In our experience, the regulators will take assertive action on any advisers or businesses which do not comply with their strict codes of practice. To check if a person is regulated by the FCA, enter their name into the search box in the FCA website. Should I use a debt charity? There are thousands of companies which provide debt help in the UK. You may be looking for an alternative to a private company. You should know that charities usually pass their fee charging products to sister companies which charge fees and disbursements, just like private companies. So what you initially thought was a good option, on further analysis could be different to what you originally thought. Charities do have their part to play though. They can help you if you have a problem with your bank accounts, maintenance arrears, living costs, credit reference agencies, child support arrears, bankruptcy, assets, accountancy issues, mortgages, creditor issues, insurance providers, mobiles, your bank account, rates arrears, PAYE contributions or if you want to work out your expenditure. They can make sure that you speak to an adviser or supervisor and look at proposals to offer your lender. A petition has started with the possibility of a debate in parliament about how charities represent themselves and their services. Which charities help with debt? You can contact Money Advice Service, National Debtline, Step Change, Shelter or a combination of the three. Charities are particular useful for a low debt level under 1,000. If the debt is high (such as a debt value of 10,000 or more) you would usually seek an assessment from a professional adviser. If you do decide to use a charity to guide you, make sure you check their charity number and the registration number on their website to make sure you are content that their team can answer your questions in the right ways. A lot of clients of charities have a minimum debt level which does not meet the basis for an IVA, so you could always chat to a charity that is happy to act on your behalf for low debt levels. Although an I.V.A could be the answer to your debt problem, its important to understand the monthly payment so call us on our free phone number. Anyone customers can receive expert feedback on their rights from debt charities, if they cant help they will usually point you in the director of firms which help with IVAs. We are homeowners, will lenders see my proposal differently? In some cases yes. In the majority of cases, if you are a homeowner you will not need to remortgage or take out any additional finances that will effect your property. You will need to sign a additional restrictions which remove your ability to take out additional credit tied to your property, which is something that is restricted once you are in an i.v.a. There are exceptions to this, such as when you have a lot of equity in your property/properties. If you own half of a property and another party owns the other half, only your equity will be affected. If you are landlord and you are in a position of equity, your IP may review your trading position or business to make sure the figures in question are in order. This is usually the case if you have two or more properties, as sometimes the equity can be used to form a repayment to your creditors. But this usually depends on the amount of value built up in your properties. Banks and building societies will not change the terms of your mortgage as long as a contribution is still being made for the duration of your arrangement. Your mortgage payments will be added to your expenses and accounted for within your budget, as long as you can provide evidence that you can afford to continue to make payments into your mortgage for duration of the plan. LOOKING FOR HELP? 100% Confidential. Thousands Helped. No upfront fees Quentin Tarantino might have a knack for creating award-winning dramas, but this time one of his films has landed him in some legal drama. A father-son screenwriting team have accused the controversial director, The Weinstein Company, and Columbia Pictures of copyright infringement. Tarantino is being sued for $100 million for allegedly stealing the idea behind 2012 movie, Django Unchained. On Thursday (Dec. 24), a lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C. against the filmmaker and the film distributors by Oscar Colvin Jr. and his son, Torrance J. Colvin. The Colvins believe Tarantino's Oscar-winning script for Django Unchained shares far too many similarities to their screenplay Freedom. The plot of Freedom surrounds an escaped slave named Jackson Freeman who's on a mission to buy his family's freedom from an evil plantation owner, with the help of a Caucasian ally. Tarantino's 2012 film features a slave named Django Freeman on the same pursuit. "There are a plethora of similarities between 'Freedom' and 'Django Unchained,'" the lawsuit states, according to Variety. "Defendants would call them coincidences, however, the intentional use of our work is neither an accident nor coincidence." For those who have never seen Django Unchained, the movie follows Django (Jamie Foxx) who accompanies a German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Cristoph Waltz) to capture the Brittle brothers. The two soon find their way to the home of wealthy plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), where Django's estranged wife Broomhilda von Shaft (Kerry Washington) works as a house slave. The Colvins allegedly registered their screenplay with the Writers Guild of America in 2004. It was also taken to the CAA, the William Morris Agency, as well as, placed Triggerstreet's official script website. The 52-year-old director's film went on to gross $425 million worldwide, according to the New York Daily News. The suit states the Colvins are looking for compensatory damages of more than "hundreds of millions of dollars." It was filed the day before Tarantino released his most recent Western drama, The Hateful Eight. Neither of the accused parties have responded to the allegations. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Our money has been depleted by ... An elderly couple from Volusia County narrowly avoided being scammed and they want to make sure others know so they dont become a victim. I started crying because I was thinking about all of the other old people that have less than we do, said Joy Boyd. Boyd lives in South Daytona with her husband. She said they live primarily on social security so when someone called her and told her she could receive financial help, she listened. He said, OK, well that is very good. There are people in need, higher-ups in these companies that pick about 2,000 people once a year and use it as a tax write-off, Boyd said. Joy said a man from the Building Money Network, out of New Mexico, told her companies like Amazon and Visa had chosen her to receive a $6,000 grant. The catch -- she had to give them $995 for the grant to kick in. He knew so much about all these other companies and when I got online they had these programs. He was smart, he did his homework, said Boyd. However, right after she gave her credit card information to the man, her husband ran up to her. He said the bank has called and they blocked it, so I told him I have to call you back about this authorization, said Boyd. According to the Better Business Bureau, there have been eight complaints filed against the Building Money Network, which also goes by the name Advertising Solutions. In one of those complaints, a person said she paid the company $995 in April. She said she never received anything in return. It hurt, it broke my heart. It really did, said Boyd. The BBB said over 10,000 scams were reported in 2015. The top scams include: tax scams, debt collections, sweepstakes and government grants. To learn more about what you can do to avoid being scammed, head to the Better Business Bureau website. Associated Press Writer Brad Wells and his neighbors have taken on a corporate giant and port officials in a battle to head off construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal near their homes on Mobile Bay. While the Exxon Mobil Corp. project is years from becoming reality, the first major hurdle was cleared Tuesday when the Alabama State Port Authority voted 4-2 to sell a three-year option on the old Navy base to Exxon Mobil Gas Inc., an affiliate of Exxon Mobil. Company spokesman Alan Stuckert said Friday the federal permitting process for the terminal could begin before the end of the year. Wells, president of the 200-member Hollingers Island Community Association, claims in a lawsuit against the port authority _ and its individual members _ that the land should be auctioned because it's public property. The suit in Mobile County court also claims the port authority's sales price _ up to $39.4 million_ is too low for 200 acres of deep-water industrial waterfront and should have been independently appraised. But the major concern is safety, Wells said. He said about 2,000 people live near the property chosen for the terminal and could be in jeopardy if an accident occurred, particularly if the terminal became a terrorist target. Port Authority Chairman Tim Parker said he voted against selling the option on the property because he wanted an independent safety study done. He said that would be helpful for those who lacked confidence in the government's permitting agencies. Parker, a barge company operator in Tuscaloosa, also called the sales price a fair one. Exxon Mobil officials took out full-page newspaper ads and advertised on television before the port authority vote, describing the company's planned $600 million investment that will generate hundreds of jobs during three years of construction. The ads also defended the LNG industry as safe, saying the terminal won't be built if during the permitting process it's shown to be unsafe. The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce endorsed the LNG project, saying when completed, it would generate nearly $3 million a year in property taxes and $20 million a year in related local expenditures. The chamber also predicted the project would create more than 250 permanent jobs in terminal operations, port services and maintenance contracts. A University of South Alabama economic impact study says an estimated 600 jobs would be created during the three-year construction phase for the terminal, generating $165 million in local expenditures. The study also identifies nearly $6.5 million in state, city and county taxes earned from construction-related wages. The port could potentially receive an additional $1 million or more per year, depending on vessel traffic, under a tariff arrangement with Exxon Mobil, which agreed to pay a tariff of $10,000 per vessel. Exxon Mobil in October agreed to import 15.6 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas a year from Qatar beginning in 2008 or 2009. The Irving, Texas-based company is considering sites in Corpus Christi, Sabine Pass near Beaumont, Texas, and on Mobile Bay for the LNG terminal. The company says it might build more than one terminal. The gas would arrive from the Middle East on supertankers, super-chilled to minus 260 degrees, turning it into liquid. From the terminal, it would move out in pipelines. Tamara Young-Allen, a spokesman for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C., said once the Exxon-Mobil application is received, government officials will evaluate the project, taking a look at safety and its environmental impact, among other issues. It usually takes up to two years to process a FERC application, but Exxon Mobil is expected to file under a speeded-up process. "There will be more public hearings, but we feel they are just nothing more than courtesy," said Wells, the Hollingers Island neighborhood president. The residents' attorney, Kent McPhail, contends the health and safety study should have been completed before the port authority's vote on the option. Christmas came almost a week late for 29 agencies and organizations that will share $380,515 in annual stipends, approved and released Thursday afternoon by the Hale County Commissioners Court. The action came during the commissioners final meeting of 2015. Originally scheduled for Monday, it was delayed due to inclement weather. Each year the county budgets stipends to a variety of organizations and agencies, ranging from rural fire departments and ambulance services to museums, libraries and senior citizens groups. Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corporation received the largest stipend of $50,000, with the Central Plains Center next at $36,005. Ambulance services at Hale Center, Petersburg and Abernathy along with Hale County Child Welfare were next at $36,000. Volunteer fire departments at Abernathy, Petersburg, Halfway, Edmonson and Hale Center were awarded $12,500, with the Museum of the Llano Estacado getting $10,000. Unger Memorial Library receives $9,500, while public libraries at Abernathy, Hale Center and Petersburg get $3,500. Hale County Senior Citizens in Plainview gets $7,500 with senior centers in Abernathy, Hale Center and Petersburg each getting $6,000. Awarded $5,000 each are Plainview YMCA/SAFE, Parents Place and Hale County Farm & Ranch Museum. Hale County Crisis Center, Hale County Literacy Council and Olton Volunteer Ambulance will get $3,500. Hale County Meals on Wheels receives $3,010, Olton Fire Protection gets $3,000, and Hale County Historical Commission was given $1,000. The fire departments and ambulance services are required to make periodic reports to the county to receive their funding. Commissioners on Thursday released Abernathy VFDs $12,500 stipend for 2015 after approving its 2014 activity report, showing 59 runs - 16 within the city limits, 29 in rural Hale County and 14 in rural Lubbock County. In other action, commissioners: --Approved current accounts payable of $262,240.77, and acknowledged a closing balance for all accounts on Nov. 30 of $16,367,436.57. --Approved revisions to the countys personnel handbook. --Agreed to a one-year extension on the starting date for 10 years of tax abatements for Hale Community Energy LLC. The request was made by NextEra, developer of the wind energy project. Construction is expected to start in early spring in the Petersburg area. --Approved an Interlocal agreement with Central Plains Center on the administration of grant funds for a mental health peace officer. Plainview leaders mingle optimism with caution as they look forward to 2016. The future is bright, they say, but the community needs to pitch in to help projects move forward. Charles Starnes, director of Sparks Business Accelerator at Wayland Baptist University, member of the Plainview City Council and owner of PakMail, says Plainviews economy has stabilized and the unemployment rate is steady since the layoffs at Cargill in 2012. Retail looks good - but retail isnt enough. Retail alone will not grow the economy, Starnes said. Retail creates import value. We buy something and send the money out of the community. We need to add the kind of jobs that create export value for our economy. We need some industry or manufacturing or other kind of business to come in, something that pays an average of more than $15 an hour to benefit the economy. Plainview, Starnes says, is as good a place as any for companies to locate. He mentioned the new business park as an attraction to industry in addition to a good transportation system with highways, railways and proximity to air freight at Lubbock International Airport. Starnes mentioned industries that have already located to Plainview such as Martin Transport Terminal of Martin Resources Management and Transportation Technology Services wind turbine distribution center. Currently, Starnes said, oil prices are low, allowing businesses and consumers to keep and spend more of their income. True, he said, those invested in the oil industry say they would rather pay $4 a gallon at the pump and have a bigger royalty check, but while lower gas prices are a tradeoff, theyre good for the economy overall. Energy bills are considerably lower, and a milder winter fits into the picture as well, Starnes said. My business is happy. Main Street Director Melinda Brown said she would like to see more progress in downtown Plainview during the upcoming year with more events for people in Plainview to participate in and more employment. We need to grow the economy so that there are options for residents in shopping, dining and even employment, Brown said. Brown mentioned RUDC Studio, a multi-function art gallery and music venue at 620 Ash St., as one of the businesses that moved into downtown in 2015. And there are two new hair salons that also offer aesthetic services such as sugaring, massage and waxing, Brown said. Most of downtowns living units for residents are near or at capacity, Brown said. Spaces for businesses to rent or purchase are available. Main Street took over management of the Fair Theatre at the beginning of October 2015, and the building is available for weddings, private parties and other events. Brown mentioned helping at the Fair Theatre as one opportunity to volunteer. Main Street and Plainview Downtown Association are working together to revitalize downtown, and volunteers can help with cleanup, help plan events - whatever your passion is, Brown said. Main Street has four committees: Economic Restructuring Committee, Promotions Committee, Organization Committee and Design Committee. Serving on one of the committees is a great way to get involved, Brown said. Joe Provence, president of Plainview Cultural Arts Council, said the council recently added several new members, including Stan DeMerritt, representing the Rotary Club; Carole Bell, representing Witness Writers; and Heather May, representing the Plainview Repertory Theatre Group. Provence said he hopes more interest will be generated in 2016 for new groups such as the Plainview Repertory Theatre Group and established events such as the Running Water Draw Arts & Crafts Festival and the Scholastic Art Exhibit, which the council helps present along with the Abraham Art Gallery at Wayland Baptist University. Were hoping to help groups like these generate more people coming into Plainview. Provence said he is excited about the Plainview Symphony Orchestra presenting A Coffee Conflict, a world premiere opera set for April 15 and 16. Its a first-of-its-kind event in Plainview, he said. Provence is also hoping to see more people visit the citys ArtWalks. Any artist is welcome to participate, he said. For a $25 membership fee, members of Plains Art Association can take advantage of programs by different artists in the area. We have wonderful programs every month by different artists. They can hear and see demonstrations by nine or 10 good professional artists every year, Provence said. The Granada Theatre restoration continues as a possibility for 2016 and beyond, according to theater owner Darryl Holland. Right now, Historic Granada of Plainview, Inc., a 501C3 nonprofit organization, is seeking supporters and foundations to move the project forward in a big way. Of primary concern are the sprinkler system, utilities and electricity along with other basic renovations to the structure. Im still committed, Holland said. We need outside help, but were still trying to find best ways to advance the project. Holland said more information can be found by searching Facebook or at info@historicgranada.org. SOUTHINGTON A conservation group is planning to remove two antiquated dams from the Quinnipiac River to help wildlife along the waterway. Save the Sound, a nonprofit, plans to use federal money from a contamination settlement to remove the Clark Brothers dam in Southington and the Carpenter dam on the Cheshire-Meriden line. Steve Gephard, a fish biologist and fisheries supervisor with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the dams arent in use. His department is trying to restore populations of migratory fish such as salmon, shad, alewives and herring in Connecticut waterways. While salmon can jump some dams, even four to five-foot obstructions can prevent other types of fish from traveling upstream. Those species are now restricted to areas near the coast, Gephard said, reducing populations. Removing the dams will allow them to return to where they once flourished. This will open up miles. This will open up the vast majority of their historic run, Gephard said. The Clark Brothers dam once powered a bolt factory in Plantsville. Once its removed only one dam, on the north end of town, will remain in Southington. Two other area dams, one in Meriden and one in Wallingford, have been equipped with fishways for aquatic migration. Gephard said the effort isnt just on behalf of the fish. Fish provide food for other animals and bring nutrients from the ocean. Its all about restoring the ecosystem, he said. The fish are fuel for the fire. David James, president of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, said he was in favor of the plan. Other states are making similar efforts to remove antiquated dams and improve fish runs. Its happening all over the country, he said. The removal of dams will also make the river easier to kayak. The association has cleared small areas near the river and holds yearly kayaking events, James said. Removing a dam usually costs several hundred thousand dollars, according to Gephard. The project is in the final design phase. Save the Sound hopes to remove the dams this summer, but permits might push the work to the summer of 2017. The grant money comes from a settlement over contamination from the former Southington landfill. Some of that contamination entered the Quinnipiac River. Gephard said its fitting that the money will now go toward improving the rivers ecosystem. jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ WEST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Veterans living at several Connecticut retirement centers are being told they can remain at those facilities because of a provision in the new federal budget. Two years ago, 23 veterans living at the Seacrest Retirement Center in West Haven, Highvue Manor in Hamden and Mattatuck Health Care in Waterbury were notified by the Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System that their care in those homes had been erroneously covered, due to a VA error. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro says the recent, omnibus budget bill directs the VA to cover the cost for the veterans currently living at those facilities. DeLauro, a Democrat from New Haven, says she plans to keep pushing for federal legislation that would allow other eligible veterans to live at such residential care facilities. Russia is unlikely to sign a contract with Ukraine on power supply to Crimea if Kyiv insists on a clause stipulating that the peninsula belongs to Ukraine, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said. "It can be assumed with a great degree of probability that the president will opt not to sign a contract on such terms," Peskov told Interfax in commenting on preliminary findings of a poll of Crimeans conducted by the VTsIOM public opinion survey service, which showed that an overwhelming majority of the local residents objected to concluding a power supply contract with Kyiv on such terms. "The first results of the sociological survey show quite an unambiguous picture. Sure, it makes sense to wait for the final results, although the preliminary ones are also quite illustrative," he said. Asked whether Russia would sign a contract on power supplies to Crimea if Kyiv drops the demand that the peninsula be denoted as one belonging to Ukraine, Peskov replied," Then the situation would change." "Actually, this is something on which our Russian colleagues have been insisting throughout the negotiations," he added. Talking about the VTsIOM's poll, Peskov pointed out that it had been conducted at the president's behest. "After the Energy Ministry reported about the precondition put forward by Ukraine on denoting Crimea as part of Ukraine in the contract, the president decided to find out the Crimean population's attitude toward the problem," Peskov said. "Before making a decision on whether to sign the contract, the president decided to find out the Crimean people's opinion, that is, to learn whether the Crimeans are prepared to be denoted as part of Ukraine in the contract and receive electric power from there or whether they are prepared, say, to experience a certain shortage in power supplies until May 1, when the power bridge is to reach its full capacity," Peskov added. Valery Fyodorov, the general director of VTsIOM, had said at a press conference earlier on Friday in presenting the findings of a poll of residents of Crimea and Sevastopol concerning a power supply contract with Ukraine: "In general, the findings are as follows: 6.18% of the respondents support the Ukrainian version of the contract, while 93.2% do not support the conclusion of such a contract,". The poll also showed that 94% of Crimeans are prepared to experience temporary difficulties caused by the absence of a power supply contract with Ukraine, while 5.4% are not prepared for this. VTSIOM conducted the poll of 2,525 respondents in Crimea and 500 in Sevastopol on December 31, 2015 and on January 1, 2016. Its margin of error is within 2.4%. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Keep an eye out for these early 2016 releases. Tuesday Sailor and Fiddler: Reflections of a 100-Year-Old By Herman Wouk Simon & Schuster, $20 In the year he becomes a centenarian, Herman Wouk reflects on the adventurous life that has inspired his novels, which include his Pulitzer Prize-winner, The Caine Mutiny, as well as The Winds of War, War and Remembrance, Marjorie Morningstar and Youngblood Hawke. Jan. 12 My Name Is Lucy Barton By Elizabeth Strout Random House, $26 Elizabeth Strout, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge, returns with a novel about the mother-daugter relationship: Lucy is in the hospital recovering from surgery when her mother comes to visit. They havent spoken in years, but a bit of gossip leads to a conversation that seems to reconnect them. However, old tensions lurk just beneath the surface. Jan. 19 The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain By Bill Bryson Doubleday, $28.95 In 1995 Bill Bryson (A Walk in the Woods, A Short History of Nearly Everything) motored about the English countryside and wrote an endearing book about the trip, Notes from a Small Island. Two decades later he sets out on a journey of rediscovery. Feb. 2 The High Mountains of Portugal By Yann Martel Spiegel & Grau, $27 From the author of Life of Pi comes an engrossing fable about a boy named Tomas who discovers an old journal in 1904 that hints at an artifact that would redefine history. So begins a journey, a ghost story, a love story, that spans more than half a century. Feb. 23 Under the Influence By Joyce Maynard William Morrow, $25.99 From the critically acclaimed author of Labor Day and After Her, comes a quietly powerful novel about a woman whose drinking cost her her family. But a wealthy couple holds out a seductive gift: the opportunity to regain custody of her son. How much is Helen willing to pay? March 1 The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero By Timothy Egan Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28 Timothy Egan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter and columnist and National Book Award winner for The Worst Hard Time, tells nothing less than the story of the Irish in America through the life of one extraordinary man. Thomas Francis Meagher escaped homeland strife and Tasmanian prison colony to come to the United States and fight in the Civil War. And thats just the beginning of his story. March 15 Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America By Douglas Brinkley Harper, $35 Douglas Brinkley, the brilliant Rice University professor who has written books on Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter, Henry Ford and Hurricane Katrina, chronicles FDRs legacy as founder of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and protector of Americas public lands. At the Edge of the Orchard By Tracy Chevalier Viking, $26.95 Girl with a Pearl Earring author is back with the epic story of a pioneer family who settle in 1838 in Ohio, where their wagon got stuck, and start an apple orchard. March 29 Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 By Adam Hochschild Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30 The Spanish Civil War resonates in every romantic idealists heart to this day, including, apparently, best-selling writer Adam Hochschild, author of King Leopolds Ghost. Heres a sweeping history of the war, told through the eyes of a dozen participants, including Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell. News of the World By Paulette Jiles William Morrow, $24.99 Nobody writes Texas historical fiction with the eye and ear for detail like Hill Country writer Paulette Jiles. In News of the World, a Civil War captain is given a $50 gold piece to transport a 10-year-old girl stolen by the Kiowa back home to her relatives in San Antonio. Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and dangerous. April 13 The Regional Office is Under Attack!: A Novel By Manuel Gonzales Riverhead, $28 From the author of acclaimed The Miniature Wife and Other Stories comes the debut novel by Manuel Gonzales, in which a force of super-powered women assassins under the umbrella of the Regional Office must protect the world from annihalation. Or something like that. Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination By Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf Liveright, $27.95 Historian Annette Gordon-Reed sparked controversy and acclaim with her 1997 book Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, in which she showed convincingly that the third president had a sexual relationship and a family with the slave Sally Hemmings. DNA testing proved Gordon-Reed right. She would subesequently win the Pulitzer Prize, the National Humanities Medal and a MacArthur genius grant. Teaming with leading Jefferson scholar Peter S. Onuf, the Harvard law professor returns to Jefferson in the upcoming book Most Blessed of the Patriarchs, in which the scholars explore what they call the empire of Jeffersons imagination. sbennett@express-news.net What makes a mystery land on the best of the years list? The perfect melding of strong characters, unusual plots and evocative settings that make the novel stay in this readers mind long after the last page. 1. Badlands by C.J. Box (Minotaur) and Endangered by C.J. Box (Putnam): Edgar-winner C.J. Boxs two 2015 novels are each deserving. Badlands shows the new Wild West in which a North Dakota hamlet becomes a boomtown because of its oil-rich fields in Boxs intriguing fifth stand-alone novel. Badlands deftly explores an area under siege by its own progress, inhabited by well-rounded characters shaped by their environs and their own moral codes. Endangered, the 15th novel about Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett, continues Boxs clear-eyed approach to balancing environmental and human issues in compelling plots. 2. Last Words by Michael Koryta (Little, Brown): A poignant look at grief, greed and small-town angst complement the exciting action that goes deep into a dark, dank, claustrophobic cave. Private investigator Mark Novak, still reeling over his wifes death two years before, looks into a teenagers decade-old murder inside a now-shuttered Indiana tourist cave. 3. Hush Hush by Laura Lippman (William Morrow): Baltimore private investigator Tess Monaghans most welcome return after a three-year hiatus finds the perceptive detective juggling motherhood of a precocious toddler while working for a wealthy woman who was found not guilty of killing her infant daughter 12 years before. Parenting issues seldom are fodder for crime fiction, but Lippman uses this to provide an emotional depth for an exciting mystery that spins on the precise character studies. 4. Last Ragged Breath by Julia Keller (Minotaur): Our personal stories define who each of us is as an individual, sealing our reputation and our relationships. Keller smoothly incorporates the power of an individuals story into a tense tale that uses the background of the 1972 Buffalo Creek flood, a real West Virginia tragedy that symbolized the epitome of corporate greed. Kellers series captures a community paralyzed by a lack of opportunities, yet where people still have hope and even dignity. 5. The Crossing by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown): Newly retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch reluctantly teams up with his half-brother attorney Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) to prove that a man may be innocent of murder. Harry, who has often defined himself by his job, learns that work, no matter how important, is not the sum total of a person. Connelly handles this retirement with aplomb and fits well with this series in which Harry has aged. Watching Harry reinvent himself as so many new retirees have had to do brings even more energy to this series that never lags. 6. A Fine Summers Day by Charles Todd (Morrow): A high point in an already evocative series normally set during post-WWI Great Britain finds the battle-fatigued Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge happy and hopeful on the day before WWI breaks out. A superior character study seamlessly melds with a historical overview of how the threat of war began to permeate Britain. While PBS Downton Abbey looks at how WWI affected the aristocrats, Todd concentrates on those not to the manor born. 7. The Redeemers by Ace Atkins (Putnam): Sheriff Quinn Colson knows how lawlessness can erupt when people believe they are above the law a fact even more clearly illustrated as Colsons tenure in Mississippis Tibbehah County draws to a close. 8. Let Me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Roy (Dutton): Desire and regret as palpable as the fragrant lavender fields that separate two feuding families permeate this tale about two women separated by decades but linked by family bonds in rural Kentucky. 9. What You Left Behind by Samantha Hayes (Crown): Intense character studies, aided by a perceptive look at teenagers united by feelings of alienation, elevate the unpredictable plot in which a family in an affluent British village worries that their teenage son may have suicidal tendencies. 10. World Gone By by Dennis Lehane (William Morrow): Dennis Lehane gives a textbook guide on how to end a series in the final book of his thrilling trilogy about organized crime set in Ybor City, Fla., during the early 20th century. While never glorifying the illegal, Lehane examines how crime works on ones soul and what it means to know that the life youve chosen must give way to the next breed of criminals. Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine have more opponents than supporters - poll The idea of early parliamentary elections is rejected by 43% of Ukrainians, while 36.7% speak in its favor, according to a poll conducted by Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kiev International Institute of Sociology. A press release, '2015: Political Outcomes - People's Opinion', published on the foundation's website said that 20% were undecided about the initiative to hold early elections of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada. Should early parliamentary elections happen, 56.5% of the respondents would vote, and 32.5% would not. Some 10.9% were undecided. Those prepared to vote would give their voices to Petro Poroshenko Bloc 'Solidarity' (9%). Samopomich (8.7%), Batkivschyna (7.7%) and Opposition Bloc (6.5%) would also pass the 5% election threshold. Radical Party of Oleh Liashko can count on 4.1% of the vote, UKROP on 3.7%, while Svoboda and the Right Sector Party (outlawed in Russia) on 3.3% each. The list of political parties did not include the People's Front party of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, which currently has the second largest faction in the parliament. Forty percent of the respondents who are ready to vote are still undecided about which party to support. Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kiev International Institute of Sociology polled 2,040 respondents older than 18 in the period from December 15 till 25, 2015. The theoretical error is 2.3%. The poll was held with financial backing from the European Union. Lets start the New Year fresh. Lets jettison political correctness. The phrase. Those words, among the GOP presidential wannabes, are now the go-to defense. Ive written about political correctness before that those who use the phrase are mostly yearning for those good old days when they could be as offensive as they wanted without being called on it. The candidates have taken this to an entirely different level. The phrase has become useful when the candidates are questioned about the truthfulness of their statements, as in, ahem, when there is no truth to their statements. Large crowds of Muslims cheering the 9/11 attacks here? Didnt happen, but questioned on it, Donald Trump hid behind political correctness as in, if you think it didnt happen, you are merely blinded by the politically correct need to appease Muslims. Invoke political correctness and you dont even have to produce those pesky facts. It is about how you feel, as in, It doesnt matter if they didnt. You just know they would have cheered the attacks if they could have. But it hasnt only been Trump. Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee are among those who have also employed the device. And even Jeb Bush. Cruz wins hands down, though. The Texas senator, during the last GOP debate, insisted that President Obamas political correctness is killing people. Apparently, Obamas refusal to use the words radical Islamic terrorism is lethal. Could the U.S. do more in the war against the Islamic State? Sure. We could go it virtually alone and get mired in another Mideast ground war. Or a preferred route we could get a coalition of many nations, particularly Arab ones, to do this heavy lifting. This takes time, however. And we are now bombing ISIS killing its soldiers. But Cruzs solution we could carpet bomb them so much that the sand glows. Questioned on this, he said not making this up he really meant precision carpet bombing. Only political correctness would compel one to note that precision is the opposite of carpet bombing. But heres the path down which the words, radical Islamic terrorists, take us. It is more than dog whistle speech to Muslims. They, and likely the president, justifiably fear that constant use of Islam or Muslim in connection with terrorism stokes the belief that all Muslims are perfectly OK with the carnage. The GOP candidates arent painting with this broad brush? Its difficult to reconcile that with the ban on Syrian and Iraqi refugees to the United States many of them have proposed. Jeb Bush most notably invoked political correctness when questioned about the Black-lives-matter movement. As reported by the Los Angeles Times in July, Bush shook his head when Democratic candidate Martin OMalley walked back a statement on the issue. OMalley had said, black lives matter, white lives matter, all lives matter at a conference of progressives. Members of the audience apparently objected and OMalley apologized. Asked later by a reporter about whether the former Maryland governor should have apologized, Bush said, Were so uptight and so politically correct now that we apologize for saying lives matter? Well, we do when the issue isnt the number of random lives taken by police officers, but the number of black lives. The phrase Black Lives Matter doesnt say other lives dont. It only says that the number of blacks killed by police merits special attention because, well, police act under the color of authority and the number is out of whack with the proportion of African Americans in the population. We shouldnt be distracted from that. Oh, right, we object because were politically correct. How about in 2016 folks just say, Hey, I dont have any facts, just my biased gut, and I resent being called out on my nonsense. That would be more like the truth. Are we still interested in that? o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net Twitter: @oricardopimente After a year of 50th Anniversary celebrations, we had expected that 2015 might be a quieter year, but that was not the case. With a new exhibit to be designed, staff to be hired and trained, heritage facilities to be maintained, festival and fundraising events to be planned, and many guests to be hosted, we found ourselves appropriately engaged in, and challenged by, the work of Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) throughout the year. Our theme for 2015 was Mennonite Food: Tastes in Transition. The primary exhibit in our Gerhard Ens Gallery, as well as a photo exhibit by the Steinbach Regional Secondary School photography class in our Auditorium Gallery, addressed that theme well. We are pleased when we can partner with local institutions and organizations in this way. Approximately one hundred new and interesting artifacts were added to our collection during 2015. The stories that accompany many of these artifacts are so interesting and add much value to our collection. Three local radio stations provide us with live on-air time every other week to talk about one of our artifacts. This is a great way of sharing our collections with our constituency. While overall attendance at our museum was higher than in 2014, our spring and summer Education Programs, aimed at the primary grades, saw reduced attendance in 2015. We suspect that several new public attractions in the province may have contributed to that decline. Despite having to cancel Spring on the Farm due to snow and cold weather, our combined attendance at festival events was up considerably. Canada Day registered just over 5,000 visitors, well beyond the number of guests attending on any other single day. Ideal weather conditions and free admission can be credited for this strong showing. The Livery Barn Restaurant saw increased sales in 2015, due in part to the popularity of our Sunday Buffet. Building restoration and facility maintenance are large and important initiatives at MHV. With the help of the RM of Hanover and a Community Places grant from the Government of Manitoba, we were able to put new shingles on the roof of the Livery Barn Restaurant and replace our four humidifiers in the artifacts storage and exhibition areas. Repainting of the Old Colony Worship House and the barn in our farmyard had to be postponed to another year. Although saying farewell to staff who decide to move on is always sad, it is also exciting and energizing to welcome new staff. In addition to the many fine seasonal staff members who joined our team in 2015, we welcomed Patricia West as Development Coordinator, Edna Klassen as Bookkeeper, Alexandra Kroeger as Assistant Curator, and Jo-Ann Friesen as Gift Shop Manager. They have all quickly found their place in our organization. For most of 2015 our finances have been on budget and better overall than in 2014. Contributing to this success were three Federal Government labour grants for the hiring of our summer staff. These grants were all specified for student employees who would be returning to school in the fall. In October, MHV was recognized by the Association of Manitoba Museums with the Award of Excellence in Research and Publication for A Collected History: Mennonite Heritage Village, the book we launched in December 2014. This book tells the story of Russian Mennonites through photographs and narratives about a number of our artifacts, as well as special MHV features. Its a wonderful souvenir for our guests. At the end of this largely successful season, MHV announced a new and significant development initiative, Foundations for a Strong Future; Family, Faith and Community. This multifaceted initiative seeks to build and strengthen our foundations for ongoing growth and development. It includes items such as the restoration of the Waldheim House, our first and oldest heritage building; construction of a Summer Pavilion to replace our big tent; replacement of furnaces and air conditioners in our 25-year-old Village Centre; payment of our remaining debt; enhancement of our endowment fund; and the restoration of a number of other heritage structures. We are aiming to raise $3,000,000 over three years to accomplish all these goals. Again we are grateful for Gods blessings, which include all the human and material resources weve been given in 2015. Our offices at Mennonite Heritage Village will be closed from noon on December 24 until Monday, January 11. Happy New Year from the staff and the Board of Directors at MHV. Posted on 01/02/2016, 1:00 pm, by mySteinbach Taxation changes coming into effect in 2016 will reduce the amount of taxes paid by regular, middle-class Manitobans and small businesses across the province. We believe in reducing taxes to help hard-working Manitobans, like seniors and small business owners, get ahead, said Premier Selinger. The changes coming into effect mean that seniors will have more money in their pocket in their retirement, and that Manitobas job creators will certainly reduce the burden on families and businesses, freeing up assets that can be used for other priorities. Changes coming into effect in the new year include increasing the small business income limit eligible for the zero per cent corporate income tax rate to $450,000 from $425,000, effective tomorrow. The premier noted that in 2010, Manitoba was the first province to permanently eliminate the small business tax. About 14,000 corporations pay no Manitoba corporate income tax because of the zero per cent rate, which the premier said will increase to 16,000 corporations in 2016 following the implementation of the new limit. In addition, the Manitoba government is providing more support to seniors by reducing the school taxes seniors pay. In 2016, the maximum seniors school tax rebate will increase to $2,300 from $470, providing savings of up to $47.8 million for Manitoban seniors. This change means approximately 98 per cent of qualifying seniors will no longer pay school taxes, said Premier Selinger. The premier added the seniors school tax rebate will be capped to ensure that two per cent of seniors with high-valued homes still pay some school taxes. Seniors can start applying for the tax rebate when they receive their property tax statement from their local municipality, which is expected to commence in May. To qualify for the rebate, seniors must: own or occupy and live in their house; be at least 65 years of age; and pay school taxes not already fully covered by the basic Education Property Tax Credit. Applications are available by calling the tax assistance team at 204-945-7555 in Winnipeg or at 1-855-893-8266 (toll-free). The deadline to apply for the 2015 rebate is March 31. In addition, data-processing investment, cultural industries printing and nutrient management tax credits that were scheduled to expire at the end of 2015 will be extended for three years, the premier said. He noted the extensions allow the business community added certainty the tax credits will continue to be offered, allowing them to plan for future investments. For more information on taxation in Manitoba, visit www.gov.mb.ca/finance/taxation. Yves here. I dont mean to be mean to Alternet, or this particular author, who has written quite a few article I like. But I am astonished by the degree to which people on what passes for the left (and Alternet is way better than the norm) are reluctant to call out Obamas numerous shortcomings. The gift to Big Pharma and health insurers known as Obamacare a success for the public at large? Medicaid expansion, yes. But the rest? Fuggedaboutit. And I am sure readers will take issue with all the other items listed in Obamas Big Successes category. As weve said, one of the best calls was made less than two weeks after Obama was elected. I think youll find the forecast by Robert Fitch to be more far more accurate than these cautious criticisms masquerading as measured. By Steven Rosenfeld, who covers national political issues for AlterNet, including Americas retirement crisis, democracy and voting rights, and campaigns and elections. He is the author of Count My Vote: A Citizens Guide to Voting. Originally published at Alternet When Barack Obama ran for president in 2008 and 2012, he didnt just run on hope and change. He made hundreds of promises, everything from changing the way CEOs are taxed to allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs abroad. Those and scores more didnt happen. And he hasnt really addressed some of the key issues that will mark his his legacy, such as his overseas assassination policies involving drones and special forces. As Obama approaches his final year, its become trendy among supporters to say he has done the best he can given Republican obstructionists in Congress and red states. There is some truth to this notion. Obviously, hes been better on most issues than a Republican would have been, and certainly far better than their new flock of candidates. But as the GOP has become radicalized and pulled the political center to the right, some of Obamas moderate stances have been wrongly labeled as liberal, which demonstrates how far right the public debate has become. We at AlterNet have prepared a report card looking at successes, failures and a number of incompletes as Obama enters the last of his eight years in the White House. While there are dozens of issues and policies we could have included, we have chosen five in each of these categories that are especially important, compelling or decisive. Big Successes 1. Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act, despite its hiccups and compromises with the health insurance industry, is the largest new federal benefit program in decades. It has extended coverage to nearly 17 million people and many of the red-state governors who opposed its Medicaid expansion to help the poor are changing their minds, meaning Obamacare enrollees will keep growing. While the lack of choices for people in smaller states and rising costs are a real issue and are discouraging people from getting care, the Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks U.S. health trends, says the ACA has lowered health care expenses for more people and employers than the opposite. 2. Stopping the great recession. As economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has noted, Obama probaby would not have been elected without 2008s crash led by the housing market implosion. George W. Bushs response was spending $700 billion to prop up Wall Street institutions. Obamas response was a similar scale stimulus package, which helped to reverse the hardship of millions of lost jobs and revive key sectors like the auto industry. Today, White House economic reports show the country is more or less back on its feet, although plenty of systemic inequality issues have yet to be addressed. But given that the crash mostly was driven by the private sector, Obama showed that the federal government has a major role to play in impacting Americas economic fortunes, should it choose to use that power. 3. Expanding civil rights. The highest-profile example is Obamas reversal on same-sex marriage and LGBT equality issues. He began his presidency saying he opposed same-sex marriage and instead favored civil unions. But he changed his mind, and the Department of Justice joined the historic case in which the Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality. There are other areas where the Justice Department has fought for civil rights, though not always successfully. It lost a big Supreme Court case that overturned the enforcement threshold in the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, but has still sued to oppose new voter suppression laws in red states. Obama also reversed Bush-era anti-choice policies, including putting reproductive rights into Obamacare. The Justice Department has also pushed to ensure other affirmative action programs are followed, such as requiring a percent of government contracts go to women- and minority-owned businesses. 4. Embracing diplomacy. As 2015 ends, it may be hard to recall how much of a pariah nation the U.S. had become with George W. Bushs war of choice in Iraq, which ousted Saddam Hussein and fueled the regions ongoing civil wars. Obamas initial efforts won back the respect of the European community, though he was criticized by the GOP for withdrawing regular U.S. ground troops (special forces and drones remain). While he did not get anywhere with an Israeli-Palestinian settlement or Russias land grab in Ukraine, Obamas reopening relations with Cuba, recent deal on Iranian nuclear weapons and backing of a global climate change accord underscore that he believes in diplomacy, not just using military force. 5. Climate change and science. Nowhere is the contrast with the GOP more stark than on climate change. Obama has accepted the judgment of scientists, rejected the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada and has been engaged with climate change agreements. Early on, he reversed the Bush administrations ban on funding stem-cell research and invested in solar energy. His Detroit auto industry bailout included higher fuel mileage standards. Obama is the first president to say global climate change is a real threat and he has pushed federal regulators to make the U.S. less dependent on carbon fuel, especially coal. His promise to adopt a carbon cap-and-trade system didnt fly, but Obama pushed China to pledge reductions, including curtailing its massive reliance on coal, and he helped win passage of the global climate change accord in Paris in late 2015. Big Failures 6. Empowering GOP extremists. There is a strong case to be made that Obama didnt grasp how to use the presidencys poweror podiumupon taking office and until his second term. A giant consequence was empowering todays worst GOP obstructionists. By not rallying his base to vote in 2010, the Tea Party swept into office, giving the GOP control of the House, many state legislatures and governorships. Republicans then redrew congressional and state districts in once-a-decade redistricting that followed. That has locked in electoral advantages until after the next Census in 2020. These hardliners have since tried to block most of Obamas big initiatives, from Obamacare to immigration. In the states, theyve made it harder to vote and have rolled back reproductive rights. 7. Expanding the national security state. When running for office, Obama criticized Bushs warrantless wirerap program that fed telephone data from all U.S. citizens calling overseas into spy agency computers. However, former Vice President Dick Cheneys comment that Obama might come to appreciate the Bush administrations effort has proved prophetic. Books have detailed how the security state has grown bigger under Obama to Edward Snowdens disclosures about the true extent of government surveillance. Meanwhile, Obama has aggressively prosecuted whistleblowers who challenge the constitutionality of these programs. With the exception of torture, Obama has continued or expanded many Bush war-on-terrorism policies. The foremost example is his overseas drone warfare program, which as filmmaker Robert Greenwald has shown, has led to many civilian deaths with virtually no public accountability in Congress. 8. Expanding charter schools. Under Obama, this pet cause of the richest billionaires and high-tech executives has rapidly grown across America. This has been the case, even as charter schools, which are led by entrepreneurs and in some cases, scam artists, rake in profits from taxpayer funds, have not produced demonstrably better results than traditional public schools. Obamas unflinching support of charters and privatizing education has not only seen millions taken from needy school districts, but caused a shift in education that is overly test-centered, anti-teacher unions, and usurps the power of parents and locally elected school boards. Under Obama, the privatizersled by Bill Gates and the Walton familyhave opened a huge area of government to an industry led more by entrepreneurs than teaching professionals. 9. Coddling corporate America. Obama has never pretended to be a national leader on economic justice like senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. But there is a difference between embracing reasonable policies that benefit big business and the public, and giving corporate America unneeded handouts or letting them off the hook for harming the economy and citizenry. Under Obama, almost nobody on Wall Street whose executive decisions played a big role in the 2008 crash was prosecuted. Meanwhile, the Dodd-Frank reforms passed to prevent another cycle of speculative boom and bust, are seen as doing little to change the financial sectors worst instincts. Similarly, Obama has backed the pro-corporate Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which gives private industry power to deflect and overrule government regulations, as well as monopolistic control over their respective sectors. Its notable that Obama turned to Republicans, not Democrats, to back his trade policies. 10. Political reform obstructionist. Obama supporters from 2008 might recall how he pledged to challenge and change Washingtons political culture. If there is one issue that determines how Congress and federal agencies function, its the rules and laws governing money in politics. Yet Obama has repeatedly shown he doesnt believe in reform or in trying to rebalance the disproportionate impact of the wealthy on elections and lobbying. He has twice backed away from issuing executive orders requiring federal contractors to disclose political giving, which would spotlight a culture of insider favoritism. This is not surprising. He was the first presidential candidate to reject public financing since it was created 40 years ago because he was raising more money than Sen. John McCain in 2008. He also promised he would bar executive branch employees from leaving and becoming lobbyists, but has not issued any rules to stop Washingtons revolving door. Big Incompletes 11. Addressing economic inequality. There is a fundamental disconnect between the latest White House economic and jobs reports, recovery of the stock markets value and well-being of middle- and working-class Americans. In short, Obamas optimism about Americas economic recovery and future is out of synch with households that feel wage stagnation, debt burdens, higher education cost pressures and see rising health insurance and medical expenseseven with Obamacare. The success of both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump is partly a response to frustrations many people feel about the economy and what the federal government could be doing to help. A review by PolitiFact of Obamas campaign promises shows that most of his promises to shift the tax burden from average Americans to the wealthy have gone nowhere. Obama, meanwhile, has not made adressing economic inequalities a centerpiece of his rhetoric. 12. Comprehensive immigration reform. This is another major issue where the results have been more bad than good. Initially, Obama hoped a comprehensive bipartisan bill would pass Congress, but that effort died in the House. Several years later, he issued a series of executive orders exempting 40 percent of the 11 million undocumented people in the country from deportationroughly the same percent as under GOP presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. But those orders have been blocked in federal court after red-state governors sued. Meanwhile, his administration has deported more than 2 million migrants and more roundups and deportations are slated for early in the new year, according to recent news reports. 13. Lessening gun violence in America. After every mass shooting, Obama has called for sensible federal gun control lawsespecially limiting the ability of almost anyone to buy militarized weapons and instituting better screening of gun buyers. Many congressional Republicans and some Democrats have decried the carnage yet refused to take legislative action, pleasing the National Rifle Association. Obama was correct in his Oval Office speech after San Bernardinos terrorist attack that most gun violence in America is not from foreign threats, but from suicides, domestic disputes and accidents. But hes not been able to get anything through Congress. 14. Racist policing and police violence. As institutional police violence continues, with unarmed people being shot and killed by cops across America, Obama seems to be on both sides of this issue. As the first black president, he has spoken out against the racism, profiling and vigilantism of stand your ground laws. But his blue-ribbon commission on police reforms did not suggest taking surplus Pentagon weapons out of local law enforcements hands. It recommended better training, which is not reassuring. On criminal justice reform, like ending mandatory sentencing provisions that disproportionately have fallen on communities of color, he has pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 100 people, yet thousands remain in prison. 15. Getting out of the Middle Easts wars. Obamas promise to close the book on the post-9/11 wars in the Middle East seems ill-fated. After withdrawing most ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, those countries and Syria have plunged back into civil war, with factions brutalizing the populace. The Taliban and Al Qaeda are said to be returning in Afghanistan. ISIS, with its stark Islamic calpihate, has emerged in Syria and western Iraq. While Obama has relied on special forces and drone attacks, what the U.S. will do next militarily, especially with ISIS, is an open question. Obamas stubborn goal of ousting Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has been frustrated by Russias entry into that war. Just as it does not appear Congress will let Obama close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, it appears he will end his term with U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Grading the President There are dozens of issues upon which Obamas presidency can be judged and evaluated. At his best, he has shown that government can act in powerful ways to reorient its safety nets and the economy and be more responsive to public needs, without the sky falling as his critics have blared. Nowhere is that more evident than with Obamacare, which despite its flaws, has scores of provisions that expand access to health care and is pushing medicine toward a more prevention-oriented and cost-conscious focus. His trust in diplomacy and focus on beginning to address climate change is also laudable. But Obamas greatest early attraction, his aversion to the arrogant leadership of George W. Bush, is now being seen by many as wanting. Following the ISIS-inspired attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, national polls say hes not seen by Americans as a reassuring counterweight to public fears over foreign threats. As David Axelrod, his 2008 political guru, told CNN, his response to Paris was tone deaf. His Oval Office speech after San Bernardino emphasized the need for gun controls, which is factually correct, as most of the countrys 33,000 annual gun deaths are from suicides or domestic disputes. But the public often seeks more visceral reassurance and its absence creates openings for loud opportunists, exemplified by Donald Trump. While polls say most Democrats approve of Obama, the enthusiasm is gone. Its common for sympathetic pundits to say hes done the best he can given the GOPs opposition. But for the most part, Obamas accomplishments, failures and unfinished business show hes been a president with a moderate recordexcept for the security state and droneseven if hes labeled by his critics as liberal. As Republicans push the political center further to the right, its no wonder many Americans feel they have a half-satisfying president. Question marks background. 3d rendered illustration. SHARE By Fifi Rodriguez 1. POLITICS: What sitting vice president shot and mortally wounded a political rival in a duel? 2. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin suffix "grade" mean? 3. MOVIES: What was the name of the angel who visited George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life"? 4. TELEVISION: What was the title of the theme song to the sitcom "Cheers"? 5. U.S. STATES: What state's motto is "North to the Future"? 6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animal would be described as "lupine"? 7. GAMES: How much money do you get when you pass "Go" in Monopoly? 8. LITERATURE: What are the names of the two feuding families in "Romeo and Juliet"? 9. GEOGRAPHY: What two countries does the Cheviot Hills range divide? 10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the birthstone for April? Answers 1. Aaron Burr 2. Walking or moving 3. Clarence 4. "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" 5. Alaska 6. A wolf 7. $200 8. Montague and Capulet 9. England and Scotland 10. Diamond Some 1,000 activists march in Kyiv to celebrate Stepan Bandera's birth anniversary About 1,000 activists marched in a torchlight procession in Kyiv to celebrate the 107th anniversary of Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) leader Stepan Bandera's birth on Friday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported from the scene. The activists marched from a monument to Taras Shevchenko along Shevchenko Boulevard and Khreshchatyk Street to Independence Square, where they held a rally. The participants carried state flags of Ukraine, flags of the Svoboda association and the Right Sector movement, banners with Bandera's pictures, and about 100 torches. Shevchenko Boulevard was closed to traffic during the event. A lot of people watched the procession from sidewalks. Svoboda association leaders spoke to the participants near the stele on Independence Square, calling on the Ukrainian people to continue the fight for independence. They also urged their supporters to oppose political reprisals, which, as they claimed, are present in Ukraine now. The participants also sang the national anthem of Ukraine in conclusion of the rally. The procession and the rally passed without incidents. Numerous law enforcement and security officials were engaged in maintaining public order. Temperature in Kyiv was minus 13 degrees Celsius on Friday, and it was not snowing. Morgan Betten and Bill D'Antuono, both of Naples, pick up trash left over from the New Year's Eve fireworks display the night before during a New Year's Day beach cleanup organized by the Waterkeeper Alliance on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) SHARE Part of a paper lantern left over from the New Year's Eve fireworks display the night before is pictured during a New Year's Day beach cleanup organized by the Waterkeeper Alliance on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) From left, Michael Potts, Jason Brick and Morgan Betten, all of Naples, pick up trash left over from the New Year's Eve fireworks display the night before during a New Year's Day beach cleanup organized by the Waterkeeper Alliance on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Morgan Betten of Naples picks up trash left over from the New Year's Eve fireworks display the night before during a New Year's Day beach cleanup organized by the Waterkeeper Alliance on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Bill D'Antuono of Naples picks up trash left over from the New Year's Eve fireworks display the night before during a New Year's Day beach cleanup organized by the Waterkeeper Alliance on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Related Photos New Years Day beach cleanup By Lance Shearer When it comes to thinking globally but acting locally, picking up trash from the beach is as local as it gets. Collier County Waterkeeper, the recently formed local chapter of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, assembled south of the Naples Pier just after noon, doing their best to make a difference. With fewer than a dozen Waterkeeper volunteers taking up gloves and plastic garbage bags, their numbers were dwarfed by the thousands of sun worshippers who thronged the beach on the summerlike day. But after even more beachgoers showed up the night before to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display, there was plenty of trash to pick up. "Altogether, we filled about 20 big garbage bags," said Bill D'Antuono, one of the cleanup's organizers. "We also found things like broken lawn chairs that didn't fit into the bags. There were about 20 of those Chinese lanterns that people were launching into the sky during the fireworks." Prevailing winds pushed them back over the land, and some of the flame-lit and flame-lifted contraptions failed to launch. The group collected hundreds of beer cans, and more than a few bottles, plus the cardboard containers they came in. Back in the sea grape bushes behind the beach, "there's stuff that's been in there for years," old straw mats, flip flops, and coolers "things that could be reused." Some of the items were more unsavory. "You'd be amazed at what people leave behind. There were dirty diapers, and other things we won't mention," said Jason Brick, one of the volunteers. Evelyn Birdsall of north Naples read about the cleanup in the newspaper online, she said, and came out to start the New Year off on positive footing. "I thought this would be a good thing to do for New Year's Day," she said. Everywhere you looked, people carpeted the beach near the pier. There were so many kids digging in the sand, bronzed volleyball players, tourists taking selfies, and adults sleeping off the night before, that finding the detritus between the bodies could be difficult. Of course, the first and perhaps most difficult challenge around the pier was finding a place to park. The volunteers reported they had good reactions from beachgoers. "A lot of people thanked us. Some thought we'd gotten DUIs, and this was our community service," said Waterkeeper Collier Chapter founder Harrison Langley. "The weirdest thing that was said was someone proposed to my girlfriend Morgan because she was picking up trash," said D'Antuono. She did not accept, he reported. After doing what they could around the Naples Pier, the group headed up to Lowdermilk Park and did their best to scour the beach there. The volunteers also found some garbage that had already been bagged, but not removed from the beach, which led them to wonder if other groups had also been active in beach cleanups. A number of organizations do hold regular beach cleanups, including Keep Collier Beautiful, the Friends of Rookery Bay, government-sponsored groups, and the Ocean Conservancy. With all the groups conducting beach cleaning efforts, Langley was asked, why start another one? "Why? It's still not clean," said Langley. "Waterkeeper is part of a national, and international, group, and we do grassroots advocacy. We want to give a local voice to conservation efforts." "This is what we have, and it's beautiful. Why trash it?" said D'Antuono. Nationally, Waterkeeper uses the provisions of the federal Clean Water Act, including water quality standards and citizen suit initiatives, to hold government and industry accountable to reach their goal of "swimmable, drinkable and fishable water." The local chapter has petitioned the City of Naples to develop a plan to reuse or treat stormwater runoff before dumping it into the Gulf of Mexico. They are working to organize a "lionfish derby" on May 29, to remove those toxic exotic fish from local reefs, and plan more beach cleanups in the future. To learn more or support the work of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a nonprofit organization, go online to www.colliercountywaterkeeper.org. SHARE By Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News TALLAHASSEE Don't expect another bruising fight this year in the Legislature over expanding Medicaid in Florida. But there are still issues to resolve as lawmakers decide how much more the state will have to contribute to the massive federal-state health care program for the poor that already consumes nearly a third of the state's $79.3 billion budget. Last year's session shut down abruptly after lawmakers failed to agree on a proposal to expand Medicaid under President Obama's health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have fought expanding the program to cover more Floridians, arguing Medicaid already is an expensive part of the state budget and it's not clear how much the federal government will help cover the cost of future enrollees. Florida lawmakers will spend this year's session discussing ways to keep Medicaid costs under control. They also must determine how much more state money is needed to cover the loss of federal cash for a small Medicaid program that helps cover the cost of uncompensated care provided to the poor through hospitals and other providers. Federal officials told the state last year that they would only provide $1 billion in the current budget year and a little more than $600 million next year for the low-income pool program that in past years has received more than $2 billion in state and federal money. The high-stakes arguments over Medicaid matter because the program is such a large part of the state's budget. At $24.7 billion, Medicaid makes up more than 31 percent of all state spending, the largest single program expense in the Florida budget more than elementary and secondary education, or corrections, or transportation, or public assistance programs. Any change could save or cost taxpayers many millions of dollars, a point that has been central as Republicans have argued against wholesale expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. While expansion would attract more federal money, it would also require the state to come up with millions more to cover its share of the cost of new enrollees. By 2020, the federal government will reduce its share of covering new enrollees under Obamacare to 90 percent, leaving states to pick up at least 10 percent of the expansion cost. States already cover about 40 percent of the cost of Medicaid for the vast majority of existing enrollees, an expense that continues to grow in state budgets every year even without expansion. Expanding Medicaid to more Floridians under Obamacare would cost the state an estimated $176 million to cover the 800,000 new enrollees who are expected to sign up, assuming the federal government would cover 97 percent of the cost of new enrollees. That cost to the state would jump to $330 million above what the state already pays into Medicaid's existing program by fiscal year 2021 when the federal share falls to 90 percent, based on an analysis by the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research. And even without expansion, Medicaid spending grows each year. The total cost for Medicaid in fiscal year 2005 was $14.3 billion, and that cost has since jumped to the current $24.6 billion, with an increase every year in the state budget. House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Matt Hudson said lawmakers this year would try to reduce Medicaid costs by making medical help easier to access. It's cheaper to treat people when an illness is in the early stages, Hudson said. "A key thing here is to improve access," said Hudson, a Naples Republican. "If you can close the amount of time it takes someone to receive care and receive a solution that's easier than waiting until it gets really bad, costs will go down." Hudson pointed to a plan up for discussion in this year's session that would allow physician assistants and advanced registered nurses to prescribe more types of medication, including controlled substances. SB 152 sponsor Denise Grimsley said her bill would likely entice people in rural areas such as her district, which covers stretches of St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Highlands counties, to get help before a medical problem gets worse and thus, more costly. "In my district, you may have to wait until the doctor comes back to town, which could take weeks, or you could drive to the next town," said Grimsley, a Sebring Republican. "There's an access issue there that has plenty of people concerned." Grimsley and Hudson also said another proposal, HB 1061, would make Florida part of an interstate nursing compact, which could bring more nurses to the state. The bill, by Rep. Cary Pigman, an Avon Park Republican, would also increase access to health care, which would encourage Medicaid members to seek medical attention earlier. Because Florida uses a managed-care model in its Medicaid program, the belief is the state can save money by encouraging access to health care early, through clinics and private doctors who accept Medicaid, instead of more costly hospitals. "The problem is that just because we have the managed care plan, it does not make a person healthy," Hudson said. "Again, access is key here." Florida Hospital Association President Bruce Rueben said the state's managed care plan promotes a better health care routine for Medicaid recipients and it provides the state with some control over cost. However, he supports expanding health coverage to more Floridians. A report produced by the state Office of Insurance Regulation in 2013 shows Florida has the fifth highest number of uninsured people. "The managed care program will get better over time, but there's no replacement for helping the people who don't have health insurance," Rueben said. "It's more cost-effective to keep them healthy than wait for them to get really sick." Gov. Rick Scott included in his proposed state budget $17 million to streamline the system the state uses to handle billions of dollars in Medicaid transactions every year, and $500,000 to develop a better payment system for nursing homes that receive Medicaid money for elderly enrollees. Hudson said his committee would discuss ways to make Medicaid payments to nursing homes more nimble to the patients they support. Medicaid continues to expand in Florida, with more people being served and now 79 percent of those eligible actually enrolled in the program, according to state Senate data. The number of enrollees has grown from 2.2 million people in June 2005 to 4 million people as of July 2014. Chief legislative economist Amy Baker told the Senate Appropriations Committee in October the flood of new Medicaid members should recede in the coming years but the projected costs that came with the new enrollees cannot be ignored. "There are very limited things you can change other than recognize it's coming," Baker said. "You'll have to prepare yourselves for the reality that you'll need to pay for that." Floridas proposed Medicaid budget 2017 Dollar amount State funds $9.8 billion Federal funds $14.9 billion Total $24.7 billion *Source Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Contact Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620. Pelicans and cormorants are seen perched at the mouth of Naples Bay Saturday, July 18, 2015, aboard the Pure Naples vessel Double Sunshine in Naples, Fla. (Corey Perrine/Staff) SHARE By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News Naples City Council should backtrack on its decision to start planning a new stormwater system that would continue the city's frowned-upon practice of dumping polluted water into the Gulf of Mexico, according to a growing number of locals who advocate for the health of the gulf and the beach. For decades, the city has dumped runoff, which can contain grass fertilizer and other pollutants, into the gulf through 10 drainage pipes that cross the beach. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has concerns about the city's drainage process due to erosion and other negative effect on sea habitats. In August, the council took a half-measure toward fixing the problem by agreeing to pay engineers $281,000 to figure out a way to consolidate the city's drainage pipes and dump the stormwater farther into the gulf, away from the beach. The plan passed by a 4-3 vote and included a strong dissent from City Councilwoman Linda Penniman. "It would be more than I could stand to vote for this," Penniman said. She later added, "We're going to add injury to insult by letting this godawful stuff go into the water and only add to the pollution." The council's approval came after members received a presentation on stormwater solutions during an April 2013 workshop. Some of the solutions, including redirection and storage of the runoff, cost more than $10 million. Council members described their action in August as the most cost-effective solution. But for Penniman, the money would be well spent on other alternatives. In addition to environmental concerns, Penniman said allowing the dumping to continue would also threaten the city's all-important beach tourism industry. "In my opinion, you're just taking a problem and you're sending it out further," Penniman said this week. "So the problem is only going to get back to us later rather than sooner." The city says the discussion is ongoing. Engineers will bring preliminary estimates back to the council for further guidance, and a future project could include some water treatment. That presentation is tentatively scheduled for May. "This looks like the most feasible that's feasible from a technology, engineering and potential standpoint," Mayor John Sorey said in August. But the plan doesn't have the support of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Jennifer Hecker, a conservancy director, told council in August the proposed solution to consolidate the outfalls is "inappropriate" for the city. "If Naples can't afford to really take care of this problem in a way that is the gold standard solution, then we can't ask other communities who have far less resources to do the same," Hecker said. The local chapter of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a healthy water advocacy group, created a petition on change.org that asks the city to come up with a plan to reuse the stormwater or route it to a water treatment plant before dumping it. By Thursday night, the petition had close to 350 signatures. Harrison Langley, head of Collier County Waterkeeper, acknowledged the high cost of his group's request, but said the city's environmental consciousness is such that taxpayers would be willing to pay the price. "There's enough support," Langley said. In 2011, the Department of Environmental Protection threatened to withhold beach re-nourishment permits if the city didn't remove its beach outfalls, but later balked when the city promised to limit the outfalls' environmental impacts. The city has also said it regularly receives complaints about the pipes from beachgoers who report foul discharges and broken pilings. Some residents have called for the pipes' outright removal from the beach because they diminish their quality of life, according to city staff. In August, City Councilman Sam Saad voted no to consolidating the drainage pipes and acknowledged the city's role in the problem. "We produce so much of this stormwater runoff because we hardscape concrete and build houses over places that used to be more absorbent," Saad said. "The less of that we allow into the gulf and into the bay, the more that we can reuse ourselves, the better. " Naples residents Alex and Stephanie Hoeh sit with their newborn daughter, Seraphina Rose Hoeh, at the Birth Place at NCH North Naples Hospital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in North Naples. Seraphina Rose Hoeh was delivered at 12:25 a.m. on New Year's Day to become the first baby born in Collier County in 2016. (David Albers/Staff) SHARE Newborn Seraphina Rose Hoeh sleeps in the arms of her mother, Naples resident Stephanie Hoeh, at the Birth Place at NCH North Naples Hospital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in North Naples. Seraphina Rose Hoeh was delivered at 12:25 a.m. on New Year's Day to become the first baby born in Collier County in 2016. (David Albers/Staff) Naples residents Alex and Stephanie Hoeh sit with their newborn daughter, Seraphina Rose Hoeh, at the Birth Place at NCH North Naples Hospital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in North Naples. Seraphina Rose Hoeh was delivered at 12:25 a.m. on New Year's Day to become the first baby born in Collier County in 2016. (David Albers/Staff) Naples residents Stephanie and Alex Hoeh sit with their newborn daughter, Seraphina Rose Hoeh, at the Birth Place at NCH North Naples Hospital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in North Naples. Seraphina Rose Hoeh was delivered at 12:25 a.m. on New Year's Day to become the first baby born in Collier County in 2016. (David Albers/Staff) Naples resident Stephanie Hoeh holds her newborn daughter, Seraphina Rose Hoeh, at the Birth Place at NCH North Naples Hospital on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in North Naples. Seraphina Rose Hoeh was delivered at 12:25 a.m. on New Year's Day to become the first baby born in Collier County in 2016. (David Albers/Staff) Related Photos Collier Countys first baby of 2016 By Alexi C. Cardona of the Naples Daily News Seraphina Rose Hoeh came at just the right time. Her mother, Stephanie Hoeh, found out she was pregnant the day after her birthday last April. And on Friday, Seraphina was the first baby born in Collier County for 2016. Her parents were ready for her. "I haven't been nervous," said Alex Hoeh, Seraphina's father. "I'm excited to have this new little person with us. She's come at the right time for everything in our lives." The baby's tiny hands were covered with pink mittens, her feet in white knitted booties with gold laces. She was swaddled in the ubiquitous white, pink and blue hospital blanket. At birth, she weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 inches. "I can't stop staring at her," Stephanie Hoeh said. Seraphina was born at 12:25 a.m. New Year's Day. The nurses at the Birthing Place at NCH North Naples had a small New Year's Eve party in the Hoehs's room, complete with hats. "I had on a New Year's hat while I was in labor," Stephanie Hoeh said. Seraphina got a white knitted cap with 2016 on it in gold thread. She didn't cry or fuss as her mom held her. She ate well, had her diaper changes and slept most of the day. If she continues to behave this well as a teenager, her mom, who said she'd likely be "laying down the law," won't have to do much disciplining. "I'll probably be the protective one," Alex Hoeh said. "I'll be looking out for those boys about 15 years down the road." The family can go home on Saturday, where her nursery full of antique furniture awaits. The room has grey walls with white furniture and pink accents, from the curtains to the area rug. The couple already has plenty of girly outfits planned for Seraphina. The thing Stephanie Hoeh can't wait to see on her daughter is a white sweater with fur at the bottom and purple accents. In Lee County, Ana and Israel Albuquerque welcomed their third child, Isabella, at 12:46 a.m. New Year's Day at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers. Her due date was supposed to be Jan. 5. Isabella's brothers, Raphael, 11, and Luka, 6, were happy to meet her. Raphael told his parents he was "full of joy" to see his sister. Luka wanted to wait to hold his little sister until the family could go home on Saturday. Isabella's nursery is decorated in lavender. Bernabela Gonzalez had her 10-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter taken from her by the children's father in 2014 while she was fighting for custody. Gonzalez is brought to tears while among some of her children's belongings in her Immokalee home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. She has not seen her children in almost two years and doesn't know where their father is keeping them. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) SHARE Bernabela Gonzalez had her 10-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter taken from her by the children's father in 2014 while she was fighting for custody. Gonzalez is brought to tears while among some of her children's belongings in her Immokalee home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. She has not seen her children in almost two years and doesn't know where their father is keeping them. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Bernabela Gonzalez had her two children taken from her by the children's father in 2014 while she was fighting for custody. Gonzalez is brought to tears while holding a photo of Eddie, 10, and Ashley Roblero, 4, in her Immokalee home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. She has not seen her children in almost two years and doesn't know where their father is keeping them. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Bernabela Gonzalez had her two children taken from her by the children's father in 2014 while she was fighting for custody. Gonzalez holds a photo of Eddie, 10, and Ashley Roblero, 4, in her Immokalee home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. She has not seen her children in almost two years and doesn't know where their father is keeping them. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Bernabela Gonzalez had her two children taken from her by the children's father in 2014 while she was fighting for custody. Gonzalez is brought to tears while holding a photo of Eddie, 10, and Ashley Roblero, 4, in her Immokalee home on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. She has not seen her children in almost two years and doesn't know where their father is keeping them. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) By Maria Perez of the Naples Daily News The toys and clothes belonging to Bernabela Gonzalez's 10-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter remain packed in two boxes, out of sight for nearly two years because it's too painful for her to see them. The father, Angel Luis Roblero, took Eddie and Ashley to Mexico without notice as Gonzalez was fighting for custody in the spring of 2014. A Mexican court in her hometown of Motozintla ordered the children's father to hand them over to Gonazlez' relatives so they could then be sent back to Immokalee, she said. When relatives went to make good on the judge's order, the father and the children were gone. That was in November. There is still no sign of Roblero, Eddie and Ashley. "I don't know what to do," Gonzalez said. "Something has to be done." The case of Gonzalez' missing children is one of more than 500 similar international child abduction cases reported in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of State. Mexico is the leading destination where children are believed to have been taken after abduction, with 170 reported cases there. Less than half of the cases pending in 2014 of children taken to Mexico were resolved that year, and the average time taken to find an abducted child in Mexico is 284 days. Gonzalez continues to search for her children, in hopes they will be home soon. The story of her children's abduction, which began years ago, highlights how painful domestic problems can erupt into hostile international battles. It's difficult enough for families to work out differences in the U.S. courts. For Gonzalez, the fight across international borders to bring her children home has been agonizing. "There's not a single day that goes by when I don't cry for them," she said. A DIFFICULT LIFE About 11 years ago, Gonzalez and Roblero settled in the small northeast Alabama town of Albertville. They left their lives in Mexico to work in a chicken processing plant. They lived together, with his family, in a rented trailer. Together, they had two children, first Eddie and then Ashley. Life together was never easy. "Throughout the relationship of the parties, the Plaintiff (Roblero) has committed acts of domestic violence on the Defendant (Gonzalez), such that the Defendant feared for her life and for the lives of the minor children," says a court document filed by Gonzalez attorney in the Alabama custody case. Gonzalez said she realized that the family could no longer stay together, so in the summer of 2013 she took the children to live in Immokalee. She didn't discuss it with Roblero, fearing he wouldn't let her take the children with her. So she decided to explain her reasons in a letter she left behind. Attempts to reach Roblero for comment failed, and his attorney, John H. Ufford, II, declined to comment as well. Roblero, in an affidavit, said Gonzalez secretly left with the children with no good reason. Roblero said Gonzalez only called him once in July 2013, and refused to tell him where she and the children were living, or allow him to see them. But Gonzalez said that's not true, arguing later in court filings that she spoke to Roblero four times in August 2013 and that she "tried diligently to resolve any issues with the Plaintiff, but at that time, the Plaintiff threatened the Defendant so that the Defendant feared for her life and for the lives of the children should she return to Alabama." Roblero argued in an August 2013 complaint filed in Marshall County, Alabama, that he was not able to locate his children. The Alabama judge awarded him full custody of the children, and granted Gonzalez visitation from 1 to 5 p.m. every other Saturday. Roblero, in court filings, said he was later able to find Gonzalez in Immokalee only by luck. But her attorney would later argue that he could have known where the children were after the boy's Collier school requested records from his Alabama school. The request came two weeks before Roblero filed his petition for full custody in Alabama. Roblero had access to the school information and could have served Gonzalez with the judge's order, her lawyer argued in filings. The judge's November order granting Roblero custody required both parents to keep the other updated with their addresses. A COURT ORDER When the Collier deputies knocked on her trailer door, they had an order from a Florida judge to take the children to their father. Gonzalez says that day she was unable to pack many of their belongings before they were taken away. "I felt as if I was going to faint," she said. Her daughter was sleeping. Her son, she says, didn't want to go with Roblero and the deputies. "I told my son, 'I cant do anything. He has to take you, but I'm going to fight back,' " she said. A deputy told her to take the kids to the patrol car, she said, but she couldn't. "Then, he entered, his father," Gonzalez said. "He picked the girl and took her, and he also took the boy," she said. Gonzalez said she held back her tears because she didn't want to cry in front of the children. "I held up and said, 'It's fine, go my son. We'll speak later.' And he went." The meal she had cooked that day for the children ended up in the trash. A LONG BATTLE Gonzalez started her fight for the children by searching for a lawyer in Naples. But she later learned she would need a lawyer to represent her in the Alabama court. After an Alabama court hearing in May, the judge ruled that the children must remain in Marshall County and neither parent could move them. He granted visitation for both parents. After the hearing, Gonzalez went to Roblero's home to visit with the children, but she was told they weren't there. Her lawyer, Jacqueline O. Morrette, reached out to the father's lawyer, even sending an email trying to locate the children for Gonzalez. "I realize that this is a holiday weekend, but my client has been told by your client's brother that (Roblero) has fled the area with the minor children," the email reads. The attorney didn't respond, Morrette said in a court filing. On Monday, Gonzalez called her brother in Mexico, who told her Roblero and their children were in her hometown in that country, the motion says. "Upon information and belief, the Plaintiff has failed to (allow reasonable visitation for the children) and has not only failed to abide by the Order, but also has fled the country to escape the pending litigation," the motion says. The Alabama judge awarded Gonzalez sole custody of the children in August 2014. The U.S. Department of States' Office of Children's Issues, which helps parents whose kids have been abducted and taken from the country, opened a file for her children and helped her with a request to Mexican authorities to hand her children to her family there. The case is now in the hands of the judge in Mexico, Gonzalez said. At a court hearing in November, Gonzalez' brother and niece were told they could pick up her children. Karl Glander, service director of Immokalee Amigos Center was ready to travel to Mexico and bring them to the U.S. But once again Roblero and the children were gone. Roblero's father told them, Gonzalez said, that he had left and traveled to the U.S. to return the children to her. But, Gonzalez said, she doesn't think Roblero can legally travel to the U.S. There is no new information on the whereabouts of Roblero and the two children. Gonzalez said she is worried. She said her son's friends keep asking about him. She said she remembers how much her daughter loved dressing in Dora doll clothes. She misses taking them to the park, taking her son to the library so he could check out scary books or stories of adventure. Since the children were taken from her, she says, she hasn't gotten out much. "Every place reminds me of my children," she said. SHARE Ron Dudley, Sanibel Bergdahl piece It is unclear to me why the Naples Daily News chose to publish a "Perspective" piece written by a Del Mar College English professor, John M. Crisp ("A prison sentence is a bad call for Bowe Bergdahl"). It is quite evident that Mr. Crisp, who never served in the armed forces, has minimal knowledge of the military so is ill-prepared to understand why Gen. Robert Abrams ordered a court-martial for desertion. Possibly recognizing this shortcoming, Mr. Crisp switches to playing lawyer by suggesting a mental instability defense should exempt Bergdahl from facing the full potential consequences of his desertion. Again, Mr. Crisp is not a lawyer so his perspective regarding a mental instability defense lacks credibility. If Mr. Crisp had done any investigative work, such as solicited input from an appropriate sample of Iraq war veterans, he would have discovered that many condemn Bergdahl's action and they can explain why desertion cannot be tolerated and necessitates severe punishment. Perhaps the Daily News should reserve the front page Perspective pieces for contributors who actually have some subject matter expertise and relegate poorly argued opinion pieces to the "Letters" section with its corresponding word limit. I am surprised that Mr. Crisp's composition is disjointed and not succinct. He would chastise his English students for these defects. SHARE Dianne Shanley, Naples Buyer beware In April, I ordered a substantial amount of furniture from a stand-alone patio furniture store in Southwest Florida, leaving a deposit of many thousands of dollars. I called in mid-September to arrange for delivery. However, the warehouse personnel said they had no record of the furniture being shipped from the manufacturers. After calling the store many times, I was given the owner's phone number and told to call him directly (I thought this was strange), but I received only excuses from him. That's when I checked reviews of the company and found it had many adverse reviews, including delayed deliveries, suspicions of deposits applied on other people's orders, and suspicions that furniture had never been ordered. I found out that this was, indeed, the case with one piece, a stone table, I had ordered. In fact, the manufacturer, whom I finally contacted, indicated that he only recently received the order eight months after I had made my deposit. Further, I found out that the patio store's owner was arrested a year previous to my order and accused of failing to make six consecutive sales tax payments. I have since contacted my credit card company to have the balance of my deposit returned, so this letter isn't about getting my money back. I am sending it to alert others who may be thinking about ordering furniture to first check out the company on the Internet. With this particular company that had relocated, I would advise: Buy nothing you cannot immediately carry out the door. SHARE George Mouzakis, Naples Counterpoint? A recent letter is an excellent illustration of why and how needless divisiveness grows among us. While I didn't read the Marion Hammer guest commentary, it is clear that its validity or lack thereof was in no way helped by this letter. Nowhere in this letter is there any information refuting whatever points Ms. Hammer tried to make about gun laws. The entire content was a criticism of the author and institutions. There was no actual rebuttal educating the reader. The letter writer should realize that even the devil can make a point it's not invalid solely because you don't like the author or who supports them. Regarding the letter headlined "(Eye) rate:" I think the letter writer is being very unfair to the doctor who authored the article. His point was a simple one: When a customer (whether defined as doctor or patient) can choose between medications with no concern for costs, then human nature will abuse the system. No judgment here; that is how life works. In a world of unlimited resources, this behavior would have no bad outcomes. Unfortunately we live in a different world. We live in a world of rationing. To make our system work there have to be differential costs. If a basic medication does the trick, albeit less conveniently, it should be available to all at a reasonable price. If another medication at a much higher price is available that is more convenient, less painful (note, not more effective) then it should be available, but it should be more expensive to you. If it isn't, then the implication is that you are better than the individual penalized by your more expensive choice. The baby turned two months old. Christmas was just two days away. And Miguel and Alyssa Pascual were both taking a big step forward. This week, the Pascuals, both 25-year-old Immokalee High graduates, became homeowners in the Faith Landing neighborhood in Immokalee. Two days before the holidays began, they were moving in to their Habitat for Humanity-built home and starting a new life in a safe, decent, affordable home. "I just can't believe it, Alyssa said she held her 2-month-month old infant, Gabriel, against her chest as she signed the home closing documents. The Pascuals were just one of 20 families who this month became homeowners, finalizing the paperwork on their new home purchases before the holidays rolled in. Most of them, like the Pascuals, will be waking up in their new home on Christmas morning and start a new future as a homeowner in 2016. Habitat for Humanity of Collier County has built more than 1,800 homes in Naples and Immokalee since 1979. The push to get these new home buyers into their new homes took lots of teamwork. Team members and volunteers from construction, family services and development had to come together to make sure all of the money was raised, the homes were built, the buyers approved and closing documents ready to go. For so many of us, Christmas recalls memories of Home. It's what we strive to provide for our own children. And when home is unhealthy, unsafe and insecure, it becomes a parents worst dream, said Habitat Collier Vice President Lisa Lefkow. Today we celebrate the thrill of hope that comes with each of these families being home for the holidays! With Habitat Collier swamped with applications - only one home can be built with the funds Habitat has for construction for every 15 applications that come in - affordable, safe housing is hard to come by in the Naples area. Habitat homeowners go through an intense process to be qualified, including background checks and financial checks. They put in 500 hours of sweat equity- painting and framing, for example - and go through an educational process that touches on everything from finances to minor home repair. The Pascuals are moving out of a crowded house, where it's hard to find a quiet place for the baby. They're leaving behind the noise and cramped quarters for their own home for their family. "I'll have my own kitchen,'' Alyssa said. I can put things in my home how I want them. I've dreamed about all of this.'' Alyssa is a graduate of Florida A & M University with a degree in allied health and she's hoping to return to being a substitute teacher for Collier schools in January. She worked there at the end of her pregnancy and can't wait to get back to work. She hopes to pursue her graduate degree in occupational therapy in the summer. Miguel, who served in the military as a U.S. Marine and spent time in Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East, is a facilities supervisor at the Seminole Casino in Immokalee. Miguel is excited about lawn work, even mowing the grass and working around the house. "I can take more pride in it,'' he said. "It's not just a chore. Now it's a matter of pride." Alyssa is the decorator in the family and said after a shopping trip earlier in the week that she already knows where everything is going in the new house. "We're moving from one room to a whole house,'' she said. Rugs for the kitchen, a paper towel holder and cutting boards were some of her first purchases. "I can't wait to get in the kitchen,'' she said. With her lifelong best friend living next door and cousins just across the street, they'll have a support system nearby. But its also about more than that, Miguel said. "It's stability,'' he said. "It's about not having to worry about where we're going to live from year to year." To donate, volunteer or spread the word about Habitat Collier, visit www.habitatcollier.org or call 239-775-0036. Two servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered injuries in the anti-terrorist operation zone (ATO) in Donbas over the past day, Ukrainian Presidential Administration spokesman for military matters Andriy Lysenko has said. "There are no fatalities amongst Ukrainian servicemen, yet two soldiers are injured," Lysenko said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Saturday. The Ukrainian presidential administration's representative said that it was the matter of non-battle casualties. In addition, Lysenko confirmed the death of a serviceman of the Ukrainian Aidar battalion on January 1. "He did not die in combat," he said. An inquiry into the death of the Aidar battalion serviceman is being conducted, he said. A report about the death of the battalion serviceman near Horlivka on January 1 was published on the Aidar's page on Facebook. Starting this fall, seventh-graders in all public and private schools will be required to get a vaccine that protects against a sexually transmitted virus linked to various genital cancers, especially cervical cancer in women. Students who fail to get the vaccine for HPV or the human papillomavirus will be precluded from attending school unless their parents seek an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Locally, some parents are already agitating against the vaccine, saying it's an intrusion by the government into private matters and that the vaccine's side effects can be serious. But Tricia Washburn, chief of the office of immunization for the Rhode Island Department of Health, said the vaccine has been thoroughly studied by the Centers for Disease Control, which monitors adverse outcomes, and no safety concerns were found. (Source.)[1] Risk of Infertility from HPV Vaccine (NaturalNews) It was announced this week that 7th graders in Rhode Island would be required to have the Gardasil HPV vaccine as a requirement for attending school.reports: (Story by Brian Shilhavy, republished from VaccineImpact.com .)The HPV vaccine has become very controversial, particularly outside of the United States, due to the large amount of injuries being attributed to the vaccine, and in some cases, also deaths.Sadly, parents are generally not warned about the serious adverse reactions to the vaccine.The CDC has shown that they cannot be trusted for information on vaccine safety, due to a serious conflict of interest as they are the largest purchaser of vaccines in the world, buying billions of dollars worth of vaccines each year. (See: CDC's Purchase of $4 Billion of Vaccines a Conflict of Interest in Overseeing Vaccine Safety.Countries outside of the U.S. have stopped recommending the vaccine, and launched investigations regarding the widespread reports of crippling vaccine injuries due to the HPV vaccine , such as the recent European Medicines Agency probe that just started a few weeks ago. (See: European Medicines Agency Launches Probe into HPV Vaccine Injuries.One of the most serious side effects being reported by those harmed by the HPV Gardasil vaccine is premature menopause, or what the medical community labels as "Primary Ovarian Failure." This terrible side effect is well-documented in the medical literature. (See: Study: HPV Vaccine Linked to Premature Menopause in Young Girls.Most people are also probably unaware that the U.S. Government earns royalties from the sale of Merck's Gardasil vaccine. In November 2010, Dr. Eric Suba submitted a Freedom of Information Request to the Office of Government Information Services to discover the amount of money the U.S government earns from Merck's sale of Gardasil. But apparently the government is immune from revealing those figures, as you can read for yourself the response Dr. Suba received here.Read more at VaccineImpact.com [1] ProvidenceJournal.com [2] VaccineImpact.com [3] VaccineImpact.com [4] HealthImpactNews.com [5] VietnamCervicalCancer.org Don't lecture the victims Therefore, just as I have never been asked to condemn Dylann Storm Roof's attack on parishioners of a historic black church in South Carolina, Robert Dear's attack on a Planned Parenthood facility, the murder of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, or the slaughter of moviegoers in Colorado or Louisiana, I will not be bullied into condemning terror perpetrated by psychopaths who misrepresent and distort Islam for their deranged purposes. Your straw man argument won't wash (NaturalNews)'s editorial pages are once again being used to spread hate, discontent and propaganda, this time as a defense against Islamist extremists who belong to organizations dedicated to the murder of as many Western "infidels" as possible.In a piece headlined, "Stop asking me to condemn terrorists just because I'm Muslim," Rana Elmir, a far-Left pseudo-academic deputy director of the ACLU of Michigan and a frequent lecturer on issues related to Islamophobia, free speech and the intersection of race, faith and gender, writes that she "emphatically" resists any call by some in the media, in politics and in other sectors of society to condemn Islamist terrorists.Oh, those terrorist organizations Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, al Shabab and others are "foreign" to her, she admits, in a weak attempt at condemnation. But it only came with this qualifier: That terror is just as foreign as "the terror advanced byat the alarming rate of one mass killing every two weeks in this country." [emphasis added]It's become standard operating procedure for liberals especially radical feminists and victim-status minorities to blame everything that is wrong with America on "white men," while ensuring that they never recognize the many contributions whites have made to America (and that list is long and distinguished), like helping to create a social environment in this country where Muslim women are allowed to speak their minds without getting raped, mutilated or killed for doing so.It's also become SOP for Muslims of either gender to give the violent nature of Islam a pass, even when it is patently obvious that terrorism, as well as the genocidal rape of nations and the murder of innocent women and children the world over who may have the same view of Islam as Ms. Elmir, are all acts that are being carried out by otherContinuing, Ms. Elmir stays with the "oppressive white male" theme:Mass murder carried out by deranged persons ofskin color is quite a different thing from mass murder taking the form ofand carried out by, Ms. Elmir (not to mention that your "one mass killing every two weeks" claim is either blatantly false or intentionally deceptive). You might think that way too if, say, Christian armies were rampaging through the Middle East and Christian extremists were murdering innocents in cities throughout the same region "in the name of God," because adherents to all other religions are supposedly less human and not worthy of humane treatment."Not surprisingly," she continues, "nativist rhetoric and policies targeting American Muslims always start with the same feral calls for condemnation . [] Asking us to apologize for violence that has orphaned generations of Muslims has the perverse effect of re-victimizing us by erasing our humanity and experiences."Nobody's "erasing" your "humanity and experiences" in the act of seeking Muslim allies who would publicly speak out with authority against Muslim-centric terrorism, Ms. Elmir. What other ethnic or religious group could command such moral authority? Do you seriously not see the difference? And if asking you to speak out in defense of your adopted country is "nativist," then you've obviously not fullythe one country where you are allowed to be all your Muslim self wants to be without fear of persecution and death."There is no other acceptable scenario in which the media, politicians and even our president would urge and expect victims to apologize publicly and rout out the ideology that contributed to their own persecution," she said."Close to 90 percent of the victims of Daesh are Muslims," she wrote, without mentioning that the majority of terrorist attacks are also carried out by Muslims.Nobody's asking you to "apologize" for Muslim extremists, Ms. Elmir. And seriously, how does the victimization of Muslims by Islamist terrorists prevent you from denouncing extremist violence carried out in the name of your religion?Manufactured Left-wing outrage like yours is getting old, Ms. Elmir, as are your excuses for refusing to condemn violence perpetrated by fellow adherents of your religion. What's more, your attempt to shift attention and blame from that form of religious violence onto some (white) straw man is as hollow as it is pathetic.Just because you refuse to condemn the condemnable within your own religion gives you no license or right to criticize those of us who "dare" to point out the obvious. If that kind of free expression bothers you, maybe you're in the wrong line of work and maybe you're living in the wrong country. Moscow is worried about the absence of progress in the Transdniestria settlement negotiations; the Ukrainian position on this matter has a negative influence on the regional situation, Russian State Secretary - Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has said. "The appointment of a new Ukrainian political representative to the 5+2 negotiating format that has been delayed since May 2015 is an indicator of the evolution of the Kyiv position on the Transdniestria settlement process. It is also worrisome that not a single meeting was held in that negotiating format in 2015," Karasin told Interfax in an interview. Moscow regrets that "following the change of regime in Kyiv in February 2014 Ukraine not only shifted away from unbiased mediation in the dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol but also took a course towards intimidating the international public with the military threat allegedly coming from Transdniestria and the open economic and transport 'smothering' of the Dniester's left bank," the Russian deputy foreign minister said. "This pressure has seriously exacerbated the already complicated socioeconomic situation in Transdniestria," the Russian diplomat said. In the opinion of Karasin, tensions may escalate "with the fulfillment of plans of Moldova and Ukraine to organize joint customs and border control for Transdniestria." "This means, for instance, that since January 1, 2016, a decision of Ukrainian and Moldovan sides will change the scheme of clearance of cargo made in Transdniestria. According to Tiraspol's estimates, the additional tax burden on Transdniestrian enterprises will top $4 million," he said. The fact is the first thing a president does when he or she takes the oath of office is to swear an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. And the fact is that what Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president. Do a Web search, Josh President Carter announced yesterday that the United States is breaking diplomatic relations with Iran and that all Iranian diplomats and officials will be ordered to leave the country by midnight tonight. ... Carter also cut off virtually all remaining trade between the two countries, prohibiting further exports to Iran, with the exception of food and drugs. The U.S. will also invalidate all visas issued for future arrival to Iranians, issuing new ones or renewing old ones only in unusual circumstances. ... "The steps I have ordered today are those that are necessary now," Carter announced in yesterday's nationwide television broadcast, adding, "Other actions may become necessary if these steps do not produce the prompt release of the hostages." Carter is Hitler is Trump? While Iran was a nation, it was targeted because it was overrun by Shiite Islamists who were engaging in terrorism against America. Sunni Islamists like ISIS have a big footprint in far more countries than Iran did so a visa ban targeting them needs to be much broader in scope than going after one country. (NaturalNews) The political Left works hard to change and/or control narratives and memory-hole history, the latter of which is done sometimes so no one will remember what they used to believe and think was okay to do.Case in point: GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump 's recent call to ban those from some Muslim countries from entering the U.S. until the government can develop a better way of vetting them, over concerns that ISIS or other terrorist organizations may attempt to infiltrate, as they have promised they would do . That caused liberal heads to explode all the way to the White House In a near-unprecedented manner, White House spokesman Josh Earnest injected President Obama into the presidential race by declaring Trumpfor making such a policy recommendation:There are all sorts of things wrong with Earnest's statement. First, Obama regularly disregards the Constitution through the expansion of Executive power beyond what the nation's founding document proscribes for the office, mostly because feckless congressional Republicans refuse to do anything to rein him in. Secondly, as contained in the Constitution, Congress and presidents most certainly do have the authority to make immigration law. And third, in times of war or other national emergency, the president, as commander-in-chief, does indeed have the constitutional authority to scrutinize or even ban certain people from entering the country.How do we know this? Because liberal darling President Jimmy Carter did the same thing in 1980, when in the throes of the Iran Hostage Crisis, he banned Iranians from entering the United States. To liberals, truth doesn't really matter much when there is anto pursue at all costs namely, that Republicans are evil, maniacal bigots, even when their policies mimic those of Democrats.Maybe Earnest has never heard of the Internet and "search engines," for it didn't take long to find historical documentation of Carter's then-historical action. From, April 8, 1980:Other liberal Democrats of the time criticized Carter forsooner. One of them was U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who was campaigning for the Democrat presidential nomination that year."There's a legitimate question whether we could have made other diplomatic progress before we found ourselves where we are at the present time," Kennedy said.Asnoted, this idea of Trump's, then, is not new at all:And Iran remains even more of an enemy today than it was in 1980, but not as much of an enemy as jihadists associated with ISIS."Apparently barring people from a terrorist country is not against 'our values' after all. It may even be 'who we are.' Either that or Carter was a racist monster just like Trump,"noted.Convenient lack of memory the Left has, isn't it? Shkreli has become the evil face of a corrupt pharmaceutical industry (NaturalNews) After being arrested by the FBI on fraud charges in December, 32-year-old pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli appears to be going clinically insane. Over the summer, Shkreli and his hedge fund company Turing Pharmaceuticals were exposed after he outrageously jacked up the price of a 70-year-old drug. Overnight, Shkreli the con artist raised the price of the drug over 5,000%, from $13.50 a pill to a staggering $750 a pill. Shkreli's price gouging drew ire from nearly everyone as the predator, sleight-of-hand culture of the pharmaceutical industry was brought to light.Robert Capers, US attorney of the eastern district of New York, stated, "Shkreli essentially ran his companies like Ponzi schemes, where he used each subsequent company to pay off defrauded investors from the previous company." Capers said that the scheme ultimately cost investors over $11 million.After being released on $5 million bond, Shkreli announced his resignation from Turing Pharmaceuticals on Twitter and vented his frustration with the arrest, calling the charges against him "baseless and without merit." Not long after, his Twitter account erupted with a string of insane posts where. He even changed his name to "Martin the God."The official report is that hackers took control of his Twitter account, but the Twitter posts could very well be showing Shkreli's true personality and character. In one Twitter post, Shkreli claimed to have acquired " anal AIDS ." By the way he screwed people with his predatory price gouging, there's every reason to believe someone returned the favor and "gouged" him while he was locked up in prison.Arrested on securities fraud and conspiracy, Shkreli puts a face to the bad name the pharmaceutical industry has gotten in recent decades. It's no longer a conspiracy theory that the pharmaceutical industry is run by sociopaths plotting against the population. The industry really is a conspiracy (those are the charges!) run by the occasional sociopath (like Shkreli) who has found a way to rape people out of their health and their money while promising to provide them with "life-saving" medicine.Sure, there may be a few advances in modern medicine, and emergency medicine does have its place, but the mass majority of pills and injections being pushed are scams that cause more damage and dependence than they actually heal. In fact, a lot of pharmaceutical chemicals are derived from toxic coal-tar distillations. Napthalene, a common toxic coal-tar product, is used in the manufacture of plastics, dyes, moth balls, rubber processing chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs. Modern oligopolistic medicine has abandoned the true healing sources of medicine, deviating from the plant-based compounds that actually assist the body's holistic healing process.Instead, modern monopoly medicine resorts to cheap ingredients derived from coal tar. Thedocuments the symptoms related to naphthalene exposure, which includes mood swings, ranging from excitement to malaise and confusion, as well as jaundice, bladder irritation, dermatitis, nausea and kidney failure.Sadly, hospitals require that newborns be injected with naphthalene-based coal-tar ingredients right after birth. Theshot, cleverly named to sound natural and healthy, is really created from 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalen, the same toxic chemicals used to create dyes and resins. It's no wonder why hospitals aggressively check for jaundice in newborns.You see, Martin Shkreli is just one nasty cog in a corrupt system that profits off disease. The entire pharmaceutical industry needs to be overhauled, and this authoritarian harm-first medical oligopoly must be reformed piece by piece, starting by removing toxic jaundice-inducinginjections that are forced on newborns. Conclusion Links (NaturalNews) TalkNetwork.com's Pete Santilli is streaming LIVE right now from Oregon, covering the Hammond family constitutional crisis situation as it unfolds.The Hammond family is being wildly victimized by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), threatened withfor setting a controlled burn brush fire on their own land that accidentally spread to some abandoned acreage of BLM.The mainstream media is reporting that all patriots are "terrorists." This is shaping up to be another Bundy Ranch standoff situation with BLM...Pete Santillis is a popular anchor on Talknetwork.com , the online radio network I co-founded in the interests of free speech.Background information from the Hammond family blog page:(aa) The Harney Basin (were the Hammond ranch is established) was settled in the 1870's. The valley was settled by multiple ranchers and was known to have run over 300,000 head of cattle. These ranchers developed a state of the art irrigated system to water the meadows, and it soon became a favorite stopping place for migrating birds on their annual trek north.(ab) In 1908 President Theodor Roosevelt, in a political scheme, create an "Indian reservation" around the Malheur, Mud & Harney Lakes and declared it "as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds". Later this "Indian reservation" (without Indians) became the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.(a) In 1964 the Hammonds purchased their ranch in the Harney Basin. The purchase included approximately 6000 acres of private property, 4 grazing rights on public land , a small ranch house and 3 water rights. The ranch is around 53 miles South of Burns, Oregon.(a1) By the 1970's nearly all the ranches adjacent to the Blitzen Valley were purchased by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and added to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge covers over 187,000 acres and stretches over 45 miles long and 37 miles wide. The expansion of the refuge grew and surrounds to the Hammond's ranch. Being approached many times by the FWS, the Hammonds refused to sell. Other ranchers also choose not to sell.(a2) During the 1970's the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ), took a different approach to get the ranchers to sell. Ranchers were told that, "grazing was detrimental to wildlife and must be reduced". 32 out of 53 permits were revoked and many ranchers were forced to leave. Grazing fees were raised significantly for those who were allowed to remain. Refuge personnel took over the irrigation system claiming it as their own.(a3) By 1980 a conflict was well on its way over water allocations on the adjacent privately owned Silvies Plain. The FWS wanted to acquire the ranch lands on the Silvies Plain to add to their already vast holdings. Refuge personnel intentional diverted the water to bypassing the vast meadowlands, directing the water into the rising Malheur Lakes. Within a few short years the surface area of the lakes doubled. Thirty-one ranches on the Silvies plains were flooded. Homes, corrals, barns and graze-land were washed a way and destroyed. The ranchers that once fought to keep the FWS from taking their land, now broke and destroyed, begged the FWS to acquire their useless ranches. In 1989 the waters began to recede and now the once thriving privately owned Silvies pains are a proud part of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge claimed by the FWS.(a4) By the 1990's the Hammonds were one of the very few ranchers that still owned private property adjacent to the refuge. Susie Hammond in an effort to make sense of what was going on began compiling fact about the refuge. In a hidden public record she found a study that was done by the FWS in 1975. The study showed that the "no use" policies of the FWS on the refuge were causing the wildlife to leave the refuge and move to private property. The study showed that the private property adjacent to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge produced 4 times more ducks and geese than the refuge did. It also showed that the migrating birds were 13 times more likely to land on private property than on the refuge. When Susie brought this to the attention of the FWS and refuge personnel, her and her family became the subjects of a long train of abuses and corruptions.(b) In the early 1990's the Hammonds filed on a livestock water source and obtained a deed for the water right from the State of Oregon. When the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) found out that the Hammonds obtained new water rights near the Malhuer Wildlife Refuge, they were agitated and became belligerent and vindictive towards the Hammonds. The US Fish and Wildlife Service challenged the Hammonds right to the water in an Oregon State Circuit Court. The court found that the Hammonds legally obtained rights to the water in accordance to State law and therefore the use of the water belongs to the Hammonds.*(c) In August 1994 the BLM & FWS illegally began building a fence around the Hammonds water source. Owning the water rights and knowing that their cattle relied on that water source daily the Hammonds tried to stop the building of the fence. The BLM & FWS called the Harney County Sheriff department and had Dwight Hammond (Father) arrested and charged with "disturbing and interfering with" federal officials or federal contractors (two counts, each a felony). He spent one night in the Deschutes County Jail in Bend, and a second night behind bars in Portland before he was hauled before a federal magistrate and released without bail. A hearing on the charges was postponed and the federal judge never set another date.(d) The FWS also began restricting access to upper pieces of the Hammond's private property. In order to get to the upper part of the Hammond's ranch they had to go on a road that went through the Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. The FWS began barricading the road and threatening the Hammonds if they drove through it. The Hammonds removed the barricades and gates and continued to use their right of access. The road was proven later to be owned by the County of Harney. This further enraged the BLM & FWS.(e) Shortly after the road & water disputes, the BLM & FWS arbitrarily revoked the Hammond's upper grazing permit without any given cause, court proceeding or court ruling. As a traditional "fence out state" Oregon requires no obligation on the part of an owner to keep his or her livestock within a fence or to maintain control over the movement of the livestock. The Hammonds intended to still use their private property for grazing. However, they were informed that a federal judge ruled, in a federal court, that the federal government did not have to observe the Oregon fence out law. "Those laws are for the people, not for them".(f) The Hammonds were forced to either build and maintain miles of fences or be restricted from the use of their private property. Cutting their ranch in almost half, they could not afford to fence the land, so the cattle were removed.Dwight Hammond (Father)(g) The Hammonds experienced many years of financial hardship due to the ranch being diminished. The Hammonds had to sale their ranch and home in order to purchase another property that had enough grass to feed their cattle. This property included two grazing rights on public land. Those were also arbitrarily revoked later.(h) The owner of the Hammond's original ranch passed away from a heart attack and the Hammonds made a trade for the ranch back.(i) In the early fall of 2001, Steven Hammond (Son) called the fire department, informing them that he was going to be performing a routine prescribed burn on their ranch. Later that day he started a prescribed fire on their private property. The fire went onto public land and burned 127 acres of grass. The Hammonds put the fire out themselves. There was no communication about the burn from the federal government to the Hammonds at that time. Prescribed fires are a common method that Native Americans and ranchers have used in the area to increase the health & productivity of the land for many centuries.(j) In 2006 a massive lightning storm started multiple fires that joined together inflaming the countryside. To prevent the fire from destroying their winter range and possibly their home, Steven Hammond (Son) started a backfire on their private property. The backfire was successful in putting out the lightning fires that had covered thousands of acres within a short period of time. The backfire saved much of the range and vegetation needed to feed the cattle through the winter. Steven's mother, Susan Hammond said: "The backfire worked perfectly, it put out the fire, saved the range and possibly our home".(j1) The next day federal agents went to the Harney County Sheriff's office and filled a police report making accusation against Dwight and Steven Hammond for starting the backfire. A few days after the backfire a Range-Con from the Burns District BLM office asked Steven if he would meet him in town (Frenchglen) for coffee. Steven accepted. When leaving he was arrested by the Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup and BLM Ranger Orr. Sheriff Glerup then ordered him to go to the ranch and bring back his father. Both Dwight and Steven were booked and on multiple Oregon State charges. The Harney County District Attorney reviewed the accusation, evidence and charges, and determined that the accusations against Dwight & Steven Hammond did not warrant prosecution and dropped all the charges.Steven Hammond (Son)(k) In 2011, 5 years after the police report was taken, the U.S. Attorney Office accused Dwight and Steven Hammond of completely different charges, they accused them of being "Terrorist" under the Federal Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This act carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of death. Dwight & Steven's mug shots were all over the news the next week posing them as "Arsonists". Susan Hammond (Wife & Mother) said: "I would walk down the street or go in a store, people I had known for years would take extreme measures to avoid me".(l) Shortly after the sentencing, Capital Press ran a story about the Hammonds. A person who identified as Greg Allum posted three comments on the article, calling the ranchers "clowns" who endangered firefighters and other people in the area while burning valuable rangeland. Greg Allum, a retired BLM heavy equipment operator, soon called Capital Press to complain that he had not made those comments and request that they be taken down from the website. Capital Press removed the comments. A search of the Internet Protocol address associated with the comments revealed it is owned by the BLM's office in Denver, Colorado. Allum said, he is friends with the Hammonds and was alerted to the comments by neighbors who knew he wouldn't have written them. "I feel bad for them. They lost a lot and they're going to lose more," Allum said of the ranchers. "They're not terrorists. There's this hatred in the BLM for them, and I don't get it," The retired BLM employee said. Jody Weil, deputy state director for communications at BLM's Oregon office, indicated to reporters that if one of their agents falsified the comments, they would keep it private and not inform the public.(m) In September 2006, Dwight & Susan Hammond's home was raided. The agents informed the Hammonds that they were looking for evidence that would connect them to the fires. The Hammonds later found out that a boot print and a tire tracks were found near one of the many fires. No matching boots or tires were found in the Hammonds home or on their property. Susan Hammond (Wife) later said; " I have never felt so violated in my life. We are ranchers not criminals". Steven Hammond openly maintains his testimony that he started the backfire to save the winter grass from being destroyed and that the backfire ended up working so well it put out the fire entirely altogether.(n) During the trial proceedings, Federal Court Judge Michael Hogan did not allow time for certain testimonies and evidence into the trail that would exonerate the Hammonds. Federal prosecuting attorney, Frank Papagni, was given full access for 6 days. He had ample time to use any evidence or testimony that strengthened the demonization of the Hammonds. The Hammonds attorney was only allowed 1 day. Much of the facts about the fires, land and why the Hammonds acted the way they did was not allowed into the proceedings and was not heard by the jury. For example, Judge Hogan did not allow time for the jury to hear or review certified scientific findings that the fires improved the health and productivity of the land. Or, that the Hammonds had been subject to vindictive behavior by multiple federal agencies for years.(o) Federal attorneys, Frank Papagni, hunted down a witness that was not mentally capable to be a credible witness. Dusty Hammond (grandson and nephew) testified that Steven told him to start a fire. He was 13 at the time and 24 when he testified (11 years later). At 24 Dusty had been suffering with mental problems for many years. He had estranged his family including his mother. Judge Hogan noted that Dusty's memories as a 13-year-old boy were not clear or credible. He allowed the prosecution to continually use Dusty's testimony anyway. When speaking to the Hammonds about this testimony, they understood that Dusty was manipulated and expressed nothing but love for their troubled grandson.(p) Judge Michael Hogan & Frank Papagni tampered with the jury many times throughout the proceedings, including during the selection process. Hogan & Papagni only allowed people on the jury who did not understand the customs and culture of the ranchers or how the land is used and cared for in the Diamond Valley. All of the jurors had to drive back and forth to Pendleton everyday. Some drove more than two hours each way. By day 8 they were exhausted and expressed desires to be home. On the final day, Judge Hogan kept pushing them to make a verdict. Several times during deliberation, Judge Hogan pushed them to make a decision. Judge Hogan also would not allow the jury to hear what punishment could be imposed upon an individual that has convicted as a terrorist under the 1996 act. The jury, not understanding the customs and cultures of the area, influenced by the prosecutors for 6 straight days, very exhausted, pushed for a verdict by the judge, unaware of the ramification of convicting someone as a terrorist, made a verdict and went home.(q) June 22, 2012, Dwight and Steven were found guilty of starting both the 2001 and the 2006 fires by the jury. However, the federal courts convicted them both as "Terrorist" under the 1996 Antiterrorism Act. Judge Hogan sentenced Dwight (Father) to 3 months in prison and Steven (son) to 12 months in federal prison. They were also stipulated to pay $400,000 to the BLM. Hogan overruling the minimum terrorist sentence, commenting that if the full five years were required it would be a violation of the 8th amendment (cruel and unusual punishment). The day of the sentencing Judge Hogan retired as a federal judge. In his honor the staff served chocolate cake in the courtroom.(r) On January 4,, 2013, Dwight and Steven reported to prison. They fulfilled their sentences, (Dwight 3 months, Steven 12 months). Dwight was released in March 2013 and Steven, January 2014.(s) Sometime in June 2014, Rhonda Karges, Field Manager for the BLM, and her husband Chad Karges, Refuge Manager for the Malheur Wildlife Refuge (which surrounds the Hammond ranch), along with attorney Frank Papagni exemplifying further vindictive behavior by filing an appeal with the 9th District Federal Court seeking Dwight's and Steven's return to federal prison for the entire 5 years.*Hammond Family(t) In October 2015, the 9th District Court "resentenced" Dwight and Steven, requiring them to return to prison for several more years. Steven (46) has a wife and 3 children. Dwight (74) will leave Susan (74) to be alone after 55 years of marriage. If he survives, he will be 79 when he is released.(u) During the court preceding the Hammonds were forced to grant the BLM first right of refusal. If the Hammonds ever sold their ranch they would have to sell it to the BLM.(v) Dwight and Steven are ordered to report to federal prison again on January 4th, 2016 to begin their resentencing. Both their wives will have to manage the ranch for several years without them. To date they have paid $200,000 to the BLM, and the remainder $200,000 must be paid before the end of this year (2015). If the Hammonds cannot pay the fines to the BLM, they will be forced to sell the ranch to the BLM or face further prosecution.Notes:S* Rhonda Karges Resource Field Manager for the BLM is the wife of Chad Karges Refuge Manager for the Malheur Wildlife refuge.Rhonda specifically deals with all the BLM issues relating to the area in and around Hammonds property including "grazing denial". Her husband just happens to be the person in charge of all the issues surrounding the Hammonds ranch such as "water and access".b* Soon after the water rights dispute the federal government influenced the State of Oregon to change their water law in favor of federal agencies. Wildlife is now considered in the State of Oregon as an accepted beneficial use for government agencies only.k* Being convicted as Terrorist made the Hammonds felons. They have been striped of their right to have guns. The Hammond live 53 miles from the closets town and have no practical way of defending themselves or their cattle. Several times they have watched baby calves be eaten by predators and could do nothing to prevent it.The abuses and corruptions affecting people like the Hammonds are symptoms of a more encompassing problem. Government employees (fulltime & elected) have changed their culture from one of service to, and respect for the people, to the roll of being a masters. On the subject of the land, it is evident that government employees are no longer assisting the people in claiming, using and defending property. Instead, they have become the people's competitor to the benefits of the land, and are willing to use force on those who they erroneously compete against.The federal government adversely controls over 582,000,000 acres of the western lands, 51% of the entire western land mass. They also have recently begun claiming over 72% of western resources such as the sub-surface minerals, forestry and waters. This is in comparison to 4.29% federally controlled land in the east.The impact of the federal government controlling the land and resources inside the western states is hard to calculate. The negative impact on the people can be seen economically, politically, and socially. In order for any people to survive, let alone prosper, it takes the land and resources to do it. Everything we eat, the clothing we wear, the homes we live in, the cars we drive, and so on, come from the earth. All physical comfort and prosperity originates from the earth. Individuals composing the federal government, understanding the origination of wealth, are reserving these resources for themselves and are willing to use force to retain them. The ramifications of their action are slowly forcing the people of the west into poverty.Due to the fact that people cannot survive without land and resource, the federal government's action in administering the lands for their own benefit will be the cause of public discontent and unrest until it is corrected.The solution is very simple, the land and resources must be made available to its rightful owners, the people. This can be done peacefully if the states & counties would check and balance the federal government as designed. When this happens, the people will begin to prosper and much of the economical, political and social problem of the west will diminish. Prosperity, peace and tranquility will be the results.Thank you,Ammon BundyBundy FamilyNotice: Redress of Grievance:Letter to Harney County Sheriff - David Ward: http://bundyranch.blogspot.com/2015/11/lette... Facts & Events : http://bundyranch.blogspot.com/2015/11/facts... Violations, Corruptions and Abuses: http://bundyranch.blogspot.com/2015/11/viola... Conclusion: http://bundyranch.blogspot.com/2015/11/concl... Letter to Government Official and Aware Citizens: http://bundyranch.blogspot.com/2015/11/hammo... (NaturalNews) Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, whose standoff with federal officials of the Bureau of Land Management made national headlines thanks in large part to the alternative media, has intervened in an Oregon case involving a father-and-son ranching team scheduled to report to federal prison in a few days.As Natural News reported exclusively , Dwight Hammond, 73, and his son Steven Hammond, 46, were convicted in 2012 under a federal anti-terrorism statute, of committing arson on federal land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. Both were charged in connection with a 2001 fire, and Steven in connection with another fire in 2006. Though the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 calls for a minimum sentence of five years in prison, U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan now retired gave them lighter sentences because he did not believe they had exhibited malicious intent.Federal prosecutors appealed Hogan's three-month sentence for Dwight Hammond, and one-year sentence for Steven Hammond which both had served because they were far short of the minimum. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and ordered them re-sentenced in October, which they duly were.Now, however, as the date approaches for the Hammonds to report to federal prison to finish out their sentences, Bundy and patriot groups are seeking last-minute intervention by local authorities over what they view as unconstitutional and improper charges and sentencing directed at the Hammonds."With great concern and love and much consideration from prayer, I come to you Harney County Sheriff of Oregon David M. Ward, rancher Steven Dwight Hammond, and rancher Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr.," Cliven wrote in a letter that was also posted online, on his blog site "I, Cliven D. Bundy, have been involved for several weeks in the background striving to understand and comprehend your dilemmas in Harney County, Oregon," his letter continued. "I understand that the grass that was burnt on each side of the fence was grazing rights that had been created through beneficial use, one side of the fence being private property and the other side of the fence being private property rights. The fires that were set were for a good purpose and had good results."Bundy asserted that the U.S. government "has NO jurisdiction or authority" in Oregon , especially "over this type of ranch management.""These lands are not under U.S. treaties or commerce, they are not article 4 territories, and Congress does not have unlimited power," Bundy wrote. "These lands have been admitted into statehood and are part of the great State of Oregon and the citizens of Harney County enjoy the fullness of the protections of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution limits United States government."Bundy wants Sheriff Ward to intervene on behalf of the Hammonds, to take them into custody for their own protection."It is my suggestion, Steven Hammond, that you go and check yourself into Harney County jail asking for protective custody. It is my suggestion, Dwight Hammond, that you go and check yourself into Harney County jail asking for protective custody," he wrote. "It is my suggestion, Harney County Sheriff David Ward, accept these two ranchers into your jail, notify the United States Solicitor in Washington DC that you have these two ranchers in Harney County jail, that they will remain there indefinitely under your protective custody and the protection of We the People of Harney County and We the People of the United States of America."As before, contained in a redress of grievances filed with local and federal officials on behalf of the Hammonds, Bundy is calling for a grand jury to be convened, to reexamine the case against the Oregon ranchers."I suggest an Evidentiary Hearing or a Grand Jury be formed by We the People."Sources: Bitter cold, biting winds and rough winter seas have done little to stem the seemingly endless flow of desperate people fleeing war or poverty for what they hope will be a brighter, safer future in Europe. As 2016 dawns, boatloads continue to reach Greek shores and thousands trudge across Balkan fields and country roads heading north. More than a million people reached Europe in 2015 in the continent's largest refugee influx since the end of World War II a crisis that has tested European unity and threatened the vision of a borderless continent. Nearly 3,800 people are estimated to have drowned in the Mediterranean last year, making the journey to Greece or Italy in unseaworthy vessels packed far beyond capacity. The European Union has pledged to bolster patrols on its external borders and quickly deport economic migrants, while Turkey has agreed to crack down on smugglers operating from its coastline. But those on the front lines of the crisis say the coming year promises to be difficult unless there is a dramatic change. Greece has borne the brunt of the exodus, with more than 850,000 people reaching the country's shores, nearly all arriving on Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast. "The (migrant) flows continue unabated. And on good days, on days when the weather isn't bad, they are increased," Ioannis Mouzalas, Greece's minister responsible for migration issues, told The Associated Press. "This is a problem and shows that Turkey wasn't able I'm not saying that they didn't want to respond to the duty and obligation it had undertaken to control the flows and the smugglers from its shores." Europe's response to the crisis has been fractured, with individual countries, concerned about the sheer scale of the influx, introducing new border controls aimed at limiting the flow. The problem is compounded by the reluctance of many migrants' countries of origin, such as Pakistan, to accept forcible returns. "If measures are not taken to stop the flows from Turkey and if Europe doesn't solve the problems of the returns as a whole, it will be a very difficult year," Mouzalas warned. Along the Balkan migrant route, an undetermined number of men, women and children considered economic migrants have found themselves stranded, their hopes of reaching prosperous northern EU countries dashed by recent border closures. Greece, with thousands of miles of coastline, is the only country that cannot feasibly block people from entering without breaking international laws about rescuing those in distress at sea. "It's a bad sign, this unabated flow that continues," Mouzalas said. "It creates difficulties for us, as the borders have closed for particular categories of people and there is a danger they will be trapped here." The number of those estimated to be stuck in Greece runs in the thousands. Mohammed Abusaid is one of them. A baby-faced 27-year-old Moroccan electrician, Abusaid left home with dreams of finding work in Germany or even the United States. Like tens of thousands before him, he made his way with a group of friends to Turkey and then braved the short but perilous sea crossing to the Greek island of Lesbos in early November. From there, they headed north only to discover the Macedonian border was open only to those from war-wracked Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. The young Moroccans now spend their nights huddling for warmth in a tent beneath a straggly tree outside Athens' old airport. "I'm living here like a tramp. But I'm not a tramp," Abusaid said quietly. "I'm single, my parents are old. I want to look for work. We don't cause trouble, we just want to work." But Abusaid finds himself trapped in a country battered by a five-year financial crisis that has left unemployment hovering around 25 percent. Desperate, cold and hungry, two of his friends have opted for the voluntary repatriation scheme offered by the International Organization for Migration and are heading home this month. Abusaid says he's pondering following suit. But he still hopes to make it to northern Europe for a better life, and dreams of America. "I wish I could fly like a bird and go there." Inside the old airport complex, a shelter has been set up in a former Olympic Games hockey venue but access is limited to vulnerable groups, particularly after theft, looting and fights were reported among groups of men. "We realize it is very difficult for the new government to handle all these elevated numbers," said Chrysanthi Protogerou, director of the Greek Council for Refugees aid organization. "We were not well prepared and we continue not being well prepared." She called for "better coordination, to make an even bigger effort, because the problem is becoming huge." Battered on the one side by a massive wave of desperate people risking their lives to reach its islands and on the other by border restrictions, Greece is struggling. "It's a situation to which we are being subjected without bearing any responsibility for it and without being able to control it," said Mouzalas. "Whatever measures we take here, if on the Turkish side the smugglers increase the flows, we can't cope." "We have a vast sea and countless islands," he added. "If a ground intervention occurs in Syria, we can't deal with this wave of refugees." The problem, the beleaguered minister said, "is happening in Greece but it is a European problem and the solution must be a European one." Nearly all new arrivals are aiming for wealthy northern European countries, with Germany and Sweden the favorites. Both stood out for trying to maintain a generous welcome even as numbers swelled, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel famously proclaiming "we will manage it." Germany received about 1 million asylum-seekers this year and Sweden more than 150,000. However, toward the end of the year even those two shifted course. Germany introduced border checks in September and Sweden in November. Sweden is now taking steps to keep people from even reaching the border and as of Monday will require passengers boarding Sweden-bound trains in neighboring Denmark to show ID. The crisis has strained relations between the Scandinavian neighbors. Further down the migrant trail, refugees trickle steadily into Macedonia and Serbia, although authorities say numbers have decreased "drastically." In a Serbian refugee center in Presevo near the Macedonian border, a baby wearing a yellow cap and oversized gloves blinked in the winter sun while a woman slowly combed a girl's long, black hair. Although trains and buses are still crowded, Macedonia's border controls seem to be working. "The number of migrants going through has drastically declined," said Presevo camp deputy manager Slobodan Savovic. "That means the numbers have more than halved when compared to September, when we had as much as 10,000 people per day." Karl Ritter in Stockholm, Sweden, Marko Drobnjakovic in Presevo, Serbia and Raphael Kominis in Athens contributed. Bobby Weidig, Jr., 18, of Bethany, was killed walking to a music festival on Route 69 Christmas night, according to Connecticut State Police. Troopers charged 60-year-old Barbara Ross, of Cheshire, with driving under the influence and failure to maintain a proper lane change. "Its definitely about the justice system and getting charges brought on," Gloria Durley told NBC Connecticut. Gloria Durley created an online petition asking superior court officials to file more severe charges against Ross. The teenager has collected more than 1700 signatures so far. "Bobby was my best friend since we were born," Durley said. "We rode the school bus together, we'd bike together around the neighborhood growing up." Durley said she wants justice for Bobby, but remains inspired by her friend who loved unconditionally and was kind to everyone. Gloria's father, Tom Durley, said his daughter came up with the idea on her own. "The whole point was not to speak hate to this woman, it was almost to get her help. That's what Bobby would have wanted. He would of already forgiven her," Durley added. Gloria's father also told NBC Connecticut that Bobby was like a son, which is why he wanted to sign the petition too. Durley stated he has no hatred toward Ross, "I'd give her a hug and really say, taking this young man's life is a tragedy. Meant something to all of us. Live with him in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Never going to go away and people will support her too." The Durley's say they've been told prosecutors have received the petition and understand what they hope to accomplish. NBC Connecticut reached out to state officials to see whether they would take the petition into consideration, and are waiting to hear back. It's been like a long-delayed New Year's resolution for Republicans. But 2016 will finally be the year when they put legislation on President Barack Obama's desk repealing his health care law. The bill undoing the president's prized overhaul will be the first order of business when the House reconvenes this coming week, marking a sharply partisan start on Capitol Hill to a congressional year in which legislating may take a back seat to politics. There are few areas of potential compromise between Obama and the GOP majority in the House and Senate in this election year, but plenty of opportunities for political haymaking during the presidential campaign season. Obama will veto the health law repeal bill, which also would cut money for Planned Parenthood. The measure already has passed the Senate under special rules protecting it from Democratic obstruction. But that's the point for Republicans, who intend to schedule a veto override vote for Jan. 22, when anti-abortion activists hold their annual march in Washington to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion. Despite dozens of past votes to repeal the health law in full or in part, Republicans never before have succeeded in sending a full repeal bill to the White House. They insist that doing so will fulfill promises to their constituents while highlighting the clear choice facing voters in the November presidential election. Every Republican candidate has pledged to undo the health law. The Democrats running for president would keep it in place. "You're going to see us put a bill on the president's desk going after Obamacare and Planned Parenthood so we'll finally get a bill on his desk to veto," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told conservative talk host Bill Bennett over the holidays. "Then you're going to see the House Republican Conference, working with our senators, coming out with a bold agenda that we're going to lay out for the country, to say how we would do things very differently," Ryan said. In the Senate, which reconvenes Jan. 11, a week later than the House, early action will include a vote on a proposal by Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who is running for president, for an "audit" of the Federal Reserve. Democrats are likely to block it. But, like the health repeal bill in the House, the vote will answer conservative demands in an election year. Also expected early in the Senate's year is legislation dealing with Syrian refugees, following House passage of a bill clamping down on the refugee program. Conservatives were angry when the year ended without the bill advancing. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky promised a vote, though without specifying whether it would be the House bill or something else. The House Benghazi committee will continue its investigation of the attacks that killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, with an interview of former CIA Director David Petraeus on Jan. 6. That comes amid new Democratic accusations of political motives aimed at Hillary Clinton after the committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. for president. Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, was secretary of state at the time of the Benghazi attacks. The bold agenda promised by Ryan after succeeding former Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as speaker last fall will begin to take shape at a House-Senate GOP retreat this month in Baltimore. Thus far Ryan has pledged efforts to overhaul the tax system and offer a Republican alternative to the health overhaul. In the Senate, McConnell's primary focus is protecting the handful of vulnerable Republican senators whose seats are at risk as Democrats fight to regain the Senate majority they lost a year ago. That means weighing the political risks and benefits of every potential vote to endangered incumbents in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. That could determine whether McConnell allows criminal justice overhaul legislation the one issue cited by Obama and lawmakers of both parties as ripe for compromise to come to the floor. McConnell already has suggested that prospects for approval of Obama's long-sought Asia trade pact are dim, and the senator has ruled out major tax overhaul legislation as long as Obama is president. McConnell could try to put his thumb on the scales of the presidential race with two GOP senators having emerged as leading contenders. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been a thorn in McConnell's side, once calling the GOP leader a liar, and has frosty relations with his fellow senators. Rubio is on good terms with fellow lawmakers and has been endorsed by several of them. McConnell could schedule debate on an issue with the potential to favor Rubio politically over Cruz, such as National Security Agency wiretapping authority. But McConnell insists he is staying out of it. "We all have a big stake in having a nominee for president who can win, and that means carrying purple states, and I'm sure pulling for a nominee who can do that," McConnell told The Associated Press, refusing to elaborate on who might fit that description. As the Mississippi River and its tributaries began receding from historic levels that flooded towns, forced evacuations and killed two dozen people, residents in the St. Louis area were facing a massive cleanup and recovery effort that will likely last weeks. The flood, fueled by more than 10 inches of rain over a three-day period that began last weekend, is blamed for 24 deaths in Illinois and Missouri. Saturday, President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Missouri and ordered federal aid for the region, the White House said in a statement. The declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security to coordinate relief efforts. Most of emergency personnel, including the National Guard, were involved in debris removal as thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses had taken in rubble from the floodwaters, Gov. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said early Saturday. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has greeted Germany on the start of its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "My greetings to Germany on its chairmanship at OSCE," the Ukrainian president wrote on his Twitter account. Later he tweeted that Germany's OSCE chairmanship combined with its involvement in the "Normandy Format" of talks for the settlement of the situation in Ukraine's east gave hope for the progress in this settlement. "Unique combination of Normandy format and OSCE chaired by Germany gives hope for long-awaited progress," he wrote. "Hard mission after Helsinki principles have been violated by the aggressor. Confidence can be restored by reintegration of Donbas and Crimea," Poroshenko wrote in yet another tweet. A high-profile Mexican attorney known for winning big cases confirmed Friday he is representing Ethan Couch, the "affluenza" teen from North Texas jailed in Mexico. Fernando Benitez, of Tijuana, said in a Twitter message to NBC 5 that he wants to make sure the 18-year-old is treated lawfully. "My interest is that if they are looking for his extradition to the United States, that it proceeds only according to the Constitution and the law," he wrote in Spanish. He did not immediately respond to a question about who is paying him. Couch and his mother Tonya were arrested in Puerto Vallarta on Monday. Tonya Couch was deported to the United States late Wednesday and remains detained in Los Angeles pending a hearing Monday or Tuesday. The younger Couch remains in detention in Mexico City. His extradition was blocked when Benitez filed an appeal. According to Mexican news reports, Benitez represented former Tijuana Mayor Jorge Hank Rhon when he was arrested on weapons charges. Guns found inside Rhons home were linked to several murders, authorities said. Rhon argued that police never had a search warrant to search the house so everything they found was inadmissible in court, and according to the reports, a judge agreed and the charges were dropped. Asked Friday if Benitez was the same attorney who represented Rhon, he said, "Yes, I had the privilege of representing Mr. Hank in 2011, with good results." In 2014, Benitez also represented U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, arrested for crossing the border into Mexico with three weapons in his truck. After 214 days in jail, prosecutors dropped the charges and he was freed. A 21-year-old Lyft driver was killed in a suspected DUI crash in Hawthorne, California, on New Year's Day, according to police. The Torrance man, identified as Thor Anderson, was broadsided by a 21-year-old Infiniti driver about 2:55 a.m. near the intersection of 120th Street and Doty Avenue. The driver, Arturo Martinez Conchas, of Hawthorne, hit the side of Anderson's 2015 black Ford Fusion with his red 2003 coupe, according to police. Witness Manuel Felix said he heard the cars collide in front of his home. "This guy driving was kind of scared," Felix said. "I heard him say, 'I hope he's not dead.'" Conchas was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of illegal drugs. Anderson died at the scene. "I'm just kind of not ready to let him go," said his father, Ronald Anderson, as he wiped away tears. "Just seems almost unreal that he's gone." Before the crash, Thor Anderson told his father he was excited to work New Year's Eve because he would make a lot of money. Ronald Anderson said his son helped support the family by working for Lyft. "He said, 'I'm happy doing what I'm doing,'" Ronald Anderson said. "He would comfort me a lot by being a good son." In their last conversation, the two had planned to meet for breakfast. They spoke just an hour before Thor Anderson was killed. Almost a dozen people who knew him gathered at the crash site Friday night, where candles and pink mustaches part of the ride-sharing company's original branding decorated the sidewalk. After treatment at a hospital, Conchas was taken to jail at the Hawthorne Police Department and was being held on $100,000 bail. Information on an attorney for Conchas was not immediately available. "The Hawthorne Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim," the Hawthorne Police Department said in a statement after the crash. Lyft also released a statement expressing sympathy. "Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic accident. Thor was an important member of the Lyft community and we are very saddened to hear this news. We will support authorities in the ongoing investigation and help in any way we can," a spokeswoman said. NBC4 previously interviewed Anderson on Dec. 23 for a story on ride-share services being allowed to pick up clients at LAX. A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit the family. Ethan Couch, also known as the "affluenza" teen, hid out in a Mexican resort with his mother before he was caught earlier this week, and two staff members at a Puerto Vallarta hotel told Reuters that the two had a gun with them. Couch and his mother Tonya were caught Monday in Puerto Vallarta. The 18-year-old had violated his probation and a manhunt for him ensued. Couch was on 10 years probation after successfully invoking an "affluenza" defense while on trial for a 2013 drunken-driving crash that killed four people. The gun was left in a drawer at the Los Tules hotel after changing rooms during their Dec. 20 to 25 stay, the hotel staffers told Reuters. However, NBC News has not independently confirmed a gun was found. The Tarrant County, Texas, District Attorney's office told NBC News it is investigating. Couch remains in Mexico City in custody while his mother was deported and is in Los Angeles. Medal of Honor recipient who lost an eye while taking a grenade blast to save a fellow Marine now faces a hit-and-run charge in South Carolina, police say. Retired Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, 26, turned himself in and appeared in court Thursday with an attorney on misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run and making an improper left turn, police said in a news release. Police spokesman Capt. George Drafts said he didn't have the attorney's name. Carpenter didn't respond to an email and a text seeking comment. Carpenter was released on bond, the release said. Police say a pedestrian who was struck shortly after 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 was treated at the scene for scrapes and leg injury. The pedestrian, Michael Haddad, declined to be taken to a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, police said. Surveillance tapes showed that a pedestrian was struck in a crosswalk as he walked to the fitness center at the University of South Carolina, police said. After the pedestrian was struck, the driver pulled over and turned on his hazard lights, but didn't leave his vehicle to exchange information or offer help, police said. The driver left the scene after the pedestrian stood up and walked to the side of the road. The pedestrian then went inside the fitness center and police were called. Both Carpenter and Haddad have cooperated and there's no evidence that either was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time, police said. Carpenter, a Mississippi native, received the Medal of Honor in June 2014 for his actions as a Marine in Afghanistan in 2010, when he lost an eye. He required almost 40 surgeries and multiple skin grafts, leaving him with a prosthetic eye and a new jaw and teeth, President Barack Obama said at the Medal of Honor ceremony. Carpenter visited MCAS Miramar and talked with local members of the military after the ceremony. Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Kyle Carpenter, 24, visited MCAS Miramar and had a special message for fellow Marines. NBC 7s Artie Ojeda reports. He had placed himself between a grenade and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio, who received a head injury from shrapnel. Carpenter was severely wounded from head to toe, sustaining a depressed skull and a collapsed right lung, among a long list of other injuries. He was evacuated and required brain surgery to remove shrapnel. His heart flat-lined three times during treatment, Obama said, and doctors managed to revive him each time. He was a patient at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, until his retirement for medical reasons in July 2013. The State newspaper reports he's now a USC student. The Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society saved more pets in 2015 than it did in any year prior, the organization announced in its 2015 year-in-review post on its website on Wednesday. A record-breaking 2,854 homeless pets were saved by PAWS in Philadelphia this year, according to the organization, including 64 pets that were sent to new homes Aug. 15 as part of Clear the Shelters, a partnership with NBC10 and Telemundo62. PAWS said that day boasted its highest adoption numbers in the organization's history. Beyond the pets PAWS saved, the organization said it also served its 100,000th animal since 2009 in 2015, aided more than 30,000 pets at its low-cost Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic, and performed more than 11,000 spay/neuter surgeries to reduce the number of homeless and unwanted pets entering shelters. Disgruntled Uber customers lashed out on social media Friday after being hit with what they believe are exceptionally high rates on New Years Eve, with some users claiming that surge pricing, as it is called, benefits from people trying to drink and get home responsibly. Uber allows increased prices during times of high demand, claiming that the ability to earn more incentivizes additional drivers to offer their services, making it easier for customers to get rides whenever and wherever they need it. However, in some places, New Years Eve surge pricing led to rates nine times the normal price and customers were not pleased. "My $60 ride turned into $251.59 on New Years Eve," wrote Uber user Jenna Kydd on the companys Facebook page. "Ill be deleting this app since clearly this company feels like they can take advantage of their customers." One Facebook user even went so far as to call the company the "the Martin Shkreli of taxi services." Shkreli who has been arrested for securities fraud has been widely criticized for his decision to charge $750 for a tablet that AIDS patients rely on and previously paid $13.50 for. Meanwhile, other social media users were quick to point out that riders must always acknowledge and accept the surge price before being picked up. Uber also made efforts to inform users before New Years Eve that prices might be higher. On its Facebook page, the San Francisco-based company which just celebrated its 1 billionth trip released a tip guide for app users who planned to use the service, and the company also sent an email to riders that warned of steeper prices in some areas. "Our goal is to make sure you can always push a button and get a ride within minutes even on the busiest night of the year - and surge pricing helps ensure that choice is always available," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. "...Riders are repeatedly notified about the pricing directly within the app and asked to confirm and accept increased fares, or can opt for a notification when prices drop." The spokesperson continued: "When folks know that the option for a reliable ride is at their fingertips, it becomes much easier to make the choice not to drink and drive." Uber also said that only 60 percent U.S trips between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. had surge rates, while 84% percent of cities had less than a three-times surge price. Fire investigators say no smoke alarms were found in the home destroyed in the raging blaze that killed a pregnant preschool teacher in San Diegos Bonita area. On Dec. 28, a fire ripped through a familys home on Alameda Way. A Southern California preschool teacher, Vanessa De La Cruz, 22, perished in the blaze. She was newly pregnant and had just shared the news with her family at the time of her tragic death. Four of her family members were injured in the house fire, but survived, including De La Cruzs brother, Arnold Jr., a U.S. Army medic who told NBC 7 he could hear his sisters pleas for help from inside the home as it burned. Now, disturbing new details have emerged about the deadly house fire. According to officials, after the smoke cleared at the De La Cruz family home, investigators discovered there were no smoke alarms installed inside the house. Instead of waking up to sounds of a smoke alarm detecting the blaze, Arnold Jr. said he woke up to the popping noise of the fire ripping through the residence. He then heard his fathers panicked voice as his family tried to flee the flames. Arnold Jr. helped rescue his 9-year-old brother and then tried desperately to save his sister. In those moments, Arnold Jr. said he did not hear any smoke alarms. Following the deadly fire, both city and county investigators combed through the charred home. Our Investigator searched, but did not find smoke detectors, Bonita Fire Chief Tim Isbell said. We did not locate any smoke detectors during our investigation but just because we didn't find a smoke detector doesn't mean it wasn't there, Sheriff's Bomb and Arson Squad Sgt. Greg Hampton said. The De La Cruz family had moved into the Bonita home just last month. The property is owned by former three-term assemblywoman and former Chula Vista mayor, Shirley Horton. Horton declined to speak on camera, but spoke with NBC 7 in a phone interview, saying there are smoke alarms on the property. I am certain smoke detectors were there and were working," Horton said. She called the fire horrible and very tragic. The De La Cruz family was notified of the investigators findings but has not yet commented on the case. The California Department of Consumer Affairs says landlords are required to provide working smoke detectors in all units. It is the tenants responsibility to notify the landlord when such security devices don't operate properly. The County Bomb and Arson Squad sergeant said the fire itself was not criminal, but the investigation is ongoing. A Long Island mother's note praising a flight attendant for the extraordinary care of her toddler son during one of his first plane trips is resonating online with thousands of grateful parents who have received similar attention when flying with their small children, a normally stressful experience by any measure. Heather Gooch posted a message to Southwest Airlines' Facebook page Tuesday hoping to locate the woman who "made my trip a little brighter" on the family's flight back from Florida. "Dear Southwest, I'm hoping you can share this post so that I can be sure that it finds its way to a very special Southwest flight attendant," the post reads. "All I know about her is that her name is Anisse... Anisse went above and beyond to make sure that the trip went as smoothly as possible. I have NEVER had a flight attendant as kind and as helpful as she was. "My son adored her and kept looking for her as she passed by," Gooch wrote. "At one point, she saw that he was looking for her and getting antsy so she came and picked him up and walked up and down the aisle with him while my husband and I ate our lunch." Gooch said the story may not be remarkable, but she wanted to thank Anisse and "let her know how appreciated she is." "We so often hear about the negative things going on so I wanted to share this story of a someone who made my trip a little brighter. Please help this get to her!" she wrote. Dear Southwest, I'm hoping you can share this post so that I can be sure that it finds its way to a very special... Posted by Heather Gooch on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); More than 310,000 people "liked" the post, which had been shared nearly 40,000 times by Wednesday evening. Gooch, a publishing project manager who works in Manhattan and lives in Levittown, told NBC 4 New York that she, her husband and their 9-month-old son Aiden had flown to Florida for their Christmas family vacation last week. Aiden slept on the flight over, but "on the way home, that was a different story." After she shared her experience on Facebook, Gooch said she was "overwhelmed by the responses and all of the help I received so that I could find this wonderful woman." The woman turned out to be Anissa Charles, located through emails and Facebook tagging from co-workers and friends and family. And Charles, once found, jumped into the rolling thread of praise and positivity. "Y'all are going to make me cry!!!" she wrote. "It was truly my pleasure and he made MY day!! I needed him more than he wanted me to hang out." [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More She added another comment: "I tell adults all the time on my flights, children are doing exactly what they are supposed to do....make noise! Think about it, the aircraft is completely boring to them (after takeoff) and there's nowhere to run! I would honestly rather hear them make noise and even cry than to hear an adult whine! They have soooooo much to talk about and mom and dad deserve a break!" Other fliers jumped in to share their own encounters with flight attendants who went above and beyond. One woman even commented to share her own experience with Charles, describing her as the "nicest flight attendant I have ever encountered... We had our 14-month-old son who was flying for the first time and 7-year-old daughter with us. You could have just sat in your seat and kept to yourself but instead oodled over our son and made it the best flight!" [[36387448, C]] Gooch told NBC 4, "I'm so happy that so many people were able to share their wonderful stories and recognize how amazing Anissa is. Good things are definitely coming her way! I sure hope Southwest does something special for her... the small things in life mean the most." [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More On the eve of Gov. Terry McAuliffe's trade mission to Cuba, an incoming state lawmaker whose family fled the island 50 years ago is appealing to the governor to meet with dissident Cubans. McAuliffe is scheduled to leave Sunday for Cuba in what is being cast as a marketing mission. Besides the governor and first lady Dorothy McAuliffe, cabinet and private sector officials are also set to travel on the mission. Shortly after the trip was announced, Delegate-elect Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach urged McAuliffe to meet with dissidents, who he said are harassed, beaten and imprisoned daily in Cuba. McAuliffe said he has arranged meetings with prospective customers and partners for 10 Virginia companies. The trade group is scheduled to be in Cuba through Wednesday. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed satisfaction with the recent lull in violence in eastern Ukraine, reads a statement posted on the website on the OSCE. "I am pleased that, based on the observations of the OSCE, the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding again for several days now and that no more serious incidents have occurred in the conflict zones," Steinmeier said. In his words, that gives hope that the conflicting parties will also tackle the other difficult steps that still need to be taken to fully implement the Minsk agreement, with a willingness to find constructive solutions which will help overcome the crisis and defuse the conflict in the long term. "I am determined not to relax our efforts to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv within the Normandy format and to now also use Germany's Chairmanship of the OSCE to this end," the minister said. Germany will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2016. A gunman opened fire in Tel Aviv Friday afternoon, killing two Israelis and wounding at least eight others. CCTV security footage shows the suspect first looking at produce at a health food shop, then pulling an assault rifle out of a bag, before firing at least 15 shots into the direction of a bar next door. "We're now examining CCTV footage... we're looking at a number of different angles obviously trying to break down and identify the individual," said Micky Rosenfeld, Israeli Police Foreign Press Spokesperson. Rosenfeld said police were scouring the city, chasing down leads searching for the suspect. "The Israeli National Police and different units are carrying out searches, both in apartment buildings as well as other construction sites, making sure that those areas specifically are shut down," he said. Alex Goldstein, a former spokesperson for former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, tweeted he was eating lunch a few blocks down from the attacks when the shooting happened. He told NECN he didn't hear or see the shooting, but saw ambulances and police responding to the scene, calling it heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Israeli police insist this attack came without warning. "it's important to emphasize that there was no specific intelligence whatsoever of a terrorist attack that was going to take place in Tel Aviv or any other major city across the country." Five residents were displaced on New Year's Eve when a 2-alarm fire broke out in Clinton, Massachusetts. Clinton Fire responded after a call came in alerting the department to the fire at 60 Laurel St. between 8:30 and 9 p.m. No one was injured in the fire, but it caused serious damage to the second and third floors of the building, as well as its roof. The American Red Cross assisted the displaced residents. The Massachusetts Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire. The mild December weather has put Maine ice fishermen on thin ice. January 1 should be the official start of ice fishing season in the state, but most Maine ponds and lakes have yet to freeze over. "It's probably going to be another two or three weeks of cold weather to make this ice safe to go on," said New Gloucester Fire Captain Scott Doyle. Registered Maine Guide Steve Vose said his New Year's Day tradition is ice fishing, but 2016 has to be the exception. "This year has been absolutely terrible," said Vose. "Ice conditions are extremely unsafe." The Maine Warden Service recommends ice be at least four inches thick before a person steps out onto the surface. When Vose tested the ice on Three Mile Pond in Vassalboro, Maine, he said it was barely an inch thick. "I would absolutely not have anybody going out on the ice at this point," he said. There have been at least two water rescues in two days due to falls through thin ice in Maine. On Wednesday, a dog fell through ice on a pond in Raymond. Several departments, including the New Gloucester Fire Department, participated in the rescue. "We would rather go out and attempt to save the dog, instead of the dog's owner or someone else trying," said Doyle. On Thursday, another dog fell through thin ice in Fryeburg. Someone watching attempted to save the dog, and got stranded himself. Secretary of North Korean Workers Party Kim Yang Gon Dies At 73 North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un offers his "deepest" condolences for the death of the country's secretary of ruling Workers' Party Kim Yang Gon who was responsible for the North's relations with South Korea, reported Korea Times on Thursday. Kim reportedly died in a car crash on Tuesday at the age of 73 just weeks after the inter-Korean talks that ended in December without any progress on both countries' endeavor to improve ties following the heightened military tension that resulted from the land mine blast on the demilitarized zone that injured two of South Korea's soldiers. North Korea's leader could not "suppress his inconsolable grief" for the late Workers' Party's secretary whom he described as his "dearest and most trustworthy comrade-in-arms." Advertisement The Korean Central News Agency of North Korea also acknowledged Kim for being "loyal to the party and the revolution with his firm belief in the justice of what he had done" in their report on Thursday. According to Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, a state funeral will be held on Thursday for Kim, which will be headed by North's leader The North reportedly listed members for the funeral committee, which included senior secretary of the ruling party and key aide to Kim Jong Un, Choe Ryong Hae. "He could hardly repress his bitter grief for a long while, his hnds put on the cold body of the revolutionary comrade," the KCNA described the secretary. "Kim Yang Gon was his faithful helper and close comrade-in-arms whom nobody can replace." Foul play has been considered by analysts in the death of Kim, pointing out the possibility of jealousy among his rivals in the political circle. North Korea did not release official details on the accident, where road network is not properly maintained and car ownership is not common. However, many officials have reportedly died in car accidents due to alcohol influence in the past years. "North Korea has a long track record of suspicious deaths around high-level officials," said North Korea expert Andrei Lankov. "Most die either because they are machine-gunned, or they die in car crashes. There are almost no cars and security for high-officials travelling in cars is extremely tight. Given that, one is bound to be skeptical about any such report coming from North Korea." Advertisement Advertisement Like us and Follow us Follow @Koreaportal and 2022 Korea Portal, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pei Jianqiang, one of China's most wanted economic fugutives, is escorted by policemen at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 1, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, Jan. 1 -- One of China's most-wanted fugitives suspected of bribery was brought home on Friday from the Republic of Guinea, following cooperation between the two countries' law enforcement departments. Pei Jianqiang, 48, former director of import and export department of China Enterprise International Cooperation Co., was suspected of bribery and fled in November, 2009. China launched a "Sky Net" campaign in April, 2015, with aims to bring back 100 suspects who were accused of economic crimes and have fled overseas. Pei was listed as the No. 10 suspect. Law enforcement officials from China and Guinea collaborated on the investigation, which confirmed that Pei was hiding out in Conakry, capital of Guinea, and running a bath center. Pei was arrested on Dec. 25 and sent back to Beijing Friday afternoon. In December, Huang Yurong, former Party chief of Henan Provincial Highway Administration and another fugitive on the list, surrendered herself to the police and returned from the United States where she had fled in 2002. Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Naked Body of Woman Found in Suitcase at Gurugram's Iffco Chowk; Cops Say She Was Strangled, May Have Been Raped (L-R) Kiku Sharda, Aamir Ali, Gopi Bhalla and Sandeep Anand, the team of 'F.I.R.' at the do. Say hello to 2016 and a slew of events occurring all over our area this winter. The Academy Center of the Arts kicks things off next weekend with its Dinner and a Movie series, this time highlighting the 80s classic The Breakfast Club. The Warehouse Theatre will be transformed to give attendees the high school experience complete with old-school cafeteria tables as local chef Scott Cardwell serves up breakfast-for-dinner foods (French toast! Smoked salmon! Chilaquiles!). Later in the month, the organization will play host to the Amherst County Habitat for Humanitys annual bluegrass benefit concert, as well as a performance by Stauntons American Shakespeare Center. Elsewhere, The Ellington Fellowship Playhouse takes up its new residence at Renaissance Theatre Company, bringing in local band Work Release on Jan. 22 and then Hoppie Vaughan & The Ministers of Soul Feb. 12; country band Old Dominion hits the stage at Phase 2, also on Jan. 22; and Endstation Theatre Company begins its 2016 season with an original play aimed at educating local kids about health and nutrition on Feb. 19. Read on for more details about those events, and more: Friday, Jan. 8 The Academy Center of the Arts Dinner and a Movie series continues with a showing of The Breakfast Club at 7 p.m. in the Warehouse Theatre. Local chef Anne Scott Cardwell, who owned Bull Branch, will be preparing breakfast for dinner food including French toast, smoked salmon, ham biscuits, chilaquiles and Shakshuka. Tickets are $35, including food, and there also will be a cash bar. Call (434) 528-3256 or visit www.academycenter.org. The multimedia exhibit Chorus, featuring the work of Tuo Wang, will open in Riverviews Artspaces Craddock Terry Gallery, with a First Friday reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. In his work, Wang attempts to examine the unreliable relationship between the contemporary human status, myth and the cultural archive. The reception also will include live music, a cash bar and studio open houses throughout the building. (434) 847-7277, www.riverviews.net. Friday, Jan. 15 Riverviews Artspaces monthly film series continues with the Oscar-nominated Selma at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. (434) 847-7277, www.riverviews.net. Saturday, Jan. 16 Amherst County Habitat for Humanitys annual benefit concert, Bluegrass: Working on a Building, is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Academy Center of the Arts Warehouse Theatre in downtown Lynchburg. Performers include The Deer Creek Boys, James River Cutups, Little Mountain Boys, Shakygrass and Deep Blue Express. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $10 for children 12 and younger. http://amhersthabitat.org,; www.academycenter.org. Sunday, Jan. 17 The American Shakespeare Centers production of Julius Caesar comes to the Academy Center of the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $18-$30. (434) 528-3256, www.academycenter.org. Monday, Jan 18 An opening reception for Lynchburg Colleges spring exhibitions will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Daura Gallery. Exhibits include Red: Color in 20th Century Works on Paper; Max Weber: Primitives, featuring the work of one of the first American Cubist painters and sculptors; Figure Studies, a collection of drawings, lithographs and engravings by artists such as Renoir, Rodin, Daura and more; and Marie Tiner: Figurative Sculpture. www.lynchburg.edu/daura-gallery. Thursday, Jan. 21 Jefferson Forest High Schools Cavalier Theatre will present As You Like It at 7:30 p.m., with more performances at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 24. www.cavaliertheatre.com. Friday, Jan. 22 The exhibit 125 from the Permanent Collection will open at 5 p.m. in The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College to coincide with the colleges 125th Founders Day anniversary. Running through August, the exhibition will include 125 pieces from the collection. www.maiermuseum.org. Up-and-coming country band Old Dominion whose breakout song, Break Up With Him, is currently all over country radio will perform at Phase 2, 4009 Murray Place, at 8 p.m., with opening act Seven Mile Ford. Tickets are $20. (434) 846-3206, www.phase2club.com. The Ellington Fellowship Playhouse will begin holding shows at Renaissance Theatre Company, 1022 Commerce St. First up is local band Work Release at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10. www.theellington.org. Musician Julianna Barwick, whose music is built around multiple loops and layers of her voice, will headline the Academy Center of the Arts Indie Music Series, set for 8 p.m. in the Warehouse Theatre. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. (434) 528-3256, www.academycenter.org. Saturday, Jan. 23 Masterworx Theatre presents Fame Jr. at 2 and 7 p.m. at Brookville High School, 100 Laxton Road. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. www.masterworxtheater.com Bedfords Little Town Players will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a musical revue, set for 8 p.m., with another performance at 2 p.m. Jan. 24. The show will consist of songs from musicals produced by the theater company over the past 40 years including South Pacific, My Fair Lady and Little Women: The Musical many sung by performers who originated the roles with LTP. (540) 586-5881, www.littletownplayers.com. Monday, Jan. 25 The exhibit Art for the People: Propaganda and Public Service opens in Sweet Briar Colleges Pannell Gallery and remains on view through April 29. www.sbc.edu/art-galleries. Friday, Jan. 29 Opera on the James and the Academy Center of the Arts are co-presenting Hansel & Gretel in the Warehouse Theatre at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 3 p.m. Jan. 30 and 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children. (434) 528-3397, www.operaonthejames.com. Heritage High Schools Pioneer Theater will present Ragtime, the Musical, with other performances Jan. 30 and 31 and Feb. 4-6. (434) 515-5400. Saturday, Jan. 30 Appomattox Courthouse Theatre, 331 Court St., will present Steel Magnolias at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 2 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 6, 12 and 13. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. www.appomattoxcourthousetheatre.org. Monday, Feb. 1 The documentary Frame By Frame will be shown in Randolph Colleges Martin Science Building at 6:30 p.m. The film follows four Afghan photojournalists as they navigate an emerging and dangerous media landscape reframing Afghanistan for the world, and for themselves. Co-filmmaker Mo Scarpelli will be talking about the project and answering questions following the screening. www.randolphcollege.edu. Tuesday, Feb. 2 E.C. Glass Theatre will present The Hollow A Dinner Theatre Event at 7:30 p.m. in conjunction with Glass culinary arts program. Other performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Based on Agatha Christies book, the play tells the story of an unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader [that] explodes into murder. Tickets range from $8 to $12. www.ecglasstheatre.org. Saturday, Feb. 6 Lynchburg Symphony Orchestras Viennese Gala will be held at Tresca on 8th at 7 p.m. The black tie-optional event includes dancing, desserts, local ballroom dancers and performances of romantic selections including Tchaikovskys Romeo & Juliet Overture and the waltzes of Johann Strauss II. Tickets are $75 per person in advance and $85 at the door; tables of 12 are $800 and tables of six are $400. (434) 846-6604, www.lynchburgsymphony.org. Thursday, Feb. 11 Randolph Colleges Wildcat Theatre will present its winter production, Jean Genets The Maids, at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-14. The absurd drama is based on the actual murder of a wealthy woman and her daughter by their two maids. (434) 947-8562, www.randolphcollege.edu/tickets. Friday, Feb. 12 The Ellington Fellowship Playhouses 2016 concert series continues with a performance by Hoppie Vaughan & The Ministers of Soul at 8 p.m. at Renaissance Theatre Company. Tickets are $15. www.theellington.org. Friday, Feb. 19 Endstation Theatre Company kicks off its 2016 season with the original play The Whole Bunch at 7 p.m. in Randolph Colleges Thoresen Theatre. It follows cowboy Sam Sarsaparilla and his sidekick, Horseradish, as they learn about healthy eating (other characters include Gary Garlic, Betty Broc and Russell Brussel). Other performances will be at 2 and 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 2 p.m. Feb. 21. The show also will tour local elementary schools with the goal of educating students about nutrition and improving health literacy. (434) 826-0391, www.endstationtheatre.org. Brigadoon will open in Liberty Universitys Tower Theater at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 26 and 27; 2 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27; and 3 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28. www.liberty.edu/theatre. Renaissance Theatre Company will present the Gone With the Wind spoof Ill Never Be Hungry Again, with more performances on select dates through March 5. (434) 845-4427, www.renaissancetheatrelynchburg.org. Thursday, Feb. 25 Cabaret opens in Lynchburg Colleges Dillard Theatre at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets range from $5-$15. (434) 544-8380, www.lynchburg.edu/theatre. Sweet Briar Colleges production of August: Osage County opens at 7:30 p.m., with other performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets range from $5-$10. (434) 381-6120, www.sbc.edu. Saturday, Feb. 27 Jefferson Choral Societys The Long and Winding Road Beatles 2.0 is set for 7:30 p.m. at Timberlake United Methodist Church, 21649 Timberlake Road, with another performance at 4 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students 12 and older. (434) 528-5700, www.jeffersonchoralsociety.org. Tuesday, March 1 The exhibit "Simply Justice and Fair Play: Civil Rights at Sweet Briar 1960-1964 will open in Sweet Briar Museums Whitley Gallery. www.sbc.edu. Thursday, March 3 The Academy Center of the Arts production of Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown opens, with more performances March 4-6 and 10-13. Tickets range from $12 to $26. (434) 528-3256, www.academycenter.org. Friday, March 4 246 The Main! presents Essie, Sing! at 7 p.m., with other performances at 2 and 7 p.m. March 5 and 7 p.m. March 11 and 12. The play, written by Donnalynn Davis, is based on the Biblical story of Esther but is staged on a southern plantation in 1850, highlighting the struggles of blacks in the deep South before emancipation. (434) 376-2461, www.246themaintheatre.com. Wednesday, March 16 The Randolph College Heritage Ensembles "Flavor in the Marrow is set for 7:30 p.m., with other performances on March 18 and 19. The program includes the music of Janet Jackson, James Brown, Jill Scott, Tramaine Hawkins and The Winans, and the prose of Maya Angelou, Mari Evans, Anne Spencer, Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King, Jr. Admission is free for Randolph students and $5 for general admission. www.randolphcollege.edu. Friday, March 18 Little Town Players On Golden Pond opens at 8 p.m. at English Meadows-Elks Home Campus, 931 Ashland Ave. in Bedford, with other performances at 8 p.m. March 19, 25 and 26 and 2 p.m. March 20 and 27. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. (540) 586-5881, www.littletownplayers.com. Saturday, March 19 A staged reading of Dwayne Yanceys play 57 Hours in the House of Culture, about the 2002 Moscow theater siege, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Sweet Briar Colleges Pannell Gallery. Admission is free. www.sbc.edu, dwayneyancey.com. JMMB celebrates Clients, media personnel and specially-invited guests were invited to mix and mingle with members and executives of the JMMB Group, with an open premium bar and hors douevres served alongside music from DJ Rene on December 10. The JMMB group is one of the leading financial groups in the Caribbean and offers a wide range of investment solutions, banking, remittances and insurance services in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic. US Military Really Didn't Want You to Know What's in New Washington Post Investigation (Newser) Authorities say the motive in the murders of Beverly and Gregory Giannonatti in Deer Lodge, Montana, was not, as many had speculated, a 25-pound bar of gold, the Washington Post reports. Instead, police say the 79-year-old mother and 57-year-old son were killed in October over 1,700 ounces of silver. Prosecutors have charged David Wayne Nelson with two counts of deliberate homicide, according to NBC Montana. Nelsona handyman with with a criminal record, per the Postwas working in the bathroom of a residence belonging to Beverly's deceased ex-husband. Gregory confronted Nelson with allegations that he stole the silver (valued at $26,000), according to the affidavit. Nelson tells police that Gregory hit him in the face, and then he hit Gregory several times with a hammer. Beverly entered the room and he threw her against the wall and ultimately strangled her with an electrical wire, he says. Afterward, per the affidavit, Nelson threw the hammer in a river, disposed of the bodies at remote sites, covering them with sticks and logs, and cleaned up the crime scene. He faces life in prison, according to the Post. "This idiot is toast," writes one commenter on a Facebook page set up after the Giannonattis disappeared. "God bless Bev and Greg," writes another. One friend tells the Post Beverly was a devout Catholic, well liked, and "very sweet." An ex-girlfriend of Gregory said the fact that mother and son died together "gives me a little peace of mind." Police zeroed in on Nelson after discovering that he sold the missing silver. As for the 25-pound bar of gold (worth $480,000): Supposedly a housekeeper discovered it in the house the Giannonattis later died in. However, if the bar of gold ever really existed, it has not been found, the Post reports. (Millions of dollars may be out there from this decades-old murder.) (Newser) A southern Illinois teenager has been missing since Monday and authorities are extremely worried by the last text message she sent to her family: "Help." The Monday evening message was the last time anybody heard from Delia Ann Stacey, 18, who left her home on foot that morning around 11, saying she was going to meet a friend, CBS News reports. Police say further efforts to contact the teen or locate the phone have been unsuccessful, and she has been added to the National Crime Information Center Database as a missing person, the Southern reports. In a Facebook post, the Herrin Police Department describes Stacey as a 5-foot-6 white female, about 130 pounds with auburn hair and brown eyes, who was last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans. Authorities have not said whether they suspect foul play in the teen's disappearance, notes the Huffington Post. The Tico Times, meanwhile, mentions the disappearance in the context of the record-breaking rain and subsequent flooding that recently deluged the region. (Read more Illinois stories.) (Newser) Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaeda detainees and a prominent Shiite cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is likely to deepen discontent and spark protests among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad, and another was from Egypt. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, the Interior Ministry statement said. Nearly all executions carried out in Saudi Arabia are by beheading with a sword. US-based Human Rights Watch criticized the executions. Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, said "regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia's troubling human rights record." She said al-Nimr was convicted in an "unfair" trial and that his execution "is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest." Before his arrest in 2012, al-Nimr had spoken out against the killing of protesters and other injustices. His nephew Ali, who was arrested when he was 17 is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed Saturday. (Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, and advertised for more executioners in May.) (Newser) The president of a US ally just tried to appear reasonable by pointing out the similarities between his proposal and Hitler's Germany, the Telegraph reports. It wasto say the leastsurprising. "Erdogan has to be the first politician to Godwin himself," one incredulous man tweets. Recep Tayyip Erdogan currently holds the largely ceremonial position of president in Turkey after a decade as prime minister, according to the New York Times. He's now attempting to give the office of president "sweeping executive powers," despite Turkey's unitary system of government. "There are already examples in the world, the Telegraph quotes Erdogan defending his proposal. You can see it when you look at Hitler's Germany. There are later examples in various other countries." In retrospect Erdogan should probably have used some of those "later examples," as critics have been decrying his move toward authoritarianism for some time now, the Times reports. "It's a rare instance of his honesty, showing how the strongman really feels," political science professor John Tures writes for the Huffington Post. Erdogan has been accused of arresting journalists and others who criticize him and justifying it by labeling them "terrorists." According to the Times, his behavior led one social-media user to quip, The difference is that Hitler was a bit shorter. Erdogan's office is now claiming his statement is being misinterpreted. It claims he was trying to illustrate what could happen if government is misused. (Read more Turkey stories.) (Newser) Nearly 200 Muslim workersmostly Somali immigrantswere fired by a Colorado meat-packing plant last month for walking off the job over claims their employer was preventing them from praying, USA Today reports. "Prayer is the first priority to every Muslim," a man assisting the fired employees says. "We can sustain without a job, but we cannot sustain without prayer." A spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations tells the Denver Post Muslim employees were told Dec. 18, "If you want to pray, go home." In response, approximately 190 Muslim employees refused to work Dec. 21. According to USA Today, most of those employees were fired Dec. 23. A company policy states if employees are out for three days without "calling in," they can be fired, KUSA reports. Cargill Meat Solutions has a special area for employees to pray during the day, but it can only be used if they have enough staff to cover for the praying employees, KUSA reports. "While reasonable efforts are made to accommodate employees, accommodation is not guaranteed every day and is dependent on a number of factors that can, and do, change from day to day," according to a Cargill statement. The company says that policy hasn't changed. "It's an unfortunate situation that may be based somewhere in a misunderstanding," a Cargill spokesperson tells the Post. CAIR claims Cargill's prayer policies are not always clearly communicated to employees. The meat-packing plant still has more than 400 Somali employees, and the company is working with them on the prayer issue. (Read more Colorado stories.) (Newser) The US teen diagnosed with "affluenza" will now be represented by a lawyer described as a "rock star." CBS DFW reports Mexican attorney Fernando Benitez will be representing Ethan Couch as he attempts to avoid deportation back to the US. Benitez is looking into whether Couch's human rights or due process were violated when he was detained in Mexico last week, according to Fox News. He says it could be months before Couch's return to the US is even a possibility. "He hasn't committed a crime in Mexico," Benitez tells WFAA. "Why would Mexico go along with this idea of locating someone and summarily kicking them out of the country so the marshals can grab him across the border? I don't think that's okay." Benitez says Couch's pastin which his family's wealth allowed him to avoid jail after killing four people while driving drunkis irrelevant, and that this is "an international law case only," Fox reports. The lawyer says the legal treatment Couch gets in the US "may not be up to Mexican constitutional standards." According to CBS, Benitez denies earlier reports Couch was in possession of a gun while in Mexico. Couch is currently being held in an immigration facility in Mexico City, WFAA reports. His mother was deported last Thursday. Benitez is well known for a previous case in which he got a former US Marine out of jail after the Marine "accidentally" entered Mexico with three guns. (Read more Ethan Couch stories.) (Newser) Two members of India's security forces and a civilian were killed Saturday when gunmen stormed the Pathankot air base near India's border with Pakistan, CNN reports. The New York Times and AP are stating at least four shooters have been killed, while CNN claims all five of the suspected militants are dead. The shootout on the base lasted for approximately 15 hours. According to the AP, India's security forces were able to keep the shooters away from areas containing helicopters and other military equipment. "I congratulate the nation's security forces for turning the intentions of our country's enemies into dust," India's Prime Minister Modi says. "They didn't let them succeed. And I salute the martyrdom of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives." Indian officials had been tipped to a possible attack, and security at the base had been increased in response, CNN reports. According to the AP, the shooters were spotted by aerial surveillance immediately upon entering the base near security force living quarters. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, many see it as an attempt to undo recent progress in relationships between India and Pakistan. The Times reports Modi met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif just over a week ago. It was the first meeting between the countries' leaders in a dozen years. India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants in the area in the past. Saturday's attack was condemned by Pakistan in a statement. (Read more India stories.) Al Shabaab, an affiliate group to al Qaeda, has included an excerpt of U.S. president hopeful, Donald Trump, in its latest 51-minute long recruitment video. In the video, a member of the Somali terrorist group discusses America's history of slavery and racism before warning everyone that the country will become "a land of religious discrimination and concentration camps." After 10 minutes in, the video goes to the clip of when Trump called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on." Trump made this statement after a radicalized couple shot and killed more than a dozen of people in San Bernardino, California. Prior to the shooting, Trump was already making controversial comments in regards to Muslims. He had wanted to increase surveillance at mosques and to create a database strictly for Muslims. Those earlier comments came after the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL, carried out shootings and bombings in Paris on Nov. 13. Those terror attacks killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. The use of Trump in a recruitment video comes weeks after Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, made a comment about how terrorists are already using Trump to their advantage. Clinton's claim was never proven. Clinton had said ISIS is "going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists." Trump has not commented about being included in a terrorist recruitment video. New Delhi: Suspected Pakistani terrorists on Saturday attacked an Air Force Base here in Punjab, triggering an encounter in which four attackers and three IAF personnel were killed. At least four to five militants, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, in army uniform launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the airbase, a top security official said. A group of militants attacked Air Force base at 3:30 AM this morning, a Defence spokesman said. Here are the LIVE UPDATES: For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The process of the much-delayed organizational elections in Congress could get a fillip after the return of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi from Europe next week amid indications that his much talked elevation could happen soon. On December 27, Rahul took to Twitter to announce that he will be travelling to Europe for a few days, the first time that he has gone public about a trip abroad. Sources in the party say that the Congress Vice President could be back any time after January 8 following which a meeting of Congress Working Committee may also happen. He (Rahul) is ready to take on the mantle. It is wrong to say that he does not want to become President. There is also no truth in suggestions that Gandhi may wait till the completion of assembly polls in Assam before he is elevated as Congress President, a party functionary said on the condition of anonymity. The leader felt that the elevation of Gandhi should be happening sooner than later but refused to attach a time line. Congress President Sonia Gandhi had responded by saying ask him when reporters queried her on Rahuls elevation as President in the party some days back at a Foundation Day function. Senior party leader Digvijay Singh had said a few months back that the grassroot Congress workers wanted the elevation to happen soon but the decision can be taken only by the Congress president. A section of leaders in party also believe that Rahul should have agreed for an elevation longtime back. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee in September last year decided to extend the deadline of the completion of partys internal polls for one more year till 2016. This led to a speculation that Rahuls elevation has been advanced for one more year. The party, however, later indicated that the Congress Vice President could be given the responsibility even earlier and the one year extension is only the upper limit for completing internal polls. Sonias latest term comes to an end in December this year. The organizational polls held after five years culminate in the election of the new party President. Sonia, who took over as Congress chief in May 1998, is already the longest serving president of the 129-year-old party. Rahul Gandhi became Vice President in the Organization in January 2013. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On the eve of New Year, Mangalyaan Indias Mars Mission sent a special message to Earth, which was accompanied by a New Year gift for earthlings. "Happy New Year. Dear earthlings! North Pole looks wicked cool here!" read the post from ISRO's Mars Orbiter. The Mars Orbiter sent a stunning, rare picture of the full disc of Mars along with the message. The picture was taken from 55,000 km, showing the frosty north pole of the Red planet. The New Year gift was loved so much that it garnered 2000 retweets and over 1200 likes. India's maiden mars orbiter Mangalyaan is located around 200 million km from Earth. Mars Orbiter made its last tweet in July, when it sent the "first snap after coming out of blackout". For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on Saturday and Sunday, an official statement said on Friday. He is visiting the state to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress, it said. Modi will arrive in Mysuru on Saturday afternoon and will visit an ashram in the city called the Avadhoota Datta Peetham, the statement said. Modi will also be present at the Centenary Celebrations of Jagadguru Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math. The PM will inaugurate the 103rd session of Indian Science Congress at the University of Mysore on Sunday and will also lay the foundation stone for a new helicopter manufacturing unit at Tumkur. The 21st International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its Applications, at Jigni will also be inaugurated by Modi on Sunday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India will give a befitting reply to any aggression from Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday in the backdrop of the terrorist attack on Air Force base in Pathankot. Any aggression towards us will receive a befitting reply from our side, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told ANI. Pakistan is our neighbour & we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response, he added. He louded the security forces for successfully tackling the attack and laying down four militants in a fierce gunbattle. I am happy that our forces gave a befitting response in Punjab, I am proud of them, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Time and again it has been seen that whenever dialogue between India and Pakistan starts scintillating, there comes a major backstabbing. This time terrorists have targeted Pathankot Air base but the real motive seems different. The attack on Pathankot Air base comes at a time when talks between India and Pakistan started getting on track. The ray of hope after Modi-Nawaz bonhomie, Sushma Swarajs visit to Pakistan, and the talks between NSAs in Thailand may see a scuppering now. Every time there is even a hint of any softening on the part of the elected government (as there was recently by repeated talks), the jihadis strike back, no doubt with the support of the Pakistani army and ISI. This attack once again reminds us of the dominance of Pakistans Deep State (the ISI and army and their jihadi adjuncts) which are the actual rulers of the country. This is why Pakistan will never offer us any concession. It has always been a habit of Pakistan and ISI to foil any bid of a cordial dialogue process between two nations. This is the second terror attack on India after last years Gurdaspur, in which Indian army caught a live terrorist Naveed who even admitted of being a Pakistan citizen. At that time, the pivotal NSA meet saw an avoidable calling off. The differences created at that time continued till the NSA meet between NSA Ajit Doval and his counterpart Sartaz Aziz. PM Narendra Modi in his last meeting has asked Nawaz Sharif that why cant we be like leaders in Europe? It seems that deep state has responded to PM Modi well. In European states, the centre of power lies at the hands elected government. Not like Pakistan, where the PM only has advisors (or precisely, consultants role) role in cross border operations. It remains a grim fact that border security, infiltration and terrorism will remain an indispensable part of any bilateral talks between Indian and Pakistan-and on these three fronts Paks elected government has no effective control. To prove their dominance, Pakistan Army and ISI will keep organising such attacks. Also, this attack tells us that a little has been learnt from Gurdaspur terror strike. It will be nothing but an imprudence by the part of Indian government if they believe that any talks will even move the stand of Pakistani army and ISI. This is the real testing time for PM Narendra Modi. If PM doesnt act befittingly, it will be perceived as a sign of weakness. But any impetuous action will also bear the risk of dumping all Modi has done in recent past to achieve an effective peace process with the neighbour. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) held a meeting with various Pakistan-based terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen to intensify attack in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, sources said on Saturday. According to sources, the ISI met the terror groups in December 2015. The report comes following the terror attack in Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday. Intelligence inputs had last week suggested that LeT was planning major attacks in India on New Year eve as it had formed a group of around 15-20 trained fighters. Reports had said that the terrorist group had already left Pakistan and could have already entered India and their intension could be to carry out an attack similar to the ones in Mumbai in 2008. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Tata Motors today reported 4 per cent decline in sales at 39,973 units for December compared to 41,734 vehicles in December 2014. Domestic sales of Tata Motors commercial and passenger vehicles declined by 6 per cent at 35,416 units during the month as against 37,776 units sold in December, 2014. Sales of passenger vehicles in the domestic market in December this year stood at 8,069 units as against 12,040 units in the same month previous year, down 33 per cent, Tata Motors said in a statement. As for passenger cars, the sales were 31 per cent lower at 6,900 units in December, as compared to 9,956 units in same period of 2014. Utility vehicle sales declined by 44 per cent during the last month to 1,169 units, compared to the year-ago period. In the commercial vehicles segment, the domestic sales stood at 27,347 units, up 6 per cent over December 2014, the company said. Exports during the month stood at 4,557 units as compared to 3,958 units in December 2014, up 15 per cent. Pathankot: Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on Saturday attempted to storm the Air Force base here, triggering a day-long gunbattle in which three securitymen and all the four infiltrators were killed, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise stopover in Lahore. With the obvious intention of destroying fighter jets and attack helicopters housed there, the group of terrorists in army fatigues attempted to storm the base which is barely 35 kms from the international border with Pakistan but failed to go beyond the outer periphery. In heavy exchange of fire, a commando and two other personnel of the IAF were killed along with all the five attackers. At least, six security men were also injured. I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in Pathankot Operation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted after about 16-hour-long operation. Home Ministry sources said Singh tweeted after receipt of information that the operation was over. The Prime Minister, who had taken a big political risk by going to Lahore, said in Mysuru that the attack was carried out by enemies of humanity who cant see India progress. He expressed pride in the security forces, saying they did not let the terrorists succeed. The attackers were believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan and there was speculation that they may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad headed Maulana Masood Azhar of the Kandahar hijack episode. Security personnel, which included commandos from NSG, Army and Air Force, appeared to be preparing for an extended operation as the night fell and resistance continued. The terrorists, who are said to have infiltrated three days ago, launched the first ever attack on an Indian Air base at around 3.30 am, their obvious targets being MiG-21 fighter aircraft and MI-25 attack helicopters. Rajnath Singh did not rule out the possibility of involvement of Pakistan-based JeM terror outfit in the attack. The case will be probed by the NIA but the possibility of JeM being behind the attack cannot be ruled out, he said. In the wake of the attack, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar cut short his stay in Goa and returned to Delhi where he held a high level meeting which was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and three Service chiefs. Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled, IAF said in a statement after the meeting. The terrorists could not go beyond the langar (eating place) near the outer perimeter of the IAF complex as the security forces were ready to take them on, officials said about the operation which was supervised directly by Doval. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kozhikode: On New Year's Day, activists of Hanuman Sena and members of a cultural organisation clashed when the latter gathered for their Kiss Street programme. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the clashing groups and booked the volunteers of the organisation under different sections of the Indian Penal Code. The clash occurred when the sena members protested against the 10-member group, including women, of Njattuvela Samskarika Pravarthaka Sangam who assembled near the Central Library to hold the programme in protest of the facism and intolerance. The members of the cultural organisation also announced that they would live together without marriage. None was injured in the clash, police said, adding cases under IPC section 160 (punishment for affray) had been registered against 16 Hanuman Sena activists and three volunteers of the sangam, including two women, booked under 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty). The organisers said the Kiss Street had no connection with the Kiss of Love movement against moral policing conducted last year. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 2 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) hasn't changed the foreign currency structure of its investment portfolio for 2016. On Dec.29, the president of Azerbaijan issued a decree on the approval of main directions (of the program) of using SOFAZ funds for 2016. Thus, 50 percent of assets may be placed in US dollars, 35 percent - in euros, five percent - in British pounds, and the remaining 10 percent - in other currencies. Some 35.9 percent of the total investment portfolio of SOFAZ is concentrated in euro (over 11 billion euros), five percent - in British pounds (1.13 billion pounds), 1.5 percent - in Japanese yen (63.95 billion yen), 1.4 percent - in Chinese yuan (3.04 billion yuan), one percent - in Turkish lira, 0.5 percent - in Australian dollars, 1.4 percent - in Russian rubles, 1.2 percent - in Korean won, 1.1 percent - in other foreign currencies. The remainder of the portfolio (3.2 percent, or $1.1 million) is concentrated in gold. SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million. As of October 1, 2015, SOFAZ assets reduced by 6.38 percent compared to early 2015 ($37.1 billion) and were estimated at $34.74 billion. Based on SOFAZ's regulations, its funds may be used for the construction and reconstruction of strategically important infrastructure facilities, as well as solving important national problems. The main goals of the State Oil Fund include: accumulation of resources and the placement of the fund's assets abroad in order to minimize the negative affect on the economy, the prevention of "Dutch disease" to some extent, promotion of resource accumulation for future generations and support of current social and economic processes in Azerbaijan. Lahore: A Pakistani court today refused to entertain a petition against Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit, saying there was no urgency to hear it during winter vacations. The petition challenging Modis visit has been rejected by the Office of the Registrar of the Lahore High Court, a court official told PTI. Advocate Azhar Saddique today filed the petition in the Lahore High Court stating that Modi along with his delegation visited Pakistan without any official permission as most of the members of the delegation travelling with him stayed at the airport premises without visa. The Indian Premier along some members of his delegation on December 25 went to Jati Umra where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs Raiwind residence is situated near here. The court rejected the petition saying that there was no urgency and that it cannot be entertained during the vacations. Sadique said he would file the petition after the vacations. Modi sprang a surprise with a 150-minute visit to Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and held talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the larger good of the people of the two countries. Modi made the stopover here on his way back home after a day-long unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he went following a two-day trip to Russia last month. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 2 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) will be keeping more than $100 million to support the liquidity of its funds at a level sufficient for the timely and complete ensuring of cash and other transfers scheduled in connection with the fund's expenditures in 2016, as it was in 2015. On Dec.29, the president of Azerbaijan issued a decree on the approval of main directions (of the program) of using SOFAZ funds for 2016. SOFAZ will be keeping these funds in short-term highly liquid money market instruments. This amount may be reduced below the level of $100 million only for the period of up to seven days. In accordance with the program for 2016, the oil fund may transfer up to 60 percent of the total value of its investment portfolio to foreign managers, as it was in 2015. At the same time, one foreign manager can receive no more than five percent of investment portfolio. The volume of portfolio transferred to the Treasury Department of the World Bank (WB) within the framework of RAMP (Reserve assets management programme) shouldn't exceed $500 million. The projected total value (average weighed volume) of the investment portfolio of SOFAZ for 2016 was set at 51.3 billion manats. For 2015, the forecast was formed at the level of 28.2 billion manats, for 2014 - 27 billion manats, for 2013 - 25.2 billion manats, for 2012 - 23 billion manats. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov The federal government will pay for disabled veterans now residing in assisted-living facilities, under a bill passed by Congress in December. But the measure doesnt cover veterans who may move to such places in the future. Disabled veterans living at retirement homes, including those at Seacrest Retirement Center in West Haven, HighVue Manor in Hamden, and Mattatuck Health Care in Waterbury, were told in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that coverage of their housing was a mistake and would end. The coverage began in 2010. U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro obtained extensions for the Connecticut veterans who sought her help and she proposed the language in the bill approved that ensured their coverage would continue. Residential care facilities affected by the legislation serve veterans who cant live independently, but dont need the skilled nursing care of nursing homes. The facilities generally provide services such as, housing, food, housekeeping and supervision of medicines. The bill approved states that ending equitable relief for veterans who were deemed eligible for benefits in error would place an unfair burden on veterans and their families. It also notes that the VA is working to implement new systems and protocols to eliminate instances of administrative error. Lewis Bower, owner of Seacrest, said that the 2013 notice affected 23 of his residents. As a result, he said, they got scared and 17 moved out, some to nursing homes. The six who stayed received extensions of their VA contracts with the help of DeLauro, a New Haven Democrat. Some said they would have been homeless otherwise. After serving our nation, no veteran should ever have to worry about not receiving care, especially in retirement when additional health issues may arise, DeLauro said. Forcing these veterans to lose their benefits because of an error that was not their fault would have been wrong, and in some cases, may not have been in the best interest of their mental or physical well-being, she said. Bower expressed gratitude for the approved bill. We at Seacrest are forever indebted to the veterans that have served our country, and we are privileged to provide them care. DeLauro has introduced the Veterans Residential Care Choice Act that would allow the VA to pay for eligible veterans who move to assisted-living facilities. She said she would continue to push for its passage. The measure is co-sponsored by Connecticuts four other House members: Reps. Joseph Courtney, Elizabeth Esty, James Himes, and John Larson. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org). Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 2 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan expects Russia in 2016 to grant rights for subsoil use regarding the "Central" field, according to previous agreements, Kazakh ministry of energy told Trend. The "Central" field is located within the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea, but its development must be conducted with the participation of Kazakh partners. Reserves of the field are estimated at 169.1 million tons of equivalent fuel. The term of the exploration license expired in 2009. The companies couldn't obtain a new license, as Russian law forbade the work of private entities on the shelf. In October 2015, the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan signed a protocol allowing Russian government to issue a license for the geologic exploration and production of oil and gas on the "Central" field. After obtaining the rights for subsoil use, Kazakhstan plans to carry out design and survey work and assess the damage inflicted to aquatic bioresources from engineering research on this field. It is planned to continue consideration of feasibility study of the field development and agree conditions of production sharing agreement (PSA) regarding the "Khvalynsk" project in 2016, the ministry said. Also in 2016 it is planned to continue discussing these projects with the Russian side, according to the ministry. "Khvalynsk" oil and gas condensate field is located in the northern part of the Caspian Sea and should be developed under the PSA. The reserves of the field are 322 billion cubic meters, 18.398 million tons of condensate, 241.897 million tons of oil. Kyrgyzstan in 2016 will continue the negotiation process to resolve the border line issue with the neighboring countries, primarily Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, CA-News Central Asian news service reported with reference to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev. Abdyldaev made the remarks at a meeting with the media outlets. He said that in comparison with 2014, in 2015, taking into account efforts of the government, the chances for conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek border have decreased. Although some conflicts exist, they are local in nature, the minister said. "We must create conditions for residents in remote areas, so that they wouldn't face conflict situations in their daily life," he said. The Federal Government has cautioned Gabon and other ECOWAS member states not to dump deportees from their countries in Nigeria. Interi... The Federal Government has cautioned Gabon and other ECOWAS member states not to dump deportees from their countries in Nigeria.Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who gave the warning on Thursday in Calabar during the evacuation of 617 people including women and children deported from Gabon to Calabar, warned that the federal government would impound any vessel used in dumping deportees in Nigerian seaports.Represented by Mrs. Funke Adeuyi, the Comptroller of Immigration, Cross River Command, Dambazzau said that the affected people were dumped at Calabar port since Dec. 26, 2015.He said that other punitive measures including seizure of vessels and payment of fines as stipulated in the ECOWAS charter would be employed to stop the anomaly.He said: Nigeria will no more tolerate this because of security implications of such actions.This should be the last time this category of the deportees will be allowed to transit through the Nigerian land borders or ports.Any country that brings this category of deportees to Nigeria will face the relevant penalty ranging from impounding of their vessels.Nigeria has a new policy on this type of issue and I am here to reiterate that severe action will be taken by Nigerian government should this continue.Most of these people were deported for immigration related offense, he said.Responding on behalf of ambassadors of countries whose nationals were among the deportees, Babacar Mbodi, the Consul General, Republic of Senegal, commended the Nigerian government for safe-keeping of the deportees.He said that arrangements had been concluded to take the deportees to their respective countries through Seme, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic.He assured that Senegal would comply with the new federal governments policy.The deportees are from Gabon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Niger, Mali, Chad and Guinea. (NAN) Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Nigerians, particularly the people of Ogun state, to take the challenges of the current economic slow ... Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Nigerians, particularly the people of Ogun state, to take the challenges of the current economic slow down buffetting the country as stepping stones to greatness.Amosun charged Nigerians to gird their loins and prepare for the challenges ahead, adding that with collective prayer, sense of purpose and dogged determination, Ogun state and Nigeria would be lifted to the league of developed economies.The Governor who made this known in his New Year broadcast on Friday, said preparedness for the challenges ahead is imperative to ensure that nobody is caught unaware of the present economic slow-down.According to him, the only way to continue to be good partners in progress is for every citizen to play his or her own part through cooperation with government and payment of necessary taxes and levies.Amosun also noted that the current economic climate neither exempt Ogun from the imperative of financial sustainability as a state nor his administrations responsibility to create wealth and employment for the citizenry, particularly the youths.He said that the administration is working diligently to increase the states Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) so that it can be self sustaining and reduce over-reliance on the federal allocation.Amosun added: No doubt, in the just ended year, the nation and States witnessed significant economic slow-down which expectedly took its toll on the States of the federation such that many States could not meet up with the primary purpose of governance and payment of salaries for their various workforce.We have cause to thank God that the same year brought us an exceptional change, especially at the Federal level where we now have a new Government in place.It is worthwhile to say that while the State is directly affected by the challenge of reduced fund allocation from the centre, our Government has been striving not to disappoint the good people of Ogun State, as we have ensured regular payment of salaries as well as continued with our developmental projects.For our Civil Servants to have a fun-filled yuletide celebration we have not only paid December Salary before the Christmas celebrations, we equally paid ten (10) percent of their salary as bonus. We cannot but thank the good people of Ogun State for the support given to us that contributed to the immense achievements recorded during the first term of our Administration. You all are indeed good partners in progress and this is continually evident in this first year of our second term.Truly, the first year of our second term is very important to us as a Government as it will dictate and set the tone for our second term which to us is indeed a period of optimisation.Towards this end, the task of rebuilding our dear State and repositioning our workforce as the best in the country remains sacrosanct. It is as a result of these genuine people-oriented projects and developmental strides that our State has soared to a higher pedestal making it the envy of many and the pride of her citizens, both at home and in the Diaspora. Even, the most ardent of our critics have come to the conclusion that Ogun State is now carving a niche for itself among the comity of States.I enjoin us all to continue to gird our loins and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead. As a State, we must ensure that we are not caught unaware of the present economic slow-down, knowing fully well that challenges like these are veritable tools to be used as stepping stones for greatness.With our collective prayer, sense of purpose and dogged determination, we will no doubt lift our State to the league of developed economies. Needless to say that the only way to continue to be good partners in progress is for every citizen to play his or her own part through cooperation with government and payment of necessary taxes and levies.This begins from doing the right things and at the right time. Dear people of Ogun State let me assure you all that this New Year will bring us greater development.This means we must be further prepared, more than ever before. As trustees of your mandate, you can be rest assured of our unreserved commitment and unalloyed dedication to the successful accomplishment of the Mission to Rebuild Ogun Statte.We will no doubt leave no stone unturned in improving the lives of our people. As you all know, the New Year brings us into another milestone as our dear State turns 40, come 3rd February, 2016. It is imperative to thank God because truly, we are not the same as we were at inception 40years ago. In the same vein, we cannot but be grateful to our founding fathers, and particularly those that served before us whose efforts contributed to the development of the State and improvement in the lives of our people.We have not reached the Promised Land and for us as Government, we will remain resolute and unwavering in our Mission to Rebuild Ogun State and consolidate on our present achievements. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sympathised with President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ov... The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sympathised with President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over their inability to accept, with equanimity, constructive criticisms of their administration.In a statement on Saturday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said it was unfortunate that the APC and its leaders, who gleefully and unjustifiably poured invectives on former President Goodluck Jonathan in the guise of playing the role of an opposition party, would now not want to condone criticisms.Unlike the APC that denigrated the office and person of former President Jonathan by wrongly depicting him as clueless and incompetent, the PDP remains the most decent, mature and constructive opposition party in our democracy and we have evidenced great respect for the person and exalted office of President Muhammadu Buhari.During the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, while in the saddle as interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, in a post on his twitter page, described President Jonathan as lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless and useless leader. Other APC leaders made raining abuses on Jonathan a past time.The PDP is a very responsible opposition party; our leaders are mature; and we have demonstrated so in our critique of the Presidents responses during the maiden Presidential Media Chat. We have reviewed President Buharis performance and concluded that it was uninspiringThe entire world listened to President Buhari during the chat and went away with different impressions. We did and came up with the theme of our initial reaction that portrayed him very appropriately as a tyrant. And for purpose of clarity, a tyrant is a ruler who has complete power over a country and who uses the power in a cruel and unfair way, which was why we recommended the suspension of the operation of the constitution so he can rule for the next four years as a maximum ruler.In its reaction, his party National Chairman, John Oyegun magisterially and dictatorially warned that we (APC) may not condone such anymore. Our position in the PDP is that we are in trouble as a nation. All we hear from the APC regarding our freedom is we wont tolerate, we wont condone. Are these words used by democrats or tyrants?So, the PDP too is being warned and coerced on what to say as opposition party. The PDP must be commended for the civil, responsible, mature, issue-based opposition it has played. The nation knows how the APC rained insults on former President Jonathan and that the PDP, during that time, never used words like it would not condoneSome have even criticised the PDP style of opposition as being too civil considering the tyranny we are facing. That is why Chief John Oyegun could term a dictionary word-tyrant- as insulting. Nigerians do not need the PDP or anyone else to make them decide if President Buharis APC government fits the definition of a tyrant.The real trait of the President was unraveled during the media chat. He has repeatedly shown his scorn for the Legislature, an independent arm of government while sanctioning security agencies disrespect for court orders and the impunity of continuous incarceration of people who have been granted bails by the courts.Also from his responses, the President has even pronounced a guilty verdict on Col Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra even before the hearings by the courts. Sadly, even the international community has noted this brazen scorn and disdain for the independence of the judiciary.Furthermore, how do we describe a President who openly denigrated an entire race as he did in the media chat when he suggested that the Igbos were insatiable with the appointments his government has so far given to them? Indeed, the timing and the tenor of the Presidents comment, given the security and political situation in the land, remain worrisome, especially at a time a nerve-soothing statement from the father of the nation could have reassured the agitators of the need for peace and unity in the nation.Besides, it is sad and embarrassing that President Buharis anti-corruption crusade has now been reduced to a war between the APC and the PDP as declared by the Office of his spokespersons. Since they have confirmed that this is what the anti-corruption crusade is all about, the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the PDP so that it can push through Buharis second tenure in 2019 without opposition from the PDP.This has also confirmed our concern that this is the reason the Federal Government is persecuting, and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north.The PDP is conversant with the sinister plan by the APC-led Federal Government to completely decimate our party by raking up all manner of allegations of corruption against the Goodluck Jonathan administration and leaders of the PDP with a view to taking them to court on orchestrated charges.Finally we are aware that President Buhari has directed security agencies to be more vicious in dealing with our members and has continued to subtly coerce the Judiciary to convict those being charged to court. But what gives us joy is that President Buhari is not God and we will not worship him. Saudi Arabia has executed 47 terrorists, according to the interior ministry, including Faris al-Zahrani, an al-Qaeda-preacher, and Nimr... Saudi Arabia has executed 47 terrorists, according to the interior ministry, including Faris al-Zahrani, an al-Qaeda-preacher, and Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia leader.In a press statement read out on state TV on Saturday, the Saudi ministry listed the names of all those it said were already convicted on charges of terrorism.The death sentence given to Nimr al-Nimr, who led anti-government protests in the countrys east, was confirmed by the Supreme Court in October.He was convicted of sedition, disobedience and bearing arms. Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but said he never carried weapons or called for violence.The execution prompted calls for demonstrations in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province and in other countries of the Middle East, but the brother of Nimr called for calm in Eastern Province.This action will spark anger of [Shia] youths in Saudi Arabia, but we reject violence and clashing with authorities, said Mohammed al-Nimr.Many of the other men executed had been linked to attacks in the kingdom between 2003 and 2006, blamed on al-Qaeda.Among them was al-Qaeda preacher al-Zahani, once considered one of Saudi Arabias most-wanted terrorists.He was detained in 2004 while allegedly in possession of weapons.An Egyptian citizen and a Chadian citizen were also among the executed, the ministry said. The rest were all Saudis.Notably absent from the list, was Nimrs nephew, Ali. He was arrested at the age of 17.Hussain al-Shobokshi, a prominent Saudi columnist, told Al Jazeera that Saudi authorities did not differentiate between Shia source of terror and Sunni source of terror.[Saudi Arabia] made sure it saw no difference between any form of terror, as long as it was threatening its people and its economy, he said.The interior ministry said that those convicted had participated in attacks against residential compounds and government buildings.Bombings of compounds in Riyadh in May 2003 killed more than 30 people.The following year there were 30 attacks, which led to a government crackdown on al-Qaeda and other homegrown fighters.Nimr had called for the oil-rich Eastern Province, where about two million Shia live, to be separated from the rest of Saudi Arabia.He also criticised the government for what he said was the marginalisation of the Shia minority in the country.The announcement of the executions comes just days after Amnesty International said that Saudi Arabia executed at least 151 people in 2015, the most beheadings in 20 years.Khalid al-Dakhil, a Saudi political commentator based in Riyadh, challenged the integrity of the rights organisations report, saying it failed to mention Irans execution record.Iran executes far more people a year than Saudi Arabia, but it does not get the negative publicity Saudi Arabia has. This is something that must be addressed, Dakhil told Al Jazeera. By Sani Adamu, The politics of pull-him-down is on display at a trade fair craftily packaged to cast a dent on the good name and image... By Sani Adamu,The politics of pull-him-down is on display at a trade fair craftily packaged to cast a dent on the good name and image of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nigerias Minister of Information and Culture.If there is any doubt that Mohammed, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been pencilled down for an orchestrated campaign of calumny, recent events and the plethora of uncharitable and unwarranted attacks on his person by those who see him as a thorn in their flesh have obliterated all those doubts.Mohammed, for the avoidance of doubt, is one of the very few Nigerians who meticulously and creditably performed what has variously been described as pure magic by presenting the then opposition party, APC, as a credible alternative to the then ruling party, PDP. Today, the APC is the governing party, and the PDP has not and probably will never forgive him.The fact that the achievements of the man are still been talked about with relish and nostalgia is a testimony to his great feat that helped to decimate the PDP.But pray, how can it be a crime that Mohammed played a pivotal role in changing the nature of politics and information management system in Nigeria?Even in his new role as the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammeds exploits have not gone unnoticed. Realizing that one of the keys to successful democratic governance is to ensure effective and sustainable communication between the government and its citizens, the Minister started off by holding a series of consultations and interactive meetings with stakeholders in the information sector, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Radio and Television Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) and civil society organisations.It is also remarkable that unlike the norm in this clime, the Minister has directed government-controlled media not to deny the opposition the opportunity to be heard. This is impressive, considering what some of these media establishments did to his party in its days in opposition.Despite the daily attacks on the person of Mohammed, the good news is that Nigerians are so discerning that no one can deceive them. Much as they attempted to demonise the man before and during the last general elections, Nigerians sided with him by rewarding his party with their votes, which in turn propelled the party to power.That explains why, despite the packaged and unrelenting media attacks against him, Mohammeds hard-earned reputation remains rock solid, especially as he has also availed himself creditably in his new role as the countrys image maker.It will, therefore, do the anti-Lai Mohammed drum beaters and their pay masters a lot of good if they could quickly realise the nullity of their actions and retrace their steps for good.Thousands of empty sponsored write-ups would not suffice against an innocent man whose only offence is that he is part of a team that is assiduously working to lay the foundation of the rebirth of a new Nigeria.Their latest past time is to blame Lai for rallying support for the military in the war against insurgency, yet it is on record that this military, which has been given a new lease of life by President Muhammadu Buhari, has successfully degraded the capacity of the Boko Haram insurgents to take over any part of the nations territory as against what was witnessed during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.Also, it is common knowledge that the insurgents, who at one time controlled territories in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, have now been dislodged from their strongholds and sent fleeing.Those who still believe in Nigeria and the ability of the present government to overcome the huge challenges facing the nation must not cede the space to the naysayers. They must tackle them the same way they did in the run-up to the elections that gave the APC victory. They must join hands with the Minister of Information and Culture to continuously work to bridge the information gap between the government and the citizenry, in the overall interest of the corporate existence of the country.Adamu is resident in Abuja. -- Authorities were investigating threats made against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and city facilities, the mayor's spokeswoman said Saturday. "The City of Newark is temporarily continuing holiday security precautions in and around City Hall because of a threat to city facilities and the life of the Mayor," Press Secretary Marjorie Harris said in a statement. Baraka discovered two threatening letters this weekend at his mother's home, Harris said. The letters were dated in October. Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said the prosecutor's office was supporting Newark police in the probe. He declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 2 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: Ashgabat will host the first World Conference on Sustainable Transport in late 2016 under the auspices of the United Nations, said the message of the Turkmen government. The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railways, car and rail bridges across the Amu Darya River, airports in Ashgabat and provinces, expressways, Turkmenbashi International Seaport, as well as other objects that have already been commissioned and are currently being built in Turkmenistan are intended to become important links of the international network of transport communications, the message said. The possibilities of creating a modal highway to Central Asia with access to Turkey are discussed in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan is also ready to act as an active partner and participant in the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) program. In addition, Turkmenistan initiated the project of a new "Central Asia-Middle East" transport corridor (Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman). According to experts, Turkmenistan can become the biggest international transport and transit center, contributing to the effective development of interstate relations on the whole Eurasian continent with the possibility of efficient use of all modes of transport - rail, air, sea and road transport. The UN General Assembly has recently adopted the resolution on development of transit transport corridors proposed by Turkmenistan, which creates a basis for cooperation between all modes of transport on building continuous chains of freight transportation along the interregional transport corridors. WOODBURY -- Gloucester County officials plan to expand opportunities for residents to attain an affordable college education in 2016, as well as launch a new initiative to improve public safety and continue help for small business operators. Freeholder Director Bob Damminger speaks during a 2015 event. (Stephanie Maksin | South Jersey Times) Freeholder Director Bob Damminger, who remains director for 2016, outlined previous accomplishments and described some of what's in store for the new year. Damminger pointed to recent successes, including a partnership between the county college and Rowan University, the county's regionalized emergency response system, which handles more than 18,000 calls a year with a response time of less than 6 minutes, and a small business loan program that has helped create and retain jobs in the county. "What we do for our residents and our taxpayers often serves as a model for other counties," Damminger said. "Gloucester County is always one step ahead in providing good government." What can we expect in 2016: Free college if you work for it Following a partnership that allows students to save thousands in tuition by attending Rowan College at Gloucester County for two years before heading to Rowan University, the county wants to take the program a step further by creating the Gloucester County Internship Scholarship program. Under the program, which is slated to launch in September 2016, 20 Gloucester County residents will be able to attend RCGC free of charge. In return for two years of free education -- that includes tuition and fees -- the students must work several hours a week in select county department that align with their fields of study. Those departments include public health, engineering, economic development, social services and public safety. "It's not only two years tuition free, but two years of work experience," Damminger noted. "That's something to put on the resume." Small business gets a fresh boost Of the 11,431 businesses in Gloucester County, 10,582 are classified as small businesses, having no more than 50 employees. The county plans to provide more than $200,000 in small business loans to these businesses in 2016. The county has operated such a program since 2011 and partners with the Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation. On the subject of business in general, Damminger pointed to the county's efforts to attract and keep business. "In the last year, through business attraction and retention efforts, the county has facilitated the relocation of 15 new companies, creating 1,500 new permanent jobs, over 1,200 construction jobs, and retained 1,500 jobs and seen over $260 million in capital investment," Damminger stated. Also on the business front, the Port of Paulsboro is expected to see its first ships in 2016. The site is expected to produce a few thousands jobs and Damminger commented on the huge turnout of applicants looking for work at a port job fair held earlier this month. "It was both heartening to see that many people out there, but also disheartening that so many people are unemployed or underemployed," he said. Can you hear me now? Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger is administered the oath of office by Senate President Steve Sweeney during the Gloucester County freeholder board's reorganization meeting on Jan. 1. Damminger's daughter, Kimberly, holds the Bible as his wife, Debbie, stands to his right. Damminger was re-elected to the freeholder board last November along with Giuseppe 'Joe' Chila and Jim Jefferson. Carmel Morina was also sworn in as sheriff for another term. (Submitted photo) The county will launch its new 700 MHz emergency communications system by mid-2016, Damminger announced. The $13.9 million project replaces a 500 MHz system that had become a liability. With the advent of digital TV broadcasts, public safety agencies in South Jersey began experiencing interference on the 500 MHz band. In some cases, police officers out on calls could not communicate with dispatchers. "We were sending people into situations where radios would fail," Damminger said. The new system consists of nine simulcast sites around the county that include microwave dishes, antennas, shelters for equipment and backup generators. These sites will receive and transmit radio signals across the county's 329 square miles. More than 3,000 radios, including mobile units for vehicles and handhelds, will be distributed to first responders around the county, including police, fire and EMS. Following completion of testing and training, the system will go live. "We are in the testing phase, which has been going extremely well," Damminger reported. Storm leaves lessons Freeholder Jim Jefferson takes the Oath of Office on Jan. 1. He is joined by his wife, Anne, his mother, Nancy Jefferson, grandfather, Charles Harker, and his children, Isaiah, Eva and Victoria as Senate President Steve Sweeney administers the oath of office. (Submitted photo) The severe macroburst storm that pounded Gloucester County on June 23 left extensive destruction in its wake and tested emergency responders and utility operators. While first responders received much praise for their efforts, utility companies were criticized for a slow response in restoring power to thousands in South Jersey. Even though Damminger was pleased with how county responders tackled various roles, including tree removal and establishing shelters and comfort stations, there are always lessons to learn, he said. "I am extremely proud of the leadership the county showed for our citizens," he said. "We learned and assessed where the weaknesses are and have been working ever since to improve our response plans." The county freeholder board held its 330th reorganization session on Friday evening. Sworn in to new terms on the board were Damminger and Joe Chila, who were both re-elected in November. Jim Jefferson, who was appointed in 2015 to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Adam Taliaferro, was sworn in to serve a two-year term following his election. The freeholder board remains 7-0 Democrat. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. A 25-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning after police say he collided with a cop car, sending the police vehicle onto its side and the cop to the hospital. The driver, Kenneth T. Shaw, of Old Bergen Road, was driving west on Second Street in a red Hyundai Elantra when he collided with the officer, who was headed west on Erie Street, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill. Shaw was charged with driving under the influence, Morrill said. The officer was taken to Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health, where he was treated for injuries and released. Shaw refused medical attention, while his two passengers were taken to CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital, according to Morrill. The officer is recovering, Morrill said. A man and woman from North Carolina were arrested outside the Holland Tunnel Wednesday night after they were caught with counterfeit merchandise, police said. Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority Police Department, said police stopped a 2013 Hyundai sedan that was driving erratically on 12th Street in Jersey City at 7 p.m. When the driver rolled down his window during the traffic stop, the officer spotted two large plastic bags containing what appeared to be designer handbags and backpacks inside the car, Pentangelo said. There was also a black plastic bag on the floor with counterfeit Michael Kors watches, as well as a paper bag containing various counterfeit designer belts, Pentangelo added. The driver told that he and his passenger -- a woman -- owned a store and sold the items. An investigation showed that the driver's license had been suspended and they were arrested, Pentangelo said. Police charged Royal J. Moore, 32, and Kendra C. Cherry, 24, both of Durham, N.C., with possession of counterfeit goods. Moore was additionally charged with driving with a suspended license and cited for traffic violations, Pentangelo said. HAMILTON -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., returned to his former hometown on Friday to swear in Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede for her first full term. "It is an honor for all of Hamilton Township for you to be here and leave a mark not only in Hamilton Township ... but for the entire country to see what has come from this great town," Yaede said. Yaede promised to continue to lay a firm foundation for future generations and encouraged young people to dream big about what their life could be like. "Realize that everyone has the opportunity in the greatest country, but you have to earn it and you have to work for it and nothing will come easy," she said. "I stand before you as the first female mayor and it didn't come easy. "There are no limitations to your success if, each and every day, we all do our best," she continued, pointing to herself and Alito as examples of that. Yaede, a 47-year-old Republican, was first appointed mayor in December 2012 following the resignation of John Bencivengo. She easily won a two-year term the following year to become the first female elected mayor and in November won a second term, defeating Democratic challenger Amy Inman, 59 to 40 percent. "I will never lose sight that my No. 1 job is to serve the residents of Hamilton Township," the mayor said. Yaede said having Alito swear her in was a historic moment. Alito, though born in Trenton, grew up in Hamilton and attended Steinert High School before graduating from Princeton University. He took his seat on the Supreme Court in January 2006. PLUS: Alito: The life and times of a justice in the making "I will always regard Hamilton Township as my home," he said during brief remarks. "I was speaking with Mayor Yaede, talking about opportunities and about hard work and about having dreams and I know those are things that are very important to her and I do think they characterize the best of Hamilton Township." Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, which also included the swearing-in of Republican council members Ralph Mastrangelo and Ileana Schirmer. Mastrangelo was a 26-year-veteran of the Hamilton police department where he served primarily as "Officer Friendly," a familiar face in the school district who oversaw and taught the D.A.R.E. programs. He was nominated after Councilman Kevin Meara pulled his re-election bid. "I'm not a traditional politician and I don't intend to be one," he said. "Working hard every day to do what's best for our township is not a left or a right goal -- it's just the right thing to do." He said he looked forward to advancing an open and transparent government, increasing economic opportunities and stabilizing taxes. "I'm ready to get to work," he said. Schirmer, like Yaede, was elected to her first full term in November. The Cuban-born businesswoman replaced the mayor on council in 2012 before being elected the following year to fill Yaede's unexpired term. Schirmer, the township's first elected Hispanic official, said she has been working a lot with the Hispanic community and would continue to be a voice for them. Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook. TRENTON - A woman was hospitalized Saturday morning after her boyfriend allegedly stabbed her multiple times during an argument, police said. Police were called to the Kingsbury towers at 11:30 a.m. Saturday for a reported stabbing. Once there they found a 49-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds, Lt. Stephen Varn said. ALSO: 3 men arrested with 38 bricks of heroin The woman was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton where she was being treated for the wounds Saturday afternoon. Varn said her injuries were not life threatening. He said the incident started Saturday morning when the woman and her boyfriend got into an argument. Police believe the boyfriend grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his girlfriend before fleeing the scene, Varn said. Police officers took a person into custody, although they had not charged anyone with the assault as of Saturday afternoon. Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook. SPRING LAKE -- A rookie off-duty Port Authority police officer killed when his car smashed into a guard rail on the New Jersey Turnpike was mourned Saturday as a young man who was "a force of good" in a world that he viewed with hope and optimism. St. Catharine's R.C. Church in Spring Lake was filled with hundreds of people who paid their last respects to Officer Eamonn Mautone, who family and friends described as a prankster who also served as a role model. Mautone, 25, joined the Port Authority Police Department in August 2014 and was assigned to the World Trade Center Freedom Tower in New York City, a post he was proud to hold, said the Rev. Harold Cullen, who presided over the funeral. Authorities have not ruled out rainy conditions as contributing to his car accident in East Brunswick. "When he found the family of the Port Authority Police Department, he felt he was home. He just love being part of that family, a... force which is now so deeply revered in the lives and the hearts of everybody in this country since 9/11," Cullen said to the crowd, which included an overflow of police officers watching the mass in the church basement. Thirty-seven Port Authority police officers died in the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. Among the attendees were Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Port Authority Public Safety Superintendent Michael Fedorko, Chief Security Officer Thomas Belfiore, Deputy Public Safety Superintendent Edward Cetnar and Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mautone's parents, Edmond and Bridget Mautone, were presented with an American flag that flew over the World Trade Center on New Year's Eve, two days after their oldest child's death. His brothers Brendan and Sean Mautone struggled through a liturgical reading and often hugged and consoled each other during the 90-minute mass. "I can't get over how this young lad has touched the lives and hearts of so many people," said Cullen, who knows the Mautone family through their membership in the Ocean County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Mautone, who lived in Jackson for nearly all his life, played bagpipes since he was 12. Cullen reminded mourners about Mautone's "warm smile and embrace, his unflappable sense of optimism and cheerfulness." "Eamonn always loved and enjoyed whatever he was doing. He just exuded it." That's the same mentality he took to his new job with the Port Authority, Cullen said. "There's only one thing that can make a real difference to all of us who are left behind," Cullen said. "And that is the faith that we share together." That faith, Cullen said, it that while death is an ending in one respect, it's the beginning of a "glorious and happy" new chapter for Mautone. The Pipes and Drums corps escorted the funeral procession of vehicles to and from St. Catharine's . And more than 100 Port Authority police officers lined the road beside the church and stood at attention as the hearse carrying Mautone's casket passed by. He left the mourners with a suggestion on how to go on with their lives. "Think about what Eamonn might say to you if he could talk to you today from where he is now," Cullen said. "I know he would say 'wherever you are in life, live life to the fullest. Hold on to the people in your life who love you and who you love. Don't settle for what's comfortable and easy. Stretch your physical and your spiritual horizons.'" MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook. -- The annual Mummers Parade New Year's Day was not all fun and revelry, reports say. The parade was briefly interrupted by a protest and two people were arrested, according to 6abc.com. The demonstrators, including members of Black Lives Matter and the Coalition for REAL Justice, were protesting issues including police brutality, the public school funding crisis, minimum wage and military action in the Middle East at the Friday Center City event. Taken into custody was a man, 45, who was charged with disorderly conduct and a woman, 34, who was charged with disrupting a procession. They were part of about 50 demonstrators, reports said. In all, police say the protest lasted about two hours. The parade, which organizers took steps to make more diverse this year, was also , according to NBC10. com. One Mummer was caught on video along the parade route making slurs against gays, the report said. A gay man claimed he was attacked by costumed men who strayed from the Broad Street parade route after they used gay slurs against him and he confronted them. Also during the parade members of one comic group one donned brown face for their theme, "Siesta Fiesta," according to NBC10. com. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find troopers_puerto_rican_flag_bw.jpg State troopers caught waving a Puerto Rican flag in a photograph along with evidence from a Camden drug bust received 20-day suspensions. (File photo) TRENTON -- Five state troopers who celebrated a Camden drug bust by waving a Puerto Rican flag in front of a camera were given 20-day suspensions after the photos became public, documents show. The discipline, disclosed for the first time in a recent State Police report, came five years after the 2009 photos were taken. Meanwhile, another trooper claims he was wrongly blamed for leaking the images and remains suspended without pay. The photos, which were obtained by The Star-Ledger in 2012, show a haul of drug paraphernalia, money and guns on a table -- the apparent proceeds of a State Police investigation in the city, where nearly half the residents are hispanic. In one photo, a trooper gives the thumbs up sign while holding the flag. In the other, he is joined by four other troopers in the celebration. At the time, prominent Latino leaders in New Jersey called for an investigation, noting that the State Police had struggled in the past to recruit hispanic members and until 2009 had been under federal monitoring for racial profiling. The incident resurfaced earlier last year in a lawsuit in which a Puerto Rican trooper, Kenneth Franco, alleged he had been targeted in a series of bogus internal investigations, including one into the leak of the flag photos. The five 20-day suspensions were disclosed in the most recent annual report of the State Police Office of Professional Standards, an internal watchdog created after the federal oversight was lifted. The report provided summaries of "major discipline" for violations including insubordination, making false reports and on-duty substance abuse. This photo apparently depicts a New Jersey State Police trooper holding a Puerto Rican flag after a 2009 drug and weapons bust in Camden. State Police said they are investigating this and other photos. The report, released at the end of 2015, also contained four entries that stated a member of the force "pled guilty to acting to the discredit of the Division in an official capacity by appearing in a photograph with another enlisted member who as holding a national flag in front of a table displaying narcotics and weapons seized during a criminal investigation." A fifth entry referred to the trooper who waved the flag. It continued: "The flag was neither evidence nor part of the criminal investigation and there was no justifiable or legitimate reason to display the flag in the photograph." The report did not identify the troopers by name. When asked about the incident, Capt. Stephen Jones, a State Police spokesman, said the division "takes very seriously any incidents of misconduct that damage our public reputation and negatively impact our relationship with the community that we work so hard to build." He declined to identify the troopers, calling the incident an internal personnel matter. But the flag-waving trooper was identified by the Attorney General's Office in a recent court filing as Kenneth Sirakides. Angel Cordero, a Camden activist and ally of Gov. Chris Christie who complained to the governor's office about the photos when they became public, said he was satisfied with the punishment. "I didn't want them to lose their jobs," Cordero said. "I just wanted them to know that what they did was wrong. We take our flag very seriously. Just like we love the American flag, we love the Puerto Rican flag." But Cordero took issue with the fact that after State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes pledged a full report on the investigation into the photos, he learned about the suspensions from a reporter. He also said State Police investigators who questioned him about the source of the photos wrongly blamed Franco, whom he had never met, for the leak. In court papers, Franco claims he became a target after Sirakides accused him of having an affair with his estranged wife, Georgina, who is also a trooper. Franco and Georgina Sirakides earlier last year filed an explosive lawsuit in state and federal court claiming they've been suspended without pay from the State Police for several years because of bogus allegations made about their behavior during a 2011 prostitution sting in Atlantic City, where the two were working on a vice detail. They claimed Kenneth Sirakides and other troopers harassed them and made false allegations of impropriety stemming from Georgina Sirakides' undercover work, in which she posed as a prostitute. That suit, first reported by MyCentralJersey.com and later Fox 29 in Philadelphia, is currently stalled pending an administrative review. Their attorney, David Azotea, balked when informed of the punishment given to the five troopers in the Camden photos. "They get a slap on the wrist with a 20-day suspension, and my clients are in this indefinite exile because they want to clear their names," he said. The report that disclosed the punishment also noted a 10 percent increase in the number of complaints filed against state troopers between 2013 and 2014. Jones, the State Police spokesman, noted that while the overall number of complaints had gone up, the number of substantiated complaints -- those found to have merit and result in discipline -- had declined. He also said more complaints were being generated internally, suggesting the division was being more vigilant about correcting misconduct in-house. The OPS logged a total 720 complaints against the division in 2014, as well as 600 compliments from members of the public, the report said. Read the full report here: S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The right to bear arms -- in a US assembly Gun advocates in Delaware have filed suit saying state law which forbids weapons in Delaware state parks unless they are being used for hunting is unconstitutional, a report says. (File Photo) A suit has been filed by a group of gun advocates challenging Delaware's rule that weapons are not permitted in state parks unless they are being used for hunting, a report says. The action, filed in Chancery Court, claims the regulations violate the state Constitution, according to Delwareonline.com. Current state park and state forest restrictions apply to all guns not used for hunting. Several sport shooting groups are plaintiffs named in the complaint, according to the report. There is no provision in Delaware law for those who have a permit to carry concealed weapons to be able to carry them in parks or forests, those involved in the suit say. Deputy Environmental Secretary Kara Coats wrote in an email: "We intend ... to file a motion asking the court to dismiss the litigation. We believe that the approach the Department has taken is a balanced one and has proven historically that it is in the best interest of all users of public lands. We allow appropriate firearms and archery equipment during seasons for those using these lands for recreational hunting, but do not believe it is appropriate to allow deadly weapons that are not associated with hunting in Delaware state parks," according to Delawareonline.com In his filing, attorney Francis G.X. Pileggi noted that concealed weapons are allowed in national parks, the report said. Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 2 By Fatih Karimov- Trend: For the first time in the past five years Iran received money for petrochemical export via a European bank, Mehdi Sharifi Niknafs, executive director of the Iranian Petrochemical Commercial Company said. However, petrochemical-related sanctions have been removed already after reaching an interim nuclear deal in November 2013 but Iran's petrochemical exports was facing problems due to banking system sanctions. Sharifi Niknafs said that after a long and time-consuming procedure, the company received the money for petrochemical exports in its bank account in Spain, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Jan. 2. It became possible after the Iranian Petrochemical Commercial Company opened an account in a Spanish bank last July and signed an Escrow Account Agreement with the bank, he said. The official further said that payment restriction for exported petrochemical goods to various countries is fully removed thanks to the agreement and the official authorizations issued by the government and the central bank of Spain. Iran's petrochemical output hit 44.4 million tons in the past Iranian fiscal year (ended on March 20, 2015), 10 percent more year-on-year. The country's actual production capacity is around 60 million tons, but the shortage of natural gas as feedstock, old production units, and the problem of sanctions, which has dropped exports, have caused petrochemical complexes to work at lower capacities. Iranian petrochemical plants use 37 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, while Iran could deliver only 2.8 million tons of ethane to plants during last year. The country planned to increase this volume to 4.2 million tons this year. The Islamic Republic hopes to realize an output of 120 million tons of petrochemicals by 2020 and 180 million tons by 2025. WASHINGTON (AP) The House Jan. 6 committee plans to unveil "surprising" details at its next public hearing about the 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. The session Thursday afternoon is likely to be the last public hearing before midterm elections next month. The panel is expected to include new evidence from the U.S. Secret Service about its actions with Donald Trump that day. Ahead of a report later this year, the panel is summing up its findings. The committee says Trump, after he lost the 2020 presidential election, launched an unprecedented attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory. They say the result was the deadly mob siege of the Capitol. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 2 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Domestic capabilities are going to be used in electrifying the railroad from Garmsar to Incheh Boroun, CEO of Iran's railways Mohsen Pourseyyed Aghaei said. He added that Iranian and Russian sides have held a number of meetings to discuss the project, IRIB news agency reported December 30. The official added that Iran cannot accept to have all the electrification equipment from Russia. He reiterated that the Russian company which is going to carry out the project has been told to buy equipment from Iran. Iran usually demands European companies willing to work on projects in the country to provide 30 percent of needed equipment from inside Iran. The Incheh Rorun railroad will create additional routes linking Kazakhstan, the central regions of Russia and Turkmenistan, Iran, Gulf countries, South and Southeast Asia, and will increase transit freight and passenger traffic, reduce transport costs, save time for travel and boost the economic growth in the regions through which the railway will run. A trilateral intergovernmental agreement was signed in 2007 between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran on the Zhanaozen-Gyzylgaya-Bereket-Etrek -Gorgan railway line with subsequent access to the Russian railway network, which will shorten the route by 600 kilometers. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. There were some big stories that captured readers' attention in 2015. Some of those stories happened in Sudbury, some didn't, but all had readers clicking, reading, commenting and debating. Let's get to it. 1. There were some big stories that captured readers' attention in 2015. Some of those stories happened in Sudbury, some didn't, but all had readers clicking, reading, commenting and debating. Let's get to it.The sight of a bear being shot and killed within city limits was all too common in Sudbury this year, as a failing berry crop forced the animals wander into town in search of food. And seeing a large black bear casually walking up residential streets at night almost became routine. To mitigate the problem in the future, city representatives on an ad hoc bear committee convinced city council to pass a new rule requiring residents to put out their garbage in the morning, rather than the night before.News in August hit people who rely on the bus for out-of-town travel hard. Because of declining ridership, Greyhound cut daily trips by half in September, from 28 to 14 on most routes. Among the cuts was the daily 1 a.m bus from Toronto to Sudbury, although the 12:15 p.m. bus kept operating. Gone, too, was the daytime buses to Ottawa, with the only option remaining being the one that leaves at 12:30 a.m. The daily 1 p.m. bus to Toronto was being cut.They say a year is an eternity in politics, and Greater Sudbury voters proved that adage true in 2015. At this time last year, the New Democrats dominated Sudbury-area ridings, holding both seats in Sudbury and Nickel Belt. But the February byelection saw Glenn Thibeault take Sudbury for the provincial New Democrats, after NDP Joe Cimino resigned in November 2014. And the October federal election brought in two more Liberals: Paul Lefebvre in Sudbury and Marc Serre in Nickel Belt. That leaves MPP France Gelinas as the NDP's last sitting representative in this part of Northeastern Ontario.Gerry Lougheed Jr., a prominent fundraiser and funeral home director in Greater Sudbury, faced criminal charges in September for his alleged involvement in the Sudbury byelection scandal earlier this year. Lougheed was charged with one count of Counselling an Offence Not Committed [Section 464 (a) of the Criminal Code] and one count of Unlawfully Influencing or Negotiating Appointments [Section 125 (b) of the Criminal Code]. His next court appearance is in January.While no one has officially confirmed it, it appears Sudbury's OPP helicopter has flown south and is unlikely to return. The force decided in late April to centralize the helicopter in Orillia, where the OPP's other helicopter is located, a move expected save the force about $254,000 a year. But critics pointed out Orillia is in the snowbelt, and the Sudbury chopper was often called out when the other was snowed in. A review is being done of the decision, but the helicopter left town in summer during the Pan Am Games and has not returned.Nine years and more than three billion miles later, NASA scored a stunning success in July when detailed images of the solar system's most distant (dwarf) planet arrived on Earth. Peter Marshall, vice-president of the Sudbury Astronomy Club, said it's something that star gazers have been anticipating for years. The planet was discovered in 1930 by U.S. astronomer Clyde Tombaugh , but has been little more than a fuzzy blip in the sky even through the lens of the Hubble Telescope. While it's tough to grasp just how amazing a feat this is, Marshall likes the analogy NASA used this week. Someone said yesterday it's like hitting a hole-in-one when you're driving the ball from New York and it's landing in Los Angeles, Marshall said. That's the kind of distance we're talking about, and the accuracy has been phenomenal.When he left in December 2013, Greater Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner was honoured by several in the community for his innovative approach to policing and for being at the forefront of the evolution of policing. Almost exactly two years later, and Elsner is clinging to his job as chief constable of the Victoria Police Department. Inappropriate messages to the wife of a subordinate an accusations of harassment led the RCMP to step in and lead an investigation of Elsner's behaviour. He has since stepped aside as the allegations against him are investigated.Greater Sudbury's sluggish economy continued to shed jobs in 2015, with the city's unemployment rate climbing to 8.2 per cent, two points higher than in 2014. Low commodity prices and a sluggish building industry contributed to the drain on jobs last year. While employment in Sudbury declined, the picture provincially was a little brighter. StatsCan said Ontario employment was also little changed in November, with the unemployment rate at 6.9 per cent.Two families fleeing war and violence in the Middle East could be resettled in Sudbury as early as February, with at least two more families following them in the near future. As the newly elected federal government made major commitments to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada as quickly as possible, four groups in Sudbury were working to bring four families here. The first two includes one family of seven who fled Iraq when ISIS swept through the region, killing residents and destroying homes. Another family, also of seven, were forced to flee Syria when they were singled out for supporting pro-democracy protests. The family business was destroyed and women and children were being kidnapped.A last-minute attempt by Greater Sudbury Utilities to buy local assets from Hydro One failed over Hydro's asking price, it was revealed in December. The provincial Liberal government went ahead with a partial privatization in October, raising billions. While Hydro One offered to sell the assets, Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti, who sits on the GSU's board of directors, said the offer was roughly triple the value of the asset, a signal that Hydro One wasn't serious. The offer came after an August meeting with Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli during the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting. With Hydro One now partially privatized, uniting local customers under one utility will be much more complicated.The Amazing Race came to Greater Sudbury to film an episode this year, shooting in May and broadcast in August. It turned out to be the show's highest-rated episode of the whole season, and even featured former Sudburian Alex Trebek greeting the racers at the finish line in front of the Big Nickel. Northern Life gained exclusive access to the filming in May, and our video of behind-the-scenes action can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJfkGQAXn8IAnd finally, Canada's happiest people live in Sudbury! At least according to a Statistics Canada survey released in April, 2015. Vancouverites have the lowest life satisfaction in the country, while residents of Saguenay, Que., have the highest. Sudbury reported the highest percentage of people rating their life satisfaction as nine or 10 out of 10 on the "How's Life in the City," a report on life satisfaction in cities across the country that was released by Statistics Canada. City hall provides an endless parade of news over the course of the year. We've compiled the most popular stories we've coverd in one handy list. Enjoy! 1. City hall provides an endless parade of news over the course of the year. We've compiled the most popular stories we've coverd in one handy list. Enjoy!The taps went dry for more than 1,500 homes across Greater Sudbury in February and March as a cold snap wreaked havoc with aging underground water infrastructure.The frozen and broken pipes were caused by weeks of extremely cold temperatures, sending frost deep into the ground. The city was overwhelmed by the demand for thawing pipes, meaning some homes were left without water for more than a week. It wasn't until April that everything was back to normal, and the addressing the problems cost more than $1 million.Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger, the city's former auditor general, could be facing an audit of his election finances. Under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, all candidates must follow specific election campaign finance rules and file financial statements with the city clerk detailing their campaign finance activities. Failure to do so can result in penalties ranging from a fine up to $25,000, removal from office or imprisonment. The request for an audit alleges Bigger violated six sections of the Municipal Elections Act. The mayor has hired a lawyer and has declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations.In late November, 16 groups pitched projects in front of city council, ranging from ideas that have been discussed for years a new main library and art gallery to proposals that were presented publicly for the first time. They included two plans to replace downtown Sudbury Arena, with one group hoping to build a $60 million events centre on The Kingsway, while another called for a $70 million centre in the city's South End. The proposals led to some wrangling at city council in December, with some on council pushing for a study on building downtown. A report on the proposal is expected in the spring.It was an up-and-down year for former Greater Sudbury CAO Doug Nadorozny, who was let go in April following a controversial tenure as the city's top bureaucrat. Nadorozny was general manager of growth and development when the Sudbury Transit ticket scandal took place. In that case, a contractor responsible for selling bus tickets failed to turn over the revenue to the city, costing the city about $500,000. He was let go in mid-April for undisclosed reasons, but it was announced in December he is the new CAO for the Town of Aurora near Toronto.The city introduced new Auditor General Ron Foster at a ceremony Nov. 30. Foster was an internal auditor with KPMG for five years before becoming auditor general in Oshawa from 2006-2013, when that city closed the office following a controversial report by Foster about a land deal. While he was AG, he became acquainted with Mayor Brian Bigger, who was Sudbury's auditor at the time. Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo, who chaired the hiring committee, said there was an exhaustive search before they settled on Foster. He has a five-year contract with the city.It took a new city council and repeated attempts, but Greater Sudbury city council finally agreed to reform the health community initiative funds in December. The funds allocated $50,000 a year for each of the city's 12 wards for local projects. They became controversial several years ago when councillors decided to give themselves authority to decide who gets the money. After failing to agree in the spring with some voting to keep the policies status quo they agreed in December to return control to staff. The issue was not on the agenda the night it passed, and the vote was a surprise move at the very end of the meeting and was supported unanimously.It was a tumultuous year for anyone holding the chief administrative officer's position in Greater Sudbury. After firing CAO Doug Nadorozny in April, city council let go his replacement, interim CAO Bob Johnston, who had engineered a massive turnaround as CEO of the Greater Sudbury Airport. In speaking with reporters in November, Johnston revealed what he described as the most toxic work environment he had ever witnessed. He pointed in particular to the daily stream of negativity towards staff coming from the mayor's office.Greater Sudbury staff managed to find the $6 million needed to pay for the 2015 budget freeze, it was revealed in November. The freeze was a major component of Mayor Brian Bigger's successful election campaign in October 2014. Bigger promised to find the money to pay for the freeze without cutting services or laying off staff. He largely kept those promises, achieving most of the savings through attrition. However two people were laid off, although they were expected to be able to bump into other jobs at the city. And there were some service cuts, such as changing the definition of a senior from 55 to 65.Days after announcing that a forensic audit of the transit ticket scandal was never completed because of lack of co-operation by city staff, Mayor Brian Bigger said he's taken steps to find out who's responsible. Consultants were hired to investigate why the forensic audit wasn't properly pursued and to look at how the scandal developed in the first place. The city is still out $500,000 as a result of a contractor who sold bus tickets for the city not remitting sales revenue. The report is expected early in the New Year. Foreign Ministry Director General for political and security affairs Hamid Baeedinejad said on Saturday that supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran's nuclear program had been envisaged by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, IRNA reported. He said that IAEA supervision is in conformity with the Safeguards Agreement of the UN nuclear agency and the additional protocol to Non-Proliferation Treaty. He made the remarks on the sidelines of unveiling his new book titled; 'Step by step with JCPOA'. Concerning remarks made by IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano that there is no confidence in Iran, Baeeidinejad said that his statement has been quoted mistakenly, because he had said that the agency work is not based on confidence in the member states. He said that the agency is to verify activities of the member countries and about Iran is also to verify its work and report its outcome to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Mr. Yukiya Amano said that duty of the agency is verification of activities and it does not act upon report of countries. Concerning recent approval of the US Congress, the Iranian senior diplomat said that there are differences between breaching JCPOA or hostile policies of the US against Iran. If Iran reach conclusion that the US acts are breach of the JCPOA will do reciprocal acts. He rebuked the US Congress for including Iran in the visa waiver program and said that Iranian government protested to the US Administration and Mr. Kerry promised to act in accordance with JCPOA. About beginning date of JCPOA implementation, the diplomat said that there is no rush for implementation of the JCPOA and that there are primary steps, which should be taken by Iran and the other side also has measures to do to reach the implementation day. He said that implementation of JCPOA will begin sometimes late January. After months of planning, the Civility Counts curriculum is ready to roll. Starting this month, we will be in two 9th grade "advisory" classes at Lighthouse Academy's high school in Gary. First, I have to thank the incredibly smart and dedicated school leaders that have taken the time to meet with me and grow this program into something that actually resembles a school curriculum. Northwest Indiana is blessed with educators that want so much for the students they work 7 days a week without breaks. We met on weekends, after work, whenever they had a second to spare. The fruits of that effort I am incredibly excited about. Through those meetings, the curriculum has been divided into three sections, civility with self, civility with others and civility as a leader. I am so excited to see how the students react to this program. It's done in a way that I am very proud of. One of the very smart teachers had a great point that I didn't even think of. We want to be clear about what we are about in regard to the students. Civility is about treating each other with respect, but that in no way means that you don't stand up for what's right. We will focus on great leaders who showed civility and were able to get things changed because of it. This is an opportunity to help students understand their own emotions. Why do we feel anger and fear? How can we control it by recognizing it? How can we ensure success by dealing with those emotions. Stay tuned! The U.S. Department of Commerce grabbed big headlines when it slapped China with tariffs of as much as 227 percent on cold-rolled steel and 255.8 percent on corrosion-resistant steel over the last few weeks. But though many in the industry say China is at the root of the current import crisis, analysts and steelmakers have questioned whether the tariffs against other countries are high enough to offer much relief. Corrosion-resistant steel from India faces much more modest tariffs of 6.64 percent to 6.92 percent, according to the preliminary Department of Commerce ruling. Italian steelmakers are looking at duties of up to 3.11 percent, while Korean steel companies will get tariffs that range from 2.99 percent to 3.51 percent. Taiwan escaped anti-dumping duties for corrosion-resistant steel altogether, while Korea only received bare minimum tariffs of 0.18 percent to 0.61 percent. Cold-rolled steel tariffs are 4.45 percent on India, 6.33 percent on Russia and 7.42 percent on Brazil. Steel industry analyst Charles Bradford said the tariffs might not make that much of a difference. "There's this whole idea that the industry is going to be the beneficiary of these trade cases," Bradford said. "The Chinese ruling (on cold-rolled steel) was a crock. They got hit with big tariffs after they stopped shipping coil two years ago." During its economic boom, China had been producing a historically unprecedented 800 million tons of steel a year, or more than eight times as much as the United States. But China's economy eventually slowed, leaving it with an estimated 400 million to 500 million tons of overcapacity. Steelmakers across the globe fault China for dumping the excess steel, which triggers a domino effect that leads other countries to dump their excess steel in the United States. AK Steel, which filed trade cases along with ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steel, said tariffs aren't high enough against other countries that are dumping steel on American shores. "We are disappointed that the preliminary dumping margins for India, Italy, South Korea, and Taiwan were not higher as they do not appear to adequately address the dumping that we believe is occurring in the U.S. market," AK Steel President and Chief Executive Officer James Wainscott said. The tariffs are already being imposed by the U.S. Customs Department, but analysts have said other countries could still afford to send imports in. The flow of imports, however, does appear to be slowing. Net steel imports fell by 23 percent in November and trail 2014 by 11 percent, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Cheap imports have inflicted damage on U.S. steelmakers by taking away volume and also suppressing prices to the point where it's difficult to turn a profit. But domestic steelmakers have been raising prices, and the price hikes finally seem to be sticking, Bradford said. "Hot-rolled was up by $10 and it was sticking," he said. "But a little turn doesn't mean a trend." Indianapolis new mayor officially takes oath of office INDIANAPOLIS Joe Hogsett has been sworn in as the mayor of Indianapolis. A ceremony took place Friday at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. More than two dozen City-County Councilors were also sworn in. The ceremony was bipartisan, which is a change from past years. Hogsett, a Democrat, says education, community policing and neighborhood development are among his top priorities. He was elected in November over Republican candidate Chuck Brewer, a restaurant owner and first-time political candidate. Hogsett replaces Greg Ballard, a two term mayor who didn't seek re-election. The Republican ended eight years as mayor during a period where Indianapolis hosted the 2012 Super Bowl and struggled with violent crime. Ballard's last day was Thursday. The Indianapolis Star reports one of his last acts as mayor was to officiate a same-sex marriage ceremony. Indiana man convicted in 2004 slaying seeks early release MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) A central Indiana man serving a 40-year sentence for killing a man he said sexually molested him and his late brother as children is seeking early release from prison, saying he's turned his life around behind bars. Jeremiah D. Brown, 33, and his attorney urged a Delaware Circuit Court judge in Muncie this week to modify his sentence to allow him to leave prison. Testimony indicated Brown has earned two college degrees while incarcerated, participated in numerous training and counseling programs and counseled other young offenders. "I'd like to say I'm not the young troubled individual I was once," Brown told Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. "I believe the person I am today has a lot more to offer." Brown pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in March 2005 and was sentenced to 40 years for fatally stabbing 54-year-old James Seldomridge in the victim's apartment, The Star Press reported (http://tspne.ws/1RQtRHK ). During his trial, Brown said Seldomridge was his father's longtime drinking buddy and that he had molested him and his brother as children. Brown was 21 when he killed Seldomridge in March 2004, about a week after Brown's 18-year-old brother took his own life. Brown testified that his brother's death had sent him into a rage. He told the judge at Tuesday's hearing that he's "very sorry and ashamed" for having caused Seldomridge's death. "Have you forgiven him?" Cannon asked Brown. "Yes," Brown said, quietly, after a few seconds. Brown's attorney, Don Dunnuck, said the criminal justice system had affected his client "in a positive way." Chief Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun, who participated in Brown's 2005 prosecution, said the defendant "should be proud of what you accomplished." "Not everyone takes advantage of these programs," she added. The judge told Brown his list of accomplishments while in prison was likely "the most impressive" he had seen from an inmate seeking a sentence reduction. "I think you've made me a believer," he said. "Don't make me regret it." However, Cannon said he would not take formal action in the case until he determines whether Brown could be placed on electronic home detention in Marion County, where the inmate intends to live with his aunt. Tehran, Iran, January 1 By Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend: Programs aimed at developing Iran's missile power are strenuously pursued under the commander-in-chief and the Islamic Republic has not abandoned its missile program for one single day, Iranian armed forces spokesman Masoud Jazayeri said. Missile programs are not subject to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and recent US attempts show their innate hatred toward the Islamic Republic, he stressed, IRNA news agency reported January 1. Two days earlier, reports said the US Treasury Department was preparing sanctions against a number of Iranian and other international companies and individuals for their alleged role in developing Iran's ballistic missile program. The reports were met with harsh reaction by Iran as President Hassan Rouhani in an official decree on December 31 ordered Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan to brace the missile program. Rouhani called the purported plan by the White House a measure in line with hostile US policies to "illegally interfere in the Islamic Republic of Iran's programs for boosting the defense power." Quickly after, reports emerged that the US government was to delay the planned financial sanctions. Elsewhere, Ali Akbar Velayati, senior consultant to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said December 31 that such US actions will not go without response from Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned potential sanctions, saying they violate the agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany - in the Austrian capital, Vienna. "Iran will resolutely respond to any interfering action by America against its defensive programs," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also in a televised interview said missile programs do not violate the nuclear deal, adding "There is not end to US hostility." According to the nuclear agreement, the signatories are to remove past sanctions and refrain from imposing any new restrictions on Iran's economy. INDIANAPOLIS | House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath warned Thursday that 70 state employees in LaPorte County will lose their jobs if the Indiana Department of Correction closes the Camp Summit youth offender boot camp program. In a letter sent to Gov. Mike Pence, the Michigan City lawmaker blasted the Republican for his plan to shift the nearly 100 offenders from the state's only military-style rehabilitation center to the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility near Indianapolis next week. "I can only assume the State Budget Agency and Office of Management and Budget claim that a budget shortfall has involuntarily forced their hand. On the contrary, we have a sizable surplus that has been the subject of boastful press releases from state leaders," Pelath said. "The infinitesimal savings from the closure serve no grand purpose." Attempts to confirm Camp Summit's closure were referred by a governor's office spokeswoman to the Department of Correction. Messages left for two DOC officials were not returned. A Camp Summit employee said Superintendent Cecil Davis was not available. Pelath said in addition to the 70 jobs that would be saved, Camp Summit deserves to remain open, because it provides youthful offenders the chance to resume their educations, receive counseling and gain the skills needed to succeed in society. "This decision would be particularly crazy, because the state is shuttering a program that has a demonstrated impact in turning around the lives of troubled youths," Pelath said. At the same time, Pelath said he's not surprised the Pence administration is putting money ahead of Hoosiers' lives. "They only care about one thing: $2 billion in the bank. The havoc they wreak on schools, kids and our health to get to that figure seemingly means little to them," Pelath said. Camp Summit is a medium-security facility for teenage males located between Michigan City and LaPorte. The camp opened in 1995. Its 22-week boot camp-style program is designed to transform juvenile delinquents into productive citizens by instilling discipline, self-confidence and individual responsibility. CALUMET CITY Calumet City firefighters donned pink during October, raising awareness and $868.50 in funding for the Community Cancer Research Foundation in Munster. This is the first year that the department wore the new uniform shirts including a pink ribbon. The goal of the new shirts, designed by several firefighters, was to raise awareness as well as funding for cancer research close to home. Work being done by the research foundation advances the detection, diagnosis, treatment, education and prevention of cancer. Through the foundations efforts, residents have access to clinical research trials close to home. Community Cancer Research Foundation links patients with research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and other major research cooperatives worldwide. The three hospitals of Community Healthcare System Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart offer patients access to research for prevention and/or treatment for every stage of breast cancer. The foundation also offers patient access to research for the prevention and/or treatment of lung, prostate, skin and colon cancers, lymphoma, adult leukemia and multiple myeloma. Personally, Im proud the department decided to join the fight against breast cancer, Capt. Pam Eanes said. It affects so many women and hurts so many families. ... Next year we hope to triple that amount and bring even more awareness. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women after lung cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, according to the American Cancer Society. "Our hope is to continue raising awareness and continuing the fight against breast cancer in years to come, said Firefighter Cheryl Mayer. Employees of the Fire Department, City Hall and various other city departments wore pink in October. Early detection and treatment is key, said Firefighter Kelley Pactwa. The shirts are just one way we hope to bring awareness to our community. For more information about the foundation, visit www.myccrf.com. RENSSELAER Indiana Youth Institute is teaming up with the Child Care Resource Network to host a seminar to help educators, counselors, youth workers and others learn more about whats going on with young people in Jasper County. The forum will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 12 at Tri-County Bible Church, 5856 W. County Road 1050 South. IYI Data Program Associate Aimee Wilkinson will provide up-to-date information about youth trends in Jasper County. Attendees will learn how to make sense of the data compiled by IYI and how to find the most reliable numbers. This information can be used to write grant proposals, understand trends among youth and plan programs to address potential issues in Jasper County. As part of IYIs Youth Worker Cafe program, the seminar and lunch are free, but reservations are required. RSVP at www.iyi.org/YWC. Youth Worker Cafes are designed to bring together local youth workers to build relationships and inspire collaborations that will benefit children. For more information on the Youth Worker Cafe, contact Northwest Outreach Manager Stephen Gill at sgill@iyi.org. CROWN POINT Change can be a risky business, but the St. Mary Catholic Community School Student Council changed the format of this years food drive for a good reason. A calculated risk that could have impacted hundreds of families worked out, however, with the school collecting more than 4,000 pounds of food for the needy. We knew going into this year that we wanted to make a change. We wanted a stress-free food drive to encourage students and families to give what they could," Student Council Advisor Jim Tucker said. "We simply asked our students and their families to give from the heart. No number goals were set. We didnt anticipate how high the standard for quality would be raised though, and were very fortunate for that. Im so proud of our student council for having the courage to make a change. The food drive seemed to result in a slightly smaller amount of food this year, but the yield of high quality, filling food for families was obvious. "We were able to present families with more filling options," student council class representative Ellie Presnol said. It was also great to travel to Catholic Charities in Gary to interact with some of the people we helped. Im proud of what our student council accomplished this year. Students also donated approximately half of the food to the St. Mary Church's food pantry, Gods Groceries, which serves about 100 families monthly. "In November, we served 189 families with family sizes ranging from one person to 14," said Tina Howarth, who is in charge of Gods Groceries. "The 1,700 pounds of donations we received from this years food drive greatly help with serving our families this Christmas season. The school also donated a portion of their food drive to the food pantry at St. Stanislaus Church in East Chicago. DYER A grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is helping the town replace ash trees lost due to the emerald ash borer, while also pursuing the goal of a denser tree canopy. The $9,000 grant, along with matching funds from the town, will be used to replace trees removed from Northgate Park, Town Council President Mary Tanis said. "That was a big benefit for us," Tanis said of the grant. "We wanted to do this as soon as possible." The state grant came from the Department of Natural Resources' Community and Urban Forestry program. A total of $135,000 was awarded to communities around the state for tree inventory and analysis projects, tree planting, and education and outreach. Parks Director Mark Heintz said the department's plan calls for about 80 new trees at Northgate Park, a 24-acre park along Calumet Avenue. That's substantially more than the 30 trees were removed from the park in 2014. Those included a few poplar trees as well as the ash trees. The trees ranged in trunk diameter from 5 to 24 inches. Tanis said the new trees will help with the broader goal of increasing the number of trees in town. "What I'm looking for is a better canopy here in Dyer," Tanis said. Trees provide a natural filtering system for stormwater, she added. The grant follows a project earlier this year to plant a tree screen along the CN railroad tracks, and the planting of 300 seedlings last year around the Sandy Ridge water tower. Those seedlings will be replanted at some of the town's smaller, neighborhood parks. "I think they'll probably have a better chance at survival at some of our neighborhood parks," Heintz said of the young trees. CROWN POINT | A Gary man pleaded guilty to reckless homicide two months after the Indiana Supreme Court tossed out his alleged murder confession, according to court records. McLynnerd Bond Jr., 28, pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless homicide, a Class C felony, and will serve eight years in prison, according to the plea agreement filed in Lake County Criminal Court. The agreement comes months after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that a Gary police detective misled Bond to think he would not get a fair trial in Crown Point because he is black, according to court records. Bond is accused of fatally shooting Kadmiel Mahone Oct. 23, 2007, in the 4200 block of West 23rd Place in Gary, according to the agreement. According to the affidavit, Bond confessed to a detective in February 2011, that he confronted Mahone about a rumor that Mahone wanted to kill him. Bond said he pulled out his handgun, closed his eyes and began firing at Mahone. Mahone was shot in the neck and head, according to court records. He was found dead in his bedroom. Gary police Detective Edward Gonzalez received a tip in 2009 that Bond was involved in the homicide. According to the Indiana Supreme Court's ruling, Gonzalez questioned Bond for three hours while he was in custody on an unrelated charge in Feb. 13, 2011. During the questioning, Gonzalez told Bond that if the case went to trial there would be no one "from your part of the 'hood on the jury, just 12 white or Hispanic people from Schererville or Crown Point." It was then that Bond confessed to being involved in the shooting, according to the ruling. Lake County Criminal Judge Diane Boswell previously denied Bond's motion to suppress his confession because she could not find a similar case invalidating a confession based on police suggestions of possible jury bias. She did say it caused her "great concern" that a detective would tell a suspect he couldn't receive a fair trial due to the courthouse's location. The Indiana Supreme Court said it understood the court's predicament and said the ruling could now serve as a precedent for future cases. The Lake County prosecutor's office will dismiss the murder charge during Bond's Aug. 14 sentencing hearing. Courtrooms around the region hosted several high-profile cases in 2015 involving murder, public corruption and a sentence modification that resulted in a man walking free who had been serving three life sentences. Porter County prosecutors preparing to retry murder case Nearly three weeks of trial ended Nov. 19 with a hung jury for Steven Lindsey, who is accused of murdering his wife, Melinda Lindsey, by shooting her in the head Jan. 16 as she laid in bed at the couple's Center Township home. Lindsey denies the charge, saying he too was victimized in the home invasion and was left unconscious until hearing a gunshot of what turned out to be his wife being killed. Porter County prosecutors plan to retry the case beginning Feb. 16 and Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa denied Lindsey's request to bond out while he awaits his second trial. Lake Station mayor, wife guilty in federal court Former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and wife Deborah were convicted Sept. 11 of improperly using money from Keith's campaign fund and the city's food pantry account to gamble. The couple are seeking a new trial and have moved to disqualify U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano based on claims the judge fell asleep at least two times during their trial. Prosecutors responded by saying they reviewed courtroom security video and found no reason the Soderquists should be granted a new trial. Keith Soderquist, his wife and his stepdaughter Miranda Brakley are now facing trial in a second, separate case claiming Brakley embezzled more than $16,000 in bond money posted on behalf of individuals arrested in Lake Station from 2010 and 2012. She's also charged with failing to report $7,000 in payments she received for "compensatory time" she supposedly earned while working for the Lake Station City Court. The Soderquists are each charged in the second case with being accessories after the fact to Brakley's alleged theft and structuring a financial transaction. The trial is set for Feb. 1. Illinois man found guilty in Austgen slaying In took two hours for a Lake County jury in August to find Ralph Martinez, of Alsip, Ill., guilty of murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, robbery and criminal confinement in the shooting death of Griffith businesswoman, Mary Austgen. Austgen, 76, of St. John, was found shot to death early March 29, 2013, in the passenger seat of her GMC Yukon parked in the Majestic Star Casino in Gary. Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Mark Watson and Michael Woods presented to jurors surveillance video from Austgen's Griffith business showing a man armed with a silver firearm attacking her from behind. Martinez's daughters testified it was their father who is seen in the surveillance video. He will be sentenced by Lake County Criminal Judge Diane Boswell Jan. 6. Imperial Gangster dodges death penalty, serving six life sentences Imperial Gangster Juan "Tito" Briseno was sentenced in June in U.S. District Court to six consecutive life sentences in prison after he was found guilty of shooting to death five men in aid of racketeering activity. Though a federal jury found Briseno culpable of killing five men, they did not recommend a death sentence because there was not substantial planning and premeditation in the homicides, according to court records. Briseno's case was part of a sweeping racketeering indictment against the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which primarily operated out of East Chicago. Twenty-two gang members entered guilty pleas. Another, Richard Reyes, was found guilty at trial. Gary man given 65 years for shooting, killing Portage resident Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford sentenced Gary resident Dontaye Singletary in February to the maximum 65 years behind bars for the Nov. 1, 2012, shooting death of Portage resident Carl Griffith Sr. A jury found Singletary guilty a month earlier of shooting Griffith three times with a high-powered rifle shortly after Griffith returned to his home in the 2700 block of Locust Street. Police believe Singletary was hired to carry out the murder by Portage resident Sheaurice Major, who also is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She is awaiting trial. Judge frees man serving three life sentences Following a rare sentence modification agreement between Clifton Boone Jr. and the Lake County prosecutor's office, Lake County Criminal Judge Salvador Vasquez modified Boone's life sentences to 45 years in prison followed by three years probation. Boone was found guilty in 1976 of rape and three counts of kidnapping. At the time, defendants charged with kidnapping were sentenced to life in prison. Just a year after his sentencing, state law changed the sentencing guidelines to 20 to 50 years. A kidnapping charge today is punishable by three to 16 years. "A life term for a non-death is a miscarriage of justice," Vasquez said. CROWN POINT | Video surveillance footage from Majestic Star Casino, an audiotape of a jailhouse phone call and the testimony of investigators played key roles in another hearing Wednesday to determine if the Alsip man charged with killing Griffith business owner Mary Austgen will be granted bail. An attorney for Ralph Perez Martinez, 58, filed a petition for bond Feb. 21. Historically, those charged with murder in Lake County are held without bond in Lake County Jail, where Martinez is currently incarcerated. Wednesdays hearing was the fourth held on Martinezs petition in Magistrate Kathleen Sullivans courtroom. A status hearing on the case is set for April 23 before Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell. Austgen, 76, of St. John, was found shot to death March 29, 2013, in the parking garage of Majestic Star Casino in Gary. According to court documents, Martinez abducted Austgen about 5:40 p.m. March 28, 2013, from her family business at 801 E. Main St., Griffith. On Wednesday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mark Watson called witnesses, including police officers who are members of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force, to describe how information and evidence was obtained in the case. The major crimes task force is a coalition of detectives and police officers from multiple jurisdictions in Lake and Porter counties who are called in to help investigate crimes such as homicide, robbery and kidnapping, said Munster police Officer Timothy Nosich, a member of the group since its inception in 2006. Nosich testified the task force was called in by the Griffith Police Department on April 22, 2013. According to court documents, security camera footage shows a man identified as Martinez wearing a Harley-Davidson hat enter the Austgen business office and exit with Mary Austgen. Nosich testified he was assigned to conduct surveillance at Martinezs Alsip home for several hours prior to the execution of a search warrant by Alsip police. Ralph Martinez was at the residence, Nosich said. The Alsip police broke the door down (to get inside when no one answered the door). In addition, Nosich said he interviewed Antonio Rodriguez, the man who said he drove Martinez from Alsip to the Austgen business complex in Griffith on March 28, 2013, and Maira Guifarro, the girlfriend of East Chicago resident Jose Del Real, who picked up Martinez at Majestic Star Casino on March 29, 2013. Another witness from the company that provides phone service for Lake County Jail inmates testified about how the audiotape of a phone call made by Martinez to one of his daughters was obtained by Watson. In the portion of the tape played in court, Martinez is heard reassuring one of his adult daughters that he didnt blame his ex-wife, Catalina Noriega, of Alsip, for turning him in. I want you to help your mom. I dont want you to think Im against your mother. She did the right thing, Martinez was heard saying. Tell your mother to be careful. SCHERERVILLE | Police said they are looking for a Crown Point area man wanted in the shooting death of his former wife earlier Saturday in the busy heart of this the town's retail business district. Robert Byrd, a spokesman for the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force asked the public to be on the lookout for Richard James Kalecki, 49, of the 200 block of 127th Place, in the Pine Hill Subdivision on the south side of Crown Point. "We are making a major push to locate this man. Anybody who sees him should immediately contact their local police department," Byrd said. He asked that anyone who saw anything at the scene to call Schererville police at (219) 322-5000. He is wanted in connection with the death of Alessandra De Moraes-Emiliano, 37, of Merrillville, who died of a gunshot wound in an attack at Edible Arrangements, a fruit gift shop, in the Lincoln Ridge Plaza in the 200 block of U.S. 30, about a half mile east of U.S. 41. Byrd characterized the shooting as domestic violence. Town police officers, crime scene specialists with the Lake County Sheriff's Department and officers from the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force are investigating. Byrd said authorities have eyewitness testimony placing Kalecki at the crime scene as well as video from a security camera at the business. "It pretty much tells the story," Byrd said. Neighbors of the suspect said they were startled to find their quiet neighborhood saturated with a police presence late Saturday afternoon. One man said he was shocked to see a police sniper and two armed police vehicles. Their armored police cars, an ambulance and squad cars blocked off the Pine Hill Subdivision late Saturday afternoon. Officers surrounded Kalecki's home in an attempt to make contact with him as they awaited a search warrant to enter the house. Byrd said Kalecki wasn't home and remained at large Saturday night. Lake County E-911 dispatchers radioed a report of the homicide taking place at 12:50 p.m. within the mall. Police described Kalecki as 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighing 216 pounds. He is described as having brown hair and hazel eyes and was armed with a silver-colored handgun. Byrd said they don't have a description of the suspect's vehicle. Lake Superior Court records indicate Richard and Alessandra Kalecki divorced in 2012, months before the Lake County prosecutor's office charged him with three counts of child molesting and three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. Court papers in the divorce case listed Alessandra's address as the same as Edible Arrangements. Court papers in the sexual misconduct case listed Richard Kalecki's address as the house police had surrounded Saturday. Kalecki's trial in the molestation case was scheduled to begin in March. He faces a maximum 50-year sentence if convicted. The victim told authorities she was 13 when in December 2010, Kalecki began sexually abusing her after telling her he wanted to teach her about the "birds and the bees." Kalecki is alleged to have streamed pornographic videos on a laptop and also recorded his relations with the girl with a handheld camera, which he forced the girl to watch. The girl told authorities she was afraid of Kalecki, who threatened to kill her if she didn't go along with his wishes, court records state. If found out and jailed, Kalecki told the girl, "When I get out, I will hurt everyone who ratted me out, including you, and I will kill myself," court records state. According to court records, a medical doctor confirmed the girl exhibited signs of sexual abuse. The doctor reportedly considered the girl to be suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Kalecki is alleged to have repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl until March 2012, when a family member suspected abuse. LAPORTE For four months in 2014, Cecil Davis' staff at Camp Summit juvenile detention center operated "like zombies." The superintendent of Indiana's only paramilitary-style boot camp for juvenile offenders learned in August 2014 of Gov. Mike Pence's plans to close the LaPorte-based facility. The news shocked his staff, community members and local elected officials. Davis was told the 100 young men ranging in age from 15 to 18 who were housed there would be moved to the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility near Indianapolis one week later. With bipartisan support for keeping the facility open and an outpouring of praise from the community for the successful programs offered at Camp Summit, Pence agreed to reconsider. In January, the governor announced two years of funding for Camp Summit as part of his budget plan. Davis said the governing principle for Camp Summit never changed and was key to keeping the program afloat. "The real key is every staff member understands they are a role model," Davis said. "... A lot of the students come from the streets. They're gang bangers, defiant, tell the staff to go to hell. It takes a special person to say, 'OK, I'm not going away or giving up on you.'" The youth detained at Camp Summit say they are thankful for the facility and staff. "I've been to a lot of juvenile facilities and I feel like here, the staff actually cares about us," one boy said. "At other facilities, they let you do what you want but here, they get in your face on purpose because they know we'll have to deal with that on the outside." Sticking it out When the closure was announced, a Times investigation into the Department of Corrections' records showed Camp Summit consistently ran cheaper up to 2 1/2 times cheaper than any other juvenile detention facility in the state. Recidivism rates also were lower at Camp Summit, at 20 percent compared to Pendleton's 40 percent. The closure would have put about 52 active military members or veterans working at Camp Summit out of work as well. Many employees fearing they would lose their jobs took employment elsewhere, Davis said. "We struggled mightily to keep staff in those three months before we knew what would happen," Davis said. To meet required staff-to-student ratios, Camp Summit froze intake of new offenders and began transferring some to the Logansport and Pendleton facilities, Davis said. The staff members who stayed said they refused to give up on the kids. "We figured we were still standing and at some point, we all just said we're not going to worry about it," said Laura Gorbonosenko, a program director at the facility. The cost of closing Davis said he has no hard feelings against any of those who initially believed in the closure. "At the time, the (intake) numbers were pretty low and starting to trend downward, so they thought if they consolidated, they'd save some money," he said. "From an economic standpoint, it made sense." Part of the reason for the lower numbers was the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which diverted many lower-level offenders away from the DOC. "It left us with more of the difficult cases," Davis said. House Minority Leader Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, broke the news of the governor's plans to close Camp Summit in August 2014 and began the push to keep it open. When two local Republicans Sen. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, and Sen. Jim Arnold, R-Michigan City got on board, Pence took notice. The move brought the heads of multiple state agencies and the governor's chief of staff up to Camp Summit for a tour and meetings. During the meetings, Davis and his staff members stressed the efficiency and effectiveness of their programs. The state leaders brought the data back to the governor, which led to Pence's budget proposal including funding at then-current levels to keep Camp Summit open through June 2017. "The key was Tom (Dermody's) personal commitment and belief in the program," Davis said. "Tom, Scott Pelath and Senator Arnold are on our advisory council. They know us and the good work we're doing." Gorbonosenko said the support from the community was "impressive." "We heard time and time again from people saying, 'I wrote the governor's office,' " Gorbonosenko said. "It was blowing me away. It wasn't just our current kids and their families but past kids, people involved with community work." In their own words Davis said the transformations in some of the students is overwhelming. "Some of the kids, you wouldn't recognize them when they leave," he said. He and other staff members often hear from students after they leave the facility. One recently got in touch to tell them he was sworn in as a police officer near Indianapolis. Another got a job with Aramark. One boy currently housed at Camp Summit said the programs taught him he can choose a different path than his father, who is in prison. "I think the staff is cool," he said. "It's a wake-up call that we all have a chance and can live life to its fullest." A 15-year-old boy there said Camp Summit gave him hope for the future. "I didn't think I would make it," he said solemnly. "I just thought I was going to be in prison by the time I was 18." A 17-year-old boy serving time for violation of probation on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge said Camp Summit likely saved his life. "It helped me a lot because I know if I wasn't in here, I'd probably be dead," he said. "I'm pretty grateful." Still bouncing back Davis said Camp Summit still is working to recover from the initial threat of closure. "We're at less than 10 percent (job) vacancies now," Davis said. "In October and November last year, we were around 35 percent." In late December, Camp Summit was interviewing for the positions of principal and physical education teacher. Davis said in spite of the difficulties, there were a few unexpected perks to the closure scare. "Since the governor announced this was remaining open, we got a new heating system, new hot water system, new drainage field for our septic field and developed five-year and 10-year long-term plans," Davis said. One of the long-term goals is to expand the schoolhouse to include a gymnasium to allow for year-round recreation for the students. Dermody praised the Camp Summit management and staff for, "the leadership and passion they show." "They treat the kids like their own," Dermody said. "The people there are the difference-makers and deserve the credit for the success of the program." Davis choked up when asked if he agrees with Dermody's observation. "They are definitely my kids," he said. Tehran, Iran, January 1 By Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has congratulated the world on the occasion of the Christian New Year. "Let's learn from history and repeat moments of success, not past mistakes. Happy New Year to everybody," he tweeted January 1. Zarif has been chosen Global Risk Insights (GRI) Person of the Year in Political Risk 2015. GRI is a world leading online publication that provides analysis on political risk & geopolitics for the business community. Political risk analysis at GRI examines local, national, and international politics to determine their impact for corporations and investors. Zarif was a key player in opening Iran to the world community throughout nuclear talks that led to the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers in July. He enjoys great favor with the public at home. VALPARAISO E. Ric and Kaye Frataccia will be honored as distinguished community leaders during the Valpo Chamber's Salute to Leadership event Saturday at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton. E. Ric Frataccia, superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools, said they are humbled by the honor. "In the audience that night and in our community on a regular basis, we believe strongly that there are a number of people deserving of such an award," he said. "And we have benefited from having great models to learn from and to emulate." The Frataccias said longtime Valparaiso parks supporters Art and Irene Malasto were instrumental in shaping a lot of things in town. "They were such good role models for us," Kaye Frataccia said. Kaye Frataccia, who along with Rob Thorgren, spearheaded the project to build the city's newest park, ValPLAYso: The Next Generation. "ValPLAYso had to be my shining star," she said. "It brought the community together. It brought generations together to make something that's good for all of us." Kaye Frataccia is on the Memorial Opera House Foundation board, which has seen a positive turnaround this season. "We're really trying to develop that asset in the community and helping it be all it can be," she said. One of the biggest things to happen in the city last year was the passing, by about a 2-to-1 margin, the Valparaiso Community Schools' property tax increase referendums in May. E. Ric Frataccia said the margin of voters supporting the referendums "is dramatic." Passing the referendums means a new elementary school will be built, existing schools will be improved and the high school will undergo a major renovation. Kaye Frataccia said she and her husband have benefited from the spirit of Valparaiso. "We always felt that you need to give back," she said. "A place like Valparaiso doesn't just happen. It takes people to give back. That's been a model we've tried to live by and instill in our own kids." The Frataccias said as teachers and educators they always try to pass that to the next generation. "Do something bigger than yourselves," Kaye Frataccia said. Sharon Kish, who recently retired as the CEO of The United Way of Porter County, also is being honored at the chamber event for her legacy of service. Kaye Frataccia said it's great to share the stage with her. "She has accomplished so much," she said. "I am amazed at her and a lot of what I have and have done, I have to attribute to her." Tears streamed down her cheeks, and little Lexie Terborg cried out some nights, awakening to a new reality some 7,000 miles from the life she once knew. While happy with the new forever-family that welcomed Lexie into their Wheatfield home, the little girl missed her best friend, a then 4-year-old boy named Bobo, whom she left behind in a Chinese orphanage in 2012. Thanks to the colossal heart of single mom Jill Terborg, Lexie and Bobo received the Christmas gift of a lifetime. This time, it was tears of a joy when the Terborgs flew Bobo to the Region on Dec. 6, hosting him for about a month through Pennsylvania-based Living Hope Adoption Agency. Terborg remembers when a 4-year-old Lexie would cry for Bobo in the middle of the night shortly after the little girl first game to the Region. "She would wake up saying, 'I miss my Bobo,' " said Terborg, noting that of the 300 children in the Chinese orphanage where Lexie met Bobo, he was her closest friend. So Terborg, who works as a nurse in Crown Point, kept tabs on Bobo during the past few years through adoption agencies, advocates and social media. When the opportunity came to host Bobo this holiday season, Terborg said it was a no-brainer. On Wednesday, her rural Wheatfield home was a whirlwind of child activity, with sessions of Lego play, Christmas toy assembly and constant doting over Bobo by Lexie, now 7, and Terborg's other daughter, Ella, 9, who was adopted from China in 2009. From behind a semi-toothless grin, Lexie hugged Bobo while he played with his favorite astronaut Lego toys a gift from Santa he never would have experienced in his Chinese orphanage. In fact, Bobo doesn't really know or understand where the gifts came from. Jill Terborg said she wanted to keep it that way to avoid future disappointment when Bobo returns to an orphanage where Christmases could cease to be. During the visit, Terborg relied on a computer-based translator to communicate with the little boy, who only speaks Chinese. Regardless of the language barrier or even challenges Bobo has of remembering his interactions with Lexie a few years ago it's clear the little boy knew he couldn't go anywhere in the Terborg house without being followed, hugged and cuddled by Lexie and Ella. It's the kind of cuteness and closeness Jill Terborg and her daughters knew they would soon miss during our Wednesday visit. Bobo's flight back to China was scheduled to depart Saturday. Three days prior, Terborg said she wasn't looking forward to what were sure to be difficult goodbyes. But there is reason for hope. Terborg said the visit has emboldened her quest to find Bobo a forever-family in the United States, perhaps even in Northwest Indiana. She also said adopting the little boy herself isn't off the table. "It's a big consideration as a single mom, but it's not out of the question," she said. If another loving, willing family steps forth, though, Terborg said she would be supportive. Living Hope Adoption Agency Director Sarah Hansen said she has several reasons to believe Bobo will find a new home. Of the 11 children hosted by U.S. families through Hansen's agency during the holiday season, six are now in the process of being adopted, she said. "We're hopeful, in the end, all 11 will be at some point," Hansen said, noting any prospective adoptive parents can contact her agency for more details. For the Terborgs, Bobo's visit was the Christmas gift of a lifetime. But the real gift, Jill Terborg said, would be witnessing Bobo find a home and family a place where presents, hugs and cuddles are a staple reality. Indy, state must attack blight of abandoned homes. Thousands of residents in Indianapolis live next door to a plague that lowers their quality of life, erodes their property values and threatens their safety. That plague, the nearly 7,000 abandoned homes that mar neighborhoods in much of the city, continues to fester year after year despite repeated promises by public officials to fix the problem. Even more frustrating, the city's system for getting abandoned properties back on the market a tax lien process that attracts out-of-state investment companies and other speculators actually makes the problem worse. As detailed in an investigation by Star reporter Brian Eason, absentee landlords snap up low-priced homes through tax sales, promise to rehab the blighted properties, but then often fail to follow through. Eason found, for example, that in the past two years 10 real estate investment companies accumulated 2,546 code violation notices for properties they collected via tax sales but then neglected. The problems go beyond unkempt lawns and broken windows. Crime is a constant threat. Eason revealed that police were called 3,673 times in a little more than 24 months to properties owned by those 10 companies. That's not only a drain on hard-pressed public safety resources but also an ongoing danger and nuisance for neighbors. Fixing this broken system needs to be a high priority for the Indiana General Assembly and for Indianapolis Mayor-elect Joe Hogsett, who promised in this fall's campaign to make neighborhood revitalization a top goal of his administration. What can be done? To start, Indiana lawmakers need to dump the decades-old tax lien system, which attracts speculators looking for a quick profit. Under the system, an investor purchases a lien on a tax delinquent property. If the original owner pays the back taxes plus interest within a year, the investor collects as much as a 15 percent return. If the taxes aren't paid, the investor can acquire the home for the value of the tax bill; or the investor can walk away, which puts the property back into the tax delinquent pool and restarts the process. It's a system that often leaves properties in limbo for years, attracts speculators who have no real ties to the city and its neighborhoods, and frustrates neighbors and community redevelopment groups who want to buy and fix up neglected homes. Other states, most notably Michigan, have adopted a system that cuts out the speculators. Instead, local governments hold the tax leins, collect the interest and sell the properties to new owners. Indiana needs to adopt a similar model, one that gets abandoned properties back on the market as quickly as possible. On the city level, Hogsett and his team need to work closely with neighborhood associations and community groups to ensure that those committed to long-term investment in neighborhoods are given priority at tax sales. The blight of abandoned homes has spread for far too long. It's time to reclaim our neighborhoods - The Indianapolis Star, Dec. 3 Too little, too late on early childhood education Gov. Mike Pence's surprising decision last year not to apply for a federal education grant that could have brought Indiana up to $80 million to spend on preschool for low-income youngsters was a costly one for Hoosier children and families. This week brought a glimpse of the staggering tally. According to a story in the Indianapolis Star, the prekindergarten funding available through the state's $10 million pilot program doesn't even begin to address the needs in the five counties where it's available. The majority of families who applied for the program were turned away. In Marion County, about 70 percent of the 5,000 who applied were rejected. In Lake County, only 40 percent of those who applied were accepted. And Vanderburgh County, which had the highest acceptance rate, rejected about 35 percent of applicants. The program is also offered in Allen and Jackson counties. Those hoping that lawmakers will step in are doomed to disappointment: Republicans who control the General Assembly say that additional funding is unlikely in the immediate future; the earliest chance for that money won't come until lawmakers write a new state budget in 2017. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking as a legislative study evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program and the governor who once called early childhood education "the antidote for the toxin of poverty" plans to "study the issue," according to a spokeswoman. If anyone is interested in studies, there's national data aplenty demonstrating the critical difference that prekindergarten programs make in the lives of at-risk children, with reams of research showing that those who start school at a disadvantage are more likely to fall behind and drop out of school. And best practices shouldn't be too hard to find in the 40-plus states that invest in early childhood education. Count us among those still thinking of what could have been in the 14 months since Indiana dropped its bipartisan-supported bid for a grant that would have allowed for extension of preschool opportunities beyond five counties. If the state had received the grant and the odds appeared to be very good some of those resources would have come into this area, where they are sorely needed. A year ago, in trying to explain his inexplicable decision, Pence said, "This is not about money, it's about our children and we have an obligation to get it right." He should ask all those Hoosier families whose applications for the pre-K program were denied if the state is getting things right. - The South Bend Tribune, Dec. 3 More welcoming Indiana would compete better The call for Gov. Mike Pence and the Republican-controlled Legislature to put LGBT civil rights into state law is getting louder. Indiana Competes, a coalition of Indiana businesses, is joining the fight. More than 150 large and small businesses are on the organization's roster, including some of Indiana's most influential: Eli Lilly and Co., Cummins, AT&T and Anthem. The group will bring its message to Bloomington today for a news conference. Associated Press reported Wednesday that those affiliated with the organization said the state needs to be known as a welcoming place in order to lure talented workers. Failing to pass inclusive legislation into Indiana's civil rights law would damage the state's economy. Hoosiers need only recall the damage caused by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act fiasco to realize how that's possible. The Legislature should add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under Indiana law, and Gov. Pence should sign it. Indiana Competes understands the importance of that. Let's hope the lawmakers listen. - The Bloomington Herald-Times, Dec. 3 Redirect settlement dollars to stop hike in smoking North Dakota lawmakers clearly know what it means to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. They not only follow the federal recommendation for investing in tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, they exceed it by about a half-million dollars. Their state ranks No. 1 in meeting the recommendation on anti-tobacco spending. And Indiana lawmakers? For the current fiscal year, they allocated only 8 percent of the recommended share of the federal tobacco lawsuit settlement dollars to helping smokers quit and to preventing young people from starting. It's a costly mistake over the long haul. Hoosiers pay an estimated $2.93 billion in annual tobacco-related health care costs, or about $920 per household. North Dakota, by contrast, faces smoking-related costs of about $326 million a year, or $823 per household. As The Journal Gazette's Niki Kelly reported Sunday, Indiana is one of 21 states spending less than 10 percent of the federal recommendation on tobacco prevention programs. While North Dakota's spending on tobacco prevention has tripled since 2008, Indiana's has plunged from $16.2 million a year to $5.9 million, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The organization tracks states' commitment to using money from the 1998 settlement of a lawsuit against the major tobacco companies for anti-smoking efforts. "Unfortunately, there has been no oversight and no accountability to ensure that the settlement money goes for tobacco cessation and prevention programs," Danielle Patterson, Indiana government relations director for the American Heart Association, told Kelly. Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, defends Indiana's spending record, noting that most of the $141 million budget allocation for settlement proceeds goes to health care-related programs and that Indiana's tobacco use numbers are dropping. "We don't think the same levels of money are needed," he told Kelly, adding that if the downward smoking trend reversed, he would reconsider the allocation to anti-tobacco programs. It's time. The just-released America's Health Rankings, by United Health Foundation, shows the percentage of Indiana's population of smokers age 18 and older ticked up from 21.9 percent in 2014 to 22.9 percent - for the seventh-highest smoking rate in the nation. North Dakota, with its aggressive stand against Big Tobacco, saw its smoking rate drop from 21.2 percent to 19.9 percent. If Kenley and other lawmakers aren't convinced by a reversal in Indiana's rate, they should at least note what the respondent in the federal lawsuit is doing. The tobacco industry will spend nearly $50 dollars to promote its products for every $1 Indiana spends on prevention and cessation. That's an imbalance that will send Hoosiers' long-term costs on smoking-related health care ever higher. - The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Dec. 22 A good result for a taxing problem Indiana's second tax amnesty program in the last decade is working better than expected, collecting nearly $50 million more than originally anticipated. The Indiana Department of Revenue says individuals and businesses have paid nearly $138 million to satisfy overdue state tax liabilities. The agency said it has agreements for about $22 million in additional payments by next summer. The original goal was $90 million in collections. Though the state counts the program a success, the actual collections don't come close to the more than $500 million owed to the state by some 260,000 corporations, small businesses and individuals. There are real benefits to those eligible for amnesty, which includes those with tax debts that accumulated through the end of 2012. Corporations, small businesses and individuals can arrange to pay the base tax liability they owe while freeing them of penalties, interest and collection fees. That's no small thing, since the collections process for those taxpayers has run its course and tax warrants have been issued. As Department of Revenue Commissioner Andrew Kossack said: "The collection process is not a pleasant experience." By forgiving penalties and collecting millions that otherwise might not be collected, the state benefits in a big way. Money from the amnesty is contributing to Gov. Mike Pence's new Regional Cities program to the tune of $84 million. Regional Cities is aimed at encouraging counties and cities to collaborate on development projects. St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties applied for funding through Regional Cities for 39 projects. Officials learned Tuesday that the region will receive $42 million from the initiative to help pay for those projects. Collecting back taxes is never easy, but in this case Indiana's amnesty program is working. It's helping those who owe taxes avoid significant penalties and, in some cases, the loss of their properties through sheriff's sales. And it's helping pay for economic development programs that could benefit regions across the state. That's about as good an outcome to be hoped for when it comes to dealing with the messy issue of taxes. - South Bend Tribune, Dec. 22 Another meth plan deserves support Two years ago, Indiana lawmakers were urged to take steps against the state's meth epidemic. Lawmakers had other priorities. Last year, Indiana lawmakers were again urged to find a way to help communities stem the tide against meth use. Again, lawmakers had other priorities. Perhaps the third time will be the charm. We hope so. A proposal by two state senators aims to make it more difficult to purchase pseudoephedrine for illegal purposes. Critically, the plan avoids the previous plan of making it available by prescription only. Although the prescription-only method had been found effective in other states, it had been rejected in Indiana as posing too much of a hardship on Hoosiers who simply wanted to ease their cold symptoms. The new plan, known as the "pharmacist legitimization bill," still puts pharmacists in the driver's seat. It would require purchasers of pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used to make meth, to speak to a pharmacist before purchasing the OTC medication to treat colds and allergies. The pharmacist would glean enough information from the potential customer to determine that the person actually needs it. - Logansport Pharos-Tribune, Dec. 21 Editor's note: The names of juveniles quoted in this report have been changed to protect their identities. LAPORTE | Diane Pike pointed to a drawing of an S-curve representing the lives of the incarcerated teens she teaches at Camp Summit. "The start is where you are now and the road is where you'll go when you leave," she said. "On any road or any journey, there are going to be some barriers that come up. You're going to have to learn how to get over them and to get on with your life." Teaching them how to get over those barriers is part of her job. Pike, an educator/trainer for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, teaches the three-month Teen Outreach Program to the male offenders at Camp Summit, an Indiana Department of Correction paramilitary boot camp in LaPorte. While part of the class focuses on sex ed (including birth control, STDs and rape), the program's aim is teaching positive decision-making. Late last month, Gov. Mike Pence announced plans to close Camp Summit, citing the state's declining youth offender population. On Monday, Pence's office said the Oct. 1 closure was on hold pending discussion with stakeholders. Two days earlier, Pike led her class of 13 at the facility. The last class of the session was scheduled for Tuesday. Pike asked the boys to look at decisions other teens have made and write down three negative consequences that could occur, citing the worst. In one scenario, a teen brings a gun to school in his backpack after being bullied, saying he does not intend to use it. The boys cited potential consequences such as the boy shooting someone, getting shot himself, going to the hospital or being expelled. Pike asked them which would be the worst. "I'd rather get shot than go to jail," one boy said. "But shot dead is worse," said another. Pike asked the boys if teens think about consequences. "They don't think about what's going to happen," one boy said. "They just do it, then they're stuck." Pike asked them to think about the worst thing that could happen after they are released from Camp Summit. Answers ranged to spending their lives in prison to getting killed. "Going back to the same thing that got you locked up," one boy said. When asked where they see themselves in five years, the boys answered with working, with a GED, in their own place and working as a firefighter, a semi-driver and a boilermaker. Not one said in prison. "Every good choice you make for yourself is a step toward getting those goals," Pike said. "Studying, not skipping school, using a condom, every good choice is going to impact your future for the better." The boys shared their stories while making care packages for the troops and Halloween-themed treat bags and fleece pillows for a children's hospital as part of the community service component of the class. Before the TOP class, William, 15, had never had any sex ed courses. "The only people I ever talked to about it was my friends," William said, adding he now knows most of what they told him was inaccurate. "Honestly, (Pike) told me things in here I didn't know before," William said. Terrance, 16, said there were some surprises in class for him as well. "If I asked a girl if she wants to kiss me and she said maybe, now I know maybe means no," Terrance said. James, 16, said the class taught him more about options for birth control. The best part of the class, he said, is "Ms. Pike." "She's just plain old nice," James said. Pike said Camp Summit is "my favorite place to go and my favorite group to work with." "What I tend to see is kids who come from bad situations that have nothing to do with them who are reaching out for something," she said. "They want to make the right choices, they just haven't had the opportunity to do so. "They're really just reaching out for love." Police are investigating the borough's final shooting death of 2015 in Jamaica. Officers responded to the call of a person shot at the corner of 109th Avenue and Merrick Boulevard at 11:30 Thursday night. When they arrived, they found Jihad Jackson, 16, with a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency crews pronounced Jackson dead at the scene. Residents say they're shocked. To see this happen in our community, continuously, a young man, 16 years old, there's no words for it, said Kevin Livingston, who lives nearby. I think they should bring the stop and frisk back because it saves a lot of innocent people's lives, added Jamaica resident Edward Hunter. Police have not made any arrests and the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information for police, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. The border wars between New York and New Jersey have seen fierce fighting over the years, from actual shots fired in the 18th century to trash-talking and legal wrangling over the ownership of Ellis Island almost into the 21st. Now, a librarian in the neutral territory of Massachusetts has uncovered a long-lost document from those tangled disputes: a hand-drawn map that may be the earliest surviving one showing New Jerseys northern border where it is today. The map, which is owned by Harvard University, was created by the celebrated colonial surveyor Bernard Ratzer in 1769, at the request of a royal commission charged with settling the long-burning northern border dispute once and for all. It was found by John Overholt, a curator of rare books and manuscripts at the universitys Houghton Library, rolled up in a container and stacked with some uncataloged material. If you thought the political debate over immigration has devolved into a cartoon, just wait until Bordertown arrives Sunday night to finish the job. This animated sitcom on Fox is as subtle and amusing as a brick border wall. In the Southwestern town of Mexifornia, a Border Patrol agent, Bud Buckwald (Hank Azaria of The Simpsons), works ineptly to secure the national boundary and his own sense of primacy in his country. His next-door neighbor Ernesto Gonzalez (Nicholas Gonzalez) laughs off Buds casual racism, but tensions are about to rise as Mexifornia considers a draconian anti-immigration bill. As in the political argument, Bordertown casts both sides in extremes. There are the Hispanic caricatures, like the tot at a barbecue who spikes Buds food with a blazing hot chili pepper from a bag marked Extra Caliente. There are the white caricatures, like Buds 5-year-old daughter, Gert (Missi Pyle), a pageant contestant who, for some reason, has a pronounced Honey Boo Boo Southern accent. Nearly everyone, white and brown, is drawn in a similar bulbous avocado shape. Bordertown is created by Mark Hentemann of Family Guy and produced by the Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane. Its slavishly loyal to that shows template. Theres the crass father figure; his dotty but more sensible wife, Janice (Alex Borstein); an awkward daughter Becky (Ms. Borstein again); and a shiftless son, Sanford (Judah Friedlander). Today you might want to catch up on 2015 by watching two critically lauded films from the directors Ridley Scott and Spike Lee. Or you can put a week of holiday stress into perspective by revisiting the trials endured by Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) in Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. Whats Streaming THE MARTIAN (2015) on iTunes. Based on Andy Weirs novel The Martian, this space western and blissed out cosmic high starring Matt Damon involves a dual journey into outer and inner space, a trip that takes you into that immensity called the universe and deep into the equally vast landscape of a single consciousness, Manohla Dargis wrote in The New York Times. The film is the third directed or produced by Ridley Scott (after Alien in 1979 and Prometheus in 2012) to be set beyond the dark side of the moon. For Ms. Dargis, its also the funniest, loosest and most optimistic of the group. (Image: Mr. Damon) MEET THE PARENTS (2000) and MEET THE FOCKERS (2004) on Netflix. Chances are your excruciating family encounters are nowhere near as humiliating as those that unfold in Meet the Parents and the sequel Meet the Fockers, now streaming on Netflix. At the heart of the films is the tense relationship between a male nurse, Greg Focker (Ben Stiller), and his father-in-law, Jack (Robert De Niro), a former C.I.A. operative. (Image: Mr. De Niro, left, and Mr. Stiller) CHI-RAQ (2015) on iTunes. Spike Lees latest film, set in gangland Chicago, was inspired by Lysistrata, the fifth-century B.C. comedy by Aristophanes in which women try to prevent men from waging war by staging a sex strike. Writing in The New York Times, Manohla Dargis called the film urgent, surreal, furious, funny and wildly messy. Over all, she wrote, its an improbable triumph that finds Mr. Lee doing his best work in years. Russia will file a lawsuit against Ukraine, the Russian finance ministry said, after Kiev failed to repay a $3 billion Eurobond and $75 million in interest by Dec. 31. The decision was expected as Russia had repeatedly said it would regard nonpayment as a default and file a lawsuit. The Eurobond was issued by the government of the former President Viktor Yanukovych in late 2013 and bought by Russia in its entirety. Ukraines prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, had said that Ukraine would not repay the Eurobond and that it was ready to fight the issue in court. A grace period for repayment expired on Thursday. The bond was issued just two months before Mr. Yanukovych fled in the face of bloody street protests set off by his seeking to halt Ukraines swing toward European integration in favor of closer economic ties with Russia. Ukraine, which separately reached an agreement with private creditors to restructure its sovereign and sovereign-guaranteed debt, insisted that the Eurobond was commercial debt and that it could not offer Russia a better deal than other creditors. Russia says the debt is official, country-to-country lending and outside the scope of Kievs agreement with private creditors. With the craft beer industry growing rapidly over the last decade, more universities are offering online programs about the business side of craft beer. In the last decade, according to the Brewers Association, the number of craft breweries has grown to more than 4,000 in the United States today, from around 1,400 in 2005. Universities that have or are starting beer-business programs include the University of Vermont, San Diego State, and Portland State and the University of Portland in Oregon. As the industry becomes more competitive, the bar has been raised for those starting a brewery or working for one. Scott Gallagher, Portland States director of communications, said: Its not all about brewing and drinking beer. Theres a lot of business behind it as well, and thats usually what theyre lacking. In 2006, Aleksey Bikov came to New York City from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Simple things, such as well-maintained sidewalks and wheelchair lifts on buses, left him awe-struck. In Uzbekistan, it is not like that, said Mr. Bikov, 25. People with disabilities are stuck home. They cant get out of buildings. Poverty and prejudice were major reasons he wanted to leave his native country. He said it was difficult growing up Jewish in a predominantly Muslim nation. It was not until age 14, when Mr. Bikov attended his great-grandmothers funeral, that he first saw the rituals of Judaism. I didnt grow up Jewish-affiliated, he said. My Jewish heritage and tradition was very much repressed. I didnt know anything about it. It couldve been any of us, said Ms. Regalado, who has lived there for 10 years. This is nothing new. Im scared to use the elevator now. The building, at 131 Broome Street, is home to many low-income immigrant families. It had three open violations on its elevators that were issued by the city Buildings Department for failing to correct defects dating to a 2012 inspection, according to city records. A hearing had even been scheduled for Thursday, just before Mr. Hewett-Brown was killed, related to a $200 fine by the Environmental Control Board for problems with the elevators directional lights. Dozens of complaints filed with the Buildings Department over the years echoed the same problems. One complaint in May said two of the three elevators had been out of service for a week, and another a few weeks later said all three had stopped working for an hour. In 2011, a tenant said the elevators were shut down at night, forcing them to use the stairs, only to be restored at 7 a.m. each day. That same year, in July, a complaint said the middle elevator dropped several floors while people were inside. Thirteen days later, another said the elevator dropped several floors and the doors opening was delayed; the person filing the complaint described being badly shaken up. The Buildings Department said it was investigating the accident. The elevators have a capacity of 2,000 pounds, according to city records. To the Editor: Your Dec. 27 editorial Congress and the War Against ISIS presents the burdens backward. The War Powers Resolution tells the president not to make war without specific congressional authority. The burden is not on Congress to give him authority; rather, the restriction is on the president not to make war without getting such authority. The law was enacted with full recognition that such authority is hard to get that Congress is exquisitely skilled in doing nothing. (Remember all the failed attempts to legislate an end to the Vietnam War a trail of failure that was on everyones mind when the War Powers Act was designed and enacted.) But Congresss failure to act is not authority for the president to send the armed forces into combat without authorization. That is exactly the point and purpose of the War Powers Resolution. FRANK CUMMINGS Washington The writer was Senator Jacob Javitss chief of staff when Mr. Javits first introduced the War Powers Resolution. As they clasped hands while walking down the red carpet at the Lahore airport recently, Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan and Narendra Modi of India looked more like close friends than the leaders of two countries whose tense relations have long been a threat to regional stability. Mr. Modis visit to Pakistan was arranged on short notice and marked the first visit by an Indian prime minister in almost 12 years. Mr. Sharifs warm greeting and hosting of Mr. Modi at the Sharif family home set a welcome atmosphere for talks aimed at resuming a stalled dialogue on critical economic and security issues. But while the two leaders got the political optics right, the challenge, as always, will be overcoming formidable obstacles at home. Mr. Sharif has pressed for engagement with India; Mr. Modi has been conflicted. He invited Mr. Sharif to his inauguration last year but soon after canceled high-level talks, annoyed that Pakistani diplomats had met with separatist leaders from disputed Kashmir. Mr. Modi has also taken a harder line than his predecessor on security issues involving Pakistan. Domestic constraints limit both leaders, especially Mr. Sharif. His power is eclipsed by an army that controls the fastest-growing nuclear weapons program in the world and has long played a double game of taking American assistance while supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan as well as militants opposed to India. For Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, 2016 could and should be a year of great achievement. He is not facing re-election and is not seeking a spot on the national Democratic ticket. That means his considerable drive and political talents can be trained on making the state more livable for its 20 million inhabitants, and its government more ethical. Mr. Cuomo will combine two important speeches his annual State of the State and his budget address in one address on Jan. 13. Here are some ideas. The No. 1 issue should be the most obvious: the abysmal transgressions of the Albany crowd. Mr. Cuomo has acknowledged the need for ethics reform after the corruption convictions of two Albany powerhouses, Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos. But he keeps trying to lower expectations, arguing that there is little he can do about runaway political spending as long as the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision is in force, and blaming the Republicans in the Legislature for doing nothing to reform its own scandalous behavior. At least four gunmen entered an Indian Air Force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday morning and exchanged fire with the security forces, officials said. At least two of the attackers were killed and the security forces were exchanging fire with the others, an air force spokeswoman, Rochelle DSilva, said. The gunmen entered the living quarters area of the base in Pathankot, about 265 miles north of New Delhi, but they were not able to reach the zone where aircraft are kept, Ms. DSilva said. Pathankot is on the highway that connects the state of Jammu and Kashmir, where insurgents are active, with the rest of the country. It is close to Indias frontier with Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of arming and training insurgents fighting in the disputed Kashmir region, a charge Pakistan denies. Egyptian search parties on Friday recovered a mans body from the Nile River, raising the death toll to 15 in the sinking of a small ferryboat on New Years Eve, officials said. Two more people believed to have been on the boat were still missing. The chief of the countrys River Transport Authority, Reda Ismail, told the state news agency, MENA, that the ferry did not have a license to operate between the Nile Delta villages. The boat sank late Thursday in the Nile Delta province of Kafr el-Sheikh. It was not immediately clear what had caused the accident. Nile boat collisions and capsizing are common in Egypt. The Israeli military has transferred almost two dozen bodies of Palestinians it says were involved in violence over the past few months to their families in the West Bank. The army says 23 bodies were handed over on Friday. Most were returned in Hebron, where many of the Palestinian attackers were from. In October, Israel began withholding the bodies of suspected attackers as a tactic meant to crack down on the violence. There have been almost daily Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers over the past three and a half months. Vice Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Saturday that the commission in a letter to Foreign Ministry has called for reducing the number of personnel in Saudi Arabia Embassy in Iran, IRNA reported. Hossein Sobhani-nia told IRNA that the parliamentary demand to downgrade diplomatic ties with the Saudi government comes in reaction to martyrdom of Saudi Shia Cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. The letter also made a reference to the Saudi hostile policies against Iran, failure of the Saudi government to pay reparations to Iranian families who lost their loved ones at Mina tragedy and failure to punish the Saudi policemen for harassment of two Iranian pilgrims in Jeddah airport. The letter was forwarded to Foreign Ministry Saturday by Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi. Sobhani-nia MP of Neishbour, further noted that currently 22 people are working in Iran's Embassy and Consulate in Riyadh while the number of Saudi Arabia Embassy and Consulate staff stands at 60, which is requested to be brought down due to the Saudi Kingdom's hostile policies. In a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Geneva Convention about Human Rights, the Saudi government martyred 47 people including the Shia religious leader. Iranian government protested to the Saudi Kingdom over violation of human rights and the unacceptable magnitude of death sentences and failure to respect the lofty status of the Shia religious leader and expects the United Nations to stop the Saudi leaders trampling upon rights of the Saudi citizens over its animosity toward the Shia community. Selco systems typically include a small panel connected to a battery that stores enough power to run one or more lights, phone chargers and, with higher wattage options, some small appliances. Since its inception in 1995, Selco India has sold 318,400 solar home systems, and has provided power systems to almost 10,000 schools, hospitals and other institutions, almost all in Karnataka. Solar home systems have been around for a long time by now, and they are a successful model, said Robert Stoner, the director of the Tata Center for Technology and Design at M.I.T., which works directly with Selco and others, including the Indian government, on renewable technology development. Their challenge is that they cost a lot far more than the average person has, even a relatively well-off person. So if it is difficult to persuade a middle-class family in an industrialized country to invest in solar, how do you persuade a family that lives on a couple dollars a day? Mr. Prasad is a consummate salesman who talks a mile a minute, wears his hair in a side-part and keeps three pens in his breast pocket. On his home turf in the villages of the Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka, his salesmanship is put to the test. If he can manage to interest people in what is often an unfamiliar technology, he then pitches his potential customers on the more mysterious, but crucial idea of financing. For two decades, Selco has worked to persuade a network of banks to provide financing options to poor people who were typically seen as too risky. As Mohan Hegde, the companys operations manager, noted, The idea behind Selco is to take a poor man to the bank and see if what he can afford to pay per month is acceptable to the lenders. The sales presentation, once it includes assurance of financing from a bank, is much more palatable to potential customers: Pay the bank monthly installments of roughly the same price youd spend on kerosene, and in a few short years, youll own the system and your basic energy needs will be fulfilled by the sun free. When we say free, their ears prick up, Mr. Prasad said. Without financing, decentralized renewable energy could never compete in India with kerosene, which is cheap because the government subsidizes its sale at a cost of more than $5 billion a year. Use of kerosene contributes to carbon emissions, but also to more personal and immediate hazards like skin irritation, respiratory problems and a significant fire risk. Ultimately, it provides only dim, flickering lighting. On Nov. 4, with Mr. Adelson already in talks to buy The Review-Journal, the Nevada Supreme Court rejected a request from Sands China to have Judge Gonzalez removed from overseeing the lawsuit. The company said that rulings and comments made by Judge Gonzalez in court reflected a bias against Mr. Adelson and Sands. Judge Gonzalez has twice sanctioned Mr. Adelsons team, finding that it had failed to disclose information and ignored one of her orders. Once, while Mr. Adelson was giving testimony, she admonished him for disagreeing with her when she instructed that he answer a question, saying, You dont get to argue with me. The case Judge Gonzalez is overseeing started in 2010 when the former chief executive of Sands operation in Macau, Steven C. Jacobs, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming he was fired for refusing to carry out orders from Mr. Adelson that he said he believed were illegal, including payments to local officials that might violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Mr. Adelson and Las Vegas Sands have insisted that they did nothing wrong and that Mr. Jacobs was fired for cause and is seeking money he does not deserve. If the allegations raised in the lawsuit prove true, they could have significant consequences for Mr. Adelson and Sands because Nevada law bars casino owners from, among other things, associating with members of organized crime. Mr. Adelson and his company have rejected the claims, but the lawsuit prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department to open investigations into Las Vegas Sands. In a recent S.E.C. filing, Sands said it was cooperating with federal investigations but could not predict their outcomes or potential impact. Mr. Adelson has spoken of his interest in buying The Review-Journal, which has a circulation of just under 200,000 and is an influential voice among civic leaders, for several years, according to those with knowledge of his relationship with the paper. Journalists here worry that there is no shortage of issues, including the lawsuit, that they will feel pressured to cover differently. Among other things, Mr. Adelson is a fierce opponent of loosening marijuana regulation, which will be on the Nevada ballot in 2016, and of online gambling, which remains an active issue in the state. He is also involved in other contentious lawsuits that have been the subject of critical media coverage. The Review-Journal has a libertarian bent, and its editorial page agrees with Mr. Adelson on some issues. But it has also been unstinting in its news coverage of him, including articles on the lawsuit being overseen by Judge Gonzalez. Mr. Cataldi still spends most days spinning elaborate gags for clients like NBCUniversal, the PEN American Center and WNYC. And his deep appreciation for ruses has lately extended to a role as an associate producer on Art of the Prank, a coming documentary about the media hoaxer Joey Skaggs. But over the past year, he has scaled back his public relations work to focus on music. Image One of Sal Cataldi's guitars, a Fender Stratocaster from the early 1970s. Credit... Uli Seit for The New York Times I think a lot of people dont realize it, but Ive been playing guitar for 45 years, and Ive also been through the conservatory, he said. In the early 1980s, Mr. Cataldi, who grew up in Flushing, Queens, spent two and a half years studying jazz at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. He later joined a series of experimental rock bands, but by 1988 he was engaged to be married and seeking more stable work. (Mr. Cataldi is now divorced; his son, 25, lives in Queens and his college-age daughter has a room on the barge.) I knew I had to get something going, he said. The career book What Color Is Your Parachute? directed him toward public relations a few years earlier, so he took a job with a corporate firm. But it was not a good fit. I felt a little abused in the agency situation, he said. So he quit and started his own company. Throughout his public relations adventures, he has not stopped making music. Every month, in Manhattan at the Red Room at KGB Bar, he plays tracks from Sketches of Spam behind belly dancers, because belly dancers are fun and they love it because theres not many places for them to do their thing, he said. Mr. Cataldi also performs regularly on Long Island in places like Harmony Vineyards, in Head of the Harbor, and the Dolphin Bookshop & Cafe, in Port Washington. Sometimes poets join him in addition to belly dancers. Mr. Cataldis next show will take place at the Red Room on Jan. 15. Winters in the city are beautiful only for a moment. A pristine lace of snow falls, but then, within minutes, a taxi or a dog comes by to dirty it up. This season, snowless so far in the city, hasnt offered much of a chance to test that proposition. But the photographer Jan Staller has spent nearly three decades capturing those brief pure periods of winter in New York when the landscape is transformed. I would go out in the middle of a blizzard when there was nary a soul to be seen, Mr. Staller said. Its only when the snow is still falling that you can enjoy it. In his image of Sutton Place, from 1983, the snow is no longer falling but rests untouched atop a sidewalk, marred by nothing but the shadows of silhouetted trees. His photograph of a snowbound Central Park, from the following year, presents a virgin landscape in which the only signifier of civilization is a colorfully glowing stoplight. Mr. Staller, who is 63 and lives in downtown Manhattan, has had an interest in New Yorks natural world since arriving in the city in 1976 after several years at boarding school and college in New England and Baltimore. He began his exploration of the cityscape, he said, by taking long walks along the Hudson River where he could glimpse the horizon and the clean, clear light that the unobstructed view afforded. For those who wear glasses, the artist Liza Lou suggests taking them off when viewing her newest work, Color Field. The site-specific installation, a monumental, iridescent grid of colors, is part of the exhibition Liza Lou: Color Field and Solid Grey at the Neuberger Museum of Art. Color Field blankets most of the floor of the Theater Gallery, requiring museumgoers to walk around its periphery. As they do, the piece seems to shimmer and transform: now airy, now dense; patterns emerging and disappearing; tonal relationships continually shifting. What creates these qualities (which are, perhaps, especially appreciated with less-than-crisp vision) are tiny cylindrical glass beads in 30 hues, among them vibrant blues, yellows, reds and greens. Grouped by color, the beads are stacked on 4-inch-tall stainless steel wires to form what Ms. Lou called blades of grass. Again grouped by color, the blades are inserted into holes drilled into white Signex plastic tiles, each a little less than a foot square. There are 1,196 tiles, with 576 blades per tile and 11 beads per blade, which comes to approximately 1,100 square feet of nearly 700,000 blades and more than seven million beads. Although Color Field is Ms. Lous largest work to date, such quantities are not new to the artist, who was named a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation fellow in 2002. Glass beads have been her trademark since the 1990s, when she spent five years applying them to the surface of a true-to-scale, fully stocked kitchen. Since then, Ms. Lou has beaded structures including a full-scale model of a flower-filled suburban backyard, a 1949 Spartan Mobile Mansion trailer, a chain-link enclosure topped with barbed wire, a life-size reproduction of a cinder block prison cell and two versions of a mile-long coiled rope. To make her kitchen piece, Ms. Lou worked alone. After that, she enlisted help from community members, first near her studio in Los Angeles, and then in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, where beadwork is a longstanding tradition and where Ms. Lou, now 46, lived from 2005 to 2014 and continues to maintain a studio. All of the pieces on view at the Neuberger were beaded by a team of 30 Zulu women; Color Field was assembled in Westchester County by more than 500 local volunteers, directed by Ms. Lou at the museum. MATH was never my strongest subject, so maybe Im just not crunching the numbers right. But the more I stare at them, the less sense Marco Rubio makes. Rubio as the front-runner, I mean. As the probable Republican nominee. According to odds makers and prediction markets, hes the best bet. According to many commentators, too. But Iowas less than a month away, and in two recent polls of Republican voters there, hes a distant third, far behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. So hes killing it in New Hampshire, right? Wrong. A survey from two weeks ago had him second to Trump there, but another, just days earlier, put him in third place after Trump and Cruz, again. Chris Christies inching up on him, the reasons for which were abundantly clear in a comparison of Christies freewheeling campaign style and Rubios hyper-controlled one by The Timess Michael Barbaro. No one called it terrorism back then, but the angst of day-to-day existence during the Cold War was chillingly recalled with the release last month of the governments top-secret nuclear target list for 1959. Population was the obscenely brief title of target category No. 275 population, as in the citizens of major cities who war planners estimated would necessarily die by the millions. In my neighborhood, people had vague apocalyptic notions, though it felt plain crazy to believe that the doctrine known as MAD, or mutual assured destruction, could actually happen. Against this grim though remote possibility, the whole idea of civil defense seemed lame, when the best the government could do was to designate a few thousand of the most mundane New York apartment house basements as supposedly impenetrable nuclear fallout shelters for a city of millions. What survival in Brooklyn on soda crackers, drums of water and aspirin? Duck and cover jokes and tight-lipped laughter became the real civil defense in the Cold War. It felt smarter to seek survival in satire like Stanley Kubricks Dr. Strangelove. Or in Mort Sahls stand-up skewering of Dr. Wernher von Braun, the captured German rocket scientist, who metamorphosed into an American space-age hero. Mr. von Braun said in his best-selling autobiography that I aim at the stars. But, Mr. Sahl amended, sometimes hit London,. Backyard fallout shelters and bank loans to build them were promoted in the suburbs, but salesmen eventually went bust peddling doomsday. Politicians eager to guarantee protection were soon ensnared in nuances resembling todays bickering over carpet bombing. (Could a shelter owner morally use a gun to deter neighbors when the attack came?) MONTREAL AS scandals go, it was a juicy one. Volkswagen, one of the worlds highest grossing automakers, persuaded consumers it had created a new generation of so-called clean diesel cars until investigators discovered that defeat devices, which activated emissions controls only when the cars were tested, were concealing the fact that its vehicles emitted up to 40 times the permitted levels of pollutants during regular use. Volkswagen has been punished with consumer opprobrium, a costly recall and plummeting sales. Yet the public outrage over the fraud obscures a much larger issue. Volkswagen played a leading role in convincing people to accept a technology that in many countries is causing a precipitous decline in air quality for millions of city-dwellers: the diesel engine. Monitoring sites in European cities like London, Stuttgart, Munich, Paris, Milan and Rome have reported high levels of the nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, or soot, that help to create menacing smogs. Recently, officials in Milan temporarily barred cars from the city; in Rome, too, persistent smog has forced the authorities to limit the use of private vehicles. Back in March, Paris was enveloped in a gray cloud of choking fumes that obscured the Eiffel Tower for hours and briefly earned the French capital the title of the worlds most polluted city, beating out even Beijing. An air quality expert in Britain reported that much of it was stale diesel from traffic emissions generated in European cities. High school graduation rates are rising, but are the students ready for college and careers? To the Editor: Re As Graduation Rates Rise, a Fear Diplomas Fall Short (front page, Dec. 27): As a career educator I find it disheartening to see yet another article about how poorly students are prepared for college despite a rising high school graduation rate. The explanation for these contradictory outcomes has always been obvious, and yet for years we have refused to accept it. You cannot honestly raise standards without being willing to accept a lower graduation rate. Of course, as educators we strive to improve teaching strategies as we raise standards, and the ultimate, but probably unreachable, goal is to make it possible for all students to meet these standards. Certainly over the long term higher standards will improve the outcomes for all students. In many states the strategy has been to raise standards and then lower passing scores on exit exams in order to maintain or even raise the graduation rate, which means that students who are unprepared for college are given diplomas. For example, in New York State, a student needs a raw score of 30 points out of a possible 86 points (35 percent correct) on the algebra Regents in order to have a passing grade of 65. Similar cutoff scores are used in other subject exams as well. If we are truly serious about raising standards, it seems to me that we must also be willing to accept, at least for the near term, a lower graduation rate, or tiered diplomas indicating various levels of academic achievement. HOWARD BRENNER Woodmere, N.Y. To the Editor: Your article says of high school graduation rates, Still, there is no single reason these rates have increased. Yes, there is. The graduation rates increased because parents and politicians demanded that they increase. Instead of improving education, states lowered standards. For example, you report that some states eliminated requirements that students pass exit exams to qualify for a diploma. If no one heeds your warnings, you could file a report with the Labor Department, leading to an investigation of the building. But if you take that step, be aware of the risks. As a whistle-blowing renter, you could be in a particularly vulnerable position. There could be retribution or retaliation for exposing a buildings illegal conduct, Mr. Harman said. Instead, you might want to reach out to neighbors to see if they, too, would send letters demanding that the building comply with the law. Wandering Vines About 20 years ago, our co-op gave a neighboring co-op permission to attach cables to the side of our building to support ivy that is growing up our building but has roots on the neighboring property. For years, our neighbors maintained the vines. But in recent years, they stopped. Now the Boston ivy has grown into a heavy and unwieldy mess bound to cables wrapped around our chimney. We are increasingly concerned about structural damage to our building. We would like to cut down the plants, but our neighbors want to keep them and have not responded to our repeated requests that they maintain them. Do we have the authority to remove them? Hells Kitchen, Manhattan Boston ivy scales walls and can potentially damage a building, particularly one with bricks that are weak or in disrepair. It is an aggressive climber with aerial roots that cling to a building, said Todd Haiman, a New York City landscape designer, who recommends that vines be pruned annually to keep them attractive, healthy and in bounds. Because regular pruning has not happened, you have good reason for concern. If the agreement was made in writing, your co-op should consult with its corporate counsel about how to proceed. But if the agreement was verbal, which is likely, then it can be revoked, according to Peter I. Livingston, a Manhattan real estate lawyer. Your co-op board should request that the neighboring building remove the cable and the vines from the building because they are damaging your property. If the neighbor does not do the work in a reasonable period of time, then your building should remove the foliage on your property. Your co-op would likely pay for the work. Be prepared for potential resistance. The residents next door might have a strong attachment to the ivy and try to save the plants once they realize their fate. Ivy is a bit of a lightning rod, Mr. Haiman said. Its culturally significant and aesthetically pleasing to some, an invasive weed and maintenance issue to others. Iraq's former prime minister and head of the Islamic Dawa Party, Nouri al-Maliki, condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, pledging that the act would bring down the Saudi rulers, Sputnik reported. In his condemnation, al-Maliki himself used sectarian language, referring to the execution of Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, founder of the Dawa Party. Al-Sadr was executed by Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated government in 1980, five months before the beginning of the notoriously destructive Iran-Iraq War. "We strongly condemn these detestable sectarian practices and affirm that the crime of executing Sheikh al-Nimr will topple the Saudi regime as the crime of executing the martyr [Mohammed Baqir] al-Sadr did to Saddam [Hussein]," al-Maliki said in a message to the people of Iraq which he published on his Facebook page. As Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, the toppling of its rulers as suggested by al-Maliki would also mean the destruction of the Kingdom in its present state. Al-Maliki currently holds several positions in Iraq's divided government, including a Vice Presidency. Much of the military power is shared between the military and Shiite militias. Dale L. Bumpers, a liberal governor and four-term Democratic senator from Arkansas who came out of retirement in 1999 to make a passionate closing argument defending President Bill Clinton against removal from office in a Senate trial, died on Friday at his home in Little Rock, Ark. He was 90. His death was confirmed by his granddaughter Linn Bumpers. Mr. Bumpers was part of a generation of moderate Southern Democrats, among them President Jimmy Carter, who emerged in the late 1960s and the 70s. He always said his proudest achievement had come early in his career when, as a small-town lawyer in the 1950s, he guided his native Charleston, Ark., to become the first community of the former Confederacy to integrate its public schools. But he is remembered more for what he did in the twilight of his career. Three weeks after retiring from the Senate, he returned on Jan. 21, 1999, to speak to his former colleagues on behalf of Mr. Clinton, a fellow former governor of Arkansas. The House had charged the president with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying under oath about his sexual affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. For the Senate trial, Mr. Bumpers was called on to deliver the closing argument for the defense. Before a rapt chamber, he was by turns folksy and self-deprecating, intense and scornful, challenging the House prosecutors who had brought the case to the Senate. In a telephone interview last week, Mr. Trump said he had learned by watching his brother how bad choices could drag down even those who seemed destined to rise. Seeing his brother suffering led him to avoid ever trying alcohol or cigarettes, he said. But the painful case of Freddy Trump, eight years his brothers senior and once the heir apparent to their fathers real estate empire, also serves as an example of the dangers of failing to conform in a family dominated by a driven, perfectionist patriarch and an aggressive younger brother. In the upwardly mobile Trump family, Donald was the second and favorite son, the one who got into the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, relished the combat of New York real estate and ultimately made the Trump name an international brand. Freddy was the disappointment, who lacked the killer instinct and drifted so far from his fathers ambitions that his children were largely cut out of the patriarchs will. Freddy, as he was known, was caught sort of in the middle as somebody who didnt really love it, and only because he didnt really love it, he wasnt particularly good at it, Mr. Trump said. My father had great confidence in me, which maybe even put pressure on Fred. Asked whether Freddys experience in the family business, which friends described as miserable, contributed to the drinking that ultimately killed him, Mr. Trump said: I hope not. I hope not. Judge Jiang of the Supreme Court said he had been pushing for this separation of local government and courts for 20 years. Now, he said, the government has taken this step for the first time. You cant imagine how this feels for someone who has been working inside the system for this long, he said. Other measures are being tried as well. The government has set up two pilot projects to establish circuit courts, which allow judges from one province to hear cases from others, further reducing the risk of local influence. Dockets are also being made public for the first time, and 50 courts have been allowed to experiment with an assessor system that is similar to a jury. Judge Jiang said these measures have the highest backing. The key government body that pushes reform in China, the shengaizu, has met 18 times over the past two years, and 13 of those meetings have been about judicial reform. The commission is led by President Xi Jinping, who has spoken of the need for a better legal system. President Xi asks for two things: the courts should be fairer and result in more public confidence, Judge Jiang said. If people think the courts are fair, their confidence will rise but if they feel it has nothing to do with them, then its not a success. But another of the initiatives professionalizing judges illustrates some of the deep-seated challenges facing reformers. China has about 196,000 judges, but many are simply law school graduates with the responsibilities of administrative assistants. Even those judges who hear cases rarely have to make decisions; instead, the cases are sent to senior judges or Communist Party committees to decide. Now, the number of judges is to be winnowed down. and while their pay and autonomy is being increased, their decisions will be subject to greater review. That has contributed to a massive outflow of judges. In the municipality of Beijing, for example, 500 judges have quit in recent years. Pay is a key issue. Salaries start at less than $1,000 a month, which judges say is far too low if they are now expected to actually adjudicate cases and be held responsible for their decisions. It was unclear who was behind the assault. But there had been intelligence reports of a likely attack in the Pathankot area, and the attackers were seen on aerial surveillance when they entered the base, the Defense Ministry statement said. The attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India made an impromptu trip to Pakistan to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Dec. 25, the first such visit in almost 12 years. The meeting was seen as a step toward the resumption of a stalled dialogue between the countries. Terrorist attacks on security forces and military bases are unusual in Punjab, and more often seen in the border state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is north of Punjab and has a persistent insurgency. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in the region. Mr. Singh, the minister, said on Saturday that India wanted peace with Pakistan, but also said, If there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. In July, gunmen wearing Indian Army uniforms opened fire on a civilian bus and then took over a police station in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab. KASHGAR, China Families sundered by a wave of detentions. Mosques barred from broadcasting the call to prayer. Restrictions on the movements of laborers that have wreaked havoc on local agriculture. And a battery of ever more intrusive ways to monitor the communications of citizens for possible threats to public security. A recent 10-day journey across the Xinjiang region in the far west of China revealed a society seething with anger and trepidation as the government, alarmed by a slow-boil insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives, has introduced unprecedented measures aimed at shaping the behavior and beliefs of Chinas 10 million Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority that considers this region its homeland. Driving these policies is the governments view that tougher security and tighter restraints on the practice of Islam are the best way to stem a wave of violence that included a knife attack at a coal mine that killed dozens of people in September. The tough security measures are on full view for travelers as they stop at the ubiquitous highway checkpoints that slow movement across this rugged expanse of deserts and snowy peaks. Iranian protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Saturday after Saudi Arabia executed an outspoken Shiite cleric who had criticized the kingdoms treatment of its Shiite minority. The cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, was among 47 men executed in Saudi Arabia on terrorism-related charges, drawing condemnation from Iran and its allies in the region, and sparking fears that sectarian tensions could rise across the Middle East. The executions coincided with increased attacks in Saudi Arabia by the jihadists of the Islamic State and an escalating rivalry between the Sunni monarchy and Shiite Iran that is playing out in conflicts in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. Sheikh Nimr was an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy and was adopted as a symbolic leader by Shiite protesters in several Persian Gulf countries during the Arab Spring uprisings. Saudi officials said the mass execution, one of the largest in the kingdom in decades, was aimed at deterring violence against the state. But analysts said that the grouping of Sheikh Nimr with hardened jihadists was a warning to domestic dissidents that could ripple across the region. Egypt's Air Force aircraft attacked on Saturday a group of militants affiliated with Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh in the Arab world) extremist group in the north of Sinai Peninsula, killing more than 40 terrorists, local media reported, citing sources in the country's army, Sputnik reported. Moreover, 15 extremists from the Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) militant group got injuries, the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper said. Attack helicopters, warplanes and ground forces took part in the large scale military operation, according to the daily. Egypt is fighting a jihadist insurgency in Sinai since the army, led by President Abdel Fattah Sisi, overthrew the then Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. WASHINGTON President Barack Obama will meet with Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on Monday to discuss what he can do to curb gun violence, sidestepping an entrenched Congress. In his first weekly radio address of the new year on Friday, Obama said he would talk to Lynch after a monthslong examination of the measures he can take on his own to halt what he called our epidemic of gun violence. Recalling the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 26 people 20 of them children and left many grimly hopeful it would initiate a change in the nations gun laws, the president criticized lawmakers for bowing to the gun lobby and blocking necessary reforms. All across America, survivors of gun violence and those who lost a child, a parent, a spouse to gun violence are forced to mark such awful anniversaries every single day, Obama said. And yet Congress still hasnt done anything to prevent what happened to them from happening to other families. The speech is an explicit return to a theme that Obama has downplayed in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris that killed 130 on Nov. 13 and 14 more on Dec. 2 in San Bernardino, California, both of which were inspired by Islamic extremism. While Obamas initial response to the San Bernardino event emphasized its commonality with other mass shootings and the need for gun restrictions, the administration soon realized that this message was failing to reassure Americans that he was taking seriously enough the threat from Islamic extremism and the Islamic State. So through much of December, Obama engaged in a series of public events to convince Americans that his administration was doing everything it could to battle the Islamic State. For some Americans, being vigilant against Islamic extremism involves having more guns, not fewer, and sales of guns surged in the wake of the San Bernardino attack. The administration sees such a response as counterproductive not only because the number of deaths from gun suicides and routine shootings is far greater than those from terror attacks, but also because the countrys availability of weapons makes terror attacks far easier to conduct here. Rather than fight both the anxiety about Islamic extremism and the need for more gun restrictions at the same time, however, Obama focused on calming the nation. Now, a month after the San Bernardino attacks, Obama has decided that he can return to his focus on gun measures. Because I get too many letters from parents, and teachers, and kids, to sit around and do nothing, Obama said in his speech released Friday. A bipartisan effort in 2013 to bolster gun control measures after the Newtown shooting was halted in the Senate, failing to garner the 60 votes needed to expand background checks and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Facing the reality that lawmakers are unlikely to strengthen the countrys gun laws anytime soon, the administration has been looking at ways Obama can tighten gun sales unilaterally, focusing in particular on who could be considered a high-volume dealer for an executive action that could expand background checks. But White House officials have said there are many political and legal challenges to doing so, potentially opening up Obama to renewed criticism that he is abusing his authority. The presidents announcement comes less than two weeks before his final State of the Union speech on Jan. 12, addressing one piece of unfinished business, as Obama called it Friday. Long before Barry Rondinella became the director of John Wayne Airport on Nov. 16, he applied for a CIA job in the early 90s. After a series of events involving a stakeout, an unmarked office door and a very angry CIA official who introduced himself as Mr. Green, Rondinella realized the spy game wasnt for him. Instead, he found his calling in the airport industry. While serving six years in the U.S. Air Force, Rondinella served as crew chief on a C-141 Starlifter. Later, as an officer, he flew supersonic jets. After the military, Rondinella used his education and flight experience to serve as manager and director of a number of airports in California and became deputy director of operations and maintenance at Sacramentos airport in 2007. In 2010, Rondinella was hired as the director of operations at Los Angeles Airport, a five-year experience he describes as an adrenaline rush. In 2014, LAX moved more than 70 million passengers through its terminals. Comparatively, JWA saw less than 10 million in the same year. Although JWAs 500 acres of tarmac and terminals is not tangled by the bevy of international airlines that stop traffic at LAX, Rondinellas $200,000 position comes with its own challenges. Not only does JWA operate under a strict noise curfew, but its also undergoing a $102 million renovation to be completed by 2019. As Terminals A and B are modernized with a fresh look, JWA is likely to experience an influx of travelers in the next year. Annual airport passengers increased 1.7 percent from 2013 to 2014. In November, total passengers increased 14.3 percent to 876,748 from 767,315 the same month in 2014. Long gone are the empty seats and vacant gateways JWA experienced during the 2007-2009 recession. Courtney Wiercioch, deputy airport director, said four airlines are on JWAs commercial air carrier waiting list. We have more demand than we do supply, said Rondinella. Last month, the International Air Transport Association predicted worldwide industry revenues in 2016 would rise 0.9 percent to $717 billion. The organization attributes the increase to lower oil prices, more passengers, strong demand for passenger travel and an improved GDP this year. JWAs revenue stream seems to be gliding alongside those worldwide increases. In fiscal 2014, JWAs operating and passenger revenues combined with capital grants topped $141 million up from roughly $136 million in fiscal 2013. With a fiscal 2016 budget of more than $240 million, the airport is financially self-sufficient and is prohibited by a county ordinance from dipping into taxpayer funds. One of the reasons I wanted to come here is because I dont think there is any other airport or community that does it better, Rondinella said. In his first interview with the media, Rondinella sat down recently to discuss JWAs economic impact, security and the upcoming renovation. Q. What have you learned about John Wayne Airport so far? A. Ive been trying to immerse myself in the culture of both the airport and the culture of the county in general. Thats a learning curve. In the industry, we have an old saying, If youve seen one airport, youve seen one airport. They are all vastly different. The economic climate is different; the complexity of the airport and how it runs is different. Q. What do you want the public to know about JWAs security? A. Things like what happened in San Bernardino or what happened in Paris are reminders that we have to be vigilant and we have to go out of our way to provide safety and security. I think we do a good job at that. We have taken tremendous steps to make sure our passengers are traveling safely and securely. Q. How does JWAs relationship work with the Sheriffs Department? A. They are a contractor with us, and it is just an incredible relationship. They are part of the family. The sheriff has been fabulous They basically supply the personnel and all of the equipment, whether that be guns or cars or whatever, and then we pay for that. Q. What can you tell us about the $102 million refurbishment of JWA? A. Terminals A and B were built 25 years ago, and they are starting to show their age a little bit. We want to go through and lift those up and offer the same guest experience as Terminal C. That will involve things like plugs in the seats and more workstations for people. Q. Are there any expected disruptions during the renovation? A. People will notice, but it wont be too horrible. All the things that produce smoke or noise will happen at night when passengers arent around. Concessions will largely operate unaffected. The renovation will be a great improvement, and its worth it for our guests. Q. Are there plans for more international flights out of JWA? A. We have flights to Canada as well as Mexico. We used to have an airline by the name of Interjet that would like to start service again, but there is a whole process and procedure for new airlines joining JWA There is at least one international carrier on the waiting list and more that are interested. Q. What is JWAs economic impact on Orange County? A. According to a study that was done in 2012, the airport generates about $6 billion annually to the local economy, and I think those numbers are higher now. Our passenger levels are higher now, and we are doing better business than we did back (in 2012) so my guess is that its somewhere north of $6 billion. The airport creates about 43,000 jobs in the local community. Q. How do you budget annually for the costs associated with flight delays and cancellations? A. Past history is a lot of it. We have a contingency budget that we layer on top of historical budgeting. Courtney (Wiercioch) knows in the past how many staff shes had to have on shift in the year. She knows how many people need to be on call. The staff is on call quite a bit. Q. What is your main goal as director of JWA? A. I want this to be a good experience from when you drive to park. The terminals should be open and airy with the food that people want. I want the security lines to be easy I want it to be nice, and part of that is being able work or play on your electronic devices, so we should have adequate charging and a good Wi-Fi system. Contact the writer: jjones@ocregister.com Thousands of Chinese marines will be deployed in the next few days to a training base in northwest China's Xinjiang to begin their first military exercise of 2016, Xinhua reported. As the Chinese military expands its training sites and conditions, the Xinjiang base gives troops a real combat situation under desert conditions. Previous drills were conducted at a training base in north China's Inner Mongolia, cold regions in northeast China, and in highland jungles. The drill will improve troops' fighting abilities "in a wider area, a larger space and in a more complicated environment," said a military source. The soldiers will be transported via a 5,900-kilometer route from southern province of Guangdong to Xinjiang by train, air or truck. Their mobilization, desert combat tactics and coordination will be tested, and they will also carry out a combat exercise with an infantry division of the Lanzhou Military Command. Warning: No attempt at journalistic objectivity is being made in the following article. The reason is because the woman featured has been one of my closest, call-at-4-a.m. girlfriends since we were in our 20s, married to musicians (whom we later divorced). I did OK, but she got pretty famous, a fact for which I still have not forgiven her. And shes thinner too, so theres that. You know her as Sandra Tsing Loh, author, performer and regular commentator on radio shows Morning Edition, This American Life and Marketplace; her weekly segment The Loh Life is heard on KPCC. Variety once named her one of the 50 most influential comedians, and her solo shows, including Aliens in America, Bad Sex with Bud Kemp and Sugar Plum Fairy, have sold out from the Kennedy Center and off-Broadway venues to the West Coasts Seattle Repertory and Geffen Playhouse. Now whats been called her imaginatively twisted and fearless play, The Madwoman in the Volvo, inspired by her best-selling book of the same title, comes to South Coast Repertory this month. Usually a solo performer, Sandra will share the stage with two other actors, Caroline Aaron and Shannon Holt, in this work directed by Lisa Peterson. Did I mention Sandra also is an adjunct professor of visual art and science communication at UC Irvine? Which gives us the opportunity to regularly have a glass of wine or three at my place. Heres what we talk about: Q. I never would have imagined you would be the new face of menopause. A. Right? But the fact is Gen X is in menopause. Courtney Love turned 51! The face of the old menopause we used to think of as our grandmothers and great aunts, with the curly Barbara Bush hair helmet, sweating in a housecoat and slippers, fanning themselves with bingo cards. But today, 1 in 2 American women are menopausal. So the majority of American women are Q. Depressed? A. Were the triple Ms menopausal, middle-aged, moms. Basically, we should just call ourselves Menopause Nation. You and I are mothers we have associated what mothers do as the normal stage, where we are making the sandwiches and picking up after people who are perfectly capable of picking up after themselves Q. Amen sister! A. But that is such a small number of years in our life. At the turn of the 20th century the median life expectancy was 48. Forty-eight! Now we live to 80, 90, 100 we are fertile less than a third of our lives. So menopause is not the change; menopause is getting back to normal. Q. Youve made that funny. How? A. This new show you havent seen. Its less about menopause and more about that time remember when we came up to your place in Sacramento for that big political rally? Q. When you decided to organize 500 of your closest friends for a march on the state Capitol in support of public schools. And you all camped out on our farm, since we lived up there at the time. How could I forget? A. Right. The show is about what happens after that, when a few of us decided to go to Burning Man following the rally. The naive suburban moms putting on their Clinique SPF 15 moisturizer and going to Burning Man. I think part of the humor of the story is, What were we doing? In the moment it made sense! It was this euphoric time, chasing the Big Universal. In your mid 40s youre reckoning with the deal you have made with your life. This is about that moment when the floor drops, and you are looking out at the playa, and youre sunburned, and in front of you is your friend of 10 years and it hits you, This is you who I love. The midlife breakdown. Q. Well, that part of your life was kind of funny, tragic-comedy like. A. I was calling you! And taking Ambien. It was really horrible. I thought I would be Maya Angelou at 45, full of wisdom. Then at 47, I am throwing my books into the dumpster because I dont live anywhere. I seem to get stupider and stupider the older I get. Q. Whats going to be surprising about in this show? A. When I was developing this at Sundance Theater Lab, they said: What is the heart of the story? Then stories about my brother and what he went through when his wife died, and memories about my mother and the mother/daughter theme, all come out. In our house my sister was the responsible adult child and I was the tap-dancing clown sibling, and in this way we tried to manage our mother. I started to look at how these patterns come with us into adulthood. Those were to me real surprises. You know I am not a woo-woo person at all, but they say that you can get to the age of 50 and carry all this unresolved emotional baggage. After 50 if you dont deal with it, your body and your life will start to break down. So Im doing whatever I need to do! Going to a clairvoyant, throwing the I Ching, asking myself, how can I make myself happier? Some of the answers may go back to childhood and the grief I didnt quite resolve. Q. So proud of you. But now for the really important question: How big is my part in your new show? A. There is probably less about you than there should be. The more harsh sisters are better represented, the ones who were really mean. You were actually reasonable and loving when I was going through all this plus youre still married to your hot husband. When you start to crack up and are living in my attic, then Ill revise. Contact the writer: sdunn@ocregister.com Have you noticed the incongruity lately? Barack Obama has taken to telling us that, This is not who we are. The presidential rebuke usually comes as a scolding for doing things that we do precisely because they are things that actually represent who we are. This appears to annoy the president to no end. Obama recently scolded opponents of his plan to flood the country with Syrian refugees because, he said, Thats not who we are. Of course, hes wrong. Thats precisely who we are, as evidenced by the overwhelming public opposition to his intention to admit unvetted and largely unvettable foreigners into our nation from places on Earth where anti-American sentiment is rampant. Deadly rampant, which everyone but the president seems to intuitively grasp. The U.S. has long had policies that limit admission to the country by foreigners based on their nationality, ethnicity and yes, even their religious affiliation. One may disagree with one or more of those preferences, or applaud them as reasonable and necessary, but to deny they are not based on who we are is simply disingenuous. Screening preferences are based on the entirely understandable logic that we desire to restrict who comes into our home, based first on what they can contribute and, just as reasonably, balanced against what burdens or threats they might pose. This is much the way a typical family might properly discriminate about whom it invites to visit, or to dinner or, especially, to move into the spare bedroom. Thats part of what it means to be a nation. Our nation is a place for us and for those we choose to be associated with, not everyone. Its why we have borders and rules for immigration, which in years past have purposely shown preference based on the origins and conditions of those who wish to come here. That is very much who we are. Its, in fact, what makes us who we are. Otherwise, we would be everyone, instead of us. By one count, the president has told us 46 times Thats not who we are. As if he would know. This is a man who was so unenamored with who we are that before he was even sworn in as president he publicly, for all the world to hear, proclaimed that he intended to fundamentally transform who we are into his own vision of who we should be instead. If one wants a clear picture of who we are and who we are not imagine the antithesis of what Obama wants us to be. Heres what we are: Were not stupid. Nor are we suicidal. We are a nation of 300-plus million people who own 300-plus million guns. Thats at least in part because we value life and arent about to rely on meddlesome government transformers to protect it for us. Obama doesnt like that about us. We are a people who can, and do, utter the phrase radical Islam to describe enemies who wish us dead, something the Transformer in Chief still is incapable of saying. Obama clearly is repulsed by who we are. Thats why he so often repeats his mantra: Thats not who we are. Its Orwellian. Its the war-is-peace school of illogic. Its the newspeak that supplants the oldspeak until what we arent becomes accepted as what we are. Orwells 1984 was prescient when it comes to Obamas America. But the truth is undeniable. Obamas preferences for us are the antithesis of who we are. We are almost entirely not what Obama wants us to be, which probably explains his exasperation when he corrects and scolds Americans for falling short of his exalted vision for the country. Its hard being Big Brother. Its hard work to fundamentally transform an entire people, which may give us a clue as to why Obamas immigration and refugee policies deluge us with people who, not long ago, would have been stopped at the door, rather than indiscriminately invited in. Its easier to change by addition than by transformation. Its also much easier to change laws and easier yet to change policies by wielding a pen and a phone than it is to change human nature. Nevertheless, even great orators inspired with great visions and bent on making us into what we are not find human nature is less pliable than transformation requires. Despite Obamas determined efforts, we are not Europe. What we are is wise enough to look at Europe and learn from its decades of indiscriminate acceptance of non-European immigrants, vast numbers of which have zero inclination to assimilate, and countless numbers of whom pose deadly threats because they detest what Europeans are. Despite Obamas vision and determination to transform us, we are not Europe. Not yet anyway. Four adults and a 7-year-old boy were killed in an Ontario crash on New Years Eve, Dec. 31, officials said. About 7:03 p.m. Thursday, a silver Toyota Yaris with four occupants going east on Interstate 10 drove at a high speed off the Vineyard Avenue off-ramp and T-boned a red Toyota sedan that was going north on Vineyard with four occupants, said CHP Officer Christina Wood. The four occupants of the red sedan were pronounced dead on the scene. They were identified as Anthony Andrew Flores, 30, from Hemet; Monica Marie Flores, 37, from Arcadia; Matthew Joseph Pusateri, 29, from Mission Viejo; and Jeffrey Albert Willey, 29, from Huntington Beach. The occupants of the Yaris were taken to hospitals. The young boy, 7-year-old Joel Michael Pineda of Van Nuys, was pronounced dead a short time later at San Antonio Regional Hospital and the three other occupants two juveniles and one adult had minor to moderate non-life-threatening injuries, Wood said. The cause of the crash appears to be a problem with the Yaris, the San Bernardino County Coroners Office said in a news release. The vehicle began to accelerate uncontrollably, as it went east on I-10, a coroners release said. Unable to stop or slow the car, the driver drove onto the Vineyard Avenue off-ramp. The investigation is ongoing, but no alcohol or drug use was apparent early in the investigation, Wood said. Witness Orlando Erives told KCBS TV that he saw the crash and the aftermath. I saw the firefighters trying to cut the car so that they could get the people out. One was ejected from the car. I was able to see them on the floor. After that I just saw them putting tarps on each of the bodies, Erives said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Grand Marshal of the 2016 Rose Parade, Ken Burns, greets the crowd along the route on New Year's Day. Burns is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. The two-hour, 5 1/2-mile route featured 42 floats, 20 bands, and 19 equestrian units. A mother and her adult son thwarted a robbery inside their business in Orange on Friday, prompting the would-be robber to stab the son and flee, police said. Police said a male entered the business on the 4300 block of E. Chapman Avenue around 2:30 p.m., attempting to steal property. The owner and her son confronted the man, who then stabbed the owners son and fled the area on a bicycle, police said. Orange police said a second suspect, acting as a lookout, also fled by bicycle. Police declined to name the victims and the business. The sons injuries were not life threatening and he was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Police said the man suspected in the stabbing was located shortly after and arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The second lookout suspect remains at large. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Orange Police Department at 714-744-7444. Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, including an influential Shiite cleric, threatened to further damage Sunni-Shiite relations in a regional struggle playing out across the Middle East between the kingdom and its regional foe Iran. Shiite leaders across the region swiftly condemned Riyadh and warned of sectarian backlash as Saudi Arabia insisted the executions were part of a justified war on terrorism. Also executed Saturday were al-Qaida detainees who were convicted of launching a spate of attacks against foreigners and security forces a decade ago. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr now becomes another focal point for sectarian and political wrangling between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The two regional rivals back opposing sides in civil wars in Yemen and in Syria. Saudi Arabia was also a vocal critic of the recent Iranian agreement with world powers that ends international economic sanctions in exchange for limits on the Iranian nuclear program. Iranian politicians warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price for the death of al-Nimr. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi envoy in Tehran to protest, and parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the execution would prompt a maelstrom in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Foreign Ministry later said it had summoned Irans envoy to the kingdom to protest the critical Iranian reaction to the sheikhs execution, saying it represented blatant interference in its internal affairs. Al-Nimrs execution could also antagonize the Shiite-led government in Iraq, which has close relations with Tehran. The Saudi embassy in Baghdad, which had been closed for nearly 25 years, was reopened on Friday. An influential Shiite militia in Iraq, known as Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, called on the government Saturday to close down the embassy. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Aabadi Tweeted Saturday night that he was shocked and saddened by al-Nimrs execution, adding that, peaceful opposition is a fundamental right. Repression does not last. Hundreds of al-Nimrs supporters protested in his hometown of al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain where police fired tear gas and bird shot, and as far away as northern India. The sheikhs brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said in a telephone interview that Saudi authorities told the family they had already buried the body, but didnt tell them at which cemetery. The family had hoped to bury his body in his hometown. His funeral would likely have attracted thousands of supporters, including large numbers of protesters. Instead the family planned to hold prayers and accept condolences at the mosque in a village near al-Qatif, where the sheikh used to pray. Germanys Foreign Ministry said the clerics execution strengthens our existing concerns about the growing tensions and the deepening rifts in the region. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. is particularly concerned that al-Nimrs execution risked exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. He said the U.S. is calling on Saudi Arabia to ensure fair judicial proceedings and permit peaceful expression of dissent while working with all community leaders to defuse tensions after the executions. Al-Nimrs death comes 11 months after Saudi Arabia issued a sweeping counterterrorism law after Arab Spring protests shook the region in 2011 and toppled several longtime autocrats. The law codified that the kingdom could prosecute as a terrorist anyone who demands reform, exposes corruption or otherwise engages in dissent or violence against the government. The convictions of those executed Saturday were issued by Saudi Arabias Specialized Criminal Court, established in 2008 to try terrorism cases. To counter Arab Spring rumblings that threatened to spill into eastern Saudi Arabia, the kingdom sent troops in 2011 to crush Shiite protests demanding more political powers from the Sunni-led, fraternal monarchy of Bahrain. More security forces were also deployed that year to contain protests in Saudi Arabias oil-rich east, where al-Nimr rallied youth who felt disenfranchised and persecuted. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region told The Associated Press that three other Shiite political detainees were also executed from among the 47. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Advocacy organization Reprieve, which works against the death penalty worldwide, said two of the Shiites executed were teenagers when they were arrested. Reprieve said Ali al-Ribh was 18 years old and Mohammed al-Shuyokh was 19 at the time of arrest in 2012. Both were convicted on charges related to anti-government protests held in eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia says all those executed were convicted of acts of terrorism. Al-Nimr and the three others mentioned had been charged in connection with violence that led to the deaths of several protesters and police officers. Saudi Arabias top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh defended the executions as in line with Islamic Shariah law. He described the executions as a mercy to the prisoners because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. Islamic scholars around the world hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty in Shariah law. Saudi Arabias judiciary adheres to one of the strictest interpretations, a Sunni Muslim ideology referred to as Wahhabism. Because Saudi Arabia carries out most executions through beheading and sometimes in public, it has drawn comparisons to extremist groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group which also carry out public beheadings and claim to be implementing Shariah. Saudi Arabia strongly rejects the comparisons and points out that it has a judicial appeals process with executions ultimately aimed at combating crime. In Lebanon, senior Shiite cleric Abdul-Amir Kabalan described al-Nimrs execution as a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty. The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah issued a statement calling al-Nimrs execution an assassination and a ugly crime. The group added that those who carry the moral and direct responsibility for this crime are the United States and its allies who give direct protection to the Saudi regime. In a press conference Saturday, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public, as is sometimes the case. The Interior Ministry, which announced the names of all 47 people executed in a statement, said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The Saudi television airwaves were flooded with pro-government analysts saying the executions are a blow to critics who accuse the kingdom of not doing enough to counter extremism. One analyst pointed out that France declared a state of emergency and prioritized security after the recent Paris attacks that killed more than 120 people. Meanwhile, the execution of al-Qaida militants raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist groups branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, had threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of its fighters. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in al-Qaidas Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following the series of deadly attacks. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a gray beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by men in the Arab Gulf region. Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, never denied the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. At his trial, he was asked if he disapproved of the Al Saud ruling family because of speeches in which he spoke out forcefully against former Interior Minister and late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdelaziz, who is King Salmans elder brother. If injustice stops against Shiites in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion, the cleric responded, according to his brother Mohammed al-Nimr, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press just days before the Oct. 2014 verdict. U.S.-based Human Rights Watchs Middle East director Sarah Leah said regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabias troubling human rights record. She said al-Nimr was convicted in an unfair trial and that his execution is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest. Al-Nimrs brother told the AP by telephone that the executions came as a big shock because we thought the authorities could adopt a political approach to settle matters without bloodshed. He urged people to adopt peaceful means when expressing their anger. Mohammeds son Ali, the clerics nephew, is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed Saturday. He was 17 years old in February 2012 when he was arrested. He was later convicted, and his death sentenced upheld, on charges of attacking security forces and taking part in protests, among other charges. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to human rights groups. SAN FRANCISCO As the days get shorter, first grade teacher Esmeralda Jimnez watches the dimming afternoon sky outside her classroom window the way her pupils watch the clock at dismissal time. The studio apartment Jimnez rents for $1,783 a month, or 43 percent of her salary, is located in one of San Franciscos sketchiest neighborhoods. Getting home involves running a gauntlet of feces-strewn sidewalks, popping crack pipes, discarded needles and menacing comments daily irritants that become more daunting after dark. If I lived in a better area, I wouldnt feel so scared going home and I would be able to stay at school a little longer, Jimnez, 26, said. You have so many things to do to prep for the next day, but its gotten to the point where even if I leave at a decent time I will walk three blocks out of my way to avoid some streets. Its a scenario that has Jimnez wondering if she should find a profession that pays more, and public officials here and in other cities looking at housing as a tool to prevent the exodus of young educators like her. Inspired by the success in the heart of the Silicon Valley of a 70-unit teachers-only apartment complex, school districts in high cost-of-living areas and rural communities that have long struggled to staff classrooms are considering buying or building rent-subsidized apartments as a way to attract and retain teachers amid concerns of a looming shortage. Housing costs especially have become a point of friction for teachers in expensive cities such as Seattle, where teachers who went on a one-week strike in September said they could not afford to live in the same city as the children they teach. In San Francisco, where many of Jimnezs colleagues have roommates or long commutes, addressing the affordability crisis for teachers was one of the main selling points of a housing bond voters approved in November, the first to pass in a generation. About $35 million of the $310 million to be raised has been earmarked for construction of up to 100 new apartments on surplus land owned by the San Francisco Unified School District. The units would be rented at below-market rates to the districts 3,500 teachers and 1,600 classroom aides, who also would be eligible for new rental housing allowances and home down payment loans aimed at reducing living costs for another 300 educators, Deputy Superintendent Nyong Leigh said. Each one of these ideas would reach some modest number, but in aggregate it would hopefully make a difference, Leigh said. Officials in the Roaring Fork School District in western Colorado, which serves three mountain towns in the valley that houses Aspens posh ski resorts, similarly leveraged a $122 million school construction bond on the November ballot to secure $15 million for subsidized teacher rentals. The district hopes to acquire 15 to 20 apartments in each of the three towns, enough to house at least 10 percent of its 450 teachers, Assistant Superintendent Shannon Pelland said. In an area where the average home sells for $630,000 and the average teacher makes $47,000, housing costs are without a doubt the number one reason we lose teachers and its the number one reason people turn down jobs, Pelland said. Our typical pattern with teachers is they come to the valley, its an absolutely beautiful place, its a great lifestyle with wonderful recreational opportunities, and they are willing to live with roommates and do whatever they have to do to make it work for four or five years, she said. And right at that 5-year mark we see a lot of them saying, This is great for a while, but Ill never be able to afford a home here or make it work here, Im moving on. School districts in Oakland, Milwaukee, Odessa, Texas, and Asheville, North Carolina, also have apartment projects for teachers in the works. Last spring, Los Angeles Unified School District opened its first apartment complex on school grounds for district employees and has two more under construction. Stockton Williams, executive director of the Urban Land Institutes Terwilliger Center for Housing, said the concern over teachers being priced out of the communities they serve reflects an inadequate supply of new rental housing designed for middle-income workers instead of the high end of the market. Its not just a San Francisco-New York-Seattle story. Its in many cities, large and small, and in most parts of the country, Williams said. Officials in Santa Clara, California, found a workable formula more than a decade ago that other school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond still are trying to replicate. Working with a private developer under a tax-exempt financing scheme, the school district built 70 apartments between 2002 and 2009 that collectively are known as Casa del Maestros, Spanish for house of the teachers. When kindergarten teacher Katy Howser moved into a one-bedroom apartment there 6 1 / 2 years ago, she was a 23-year-old living with her parents while she paid off her student college loans and credit card debt. The teachers-only complex was all she could afford, but having other educators as neighbors turned out to be more than a financial advantage. Everyone has the same common courtesy for each other, Howser said. There are technically quiet hours, but its not ever really loud. Everyone just wants to come home and be quiet because we have to be loud all day. Now married and expecting her first child, Howser and her husband pay $1,700 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, at least $1,000 less than for a comparable place in the area. They will have to move out in June because tenants can only stay for seven years. Howser hopes they will have saved enough for a down payment on a house by then. The fact that our district sees enough value in us teachers to make a way for us to be here says a lot, Howser said. It tends to be a relatively thankless job, and if you cant afford to live, you cant afford to stay. For two full-time college students who work 30 hours a week, finding time to get outside takes planning and diligence. Still, Grace Kellogg, 21, and Cody Mendoza, 22, started out 2016 with a New Years resolution to hike or otherwise get outdoors twice a month. Were going to make it happen, Kellogg said. The couple joined about 15 other hikers at Crystal Cove State Park on Friday for a First Day Hike. Across the country, thousands of people chose to hit the trails rather than sleep off hangovers. California State Parks organized the hike, one of 57 outdoor activities in 42 parks more than any other state. Locals gathered at Crystal Cove State Park before 9 a.m. to set out on the 4.75-mile trek. A couple of warnings from volunteer state park docent Tom Eastman came first mountain lions are not a threat, but snakes are. And dont touch them, since 75 percent of snake bites occur on the hands. Oh, and ticks will jump on your leg, crawl up your body and latch onto your skin behind your ear, since thats the hardest place to reach, at least for deer, which are the usual tick victims. And one more thing: Watch out for the poison oak, which is ubiquitous and doesnt start itching until 18 to 24 hours after you get it on your skin. But really, this hike will be fun. The warnings didnt deter Toby Nassif, his wife and two of his teenage children. The hike was a relatively rare family outing made possible because the holiday pushed aside hectic school, work and swim practice schedules. Maybe well get somewhere on that and get in shape this year, Nassif said. As the hikers set off, Eastman explained that the Irvine Ranch set aside the patchwork of state and local parks between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach in exchange for permission to develop other parts of Irvine. The hikers ambled up the hillside, with frequent stops to look at plants and birds. Hawks, warblers and hummingbirds flitted about in the cool morning air. It was the birds that Shirley Reynolds, an Audubon Society member who lives in Laguna Niguel, wanted to see. Or, more accurately, hear. When she was younger, Reynolds, now 63, would run 10 miles along the trails. She learned to identify birds by sound, since running with a pair of binoculars would be cumbersome. Just like recognizing a favorite song, she explained, You know it by just the first few notes, or by a few notes in the middle. Its like that with birds. But really, birding is an excuse to get outdoors. Birding gets you out. Thats the primary reason I do it, she said. Hikers passed parched hillsides covered in dry stalks of weedy grass but also green sagebrush. Californias drought has taken its toll, but mostly on the invasive grasses and mustard plants that arent well suited to the regions naturally inconsistent rain. The stuff that is adapted to this area is green year-round, guide Eastman said. It may get a little brown during the drought, but with a little rain it springs back to life. The trail topped a ridge, then opened up to the shimmering, glinting blue ocean below, with San Clemente and Catalina islands in the distance. With such a view daily worries like Kellogg and Mendozas part-time jobs and full-time college coursework faded. The pair, who go to New Hope International University in Fullerton, first got into hiking a year ago to prepare for a trip to Yosemite Falls. Theyre planning a trip this summer to Idaho Falls, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Once you book it, youre kind of stuck, so you have to get ready, Kellogg said. The two chattered about other plans: a blog on their outdoor adventures, a business idea to plan travel itineraries, grad school and marriage. Last year, their resolution was to count their blessings, every single day. Kellogg compiled them into a book and gave it to Mendoza a surprise gift. In the parking lot, the hikers, formerly strangers, lingered and chatted. The trail was starting to get crowded; only a few parking spots remained. Slowly, the group dispersed. What a great way to start the New Year, Eastman said. Contact the writer: aorlowski@ocregister.com Twitter: @aaronorlowski At least four armed men have stormed India's Pathankot Air Base in the northern Punjab state bordering Pakistan, Sputnik reported with the reference to the local media. Two of the attackers have been killed, The Times of India said early on Saturday. The attack started at 03:30 a. m. local time on Saturday, according to NDTV. An official car was used to launch the attack, NDTV said citing authorities. RT said citing media reports on Saturday that two Indian servicemen have also been killed in the attack and helicopters have been dispatched to the base. The Times of India put the number of attackers at four to six, saying they launched their attack from a nearby building in a village. Helicopters have been dispatched to the base and India's National Security Guard has been called in, according to NDTV. The battle is ongoing, but the attackers have been contained in a non-operational part of the base and the MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters kept at the base are safe, NDTV said. Less than 12 hours ago, suspected militants in military uniforms kidnapped a former police official in Punjab's Gurdaspur district, according to The Times of India. Gurdaspur superintendent of police (SP) Salwinder Singh was later abandoned by his attackers, suspected to be Pakistani nationals, The Times of India said on Friday. LINCOLN Hundreds of Nebraskans were evacuated from their homes Thursday as flash flooding threatened their neighborhoods. A missing woman, Betty McMullen, 86, was found dead in the basement of her home on the south edge of Fairbury on Friday morning after authorities were able to get into her home and pump out water, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Nels Sorensen. Up to 11 inches of rain fell in parts of southeast Nebraska enough to rank as at least a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Hardest hit by flooding was DeWitt. The flooding was the result of an unusual continuous rain along a narrow corridor. The storms were about 20 miles wide and traveling straight as an arrow from Hardy, Nebraska, to Lincoln, said meteorologist Ryan Pfannkuch of the weather service. Runoff overwhelmed creeks and streams, and, in some cases, flooded communities downstream of the downpours. That was the case in Fairbury, where only about a half-inch of rain fell, but the Little Blue River surged out of its banks after 8 inches to 10 inches fell upstream. Stan Smith, news director for KUTT/KGMT radio, said McMullen lived in the Crystal Springs area of Fairbury. Officials took an air boat to her home but couldnt locate her, he said. Her vehicles were parked outside the house. Nebraska towns recover from disastrous flooding Friday Conditions improved considerably overnight in Lincoln where voluntary evacuations had been underway. The Salt Creek has dropped 12 feet from its peak in northeast Lincoln and 10 feet from its peak in southwest Lincoln. Mayor Chris Beutler said "conditions on Salt Creek have greatly improved overnight." He said residents are no longer being encouraged to evacuate and those who had done so can return home. Public officials had asked residents to evacuate the North and South Bottoms neighborhoods after the creek rose precipitously in two hours Thursday. He said he did not know how many people spent the night away from their homes but at least three took shelter at a city recreation center set up for flood victims. The crest of Salt Creek is believed to be the highest since 1908. It exceeded anything on the books. The water in Lincoln's South and North Bottoms neighborhoods resulted from storm sewers backing up because they were unable to drain into Salt Creek, Beutler said. The rain pushed the city's wastewater treatment plant to capacity, and, for 12 hours, the city wound up discharging untreated sewage and stormwater into Salt Creek, said Miki Esposito, director of the Lincoln Public Works and Utility Department. The plant has now resumed normal operations. People with water in their homes were encouraged to seek professional help if possible and to keep children away from flooded areas, which could contain bacteria. Most streets in Lincoln were open again but a number of county roads remain closed until bridges can be inspected for safety. The downstream crest of the creek occurred at about 6 p.m., said Glenn Johnson, executive director of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. The water came within a foot of the top of the lowest parts of the Salt Creek levees in Lincoln, Johnson said. He said the Salt Creek flood control system worked well, as did the Antelope Valley flood control project, which was completed within the last decade and runs north and south across Lincoln east of downtown. "The Antelope Valley project is saving lives and money and will continue to do so for a long, long time," Beutler said. In Dewitt, water had noticeably receded by late Friday morning. Floodwaters still covered some streets and open areas, though many areas of town were left with just mud. Streets that were traversed by boat Thursday afternoon were driveable. Rains were accompanied by tornado outbreak; updates on evacuations The heavy rains accompanied a tornado outbreak that caused fear in Nebraska but for the most part missed the states communities. Nebraska saw worse rains and a greater number of tornadoes than Oklahoma did on Wednesday, but Nebraska was spared the Sooner States heartache because Nebraskas storms mostly struck rural areas. In Oklahoma, about a dozen people were hurt when tornadoes swept through the Oklahoma City area and across Interstate 35. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts declared a state of emergency, an important step in the process of seeking federal aid for repairs and cleanup. Smith said a mandatory evacuation of the west side of Fairbury was largely lifted by late Thursday afternoon. It had been put in place because of rapidly rising water from the Big Blue River. Authorities became concerned when the river overtook a large part of the city park in less than 15 minutes Thursday, he said. About 100 people were evacuated from 169 homes on the southwest side of Fairbury, said Jodie Fawl of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Fairbury has a population of 3,900. In DeWitt, a mandatory evacuation was ordered, according to Saline County Emergency Manager BJ Fictum. The town has a population of 512. Brown, oily water filled the streets and yards to about waist-high in some spots at noon. By early evening, the flooding had begun to subside. The City of Lincoln had called for a voluntary evacuation of the South and North Bottoms neighborhoods after a sharp rise in the Salt Creek, according to city spokeswoman Diane Gonzolas. As of late Thursday night, the creek hadnt overtopped the levee, but officials had grown concerned when the creek rose 2 feet in two hours. Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady said problems began overnight as heavy rains hit the capital. Emergency workers were called out for 90 flooding-relating rescues, mostly for stranded motorists Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Lincoln Fire & Rescue teams were busy during the day, too. Among the roughly 14 missions they completed by 6 p.m. Thursday was ferrying 90-year-old Katherine Lekai from her home near First and B Streets. As the storms pushed through Deshler, rising water from two creeks flooded a nursing home, assisted-living facility and city park, and lightning may have been the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant home. The fire and the flooding occurred in the pre-dawn darkness under pouring rain, according to Mayor Naomi Grupe. Firefighters were unable to immediately reach the house fire because of flooded roads. Instead, it took them an hour on rural roads, she said. Residents of the nursing home and assisted-living facility were evacuated to a nearby high school, she said. Forty-three people were evacuated, according to Fawl of the state emergency agency. Some of those came from nearby homes. In Endicott, a brick manufacturing facility was evacuated, Fawl said. In affected communities, shelter and food were being provided by nearby schools, and the American Red Cross and Salvation Army were meeting other immediate needs of those who were kept from their homes. About a dozen tornadoes were reported in Nebraska on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Only the town of Roseland appears to have taken a direct hit. It was struck by an EF1, according to the weather service. Two homes sustained significant damage. World-Herald staff writer Joe Duggan contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 402-444-1102, nancy.gaarder@owh.com, twitter.com/gaarder Nebraska remains committed to trying to land another high school linebacker in the 2016 class, and Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern linebacker Collin Miller appears to be near the top of the Huskers' list. According to 247Sports, Miller will take an official visit to Nebraska in January. A former Purdue commit, Miller has already taken an official visit to Indiana. Duke and South Florida round out his top four. Miller also visited Syracuse in early December. Miller also has offers from Pittsburgh, North Carolina State and Rutgers, among other programs. He had expressed interest in Mississippi State but did not receive an offer. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Miller was an outside linebacker/stand up defensive end at Hamilton Southeastern, the high school alma mater of former Husker defensive end Randy Gregory. Miller had a huge senior year, finishing with 111 tackles and 11 sacks. He's a three-star prospect according to all four major scouting services. According to 247Sports Composite service, Miller is the No. 55 outside linebacker prospect and the No. 850 overall prospect in the nation. Nebraska still has a few other linebackers on the radar. Spring (Texas) Klein Collins 'backer Cameron Goode has whittled his list down to Nebraska, Cal and Vanderbilt. Presumably, Georgia linebacker commit Jaleel Laguins would be welcomed with open arms into NU's class Laguins has visited Lincoln twice but he visited LSU before the dead period started in December and has a visit to Tennessee scheduled just before Signing Day. NU missed out on David Reese, who picked Florida over NU and a few others just before the dead period. Nebraska never really got too far down the road with Lackawanna College linebacker Kapri Doucet, but the Huskers did offer the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder just before the holidays. There was also some inkling that Doucet would visit NU in January. Cross that off the list. Doucet on Thursday announced on Twitter that he committed to Arizona. Nebraska is probably pretty set at linebacker for one more season although, depending on whether commit Quayshon Alexander chooses to go elsewhere, NU might be on the hunt for one or two more prospects. Here's Doucet's post revealing his decision: Blessed to say I am 100% committed to the University Of Arizona pic.twitter.com/mCarjj78lr KAPRI DOUCET (@hit_squad_4) December 31, 2015 The beginning of the year is a perfect time to assess your personal brand status and make plans to grow and strengthen the image people have of you. Make no mistake. You ARE a brand. Youre a business of one, a business unto yourself. Every successful business makes annual marketing goals. As a personal business, so too must you. So too must all of us. Whether you want more/bigger clients or a better career opportunity, make a commitment to market yourself in 2016. To get you started, here are some items to consider: Focus externally Be active and involved outside your home or office. Show up at networking events. Go out of your way to talk to people when you are in public venues. Remember that nearly 75 percent of all jobs are never advertised, and a similar percentage of big clients come from relationship-building. Make it a goal to attend a certain number of events per month. Think like a sales pro Because you are a business of one, you need to sell yourself the way businesses sell themselves. Read up on marketing and sales techniques. Remember that a good sales rep always has lots of prospects moving through all parts of his or her pipeline at all times. In other words, at any given time, you should be meeting new people, strengthening relationships with existing acquaintances and holding serious professional conversations (deal-making, so to speak) with people you know well. Find the fascinating You need an area of self-marketing expertise, something about your business or career that is fascinating to people outside your profession. Feature this when you are networking or using social media. Build a Google trail If you havent done a search on your name lately, see whats out there. I guarantee that people are Googling you on a regular basis. A prospective client will probably Google you to know whom he or she is dealing with before meeting with you. Thats why a Google trail is so important. If nothing or very little pops up when someone Googles you, theres a problem theyll assume you dont have much going on. Therefore, Google your own name on a regular basis. If youre not very visible online, deliberately get your name out there to build an Internet presence. Get serious about social media Be honest is your online brand inadequate? Social media are now to people what the Yellow Pages were to businesses 25 years ago THE place where future clients and prospective employers find out about you. Make sure you post material that is interesting and not just inane personal stuff. Use social media to strengthen your reputation by building on your area of self-marketing expertise. Social media is not just for fun; its an essential business tool. Go beyond the Big Three LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are great, but dont stop there. The more social media outlets you use, the better. Google+ is growing in importance. You can even use Pinterest and Instagram to build a personal brand. If your target market consists of younger people, Instagram is very important. Some professionals have received great benefit from placing short videos on YouTube. Blogging has long been a powerful personal branding tool. Use your real name In order to build your personal brand awareness, use your real name when reviewing products on websites, making comments at the end of newspaper/magazine articles and posting comments on discussion forums. Just make sure the things you write help your personal brand, not harm it. Engage the media Volunteer your expertise to media outlets in your industry as well as your local market. Make a point to meet members of your local and industry media and build friendly relationships with them. In addition to traditional media, you can get a lot of mileage from doing blogs and podcasts. Refresh your value statement Does your 20-second intro speech need updating? You need to be able to say what you do quickly, clearly and in a way that captures a persons interest. A useful elevator speech also conveys how a person could benefit from what you do. Ask probing questions Dont just chitchat and make small talk during networking conversations. Ask some questions designed to uncover the critical information that leads to new opportunities. Listen to your clients and colleagues When we get too busy, its easy to start making assumptions. Those assumptions can cause you to lose opportunities. Instead, ask the important questions and truly listen to the responses. Dont just go through the motions. Let the other persons words sink in and make an impression on your brain. By the way, never let up. When things are good, dont let complacency stop you from perpetually marketing yourself. When things are going poorly, dont let discouragement be an excuse for apathy. Marketing yourself is never about ego; its just marketing. In a loud and crowded world, hard work and talent are no longer enough. You need to make sure key audiences know about your abilities and accomplishments. At the dawn of a new year, as it is all year long, destiny is in your hands. May 2016 bring you unprecedented prosperity. Jeff Beals is an Omaha speaker and author who can be reached at info@jeffbeals.com. The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld a decision that kept the Omaha police unions contract in effect after its end date, cementing a union victory. In affirming the lower courts decision, the court described part of the citys case as absurd and a lack of written documentation as inexplicable. The police contract expired at the end of 2013. A clause said it would stay in effect, unchanged, if the two sides did not say they wanted to open negotiations before April 1. That was fine by the union, led by President John Wells. But the city, led by negotiator Mark McQueen, wanted to renegotiate pension contributions, a special retirement program and a policy on take-home cars. The two sides did have discussions both before and after the April 1 deadline, according to the court decision. But the court said that what those talks meant, and what time period they covered, was unclear. On Feb. 27, 2014, Wells told McQueen he wanted to let the contracts provisions roll over. On March 19, 2014, McQueen and Wells spoke over the phone. McQueen said the city would be willing to extend the contract if the union would negotiate the citys three issues. The city claimed that conversation kicked off negotiations, meaning the contract could no longer automatically roll over. The court didnt buy it, calling that line of thinking absurd. McQueen took issue with that characterization. I think the Supreme Court, in using language like that, misses the context of the discussions, he said. The court questioned the lack of documentation from that conversation. The City did not memorialize or confirm this communication in a subsequent writing. For the sake of record-keeping, this is inexplicable, the court wrote. McQueen said it would be unreasonably costly to document every meeting he has with union representatives. The two sides met several times in April and once in May to discuss the same three issues. At no point in those conversations did Wells tell McQueen that the union had taken the position that the contract had already rolled over, the court wrote. Also in those meetings, neither side specified whether they were discussing changes for 2014 or for another year. On April 17, 2014, McQueen sent written notice to Wells. That notice also lacked any reference to the year in question. Inexplicably, neither party specified the year to which the notice applied, the court wrote. McQueen and his firm, Baird Holm, are paid $315 per hour to handle the citys negotiations with its seven labor unions. McQueen has successfully negotiated contracts, many including pension and health-care reform, with all of the citys other labor unions. Wells did not return calls for comment. McQueen said the decision is maddening. The city was trying to negotiate and make progress. The union did that for a while, then said, 'Were done.' And they did it in a sneaky, deceptive way, he said. DES MOINES (AP) A New Jersey woman is suing Embassy Suites, the Hilton Worldwide hotel chain and the owner of a downtown Des Moines hotel alleging she was raped in April 2014 after staff gave a key to her room to a man whose flirtations she had repeatedly rejected. The woman initially filed the lawsuit in New Jersey in June, but it was put on hold while the hotel company and her attorneys worked to settle the case through mediation. After a mediation session on Dec. 8 failed to result in a settlement, attorneys for both sides agreed to transfer the case to federal court in Des Moines for trial. A judge ordered the transfer this week. The woman saids she was awakened in her room in the early morning of April 10, 2014, to someone touching her leg. Christopher Edward LaPointe, now 31, of New York was standing at the foot of her bed holding a large threatening object. He warned her not to scream for help. Police charged him with sex abuse and burglary charges. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December 2014 to 20 years in prison. Hes housed at the Oakdale medium-security prison near Coralville. LaPointe had pursued her for two days in the hotel restaurant and bar even though she repeatedly rejected his flirtations. He restrained her and proceeded over a substantial amount of time to assault, batter, terrorize and rape, the lawsuit documents said. She lost consciousness, and when she awoke he was gone. The woman reported the incident to Des Moines police and to hotel management. Police investigators, relying on hotel surveillance videos and other evidence, determined that LaPointe persuaded hotel front desk attendants to give him a key to the womans room without confirming whether it was his room number or whether he had the right to enter the room, the lawsuit said. The key wouldnt open the door so LaPointe summoned a hotel maintenance worker who unlocked the door and let him in. LaPointe told the worker that he shared the room with his girlfriend and she locked him out after they had a fight. LaPointe, a long-standing customer and a Hilton Honors Club member, was familiar to hotel staff. The woman seeks monetary damages. She claims negligence, recklessness and outrageous conduct on the part of the hotel operators and owners. The attorney for Embassy Suites, Hilton and Atrium TRS III, a Delaware-based company that owns the hotel declined to comment. An Embassy Suites spokeswoman said in an email this week the company does not comment on pending litigation. The woman is named in the lawsuit but the Associated Press doesnt name victims of sexual assault. Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Beverly Fellman, a Buffett Award-winning French teacher active in numerous Omaha civic affairs, is being remembered for her achievements but also her kindness and sensitivity. Her husband, attorney Richard Fellman, recalls arriving at her home on a blind date long ago, and Bev excusing herself without saying why. When she returned, he noticed as a former ladies shoes salesman that she had switched from high heels to flats. She was an inch taller than he, even more so in heels, and didnt want him to feel self-conscious about it. She was elegant, her husband said, and she was extremely bright. Beverly Fellman died Thursday from cancer at 74, two weeks before their 52nd wedding anniversary. After a private burial, a memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Sunday at Beth El Synagogue, where she had served as board president. Bev was involved in a number of community efforts and was always a strong contributor to whatever she did, said Ben Nelson, former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator, a longtime friend of the Fellmans. Her personality and professionalism made her an outstanding educator. As Bev Bloom, she was a National Merit finalist at Omaha Central High and earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Omaha, now UNO. She worked at the American Embassy in Paris and studied at the Alliance Francaise before returning to teach at Central. She took a break from teaching but resumed her career after the couples four children were in school, and became chairman of the International Language Department. Sandy Epstein, who first met Fellman as one of her French students, said she was a strict but caring teacher. Because of her, I became a French major in college, Epstein said. Whenever we greeted each other, it was with a kiss on each cheek and a Bonjour. When her daughter recently asked that friends send her cards, I wrote mine in French, hoping that my grammar was good. Epstein said she always admired that besides Bev Fellmans own activities, she was supportive of her husbands. I saw them as a dynamic duo. Dick Fellman served as a state senator and Douglas County commissioner, and ran twice as a Democrat for Congress. He teaches political science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and she accompanied him to Ukraine six years ago when he received a Fulbright fellowship to teach there. Besides her husband, survivors include their children: Dr. Susan Witkowski of Omaha; Deborah Fellman of Los Angeles; Jon Fellman of Wilmette, Illinois; and Rabbi Daniel Fellman of Syracuse, New York. Bev Fellman served as president of the Central High Alumni Association and on the board of the schools foundation. In 2007, she was inducted into the Central High Hall of Fame. She led many student summer trips to France and was honored as the outstanding teacher of French in Nebraska. When Ben Nelson was governor, he appointed her to the board of Nebraska Education Television, which she eventually chaired. I got to know the Fellmans as neighbors in the early 70s, Nelson said, and we were all involved in our political campaigns Dicks and mine. Bev was always a warm and friendly person. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Danes that the government is weighing up the re-imposition of controls along the country's border with Germany, Sputnik reported. Denmark is considering the re-institution of border controls with Germany, following Sweden's decision to reinstate checks at its border with Denmark in November, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in his New Year's speech to Danes on Friday. "Sweden is stepping up checks at its border with Denmark. It is happening very soon. For the first time since the 1950s one must now have an ID card to cross the Oresund (the Sound, the strait that separates the two countries)." "It shows what is at stake, and it creates a situation where we must introduce border controls with Germany, if we decide that that is best for Denmark." "We don't want to see migrants and asylum seekers on our highways again. We want to ensure calm and order," said the Prime Minister. A new nonprofit group has formed to advance the school-choice agenda statewide in Nebraska. Educate Nebraska will weigh in on other K-12 education matters as well, for instance, offering ideas for improving the states new accountability system for public schools, according to executive director Katie Linehan. State officials rolled out the new system last month, calling it Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow. It sorts schools into classes based on performance measures and allows the state to intervene in three of the lowest-performing schools. I think the accountability of the AQuESTT system is not where it needs to be as far as pushing for overall improvement, Linehan said. Linehan is a former legislative aide to State Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk. She said she was born and raised in Nebraska. Last year, she taught at a Success Academy charter school in New York, she said. The new organization will focus on advocacy, education, research and community organizing, she said. Although not focused on legislation, the organization supports in concept Sen. Bob Krists Legislative Bill 26, which allows donors to receive tax credits for scholarships to allow low-income students to attend private schools. Linehan said the group doesnt want to be adversarial but instead offer ideas. Unlike the Platte Institute for Economic Research and OpenSky Policy Institute, which weigh in on a broad range of topics, Educate Nebraska will focus exclusively on education statewide, she said. It will offer expertise on whats working elsewhere in the country, she said. And we wont really shy away from calling failing schools, failing schools, she said. The board of directors is still being assembled, but so far members include Omahans Gwenn Aspen, Franceline Bostrom and Mariama Issoufou, Linehan said. Aspen ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in Omaha in 2014. The organization has scheduled a launch event Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Kumani Center, 4200 N. 30th St. Contact the writer: 402-444-1077, joe.dejka@owh.com Law enforcement officers in western Nebraska combat the dangers of drug-impaired driving daily: kids and adults leaving pot-legal Colorado, then swerving up Interstate 80 and Nebraska 71. Officers in eastern Nebraska have seen a spike as well, with Omaha and Lincoln police and the Nebraska State Patrol pulling over more drug-impaired drivers who didnt drink alcohol. Crashes on Nebraska roads this year involving a drug-impaired driver have claimed 28 lives. Thats more than double the drug-related driving deaths of a few years ago, World-Herald reporting found. Some of the increase might have to do with officers and troopers getting better at spotting the signs of drug-impaired drivers, authorities told The World-Heralds Henry Cordes. But its also true that the deserved stigma of driving drunk hasnt yet carried over to driving under the influence of drugs. That has to change, because the dangers of such impairments are real. More than one of every 10 Nebraska traffic fatalities this year involved at least one driver on drugs. That level of loss demands seat belt-level seriousness from state lawmakers. Given the difficulties of successfully prosecuting people for driving on drugs, perhaps its time to examine the zero-tolerance laws that 18 states, including Iowa, have adopted on drugged driving. Perhaps its time to work with other states to build a scientific consensus around the level of drugs in a persons system that signals significant impairment. The most common drug found in Nebraskas drug-impaired drivers is marijuana. Half the drug-related driving deaths in Nebraska from 2011 to 2014 involved pot. It clearly affects driver performance, given that federal transportation rules prohibit pilots, truck and bus drivers from using and working. Given this challenge, states would do well to set a reliable, reasonable legal standard for testing of drivers impairment levels. Important, too, is training more law enforcement officers to identify drug impairment more accurately. Nebraska is among several states moving to respond by requiring more officer training. Thats a sound step. State and local law enforcement agencies also know they need to step up their public relations game and get the word out that drugged driving is dangerous driving. Impairment is impairment, Omaha Police Officer Matthew Kelly told Cordes. Hes a specially trained drug-recognition expert often called in to help others verify a suspects drug impairment. Investigators attribute the spike in drug-related driving deaths regionally to 23 states allowing medical marijuana and another four, including Colorado, allowing recreational use. After Colorados legalization, the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes testing positive for marijuana nearly doubled. The number of marijuana-drugged drivers who died in crashes nationally tripled from 1999 to 2010, a Columbia University study found. Nebraska averaged about a dozen such deaths a year before spiking to 22 last year and to 28 by mid-December. In Iowa, such crashes claimed 47 lives in 2014. These numbers should shock people out of any complacency toward recreational drugs. Death on this scale is worthy of a collective effort on par with the push against drunken driving. Pathankot terror attack: Two out of four terrorists killed Chandigarh oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2: Preliminary reports into the attack at the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab suggests that the strike may have been carried out by a group of four terrorists. These could be the same terrorists who entered into Punjab yesterday who waylaid the Gurdaspur superintendent of police Salwinder Singh who was returning from Pathankot along with his cook Madan and friend Rajesh Verma. The terrorists are said to have taken the official vehicle away. The latest update on the attack is that two terrorists have been killed. The operation is still on, officials informed. As per the investigations that were conducted following the incident involving the police official last night, it was found that the terrorists were heavily armed. They were all dressed in army fatigues and had slipped into India from Pakistan. The attack was launched at around 3.30 AM today. The terrorists came in the official vehicle that they had stolen yesterday. The security forces are still engaged in battle, but have managed to contain the terrorists to a non-operation area at the air force station. A group of around four to five terrorists stormed the Pathankot air force station in Punjab early this morning and launched an attack. They entered into the Pathankot border district and killed a man by the name Ikaagar Singh. They also stole at gunpoint the official vehicle of Gurdaspur superintendent of police Salwinder Singh who was returning from Pathankot along two others. OneIndia News Terrorists in army fatigues attack air force base in Punjab Chandigarh oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2: Punjab has been put on high alert as security forces battle terrorists at the Air Force base in Pathankot. Reports suggest that there was gunfire at the Pathankot Air Force station. Two terrorists have been killed by the security forces even as the operation continues. Terrorists who slipped into Punjab late last night are said to have opened fire on the air force station. The exact number of terrorists involved in the operation is not known as yet. Police officials say that terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles and dressed in army fatigues came into Punjab from Pakistan. They entered into the Pathankot border district and killed one man who has been identified as Ikaagar Singh. They also stole at gunpoint the official Mahindra XUV of Gurdaspur superintendent of police Salwinder Singh who was returning from Pathankot along with his cook Madan and friend Rajesh Verma. The NSG was pressed into service to track down the terrorists. Later it was found that the vehicle was abandoned barely two km from the Tajpur air force station on the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. Following this, there was an alert in all defence installations. Police suspect that the terrorists could have come in from Pakistan and the modus operandi was very similar to the one that took place at Gurdaspur five months back. OneIndia News Soviet Union got out of Afghanistan inside 10 years; US is struggling even after 17 years. Why 10 years of Safta: Is there any hope for free trade in South Asia? Feature oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer January 1, 2016, marked the tenth anniversary of the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta). The agreement, which was reached in January 2004 at the 12th Saarc Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan, came into force on January 1, 2006, and became operational after the agreement was ratified by seven nations (Afghanistan, the eighth member, ratified it in May 2011). It created a free trade area for the people of eight South Asian nations and aimed at reducing custom duties of all traded goods to zero by 2016. Meagre trade after 10 years That year is here but the South Asian nations see trade among them making up a meagre five per cent of their total transactions. The purpose of Safta was to promote common contract among the member-nations and provide them with equitable benefits. It also aimed at increasing the level of cooperation in economy and trade among the Saarc nations by lowering the tariff and barriers and give special preference to the least developed countries in the Saarc region. Safta had a potential At a time when regional trade blocs and free trade area have emerged as models of cooperative economic growth, the Safta had offered a great opportunity to take forward the process of South Asian integration. But South Asia has too much problems But South Asia is a unique regional entity in the entire world. It is a region which has remained a prisoner of the past and pressing geopolitical realities involving India, Pakistan and China. Thanks to the relentless rivalry between India and Pakistan and the latter's proximity to the Chinese who have included the strategy of containing India in its scheme of things in South Asia, the idea of integration of South Asia in other forms have remained elusive. Other smaller countries like Nepal, Bengladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka, too, have played the China card against India time and again, hurting the prospects of mutual confidence. In such an atmosphere of suspicion, achieving what the Safta had envisioned a decade back has been next to impossible. Despite a free trade pact since 2006, trade among South Asian nations makes up five percent of their total trade. They share few transport and power connections between them. We saw how Saarc fell apart at its 2014 summit We saw how the Saarc was split during the 18th summit held in Kathmandu in 2014 end when India and Nepal accused Pakistan of creating an obstacle on the way of regional integration by refusing to sign three multilateral agreements, including road trade and sharing of electricity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi even went to the extent of warning at that time, saying the integration would happen through the Saarc or without it. He found backing in the Nepali ranks. India then went ahead with ties (visa, energy, road) with other neighbours like Nepal and Bangladesh and also promised to cut its trade surplus with the South Asian nations. But in all, Modi expressed displeasure that the progress was too slow. Despite the presence of instruments like Safta and Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), South Asia has only languished. The state of affairs in connectivity, financial infrastructure including banking and mobility of people and goods have remained stuck in the complex cobweb of customs, visa and transit norms. India, too, is responsible for the poor state of affairs India, being the largest nation in South Asia, has been equally guilty by not attaching much significance to the forum in the past, as it did in nurturing relation with the West and Russia. There has been a sheer lack of continuity in the country's successive governments' priorities towards South Asia. For most, a combative policy towards Pakistan and dominating approach towards the smaller neighbours have been the most-after stand. No wonder, opportunities like Safta were lost without a trace. Can Narendra Modi govt turn the tables around? However, the Narendra Modi regime has attached much importance to the issue of South Asian integration which is a silver lining. The way India's PM invited all South Asian heads of states or representatives to his swearing-in ceremony or kicked off his foreign tours with visits to small states like Bhutan and Nepal or suddenly landed in Lahore to reach out to his Pakistani counterpart-all these suggest that his government aspires to see a better surroundings. Yes, there have been a serious goof-up by India's foreign-policy makers in Nepal in the wake of its ratifying a new constitution, which has left the Himalayan neighbour distraught, but yet going by PM Modi's general intent of improving the state of South Asian cooperation, the decade-old Safta could still have a future. As of now, the wait will be for the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad later this year. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 2, 2016, 10:08 [IST] Known for its audacity, how the Jaish-e-Mohammad was revived by ISI Feature oi-Vicky By Vicky It was just two months back that a group of 30 terrorists were moved into the PoK region by the ISI. As per the report prepared by the Research and Analysis Wing members of both the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad were moved closer to India. All the cadres were brought from camps near Lahore and Bhawalpur, the intelligence report suggested. As per what we gather the Pathankot attack was staged by members of the JeM and if the same is ascertained then it proves the Intelligence agencies right that said that ISI was attempting to revive this outfit. The JeM and the ISI have had a blow hot blow cold relationship over the years. However, since the past year it has been water under the bridge and the differences appear to be ironed out. Reviving Jaish-e-Mohammad: It is a well know fact that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba is the most important proxy for the ISI. Like the Lashkar, the JeM too has India as its focus and has been battling for several years in the Kashmir valley. In fact, it was the JeM which was responsible for the attack on the Indian Parliament. Following this attack, there was a fall out between the ISI and the JeM. The man who founded this outfit, Maulana Masoor Azhar had gone into the background and he was not being given the support by the ISI. Pakistan had even banned the JeM. It may be recalled that the ISI also did not approve of a plan by the JeM to assassinate former Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff. The attempt by the JeM was however foiled. Today it seems as though the relationship has changed. The ISI is keeping the Lashkar busy in Afghanistan. Recent attacks in Afghanistan witnessed the presence of Lashkar cadres along with the Taliban. In such an event, it only made sense for the ISI to revive the JeM and continue with its tirade against India. The JeM has dedidcated modules in Kashmir. If it is proven that the Pathankot attack was the handiwork of the JeM, then the security forces have much to worry about as it suggests the group has infiltrated deep into Punjab as well. The JeM is a dangerous group and has known to carry out audacious attacks. The Parliament attack and even the Pathankot strikes are proof of that. The working of the JeM is being overseen by an officer known as Shaukat Khan. Intelligence officials say that Khan is an officer with the ISI and has been responsible in overseeing the resurrection of the JeM. The first attack by the JeM planned under Khan was the one at the army camp in Tanghdhar, Kashmir recently. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 2, 2016, 14:08 [IST] UP minister's nephew tries to hit restaurant staff with car for refusing to serve food Centre sends high-level team to UP for dengue management BMW Crash In UP: Video captured minutes ahead has someone saying 'Chalo marenge' 33 SP panchayat chiefs elected unopposed India oi-IANS By Ians English Lucknow, Jan 2: Thirty-three candidates of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) have been elected un-opposed as 'zila panchayat adhyakshs'. Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother and PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav were personally monitoring the high-stake polls. The party had cracked whip on senior and prominent party leaders for opposing official party candidates, so much so that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav went into a sulk after three of his close associates were expelled from the party. The places where SP candidates won unopposed include Etah, Kasganj, Lucknow, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Kanpur rural and city, and Etawah. SP candidates have also won unopposed in most places in Bundelkhand, including Jhansi, Hamirpur, Mahoba and Chitrakoot. Senior Samajwadi Party leaders say Mulayam had taken it upon himself to ensure that there was consensus on party candidates at most places. IANS Culture Min visits tourist spots in Delhi to check security India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 2: In the wake of the Pathankot terror attack, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today carried out surprise visits at a number of tourist spots in the national capital to check security arrangements. Sharma visited Qutab Minar at around 11:30 AM and sources said he was "not satisfied" with the security arrangements in and around the monument, a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Minister also visited Red Fort and is likely to visit a number of other tourist sites. Security has already been enhanced in the national capital following the pre-dawn attack by a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on an Air Force base in Pathankot. At least three security personnel were killed along with four attackers in the gun-battle. Pathankot attack: Sounds of gunfire wake up residents in city Security was significantly heightened at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other vital installations in the city. Vigil was enhanced in several areas, including popular market places, in South Delhi, Central Delhi and the VIP movement zone in Lutyen's Delhi, a senior police official said. PTI Members of Moldova's parliament are scheduled to consider the approval of the new government on January 4, and by that time a new cabinet's action plan should be presented. "List of candidates for the posts of ministers and the government's program were sent to the speaker of the parliament. Tomorrow we will sign a declaration of integrity on our own responsibility," Sturza wrote on his Facebook account. On December, 21, 2015, Moldova's President Nicolae Timofti signed a decree on appointing Sturza as the country's prime minister. The previous government, headed by Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet, stepped down under pressure from opposition parties on October 29. The Moldovan capital of Chisinau has been gripped by major anti-government protests since early September. Activists have been demanding the resignation of the Moldovan president, prime minister and the chief prosecutor, while also calling for early parliamentary elections and prompt action to tackle corruption. Golden intelligence rule: When your cover is blown, you are on your own Spoke in Punjabi dialect, posed as Army men, the mystery behind the missing Innova For 24 hours, security agencies failed to trace terrorists in Punjab India oi-IANS By Ians English Chandigarh/Pathankot, Jan 2: Nearly 24 hours after terrorists abducted a senior police officer, security agencies in Punjab failed to trace them in the same area till they launched a terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base early on Saturday. All 4 terrorists killed in gunbattle at Air Force base in Punjab Defence installations elsewhere in Punjab were put on high alert on Saturday following intelligence reports that up to 15 terrorists could have infiltrated into India from Pakistan side on December 30-31. Besides the IAF base in Pathankot, which was attacked by suspected Pakistani terrorists, Punjab has frontline IAF bases in Adampur (near Jalandhar), Halwara (near Ludhiana) and Bathinda and substantial army presence at various places, including Jalandhar (11 Corps), Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda (10 Corps) and Patiala (1st Armoured Division). The free run that the four terrorists had for nearly 24 hours even after the abduction of Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh on Thursday night and were able to reach and attack the IAF base, has exposed the security breach despite the high alert in the area. Pathankot: Were the terrorists launched from Bhawalpur, Pakistan The armed terrorists, who the abducted SP had told the police were in army fatigues, were able to move around in the area, probably on foot. "The search and combing operations seemed to be casual as the terrorists could not be traced even in 24 hours. They must have moved around in rural areas and habitation near the air force station and somebody must have seen them. They could not have appeared at the IAF base gate from thin air," a former top Punjab Police officer told IANS in Chandigarh, suggesting that the revelations of the abducted SP might not have been taken "very seriously". Salwinder Singh had had claimed that he and his associates were going in his multi-utility vehicle to a religious shrine on Thursday night when they were signalled to stop by the four men. The incident took place near Dinanagar town, where three terrorists from Pakistan launched an attack in July last year. It lies about 250 km from Chandigarh. The police officer claimed that one of the men took charge of the vehicle, which had a blue beacon on its roof, and drove towards Pathankot. After some distance, the officer was pushed out of the vehicle and the armed men took away his mobile phone. The other two companions were also pushed out later, one after the other. One of the two, Rajesh Kumar, was allegedly attacked by the armed men and his throat was slit. He has been admitted to a hospital in Pathankot. The abandoned XUV was on Friday morning recovered by police near Akalgarh village near Pathankot. Police on Friday recovered the body of the driver, Ikhraj Singh, of an Innova car, about 30 km from Pathankot. Police was investigating if the same men, who abducted the police officer and his companions, had killed the Innova driver too. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, leaving seven people dead, including a senior police officer. The Punjab Police and security agencies were caught napping during the Dinanagar terror attack also. IANS New India depends on technology, says Modi at 107th session of Indian Science Congress Mysuru awaits Modi magic; city in carnival mood India oi-Oneindia By OneIndia Defence Bureau Mysuru, Jan 02: The City of Palaces is in a festive mood. The best of your contacts might not help you get to a room for the next one week. PM Modi's posters and banners are prominently placed at vantage points. Everyone says: "Modi is coming." As reported earlier, the PM is scheduled to land today evening with his first engagement being at the Avadhoota Datta Peetham. Only a select few have access to this event. Later in the day, he will take part in the Centenary Celebrations of Jagadguru Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math, a public event. The PM's much-awaited inaugural address for the 103 Indian Science Congress (103ISC) is scheduled at 10 am tomorrow. He is expected to spell out the Science and Technology (S&T) policy of the government. Mysurians are thrilled to have the PM for three different functions in a span of less than two days and everyone is keen have a glance of him. "We are thrilled to see the response. The New Year has started on a very positive note for the city. With the University of Mysore (UoM) celebrating its Centenary the city has been in a festive from July onwards. It's a carnival for everyone," says N Niranjan Nikam, Consultant, UoM, Centenary Celebrations. Manasagangothri, the UoM campus is already wearing a carnival look with delegates and students across India already arriving in the city. UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof K S Rangappa and his team of organsiers are on their toes sorting the last-minute challenges. Prof Rangappa was seen inspecting every venue late on Friday night. "It's a historic event for all of us," he said, with onlookers chasing him for a group photographs and selfies. According to Dr M V Avinash, an Organising Committee member, spot registrations have already begun from January 1. "We are working round-the-clock and have ensured that not a single delegate is left unattended to," he says. Dr C D Mohan, another Organising Committee member, said that the Nobel Laureates have already started to arrive in the city. Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art Media Centre has already been set up inside the Manasagangothri campus. The food courts are all warming up with special menus. The delegates will be treated to a host of cultural activities every day. "The amphitheater looks world-class now. Mysurians couldn't have asked for more," says Sridhar R, a second division clerk with UoM. Sridhar is among thousands of volunteers who are part of the 103ISC. OneIndia News NIA team reaches Pathankot India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 2: A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA), mandated to probe terror cases, today reached Pathankot IAF base to gather inputs about the attack carried out by suspected militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed group. The NIA team reached the spot as the Home Ministry has asked the central probe agency to keep a full investigation team in readiness as the case could be transferred to it, official sources said. As per the standard operating procedure, an NIA team is rushed to the site where terror strike takes place so that they can share their expertise as well as have first-hand information about the case, the sources said. A group of terrorists struck at the IAF station in Pathankot in the wee hours by scaling a wall. They were spotted by ex-army personnel, recruited by the IAF for guard duty, and in the ensuing encounter four terrorists were gunned down. How security forces battled terrorists at Pathankot The Pathankot IAF facility, located near the border with Pakistan, is the base of MiG-21 fighter planes and MI-25 attack helicopters of Air Force. India recently gifted four such choppers to Afghanistan last month. PTI Pathankot attack despite specific intelligence alert India oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2: The attack at Pathankot took place early this morning despite a warning from the Intelligence Bureau. Since Friday, there has been an alert suggesting a group of terrorists from the Jasih-e-Mohammad will carry out an attack at a sensitive location in Punjab. The call intercepts that were picked up suggested that a group of terrorists were planning a major strike and they had also spoken with their handlers in Pakistan yesterday after infiltrating into India. In the ongoing operation, 4 terrorists have been killed while two security personnel have been martyred. The National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval will brief the Prime Minister about the attack after he convenes a high level meeting in New Delhi. The whole state of Punjab was on red alert since Friday despite which the terrorists managed to enter into the high security air force station in Pathankot and launch a massive attack. In addition to this there was a major incident that took place in Punjab yesterday where a group of terrorists had killed a taxi driver and also stolen the vehicle of a Superintendent of Police at gun point. Meanwhile in New Delhi a high level meeting has been convened to assess the ongoing situation in Punjab. Intelligence Bureau officials say that the attack bears the signature of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and recent intercepts did suggest that this terrorist group was planning a major strike in Punjab on the lines of the Gurdaspur attack. The number of terrorists holed up at the attack site is still not clear. It appears from reports that there could be six terrorists. However it is confirmed that four have been killed. The operation is still on and efforts are on to nuetralise the rest of the terrorists. These terrorists have come in for a long haul with an intention of causing maximum destruction, an officer informed. OneIndia News Golden intelligence rule: When your cover is blown, you are on your own Pathankot attack: Fifth terrorist gunned down India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 2: The fifth terrorist has been gunned down at Pathankot, where terrorists launched an attack at the air force station early this morning. While four terrorists were killed earlier today, there was a massive operation that was being undertaken in search of more terrorists. While the security forces managed to gun down the fifth terrorists, they have not yet declared the operation as complete. Search and combing operations are still underway. We want to be sure that there are no more of them in the air force station, an officer informed. There were reports earlier that suggested that there could be more than five terrorists. However according to the version of the Punjab police, five persons had infiltrated into the state and abducted a senior police official before stealing his vehicle. Pak number used to hire taxi by terrorists in Pathankot A team of the central intelligence bureau is also assisting the Punjab police gather more information about the strike. Although there is no confirmation about the exact number of terrorists, sources say there could have been five in all. Efforts are being made to ensure that no terrorist slips out of the radar. The version of the Punjab police too has been taken into account. While speaking to the Punjab police who are probing the abduction case of a senior police official it was revealed that there were five men in army fatigues. These terrorists even stole the vehicle of the police official. The police official in his statement said that he saw five terrorists. The NIA team present at the spot says that they are studying the attack as well as gathering evidence. The officials however refused to comment when asked if they would be taking over the probe. It is up to the state police and the union government to take a call on that, the officer stated. OneIndia News Pathankot attack: JeM terrorists came for a long haul India oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2: The terrorists who launched the attack at the Pathankot air base are suspected to be members of the dreaded Jaish-e-Mohammad. The manner in which the terrorists entered into the air base suggests that they were planning on destroying the entire unit, sources say. The terrorists were heavily armed and reports suggest that they had entered into India for a long haul. There is still not enough clarity about the number of men who were part of the attack. Security officials believe that the number of terrorists could be 4 or five. There are also reports that suggest that there may be 6 to 7 terrorists. Officials, however, state that there is no doubt that all these terrorists came in from Pakistan. Later during the day, India is likely to take up this issue with Pakistan at the National Security Advisor level. Meanwhile, ANI reports that the terrorists have been contained to the domestic area of the air force station while the technical area is safe. Choppers have also been dispatched to the area for assistance, it has also been reported. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 2, 2016, 8:19 [IST] Pathankot attack: NIA says no sign of 5th terrorist India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 2: The National Investigating Agency which is collecting information about the Pathankot attack says that there is still no trace of the fifth terrorist. A team of the NIA had rushed to Pathankot to gather information regarding the attack. Fresh firing in Pathankot; IAF using attack helicopters The team of officers say that the Pathankot air base has been sanitized. However the operation is still on as sorties are being conducted. There is still no information on the fifth terrorist though officials informed. So far four terrorists have been killed by the security personnel. A team of the central intelligence bureau is also assisting the Punjab police gather more information about the strike. The focus is on tracking down the terrorists. Although there is no confirmation about the exact number of terrorists, sources say there could have been five in all. Efforts are being made to ensure that no terrorist slips out of the radar. As per the account given to the Punjab police there were five terrorists who undertook the abduction of a senior police before stealing his vehicle. The police say that the abduction incident and the Pathankot attacks may be connected. OneIndia news For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 2, 2016, 16:21 [IST] Golden intelligence rule: When your cover is blown, you are on your own Spoke in Punjabi dialect, posed as Army men, the mystery behind the missing Innova Pathankot attack will impact Indo-Pak diplomatic relationship? India oi-Jagriti New Delhi, Jan 2: Reacting on Pathankot attack, India's leading expert and outspoken critics on security and strategic affairs C Uday Bhaskar said that we have to see how this will impact political,diplomatic relationship between India and Pakistan. "Larger political challenge is that we have to see how #Pathankot attack will impact pol diplomatic relationship btwn Pak-India" said Uday Bhaskar. This attack has come barely a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sudden visit to Lahore on way back to Delhi from Kabul. The visit was seen as an attempt to break the ice between the south Asian neighbours. At least six terrorists attacked the air force base in Punjab's Pathankot district on Saturday morning. Four terrorists and two security personnel have been killed in the gunbattle. Pathankot attack: JeM terrorists came for a long haul They entered the premise, located 50 kms from the border with Pakistan and 200 kms from state capital Chandigarh, wearing military uniform. They reportedly used an official vehicle. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 2, 2016, 10:03 [IST] Pathankot attack would have been worse if there were no intelligence alerts India oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2: There are two ways of looking at the intelligence bureau alerts that were issued ahead of the Pathankot attack that took place today. There was intelligence regarding the attack and a red alert in the state of Punjab too had been issued. On one hand one could say that the attack took place despite the intelligence and on the other it could be said that the attack would have been more severe if there was no information. It is clear that the terrorists entered India with a specific intention of targeting the air force station. The manner in which the attack was coordinated and the modus operandi involved in entering into the attack site are all indications that it was pre-planned. The advance information that the intelligence bureau had may have helped thwart an attack, which could have been bigger if the security agencies were caught off guard. [Read: Pathankot: Were the terrorists launched from Bhawalpur, Pakistan] The build up: Between 12.45 Am and 1.30 AM, the IB intercepted four calls that were made by the terrorists to handlers in Pakistan. The tracking began soon after an incident that occurred yesterday in which the Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police was abducted and released. His vehicle was however stolen by the terrorists. Following this alert and interception a red alert had been sounded in Punjab and also Jammu and Kashmir. The army placed its men near the Pathankot airforce station and they were helped by the National Security Guards who too were roped in to guard the area. [Read: Pathankot attack despite specific intelligence alert] All this indicates a sense of preparedness and had this build up not been there, the terrorists could have an advantage and destroyed a large part of the air base. Another advantage of having advance information was that the security forces were able to contain the terrorists early. The terrorists were looking to enter into the technical area of the airforce station. However they were not able to enter this area and were largely restricted to a non-operational zone of the station. Had they entered the technical area, the damage would have been larger. [Read: Pathankot attack: JeM terrorists came for a long haul] While there were advantages of having specific intelligence alerts there are also other areas which raise concerns. If there was heavy security deployed around the airforce station, how did the terrorists manage to enter into the area in the first place. Sources say that they had used an official car and this could be the one they had stolen from the Superintendent of Police yesterday. Moreover they were all dressed in army fatigues and some security personnel could have not suspected them to be terrorists. The details that have come in from Pathankot are still preliminary in nature. Investigations are being conducted and in a few days time a clearer picture is likely to emerge. OneIndia News Pathankot: Were the terrorists launched from Bhawalpur, Pakistan? India oi-Vicky Pathankot, Jan 2:The terrorists who carried out the attack at the Pathankot air force station in Punjab are said to have come to India from Bhawalpur in Pakistan. Incidentally, this is the same area from where the two terrorists Mohammad Naved and Noman were launched to stage the Udhampur attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Going by the modus operandi and details, it appeared as though the terrorists entered into Punjab a day back. They were dressed in army clothes when they entered the country as this appeared to be a way of hoodwinking the security forces in India. Sources say that the attack was planned well in advance as the terrorists coordinated the entire operation effortlessly. They had decided that they would enter the airbase after stealing an official vehicle. This was done to hoodwink the security personnel at check posts. Moreover, they have come heavily armed which indicates that they were in for a long haul. Going by the nature of the attack, it appears as though there was thorough planning which may have been done since the past several months. One cannot also rule out the fact that they must have had a reconnaissance mission prior to the attack. The terrorists are the air force station were trained and heavily armed. Investigations also point towards the fact that the terrorists may have used the same car they stole yesterday from a senior police officer. It is also found that they had snatched away the officers phone and used the same to call back Pakistan. It was this call intercept that was picked yesterday and a red alert was issued in Punjab. The NSG too was called in after this incident. Meanwhile the Pathankot-Jammu border has been sealed. The army has been deployed to ensure that none of the terrorists manage to slip into the neighbouring states. OneIndia News A Turkish court has remanded in custody two Daesh members, who were allegedly planning an attack in capital Ankara on New Year's Eve, said Turkish officials Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported. According to officials from the prosecutor's office, the suspects are charged with of belonging to a terror organization and possessing an explosive substance. Earlier in the day, the Ankara prosecutor had questioned the suspects and requested their imprisonment to the court. Musa Canoz, 28, and Adnan Yildirim, 40, were arrested Wednesday over an alleged plot to commit a suicide bomb attack in the city's main square, which is the scene of annual Dec. 31 celebrations. The Ankara Chief Prosecutor's office said the suspects had targeted two locations near Kizilay, a shopping and restaurant district in the heart of the city, and were equipped with explosive vests packed with steel ball bearings. Prosecutors said the arrests were carried out in Yakup Abdal, a neighborhood on the southern outskirts of Ankara. Ankara was targeted by twin suicide bombings on Oct. 10, when 103 people were killed in an attack on protesters gathering outside the city's main train station for a peace rally. The attack, which also left hundreds wounded, was the deadliest in modern Turkish history and has been attributed to Daesh supporters. Jalalabad blast: Another attempt to ethnically cleanse Afghanistan, Pak of Hindus and Sikhs Kabul: Suicide bomber strikes French restaurant International oi-Pallavi Kabul, Jan 2: Marking the latest in the series of terror attacks, a French restaurant popular among travellers to Kabul was struck by a suicide bomber. Killing two people, the restaurant La Jardin was engulfed in fire after a loud explosion pierced through the air. This took place on the New Year's Day and a day after Afghanistan announced a four-pronged talks with Pakistan on January 11. The talks were aimed at jumpstarting peace negotiations with the resurgent Taliban. Meanwhile, Fraidoon Obaidi, the head of Kabul's Criminal Investigation Department said,"We can confirm a suicide car bomb attack on Le Jardin." He further added,"We are busy extinguishing the fire at the scene... two Afghans have been killed and 15 others wounded." Fatalities included a 12-year old boy who was declared brought dead by the Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul. Claiming to have killed and injured many, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid took to social media to promote the organization's activities. OneIndia News International news brief: Musk proposes to buy Twitter for original price & more Twitter melts as grandpa cries happy tears when he finds granddaughter is lawyer Fact Check: Did Trump thank Musk for welcoming him back to Twitter Arvind Kejriwal gets brutally trolled for allegedly following an adult content account on Twitter Twitter 'confuses' famous activist with IS, suspends account International oi-IANS By Ians English New York, Jan 2: An Arab Spring activist has accused the Twitter micro-blogging site of suspending his account after administrators mistook him for the leader of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. Iyad El-Baghdadi, who has more than 70,000 Twitter followers and frequently mocks the IS, said his account was suspended for about half-an-hour after he was misidentified as IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Indonesian newspaper Republika and the New York Post, BBC reported on Friday. "To confuse an Arab man for the IS leader because of his very Arabic common surname is overt racism, @twitter," he wrote on his account. "My account gave you nearly 100 million twitter views this year, but you suspend me and keep the trolls running around, @twitter," he wrote in another tweet. El-Baghdadi said he received a message from Twitter saying he had "violated" its rules but did not specify the offence. The activist, who also researches radicalisation, said the company needed to be "more transparent" about why and how people are suspended. Twitter gives access to politicians' deleted tweets again "I don't think a single Arab country exists that doesn't have a family with the surname El-Baghdadi," his another tweet read. Arab Spring refers to the democratic uprisings that arose independently and spread across the Arab world in 2011. Meanwhile, Twitter has not commented on the issue yet. In a fresh bid to combat abusive behaviour, micro-blogging site Twitter is also revising its rules to tackle hateful conduct including spreading of terror messages online. "We believe that protection from abuse and harassment is a vital part of empowering people to freely express themselves on Twitter," Megan Cristina, director, trust and safety at Twitter, posted in a blog recently. "The updated language emphasises that Twitter will not tolerate behaviour intended to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence another user's voice. As always, we embrace and encourage diverse opinions and beliefs but we will continue to take action on accounts that cross the line into abuse," she posted. Over the past year, Twitter has taken several steps to fight abuse in order to protect freedom of expression. It has empowered users with tools for blocking, muting and reporting abusive behaviour. IANS 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. 'Star Trek' Featured On US Stamps In Time For It's 50th Anniversary USPS created two new Forever stamps for the 2016 World Stamp Show in New York City. The Star Wars design is included in the exhibit. (Photo : Facebook/USPS Stamps) The US Postal Service just created stamps to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famed TV series "Star Trek." The post office released preview of the designs which feature the Starfleet symbol, the USS Enterprise, Spock's Vulcan salute and a silhouette of a crewman. The Star Trek stamps are part of the Forever series collection and were designed by Heads of State led by Antonio Alcala, the lead art director. The four illustrations perfectly represent the the TV series' well-known emblems, complete with the background colors reflecting the characters' uniforms. In addition, Captain Kirk's famous line - "SPACE... THE FINAL FRONTIER" appears at the lower part of the stamps with stars as its background . Advertisement In the press release posted on USPS, acting Stamp Services Director Mary-Anne Penner said, "Our stamps articulate the American experience through miniature works of art." "Our diverse stamp topics for 2016 are sure to appeal to everyone, and with the New Year just around the corner, now is a perfect time to get started in stamp collecting. It's an educational hobby the entire family can enjoy," she added. Apart from the iconic show, other stamps that were previewed by the Postal Service include: 1. Indiana Statehood This is in honor of Indiana's 200th anniversary celebration of becoming the 19th state of the Union. 2. Views of Our Planets The design shows full-disk A pane of 16 stamps showcasing some of the more visually compelling full-disk modern images of Earth, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune. 3. Legends of Hollywood: Shirley Temple This is an addition to Hollywood legends series. The illustration is Tim O'Brien's painting of the actress which was based from the stills of the movie "Curly Top." Lastly, stamps with animal pet designs will also be made available, CNN Money reported. Release date for these contemporary stamps is set to be announce at a later date. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob explores the difference between a natural, organic, bottom-up connection consciousness and our corporately imposed top-down hierarchical collective consciousness. What Rob is speaking about is the difference between an artificial and ultimately stagnate way of organizing the world and a natural, organic growth, which starts with a seed, sends downs roots and sends up shoots which blossom. By returning to a Nature-based theory of connection, the Bottom-Up revolution brings us back into alignment with Earths laws, returning humanity to its place in creation. Like a good gardener, Rob works into the soil of his thesis different voices that exemplify how this Bottom-Up revolution is expanding in politics, business, religion, personal self-awareness and story. And he places technology where it belongsas a tool to further our connection consciousness, not an end in itself. The bottom-up revolution is about democracy finally living up to its original ideals, where we the people decide what we need from our society." Cathy Pagano, author of Wisdoms Daughters: How Women Can Change the World Reprinted from Gush Shalom WHEN THE State of Israel was founded, the new foreign minister, Moshe Sharett, did something that seemed quite natural. He sold his private apartment. In his new function, he was accorded an official residence. A modest one, needless to say. Sharett thought that it was unseemly for a public official to retain a private apartment when he was living at the public expense. He did not keep the money he received for his private apartment. Rather, he donated it to several human rights associations -- the very same that are now under fierce government attack and labeled "leftists," a label only slightly less negative than "treasonous." Today, such an act would be considered insane. Why, the present Prime Minister lives in an official residence and keeps two more houses, one of which is a luxury villa in a colony of the very rich. In many respects, Sharett was an exception. He was born in Ukraine as Moshe Shertok, came to Palestine when he was 10 years old, lived for some years in Arab neighborhoods where he learned Arabic, served during World War I in the Ottoman army and became the Zionist expert on foreign relations. All this was quite unusual: almost all Zionist leaders neither knew Arabs nor liked them, they did not understand Arabic and saw the Arabs right from the beginning as enemies. Lest this be understood as flattery by an admirer, I must add that he did not like me at all and said some very unkind things about me, which I countered with some quite unkind remarks of my own. Yet I could not refrain from remembering his decency this week, on the day on which the highest court in Israel sent a former Prime Minister to prison for bribery. WHEN THIS happened, the accused, Ehud Olmert, was almost jubilant. A lower court had found him guilty of a much more serious bribery accusation and condemned him to a much longer prison term. The Supreme Court, after dragging his case out for as long as possible, reduced the offense and the prison term from six years to a mere year and a half. As usual in Israel, a third will be remitted for good behavior in prison, so he will probably "sit" for one year only. Hallelujah. The former Prime Minister will spend only one year in prison, where he will join a former President of Israel who has been sent there for rape. The present Prime Minister and his wife are under investigation for using government funds to pay the expenses of their two private homes. The present attorney of the Netanyahus has asked the Attorney General for a private conversation, in which he was going to ask him (according to a written note) to quash the investigation, hinting that Sara Netanyahu was mentally unstable. The Attorney General refused to see him, but the matter is dragging on. By the way, the all-powerful Attorney General (known in Israel as the "Legal Advisor to the Government") was, before his appointment, the private attorney of the Netanyahu family. He will finish his term in a month, when he will be replaced by the present Cabinet Secretary, a person even closer to Netanyahu. Several other leading political luminaries are under criminal investigation for this and that. One of them is Sylvan Shalom, the former Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who had to resign last week after being suspected of raping or molesting six women who were working under him (no pun intended). The police officer in charge of the department responsible for all these investigations has just been reinstated, after being suspended on suspicion of sexually molesting female officers. A "ready reckoner" on "Hizb-ut-Tahrir's activities in the United States" is available in the Jamestown Terrorism Monitor (Vol V, Issue 16) since August 2007. Madeleine Gruen, who had penned the account, wrote: "Globally, HT presents itself as confident and optimistic, and it is progressing according to the strategy its founding members outlined in 1953. Hizb-ut-Tahrir America (HTA) is enjoying a similar pattern of progress. "Its founders, most of whom immigrated to the United States from the Middle East as adults in the early 1980s, had a hard time overcoming cultural differences with their young American target audience, and they were sometimes unable to compete with other extremist groups with more money, more aggressive strategies and better established operations. However, the HTA founders managed to bring in enough committed members during the first 10 years to secure the party's future. HTA has continued to evolve, using the same methodology as its other branches and is now exhibiting signs of vitality," Gruen said. A nucleus of committed members kick-started the HTA activities. "Chief among them were Palestinian-Jordanian Iyad Hilal, an Orange County, California-based grocer, who was most actively engaged in HTA's development from the late 1980s to the beginning of 2000, and Mohammed Malkawi, a computer engineer based in the Chicago area (Spotlight on Terror, March 23, 2004). Both had been long-time members of HT in their home countries. Hilal and his associates initiated HT activities in New York and in Orange County simultaneously, while Malkawi and his associates established party roots in Wisconsin and Chicago," says the ready reckoner. Post-9/11 scenario in America helped HTA to grow "without much public scrutiny". Result: HuT's presence has spread beyond the two coasts. Some of HTA's most influential members are in the Midwest. HTA's online presence "reveals" that their membership has spread beyond New York, Orange County, Chicago and Milwaukee. Doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and university professors, and business owners are among its members. Amongst the prize catches is Naveed Butt, who went on to become the influential spokesman for HuT Pakistan. After graduating from the University of Illinois, he worked for Motorola at the same time as Mohammed Malkawi. As Madeleine Gruen points out, the recruitment of such a high-ranking member in the United States is "an important victory" for HuT as a whole. The biggest plus with HuT and therefore a cause for greatest worry for Home Land Security is the fact that HTA serves often as a starting point in the radicalization process for Muslim youth. The ranks of such youth include Tel Aviv pub bomber Omar Sharif, and Abu Issa al-Hindi, who plotted to attack several New York-based financial targets (New Statesman, April 24, 2006). Already HuT has led to the formation of even more radical and militant groups than itself, such as the al-Muhajiroun (AM), combining as it does Marxist-Leninist methodology and Western slogans with reactionary Islamic ideology in order to shape the internal debate within Islam. When HuT propounded its core philosophy - replace the Judeo-Christian-dominated nation-state system with a borderless Islamic Umma - it appeared as an extreme if not impossible idea. Today, most Islamists have adopted the HuT call for a return to the Islamic society (Caliphate). What is more Islamists have begun to subscribe to the HuT theory that contemporary international politics is dominated by American efforts to wage a "fourth crusade" against Muslims. This elaborate take on HuT is only to drive home the point, which Zeyno Baran also made in her 2008 testimony, that there has been a false sense of security in the US "that derives from the belief that American Muslims are well-integrated--that the US will not face the same threat Europe is facing from its alienated Muslim youth, and that if we look at the number of attempted home-grown terror plots that were prevented (often by pure luck) we need to be very concerned." By August 2007, the New York Police Department (NYPD) came out with a report titled: "Radicalization in the West: The Home-grown Threat". It outlined several European- and American-based Islamist terror cases, and declared that the home-grown threat was indeed serious in the US. "This is where the MB comes in--the most prominent Muslim organizations in America were either created by or are associated with the Brotherhood and the wahhabis and are therefore been heavily influenced by Islamist ideology. Over the course of four decades, Islamists have taken over the leadership in almost all Islam-related areas in America. This is worrisome, yet almost no one in the US government deals with it," lamented Zeyno Baran -- a lament that is relevant today as it was in 2008. The Hudson scholar literally held a class on how Islamist networks in America primarily focused on indoctrination of the youth, "which marks the critical first step of the bottom-up approach that these organizations use". (To be continued) Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "We are in the midst of a profound change of paradigms: from seeing the world as a machine to understanding it as a network. Rob Kall has interviewed many of the leaders, both thinkers and activists, of this global cultural transformation. In this eminently readable book, he weaves their statements, values, and ideas into a coherent and inspiring whole. Bottom-Up is a joy to read!" Fritjof Capra, author of The Web of Life and The Hidden Connections, coauthor of The Systems View of Life Sometimes when I am contemplating a commentary events conspire to help me reflect more deeply on the subject at hand. Such was the case when, after Donald Trump's outrageous suggestion that Muslims in America should be registered and no more Muslims should be allowed to enter the country, I began to write about the politics of fear. I first recalled what Franklin D. Roosevelt told Americans during World War II: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," the president said. He was cautioning a frightened population against fear-induced paralysis. It was an especially important message given that considered, decisive action and not passivity was urgently needed to defeat evildoers like Hitler. Perhaps he was also warning us not to cower in the face of demagogues and not to yield to unacceptable language that serves to fuel heinous deeds. Quite possibly he was also cautioning against becoming inured to a kind of evil that can invade our collective psyche so that seemingly innocuous words like "normal," "necessary "and "needed" begin to justify a nation's dangerous, destructive, shameful behavior. While I was thinking about this I happened to be reading an extraordinary novel by the Russian-born writer Paul Goldberg. The Yid is about Stalinism, anti-Semitism, racism and more in 1950s Russia and it struck me as incredibly relevant. Goldberg's protagonist, for example, compares political purges to epidemics that "start out with a small, concentrated population, then expand their reach nationally, even globally." Epidemics of infectious diseases, he says, "can reach a peak" before inevitably receding. He concludes that Fascism is an infectious disease and Stalinism is a plague. Neither can survive, but in their long brutality many people suffer and die. I can't be the only one to read this book and think of Donald Trump's vicious talk and insidious proposals when it comes to Muslims or immigrants and refugees. Goldberg's character was right to say that epidemics -- even political ones - can become global. The growth of France's right wing party or for that matter the far right voters in the UK, Poland, and elsewhere demonstrate that. Never has there been a more urgent time to ask ourselves, as Goldberg does, "What are we dealing with? Is this outburst of ignorance and hatred akin to systemic disease? What if you could find a way to intervene and neutralize it?" Then something else happened as I was tossing all of this around in my mind. I attended an amazing non-denominational religious service in which a gifted minister spoke about fear and what it can do to us. Without ever mentioning refugees, immigrants, Republicans, or Muslims, and using only Good Samaritan stories to make his point, this good, compassionate, intelligent man hit the nail on the head. Fear, he said, leads to hate and hate leads to demonizing people who may be different than we are. We need to see past those differences. We must be global citizens and good neighbors. We must recall and reclaim our national shame in remembering what America did to Native Americans, to Japanese Americans during the war, to the Jews we turned away when they were desperate to escape Nazi atrocities, to the multitudes of Black Americans who died hanging from trees or attacked by dogs when they fought for civil rights, to HIV/AIDS or Ebola victims -- all because we saw these human beings as "they," The Other, the Outsider, the threat that fueled our fear. We need also to reclaim our own Good Samaritan stories if we are to survive, the minister reminded us. We must reject the fearmongering of Biblical literalists who often forget that to be human is to behave humanely. So, no more polemicists like Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson who preach fear and hatred from their pulpits. No more demonizing of others by right-wing zealots in Congress or elsewhere. No more Trump travesties or political poison born of bigotry. No more foul-mouthed, unfounded accusations. No more letting fear dominate our decisions and behavior. No more fear defining our national character so that other nations no longer want to engage with us. The time for proclaiming with our voices and our vote that we are not going to do it anymore is now. The time is here to say clearly that we reject fear as our future. Instead, let us see past challenging times in order to survive as a unified, dignified nation. Let us be a country whole and healthy. Let the fearmongers slink away and find their own place in the world, but let it not be ours. By Dave Lindorff Bret Grote, one of the attorneys in Mumia Hep-C treatment case (Image by ThisCantBeHappening!) Details DMCA Following three days of contentious testimony in a courtroom in Scranton, PA late last month, a federal district judge is considering a legal petition by Pennsylvania's most well-known prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal for a finding that the state's long-running refusal to treat his active case of Hepatitis-C, a potentially fatal disease, violates his Eighth Amendment right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Over the past 16 months Abu-Jamal has suffered an array of symptoms and ailments that witnesses at trial testified were symptomatic of and likely caused by an active case of Hep-C, an infection the state has known him to have in his body since a blood screening test taken in 2012 when he was first transferred off of death row and placed into a general population prison following the overturning of his 1982 death sentence. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) tried initially to prevent the hearing, claiming that Abu-Jamal had not "exhausted" the department's grievance procedures, and that his complaint about non-treatment was defective, for example because he had not explicitly named all of the doctors who had seen him. but Judge Robert Mariani was dismissive of those dilatory arguments and after rejecting them, ordered that the hearing on the injunction go forward. During subsequent testimony by several DOC witnesses, including executives from Corizon, the controversial private Tennessee-based contracting firm that is supposed to provide medical services to the state's prisons, and from the DOC itself, it was revealed that for 22 months until last November, the state DOC had no guidelines for treating the Hep-C epidemic that afflicts as many as a quarter of the state's prison inmates. It was also disclosed that the DOC attorney, Laura Neal, had in her possession at the defense table a copy of a new treatment "protocol" drawn up in November, which the state had not even informed the court or Mumia's attorneys existed. She said she had planned to use the document in questioning her witness, but had not intended to enter it into evidence. When Mumia's attorneys Bret Grote and Robert Boyle, and the judge, asked for a copy of that document, Neal sought to keep it sealed, ultimately explaining that the DOC didn't want it to be disclosed publicly for fear that it would be used by another legal team that is currently pursuing a class action suit in a court in Pittsburgh against the DOC on behalf of all inmates in the state with Hep-C. Again the judge was unsympathetic and ordered the document released immediately. (See illustration accompanying article) That document proved to be stunning in its callous barbarity. As Mumia's attorney Grote explained in an interview last Wednesday on PRN.fm's weekly "This Can't Be Happening!" radio program [1], the DOC's new Hep-C treatment protocol states that the department "won't consider treatment until there is evidence of advanced cirrhosis...permanent irreversible organ damage that carries with it the risk of death." He went on to say the protocol then adds a second hurdle before treatment: "They require an endoscopy looking for something called esophageal varices...a condition where the blood vessels of the esophagus are literally about to burst. If there's no esophageal varicies, they continue to refuse Hep-C treatment and just say to test for esophageal varices again in another three years." Image of a section of the DOC's Hep-C protocol (Image by ThisCantBeHappening!) Details DMCA Asked how many of the state's reported 6-7,000 prison inmates with active Hep-C cases were currently receiving treatment with new medications that are known to be almost 95% effective at curing the life-threatening disease, a state's witness testified that there were just "four or five" inmates receiving treatment. It was a stunning admission that the state is simply unwilling to provide a medically necessary treatment to cure what is a raging epidemic among its prison population, because of the estimated $85,000 per imnate cost of treatment. Yet as Grote points out, each prisoner like Abu-Jamal who has an active Hep-C infection will cost the state far more than the $85-$100.,000 cost of the medicine for the 12-week cure. Abu-Jamal, alone, with his tests and hospitalizations over the past few months has cost the state well in excess of $100,000, according to Grote, and meanwhile, nothing has been done to treat his underlying Hepatitis infection. "I'm not easily shocked by the Pennsylvania DOC," says Grote, whose Abolitionist Law Center focuses on challenging prison abuses in the state, "but this is a return to the colonizers and imperialists who viewed their colonial subjects as so subhuman that such sick treatment is considered okay. Their protocol is not a treatment protocol, it's a protocol not to treat the sickest, with four or five exceptions, and these are left unexplained." Grote says that the state is operating "a death panel like conservatives were saying was in Obamacare, only this is a real death panel (called the Hepatitis C Treatment Committee), composed of a few DOC executives and a few people from Corizon." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). See original here From booting Stephen Harper to highlighting racial injustice, progressives can take heart in these outcomes As the year draws to a close, it's worth noting a handful of progressive gains that people-power made possible: Feelin' the Bern Despite the lack of coverage in corporate media about the Vermont Independent and his presidential bit, Sen. Bernie Sanders and his call for a political revolution have resonated nationwide. Sanders, who's put a spotlight on economic inequality, has also slammed the U.S. incarceration rate as an "international embarrassment," called for free higher education, lambasted Wall street as "out of control," and advocated for a single-payer healthcare system, has been speaking to record-breaking crowds. He now holds the record for highest number of contributions for a White House bid, breaking the record held by President Barack Obama in 2011, and a Quinnipiac University poll this month found that, if the 2016 U.S. presidential election were held today, Sanders would win by a landslide over GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Black Lives Matter The Black Lives Matter movement has put a spotlight this year on the rampant racial injustice plaguing the nation. It's been able to shift public opinions on racism, and as Campaign for America's Future Terrance Heath writes, it's because of the movement we know the names Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Laquan McDonald. Sandra Bland. Walter Scott. Rekia Boyd. Tamir Rice. It's the movement of the year, commentator Sonali Kolhatkar declared. "What the past two years have shown us is that killings of African-Americans by police is continuing to happen, continuing to be recorded, continuing to be protested and continuing to be condoned by a justice system hell-bent on absolving the killers of black folk. It has also shown us that the movement that this injustice has spawned is shrewd, adapts quickly and is here to stay," she writes. Hello, Corbyn When anti-war, anti-austerity socialist Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the British Labour party in September, Salman Shaheen of Britain's progressive Left Unity party said, "British politics will never be the same." Corbyn's victory, Shaheen said, "shatters the main parties' consensus on austerity, war and many other issues. This victory is part of a new kind of politics that is rising across Europe, as people reclaim hope and mass movements grow for real alternatives." In November, as British Prime Minister David Cameron stated his desire to escalate the UK's military campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) in both Iraq and Syria, Corbyn said that it is "vital" to learn from history and "not to be drawn into responses that feed a cycle of violence." World governments, he said, "must not keep making the same mistakes" in their fight against terrorism. Ahead of his election, Corbyn also said that his party would "apologiz[e] to the British people for taking them into the Iraq war on the basis of deception and to the Iraqi people for the suffering we have helped cause." Bye-bye, Harper Canadians brought an end to nearly a decade of rule by right-wing Prime Minister Stephen Harper this fall when they elected Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party. Reprinted from WSWS The commander of US forces in Afghanistan is prepared to ask the Obama administration to send more American troops to the country under conditions in which the security forces of the US-backed regime in Kabul have proven incapable of holding back a nationwide offensive by the Taliban. In an interview published Tuesday by USA Today, Army Gen. John Campbell said that he would seek to postpone as long as possible any drawdown of the nearly 10,000 US troops now deployed in Afghanistan and would not hesitate to request additional forces should he find them necessary. President Barack Obama last October reneged on his pledge to withdraw virtually all US troops from Afghanistan before the end of his administration, ordering instead a force of 9,800 to remain there through most of 2016, with at least 5,500 troops still in place when he leaves office in January 2017. General Campbell indicated that he would resist any reduction in the size of the American occupation force. "My intent would be to keep as much as I could for as long as I could," he told the newspaper in a telephone interview from Kabul. Campbell expressed confidence that if he pushed for an escalation of the US deployment in Afghanistan, the Obama White House would comply. "My job as commander on the ground is to continually make assessments," the general told USA Today. "Every time I've gone to the president and said, 'I need X,' I've been very, very fortunate that he's provided that. So he's been very flexible. It's actually been conditions based as we've gone forward. "If I don't believe that we can accomplish the train, advise and assist and the (counterterrorism) missions, then I owe it to the senior leadership to come back and say, 'Here's what I need.' If that's more people, it's more people." The newspaper also cited Congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who expressed support for increasing the number of US troops on the ground in Afghanistan. "The sheer lack of numbers as well as the restrictions our folks are put under handicap our efforts," he said. Thornberry was quoted as saying that US military commanders had sought the deployment of up to 20,000 troops. That the Pentagon, the Congress and the White House are once again embroiled in a debate over escalating the US intervention in Afghanistan speaks volumes about the debacle created by over 14 years of war and occupation that has cost more than $1 trillion, and seen more spent on aid than the entire expenditure under the Marshall Plan on the reconstruction of post-World War II Europe. Afghanistan, meanwhile, remains the most impoverished and undeveloped country in Asia. The decision by the Obama White House in October to keep nearly 10,000 US troops in place was driven in large measure by the rout of Afghan security forces in the key northern city of Kunduz, which was overrun and held for nearly two weeks by the Taliban. US forces were dispatched to play a leading role in retaking the city. In the course of the counterattack, a US AC-130 flying gunship carried out a sustained attack on the city's Doctors without Borders (MSF) hospital, killing 42 patients and medical staff members. MSF has demanded an independent investigation of the attack as a war crime. The fall of Kunduz to the Taliban has been followed by its overrunning this month of virtually the entire Sangin district in southern Helmand province. The precarious situation confronting the US military was further underscored by a suicide bomber's killing of six American airmen patrolling the perimeter of Bagram air base on December 21. A Pentagon report issued earlier this month found that "In the second half of 2015, the overall security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated, with an increase in effective insurgent attacks and higher A.N.D.S.F. [Afghan National Defense and Security Forces] and Taliban casualties." The Afghan security forces, the report added, "remain in a primarily defensive posture that limits their agility across the country," while the "insurgents are improving their ability to find and exploit vulnerabilities, making the security situation still fragile in key areas and at risk of deterioration in other places." Reprinted from Other Words Polls show that Bernie Sanders would trounce Donald Trump, but you'd never know that from watching TV news. Let's go to the scoreboard to see who's winning the exciting presidential election media coverage game. The Tyndall Report, a non-partisan media monitoring firm that has been tracking the nightly news broadcasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC, found that Trump is tromp, tromp, tromping over the airtime of everyone else. From last January through November, these dominant flagship news shows devoted 234 minutes of prime-time coverage to the incessant chirping of the yellow-crested birdbrain, with no other contender getting even a fourth of that. Take Bernie Sanders, who's stunning the political establishment with a fiery populist campaign that's drawing record crowds. Indeed, Sanders' upstart campaign is commanding a comparable share of support within the Democratic Party's voting base to what Trump is enjoying from the Republican electorate. And -- get this -- polls also show Bernie trouncing The Donald if they face each other in November's presidential showdown. So surely he's getting a proportional level of media coverage by the networks on our public airwaves, right? Ha, just kidding! The big networks' devotion of 234 minutes to all-things-Trump was "balanced" by less than 10 minutes for Sanders. Most egregious was ABC, the Disney-owned network. ABC's World News Tonight awarded 81 minutes of national showtime to Trump last year -- and for Bernie: 20 seconds. How self-serving of the media moguls. The one candidate who is effectively rallying large numbers of voters to oppose the rise of corporate oligarchy -- including in the media -- has the plug pulled on him. Of course, this only amplifies the truth of what Sanders is saying about the villainy of corporate profiteers, and it fuels a greater determination by his millions of grassroots supporters to end the reign of greed in America. Reprinted from www.telesurtv.net The anniversary of the EZLN's uprising is a chance to reflect on the Zapatista movement's achievements and lessons that are still relevant today.Jan. 1 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Zapatista uprising and more than 30 years since the formation of the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (Zapatista Army of National Liberation, EZLN).On January 1, 1994, the EZLN captured the world's imagination when it rose up to demand justice and democracy for the indigenous peasants of southern Mexico. Since that brief armed insurrection, the EZLN has become known more for its peaceful mobilizations, dialogue with civil society, and structures of political, economic, and cultural autonomy. Over the past three decades, the Zapatista movement has won significant changes in its own territory and has inspired other social movements in Mexico and around the world, offering a number of key lessons that are still relevant today.The date of the Zapatista uprising was chosen for its symbolic importance -- as it was the day the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect. The EZLN was one of the first popular movements to recognize neoliberalism as a menacing new stage of global capitalism and called NAFTA a death sentence for the indigenous peasants of Mexico.Over the past two decades, the impact of the Zapatista movement can be seen at the local, national, and international level.As night fell on Dec. 31, 1993, the armed forces of the EZLN had begun to gather. It was an army made up almost entirely of indigenous people, and about a third of the soldiers were women. As dawn broke on New Year's Day, Zapatista troops occupied seven towns throughout the eastern half of Chiapas, including San Cristobal de las Casas, a quaint colonial city nestled in the misty highlands of Chiapas and a major tourist destination. The Zapatistas occupied San Cristobal for less than 48 hours. They stayed long enough to read their declaration of war from the balcony of the municipal palace, but slipped away in time to escape the full brunt of the Mexican military. The uprising would quickly transform the EZLN into one of the most well-known social movements in the world, and one that would inspire an extraordinary level of solidarity.Over the past two decades, the impact of the Zapatista movement can be seen at the local, national, and international level. Land takeovers carried out after the 1994 uprising -- where large ranches were occupied by the Zapatistas and reapportioned to landless peasants -- impacted the distribution of wealth in Chiapas and continue to affect living conditions for Zapatista villages farming on reclaimed land. The Zapatista structures of indigenous autonomy have meant that rural villages in Chiapas have gained access to rudimentary health care and education. They exercise self-determination through local and regional governments, and generate resources back into their communities through economic cooperatives that organize the production of goods.At the national level, the EZLN and the Mexican government signed the San Andres Peace Accords in 1996. Although never implemented by the Mexican government, the San Andres Accords recognized indigenous rights, promised indigenous autonomy, and created a framework that the Zapatistas and other indigenous groups throughout Mexico would implement on their own. The Zapatista movement arguably helped bring an end to 70 years of one-party rule in Mexico when the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI) lost the presidential elections in 2000. The EZLN continues to be an important reference point for social movements in Mexico today, such as the protest movement that emerged after the disappearance of forty-three students from a rural teachers' college in 2014.Around the world, the Zapatistas catalyzed a wave of solidarity that inspired a generation of young activists to organize for social justice in their own contexts. International gatherings organized by the EZLN fostered the burgeoning global justice movement. Events inspired or influenced by the Zapatistas include the World Social Forum, an annual global forum for grassroots activists and organizations, and demonstrations against global capitalism, such as the 1999 protests in Seattle against the World Trade Organization. With its ideological critique of neoliberalism and its internal emphasis on participatory democracy, the EZLN was a precursor to the Occupy and "We Are the 99 Percent" movements that emerged almost two decades after the Zapatista uprising. The Zapatista movement also offers a viable example of local alternatives to global capitalism. The economic cooperatives in Zapatista communities, for example, are strengthening a local and regional economy based on collective effort and the well being of the community, rather than competition and profit.Anyone who is 21 years old or younger was born after the Zapatista uprising, and many young people today have not even heard of the EZLN. In addition to understanding the significant achievements in Zapatista territory and their ripple effect around the world, this anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on the qualities of the Zapatista movement that made it such a compelling and successful social movement.One such quality is the EZLN's remarkable ability to draw from different historical, political and cultural traditions. The founding members of the EZLN were Marxist guerrillas who sought to overthrow the Mexican government through armed struggle. In Chiapas, however, they encountered a centuries-long history of indigenous resistance and a well-organized peasant movement fighting for land reform. They also encountered the influence of the Catholic Diocese of San Cristobal and several Maoist organizations. Instead of holding onto a rigid ideological orientation, the EZLN's leadership in those early years learned from these different traditions and began weaving them into a political praxis we now know as Zapatismo. This fluidity can also be seen in the blending of indigenous traditions and Western knowledge within the structures of indigenous autonomy. The autonomous health care system, for example, integrates knowledge of medicinal plants and includes traditional healers like midwives and bone-setters, but also makes use of Western medicine and relies on doctors to train the community health promoters.Another important element of the Zapatista movement is women's leadership and the commitment to women's rights and equality. Women's involvement in the EZLN has helped shape the Zapatista movement, which, in turn, opened new spaces for women and led to dramatic changes in their lives. When the EZLN began organizing in the rural villages of Chiapas, women there were experiencing an extraordinary level of violence and discrimination. But gender roles were radically redefined in the context"-of the Zapatista movement, as women became guerrilla insurgents and political leaders, healers and educators, and members of economic cooperatives. The tremendous changes in women's lives include public roles of leadership and participation in community affairs, the ability to choose their romantic partner and decide how many children to have, and a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and domestic violence. The great strides made towards women's liberation within the Zapatista movement offer an array of insights about how gender transformations can be achieved.They had the courage to declare war on the Mexican government, to take on global capitalism, and to ask themselves what it would mean to dismantle patriarchy in Zapatista territory.The final quality of the Zapatista movement that I would like to point to is a poignant combination of humility and passion. The Zapatistas are humble enough to know that none of us have all the answers. "Caminando preguntamos," they say -- "walking we ask questions." In spite of all they have gained, they readily acknowledge that theirs is a long-term struggle. They want to live in a world of justice and dignity and are working on building it, step by step. A Zapatista elder named Eva once told me, "The path of this struggle is long and there is still much we want to accomplish. We don't know how long it will take. There are many things we will probably not achieve ourselves. It will be up to our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren, and our great-great-grandchildren." Beer Mugs (Photo : Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) An upstate New York woman facing Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges was exonerated due to her being diagnosed with a rare condition known as Auto-Brewery Syndrome. The serious charges were dropped because the condition causes people's digestive system to turn food into alcohol. Attorney Joseph Marusak presented evidence from a doctor that his client suffered from the rare condition. He explained that he had never heard of the medical condition until handling his client's case. Advertisement However, Marusak knew that something was wrong when the hospital that the police took the New York woman to released her immediately. She showed no symptoms of being drunk. The New York woman had been taken to the hospital because the alcohol level was a sign that her health's status could be life-threatening, according to ImmortalNews. Her husband asked the hospital to run more tests because she had only had four alcoholic drinks over six hours. When the woman had taken a breathalyzer test hours after having her last drink, her alcohol level was over four times the state's legal limit. However, after her attorney explained her condition to state authorities, the drunk driving charges were dropped. The condition causes substances in the sufferer's stomach to turn food into ethanol, which results in blood alcohol levels to spike. It can even produce the smell of alcohol on the person's breath, according to Northern Californian. Dr. Richard Peek is a professor of medicine and cancer biology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He explained that a high number of candida fungi turns high-carb meals into ethanol. Peek recommends that people with Auto-Brewery Syndrome cut back on carbs. Another option is to take anti-fungal medicines to lower the number of candida. The New York woman's case was dropped due to the extra tests requested by her husband. However, the district attorney's office plans to appeal the ruling. The US is trying very hard to persuade the Western world that President Vladimir Putin wants to recreate the old Soviet Union and also retake the countries of Eastern Europe that became Soviet satellites at the 1945 Yalta conference between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. What is never mentioned is the background for the Yalta decision: the fact that Eastern Europe was/is seen by Russia as the historical corridor from which Western attacks have come: the Teutonic Knights, Napoleon, then Germany, twice. (Ghengis Khan's Mongols came from the East and ruled Russia for four centuries".) Centrally located, Germany has historically been the dominant influence in the region east of the Alpine barrier which, for the Russians, has been an open back door. Having fomented two world wars in thirty years, a twice defeated Germany ultimately became the de facto leader of the European Union (however much France would like to believe in its equal role). Considering the current transformation of the Russia/German relationship, we can, for all practical purposes substitute 'Germany' for Europe. As a KGB agent, Putin was stationed in East Germany, where Angela Merkel lived until the age of 35, when Germany was reunited. The two leaders are fluent in each others' language. When in March, 2014 Merkel (Time's 2015 person of the year) remarked that Putin was "living in another world", Washington took the quip for more than it was worth, failing to realize it could be interpreted in many different ways. The remark came on the heels of a long economic crisis brought about essentially by Europe foolishly following Wall St., and before it became the dumping ground for the victims of Washington's intrusive policies around the world. The momentous arrival of up to 1,000,000 refugees in one year has led to a 'European Awakening': the old world's movers and shakers - in particular its business community, but also, more cautiously its political leaders - are at last giving themselves permission to turn toward the European peninsula's natural ally, the country that dominates the Eurasian continent geographically. The Eurasian land mass was designated by the early 20th century British geographer Halford Mackinder as "The World Island", a notion that was dusted off to great effect in Natylie Baldwin and Kermit Heartsong's Ukraine, the Grand Chessboard and How the West was Checkmated. This fascinating book shows that Mackinder's affirmation that "Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland and who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island", inspired the Neo-cons to detach Ukraine from Russia. They did this by getting the EU to back the deposition of the democratically pro-Russian President in 2014. The location of Ukraine, bordering on Poland, Bela Rus, Slovakia and Romania clearly marks it as the final lap of the invasion route from Eastern Europe to Russia, hence its strategic importance, aside from its minerals and black earth farmland, to the World Island theory. Often overlooked is the fact that Mackinder's theory reflects the early twentieth-century colonial worldview according to which power rests with a white, mainly Christian center, to be exercised over a darker, tribal or Muslim periphery. Reprised by Zbig a century later, it remained a colonial theory, the only relevant difference being that a neo-liberal America rather than a 'north' that also included Europe, was now in charge.. The Neo-con commitment to permanent US leadership requires the world to believe that the threat lies with Russia. But just as crucial is the fundamental difference in world outlook between the US and an increasingly vibrant and relevant 'south/third world', led by Russia and China, with India close behind. Contrary to what the United States ceaselessly affirms, the challenge is neither commercial nor military, but philosophical: the colonial template is being challenged by the Eurasian-led affirmation that great powers must rule the world cooperatively. The only solution Washington sees to this uncomfortable truth is to saddle Russia with its own motivation. The crisis engineered in Ukraine was intended to prevent Russia and China - the two powers that geographically dominate Mackinder's World Island from successfully organizing the globe on a collegial rather than colonial basis. Two years after agreeing to engineer the so-called Maidan Revolution, an economically weakened Europe struggles with a refugee crisis that puts into question its very borders. As Russian speaking Eastern Ukrainians' continue to defy Kiev, Brussels tries to gently back away from the Neo-Nazi monster it unwittingly helped empower. Still not daring to openly defy orders from Washington, it renewed sanctions against Moscow for six months, while its businessmen and academics trek to Moscow to mitigate the harm. As the Europeans edge up to the Russia/China Silk road, the second part of the Heartland Theory is being confirmed: the British Isles have indeed become "outer islands", while increasingly, the America's are "outlying islands". Merkel's comment that Putin was living in 'another world' could refer to the World Island, which Europe is finally recognizing as its home. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Telesur The Obama administration still sticks to the Cold War 2.0 script on Russia. Obama and Putin (Image by Democracy Now!, Channel: democracynow) Details DMCA Let's talk about "Russian aggression." The fight to the death in Moscow's inner circles is really between the Eurasianists and the so-called Atlantic integrationists, a.k.a. the Western fifth column. The crux of the battle is arguably the Russian Central Bank and the Finance Ministry -- where some key liberalcon monetarist players are remote-controlled by the usual suspects, the Masters of the Universe. The same mechanism applies, geopolitically, to any side, in any latitude, which has linked its own fiat money to Western central banks. The Masters of the Universe always seek to exercise hegemony by manipulating usury and fiat money control. So why President Putin does not fire the head of the Russian Central Bank, Elvira Nabiulina, and a great deal of his financial team -- as they keep buying U.S. bonds and propping up the U.S. dollar instead of the ruble? What's really being aggressed here if not Russian interests? That Stab in the Back It's clear by now which party profited from the downing of the Russian Su-24 by the Turkish Air Force -- a graphic act of war. The immediate result was the suspension -- which could lead to the cancelling -- of a crucial Pipelineistan plank: Turkish Stream, which is a bete noire for the Masters of the Universe as Turkey was about to become the key alternative bypassing failed state Ukraine for supplying natural gas to southern Europe. On top if it the EU paid Ankara 3 billion euros for its "indirect" services (the official excuse is to allow Turkey to control Syrian immigration to the EU.) And EU sanctions to Russia were extended for another six months. A fitting Russian response would be Moscow defaulting on all debt to Western banks in retaliation for the sanctions. An extreme step would be blocking natural gas shipments to the EU. If Russia even floated one of these moves, not to mention both, sanctions would be lifted in a flash. So who's really being "aggressed" here? Putin -- and Russian intel -- didn't see it coming: Sultan Erdogan's "stab in the back." So a case can be made that Russian intel seriously underestimated Erdogan's massive investment on regime change in Syria. Whatever happens on the ground -- much more than in the Vienna-Geneva charade now passing for a "peace process" -- the future of Syria bears two stark options; a neo-Ottoman colony, but essentially subordinated to the whims of the Masters of the Universe; or a unitary sovereign nation, not partitioned, with a strong relationship to both Russia and Iran. The question, though, remains; how does Turkey get away with such a provocation, with Russia imposing just a few sanctions? That Fuzzy Agenda The missing link in the puzzle is Israel. Contradictions became glaringly obvious with the flattening of a building in Jaramana, in Damascus, by Israeli missiles, killing nine civilians as well as Hezbollah-linked Samir Kuntar. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Donald Trump Donald Trump complains that we have "become so politically correct as a country that we can't even walk. We can't think properly. We can't do anything." (The Associated Press) By Cass R Sunstein Among Republicans, it has become politically correct to be politically incorrect. Actually that's the most politically correct thing that you can possibly be. As soon as you announce that you're politically incorrect, you're guaranteed smiles and laughter, and probably thunderous applause. Proudly proclaiming your bravery, you're pandering to the crowd. A math-filled new paper, by economists Chia-Hui Chen at Kyoto University and Junichiro Ishida at Osaka University, helps to explain what's going on. With a careful analysis of incentive structures, they show that if self-interested people want to show that they are independent, their best strategy is to be politically incorrect, and to proclaim loudly that's what they are being. The trick is that this strategy has nothing at all to do with genuine independence; it's just a matter of salesmanship, a way to get more popular. Focusing on the role of experts rather than politicians, Chen and Ishida note that in many circles, political correctness is "associated with a negative connotation where people who express politically correct views are perceived as manipulative or even dishonest." For that reason, the unbiased expert has a strong strategic incentive, which is to "deviate from the norm of political correctness" to demonstrate "that he is, at least, not manipulative." Of course, the deviation is itself a form of manipulation, strategically designed to convince people that the expert can be trusted. Chen and Ishida's punchline is that whenever experts care about their reputations, "we cannot regard political incorrectness naively as a sign of blunt honesty since it can easily be an attempt to signal one's hidden characteristics rather than the true state of the world. " With respect to Republican candidates, that's putting it much too gently. It's the strategic go-to line when things get tough. Consider the Republican chorus in this light. Donald Trump complains that we have "become so politically correct as a country that we can't even walk. We can't think properly. We can't do anything." Ted Cruz is more concise: "Political correctness is killing people." Ben Carson insists that the biggest threat to free speech comes from what he calls the "Political Correctness police," who have "created fear in a large portion of our population, causing them to remain silent." Mario Rubio says the "radical left" is using a "politically correct way to advocate Israel's destruction." It's true that in some left-wing circles, especially on college campuses, political correctness is doing serious damage, because it entrenches a particular ideological orthodoxy (and dampens necessary dissent). In some places, you reject that orthodoxy at your peril. If you say that you oppose affirmative action or an increase in the minimum wage, you incur a kind of reputational tax, and the price may be too high to be worth paying. But those who deplore political correctness tend to entrench an orthodoxy of their own. And when they do so, they get an immediate reputational subsidy, in the form of a boost in popularity. Chen and Ishida show that when experts or politicians decry political correctness, they are engaging in what economists call "signaling." One of their signals is that they are willing to poke a finger into the eye of left-wing orthodoxies. By embracing political incorrectness, Republican candidates proclaim that they will not be cowed by, or even compromise with, their political opponents. The other signal, and the more important one, involves authenticity. If a politician makes some outrageous statement, and follows it with a suggestion that he deplores political correctness, you might well conclude that you can trust what he says. Whatever else they are, those who make outrageous statements seem honest and real rather than programmed or scripted. That's what a lot of voters are demanding. But there is a sham here, and it's ironic. The very Republicans who proclaim their rejection of political correctness have committed themselves to a host of policy judgments that are, in their circles, politically correct. Those judgments help define the prevailing orthodoxy. If you want to survive, you had better not question any of them. Here are some examples: Gun control is a terrible idea. The Affordable Care Act is a disaster. The United States shouldn't be doing a lot to combat climate change. Affirmative action is bad. The Barack Obama administration is a dismal failure. Ronald Reagan was great. The minimum wage should not be increased. None of the leading Republican candidates dares to challenge even one of these statements in public. If Trump, Cruz, Rubio, or Carson supported an aggressive effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or called for a boost in the minimum wage, you might not agree with him -- but you'd know that he really was willing to be independent and to say what he thinks. Condemning political correctness? That's telling people just what they want to hear. It's the furthest thing from brave. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. To contact the author of this story: Cass R Sunstein at csunstein1@bloomberg.net Klamath dams.JPG In this 2009 file photo, water trickles over Copco 1 Dam on the Klamath River outside Hornbrook, Calif. The Copco is one of four dams owned by utility PacifiCorp that would be removed to improve water quality and fish survival. (AP Photo) Following the needless shunting aside in Congress of agreements that would ensure water to Klamath Basin farmers while improving conditions for the fish Congress insists need protection, bewildered stakeholders in Oregon and California are picking up the pieces from more than a decade of work and mapping a next-best strategy. It won't be easy. Most participants in the process - farmers, tribes, local and state governments among them - are stunned, in some cases demoralized. But it will be essential if Klamath Basin folks wish to avoid more calamitous water shut-offs and fish die-offs in a part of the world that is, at the federal government's historical behest, excessively settled, ranched, farmed and otherwise irrigated. Without binding agreements on the management and distribution of seasonally scarce water, the Klamath Basin, known widely as a stopover for migratory birds and for its $700 million agricultural economy, will fail at enormous economic, social, environmental and political cost. More plainly: Congressional delegations from both states need to step up this month and bring the political will to Washington, D.C., to save the Klamath from slow death. That's to say nothing of the Klamath River, which starts in Oregon and runs through it and supports one of the West's largest salmon fisheries. State leaders, however, should jumpstart things and create momentum. An adviser to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who correctly but unsuccessfully appealed to Rep. Greg Walden last month to bring the Klamath cause to Congress, said the governor would soon ask those who crafted the doomed agreements to reconvene as well as the Oregon delegation. Ideally, natural resources adviser Richard Whitman told the editorial board of The Oregonian/OregonLive, advocacy would also come from California Gov. Jerry Brown and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. That would be good, certainly, but empty symbolism without on-the-ground support from constituents, county commissions and elected representatives to Congress. As far back as 2010, former Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger staged a celebratory signing of the hard-won agreements, which only needed congressional approval to take effect, at the capitol in Salem. So much for ceremony. Hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River have been and remain the sticking point. The agreements call for the removal of four dams owned by the utility PacifiCorp and signals a precedent to congressional conservatives who fear conservationists would pursue dam-removal elsewhere, unmaking the tamed West. Walden, in an interview with the editorial board last month, recalled that some conservationists immediately pointed to Snake River dams, significant to salmon recovery in the Columbia Basin, as potential targets upon hearing that Klamath River dams might go. Walden stressed that he wanted to help the Klamath Basin. But his late-in-the-game draft of a House bill surprised many last month by calling for the transfer of federal forests to Klamath and Siskiyou counties - a poisonous proposition to Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, major advocates for the agreements. But a path forward could be cleared if Congress were kept clear of the dams issue. PacifiCorp had made clear it would happily avoid costly relicensing of the dams and support their removal if Congress granted it protection against unforeseen liability costs, among those potential damage to fish habitat and adjacent private properties. But the utility could pursue dam-removal under the auspices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - without Congress' approval at all. It did so in the removal years ago of its Condit Dam on the White Salmon River, in Washington state. Klamath dams are of a larger scale, however, and so is the feared liability associated with their removal. It's a gnarly complication for which there is no immediate answer but for which a solution must be found. It represents a reasonable expectation by PacifiCorp, given that a substantial portion of the estimated $250 million in dam-removal costs would be borne by the utility's ratepayers, whose interests should be protected. In any event, dam-removal adjudicated by FERC would leave Congress to grapple only with land restoration and water-sharing elements of the agreements - a task within its fickle grasp. That's minimally as it should be, as it was the federal government that decades ago promoted the Klamath Basin as a place for Americans to find, to settle down, to farm and to live the dream. Last week, there seemed to be two prevailing views in the Klamath Basin. Greg Addington, formerly of the Klamath Water Users Association and a veteran of the region's water wars, told the editorial board: "The ball is back in Congress' court, not ours. There's no will, really, to rally for this only to guess at what Congress wants." Meanwhile, Whitman, who talked on Monday with many of the stakeholders who helped craft the agreements, tribes among them, was steadfast: "We're not done. We're not over. We think we have a pathway to breaking this up in Congress." The choice to move ahead on Klamath relief is not elective. Lives, livelihoods and a complex ecosystem are at stake. That's to say nothing of broken promises. obama.jpg President Obama gave a speech at Nike headquarters in May as part of a trip to Oregon to promote Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. (Bruce Ely/Staff) By Samuel Metz There are convincing reasons why Oregon should embrace the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but a compelling reason for opposition is protection of our health care. The trade partnership treats prescription medications as commodities, selling at the highest price the market will bear. This promotes businesses that sell medications, but it's a poor way to get lifesaving drugs to Oregonians who need them. Unaffordable medications are not a trivial problem. Based on national estimates, over 10 Oregonians die each week of treatable conditions because they cannot pay for treatment, a mode of death unknown in other developed countries. Last year, prices for specialty drugs rose by 19 percent. The most dramatic example was the 5,000 percent increase for an essential medication marketed by Turing Pharmaceuticals. The company pledged to reduce that increase. So far, the $750 price per pill to patients has not changed. Turing is not alone in maximizing revenue on branded drugs. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Eli Lilly raised drug prices by as much as 22 percent, 25 percent and 65 percent, respectively; Pfizer's highest increase was 115 percent. These price increases were not for new drugs with unrecovered development costs; these were older drugs enjoying high demand. Can we justify these increases on free market principles? No. Simple economics do not apply to critical medications: When prices go up, need stays the same. Consequently, patients must choose to either pay the high market price, or to pay a still higher personal price: dying of their disease. Americans already pay more for prescription drugs than citizens anywhere else in the world. One of the few constraints is the ability of our government to negotiate lower drugs prices on behalf of patients who need them -- and on behalf of taxpayers who pay for them. The TPP allows private pharmaceutical companies whose profits are impeded by such negotiations to bring suit for restraint of trade. Such suits bypass American courts, being referred instead to an international court responsible to the economic interests of TPP signatories. This court possesses the power to overrule laws of participating TPP countries and to compel governments to compensate pharmaceutical companies for their lost profits. Would such a court indeed place private profit over public health? Experience with NAFTA mediation indicates TPP mediation will favor business interests over consumer interests. Our government healthcare agencies, serving the sickest, poorest and oldest among us, must then either increase taxes to subsidize private profit or withhold essential drugs to patients who need them. In its Oct. 6 endorsement of the TPP, The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board challenged opponents of the TPP "to present a better alternative for boosting the region's economy." A more humane approach challenges TPP supporters to create an economic boost that does not further corrupt Oregon's deteriorating ability to provide lifesaving medications to the people who need them. For the sake of Oregonians who depend upon prescription drugs to stay alive, Oregon's congressional delegation should vote against the TPP. Oregon needs an economic stimulus that saves lives, not destroys them. * Samuel Metz is a private practice anesthesiologist who lives and works in Portland. He is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program and a founding member of Mad As Hell Doctors, both of which advocate for universal health care. UPDATE: Militia takes over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge building BURNS - When the militia members and local residents were done talking Friday night, the tension in the chilly fairgrounds building seemed to ease. They had gathered ahead of today's planned rally in downtown Burns. For days, there have been fears that the militia-led event would turn violent. Some of the militia leaders orchestrating the rally participated in an armed standoff last year in Nevada over a rancher's cattle. They have come to Harney County for another ranching family. Ranchers Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son Steven are scheduled to report to prison Monday for arson in a case that has stirred anti-government sentiment among the militia and the ranching community. Some militia members had demanded local authorities provide sanctuary for the Hammonds so they don't have to go to prison. But there was no talk of sanctuary Friday night. Instead, militia members found themselves peppered with questions. They were pressed about what good they were doing. Half a dozen came with handguns strapped to their hips. This was no government-led meeting. Brandy Mosher, a local resident worried about her community, arranged the meeting, promoting it on social media. On a frigid holiday evening, about 60 people showed up. She just wanted people to talk to each other instead of resorting to rumors. "We're all emotional right now, on both sides," Mosher said in opening remarks. Over two hours, the conversation shifted from sometimes profanity-laden declarations to agreements the Hammonds had been too harshly treated and that a peaceful rally might do some good. The meeting ended with handshakes and and then more conversations outside with cigarettes in the 7-degree weather. But first the fear had to be faced. "I am scared to death," said Shonna McKay, wearing a black t-shirt with "Harney County Stand Down" imprinted on the back. "Everyone here should know what your agenda is." Another resident said locals would be left to "patch the holes" and "bury the dead" should events take a turn for the worst. Brandon Curtiss, who identified himself as president of an Idaho militia group, repeatedly tried to tamp down fears of violence. "We are not coming into your town to shoot it up," Curtiss said. "We won't fire anything unless we're fired upon." Curtiss said he and others were there to support the Hammonds in what they see as an illegal prosecution. Some militia members contend the federal government had no authority to prosecute the Hammonds for setting range fires because it doesn't rightfully control land in Harney County. Militia members Friday night repeatedly cited their determination to act to uphold the Constitution. Local residents questioned militia members about social media posts that urged violence or otherwise invoked threatening language. Curtiss tried to distance himself and others, saying they had no control over such rhetoric. "When you start asking for help, you know how the internet is," he said. Dave Duquette of Hermiston said he'd had dinner earlier in the evening with Dwight and Susan Hammond. He said the rancher is worried about what will happen Saturday but "he really appreciates what you're doing." He said Hammond told him he isn't going to "skip out" on reporting for prison. But Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher at the heart of last year's standoff, called for the Hammonds to do otherwise. He wrote in a letter dated Friday to Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward and to the Hammonds that the two ranchers should turn themselves in at the county jail. He said Ward should then notify federal officials that "you have these two ranchers in Harney County jail, that they will remain there indefinitely under your protective custody," according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Ward has said previously he won't interfere with a lawful federal sentence. The Hammonds also have said through their attorneys that they intend to surrender. But for Saturday, the attention turns to the Safeway parking lot in downtown Burns. That's where the militia intends to stage for its noon rally. They say a "patriot convoy" could bring more supporters from Bend. They intend to march up the hill to the Harney County Courthouse and then through downtown Burns and past the home where Dwight and Susan Hammond are staying. A flier urges supporters to "purchase any and all supplies locally in Burns. Safeway is very graciously stocking extra flower bouquets for this rally." -- Les Zaitz 503-221-8181; @leszaitz camerabar.jpg Troopers intentionally rammed a car Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Umatilla County to end a high-speed chase after the driver fired on them, an Oregon State Police spokesman says, (The Oregonian/OregonLive) Troopers in Umatilla County intentionally rammed a sedan to end a high-speed chase early Saturday after the driver put two bullets into a patrol car, an Oregon State Police spokesman said. The driver of the 1992 Honda Accord was seriously injured in the collision and taken to a hospital in Pendleton before being airlifted to a Portland facility, Lt. Bill Fugate said in a news release. He did not identify the male driver. About 1:15 a.m. Saturday, a trooper tried the pull over the Accord on a speeding violation on Fulton Road near milepost 2, Fugate said. The driver did not stop and instead sped up, sparking a pursuit along rural roads. State police put down spike strips in a bid to flatten at least one of the car's tires, Fugate said. But the driver continued onto the Umatilla Indian Reservation, where he let out a female passenger, Fugate said. Then he shot at a patrol vehicle, hitting it twice, as he sped off. Troopers intentionally crashed two patrol vehicles into the Honda to end the pursuit near the intersection of South Market and Tutuilla Church roads, he said. Oregon State Police has asked the Pendleton Police Department to lead the investigation, Fugate said. Three troopers have been put on paid administrative leave, standard practice following the use of deadly force, he said. None of the officers was identified. -- Carli Brosseau cbrosseau@oregonian.com 503-294-5121; @carlibrosseau Officer Involved Shooting Emergency personnel direct traffic in Salem in this 2015 file photo. (The Statesman Journal via AP) (Anna Reed) Anyone who's seen "Smokey and the Bandit" knows that if you're going to try to outrun the police (not that we recommend such behavior), a Pontiac Trans Am is the way to go. Unfortunately, only one of the many Trans Ams used in the Burt Reynolds films still survives. It belongs to a collector and is not available for early-morning jaunts around Salem. So instead, Ronald Gene Chilcote allegedly stole a tow truck. He ended up with a gunshot wound for his trouble, from which he's expected to fully recover. Authorities said they came upon Chilcote, 51, and the truck at about 7:30 a.m. Friday in the 3600 block of Portland Road NE in the state capital. When officers from the Salem police and Oregon State Police closed in on the truck, which was parked behind a pole, "the truck started, revved up its motor and drove towards Salem Police Sgt. Tony Moore," Salem police said in a written statement. Moore then fired his weapon at the truck, which drove away from the scene until it crashed into a drainage ditch near Lakeside Drive NE. Chilcote fled on foot, and officers ran him down. He faces charges involving the stolen truck and attempting to elude an officer. The incident is being investigated by the Oregon State Police and the Marion County District Attorney's Office. Oregon State Police ask anyone with information about these events to contact Det. Kyle Wilson at kwilson@osp.state.or.us or to call 503-731-3030. As for that last remaining "Smokey and the Bandit" car: It's going on the auction block this month, complete with stereo 8-track player. It's expected to sell for around $1 million. -- Douglas Perry To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry. Disclaimer Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. The Wayne County prosecutor's office said 18-year-old Brendon Stanton-Lipscomb and 17-year-olds Demetrius Armour and Tyshon Taylor were arraigned Friday on first-degree murder and assault charges and sent back to jail. The Detroit residents are accused of killing 17-year-old Tyrell Lane of Eastpointe last Saturday as he was leaving an Eastland Center store. Prosecutor's spokeswoman Maria Miller says they are expected to get court-appointed attorneys. Prosecutors say the trio was involved in assaults of two other teens at the mall. More details are expected to be released at preliminary examination scheduled for Jan. 20 at Harper Woods district court. Probable cause conferences have been set for Jan. 13. Police say it wasn't a random shooting. The pain in Spains electric power industry went from bad to worse this week as the Spanish government reneged on promises to plug the ... TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Laws taking effect at the start of the new year show states diverging on some hot-button issues. Restrictions on carrying guns eased in Texas, for example, but got tighter in California. It is easier to register to vote in Oregon, but there is another step to take at the polls in North Carolina. The opposing directions in the states reflect a nation with increasingly polarized politics. In the debate over gun control, both sides say their arguments are strengthened by a string of mass shootings this year. That includes the December attack at a county health department gathering in San Bernardino, California, when a couple who investigators say pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group killed 14 people. Everytown for Gun Safety, a group backed by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is seeking to be a counterweight to the National Rifle Association's lobbying of state lawmakers. Both groups are expected to be active in legislatures in the coming year. Whether to raise the minimum wage has become another hot topic in states and cities, with the issue getting no traction in the Republican-led Congress. New voting laws, meanwhile, could help shape the outcomes in state and federal elections in the coming year. Democrats and others who want to boost voter participation have been pushing to expand access to the polls, while conservatives have pushed for measures aimed at preventing election fraud. Each side says the other is using legislation to help their favored party in elections. A look at some of the more notable laws taking effect in January: GUNS Texas, the second-most populous state, joins 44 other states in allowing at least some firearm owners to carry handguns openly in public places. Under the Texas law, guns can be carried by those with licenses and only in holsters. Meanwhile, California, the most populous state, has multiple new laws on gun control. One tightens a ban on firearms in and around schools. Under the new law, the prohibition applies even to most people who are allowed to carry concealed weapons generally. Another allows people to request that a judge order weapons be taken away from relatives who are believed to pose a threat. VOTING California and Oregon become the first states that automatically register eligible voters when they obtain or renew their driver's licenses. Critics of the measures mostly Republicans say that could lead to voter fraud and is part of a plan to register more voters who are likely to be Democrats. They say voters should register voluntarily. In both states, people are able to opt out of being registered. Similar measures have been proposed in other states but never adopted. This year, Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the concept in New Jersey. In North Carolina, a voter identification law passed in 2013 that requires people to show a photo ID takes effect. An amendment adopted this year allows voters who have trouble obtaining the required ID to vote anyway. That provision keeps North Carolina from joining eight states in which a photo ID is strictly required. There are still legal challenges over the law, and opponents want a judge to delay implementation. In most states, voters are asked to show some kind of identification. PUBLIC HEALTH Hawaii becomes the first state to raise its minimum age, from 18 to 21, to buy or use cigarettes or e-cigarettes. It's a move some local governments have made before, but never a state. California joins West Virginia and Mississippi as the only states without a personal-belief exemption for parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. Children whose parents refuse to have them immunized against several diseases are not allowed to enroll in public or private school and instead have to be homeschooled. There is an exemption for children with serious health problems. EMPLOYMENT ISSUES In California, a new law lets female employees allege pay discrimination based on the wages a company pays other employees who do substantially similar work. Under the law, it is up to employers to prove a man's higher pay is based on factors other than gender. Oregon becomes the fifth state with a paid sick leave mandate for many employers. Some cities in traffic-congested urban areas are trying to ease the burdens of commuting. Employers with at least 20 workers in Washington, D.C., and New York City are required to offer commuter benefits such as tax-free mass transit subsidies to their workers. San Francisco already has a similar ordinance. In Missouri, a new law links the duration of jobless benefits to the state's unemployment rate. When fewer people are out of work, those claiming the benefits will be cut off sooner. The maximum length of the benefits will be reduced from the current 20 weeks already among the shorter periods in the nation to 13. Only North Carolina, which has a similar sliding scale, has a shorter period: 12 weeks. MINIMUM WAGE The minimum wage rises in many cities and states with the new year. Some of the wage increases are coming under laws passed years ago that phased in the increases over a period of years. Some are automatic increases tied to the cost of living. Fast-food workers in New York state receive their first pay bump under a new law that eventually will push their minimum wage to $15. The full amount will kick in at the end of 2018 in New York City and 2021 in the rest of the state. The federal government has not touched the minimum wage since it was increased to $7.25 effective in 2009. Labor groups and workers keep pushing for higher raises while many business groups say raises could come at the expense of jobs. But with the federal rate unchanging, more state and local governments particularly in the West and Northeast are taking action. The wages rise in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia on Friday. States with automatic annual increases effective Jan. 1 are Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota. Some cities, including New Orleans, also have new rates starting Jan. 1. Minimum-wage fast-food workers in Seattle get a bump as part of that city's phased-in increase to $15 an hour. TAXES Taxes have gone up in some places and dropping in others. Income tax rates dropped slightly in Oklahoma, where state revenues have fallen sharply, and Massachusetts. In North Carolina, the tax on gasoline dropped by a penny a gallon to 35 cents. The sales tax on boats will drop in New Jersey as of Feb. 1. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products rose in Minnesota, as will hotel taxes in Hawaii. ABORTION Physicians in North Carolina are required to provide the state with ultrasound images of fetuses and other data related to abortions performed after the 16th week of pregnancy. For pregnancies terminated after the 20th week, doctors must explain to the state Department of Health and Human Services how continuing the pregnancy would have threatened the life and health of the mother. Some lawmakers who favor abortion rights say the state should not have this medical data. IMMIGRANT DRIVER'S LICENSES Two more states allow people who are in the United States illegally to be licensed to drive. Delaware's law took effect Sunday and Hawaii's is in effect in the new year. Ten states and the District of Columbia already have similar provisions. PETS Illinois made it a misdemeanor to leave pets outside during extreme weather. Missouri, in a crackdown on the state's commercial "puppy mills," required dog breeders to provide more space for their animals and barred them from using wire-strand flooring in dog kennels. Associated Press writers Cathy Bussewitz in Honolulu; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Jonathan Mattise in Charleston, West Virginia; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Will Weissert in Austin, Texas; and Juliet Williams in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report. This January, during National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to roll up their sleeves to give blood to help maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients. Since 1970, National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January to not only honor blood and platelet donors, but also to help increase donations during the winter months. Maintaining a sufficient blood supply for patients is difficult at this time of year because extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. DECATUR The proposed Grain Belt Express power line project is still on the winning track, but its opponents refuse to be shunted out of the way. Several landowners joined with the Illinois Farm Bureau to file a request asking state regulators to rehear their November decision to approve Illinois' portion of the $2 billion transmission line. That request was rejected in December by those same regulators, the Illinois Commerce Commission, along with multiple other rehearing requests filed by other objectors. The loud and persistent opponents are far from conceding defeat, however. They say the 780-mile line, 200 miles of which are set to pass over Pike, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Shelby Cumberland and Clark counties in Illinois, is being rammed through over widespread objections. The opponents say the line was approved on an expedited process normally reserved for utilities, and one that should not have been available to Grain Belt's developers, Texas-based Clean Line Energy Partners. Opponents also claim the 4,000-megawatt line will inconvenience farmers and landowners for the sake of a project that is too expensive anyway. Several opponents say they are now ready to take legal action through a court appeal; the Illinois Farm Bureau could not be reached for comment. But Pike County Farm Bureau Executive Director Blake Roderick has been quoted as saying he thinks the issue will end up in the courts under appeal. Other objectors have been more blunt in their assessments: What we have learned through this process at the ICC is that the opposition (Clean Line) hopes the other will be tired of legal fees and quit; this will not happen, wrote an opponent identified as BG Farms on the ICC web site. Well, we are not done in Ilinois! The appeal process will be our next step. The Grain Belt Express line is designed to funnel wind-generated power from breezy western Kansas across three adjoining states to plug into the national power grid. Construction is due to start in 2017 and, in addition to Illinois, it's also won approval from Kansas and Indiana state regulators. But Missouri power officials rejected the project in July, much to the delight of Illinois objectors who are backing their stand. Right now, I am ashamed to call Illinois home, said one objector, Sheryl Slightom, writing on the ICC website. We, the property owners, stand with Missouri and will continue the fight. But the Grain Belt line, now gearing up for a renewed effort to get approval in Missouri, also has plenty of friends and plenty of backers over the border in Illinois. Supporters range from unions to environmentalists: one group welcoming the construction jobs the line would bring and the other happy about the prospect of pollution-free green energy. Clean Energy has said its new line will deliver a $700 million investment in Illinois and generate 1,500 jobs; it also says wind energy flowing through the wires will slash wholesale energy prices in Illinois by $750 million in its first five years of operation. A blog about energy resources, energy policy, and their effects on society and the environment. From fossil fuels to renewable energy, electricity to natural gas and oil, traditional technologies to innovations, this blog presents a look at the past, present, and future of energy. This blog site is published by and reflects the personal views of Todd Griset, in his individual capacity. It does not necessarily represent the views of his law firm or clients, and is not sponsored or endorsed by them. The purpose of this blog site is to assist in dissemination of information about energy policy and related issues, but no representation is made about the accuracy of the information. The information contained in this blog site is provided only as general information for education purposes, and blog topics may or may not be updated subsequent to their initial posting. By using this blog site you understand that this information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to constitute legal advice. This blog site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. This blog site is not intended to be advertising and Todd Griset does not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this blog site in a state where this blog site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state. Luke Cage might be super-strong, but the hardest blow he lands in Jessica Jones is his frank appraisal of Kilgraves odds of getting back together with Jessica, which tally to zero. Tell me the truth, Kilgrave spits at Luke, did you bugger my chances with her? No, replies Luke. You screwed that up yourself. His answer would count as a low blow if it wasnt the damn truth, but Kilgrave has learned nothing from his time spent with Jessica playing at domesticity, so in the end Lukes words glance off his enemymostly. If Jessica Jones has taught us anything about its villain, its that he is incapable of accepting personal responsibility for his actions, which he allocates fully to his victims; at the same time, Kilgrave is petty, jealous, and tragically insecure, so sticks and stones and all, but words clearly do hurt him. Can you think of a worse trigger for Kilgrave than the revelation that Jessica has had a consensual sexual relationship with another man? (Other than reuniting Kilgrave with his mom and dad.) And not only that, but a man who manages to be traditionally macho while maintaining modern masculine sensitivity, too. So begins AKA Take a Bloody Number, returning us to the plot thats been driving Jessica Jones the entire time, even if AKA Ive Got the Blues gave us a break from Kilgrave drama to focus on the now-disappeared Simpson. More than any other duo of episodes in Jessica Jones first season, though, AKA Take a Bloody Number and AKA Smile feel like one big episode that has simply been cut in half. Maybe you can chalk that up to the formers climax, where Jessica manages to put Lukes unbreakability to the test and unloads a shotgun right in his face; even if you tried to be good and not binge your way through the whole series, there is pretty much no way you didnt queue up AKA Smile right after the show embedded that awful, violent image in your brain. But really, once you get to AKA Take a Bloody Number, where Kilgrave does some of the most heinous things hes done in the series in total, you kind of just want to power through to see him get whats coming to him. Jessica is the best, flawed hero Marvel has put on the screen to date; if you put her alone in a room with Kilgrave, shell mercilessly kick his ass, but hes the perfect heavy to counter her physical and mental gifts. Every time she zigs, he zags, and whenever he zags, people have a tendency of dying, or at least enduring monumental suffering. Jeris already acrimonious divorce ends with her in stitches, Wendy dead, and Pam ready to abandon her relationship with Jeri; Ruben is dead and Robyn is alone in the world without her twin; Malcolm wound up hooked on heroin; Trish nearly died by Simpsons hand, which almost turned out fine, except that hes kind of a lunatic even when he isnt under Kilgraves sway; and the Shlottman family has been reduced to one member. And its all because of Kilgrave, no matter how much he tries to persuade you otherwise. This takes us back to Jessica, Luke, and the twelve-gauge, which incidentally takes us to the B-plot of AKA Smile, in which Rosario Dawson reprises her Daredevil role to help Jessica bring Luke back from the brink of death. Kilgrave is the kind of scumbag who wants to have his cake and eat it too: hell absolve himself of any accountability when people do terrible things under his command, but privately he admits aloud that his ultimate goal by now is just to make Jessica suffer. Even if she did spontaneously develop romantic feelings for him, he says he wouldnt accept them, though here hes just lying to himselfthats all that he wants, really, but of course hes such a sadistic bastard that he needs the sweet release of hurting Jessica by any means necessary. Hence Luke, the tender script Kilgrave prepares for him, the brawl at the nightclub, and the discharge of a police grade weapon at the end of AKA Take a Bloody Number, not to mention Trish briefly falling under Kilgraves spell before the climax of AKA Smile. Looking back on Jessica Jones and the sheer volume of abuse, torment, and anguish Jessica has endured at Kilgraves will, its something of a miracle that she is able to keep going in her mission to put an end to him once and for all. Most folks would probably give up on seeking justice after, say, AKA Ladies Night, which ends on such a shocking note that it is hard at first to imagine how Jessica Jones might be able to top itself (at least until you sit through AKA Smile and witness the lonesome, gruesome fate of poor Albert Thompson). But though Jessica can fly and lift muscle cars with one hand, her real superpower is her determination, which sounds totally cheesy and definitely would be in any other standard issue Marvel production; the trick is that Jessica Jones is unlike any Marvel production released to date, including Daredevil. Thats because Jessica Jones is about real trauma in ways that even very good Marvel films, like Iron Man 3, simply arent. That trauma is written in its DNA. Its what the series builds its foundation on, while the fantastical stuff is treated as tertiary to theme and to character, whereas the opposite is usually true elsewhere in the MCU canon. Not that Jessica Jones has no interest in the usual array of superhero quandaries; Jessicas origins, for example, become a matter of fixation starting in AKA Take a Bloody Number, when Rebecca De Mornay overhears Trishs chatter about IGH on the phone and goes on to dig up files that might, eventually, lead to an explanation of how Jessica came to possess her powers in the first place. But this is minor league stuff for a show that is, and always has been, focused on much more substantive material than questions of backstorylike questions of responsibility, what it really means to be a hero, male privilege and entitlement, the ways sexual violence affects men and women alike, and how a person recovers from spiritual and physical violation. Maybe well find out more about Jessicas accident and IGH in season two of Jessica Jones, assuming there is one; this season alone has exhausted the most defining arc the character went through on paper, and the rest are limp by comparison. (Suggestion: go The Leftovers route and spin new content out of whole cloth.) In the meantime, though, take Melissa Rosenbergs efforts for what they are: a bold and utterly unapologetic attempt at examining rape culture through the lens of plainclothes superheroism. Boston-based critic Andy Crump has been writing online about film since 2009, and has contributed to Paste Magazine since 2013. He also writes for Screen Rant, Movie Mezzanine, and Birth.Movies.Death. You can follow him on Twitter. He is composed of roughly 65% craft beer. According to a Fox news report, David Grimsley from Atlanta claims that he was charging his iPhone 6 Plus when it caught on fire. "There were sparks and flames," said David Grimsley adding that "The whole apartment could have burned down." According to Fox, Grimsley said he called Apple and was told they'd send him another phone. Grimsley said he was disappointed by the response. He said "I thought they'd be more concerned, or check to see if I got burned or anything was damaged." By looking at our cover graphic, why didn't Grimsley buy a new Lightning cable? The cable is so mangled that he should be taking responsibility for the fire. His whole electrical set up, as illustrated below, is a rats nest of electrical cables. The second point is that it's very difficult to believe for a moment that an Apple rep would be so stupid as to ship Grimsley a new iPhone 6-Plus based on a phone call without Apple demanding to investigate his home and the circumstances in person or to have a fire inspector write a report about the home's electrical health and so forth for Apple to review. There's something wrong with this story and I'm sure that a clearer picture is likely to surface as soon as Apple gets back to business next week and has time to thoroughly investigate the matter. Until then, what's your take on this Fox report? About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Comments are reviewed daily from 4am to 6pm PST and sporadically over the weekend. The annual New Year's Eve festivities and fireworks in the heart of Brussels have been cancelled for security reasons, the mayor announced on Wednesday, as the Belgian capital remains on high alert over a possible terror threat. "Unfortunately we have been forced to cancel the fireworks and all that was planned for tomorrow (Thursday) evening and that would have brought a lot of people together in the centre of Brussels, following a risk analysis by the crisis centre," mayor Yvan Mayeur told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. Last year, some 100,000 people turned out to watch the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display at the Place de Brouckere. Mayeur said in the current circumstances it wasn't possible to "guarantee that we can check everyone coming to the event". "It's better not to take any risks," he added. The Belgian capital, home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, has been on high alert since the November 13 gun and suicide bombing attacks in Paris that left 130 dead. A key suspect in the Paris attacks, Belgian-born fugitive Salah Abdeslam, is believed to have fled to Brussels in the hours after the massacre, which was claimed by the Islamic State militant group. The Belgian authorities have so far detained nine men in the case including four accused of helping Abdeslam get away from the crime scenes. Earlier Wednesday, Belgian police held a man for questioning following a new search in the troubled Brussels immigrant neighbourhood of Molenbeek in connection with the Paris attacks. Earlier this week, Belgian police arrested two people suspected of plotting attacks in Brussels during New Year festivities, with officers seizing military-style training uniforms, computer hardware and Islamic State propaganda material. Search Keywords: Short link: In an intriguing recent lecture, scholar of Western Buddhism Jeff Wilson makes the claim that mindfulness is, in fact, Buddhisms largest single impact on North America. The evidence is more than compelling: from books by Congressman Tim Ryan (A Mindful Nation) and Googles Jolly Good Fellow Chade-Meng Tan (Search Inside Yourself) shown meeting President Obama to news reports in nearly every major media outlet and new movements to get mindfulness practice into schools, medicine, police stations, and the military. Historically, Wilson points out, mindfulness comes from the Pali term sati, which can certainly mean mindfulness, awareness, etc, but also means to remember (a connotation of the English term that has largely dropped out of its contemporary present focused usage). For instance, a common practice in Buddhism is mindfulness of the Buddha wherein one calls to mind a memory of the Buddha and/or his qualities in meditation. And perhaps most importantly, in the Buddhist context, mindfulness is part of the path to awakening, of overcoming the cycle of suffering we are in as ignorant sentient beings. This, Wilson states, is in nice contrast to the American approach where Mindfulness = enhancement of lifes joys. So instead of undertaking mindfulness practice along with a lifestyle that distances one from the activities that perpetuate suffering, an American mindfulness practitioner keeps doing those things, but simply enjoys them more. Wilson goes on to give a great example of an earlier way that Buddhism adapted itself to a new (for it) society: Japan. Buddhism, as he notes, and researchers know well, has been and still is ever-changing within certain constraints. This is why many statements that begin, Traditional Buddhism is are false or at best misleading. Too often Western practitioners have either an idealized/romanticized or demonized version of some Asian society and the Buddhism practiced there. They then insist that todays Buddhism is either better than that or fails to live up to it in whatever ways reflect their personal preferences or hobby-horse. Seeing Buddhism as this flowing stream, we can ask better questions about it. Rather than asking if this or that is true or fake (which may be fun for riling up forces on both sides, generally different factions of practicing Buddhists), we can ask questions like why is this change occurring? or How does this new stream provide benefit in the new society? Wilson suggests that the Mindfulness focused form of Buddhism entering into North America emphasizes Mindfulness, Suffering, and Compassion while minimizing previous important teachings such as No-self, Impermanence and Nirvana. And this is just part of the story, the part where Mindfulness is claimed to be a facet of Buddhism. On the other hand, Wilson quotes Jon Kabat-Zinn as writing that: Mindfulness, the heart of Buddhist meditation, is at the core of being able to live life as if it really matters. It has nothing to do with Buddhism. It has to do with freedom. Mindfulness is so powerful that the fact that it comes out of Buddhism is irrelevant. With this accepted, mindfulness can be placed in any of a variety of frameworks, from Kabat-Zinns medical/therapeutic framework to a more pleasure-oriented and individualistic framework typical of much of American culture. Wilson brilliantly demonstrates this with slide after slide of mindful eating, mindful sex, mindful work, and mindful parenting books, asking the audience if there is anything more American than obsessing over our eating, sex lives, work, and parenting. Wilson follows with an equally brilliant breakdown of the marketing angle behind Mindful Magazine and the many mindfulness products sold there, focusing on one by a company called BUDHAGIRL: MINDFUL GLAMOUR (that starts at around 1-hour in and I highly recommend it): In summary, Wilson describes mindfulness as: The most popular aspect of Buddhism in America Practically oriented, focused on worldly benefits (not transcendence or liberation) Focusing on Middle class concerns, affirming the world, body, work, health, and certain desires Ever-more disconnected from Buddhisms past, obscuring certain parts or cutting off historical ties completely Commodified into a product in itself or as an add-on benefit to set one product apart from otherwise identical competitors This is all an amazing amount of food for thought. I think it is certainly true and perceptive to say that mindfulness is the biggest thing Buddhism has brought to N. America and I know that Buddhists are grappling with this (what about ethics? what about wisdom? the other two parts of the basic 3-fold path). And its also important to point out that mindfulness is being used on this spectrum, ranging from very overtly Buddhist-connected to the Mindful Glamour label being used to sell jewelry and mindful sex books. Oh, and theres an excellent question/point brought up by Jon Kabat-Zinn himself at the end of the talk, dont miss that. . . . . The Rule of Law and Trial by Media Rather than by a Jury, with Cross-Examination Publicity photo of Bill Cosby (William Morris agency, 1969) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * I suppose this is entering into the hornets nest, but that has never stopped me before, especially in matters of what I consider to be principle and fundamental fairness. I was like (probably) most of you as recently as four hours ago. Ive been watching material on You Tube about Bill Cosby last night and late tonight. Yesterday I watched virtually all critical or hostile stuff, and so (as one would expect) I came away with a strong inclination to suspect (knowing that there has been no trial) that Cosby was guilty of at least some of the charges now being massively lobbed against him (which was how I was heavily leaning, anyway). Im not inclined to disbelieve women who claim they have been raped. I have publicly defended one who has a high-profile brother of a different religious persuasion who says she is lying about their abusive father. I have, however, tried to seek out some material that was in defense of Cosby, over the last several months, off and on. I was curious what the cast of The Cosby Show had to say. Most of them are tepidly in support of him in public, and seem to want to (understandably) remain neutral as to the charges; yet express respect for him as a person, or at least the person they themselves knew and know. One minor cast member has come out against him (I think it was one of the boyfriends on the show). Tonight was different. I was browsing around You Tube (which I can watch on my TV through our Wii system) and I saw something with Cosbys lawyer, Monique Pressley. This is an extremely impressive woman: whatever one thinks of the whole Cosby fiasco and tragedy. Fairly quickly, listening to her, I started wondering whether in fact Cosby is being unfairly accused, and indeed, quite possibly the victim of a huge frame-up. If you think Cosby has no possible legal case in defense of himself, do yourself a favor and listen to this brilliant attorney; hear her out, at one or more of these You Tube links [one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight]. Ive been a close observer of the media and its antics for over thirty years. As a longtime pro-life activist (including participation in Operation Rescue) I even know firsthand how the media has lied wholesale about events that I was part of. Ive also been personally lied about massively and continuously by anti-Catholics and other opponents of a Catholic apologist like myself for 20 years now, in the hearing of hundreds of thousands of people in the apologetics world. I know what it feels like to be falsely accused, even if my situation is on a scale vastly smaller than Cosbys case. How many times have we seen this happen: trial by media, with everyone and their third cousins barber and baker believing someone is guilty as Jesse James, before there has been a single day in court: the place where our system sets up a fair and intelligent, reasoned way to best determine guilt, beyond any reasonable doubt, and failing that, to assume that a person is not guilty? Examples are legion. Remember the Tawana Brawley incident, where she was supposedly raped? Well, some of you are far too young (some not even born). I have a very good memory. That was in 1987-1988. She (a black woman) claimed that six white men raped her. That was all over TV. Ironically, Bill Cosby was among those who supported her. Rev. Al Sharpton prominently advocated her side of the story and engaged in his usual pathetic race-baiting (some things never change). It turned out that the whole thing was a hoax. The Wikipedia article states: After hearing evidence, a grand jury concluded in October 1988 that Brawley had not been the victim of a forcible sexual assault and that she herself may have created the appearance of such an attack. The New York prosecutor whom Brawley had accused as one of her alleged assailants successfully sued Brawley and her three advisers for defamation. More recently, weve seen all these cases of police allegedly murdering innocent black men in cold blood, for no cause at all other than sheer racism and hatred. In some cases, it looks like an outrage of justice and police brutality indeed occurred (and most black or white, conservative or liberal who view the videos agree, prima facie). But in other high-profile instances, it is shown in the jury process that the myths widely propagated by the media were false. Michael Brown, a black man, was (no one disputes) shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. According to the mythology, he supposedly had his hands up in the air when he was shot. Actual eyewitness testimony revealed a vastly different story. According to the Wikipedia article: The hands up account was widely circulated within the black community immediately after the shooting and it contributed to the strong protests and outrage about the killing of the unarmed man. It was not proved inaccurate until months later. Believing accounts that Brown had his hands up in surrender when he was shot, protesters chanted, Hands up, dont shoot. . . . A grand jury was called and given extensive evidence from Robert McCulloch, the St. Louis County Prosecutor, in a highly unusual process. On November 24, 2014, McCulloch announced that the St. Louis County grand jury had decided not to indict Wilson. On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported the conclusion of its own investigation and cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting. It found that witnesses who corroborated the officers account were credible, and it was also supported by forensic evidence. Witnesses who had incriminated him were not credible, including some who admitted they had not directly seen the events. According to the evidence, Wilson shot Michael Brown in self-defense. The eyewitnesses and grand jury included many black persons. These were both trial by media stories in which the media accounts had little or no relation (and not infrequently, literally an inverse relationship) to serious courtroom testimony and the determination of hard evidence. Also, along these lines is the famous incident in which African-American Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by white (half-Peruvian) George Zimmerman in Florida in February 2012. Zimmerman was lynched by TV for many months and received many death threats. The Wikipedia article on Zimmerman describes the verdict of his trial and aftermath: Zimmermans trial began on June 10, 2013, in Sanford. On July 13, a jury acquitted Zimmerman of the charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. For three years, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated Zimmerman on civil rights charges. In February 2015, the DOJ concluded there was not sufficient evidence that Zimmerman intentionally violated the civil rights of Martin, saying the Zimmerman case did not meet the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution. Note, then, that in the latter two cases, a grand jury and jury found the defendant not guilty or insufficiently suspicious to be indicted and stand trial, and (significantly) in both cases, Obamas Justice Department (which can hardly be accused of racial bias against black men) arrived at the same conclusion. Political trashings of and outright slander of opponents, in conjunction with a willing liberal media ally also occurred in the notorious cases of conservative Republican Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork (1987) and Clarence Thomas (1991). Bork was successfully smeared (including prominently by Joe Biden), while Thomas was nominated, but is despised as a supposedly Oreo / Uncle Tom black conservative to this day. Liberals will, of course, counter with the examples of President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton being subjected to the same sort of thing. The media has undeniably piled on both many times. The only problem in using this comparison, however, is that Bill Clinton actually did the thing that was the cause for his impeachment (sex with Monica Lewinsky). The blue dress proved that, after Clintons henchmen had tried to discredit Lewinsky. But he is wildly popular today (why the big difference compared to Cosbys treatment, seeing that many women have accused him of immoral sexual antics, too?). Likewise, Hillary actually did act irresponsibly with classified information (we know this is at least ostensibly the case in several individual examples that have been verified by the proper authorities). The FBI is currently investigating her as I write, and we havent seen the end of this story yet. But she will almost certainly be the Democratic candidate for President this year, unless she is indicted on felony charges, which is not at all an impossibility. So far, then, I have chronicled incidents either involving white men accused of raping or killing black people, or uppity conservatives trashed by liberals. Thats all fashionable PC stuff: beloved and believed wholesale by many millions of partisan political liberals, seeking to verify and rationalize their worldview of systematic institutional racism and the wascally wascal, loathsome, despicable nature of any and all conservatives and pro-lifers. But there is one case eerily similar to the Cosby situation: a very famous and loved black man accused of massive sexual crimes: that of the late Michael Jackson. Jackson, as most of us recall, was accused-by-the-media of molesting lots of young boys. What seems forgotten by many is that Jackson was never convicted in a court of law of any of these charges. One accusation in 1993 resulted in an out-of-court settlement, but Jackson was never indicted. Many indications could very well lead a reasonable person to believe that he was framed, in order to obtain money. Even the accusers mother was adamant that Jackson had done nothing wrong. In 2003-2005, Michael Jackson was again accused; this time indicted and charged with seven counts of child molestation. On June 13, 2005, Jackson was acquitted on all counts. But how many people remember him as a pedophile (sure as they exist, that he was), despite there having been no proof in a legal sense? Well, hes dead now, so all those who despised him for this unfounded (or at least unproven) reason need not worry any longer. And that brings us back to Bill Cosby. Here is another immensely popular and hugely influential black man being relentlessly tried and trashed by the media, with now about 50 women having come forward with accusations of forcible sex and even rape, including use of drugs to make them willing, where otherwise they would not be. At face value, this seems insurmountably impressive and almost impossible to disagree with. 50 women, all corroborating the same general story? Its distressing (from a Christian perspective) to learn that Bill Cosby was without question a great womanizer, but that is hardly a fault confined to him among famous, powerful, and rich people. Charges of rape are something entirely different: especially in the eyes of the law. The large numbers present on the surface an argument of considerable cumulative force, yet it remains true that each case has to be examined and proven individually. Now that Cosby has been indicted for the first time, hell be able to have his day in court, and facts can be brought to bear, and accusers cross-examined, as opposed to the current farcical media trial and feeding frenzy. It turns out that once one closely examines what many of these women say, there are many manifest lies, holes in their testimonies, internal contradictions, character issues (such as being a prostitute or groupie), altogether insufficient evidence, cases of being a mistress for long periods, jumping on the bandwagon, etc. These people are gonna have to prove their charges in court: in the criminal trial and other lawsuits that various of the accusers have filed against Cosby. Now, taking into consideration all of the backdrop of trial by media above, and realizing that the media gets it wrong almost every time in these sorts of incidents, isnt it high time that we at least listened to Cosbys side and some critiques of his accusers? I did that tonight, and I must say that I was floored and shocked by what I discovered. Beyond what I heard Cosbys lawyer talk about, I ran across an astonishing, copiously documented You Tube show called Dru Story News. Whoever this person is, he has done a great deal of research and has discovered scores of damning facts about virtually all (yes, all) of Cosbys accusers. Anyone who is troubled and curious about the Cosby scandal and who seeks the facts of the matter, owes it to themselves to watch this. Dont just listen to one side! Dont convict Cosby by this illegitimate method without even giving him a chance to respond (through his lawyer and defenders). He may yet be guilty of something. Im not saying there is no chance of that. Who knows? He has been indicted now, after all (thus a prosecutor believes he has sufficient evidence to convict him). We dont know all the relevant facts. But he is entitled to give his side of the story. The show was called Bombshell Cosby News! What the Media Didnt Want You to See. It runs about 67 minutes, in three parts [one / two / three]. [Note: some of the images of women and language are not suitable for children] I challenge anyone to watch the entire thing. You have to watch all of it. Give it a shot and come back and tell me if you have not had any change of mind at all, at least regarding Cosbys possible innocence of the charges brought against him. If you come back, I want reasoning and fact, and interaction with the actual material you have seen: not emotionalism and irrationality and parroting of the media. I think this video has to change any remotely fair-minded persons opinion, at least partially. The total number of people who have seen it so far is less than 10,000 for any of the three parts. Heres hoping that this article will bring it a lot more exposure. According to our legal and justice system, a man is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a trial by a jury of his peers. Bill Cosby isnt within a million miles of that at this point. The material above raises plenty of reasonable doubts, believe me. And I highly suspect (though no one knows for sure) that when this stuff comes to trial, we will see a much different story and a likely acquittal (and some victories in his civil lawsuits). But if indeed Cosby is innocent of these rape charges, he has already gone through a living hell and his career has been irreparably damaged, because many people will never believe anything other than what the media onslaught has already programmed them to believe. Somehow our society needs to stop these media trials. This is not the American system. Its a bastardization of same; a disgrace. If Cosby is guilty, let it be determined in our courts and by juries. If it is not proven by that method, he deserves to be presumed innocent until it is proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Addendum (4-27-18): Now we have had a trial by jury and Cosby was found guilty. I accept the conclusions of our legal system and the rule of law. See the discussion about it on my Facebook page. *** *** * So it would seem, based on this Washington Post article from a couple days ago, that is, if your impression of food banks is (as mine was) organizations that collect canned and other shelf-stable food from the public via food drives and drop-off sites, to give to the needy. According to that article, well, thats not true at all. Keep your canned goods. There are better ways to help feed the poor. Thats the headline, and the article starts off with the statement that canned foods are no good because large share of nonperishable items are loaded with excess sodium, sugar and other chemicals to maintain flavor and longevity. Really? Sure, spaghettios have a lot of sodium, but its not inherent to the canning process itself. The article then cites the usual statistics on food deserts and food pantry use, then tells of an innovator, Patrick ONeill, who has created an online virtual food drive where donors can select specific healthy items apples, sweet potatoes, brown rice are mentioned as examples which are then purchased by his organization and delivered to the needy. The site, Amp Your Good, consists of links to various groups food drives one such drive is asking people to virtually donate items such as the following: packages of mixed produce, basic produce staples such as apples, onions, broccoli, healthy staples such as olive oil, whole wheat pasta, and traditional proteins of peanut butter and canned meats. But: the odd thing is that the items were all substantially more expensive than their purchase prices at my local Aldi e.g., $14.85 for a 3-pack of 18-oz jars of peanut butter, when thats currently retailing for less than $5.00, or $11 for a 6-lb bag of onions, when I paid $5 for a 5-lb bag just yesterday. So either ONeill has built in a healthy profit margin for himself, or this is a matter of paid staff rather than volunteers doing all the work of buying and delivering the food, and the prices build in the cost of paying the staff. But what got me is this: the article concludes by quoting a Feeding America spokesman, Ron Fraser. Ross Fraser, spokesman for Feeding America, said in recent years food banks have started prioritizing providing healthier, nutrient-rich foods to families. Most of the food collected by food banks is actually donated from manufacturers, farmers, retail stores and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Only about 5 percent comes from traditional food drives, he said. Because food banks can also purchase food wholesale at a significant discount, most would prefer cash over food donations because they can stretch that money further and its far less labor-intensive than sorting cans. Still, Fraser said the benefits of organized food drives are that they raise awareness about hunger. If a child helps a parent put together a bag of goods to donate, it can be a teaching moment. Only 5% comes from food drives? Theyd rather have cash, and dont want to sort cans? (Which sounds like its paid staff doing the sorting, rather than asking volunteers to help.) And theyd just as soon get rid of food drives entirely except that its useful for getting their message of hunger! out there so that they can collect cash donations and maintain support for government programs? And what about all that food donated from manufactures, farmers, [and] retail stores? According to this Chicago Tribune article, theyre not simply doing it out of the goodness of their heart, but because of enhanced tax deductions that were renewed with the latest spending bill. (I tried mightily to find more details, but came up empty.) What exactly this means isnt exactly clear, but it seems to be a matter of subsidizing the harvesting costs in a manner that extends beyond the notion of deducting the value of goods donated but how generous these subsidies are, and to what extent this is just an indirect way of the federal government paying for the food, isnt stated. Farmers want to do the right thing, but its hard when it costs more to donate than to leave the food in the field, she said. In Chicago, it could mean an infusion of fresh produce from sources like Gotham Greens, which opened its rooftop greenhouses in the Pullman neighborhood in October. Using hydroponic technology, the urban agribusiness operates four rooftop facilities year-round three in New York City and one in Chicago. As with any food manufacturer, the goal of Gotham Greens is to sell products and make money, said Viraj Puri, its CEO. But the company also donates produce and money to food banks. Of the 10 million heads of lettuce and other greens that the Pullman greenhouse expects to grow in 2016, between 5,000 and 10,000 heads will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Puri said. Going forward, Puri expects the amount of donated food to more than double because of the added tax deductions that will help cover the cost of production. It will certainly incentivize us to do more, Puri said. What of our local food bank, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which seems to be the parent company of sorts for all the local food pantries? According to their annual report, 50% of their funding came from individual donors, 18% from corporations and foundations, 22% from agencies and the government, and 10% elsewhere. 46% of food delivered was shelf-stable, 35% fresh produce, and 19% protein. 73% of their food was provided to its recipients via food pantries, 8% via mobile response to underserved communities (that is, delivering by truck), and the remainder via soup kitchens, community centers, etc. But heres the kicker: 44% of food was donated, 23% came directly from the government, 32% was purchased and how much came from food drives? 1%. One frickin percent. Now, providing fresh produce to the poor may be a worthy endeavor, though, knowing how often I end up throwing it away, even though I have far more time available to cook the veggies or tear up a salad than a poor working family, one hopes that the food isnt going to waste once delivered to its recipients. (Plus: brown rice? Ive tried it.) But are theyre moving towards higher-cost ways of providing food, then they shouldnt be telling prospective donors that more food (or more cash) is urgently needed to prevent hunger. And what of the claims that I hear that in the summer its all the more important to donate our food to food pantries because the cupboards are bare? Is the GCFD stingy with how it allocates its donations, so that some food pantries are well-stocked and others arent, even though their website implies that they stock all the Cook County pantries? Or are we being lied to? UPDATE: Heres how my local food pantry describes itself: With the exception of a slight cost for a staff person overseeing the pantry, Wheeling Townships Food Pantry is funded almost entirely with donations from the community food items and cash donations are received regularly. Does this mean that the GCFDs claims of providing for, well, Greater Chicago, arent really the case, and that when it allows for a search for local food pantries from its website, and implies that its funds support those pantries, thats not really the case? Iranian Judiciary Head Calls For Strict Oversight Of Election Candidates 01/01/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh The head of Iran's judiciary has urged the Guardian Council to prevent ineligible candidates from running in the Assembly of Experts and Parliamentary elections slated for March 2016. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces has warned that a repeat of the 2009 election events would be difficult to get through. by jailed Iranian cartoonist Hadi Heidari In 2009, the government violently suppressed widespread election protests rejecting the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was widely believed to have been fraudulent. Mehr reports that Ayatollah Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary, said this week that the supervision by the Guardian Council was within its "legal jurisdiction" on "behalf of the people", adding that "the Guardian Council has to protect rights of the regime and of the people by preventing those who do not meet the necessary criteria from running in the elections". He referred to the election protests of 2009 as a "sedition" aimed at the heart of the regime, saying: "History may repeat itself, so we need to remain alert to the roots of that conspiracy." While the establishment refers to the election protests as "sedition", the opposition has insisted that it only wished to address its suspicions of vote fraud within the framework of the Islamic Republic and its protests remained peaceful. Massoud Jazaeri, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, warned that openly opposing the structure of the supreme leadership would be sufficient cause for disqualification from running in the elections. Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, a moderate cleric and head of the Expediency Council, recently spoke about the possibility of transforming the supreme leadership (Velayat Faqih), which is now represented by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, into a council of senior clergymen. Saudi Arabia Executes 47, Including Prominent Shi'ite Cleric 01/02/16 Source: VOA Saudi Arabia has carried out its largest mass execution in more than three decades, putting to death 47 people convicted of terrorism, including a prominent Shi'ite cleric. Media outlets say some of those executed Saturday had ties to al-Qaida. All but two of those put to death were Saudis. One was Chadian and the other Egyptian. The cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a key figure in Shi'ite protests that erupted during the 2011 Arab Spring. He had also criticized the government's treatment of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority, many of whom complain of nationalization. Executions in Saudi Arabia 47 executed Jan. 2 in 12 cities Firing squads used at four prisons; beheadings at others At least 157 executed in 2015; 90 executed in 2014 2015 total highest since 1992 Punishable by death: drug trafficking, rape, murder, armed robbery, apostasy Al-Nimr's brother tweeted the cleric's execution will not stop the push for equality. He wrote, "You are wrong, uncertain and mistaken if you think that killing will stop demands for rights.We remain peacefully demanding reform and change in our country." The Lebanese-based terrorist group Hezbollah called Nimr's execution an "assassination," according to Hezbollah's Manar television. A top Shi'ite cleric in Lebanon warned there will be a backlash because of al-Nimr's execution. Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan, deputy head of the influential Supreme Shi'ite Islamic Council, the main religious body for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shi'ites, said, "This is a crime at a human level and will have repercussions in the coming days." In Iran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, one of the most senior clerics in Shi'ite-ruled Iran, said in an interview with the Mehr news agency that Nimr's execution reflected the "criminal" nature of the Saudi ruling family. "The crime of executing Sheikh Nimr is part of a criminal pattern by this treacherous family," he said. "The Islamic world is expected to cry out and denounce this infamous regime as much as it can." Hossein Jaber Ansari, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, said Saudi Arabia will pay a "high price" for executing al-Nimr. Saturday's executions were carried out in 12 cities across the country, with an interior ministry spokesman saying the beheadings were done inside prisons and not in public. Human rights groups say executions in Saudi Arabia are usually public beheadings. They say the decapitated bodies are occasionally left on display. Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia is "one of the most prolific executioners in the world," surpassed only by China and Iran. At least 157 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year, up from 90 in 2014. Some information is from Reuters, AP and AFP. Iran draws red line on missile program 01/02/16 Source: Press TV Iranian officials have lined up to underline the countrys push to buttress missile capabilities after reports that the US administration planned new sanctions on the Islamic Republic in spite of a nuclear accord. This file photo shows the launching of an Emad missile in Iran in October 2015 (Source: Islamic Republic News Agency) Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said on Friday Iran will forcefully continue boosting its missile capabilities within the framework of its defense policies. Dehqans remarks came in response to President Hassan Rouhanis letter, ordering stepped-up production of missiles after reports that the US was preparing fresh sanctions on international companies and individuals in Iran. In view of Americas recent hostile steps and the esteemed President (Hassan Rouhani)s emphasis, we will increase the speed and scope of our missile capabilities, Dehqan said. US officials claim the new sanctions are in line with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement, and the Treasury Department can impose new sanctions on Iran over its missile development. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has made it clear that Iran would consider any new sanctions a breach of the JCPOA. In an October letter to President Rouhani, outlining his conditional approval of the JCPOA, the Leader said that in case of a violation, "the government would be obliged to take necessary measures and halt JCPOA activities." On Friday, Dehqan said, Irans missile capabilities have never been the subject of negotiations with the Americans and will never be. Irans defense power is a guarantee for security and stability in the region, he added. Iran tested a conventional missile in October, prompting several politicians in the US to call for fresh sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said the test did not violate the July nuclear accord. There is a clear difference between the JCPOA issue and the missile test and the missile test is not a breach of the JCPOA in any way, he told the national television on Thursday night. Araqchi said President Rouhanis letter indicated that Irans missile program is not negotiable. Deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Gen. Hossein Salami said Iran will accelerate expanding its missile capabilities. The Iranian nation should know that our missile depots and long tunnels are filled with missiles ready for launch, he told worshipers before Friday Prayers in Tehran. Salami reiterated IRGCs denial of a rocket test near US warships in the Strait of Hormuz. We tell the Americans we are so powerful, strong, brave and realistic that if we launched a missile, we would publicly announce it, he said. The Americans must know that our tactics are a function of our strategies and we will not engage in any blind action. Whether they are scared or worried is not our business, Salami added. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said the White House had delayed plans to slap new sanctions on Iran but the measures remained on the table. A senior Iranian politician, Ali Akbar Velayati, said Tehran would respond to new US sanctions. This measure by the American government and stepped-up sanctions will adversely affect the Islamic Republic of Irans good will but it will not go unanswered by the state officials, he said. CES is an awkward time for the mobile industry. While mobile devices are the dominant computing platforms of the 2010soutselling desktops and laptops 6:1, according(Opens in a new window) to Statista(Opens in a new window)the mobile world's dominant trade show comes just a month after CES, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Furthermore, Apple, a major player in mobile, never launches products at trade shows. So most of the major mobile vendors keep their powder dry in Las Vegas, planning bigger blowouts in Barcelona. That's certainly the case for Samsung, whose Galaxy S7 will probably debut in late February at that show. LG, HTC, and Motorola also all appear to be keeping their major phone news on the plane to Spain. Apple's rumored iPhone 6c and Apple Watch 2, meanwhile, may appear in March(Opens in a new window) at a separate event. That leaves a bunch of lower-key phone makers, and Windows PC vendors with Windows tablets, holding the floor for mobile at CES. HP, Lenovo, and Dell may be updating their Windows tablet lineups at the show, although we don't have any more specific details about any of those. Reeling from the underwhelming launch of the Lumia 950 ($359.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , Microsoft won't be showing any new phones at CES. But we're likely to finally see a production version of the Acer Liquid Jade Primo, (at left) the first non-Microsoft Windows 10 Mobile phone to hit the market. The Primo was teased at IFA in September, but now we'll finally see how well it works with Microsoft's Continuum feature, which turns your phone into a desktop PC. Sony will have a big press conference at the show, but it just deployed its small, medium, and large Z5 phone lineup, also at IFA. The company's tablet lineup is looking a bit old, though, so we wouldn't be altogether surprised to see a 4K, Android-powered Z5 Tablet appear at CES. AT&T always has a developers' conference at CES, which results in a slew of API announcements and the occasional phone launch. This year, there's probably the lowest chance ever of a major AT&T phone launching at CES, as the conference will be dominated by talk of cars, home security, and the Internet of Things. It looks like BlackBerry will follow suit as well, with a press conference about Everything But Phones. So How About Phones? Huawei and ZTE are both big global brands, but they've had some trouble penetrating U.S. consumers' minds. They'll try again at CES. Huawei is teasing that it may bringing its midrange Honor brand(Opens in a new window) to the U.S. at the show, or perhaps the Mate S, with its pressure-sensitive screen. ZTE may bring a new U.S. exclusive version of its unlocked Axon smartphone, or a new generation of its smart projectors. We're also likely to see some new phones from Alcatel Onetouch. If Alcatel finally explains what it's doing with the Palm brand, which it unexpectedly bought last year and then did nothing with, that would be a coup. But there's a better chance we'll just see a final version of the gigantic Xess kitchen tablet we saw at IFA. Qualcomm has been dribbling out information on the Snapdragon 820 processor for months now, with a demo event in New York and some scattered benchmark features(Opens in a new window). We're sure to hear more about the 820 at CES, with hopefully some actual devicespossibly from LG or Sonyin tow. Mediatek has risen out of the pack of Qualcomm's competitors to offer a serious low-cost threat, and it'll be doubling down at CES, probably with more details on its high-end Helio X20 chipset. Mediatek's major partner, Blu, which makes unlocked phones for the U.S. market, has a press event on Thursday and will probably be deploying a bunch of new phones. Other, lower-key brands that may be bringing new phones to CES include CAT, which focuses on durable phones, and Freetel, a lower-cost, design-focused Japanese company. (The Freetel Musashi(Opens in a new window) is an interesting Android-powered flip phone, and I'd love to review that.) Hot Chinese brands Xiaomi and Meizu are still largely staying away, because dealing with the U.S. market gives them a headache. For the first time ever, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has opted to award a design patent its fabled "Stupid Patent of the Month(Opens in a new window)" designation. The owner of that design patent is a little ol' company known as Microsoft, and the patent itself is for a simple slider interface element. Yes, a slider: The thing that has a minus sign on one end, a plus side on the other, and a little ticker in the middle that you move from one end to the other to adjust your UI elements in some way. Say what you will about the innovating aspects of a slider: To us, and others(Opens in a new window), it just feels like a necessary part of a user interface. It's not advancing technology or otherwise doing anything special that everyone else isn't also doing in their applications. Though, to be fair, that description is more apt for a utility patent"meant for new and useful inventions," as the Electronic Frontier Foundation describesthan design patents, which cover "new, non-functional, ornamental aspects of articles." Nevertheless, these design patents can be a bit of a legal time bomb of sorts. Microsoft is currently suing Corel, claiming that the company has infringed on a number of Microsoft's patents. That includes design patent D554,140(Opens in a new window), the slider in question. "Microsoft's patent claims against Corel are unsurprising in light of how much money is potentially at stake. If Corel is found to infringe even one of Microsoft's design patents through even the smallest part of Corel Home Office, current Federal Circuit law entitles Microsoft to allof Corel's profits for the entire product. Not the profits that can be attributed to the design. Not the value that the design adds to a product. All of the profit from Corel Home Office," the Electronic Frontier Foundation writes. According to Microsoft's complaint, the company has spent a lot of time giving its user interfaces a distinct style and appearance. "The Microsoft interfaces are recognizable and enjoy substantial goodwill. For example, Microsoft has introduced and publicized the Microsoft Ribbona horizontal display of easily accessible and logically grouped controls whose layout can be dynamically adjusted based on the screen size or object of the program," the complaint reads(Opens in a new window). "Corel has copied the look and feel of the Microsoft interfaces in its accused products. Among many examples, Help for WordPerfect X7 suggests that the user 'simulate the Microsoft Word workspace until you are accustomed to work in WordPerfect.'" Microsoft claims that has allegedly warned Corel numerous times about their "blatant copying" of Microsoft's interfaces, but the company has pressed on anyway. Of course, Microsoft's December complaint is a response to Corel filing its own complaint against Microsoft in July of 2015, claiming that Microsoft copied the "RealTime Preview" feature from its WordPerfect software. "This marked a significant advance in ease-of-use by allowing users to preview the outcome of formatting changes quickly and without the burdensome 'trial and error' process of committing to a change, then having to 'undo' the change if it did not satisfy the user's needs, and repeating the process until the user was satisfied," reads Corel's complaint(Opens in a new window). Obamacare challenges arent over for businesses. Starting in January, companies employing 50 to 100 workers face complicated and seemingly contradictory new rules that will affect what kind of insurance they offer and how much they and their workers will pay for it. Wouldnt you know it, one rule defines them as large businesses and another as small businesses. The Affordable Care Act has many different definitions of small business. Theyre inconsistent with one another, says David Chase, California director of the Small Business Majority advocacy organization. Many of the affected businesses are family-run establishments that dont have human resources departments, says Liliana Salazar, a senior vice president at Wells Fargo Insurance who advises employers on their benefits packages. Many are completely oblivious to what theyre facing, she says. Adam Rochon, an insurance agent in the Central Valley city of Exeter, confirms employers frustrations. Many of his small business clients are farmers and owners of blue-collar companies who are scared and frustrated. These guys are great truck drivers and farmworkers, but not human resources guys, he says. Now theyre forced with paying a ton of money to outsource this or do it themselves. Unfortunately, the cost of not complying could also be dear. Q: I am a business owner with 78 full-time workers. Is there anything I need to know about health insurance changes next year? A: Oh yes. Im going to focus on two, and Im going to simplify for your sanity and mine. If you think you might be subject to these changes, I highly recommend you seek expert guidance. More on that later. EMPLOYER MANDATE Obamacares employer mandate requires large businesses to provide affordable health coverage to their employees or face financial penalties. (Thats affordable as defined by the law.) Starting Jan. 1, the mandate will expand to include businesses with at least 50 full-time equivalent workers, compared with 100 this year. In other words, businesses with 50 to 100 workers will be considered large and will be required to offer insurance to their employees. This year, 89 percent of firms with between 50 and 99 workers offered benefits to at least some workers, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation, or KFF. Restaurants, retail establishments and construction firms are among the employers in this category that are least likely to offer insurance, says Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at KFF. Next year, theyll face a penalty if they dont. More specifically, a business will be dinged if it doesnt offer insurance to at least 95 percent of its full-time employees and their children, or if the coverage it offers doesnt meet Obamacares standards. (Businesses dont necessarily have to provide coverage to spouses, Levitt says.) Under the law, a full-time employee is someone who works an average of at least 30 hours a week. The penalties kick in if at least one of the business employees signs up for a plan from a health insurance exchange such as Covered California and receives tax credits to reduce the cost of the plan. The penalties can easily climb into the tens of thousands of dollars. A small business cant afford a penalty, Salazar says. The administration has offered a limited extension of the deadline for these critical reporting requirements. The administration said Monday that employers can have until March 31 to get information to their works and until June 30 in certain cases to get details to the Internal Revenue Service. SMALL BUSINESS DEFINITION In addition to the requirement that these businesses offer insurance, California is among a handful of states that next year will change the definition of small business to include them. This Obamacare-related change will define small businesses as those with up to 100 full-time equivalent employees, up from 50 now. By being classified as small businesses instead of large, these employers must offer health insurance that complies with a different and expanded set of Obamacare rules. As a result, most of these businesses will have to purchase new plans that meet the requirements. The insurance carriers and products are different, Chase says. The way they calculate the premiums is different. For instance, under the new rules, the health plans must contain standard designs think of those bronze, silver, gold and platinum coverage tiers offered by Covered California and cover specific medical benefits. They also limit how much more insurers can charge employers for older workers than younger ones. If youve got a young and healthy workforce, you might see a premium increase, Levitt says. If youve got an older, sicker workforce, you might see a premium decrease. Overall, Salazar predicts that both employers and workers will see higher premium costs. Covered California, the states health insurance exchange, is opening its small business exchange to businesses in this category and has experienced a noticeable surge in enrollment in the past few months, says spokesman Larry Hicks. CaliforniaChoice, a private health insurance exchange for small businesses, also is opening to these employers and has seen a jump in enrollments, says CEO Ron Goldstein. Finally, youll recall from the employer mandate section that businesses with under 50 full-time equivalent employees are not required to offer insurance to their employees. However, if they do, their plans also must meet Obamacare requirements for small businesses. GET HELP If youre a business in this category, seek guidance. The details are incredibly complex. Reach out to your local or state chamber of commerce, which can help you figure out where you stand. Consider hiring an employee benefits consultant, who can advise you on how to comply with Obamacare requirements. A licensed insurance broker can help you find the right health plan for your business, and theres no extra cost for the help. CHANGE FOR ASK EMILY Starting in January, Ask Emily is moving to a new home with Kaiser Health News. Please start directing your questions to http://AskEmily@kff.org. This is the first Security Council term for Egypt since 1997, but the fifth term in total Egypt has officially kicked off its two-year term as a non-permanent United Nations Security Council member on Friday, with predictions that it would start its term promoting the causes of some of its troubled neighbors. This is the first Security Council term for Egypt since 1997, but the fifth term in total. The country is likely to start its term pushing for a resolution to cancel a 2011 arms embargo on Libyas government. Egypt has already asked Security Council member Jordan in February 2015 to propose a draft resolution of the embargos lift on behalf of Egypt, but the draft resolution was not adopted. Other countries selected as non-permanent members for the 2016-2017 term are Senegal, Uruguay, Ukraine, and Japan. Egypt has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council four times: in 1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1984 and 1996-1997. In 1961-1962, Egypt supported the independence of African countries and abstained from voting on decisions supporting Israel, and in 1984 it supported the council's efforts to end Israels invasion of Lebanon. Search Keywords: Short link: New DVD releases scheduled for Tuesday: Sicario (Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language, 121 minutes): One of my favorite parts of going to the movies is walking into a film not knowing much. With Sicario, I knew it was an action drama. What I didnt realize was its also a great film. It stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent working as part of a interagency task force dealing with a drug cartel on the border. Note the above rating; the film is not for everyone. The grisly images kick off right at the start. Its an emotional slap to the face to realize what these drug cartels are capable of and what law enforcement faces. And the tension is cranked all the way up until the bitter end. Verdict: Rent it! The Visit (Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including terror, violence and some nudity, and for brief language, 94 minutes): M. Night Shyamalan is back! Well, kind of. If you consider The Sixth Sense to be the Empire State Building of movies, and The Happening as the sewer, the writer/director has a long way back to the acclaim of his early career work. But, this horror film is a good start. The plot follows two children visiting their grandparents who are just a little off; like, horror movie crazy. Yes, there is a twist. Dont spoil it for yourself ahead of time. Knowing about twists ahead of time just ruins the fun. Verdict: Rent it, if theres nothing else. The Walk (Rated PG for thematic elements involving perilous situations and for some nudity, language, brief drug references and smoking, 123 minutes): Are you afraid of heights? If so, then this story of the true-life adventures of high-wire artist Philippe Petit walking between the Twin Towers in 1974 might not be for you. Im getting vertigo just thinking about it. Verdict: Rent it. The Green Inferno (Rated R for aberrant violence and torture, grisly disturbing images, brief graphic nudity, sexual content, language and some drug use, 100 minutes): The torture porn genre of film is important in cinema history. I personally believe its vital to look at the mistakes of the past in order to preserve a vibrant future. And in the future of cinema, there is no place for gore just for the sake of gore. While Sicario incorporates gore, it does so in a way that is integral to the story. First comes the story, then comes the gore. This film feels more like GORE! and then lets put some sort of story around all this blood and guts. Verdict: Why are we even asking this question? Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (Rated R for zombie violence and gore, sexual material, graphic nudity and language throughout, 93 minutes): Boy scouts vs. zombies. Strippers. Killer cats. The true meaning of friendship. There, I just saved you $2; youre welcome. Verdict: Pass. Contact the writer: 951-368-9342, tguy@pressenterprise.com or on Twitter: @timwguy The stars at the Palm Springs International Film Festival will appear in more places than merely onscreen. A number of Hollywood A-list actors will be attending this year. The annual Awards Gala, held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Saturday,will honor Johnny Depp, Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Brie Larson, Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander and director Tom McCarthy. In addition, Variety will honor Will Smith with the Creative Impact in Acting Award for his work in the film Concussion at a Sunday brunch. The publication will also honor Anomalisa writer and co-director Charlie Kaufman with the Creative Impact in Directing Award. Some stars will bring their films to the festival as part of the Talking Pictures series. Damon and director Ridley Scott will attend a screening of the film The Martian on Saturday and participate in a Q&A afterward. Smith will participate in a Q&A Sunday for Concussion. Finally, comedian Lily Tomlin will talk about her experiences making Grandma on Monday. Other Talking Pictures events include a screening and discussion of the Amy Winehouse documentary Amy and a filmmaker discussion of the nine shortlisted prospects for the best foreign film Academy Award nominations. The concept of taking a popular book and turning it into a feature film or television property will be explored during the The Power of Words: Book to Screen symposium Thursday, with film screenings taking place Wednesday. Among the films to be discussed are Black Mass, Carol, Far From the Madding Crowd and The Danish Girl. Television is represented with the TV Land drama Younger and the upcoming FX miniseries American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson. Contact the writer: 951-368-9342, tguy@pressenterprise.com or on Twitter: @timwguy An early morning fire damaged a Riverside home on New Years Day and temporarily displaced the six adults and four children who lived inside. The fire was reported at 4:16 a.m. Friday in the 4400 block of Carlson Place, according to the Riverside Fire Department. Firefighters discovered a fire in the garage of the single-story home. The flames were quickly put out, fire officials said, but the garage and front of the home were heavily damaged. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was called to assist the houses residents. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the 395 route that will be dedicated in May. The 2-mile section of Old 215 Frontage Road is between Eucalyptus and Cactus avenues. A faded metal sign stating north on a light pole on Old 215 Frontage Road in Moreno Valley stands as the last reminder that the route was once part of historic U.S. Highway 395. That will change soon. Moreno Valley city officials and historic enthusiasts plan to bring more attention to the roadway and, they hope, new life into an area part of the Edgemont neighborhood that often has lagged in basic amenities such as sidewalks. Moreno Valley will be the latest Inland city, joining others from Riverside to Temecula, to rediscover the mostly forgotten 395 and put up brown signs along the route of the once-vital artery. The city and Moreno Valley Historical Society will dedicate the 2-mile section of the 395 between Eucalyptus and Cactus avenues on Memorial Day with a weekend of activities. They will include a classic car show and booths from several history-minded groups. Keith Mullins, a Moreno Valley resident who is part of a group called Inland Empire Relic Hunters that searches for historic artifacts, kicked off the effort in the summer. It started when he noticed the city was one of the only ones that didnt recognize the 395. He believes many residents dont know that Old 215 used to be part of the 395. This highway also existed and it was a major route through California and it slowly, piece by piece, was being eradicated, said Mullins, who was appointed to the citys Environmental and Historical Preservation board in November. THREE FLAG HIGHWAY City Councilwoman LaDonna Jempson, who represents the area, said she hopes the recognition will be part of an effort to improve Edgemont. Not much has been built along Old 215 in recent years. It consists mostly of a few houses, a thrift store, a tire shop, a motel, an adult bookstore and an American Legion post that has been there for decades. Deborah Bosworth, a bartender at the American Legion post, welcomed plans to bolster the area. Anything that would direct motorists and visitors to this place would be outstanding, she said. Though Route 66, another U.S. highway, is considered the mother road connecting the nation east to west, the 395 is its lesser-known north-south counterpart. The 1,400-mile road was known as the Three Flag Highway because it went from the Mexican border through several Western states to the Canadian border, said Jeffery Harmon, founder of the Historic Route 395 Association. It was officially designated U.S. Highway 395 in 1939 after passage of federal legislation. However, it had existed as a series of dirt roads from San Diego to the Cajon Pass for decades. During World War II, at the urging of the military, the highway was improved to provide a better link between San Diegos Navy base, a weapons depot in Fallbrook and March Field in what later became Moreno Valley. The route was nicknamed the Cannonball Highway because of its military importance. The highway faded into obscurity after years of rerouting and the development of other north-south routes, I-15 and I-15E (now the 215), in the 1970s. By the 1980s, the 395 had been decommissioned in Riverside and San Diego counties, though it continues to run from Hesperia in San Bernardino County along the eastern Sierra Nevada and north to Canada. EMBRACING HISTORY In recent years, several cities have begun efforts to commemorate the 395. In San Diego and other cities in San Diego County, signs were put up along the route. Communities such as Fallbrook, Rainbow, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Perris and Riverside did the same. Harmon, a member of the Temecula Valley Historical Society, said the enthusiasm for remembering the 395 results from the car culture in California, comparing it to Route 66. In Temecula, 395 signs are sold at the museum and visitors center, and Murrieta now hosts a downtown car show, he said. Little by little, the communities have been embracing it and making it part of their culture, Harmon said. In Riverside, city officials put up 36 signs on downtown streets, including Market Street and University Avenue, which still has roadside hotels that are a remnant of when it was part of the highway, said Steve Lech, president of the Riverside Historical Society. I think it provides a historical context, said Lech, who co-writes a local history column for The Press-Enterprise. We tell people before the freeway (was built) many of these main drags were the highways. In 2008, the Legislature recognized U.S. Highway 395 as a historic route. Harmon said he believes creating a corridor that traverses the area can help the communities. It really unites our cities and our areas in our communities with one common historic district, he said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9558 or ighori@pressenterprise.com One thing is all but certain in 2016. The immigration issue will continue to frame national political debate and inspire passionate discussions at gatherings throughout the Inland area. Concern over letting Syrian immigrants come to the United States in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks and questions over how Pakistani Tashfeen Malik, one of the San Bernardino shooters, was allowed here on a K-1 fiancee visa, have inflamed rhetoric on both sides of the issue. Add to that a potential increase in immigrants voting in the upcoming election presidential primary and general elections, and its clear immigration cant be ignored. Here is what to look out for in the coming year: SAN BERNARDINO AND THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE Before the Dec. 2 shooting that killed 14 and wounded 22 others, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump already was advocating for mass deportation of millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, as well as their American-born children. Following the deadly Islamic State attacks in Paris, Trump advocated for a government database to track Muslims in the United States. Trump then called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States after the San Bernardino massacre that the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism. John Berry of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots said people now view immigration as synonymous with national security. As the Dec. 2 atrocities reveal, the two are inextricably linked, Berry said. People see immigrants as the pipeline for terrorists because of that, immigration has become that much more important. Berry said more activists at the local level are urging their elected officials to stand against terrorism, by opposing unvetted immigration. Jose Munoz, who grew up in San Bernardino and teaches immigration at Cal State San Bernardino, said the immigration implications of San Bernardino will come up often in the coming year. People are even more fearful about migrants, about border security, Munoz said. I think people will use it to justify border security and you certainly see what Trump is doing, he added. FATE OF SYRIAN REFUGEES Dozens of U.S. governors have vowed to reject Syrian refugees from resettling in their states after the deadly Paris terrorist attacks. Texas is mounting the most aggressive campaign of the nearly 30 states that have vowed to ban Syrian refugees. Its the only state that has taken the U.S. government to court in an effort to block resettlement. Meanwhile, a federal judge rejected the states request. Despite the ruling, Texas lawsuit is not over. A hearing is likely in January. According to The New York Times, the U.S. has accepted roughly 1,800 Syrian refugees since 2012. California is among the 36 states where refugees have settled, per multiple media reports. Even as governors in some states say Syrian refugees arent welcome, resettlement agencies and volunteer groups with refugees continue welcoming them. Here in the Inland area, clergy leaders said its the responsibility of the faith community to help them. The Rev. Bill Freeman of Menifee United Church of Christ declared in November that his congregation is offering to house Syrian refugees. The church received threatening messages after expressing its support for Syrian refugees. SHIELDING FROM DEPORTATION The outcome of President Barack Obamas plan to spare about 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, could be determined by the Supreme Court. After a federal appeals court in New Orleans upheld a Texas-based federal judges injunction against his plan, the Obama administration vowed to take the issue to the Supreme Court. The courts could hold arguments in April with a decision expected in June. If the justices rule for the administration, Obama would have roughly seven months in office to implement his plan. Inland immigrant rights groups supporting the presidents immigration executive order said theyre hopeful the courts will rule in their favor. We definitely feel that by June of this coming year, with the Supreme Court hopefully taking the case, that we will know if (Obamas plan) will be reality, said Javier Hernandez, director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice. We feel the Supreme Court will get it right, Hernandez said. Obamas plan would expand the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally before they were 16. Under the expansion, the former age cap of 31 was eliminated. The other major part, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, would extend deportation protections to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for years. BECOMING CITIZENS The anti-immigrant rhetoric in todays political landscape is encouraging immigrants to become U.S. citizens. And the White House has recently promoted a citizenship campaign. Thats why the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and other immigrant rights groups are planning a number of citizenship drives this coming year. In November, the coalition held what was supposed to be a legal clinic focusing on health-care access for immigrant children and DACA-related issues, but it became a full-scale citizenship drive when several people expressed interest in filling out citizenship applications. The group wound up helping about 50 people complete their citizenship applications within about five hours. We were very shocked to see those types of numbers, Hernandez said. Hernandez said immigrants are more interested in becoming citizens in order to vote against candidates like Trump who are advocating deportation. The White House campaign also is helping, he said. President Obama in September launched the Stand Stronger campaign encouraging immigrants to commit to citizenship. The campaigns website features practice citizenship exams, a citizenship class locator, and citizenship applications. About 8.8 million immigrants are eligible for citizenship, the White House said. Research shows that at least for Latinos, those who become citizens during a politically charged environment on immigrant issues, vote at rates substantially higher than native-born or longer term naturalized Latino citizens, according to the University of Southern Californias Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRATION Authorities in 2016 could continue to see a growing number of Central American migrant families attempting to cross the U.S. southern border as violence grips the region. El Salvador, for example, this year made headlines for reaching levels of violence not seen since the end of the civil war in 1992. Data show theres been a massive boost in the number of unaccompanied children and families caught trying to cross the U.S. southern border. Nearly 10,600 unaccompanied children in 2015 were apprehended at the border in October and November, more than twice the amount during the same time period last year, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. About 12,500 people traveling as families were caught this year in October and November. Last year, 4,577 were caught during the same time period. Most of the families are from Central Americas Northern Triangle, which includes Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. San Bernardino Guatemalan Consulate Billy Munoz said the Central American migration flow to the U.S. continues, but he said many immigrants are being detained in Mexican territory and never make it to the U.S. border. Munoz said the Guatemalan Consulate, since its opening in San Bernardino in 2015, has promoted the Central American Minors Refugee/Parole Program that works to reunite Central American immigrants who arelegally in the United States with family members in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. He said 20 cases of people in the Inland area have so far been identified to potentially benefit from this program that provides certain qualified children in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras a safe, legal, and orderly alternative to the dangerous journey that some children are currently undertaking to the United States, said the U.S. Department of State, which administers the program. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact the writer: amolina@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9462 PATHANKOT, India Suspected militants entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. Although it was unclear who staged the attack, it was being seen as a possible attempt to undo recent progress made in relations between rivals India and Pakistan, coming just a week after the first visit to Pakistan in 12 years by an Indian prime minister. The attack began a couple of hours before dawn, and by late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But just two hours later, fresh gunfire erupted. A helicopter could be seen at around noon firing at an area inside the Pathankot air force base, located about 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi. Shots could also be heard from inside the base. The defense ministry said just after 5 p.m. that operations at the base were ongoing, 14 hours after the attack began. It was unclear how many gunmen were still fighting security troops Saturday evening. The ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a likely terror attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot, the ministry said in a statement. Despite the intelligence on a possible attack, at least two air force troops were killed in the gunbattle, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. PTI, citing police, also said at least four gunmen had been killed. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle DSilva said Saturday night that troops were conducting combing operations of the entire base in order to be able to fully secure it. She added that the full number of casualties would be clear once the base was completely secured. By 8 p.m., no gunfire had been heard around the base for more than two hours. The attack began at around 3 a.m., when a group of gunmen entered the section of the base where the living quarters are located, the defense ministry said. The attackers, however, were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, it said. Police said they suspected the gunmen were militants, and were investigating whether they had come from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where theyve been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmirs insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, and the attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the countrys relationship with its archrival. The violence came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. Ahead of Modis visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. In the past, the contentious issue of Kashmir has halted talks between the rivals. These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir, said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmirs capital, Srinagar. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests. Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects Indias insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. Its also very close to Indias border with Pakistan. Pakistans foreign ministry condemned the attack. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region, it said in a statement. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply. Indias defense minister, national security adviser and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force met Saturday to discuss the situation. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in Indias Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. Associated Press writers Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi and Aijaz Hussain in Srinagar, India, contributed to this report. Supporters of legal marijuana in California might be closer than ever to their goal. Next year, the Golden State could join the District of Columbia, Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and Alaska in allowing recreational use of marijuana under certain conditions. At least 18 legalization ballot measures have been submitted to the California secretary of state. And thats the problem for supporters. If more than one measure qualifies, it could confuse voters and hurt a grassroots effort thats gained momentum in recent years. To that end, legalization advocates are rallying around a measure backed by billionaire entrepreneur and former Facebook president Sean Parker. The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, or AUMA, has the backing of pro-marijuana activists and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has said the initiative closely follows the recommendations of a blue-ribbon panel he formed to develop guidelines for marijuana sale and cultivation in California. The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legal in California since voters approved Prop. 215 in 1996, and state lawmakers recently passed a new regulatory scheme for medical marijuana. But the push to decriminalize it suffered a setback when voters rejected Prop. 19 in 2010. The prospects for legalization are favorable in 2016, said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College. A Public Policy Institute of California poll conducted in March showed support for legalization at its highest point 53 percent since the poll started asking about the topic in 2010, although a more recent poll found that legalization was not a top concern for many. Voters in 2016 will likely be more liberal and Democratic than in 2014, which boosts the chances for a legalization ballot measure, Pitney said. But having more than one measure on the ballot could be a problem, especially if either is legally flawed or vulnerable to attack, he said. Voters might just say no to all of them, just to be safe. SO MANY EGOS AUMA is seen as having the best shot of getting on the ballot because of Parkers financial backing. Once it gets an official title and summary from the attorney generals office, backers will have 180 days to gather roughly 366,000 valid signatures from California voters to qualify the measure for the November 2016 ballot. AUMAs main rival appears to be the Control, Regulate and Tax Cannabis Act of 2016, submitted by the California Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, also known as ReformCA. But according to published reports, a majority of coalition board members have thrown their support behind AUMA. There are so many different legalization initiatives because there are so many egos involved in getting a marijuana legalization initiative passed in California, said Lanny Swerdlow, a pro-marijuana activist from the Riverside County desert community of Whitewater. Efforts to bring everyone to the table to find common ground and draft a single initiative failed as the proponents of all but one of the initiatives refused to attend, he said. WE SHOULD WIN IT To satisfy skeptics, AUMA supporters recently changed the measure to prevent the marketing of marijuana to children and block big business from monopolizing the marijuana market. This measure now includes even more protections for children, workers, small business, and local governments while ensuring strict prohibitions on marketing to kids and monopoly practices, proponent Donald Lyman told The San Francisco Chronicle. Swerdlow said that while the Parker-backed initiative isnt perfect, hell most likely support whatever gets on the ballot. Its important for the Democratic Party to back a ballot measure and not stand on the sidelines like it did with Prop. 19, said Swerdlow, who founded the Brownie Mary Democratic Club of Riverside County. It is our election to lose, he said. We should win it. But if we dont do it right, we will lose it. Paul Chabot, a Republican congressional candidate from Rancho Cucamonga, is confident voters will reject any measure to legalize marijuana. The reason Colorado and Washington state legalized marijuana is because there was no organized opposition, said Chabot, founder of the Coalition for a Drug Free California. Here in California, weve been organized for well over a decade, he said. The fate of a legalization ballot measure could depend on how well-funded and organized the opposition is, Pitney said. All things being equal, it is easier to beat a ballot measure than to pass it, he said. If foes can find a reasonable hook for creating doubt, and if they can drive home their message in ads, then they could drive down support. 15 PERCENT TAX As currently written, AUMA would permit recreational marijuana use by those 21 and older. Marijuana users of legal age could possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes. Retail marijuana sales would be taxed at a 15 percent rate, with the money going to a special fund to pay for substance abuse treatment, drug abuse prevention programs and other specified aims. A state legislative analysis estimated the act could reduce law enforcement costs by tens of millions to more than $100 million a year while providing hundreds of millions to more than $1 billion a year in tax revenue. The act imposes a number of limits on where marijuana can be smoked and who can sell it. For example, marijuana businesses cannot be within 600 feet of schools and places where children gather, and merchants who sell alcohol and tobacco cannot sell marijuana as well. The act allows for those convicted of offenses that would not have been crimes if the act were in place to be eligible for resentencing. Penalties for driving a car while impaired by marijuana would remain in effect. Local governments would have the power to regulate non-medical marijuana businesses. And localities could ban non-medical marijuana businesses if a majority of residents vote to do so. With the exception of a handful of cities in the Coachella Valley, medical marijuana dispensaries are not allowed in Riverside Countys cities. In a case that started in Riverside, the California Supreme Court in 2013 upheld the right of cities to ban dispensaries, and Riverside voters in June rejected a measure that would have allowed up to 10 dispensaries in commercial and industrial zones. Earlier this year, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors enacted new regulations to crack down on large-scale marijuana grows in unincorporated communities. Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who spearheaded the new rules, wonders what will happen to neighborhoods if recreational marijuana is legalized. Theres a lot of little complexities out there that are going to have to be ironed out, he said. I really hope they dont throw something out there thats going to be a disaster for California and take years to figure out. Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@pressenterprise.com When the charity committee at Blackstone Realty in Rancho Cucamonga decided to donate to the victims of the San Bernardino shooting and their families, the committee researched the appeals for money and reached out to a county supervisor for advice. We looked at that very carefully to make sure the funds go to the people that need help, and not the administration, Blackstone sales manager Sheila Elgart said. We felt like we did our homework before sending our money out. The real estate agency ultimately donated $6,282 to the GoFundMe account set up by San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis. Its a fund Davis has personally vouched for, has received nationwide publicity and has provided frequent updates on how much it has raised. Experts on charitable giving say others who donate to victims of disasters and tragedies would be wise to duplicate the real estate agents cautious approach. Although no one has so far reported any scams related to the shooting that killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at the Inland Regional Center on Dec. 2, it is such tragedies that prompt good citizens to give hastily and bad citizens to take advantage of the emotions of the moment by misrepresenting themselves and their intentions. RELATED: All the latest developments related to the San Bernardino shooting We see an uptick in potential for fraudulent charities after events of great national concern or international concern such as what happened in San Bernardino because people care so much, so there is an opportunity for individuals to take advantage of that, said Gabe Cohen, the director of communications for GuideStar, which provides information on IRS-registered nonprofit organizations. One thing that we are preaching is that people are giving not just with their heart but with their heads. People can have a tendency to commit immediately, and we dont think thats a great advice to follow, because thats your hard-earned money, Cohen said. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005, it wasnt long before the scammers went to work. By Sept. 14, 4,000 websites purporting to raise money for disaster relief had sprung up, according to Scambusters.org. The FBI estimated 60 percent of those sites were bogus. On Sept. 18, the first federal charges were filed in a Katrina relief scam. Prosecutors said two people in Burbank posed as American Red Cross volunteers a federal offense and took in as much as $2,000. Also in California, two Romanian nationals were charged with staging sham Internet auctions that tricked bidders into believing their contributions would help Katrina relief. The Romanians were charged with stealing $150,000. Scams such as these are one reason why Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of BBB Wise Giving Alliance, suggests donating to established charities whose names you recognize. But be careful of scammers who trade on the logo of organizations such as the Red Cross or United Way. Its best to search for the official website rather than respond to an emailed link. Find out more before you give. Dont go necessarily give to the first ask you get, Weiner said. Said San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan: If someone reaches out to you, thats an automatic red flag. LOOKS CAN DECEIVE Thieves are constantly evolving their tactics, especially when it comes to online scams. Five or 10 years ago, having a website meant more, Cohen said. Criminals are more tech savvy. Its much easier now just to throw up a website, throw up a picture of a collapsed building (from an earthquake), put up some generic information. Just having a flashy website doesnt mean its a great organization. The crowdfunding websites, such as GoFundMe.com, are of particular concern to Weiner. You cant assume just because a victims name and picture are posted, there is the authority of family, he said. A GoFundMe page can be set up with a few computer clicks to raise money for just about any purpose. GoFundMe puts the onus on the donor to determine whether a cause is genuine or a scam. Unfortunately there is no way to 100 (percent) guarantee that a users GoFundMe donation page contains accurate or truthful information. As such, donors should not make payments to any campaigns or people unless they fully understand and trust the cause presented, the website says. Those contributing to GoFundMe appeals on behalf of the San Bernardino victims have spoken with their dollars. Mayor Davis page had raised $121,040 as of Thursday afternoon, Dec. 31. Nine GoFundMe pages established in the names of victims had pulled in a combined $367,931 entering the last week of the month. (Some of those pages are no longer active.) Yet seven other GoFundMe pages whose stated goal is to raise money for victims either individually or as a group had raised only about a combined $2,000 as of Thursday. The site among those seven raising the most money, $1,050, is Standing United for San Bernardino. That site had the notation that it was a Certified Charity, meaning third-party vendor First Giving would receive the money and distribute it to the victims. GoFundMe deducts 5 percent before sending money to recipients. Its website says First Giving deducts 4.25 percent; First Givings website says the fee is 7.5 percent. A message was left with First Giving seeking clarity on the fee. ASK QUESTIONS Charity experts and law enforcement officers such as Ontario Police Chief Brad Kaylor say its important to verify the credentials of charities. GuideStar posts documents that detail how much a charity receives and donates, and how much goes to salaries. These are documents available to the public. Charities should be asked how theyve fulfilled their mission in the past and how they plan to do so with their latest appeal, Cohen said. And a charity that cant answer specific questions likely should be avoided, he said. Arrowhead United Way, which has raised more than $1 million for the San Bernardino victims, has aligned with established Inland businesses, including the Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, Vons, Albertsons, Chilis restaurant and Hangar 24 Craft Brewery. The brewery is publicizing its fundraisers through the Arrowhead United Way website. Some of the businesses, said Doug Rowand, Arrowhead United Ways president and CEO, said they want his organization to handle all the money. Any reputable business, they dont want any negative publicity, Rowand said. A 76-year-old Norco man reported missing Friday, Jan. 1, was found by Los Angeles police officers in Encino on Saturday, Jan. 2, and reunited with his family, Riverside County sheriffs officials said in a release. Deputies from the Norco sheriffs station responded to a report at 6:15 p.m. Friday of a missing resident last seen by his wife around 1:45 p.m. while he was following her in his vehicle as she drove home toward Norco. She last observed him heading eastbound on Interstate 10 near Monrovia in Los Angeles County. Officials identified the missing man as James Lane Cannon, whom they described as suffering from dementia and dependent on insulin. An extensive search of the area failed to turn up the man, they said. Officials said Cannon was driving a white 2008 Toyota Tundra, but did not possess a cell phone. The California Highway Patrol issued an alert in an effort to locate Cannon and sheriffs department put out a release asking the public to report any information they might have about Cannons whereabouts. Encino, where Cannon was found, is about 33 miles east of Monrovia at Highway 101 and Interstate 405. Many acted bravely when a county employee and his wife sprayed bullets on a holiday luncheon Dec. 2 in San Bernardino. Their stories have been heard, told reluctantly by men and women as they insisted attention should focus instead on the memory of the slain, the recovery of the wounded and the comfort of their families. But more remains to be told by those who worked behind the scenes that day and afterward. From the emergency room doctor who helped save lives to the graphic designer who crafted an image of strength for a wounded city, they had to be sought out to tell their tales. Here are their stories. THE DOCTOR When the call came of an active shooter in San Bernardino, doctors and nurses quickly responded. Some abandoned training sessions. Others rushed to help from other departments. Nearly two dozen of the injured were taken to four area hospitals. Dr. Ho-Wang Yuen was on duty in the emergency room at one of them: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. He gowned up and hustled to the ambulance bay to triage patients, just as he had practiced weeks earlier in a monthly drill. Every three to four minutes, an ambulance arrived with shooting victims. There were six altogether. At first theres adrenaline because when we first got the call, we were expecting as many as 12 patients coming to us, Yuen said. Im thinking, What kind of resources do I have? He checked each patients wounds and vital signs. If the person could talk, they were rolled back to the trauma bay, where a team of five or six doctors and nurses cared for them. Two went immediately to surgery. As Yuen worked, dozens of police officers patrolled outside the hospital, which was locked down. SWAT officers trained their weapons on approaching cars and the street. Snipers kept watch from the roof. Its definitely scary because its so close to home. We read about the Paris attack and Sept. 11, but for it to happen to us, its a totally different feeling, he said. You cant think, you go through the motions, everything becomes automatic. The biggest challenge, Yuen said, was dealing with the sea of doctors and nurses who arrived to help. He had to decide who should stay. The experience continues to haunt Yuen. Every time I take my family to a crowded area, I pay attention to my surroundings more than normal, he said. Im supposed to take my kids to Disney on Ice next month in Long Beach but Im not sure I want to go now. Janet Zimmerman THE PSYCHOLOGIST 9/11. Sandy Hook. Columbine. Ken Druck has been there for them all. Now the psychologist and grief expert adds San Bernardino to a long list of places where he has helped the victims of infamous attacks. Druck counseled one of the families of the 14 people killed at the Inland Regional Center. Using his typical format, Druck called everyone together in one room to face their grief. The goal is to get everybody close to being on the same page as to whats going to happen now, what theyre going through, as horrible as it is, he said. Much of Drucks work is done in the months and years after a tragedy. Though the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., occurred three years ago, Druck met with one family in October. In the first months people are surrounded by support and help and people are there and cooking meals for the family, there are memorial services and funerals, and tremendous attention. In time everybody starts moving on. For the families, thats the time the reality sets in and the shock wears off, when the families really need support of family, friends and professionals, Druck said. Beyond the families of the dead are more people traumatized by the event, including other employees and first responders, he said. Druck experienced the pain of loss first hand in 1996, when his 21-year-old daughter, Jenna, was killed in an accident while studying in India. Ever since, he has drawn strength from helping families recover. As the shock of what happened wears off and the reality sets in, every day is going to be difficult. Janet Zimmerman THE AMBULANCE WORKERS Treating and transporting victims while officers stood guard with rifles, and a sudden order to move the triage station after unexploded bombs were found inside the Inland Regional Center are among the memories for two American Medical Response supervisors. The first call about 11 a.m. reported 20 people down after a shooting, recalled Dave Molloy, operations manager for AMRs Redlands office and a licensed paramedic. He and Daryl Warren, an AMR operations supervisor, raced to the center with two other supervisors. AMR sent 28 ambulances, each with a crew of two. I was wondering, Are there really 20 victims or not? Molloy recalled by phone. There happened to be much more than that. Warren, a 46-year-old Loma Linda resident, acted as a transportation coordinator, part of the rehearsed mass-casualty drills. Law enforcement basically surrounded us with the intent to protect us, Molloy, a 41-year-old East Highland resident, recalled. There were snipers on a rooftop. Despite the chaos, emergency workers got the most critically wounded on the way to hospitals in about 15 minutes. About then, Molloy recalled, officers said bombs had been found inside. The triage operation had to move immediately from the parking lot to a San Bernardino fire station over half a mile away. Molloy and Warren said it was luck that the most seriously wounded patients had already been sent to hospitals beforethe move. Warren was among the first responders who met with President Barack Obama Dec. 18. The day was overwhelming, he said. I dont think Ive recovered yet. Richard K. DeAtley THE CHAPLAINS Chaplains lent their ears and hearts after the shooting. San Bernardino clergy and others trained to respond to crimes and disasters traveled to a church and community center that day to support survivors, victims families and first responders. San Bernardino chaplain Ray Miller and three other chaplains for San Bernardino police, firefighters and schools greeted roughly 400 survivors walking into the Rock Church & World Outreach Center in San Bernardino, where they were bused after the attack. Inside, chaplains worked the rooms, comforting everyone. They hugged and patted survivors, said they were glad everybody was OK and prayed with people waiting to be interviewed by police. Miller, a minister there, also helped three detectives in bloodied shirts who were among the first officers to enter the center. He prayed with them, got them clean shirts from the senior pastor and thanked them for their bravery and cool heads. The detectives arrived shaken, yet quickly got to work interviewing survivors, Miller said. They work the streets of San Bernardino, which is no small thing, Miller said. But this was different. It was innocent victims and carnage. Ten San Bernardino County Sheriffs Chaplain Corps also helped at the church. Eight later stayed at Rudy C. Hernandez Community Center with tense family members waiting to be reunited with survivors bussed from the church after interviews or to get news about loved ones, said Calvary Chapel Apple Valleys senior Pastor Gary Malkus Sr. But those who died hadnt all been identified. Relatives realized their loved ones fates when the buses stopped. We still had to sit with them knowing that no one else was coming, Malkus said. In the days that followed, dozens of chaplains, including those from Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, set up prayer stations at a memorial near the center. They listened, offered shoulders to cry on or provided spiritual guidance, said Pastor John Douthitt, who oversees Harvests chaplain program. A grief-stricken 95-year-old World War II veteran had tears in his eyes as he walked up. He said, How could this happen in my country? We fought to keep this from happening, Douthitt said. Suzanne Hurt THE CORONERS The San Bernardino County Coroners Office turned out in force for a challenge theyd never faced before. The deaths had come in a terrorist assault on their community. They got called into action while the attack was still happening and deputies they knew sought the culprits. And the dead, as well as a shooter, were their own: Part of the tight-knit county family of workers. More than 20 deputy coroner investigators, forensic pathologists, autopsy assistants and supervisors two thirds of the staff worked at least 12-hour shifts that day and night and into the next week to finish the autopsies. One person cut short a vacation in Thailand. All 14 of their volunteers arrived and worked through the night. They knew the need was there and this terrible act had come to our community. And they wanted to help, lead Supervising Deputy Coroner Investigator Robert Rocky Shaw said. Shaw and Sheriffs Capt. Kevin Lacy coordinated with police while officers searched the buildings and neutralized a bomb. Shaw and Lt. Roberto Lomeli later briefed staff, including seven investigators heading into the fiel to handle 14 victims and the two shooters, about what to expect. At the Hernandez Center, Shaw let family members know their loved ones may be among those who died once all the survivors had come from the church or been taken to hospitals. Lela Perriello, a 38-year-old Yucaipa resident, and two other investigators spent eight hours examining the 12 victims still at the center. Three died outside. Shock hit when they walked into a room decorated for Christmas and saw the rest, including some whod been eating lunch when they were killed. But then work just kind of took over and you pushed that out of your mind, she added. We were there to take care of these people. One investigator examined a body for injuries, took fingerprints and searched for other identification clues, while a second deputy wrote the information down and another took photos. A deputy, counselor and FBI agent drove to relatives houses to notify them of loved ones deaths. Some staffed an around-the-clock family assistance center in Highland. Volunteers answered or returned about 300 calls from family over 24 hours. The coroner team worked well together, Shaw said. We know when we go out the door that were going to be handling deceased persons, he said. We know were going to need to be there for the families. Suzanne Hurt THE DESIGNER A San Bernardino graphic designer never dreamed his heartfelt creation in the minutes after the shooting a black arrowhead with SB Strong 12.02.15 in white letters would become a national symbol of hope and support for the city and its residents. Juan Garcia-Ruiz, 26, was sick at home when a friend called and told him to turn on the TV. News reports of multiple casualties and photos of the injured sent him scrambling for his computer. Garcia-Ruiz was inspired by the Boston Strong slogan developed after the deadly marathon bombings in April 2013. The arrowhead symbolizes the rock formation landmark in the foothills north of the city. I literally did it in five minutes. I simply drew out the arrowhead and picked out a font that I felt was bold, he said. Ive done a lot of projects, but this one has gotten the most recognition. Garcia-Ruiz posted the icon on the I Love San Bernardino Facebook page, where it quickly gained hundreds of likes and shares. The next day, his logo lit up the freeway sign board at San Manuel Stadium, where thousands gathered for a vigil. Two days later, the Ontario Fury soccer team unveiled the logo on its field, where it will stay all season. Then came the black T-shirts bearing the symbol. San Manuel Stadium, home to the 66ers minor league baseball team, is donating proceeds from the $20 shirts to the San Bernardino United Relief Fund. The first 1,000 shirts sold out quickly, team officials said. Garcia-Ruiz worries that some will sell products with the image and pocket the profits. Thats not why I made this I was just hoping that family members or victims themselves would see it and know I was showing support for them, he said. Janet Zimmerman THE TEMP WORKERS Employees from neighboring counties and the state have pitched in to handle environmental health services while San Bernardino County workers recover from the attack on the Division of Environmental Health Services. Those filling in are helping out under long-standing agreements with other agencies. But theyre not replacing San Bernardino County staff, said Allan Rawland, the retired director of the countys behavioral health department. You cant replace the workers, he said. Those are the real heroes. The division was closed for nearly two weeks after one of its employees, public health inspector Syed Rizwan Farook, and his wife attacked Farooks co-workers. Since Dec. 14, professionals from Riverside and Los Angeles counties and the California Department of Public Health have handled restaurant inspections, plan checks for restaurants and buildings, vector control and other duties, said Rawland, who is temporarily serving as the public health departments executive manager. Its really their speciality thats important, he said. You cant just put any worker in there. Suzanne Hurt From tuk-tuk driver, astronaut, trained pilot, comedian Bassem Youssef, puppet TV host Abla Fahita, to former minister, police officer, and an Egyptian volunteer helping refugees in Lesvos; see the postcards of Egyptians in 2016 1. From: Mohamed Fouad, MP To: The newly elected MPs Message: Do the right thing Background: MP Mohamed Fouad of the liberal Wafd Party was among the new, young faces elected in the 2015 parliamentary elections. Fouad is an economic expert who used to live in the United States where he worked in several financial institutions. He won the poll in the working class area of Omraniya in Giza against huge competition from independent candidates. The first session of Egypt's House of Representatives will be held next 10 January 2016. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. From: Mohamed El-Dahshan, a volunteer in a refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece To: A little refugee girl coming to the Greek shores Message: Dear little refugee girl who came to our camp on the Greek shore, I know youve walked many roads and your feet still hurt. Youve come so far already! And that boat crossing was so scary, I know. I wish I could tell you its all over, but youve still got a long road to go. Some people will be mean to you. I dont know why. I think you scare them. I know its strange that little you with your pink backpack can scare all those grown-ups, but grown-ups are silly sometimes. But there will also be good people along the road. For 2016, I pray that you meet many good people and few of the bad ones, and that you finally find a home at least as nice as the one you left behind. Youve been so brave and Im so proud of you. Hug your parents and your brother for me. Background: Nearly more than one million refugees, mostly from Syria, crossed the Mediterranean in hope of a better life in Europe in 2015, according to UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency. According to the International Organization of Migration "IOM," 3770 refugees and migrants died in the Mediterranean while attempting to cross to Europe. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. From: Mohamed El-Sherif, a police captain To: The Egyptian people Message: I wish people would have a more positive attitude and excel in their respective lines of work. I also wish everyone would respect each other. That will counter the state of unrest that Egypt has witnessed. Bombings apart, those who for instance protest to call for the reinstatement of [ousted Islamist president Mohamed] Morsi should by now realise that he will never return [to power]. Instead of demonstrating, it would be better for his supporters to focus on what they do for a living. Background: Police in Egypt currently face a number of challenges when it comes to terrorist attacks, which have killed several police officers and conscripts in 2015, especially in North Sinai. Most of these attacks are carried out by ISIS-affiliated Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis. Police have also been facing criticism due to human rights violations, from the shooting of leftist activist Shaimaa El-Sabbagh in January to recent incidents of police officers allegedly beating and torturing to death a number of detainees in several governorates. These incidents are currently being investigated by Egypt's prosecution. Egyptian officials including President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi consider these incidents to be individual violations that do not represent the official policy of the police or the Ministry of Interior in Egypt ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. From: Khaled Ali, a tuk-tuk driver To: Traffic Authority Message: It is too harsh to confiscate an auto-rickshaw if the driver reaches an area where tuk-tuks are not authorised to roam. The owner in such cases is required to pay a fine of around LE7,000 to retrieve the tuk-tuk, and that's just too much. The process takes from 10 to 15 days. Many of these drivers are paying instalments for their tuk-tuks already, so that's a horrible nightmare for them. A fine that the driver would pay instantly would be much more suitable than confiscation at least I'd still be making money after paying it. Sometimes I have to go outside the slums to make more money. For example, I live in El-Ezba [near Ahmed Oraby in Giza's Mohandeseen] and working there can only generate a little money. Background: In July 2015, Cairo governorate officials moved to ban auto-rickshaws such as tuk-tuks in eight Cairo districts, including Cairo's downtown area, promising to impose a LE1,500 ($192) fine on violators and confiscate tuk-tuks until drivers provide ownership documents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. From: Akram Amin, Egypt's first candidate to become an astronaut To: All Egyptian youth Message: You must have hope and carry responsibility on your shoulders in order to make Egypt a better country in the future. Background: Born in 1988, Akram Amin Abdel-Latiff is Egypt's first-ever trained candidate to be an astronaut for the NASA-sponsored space mission "PoSSUM programme" in 2017. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. From: Bassem Youssef To: Himself Message: I would talk to my future me in 2016 and ask if things will get any better :) Background: Despite the fact that his successful and popular satire show was cancelled and he has since left the country, Bassem Youssef had a quite busy year in 2015, including his hosting of the International Emmy Awards in November. In early December, the award-wining TV host said in an interview with US-based Variety that he might come back in a digital show. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. From: Abla Fahita To: Year 2017 Message: Dear 2016, it is not you, its 2017 were all looking forward to. Be nice, be brief. Background: The funny, bigger-than-life, eccentric Puppet TV host reached stardom in Egypt after a bizarre year in 2014 when she got her own weekly show on the privately owned CBC in 2015. Now Abla Fahita is on vacation, getting ready for the third season of her popular show. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. From: Baher Mohamed, a journalist To: Journalists worldwide behind bars Message: My dear fellow journalists behind bars, your steadfastness is inspiring the world. Your jailer is scared of your pens and cameras. You are not forgotten... journalism is not a crime. Background: Baher Mohamed and his colleague Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Al-Jazeera international staff, were included in a pardon by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last September where 100 prisoners including political activists and protesters were released. A TV producer who worked with several international networks, Baher Mohamed was sentenced to three years in a retrial on charges of aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and was handed an extra six-month term for his alleged possession of a spent bullet casing. According to the Egyptian Press Syndicate, 32 journalists, including 14 syndicate members, are currently imprisoned, 20 of whom are jailed in cases related to their work. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. From: Salwa Gad, a tourist guide To: Tourism minister Message: Dear tourism minister, in 2016 I wish that you would increase marketing for tourism, as you have started to do. People working in this sector have been suffering for the past five years, especially tour guides. Many of my comrades have switched careers due to the lack of work. We hope that more tourists come and visit Egypt so that we can work like we did in the old days. Background: 2015 was a tough year for the tourism sector, which is trying to recover from blow after blow. In September, eight Mexican tourists were killed by Egyptian security forces during a trip to Al-Dakhla oasis after being mistaken for militant fighters. In late October, a Russian airliner carrying 224 passengers from Sharm El-Sheikh to Saint Petersburg, Russia crashed in the desert in Sinai, killing everyone on board. As the ISIS-affiliated, North Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the crash, several countries, including the UK and Russia, decided to repatriate their tourists and cancel flights to Sharm El-Sheikh until they confirmed security measures in Egyptian airports. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. From: Father of martyr Mohamed Ayman Showika To: His son Message: Dear Son, you are a great honour to your country and to your governorate Damietta. We are all extremely proud of you here. I hope that all young people see you as a role model and take what you did as a lesson in patriotism for all Egyptians. I know for a fact that the number of young people in this country is huge, so I am asking them to be loyal to their country and always look to you as a role model. I would also like to thank Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. He is indeed an honourable man and I call on all Egyptians to work with him for the interest of our country, Egypt. Background: In early December, Mohamed Ayman Showika, an Egyptian Armed Forces conscript, grabbed a militant who was about to detonate a suicide belt. Showika sacrificed himself to save eight members of his unit from the attack in North Sinai. Egyptian security forces have killed hundreds of militants in the past three years in its war on terrorism. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. From: Mohamed Bargash, head of a syndicate for farmers' rights To: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt. Message: A meeting with farmers in 2016 is crucially important and urgent. We farmers are deeply wounded. We have problems with every group in the country. We hope that you work towards preserving our dignity. Background: According to Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture in 2015, only half of Egyptian farmers own 15% of the agricultural land. In 2015, new subsidies were imposed on wheat and cotton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. From: Historian and former minister of culture Emad Abu-Ghazi To: Aya Hegazi Message: Id like to direct my message to the young Egyptian Aya Hegazi, who has been in detention pending trial for over 500 days just because she tried to present a project in the service of her country. Id like to tell her, Every night has its dawn. Background: Aya Hegazi, an Egyptian-American citizen, was arrested along with her husband for allegedly running an NGO that recruits street children in downtown Cairo to participate in illegal protests. Hegazi's family denies the charges. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. From: Actor Ahmad Kamal To: The noble Egyptians Message: To all the noble Egyptians, young and old, and across all fields, you are the unfading, honourable hope. Background: Kamal stars in Daoud Abdel-Sayeds latest film, Qudrat Ghayr Adiya (Out of the Ordinary). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. From: Dancer, actress and director Reem Hegab To: Fellow compatriots Message: May we remain devoted to achieving the rights of our families, children, our country and the oppressed, this year and every year. May our knowledge ripen, our intellect deepen, our sympathy grow gentler and our blessings more abundant, this year and every year. May we grow more capable of realising our interests, rights, and collective duties, this year and every year. May we grow more capable of uniting together to realise our duties, despite our differences. [Uniting to realise] a decent, secure and free life. May we continue to try and strive for prosperity, justice, and beauty, this year and every year. May we always think and re-think, and try again and again, this year and every year. Background: Hegab stars in Daoud Abdel-Sayeds latest film Qudrat Ghayr Adiya (Out of the Ordinary), as well as the monodrama Paranoia, which was presented in Hanager Theatre in 2015. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15. From: Squash world number one player Mohamed Elshorbagy His brother Marwan Elshorbagy, Squash world number 11He is a big reason for my success in 2015 and being with me in my ups and downs; he is my biggest supporter and he is my role model... last month we both became the first brothers in 25 years to make it to the top 10 together and I am just glad and lucky to have an amazing brother like him, and I hope 2016 will be successful for both of us and we will achieve more together. Background: Read Ahram Online's interview with Squash world number one player, Mohamed ElShorbagy. *Nahed Nasr contributed to this piece Search Keywords: Short link: Three Corona-Norco schools will soon switch from year-round schedules to traditional calendars. Students at Clara Barton Elementary School in Eastvale, Lincoln Alternative Elementary School in Corona and Corona Fundamental Intermediate School will be making the switch in June. The Corona-Norco Unified School District board voted unanimously in October to make the changes. The campuses had been operating year round, with students enrolled in one of four groups, or tracks. The breaks for each track were staggered, allowing the schools to optimize a limited amount of space, Superintendent Michael Lin said. But the schedule made it difficult for teachers to collaborate, and coordination suffered, Lin said. It was like operating four schools within a school, Lin said. In the decade prior to 2010, about 75 percent of Corona schools were forced into a year-round schedule because of a booming population and a lack of schools, Lin said. Gradually, as population increases tapered off, schools moved back to traditional schedules with a typical summer break. Lincoln and Corona Fundamental were the last two Corona campuses to operate year-round. Lin said it has always been the goal to revive the fundamentalist roots of the two Corona schools. At one time there was a very strict dress code, there was a conservative feeling to the schools, Lin said. The philosophy got kind of blended, so this gives us a chance to renew fundamentalism at those schools. Barton will be the first Eastvale elementary school to offer a traditional summer break. Andrea Hove, a parent volunteer, spoke to the school board in October, saying the current schedule was disruptive for families with children on two different tracks. Lin said he hoped the re-alignment would support family unity. A study by the National Education Association lists advantages to both types of schools. For example, year-round schools may increase retention rates because students spend less time away from the classroom, the study said. Most year-round schools operate on a 45 days on, 15 days off schedule, instead of a 10-week summer break. The study also said extracurricular programs suffer at year-round schools, and parents had complained of having students at different schools. A traditional calendar helps align testing schedules with learning of state academic standards, and allows for more long-term projects, Lin said. In education, you can get stats that tell you stories on both sides, Lin said. Theres continuity at year-round, but traditionals allow for planning time. The district is working to offer more summer courses for families worried their children could lose academic ground over the long break. The classes would be in addition to existing intervention courses. About 3,000 students attend the three schools. Deputy Superintendent Samuel Buenrostro told the school board its unlikely the schools will drop any of their 115 teachers or dozens of certificated staff when the change occurs in June. He added that some 12-month employees would see a pay cut. At the three schools, students current schedules will determine the length of their 2016 summer breaks. For example, at Barton, some tracks run until the end of June. Those students vacations will be about a month shorter than some of their classmates. Contact the writer: 951-368-9644, poneill@pressenterprise.com, @PE_PatrickO 2015 was a year that saw Aussie pirates pack their dacks over legal threats from the makers of Dallas Buyers Club, and worldwide, films like Interstellar and Furious 7 were illegally shared over 40 million times apiece. Still, MMXVI might already have 15 beat in terms of pirating: A French academic has published the entire text of Anne Franks Diary Of A Young Girl online as a protest against the texts supposed copyright holders. ICYMI, the Anne Frank Fonds exclusive hold on the texts rights technically ended on January 1st, but the Fonds pulled a fast one last year by saying Annes dad, Otto, helped pen the text. If that claim held up, the book wouldnt enter public domain: the law says copyright holds up for 70 years after the authors death, so theyd be able to collect royalties on the Diary until 2050. Olivier Ertzscheid, of the University of Nantes, thought that was some grade-A bullshit. Naturally, he put the entire text online in its original Dutch, which is basically a massive fuck you to what could be seen as a downright cynical attempt to cash in on a culturally ubiquitous text. In an article for French publication Rue89, Ertzschied said he couldnt wait another 50 years for the Diary to become public property. Anne, dear Anne, I am writing this letter to you to ask you permission not to wait until 2050. At the end of this message, I will put your journal online. By doing this, I will perform an illegal actit is likely that they send me their lawyers, summon me to remove this text, condemn me to pay a fine. I do not care, Anne. His actions have already been praised, but whether the Fonds will challenge the publication is yet to be seen. Sidenote: Hitlers Mein Kampf is also technically up for the public domain treatment. Hows that for two vital but completely opposite pieces of mid-century history being doled out to the public for free? Story: ABC. Photo: Andrew Burton / Getty. Restaurant Inspections (PennLive) Many midstate restaurants are inspected each week and come through with no problems. But some restaurants in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties had violations during inspections conducted from Dec. 6 to Dec. 12. Among the violations noted in Lancaster County, inspectors found evidence of roach activity. In York County, the discovered food offered for sale that lacked allergen warnings. At a Dauphin County business, a wrapped cough drop and zinc supplements were being stored in the same bin as fish-fry mix in the kitchen. An employee's personal medication was also found in the kitchen of a Lebanon County establishment. And at a Cumberland County restaurant, a can of gasoline was being stored on the same shelf as food and Round-up weed killer was kept next to food in the kitchen. Inspectors found no violations in Perry County during this period. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees restaurant inspections in the state. Inspection reports are "snapshots" of the day and time the inspections took place. In many cases, violations are corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving. Click on the links below to see how restaurants in the region fared: redblueamerica By Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk The year is almost over, and an election looms. Is the country more divided now more than ever? Can Americans find common ground on anything? Is there life beyond political squabbles? As 2015 comes to a close, Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, reflect on the year that was. JOEL MATHIS Some of my best friends are conservatives. There are those of you who will roll your eyes at that, and probably a few of you who might find it patronizing. What can I say? It's a clich?, but it's also true. What's also true: My life is immeasurably better and richer because of my conservative friends, starting with Ben Boychuk - no RINO he - and extending to a vast array of people with whom I grew up and attended college. I don't just have conservative friends; I love them dearly. I just happen to think they're wrong about a lot of stuff. That's OK. They think the same about me. We have raucous disagreements, we occasionally make each other really mad, and then we persist with each other because, hey, we're friends. What's more, I've come to think conservatives have a few insights that liberals could learn from. We liberals aren't in favor of big government for its own sake - it's usually a means to solving some societal ill. But conservatives are (sometimes) right that expanding the reach of government can involve tradeoffs in personal freedom, that regulation sometimes has unintended consequences, that sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. They're not always right about these things, but they're right often enough that liberals should pay attention. The problem? We Americans don't really pay attention to each other any more. We're not friends with each other anymore. We increasingly see our rivals as evil, meant to be stopped entirely. Compromise and accommodation - meetings of the minds - seem increasingly impossible in this atmosphere. Our republic cannot survive this state of affairs for long. It rests on the notion that electoral losers accept the legitimacy of the winners, and that is increasingly no longer the case. This isn't a call to centrism, or an end to politics. Our republic also depends on healthy debate. We will argue with each other. That's how it works. But we need to stop treating each other like enemies. Maybe we should even try, once again, to be friends. Happy holidays. BEN BOYCHUK Our republic is in bad shape. No need to sugarcoat it. Americans have put up with eight years of executive abuses, constitutional usurpations and broken promises, right and left. Nothing ever seems to change, except for the worse. People are angry. Enough of this. Simply look at the rise and enduring appeal of Donald Trump among a sizable slice of Republican primary voters and erstwhile Reagan Democrats. "America doesn't win anymore," Trump says. "I can make it win." Is Trump a demagogue and a fraud? No doubt about it. Then again, so are the Democratic alternatives. A November Quinnipiac poll found that 60 percent of U.S. voters - a pretty broad demographic, as far as these surveys go - say Hillary Clinton is neither honest nor trustworthy. Yet she would still trounce Trump if the general election were held today. People say they've had enough. But they're going to get more of the same. Americans are more divided and dispirited than they were in 2008 or 2012. Journalist Bill Bishop in 2004 coined the term, "The Big Sort," which he used to describe the way like-minded Americans over the past 40 years have been segregating themselves not only into regions and states, but cities and neighborhoods. The trend continues unabated. We are a much redder and bluer America today than when this column began in 2008. A Pew Research study published last year found that Americans are far more divided along ideological lines than we were a decade ago. That isn't a good thing. Usually around this time of year, I like to observe what I call a "Christmas truce." Politics can be exhausting any time, but especially in an election year. The madness we've seen unfold this year is but a prelude of what's coming in 2016. Let me suggest stepping back from the fray for a moment. Put the paper down or step away from the screen (after you finish reading this column, of course). Sit quietly. Breathe slowly. Count your blessings - you have many more than you may realize. The country may be a mess, but don't forget that despair is a sin. Take heart. This, too, shall pass. Ben Boychuk (bboychukcity-journal.org) is associate editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. Joel Mathis (joelmmathisgmail.com) is associate editor for Philadelphia Magazine. Visit them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/benandjoel An Indian ambulance carries the injured to the hospital outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Suspected militants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand) A pro-Sisi parliamentary bloc said constitutional law professor Ali Abdel-Al has become highly recommended to be the speaker of Egypt's new parliament A majority parliamentary bloc in support of Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has announced this week that MP and constitutional law professor Ali Abdel-Al will likely be elected as the speaker of Egypts new parliament. Abdel-Als name shot to the top of the list of candidates for speaker after former interim president and the incumbent chairman of the Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour refused an offer by El-Sisi to be appointed to parliament. Mansour, who said he preferred to retain his position at the top of the country's highest constitutional authority, would have been one of the 28 MPs appointed by the president in accordance with Article 102 of the constitution. The list of 28 presidential appointees did include one high-profile judicial figure, Sirri Siam, the former chairman of the Court of Cassation and the Higher Council for Judges. However, Siam said he has no intention to run for the post of the speaker of parliament. Another presidential appointee, prominent lawyer and secretary-general of the Wafd Party Bahaaeddin Abu Shuka, also said he does not intend to run for the speaker's post. Officials affiliated with the pro-Sisi parliamentary bloc entitled the Pro-Egyptian State Coalition were quick to announce that as long as Mansour was not appointed, they would recommend nominating Abdel-Al for the post of speaker. Sameh Seif El-Yazal, coordinator of the pro-Sisi coalition, said in a TV interview on Thursday night that "after we took note of the list of presidential appointees, we agreed that none have a good chance to be the speaker of the coming parliament." "So I can say that Abdel-Al now has a good chance to be our candidate for the post of speaker." El-Yazal, a former intelligence officer, said "the pro-Egyptian State Coalition has so far been able to swell its ranks in the new parliament to reach as high as 370 MPs or more than 50 percent and this ensures that our candidate for the post of speaker can get the lion's share of votes." El-Yazal also I stressed that two elected MPs TV host Tawfik Okasha and former president of Al-Azhar University Osama Al-Abd who have announced that they will run for the speaker's post do not have any significant support among MPs. "This will further boost the chances of Abdel-Al to be elected speaker," said El-Yazal, adding that his coalition highly appreciates the fact that President El-Sisi declined to have a hand in selecting the speaker of parliament. Abdel-Al, 68, is an Ain Shams University constitutional law emeritus professor who won a seat in an Upper Egypt governorate as part of the Pro-Egyptian State Coalition, which at the time was named the For the Love of Egypt list. Abdel-Al first came to prominence when the now-former interim president Mansour selected him in 2013 to be one of a 10-member committee entrusted with drafting Egypt's new constitution. When El-Sisi was elected president in June 2014, he selected him as a member of the legislative reform committee that took charge of vetting important political and economic legislation. Abdel-Al was also at the top of a committee responsible for drafting three election laws in 2015; the exercise of political rights, the House of Representatives affairs, and the division of electoral constituencies. Abdel-Al has said several times that he is highly supportive of President El-Sisi. When he visited parliament for the first time after winning a seat in the first round of the polls last October, he told reporters that the relationship between the parliament and the president of the republic should be based on cooperation rather than confrontation. "I also want to stress that the For the Love of Egypt Coalition will be a back-up force for President El-Sisi in the coming parliament," said Abdel-Al. He did, however, stress that "this does not mean that the coalition aims to turn parliament into a rubber stamp tool or an endorsement machine for all the president's decrees and laws." "We will give our support only when we see that this helps reinforce the stability of Egypt." Abdel-Al also argued that Article 156 of the constitution which obligates parliament to vote on all laws passed since the removal of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi from office in July 2013 within a matter of 15 days should be read in a different way. According to him, the law stipulates that the vote applies to only a few number of laws, ranging between 10 and 15, that were issued for matters of necessity. Egypt's new parliament which includes an unprecedented 596 members will hold its opening procedural sitting on 10 January. The meeting, which will be headed by Wafd's Abu Shuka, 77, in his capacity as the most senior parliamentarian, will be devoted to electing a speaker and two deputies. Article 117 of the new constitution states that the speaker and two deputies cannot be elected for more than two consecutive legislative seasons. Article 160 states that if the president is temporarily not able to exercise his powers, the prime minister will act in his place. However, if president's office becomes vacant due to his resignation, death or a permanent inability to work, the speaker of parliament shall temporarily assume the powers of the president. Search Keywords: Short link: MEDIA QUESTIONNAIRE Name of Publication Established (Give exact date) ADDRESS TELEPHONE FAX NO NAME OF EDITOR Name of Printer Language Frequency Please attach a copy of declaration certificate Off Days Please specify whether morning, evening or state the date of issue Date on which the first issue was brought out Any special edition Price per copy Annual subscription Editorial Objectives and policy Appeal to any special community, class or section News services subscribed to Special regular features (i.e Womens or Children page etc) & when appearing Three others were injured in the incident that, according to initial reports, was due both to bad weather and overloading Egypts Prime Minister Sherif Ismail ordered Friday an immediate investigation into the deaths of 15 people onboard a ferryboat that sank Thursday night in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. The premier also called on the ministers of local development and transportation to ensure that all ferries are registered and have undergone regular maintenance. Three others were injured in the incident that, according to initial reports, was due both to bad weather and overloading. The ferry was attempting to cross from Kafr El-Sheikhs Sendion to Beheiras Derot. On Thursday, the country witnessed heavy rains nationwide and cold temperatures that led to several traffic accidents. Transportation accidents and fatalities, often due to poor maintenance, are not uncommon in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Chiang Rai White Temple (Wat Rong Kun) Review Chiang Rai White Temple or Wat Rong Kun is easily recognised by travellers due to its white colour as well as its unique design. Many travellers refer the temple as Thailands White Temple because it is first popular white temple in the country. It is opened in 1997 and it is privately owned by Thai famous artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat. The story behind this temple is unique. The original Wat Rong Khun was in dire situation and Chalermchai Kositpipat who is originated from Chiang Rai decided to rebuild the temple with his own money with his new design. The artist has spent more than 40 Million Baht to rebuild the temple. The temple is a successful story of the artists unique, contemporary and unconventional design. Many critics believed that it is impossible to build the temple based on his creative design but the proved everyone wrong. When the temple opened its doors in 1997, everyone was amazed and thrilled by the design, architecture and the creativity of the temple. It has become an icon of Chiang Rai and Thailand. There are no entrance fees to this temple but we heard they might charge 50 Baht this year. We are unable confirmed about the new entrance fees but even it is, it is worth every penny. The structure and the symbolism of the temple are different than the usual temples. After we did some research online, we got to know more and understanding of this temple. The temple is currently still in construction and repairing work. During the 5 May 2014 earthquake in Mae Lao, the tremors shaken and damaged the temple. After a group of engineering team inspection, the temple structure is not damaged and the building is deemed safe. Thats why you still can see repairing work on the temple and they are building more structures in the compound. When completion, the white temple will have a total of nine buildings. What we like about Chiang Rai White Temple (Wat Rong Kun) This is a privately funded temple by famous artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. He is a local from Chiang Rai and to transform from his design to reality is a big task. The design and architecture is unique and there are hidden messages on every section. Every inch of this building is carefully created with intensive details. Within the temple, you are not allowed to take any photos as there are quite a number of controversial paintings with popular comic heroes. Please respect the wishes of the temple so please do not take any photos of the paintings within the temple. We love the creativity and also the commitment of the artist to showcase his work and bring joy to the guests. It is not an easy task to create and maintain such a magnificent building like this with its own money. On the other hand, he is creating tourist attraction on his own without any incentives. Such noble act is much needed in our own country. If you are in Chiang Rai, you can also visit the Singha Park which is located nearby. Chiang Rai White Temple (Wat Rong Kun) Address: MueangChiang Rai, Pa O Don Chai, Mueang Chiang Rai District, 57000, Thailand Phone: +66 53 673 579 Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts Cairo will witness highs of 16 and lows of 8 degrees Celsius, while the coastal city of Alexandria will witness highs of 17 and lows of 9 degrees Celsius Cold temperatures will continue in Egypt Sunday after the country has welcomed the New Year with a spell of rain, the state-run MENA news agency reported. A fog will be present in Cairo, the Nile Delta and Suz Canal cities of Suez and Port Said in the morning hours. The Mediterranean Sea will be very unstable, with waves rising between three and three and a half metres high. A number of ports have already closed Saturday in Alexandria City, overlooking the Mediterranean, to prevent ships from colliding with one another. The Red Sea, on the other hand, will be stable, with waves rising to a maximum of two metres high. Cairo will witness highs of 16 and lows of 8 degrees Celsius, while the coastal city of Alexandria will witness highs of 17 and lows of 9 degrees Celsius. Warmer weather is expected in touristic Sharm El-Sheikh resort with highs of 20 and lows of 11 degrees Celsius. Similarly, temperatures in Hurghada resort will range between 20 degrees Celsius in the day and 9 degrees at night. Search Keywords: Short link: 25 2021 - 200 ! . ( ) , Cookies . cookies. Q: I just purchased a new car a 2016 Honda HRV. How soon can I switch to synthetic oil? A: At the first oil change, if you'd like. Honda specifies an API rated 0W-20 detergent motor oil and allows synthetic 0W-20 that meets the same API specifications. The two oils petroleum and synthetic are effectively interchangeable since they both meet the same standards. Honda calls for oil/filter changes at 10,000-mile intervals or one year, whichever comes first. Personally, I'd be inclined to use synthetic and change oil a bit more frequently. Q: I have a general question about how one should approach car maintenance. I own two cars, both about seven years old, and have always followed the manufacturer's schedule for whatever work is needed. Do you do the same, or with your expertise can you see recommendations for work that is unnecessary and probably serves only to enrich the dealer? In other words, am I being taken for a ride, so to speak? A: I really hate the fact that so many car owners assume that the automotive service industry is programmed to "take them for a ride." Preventive maintenance is important and along with a sensitive, nonabusive driving style is the key to long and reliable vehicle life. Is every recommended service item absolutely essential? Probably not. But the key items like fluid changes, tire rotation, brake inspection, timing belt changes, etc., are. To ignore these basics is a recipe for two things a problematic vehicle and an unhappy vehicle owner. In fact, Honda specifies some services as "warranty requirements," whether Honda's new car warranty or the federal emissions warranty. The irony is that modern motor vehicles are incredibly reliable and require relatively little maintenance. Oil changes at 10,000-mile intervals, coolant good for five years, spark plug changes at 100,000 miles and so forth. To my mind, your motor vehicle is the second most used, abused, neglected yet reliable "machine" in your life. First? Your toilet! ADVERTISEMENT To your specific question. I review the maintenance literature and decide which services are critical and which are noncritical, like lubricating door hinges, checking exterior lighting, checking exhaust system components and parking brake systems. Then I decide which of these need to be left to professionals and which I can do myself. Here are a few examples. Changing the induction air filter is a critical service, but can be done by the car owner just as well as the professional. Ditto checking the condition and level of all fluids. Ditto wiper blades and seatbelts. Following a carmaker's service schedules is never wrong and you're not being "taken for a ride" in doing so. But you can reduce the cost be deciding which services are critical to safety, reliability and durability and which services you can do yourself. Q: The aluminum wheels on my 2003 Honda Civic now have rim leaks, one so bad the tire has to be pumped up every two days. The other three have to have air added anywhere from three to 10 days. The worst one has had the rim "polished" by the tire store. This helped for several months but is again to the point of going flat in several days. What do you recommend? Is purchasing a new set of rims the only solution? A: Check to see if radial inner tubes are available for your tire and wheel size. Your car likely has had several sets of tires installed on those rims over the past 12 years. Corrosion on the bead surface of the rim probably is going to be a permanent issue. If radial tubes are available for that size tire and rim, that's your least expensive option. Finding a serviceable set of Honda wheels at a salvage yard would be another, but somewhat more expensive, solution. Also, ask the tire store if they used some type of bead sealer when they polished that one rim. If not, bead sealer might be another option. The 18 convicted were previously found guilty for rioting, sabotage, and attempt to storm Kafr El-Shiekh Police Station Egypts Court of Cassation scrapped Saturday five-year prison sentences against 18 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and ordered a retrial on violence-related charges. The 18 were previously found guilty of rioting, sabotage and attempting to storm Kafr El-Shiekh Police Station amid violence that swept the nation after the bloody dispersal of two pro-Morsi vigils in Cairo in August 2013. They were arrested after a protest escalated into clashes with locals opposing Morsis rule. Following Morsi's ouster, Egypt's judiciary declared his group, the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organisation. Police have launched a crackdown on his supporters, arresting thousands mainly on protest law violations. Morsi is currently imprisoned on a number of charges, including espionage with Hamas and Qatar. So far he has been sentenced to both death and life in prison. His sentences are currently under appeal. Search Keywords: Short link: The statewide divide between rural and urban issues has been in the spotlight since being highlighted by various political campaigns in 2014. Since then, many state officials have pulled into debates about whether a decision benefits the metro area over Greater Minnesota, or vice versa. While the statewide divide often is troubling, we also are concerned about the potential for such divisions growing in our corner of the state, with Rochester playing the role of Minnesota's metro area. A sign of such a potential divide was seen during a Dec. 21 Rochester City Council meeting in response to a request for $24,000 in funding to assist the Journey to Growth initiative. An effort to diversify the regional economy and connect communities throughout Southeast Minnesota, Journey to Growth is a five-year initiative that started nearly a year ago. Since then, it has grown to include communities throughout the region, focusing on a variety of issues, from economic development to early childhood education. During the Dec. 21 Rochester City Council meeting, however, focus was put on potential legislative agendas that could conflict with some council goals. "I don't know if I have sufficient answers to gauge whether this is in the public interest," Council Member Michael Wojcik said of the funding request. While the measure was eventually supported in a 5-2 vote, with Wojcik and Council Member Nick Campion objecting, the support was contingent on the fact that the funds provided would be earmarked for the Rochester Area Economic Development Inc. business accelerator program and not be used to promote future legislative goals. ADVERTISEMENT The split vote for approving the funds, as well as the the lack of information regarding the five-year effort that started with RAEDI and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, raises fear of a potential divide that Journey to Growth was created to overcome. J2G organizers actively have sought regional participation in their efforts. With more than 200 volunteer participants, subcommittees are filled with people from throughout Southeast Minnesota, representing a variety of businesses, local governments and regional organizations, including those in Rochester. The goal is to build and market a region to spur growth needed to diversify a region that is heavily dependent on the health-care industry. Anyone worried actions taken through the Journey to Growth effort will conflict with a local agenda doesn't have to sit by and wait. Unlike many local government boards and committees, membership in Journey to Growth subcommittees aren't capped. Leaders in several internal groups have frequently voiced a desire for greater participation during quarterly meetings, which are attended by 150 to 200 regional residents, ranging from elected officials to interested community members. That desire means any Rochester City Council member concerned about the direction of the effort has a chance to take part and be a voice within the region. That will be the key to success listening to the various voices of the region. Granted, at times one regional goal may seem to conflict with the desires of a specific city or other governing body. Yet, the overall goal for the region will remain the same; it will be a desire to grow the region and make sure its communities are strong. It would be unfortunate if a lack of understanding were to create a divide that could harm the regional harmony being sought in an effort to strengthen Southeast Minnesota. Democrats have sought to incorporate American Muslims into their coalition of interest groups. They share some common interests, and maybe the common interests predominate, but there are at least a few tensions if not internal contradictions among them. Minnesota Fifth District Rep Keith Ellison is of course the first Muslim elected to Congress and Somali Muslims form a key part of his constituency. Ellison embodies the alliance between American Muslims and the Democratic Party. One can glimpse how Ellison deals with the tensions in his memoir cum manifesto, My Country, Tis of Thee. What kind of Muslim is he? Ellison expressly addresses the question. He depicts himself as a live-and-let-live kind of Muslim. If I were Jewish, I would probably be a reform Jew. If I were Christian, I would be one of those come-as-you-are nondenominational Christians, he confides. Faith is not about expressing what I believe so that the world can see Im faithful. I dont believe in following a strict set of rules to prove my love for God or to prove my faith. According to Ellison, In Islam, your religion is what you make of it. As for the question of gay marriage, Ellison concedes that I get Muslims who come up to me and ask, Brother Keith, how can you be in favor of gay marriage? Brother Keith explains: Im in favor of civil rights for all. Im in favor of freedom. Those of us who wondered about the reconciliation of his faith with his politics now have the answer. Which branch of Islam comports with the agenda of the Democratic party on social issues? Ellison reveals it to be the Ellison branch of Islam. The same would almost certainly apply to Ellisons views on abortion and womens rights. When it comes to the Democratic Partys current articles of faith, Ellison is standard issue. One can also glimpse the tensions in the Department of Justices treatment of the case of vandalism against an Islamic Center and the underlying facts of the case based on the plea agreement. The DoJ press release describes the graffiti painted on the Islamic Center as including explicit and offensive language in addition to such statements as Bash Back, Now is our time! and You bash us in Pakistan we bash here. But the plea agreement reports that the graffiti, put up in early 2011, contained the following statements:(i) Allahu F***bar; (ii) Queer insurrection; (iii) Its okay to be gay! (iv) Now is our time! (v) Bash Back; (vi) You bash us in Pakistan we bash here; (vii) Allah was gay; (viii) [illegible] unite; (ix) Satanic trans (with circle around Star of David above); (x) F*** straights; and (xi) Bash Back lives. Professor Volokh explains that Bash Back is a gay and lesbian activist group. This context therefore puts a different cast on the graffiti that the press release did quote at least two and possibly all three of those statements also appear to be pro-gay-rights. Above I am drawing on my Weekly Standard article The Ellison elision and on Professor Michael Rappaports Law & Liberty post. In his post Professor Rappaport speculates on the motives for the DoJs misleading press release. My thought is consistent with both of the two speculations offered by Professor Rappaport. Stated slightly differently than Professor Rappaport puts it, the DoJs suppression of the nature of the crime represents the Orwellian approach to resolving the tensions between contending elements of the Democratic Party both of whose interests Obamas DoJ seeks to protect and advance. News reports indicate that next week, President Obama will unveil new regulations intended to force some non-firearms dealers to run background checks before selling guns. Since the database against which background checks are run is close to useless with respect to mental illness, and since lawbreakers wont run searches in any event, such a change will have, at best, symbolic value. I will have more to say about that later in the weekend. For now, I want to note that gun crimesuddenly the Democrats favorite topicis something about which the Democrats have never been serious. We already have many federal and state laws and regulations on the books. Gun rights advocates often suggest that instead of enacting still more laws and regulations, the government would do better to enforce the ones already on the books. They are right. President Obama purports to be deeply concerned about gun crime. But how has his administration done with respect to prosecuting those who violate the laws already on the books? This chart, from Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, tells the story: The Clinton administration talked a good game on gunsremember the assault weapons ban?but when it came to actual law enforcement, its record was horrendous. (Someone should mention that to Hillary.) Things shaped up considerably under the Bush administration, which achieved record levels of gun-crime-related convictions. But when Barack Obama became president and Eric Holder took over the Department of Justice, enforcement went straight downhill. Over the course of the Obama administration, it has only gotten worse. Today, gun convictions are down 35% since the Bush administration peak in 2005 and 2006. Obama and Holder had an agenda, but it wasnt law enforcement. So on guns, as with regard to most other issues, Barack Obama is all talk. He isnt interested in solving problems, he is just seeking political advantage. His corrupt administration cant end soon enough. One of the underreported stories of 2015, it seems to, was Rahm Emanuels Chicago crisis. Elected to a second term as mayor just last spring, its now unclear whether he will be able to cling to office following the police shootings that are roiling Chi-town. The Wall Street Journal reports: Mayor Rahm Emanuel cut short a holiday break in Cuba amid a wave of criticism at home that isnt letting up more than a month after the release of a video showing a Chicago police officer shooting and killing a black teenager. The mayors decision to return early, his administration said, came partly in the wake of a police shooting over the weekend that claimed the lives of two peopleprompting calls for the city to improve how it responds to calls involving mentally ill people. Mr. Emanuel was already dealing with fallout from footage of Laquan McDonald being shot and killed in October 2014 that has left the mayors approval rating in the teens in a recent poll. Protests calling for his resignation have become commonplace. But this story isnt just about Emanuel or Chicago. I agree with Walter Russell Mead that whats happening in Chicago is an earthquake that points to the escalating crisis of governability for blue cities across the United States. Mead identifies six dimensions to the crisis. They are: First, this dilemma: a dramatic reduction in crime contributed to the economic health of cities like Chicago; aggressive policing contributed to that reduction; but dramatic policing leads to more confrontations between civilians and the police, such as the ones that have Emanuel in so much trouble. Second, large pensions for public sector union members are forcing cities like Chicago to cut back on key services, including public education. This produces, among other things, a serious tension between various liberal constituencies. Third, the strength of the public sector unions also makes it very difficult for cities to manage their workforce. This too causes a decline in the quality of services. Fourth, the cost of keeping cities functioning not just paying obligations such as pensions but also repairing and replacing old infrastructure is skyrocketing. This forces cities to impose higher taxes which drive many employers away and lead to a reduction in the middle class population. Fifth, native-born citizens, whatever their race, are moving out of many cities, as immigrants move in. This exacerbates income inequality, as well as ethnic tension. Sixth, political machines continue to prevail in American cities. This tends to make good governance difficult (see Detroit and New Orleans). But Mead points out that even when, as in Chicago, the machine tries to govern intelligently, the imperatives of good governance and urban development push in one direction, but the forces that push toward short-termism, ethnic demagoguery, and fiscal irresponsibility are getting stronger. Mead concludes: The increasing fragility of blue cities and states is the biggest problem the Democratic coalition faces. Those who hope that demographic change will create a permanent Democratic majority need to think about arithmetic as well as demography. The numbers dont add up for blue cities. The governing model doesnt produce the revenue that can sustain it long-term. Making cities workenabling them to provide necessary services at sustainable cost levels while achieving economic development that rebuilds the urban middle classis the biggest challenge the Democratic Party faces. As Mayor Emmanuel is learning, that is a daunting task. I would add that some Democrats have understood the problem for a while. Their solution is the regionalism manifested in, among other things, President Obamas affirmatively furthering fair housing initiative. The Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, Augustine Ukwuoma, on Friday unveiled the African tallest statue of Jesus Christ weighing 8.5 metres (28 ft) at St. Aloysius Catholic Parish, Abajah, Imo. The statue, made of marble, is bigger than the 20 metres (66 foot) Ramesses ii Abusimbel statue in Egypt. Mr. Ukwuoma performed the ceremony shortly after a mass attended by the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu Diocese, Gregory Ochiagha, and more than 100 priests at St. Aloysius Parish Abajah compound on Friday. One Obinna Onuoha, who donated the Jesus statue, had constructed 2, 000 seating capacity parish church at St. Aloysius in the year 2012. The unveiling of the statue was used to mark the wedding golden jubilee ceremony of the parents of Mr. Obinna, Geoffrey, and Lolo Justina Onuoha. Mr. Ukwuoma, who described the statue as magnificent, commended the Mr. Onuoha family for the gift and their benevolence to the church. This statue is a great symbol of Christian faith, and I pray that for the Catholics that the statue will continue to constantly remind us of what Jesus Christ stands for us. For other passersby, looking at the statue will also bring them closer to Jesus, the Bishop said. Speaking on the golden jubilee, the cleric used the medium to remind marital couples on the need to see marriage as a vocation through which they could positively impact on the society. God did not call any of us clergy and religious to be fathers and mothers, but those called into this vocation must use it to reflect Gods peace, love and unity. Mr. Onuoha, the Managing Director of Premier Petroleum Ltd., and the donor of the statue, said he constructed the statue to fulfill a vow he made to God in the year 1997. Asking why I constructed this statue is like asking how do I came to this world, I am a Christian and a Catholic and Jesus statue represents my faith. I believe we are here on earth for different purposes and each person moves with his/her instincts, and I was motivated to do this to build up the faith of this community, he said. Mr. Onuoha, who did not mention the cost of the statue, added, It took about three years to construct and erect the Jesus De Saviour statue at Abajah. (NAN) As part of efforts to deepen the African economy and grow more indigenous entrepreneurs, the Tony Elumelu Enterpreneurship Programme has announced plans to support and grow 1,000 African entrepreneurs through a start-up businesses development initiative. TEEP said in a statement that successful applicants of the 2016 programme would, on the completion of the programme receive N850, 000 ($3,761), as non returnable seed capital. The applicants are also eligible for a further N850, 000 ($3,761) in either debt or equity. TEEP said also that the selected entrepreneurs in 2016 will join the 1,000 inaugural participants of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs from 51 countries in 2015. It said the inaugural participants have received considerable benefits including 12 weeks of training on how to set up and manage businesses with mentoring and financial support from Tony Elumelu Foundation. Meanwhile the interim report on the inaugural participants showed that more than 90 per cent of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs, with existing businesses, have recorded increased growth in the past one year. It also indicated that a significant percentage of the entrepreneurs have accessed additional external funding through the platform provided by Tony Elumelu Foundation, with a flourishing alumni network providing personal linkages and business opportunities across the continent. According to Mr. Elumelu, the founder I believe in empowerment that can change the face of Africa as we know it. African entrepreneurs are our future leaders and I am passionate about giving them the opportunity to succeed. TEEP is a major, deliberate effort on my part, to institutionalise luck and provide seed capital funding, mentoring, business training, pan-African networking and springboard that our aspiring entrepreneurs needs to leap from. Parminder Vir, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, also stressed the need for an even broader participation in the 2016 TEEP. We encourage women and men with business ideas from all sectors, from every region, city, town and village across Africa, to apply, Mr. Vir said. TEEP, open to Africans from the 54 countries in the continent, is a commitment by the Tony Elumelu Foundation to identify and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs over a 10-year period. The programme also seeks to add 10 billion dollars of additional revenues to Africas economy; provide over one million new jobs; and create a new generation of empowered entrepreneurs. TEEP commenced in December 2014, with a funding pledge of N17 billion (100 million dollars) by the Tony Eleumelu Foundation. The inaugural 2015 programme drew over 20,000 applicants from 51 African countries. The prosecution had charged Ahmed Nagy with writing material 'to spew sexual lust and transient pleasures, using his pen to express wicked intents, thus violating societal norms of decency' A Cairo misdemeanor court acquitted on Saturday writer Ahmed Nagy for charges of violating general morals and encouraging indecent sexual behavior. In August 2014, the state owned literary journal Akhbar Al-Adab, which is published by Akhbar Al-Youm, ran a chapter from a novel named The Usage of Life, written by journalist Nagy. The full novel was released by Tanweer publishing house in Cairo in 2015. The prosecution charged Nagy with writing material "to spew sexual lust and transient pleasures, using his pen to express wicked intents, thus violating societal norms of decency and inciting promiscuity. The journal's editor-in-chief, Tarek El-Taher, was also acquitted after being charged with failing to review published content. Naji's trial started on 14 Nov 2014 after a complaint was issued to the police by Hani Saleh Tawfik, a citizen who claimed that Naji published a sexually flagrant article in a state-owned newspaper, which had caused him to experience heart palpitations and an extreme feeling of sickness along with a sharp drop in blood pressure due to the indecency of the text. Egyptian prosecution referred Naji and El-Taher to criminal court and the case was postponed twice before they were cleared of all charges today. The case caused an outcry among intellectuals who considered referring Naji and El-Taher to the court for publishing a chapter of a novel a dangerous violation of freedom of expression. The prosecution memo to the court said the writer published a "flagrant erotic article in which the charged writer published a text that spewed sexual lust and transient pleasures, using his mind and pen to violate public decency and good morals, inciting promiscuity." Following the accusations, Naji said on his Facebook page, "I would like to assert that the published text is fictional and all the events and actions in it are from my imagination. It is not a journalistic essay and I'm asking my fellow journalists to explain this difference," adding that "the world is full of surprises and the distinction between reality and fiction has become very tiring. Search Keywords: Short link: The Peoples Democratic Party has accused the All Progressives Congress of not being able to accept, with equanimity, constructive criticisms of its administration. In a statement on Saturday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said it was unfortunate that the APC and its leaders, who gleefully and unjustifiably poured invectives on former President Goodluck Jonathan in the guise of playing the role of an opposition party, would now not want to condone criticisms. Unlike the APC that denigrated the office and person of former President Jonathan by wrongly depicting him as clueless and incompetent, the PDP remains the most decent, mature and constructive opposition party in our democracy and we have evidenced great respect for the person and exalted office of President Muhammadu Buhari. During the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, while in the saddle as interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, in a post on his twitter page, described President Jonathan as lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless and useless leader. Other APC leaders made raining abuses on Jonathan a past time. The PDP is a very responsible opposition party; our leaders are mature; and we have demonstrated so in our critique of the presidents responses during the maiden Presidential Media Chat. We have reviewed President Buharis performance and concluded that it was uninspiring. The entire world listened to President Buhari during the chat and went away with different impressions. We did and came up with the theme of our initial reaction that portrayed him very appropriately as a tyrant. And for purpose of clarity, a tyrant is a ruler who has complete power over a country and who uses the power in a cruel and unfair way, which was why we recommended the suspension of the operation of the constitution so he can rule for the next four years as a maximum ruler. In its reaction, his party National Chairman, John Oyegun, magisterially and dictatorially warned that we (APC) may not condone such anymore. Our position in the PDP is that we are in trouble as a nation. All we hear from the APC regarding our freedom is we wont tolerate, we wont condone. Are these words used by democrats or tyrants? So, the PDP too is being warned and coerced on what to say as opposition party. The PDP must be commended for the civil, responsible, mature, issue-based opposition it has played. The nation knows how the APC rained insults on former President Jonathan and that the PDP, during that time, never used words like it would not condone Some have even criticised the PDP style of opposition as being too civil considering the tyranny we are facing. That is why Chief John Oyegun could term a dictionary word-tyrant- as insulting. Nigerians do not need the PDP or anyone else to make them decide if President Buharis APC government fits the definition of a tyrant. The real trait of the President was unraveled during the media chat. He has repeatedly shown his scorn for the Legislature, an independent arm of government while sanctioning security agencies disrespect for court orders and the impunity of continuous incarceration of people who have been granted bails by the courts. Also from his responses, the president has even pronounced a guilty verdict on Col Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra even before the hearings by the courts. Sadly, even the international community has noted this brazen scorn and disdain for the independence of the judiciary. Furthermore, how do we describe a president who openly denigrated an entire race as he did in the media chat when he suggested that the Igbos were insatiable with the appointments his government has so far given to them? Indeed, the timing and the tenor of the presidents comment, given the security and political situation in the land, remain worrisome, especially at a time a nerve-soothing statement from the father of the nation could have reassured the agitators of the need for peace and unity in the nation. Besides, it is sad and embarrassing that President Buharis anti-corruption crusade has now been reduced to a war between the APC and the PDP as declared by the Office of his spokespersons. Since they have confirmed that this is what the anti-corruption crusade is all about, the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the PDP so that it can push through Buharis second tenure in 2019 without opposition from the PDP. This has also confirmed our concern that this is the reason the Federal Government is persecuting, and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north. The PDP is conversant with the sinister plan by the APC-led Federal Government to completely decimate our party by raking up all manner of allegations of corruption against the Goodluck Jonathan administration and leaders of the PDP with a view to taking them to court on orchestrated charges. Finally we are aware that President Buhari has directed security agencies to be more vicious in dealing with our members and has continued to subtly coerce the Judiciary to convict those being charged to court. But what gives us joy is that President Buhari is not God and we will not worship him. An online petition calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for disobeying court orders to release some high-profile detainees has gathered over 600 signatories in just over 48 hours of being created. The petition, created by lawyer, Carol Ajie, followed comment by Mr. Buhari that a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is being prosecuted in relation to an alleged misappropriation of $2.1 billion; and the leader of separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, despite court orders that they should be freed during last Wednesday Presidential media chat. So far, the petition has collected 680 signatures out of its 1,000 person target. On May 29th 2015, a former Military Dictator, Muhammadu Buhari, sequel to a contested election in March 2015 against a sitting President in Nigeria, the first time in Africa, an incumbent handed power peaceably, smoothly, heroically to a political rival, the petition posted on Change.org read. Whereupon Mr Buhari then took the Oath of Allegiance to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Presidents Oath of office to discharge his duties faithfully, in accordance with the Constitution and the Laws of Nigeria. Within President Buharis first year in office, too soon after he took the revered Oaths, he and state agents acting under his supervision, now demonstrate total lack of respect for Court Orders and at his maiden media chat on Wednesday 30th Dec., instant, Mr President made puerile attempts to justify these breaches, he said inter alia that some persons his regime locked up in cells dehumanized against court orders, Nnamdi Kanu had travelled without his passports. The petitioner argued that the government should have deported Mr. Kanu or release him after detaining him for a period of not more than seven days instead of holding him indefinitely as stipulated by the Immigration Act or the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. But under the Immigration Act, the President or the Minister may deport anyone who travels without a valid travel document or detain for a period not exceeding 7 days. In holding Mr. Kanu beyond the required period they have infracted on the Immigration Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and subsisting court orders. She further stated that Mr. Kanus agitation for the emergence of a breakaway country called the Republic of Biafra is in line with the right of self-determination as stipulated by the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria is a signatory to. With regard to issues of self determination, the crux of Nnamdi Kanus campaign of the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, having communicated IPOBs intent to all and the United Nations as required by UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Nigeria, that people of any community or group may wish to exercise the right of self-determination with a view to pursuing their economic, social and cultural development; aware that their dignity as human persons had deteriorated and been consciously degraded under the present dispensation, sadly appearing power inebriate. She, therefore, called on Mr. Buhari to resign as President if he is not prepared to obey court orders or risk being impeached from office. The Presidency declined to respond to the petition. An official said it would be inappropriate for the presidency to dignify such a petition with a response. He however said, The truth is there are fresh charges against the detainees, the official said. They were simply rearrested after they were released folowing the filing of fresh charges against them. So we dont know what people are talking about when they talk about the government disobeying court order. The Borno State Government plans to construct trenches around vulnerable villages in the state to wade-off attacks by insurgents. Governor Kashim Shettima said this on Saturday when he visited some villages to assess damage done to the communities by insurgents. The governor assured the communities that proactive steps would be taken to safeguard their lives and property. We will construct trenches around the entry points to prevent the terrorists from carrying out attacks. We will also fortify the areas by providing more security personnel to watch over the areas, Mr. Shettima said. He said the government was concerned about the attacks on the communities and assured that individuals, who lost their houses or relatives, would be assisted. The governor expressed optimism that the problem of insecurity would soon be a thing of the past. We are on the right path and God is with us. God willing; we will defeat them (insurgents), Mr. Shettima said. Speaking earlier, the District Head of Ari Dawari, one of the communities attacked by insurgents, Bulama Dawari, had told the governor that his people were planning to flee the town. Our village is just 3km from Maiduguri, the state capital, but we are not safe. The insurgents carry out their attacks on our community at will; my people are already packing their belongings to leave. Our community is made up of farmers who depend solely on subsistent agriculture. But without adequate security, we will have to leave because our lives are no longer safe, Mr. Dawari said. He, however, said that the villagers would stay if more troops were deployed to the area to safeguard their lives and property. (NAN) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Art & Sole book-signing will benefit local charities during the 3-day event By: Palm Beach Fine Craft Show 1 2 3 Jewels at Work smaller JaneCarroll119650smaller for blog Corrugated Curves V smaller End -- (Palm Beach, FL ---) Adding to the excitement and visual impact of the 13th Annual Palm Beach Fine Craft show which takes place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on February 26th through 28th is a special exhibit by. Jane will be exhibiting selections from her eclectic collection of shoes made from highly unique materials assembled from a variety of multi-media artists, whose commissioned works were first featured at Stuart Weitzman's Madison Avenue flagship store.Jane, an invited guest speaker, will also participate in a book signing of her recently published book, Art & Sole. The book, whose vibrant red cloth cover features an elaborate crystal shoe embossed in detail, is a delightful peek into the stunning collection of unique & whimsical work commissioned by Jane Weitzman. Fashion meets fantasy in this highly collectible book which will interest shoe and art lovers alike. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales of her colorful book during the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show will benefit three local charities --the Glades Academy Foundation, the Center for Creative Education, and the Shuzz Foundation--during the by-invitation "Head to Toes" event, February 26th.Since opening its doors in 1996, luxury shoe brand Stuart Weitzman's Madison Avenue flagship store has showcased footwear commissioned by artists, designers and craftsmen from around the world.Curated by Jane Gershon Weitzman, the entire Art & Sole features over 150 of the most inventive examples of these fantasy art shoes, remarkable for their imaginative construction and elaborate adornment. Shoes are constructed of unexpected materials such as bronze, ceramic, wire, Plexiglas or in the case of, corrugated cardboard. Other shoes are noteworthy for their surfaces, embellished with feathers, gems, fresh flowers and cake frosting. Commissioned artists includewho works in a mosaic art form pique assiette, crafting shoes from pieces of vintage china, porcelain and ceramic knickknacks, and, who works in fabric and mixed media, transforming shoes into whimsical soft sculptures.Following the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, Miami's Bass Museum will showcase Art & Sole: Fantasy Shoes from the Stuart Weitzman Collection at their BassX installation in the Miami Beach Regional Library from March 8 - April 10, 2016.Jane Gershon Weitzman was the Executive Vice President of Stuart Weitzman and the first Vice President of Stuart Weitzman Retail. She spearheaded philanthropy for the company by generating funds to support breast and ovarian cancer research and awareness. Her efforts were brought to life through innovative charity events on the brand's website, such as the Stuart Weitzman Celebrity Breast Cancer Shoe Auction, and its retail stores. She serves on the Trust Board of the Boston Children's Hospital. Weitzman and her collection come to the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and the Mint Museum in North Carolina. By: Inity Weekly Contact Inity Weekly Christy Jeziorski ***@inityweekly.com Inity WeeklyChristy Jeziorski End -- Inity Weekly will host the screening of Salam Neighbor, a film and campaign to connect the world to refugees. The screening will be held on Monday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m. at the Regal Palm Springs Stadium 9.Seven miles from war, 85,000 Syrians struggle to restart their lives inside Jordans Zaatari refugee camp. Viewers will be immersed into the life of a Syrian refugee through the journey of Chris and Zach as the first filmmakers in history allowed to register and be given a tent inside of a refugee camp.From meeting Um Ali, a woman struggling to overcome personal loss and cultural barriers, to the street smart, 10-year-old Raouf, whose trauma hides just beneath his ever present smile, Zach and Chris uncover inspiring stories of individuals rallying, against all odds, to rebuild their lives and those of their neighbors.Inity Weekly is calling on the desert communities to gather in the spirit of unity to face one of the direst humanitarian crises of our time. The goal is to place the human element at the forefront of the issues that revolve around refugees and immigrants. The screening will begin with a live poetry segment to introduce the film, and the question and answer portion following the screening will allow patrons to gain an understanding about the refugee crisis.Tickets for Salam Neighbor are currently on sale, and can be purchased online at: https://tugg.com/ events/82842 . General admission tickets are $13, and all ages are welcome. Tickets can be purchased up to 2:30pm on February 1st.Official Trailer: http://inityweekly.com/ salam-neighbor- screening/ For more information about Salam Neighbor and Inity Weekly visit www.inityweekly.com. CreditNation, one of the leading online service providers of financial products, launched Business loan among the wide range of its products. Contact Satish Grover ***@creditnation.in Satish Grover End -- CreditNation, one of the leading online service providers of financial products, launched Business loan among the wide range of its products. CreditNation has always helped its customers to get the exact solution of their problem and the solutions are personified as giving the right advice or helping them to get loan that includes personal loan, auto loan, home loan, credit cards etc.In the present age of Start-ups, entrepreneurs are struggling hard enough to survive the market competition and gained the recognition, but it may not be as easy as it looked initially because the growth of your business depends on how fast you are expanding and that requires funds, which might not be ready in your hands. CreditNation included BUSINESS LOANS to help you to get the funds for your business necessities, whether you want it for an expansion or just to buy machinery.CreditNation is an online portal that has tie-ups with over 25 banks and NBFCs, which means across India anyone can apply for the BUSINESS LOANS IN INDIA from these banks, according to their suitability and itll be expedient for customers to check their eligibility at one portal without visiting various banks.Furthermore, we do the comparison of all the available offers to pick the best one for you and we provide you transparent information about your application, at each stage to make sure that you are updated about everything. Not just that we help you throughout the process, we also ensure that you get the loan quickly, at the comfort of your home.Creditnation is a one-stop online financial service provider where one can find credit cards, loans, financial advice etc. CreditNation was established in 2014 and it was headquartered in New Delhi. Our primary focus is to provide one-stop solution of all the financial problems and make the process faster enough that no customer would wait to get the loan. Whether you need financial advice or you want to APPY FOR THE BUSINESS LOAN, well help you.www.creditnation.in/business-loan 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 A Celebration of Guru Nanak at the White House Program President Obama stands with, he stands behind you and he stands in solidarity with you. And we all have a responsibility to remind Americans what makes us great were the words of welcome and assurance by Valerie Jarrett, President Obamas Senior political advisor as Sikhs gathered to celebrate Guru Nanaks birth-anniversary at the White House. Over 125 Sikhs from all over the country joined the White House celebrations, a regular feature of the Obama Administration. The program opened with Jesse Moore, Associate Director of Public Engagement welcoming all the guests from as far away as California and India. This was followed by a Sikh hymn on classical instruments like Taus, Dilruba and Jodi performed by Manpreet Singh and Raghubir Singh from New Jersey. When Valerie Jarrett greeted Happy Gurpurab a room full of Sikh men, women, and children cheered and clapped. She continued by saying, We are so delighted to have you here to celebrate this joyous occasion. We are all Americans. We hope that you feel at home here. This is your home. You are part of such a vital member of our community and a big and vibrant part of what makes our country so great. So when your community comes under attack, we are all in danger. When your place of worship is vandalized, or temples, churches and mosques should be uneasy as well. It is in times like these when we should step back and need to focus on the teachings of Guru Nanak. For when we focus on the values that bring us together as a nation, we can accomplish so much more than we are divided. Thank you so much for joining a time Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), said, The Sikh community is grateful for the powerful and supportive words of President Obamas team today. This sends an assuring signal to the entire community that this nation stands behind it. President Obamas gesture to hold Guru Nanaks Gurpurab every year at the White House displays his love for the community. Valerie Jarrett was given a Phulkari shawl, a typical Punjabi speciality, and coffee table book on Sikh heritage and ethos. She was honored by Sikh representatives from Sikh Coalition, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, United Sikhs and Professor Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh and Major Kamal Singh Kalsi, a turbaned Sikh doctor serving in the US Armed Forces. Gurwin Singh Ahuja, Executive Director of the National Sikh Campaign, said, This year's Guru Nanak celebration at the White House has been monumental for the Sikh community. It is clear that the Obama administration carefully considering the concerns of the Sikh-American community. Vanita Gupta, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, said, It is important to talk about the challenges facing the Sikh community. We, at the Department of Justice continue to use all of the tools available to combat any violence or hate against the Sikh community. We understand the impressive needs to protect all of our communities from discrimination. We recognize the fear and concern that you may be confronting everyday with the rise of backlash violence. She further added, We will continue to do everything in our power with your input, with your voices, and with your engagement with every step of the process to ensure that this country remains the land of justice and equal opportunity for all. As we honor the anniversary of Guru Nanaks birthday, his legacy reminds us of the shared values not only central to the Sikh religion but also to the national identity of this nation, which are equality, tolerance and compassion. Keynote address was given by Dr. Amritjit Singh of Ohio University and Dr. Nikky- Guninder Kaur Singh of Colby College. Both spoke on the teachings of Guru Nanak. Dr. Amritjit Singh, the Langston Hughes Professor of English and African American Studies at Ohio University, emphasized that, Guru Nanak in his own times was a crusader for both civil rights and civil liberties, anticipating by some 450 years Martin Luther Kings search for the beloved community, a completely integrated society, a community of love and justice. In Sikh history, such a search would lead eventually to the very distinctive Sikh concept of Sant-Sipahi (the Saint-Soldier), integrating spiritual aspirations and social justice goals to form an egalitarian community that values love and compassion for all creatures as a manifestation of Divine immanence. He added, Guru Nanaks message has special resonance for us today where fear and ignorance are giving rise to hatred, violence, and intolerance. The Guru had a sharp eye for the patterns of hypocrisy, intolerance, and exploitation. Professor Nikki-Gurinder Kaur Singh of Colby College said, How wonderful to be welcomed so warmly. It is a great journey of Sikhs in America. They have made and are making splendid contribution to Agriculture, medicine, science, culture, education, economy, politics, army and safeguarding the environment. Sadly the country that they have been dedicated to know so little about Sikhs. She added, What makes me proud are young Sikhs who are taking on the responsibility to educate fellow Americans. The legacy of Guru Nanak empowers them with an identity, which is equally American and Sikh. It is a profound symbol of our being together and it expresses that we are Americans no matter what complexion or religion we may be. A musical performance in Raag Bilawal was performed by Jagjit Singh Matharoo and his team. A group of youngsters from Guru Angad Institute and United Sikhs in Sterling, VA, sang a hymn in Gurbani Sangeet led by Preetinder Singh. Later, youth of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and Sikh Kid 2 Kid recited a poem highlighting the message of Guru Nanak. The program ended with a closing address by Aditi Hardikar, Associate Director of Public Engagement at the White House followed by a reception. Israeli security forces pressed Saturday a manhunt for the gunman who killed two people and wounded seven others at a Tel Aviv pub, as the motive for the attack remained unclear. The New Year's Day shooting on busy Dizengoff Street came amid a wave of unrest in the occupied territories and days after the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) group threatened Israel with violence. "Police are continuing to search for suspect who murdered two Israelis in central Tel Aviv," spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP, adding that road blocks had been set up in different parts of the city. After the attack, hundreds of police had been seen Friday scouring the area and entering buildings to search for suspects as police helicopters buzzed overhead. Media reports identified the shooter as an Arab in his late 20s from northern Israel who had recently been jailed for attacking a soldier, but police refused to confirm this. The local council of Arara condemned the shooting in a statement, saying the northern Arab Israeli town's residents "fiercely object any act of violence". According to the council, "this is the act of one individual who does not represent any of the town's residents," stressing the attack was "foreign to our culture". Rosenfeld said there was a "strong possibility that this was a terrorist attack but we haven't ruled out criminal motives". He did not elaborate. Security camera footage from a nearby store showed a bespectacled young man with a backpack calmly pretending to shop before going to the exit, placing the backpack on a trolley, removing what looks like a submachine gun and opening fire in the street. Medics said they took nine people to hospitals in Tel Aviv, with police saying two of them had died. One of those killed was identified by his father as Alon Bakal, a law and business student who was a manager at Simta, the pub that was targeted, with police naming the second as Shimon Ruimi from southern Israel. Police issued a gag order on the investigation as well as the one into the death of an Arab Israeli taxi driver found shot in north Tel Aviv a short while after the shooting rampage. They have also refused to say whether the two attacks were linked. In a recording released a week ago and attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the secretive leader of the ISIS militants group pledged to attack Israel. Baghdadi said ISIS has "not forgotten Palestine for a single moment". "And soon, soon with God's permission, you will hear the footsteps of the mujahedeen... We are getting closer to you day by day," he said. Haim Pinto was closing his jewellery store near the pub when the shooting began. "People started running in my direction, yelling 'terrorist, terrorist'. I saw the commotion and went right back into my store, another girl came in and we hid in the bathroom till the shooting ended," he told AFP. Pinto said the pub had opened "just a few months ago". Osnat David, who owns a hair salon near the pub, said she was outside smoking a cigarette just two minutes before the attack began. "If I were there when it happened I would have been dead," she said, recounting how she hid in the storage room with a few customers, clutching a pair of scissors and waiting for the shooting to end. French tourist Alexandre Lambez was at a cafe across the street from the pub. "I heard gunshots and turned around; I saw people rushing to the back of the cafe. I heard screaming and saw a man shooting. He was brown haired, wearing a grey sweater and fled the scene," he told AFP. "I immediately thought of the attacks in Paris," he said, referring to Islamist militant attacks in November that killed 130 people at bars, a concert hall and the Stade de France stadium. Twenty Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have been killed in a wave of attacks since October 1 including stabbings, car-rammings and gunfire targeting security forces and civilians. According to an AFP count, 138 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the latest violence, most while carrying out attacks on Israelis. The current wave of protests by Palestinians and repression by Israeli occupation forces started in late July when toddler Ali Dawabsha was burned to death and three other Palestinians were severely injured after their house in the occupied West Bank was set on fire by Israeli settlers. Palestinian protests were also triggered by an increase in Jewish visitors to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Palestinians fear that Israel is preparing to allow Jewish prayers in the mosque, which are not currently allowed. Settlement-building, racial discrimination, confiscation of identity cards, long queues at checkpoints, as well as daily clashes and the desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque, have been Palestinians' daily routine. The anger of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem has increased in the last three years after the Israeli authorities allowed increasing numbers of Jewish settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa mosque. The surge in violence has been fuelled by Palestinians' frustration over Israel's 48-year occupation of land they seek for an independent state, and the expansion of settlements in those territories which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinian leaders say a younger generation sees no hope for the future living under Israeli security restrictions and with a stifled economy. The latest round of U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed in April 2014. Violence has also been triggered by Muslim anger over stepped-up Israeli visits to Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque complex. The site, Islam's holiest outside Saudi Arabia, is also revered by many Jews as a vestige of their biblical temples. *The story has been edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Prominent Iran-backed Iraqis called on the government in Baghdad on Saturday to sever ties with Saudi Arabia over its execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, al-Sumaria TV said. "It's a big crime that has opened the gates of hell," said Qassim al-Araji, according to the channel's website. Al-Araji, a leader of the Badr Organization, a Shi'ite paramilitary groups with a political wing, also called on Baghdad to cut diplomatic ties "immediately." Another Iran-backed militia group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife, according to the TV's website. "What the use of having a Saudi embassy in Iraq," it asked. Search Keywords: Short link: As soon as I tell Ethan Canin that Im from northern Michigan, he takes out his phone to show me a photo of a storm. In the picture, Canins wife stands on a dock that extends into an inland Michigan lake near Elk Rapids, where Canin has a cabin. A tubular cloud, dangerously lit up with green, fills most of the frame, dwarfing his wife, the dock, and the evergreens on the shore. How beautiful is that, Canin says, demonstrating his unrestrained interest in, well, everythingfrom how important it is for voters to understand statistics to the glove-making scenes in Philip Roths American Pastoral. Canins newest novel, A Doubters Almanac, which is being published by Random House in February, is set partially in this region of Michigan. Milo Andret, the brilliant mathematician at the crux of the book, experiences his first flashes of genius in the woods outside of his house in Cheboygan, where he obsessively and fanatically carves a chain from a fallen tree at age 13. More than 25-ft. long, this object portends the greatness of his career to come. For me, Canin says, this is a book about ambition, about trying the difficult thing, and the cost of that choice. After reaching the pinnacle of his field and then methodically subverting his success with alcohol, Milo will later return to these same woods, seekingand failing to findthat original spark of insight. The novel begins by tracking Milos life and career. But midway through, theres a shift to first person. His gifted son, Hans, a fellow mathematician and addict, takes over the narration. A Doubters Almanac is a devastating look at a life spent mitigating brilliance with substance abuse; it tackles the legacy of fathers and sons, the challenges of love and responsibility, and the impact of great achievement and great failure on exceptional minds and their families. PW called it a tremendous literary achievement. It brought this reader to tears. Canin is tall and friendly, and he has a Midwesterners polite tic of deflection. My helloa nervous, blushing onehas somehow transitioned into a very comfortable conversation that consists largely of him asking me questions, so that I keep having to remind myself to redirect the focus, a trick he seems to resist. Canin, who likens his writing process to method acting, is very obviously more interested in other people than in himself: his parents (musicians); his wife of 34 years (they met in 1981, at Stanford); his three crazily capable daughters (ages 11, 16, and 19); and the characters of his seven books. To me, point of view is everything. I read for the sensation of becoming another person; I write for the same sensation. As I write, I try to be the character. This process can be uncomfortable. This book almost killed me, Canin says. I published my last book [the bestselling America America] in 2008, so thats, what, seven or eight years ago, but I wasnt working the whole time. Writing [A Doubters Almanac] was actual agony. I remember going out to a bar with my closest friend in Iowa a couple of years ago and saying, Im going to have to give the money back. I cant do it. Its a huge, huge mess. This huge mess sits before us on the table, in ARC form, with its blockbuster cover and glowing blurb from Pat Conroy. Of all Canins books, this one was the most agonizing to write, he says. Yet Canin has no desire to return to the shorter form that launched his career; Emperor of the Air, his debut short story collection, was published in 1985, when he was a 26-year-old medical student at Harvard. Two of the stories, including the titular one, were adapted for film. And nine or so years later, the success of The Palace Thief, another collection, prompted Canin to drop out of his medical residency and make writing his priority. Im not as interested in writing stories anymore. I guess I just like to do the difficult thing. And novels are harder than stories. You know that thing people say, poetry is the hardest, stories are the second hardest, novels are the easiest? Im here to tell you that novels are the hardest. Writing a novel is unbelievably difficult. Its nightmarish. I was in tears and anxiety for a year on this thing. So how did Canin finish? I just stuck it out, he says, sounding a little mystified, and also sort of tired. It seems fitting that he struggled with this novel, which is infused with the suffering and obsession that accompanies doing the difficult thing. Milo spends the first half of his life trying to solve an unsolvable mathematical problem, and the second half on one long dead end. Hans applies his talent to the finance sector, where he makes millions, but has to live with the nagging fear that hes betrayed his own ability, and in doing so, his father. Even when you succeed, you fail, Canin says. Even when others think you succeed, you fail. I mean, how can anyone write a novel? Every novel is a failure. Though hes talking about himself, he might just as well be talking about Milo. I ask Canin if hes read the whole thing start to finish, now that its in galleys. No. I couldnt bear it, he says. I wonder where this self-consciousness comes from. You could say that its an extreme form of egotism. One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way that it grapples with complex mathematicstopology, geometry, physicsin prose thats readable and dramatic. Milos inability to abandon a problem before reaching the bitter end invests these abstractions with forceful narrative momentum. A lot of literary readers are math averse, Canin says, though he is not one of them. As a kid, he estimates that he read a book a day, and his interest in math and science developed alongside his interest in books. When I was very young, like 13, this physics Ph.D. who was friends with my dad came over to our house and gave us all a problem that had been on some kind of exam. All I did for like the next two weeks was try to figure it out. And I figured it out! It wasnt that hard, but it proved to me that I had this power of concentration. All I wanted to do was think about it. Despite Canins proficiency, the math in A Doubters Almanac eludes him, though it is correct. I point out that he could have made it up, for all that most readers, including me, wouldve known. The field that Milo is in, topology, I happened to stumble upon this super-friendly topologist who had just retired from the University of Iowa, and he read this entire book, God bless his soul, and gave me notes. I wrote a draft in which I incorporated his changes, and my editor was like, Whoa, this is way too much math. I reference a quote from a Poets & Writers profile, in which a friend calls Canin pathologically well-rounded. After undergrad at Stanford, Canin attended the Iowa Writers Workshop, where he didnt write much; from there, med school, and eventually a residency in internal medicine at UCSF. In the wake of the success of his first book, he temporarily moved to Quito, Ecuador, where he wrote a novel, Blue River (also later adapted to film). Four books followed, as did a faculty position at the University of Iowa, where Canin still teaches, and where, his website boasts, he has worked with many students whove gone on to literary success, including Daniel Alarcon, Maggie Shipstead, and Justin Torres. I am so proud of my students. Theyre brilliant. Ive been teaching for 20 years. I have such great relationships with these sweethearts, and I have seen them through a lot. Its fantastic. And now, at 55, after experiencing the agony of writing a book seven times over, here Canin is, in this dim New York City hotel lounge, being grilled about his latest and longest novel, A Doubters Almanac. I ask if hes taking a break before diving into something new. The answer, of course, is that hes notthat hes 100 pages into another novel, this one threatening to be long, though he says he wants to write something straightforward. Does he have any particular ambitions for A Doubters Almanac, this most ambitious of his novels? Well, there are two dreams, he says. One is your standard dream of success. But the other is the one you cultivate after a time, which is just to connect with the people that you connect with. The work is the thing. You have no control over anything else. But when you do something that moves somebody, that somebody loves, thats what matters. Julie Buntin is the director of writing programs at Catapult. Her debut novel is forthcoming from Henry Holt. Self-publishing is a well-established part of the English-language book trade, but Spanish-language self-publishing is just starting to take off. El Conejito que quiere dormirse, the Spanish translation of The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep (a bestseller in the U.S. that was originally self-published by a Swedish author), has been picked up for publication by Random House Childrens Books as well as Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. Success stories like this have prompted companies such as Author Solutions and Amazon to offer their self-publishing services (including editing, cover design, printing, and e-book formatting) to more Spanish-language writers. Other companies, such as Spain-based Lantia, that began by providing services to authors who write in Spanish are now working with those who write in English. Enrique Parrilla, founder and director of Lantia, estimates that around 6% of books self-published in the U.S. are written in Spanish. That is a significant share considering the challenges many indie authors face, including cost. Parrilla does not want cost to be an impediment to self-publishing, so he founded Pentian, a crowdfunding platform for indie authors (the company now has offices in New York City). Writers can use the platform to raise up to 80% of the costs of publishing their work from donors. Pentian was initially available only to Spanish-language writers, but it now works with authors publishing in English as well. Parrilla says, Overall, we are having double-digit growth [in the number of people using the service] each year. Author Solutions, which is owned by Penguin Random House, is exploring ways to expand in Latin America through its imprint MeGustaEscribir. Although MeGustaEscribir has been part of Random Houses Spanish publishing division since 2008, it was relaunched in November 2014 as a self-publishing platform. Keith Ogorek, senior v-p of marketing at Author Solutions, says that more and more Spanish-language writers are aware of self-publishing. However, he notes that the company needs to do more to reach indie authors in Latin America. Currently, about 80% of Author Solutions Spanish-language writers come from Spain and about 20% from Latin America. Most of the titles published are fiction, and most are publishing in print and digitally. In another sign of the growth in Spanish-language self-publishing, Amazon said that its second annual Spanish-language self-published book contest, which ended last October, doubled the number of participants over the previous contest. In 2014, efforts for the contest were focused on Spain, but last year Amazon expanded into Latin America and the U.S. More than 1,200 authors from 37 countries participated in 2015, according to Rex Czuba, Kindle Direct Publishing manager for Spanish-language, who oversaw the contest. He says that of the global top 100 e-books in Spanish, 45 were self-published. Czuba also notes that the top genres in Spanish for KDPs platform are fiction, romance, and science fiction, with mystery and thrillers not far behind. And, as with Author Solutions, most KDP authors publish their books in print and digital, Czuba says. He adds, We have seen a surge in the number of authors from Latin America, with a significant number coming from Mexico. Czuba says that many of KDPs Spanish-language authors have published several books, and some are established writers who keep their rights for e-books and then self-publish. Please send your submissions using this form. We read all submissions within 90 days and will contact you if were interested in publishing your material. There is no need to follow up via telephone or email if youve used our secure online form. You will receive a confirmation email that lets you know your submission has been received. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, you can assume we have declined, and you may submit your work elsewhere. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not call our offices. Please feel free to submit your material elsewhere. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not call our offices demanding an answer right now. The answer was the painful dead silence over the past 90 days. Sometimes silence speaks volumes, dont you think? 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I mean, yes, we do like chicken Parmesan, but, no, we do not want you to cook it for us in our kitchen. Yes, we are very sure your late grandmothers recipe is delicious. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not rent the apartment next to the editor and try to be neighborly. The editors are New Yorkers and, accordingly, do not speak to their neighbors. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not get a job at the editors grandfathers nursing home and just happen to bump into him on bingo night. This has happened before and almost never works. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not seek out the editors sister, date her, propose, and get married. This has happened before and almost never works. If we do not get back to you within 90 days, please do not threaten to kidnap the editors parents. Like the United States, we do not negotiate with terrorists. Brenda Janowitz is the author of The Dinner Party (St. Martins Griffin, April). As part of its ongoing effort to raise writers income, the Authors Guild is sending an open letter to members of the Association of American Publishers. The guild will begin mailing the letters this week, with the first going to the largest publishing houses; in subsequent weeks the guild expects to hit the remaining relevant AAP members, said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the guild, who added it will not target nonpublisher AAP members such as printers. The letter recaps the highlights of the guilds Fair Contract Initiative, which the association began at last years BookExpo America, and which sets forth the guilds contention that if authors are to be adequately compensated for their work, the standard publishing contract needs to be reworked. In addition to showcasing the different arguments presented in the contract initiative, the letter notes that the guild will be asking for individual meetings in the coming months with publishers both large and small to discuss the substance of [the Fair Contract Initiative] articles and what publishers can do to ensure this business is fair and profitable for those who create the works that sustain it. Rasenberger said the guild would like to meet with as many publishers as possible. While noting that meeting with all AAP publishing members is impractical, the Guild is hoping to extend meetings beyond New York City. To that end, the Guild will be at AWP in Los Angeles and BEA in Chicago, where it hopes to reach out to companies. Of all the changes the guild wants to see, one of the most important is contracts that would give authors at least 50% of net e-book income, as opposed to the 25% that is typical in current contracts. The letter also argues that authors should get their rights back after a publisher stops supporting a book, and that authors should not have their hands tied with non-compete and option clauses that can make it impossible for them to write new books without delay. To buttress its argument about the need to raise authors earnings, the letter cites the guilds 2015 survey of authors income, which found that writing-relating income for full-time authors dropped 30% between 2009 and 2014, to an average of $17,500. Without serious contract reform, the professional author will become an endangered species, the letter states. Publishers need to treat their authors equitably so they can keep writing the kinds of books that have enabled the publishing industry to achieve the financial and cultural status it enjoys today. Rasenberger noted that in its attempt to revise the standard contract, it has received tremendous support from domestic writers groups, international author associations, and agents. Twenty-six associations signed the letter going to publishers. Among the signatories are the Australian Society of Authors, the Canadian Authors Association, the Horror Writers Association, the Irish Writers Union, the Mystery Writers Association, the National Writers Union, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the Society of Authors (based in the U.K.). Cheers, and thanks yet again, to the army of people who kept us all moving and safe when Mother Nature had other ideas Monday and Tuesday. Even those of us who spent hours without electricity and heat early this week had it better than the folks struggling in the bitter elements to restore the juice that keeps our homes bright and warm. Or the police, firefighters and other emergency personnel who responded to our communitys calls for help while being pelted by ice and buffeted by winds. Or the tree service people -- and friends and neighbors -- who hunkered down to lift broken limbs off power lines, houses, garages, sidewalks and driveways to get us all moving again. An extra round of applause because we know that, when -- not if -- it happens again, you will be ready and willing to do it all over again. Salute! Jeers to word that the first anniversary of the death of a beloved public servant - Judy Baar Topinka -- was marked by a legal battle over control of the late comptrollers campaign committee funds. We are, of course, in no position to assess the validity of Joseph Baar Topinkas claims that Nancy Kimme, chair of Citizens for Judy Baar Topinka, took money from the committees accounts for her own use after his mothers death last year. Indeed, the former comptrollers chief of staff vehemently denies it, saying instead that her son wants the money himself. Whoever is right here, its an awful way to commemorate the December 2014 loss of an Illinois political legend and public servant who always put other people first. She deserves better. Cheers to news that the Rock Island Arsenal will continue to accept Illinois drivers licenses from those seeking to obtain a visitor pass to the island. Officials on the government installation will do so despite word that Illinois is one of a group of states U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials will soon no longer exempt from Real ID requirements. The state was one of several which had sought and obtained exemptions from the stricter requirements of the federal law, which officials say would cost taxpayers $4 million annually Illinois does not have. Recently, for a handful of states, the Homeland Security departments patience ran out and many worried that it would impact our communitys ability to access the wonderful amenities Arsenal Island has to offer. It is welcome news that the Arsenal has said that the tougher ID rules do not impact Arsenal security procedures means tourists and locals still can get a visitors pass by showing their license and undergoing a National Crime Information Center background check. We continue to recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, the Arsenals announcement doesnt assuage fears that lifting exemptions will mean drivers licenses from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico and Washington will not be accepted as ID for commercial flights and at other federal facilities. It is a problem that never should have happened. Indeed, we send ... ... Jeers to state authorities who have for years simply ignored the inevitable (where have heard that before) and failed to address the Real ID issues despite the fact that the federal law requiring them is now a decade old. We too had and have our issues with Real ID and continue to question that and other invasive laws which were passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. But simply ignoring a law is no way to oppose it. Ultimately, it is once again citizens, not our state leaders, who are likely to pay the price. CHICAGO While the video release of a Chicago police officers shooting of Laquan McDonald prompted a domino effect of change, including the ousting of the police superintendent and a federal civil rights investigation, officers shot the fewest people in 2015 than they have in years. Chicago police officers shot 22 people last year, eight of them fatally, compared with 2014, when 37 people were hit by police gunfire and 16 of them were killed, according to department figures. Since 2011, the number of people shot by Chicagos cops has gradually declined. That year, they shot 56 people, 24 of them fatally, department figures show. In 2012, Chicago police shot 45 people, killing 12, and the following year, officers shot 35 people, killing 14. Chicago officers this past year shot fewer people than police in some other major cities. As of Dec. 21, Los Angeles police officers shot 37 people in 2015, 22 fatally, according to police statistics. New York City police officers shot 32 people, killing nine, statistics from Dec. 29 show. Interim Chicago police Superintendent John Escalante attributed the drop in police-involved shootings to better training and better front-line supervision, even though the Police Department and the city have come under national scrutiny for how they handle such shootings, in light of the killing of 17-year-old McDonald by Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. Under his old boss, Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who was fired last month by Mayor Rahm Emanuel after the disturbing videos court-ordered release, Escalante said the department began so-called after-action reports of police-involved shootings by reviewing tactics taken by officers who fired their weapons and determining whether their tactics could be improved. For example, after an increase in police-involved shootings in 2014 where officers opened fire on vehicles with suspects inside them, it reviewed the actions taken by the officers during each incident, Escalante said. And in a few of those cases we reviewed, right away, we saw it was a matter of tactics, that the officers had put themselves in a position where they were in front of the car, he said. And had they not been standing in front of the car, or off to the side, they would not have to have fired into the car as the car was coming at them. In 2015, the department revised its use-of-force policy by banning an officer from shooting at a moving vehicle if that is the only weapon being used by a suspect. Even in light of the McDonald shooting and other recent use-of-force incidents across the country, Escalante doesnt think police-involved shootings in Chicago are down because officers are hesitant to shoot or afraid of being sued. But he acknowledged the rank-and-file might all have different opinions. 2016 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com The department pointed to reductions in overall crimes for the fourth straight year and the lowest number of violent crimes since the 1960s, something it has for months told a city that's seen mounting homicide numbers 468 in 2015 after falling to 416 in 2014. The release, which came weeks after Chicago made public the video of Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting Laquan McDonald, also acknowledges that trust in the department "has been shaken." It does not mention the forced resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, the murder charge against Van Dyke nor various federal and local investigations, but it does include several "major reforms" that were announced earlier this week. "In addition to building upon our public safety accomplishments, our focus for 2016 will be to restore the trust of the people of Chicago by being more transparent and continuing to work ... to take a critical look at tour department to develop best-in-class policies and practices," Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante said in the statement. In some ways, the release was similar to those issued under McCarthy, such as the mention of nearly 7,000 illegal guns confiscated by the department and criticism of the state's lenient gun laws. More significantly, the release stressed "major reforms" and "policy revisions" that have been announced by the department in the wake of the McDonald video, such as implementing training for officers to "resolve confrontations using the least force necessary" and equipping every responding officer with Tasers by June 1. The department and the city's leaders also have been criticized for what many view as a willingness to cover up the misdeeds of officers. Shortly after the McDonald video was released, the city released reports of police officers at the scene of that shooting, and this week, the city's law department released thousands of pages of internal documents as a way to demonstrate its commitment to transparency. Shortly after he became interim superintendent, Escalante said that dashboard cameras were being inspected and that officers could face punishment of they are not in working order. And on Friday, the news release said that the department is expanding the use of body cameras. Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah condemned the execution of a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, calling it an "assassination" and blaming it on the United States and its allies' support for Riyadh. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and three other members of Saudi Arabia's Shia minority were executed on Saturday alongside 43 Sunni Islamist militant, drawing condemnation by Shia across the Middle East. The "real reason" for the execution was "that Sheikh Nimr... demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people," Hezbollah said in a statement, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia' Shia minority. "The Saudi authorities ... put them (the Shia executed) together with terrorist bands and groups which had committed crimes against civilians. Sheikh Nimr resisted oppression with words," the Hezbollah statement said. It said it held the United States and its allies directly responsible through their support for the Saudi government, and urged the international community and rights groups to condemn the execution. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shia Council earlier said Nimr's execution was a "grave mistake... and an execution of reason, moderation and dialogue." Nimr, who had called for pro-democracy demonstrations, was arrested in 2012, spurring protests in which three died. He had long been regarded as the most vocal Shia leader in the eastern district of Qatif, willing to publicly criticise the Al Saud ruling family and call directly for elections. But he was careful to avoid calling for violence, analysts say. Saturday's executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The simultaneous execution of 47 people - 45 Saudis, one Egyptian and a man from Chad - was the biggest mass execution for security offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 Islamist militant rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. Search Keywords: Short link: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaida detainees and a prominent Shiite cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. Meanwhile, the execution of al-Qaida militants convicted over deadly bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist group's branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of members of the global network. Saudi Arabia's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh said the executions were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdom's security. He described the executions as a "mercy to the prisoners" because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. Islamic scholars around the world hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty in Islamic Shariah law. Saudi judges adhere to one of the strictest interpretations, a Sunni Muslim ideology referred to as Wahhabism. Influential Shiite figures and groups across the region were swift to condemn al-Nimr's execution, with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran describing it as "irresponsible." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jaberi Ansari was quoted on the state-owned English-language Press TV warning that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price for its policies. A senior Iranian cleric, Hossein Nouri Hamedani, said in a statement broadcast on state television that the region should expect "both Shiite and Sunni Muslims to react." In Iraq, influential Shiite militia Asaib Ahl Al-Haq called on the government to reconsider allowing Saudi Arabia to keep its newly reopened embassy in Baghdad; the Saudi embassy was reopened Friday for the first time in more nearly 25 years. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region of the kingdom told The Associated Press that in addition to al-Nimr, three other Shiite political detainees were executed Saturday. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. In Lebanon, a top Shiite cleric condemned al-Nimr's execution, describing it as "a grave mistake that could have been avoided with a royal amnesty that would have helped reduce sectarian tensions in the region." Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan, deputy head of the influential Supreme Shiite Islamic Council that is the main religious body for Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites, said the executions "will have repercussions in the coming days." The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah issued a statement calling al-Nimr's execution an "assassination" and a "ugly crime." The group added that those who carry the "moral and direct responsibility for this crime are the United States and its allies who give direct protection to the Saudi regime and cover its crimes against its (Saudi) people and people of the region." Anticipating protests in eastern Saudi Arabia, where minority Saudi Shiites are concentrated, Saudi activists there called for peaceful rallies. Small groups of protesters took to the streets in neighboring Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 when the tiny island-nation's Shiite majority held mass protests to demand greater rights from the Sunni-led monarchy. Advocacy organization Reprieve, which works against the death penalty worldwide, said two out of the four Shiite activists executed were teenagers when they were arrested. Reprieve said Ali al-Ribh was 18 years old and Mohammed al-Shuyokh was 19 at the time of arrest in 2012. Both were convicted on charges related to anti-government protests held in eastern Saudi Arabia. The Interior Ministry announced the names of all 47 people executed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. The four Shiites executed had been convicted in connection with a series of violent protests that erupted in the east in 2011 and 2012, in which several protesters and police officers were killed. The al-Qaida militants executed had been convicted of taking part in a wave of deadly attacks that killed foreigners and Saudis. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in al-Qaida's Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following the series of deadly attacks. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, the Interior Ministry statement said. Nearly all executions carried out in Saudi Arabia are by beheading with a sword. In a press conference Saturday, Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public. He described the executions as an example of Saudi Arabia's tough response to terrorism. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a gray beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by men in the Arab Gulf region. Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's monarchy, which forcibly suppressed protests in 2011 with the help of Saudi troops. He was popular among disgruntled Shiite youth in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch's Middle East director Sarah Leah said "regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabia's troubling human rights record." She said al-Nimr was convicted in an "unfair" trial and that his execution "is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest." Al-Nimr never denied the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. At his trial, he was asked if he disapproved of the Al Saud ruling family after speeches in which he spoke out forcefully against former Interior Minister and late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdelaziz. "If injustice stops against Shiites in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion," the cleric responded, according to his brother Mohammed al-Nimr, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press before the verdict. Al-Nimr's brother told the AP by telephone that the executions came as a "big shock" because "we thought the authorities could adopt a political approach to settle matters without bloodshed." He urged people to "adopt peaceful means when expressing their anger." Mohammed's son Ali, the cleric's nephew, is also facing execution, but his name was not among those listed Saturday. Amnesty International describes Ali al-Nimr as a juvenile offender because he was 17 years old in February 2012 when he was arrested. He was later convicted, and his death sentenced upheld, on charges of attacking security forces, taking part in protests, armed robbery and possessing a machine-gun. After listing the names and images of those executed, Saudi state television showed black-and-white footage of previous terror attacks in the kingdom, one showing bodies in a mosque after an attack. Soft, traditional music played in the background. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Maamoun Youssef in Cairo, Reem Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain, Ali Akbar Dareini in Tehran, Iran, Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. On Oct. 15, 2015, 5th grade students at C.R. Hanna Elementary participated in a Wax Museum of United States Historical Figures. In preparation for this event, students researched a historical figure, then wrote and performed their memorized speech in costume. The following are some of the speeches written for this event. Who was the 35th President? By Corbin Kane Fifth grade My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Hello. My name is John Fitzgerald Kennedy. I was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Mass. That is also where I grew up. I lived with my mom and dad, my three brothers and my four sisters. I graduated from high school and then went on to Harvard College. While there, I studied writing and education. After graduating from college, I enlisted in the United States Navy where I served for four years. Following my Navy career, I was awarded the Marine Corps Medal. A few years later, I was elected senator of Massachusetts. In 1953, I married Jacqueline Bouvier. We had four children together: Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Bouvier Kennedy and Arabella Kennedy who died in infancy. In 1961, I became the 35th president of the United States. The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race, the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Civil Rights movement took place during the years I was in office. On November 22, 1963 I was assassinated in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. I was known for saying, Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. Protector of Nature By Karly Wampler Fifth grade Wow! Look at that veery! It is one of my favorite birds. Hi, my name is Rachel Louise Carson. I was born on May 27, 1907, in Springdale, Pa. I grew up on a farm and loved nature and living things. I also loved to read and write. When I was 11, my first story was published in the St. Nicholas magazine. In 1925 when I started college my major was English because I wanted to become a writer. But in my third year, I changed to biology because I knew I wanted to work in science for the rest of my life. I graduated with high honors from Pennsylvania College for Women in 1929. I was then awarded a full scholarship to go to John Hopkins University which I graduated from in 1932 with a degree in Zoology. After graduating, I was hired to write radio scripts for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. I worked 15 years for the Fish and Wildlife Service. During my life I wrote many articles and books. After World War II, I changed my focus to protect all living things, including fighting against chemical and pesticide use. My final book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962. It told how people were poisoning the world. I died on April 14, 1964, at the age of 56 after a four year battle with cancer. fter my death, I was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the U.S. Postal Service issued a Rachel Carson stamp. The Fight for Womens Rights By Kinslee Whitcomb Fifth grade Good Evening. My name is Susan B. Anthony. I was born on Feb. 15, 1820, in Adams, Mass., where my dad, Daniel Anthony, owned a small cotton mill. I was the second youngest of eight children. My mom was Lucy Read. When I was 6, we moved to the outskirts of Rochester, New York, where I was sent to a school for young ladies. I came home to work at a school for girls because of the Panic of 1837, when my dad got financially broke. I then met Elizabeth Cady Stanton. We wrote a newspaper called The Revolution. We made the motto, Men, their rights, nothing more. Women, their rights, nothing less. During that time, we wrote a series of 6 books. We also did a lot of petitions, protesting, and we focused on getting women equal rights with men. One day, I slipped on my sash and got my sign and I was gone. We went in front of the White House and protested until our faces were blue, but it didnt work. So we continued until our faces were blue again. Elizabeth and I were in charge. We really focused on getting women equal rights with men. I thought it would be cruel for me to die without women having the right to vote. However, I died on March 13, 1906. But fourteen years later, the 19th Amendment was passed all because of Elizabeth and me. Later in my honor, they made a $1 coin with my picture on it. Leader of Jamestown By Talen Butler Fifth grade You might know me for being the guy who helped settle Jamestown, but my life has much more excitement than you think! My father was George Smith, my mother was Alice S. Rickard. I am John Smith, born in Lincolnshire, England. This was a satisfying place for me, though I had many hard times in my life such as being a slave. Joining the Austrian forces, I fought against the Turks in Hungary. I was captured and sold as slave. I killed my master and escaped to England in the early 1600s. After that, I volunteered to join the Virginian Company and was one of the youngest to join. The purpose of the Virginia Company was to bring profits to its shareholders and to make the English colony of Jamestown. We arrived at Chesapeake Bay in April, 1607. We named the land we found Jamestown, and it is now known as the first British North American colony. I was captured by the chief of a group of Native Americans. Can you imagine the fear going through me? Luckily, the chief's daughter, Pocahontas, saved me from being killed. I was chosen to lead the colony of Jamestown. After I lead Jamestown, I was taken back to England because I got hurt in a gunpowder explosion. After that, I became an author and wrote about the settlement of Jamestown. I wrote autobiographies about myself. In 1631, I died of old age. Once I said, History is the memory of time, the life of the dead and the happiness of living. That is the story of my life. MOLINE -- A Moline mom and her kids have sweeter dreams now, thanks to The Dispatch Good Fellow and The Rock Island Argus Santa Fund. Corry Byorum knows her daughters are sleeping more comfortably in their new beds, and she no longer gets kicked or wakes up to find her younger girl's hand in her face. Her 10-year-old daughter, Nikkita Byorum, had been sleeping in her mom's bed, until the Good Fellow/Argus Santa's gift arrived. After it did, Nikkita announced she was "moving out" to be with her 15-year-old sister, Domenica Byorum. Ms. Byorum and her girls were among people selected for special holiday help this year. So far, $43,453 has been raised, leaving another $6,547 to reach this year's $50,000 goal. Last year's campaign raised $50,582 to top its $40,000 goal. It was the first time in more than two decades that fundraising broke the $50,000 mark. The money helped 1,159 children and 691 adults, seniors and people with disabilities. The Argus Santa Fund was founded in 1908. The Dispatch Good Fellow campaign got its start four years later. The programs merged in 1987 when Moline Dispatch Publishing Co. bought The Rock Island Argus. The fund partners with 14 local agencies -- the Aldridge Early Learning Center, ARC of the Quad Cities, Bethany for Children & Families, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mississippi Valley, Child Abuse Council, Christian Friendliness/Youth Hope, Illinois Division of Rehabilitation, In Touch Adult Day Services, Skip-A-Long / Milan Campus, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Project NOW, Rock Island County Senior Center, Skip-A-Long Child Development, and the Childrens Therapy Center. There are four ways to donate to the fund: -- Make an online donation at QCOnline.com/goodfellow. -- Send a check to Good Fellow, c/o Dispatch/Argus, 1720 5th Ave., Moline, IL 61265. -- Use the drop box in the Dispatch/Argus lobby, 1720 5th Ave, Moline. -- Use the drive-through window at the circulation office at 6th Avenue and 18th Street in Moline. Ms. Byorum said she was thankful and grateful for the Good Felllow/Argus Santa Program because "It helps families in need, who aren't having such a Merry Christmas. It was an "answered prayer" for her and her daughters, she said. "The beds were going to fall apart, and we didn't have a lot of money this year." "She works hard and tries to live on a budget, but just doesn't make enough to have any real cushion," according to the Rev. Jerry Schick, of Bethany Baptist Church, Moline, who nominated the Byrorums for special help. And instead of a cushion, the Good Fellow/Argus Santa bought her new mattresses. Recent contributions are: Our Christmas gitft in honor of our daughter and son-in-law, from Basil and Melba Jordan, $175 In loving memory of my husband, Ed, from Therea Sandoval, $50 In loving memory of our dad, Ed Sandoval, from Robert and Cindy Hallmark, $50 In memory of Keith Woodward, from Rosemary, $200 In memory of our beloved deceased family members, $20 In memory of Millie and Del, from R. Gregory and Gail Ator, $100 James and Willa Feldman, $20 Shirley and Lloyd, $50 June Piff, $200 Robert and Vicki Hagen, $35 Dallas Barker, $50 In memory of Patty Peck and Jack Peck, from Helen Peck, $100 In memory of Joyce Ford, from Jim and Sally Rylander, $20 Calvin and Kristine Atwell, $500 Anonymous, $1000 Anonymous, $2,500 Anonymous, $1,000 In memory of Ray, Mary, Richard, and David Collins, from Susan and Ryan Collins, $50 Anonymous, $30 In honor of my dad, Gary Post, who sets the highest example, from Kristy Rodgers, $100 Anonymous, $100 Anonymous, $20 Anonymous, $20 Louisa May Alcott Group - Rock Island, $50 On behalf of Patricia Seyller, $50 Shaun and Vicki Graves, $100 Anonymous, $50 In memory of family, from Kathryn and Gwen Foulkes, $50 I n memory of Donis and Geo VanIseghem, $50 In memory of Marjorie Swayne, $50 John Kitson, $50 DAVENPORT -- Her name is Sophia Lillie-Doll Townsend, and she is the first Quad-Cities baby of 2016. Sophia is 6 pounds 8 ounces, a little more than18 inches long and has a full head of dark hair. Friday, she showed signs of being a very good-natured child -- not fussing as parents Ryan Townsend, 25, and Taylor Williams, 24, passed her back and forth and showed her off to family and friends in a room at Genesis Medical Center's East Rusholme Street campus. "I'm just happy," Ms. Williams said. "I'm happy I finally got to meet my little Sophia." The baby girl came early, Ms. Williams said. The expected date was Jan. 20, but the labor was intense enough that she came to the hospital Thursday. Staff sent her back home, thinking there was time. Early Friday, Ms. Williams decided she needed to return to the hospital, she said. She was at the hospital by about 6:45 a.m., and Sophia had arrived about 45 minutes later. Sophia's middle name is a combination of Ms. Williams' deceased grandmother's and aunt's names. Ms. Williams said Sophia is their first and she and Mr.Townsend were hoping for a girl. As soon as they knew they were going to have a baby, a room in their home was converted. "Her room was done before I hit six months," Ms. Williams said. Mr. Townsend said he is still getting used to their new circumstances. "Wow, I have a daughter," he joked. "I don't get it." Ms. Williams said she suspects she is being overprotective as a new mom, and she lets people know when they trigger that impulse. "Eh, don't do that," she said she tells them. "Can you not do that?" The birth of their child is one of several firsts the couple has experienced recently or are about to. Ms. Williams and Mr. Townsend are from the Chicago area and moved to the Quad-Cities about a year ago. They're planning a wedding for this year. They said what their daughter wants to be will depend on her and her interests, but they will try to help her be ready. The more their child knows, the better off she'll be, Mr. Townsend said. "Be independent, that's the best thing," he said. BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) Close to the southern tip of Texas a border wall suddenly ends. Its final post sits in a dry cornfield half a mile from the nearest bend in the Rio Grande river, the actual border with Mexico. It would be easy to walk around it. Tires left by the border patrol rest nearby. Agents drag them behind trucks to smooth the cracked earth and check for footprints. Unlike other famous barriers in history such as the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China, the U.S. version is not much of a wall. What stands in Texas is fragmented series of fencing, composed of enormous steel bars embedded in concrete close together. The rust-colored thick bars that must reach a height of 18 feet loom over the landscape, forming teeth-like slats that split farmland, slice through backyards, and sever parks and nature preserves. There are miles of gaps between segments and openings in the fence itself. As a result of the Secure Fence Act passed in 2006, the government built some 650 miles of wall along the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico boundary. While 1,254 miles of that border is in Texas, the state has only some 100 miles of wall. Republican presidential candidates insist they'll finish it. But completing the Texas part of the wall would be a daunting task thanks to the border's sheer length, the fact that it sits in the center of the snaking Rio Grande, and because treaties with Mexico prevent either country from constructing within the river's flood plains. And unlike in other southwestern states, most border land in Texas is privately owned. Finishing the some 1,300 miles of border fencing would also be costly. According to a 2009 Government accountability report, pedestrian fencing, meant to keep out smugglers and migrants crossing on foot, has run anywhere from $400,000 to $15.1 million per mile, averaging $3.9 million. More recent construction has been even more expensive, with segments constructed in 2008 costing $6.5 million per mile. If kept at this rate, the wall would cost nearly $10 billion to complete just for materials, and challenging geography could bring it much higher. "With every twist and turn of the Rio Grande and every steep terrain in Arizona, it would cost easily that much," said Adam Isacson, a border expert for the Washington Office on Latin America. Officials overseeing the wall's construction faced a legal and logistical nightmare from the start, according to emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and litigation by Denise Gilman, a law professor at the University of Texas. The hundreds of emails, which Gilman shared with The Associated Press, show that from the planning phase some 65 miles of the proposed route sat a half mile to a mile from the border, making it not a true border wall. Officials struggled to find places where construction could start fast to meet Congress' deadline of building 255 miles by December 2008. They sought contingency fencing that did not require "significant real estate acquisitions" or cut through sensitive wilderness, the emails show. Wealthy landowners demanded more compensation or refused to allow construction. Hundreds of property owners were sued just to build the existing chunks of wall. Some 400 relinquished properties ranging in size from a driveway to commercial lots and farms, costing the government at least $15 million, according to an AP review of land cases in 2012. Among them was Eloisa Tamez, who refused to cede her three acres in San Benito, land that had been in her family for generations. A federal judge ruled in the government's favor, and Tamez was compensated $56,000, with which she funded a scholarship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where she works as a professor. "It might be just a little piece of land," she said. "But to me it meant my life." The Rio Grande Valley is home to 54 miles of wall, and the official name of the border barrier there is Pedestrian Fence 255. The area is the major crossing point for tens of thousands of families and unaccompanied children, many fleeing gang violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The surge that began last year resumed in recent months, and Gov. Greg Abbott extended the Texas National Guard border patrol deployment in response to more than 10,000 unaccompanied children crossing into the U.S. in October and November. Some residents have found themselves cut off by the wall. Pamela Taylor, who lives near Brownsville, originally fought the wall's construction. Now her Texas home sits behind the wall on the side facing Mexico. She still leaves coolers of water for thirsty migrants, though she wishes more of them would come to the United States legally, the way she emigrated from England. The wall "doesn't do any good. It's a waste of money," she said. But she's gotten used to it. Some locals say it's better than nothing. Othal E. Brand Jr., the president of the Hidalgo County Water District 3, which supplies water to the McAllen area, pointed out where the fence separated a 20-acre reservoir from two pumping stations, which sit behind it along a bend in the Rio Grande. Brand said this land, adjacent to a wilderness reserve, was for years overrun by nighttime crossers and that smugglers threatened and even shot at his employees. "The wall is only part of the solution," he said, "but it's an important part." TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Laws taking effect at the start of the new year show states diverging on some hot-button issues. Restrictions on carrying guns eased in Texas, for example, but got tighter in California. It is easier to register to vote in Oregon, but there is another step to take at the polls in North Carolina. The opposing directions in the states reflect a nation with increasingly polarized politics. In the debate over gun control, both sides say their arguments are strengthened by a string of mass shootings this year. That includes the December attack at a county health department gathering in San Bernardino, California, when a couple who investigators say pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group killed 14 people. Everytown for Gun Safety, a group backed by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is seeking to be a counterweight to the National Rifle Association's lobbying of state lawmakers. Both groups are expected to be active in legislatures in the coming year. Whether to raise the minimum wage has become another hot topic in states and cities, with the issue getting no traction in the Republican-led Congress. New voting laws, meanwhile, could help shape the outcomes in state and federal elections in the coming year. Democrats and others who want to boost voter participation have been pushing to expand access to the polls, while conservatives have pushed for measures aimed at preventing election fraud. Each side says the other is using legislation to help their favored party in elections. A look at some of the more notable laws taking effect in January: GUNS Texas, the second-most populous state, joins 44 other states in allowing at least some firearm owners to carry handguns openly in public places. Under the Texas law, guns can be carried by those with licenses and only in holsters. Meanwhile, California, the most populous state, has multiple new laws on gun control. One tightens a ban on firearms in and around schools. Under the new law, the prohibition applies even to most people who are allowed to carry concealed weapons generally. Another allows people to request that a judge order weapons be taken away from relatives who are believed to pose a threat. ___ VOTING California and Oregon become the first states that automatically register eligible voters when they obtain or renew their driver's licenses. Critics of the measures mostly Republicans say that could lead to voter fraud and is part of a plan to register more voters who are likely to be Democrats. They say voters should register voluntarily. In both states, people are able to opt out of being registered. Similar measures have been proposed in other states but never adopted. This year, Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the concept in New Jersey. In North Carolina, a voter identification law passed in 2013 that requires people to show a photo ID takes effect. An amendment adopted this year allows voters who have trouble obtaining the required ID to vote anyway. That provision keeps North Carolina from joining eight states in which a photo ID is strictly required. There are still legal challenges over the law, and opponents want a judge to delay implementation. In most states, voters are asked to show some kind of identification. ___ PUBLIC HEALTH Hawaii becomes the first state to raise its minimum age, from 18 to 21, to buy or use cigarettes or e-cigarettes. It's a move some local governments have made before, but never a state. California joins West Virginia and Mississippi as the only states without a personal-belief exemption for parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. Children whose parents refuse to have them immunized against several diseases are not allowed to enroll in public or private school and instead have to be homeschooled. There is an exemption for children with serious health problems. ___ EMPLOYMENT ISSUES In California, a new law lets female employees allege pay discrimination based on the wages a company pays other employees who do substantially similar work. Under the law, it is up to employers to prove a man's higher pay is based on factors other than gender. Oregon becomes the fifth state with a paid sick leave mandate for many employers. Some cities in traffic-congested urban areas are trying to ease the burdens of commuting. Employers with at least 20 workers in Washington, D.C., and New York City are required to offer commuter benefits such as tax-free mass transit subsidies to their workers. San Francisco already has a similar ordinance. In Missouri, a new law links the duration of jobless benefits to the state's unemployment rate. When fewer people are out of work, those claiming the benefits will be cut off sooner. The maximum length of the benefits will be reduced from the current 20 weeks already among the shorter periods in the nation to 13. Only North Carolina, which has a similar sliding scale, has a shorter period: 12 weeks. ___ MINIMUM WAGE The minimum wage rises in many cities and states with the new year. Some of the wage increases are coming under laws passed years ago that phased in the increases over a period of years. Some are automatic increases tied to the cost of living. Fast-food workers in New York state receive their first pay bump under a new law that eventually will push their minimum wage to $15. The full amount will kick in at the end of 2018 in New York City and 2021 in the rest of the state. The federal government has not touched the minimum wage since it was increased to $7.25 effective in 2009. Labor groups and workers keep pushing for higher raises while many business groups say raises could come at the expense of jobs. But with the federal rate unchanging, more state and local governments particularly in the West and Northeast are taking action. The wages rise in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia on Friday. States with automatic annual increases effective Jan. 1 are Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota. Some cities, including New Orleans, also have new rates starting Jan. 1. Minimum-wage fast-food workers in Seattle get a bump as part of that city's phased-in increase to $15 an hour. ___ TAXES Taxes have gone up in some places and dropping in others. Income tax rates dropped slightly in Oklahoma, where state revenues have fallen sharply, and Massachusetts. In North Carolina, the tax on gasoline dropped by a penny a gallon to 35 cents. The sales tax on boats will drop in New Jersey as of Feb. 1. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products rose in Minnesota, as will hotel taxes in Hawaii. ___ ABORTION Physicians in North Carolina are required to provide the state with ultrasound images of fetuses and other data related to abortions performed after the 16th week of pregnancy. For pregnancies terminated after the 20th week, doctors must explain to the state Department of Health and Human Services how continuing the pregnancy would have threatened the life and health of the mother. Some lawmakers who favor abortion rights say the state should not have this medical data. ___ IMMIGRANT DRIVER'S LICENSES Two more states allow people who are in the United States illegally to be licensed to drive. Delaware's law took effect Sunday and Hawaii's is in effect in the new year. Ten states and the District of Columbia already have similar provisions. ___ PETS Illinois made it a misdemeanor to leave pets outside during extreme weather. Missouri, in a crackdown on the state's commercial "puppy mills," required dog breeders to provide more space for their animals and barred them from using wire-strand flooring in dog kennels. Tennessee gave approval this year to the first statewide animal abuse registry. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to post to its website a list of persons convicted on or after that date of aggravated animal cruelty, felony animal fighting, or bestiality and related offenses. The list is to include the animal abuser's full legal name and photograph. Upon first offense, the person's name will remain on the list for two years. Upon subsequent offenses, it will remain on the list for five years. ___ Associated Press writers Cathy Bussewitz in Honolulu; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Jonathan Mattise in Charleston, West Virginia; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Will Weissert in Austin, Texas; and Juliet Williams in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report. ___ Several columns in 2015 concerned the loss of three well-known riverboats that once graced the local waters of the Mississippi River. They were the Admiral, Mississippi Queen and the President. Columns also included the biography of the Delta Queen. Hull weakness ended the cruising days of the Admiral while based in St. Louis on the Mississippi River. So she became the land-based President Casino in 1994. Still parked on the river, she took another ride on the river in 1998 when 14 barges broke loose from a tow that struck a bridge upstream near St. Louis. Three of the barges struck the Admiral, which had around 2,500 guests aboard. Having no engines, the Admiral was set adrift. The impact had knocked the boat off its moorings, making it impossible for passengers to debark on the ramps. People were scared. Some expected the boat to sink. The scene was chaotic. A towboat rescued the Admiral but had to release its eight barges to do so. Passengers were transferred to two excursion boats. The Admiral continued as a casino. Eventually the revenue declined and the boat was scrapped in 2011. The Mississippi Queen, built in 1976 at a cost of $27 million, also met her demise in 2011. The boat had 206 staterooms and a capacity of 412 guests. She often went through the Quad-Cities area on her way to and from St. Paul, Minn. She was scraped at Morgan City, La. The President, a side-wheeler, was once a proud casino in Davenport on the Mississippi River. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The President, originally built as the Cincinnati in 1924, became a packet until the railroads created too much competition in that business. She was converted into the President excursion boat. She tramped the Upper Mississippi with no fixed time schedule. While tramping, she put Louis Armstrong on the map. After World War II she became a music venue featuring famous groups, such as U2, Cyndi Lauper, etc. In 1990 the President was converted into was billed as the largest riverboat casino in the world. The boat made the front page of USA Today. The headline was, Its not Vegas, but its close. The Davenport boat drew more than one million tourists per year. The President retired from service in 1999. On Sept 5, 2015 we featured photos of the dismantled former President taken in 2009 at St. Elmo by Shirley Dickey, Bettendorf. The President is currently in Effingham. The current owner contacted me. He hasnt given up on doing something with the dismantled boat. Capt. Tom R. Green, president of Greene Line Steamers Inc. in Cincinnati, won the bid to buy the Delta Queen steamboat on Dec. 17, 1946. The Queen was in California. Capt. Frederick Way, Jr. was sent to California to bring the boat home from the Pacific Ocean to New Orleans. ITo get U.S. Coast Guard clearance, the boat had to become a barge with a tow. The owner of the shipyard where the Queen was being prepared for her ocean trip told Capt. Way what to expect. A rough sea would look like a mountain coming at you, he said. Youre down in the trough hoping the sea wont break and spill on you. Your boat goes up on the face of it like she was on an elevator, and you feel like you were on an elevator, too. Then all of a sudden you are on top looking over a world of water. Then the boat careens and you start to toboggan slide down into the next rough and you think the decks have fallen out from under you and you go down, down, down -- and you give up hope of ever stopping until youre at the bottom of the ocean. Then, when you are saying your last prayer the old boat steadies -- with walls of water on all sides -- and she starts to climb again. Thats how it is, and Im not fooling. Then to make matters more complicated, the union insisted on supplying a 10-man crew for the Queen that was to be towed by the tugboat, the Osage. The Queen was more or less in a box and needed no crew. Capt. Way was not allowed to travel on either the tug or the Queen. I questioned the generosity of providing our boat which had her machinery torn down, her boilers empty and was as dead as a church on Monday morning, said Capt. Way. I was reminded we had a gasoline pump on board which engineers could conceivably engineer. This was a point to consider for this pump had cost $56.35. Volunteers bought the boat from the Harvey Canal in New Orleans to Cincinnati. She made it home on May 20, 1947. In the beginning, the boat made four annual trips to New Orleans and back: a 20-day autumn journey to St. Paul-Minneapolis on the Upper Mississippi, weeklong trips to Kentucky Lake via the Tennessee River, up to Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, and a 10-day trip to Reelfoot Lake, in Tenn. "Black Lives Matter, of course they do just the same as blue lives matter, white lives matter, as well as any other color one may wish to note. What makes black lives more important than any other? A lot of effort in the black community is being expended to demand justice for members who have run afoul of police. Exactly what justice is wanted is not obvious. What about justice for the police? In most of the cases the black person involved was doing something that brought attention to themselves by the police. A person who is stopped by police will not be abused or shot if they cooperate. An outsider sees poor education, single-parent families, high incidence of out-of-wedlock births, lack of respect for authority, lack of personal responsibility, and lack of fathers in the homes as some of the root causes for the decay of the black family in the last 50 years. This decay has led to many teenage boys and young men who lack a sense of personal responsibility, respect of authority, and are not easily controlled by the usual single young mother. Many of these men blame their problems on being black and not themselves. These are topics that need addressing. Only the black community can be helpful as no other group would be listened to by the black community. President Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, among other black leaders, need to address the root causes and explain to the young men why they are wrong and how to better themselves. Richard L "Bud" Phillis MD, Milan QPR Ladies host C&K Basildon at Honeycroft on Sunday (kick-off 2pm) Rangers return to action in 2016 after 3-1 win over West Ham United Victory this weekend would be another step towards FAWPL safety QPR LADIES hope to carry momentum forward into 2016 when they kick-off the New Year against C&K Basildon at Honeycroft on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).Martino Chevannes side finished 2015 with a 3-1 home win over West Ham United, earning an important three points towards survival in the FA Womens Premier League.Goals from Danielle Puddefoot, Sophie Fogarty and the returning Jo Wilson sealed the Hammers fate after a nervy last 10 minutes. A Romina Pinna goal with half an hour left on the clock set up a tense finish, but Wilson cemented the win for Rangers with a close-range header.Meanwhile, C&K Basildon travel to west London off the back of an exciting 4-3 victory over Portsmouth. That victory places the visitors in seventh position in FAWPL, nine points above the Rs who sit tenth.Sundays game takes place at Uxbridge FC, kick-off 2pm.Honeycroft, Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 8HX2 Adults, 1 Under 16sCoventry United v Plymouth ArgyleForest Green Rovers v PortsmouthQPR v C&K BasildonTottenham Hotspur v LewesWest Ham United v Cardiff City The probe that the UK conducted into the activities and ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK appears more as a political show than a serious attempt to examine the group and its potential dangers While David Cameron, the British prime minister, ordered a probe into the ideology and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood inside the UK and its links with organisations in the UK and abroad, the outcome was as expected: a shy attempt from the British government to meet the concerns of close allies with regards to the Brotherhood group. The report was commissioned in April 2014 and was completed by July 2014. However, it only became public in December 2015. The report mentions the Muslim Brotherhoods links with other Muslim organisations inside the UK and its ideology, its activities, and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on other groups in the UK, such as the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), as well as on mosques. It also noted that some members of the Muslim Brotherhood have sometimes characterised the UK as hostile to the Muslim faith and identity, and have expressed support for terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas. The report asserts that aspects of the Muslim Brotherhoods ideology and activities run counter to British values of democracy, mutual respect and tolerance among different faiths and beliefs. In addition, other elements of Muslim Brotherhood ideology and tactics in this country and overseas are contrary to British national interests and the national security of the UK. Cameron said that the reviews findings support the conclusion that membership in, association with, or the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as possible indicators of extremism. He added: "We will therefore keep under review the views that are promoted and activities that are undertaken by Muslim Brotherhood associates in the UK, in Arabic as well as English." He also said: "We will consider whether any action under the Counter-Extremism Strategy or as part of our wider work may be appropriate, including action in line with the new engagement policy the government will develop to ensure central and local government does not inadvertently provide legitimacy or a platform for extremists." The British government will continue to refuse visas to Brotherhood-linked extremists. The report mentions other matters, like the significant differences between Muslim Brotherhood communications in English and Arabic. Furthermore, it found little evidence that the experience of power in Egypt has caused a rethinking in the Muslim Brotherhood of its ideology or conduct. Finally, it was found that much about the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK remains secretive, including membership, fund-raising and educational programmes. It was not considered a terrorist group and is not banned in the UK. The Muslim Brotherhood has not welcomed the findings, which they consider as damaging to the groups reputation. Mohamed Sudan, one of the Muslim Brotherhoods leaders in the UK told this writer, "It was not expected from a democratic country such as the UK to put restrictions on freedom of thought and belief" in light of the report's conclusion that membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood might be considered a possible indicator of extremism. However, he added that Sir John Jenkins, the chair of investigation, was fair and impartial in conducting interviews with the groups representatives in 12 countries. I would argue that this review included several shortcomings that make it insignificant and more of a political show. First, the review lasted only three months, between April and July 2014. This is not enough time to produce a serious report on the Muslim Brotherhoods complexity and its wide range of contacts across more than 85 countries. Some of the report's conclusions are also vague, such as "membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood might be considered as a possible indicator of extremism." Second, the report was commissioned in April 2014 and expected to be released alongside the governments Counter-Extremism Strategy in March, but it was not published until December 2015. Indeed, it was published on the final day for government statements before Christmas. The UK government, especially Cameron, would like this review to be forgotten during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Third, while the Muslim Brotherhood's public narrative has emphasised engagement and not violence, the group has used violence on occasions to achieve its goals. The report mentions that the Muslim Brotherhood has never disowned Qutbs views on jihad institutionally. In addition, the group is prepared to use violence where peaceful ways are ineffective. Muslim Brotherhood-related organisations and individuals in the UK have openly supported the activities of Hamas. People associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK have applauded suicide bombing by Hamas. This reality was not translated into any recommendations on tackling this notion of the acceptability of using force if only as a last resort as espoused by the Muslim Brotherhood. Fourth, several members and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood moved from Egypt and the UAE to the UK since 2013, after Mohamed Morsis ouster. Therefore, talk about stopping some members of the Muslim Brotherhood from coming to the UK is too little too late in the eyes of critics of the Muslim Brotherhood. Fifth, Mr Charles Farr, who helped John Jenkins in this report, said that groups and people in the UK linked to the Muslim Brotherhood had in the past held out the prospect and ambition of an Islamic state in this country as elsewhere. However, he found that there was no indication that the Muslim Brotherhood itself held this view or at least openly promoted an Islamic state in the UK. I would argue that political correctness and naivety intervened in reaching this conclusion, since this aspiration falls silently under the desire to establish an Islamic Caliphate across the whole world, being one of the main cornerstones of the Muslim Brotherhood since its founding by Hassan Al-Banna. Sixth, the report found that literature in the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the UK continues to reflect foundational Brotherhood ideology, notably that Western society is inherently hostile to the Muslim faith and Muslim interests. Other organisations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood are against the values of British society. For example, the UK based chairman of Interpal (the Islamic Palestinian Relief and Development Fund charity organisation) has written openly in support of the death penalty for homosexuality, and stoning to death of married men and women found guilty of adultery. The UK Islamic Mission has continued to explicitly claim that it is not possible for an observant Muslim to live under a non-Islamic system of government. In 2010, a television documentary showed members of the Islamic Forum for Europe privately advocating Sharia law in Tower Hamlets, and actively seeking influence in the local council. Finally, laws in the UK and the European Convention of Human Rights will weaken any potential steps taken by the British government to challenge the ideology and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood. Added to the vagueness of the outcomes of this probe, indicates are that it will not enable authorities to act on the ground. Notions of Islamophobia and political correctness will also hamper any actions if the Muslim Brotherhood crosses the line. The writer is an expert on Islamic movements. Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Sheriff: Shasta Lake man dies under 'suspicious' circumstances The death of a Shasta Lake man who died Tuesday is being considered by investigators as suspicious. SHARE A hands-on agritourism planning course will be held in Redding for farmers and ranchers who are considering, starting or expanding agritourism or nature tourism businesses on their farms or ranches. Classes will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays Jan. 6 through March 16. The University of California Cooperative Extension is working with local agricultural and community organizations, tourism professionals and experienced agritourism operators to offer the three-session "Agritourism Intensive" class for farmers and ranchers in Shasta County and the surrounding Far North region. "Our workshops will give farmers and ranchers the knowledge and tools to grow and successfully marketing their individual agritourism enterprises adding to their income and helping spread the risk of challenging production years," Concepcion Mendoza, adviser with UC Cooperative Extension in Shasta County, said in news release. "Working with others in the community, we hope to expand marketing options in the Far North Region of California." Participants will learn about the variety of potential businesses, including farm stands, u-pick operations, event hosting, tours, festivals and outdoor recreation. Each participant will receive a free copy of the UC ANR published handbook, "Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California," which will be used as the text for the class. Attendees will hear from experienced agritourism operators and experts in business planning, risk management, regulatory compliance and marketing. Class instructors will provide individual guidance and help participants form a supportive network as they plan and develop their own agritourism or nature tourism businesses. Registration is open. Space is limited, so early sign-up is encouraged. Classes will be held at the McConnell Foundation Lema Ranch, 800 Shasta View Drive, Redding. Cost is $50 for the three-session course and $25 for an additional participant from the same family or business. Lunch will be provided Register at http://ucanr.edu/agtourshasta2015 For more information, email Penny Leff, UCCE agritourism coordinator, at paleff@ucdavis.edu or call 752-7779. SHARE Redding police said they arrested two teenagers in downtown Redding Friday after they tried to pull a 50-year-old woman out of her car in an attempted carjacking. Heather Mauldin of Cottonwood called 911 at 6:15 p.m. and said she was approached by two teens while she was sitting in her vehicle waiting to pick up food from Marys Pizza Shack on Shasta Street in Redding, police said. The pair asked the woman if they could use her cell phone to call for a ride. Mauldin didnt give them her phone but offered to call a cab for them. While she was on the phone to a cab company, the teens tried to pull her out of her car and commit a carjacking, police said. Mauldin resisted but the teens were able to take her cell phone and ran away, officers said. While police were going to the womans location, witnesses reported seeing the teens run through the Market Street Promenade into an area by Library Park. Officers said they found and detained Terrell Sims, 18, and a 16-year-old juvenile in front of a restaurant on California Street. Mauldin went to the location and identified the pair as the strong-arm robbery suspects. Sims and the other youth confessed to trying to steal the womans car so they could drive to Sacramento, police said. Sims showed officers where he hid Mauldins cell phone. Sims was arrested and booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of attempted carjacking, robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said. The 16-year-old was booked into Shasta County Juvenile Hall for investigation of the same charges. SHARE John Noonkester Keith Thomas Kimberlee Thomas By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight Nearly six months after a triple shooting left two people dead and the gated community of Lake California reeling from shock, the man accused of the crime has yet to have his preliminary hearing. John Wayne Noonkester, 32, of Cottonwood, still is awaiting his preliminary hearing, which determines if there is sufficient evidence to move toward a trial. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 26. Noonkester is accused of gunning down his ex-wife, Kimberlee Thomas, then 29, and her father, Keith Thomas, 53, outside the Little Country Store in Lake California on July 3. A third victim, Anthony Maitias Baugher, 25, of Cottonwood, was wounded in the attack. He was apparently a bystander. Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen, who couldn't be reached for comment, has declined to elaborate on Noonkester's motive. Noonkester pleaded not guilty Aug. 18 to charges of murder and attempted murder. According to electronic court records, Noonkester was involved in a domestic dispute with Kimberlee Thomas over custody of their two children. She had filed for divorce earlier that year. Noonkester allegedly got into an argument with her at the store she called to report he'd punched her father moments before the shooting. A few minutes later, calls flooded dispatch reporting the shooting, authorities have said. Detectives said Noonkester tried to flee after the shooting, but bystanders used their vehicles to block his truck in. The shooting left the normally quiet and gated community of Lake California shocked. Posts filled social media groups about the shooting as the public and detectives pieced together what happened. Noonkester's preliminary hearing has been delayed several times. At first, the Tehama County Superior Court had difficulty finding a public defender to represent him. Finally, Redding attorney Joe Gazzigli has begun representing Noonkester. Because of a surgery in September, Gazzigli requested another delay of the preliminary hearing, initially set for late October. According to a document filed with the court, the district attorney has also filed additional evidence in the case. The judge granted that delay and set the preliminary hearing for Jan. 26. SHARE Record Searchlight file photo Civil rights activist Isaac Lowe will be honored this Saturday at the MLK Center. The North State lost a valued member of the community this week with the passing of civil rights leader Isaac Lowe. Lowe, 94, was a strong woman who faced down prejudice and discrimination with grace and dignity. She worked to lift people up and foster respect among all residents. "Isaac Lowe literally is, probably more so than anyone I can think of Shasta County, an institution in terms of civil rights," Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh told the Record Searchlight when Lowe was feted with two celebrations marking her 90th birthday in 2011. "I think we owe her a great debt of gratitude." Her life spanned nearly a century of fundamental change in racial relations in the United States. She experienced institutional segregation, the gains that came with the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s, the implementation of the first federal holiday honoring an African-American, and, ultimately, she proudly attended the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama. Lowe was a soldier in the civil rights movement who worked on a local level, where her daily interactions among Shasta County residents and leaders as founder of the local chapter of the NAACP helped shape our community. Lowe moved to Redding in the 1940s. She came here from rural Texas, where she attended two segregated colleges and earned a degree in business administration. She met her husband, Vernon, in Redding, and together they established the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1950. Among her many accomplishments in the community was launching the community's annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. day in 1983. That was the year the federal government first honored the slain civil rights leader with a holiday. But she worked tirelessly for 17 years to have the city of Redding officially adopt it as a local government holiday. Year in, year out, she approached city leaders asking them to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Year in, year out, she walked away with a rejection but resolved to keep on trying. Finally, her perseverance paid off in 2002, when the city recognized the holiday. She was the center of that celebration ever since. "She is definitely kind of like the matriarch of the African-American community," Eddie McAllister, a community organizer with Shasta County Public Health and a member of the MLK Center advisory board, told the Record Searchlight. Her list of achievements and honors is long. Lowe helped establish the MLK Jr. Center and is immortalized in its Hall of Fame, dedicated to Vernon Lowe, who died in 1998 at 80 years old. She also rallied to save the Second Baptist Church, the oldest African-American church in Redding, from being demolished. She worked to post "No room for racism" signs around the county. She was named the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1992 and Redding's Woman of the Year in 1993. She was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1988. "She's just the all-around mother of the African-American community," McAllister said. "And not just the African-American community, but all over." We honor Isaac Lowe and her efforts to make Shasta County a shining example of Martin Luther Jr. King's dream of a place where people of all backgrounds can live together with respect. People play soccer on a sunny but cool Friday in Caldwell Park. Rain is expected to return to Redding, perhaps as soon as Saturday night, while snow could fall in the higher elevations. SHARE By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight The wet weather will be returning to Redding, perhaps as early as Saturday night. And don't be surprised to see some more snow fall in the higher elevations. Tom Dang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said light to moderate rain should fall throughout the rest of the week. "Certainly not like a flood-level event," he said. Still, Dang said, Redding could see 1 to 2 inches of rain spread over the course of the week, while Shasta Lake could see as much as 3 inches. Although the rainfall is not a substantial amount, Dang said a healthy amount of snow could fall in the higher elevations, including Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Trinity Alps. But that snow won't find its way into the valley, he said, adding the lowest the snow should fall will be at the 2,500-foot elevation. "It should be a good snow for the high peaks," he said. Redding's immediate weather forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and patches of early morning frost Saturday. But Redding's sunny skies will soon by obscured by clouds as they roll in. With an expected high temperature of 49 degrees on Saturday, there will be a 40 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. But don't expect a lot of it. Less than a 10th-of-an-inch of rain is expected. The night's low should be around 38 degrees. Sunday should see a 30 percent of showers during the daytime hours and a high temperature near 51 degrees, while Sunday night should see a 40 percent chance of showers, the National Weather Service says. Meanwhile, there's a 50 percent chance of showers Monday, which will be followed by a chance of showers every day through Thursday. The highs throughout the rest of the work week will hover around the 50-degree mark. Lows will range from 43 on Monday to 39 on Wednesday. The Bombay High Court had on August 13, lifted the ban slapped by food regulators on Nestle India's nine variants of the fast food in the country while asking the company to go in for fresh tests. The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from Maggi noodles manufacturer Nestle India Ltd and Maharashtra on a plea filed by food regulator FSSAI against the Bombay High Court verdict lifting ban on nine variants of the fast food and asking the company to go for fresh tests. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant fixed the plea of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for hearing on January 13 when it will consider its prayer for stay of the High Court verdict. "The present petition is being filedseeking special leave to appeal against impugned judgement dated August 13 modified on September 4, passed by the Bombay High Court... vide the judgement, the High Court had quashed the show cause notice (of FSSAI) on the ground that the same violated the principles of natural justice and also passed directions permitting the respondent company (Nestle India) to sell its products if its samples passed fresh tests. "Respondent company has been permitted to choose the samples of its products to be given for testing and the High Court has listed out the laboratories that were suggested by the respondent company to carry out the tests, thereby vitiating the very purpose of testing any product under the (Food Safety and Standards) Act," FSSAI said in its plea. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for FSSAI, said that the laboratories, accredited under the statute, should be allowed to conduct tests on such food products. The regulator, seeking a stay on "the operation of the impugned final judgement" of the High Court, raised the question of law saying "whether the main duty of the authority (FSSAI) is to regulate or monitor the food products at any stage of production and whose primary concern has to be the safety of the food products being consumed in the country?" The plea further said whether a show cause notice can be set aside by the High Court in "writ jurisdiction" without first directing the FSSAI to respond to the allegations made in the notice. The Bombay High Court had on August 13, lifted the ban slapped by food regulators on Nestle India's nine variants of the fast food in the country while asking the company to go in for fresh tests. The Sharif groups website claims they are worth $300 million in business and $100 million in real estate holdings According to a Pakistani website, Nawaz Sharifs personal holdings amount to between PKR 500 crore and 1,000 crore. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind, ab toh yahan aana jaana laga rahega to which Sharif replied, apka ghar hai. This makes it incumbent upon us Indians to know better, the family and other interests of those to whose ghar there will be aana and jaana. As reporters scurried to update themselves with who Sajjan Jindal was and why he could have been an interlocutor in organising Modis visit and his meeting with Sharif, Business Standard did some digging and came up with interesting facts on the Sharif family and its business interests. Much of the credit for the information goes to a Pakistani website, Fiverupees.com, which is both serious and satirical - serious because it handles the Pakistan narrative in terms of global concerns; and satirical because, well, it is just so funny and witty and irreverent! In 1998, a book came out on the corporate interests of Nawaz Sharifs extended family. Called Who Owns Pakistan, it was written by Shahid-ur-Rehman, a respected Pakistani journalist who has been covering finance and the economy for nearly three decades. Remember that after Nawaz Sharif became prime minister in the 1990s, Pakistan went through a wave of privatisation and tweaked a number of policies dressed up as economic liberalisation? Rehmans contention is that most of the moves were made merely to strengthen various industrial houses, including the Sharif familys. The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government had marked 115 units for privatisation, of which 67 were privatised by 1997. Rehman says the Ittefaq Group holdings belonged to the Sharif family, which gained the most from these moves. The Ittefaq Foundries, a relatively modest cast-iron parts business, was established in 1939 by Mian Mohammad Sharif and his six brothers, a family of Kashmiri immigrants who settled in Punjab in the late 19th century. After migrating from Amritsar at the time of Partition, the family settled in Lahore where Nawaz Sharif started the iron business, initially on a limited scale and later grew it, even as aristocratic Pakistanis sniffed about the rise and rise of the fortunes of the lohars. In 1972, Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos government nationalised several private-sector businesses, including the Sharif familys. They then moved their business to West Asia but while Ittefaqs fortunes plummeted (in 1998, according to Rehman, 119 offspring of the founders of the Ittefaq Group were fighting court cases on inheritance and assets division. Mian Mohammad Sharif died in 2000). Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, quietly worked on their business and grew it. The steel business continued, but the family also acquired property abroad (in the UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and in Pakistan as well as agriculture-related concerns like poultry feed and other assets. Fiverupees.com studied the claims in the book, cross-checked and indexed it to other public sources of information on the familys commercial interests and came to the conclusion that to attribute all the wealth of the Ittefaq Group to the Sharif family was not accurate. That said, the Sharif family is by no means poor. The website checked both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharifs family income and assets as furnished by the Sharifs in 2013, according to the law in Pakistan which makes public disclosure of assets mandatory for those contesting elections. The Sharif groups website claims they are worth $300 million in business and $100 million in real estate holdings. Mian Mohammad Sharifs wife, Shamim Akhtar (Nawaz Sharifs Ammi, whose feet our PM respectfully touched when he met her) owns the Jati Umra estate that Modi visited. Nawaz Sharif has two sons (Hassan, Hussain) and two daughters (Maryam and Asma). Shahbaz Sharif has two wives and two sons (Hamza, also having two wives; and Salman) and a daughter, Rabia Imran. The third brother, Abbas Sharif, has two sons and two daughters too. This brings the total number of living shareholders of the family estate, with great-grandchildren, to around 40. The family also runs a charitable Sharif Trust that comprises engineering and medical and dental colleges, and the Sharif School of Applied Health Sciences. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters. The Sharifs have assets in Saudi Arabia, established when Nawaz Sharif was in exile. These include a steel mill amounting to PKR 700 crore in capital. The UAE assets - mills and suchlike - have been liquidated. Ramzan Energy is registered on the Karachi Stock Exchange, but is not a full-fledged company yet. It is a bagasse power plant. Gulshan Carpets was a company allegedly owned by Nawaz Sharifs daughter Maryam, but upon checking it was found to be listed in someone elses name (sounds familiar?). During FY 2013, there is also a combined cash transfer and bank remittance from Hussain Nawaz of PKR 19.7 crore. Hamza Sharifs 2011 assets declaration shows an unsecured loan of PKR 5.18 lakh against the name of his father, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Known as the poultry king of Punjab, Hamza Sharifs assets amount to PKR 21.10 crore. The family also runs a charitable Sharif Trust that comprises engineering and medical and dental colleges, and the Sharif School of Applied Health Sciences. And no, they do not run a newspaper. These are just vignettes from the list of assets, which is exhaustive and makes for riveting reading, especially the part about landholdings. Business Standard has not been able to verify the assertions independently. But Fiverupees.com assesses that the 40-odd members of the Sharif family own a PKR 4,000-crore business empire. Nawaz Sharifs personal holdings amount to between PKR 500 crore and 1,000 crore. Much of this is illiquid. He and his wife own PKR 14 crore in bank deposits and cash. So be warned! Thats the ghar youre dealing with! 'That the terrorists could still kill six security personnel, including men of the Defence Service Corps, indicates highly trained men are being sent across the border,' says national security expert Nitin A Gokhale, founder, BharatShakti.in The first question that popped up in the minds of security analysts within hours of the attack in Pathankot was: What happens to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fresh initiative with Pakistan? The reactive answer would be: The process should be suspended immediately. But having invested his personal goodwill in the new effort, Modi is unlikely to call it off so quickly since the possibility of such a backlash from the Pakistani Deep State (read Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence) using its strategic assets -- the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, to name just two -- would have been factored in by his national security team. That the attack was thwarted and contained around the periphery of the vital air base in Pathankot is testimony to the heightened preparations and increased intelligence available to the Indian State and the fact that New Delhi expected such an attack sooner than later. Consider this: By Friday night, a team of the Indian Army's Special Forces had joined the Indian Air Force's Garud commandos to take on the possible attackers; two platoons of a regular infantry unit had locked down the technical area -- where the MiG-21s and the Mi-25 attack helicopters are stationed -- at the air base. By midnight on Friday, a crack team of National Security Guard commandos had completed the anti-terror attack grid inside the air base. All this deployment had taken place after a combination of intelligence inputs that suggested Pathankot to be the most likely target. The input was confirmed by a lucky break in the form of an intercept of a phone call made across the border to Pakistan from a phone that was snatched away from a senior Punjab Police officer by the terrorists in army uniform. That the terrorists could still kill six security personnel, including men of the Defence Service Corps, indicates highly trained men are being sent across the border. However, all terrorists were confined to the periphery and neutralised on the periphery shows the preparation that went into responding to this attack. So now what for India-Pakistan talks? For years, this pattern of peace effort-followed-by-audacious-attack has repeated itself frustrating well-meaning initiatives. Modi and his team is not likely to fall into the familiar trap set up the so-called non-State actors and their mentors in the Pakistani army which would have hoped that India reacts hastily and walks away from the peace process. For the moment, India would stay the course and the foreign secretary-level talks would most likely go ahead as scheduled, but Modi will be under unbeatable pressure if another terrorist attack was to take place. That is for the future. Right now, India needs to put pressure on Pakistan and demand demonstrable action against JeM. While it may not be forthcoming, the international community, especially the US, which keeps putting pressure for resumption of talks, must now publicly ask Rawalpindi to rein in the rogue elements or else face action. Simultaneously, India must keep its powder dry and have a plan ready that would involve striking back at elements in Pakistan should another provocation occur on the near future. That is what the nation expects from Narendra Modi. 'ISI-backed jihadi groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayiba are now prepared to cross the International Border and attack targets in Punjab at will,' says Ambassador G Parthasarathy, India's former high commissioner to Pakistan. The terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase brought back painful personal memories. I was serving in an army unit near the Pathankot airbase in 1965 when Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre Jet fighters attacked the base. A substantial number of our fighter aircraft were destroyed on the ground on the first day of the 1965 conflict. The fortnight leading to that September 6, 1965 attack had seen some of my friends in the Indian Air Force, flying obsolete Vampire jet fighters, losing their lives in aerial combat. The January 2, 2016 attack on the Pathankot airbase was masterminded by the Jaish-e-Mohammed led by Maulana Masood Azhar, a rabidly anti-Indian cleric and fundamentalist political leader. We surprisingly released Maulana Azhar from jail in Jammu during the hijacking of IC-814 to Kandahar. It was no secret in Delhi that as the then high commissioner in Pakistan, I had serious misgivings about his release in Kandahar. Azhar returned to Pakistan to a hero's welcome. He founded the Jaish-e-Mohammed which mounted several terrorist attacks on India, most notably the December 13, 2001 attack on our Parliament, which took India and Pakistan to the brink of war. The attack on the Pathankot airbase followed the pattern set by the terrorist attack on July 27, 2015 by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba in Gurdaspur, which is located close to Pathankot, along the Pathankot-Jammu Highway. The July 2015 attack could have led to a conflict if the five bombs planted by the terrorists on the railway line had been detonated and caused mass casualties. What these two attacks indicate is that ISI-backed jihadi groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba are now prepared to cross the International Border and attack targets in Punjab at will -- something we have not seen in earlier years. Like the attackers in July 2015, the Jaish terrorists, who attacked the Pathankot airbase carried sophisticated weapons, grenades, communications equipment and direction-finding Global Positioning Systems. It is fortuitous that they were spotted before they reached the Pathankot airfield and the armed forces were well prepared to thwart the attack. The immediate aftermath of the attack followed a predictable pattern. One saw hectic activity in South Block, housing the Prime Minister's Office and the ministries of defence and external affairs. Like always, Pakistan went into denial mode. The Pakistan Foreign Office proclaimed: 'Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot, India, in which many precious lives have been lost. We extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery.' 'Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries,' it added, 'Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region.' It also appears evident that there have been exchanges between the two governments involving the NSAs and the Foreign Offices in the wake of the Pathankot attack. Wireless intercepts and the quality of equipment carried by the terrorists leave no doubt that they were Pakistani Punjabis with links in Bahawalpur, the hometown of Jaish supremo Maulana Masood Azhar. The attack places the Modi government in a difficult situation. Any knee-jerk reaction, calling off talks between the foreign secretaries scheduled for mid-January, would be counterproductive internationally, especially as the prime minister's outreach to Nawaz Sharif by his visit to Lahore has been internationally acclaimed. Retaliation and response to the attack would have to be carefully calculated and calibrated. But Pakistan cannot link this attack to its ambitions on Jammu and Kashmir as the attack has been carried out transgressing the International Border in Punjab and not across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. It would be unwise to press the government to act in a hurry. New Delhi's response has to be measured and internationally justifiable. A vast range of options, covert and overt, is available to respond appropriately to the Pathankot attack. 'Attempts at long-term rapprochement have been rather feeble from both sides. The primary cause of the lack of progress is that these efforts do not appear to have the support of the Pakistan army,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd). Despite the political risk taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in stopping over at Lahore a week ago, terror strikes emanating from Pakistan soil continue unabated. The attack on the air force base at Pathankot is only the latest example of Pakistan's continuing sponsorship of trans-border terrorism. Other recent incidents include strikes at Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in J&K. The Pakistan army and the ISI do not appear to realise that a major terrorist strike could lead to military retaliation from India. Even though such retaliation would be carefully calibrated to avoid escalation, it would carry the risk of snowballing out of control to a full-blown conventional conflict with nuclear overtones. Both nations need to move forward and ensure that conflict avoidance is accorded high priority. Existing Confidence Building Measures need to be implemented in letter and spirit and new ones need to be introduced to reduce the risk of conflict. Though a few meetings have been held between the two prime ministers and between interlocutors of the two ministries of external affairs, since the Modi-led government came to power in May 2014, attempts at long-term rapprochement have been rather feeble from both sides. The primary cause of the lack of progress is that these efforts do not appear to have the support of the Pakistan army. The trust deficit between the two countries has proved hard to overcome. Perhaps the time has come to bring the Pakistan army into the talks as a direct participant to make it a stakeholder. A beginning could be made by instituting regular military-to-military contacts to reduce tensions and overcome the lack of trust between the two militaries. The clearest justification for this channel to be opened is that each one of the previous agreements between the two militaries, particularly the two armies, has been honoured in letter and spirit by both sides. Hence, it is necessary to introduce new CBMs aimed at contributing to greater stability and the avoidance of conflict. The 'Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue' process between India and Pakistan, earlier called first the 'Composite Dialogue' and then the 'Resumed Dialogue' (after it had been stalled for some time), comprises the following major issues: Peace and Security; Jammu and Kashmir; Siachen; Sir Creek; Tulbul/Wullar, Baglihar and Kishanganga; Terrorism and Drugs Trafficking; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; Counter-terrorism; Narcotics Control; Humanitarian Issues; People-to-people exchanges; and religious tourism. Of the 12 issues that figure in the re-structured dialogue process, discussions on peace and security, Siachen, Sir Creek and terrorism would benefit directly from military-to-military discussions. To a limited extent, such discussions would also be useful in resolving the Tulbul/Wullar, Baglihar and Kishanganga issues. Contrary to popular belief, the track record of the two militaries in dealing with each other has been reasonably encouraging. Two examples should suffice to prove this. India and Pakistan successfully disengaged their forces from the Chumik Glacier in the Saltoro Ridge conflict zone, west of the Siachen Glacier, in 1989. The Chumik Glacier is an offshoot of the Bilafond Glacier, and is about six km in length. In February 1989 hostilities ensued between Indian and Pakistani forces. Both sides competed to occupy the highest points in the Chumik Glacier area to dominate each other's positions on the Saltoro ridge and adjacent areas. On May 13th, Brigadier Rustom Nanavaty, Commander of the Siachen Brigade, and Brigadier Bokhari, his Pakistani counterpart, reached agreement regarding the withdrawal of forces from their positions. The respective headquarters subsequently ratified the agreement reached by the field commanders. The disengagement was conducted successfully and the agreement has held till now. In the spring months of 1999, the Pakistan army intruded across the LoC at several places in the Kargil district of J&K. India launched carefully calibrated ground and air offensive operations to evict the intruders. The Indian fightback succeeded despite heavy odds and one by one the mountains tops were taken back. At the request of the government of Pakistan, a meeting was held between the Indian and Pakistani DGMOs at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar on July 11, 1999, to chalk out a time frame for Pakistani forces to withdraw from Indian territory. The Pakistani DGMO agreed that Pakistan would withdraw all Pakistani troops from the Indian side of the LoC. On July 26, 1999, the Indian DGMO declared at a press conference that all Pakistani intruders had been evicted from Kargil district. The above examples clearly establish that military-to-military contacts have been useful in the past and provide grounds to believe that such contacts are in the national interest and will be beneficial in the future as well. It would not be appropriate to advocate that since India is a democracy only the political leaders and the bureaucracy should interact with their counterparts in Pakistan. While the Indian Army has always been subordinate to the will of the elected political leadership, the Pakistan army plays a unique role in Pakistan's polity. For most of the time since independence, the Pakistan army has been in power. During the remaining period, it has continued to call the shots on Pakistan's policies towards India and J&K, and nuclear issues among others. If the Indian armed forces were to deal directly with the Pakistan armed forces, it would be mutually beneficial. Obviously, on the Indian side, the brief would be approved in advance by the government and representatives of the defence ministry and the MEA would be present at each meeting. The recommendations given below should be considered for early implementation. The DGMOs of India and Pakistan should meet biannually at the Attari-Wagah border to discuss contentious military issues with a view to reducing tensions through negotiations. While the talks may be unstructured initially, these could be based on a prioritised agenda in later rounds. Issues like the demilitarisation of the Siachen conflict zone, the boundary dispute at Sir Creek and infiltration across the LoC could be taken up for discussion besides local border issues like incursions across the LoC. In due course, it should be possible to evolve a joint mechanism for humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Regular flag meetings need to be instituted at brigade level along the LoC and DIG range level between the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers along the IB sector in the Jammu division, which Pakistan calls the working boundary. Such meetings will help to reduce the trust deficit resolve local issues. A joint mechanism should be evolved to look into the incidents of violations of the cease-fire agreement and recommend measures to minimise future violations. The two navies should consider the following maritime CBMs for mutual benefit: Incidents at Sea Agreement (first proposed at Lahore, 1999). Maritime disaster management. Joint search and rescue at sea. Mechanism to resolve incidents of fishermen straying into each other's waters. The National Defence College courses of the two countries, which are attended by brigadier and equivalent level officers, should visit each other's capitals for an exchange of views on issues related to regional security and non-traditional threats to security that are common to both countries. In later years they may be permitted to travel outside the capitals as well. Similarly, cadets under training at the three training academies could exchange visits to respective academies and participate in sports activities. Both countries are major contributors of contingents for the peace-keeping missions of the United Nations and the experience has been that their troops get along very well on UN missions. Both have very good training facilities and would benefit by cooperating for UN peacekeeping training. Participation in each other's sports and games would help to foster a spirit of healthy competition. The two Services Sports Control Boards can work out a mutually convenient schedule. Joint mountaineering expeditions should be organised, especially on both sides of the AGPL in the Siachen conflict zone. Contacts between old regiments should be gradually re-established and visits to each other's regimental centres permitted. Joint events should be organised for the military bands of both countries for military as well as civilian audiences. Military-to-military contacts will not be easy to establish and implement. There will be many hold-ups in the initial years. However, once these take root and begin to show results, these will raise mutual confidence by an order of magnitude. Gradually these CBMs will become effective in reducing the present trust deficit so that the two countries can move towards long-term conflict resolution. Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) is former Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi. IMAGE: Security operations near the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters In 2016, Mitali Saran hopes that there are improvements in education and healthcare in the nation. Well its 2016, and, despite our collective New Years Eve effort to obliterate it with alcohol, here, still, is our battered little world, still spinning through the wastes of space, still hoping -- against all the evidence -- for better. Janus, the two-faced Roman god of transitions, looks with one face to the past, and with the other to the future. 2015 was so rocky for most people that 2016 seems like a better view. So, as the planets axis tilts again, and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn prepare for another slow seesaw; as the earth sets off on one more long rotation around the sun; as sea levels rise, and flood and drought and earthquake punctuate the rhythm of life, its time to reflect on the fundamental question for the future, and that is: Donald Trump? Really? Yes, this could be the year that the most clownish of an uninspiring pack of US Republican presidential candidates gives the Democratic party a serious run for its money. Many Americans, and most of the rest of the world, wants to believe that Trump couldnt possibly clinch the Republican nomination, let alone become POTUS, and hopefully he wont -- but the world is crazy enough that one should never say never. It may be that America really decides to put its faith in a man who thinks that the solution to gun violence is more guns, wants to raise anti-immigration walls that would have kept his own parents out of America, references a debate moderators menstrual cycle, and has a disturbingly orange cast to his skin. (He also constantly picks on other peoples physical attributes, so hes fair game for a cheap shot.) Some people think of The Donald as the Democrats secret weapon, a subtle saboteur working for Hillary Clinton. Alas, I dont think you can be that rich -- or that orange -- without trimming your sails to your own winds. Please, America, do not unleash this chap on the world. Youve already given us Islamic State -- yes, you did that -- IS, who are probably celebrating the newly dawned year 1372 with a little beheading practice. Have mercy. I realise this is rich coming from a country that gave the world Sakshi Ten Hindu Kids Maharaj and Baba Gay Cure Yoga Ramdev. But at least our nutjobs dont have their fingers on the big red button. (Arguably.) Anyway, thats my first wish for the world for the coming year: may the Trump campaign collapse in a cloud of dust. I have many wishes for India, but the dearest is that we should start to fix two critical training and employment areas: the one that produces schoolteachers, and the one that produces health care professionals -- physicians, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and administrators. The abysmal quality of our government schoolrooms is producing slightly, and badly, educated young people who will become a poor quality workforce -- at worst it doesnt educate them at all, and at best doesnt do justice to their potential. You can make all kinds of shining smart cities, but if theyre run by dull people, you may as well have saved the money. We have some of the finest doctors in the world, but we also have some of the most badly trained and dangerous doctors, who buy and cheat their way to a medical degree and who play with peoples lives every time they wake up in the morning. We have some of the most accessible and affordable pharmaceutical products in the world, but also racketeers who put spurious tablets in the hands of vulnerable sick people, at best not improving their condition, and at worst killing them. If we can block the route to fake degrees, and focus on creating actual training systems -- well-trained people who can train others well after them -- we will at least be on the way to creating two solid fundamental systems that make peoples lives better, and that contribute to the much-vaunted economy instead of impeding it. There, thats not too much to ask for, I dont think. We cannot get anywhere, let alone where we want to go, unless we fix these two things. If we dont, we will have a small set of great -- or lucky -- individuals and businesses pulling ahead, but the vast majority of India will be left shambling behind, trying to fend for itself as best it can. Thats not sabka saath, sabka vikas. Of course Im not sure that its reasonable to expect a focus on top-notch education from a central government that has done everything short of tattooing the word anti-intellectual on its own forehead, but this is the thing about every new year: one can hope. Happy 2016! Image: People hold balloons during the New Year celebrations outside a church in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters 'The problem with India and Pakistan can be solved by Pakistan by ceasing its support for Islamist terrorists operating in India, letting go of its baseless demands upon Kashmir, ceasing its support for terrorists attacking India assets in Afghanistan.' C Christine Fair is the author of Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War. An associate professor at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, she is considered an authority on Pakistan and the Islamists within. Professor Fair responded to Nikhil Lakshman/Rediff.com's inquiries on the Pakistan army and the current India-Pakistan rapprochement. Do you believe the Pakistan army is on board with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's current rapprochement with India? Will the Pakistan military and the ISI behave or will it continue to needle India with its non-State actors? Of course not, because there is no genuine rapprochement for several reasons. The problem with India and Pakistan can be solved by Pakistan by ceasing its support for Islamist terrorists operating in India, letting go of its baseless demands upon Kashmir, ceasing its support for terrorists attacking India assets in Afghanistan. There is only evidence for Pakistan's continued commitment to these goals. What do you think Washington told General Raheel Sharif, left, when he came a-visiting a few weeks ago? And what would they have needed to impress on him to get him to play ball? Are lots of American goodies coming GHQ Rawalpindi's way? The usual: Stop supporting the Haqqanis and take steps to eliminate them, stop supporting groups like LeT/JuD and take steps to eliminate them, stop engaging irresponsibly with respect to your nuclear programme, help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. As with previous similar 'lectures,' this army chief -- like all before him -- will ignore these messages and continuing doing what it does while continuing to get money from the United States because the United States is too afraid that Pakistan will fail etc. We've seen this movie before. We know how it ends. What would be the five things you would expect from Pakistan in 2016? Its a bold marketing move for the locally-produced light combat aircraft, which will make its debut at the Bahrain airshow, given that its final operational certification is expected by mid-2016, and only a single fighter has been delivered to the IAF, reports Ajai Shukla. Indias home-grown fighter is set to debut on the international stage. The defence ministry has announced that the Tejas will perform aerobatic displays at the Bahrain International Air Show from January 21-23. The show will witness flying demonstration of the Tejas, the latest and state of the art Light Combat Aircraft, the Four-plus generation and highly cost effective fighter aircraft (sic), said the defence ministry on Friday. This is a bold marketing move, given that the Tejas final operational certification is expected only by mid-2016, and only a single fighter has been delivered to the Indian Air Force. In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force made an international splash with its F-17 Thunder fighter only after inducting the fighter into squadron service. Top officials in the Defence Research and Development Organisation say this is a measure of their confidence in the Tejas, which has flown in several Aero India Shows in Bengaluru. This could be a clever gambit, provided the Tejas makes a favourable impression at Bahrain. In the recent Paris Air Show in June, the PAFs JF-17 -- a light, cheap fighter like the Tejas, developed in partnership with China -- was eyed by several air forces that cannot afford heavy fighters. Respected defence group, IHS Janes, quoting Pakistani officials, reported that an unnamed air force had already signed a contract for the JF-17, and that discussions were under way with 11 other air forces, including Argentina. However, the Tejas is at a disadvantage vis-a-vis the JF-17, which the PAF has aggressively supported and marketed to bring down costs by building more aircraft. The PAF aims at inducting some 250 JF-17s, with exports orders adding to that number. In a telling contrast, the IAF has supported the Tejas reluctantly, agreeing to accept 100 improved Tejas only after the defence minister put the squeeze last year on import-happy air marshals. There will be high stakes at Bahrain for the IAF, DRDO and the Tejas manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. If the two Tejas fighters going to Bahrain are hamstrung by maintenance glitches, or their aerobatics performance is unimpressive, that would seriously jeopardise prospects for future exports. A fighter participating in an international air show is scrutinised like a Miss Universe contestant. Every mole of the Tejas will be scrutinised in Bahrain, warns Pushpindar Singh, aerospace expert and editor of Vayu magazine. Singh also wonders why Bahrain has been chosen for the Tejas debut. Last months Dubai Air Show was the worlds third biggest air show after Farnborough (in UK) and Paris (in France). Even next months Singapore Air Show would provide a bigger audience, he says. The Tejas is regarded as technologically superior to the JF-17, and only somewhat more expensive. Built largely of light composite materials, the Tejas carries more fuel and weapons. A fourth-generation fighter, it has an unstable design that makes it more manoeuvrable than the JF-17, which has a relaxed stability design. Aerospace experts say the JF-17 is basically a heavily re-engineered MiG-type fighter. In contrast, the Tejas represents a technology leap, with its quadruplex, fly-by-wire system that stabilises it in flight. The participating Tejas fighters will fly in mid-January from Bengaluru, via Jamnagar and Muscat, to the Sakhir Air Base in Bahrain where the show will be held. The defence ministry has also announced that the IAFs Sarang helicopter aerobatics team, which has impressed audiences in Berlin and Farnborough, will perform at Bahrain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said "enemies of humanity" who could not digest India's progress carried out the attack in Pathankot. Modi assured that the defence forces had the strength to defeat "the evil designs of our enemy." "...our security forces did not let them succeed: Proud of our jawans and security forces," he said here, referring to Pakistani terrorists' pre-dawn strike at the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab. The fierce gunbattle claimed the lives of three securitymen, while five infiltrators were killed, with the terror strike coming days after Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore in signs of thawing of relations with Pakistan. "Enemies of humanity who can't see India progress tried to strike at our strategic area, a prominent airbase at Pathankot. I appreciate our armed forces and thank them for foiling our enemy's attempt," Modi said, adding "our security forces did not let them succeed." "I want to assure our countrymen that our armed forces have the strength to defeat the evil designs of our enemy," he said. Congratulating the armed forces "who are always ready to protect the country", he said if the country speaks out with unity, the "ill will of our enemies will get destroyed." "I feel proud of our armed forces, said the prime minister in his speech at the birth centenary celebrations of Dr.Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Suttur Mutt which runs a string of educational institutions benefitting nearly a lakh students. In his speech at the event, Modi said the 21st century is the century of knowledge. "The one with more knowledge and information will influence the world", he said. It is the saints who have understood what the 21st century is about, said the prime minister as he laid the foundation for a Knowledge Resource Centre at the Mutt. "...rishis, saints, seers, Mutts... they have done so much for society. Sadly, some people have only believed in criticising," Modi said. "These saints, seers...they overcame so much opposition and ensured evils were removed from society: Whenever the need came, a new strength always emerged from our society...," Modi said. Speaking at another event, Modi said work of saints, seers and rishis had always been for the welfare of society. Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at birthday centenary celebrations of HH Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math in Mysore Karnataka. Photograph: PTI The Pathankot terror attack sparked a fresh round of political slugfest with the Congress questioning the Modi government's handling of Pakistan affairs and the Bharatiya Janata Party hitting back, accusing it of trying to "politicise" the incident while ally Shiv Sena sought a befitting response. Targetting the government, the Congress said the attack came a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and this showed that the Inter-Services Intelligence continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. The opposition party also reminded Modi of his promise to assertively handle ties with the neighbouring country. The Congress has accused the Modi government of flip-flops in its Pak policy. While on the one hand the government has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together, on the other Modi has met Sharif and preparations are underway for resumption of comprehensive dialogue, the opposition party said. "It's indeed a very serious matter as seven days after Modi visited Pakistan to meet Nawaz Sharif, a terrorist module comes from Pakistan and attacks in Punjab and attacks our frontline security installation. Two things are very clear. First, despite the PM's visit, the ISI continues to sustain and support terror activities against India. "Secondly the terror camps run by terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir for carrying on anti-India activity continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments. It raises security concerns for Punjab as the state is witnessing a sudden surge in such activities after being peaceful for the last 20 years," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told media persons. Hitting back, Union Minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said it was "condemnable" that Congress was "politicising" the terror attack. "While the whole country is standing with our brave soldiers, the Congress is singing a different tune. It is trying to politicise the issue. It is unfortunate and we condemn it," he said. The BJP reacted cautiously on the attack's possible impact on the Indo-Pak talks, saying "a right decision will be taken at the right time. "We congratulate our armed forces that they were able to thwart it with their wisdom and valour. India is capable of giving a befitting reply to any terror attack," BJP secretary and media department head Shrikant Sharma said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India wanted good relations with the neighbouring country but if there is any terror attack on India, a befitting reply will be given. Taking a swipe at the government, the Sena said the public is waiting for a response in the similar language and wondered "where is that language, that action?" Party leader Sanjay Raut said, "If our Air base is attacked by terrorists from Pakistan, the responsibility is with Pakistan, but they (terrorists) get shelter there, they get support from across the border..." Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the attack on the air base was the first major challenge to Modi's Pakistan plan and that BJP will have to move beyond its stand on talks and terror to insulate the dialogue process. The Communist Party of India urged both India and Pakistan not to fall into the "trap of provocation" by terror outfits by derailing peace talks between them due to the attack which it condemned. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of suspected Pakistani terrorists struck at an Air Force base in Punjab, leading to a fierce gunbattle in which three security personnel were killed four attackers gunned down. Image: Security personnel guard near the Indian Air Force base that was attacked by the militants in Pathankot. Photograph: PTI Following the terror strike in Pathankot, reactions poured in from across the spectrum. Following the terror strike in Pathankot, reactions poured in from across the spectrum. Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan but with all our neighbours. We also want peace but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply. The country is proud of our security forces and our jawans. -- Home Minister Rajnath Singh Heres the first major challenge to the PM Modis bold Pakistan gambit. The BJP now has to sidestep its previous terror & talks cant go together and insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks. -- Former Jammu-Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah Will the prime minister take up the issue with Pakistan, now that he has recently visited the country. How does the government propose to control and check the terror coming from Pakistan. These are important issues that the PM needs to address. Why is Punjab suddenly becoming a hotbed of such activities? Why have there been two terror attacks in Punjab, a state that has not seen any terror activities in over 20 years. Even the third attack in Udhampur in Jammu-Kashmir was on the border of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The first (attack in Punjab) was in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur and now in Panthankot, where our frontline security installation is located. -- Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala Whenever there is a terrorist attack on India, then there is no need to search for the culprit or find out which country they belong to. We can close our eyes and say that Pakistan is responsible. This attack is a matter of great concern as it was on a sensitive area. What happened today is what we feared for so long. The Shiv Sena has reiterated time and again that dialogue with Pakistan and terrorism cant go together and now peace talks are happening. The prime minister suddenly went to Lahore and it felt like the situation would get better, but it didn't. -- Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to subvert and sabotage the peace process between the two countries (India and Pakistan) which must not be allowed at any cost. It is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand. We cant allow our people, soldiers and police personnel to be killed by the militants from across the border and Pakistan needs to own up responsibility and deal with such elements firmly. -- Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh We think this particular act of terror is aimed at defeating the talks and ties between India and Pakistan. But at the same time, we believe that sincere talks and ties between India and Pakistan will defeat terror and violence between the two countries. Talks will influence terror, terror cannot influence the talks. -- Peoples Democratic Party leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para It (Pathankot attack) is basically done to scuttle the peace process initiated by India. We know that the militant organisation as well as the Pakistan Army is opposed to these talks, they dont want the relationship to improve between both the nations. It is a very sad incident; it should be condemned by the international community not just India and Pakistan. As international community has the responsibility to stop this menace which is coming from Pakistan. -- Defence expert Qamar Agha Salaam Alaikum" was the reply when the gunman of the superintendent of police, who was thrashed by suspected Pakistani terrorists, called up on his mobile number after the news of the SP's abduction along with his associates spread. However, after the gunman told the call receiver that the mobile phone belonged to SP Salwinder Singh, the call was disconnected. It was the last conversation which was made on the SP's phone, which is believed to be used by the terrorists to make calls to Pakistan. "After we got alert about the incident (SP'S abduction), I tried making call on SP sahib's number. At around 3:26 am, the call got connected. When I said 'hello', the reply from other side came 'Salaam Alaikum'. I asked 'aap kaun' (who are you)? The receiver said 'aap kaun'? Then I told him this is my SP sahib's number. The call receiver said 'SP sahib kaun' (who SP sahib?). Then he disconnected the line," said SP's gunman Kulwinder Singh. "I continued to say 'hello, hello' but the phone line was disconnected," Singh told PTI. "It was the last call made on SP sahib's phone number," said Singh, who is SP Salwinder Singh's gunman for the last five years. SP's driver Rajpal Singh said, "After I got information from the control room about the incident, I also tried calling SP sahib's both mobile numbers. But I failed to connect it." On Friday, Punjab police had not ruled out the possibility that suspected militants had used the SP's mobile to make a call to Pakistan. Suspected Pakistani terrorists in army uniform had abducted and thrashed the superintendent of police and his two associates before dumping them some distance away and speeding away in his vehicle in the wee hours of Friday near Kathlore bridge in Pathankot. SP Salwinder Singh, who was recently transferred as assistant commandant, 75th Battalion, Punjab armed police, said he and his friend Rajesh Verma, along with his cook Mohan Lal, were coming back after paying obeisance at Narot Jaimal Singh block on Friday night when four-five men signalled them to stop their vehicle. The SP added that they were overpowered by the suspected militants who drove away with them in their SUV. The SP and Lal were dumped near some distance while Verma as thrown off the vehicle after some time. The police had recovered SP's vehicle at Tajpur village near Dhira near the Indo-Pak border. Image: People gather as a security person guards near the Indian Air Force base that was attacked by militants in Pathankot, Punjab. Photograph: PTI Advance warning prevented damage at IAF base. The terrorists, who attacked the Indian Air Force's Pathankot air base, entered the airbase at about 3:30 am on Saturday, January 2, through a gap in the perimeter wall. The Pathankot air base is one of the largest of IAF bases, spread over about 2,000 acres. "Because of prior intelligence inputs, a Quick Reaction Team was stationed there which made the first contact with the terrorists within 45 metres into the base," sources said. While one terrorist was killed on the spot, the rest scattered. The second terrorist was killed around 10 am while the third and fourth terrorist were killed early in the evening. The five Pakistani terrorists are believed to have sneaked into India on the night of December 30-31 from a spot near Bamiyal village in Pathankot, located close to the International Border. The terrorists, official sources said, crossed over near Shakargarh in Pakistan to Bamiyal village and later changed into army fatigues before kidnapping Salwinder Singh, a superintendent of police, who was in charge of the 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police at Kolian village. Singh's vehicle was hijacked by the terrorist who slit the throats of Singh's jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and driver. Singh was released later. The jeweller is undergoing treatment in hospital. Singh's vehicle was abandoned at Tajpur village, 2 km from the IAF's Pathankot airbase. One of the terrorists used Verma's phone to call Bahwalpur in Pakistan which was intercepted by the intelligence agencies. The area where the terrorists crossed over to India has a thick foliage of elephant grass. A tributary of the Beas river enters Pakistan from this village and the route is notorious for drug smugglers to enter India. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday evening during which he was briefed in detail by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the terror attack at the IAF base in Pathankot. The meeting was attended by all the three Service chiefs and the defence secretary. The meeting lasted for about 90 minutes during which Parrikar was given a detailed overview about the intelligence received and the action taken by the security forces to thwart the attack by the group of terrorists, suspected to be belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. It was an attack that was anticipated by the security establishment and local shopkeepers had been cautioned about it well in advance. Residents in Dhaki Chowk in Pathankot woke up to the sound of gunfire and blasts in the dead of the night when terrorists struck at the IAF base. "We were asked by the police to close down our establishments after abduction of an SP (=on Thursday night) and recovery of his vehicle from near the Palta Sahib Gurdwara (Friday)," said Rahul, who runs an invertor shop. Rahul, along with other shopkeepers, shut their shops following the terror alert amid deployment of security personnel in the area around 6 pm and rush home. The suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed attack at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot killed six defence personnel, including an IAF Garud commando. More terrorists are suspected to be in hiding, defence sources said, but there is no confirmation about their exact number. The IAF pressed into service two attack helicopters and drones to pinpoint the exact location of these terrorists. Four terrorists were earlier killed in the gunbattle at the IAF base, the attack coming a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled visit to Lahore on Christmas. "The gunbattle between the terrorists and the security forces ended after more than five hours," Punjab Additional Director General of Police H S Dhillon said. Four to five terrorists, suspected from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, in army uniforms, launched the attack at 3:30 am on Saturday with the aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said. IMAGE: A helicopter involved in the security operation flies over the IAF's Pathankot Air Force Station. Photograph: ANI Photo The terrorists, with RDX in their possession, are suspected of having made their way from the jungle behind the IAF base. The attack came soon after a combing operation was conducted by the army on Friday in the area between the air base and the Chakki river, the police said. The attackers met with strong resistance from the security personnel, already alerted to the possibility of an attack, top sources said in Delhi, adding that the terrorists could not enter the air base and only reached the langer area on the outside. The IAF has MiG-21 fighter planes and Mi-25 attack helicopters stationed at its Pathankot base. All the aircraft and other equipment at the base are safe and secure. IMAGE: Security deployed outside the Indian Air Force's Pathankot Air Force Station. Photograph: ANI Photo Sources said a coordinated counter-terrorism operation, supervised by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, was launched to neutralise the terrorists. The security establishment had anticipated an attack after the Punjab superintendent of police was abducted by a group of men in army uniforms on Thursday night. On Friday, Doval held meetings with army chief General Dalbir Singh and top Intelligence Bureau officers in this regard. Subsequently, the army was put on alert and National Security Guard commandos rushed to Pathankot overnight. Rediff.com strategic affairs columnist and BharatShakti.in founder Nitin A Gokhale tweeted that 'Intercepted phone call frm SSP's snatched phone had given some inkling of attack. Pathankot AF Base was fortified by Army Spl Forces. The operations in Pathankot AF base are confined to peripheral areas. Technical areas have been under a security blanket since last night.' '2/3 Army SF and 2 columns of regular infantry guarding the technical area. NSG commandos married up around midnight,' Gokhale added. It is the second major terror attack in Punjab in five months. Three terrorists attacked a police station in Gurdaspur district in July. The Indian Air Force said timely intelligence and prompt action foiled the likely plan of terrorists to destroy its valuable assets at the Pathankot airbase. In a statement issued nearly 15 hours after terrorists stormed the airbase, the IAF said it had intelligence that such an attack would take place. 'Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area. In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the IAF to thwart any such attempt,' it said. 'Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot,' the IAF added. 'The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, thus preventing them from entering the Technical zone where high value assets are parked.' 'Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled,' the IAF said. IMAGE: Security deployed outside the IAF's Pathankot Air Force Station. Photograph: ANI Photo Punjab has been put on alert while security measures have been tightened in neighbouring Haryana and Chandigarh. Security has also been tightened on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway. Security has been beefed up at the IAF stations in Chandigarh and Halwara in Punjab, at the air base in Ambala and Ambala Cantonment. Vehicles crossing army and air force areas are being checked by police and army personnel. Security at railway stations in Punjab and Haryana has been increased. A sacked IAF official, arrested for allegedly sharing secret information with Pakistan's ISI, will be interrogated in connection with the Pathankot terror attack, investigators told a Delhi court which extended his police custody till Monday, December 4. Ranjith K K, a Leading Aircraftman with the Indian Air Force posted at Bhatinda, was dismissed and later arrested after a combined operation by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch, Military Intelligence and the Air Force Liaisoning Unit. Booked under the Official Secrets Act, Ranjith allegedly shared secret information with intelligence operatives suspected to be backed by the ISI after being trapped in an espionage racket. Investigating Officer S S Sandhu said some "revelations" were made by Ranjith and police suspect it could be a connection with the Pathankot attack. The plice earlier said Ranjith was deceived by a cyberentity named Damini McNaught, who pretended to be an executive of a UK-based media firm and claimed she required IAF-related information for an article in a news magazine from Ranjith in exchange for monetary benefits. 'My fear is that if Gurdaspur happened, and now Pathankot happened, then what if they go more inside Punjab... what if Jalandhar were to happen... then what happens...' Former Research and Analysis Wing chief A S Dulat sees a pattern in the recent terrorist attacks from across the border. According to Dulat, the terrorists are mainly targeting Indian security establishments and recent attacks in the Punjab sector -- a police station in Gurdaspur in July and the Indian Air Force station in Pathankot on Saturday morning -- are a matter of serious concern as these attacks could perhaps spread across the state and may revive terrorism in Punjab. "My fear is that if Gurdaspur happened, and now Pathankot happened, then what if they go more inside Punjab... what if Jalandhar were to happen... then what happens..." Dulat told Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com in a telephone interview. On the Pakistan army trying to derail the India-Pakistan peace process, now in the works I wouldn't look at it like that. Pakistan will take the position that these are non-State actors, which is their standard line of defence. This is a grey area which has to be examined in a greater detail. How they (the terrorists who attacked the Pathankot air force base on Saturday, January 2, morning) got across (into India) is our business and we should know how they came across and from where. Parallels between Pathankot and Kargil I don't look at it like that. I don't think the Pakistani establishment or the Pakistani army is trying to derail anything (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's peace attempt) because I am sure they are on board in this whole thing. But there could be other people and whatever happened could have been planned before Lahore (the Modi-Nawaz Sharif Christmas day meeting) happened. These things don't happen overnight. This must have been in the pipeline. Now, who is doing this we need to figure out. On Pakistani terrorists attacking at will I don't say it is very easy and terrorists are striking at will, but it (the terror attacks) is happening. My fear is that if Gurdaspur happened, and now Pathankot happened, then what if they go more inside Punjab... what if Jalandhar were to happen... then what happens... The very fact that these people are able to get in (inside India) indicates that there is something wrong somewhere... If you look at what is happening for some time, along the Jammu border it is either (an attack) on a police station or an army camp. They are targeting the (Indian) security establishments. This is a serious matter, but I would not attribute it to the Pakistan (army). People on the ground should know what measures to take to prevent such audacious attacks. I think the Punjab and J&K police and the Border Security Force needs to cooperate on this and, of course, the intelligence agencies as well. On whether there was a lapse and lack of coordination between Indian security agencies Obviously, there is a lapse somewhere... when Gurdaspur happened (in July 2015)... and now it is Pathankot. So, this sector is being targeted for whatever reasons and we should look into why this part of Punjab is being targeted. But the Pathankot airbase is a serious matter. Lack of coordination I would not say that, but whenever there is a crisis there is very good coordination. But when things are normal people (India's security establishment) forget about these (terror) threats. It all depends on which groups are behind these attacks. My point is this is not something new. Whether it is Lashkar (e-Tayiba) or Jaish (e-Mohammed) it is happening in that (Jammu and Kashmir) area and the fact that they are entering Punjab now is a matter of grave concern. These things (revivalism of terrorism in Punjab) needs to be looked at and analysed with a very fine comb and look into whatever is happening. After Christmas sale at animal shelter The city of Abilene's Animal Shelter is having its After-Christmas Sale through Jan. 9. All animals are $15 after mail-in rebate. Price includes spay/neuter, rabies shot, microchip and city tag. This will be the lowest price of the year, promoters say. Shop at the shelter, 925 S. 25th St., from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays. Grace Museum offers Tot Spot Tot Spot offers children ages 3 to 5 and their parents or guardians the opportunity to expand their large imaginations through hands-on activities and gallery games. Classes take place on the first Thursday and Friday of the month starting next week at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. After the program, children with an accompanying adult may enjoy the art and history galleries as well as the children's museum. Admission to Tot Spot is free for museum members, and $5 per participating child for non- members. Reservations are required 24 hours ahead of the session desired. Classes are limited to 20 participating children. Call the museum at 325-673-4587 to rsvp. Holladay on film coming to theater Longtime Paramount film director and historian Robert Holladay presents Holladay on Film at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. The popular lecture series is devoted to the films in 2016 Paramount Film Series. This lecture explores "Auntie Mame," which will be the featured film at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 7:30 Jan. 9. You must purchase a ticket to the 7:30 p.m. performance to attend the lecture. Paramount Film Series tickets are $6 for adults/$5 for students/seniors/military and child- ren. Volunteers needed for telethon The West Texas Rehabilitation Center needs volunteers to help with the annual Phonathon that precedes the live broadcast of their Telethon on Jan. 16. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 13-14 at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St., volunteers will call donors and ask them to make their pledge before the Telethon that Saturday night. All volunteers will be finished by each night. Last year, more than 125 volunteers from local organizations and businesses, as well as Dyess Air Force Base, donated their time to participate in the Phonathon. Their efforts paved the way for a successful telethon. Funds raised will help offset the costs of treating more than 500 patients a day across West Texas in 2015, helping them overcome disabili- ties. Call Michelle Mickey, Volunteer Coordinator, at 325-677-1342, Ext. 110, if you can help. Outlaws and Legends Save April 1 and 2 for the fifth annual Outlaws and Legends Music Fest to be held at the Back Porch of Texas, located off Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 277. The event benefiting Ben Richey Boys Ranch will include numerous major recording artists, barbecue and more during day and evening sessions. Outlaw bands will take the stage Friday evening with acoustic sessions featuring elite songwriters from Texas and Nashville. Headliners for Saturday will be well-known entertainers. For questions not addressed on the website, to reserve a vendor spot, or for sponsorship opportunities call 325-518- 9977. Mail your information to Jan Woodward in care of "Around Town," Abilene Reporter-News, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, TX 79604. Email address is jan.woodward@reporternews.com or fax information to 325-670-5242. Deadline for submission is noon seven working days before publication. The top local religion news stories for 2015 ranged from uplifting and historic to heartbreaking. Among the uplifting was a talk by Kent Brantly in February at Highland Church of Christ. Brantly, a 2006 graduate of Abilene Christian University, was the first American to contract the Ebola virus while he was serving as a medical missionary in Liberia. His name quickly became a household word around the globe as he was featured on the cover of Time magazine and on numerous news programs. Several agencies and two churches observed anniversaries in 2015. Love and Care Ministries celebrated its 20th year of serving Abilene's neediest. Connecting Caring Communities observed its 10th year as a neighborhood improvement initiative. St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Loraine observed its 100th year and Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Abilene's oldest African-American congregation, celebrated its 130th anniversary. The heartbreaking story of the year came in June, when a young white man walked into historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) in Charleston, S.C., and started firing at members who were attending a prayer service. Nine people were shot to death. The shooter, Dylann Roof, said he hated black people and wanted to start a race war. Instead, his actions sparked a wave of spontaneous prayer events across the country, including several in Abilene. One of those was held at McMurry University, where alum and city councilman Anthony Williams was one of the speakers. He described how Abilenians had stood up in the face of evil and responded with a show of solidarity with the loved ones of the victims. "That makes me very proud of our community," Williams said, "and those who would come out to make that statement." The year closed on an uplifting note as St. John's United Methodist Church in Stamford served a Christmas Day dinner for the entire community. This was the 28th annual event, with no end in sight. One of the diners, Eva Gutierrez Martinez, moved from Stamford to Abilene in 2008 but never misses the annual dinner. Her comment bode well for the future. "It just gets better and better," Martinez said. Following are some of the top local religion stories of 2015: JANUARY In January 1995, Mark Hewitt and Jim Sayre took 20 meals to people living on the street to begin a new homeless ministry in Abilene. Twenty years later, Love and Care Ministries is Abilene's go-to place for services for the homeless and needy. Headed by Hewitt, the organization serves more than 500,000 meals a year and provides clothing to 30,000. FEBRUARY Kent Brantly, the first American to contract Ebola while serving as a medical missionary in Liberia, celebrated his 34th birthday in Abilene with a talk at Highland Church of Christ. The talk was supposed to have been held in a warehouse at Global Samaritan Resources but was moved due to weather. Brantly, a 2006 graduate of Abilene Christian University, talked about the journey that led him from an Ebola treatment facility in Liberia to the cover of Time magazine, an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer, a segment on CBS's "60 Minutes" and dozens of other interviews and appearances. MARCH Connecting Caring Communities, a neighborhood improvement initiative, kicked off its 10th year with a Good Neighbor Breakfast in March. The program started in 2001 at Hardin-Simmons University as an informal partnership with the Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal. Connecting Caring Communities officially was chartered in 2005 as a nonprofit. Today, it operates three Friendship Houses and serves as the catalyst for neighborhood improvements. APRIL The annual Holy Week Luncheon Series concluded on Good Friday. The annual series, which started more than 20 years ago, features ministers from five churches speaking at each other's churches during the five weekdays leading to Easter. Not much has changed in the format of the series except for the addition a few years ago of Highland Church of Christ, the only church not located in the heart of downtown. Other participating churches are First Baptist, St. Paul UMC, First Christian and First Central Presbyterian. MAY St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Loraine celebrated its 100th anniversary with a visit from Michael Sis, bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, which includes Loraine. The church was founded in 1915. The first Mass was held in the home of founders Antonio and Maria Pantoja, Mexican immigrants who had moved to Loraine in 1905. The current church opened in 1924. JUNE In the days that followed the June 17 shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, Abilenians responded with prayer services in various places. One was held at the Civic Center as part of the annual convention of two black Baptist conferences. Others were held at McMurry University and Highland Church of Christ as Abilenians joined Americans nationwide in offering prayers for loved ones of the victims. JULY The old Mack Eplen's drive-in on North First Street reopened with a new mission in July as the United Methodist Service Center & Food Pantry. The center and pantry relocated from a north-side United Methodist church to former eatery. A grand opening was held July 15. The service center annually assists close to 20,000 people with food, utility, prescription and transportation needs. AUGUST Bob Monk, a retired McMurry University religion professor, was honored Aug. 30 for his commitment to strengthening the relationship between the university and its affiliate denomination, the United Methodist Church. Monk, who retired from McMurry in 1995 after teaching for 31 years, received the Cross and Flame Award during the morning worship at St. Paul UMC. At McMurry, Monk served as chair of the religion faculty and the Humanities Division, as well as on numerous committees. He also represented McMurry on community boards and on committees of the United Methodist Church on a national level. SEPTEMBER Area Catholics were among the thousands who headed to the East Coast in September to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis, who was making his first visit ever to the United States. Leading a delegation of about 50 Catholics for the Diocese of San Angelo was Bishop is. He first met Pope Francis in 2014 at the "Baby Bishops School" in Rome. That's the name new bishops jokingly give to their orientation session, which is capped by a meeting with the pope. Sis was ordained as bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo in January 2014. While in the U.S., Pope Francis visited Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City. OCTOBER The Parliament of the World's Religions, which met in Salt Lake City, billed itself as a gathering of "10,000 People. 80 Nations. 50 Faiths'" And a healthy handful of those 10,000 people were from Abilene. At least 30 Abilenians, including students from all three church-affiliated universities and members of the Abilene Interfaith Council, traveled to Utah for the five-day event. One of them was Rob Sellers, a religion professor at Hardin-Simmons University and chairman-elect of the parliament. The parliament first met as part of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, better known as the Chicago World's Fair. NOVEMBER Members of Mount Zion Baptist Church celebrated the church's 130th anniversary with festivities from Nov. 6-8. The church was founded in November 1885, when Abilene was just 4 years old and home to just a handful of black residents. The congregation moved to its present location, 520 Stafford St., in 1971. In 1995, the Texas Historical Commission placed a marker at the church. On Sept. 27, 2015, Demotis Sherman began his service as the latest in a long line of ministers to serve the church. DECEMBER Just about everybody in Stamford had a hand in making the 28th annual Christmas Day dinner a success. More than 700 people picked up a meal, had one delivered to their home or dined in the fellowship hall of St. John's United Methodist Church. The Christmas Day feast, complete with turkey, ham, and all the trimmings, originated at St. John's and has been held there every Dec. 25 since. Preparations for the meal begin long before the serving starts. Schoolchildren and church youth groups pack bags of fruit, candy, and a Bible verse for the home deliveries. Grown-ups cook all the food, which is donated or paid for with cash donations from individuals and businesses. Epiphany and confirmation Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest's New Member Formation class will culminate with a visit from Bishop J. Scott Mayer and a confirmation service at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. An Epiphany Feast will follow. The church is located at 602 Meander St. Unitarians to study Islam The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Abilene, 1541 Sayles Blvd., welcomes people of all ages for lively discussions on any subject. The program "Understanding Islam from a Historical and Religious Perspective" will be presented at 11 a.m. Sunday. For more information, visit uuabilene.org. New location The Woodlawn Church of Christ has moved and is now meeting at 841-A N. Judge Ely Blvd. Three years ago, church members took a look at how their church building could best be used. Woodlawn decided to give its entire structure to Christian Service Center, an organization that assists people physically and spiritually. The church will be meeting at its new location while the old building is remodeled. In eight to nine months, the church will return to its original location as tenants of the Christian Service Center. The church meets at 9 a.m. Sundays for Bible class, 10 a.m. Sundays for worship, and at 5 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Send news of your religious organization or group to Religion Editor, Abilene Reporter-News, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, TX 79604; fax it to 325-670-5242; or email it to jan.woodward@reporternews.com. Deadline is noon Monday. Can you bear to be apart from your stuffed animal? If so, check it out SHARE WASHINGTON If you look beyond Donald Trump's comprehensive unpleasantness is there a disagreeable human trait he does not have? you might see this: He is a fundamentally sad figure. His compulsive boasting is evidence of insecurity. His unassuageable neediness suggests an aching hunger for others' approval to ratify his self-admiration. His incessant announcements of his self-esteem indicate that he is not self-persuaded. Now, panting with a puppy's insatiable eagerness to be petted, Trump has reveled in the approval of Vladimir Putin, murderer and war criminal. Putin slyly stirred America's politics by saying Trump is "very talented," adding that he welcomed Trump's promise of "closer, deeper relations," whatever that might mean, with Russia. Trump announced himself flattered to be "so nicely complimented" by a "highly respected" man: "When people call you brilliant, it's always good." When MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said Putin "kills journalists and political opponents and invades countries," Trump replied that "at least he's a leader." Besides, Trump breezily asserted, "I think our country does plenty of killing also." Two days later, Trump, who rarely feigns judiciousness, said: "It has not been proven that he's killed reporters." Well. Perhaps the 56 journalists murdered were coincidental victims of amazingly random violence that the former KGB operative's police state is powerless to stop. It has, however, been "proven," perhaps even to Trump's exacting standards, that Putin has dismembered Ukraine. Until now, Trump's ever-more-exotic effusions have had an almost numbing effect. Almost. But by his embrace of Putin, and by postulating a slanderous moral equivalence Putin kills journalists, the United States kills terrorists, what's the big deal, or the difference? Trump has forced conservatives to recognize their immediate priority. Certainly conservatives consider it crucial to deny the Democratic Party a third consecutive term controlling the executive branch. Extending from eight to 12 years its use of unbridled executive power would further emancipate the administrative state from control by either a withering legislative branch or a supine judiciary. But first things first. Conservatives' highest priority now must be to prevent Trump from winning the Republican nomination in this the GOP's third epochal intraparty struggle in 104 years. In 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt campaigned for the Republican nomination on an explicitly progressive platform. Having failed to win the nomination, he ran a third-party campaign against the Republican nominee, President William Howard Taft, and the Democratic nominee, New Jersey's Gov. Woodrow Wilson, who that November would become the first person elected president who was deeply critical of the American founding. TR shared Wilson's impatience with the separation of powers, which both men considered an 18th-century relic incompatible with a properly energetic executive. Espousing unconstrained majoritarianism, TR favored a passive judiciary deferential to elected legislatures and executives; he also endorsed the powers of popular majorities to overturn judicial decisions and recall all public officials. Taft finished third, carrying only Utah and Vermont. But because Taft hewed to conservatism, and was supported by some other leading Republicans (e.g., Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, one of TR's closest friends, and Elihu Root, TR's secretary of war and then secretary of state), the Republican Party survived as a counterbalance to a progressive Democratic Party. In 1964, Barry Goldwater mounted a successful conservative insurgency against a Republican establishment that was content to blur and dilute the Republican distinctiveness that had been preserved 52 years earlier. Goldwater defeated New York's Gov. Nelson Rockefeller for the nomination, just as Taft had defeated TR, a former New York governor. Like Taft, Goldwater was trounced (he carried six states). But the Republican Party won five of the next seven presidential elections. In two of them, Ronald Reagan secured the party's continuity as the custodian of conservatism. In 2016, a Trump nomination would not just mean another Democratic presidency. It would mean the loss of what Taft and then Goldwater made possible a conservative party as a constant presence in American politics. It is possible Trump will not win any primary, and that by the middle of March our long national embarrassment will be over. But this avatar of unfettered government and executive authoritarianism has mesmerized a large portion of Republicans for six months. The larger portion should understand this: One hundred and four years of history is in the balance. If Trump is the Republican nominee in 2016, there might not be a conservative party in 2020, either. Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com. It's scarcely all bad, of course. Look inside America and you see plenty of good, but there is another side of us, the disintegrating side. In frightening developments, continued dismaying conditions and new revelations, much of what we saw in 2015 leaves plenty to work on in 2016. There was, to start with, the shocking, saddening discovery that the death rate of working-class, white, middle-aged Americans began going up in 1999. That's the exact opposite of what's happening in every other group in the country and a great many abroad. In them, it's the longevity rate that's going up. What's happening is that many with no more than a high school education are killing themselves through suicide and alcohol and drug abuse. An instigating factor is thought to be tough economic conditions, but something else likely keeps people from coping: an accompanying sense of meaninglessness. Such an empty feeling of no purpose could well be related to the decline in religion especially found in the working class. According to the Pew Research Center, more people than ever are saying they are unaffiliated with any faith, and a 2015 Gallup poll says confidence in organized religion has sunk to the lowest level ever, some 42 percent of the population. W. Bradford Wilcox, a professor associated with the American Enterprise Institute, says research shows religion is highly helpful in keeping marriages together and in raising children likely to exercise self-control. Others say that the religious are healthier and live longer than the nonreligious, and Wilcox says religious rituals do lend meaning to life. Scoot over now to universities that in some cases went bananas in 2015 as administrators kept cracking down on the open exchange of ideas and some students likewise kept screeching that no one should voice views different from theirs because, well, that would be intolerant. Ruinously high tuitions, made possible through an ill-begotten federal loan program, continued to plague indebted graduates, some of whom seem to have been insufficiently educated to get good jobs. And, meanwhile, the humanities kept up their disappearing act. Next, let's get political, noting the incredible autocracy of an Obama administration that never saw a constitutionally dubious executive order it didn't like. While we got a bunch of these in 2015, debasing precious principles, we'll get a chance to vote for a new president in 2016. But look at some of those running. For one, there's the rude, crude, uninformed, essentially wacko GOP candidate Donald Trump. Then there's the hysterically screaming Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders who doesn't seem to have noticed our perilous debt and would like to spend the nation into oblivion. And don't forget another Democrat, Hillary Clinton, who seems to find truth a very nearly impossible thing to live with. Race relations lately have seemed as badly tattered as anytime in many years. There was in fact reason for deep concern in some police shootings of blacks, but that was hardly reason for a condemnation of police forces in general, leading to less proactive police protection in some cities. A consequence in 25 of our largest cities was an overall rise in homicides of 11 percent, as shown convincingly in an analysis by Manhattan Institute fellow Heather Mac Donald. Last but 1,000 miles from least is the ongoing dissolution of the family with evermore single-parent homes. Most of these are in low-income groups, and here is a crucial issue because children from these homes are more likely to drop out of high school, turn to criminal activities and remain impoverished than those with two biological parents around. While there are obviously many more examples of disintegration, the main thing is that we the people turn to what's best about us and find creative ways to start putting the pieces back together again. Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Contact him at speaktojay@aol.com. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Afghan special forces have freed 59 prisoners from a Taliban jail in southern Helmand Province, officials said on January 2. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said 37 of the captives were soldiers, another seven were policemen, and the rest were civilians. An operation to free the captives from the jail -- located just to the north of provincial capital, Lashkar Gah -- unfolded in the night on January 1, Waziri said. In recent months, the Taliban has seized several district centers in Helmand, which borders Pakistan and sits on transport routes for lucrative drugs and weapons contraband. Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Waziri dismissed suggestions that Helmand could fall to the Taliban entirely, but he said government forces faced a serious battle against insurgents there. In an unusual appeal via Facebook on December 19, Helmand's deputy governor pleaded for urgent reinforcement and assistance from Kabul. The worsening situation in Helmand prompted Britain to deploy a small unit of military personnel in the province in an advisory role last month. Based on reporting by Reuters and khaama.com Iran has accused regional rival Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism after the kingdom said it had executed a top Shi'ite cleric on terrorism charges. Nimr al-Nimr, 56, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia on January 2, the kingdom's Interior Ministry said. "The Saudi government supports terrorists and [radical Sunni] extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. Ansari warned Saudi Arabia "will pay a high price for following these policies." The Foreign Ministry also summoned Saudi Arabia's charge d'affaires in Tehran to protest Nimrs execution, Iranian state television said. The 47 were convicted of involvement in terrorist acts and inciting violence, the ministry said in a statement. Nimr was a central figure in Shi'ite protests that erupted in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, where the Shi'ite minority complains of marginalization. Iran previously warned that executing the cleric would "cost Saudi Arabia dearly." Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts and a Friday prayer leader, denounced the execution as a "crime" by Saudi Arabia's "infamous regime." "Thisblood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history," Khatami was quoted as saying on January 2. Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that the Saudi government will pay for this shameful act, which it said was a sign of decay of Saudi rulers. The Twitter account of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei paid tribute to Nimr calling him a martyr. "Awakening is not suppressible," read the tweet on Khamenei's English-language Twitter account, next to a photograph of Nimr. A small group of seminary students protested the cleric's execution in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran on January 2, Iranian domestic media reported. 'Foreign Meddling' The cleric's execution also prompted angry reactions in other countries in the region, including in Shi'ite majority Iraq and in Bahrain. Iraqi lawmaker Muhammad al-Sayhud warned that Nimr's execution was intended to fuel sectarian strife in the region. "This measure taken by the ruling family [of Saudi Arabia] aims at reigniting the region, provoking sectarian fighting between Sunnis and Shi'a," he told Al-Sumaria TV. Prominent Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for demonstrations in Persian Gulf countries and in Iraq to protest the execution of Nimr. "I ask that the Shi'a of Saudi Arabia...show courage in responding even through peaceful demonstrations, and the same for the Shi'a in the Gulf, so as to deter injustice and government terrorism in the future," Sadr said on his website. In Bahrain, police used teargas against several dozen people protesting Nimrs execution while carrying his pictures. Meanwhile, Nimr's brother said the family was shocked by news of the execution but hoped that any reaction would be peaceful. "We hope that any reactions would be confined to a peaceful framework. No one should have any reaction outside this peaceful framework. Enough bloodshed," Muhammad al-Nimr told Reuters. He said the cleric was found guilty of seeking "foreign meddling" in the kingdom, "disobeying" the country's rulers, and taking up arms against the security forces. Hundreds of members of its Shi'ite minority were arrested after the protests during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. The kingdom also detained thousands of militant Islamists after a series of Al-Qaeda attacks from 2003-06 that killed hundreds, and has convicted hundreds of them. The ministry said the executions were carried out on January 2 in 12 different areas of the kingdom. The executions are Saudi Arabia's first in 2016. At least 157 people were put to death last year, a big increase from the 90 people killed in 2014. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AFP, AP, and the BBC SIMFEROPOL -- A popular children's drama school that staged Ukrainian-language plays in Crimea is shutting down after what its founders describe as a campaign of harassment from local officials on the Russia-annexed peninsula. Svitanok (Sunrise) had taught children for more than 20 years and was a well-established institution in Simferopol, Crimea's regional capital. Its latest performance unexpectedly landed the school in the crosshairs of local culture officials, who reportedly accused Svitanok of promoting both Ukrainian nationalism and Western symbols. Co-founder Oleksandr Polchenko says the play drew the ire of officials from the state-run Palace of Child and Youth Art, where the school is based. "The next day, the management ordered us to hand over all the texts and scripts for the show, as well as a recording," he told RFE/RL. The play, Songs Of The Amazon, performed on December 19 to mark St. Nicholas Day, is based on a work by Crimean author Viktor Stus. WATCH: Staging Songs Of The Amazon It tells the story of Amazons -- the female warriors of Greek myth -- battling evil and fighting for freedom and the independence of their native land. Polchenko said officials saw alleged undertones throughout the performance. According to him, they took particular offense at the costume of a little girl wearing a golden crown and impersonating the sun, which he says they interpreted as a reference to New York's Statue of Liberty. "They were indignant, they asked what kind of propaganda of Western values we had staged for the holiday," he said. "They also described the embroidered clothing and the Ukrainian-language scenario as brazen Ukrainian nationalism." Polchenko believes it was only a matter of time before Svitanok closed shop. He says the incident followed months of pressure on the head of the drama school, his wife Alla Petrova. "They tried to force Alla Petrova to leave in summer, and again in fall," he said. "They conducted various inspections, they used every opportunity to find faults with her work, they insulted her, threatened her, and tried to lower her salary." Polchenko describes the campaign against Svitanok as part of efforts by Crimea's new Russian-backed authorities -- installed after Moscow's annexation of the peninsula last year -- to "eliminate anything associated with Ukrainian." He said Petrova had chosen to resign and announced her decision to parents on December 28. "Of course parents as well as their children are trying to stop this destruction of all things Ukrainian on the peninsula, but they don't understand how these Soviet-era KGB old-timers operate," he said. Veldar Shukurdzhiev, an activist with the Crimea-based Ukrainian Cultural Center, shares Polchenko's alarm. The attack on Svitanok, he says, is "another round of repression and persecution of anything that even remotely evokes the past and is connected with Ukraine." The head of the department for culture and drama at the Palace of Child and Youth Art, Svitlana Alekseyeva, declined to comment, saying media requests should be addressed to the institution's director, Valeria Kochetova. RFE/RL tried to reach Kochetova's office for two days, but its calls were not answered. Crimea's Culture Ministry, which oversees the Palace of Child and Youth Art, said it had no information regarding the situation around Svitanok. Spokesperson Anton Garkavets, however, cast doubt on allegations that its woes are tied to language issues. "Crimea has three official languages: Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar," he said. "We don't have any persecutions on this matter." RFE/RL's Claire Bigg contributed to this report Iranian officials are vowing to increase Iran's missile capabilities amid reports from Washington of new sanctions against Tehran for its testing of a ballistic missile in October. "As long as the United States supports Israel we will expand our missile capabilities," said the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' deputy chief, Brigadier General Hossein Salami, Fars news agency reported. Speaking during Friday Prayers on January 1, Salami added that Iran does not have enough space to store its missiles. "All our depots and underground facilities are full," he said. Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said the same day that Iran had never agreed to allow restrictions put on its ballistic missile program. "Iran's missile capabilities have never been the subject of negotiations with the Americans and never will be," he said on Iranian station Press TV. Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly delaying the imposition of any new sanctions on Iran over the recent tests within its ballistic missile program, the Wall Street Journal reported December 31. The move to hold the planned sanctions, which at one point the Journal said were to be announced on December 30, reportedly came after Tehran had seemingly retaliated against the U.S. decision by speeding up the program that Washington says violates existing UN sanctions. Iranian President Hassan Rohani had ordered Dehghan to speed up the countrys missile program in response to reports of the new U.S. sanctions. "As the U.S. government is apparently planning a continuation of its hostile policies and illegal meddling to add a number of companies and individuals to the list of its previous unjust sanctions...the armed forces need to quickly and with more seriousness pursue their missile-development program," Rohani said in a letter to Dehghan published by Iranian news agencies. Rohani's letter responded to a Journal report December 30 that the U.S. administration was preparing new sanctions on companies and individuals connected with Irans ballistic-missile program. U.S. officials have said the Treasury Department retains a right under July's nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers to blacklist entities suspected of involvement in Iran's missile development. Iranian officials have insisted that their ballistic missile program does not violate UN sanctions and the country's supreme leader would view any new sanctions as violating the nuclear accord. The government of the Islamic republic announced during the nuclear talks that it has never negotiated with anyone over its legitimate defense power, including its missile program, and while emphasizing on its legitimate right, it wont accept any restrictions in this area, Rohani wrote in the December 31 letter to Dehghan. He said Irans missiles have not been designed to carry nuclear warheads and that theyre merely used as an important and standard tool" for defense purposes. Rohani said that Irans defense capabilities are not a threat against others. The Iranian president also said that if the U.S. repeats its "wrong and interventionist policies" then the Iranian Defense Ministry would have to plan to expand the country's missible capabilities. UN sanctions monitors said on December 15 that a medium-range Emad rocket that Iran tested on October 10 was a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, making it a violation of a UN Security Council resolution. The United States and its allies have pushed for new UN sanctions over the missile test. But while it is possible for the UN sanctions committee to blacklist additional Iranian entities over the missile launch, UN diplomats say Russia and China have opposed the sanctions on Iran's missile program and might block any new action. The Obama administration is under strong pressure from the Republican-led Congress to act on the missile-test violation documented by the UN. Republican leaders contend that if current UN sanctions aren't enforced, no one can be confident that the curbs on Iran's nuclear activities under the nuclear deal will be enforced. The White House has warned that the United States might move on its own if the UN fails to act. The Wall Street Journal said the planned U.S. Treasury Department sanctions cover two networks linked to Iran that are developing the country's missile program and include many of the people in those networks. The Treasury Department is also preparing to sanction five Iranian defense officials for work on the ballistic-missile program, the newspaper said. The Treasury will justify the new sanctions in part by citing ties between Iran and North Korea on missile development, it said. With reporting by The Wall Street Journal, IRNA, Reuters, and Fars Residents of Crimea face several more months of power shortages as Russia appears to have ended a contract with Ukraine to deliver electricity to the peninsula it annexed in 2014. A Kremlin spokesman said January 1 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not renew the contract, which expired on New Year's day, as long as Kyiv keeps insisting on stipulating in the contract that the peninsula belongs to Ukraine. "It can be assumed with a great degree of probability that the president will opt not to sign a contract on such terms," which would amount to an abnegation of Russia's annexation, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said. After a month of on-and-off electricity supplies from Ukraine due to sabotage of the high-voltage transmission lines feeding the peninsula, power to Crimea was officially cut off at midnight December 31 when the contract expired, Russian media reported. If Kyiv agrees to drop its demand for a clause designating Crimea as part of Ukraine, Peskov said, then Russia would be more inclined to renew the contract. To support the Kremlin's apparent decision not to renew the contract, Putin commissioned an opinion poll to determine whether Crimean residents want to be a part of Ukraine to continue getting power supplies from the Ukrainian company Ukrenegro. Russian news agencies reported on January 1 that over 90 percent of Crimeans said in the poll they would be against renewing the contract under those circumstances, even if it meant experiencing more minor disruptions in supply. The Kremlin said Putin will be guided by the results of the poll, which was conducted by a state-owned polling organization, in making a decision about the now-lapsed power supply contract with Ukraine. Without power from Ukraine, officials have warned that Crimeans will continue to experience at least minor electricity shortages and rolling blackouts for three or four months until Moscow can complete the construction of undersea cables transmitting more power from Russia. Russian Energy Minister Aleksander Novak has said the power shortages will be particularly acute at peak times of usage, when shortfalls of up to 10 percent are possible. With reporting by the Daily Telegraph, Interfax, and TASS Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a discount in the price of natural gas for Ukraine to bring Russian gas prices closer to prices in European markets. Russia will discount its previous gas price of $230 per 1,000 cubic meters (TCM) by $17.8, bringing it to $212.2 per TCM, an official Russian government notice said January 1. Ukraine's Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn previously said Ukraine was ready to buy Russian gas in the first quarter of 2016 if the price was reduced to under $200 per TCM. Currently, gas is trading at a price of around $170 per TCM in European markets. "Russians understand that in order to be competitive they need to decrease the price," Medvedev said, noting that the discount was intended to reflect "market conditions." Whether the discount will be enough to attract Ukraine remains to be seen. Ukraine halted gas purchases from Gazprom in July 2015 after Kyiv and Moscow failed to reach a deal on gas deliveries for the third quarter of the year. Based on reporting by Interfax and Sputniknews.com Afghanistan and Pakistan are renewing efforts to forge peace in the new year, scheduling a round of talks in Pakistan for January 11. The move comes amid renewed attacks in Kabul by the Taliban, which so far has shunned any new peace negotiations. A previous peace effort by Afghanistan and Pakistan last summer collapsed after the Taliban opted out and instead waged a series of bloody attacks around the country. The latest talks were launched by Pakistani army chief General Raheel Sharif, who visited Kabul last week. After his visit, Kabul announced a new round of dialogue between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and China on January 11 to lay out a comprehensive roadmap for peace. Afghanistan sees the support of Pakistan, the Taliban's historic backer, as vital to bring the insurgent group to the negotiating table. But despite improving relations with Islamabad, the Taliban has vowed not to take part in peace talks as long as foreign forces remain in Afghanistan. Moreover, the group has been riven by internal fighting over who should lead. Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa Officials say Indian troops killed four gunmen who had entered an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan and exchanged fire with security forces in the early hours of January 2. At least two Indian soldiers were also killed in the gunbattle, local media reported. The suspected Islamic militant gunmen entered the living quarters section of the Pathankot air force base, but were not able to penetrate the area, which houses fighter helicopters and other expensive military equipment, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva. Pathankot is on the highway that connects India's Jammu and Kashmir state, a hotbed of insurgency, with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with rival Pakistan. The violence comes amid an effort to restore more peaceful relations between India and Pakistan. A week ago, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday. The two also had an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks and had decided to start a dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. Their foreign secretaries are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP The U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) says it conducted 24 air strikes against the militant group in Iraq, while French jets attacked IS sites in Syria. The coalition said in a statement on January 1 that the strikes targeted IS positions in seven areas, including near Tal Afar, where 11 strikes reportedly destroyed nine bunkers and four bridges used by militants. It added that three air strikes near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul struck a tactical unit and destroyed two heavy machine guns and six fighting positions. Other strikes near the recently liberated city of Ramadi -- the capital of Anbar Province that Iraqi forces captured from IS fighters on December 27 -- hit a large tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle-borne, improvised-explosive-device facility. Meanwhile, French warplanes bombed IS oil installations near the Syrian city of Raqa, an IS stronghold. The attacks came as French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made a New Year's visit to the air base in Jordan used by the French jets. Based on reporting Reuters and AFP This week, we look back at the decision to block traffic into a shopping center from a Richmond roadway. QUESTION: A traffic puzzle was put in place at Forest Hill Avenue and Cherokee Road when the Martins/Target shopping center opened in 2005. Cherokee Road users are forced into a dangerous move both entering and again leaving that shopping center, as driving straight through is prohibited when exiting, too. Locals say this was put in place at the demand of Cherokee Road residents to the detriment of the hundreds of drivers who have to make these otherwise unnecessary left turns into and out of that shopping center or instead choose to surprise everyone by driving straight through anyway. But wheres the justice in a powerful few making everyone elses drive more dangerous than it needs to be? D.R. ANSWER: There are signs that say no thru move on the traffic light structure for Cherokee Road at the intersection with Forest Hill Avenue at the entrance to The Shops at Stratford Hills. Kathy C. Graziano, who has represented the 4th District on the City Council since 2005, said the neighborhood was very involved in the planning process for the traffic signal and intersection. They were very adamant about it. They wanted no through traffic, she said. The community also wanted the visibility of the shopping center to be limited or blocked off by berms and set back from Forest Hill Avenue. Jonathan Young is a resident of the Southampton neighborhood and the president of Southampton Citizens Association. He was vice chairman of the Huguenot neighborhood team the area covering west of Powhite Parkway that fought to protect Cherokee Road in 2003 during the planning phase for the shopping center. Young said residents supported the shopping center and the renovation of the Forest Hill Avenue corridor, but did not support the potential for an increase in traffic, adding that the city had conducted plenty of traffic counts and assessments in the planning process. Chippenham Parkway was designed to accommodate that kind of traffic, he said. We really wanted the city to respect the neighborhoods tranquility. Cherokee Road is posted as 25 mph from Forest Hill Avenue the entire 5 miles to Old Gun Road in Chesterfield County. Residents requested signs for additional $200 fines for exceeding the speed limit. Its a neighborhood street, not a main road, Young said. It has no sidewalks, minimal shoulders, thousands of trees and is entirely residential. The community felt that allowing for access into the shopping center straight from Cherokee Road would damage the charm of the neighborhood. Our concern was that it would make Cherokee a principal artery, which it was never designed for, he said. It is pretty much an old country road with twists and turns. The last thing the community wanted was for ingress and egress from the shopping center. In a way, the rural character of the road helps keep it safe, he said. There are sections where motorists must proceed slowly to stay on the road and away from trees and yards. Its a very special place. People in the neighborhood love the city and want to reside in the city. But they are very respectful of the outdoors and rustic character of the neighborhood. Young said many residents frequent the James River Park System, which has three parks along the south bank of the river in the neighborhood, including the Wetlands, Pony Pasture and Huguenot Flatwater. Riverside Drive also is classified as a Richmond scenic byway and draws many walkers, runners and cyclists. What we found is that there is a disproportionate number of people passing through the area including many people going to the James River Park, he said. Weve always found them to be good stewards of the park but they still generate traffic. Young said there is a need for more improvements to the neighborhood streets. There is a very vocal minority that would like to see pedestrian and bike improvements along Cherokee Road, he said. But the will to do something that would create a grand redesign of that road is not there. It would radically change the character of that neighborhood. The residents in this district have a reputation for fighting against developments that harm their communities especially in regard to the perception of cut-through traffic generated by Chesterfield and Henrico county residents seeking to avoid tolls on the Powhite Parkway. For at least the past five years, residents from Woodland Heights, Westover Hills, Forest Hill, Willow Oaks, Stratford Hills and Southampton have battled over the Forest Hill Avenue widening project. The city proposed to widen about a mile of the four-lane roadway from Hathaway Road to the Powhite Parkway to improve traffic flow, increase driver safety, enhance landscaping and add bicycle lanes and sidewalks to improve access for area residents, according to previous reports. On Jan. 1, Richmonds Boulevard Bridge turned 91 years old and the two-lane connector over the James River continues to delight. As a birthday present the community asks the idiots who are marring the sidewalk with graffiti to stop. And we ask the authorities to catch these scoundrels and give them some meaningful work ridding the surfaces of their scribble. The Boulevard Bridge needs no tattoos to be hip with the in crowd. Republican Robert Hurt has announced he will retire after representing the 5th Congressional District for three terms. What does the future hold for him? Perhaps the presidency of Hampden-Sydney College will beckon. Republican Bob Goodlatte won election to the 6th House District in 1992. During his inaugural run for the seat he promised to serve only six terms. The campaign occurred during the height of the term limits hysteria. In 2014, he won his 12th term. His constituents do not seem to mind that he broke his pledge. The ballot remains the best way to limit terms. The movement was misguided. Conservative enthusiasm for term limits dissipated when Republicans took control of the House and Senate without them. Virginia became one of the first states from a once solid Democratic South to trend Republican. The state went for Dwight Eisenhower for president in 1952. Execpt for 1964 when Lyndon Johnson carried it, Virginia stayed Republican in every presidential election from 1952 until 2008. Barack Obama has claimed it twice. Although battleground Virginia saw considerable action in 2008 and 2012, most of the presidential races here have been quiet. With perhaps two exceptions, Virginia has played only a minor role in nomination contests as well. In 2000, Virginia served as a firewall protecting George W. Bushs front-runner status against a challenge from John McCain. The Arizona senators Navy record was thought to represent an opening in a Virginia rich in military bases and home to many veterans. With the support of the party establishment, Bush scored a strong win. Gov. Jim Gilmore, a Bush loyalist, parlayed the success into the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. His tenure at the RNC did not last long. In 2008, Obama buried Hillary Clinton in a Democratic primary that generated an extraordinary turnout. The Virginia win reflected Obamas organizational skills. Gov. Tim Kaine, an early Obama backer and the first major figure from outside Illinois to back the insurgent, parlayed the success into the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee. His tenure at the DNC did not last long. Gilmore lost the 2008 Senate election to Democrat Mark Warner by more than 1 million votes. He is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination but has yet to register more than a blip in the polls, despite saying more knowledgeable things about national security that candidates attractive to the Republican base. Kaine defeated Republican George Allen in the 2012 Senate election. He rates among the short-list contenders for the Democratic vice presidential nomination in 2016. He would seem an ideal running mate for Clinton. Virginia might have something to say about the GOPs 2016 presidential sweepstakes. Donald Trump continues to lead the field. Virginia will hold its GOP primary on March 1. By the time the campaign swings into the Old Dominion, the number of competitive candidates ought to be cut to three or four, Trump will remain a presence and will be joined by Ted Cruz (definitely), Marco Rubio (probably) and perhaps a player to be named later (Bryce Harper, just kidding). We would not be surprised if the nomination were set by April. Clinton and the Democrats must be salivating at several of the leading prospects. Ken Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson, two of three losers on the 2013 Republican ticket, have endorsed Cruz. The Texans rise and the popularity of Trump have added a new book to the must-read list. Edward Millers Nut Country describes right-wing Dallas and the birth of the Southern strategy. Readers will alternate between laughter and tears. Trump is right about one thing. The GOPs so-called loyalty oath resembles a contrivance to discourage turnout. The Times-Dispatch opposes it. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. This Position Is Closed to New Applicants This position is no longer open for new applications. Either the position has expired or was removed because it was filled. However, there are thousands of other great jobs to be found on Rigzone. Gov. Terry McAuliffe will leave Sunday on a historic trip to Cuba to push Virginia products and companies in a market that has been largely unexplored because of the longstanding U.S. embargo against the island nation. The trip has been a year in the making since a visit to Richmond by Jose R. Cabanas, then Cubas chief of mission in the U.S. and now the countrys ambassador, last January, as President Barack Obama called on Congress to end the five-decade trade embargo. While the Obama administration has loosened some restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba, McAuliffe said Friday he will use his three-day trip to push for Congress to end continuing barriers to Virginia companies that want to compete in the emerging market. Ending the embargo will create jobs here at home, the governor said in a press statement. From rural Virginia to our world-class ports, lifting these arcane trade and travel restrictions will create new employment and economic opportunities for Virginia companies. If we can do business with other countries from around the world, we ought to be able to freely conduct business with a country thats our next-door neighbor, he said. McAuliffe is scheduled to leave Sunday and return Wednesday from the trade mission. He will be accompanied by his wife, Dorothy, key members of his cabinet, and representatives of Virginia Commonwealth University, the Port of Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and state agriculture and economic development agencies. The governor said he also intends to arrange meetings between prospective Cuban customers and partners with representatives of 10 Virginia companies, including Smithfield Foods and Perdue Agribusiness. He also will host a reception for the Virginia companies and Cuban officials at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis in Havana. Virginia already exports agricultural products to Cuba, about $400 million worth in the past decade and $25 million last year. Like the governor, said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, Im hopeful that Virginia agriculture and agribusiness will serve as a catalyst for more positive change and create new opportunities for other sectors of the Virginia economy, such as health care and technology, as the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba continues to evolve and improves. The Christiansburg Library will be hosting artist and photographer Glenna Kornegay in January. Kornegays work will be displayed the entire month at the Christiansburg Library. There will be a meet-the-artist reception on Sunday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m. She will also be hosting a workshop called Keeping the Heart in Your Photography on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m. As an artist and photographer, Kornegay is all about color. I love rich, deep, saturated colors, especially in flowers. In my photography, I look for peace in scenery, significance in moments and character in people. The theme of her January exhibition will be The Heart of All: Flowers, Scenes, Moments and People. Raised in a 10-acre junkyard in a small town in Wyoming, Kornegay climbed over lumber, crawled under houses, weaved her way through bathtubs, toilets, stoves and piles of bricks from the time she was a small child until adulthood. She always dreamed of becoming an author, a novelist, a teller of stories. Graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1985 with a bachelors degree in journalism, Kornegay spent the next 20 years raising money and public attention for many nonprofit organizations. Due to a family illness in 2001, she left her career behind and began pursuing her dream. Today, Kornegay lives in Narrows with her husband, son, cats and dog. I remember the junkyard as a marvelous playground, filled with every life-sized toy any child could possibly want. My rich and imaginative childhood has helped me fulfill my adult dream. For more information, contact Jenny Barrowclough at 382-6965 or jbarrowclough@mfrl.org. Camping Quelle region privilegier pour des campings calmes ? Combien coute en moyenne une location de mobil home pour une semaine dans le Sud ? Quel camping conseillez-vous a Argeles ? Quels pays sont les mieux equipes en campings ? Connaissez-vous des campings avec plage privee ? Dans quelles zones le camping sauvage est il autorise ? La communaute repond a vos questions. 378 Camping-car Comment laver au mieux son camping-car? Quel camping-car pour voyager a deux ? Quelle assurance pour voyager a letranger avec un camping-car ? Quels accessoires sont indispensables pour voyager en camping-car ? Est-il possible de trouver des bouteilles gaz dans toute lEurope ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 5859 Croisieres 1382 Expatriation Envie de partir Est-il facile de sinstaller au Portugal ? Quel pays anglophone choisir pour apprendre langlais ? Quel pays pour un travail de fille au pair ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Envie de partir vivre a letranger , en expatriation, en Erasmus, au pair ou en volontariat international ? La redaction vous donne toutes les formules et astuces de financement. 672 Le Guide du Routard Est-il possible davoir des reductions grace au guide du routard ? Est-il necessaire davoir le guide de lannee en cours ? Comment trouver les derniers guides ? Existe-t-il une version en ligne des guides ? Quelles sont les prochaines destinations choisies par le guide du Routard ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 420 Moto Quels documents sont necessaires pour louer un scooter ou une moto en Thailande ? Quelle agence choisir pour faire un road trip en moto aux Etats Unis ? Est-il facile dacheter une moto en Australie ? Connaissez-vous un bon garage au Vietnam ? Quel permis est necessaire pour louer une moto en Espagne ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 239 Routard.com Comment supprimer mes messages ? Comment creer un carnet de voyage sur le site ? Comment participer aux differents concours ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 45 Ou et quand partir ? Ou partir en ete a moindre cout ? Ou faire un road trip ou un citytrip ? Quelles sont les destinations les plus festives ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou et quand partir en vacances pour trouver du soleil ? La redaction de routard.com vous indique les meilleures destinations pour chaque mois. 1253 Photo Quels sont les meilleurs blogs de voyage ? Routard.com a-t-il un concours photo ? Quel appareil photo conseillez-vous pour un safari ? Quelle camera choisir pour immortaliser une plongee ? Quels sont les plus beaux comptes Instagram de voyage ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 188 Plongee Tous les conseils pratiques de la redaction pour la Quels sont les plus beaux spots de plongee au monde ? Quelles palmes utiliser pour une plongee dans les Caraibes ? Ou faire un bapteme de plongee ?Tous les conseils pratiques de la redaction pour la plongee sous -marine , et notre selection des plus beaux spots de plongee et de surf dans le monde. 145 Reveillons , pour Noel et/ou pour le Nouvel An ? Lumiere sur les plus beaux marches de Noel en France et en Europe, et cap sur les reveillons les plus fous de la planete. Ou faire le reveillon a letranger a moindre cout ? Quel restaurant choisir a Barcelone ? Quelle est lambiance a Budapest pour le reveillon ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou partir en decembre , pour Noel et/ou pour le Nouvel An ? Lumiere sur les plus beaux marches de Noel en France et en Europe, et cap sur les reveillons les plus fous de la planete. 218 Ski et aux sports dhiver ? On vous donne nos idees de destinations sports dhiver, et nos conseils pratiques pour les amateurs de glisse. Tout schuss ! Quelles sont les stations les plus enneigees ? Ou faire du ski a moindre cout ? Quelle station de ski familiale dans les Alpes ? Ou faire du ski de fond ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! Ou partir au ski et aux sports dhiver ? On vous donne nos idees de destinations sports dhiver, et nos conseils pratiques pour les amateurs de glisse. Tout schuss ! 265 Tour du monde Retrouvez aussi les Existe-t-il un circuit a privilegier pour un tour du monde ? Existe-t-il un visa multi-destinations ? Conseillez-vous un tour du monde en camping car ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Retrouvez aussi les conseils et infos pratiques de la redaction : bons plans billets tour du monde, et idees de voyages inoubliables. 889 Trek Tout savoir sur la Quels sont les meilleurs spots de treks du monde ? Quelles agences specialisees pour faire des treks a letranger ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Tout savoir sur la randonnee en France et les plus beaux treks du monde : conseils pratiques, materiel et accessoires, et idees de circuits. En route ! 568 Velo La redaction a teste pour vous Quel equipement choisir pour son velo ? Comment transporter son velo par avion ? La communaute repond a vos questions !La redaction a teste pour vous les plus belles pistes cyclables, veloroutes, randos a velo et itineraires cyclotouristiques en France et en Europe. Tous en selle ! 449 Voile Comment sorganiser pour faire un tour du monde en voilier ? Y a-t-il un club de voile a La Reunion ? Ou louer un catamaran en Grece ? Quels sont vos conseils pour acheter un voilier ? Est-il possible de faire une excursion en voilier en Polynesie ? Quels sont les meilleurs spots de voile en Amerique du Sud ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 112 Voyager avec son animal Comment voyager en avion avec son animal de compagnie ? Faut-il payer un supplement lorsquon voyage en avion avec son chien ? Est-ce prudent de voyager avec son animal a letranger ? Quels sont les hotels autorisant les animaux ? Comment faire du backpacking avec son chat ? Est-il possible demmener son chien en Thailande ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 108 Voyage de noces Faites le plein d Quelle destination choisir pour un voyage de noces ? Y a-t-il des agences de voyage specialisees ? Quels sont les plus beaux hotels du monde ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Faites le plein d idees de destinations romantiques ou roucouler a deux, en lune de miel ou en week-end en amoureux. 108 Voyage en famille Vous partez en Quelles compagnies aeriennes ont les tarifs les plus avantageux pour les enfants ? Voyager en Asie avec des enfants en bas age ? La communaute repond a vos questions !Vous partez en vacances en famille ? La redaction vous donne des idees de voyages en famille, et des conseils pratiques pour voyager avec les enfants. 875 Voyage en solo Comment trouver des compagnons de voyage ? Quelle assurance de voyage conseillez-vous pour voyager seul ? Est-il prudent de faire un road trip seul en Amerique du Sud ? Avez-vous des astuces pour un voyage en total itinerance ? Quel itineraire conseillez-vous pour un voyage seul en Europe ? Est-il prudent quune femme voyage seule en Asie du Sud-Est ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 606 France Vous preparez un voyage en France ? La communaute Routard repond a vos questions. 7 Albanie Un road-trip en Albanie ? Navette centre-ville - aeroport de Tirana ? Circuler en bus ou voiture ? Les plus belles plages de la rivieira albanaise ? Rejoindre la Grece depuis lAlbanie ? Changer euros contre leks ? Comment visiter le Teth ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 488 Allemagne Quel est le plus beau marche de Noel ? Que faire a Munich et Francfort en un week-end ? Visite des chateaux de Baviere : ou loger ? Ou trouver un logement pratique et pas cher pour Oktoberfest ? LAllemagne a velo, ou et comment ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 654 Andorre 86 Angleterre 865 Armenie Ou faire de la randonnee en Armenie ? Location de voiture ? Hebergement ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 234 Autriche Quelle station de ski dans le Tyrol ? Quel itineraire choisir pour du camping-car ? Quels conseils pour de la randonnee en Autriche ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 441 Belgique Combien coute le parking de laeroport de Charleroi ? Quels sont les meilleurs restaurants et bars de Belgique ? Que visiter a Bruges ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 702 Bielorussie Comment se loger en Bielorussie ? Quel itineraire emprunter de Vilnius a Minsk ? Ou obtenir des renseignements sur le visa ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 71 Bulgarie Que visiter a Sofia ? Comment aller aux Sept lacs du Rila ? Ou trouver des aires de camping-car en Bulgarie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 435 Chypre Quel est le meilleur itineraire pour voyager du Nord au Sud de Chypre ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages de Chypre ? Les lieux incontournables a visiter ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 310 Croatie Visiter lile de Brac ou lile de Korcula ? Quelle agence de location de voiture choisir ? Ou loger dans Dubrovnik ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2776 Danemark Le meilleur circuit dans Copenhague ? Quel budget pour un road trip au Danemark ? Quel ferry pour aller aux iles Feroe ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 281 Ecosse Est-il possible de faire du bivouac sur lile de Skye ? Que visiter a Edimbourg ? Faut-il partir avec un passeport en Ecosse ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2307 Espagne Quelle destination choisir en Espagne ? Les bonnes adresses de Barcelone ? Les plus beaux parcs de Madrid ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1807 Estonie Quelle est la meilleure periode pour aller en Estonie ? Comment aller dHelsinki a Tallinn ? Les meilleures compagnies pour une croisiere ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 68 Finlande Trouver une bonne station de ski ? Le meilleur spot pour voir les aurores boreales ? Quels vetements porter en Finlande ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 568 Georgie Quelles activites faire a Tbilisi ? Le meilleur passage frontiere Russie-Georgie ? Ou se loger en Georgie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 252 Grece Quel ferry prendre pour aller sur lile de Santorin ? Quelles iles des Cyclades choisir ? Ou se baigner a Athenes ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 9570 Hongrie Quel est le cout de la vie a Budapest ? Ou obtenir des billets pour un tour du lac Balaton en train ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 157 Irlande Quelle agence de voiture choisir ? Faut-il un visa pour entrer en Irlande ? Que voir a Dublin en une journee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2558 Islande Quand partir en Islande ? Ou voir des baleines ? Se baigner au Blue Lagoon ? Dans quel sens faire le tour de lile ? Quand voir des aurores boreales ? Quelle voiture louer ? 2893 Italie Quelle agence choisir pour visiter Milan ? Quel itineraire dans la region des Pouilles ? Ou loger dans les Cinque Terre ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4145 Lettonie Que voir a Riga ? Les meilleures plages de la Baltique ? Un road trip a travers la Lettonie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 111 Lituanie Quels sont les specialites de Lituanie ? Trajet Klaipedia - Vilnius en bus ? Quel itineraire dans les pays baltes ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 100 Luxembourg Travailler au Luxembourg ? Les meilleures adresses de restos et dhebergements ? Un weekend a Luxembourg-Ville ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 68 Macedoine Comment organiser un voyage en Macedoine ? Quel avion prendre ? Que faire a Skopje ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 41 Malte Ou loger a Gozo ? Est-ce interessant de faire un sejour linguistique a Malte ? Ou se procurer un plan de transports ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 726 Montenegro 377 Norvege Quelle periode pour voir des aurores boreales ? Changer ses euros en couronnes norvegiennes avant de partir ? Que voir a Bergen ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2337 Pays-Bas Comment aller aux Pays-Bas ? Faire une randonnee a velo en Hollande? Visiter Amsterdam ou Rotterdam ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 310 Pays de Galles Transport pour Cardiff ? Quelques jours dans le Sud du Pays de Galles ? Randonnee dans Snowdonia et Pembrokeshire ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 58 Pologne Comment aller en Pologne ? Quelles activites a Varsovie ? Quel transport de Cracovie a Auschwitz ? Visiter les mines de sel ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 850 Portugal Visiter le Douro ou lAlgarve ? Trouver une location ou un camping au Portugal ? Ou faire du canyoning, du surf ? Les peages electroniques ? Quoi voir a Porto ? Quelle location de voiture ? 2419 Republique tcheque Que faire en Republique tcheque ? Trouver un logement a Prague ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 144 Roumanie Louer une voiture en Roumanie ? Quels sites pour un logement sur Bucarest ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 665 Russie Itineraire pour aller a Saint-Petersbourg ? Billet de train pour Moscou ? Vetements dhiver en Russie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1304 Serbie 109 Slovaquie Les incontournables de Bratislava ? Trajet France-Slovaquie ? Quelles activites faire ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 89 Slovenie Ou observer les ours en Slovenie ? Comment acceder au parc national du Triglav ? Randonnee ou road trip? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 326 Suede Est-il possible de faire du camping sauvage en Suede ? Faut-il changer ses euros en France ou sur place ? Que voir a Goteborg ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 397 Suisse Vivre en Suisse ? Quels cantons choisir ? Trouver un logement et sinstaller ? Que faire au Lac Leman ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 726 Turquie Quel visa pour la Turquie ? Visiter la Cappadoce ? Quel circuit suivre ? Quelle est la monnaie utilisee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1674 Ukraine Visiter Kiev ou Odessa ? Visa pour voyager en Ukraine ? Quel itineraire en Ukraine ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 500 Afghanistan 11 Azerbaidjan 24 Bangladesh Est-il possible de voyager au Bangladesh avec des enfants ? Existe-t-il un train de nuit pour faire Katmandu-Dhaka ? Fau-il un guide pour visiter le pays ? La Communaute repond a vos questions 37 Bhoutan Comment organiser son voyage au Bhoutan, quelle compagnie aerienne pour y aller, quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter le Bhoutan, pour quel budget ? 35 Birmanie Faire son e-visa pour la Birmanie, choisir son agence de voyage, organiser ses activites sur le lac Inle, a Bagan, au Rocher dOr, changer sa monnaie 2663 Brunei Organiser son sejour au Brunei, combien de temps y rester, comment sy rendre par voie terrestre 13 Cambodge Une, deux ou trois semaines au Cambodge ? Posez vos questions sur votre itineraire et vos trajets au Cambodge, les meilleurs periodes pour visiter Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, les temples dAngkor, les plages de sable blanc ou encore les iles ! 3168 Chine Acheter ses billets de train en Chine, aller a la Grande Muraille, quel itineraire au Yunnan, visiter Xian, trouver un bon restaurant a Pekin 2300 Coree du Sud Comment sexpatrier en Coree du Sud ? Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage de 1 mois ? Faut-il louer une voiture pour visiter lile de Jeju ? La Communaute repond a vos questions 889 Inde Quelle agence choisir pour visiter le Rajasthan ? La foire de Pushkar est-elle interessante ? Quel climat au mois daout ? Quelles sont les etapes necessaires pour obtenir un visa en Inde ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 6446 Indonesie Ou loger a Gili Air ? Que faire a Flores ? Est-il possible de visiter 3 iles en 15 jours en Indonesie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 2912 Japon Est-il interessant dacheter le JR Pass pour se deplacer dans le pays ? Quel itineraire pour 15 jours au Japon ? Que visiter a Osaka ? Existe-t-il un un moyen de voyager en shinkansen pour faire Tokyo, Kyoto et Mont Fuji ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4498 Kazakhstan 44 Kirghizistan 152 Laos Quel climat au Laos ? Faut-il payer en Bath ou US dollars ? Combien coute le visa on arrival ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1569 Malaisie Ou aller pour un premier voyage en Malaisie ? Les iles Perhentian valent-elles le detour ? Que faire a Kuala Lumpur ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2296 Maldives Ou sejourner aux Maldives ? Quel spot choisir pour faire du snorkelling ? Que faire a Male ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1272 Mongolie Ou acheter un velo en Mongolie ? Faut-il un visa pour voyager en Mongolie ? Quelle agence de voyage choisir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 469 Nepal Quel equipement prendre pour faire le tour de lAnnapurna ? Quelle agence de trek choisir ? Que visiter a Katmandou ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1690 Ouzbekistan Obtenir soin visa pour lOuzbekistan, faire la Route de la Soie, choisir une agence locale pour voyager en Ouzbekistan, visiter Samarcande, Boukhara et Khiva 447 Pakistan 30 Philippines Quel transport privilegier entre Manille et Palawan ? Que faire a Cebu Island ? Quel itineraire choisir pour 15 jours de voyage aux Philippines ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2035 Singapour Quand visiter lUniversal Studio Singapore ? Ou trouver un logement pas cher dans la ville ? Prix du transfert entre laeroport de Singapour-Changi et le centre-ville ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 353 Sri Lanka Obtenir lETA pour le Sri Lanka ? Comment trouver un chauffeur-guide ? Quel itineraire ? Ou voir des elephants ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Voyager en famille au Sri Lanka ? 4580 Tadjikistan 36 Taiwan Comment assister au festival des lumieres a Taipei ? Quelle plage privilegier a Taiwan ? Quelle agence de location de voiture choisir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 190 Thailande Quelles sont les plus belles plages de Thailande ? Ou trouver un hotel les pieds dans leau ? Un visa est-il necessaire ? Quel trek a Chiang Mai ? Quel budget ? 14783 Tibet Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage au Tibet ? Est-il obligatoire de voyager avec un guide ou une agence ? Quelles sont les formalites pour rentrer au Tibet ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 114 Turkmenistan 10 Vietnam Vietnam nord ou sud ? Quand visiter la Baie dAlong ? Louer une moto ? Quel trek a Sapa ? Partir seule au Vietnam ? Quoi visiter a Hanoi ? 6905 Antigua-et-Barbuda Quelles formalites pour visiter Antigua ? Quelles activites et excursions sont recommandees ? Presence dalgues sargasses ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4 Argentine Quel budget prevoir pour 1 mois en Argentine ? Faut-il privilegier les voyages en bus ou en avion ? Est-il possible de reserver a lavance un hotel a Salta ? Comment sorganiser pour sexpatrier en Argentine ? Quelle agence pour visiter la Patagonie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions. 2099 Bahamas Comment se deplacer entre les iles ? Comment rejoindre Miami depuis les Bahamas ? Voyage de noces : ou sejourner ? Les plus belles plages des Bahamas ? Ou se loger a Nassau ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 156 Barbade Comment circuler a la Barbade ? Quel budget prevoir ? Comment rejoindre les Antilles depuis la Barbade ? Ou faire de lapnee ? Ou se loger ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 22 Belize Combien de temps rester au Belize ? Autotour ou chauffeur-guide ? Les meilleurs spots pour faire du surf, de la plongee ou du snorkeling ? Quel itineraire et excursions prevoir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 200 Bolivie Quel itineraire pour 1 mois en Bolivie ? Existe-t-il un bus direct pour faire Uyuni-Copacabana ? Quelle agence choisir pour louer un 4x4 ? Quelles iles du Lac Titicaca privilegier ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 976 Bresil Comment se rendre a Ilha Grande depuis Rio de Janeiro ? Quel guide pour faire un trek a Lencois Maranhenses ? Est-il possible de voyager seul(e) ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3022 Canada Quelles sont les formalites pour entrer sur le territoire canadien ? Comment organiser la visite des chutes Victoria ? Que voir a Vancouver ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2769 Chili Quelle agence pour visiter le Chili ? Quel transport pour aller de laeroport de Santiago a Valparaiso ? Quels sont les prix pour les campings a Pan de Azucar ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1362 Colombie Des infos sur le carnaval de Baranquilla ? Preparer un trek en Amazonie ? Se deplacer entre Cartagena, Cali, Medellin et Bogota ? Bus ou taxi en Colombie ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 1739 Costa Rica La cote caraibe ou la cote pacifique au Costa Rica ? Faut-il louer un 4x4 ? Comment visiter le Costa Rica hors des sentiers battus ? Ou voir des aras et des tortues ? Quel budget ? 2091 Cuba Reserver une casa particular a La Havane ? Rapporter des cigares de Cuba ? Faut-il prendre un guide ? Comment obtenir la carte touristique ? Quel cayo visiter ? 6037 Dominique Ou faire de la randonnee, trek et plongee en Dominique ? Se deplacer sans voiture de location ? Ou est la plus belle plage de lile ? Quelle formalite pour entrer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 113 Equateur Faut-il prendre de la malarone pour visiter lAmazonie ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter lEquateur ? Quand voir les baleines a Puerto Lopez ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 845 Etats-Unis Quelles formalites pour entrer sur le territoire des Etats-Unis ? Ou aller pour feter Thanksgiving ? Quelle voiture louer pour faire un road trip ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 5391 Grenade Visiter les Grenadines ? Quelle croisiere choisir ? Algues sargasses a Grenade ? Activites faire en famille ? Le meilleur spot de plongee ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 19 Guadeloupe Aller sur les iles des Saintes ou sur lile de Marie-Galante ? Ou loger pour visiter la Guadeloupe ? Y a-t-il des sargasses en Guadeloupe ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3983 Guatemala Des questions securite au Guatemala ? Shuttle aeroport et bus : ou et comment reserver ? Ou retirer de largent ? Organiser un trek dans la jungle ? Besoin dun guide pour lac Atitlan, volcan San Pedro et de Fuego ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 594 Guyana Quel visa pour Guyana ? Quels sont les risques niveau securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2 Guyane 407 Haiti Quelle agence locale choisir a Haiti ? Bus ou voiture de location ? Faire sa demande de visa ? Loger a Port-au-Prince ? Expatriation : que prevoir ? Des questions securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 74 Honduras Loger a Roatan et Utila ? Quoi visiter a Tegucigalpa ? Combien de temps pour visiter le Honduras ? Ou faire de la plongee ou du surf ? Quel transport pour traverser le pays ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 49 Iles Vierges Quelle croisiere choisir pour les Iles Vierges ? Ou louer un catamaran? Quelles sont les liaisons avec Saint Barth ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 6 Jamaique Trouver un guide local francophone en Jamaique ? Navette aeroport vers les grandes villes ? Combien de jours pour visiter Ocho Rios, Kingston et Montego Bay ? Monnaie locale ou dollars ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 245 Martinique Quelle agence choisir pour louer une voiture en Martinique ? Quel temps fait-il en septembre ? Ou loger a Sainte-Luce ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2554 Mexique Quel itineraire dans le Yucatan ? Louer une voiture ou prendre les transports en commun pour visiter le Mexique ? Quen est-il de la securite au Mexique ? Ou loger a Cancun ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 4081 Nicaragua Des questions securite ? Ou voir des tortues ? Liaisons Nicaragua Costa Rica ? Masaya ou Granada ? Corn Islands : passage oblige ? San Juan del Sura ou Leon ? Ou surfer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 370 Panama Que voir sur les iles San Blas ? Possibilite de sexpatrier au Panama ? Que visiter dans la province de Bocas del Toro ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 477 Paraguay Combien de temps pour tout visiter au Paraguay ? Que voir et ou sortir a Asuncion ? Expatriation : comment sorganiser ? Comment se rendre a Iguazu ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 47 Perou Que visiter a Arequipa ? Comment sorganiser pour visiter le Machu Picchu ? Ou loger a Lima ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 3412 Porto Rico Ou sortir et prendre des cours de salsa a Porto Rico ? Quelles sont les activites a faire a San Juan ? Foret tropicale : El Yunque ou Toro Negro ? Ou faire son shopping ? Ou se loger pas cher ? Sy installer ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 51 Republique Dominicaine Quelles sont les plus belles plages a Punta Cana ? Quel budget prevoir pour 1 semaine a Bayahibe ? Quel tarif pour un voyage entre laeroport Santo Domingo et Puerto Plata ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 2384 Saint-Barthelemy Comment sexpatrier a Saint-Barthelemy ? Possibilite de partir avec un bebe ? Quelles formalites pour aller a Saint-Barthelemy ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 54 Sainte-Lucie Ou loger a Sainte-Lucie ? Faire une randonnee avec un guide francophone ? Changer ses euros en dollars sur place ou en France ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 70 Saint-Martin Ou faire de la plongee a Saint-Martin ? Quelle agence choisir pour louer une voiture ? Excursion sur lile de Saba ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 175 Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines Quelle agence choisir pour faire une croisiere en catamaran dans les iles Grenadines ? Quel budget pour 2 semaines ? Ou manger a Kingston ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 98 Salvador Taxe de sortie a laeroport de Salvador ? Ou se loger pas cher ? Ou changer ses euros ? Itineraire pour un road trip ? Se deplacer en bus ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 12 Surinam Ou et quand faire sa demande de visa ? Que faire et voir a Paramaribo ? Faire un raid en kayak ? Rejoindre Guyana, Cuaracao ou le Mexique depuis le Surinam ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 9 Trinite-et-Tobago Des conseils pour preparer le carnaval ? Trouver un logement pas cher a Trinite-et-Tobago ? Location de voiture ou scooter ? Rejoindre le Venezuela depuis Port of Spain ? Des questions securite ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 27 Uruguay Sexpatrier et travailler en Uruguay ? Ou changer et retirer de largent ? Combien de temps rester a Montevideo ? Organiser un road trip en bus ? Quelles sont les villes incontournables ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 72 Venezuela Taux de change officiel ou officieux ? Quelle est la situation actuelle du Venezuela niveau securite ? Que voir a Merida ou Margarita ? Avec quelle agence partir ? La Communaute repond a vos questions ! 224 Afrique du Sud Est-il possible de conduire avec un permis international en Afrique du Sud ? Quel est le prix du billet dentree au Parc Kruger ? Est il possible de faire un safari self drive ? Quels sont les incontournables a Johannesburg ou au Cap ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 5291 Algerie Quel est le niveau de securite a Djanet et Sahara ? Que voir a Tlemcen et a Alger ? Ou changer des euros ? Quelle agence pour visite du desert algerien ? 696 Benin 341 Botswana Quel itineraire privilegier ? Ou et quand reserver un safari pour le Botswana ? Auto tour ou guide ? Ou dormir dans le parc Moremi ? A quelle periode partir ? Quels vaccins prevoir ? 262 Burkina Faso Quel est le niveau de securite au Burkina Faso? Faire du tourisme humanitaire ? A la recherche dun chauffeur-guide ? Quel vaccin et visa prevoir ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? Ou se loger ? 276 Cameroun 284 Cap-Vert Quelles iles visiter au Cap-Vert ? Ou trouver un bon guide ? Quelle est la meilleure saison ? Les meilleures randonnees de Santo Antao ? Quels spots de plongee ? 1334 Congo 70 Djibouti 37 Ethiopie Comment trouver une bonne agence locale en Ethiopie ? Comment trouver un guide pour un trek dans les montagnes de Lalibela ? Quelles visites interessantes a Addis Abeba ? Quel logement choisir a Bahar Dar ? Comment voir les hyenes dHarar ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 457 Gabon Quel visa pour le Gabon ? Ou et comment obtenir le e-visa touristique ? Vivre et travailler a Libreville ? Comment se rendre au Parc National de Loango ? Quels sont les incontournables et quelle ville choisir ? 117 Gambie Le visa est-il gratuit pour les courts sejours ? Quel guide choisir pour la Gambie ? Peut-on voyager en toute securite en Gambie ? Acheter une voiture en Gambie ? Dans quelles villes sejourner ? 32 Ghana Quel visa et quel vaccin pour le Ghana ? Quel est le cout de la vie ? Ou loger a Accra ? Quels sont les bons plans a voir et a faire ? Ou retirer et changer de largent ? Des idees de circuits ? 60 Guinee Quel est le cout de la vie a Conakry ? Ou changer de largent ? Quel est le niveau de securite ? A la recherche dun guide ? 120 Ile Maurice, Rodrigues Quelle est la plus belle plage pour faire du snorkeling ? Quelles sont les excursions a faire ? Comment trouver un taxi a lile Maurice ? Quelle est la randonnee incontournable ? Le meilleur logement est il les maisons dhotes a Rodrigues ? Quelle cote choisir ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2714 Kenya Quelle agence choisir pour un safari au Kenya ? Ou peut-on observer des lycaons ? Comment trouver un super guide ? A-t-on besoin dun visa ? Que visiter a Nairobi ou Mombasa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 985 Lesotho Quel itineraire choisir ? Ou faire du trek et de la randonnee ? Quel guide choisir pour le Lesotho ? Quel est letat des routes ? Quel climat prevoir ? 39 Liberia 7 Libye 8 Madagascar Est-il dangereux daller a Madagascar actuellement ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser ? Comment trouver un bon chauffeur guide a Antananarivo ? Ou faire une mission humanitaire ? Quel itineraire est conseille ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2663 Mali Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel visa et quelles formalites pour aller au Mali ? Ou se loger a Bamako ? Sinstaller au Mali ? Traverser le pays en voiture ? Comment voyager en securite ? 129 Maroc Comment trouver un guide pour faire un trek dans lAtlas ? Quel itineraire est conseille pour visiter les villes imperiales du Maroc ? Comment visiter Fes ? A quel climat sattendre a Agadir en hiver ? Est-il possible de louer un 4X4 pour aller dans le desert ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 4933 Mauritanie Quel visa pour la Mauritanie et quel prix ? Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel itineraire pour traverser le pays depuis le Maroc ou le Senegal ? 227 Mayotte Est-il facile de sexpatrier a Mayotte ? Comment trouver un bon guide de randonnee ? Quel est le cout de la vie a Mayotte ? Est-il necessaire de faire un traitement antipaludeen ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Ou se loger, gites ou maison dhote ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 236 Mozambique Quel est le meilleur spot pour faire du surf a Maputo ? Est-il possible de rejoindre le parc Kruger en voiture ? Ou plonger au Mozambique pour voir des requins ? Bilene - Inhambane ou Vilanculo ? Quel est le cout du visa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 132 Namibie Est-il necessaire de passer par une agence pour un voyage en Namibie ? Comment acceder aux Victoria Falls ? Quels sont les temps de trajet ? Est-il preferable de louer une voiture ? Quelles sont les taxes dentree dans le Parc Etosha ? Quel itineraire pour acceder au desert du Namib ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 3654 Niger Quel est le niveau de securite ? Quel visa pour le Niger ? Quel budget prevoir pour un voyage au Niger ? Ou se loger a Niamey ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? 16 Nigeria 14 Ouganda A la recherche dun guide en Ouganda ? Quel tour operateur pour faire un trek safari ? Ou louer un 4x4 ? Ou observer des gorilles ? Quels vaccins sont recommandes ? 125 Reunion Quelles sont les randonnees incontournables a La Reunion ? Quel est le bon plan pour louer une voiture ? Quel gite choisir ? Lascension du Piton de la Fournaise est-elle exigeante ? Quels spots pour la plongee ? Ou faire du canyoning ? Comment trouver un bon guide pour aller au Piton des neiges ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2489 Rwanda Des idees ditineraires ? Ou observer les gorilles ? Ou faire sa demande de visa ? Besoin dinfos pratiques pour votre voyage au Rwanda ? Comment se rendre au parc des volcans ? Conseils pour visiter le Nyungwe ? 95 Sao Tome et Principe Quelles sont les excursions a faire a Sao Tome et Principe ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? Est-il possible de louer une voiture sur les iles ? Est-il preferable dopter pour un chauffeur ou un guide ? Y a-t-il des vaccins obligatoires ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 129 Senegal Quel est le meilleur moyen de se rendre en Casamance ? Quel transport utiliser depuis laeroport de Dakar ? Trouver un bon guide ? Comment trouver un logement pas cher au Senegal ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2080 Seychelles Est-il possible de trouver un hebergement chez lhabitant aux Seychelles ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour partir ? Quel hotel choisir pour un voyage de noces ? Quelle croisiere choisir ? Quel est le meilleur club de plongee ? Quelles sont les plus belles plages ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1323 Swaziland Ou dormir dans la reserve du Hlane ? Quelles sont les visites incontournables ? Quels parcs visiter ? Peut-on traverser le Swaziland sur une journee ? Quel est letat des routes ? Par quels postes frontieres passer ? 68 Tanzanie Comment trouver un bon chauffeur guide en Tanzanie ? Quelles sont les agences conseillees pour un safari ? Est-il possible de faire un safari en bivouac ? Quel itineraire est conseille pour acceder au Kilimandjaro ? Comment aller a Zanzibar depuis la Tanzanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1516 Tchad Quel est le niveau de securite au Tchad ? Circuit et trek en toute securite ? Quel visa pour le Tchad ? Que faire et ou se loger a Ndjamena ? Comment rejoindre le Soudan depuis le Tchad ? 14 Togo Ou obtenir un visa pour le Togo ? Que faire a Lome ? Comment se deplacer au Togo ? Ou se loger ? Quelle association pour faire du tourisme humanitaire / solidaire ? Location de voiture ou chauffeur-guide ? 293 Tunisie Quel est le meilleur moyen de transport pour un transfert de laeroport de Tunis a Hammamet ? Comment trouver un guide a Djerba ? Quelle temperature fait-il en Tunisie en hiver ? La carte didentite est elle suffisante pour aller en Tunisie ? Que visiter a Monastir ou a Sousse ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1808 Zambie Quels parcs visiter en Zambie ? Voir les chutes Victoria cote Zambie ? Quelles formalites pour passage frontiere Zambie Zimbabwe ? Ou changer des devises ? 47 Zimbabwe Est-il possible de visiter le parc Hwange en louant une voiture ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser entre lAfrique du Sud et le Zimbabwe ? Quelle est la meilleure periode pour visiter les Victoria Falls ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 83 Egypte Quelle agence propose une excursion Hurghada - Louxor ? Comment trouver un guide pour une visite du Caire ? Est-il possible de reserver une croisiere sur le Nil a la derniere minute ? Combien coute une excursion pour les pyramides depuis Le Caire ? Quel horaire est le plus propice pour visiter les temples dAbu Simbel ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2768 Emirats arabes unis Est-il aise de sexpatrier a Dubai ? Le Dubai city pass est-il rentable ? Dans quel quartier loger ? Quelle monnaie est acceptee ? Est-il necessaire de reserver ses billets pour le Louvre Abu Dhabi ? Ou louer une voiture ? Quels sont les horaires pour visiter la tour Burj Khalifa ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 252 Iran Quels sont les delais pour obtenir un visa touristique pour lIran ? Quelles tenues sont appropriees pour des touristes en Iran ? Quels sont les bons plans hebergements pour Shiraz ? Quelles sont les possibilites de transferts a laeroport de Teheran ? Quel est le meilleur quartier pour lachat de turquoise a Kashan ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1110 Israel, Palestine Comment circuler dans Jerusalem ? Ou loger a Tel Aviv ? Y a-t-il des bus entre Nazareth et Jenine ? Y a-t-il des transports en commun efficaces en Israel ? Quelles sont les difficultes pour aller en Palestine ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 921 Jordanie Quel chauffeur choisir en Jordanie ? Quel itineraire est optimal pour une semaine en Jordanie ? Est-il necessaire de prendre un guide pour visiter Petra ? Quelle agence choisir pour une excursion a Wadi Rum ? Quels sont les incontournables a Amman ? Y a-t-il des problemes de securite en Jordanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1108 Liban Le visa pour le Liban est-il gratuit ? Combien de jours sont necessaires pour visiter Beyrouth ? Quelles langues sont parlees au Liban ? Ou loger a Tripoli ? Est-il facile de sexpatrier au Liban ? Quelles sont les plus belles randonnees ? Quel est le climat en Hiver ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! La communaute repond a vos questions ! 173 Oman Quel visa est necessaire pour aller au sultanat dOman ? Est-il facile de louer un 4x4 a Oman ? Ou faire de la plongee ? Quel moyen de transport utiliser pour un transfert depuis laeroport de Mascate ? Comment trouver un guide francophone ? Quelle agence choisir pour une excursion dans le desert de Wahiba ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 675 Qatar Quel transfert choisir depuis laeroport de Doha ? Est-il facile de sexpatrier au Qatar administrativement ? Laeroport de Doha est-il agreable pour une longue escale ? Quel est le souk le plus traditionnel du Qatar ? Etes-vous satisfait de la compagnie Qatar Airways ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 101 Syrie 21 Yemen 19 Australie Quel est le meilleur moyen de transport pour faire un roadtrip en Australie ? Comment optimiser mon itineraire sur la cote ouest ? Quel hebergement a Sydney ? Est-il facile dacheter une voiture en Australie ? Le visa est-il payant ? Combien de jours pour visiter Melbourne ? Comment aller en Tasmanie ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 2066 Iles Fidji Quel est le meilleur spot de plongee aux Fidji ? Quel sont les transports pour aller aux Fidji depuis la Nouvelle-Caledonie ? Quel vol choisir pour aller aux Fidji ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 29 Nouvelle-Caledonie Est-il facile de sexpatrier en Nouvelle-Caledonie ? Quelle compagnie aerienne choisir ? Quel transfert a laeroport de Tontouta ? Quel budget prevoir pour un sejour de 3 semaines ? Suffit-il dune journee pour visiter lile des Pins en bateau ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! La communaute repond a vos questions ! 475 Nouvelle-Zelande Quelles sont les plus belles randonnees en Nouvelle-Zelande ? Le permis international est-il indispensable ? Quelle agence locale utiliser ? Quand reserver ses billets pour voir un match des All Blacks ? Quels sont les incontournables a Christchurch et Auckland ? La communaute repond a vos questions ! 1080 In no particular order, we list out some phased-out BS4 cars you should have considered buying when the time was right BS6 emission norms were supposed to come into effect from April 2020 but Indias COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown protocols it brought about, made FADA (Federation of Automotive Dealers Associations) approach the Supreme Court for a deadline extension. However, the apex court issued only a conditional extension of 10 days under which dealerships were allowed to sell just 10% of their BS4 stock. Needless to say, this did not do much help and several dealerships were on the verge of going out of business until their parent OEMs stepped in with financial support. As India reaches its fourth stage of COVID-19 control measures, production facilities, dealerships and service touchpoints in green and orange zones have reopened. Automakers are gradually making a recovery from an all-time low in sales through their newly formed online platforms. In the process of shifting to stringent BS6 emission norms, the Indian automotive market has bid adieu to some good cars, especially diesel models. In no particular order, here are some cars (alongside rough ex-showroom starting prices) which you should have considered buying before the deadline: Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8D (~ Rs 23 lakh) Toyota Kirloskar Motor sells its popular Innova Crysta in two BS6 formats: 2.4-litre diesel and 2.7-litre petrol. Although illogically expensive like most modern-day Toyota products, the old BS4 2.8-litre diesel variant was quite a performer for its size. It made 172bhp and 360Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed TC automatic. Ford Endeavour 3.2 TDCi (~ Rs 34 lakh) While the facelifted Ford Endeavour 2.0 TDCi is a decent upgrade for the old 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine (158bhp/385Nm), enthusiasts will miss the higher-spec five-cylinder 3.2-litre diesel motor that churned out 197bhp and 470Nm of torque. In AWD format, it came with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Renault Duster AWD (~ Rs 14 lakh) The proven 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine was discontinued ahead of BS6 across Renault and Nissan products. In the higher 110PS format, the engine powered the Renault Duster AWD (and Nissan Terrano AWD); a capable and underrated product in the entry-level mid-size crossover segment. It made roughly 108bhp and 245Nm while mated to a 6-speed manual. Honda City 1.5 i-DTEC (~ Rs 10 lakh) Honda Car India was relatively late to the diesel market. While the first-gen Honda Amaze was the first diesel car from the Japanese brand, the fourth-gen 1.5 i-DTEC Honda City was the more popular diesel product. It made 98bhp and 200Nm of torque. The 2020MY fifth-gen City will debut only in a petrol format but Honda Car India might introduce a diesel variant at a later stage. Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC (~ Rs 21 lakh) The Honda Civic has always been about its petrol engine but in its second avatar for the Indian market, the diesel engine proved to be a much more practical option. Plus, it packed adequate performance. Mated to a 6-speed manual, the 1.6-litre diesel engine was good for 118bhp and 300Nm. Volkswagen Polo GT 1.2 TSI (~Rs 10 lakh) At Skoda Auto Volkswagen Indias entry-level BS6 portfolio, the Volkswagen Polo (and Vento) has received a new 110bhp/175Nm 1.0-litre four-cylinder TSI turbo petrol motor in place of the old 103bhp/175Nm 1.2 TSI. Though the bhp count is more in the 1.0 TSI, Volkswagen has replaced the old 7-speed DSG (DCT) with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. The DSG unit made the old Polo GT quite a desirable car to own. Hyundai Verna 1.6 CRDi (~Rs 11 lakh) Popular BS6 diesel products from Hyundai Motor India and Kia Motors India employ a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. This includes the facelifted 2020MY Hyundai Verna as well. The City-rivals old and higher BS4 1.6-litre diesel engine produced a healthy 126bhp and 260Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed manual. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz 1.5 DDiS (~Rs 10 lakh) Maruti Suzuki has also chosen a petrol-only product line for BS6. Diesel models had substantially contributed to the Indian automakers monthly sales figures and some of them were decent performers as well. One such example was the old 6-speed Ciaz 1.5 DDiS 225; an underappreciated sedan with 94bhp and 225Nm. Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI (~Rs 10 lakh) Like the Honda City i-DTEC, the Skoda Rapid TDI (and Volkswagen Vento TDI) was also a desirable diesel sedan in the segment. In its life, it was available in a range of special editions such as Onyx and Monte Carlo, that ticked a few extra boxes in terms of features. The 1.5-litre BS4 diesel motor made almost 109bhp and 250Nm while coupled to either a 5-speed manual or 7-speed DSG. Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI (~Rs 18 lakh) To a good extent, higher variants of the diesel-powered Skoda Octavia served as an affordable alternative to the popular Germans entry-level offerings; if one did not have the budget for a Superb. The 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder diesel motor came in a range of products under Volkswagen Group. In the Octavia, it was tuned to produce 143bhp and 320Nm of torque. Maruti Brezza Diesel (~Rs 11 lakh) Indias best selling SUV for many years, Maruti Brezza is no longer available with a diesel engine. Ever since its launch in 2016, Brezza was only offered with a diesel engine, which was in fact Fiat sourced 1.3 liter MultiJet. Together with this gem of an engine and a feature loaded car, buyers found Brezza to be a very good buy, which was low on maintenance and high on mileage. With the Brezza diesel no longer on sale, it is surely one of the BS4 cars that will be missed by buyers. This 2008MY Apache RTR 160 scrambler project was undertaken by Brilliant Custom Motorcycle (BCM) TVS Motor Company introduced its Apache series back in 2006 as a strong rival to Bajaj Autos Pulsar range. Back then, the Bajaj Pulsar 150 and 180 DTSi models ruled the streets and were popular symbols of cool (alongside the likes of Hero Hondas Karizma). Hence, the Hosur-based automaker had every reason to make its new four-stroke sports series a good package. TVS could not see an overwhelming market response initially but today, the Apache series is easily one of the best in the 160-200cc category (and definitely better than entry-level Pulsar models). In foreign markets, Bajaj Autos Pulsar range could be the more popular choice. However, TVS Motor Company has a good customer base in several ASEAN countries, especially Indonesia. The Emerald of the Equator has a large community of automotive customisation studios, for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers. Here is a scrambler based on a 2008MY Apache RTR 160 by Brilliant Custom Motorcycle (BCM) in Jawa Barat (or West Java). BCMs scrambler project looks nothing like its donor motorcycle. If we consider only aesthetics, the team has done an impressive job. Even though the term scrambler stands for a stripped-down motorcycle with off-road capabilities, on paper, this particular example looks bulkier than its original avatar. The fat Shinko Trail Master E-705 dual-sport tyres shod on Rossi spoke wheels further add to the overall mass. With the stock engine (or even with some minor upgrades), we doubt if the motorcycle would be able to perform as its looks suggest. The 5-speed 2008MY TVS Apache RTR 160 (now in BS6 format) came with a 159.7cc carburetted SOHC single-cylinder mill. It made roughly 14.6bhp @ 8,500rpm and 13.1Nm @ 6,500rpm while new. This concern goes out of the picture to a good extent thanks to BCMs mechanical and creative expertise. Adi Prasetio from BCM shares that there have been no proper scramblers based on the TVS Apache. The lack of reference was a challenge at first. The team at BCM had to re-engineer the frame with some U metal components. The flat, thin and brown leather seat fits perfectly with the custom-made battery compartment underneath. BCM has opted a whitewashed silver colour with gold and black pinstripes, which blends well with the overall design. In typical scrambler fashion, the rear end is stripped to its bare bones with just the registration plate and a small round LED tail lamp. Other improvisations include USD forks, custom headlamp assembly, raised handlebar and aftermarket grips, BCM-built swing arm and muffler, upgraded brakes and more. The overall project cost Brilliant Custom Motorcycle 3 million Indonesian Rupiah or almost 15,000 INR (yes, it is surprisingly cost-effective). Source . . A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the News Analysis: Al-Qaida's re-emerging could be dangerous in 2016: U.S. experts From:English.news.cn | 2016-01-02 09:32 By Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Infamous terror group al-Qaida is back again, and that could be a dangerous development in 2016 that should not be underestimated, U.S. experts said. Al-Qaida changed the focus of U.S. foreign policy when the group, under terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, attacked New York and Washington on Sept.11, 2001 in a strike that killed nearly 3,000 people. In the years following, the U.S. intelligence community put a stranglehold on the organization, cutting off sources of financing and essentially rendering it ineffective. But now the group is re-emerging. The New York Times reported earlier this week that a number of training camps are sprouting up in Afghanistan, where the group had a safe haven in the 1990s and from where it planned and trained for the Sept. 11 attacks. The Times reported that, had those camps re-emerged a couple of years ago, the issue of fighting al-Qaida would have shot to the top of U.S. President Barack Obama's national security agenda. But with the threat of Islamic State (IS), the war against al-Qaida has been relegated to the backburner. While the camps are reportedly not as big as those built before the Sept. 11 attacks, experts said the group could become a threat in 2016, as the U.S. anti-terror focus has shifted to fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, and the U.S. military presence is scaling down in Afghanistan. "Part of the reason for the re-emergence of al-Qaida in Afghanistan is that as the U.S. presence wanes, there are simply fewer resources to maintain a robust intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance effort throughout the entire country," RAND Corporation's associate political scientist Colin P. Clarke told Xinhua. "That, coupled with the increasing focus on IS and a resurgent Taliban, means that al-Qaida has simply fallen on the depth chart, so to speak," While al-Qaida is likely not nearly as powerful as in the late 1990s and early 2000s, experts warned against underestimating the group. "We need to remember that al-Qaida is the group that planned and executed the 9/11 attacks. And while it is certainly nowhere near the strength it boasted pre 9/11, the will and intent of the group to strike the West is certainly still palpable," said Clarke. Clarke said al-Qaida is an organization that "has proved time and time again that it is capable of evolving and adapting, whether that is the core group itself or through its franchises and affiliates." "Currently, we see al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent gaining strength and notoriety, particularly as it seeks to capitalize on previously untapped markets like Bangladesh and even India for recruits," he said. It remains unknown how the organization is financing itself at the moment. Clarke surmises that the group is engaging in low-level criminality and tapping sources of revenue in local areas where it operates. "So its financing strategy has most likely gone from global to parochial," he said. Clarke added that while there has been a split between IS and Al-Qaida, it remains possible for the two radical Islamist groups to make amends. "While many commentators make much out of the AQ-IS divorce, there is still the possibility for rapprochement, if not a marriage of convenience, in the future. Some of this could be driven by the removal of certain leaders, from either of the groups, or more by operational necessities on the ground," he said. Related: News Analysis: IS getting weaker, but may increase attacks on West in 2016 WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Islamic State (IS), the terror group that has overrun a vast swath of territory in Syria and northern Iraq, is weakened in the past year, but that could spell danger for the West as it is likely to ramp up terror attacks in 2016, U.S. experts say. The United States has been bombing IS targets for around a year, fearing that it could use its base to plan attacks against the West just as al-Qaida did in the 1990s when they set up bases in Afghanistan and launched the Sept. 11, 2001 strikes that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York and Washington. Full story IS poses bigger threat than al-Qaida: FBI chief WASHINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The terror group Islamic State (IS) is a bigger security threat to the U.S. than the al-Qaida after the head of an al-Qaida affiliate group was killed, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief was quoted as saying Thursday. FBI Director James Comey told the U.S. cable news TV network CNN in an interview that U.S. military strikes have diminished the al-Qaida offshoot Khorasan Group, but the bigger threat faced by the U.S. is now IS. Full story German police hunt suspects after terror attack alarm in Munich MUNICH, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- German police are searching for "five to seven persons" from the terror group Islamic State (IS) after a terror attack alarm on the New Year's Eve, Munich police announced here on Friday. "The very concrete evidence of intelligence sources points to a suicide attack in the center of Munich with five to seven offenders from the IS," according to the Munich police. Full story Hollande: France has not finished with terrorism yet PARIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande said in his New Year's Eve address on Thursday night that the country "has not finished with terrorism yet." Speaking six weeks after deadly attacks in Paris which killed 130 people, the president told his country via radio and television that the threat of another attack "remains at its highest level." Full story On an arid plateau in the Andes Mountains of southern Bolivia, a Case Western Reserve University researcher flagged what turned out to be the fossil remains of a tortoise nearly five feet long -- a find indicating this highland was likely less than a kilometer above sea level 13 million years ago. Fossilized shell pieces of a much smaller, aquatic turtle found nearby support the altitude estimate and also indicate the climate was much wetter than today. The remains are the first records of fossil turtles from the Miocene epoch in Bolivia, and their presence challenges a recent isotope-based study that estimated the massive plateau, called the Altiplano, near what is now the town of Quebrada Honda, was 2 to 3.2 kilometers high at that time. In addition, the fossils provide a glimpse into climate change caused by rising mountains, which may help scientists understand climate change underway now. The research is published in the Journal of South American Earth Sciences. "We're trying to understand how tectonic plate activity and changing climate affected species diversity in the past," said Darin Croft, an anatomy professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a paleomammalogist. "One way all this diversity we see in the South American tropics today was generated was through elevation. Mountains create many different climates and ecosystems in a small area, which promotes speciation." Croft found the tortoise remains in an embankment after he missed a turn on a path near Quebrada Honda and was working his way back toward his regular research site. Croft and Federico Anaya, a member of the geological engineering faculty at Universidad Autonoma Tomas Frias in Posoti, later identified other, more fragmentary tortoise remains from other sites in the area. advertisement After returning to the United States, Croft sent photographs and three-dimensional computer-generated images of the remains to Edwin Cadena, a turtle expert now at Yachay Tech University in Ecuador. Cadena identified the tortoise as a member of the same genus as the Galapagos tortoise, Chelonoidis. He identified the extinct freshwater turtle as belonging to the genus Acanthochelys, whose surviving members occur throughout much of tropical South America. The animals are ectotherms, commonly called cold-blooded. Their reliance on the outside air to control their body temperature can be used as a proxy for the temperature where they lived and, therefore, elevation. The ancient tortoise and aquatic turtle most likely would have had physiological requirements much like their modern relatives, which generally live at altitudes of up to about 500 meters and can't thrive or reproduce at much higher elevations because of the cooler temperatures, Croft said. Miocene fossilized leaf remains are scant in Bolivia, but those that have been found tend to support the findings of warmer temperatures, lower altitude, and greater precipitation than today. advertisement The Andes were formed by subduction -- a process in which one tectonic plate is shoved under another. How quickly the mountains rose to their current elevation is not fully answered. As the highest geological feature in South America, the mountain chain affects global air circulation patterns and plays a major role in global climate. "With current global climate change, we'd like to have a better idea of what to expect under different scenarios -- how 1-degree warming or 2-degree warming will affect sea levels and animals," Croft continued. "If we want to model the future, we need to understand and model the past." Looking back, if the Andes Mountains were less than 1 kilometer high during the late Miocene, they would have had a much smaller effect on global circulation than if they were two or three times as high, close to their modern elevation near Quebrada Honda. The researchers believe they have more evidence from extinct animals that this part of the Altiplano was less than a kilometer above sea level 13 million years ago. They found fossil remains of a large snake in the same rock layer as the turtles. Those bones are currently under study by Croft and colleagues. Russia takes restrictive measures against Ukraine, Turkey From:English.news.cn | 2016-01-02 09:32 MOSCOW, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia has taken a series of restrictive measures against Ukraine and Turkey starting from Friday, the first day of 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree regulating transit transportation of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan through Russian territory, which was posted Friday on Russian government's internet portal of legal information. "International automobile and railway transit of goods from the Ukrainian territory to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan through the territory of the Russian Federation...could be carried out only from the territory of Republic of Belarus," according to the decree. It added that all the transport vehicles carrying goods from Ukraine to Kazakh territory through Russia should be equipped with devices supporting Russia's Glonass navigation system to track their movements. Coming into force immediately and lasting until July 1, 2016, the decree was adopted as extra measure with the suspension of Russia-Ukraine free trade zone agreement. The suspension also began Friday, simultaneously with Ukraine's implementation of the economic component of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and joining a free trade zone with the EU. Besides trade deals, Moscow and Kiev were in dispute over the latter's 3-billion-U.S.-dollar debt. The Russian Finance Ministry on Friday announced that it planned to file a lawsuit in a UK court against Ukraine over debt default. "Ukraine has not made the payment of 3.075 billion U.S. dollars in repayment and servicing of external bonds owned by Russia during the grace period, which expired on Dec. 31, 2015. Thus, Ukraine is in a state of default now," the ministry said in a statement. Noting that no proposal was made by the Ukrainian side on debt restructure, the ministry still expressed readiness to examine any significant offer from Ukraine on its debt to Russia. It is also noted that the legal action does not exclude possibility of debt settlement through dialogues. Ukraine got a 3-billion-dollar loan in the form of Eurobonds from Russia in December 2013 to shore up its economy amid financial crisis. The loan matures on Dec. 20, 2015. The Ukrainian side stressed previously that no other terms would be provided to Moscow than the debt-restructing agreement reached in August between Ukraine and its other international creditors. Restrictive measures against Turkey also came into force on Friday, which were adopted by Russian side in retaliation for Turkey's downing of a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft in November of 2015. The import of Turkish foodstuffs and other agricultural products to Russia is banned starting from Friday. According to a decree signed by Putin on Nov. 28 of 2015, Russia would stop importing a wide range of Turkish agricultural products including fruit and vegetables, salt, poultry products and so on. While charter flights in both directions were banned, the visa-free travel regime between the two countries was suspended to "ensure national security of the Russian Federation from criminal and other illegal activities." Russian companies will be banned from hiring Turkish citizens starting from Friday. A total of 53 entities have been exempted from the ban on hiring Turkish citizens. The exempted companies will, however, be prohibited from exceeding the total number of hired Turkish employees as of Dec. 31, 2015. Moreover, since Friday, companies owned by Turkey or Turkish citizens were banned from providing services for state and municipal needs in Russia and participating in such areas as construction, tourism, hotel business and lumber. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has blamed Russia for these restrictive measures, claiming that Turkey has considered possible measures against Russia and will impose sanctions if necessary. Related: Russia publishes reform measures to combat national security challenges MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia will implement a host of reform measures to fight against threats to the country's national security, including the dependence on exports of raw materials. The move is meant to secure Russia's status of a leading world power. Full story Ukraine seeks continuation of debt-restructuring talks with Russia: minister KIEV, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said here on Wednesday that her country is intended to continue debt-restructuring talks with Russia, which were stalled over Kiev's ban on debt repayments. "I expect that our dialogue will continue in January, after winter holidays," Jaresko told reporters during a media conference. Full story This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former top executive of several local companies including REI and a leader of several national outdoor groups was found dead Friday on Granite Mountain. Search and rescue crews began looking for Doug Walker, 64, after he was reported missing Thursday afternoon. Walker was on snowshoes heading for the top of Granite Mountain on when he disappeared. In all, about 60 rescue workers searched for him. The Sheriff's Office says he was found dead Friday morning in a debris field about two miles up the mountain. Rescuers believe he was caught in an avalanche since the debris field indicated an avalanche had occurred. It is expected to take several hours to get his body off the mountain. He was remembered in the business, political and conservation worlds as a man who made a difference and devoted his efforts to numerous nonprofits. KAREN SYKES Walker was a former director and chairman of REI. He also was a founding partner and CEO of WRQ Inc., an integration software company. WRQ was bought by private equity firms in 2004, and Walker retired from it. He was president of the American Alpine Club and immediate past chair of the governing council of The Wilderness Society. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called Walker " a pillar of the community who had a passion for the outdoors and an even greater passion for helping others. I know I join with so many others in saying how much I will miss his friendship, his energy, and his infectious commitment to community, country, and the environment." Walker and two other people were on the winter route on Granite Mountain on Thursday. Walker decided to go to the top, but his fellow snowshoers didn't want to go with him, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office says. He never returned, and after the other two returned to the trail head, they called authorities. He was described an an avid climber and hiker. The Alpine Society says Walker, who moved to Seattle in the 1970s, climbed throughout the world. He was a staunch defender of wild places and a supporter of protecting the wilderness. "It's critical we continue to stand together to protect our state's public lands and rivers as a shared national treasure that will benefit many generations to come," he wrote in Crosscut in April in an opinion piece that celebrated the expansion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and warned of daily threats to wild places. "Doug's work to advance charitable causes particularly conservation, recreation and access for all to our shared public lands serves as testament to his commitment to making the world a better place," Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society said in a statement. "Doug's passion and leadership for protecting wilderness and getting kids from all backgrounds into the outdoors is something for which many generations will be grateful. He was an inspiring leader and a great friend. The legacy of Doug Walker will always be a part of our fight for protecting America's parks and wild heritage and he will be sorely missed. Today we are deeply saddened by this loss." King County Executive Dow Constantine called Walker a civic leader, conservationist and philanthropist. "We've lost a great civic leader, conservationist, and philanthropist who had a passion for the outdoors, and instilled that same passion in others. Doug brought a boundless energy to everything he tackled, from climbing the highest peaks to connecting the high-tech community to environmental preservation. "My thoughts are with his wife, Maggie and their daughter, Kina." Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said Walker's death mean Seattle " has lost one of its most passionate and inspirational civic leaders in business, philanthropy and conservation." REI also released a statement about Walker: "The REI co-op community is devastated to learn of Doug Walker's death on Granite Mountain. The REI board of directors, management and the entire organization send their heartfelt condolences to Doug's family. Throughout his adult life, he was an avid co-op member, and for 12 years he made enduring contributions as a member of REI's board of directors, including serving as chairman for three years. With any spare time he had, Doug would head to the mountains. He was a treasured friend and colleague who inspired many others with his great passions for climbing, conservation and civic engagement. We join with his family and friends in mourning his untimely death." Walker was also a past chair of the board of trustees of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He was also on the boards of the Seattle Parks Foundation, Green Diamond Resource Co., Conservation Lands Foundation, Forterra, Civil War Trust, the University of Washington College of the Environment, The William D. Ruckelshaus Center Advisory Board and The Sierra Club Foundation, according to The Wilderness Society. Walker was born in South Carolina. He and his wife, Maggie, moved to Seattle after graduating from Vanderbilt University to attend the University of Washington, according to a HistoryLink.org entry on the couple. His wife often worked with him on his charitable efforts. He was also an avid cyclist and was known to commute by bike from his home in The Highland to downtown Seattle, according to HistoryLink. At the front of a terminal building at Buchanan Field Airport near Concord, Lowell Richards flicked on a projector and dimmed the lights. Aerial footage of crashing ocean waves, sweeping vistas near lighthouses, sunsets over the water and wind turbines filled the screen. And then the perspective shifted: Tiny drones whizzed past the landscapes, filming video and taking photos. Richards, a retired flight instructor, whistled. Thats something you can normally only do in a helicopter, he said Saturday to the class of about 10. Drones are being used to do roof inspections, film videos, fight fires and help police agencies assess situations. But you have to be aware of the rules. The novice operators jotted notes and asked questions, eager to learn the regulations before buying their first drone. The session was part of the free Know Before You Fly program, a national educational campaign that offers classes to help users fly drones legally and safely. A second session will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. There are plenty of concerns. While the drones in the air above California arent anything like the military types that fire rockets and do reconnaissance work above modern battlefields, that doesnt mean they cant cause problems. Civilian drones have been spotted over California wildfires, delaying and endangering the tanker planes fighting the blazes. At a wildfire that destroyed cars on a freeway in San Bernardino last July, a pair of drones actually chased some of the firefighting planes, keeping them away from the blaze for as much as 20 minutes, a fire official said. The Federal Aviation Administration reports receiving about two dozen complaints a month about drones flying too close to piloted aircraft. The flying machines now can be bought nearly everywhere online, in stores and from specialized companies. As many as 1 million were anticipated to be sold during the holidays, said an FAA spokesman. But while unmanned aircraft systems, as the drones are formally known, arent going anywhere, the laws surrounding how and where they can be used are changing. Three new California laws that went into effect Jan. 1 will impose strict penalties for drones flown over schools, jails and less than 350 feet above residential areas without permission from homeowners. Its important for new owners to understand drones before they send them into the air, Richards said. How many of you actually own a drone already? he asked. Two people, one a woman clutching a Styrofoam box, raised their hands. I brought one here, said Annelies Rainer of Richmond, gesturing to the box. I tried to fly it at home, but it scared my cat. I just want to play around with it for fun and take some photos. Which is why this class is exactly what I need. Across the room, David Myers of Hercules agreed. For months, Myers had seen more and more drones flying in the Oakland Estuary, in the parks near his home, along highways. Myers said he wanted to be part of it. Just think, this is a unique perspective for a photo and no one else will have it, he said, speaking faster out of excitement. I havent bought one yet because it seems like the rules are being changed constantly. I just want to know when and where I can fly. DeWitt Hodge, a partner in the United Pilot Services, the organization kick-starting the classes in the Bay Area, said the class has generated significant interest. Part of that, he said, is the popularity of drones. The technology has gotten better, prices have come down and it appeals to everyone, he said. I just want to make sure people can operate them under the right rules so they dont get in trouble or face jail time. Its a unique opportunity to see the world through a different perspective. Who doesnt want the experience of flying? Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lizziejohnsonnn A Fairfield High School teacher accused of an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student was arrested Thursday, police said. Eric Hankins, a 27-year-old science teacher, came under suspicion in December when police and school district officials learned of allegations that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship on campus with a student. He was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, and arrested Thursday after police served a search warrant at his home. Police are asking anyone in the public with information about the incident to contact them at (707) 428-7600. Copyright 2016 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Hayward Fault, which ruptured in a devastating Bay Area earthquake nearly 150 years ago, could be linked to the quieter Rodgers Creek Fault deep beneath San Pablo Bay, and that would pose the threat of a far more powerful quake in the future, a new seismic study has found. Traces of both faults in the Earths crust have long been a puzzle to seismologists. Most thought they terminated separately beneath the floor of the shallow bay, and seismic maps show their ends being at least 2 miles away from each other. Now Janet Watt, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Surveys Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, has completed an underwater survey of the two faults and reports clear evidence that the strands of the two faults are tied together, with no gaps or offsets between them. The magnitude of an earthquake depends on the length of the fault that produces it. Recent surveys indicate the Hayward Fault is about 60 miles long, running roughly from San Pablo Bay south to Alum Rock in San Jose, while the Rodgers Creek Fault measures about 39 miles, running north from San Pablo Bay to Healdsburg. If the two should in fact rupture along their combined 99-mile length, they could be capable of triggering an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2, Watt said. That would be a far larger quake than the 6.8 Loma Prieta quake of 1989. The killer quake that struck when the Hayward Fault ruptured between Berkeley and Fremont in 1868 has been estimated at a magnitude 6.8 and shook the ground violently across 1,000 square miles. It toppled buildings along the fault in Hayward and San Leandro, and shook others as far away as San Francisco and San Jose, both relatively far from the fault. In those days, only about 260,000 people lived in the area affected by the quake and 30 people died in the violence, but millions now live in the heavily urban region. Watt reported on her San Pablo Bay research during the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in December and discussed it during an interview. Research by other scientists has long suggested that the two faults might be connected, but early fault maps have shown wide gaps or step-overs between them. Certainly, connectivity is an important issue, and if what we have been calling sections of faults using different names are physically connected, the potential for a longer rupture is greater, said David P. Schwartz, a leading expert on seismic faults at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park. The possible links between the two faults has been discussed and debated for years, Schwartz said. Watts new work can significantly help improve our understanding of the geometry of the fault system, he said. Watt and her colleagues examined San Pablo Bays rocky bottom, which is covered with thick sediment, using an acoustic instrument called a sub-bottom chirp profiler, which penetrates rock with sound waves to record its contours. The scientists deployed their instrument on pontoons towed by the 34-foot USGS research vessel Parke Snavely, which crossed the bay 15 to 20 times over five days in strong winds, swells and choppy conditions that created some very noisy seismic data, which they were able to clean, Watt recalled. The chirp is aptly named, Watt said, because the sound that comes out of the instrument is like a high-pitched birds, and its really obnoxious. David Perlman is The San Francisco Chronicles science editor. E-mail dperlman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @daveperlman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Rain is expected to fall across the Bay Area this week, beginning with the weekend and gaining momentum through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The showers are forecast to come in the form of a three-part storm system: one expected to start Saturday night and last through Monday, a second on Tuesday and the last later in the week, said Mark Strudley, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service office in Monterey. By the end of the week, the rainier spots in the Bay Area in particular, the North Bay can expect 4 to 6 inches of rain, with inland areas getting up to 4 inches, Strudley said. For the weekend, the rain should move into San Francisco and the Peninsula by Saturday night, with heavier showers arriving Sunday. Sonoma County could get anywhere from three-quarters to an inch of rain, while Marin County is expected to receive up to half an inch on Sunday alone. Monday will bring an additional inch of rain to the North Bay, Strudley said. San Francisco and the Peninsula will get lighter rainfall, with two-tenths of an inch expected to fall Sunday and six-tenths of an inch on Monday. The East Bay will probably record lesser amounts, gathering about a tenth of an inch on Sunday and up to half an inch Monday, Strudley said. Temperatures should warm up later in the week, Strudley said. The strongest part of the storm will hit Tuesday, with gusty winds expected. The highs arent going to be much higher in the 50s but overnight lows are going to be a little higher than theyve been, in the 40s, he said. It will get progressively warmer as we get into the work week, with it starting out in the low 40s but creeping into the mid- to upper-40s, even by as early as Tuesday. The pattern will be fairly uniform across the Bay Area, though parts of eastern Contra Costa and Alameda counties could see lows in the high 30s but still above freezing, Strudley said. The precipitation dampening the Bay Area will turn to snow in the mountains, with moderate accumulation predicted throughout the week, said Johnnie Powell, a weather forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Sacramento. Snow should begin to fall between Sunday night and early Monday, but only a few inches, Powell said. After that, a series of systems could deliver up to 2 feet of snow by the end of the week. Were calling it moderate accumulation, Powell said. The wet pattern continues, starting early Monday but none of the storms seems to be mega storms. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo Eastday signed strategic cooperation agreement with JLPT By:Yu Jingfei, Jiang Wenran | From:english.eastday.com | 2015-12-31 17:45 Signing Ceremony Shanghai, December 31- Eastday.com yesterday signed strategic cooperation agreement with Japanese- Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Both sides will join hands to explore new mode of brand development in the various aspects including news broadcasting and project cooperation. Deputy Editor-in-chief of Eastday.com Zhang Sang said during the signing ceremony that Shanghai is an international metropolis and also a window for the rest of the world to know about the country. We always pay a lot of attention to the construction of external platform, she hopes that the future cooperation between the two sides can achieve win-win situation of social and economic effect. Launched in 2000, Eastday.com is local key news website and one of main news media in Shanghai, providing more than 120 channels in three languages Chinese, English and Japanese. Its business covers news release, public opinion interaction, e-government, e-commerce, marketing and advertising, technology operating, investing business and other various fields. JLPTs general manager Dong Weicheng said in his speech that he is looking forward to the future cooperation and will actively explore new ways to promote both brand development and culture going abroad. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dale Bumpers, an Arkansas Democrat who rose to prominence in the 1970s as a reformist governor emblematic of a new wave of Southern leaders and then served four terms in the U.S. Senate, where he was known for his oratorical skills and political independence, died Friday at his home in Little Rock. He was 90. The cause was complications from Alzheimers disease and a broken hip, said his son Bill Bumpers. A former trial lawyer, he triumphed over a set of formidable Arkansas politicians, including Winthrop Rockefeller and J. William Fulbright, to launch his career. As governor from 1971 to 1975 and then senator until 1999, he displayed masterful technique as a public speaker that was a key to his success. Funny as all get-out and could talk an owl out of a tree, another Arkansas politician, former President Bill Clinton, once observed. A proponent of arms control he quipped that President Ronald Reagan did not want to spend money on anything that does not explode Gov. Bumpers pushed to cut funding for a range of weapons and antimissile systems. Clinton drew on his talents in his 1999 impeachment trial, tapping his home-state ally to make the closing arguments against perjury and obstruction of justice charges stemming from the Monica Lewinsky affair. The speech, delivered in the Senate less than a month after he had left the body, won praise as an eloquent defense of the president on constitutional grounds, leavened with disarming humor. You can take some comfort, colleagues, in the fact that I am not being paid, and when I finish, you will probably think the White House got its moneys worth, he said. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate. As governor, he raised income taxes for top-bracket earners, increased teachers salaries and streamlined the states overgrown bureaucracy. He achieved national attention as one of a new, progressive breed of Southern governors, a group that included Georgias Jimmy Carter. In Washington, he was known for bucking the conservative winds blowing across his state. A steadfast opponent of efforts to amend the Constitution, he voted against proposals to ban flag desecration and permit states to prohibit abortion. Dale Leon Bumpers was born in Charleston, Ark., on Aug. 12, 1925. He cited his father, a hardware store operator who loved politics and admired President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as a lifelong inspiration. His parents were killed in a car accident in 1949. After serving in the Marines during World War II, he graduated in 1948 from the University of Arkansas and from Northwestern Universitys law school in 1951. He then returned to Charleston, set up a one-person law office and served as city attorney. In 1949, he married Betty Flanagan, whom he had known since high school. Besides his wife, of Little Rock, survivors include three children and seven grandchildren. WASHINGTON Its been like a long-delayed New Years resolution for Republicans. But 2016 will finally be the year when they put legislation on President Obamas desk repealing his health care law. The bill undoing the presidents prized overhaul will be the first order of business when the House reconvenes this week, marking a sharply partisan start on Capitol Hill to a congressional year in which legislating may take a back seat to politics. There are few areas of potential compromise between Obama and the GOP majority in the House and Senate in this election year, but plenty of opportunities for political haymaking during the presidential campaign season. Obama will veto the health law repeal bill, which also would cut funding for Planned Parenthood. The measure already has passed the Senate under special rules protecting it from Democratic obstruction. But thats the point for Republicans, who intend to schedule a veto override vote for Jan. 22, when antiabortion activists hold their annual march in Washington to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion. Despite dozens of past votes to repeal the health law in full or in part, Republicans never before have succeeded in sending a full repeal bill to the White House. They insist that doing so will fulfill promises to their constituents while highlighting the clear choice facing voters in the November presidential election. Youre going to see us put a bill on the presidents desk going after Obamacare and Planned Parenthood, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told conservative talk host Bill Bennett over the holidays. Then youre going to see the House Republican Conference, working with our senators, coming out with a bold agenda that were going to lay out for the country, to say how we would do things very differently. In the Senate, which reconvenes Jan. 11, early action will include a vote on a proposal by Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who is running for president, for an audit of the Federal Reserve. Democrats are likely to block it. But, like the health repeal bill in the House, the vote will answer conservative demands in an election year. Also expected early in the Senates year is legislation dealing with Syrian refugees, following House passage of a bill clamping down on the refugee program. Conservatives were angry when the year ended without the bill advancing. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky promised a vote. The House Benghazi committee will continue its investigation of the attacks that killed four Americans in Libya in 2012, with an interview of former CIA Director David Petraeus on Jan. 6. The bold agenda promised by Ryan will begin to take shape at a House-Senate GOP retreat this month in Baltimore. Thus far Ryan has pledged efforts to overhaul the tax system and offer a Republican alternative to the health overhaul. 1 Police shooting: Protesters upset by a decision not to indict two white police officers in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy who had a pellet gun, marched to the Cleveland home of the prosecutor on Friday and called on him to resign. More than 100 people stood outside the home of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty during the peaceful protest, which included demands for a federal investigation into the shooting. Through a spokesman, McGinty declined to comment. McGinty announced earlier this week that the officers involved in the shooting would not face criminal charges. 2 Cosby case: Bill Cosby tweeted a brief message to fans following his arrest on a sexual assault charge. Friends and fans, Thank You, said the message sent Thursday from Cosbys Twitter account. The 78-year-old comedian was charged this week with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004 inside his home near Philadelphia. Its the first criminal case brought against Cosby out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image. Cosbys attorney has said the charge is unjustified and predicted her client will be exonerated. Cosby is free on $1 million bail pending trial. HONOLULU President Obama will press ahead with a set of executive actions on guns next week despite growing concerns in the U.S. over terrorism that have dampened some Americans enthusiasm for tighter firearms restrictions. The president will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to finalize a series of new gun control measures, and will announce his package of proposals soon after that, according to several individuals who asked for anonymity. One of the main proposals Obama is poised to adopt would require some unlicensed gun dealers to get licenses and conduct background checks on potential buyers. The change is aimed at informal dealers such as those who are selling online frequently or renting tables at gun shows but do not have a storefront. Obama began examining how he could tighten the nations gun rules after Octobers mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. The idea of requiring informal gun dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and of conducting background checks came up two years ago when White House officials drafted a proposal for dealers who sell at least 50 guns annually. But the idea was shelved over legal concerns and did not gain new momentum until after the Roseburg shooting. The White House review has been conducted in relative secrecy, soliciting input from gun safety groups. Obama has recently met with former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, who was gravely injured in a 2011 mass shooting, as well with with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, which Bloomberg helped start. In Obamas weekly radio address Friday, delivered a day earlier than usual, the president said he was moving unilaterally because Congress had failed to address the growing problem of gun violence. A few months ago, I directed my team at the White House to look into any new actions I can take to help reduce gun violence, he said. And on Monday, Ill meet with our Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, to discuss our options. The administration, in reviewing its options, has shut out congressional Republicans, who joined with some Democrats in helping block legislation to expand background checks after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Any action by the president is sure to trigger a major backlash from gun-rights activists and Republican officeholders nationwide. LAS VEGAS A man who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police while holding a cell phone that was mistaken for a gun had recently been convicted of multiple crimes in Arizona, his attorney said Saturday. Brad Reinhart last had contact with his client, Keith Childress Jr., 23, last month when a jury was set to issue a verdict in his trial for stealing marijuana and guns from a Phoenix home in 2013. Reinhart said he texted Childress to be at the courthouse, but he never showed up. While Kharge is considered the firm favourite with his perceived proximity to the Gandhis, Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change. Editors note: Ashrafuddin Pirzada, the author, is a correspondent with The News, an English-language daily in Pakistan. He was in San Antonio for a fellowship with the Express-News last year, when he wrote this. Given current events, his personal insight on how one would-be suicide bomber was made is as timely now as it was then. I am the luckiest one. Allah saved my life just a few seconds before I had to trigger my explosive-packed vest when I entered the military compound in Tirah Valley I would never have had a chance to make amends to those I was supposed to kill. This came from Mursaleen, 13. See if you can understand this a 13-year-old boy, just another pawn in the turmoil that has long embroiled the area where I live and work as a journalist. Im not using his real name to protect his identity and his life. He had been sent by militants to kill Pakistani security forces in the hilly areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), a region in Pakistan that borders Afghanistan. But he surrendered before he completed his task. Mursaleen says militants kidnapped him and three other children years earlier to train them as fighters and suicide bombers. They told him that he had to kill the soldiers because they were kafir, non-Muslims. He told me his story in a rehabilitation center about a year after he had been sent on his suicide mission. He had been kidnapped from a camp for displaced persons in the city of Nowshera. He was never sure of the location where the militants kept him. In those first few days, I was crying for my home and family, but with the passage of time I adapted to the situation there, he said. Mursaleen said there were several other children at the militants camp. They spent much of their time just being boys, playing with each other and having fun. But the militant commanders slowly began introducing them to the tools of their new trade, at first an AK-47 and a small pistol. And then he got months-long training as a suicide bomber. The master (the bomb specialist) told us that suicide bombers who completed their tasks would be in paradise and be happy there, Mursaleen said. As if to get the boys accustomed to easy death, the militants executed prisoners in front of them with knives and guns. Mursaleen was put to work grazing the militants goats and sheep in the hills at the hideout. He milked them as well. He described a process of indoctrination tantamount to brainwashing. It wasnt long before the militants sentiments against Pakistani security forces were his own. A year into his stay at the rehabilitation center, he was regaining some sense of normalcy. I interviewed him over that time about a dozen times. At first, there was no friendliness. He told me that when he caught me in the mountains, he would slaughter me with sharp wire. I believed him. This is how he was trained. But after a few sessions, we became friends. It was clear, he needed one. Before Mursaleen was captured in the Khyber Agency, a tribal area in FATA, he had never attended school and was basically ignorant about Islam. But soon, thanks to indoctrination by a man who preached to the militants about holy war against U.S. and Pakistani forces, he was reciting the Quran. I was taught in this preaching that those who supported U.S. forces that occupied Afghanistan are kafir and that it is jihad to kill them, Mursaleen told me. The militants indoctrination has taken its toll on Mursaleen. During my encounters with him, he didnt behave as a normal boy would and sometimes seemed as intoxicated with the same emotion as he must have felt before he was sent on his mission. I saw him kiss an official at the rehabilitation center and call him father. He called the other security personnel his brothers. Why didnt he complete his mission? He simply realized the militants had lied. He saw this immediately when he entered the army compound. I saw soldiers were offering prayers. I realized that they were Muslims. Why should I kill them?, he said. I cried to the security personnel for help that I have an explosive jacket around my body but that I did not want to kill them. The soldiers removed the explosives from his body and asked many questions. Asked about the other children who were with him at the militants camp, he said he didnt know what became of them. Mursaleens circumstances do not represent an isolated case in FATA. Suicide attacks have become commonplace, killing hundreds in the region security forces and innocents alike. Among the deadliest attacks was a suicide bombing on a mosque in a subdivision of Khyber Agency that left 48 worshippers dead and more than 60 others injured in August 2011. Several other mosques, public gatherings, aid centers and security check points have been targeted across FATA and much of the rest of Pakistan since the United States began its war in Afghanistan, and started drone attacks in the tribal areas. But also among the casualties have been children such as Mursaleen. Kidnapped, trained to be militants or suicide bombers, they often have no place to go if they escape or otherwise survive their ordeals. Their parents often disown them. Mursaleen avoided talking to me about his parents, perhaps fearing that the militants would take their revenge on them. But an official told me that he had found his parents and that they were ready to take him back. If so, Mursaleen will be one of the lucky ones. Mursaleen is trying to piece his life back together but its difficult trying to wash away the memories. He was undergoing therapy in the center. The local people are well aware of boys such as Mursaleen. They blame lawlessness, poverty, ignorance, corruption, and a poor health and education system. They say these promote extremism and militancy in FATA. They notice that the draconian laws applied to the tribal areas by the British in 1901 have been replaced by neglect, indifference and sometime brutality from the Pakistan government. Pakistan gained its independence in 1947. The local people have a point: Young men with no jobs and no prospects are easily wooed into militancy and extremism. Sincere and competent leadership can make a difference. Such leadership might start with economic development, but it would necessarily include giving tribal people full rights in Pakistan. It starts with addressing the conditions that turn little boys into would-be killers. Mursaleen is now in one of the best schools in Pakistan. He says he wants to serve Pakistan and its citizens when he grows up. One boy saved. So many others yet to be saved. Time magazine made a solid news judgment in naming German Chancellor Angela Merkel its 2015 Person of the Year. The flood of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East and Africa into Western Europe, the greatest wave of migrants since World War II, is the world-changing event of the decade, and Merkel is the individual most responsible for rolling out Germanys welcome mat to more than a million asylum seekers. It was an audacious act that, in a single motion, threatened both to redeem Europe and endanger it, Time wrote. It was an audacious act and no one knows better than Merkel how unmanageable it is. In July, the chancellor endured a painful televised confrontation with a Palestinian teen who in fluent German told Merkel that the threat of deportation kept her from enjoying the life she sees others living. As long as I dont know that I can stay here, I dont know what my future will be, the girl said. Visibly upset, Merkel told the 14-year-old that Germany just cant manage to help every refugee and asylum seeker. In September, Merkel threw caution to the wind and dispensed with standard European Union asylum procedures. The gesture was seen as a green light not only by desperate Syrians fleeing violence, but also by economic refugees from Africa to Afghanistan who saw the moment as perhaps a final opportunity to squeeze into Western Europe before the door slams shut. A disapproving Hungarian official told the Wall Street Journal, The Germans think theyre the Americans of Europe. Heres another parallel between Germany and the United States: The day comes when governments have to enforce immigration laws, even if they dont want to. In January of this election year, the Washington Post reported, the Obama administration is expected to deport Central Americans who surged across the border in 2014 but did not qualify for asylum. In December, Germany stepped up deportations of refugees who do not qualify for asylum status. At a news conference, Merkel made it clear that many Afghans seeking asylum will be sent home. Germany is saying, were going to deport everyone who doesnt qualify, observed Jessica Vaughan of the pro-enforcement Center for Immigration Studies in Washington. Theyre actually starting to remove people, and its going relatively smoothly. That should be a lesson to the U.S. Germanys articulation should be a lesson to Washington. German parliament member Mark Hauptmann gave two reasons Afghans are unlikely to qualify for asylum. First, he told National Public Radio, If we look at the people who are leaving the country, they are the young ones, the better-educated ones, and those ones are needed to build up Afghanistan. Also: We send our troops, we send our citizens there, to protect Afghans and to create safe environments in Afghanistan. And then people from Afghanistan are coming as so-called war refugees here to Europe. Vaughan told me that she admires Merkel for wanting to help Syrian refugees, but unfortunately, the chancellors rhetoric came across as an open invitation to anyone who can get there. To set things right, Merkel had to set clear boundaries and enforce the rules. I think the big difference is that Merkel seems to mean what she says, Vaughan added, unlike the Obama administration, which enforces immigration law spottily, and then reluctantly. Now Merkel finds herself back where she was in July. She knows that there are good people who want nothing more than to be good Germans but she also knows that Germany cannot be the country that it is if it accommodates everyone who wants in. With too much traffic, any welcome mat wears thin. Thus Merkel must manage who gets to stay in Germany if she wants to maintain the support of German voters who, with reason, fear their safety net can not handle the strain of a million-plus refugees. Credit Merkel with articulating a policy, then refining it when she had to confront its unintended consequences. She knew the political cost and is likely to pay it some day. For his part, Obama throws out bromides, like, Thats not who we are. Everyone can agree with that statement because no one is sure exactly what it means. Meanwhile, the administration signs executive orders rewarding undocumented immigrants for flouting the law, then the next day threatens to actually enforce the law. And always about politics. Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DebraJSaunders Angela Merkel in her own words July 16, talking to a Palestinian teen on German TV Sometimes politics is hard. Youre a very nice person, but you know that there are thousands and thousands of people in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and if we say, You can all come, and You can all come from Africa, and You can all come, we just cant manage that. In December Time magazine In many regions war and terror prevail. States disintegrate. For many years we have read about this. We have heard about it. We have seen it on TV. But we have not yet sufficiently understood that what happens in Aleppo and Mosul can affect Essen and Stuttgart. We have to face that now. BAGHDAD Violence has claimed the lives of 980 Iraqis in December, up from 888 the previous month, the United Nations said Friday. The U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq said 506 of those killed in December were civilians, while the rest were security forces, including Kurdish peshmerga and paramilitary troops. It added that 1,244 civilians were wounded in December. The worst-affected province was Baghdad with 261 killed, followed by Ninevah province with 68, the statement said. Citing its local health authorities, the U.N. says 124 civilians were killed in Anbar province, which has large areas under the control of the Islamic State extremist group. The U.N says it could not verify the Anbar figures due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. December figures brought the total number of civilian causalities in 2015 to 7,515 killed and 14,855 wounded, according to U.N. figures. The year 2015 has seen thousands of Iraqis killed and injured as a result of conflict and terrorism. This is unacceptable, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jan Kubis said in the statement. The Islamic State group seized much of northern and western Iraq, including the second largest city, Mosul, in the summer of 2014. The extremists have declared a caliphate in the areas of Iraq and Syria under their control and have imposed a harsh and violent version of Islamic law. On Monday, Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led air strikes drove IS militants out of the city center of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and raised the Iraqi flag over the main government complex there. MUMBAI, India Militants wearing army uniforms stormed an air force base in northern India early Saturday, setting off a daylong battle that left five assailants and three soldiers dead and cast serious doubt over Indian-Pakistani talks due to begin this month. Four attackers were killed by Indian forces, and a fifth was gunned down more than 12 hours after the attack began around 3:30 a.m. at the air base in Pathankot, 260 miles north of New Delhi. Indian officials said they had credible information that the attack was carried out by militants from Pakistan and described it as an attempt to derail Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to engage his rival neighbor in peace talks. Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan on Christmas Day to build momentum for a planned meeting this month between the countries top diplomats. Previous steps toward talks have also been met with violence, leading Indian officials and analysts to argue that some elements inside Pakistans powerful military and intelligence agencies are empowering militant groups in a bid to scuttle dialogue. Pakistan denied any role in the violence and issued a statement condemning the terrorist incident. This was the second attack in seven months in the border state of Punjab that Indian authorities have blamed on Pakistan-based extremists. The previous one, in which four policemen and three civilians were killed, followed a meeting between Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of a summit in Ufa, Russia, that helped pave the way for a resumption of comprehensive peace talks. Indian security officials, speaking to media, said the suspected attackers hijacked the car of a senior police officer outside Pathankot after midnight Saturday. According to Indian accounts, the assailants used the officials cell phone to place a call to Pakistan that was intercepted by Indian intelligence, which issued an alert. Indian officials said that, due to the alert, security forces responded immediately after the militants entered the air base, about 30 miles from the Pakistani border. The attackers were contained within an administrative block of the base and were not able to penetrate a secure area where fighter jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters are housed, officials said. 1 Terror threat: Belgian authorities have freed three people after questioning them about a suspected plot to carry out extremist attacks in Brussels over the Christmas and New Years holidays. The releases were announced Friday by the Federal Prosecutors Office. According to prosecutors, the plot is suspected of targeting police, soldiers and famous locations in the Belgian capital, including its central square, the Grand Place. Two people, including the suspected leader, have been arrested, and a judge on Thursday ordered both men held for another month. Because of the threat, Brussels officials canceled the New Years Eve fireworks display. 2 Ferry sinks: Egyptian search parties on Friday recovered a mans body from the Nile River, bringing the death toll to 15 from the sinking of a ferryboat on New Years Eve, officials said. Two more people believed to have been on the boat were still missing. The chief of the countrys River Transport Authority said the ferry did not have a license to operate between the Nile Delta villages. The boat went down in the province of Kafr el-Sheikh. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident. SEOUL North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in an annual New Years speech Friday that he was ready for war if provoked by invasive outsiders, but he stayed away from past threats involving the countrys nuclear weapons and long-range missile ambitions. His comments stuck to well-worn propaganda meant to lift his image for the elite residents of one of the worlds poorest, most closed countries. They also could be read as an attempt to keep ties with rivals Washington and Seoul from getting worse so he can try to turn around a miserable economy and further solidify his leadership. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis called Friday for an end to the arrogance of the powerful that relegates the weak to the outskirts of society and to the false neutrality toward conflicts, hunger and persecution that triggers exoduses of refugees. In his New Years homily, Francis emphasized the need to let ourselves be reborn, to overcome the indifference which blocks solidarity, and to leave behind the false neutrality which prevents sharing. After celebrating Mass, the pope came to the window of a Vatican palazzo overlooking St. Peters Square to offer new years wishes to a crowd of tens of thousands of tourists and Romans cheering him from below. At the start of the year, its lovely to exchange wishes. Lets renew, to one another, the desire that that which awaits us is a little better than what last year brought, Francis said. It is, after all, a sign of the hope that animates us and invites us all to believe in life. We know, however, that with the new year, everything wont change and that many of yesterdays problems will also remain tomorrow, the pope said, adding that he was making a wish sustained by a real hope. As he did in his homily earlier in St. Peters Basilica, the pope issued a caution that the enemy of peace isnt only war, but also indifference, and he decried barriers, suspicions, fears and closures toward others. In the New Years homily in St. Peters, he had reflected on the countless forms of injustice and violence which daily wound our human family. Sometimes we ask ourselves how it is possible that human injustice persists unabated, and that the arrogance of the powerful continues to demean the weak, relegating them to the most squalid outskirts of our world, he said. We ask how long human evil will continue to sow violence and hatred in our world, reaping innocent victims. Francis cited no country, continent or conflict. But his words clearly evoked images of the refugees and migrants, more than 1 million of whom flooded into Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia in 2015, on dangerous sea or overland journeys. He spoke of witnessing hordes of men, women and children fleeing war, hunger and persecution, ready to risk their lives simply to encounter respect for their fundamental rights. The Catholic church dedicates New Years Day to the theme of peace, and Francis this year is stressing mercy as the path toward reconciliation. To highlight the benefits springing from forgiveness and reconciliation in the world, Francis declared a Holy Year of Mercy, which began last month and runs through November 2016. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Protesters in Iran, angered by the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric, broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran early Sunday, setting fires and throwing papers from the roof, Iranian media reported. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said the countrys top police official, Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, rushed to the scene and police worked to disperse the crowd outraged by the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Shiite leaders in Iran and other countries across the Middle East condemned Riyadh and warned of sectarian backlash. Saudi Arabias execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, which also included al Qaeda detainees, threatened to further inflame Sunni-Shiite tensions in a struggle playing out between the Sunni kingdom and its foe Iran, a predominantly Shiite nation. While Saudi Arabia insisted the executions were part of a justified war on terrorism, Iranian politicians warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price for the death of al-Nimr. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi envoy in Tehran to protest, while the Saudi Foreign Ministry later said it had summoned Irans envoy to the kingdom to protest the critical Iranian reaction to the sheikhs execution, saying it represented blatant interference in its internal affairs. In Tehran, the crowd gathered outside the Saudi embassy, with some threwing stones and Molotov cocktails and triggering a fire in part of the building, Sajedinia told the Tasnim news agency. Some of them entered the embassy. Currently, individuals who entered the embassy have been transferred out (of the building). However, a large crowd is still there in front of the embassy, Sajedinia said early Sunday. Al-Nimrs execution promises to open a rancorous new chapter in the ongoing Sunni-Shiite power struggle playing out across the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and Iran as the primary antagonists. The two regional powers already back opposing sides in civil wars in Yemen and in Syria. Saudi Arabia was also a vocal critic of the recent Iranian agreement with world powers that ends international economic sanctions in exchange for limits on the Iranian nuclear program. The clerics execution could also complicate Saudi Arabias relationship with the Shiite-led government in Iraq, where Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi tweeted Saturday night that he was shocked and saddened by al-Nimrs execution. Hundreds of al-Nimrs supporters also protested in his hometown of al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain where police fired tear gas and bird shot, and as far away as northern India. Germanys Foreign Ministry said the clerics execution strengthens our existing concerns about the growing tensions and the deepening rifts in the region. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. is particularly concerned that al-Nimrs execution risked exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. Saudi Arabia says all those executed were convicted of acts of terrorism. Al-Nimr had been charged in connection with violence that led to the deaths of several protesters and police officers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island's first New Year's baby of 2016 led the way for nine other births on Friday. Chaya Katz of Eltingville, gave birth to her eleventh child at 5:44 a.m. Friday morning inside Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton. While it isn't the earliest birth we've seen in year's past, the boy, who has yet to be named, was still able to stake his claim as "Baby New Year" on the Island. The infant joins his ten brothers and sisters, Jacob, 19, Bracha, 16, Isaac, 14, Samuel, 13, Devorah, 11, Moshe, 8, Efraim, 7, Soliman, Shalom, 3, and 1 year old Sarah. While Chaya didn't feel up to any photography of her self, the mother graciously allowed the Advance to take pictures of her healthy child. The newborn weighs in at a hefty 9 pounds and 7 ounces, with a length of 21 inches. "This guy is all ready to go to school," his mother joked. Baby Katz was the first of six children born at RUMC on Friday. Four other babies were born at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze on New Year's day, according to a spokeswoman for the hospital. Parents of two children declined to be interviewed, while, unfortunately, the other two newborns were placed in the medical center's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), added the spokeswoman. "This is a great start to the new year and definitely a memorable birthday," added Katz, followed by another humorous remark. "When you have eleven children, you need birthdays like this to keep track." The number of 2016 New Year's babies topped last years count, which saw only four newborns on Jan. 1, 2015. staten-island-neighborhoods-mapjpg-24a4f313c8a323be.jpg Staten Island is home to 62 neighborhoods. (Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Long Term Recovery Organization is hosting a free, open meeting where residents can learn about Census data from their neighborhood, and the borough, on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the New Dorp Moravian Church. David Kraiker from the Census Bureau will teach attendees how to navigate the Census website to get a demographic snapshot of residents by neighborhood, block, census tract, borough, city, state and more. The presentation will share some of the abundance of information available about Staten Island from the Census Bureau. The Census is more than a count every 10 years -- through the American Community Survey, data can be accessed about population, language, income, health care, disabilities, housing stock, commuting and other interesting statistics. Dinner will be served and laptops are welcome at the meeting; for more information, please email Cassandra Missall at Samantha Catalano, dressed as Princess Elsa from the Disney Movie "Frozen," visits Emilie Saltzman, 7, in an upstate New York hospital. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Catalano) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island woman, dressed as a popular Disney Movie character, recently visited a little girl suffering from a traumatic brain injury in an upstate New York hospital. Emilie Saltzman, 7, suffered the injury back on Oct. 14 after falling off a horse, according to a report by ABC News. Following almost a month-long stint in the Westchester hospital, Saltzman's condition vastly improved. After hearing the good news, a family friend decided to place a call to Grant City resident Samantha Catalano, 26, owner of "Samantha's Fairytale Princesses." Catalano, who doubles as a paraprofessional at St. Patrick's School in Richmond, uses her business for both private, paid-for parties, as well as non-profit, charitable events that raise money for children in need. Her latest visit to see Emilie was, of course, on the house. She surprised the 7-year-old garbed in a dress similar to the one worn by her most popularly requested of characters: Princess Elsa from the movie "Frozen." "I just love to make children smile," Catalano told the Advance. "There's nothing better than knowing that you've brought happiness to a child who needs it." Catalano has made visits all over the city -- from local events at P.S. 62 in Rossville, to the Ronald McDonald house in Manhattan -- to help raise awareness for a myriad of diseases while bringing cheer to needy kids of all ages. "When I started doing this, it wasn't about money at all," added Catalano. "The business is the business, but I prefer showing up for kids that need smiling." "It's something she's trying to do from the heart," said her mother Jeana Montalto, who helps her daughter get ready before most events. "She genuinely gets satisfaction from making children happy ... that's a wonderful thing." One of Catalano's biggest motivations behind her business venture was the scare she and her mother faced nearly four years ago. "My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and that really shook me up," she said. "So I made a deal with God that if my mom got through this, I'd lend myself to children that need help. "One smile at a time." Readers interested in contacting Catalano for private or non-profit events can reach her through her website at samanthasfairytaleprincesses.com or by emailing her at samanthasfairytale@gmail.com. Hassan Rouhani Iran's president. Hassan Rouhani warned on Twitter, "If [the] U.S. continues its illegitimate interference [with] Iran's right to defend itself a new [program] will be devised to enhance missile capabilities," he wrote. (Ebrahim Noroozi) Back in the summer, when the Obama administration's proposed agreement with Iran concerning Iran's nuclear weapons and U.S.-imposed sanctions was being debated, supporters of the deal insisted in letters published here that it was a matter of choosing peace over war. "The importance of the Iran deal cannot be overstated," one letter-writer pleaded. "Please support this deal to avoid another conflict." Another wrote, "We should be celebrating the success of diplomacy over war in the recent negotiated nuclear deal with Iran. Our senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, and our representative, Daniel Donovan, need to show us that they support the Iran deal now and not wait for the last minute to make the intelligent choice." Similar hopeful sentiments were expressed by well-meaning Americans from all over the nation. We opposed the agreement for the simple reason that Iran has shown no inclination to rein in its belligerent terrorist clients, Hezbollah and Hamas, or curb its ambition to become a dominant regional power. It takes two to "Give Peace a Chance" and Iran, with its leaders' regular "Death To America!" exhortations and other, more tangible provocations, hardly seems a good candidate for a partner in peace. Rep. Donovan, of course, sided with other House Republicans in opposing the deal. Sen. Schumer, reluctant to break with a president of his own party, nevertheless came out against it too, saying, "I will vote to disapprove the agreement, not because I believe war is a viable or desirable option, nor to challenge the path of diplomacy. It is because I believe Iran will not change, and under this agreement, it will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power." Arab nations opposed too By the way, almost all of Iran's neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, opposed the deal as well, for reasons that are obvious to almost everyone but those who believe Iran is just a friend the unnecessarily wary U.S. hasn't made yet. Well, the deal was implemented anyway over the objections in Congress, and six months later, it is beginning to be fully implemented. So let's see where we are. For one thing, in addition to Iran's leaders employing virulent rhetoric to stoke anti-American rage among its people and continuing their regime's open support or terrorist organizations, Iran has resumed its ballistic missiles tests in blatant defiance of a United Nations ban on such launches. That ban on launching and testing ballistic missiles with the potential to reach many neighboring states, including Israel, was a sticking point on which Secretary of State John Kerry stood firm in the recent negotiations over the nuclear deal. Defying U.N. ban Iran has steadfastly insisted on its right to develop and test such weapons, ostensibly for "defensive" purposes. Now it appears it plans on building and testing the missiles anyway, U.N. ban or no U.N. ban. Meanwhile U.S. officials, including the Obama administration, are said to be weighing new sanctions to respond to the missile launches, even as $100 billion in Iranian assets is due to be released under the deal with the U.S. That's the part of the deal the Iranian leaders have craved to charge their economy and advance their bid to become a force in the Middle East. But Iran's president. Hassan Rouhani warned on Twitter, "If [the] U.S. continues its illegitimate interference [with] Iran's right to defend itself a new [program] will be devised to enhance missile capabilities," he wrote. Incident in the Strait of Hormuz Then, just a week ago, Iranian navy vessels pointedly harried U.S. Navy ships in the waters of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a strategically critical passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which about a fifth of the world's supply of oil passes. At one point, an Iranian warship fired several rockets that passed within 1,500 yard of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. "It's the equivalent of walking onto I-95 and deciding to have a weapons test," Cmdr. Kevin Stephens, a spokesman for the Navy's Fifth Fleet, told the New York Times. Wars have been started over less provocative acts. Iran insisted the carrier had entered a "forbidden zone" and the rocket launch was a "minor warning." The Iranian spokesman who offered this description this added, according to the Times, "There is no reason to think the relations will improve." Give peace a chance, indeed. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612e81f7d48)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f077edc0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612e81f7d48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f077edc0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0765a78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f077edc0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f077edc0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ebbd4298)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0798988)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0798988)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efc600f8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f015ae98)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efc600f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f015ae98)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f07b6ec8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f015ae98)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f015ae98)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0112e38)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0ae6048)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0ae6048)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 "Much of the violence relates to young people wanting their parent to do something for them, or money or consumer goods like an iPhone or beauty products," said teen abuse researcher Jo Howard, who is also the executive manager at family support service Kildonan Uniting Care. Parents are increasingly turning to support groups such as Toughlove to help them deal with their out-of-control teens. Credit:James Brickwood Family psychologists and researchers have identified an increase in the number of cases of parents being abused by their kids, which they attribute to the sense of entitlement with which children grow up today. Teenagers are increasingly emotionally and physically abusing their parents, lashing out when they don't get their way or are denied something. Victorian Children's Court statistics show that more than 870 children were placed on family violence intervention orders in 2014 a rate that has almost doubled in the past five years. Police statistics also show 6000 family violence reports were made in the same year by parents against children aged under 24 including against 38 children under 10. Ms Howard said that while some abusive teens had grown up in homes where there was trauma, violence, poverty and separation, others were simply products of the current parenting fashion of bolstering children's self-esteem. "There is a strong focus on supporting young people's self-esteem, protecting them from any risk, they shouldn't suffer any disappointment, we have to do everything to support them," Ms Howard said. "They don't get to experience resilience, delayed gratification, or conflict resolution. They've learnt to demand and escalate their behaviour until their parents give in." Ms Howard said two-thirds of perpetrators were male, and more than 80 per cent of victims were the mother. The peak age for violence is 15 to 17. Canadian research suggests one in 15 families with teenagers experience this abuse, but there is no comparable research on Australian families. Analysts said the renewed conflict initially appeared to have been a calculated political strategy by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to strengthen support for his Justice and Development Party ahead of parliamentary elections in November. A sick person is carried through barricades set up by the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Nusaybin on Christmas Eve. Credit:AP When Justice and Development won by a landslide a result that Mr Erdogan interpreted as the public's demand for stability many had hoped it would lead to the revival of peace talks. Instead, the violence has sharply escalated, stoking fears that it might spread. A man stands amid the rubble in Nusaybin, Turkey. Credit:AP Mr Erdogan pushing for more presidential powers this week cited Hitler's Germany as an example of an effective presidential system, and renewed calls for a new constitution to consolidate his authority. Mr Erdogan has also vowed to eliminate the Kurdistan Workers' Party, considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Having carried out an insurgency against Turkey for three decades, the group, now emboldened by a radicalised youth branch inspired by the war in Syria, has declared autonomous regions and stepped up its fight for self-rule. Militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in a bunker in Sirnak, Turkey, late last year. Credit:AP The Turkish authorities have also been alarmed by the territorial gains in Syria made by Syrian Kurdish militias that are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party and are considered a national security threat to the Turks. Those militias have complicated Turkey's collaboration with the United States in the Syria conflict, because all share a hostility toward the Islamic State extremists there and to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. But for Mr Erdogan, the Kurdish militants in Turkey are now the most important enemy. "You will be annihilated in those houses, those buildings, those ditches which you have dug," he said recently, speaking about the militants to a crowd of his supporters in the central Anatolian city of Konya. "Our security forces will continue this fight until it has been completely cleansed and a peaceful atmosphere established." Photographs and video clips from the region distributed by local officials show chaos and destruction, with black smoke rising above shelled buildings and neighbourhoods. The town of Cizre, in the south-eastern province of Sirnak, has been under a curfew for more than two weeks, with mounting civilian casualties. Last Friday, a three-month-old baby and her grandfather were killed in crossfire between security forces and militants, according to local medics, who said the family was unable to reach help after its house had been shelled. Three soldiers were killed by the Kurdish party in Cizre during the weekend, the Turkish military said in a statement. At least 200 members of Turkey's security forces have been killed since the conflict resumed. In the district of Silopi, which borders northern Iraq, residents say they are trapped in a war zone. "The tanks fire all day and we have nowhere left to hide," said Nurettin Kurtay, a teacher reached by phone. "People are dying in their own homes. Our schools and our infrastructure has been destroyed. There is no difference between what is going on here and next door in Iraq and Syria." Rights groups say the civilian death toll will rise steeply. Nationally-renowned Canberra chef Ben Willis took a punt opening his second restaurant, Temporada, amidst the office blocks of Moore Street in the city and it's hoped it's the catalyst for more change in what some believe is an increasingly forgotten part of the central business district. He and architect-property manager George Katheklakis believe that with the right amount of vision and commitment the street could become an "urban oasis", a place that attracts people and business and community activity as its own unique precinct. Rose Pearl working in the Temporada restaurant, on Moore Street in Civic. Credit:Jamila Toderas "There's enormous opportunity here. It's an open canvas," Mr Katheklakis said. Running parallel to Northbourne Avenue between London Circuit and Turner's Haig Park, Moore Street is close to other parts of the city which are flourishing, including Braddon and Bunda Street. Along with the perennial plans to get fitter, eat healthy food or sort out finances, many people have expanded their New Year's resolutions to include others in their visions for a kinder 2016. For Refugee Action Committee spokesman, John Minns, the plight of those forced to leave their homelands and seek asylum on foreign shores is an ongoing concern. Susanna Pain led a New Year's Eve labyrinth walk for peace at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. Credit:Melissa Adams The Canberra-based RAC is part of a network of citizens campaigning for the fair and humane treatment of refugees. "I think most Australians are generous people who can empathise with individuals in difficulty and individuals who are fleeing terrible situations," Dr Minns said. An Ainslie man charged with public exposure in front of his neighbours before Christmas came to police attention again for allegedly breaching his bail conditions on New Year's Eve. Jeffrey Isen first came to police attention on December 23 after his neighbours in the same public housing complex alleged he exposed himself in front of them. A man charged with breaching his bail conditions on New Year's Eve has been granted bail but banned from drinking liquor. He was released from the police watchhouse shortly after, with his bail conditions stipulating he was not allowed to contact or communicate with the complaining neighbours. But the neighbours, who share a driveway with Mr Isen, called police again on Thursday after the defendant allegedly yelled profanities while outside his house. Within hours of a deadly mining spill in November that would become Brazil's worst environmental disaster, BHP chief executive Andrew Mackenzie was in front of a camera offering his sympathies to those affected. Meanwhile, his counterpart at joint venture partner Vale SA , Murilo Ferreira, took nearly a week to talk to the press, setting the tone for a media strategy experts say has been slow and clumsy. At least one group is planning to demonstrate outside BHP's London AGM this week. Credit:Eddie Jim While both companies' legal strategies seem similarly aimed at limiting their direct liability for the dam collapse that caused the disaster, a divergence in public relations tactics has left Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner, taking the brunt of social media outrage and street protests over the tragedy, which killed 17 and left hundreds homeless. The Brazilian company regularly denies responsibility for the accident in interviews and press conferences, putting the blame solely on Samarco, the jointly owned venture with BHP Billiton which ran the iron ore mine where it occurred. Islamic terror appears to have metastasised into pockets of small armies from which to launch raids into the heartlands of Western civilisation. The primary cancer in the Middle East is being treated by combinations of Russian radiation therapy and the Allies making the best of treatments now available. Earlier solutions were fraught with mishaps, muddle-headed notions of cultural history and arrogance. Millions of people have been killed, lives and homes destroyed, all in the name of Christian democracy. It was colonisation by stealth, an attempt to snatch control in the false name of freedom. It failed because the invaders themselves, apart from a few die-hard leaders, were beginning to doubt the legitimacy of their own institutions that were based on religion, and religious texts that bore witness to as many interpretations as characters that Benedict Cumberbatch has played successfully. Millions of people have been killed, lives and homes destroyed in the name of Christian democracy. Credit:AP The overreaction to the events of 9/11 reflected a rush to reclaim the certainties that the West was raised on, all the way up to George W. Bush's own education. But, the majority of the population of the West were looking elsewhere for ethical and spiritual solutions to existence. Millions left the churches for meditation and yoga centres. The vast majority, though nationalistic, were not religiously wedded to the Bible and gospels as the spiritual foundations of their own society. People read their Bibles and gospels as stories, whose value lay in the metaphors, lessons, and common sense written down, and not in the literal words. These, they believed more and more, were not the words of a single deity, but the accumulated data of civilisations passed, like geological cuttings revealing reflections of life at certain points of time. In the Islamic world, under attack from its own despots and dictators, people began to look for salvation in the literal words of a single God, as expressed through his appointed prophets Mohammed and his inner circle. As with Christianity, splinter groups broke off from the literal wood of Muhammad based on different interpretations. Like a perfect storm, there could never have been a worse time to force a failing religion down the throat of an emerging one. Instead of joining together in an Arab spring, the perfect storm attracted discord, disharmony and the brutal truths of dictatorships of centuries of oppression in religion's name. Instead of a political Woodstock that the neoconservatives naively dreamt of, the Middle East became a firestack, a tinder box full of resentments and anger at regimes, especially those that appear on the one hand to act as liberators, but in fact were wolves in sheep's clothing, oil-thirsty, greedy and still colonialists at heart. The arrogance of the liberation sat like the uniforms on the shoulders of the crusaders some centuries earlier. The future looks even grimmer. No leader, nor country in the Middle East has appeared to galvanise the diverse elements that the Allies once divided with the stroke of a pen. Anarchy appeared over a century ago as preferable to monarchy and its military extension. Anarchy appeared not only in the Balkans, but also in the United States where the Los Angeles Times building was bombed by anarchists preferring the rule of lawlessness to the rule of law that enriched the railroad barons and cheated the railroad workers. The truth of the matter is that people need to exist on earth with the promise of hope. For many years, the oppressors kept the oppressed in line with the hope of a better life in the next life and for a long time this thesis allowed control to be exerted. Slaves, field workers in Russia, Irish peasants, the Arab poor, the toilers of the world were kept in place by the prospect of an eternity spent in bliss. It was a small sacrifice for such a reward although the rulers seemed to be enjoying the fruits of eternity here on earth. The rulers threw their lifestyles into the faces of the ruled: the disharmony between them, the disparity of riches, and doubts about the existence of an afterlife all congealed in uprisings against the earthly custodians of the world's riches. I confess that my own map-reading technique goes along the lines of "Uluru? Oh yes . Head for David Jones then turn right." But it's better than the male refusal to ever admit that they're lost. Even after you've spent what seems like an entire week on one seven-lane, sub-orbital ring road and everyone in the car has started to resemble a passenger on the raft of the Medusa, men would rather die than ask directions. You see, the trouble with family car trips is that every man thinks "rally driver" is his true vocation. He's so convinced that he's an excellent driver that when he gets a note under his windscreen saying "parking fine", he just presumes it's a complimentary comment on his driving skills. The average male also thinks he has an inbuilt compass which makes him a superior map reader. This blind belief in his navigational abilities makes holiday road trips extremely hazardous; show me a woman who criticises her husband's driving or route-planning prowess and I'll show you a woman in a singles bar. Especially if a hoon in a hotted-up vehicle which is as macho as an automobile can get without actually growing a penis as a hood ornament pulls alongside. Women understand that men only drive such ridiculous cars because it's illegal to masturbate in public. But just when you're about to share this insight with your mild-mannered husband he suddenly narrows his eyes and, as the lights change, lets rip with a rev so loud it blows out residential windows and causes shingles to fly off roofs. It's clearly time he bought a Meno-porsche. In every car snaking its way along the coast for the annual family holiday today, there'll be a woman sucking in her breath, clenching the dashboard and making a gasping, panic-stricken noise. When her husband asks what's the matter, she'll just grab her chest and whimper, "Oh nothing." New research reveals that men are so appalled by the idea of requesting navigational guidance that they walk the equivalent of 900 unnecessary miles in a life time. Apparently, the average bloke is so stubborn he would rather stride on, lost and clueless, than admit defeat. Wrong turns mean that the typical male will travel 1.5 unnecessary miles a month. Which is 18 miles a year. Only 6 per cent of men will ask for directions or check a map, which perhaps also explains their inability to find the G-spot. (Just ask us boys, and we can direct you straight there!) Anyway, the results of the poll carried out with nearly 1000 adults by TrekAce, a forearm-mounted directional aid for walkers, reveals that 94 per cent of respondents said women generally had better directional skills, even if men were reluctant to admit it. (Ladies, feel free to momentarily exceed the daily recommended allowance of Smug Gloating.) Results also revealed that over a third of couples fight about navigational issues. Family road trips are definitely the time when a woman finds herself wondering why she married a man who regards asking for directions as a genetic weakness. Although on our annual road trip down the coast, I've learned to be quite restrained it's been at least five years since I stuffed a road map up my husband's nose. And, except for nights out, when husbands suddenly just expect their wives to eschew the champers and drive home, most men are unwilling to let women behind the wheel. This is because a bloke's greatest love affair is with his car. He's committed to it, in sickness and in health till repayments do they part. My own darling Dad mainly communicated with his four cherished daughters through our vehicles. Not one for great emotional displays, he demonstrated his love through car maintenance. He patiently taught us to drive, then fixed up our various rust buckets. When I was in my early 20s, Dad and I had a silly disagreement. I only knew all was forgiven when I dropped by for Sunday lunch and, while I was chatting to Mum, he rotated my tyres. During my next visit, he cleaned my carburettor and fixed my head gasket. (Whatever the hell that is. You might as well ask me to dismantle a nuclear reactor.) Soon after, he rang to ask how many miles I was getting to the gallon It was the equivalent of a Shakespearean love sonnet. The former teaching aide rose to stardom after winning Channel Ten's Star Search in the 1990s. "At one stage he was without a doubt one of the best all-round dancers, I think, even on the planet. The guy could perform like Gene Kelly," an ex-dancer who performed with Mr Montoya told Fairfax Media. But Mr Montoya walked away from dancing because he couldn't raise a family or make a career out of it, he said in a recent online interview. Former dancer Sergio Montoya has been jailed for child pornography offences. According to the facts, over the past year Mr Montoya's curiosity about child pornography grew into a fetish. It caught up with him in December when he was charged with a string of offences, including child abuse material possession and access. Since 2012, Mr Montoya had been employed as a student learning support officer for the Bridge Road School for special needs children in Sydney's inner-west. He was teaching dancing classes at the school and part of his job also saw him accompany students who were integrating back into their "home" schools. He was meant to be carrying out this role with a special needs student at Forest Lodge Public School on February 5 when he went to the playground and allegedly took a photo up the skirt of a young girl as she swung on the monkey bars. Fairfax Media understands the girl's mother was able to identify the young girl in the photo by the underwear she was wearing. On April 2, he was supporting a special needs student at Ashbury Public School when he allegedly stalked a 10-year-old student, taking a series of photos of her as she walked around the school. Along with the alleged up-skirting photos, Mr Montoya allegedly used his mobile to send sexually explicit messages to one of his love interests asking for photos of her teenage daughter. "I want to see you both in your panties, bra or naked. Take a photo or two for me love!" he sent on September 20. When she sent him a photo of herself without a top on, Mr Montoya replied: "I want to see you both like that. I want one of [her daughter] too mmmmm baby." According to the fact sheet, the mother did not take any photos of her daughter despite feeling compelled to. Detectives began to lift the lid on Mr Montoya's alleged affection for children after receiving a Crime Stoppers call on September 2 about pornographic images and video of young people on his computer. His former wife's home at Merrylands was searched but police did not find the white Apple iMac they were looking for. After putting Mr Montoya under surveillance, police followed him to another woman's home in Sydney's south, where they found the cracked computer. Analysis later uncovered hundreds of abuse images of children, from infants to teenage girls. There were also videos of a man having sex with a child, aged eight to 10 years old, according to the facts. Mr Montoya was arrested on December 10 and during a tearful interview with police admitted to accessing child abuse material via the internet, the facts state. He also admitted that it was a "fantasy" to have sex with his friend and her teenage daughter at the same time. "Further, when asked why he had this fantasy, he stated that he had lost his virginity at the age of 15 years old and remembers this as a positive experience," the facts state. Mr Montoya was refused bail and is due to front court again in January. The allegations made against one of Sydney's former dancing stars have sent shock waves through the dancing community. "It has totally done my head in," the dance studio owner who offered him a job back in 2009 said. "We are in total, total shock. A P-plate driver has been refused bail after an alleged police car chase with the accused clocking nearly 60 kilometres per hour over the speed limit in Minchinbury, a court has heard. Ali Haywari appeared before Parramatta Local Court via audio visual link on Saturday. Mr Haywari's legal aid lawyer Ms Maranga asked the court to give her client the opportunity to prove to himself and the community that he could abide by the law. The 25-year-old Auburn man was charged with a police pursuit and driving while his license was suspended. Mr Haywari was allegedly travelling 117 kilometres per hour in an 80km zone on the Great Western Highway on Friday afternoon. Speed is still the biggest killer on the state's roads as NSW recorded its worst road toll in three years. There were 348 deaths on the roads in 2015, which was 41 more than the previous year. "[A toll] increase of 41 is not the standard we aspire to": NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay. Credit:Anne Davies Roads Minister Duncan Gay urged everyone to make road safety a top priority in the new year. "Much of the violence relates to young people wanting their parent to do something for them, or money or consumer goods like an iPhone or beauty products," said teen abuse researcher Jo Howard, who is also the executive manager at family support service Kildonan Uniting Care. "These sorts of things often trigger violence." NSW crime statistics show that the percentage of domestic violence call-outs involving a child threatening and harassing their parent has risen from 5.7 per cent to 8 per cent in the past five years. Family psychologists and researchers have identified an increase in the number of cases of parents being abused by their kids, which they attribute to the sense of entitlement with which children grow up today. Teenagers are increasingly emotionally and physically abusing their parents, lashing out when they don't get their way or are denied something. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Fuller said police were seeing more evidence of children assaulting their parents, particularly as children stay at home longer because of the housing affordability crisis. "We are seeing an increase in reports of domestic violence assaults with children and parents. It's something we're watching closely," he said. NSW crime statistics show that the percentage of domestic violence call-outs involving a child threatening and harassing their parent has risen from 5.7 per cent to 8 per cent in the past five years. Domestic violence-related assault of a parent by a child has risen from 7.6 per cent of call-outs to 8.3 per cent during the same period. Ms Howard said that while some abusive teens had grown up in homes where there was trauma, violence, poverty and separation, others were simply products of the current parenting fashion of bolstering children's self-esteem. "There is a strong focus on supporting young people's self-esteem, protecting them from any risk, they shouldn't suffer any disappointment, we have to do everything to support them," Ms Howard said. "They don't get to experience resilience, delayed gratification, or conflict resolution. They've learnt to demand and escalate their behaviour until their parents give in." Dale Thistlethwaite (left) and Stuart Hollaway went missing on December 28. Credit:Facebook He said Mr Hollaway, a teacher at Wesley College's St Kilda Road campus, had died pursuing his dream to climb and guide in New Zealand, having had to pass many "arduous" exams to reach the high level he'd achieved. "Stu is one of the very few Australians who managed to spend many seasons of climbing and training in New Zealand to become a mountain guide," he said. "It's incredibly rare for an Australasian to do. He's a very respected mountaineer." Mr Beare said Mr Hollaway had a "very open, expressive, joyous" personality. "He was full of life, full of joy, generally the energiser bunny in the group, and he was very keen to share his knowledge with other people," he said. "If you want to be a good mountain guide, you have to be like a sheep dog, you have to look out for other people, and that's what Stu was, he was always caring about other people." Mr Beare said Ms Thistlethwaite was "fully behind his dream" as they travelled the world together climbing. "She was always fun, always enthusiastic and very keen to participate in all the outdoor activities," he said. Mr Beare said the pair, who were roped together as they fell to their deaths, would be missed. "He'll still be smiling away where ever he is, but there is a lot of sad people missing him," he said. "I'm terribly sorry for all the pain his family and close friends will be going through right now." The couple were among the most experienced mountaineers in Australia and New Zealand and were honorary life members of the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club. In a statement, the club said it had lost "two great friends and mentors". "Dale and Stu we will sorely miss you," it said. "You were admired and loved and the club won't be the same without your stories, quick laugh and passion for the outdoors." The pair ran a business called Vertical World Mountain Guiding. Mr Hollaway taught avalanche awareness courses in New Zealand and was a specialist in ice-climbing. Ms Thistlethwaite worked at the Victorian Auditor-General's Office, and had worked at Parks Victoria. Former Wesley student Dion Travitz made a tribute to Mr Holloway on Facebook. "I had the opportunity of being taught English by Stuart Holloway in his first year at Wesley and my second last year at school," he wrote. "He was a [sic] active, creative and unconventional teacher. An unfortunate loss to the world." The rescue effort The bodies of the couple were recovered four days after they first went missing from the steep upper slopes of the mountain. Four alpine rescue works had to retrieve the bodies using a rope from a helicopter, due to the inaccessible mountain terrain. A rescue team had to wait until January 1 to rescue the pair due to the risk of melting ice and debris. The couple were believed to have been less than 50 metres from their camp when they suffered the fatal fall, New Zealand Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said. The pair were camping high in the mountain, and Commander Inspector Gaskin said it was clear that they had fallen "a considerable distance". "They were roped together, so one of them's come to grief and the other one has fallen with them," he said. A friend of the couple would now formally identify the bodies, and the deaths would be referred to the New Zealand coroner, he said. Commander Inspector Gaskin said it was a "typical accident" for high-altitude climbs, where the margin of error was very small. "The climbing community will be dismayed that this has happened." New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB host Alex Mason told 3AW the conditions on Mount Cook were "quite treacherous" for rescue teams working to recover the bodies. "It wasn't until late last night that a rescue team was able to fly in there," she said. "The main danger was, of course, the risk of material dropping from any rescuers onto them from the mountain above." Ms Mason said they flew a rescue team member hanging from a helicopter to retrieve the bodies. Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings said he understood the Department of Foreign Affairs were providing assistance to the families. "All Victorians are thinking of their families and love ones at this difficult time," he said. Their deaths came just days after another Melbourne woman died on a mountain north of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Nicole Anne Andrews, 28, died after she fell nearly 300 metres off The Footstool, a 2764 metres tall mountain on the Eugenie Glacier. She was airlifted to hospital but later died from her injuries. Firefighters have made the grim discovery of a dead body inside a Perth house destroyed by fire on Saturday morning. Emergency services feared someone may have been inside the South Guildford home when they were called to the blaze on Wilkie Street just after 8am. Firefighters at the Wilkie Street house fire. Credit:Nine News By the time firefighters arrived, the house was already engulfed in flames and the roof had collapsed. The person's remains were discovered after the fire had been extinguished. Honolulu: President Barack Obama will press ahead with a set of executive actions on guns next week despite growing terror concerns in the US that have dampened some Americans' enthusiasm for tighter firearms restrictions. The president will meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to finalise a series of new gun control measures and will announce his package of proposals soon afterward, according to several individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public. One of the main proposals Mr Obama is poised to adopt would require some unlicensed gun dealers to get licences and conduct background checks on potential buyers. The change is aimed at informal dealers, such as those who sell online frequently or rent tables at gun shows but do not have a shop. Shiite leaders in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Yemen also warned of reprisals, in a signal that sectarian conflicts across the Middle East could be further inflamed. Kashmiri Shiite Muslims hold portraits of the executed cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a protest. Credit:Dar Yasin On a day where a Saudi-led coalition announced the end of a ceasefire in its war with Yemen's Houthi movement, the Houthis said Nimr had been afforded only a "mock trial". The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available under the kingdom's sharia. Executed: Saudi Arabian state television displays an image of cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Credit:AP The executions seemed mostly aimed at discouraging Saudis from jihadism after bombings and shootings by Sunni militants in Saudi Arabia over the past year killed dozens and Islamic State called on followers in the kingdom to stage attacks. The simultaneous execution of 47 people on security grounds was the biggest mass execution for such offences in Saudi Arabia since the 1980 killing of 63 jihadist rebels who seized Mecca's Grand Mosque in 1979. Saudi anti-government protesters carry a poster of cleric Nimr al-Nimr in 2012. Credit:AP The 43 Sunni jihadists executed included several prominent al-Qaeda figures, including those convicted of responsibility for attacks on Western compounds, government buildings and diplomatic missions that killed hundreds from 2003 to 2006. But the execution of four Shiites, including Nimr, who were convicted of shooting and petrol bomb attacks that killed several policemen during anti-government protests in Qatif district from 2011 to 2013, provoked an immediate response abroad. Saudi police increased security in Qatif district of Eastern Province, residents said, a Shiite majority area and site of the protests from 2011 to 2013 in which several police were shot dead as well as more than 20 local demonstrators. Bahrain police fired tear gas at several dozen people protesting against the execution of Nimr, a witness said. In a statement issued on state television and other official media, the Interior Ministry named the dead men and listed crimes that included both involvement in attacks and embracing jihadist ideology. Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to the Interior Ministry, commented: "There is a huge popular pressure on the government to punish those people. It included all the leaders of al-Qaeda, all the ones responsible for shedding blood. It sends a message." Analysts have speculated the execution of the four Shiites was partly to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia's majority Sunni Muslims that the government did not differentiate between political violence committed by members of the two sects. However, human rights groups have consistently attacked the kingdom's judicial process as unfair, pointing to accusations that confessions have been secured under torture and that defendants in court have been denied access to lawyers. Riyadh denies practising torture, rejects criticism of its legal process and says its judiciary is independent. The conservative Islamic kingdom, which usually executes people by public beheading, detained thousands of militant Islamists after al-Qaeda attacks between 2003 and 2006, and has convicted hundreds of them. However, it also detained hundreds of members of its Shiite minority after protests from 2011 to 2013, during which several policemen were killed in shooting and petrol bomb attacks. At least three other Shiites were executed alongside Nimr, including Ali al-Rubh, who relatives said was a juvenile at the time of the crime for which he was convicted, Mohammed al-Shayoukh and Mohammed Suwaymil. Activists in the Shiite district of Qatif warned of possible protests in response to the executions. Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said he hoped any response would be peaceful. Washington: On Monday a grand jury in Cleveland declined to bring criminal charges against the two police officers who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice last November. Cuyahoga County District Attorney Tim McGinty has already drawn sharp criticism from Rice's family and on social media for his handling of the case. Prosecutors said "Tamir was big for his age - 170cm and 79.3 kgs, with a men's XL jacket and size 36 pants - and could have easily passed for someone much older", according to the Los Angeles Times. They cited "unnamed associates" of the 12-year-old who said Tamir was known to pull his toy gun out "like a robber". The language echoes statements given by the responding police officers, who said they believed the boy was much older than 12. To some social science researchers, these characterisations would not come as a surprise. Rice is black. And research published last year by the American Psychological Association found "evidence that black boys are seen as older and less innocent and that they prompt a less essential conception of childhood than do their white same-age peers". In other words, people tend to think of black boys as bigger and older than they actually are. Conquer Japan with Japanese com-Domain! Domains with special characters or IDN-domains have been around for some time, for example, domains with Cyrillic characters at .com. The crucial difference to the new IDN domains is that the special characters are now put on the right side of the dot. On the left side of the point there arent necessarily special characters, but also names in Latin script. Verisign starts its first com-Domain with Japanese characters. It can be assumed that in the future a considerable part of the domains in Japan will be in Japanese characters, this because a large part of the Japanese does not understand English. Who does not want to ignore this segement of Japanese society has to offer websites in Japanese which domains are in Japanese on the left and the right side of the dot. The com-Domain with Japanese characters is called xn--tckwe-Domain in Punycode. The DNS-System has to translate every domain with Japanese characters in Latin Punycode, since the DNS-System only understands Latin characters. The conventional com-Domain consists of three characters.The traditional com-Domains owe their unparalleled success also to brevity. The Japanese com-Domain tops the conventional domain because it is even shorter. It consists of two Japanese characters. There are four different registration steps for the com-Domains in Japanese: -Sunrise Period -Priority Access Program -Landrush Period -General Availability There are two methods to register a domain with Japanese characters in a preferencial way: 1. Sunrise Period: the identical name in Latin or in Japanese must be registered as a trade mark. 2. Priority Access Program: One has to own the exact same name at the traditional com-Domain. There have been IDN domains with Japanese characters left of the dot at the traditional .com domain name since a longer time, which means that both Latin and Japanese names can be registered with Japanese com-Domains at the Priority Access Program. The Sunrise Period ends on 31 January 2016. Whoever is interested in the Sunrise Period must register brands at the Trademark Clearinghouse. Those who have already registered another new top level domain in the Sunrise Period should own a so-called SMD-File. With the SMD file it is possible to immediately register during the Sunrise Period at the Japanese version of the com-Domains names. It is enough if the SMD file is sent to ICANN Registrar Secura along with the order. A registration of the trade mark at the Trademark Clearinghouse is no longer necessary. When using the Priority Access Program one must own the same name at the conventional com-Domain in order to register the name in the Japanese variant. The price is as low as in the General Availability, even if one may register much earlier. Hans-Peter Oswald http://www.domainregistry.de/xn--tckwe-Domain.html (English) http://www.domainregistry.de/xn--tckwe-domains.html (English) http://www.domainregistry.de/idn-domains.html Database: See how mortgage rates have changed since 1971 Here's how current mortgage rates compare to each of the past 50 years. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Suburban schools grow slightly, or lose less than state average Numbers from the state Department of Public Instruction show that in suburban Milwaukee, about 27 school districts grew last year, or lost fewer students than average. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Rome wasnt built in a day, but maybe a good portion of Stamford High Schools new career center was. At least thats how it appears from the timing of permits issued for the work. Construction of the career center began three weeks ago, according to multiple sources familiar with the work. Metal framing was in place, along with electrical wiring. But on Monday, city Building Department records showed no permit for the work. There was only a year-old application for a permit, never issued, and an architects drawing, never stamped by the Building Department as required The project is being supervised by AFB Construction Management, the school districts private contractor, which has a history of failing to obtain permits for work done in school buildings. AFB has been cited for permit violations in the past, although no citations were issued this time around. Chief Building Official Robert DeMarco told The Advocate Monday that his plan examiner made a notation last January saying that AFB Facilities Director Rich Lyons had asked that the permit request for the career center be placed on hold. Thats whats on the record, DeMarco said. The application was to be made inactive until further notice. Suddenly, on Monday, shortly after The Advocate asked about the permit, the application became very active. That day, Lyons took architectural drawings to the Building Department, AFB chief Al Barbarotta said in an email. A building permit and electrical permit were issued Tuesday morning. Lyons posted them at Stamford High Tuesday afternoon. When The Advocate went to Stamford High on Tuesday to see the work, the Media Center was locked, paper taped to windows of the doors. Barbarotta said no one could meet Advocate staff there until Thursday. On Wednesday morning, a city building inspector checked and signed off on the framing and electrical work. How could he, on Wednesday morning, approve work for which AFB obtained a permit Tuesday afternoon? Permits are supposed to be issued before work is done, not after, so wasnt that backwards? No, Barbarotta said. So all the work was done between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning? Pretty much, Barbarotta said. The rough electrical was done in a couple hours, he said in an email. What about the metal studs framing the career center? Temporary stud walls were erected to close off the area when asbestos was removed Dec. 12, Barbarotta wrote. So, between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, the temporary studs were removed and permanent ones were installed? No, Barbarotta said. He had to wait for new drawings because Stamford Highs new principal, Ray Manka, made some changes. Lyons had to get a draftsman to redo the drawings for Manka, Barbarotta wrote, and when they were complete, we saved time and money using the (temporary) studs. We were able to save the taxpayers money by using them. Since AFB considered the studs temporary when they were erected, no permit was needed, Barbarotta said. But Manka said in an email that the change in plans was really just a rotation. He asked if the career center could be built in the vacated upper Media Center rather than in the professional library area, Manka wrote. The career center will be a classroom in the Media Center where students may research college and career options and meet with college representatives. I don't know about the revised drawings, Manka wrote. Libby Carlson, spokeswoman for Mayor David Martin, said she knew nothing about revised drawings. They were not attached to the building permit issued Tuesday. So its unclear whether the original drawings - which cost taxpayers $3,500, according to Barbarotta - were used, what the revisions were or what they cost. Its unclear why metal framing erected temporarily during asbestos removal sufficed as permanent framing for the career center. Its unclear whether all the electrical work was done in two hours or just a portion of it. Its unclear why, if no permanent work was done before AFB obtained the permit, The Advocate was denied entry. Its unclear why AFB did not apply for a building permit until The Advocate inquired with the Building Department. And its unclear how AFB was able to get permits almost immediately after applying for them. In August, AFB came under fire after the Building Department shut down projects in three schools for failure to obtain permits. No fines were issued. There were reports that members of the Martin administration were angry that building inspectors cited AFB for the permit violations. That was not the case, Carlson said Thursday. It appears, though, that members of the administration were not happy they werent told about the citations in advance. We ask all departments, including the Building Department, to communicate actions taken regarding major issues, Carlson said. And this is because the mayor wants to hear the rationale for decisions made by department heads, so potential implications can be discussed and so everyone is on the same page. Some people may feel like this is an added pressure, but we see it as the role of the administration to know whats going on. Carlson said the mayors office did not help AFB obtain permits for the Stamford High career center. It was between Board of Education Facilities and the Building Department, she said. Work began that didnt require a permit and when the scope of work changed and it required a permit, it was obtained. That is what I have been told. AFBs permit violations have created embarrassing headlines for a school system plagued by a teachers sexual misconduct at Stamford High, the arrests of two school administrators, the suspensions of Central Office administrators, the resignations of school board members, the retirement of the superintendent and other problems. But AFBs record goes back to 2013, when Barbarotta spent $424,000 in taxpayers money to install energy-efficient lights at Scofield Magnet Middle School without permits or inspections, among other violations. There were few repercussions. Martin said Thursday saying he expects all work that requires a permit to be properly permitted and inspected. In a statement issued through Carlson, Martin said, With the Board of Education projects, we want to make sure they are properly permitted, but are completed quickly and safely. I want our Building Department and Board of Ed Facilities to be working together to ensure complete safety conditions that are verified through permits and inspections. angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angelacarella On July 31, 2014 the Stamford Advocate published: Stamfords battle for good and honest government, a letter I wrote about the back door maneuvering by Mayor David Martin to aid the Building and Land Technology company (BLT) in circumventing Stamfords Master Plan, Zoning Laws, the Connecticut Coastal Area Management Act (CAM) and numerous other regulations. If you have been reading The Advocate for the last four years, you are well aware that BLT violated the zoning laws of Stamford, as well as the CAM Act and are party to a lawsuit with the City of Stamford over illegally demolishing and refusing to maintain the 14-acre boatyard in accordance with the GDP and the Zoning laws and the roughly $6 million in fines they owe Stamford for these violations. The reason I am writing again is that the mayor and his full administration has gone from the unacceptable behavior level in 2014 to a more extreme and questionable level now at the beginning of 2016. The City Charter and the Master Plan guide Stamfords government. They are the blueprints of how our elected officials should act and how they should shape Stamford for its future. Martin has taken on a mission to ignore both for the benefit of a single company. His tactics have been to intimidate the Zoning Board, the Planning Board, the Harbor Management Commission and now the Board of Representatives. He has instructed the City Corporation Counsel (our own lawyers) to act not as a neutral resource for our city boards and commissions, but as an instrument of his plan to push through illegal development on land without development rights. The mayor is continuing on his crusade to further influence the vote of the current Zoning Board applications by BLT. He is now trying to force a membership change in the Zoning Board to stack the vote in favor of BLT, despite that the facts clearly demonstrate that BLT has not met the requirements for approval of their applications. The mayor is attempting what is analogous to jury tampering. He is doing this with such vengeance that one has to question his motives. The mayor clearly has one outcome of the Zoning Board vote in mind and is stopping at nothing to achieve this result. He should be letting the boards and commissions of Stamford do their jobs, free of political interference and intimidation! The very definition of corruption might be found not in the dictionary, but in the actions of the mayor and his staff. Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power is the actual definition. The preponderance of the evidence points toward questionable actions by the administration such that maybe the FBIs Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force should be taking a look. What BLT is doing with regard to their violations of the Zoning laws, the CAM Act, and their attempts to rewrite the obligations they have, and committed to, is akin to rewriting the rules of a game in mid game. Imagine one team in the Super Bowl deciding on its own that nine yards is actually a first down. Imagine if the officials actually jumped on the bandwagon and agreed! This is what is happening here in Stamford right now! What is at stake is the precedent that will be set by the actions of the mayor, his staff, and the Zoning Board, if the current BLT applications are approved. The message, and also clear legal grounds laid out by this action, will forever change the power of the Land Use Boards of Stamford and maybe the state. It would set the stage for any person or developer to commit to certain obligations and at their own whim, ignore the commitments, and change the rules to their own liking. Dont kid yourself that this is just about a boatyard! Far from it! This will set the stage for the placing marijuana dispensaries next to schools, commercial or industrial operations next to your home. In fact, why even bother asking permission! Just do what you want like the developer who recently built a building where it wanted to put it, regardless of the zoning laws, the neighbors objections, or the court mandate, as was outlined in The Advocate recently. Did the city make them tear it down and move it to the required location? I doubt it. So if the rules can be ignored and the city does not enforce its own laws and regulations, or ignores state laws, anarchy will be the rule of the land. Next you might have people refusing to pay the taxes that they are required to. Who knows where this will lead. It is time for the spotlight to be turned on our mayor, his administration, and all the way down to the Land Use Bureau Chief, to see if they are acting in the best interests of Stamford, or in fact for the best interests of themselves, BLT, or the two brothers who control the company. If you care about Stamford and the rule of law, you should speak up to your local representative and the mayor. If you are an elected member of the Board of Representatives, you should be questioning these actions vigorously! We cannot have a city run like this! Kevin Dailey is a Stamford resident. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Like all pediatricians, Dr. Lori Smith keep tabs on many aspects of her patients health, but until recently the Westport-based doctor didnt always consider whether the children she sees might be going hungry. It wasnt something that was necessarily on our radar, she said. While her practice treats some lower-income patients from nearby Norwalk and Bridgeport, most of the children Smith and her colleagues see come from relatively affluent families. But Smith, who has been a pediatrician for more than 16 years, and her colleagues recently began screening all patientsregardless of their household incomefor food insecurity, part of a new effort doctors and advocates hope will help prevent childhood hunger. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in October recommended that pediatricians screen all patients for hunger at well visits. In a policy statement, the group advised pediatricians to add two questions to those they ask caregivers or children at well visits: Whether, in the past year, they worried about food running out before they had money to buy more; and whether, in the past year, food they bought did not last and they could not afford to get more. Connecticuts children Hunger affects various age groups in Connecticut but is especially prevalent among children; according to Chicago-based advocacy group Feeding America. Feeding Americas Map the Meal Gap 2015 study, which examined data from between 2009 and 2013, found that 13.6 percent of Connecticuts overall population was food insecure but 19 percent of Connecticut children were. That means more than 152,000 children statewide were food insecure, according to the report. While many Connecticut doctors who serve low-income communities have been screening for a while, the new push likely marks a shift for those who dont cater to high-risk patients, according to Jillian Wood, executive director of the Connecticut AAP chapter. Prior to the new recommendation, Connecticut pediatricians anecdotally seemed to ask mainly higher-risk patients about food insecurity, she said, whereas the new recommendation is for all families to be screened. There is no data on how many families in the state currently are screened, since there is no particular billing code for it, Wood noted. At Smiths Westport practice, patients or caregivers are now asked directly about food insecurity, in addition to other questions assessing childrens health and safety. We did implement a new screening program, she said. Screenings began several weeks ago in the wake of the AAP recommendation. We havent used it enough to really get a ton of feedback. Screening at pediatrician visits is an important step in combating a prevalent problem in Connecticut and elsewhere, said Lucy Nolan, executive director at Hartford-based advocacy group End Hunger Connecticut. It acknowledges that [hunger] is an issue, she said. It creates a way for something to be done about it. To have the AAP go out and sort of take the lead on this, I think, is very helpful. If we ignore [the problem], its not going to go away. When pediatricians discover food insecurity in a household, the AAP recommends they connect the family to local resources that can help. Doing so, the group says, can help stave off an array of physical, emotional and behavioral consequences of hunger. Bridgeports food insecurity While it put the onus on pediatricians to act when they notice food insecurity, its a very good idea to have it on the radar because you might not know these things unless you ask, said Dr. Allyson Driggers, chief of pediatric ambulatory medicine at the Bridgeport campus of Yale-New Haven Childrens Hospital. She and her staff work with a Greater Bridgeport population at high risk for food insecurity, she said. In a lot of ways, pediatricians are in a good spot because patients do see them on a regular basis, so theyre in a good spot to try to identify a lot of things and a lot of problems, Driggers said. Hunger can have various adverse effects on children, according to the AAP, including poorer health and a greater tendency toward depression and suicidal thoughts compared with food-secure children. Those who are hungry also are more likely to struggle in school and have behavioral issues, according to the group. Pediatricians are well-positioned to ask families about food insecurity, since families trust them and doctors can ask sensitive questions in a non-judgmental way, said Dr. Marjorie Rosenthal, associate research scientist in the pediatrics department at Yale School of Medicine and a pediatrician at the Yale-New Haven Hospital, Primary Care Center in New Haven. We form strong bonds with families, she said, and the doctors typically see children at a series of well-child visits. At the Primary Care Center, pediatricians screen for hunger at certain well visits: when children are 2 months, 15 months, 30 months, 6 years, 10 years, 14 years and 18 years old. Doctors began formally screening last year, though they had been informally screening for much longer, she added. We see many people living in poverty, Rosenthal said. We already screen and we are committed to it. Starting the conversation is important. For the family who experiences food insecurity, that family needs to know that health care providers are trying to help. The AAP recommendation is a meaningful first step, said Paul Shipman, marketing and communications director at the Wallingford-based Connecticut Food Bank, which also has a warehouse in Fairfield. Good nutrition is important for the physical and mental health of children, he said. Children and their parents or guardians may be reluctant to self-identify as hungry. Giving pediatricians guidance on questions that can assess child hunger and connecting families to local resources are important steps in raising awareness of the problem and getting people the help they need. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org). G eorge Lucas has apologised for likening the sale of Star Wars to selling his children to "white slavers". The franchise's creator, who was behind the first six films, handed over the rights to Disney for 2.7 billion ($4 billion) so they could make the seventh instalment, The Force Awakens. But in a recent interview with US television host Charlie Rose, the 71-year-old film-maker criticised the new "retro" movie and said he had sold his "kids... to the white slavers". Now Lucas has clarified the remark, saying in a statement: "I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy and for that I apologise." He also appeared to withdraw his earlier criticism of the franchise's new direction. He said: "I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger's leadership. "Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise." Star Wars: The Force Awakens is on course to break box office records as it bears down on Avatar's takings of $2.78bn. A brilliant graduate killed when he was hit by a van has been named as a young Romanian who studied at University College London. Cosmin Cocora, 25, died after the vehicle collided with him on a road Lancashire in December. Today his family paid tribute, saying: With a deep sorrow the family announce the passing away of their only child, Cosmin Cocora, in a tragic collision. "A brilliant young boy, University College London graduate, very sensible and full of love, left us much too early at the age of 24. RIP our dear son, we will love you forever." Lancashire police are trying to piece together the events prior to Mr Cocoras death. He was said to have been in and around the centre of Preston - carrying a guitar, a black rucksack and a large wheeled suitcase that is yet to be found - in the hours before the fatal collision on December 22 on the A6 Garstang Road. He was hit by a silver GMC at about 4.10am and suffered severe head injuries, with paramedics pronouncing him dead at the scene. Sergeant Tracey Ward from the forces Road Policing Unit said: "We are trying to trace anyone who may have known Cosmin Cocora and ask they contact us in order that we may learn a little more about Cosmin's movements prior to his death. "Cosmin, as we understand, was leading a quiet existence in St Annes [a coastal town in Lancashire] having moved to England from Romania to study." Officers are also keen to trace an HGV that was travelling in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident. Sgt Ward added: "We are also still appealing for the driver of the HGV which may have seen something that could assist us with our investigation to come forward." Anyone with any information can contact police on 101 quoting log 187 of December 22. Additional reporting by PA P olice are searching for a former EastEnders star who disappeared with her two young children almost three weeks ago. Sian Blake, 43, who played Frankie Pierre in the hit soap, vanished from Erith in south-east London with her children Zachary, eight, and Amon, four. She was last seen on Sunday December 13 around Waltham Forest, east London, and police in Bexley, south-east London, believe she is still in the area. Neighbours said Ms Blake suffers from motor neurone disease and eas looking thin and frail before her disappearance. Sandra Metzgen told The Sun: Sian has motor neurone disease and I think it has got worse. Ms Blake disappeared with her children Zachary, left, and Amon / Metropolitan Police "No one knows where she is. She was looking very thin and frail and I think her mum was worried about that. "She was in hospital for quite a while and whether her condition has progressed I don't know." Ms Blake appeared in 56 episodes of EastEnders in 1996 and 1997, but quit the soap after being bombarded with hate mail aimed at her unpopular character. The Metropolitan Police is now appealing to the public for help finding her. A spokeswoman for the force said: "We are increasingly concerned about her and her children's well-being. We have exhausted all other lines of inquiry." Ms Blake is black, 5ft 2ins and slim with short black hair. She wears glasses but can also wear contact lenses. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Missing People on 116000, quoting reference 15MIS050346. T housands watched on in awe as a magician made a heart-stopping escape from handcuffs while suspended in the air with his head in a glass box full of water. Canadian Darcy Oake, who shot to fame after appearing on Britain's Got Talent, undertook the daring stunt during Friday's New Year's Day Parade in central London. With his hands shackled to a board, he was hoisted 20 feet into the air apparently unable to breathe. Crowds watched nervously for around two minutes as the 28-year-old illusionist used pins to unpick the locks binding his hands before turning to the padlock on the glass box. His eyes shut and his hands shaking, he eventually frees himself from the device and emerges visibly relieved to loud cheers from fans. Mr Darcy, who claims to have nearly died twice while rehearsing the stunt, said: "It's the most death-defying stunt I've ever done." Thousands of people turned out for the capital's 30th annual New Year's Day Parade. More than 8,500 performers from 20 different countries took part in the free event, to mark the start of 2016. The event kicked off at noon at Piccadilly and went through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall before finishing at Parliament Square. WNCC Foundation, an organization that supplies financial and professional resources to students at Western Nebraska Community College, works year-round to raise money. This past year $800,000 was raised through the Foundation and $400,000 awarded in student scholarships. More than 300 students were able to receive a scholarship this past year. Jennifer Rogers, WNCC Foundation executive director, said it was a record year for the number of businesses involved. Rogers said that businesses are a large portion of the donor base, with about 250 businesses that contributed to the Foundation last year. It is a conduit to help businesses fund a scholarship, whatever that might look like, and secondly, really helping to create awareness in all the ways that the college is contributing to the community, said Rogers, In a way, the organization acts as a catalyst for the different happenings at the college. There were a number of events this year that were made possible through the efforts of the WNCC Foundation. Many of them were performing arts and music department events. There was also the fourth annual WNNC art exhibit in October that hosted a display of 160 art pieces from 53 artists. The big event is the Monument Marathon in September for half and full marathon participants which raised about $50,000 for student scholarships. Next year will be the fifth year for the Monument Marathon and Rogers is anticipating a large turnout. The WNCC Foundation has been around for 45 years and a committed and active volunteer board oversees the Foundation. Rogers said that the board consists of 24 members from outside of the area as well as in the Scottsbluff/Gering area. The chairman and president for the organization is Howard P. Olsen Jr. and Rogers said that he has been an amazing leader for the Foundation. It has been great to see him support what the Foundation does as well as our students, said Rogers. Altogether, there were 470 volunteers that helped in all of the events for the year. The people involved in the Foundation aim to improve the lives of others and the overall community. Businesses play a role in supporting the existing program or giving feedback about the ones that could be developed. They can improve the quality of life and talk about ways to impact businesses in the area. Rogers said that she would always welcome conversations about getting involved in the different events. The Student Support Services and the Alumni Relations department at WNCC are teaming up this next year to provide tax assistance in the community. Rogers said that she would like to thank everyone in the community who gave to the Foundation this last year. This is the time that people might be reflecting back to what theyve done throughout the year and how they have made a difference in the lives in our community. In my position, I am able to talk to students and there are a lot who are grateful for the businesses who give them scholarships, and then are offered jobs and internships after they finish college, said Rogers. Rogers said that with the recent donations the Foundation will be able to assist teachers with their expenses as well give more support to the performing arts program. Last year, students went to Greece for a vocal performance and a study abroad trip. Next year, there could be other trips and equipment that the Foundation could provide to the college. There is a goal to provide $1 million in scholarships next year. Rogers said that a lot of that money has already been received for those scholarships. There is also a push for the college to raise $7 million - $9 million for building projects at the school by April, in time for the anniversary of the college. Rogers said there are a lot of things that will characterize next year as a landmark year, as there will be opportunities to establish more endowed scholarship funds, as well as provide programmatic support and facilities assistance. Rogers is looking forward to special events this upcoming year for the 90th anniversary of the college. Right now we are just spreading the message to stay tuned and keep an ear out, said Rogers. We are going to ask for participation for what alumni are doing and stories that the community can remember about their growth at WNCC. 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To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. BY MICHAEL BOYD JR. A Goose Creek fire truck crashed into a tree and flipped upside down while responding to a house fire in the lake area this morning (Thursday, Oct. 13). A witness said that the breaks went out on the fire truck, causing it to leave the road. The driver could not get What to eat and see in Havana, Cuba Mackinac Island The weather has been up and down this past week. We had some very nice days, and other were cold,... Outdoors This Week in the Eastern U.P. I know its fall, but, for some reason, the white stuff has started falling already and frost is covering my... West Mackinac Thats all folks, the fall fashion show is over and Mother Natures winter wardrobe is waiting in the wings. In... MINNEAPOLIS Grocery store favorites like Betty Crocker and Hamburger Helper are hurting. Cheerios, still the nations No. 1 cereal brand, needs some help. Customers are eating more fresh produce and meats, more and more often bypassing the center aisles where Big Food companies like Minneapolis-based General Mills reign. They also are turning to products from newer companies, which are having an easier time finding a niche in the market. While the move away from processed foods is a few years old, the pace of current change is unprecedented, said Ken Powell, General Mills CEO and a 36-year food industry veteran. Ive been doing this a long time, and Ive never seen it this fast, Powell said. With consumers souring on certain ingredients, General Mills in 2015 exiled gluten from Cheerios and banished artificial colors and flavors from all of its cereals, its biggest U.S. business. With organic and natural foods booming, General Mills is on the prowl for more acquisitions like its buyout of Annies, the mac and cheese maker popular with millennial moms. Alexia Howard, a stock analyst with Bernstein Research, said General Mills product offensives make sense. Consumers are worrying about these things, so they do seem to be reacting in the right way. But is it enough? The stakes went up with the merger in 2015 of food heavyweights Heinz and Kraft, a deal driven by private equity outfit 3G Capital. 3G built its reputation less on increasing sales and more on deep cost-cutting to increase profits. Wall Street expects that 3G will continue its food industry consolidation with General Mills as a possible target. With its annual U.S. retail sales down for the first time in a decade, General Mills has cut costs. But that isnt enough, Powell said. To have a sustainable business model, you have to have growth. General Mills introduced several new products last year under its Nature Valley brand, one of its healthier lines. It cut sugar by 25 percent in its original Yoplait yogurt. It has cut salt from many products. It announced that by the end of 2016, almost all of its cereals will be free of artificial colors and flavors. And with gluten-free Chex as its fastest-growing cereal, it is rolling out more gluten-free products like Cheerios. CHOOSY MILLENNIALS General Mills annual sales are more than $17 billion, and the company has historically offered investors gradual, reliable growth. Even with the food industrys issues, General Mills stock has outperformed the broad market over the past year. But in its last fiscal year ending May 31, General Mills U.S. retail sales fell 1 percent. For the first half of its current fiscal year, Mills U.S. retail sales are flat. The food industrys structure was beginning to change by mid-2013, as volume sales of heavily processed food began to crumble, Howard, the Bernstein stock analyst, wrote in a recent report. We are now in a completely different world. Demographic changes are part of the reason. Millennials are better educated, more diverse and less loyal to traditional consumer brands, Howard wrote. They gravitate more toward the perimeter of the grocery store, where fresher foods like produce, meat and dairy predominate. Millennials have different food values, Powell said. They are looking for real food, authentic food, simple food, and it shows up in a lot of ways. There are lots of things they are avoiding artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavors. Millennials are not exactly enamored of the General Mills, Kelloggs and Krafts of the world, either. A survey in 2015 by market researcher Mintel found that 47 percent of older millennials ages 29 to 38 dont trust large food manufacturers. That number was 35 percent for younger millennials and only 18 percent for consumers over 38. THE POWER OF THE NET The older millennials, particularly those with families, are a critical market. Indeed, Howard said, moms with children under 10 years old while they represent about 15 percent of U.S. adults likely make decisions for about 50 percent of food eaten at home. And they are getting and sharing much of their information about food on the Internet. The consumer has much more control, Powell said. They can get information the way they want, when they want. The Internet also has broken down barriers to enter the food business. A small company can build awareness of a product without shelling out big bucks for television, the traditional forum for packaged-food marketing. Look at Chobani, which went from pipsqueak to major yogurt producer over about five years, grabbing a big chunk of market share from Mills Yoplait. More recently, Kind Bar has been taking sales away from Mills Fiber One brand, according to IRI, a Chicago-based market researcher. General Mills still rules the overall snack bar market with its Nature Valley brand, but Kind Bar has made inroads without traditional marketing tactics. General Mills has responded, pouring about 25 percent of its media budget these days into the Internet. Powell points out that while the Internet makes it easier for small firms to crack the food business, it is very difficult to scale. You hit a point where you need a bigger sales force to reach all the channels. Plus, building out a factory and supply chain network is expensive. These challenges make up-and-coming food firms prime buyout targets for big players like General Mills, which shelled out $820 million in 2014 for Annies, the organic and natural food company. And last year, Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods paid $775 million for Applegate Farms, a leading organic and natural meat maker. Annies sales have grown 9 percent over the past year, according to Nielsen data, and the company has introduced a line of soups. An Annies-branded yogurt is due out early this year. Expect more such deals, particularly as General Mills aims to up its annual organic and natural sales from $675 million to $1 billion by 2020. THE 3G EFFECT Expect more pressure on food manufacturers to cut costs, too. General Mills annual efficiency program, which focuses on reducing waste and improving productivity, has saved $2.4 billion over the past five years. Additional cuts since mid-2014 have relied on shedding employees around 3,200, or about 7 percent of its global workforce. The company has announced the closure of six U.S. factories, and has axed up to 800 white-collar employees, many of them at its headquarters. Several other packaged food companies are doing the same. Campbell Soup in November reported flat quarterly sales, but its profits were higher than expected, the result of substantial cost cuts. The 3G deal has put further pressures on big food companies in the cost-cutting realm. The private-equity company, along with mega-investor Warren Buffett, bought ketchup-maker Heinz in 2013 for $23 billion. In July, the duo engineered a Heinz merger with Kraft Foods for about $50 billion. The mindset 3G brings is that profit growth is less dependent on sales growth, said Jack Russo, a stock analyst with Edward Jones. They are trying to get Wall Street to really appreciate their ability to cut costs to grow profits. Christopher Growe, a stock analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, called the Heinz-Kraft merger the shot heard round the world in a recent report. And not just because of its cost-cutting reputation. 3G is the most likely instigator of consolidation across the food industry, Growe wrote. General Mills, out of eight companies Growe analyzed, would be 3Gs No. 2 target, after Oreo cookie maker Mondelez. Bernsteins Howard put General Mills as No. 1. Powell said the way for General Mills to avoid becoming a target is to deliver on our model, which is solid top-line growth, coupled with a very lean business model, in a way that creates value for our shareholders. If we do that, we will be fine. Successfully responding to changing tastes is critical. If we dont listen and dont focus on what consumers want today and we dont adapt our products to the things they care about then they wont trust us and they wont support us. This year is sure to bring another round of exciting movies, engaging jazz concerts and entrancing dance performances. Some of the highlights: FILM Release dates are subject to change. Leonardo DiCaprio gets another shot at an Oscar with The Revenant (Friday). Charlie Kaufman shares directing duties with St. Louis native Duke Johnson for the animated film Anomalisa (Jan. 15). The Coen Brothers return with a period Hollywood comedy, Hail Caesar (Feb. 5). Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reteam for the fashion spoof Zoolander 2 (Feb. 12). Lawless director John Hillcoat explores Kate Winslets dark side in Triple 9 (Feb. 26). Take Shelter director Jeff Nichols reunites with Michael Shannon for a Midnight Special (March 18). Ben Affleck replaces Christian Bale as the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25). Captain America and Iron Man have a difference of opinion in Captain America: Civil War (May 6). Oscar Isaac is the bad guy in X-Men: Apocalypse (May 27). Daniel Radcliffe brings his brand of magic to the caper sequel Now You See Me 2 (June 10). Finding Nemo gets a long-awaited sequel: Finding Dory (June 17). Will Smith is not part of the cast of Independence Day: Resurgence (June 24) lets hope thats not some sort of omen. JAZZ The Bad Plus, one of the most imaginative trios in jazz, makes its annual pilgrimage to the Jazz at the Bistro series. If you think you dont like jazz, this group is likely to change your mind. (Wednesday through Jan. 9 at Ferring Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington Boulevard, $10-$40. jazzstl.org) Billy Childs, a distinctively brilliant pianist, is touring in support of his well-regarded album of Laura Nyro tunes. The concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall promises to be well worth checking out. (Jan. 30 at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard, $15-$40. 314-534-1111; MetroTix.com) Gregory Porter, who will be co-presented by Jazz St. Louis, has emerged as one of the few jazz vocalists who can take the music to new and exciting places. (Feb. 6 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, $20-$49. 314-516-4949; touhill.org) Branford Marsalis is not only a terrific saxophonist but also a forward-thinking composer whose quartet is first-rate. And the Bistro should be just the venue in which to hear him. (Feb. 8-10 at Ferring Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington Boulevard, $10-$45. jazzstl.org) Tyshawn Sorey has made a name for himself as a drummer and composer with a fresh and vibrant take on jazz. Hell lead his Alloy Trio in a New Music Circle presentation. (April 16 at the Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington Boulevard, $10-$20. newmusiccircle.org) DANCE The Big Muddy Dance Company returns to an unlikely venue the Pageant with a program called Mud Tracks. (Jan. 22-23 at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard. $22-$25. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com) MOMIX, which has earned a devoted following for its surrealist performances, is likely to dazzle audiences with this Dance St. Louis presentation of Alchemia. (Jan. 29-30 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, $30-$50. 314-516-4949; touhill.org) St. Louis Ballet sets its sights on the Valentines Day crowd with a romantically themed program: In It for Love. (Feb. 13-14 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri- St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, $22-$51. 314-516-4949; touhill.org) New Dance Horizons, which Dance St. Louis usually presents in the fall, will feature works by African-American choreographers, performed by local companies. (Feb. 26-27 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, $20. 314-516-4949; touhill.org) Following along as someones life falls apart is tough enough on a screen, and its just as painful in a novel knowing that with each page things are getting worse and worse for the protagonist. Its also hard to put down, and Chris Bohjalian keeps readers turning each page, cringing as they do, in The Guest Room. Richard Chapman wants to remain the cool big brother, hosting brother Philips bachelor party at his upscale home in the New York suburbs. His wife and daughter head to her mothers Manhattan apartment to avoid the drinking, smoking and likely stripper such a party often brings. Instead of a stripper, though, one of semi-slimy Philips super slimy friends hires two prostitutes. Not that they are prostitutes by choice, readers quickly learn; they are foreign girls kidnapped into the sex trade. And theyre good at what they do. There is questionable behavior by all the men at the party, including upright Richard, who is captivated by the girl called Alexandra and goes upstairs with her, stopping just short of major infidelity. When they go back downstairs and the girls see their chance to escape from their captors/bodyguards, they take it, with life-altering consequences for all the partygoers and their lives. And then the blond one ... appeared out of nowhere, a raptor, throwing herself onto the Russians back and plunging a knife deep into the right side of his neck. The fellow had reared up like a horse and tried throwing her off him, but already he was gagging, his eyes wide. A gunshot dispatches the second captor, the girls flee and the readers are left with the bachelor party attendees, two dead men and a mess that Richards wealth and privilege (hes an investment banker) cant clean up. This is more than a story of a man screwing up his life although it tells that tale in painfully honest detail. Bohjalian delves into sex slavery and just how it can happen that (often) teenage girls wind up in dire situations. He alternates points of view by chapter, with Alexandras narration the most compelling. With both her parents dead, shes living with her grandmother in Armenia when shes offered a chance to attend ballet school in Russia. She and her grandmother believe its a legitimate offer, and in one decision the girl becomes a sex slave. Some of the details of what happens to Alexandra are not for the prudish Bohjalian describes brutal rapes and assaults. But they serve the story, showing why the girls are so desperate to flee their captors. And while Bohjalian paints Richard warts and all, readers cannot help but feel some sympathy for him as his life unravels. His boss thought it best if Richard took a leave of absence. Seems all the managing directors and the CFO himself felt that way. Paid, Hugh had made clear. Paid. At least for now. And if this blew over? Then they could revisit what to do next. But two dead bodyguards connected to a sex ring, prostitutes who are fugitives and an upper-class bachelor party gone wrong are not the type of things that easily blow over, and Bohjalian takes us through the events to a satisfying conclusion. The Guest Room A novel by Chris Bohjalian Published by Doubleday, 314 pages, $26.95 On sale Tuesday CHRIS BOHJALIAN When 7 p.m. Jan. 12 Where St. Louis County Library, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard How much Free Efforts to help those affected by the floods attracted hundreds of donations Saturday and many will continue Sunday. Here are a few of the efforts: In Arnold, hundreds of people lined up at Fox High School, 751 Jeffco Boulevard, to donate goods for the flood survivors. Donations will be accepted there again Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The donated items will be distributed beginning Monday to those affected by flooding. In Eureka, monetary donations can be made for flood relief efforts. The city and the Eureka-Pacific Elks Lodge (a 501c(3) charitable organization) have teamed up to accept money to aid those affected. Donations can be made by cash or check. Checks should be made out to Eureka-Pacific Elks Lodge #2644 Cares Charity and mailed to: 19 West 1st Street, Eureka, MO 63025. For more information, visit www.eurekapacificelks.org or call 636-938-6720. In Eureka, Central Baptist Church is collecting personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper products and bottled water for those that were affected by the flood. Donations will be accepted until 7 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. More information is available at www.centralpoints.org. In Edwardsville, volunteers are accepting winter clothing, toiletries and items for babies and children including diapers and formula from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Post 199 facility at 58 S. State Route 157 in Edwardsville. The Red Cross, which is providing shelters and food in the affected area, will accept donations on its website redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the words REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local chapter at 10195 Corporate Square, Creve Coeur, MO 63132. ST. LOUIS A decision by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to sever any official relationship with the Boy Scouts appears to have had a limited effect on the number of church-linked Scouting organizations at least so far. On Dec. 1, the synod announced the end to a 2013 memorandum of understanding with the Boy Scouts, citing legal concerns and Scoutings decision in July to allow openly gay Scout leaders. In the announcement, synod President Matthew Harrison and Office of National Mission Executive Director Bart Day said that the leadership change was something that they had been promised in 2013 was not on the table. We are now being told that the LGBT agenda, even with the most recent change, wont affect the content of Scouting or the BSA experience, but we do not believe that will be the case, the statement says. They also warned that it appears that the law is growing stronger for those who might be in a position to file suit for discrimination against the BSA and, by extension, against chartered organizations, including LCMS congregations. The pair said that the decision followed months of conversation and correspondence with the Boy Scouts. The synods statement estimated that over half of the synods Scouts are not members of troops chartered in a congregation. Of the troops in a congregation charter, only about 20 percent are Lutheran children, they say. Asked about the announcements effect on chartering, an official responded with a statement that said the synod was not devoting resources to tracking BSA participation. Local Boy Scout Council officials said they had seen few effects. We only lost one Cub Scout pack out of our 250 units, said Doug Callahan, executive director of the Great Rivers Council, in Columbia, Mo., which covers 33 counties in northeastern and central Missouri. The units include Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Venturing crews and Explorer posts, he said. That pack was sponsored by a synod church in Columbia, he said. A church in Jefferson City that sponsored a Boy Scout troop and a Cub Scout pack decided to opt out, but both were picked up by another synod church in that city, Callahan said. Dan OBrien, Scouting executive and CEO of the Abraham Lincoln Council, which covers all or part of nine counties in central Illinois, said he had not heard of any Lutheran churches there leaving Scouting. But the council has only one synod church, and it may be too early to tell. Though the re-chartering deadline has passed, units have two more months of a grace period, OBrien said. Alicia Lifrak, Scouting executive and CEO of the Lewis & Clark Council, which is headquartered in Belleville and covers 15 counties, said, At this point we have no losses. We are certainly hopeful that we can maintain our local partnerships and relationships and keep Scouting alive within the Lutheran church, but if that changes, well find out when they tell us. Lifrak said that her council did not do a grace period, and already had collected the re-chartering paperwork from a majority of its units. Heart of America Council Scout Executive Kendrick Miller wrote in an email that his council had 17 packs and troops chartered to synod groups, and had seen no change in support for these Scouting units. Millers council serves 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri and has 1,100 units. The Boy Scouts released a statement in response to questions about the synods decision that said the organization valued and appreciated the synods support of Scouting over the years. We believe religious organizations must have the right to use religious beliefs as criteria for making decisions and we have a deep respect for the Missouri synods perspective. The group said it continued to share many ideals and principles and would look forward to continuing to work together. Harrison and Day said that they had hoped to replace Scouting with Trail Life USA, a Christ-centered alternative to Boy Scouts in which troops are church-owned and operated. But the pair said that discussions were ongoing and that there were concerns that replacing a consistently nonsectarian group with a religious organization could be just as problematic for any confessional Lutheran because of potential doctrinal differences. They called for a task force to consider Scouting alternatives. Asked whether hed seen groups moving over from the Boy Scouts since the Synod announcement, Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA, said the chartering process in his organization was year-round and totally different than for Scouting. I dont know that we can compare apples to apples, he said. All we know is were seeing hundreds of boys join Trail Life USA every day, he added. Hancock said that adults were required to sign a statement of values but that the group welcomed all youth. Some congregations mulled leaving Scouting in 2013, when the Boy Scouts voted to allow gays as Scouts but not as leaders. Harrison had opposed that change, which triggered months of discussion and the memorandum in October that said congregations could remove boys from a church troop who were advocating for a moral view that is inconsistent with the church. It also essentially left it up to the congregations to decide whether to participate. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, based in St. Louis, has more than 2 million baptized members across 6,105 congregations in the U.S. and Canada. Much of what 2-year-old KeAiden has touched since birth are hard medical wires, latex surgical gloves and plastic toys. He is fed through a tube in his nose. He associates things going into his mouth with the pain of intubation or infection, so he clenches his jaw shut when anything comes near. Because he has been so sick for much of his short life, he has yet to learn to talk or stand. A physical therapist uses a harness to help his legs learn to bear weight. An occupational therapist tries to get him to eat by snacking in front of him, safely brushing his cheek with crumbs. A specialist lets him explore textures with a feather, sandpaper, yarn and a brush. We have to let him know there are other things out there, said his child life specialist Tyler Robertson. All KeAiden has known since birth has been a hospital room at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. Because of a high-tech mechanical ventilator helping him breathe, hes only felt the outside world briefly a few times. The breathing machine, a new technology that more safely assists the fragile lungs of premature babies, is typically used for a short period before a newborn gradually weans from the assistance. But for some reason, KeAidens lungs are not getting better. The machine that saved his life is now keeping him from fully living it. Hes the second child at the childrens hospital whose body is unable to wean from the machine. Jaxen Halfhill is 3 years old and has spent more than two years in the hospital tethered to the ventilator, his physical abilities much like KeAidens. While medical advances are saving the lives of babies born before they should be, and even pushing the limits of viability to babies born at 22 weeks gestation, their cases are reminders that technology doesnt always work as expected. Instead, doctors and families are left figuring out how to deal with the unexpected results. They represent a small but significant group of children who, on one hand, are success stories of our technology, but on the other hand, have challenges, said Dr. Sessions Cole, the hospitals chief medical officer. The parents ask, What is going to happen to him, doctor? Doctors dont know how long each child will need the ventilator, when he will be able to go home or what his life will be like. The best we can say is that he is writing his own textbook, Cole said. Behind the medical teams trying to figure out how to make them thrive and get them home is the steady love of their families, coming miles away from school or work to be by their sides. KeAiden beams, squeals and falls over from happiness when his mom appears in the doorway. Hi, pumpkin, she says. Crossing the $1 million mark The new mechanical ventilator is called Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist, or NAVA. Rather than long-used ventilators triggered by a persons effort to suck air, the NAVA detects when the brain is about to signal the breathing muscles to contract. A sophisticated computer algorithm synchronizes the timing and amount of ventilation with the neural transmission, perfectly matching a patients breathing requirements. With typical types of ventilation, a babys immature lungs are more prone to injury, disease and muscle atrophy. It can be so uncomfortable that babies have to be sedated. The NAVA is more tolerable and allows for the lungs to better grow and heal. The technology was first introduced in 2008 and has become more widespread in the past two years, said Dr. Howard Stein, director of neonatology at Toledo Childrens Hospital, who has studied the use of NAVA. Our experience has been that patients come off the ventilator quicker, have better tolerance to ventilation, and they do very nicely with it, Stein said. Other premature babies have sometimes needed ventilators for months, but they are able to leave the hospital with systems that can work at home, where they are more apt to thrive. The more complex NAVA must be administered at the hospital. St. Louis Childrens Hospital has used the machine successfully on patients for about four years, more intensely in the past two. Cardinal Glennon Childrens Medical Center acquired NAVA in the summer of 2014 and has used it without problems. KeAiden and Jaxen were placed on NAVA when no other options were working KeAiden just before his first birthday, and Jaxen just after he turned 1. The boys have been unable to tolerate attempts to reduce the support because KeAidens lungs have not kept up with the growth of the rest of his body, and the walls of Jaxens windpipe remain too weak. It is likely that these unusual children would succumb to the effects of other ways we have historically used to keep the lungs of these children functioning, Cole said. KeAidens lungs seem to be growing very slowly. Doctors are also weighing the risks of possible surgeries for both boys, looking at scenarios that have never been done. We have no road map, Cole said. Charges for KeAidens care alone have crossed the $1 million mark, hospital officials said. Medicaid pays for a small portion, but the hospital absorbs the rest. Doctors say when they place a baby on a ventilator, the assumption is always the baby will improve and no longer need it. Nothing predicts which babies will fail. When faced with uncertainty, parents almost always fight for a chance. The question is not so much about the technology, but about the baby, Stein said. If we could predict how our babies are going to do, we could have much smarter conversations with families. We try to make the best decisions we can based on the information we have about the technology and the patient. Second hospital birthday Nothing is going as planned for KeAidens mother. Kindness Singano, of Belleville, is 19. I wish I hadnt gotten pregnant so early, but now Im just trying to do everything I can to be the best mom, she said. She wishes KeAidens father was more involved. Singano was less than halfway through her pregnancy when she started having problems. Tests revealed problems with her placenta. Blood was not flowing well to the fetus. She spent a month on bed rest, including three weeks at the hospital under close observation. The fetal heartbeat dropped dangerously low, requiring a C-section. KeAiden was born at 27 weeks, weighing just 1 pound, 11 ounces. What kind of chance does he have? Singano remembers asking. The first 24 hours were crucial, doctors told her. If he got through that, he was much more likely to survive. At 5 months old, KeAiden took a turn for the worse. Because of his struggles to breathe, he underwent a tracheotomy so he could get air through a tube in his neck. He was heavily sedated. Searching for options, Singano learned about NAVA from Jaxens mom on a Facebook group for mothers with premature babies. Singano decided to transfer KeAiden from Mercy Hospital St. Louis, where she gave birth, so he could have access to the technology and the lung transplant program at St. Louis Childrens. He was 9 months old. KeAiden began NAVA just before his first birthday in November 2014. Singano never imagined he would celebrate his second in the hospital as well. I saw people taking their babies home constantly, and it was never us, she said. Its still not us. Singano is working on her associates degree in science at Lewis and Clark Community College, near where she used to live in Alton. She also works for Easter Seals Midwest, caring for people with disabilities in their homes in St. Louis. She makes it the hospital to see KeAiden nearly every day, except when shes been sick. Im worn out, she said, but that is not going to stop me. I cant abandon him. They play on his alphabet mat, read books or watch his favorite movie, Madagascar. Shes watched her sick baby grow into an engaging and playful boy who lights up at attention. If he didnt have to go through all this, hed be eating. He would be playing. Hed be running around. He would be home, she said. But at the end of the day, this is his life, and we try to make the best of it. She was determined to make KeAidens second birthday special. She wanted him to get out of his room. She wanted him to see his aunts, uncles and cousins. The medical logistics were tough, but the nurses who have become KeAidens second family made it happen, even providing Madagascar-themed decorations and outfit for the birthday boy. Family members donned gowns and gloves to prevent infection and visited a few at a time. He marveled at a cake, even though he wouldnt eat it. KeAiden loves attention, and he got more attention than he ever got that day, his mom beamed. Seeing babies happy. Seeing families happy. Seeing the love between them. In a world of uncertainties, Cole said, That motivates all of us to keep going. Bill Finnie remembers being on a date in the early 60s when he felt compelled to brag about his dads employer. Who can explain the spontaneity of youth? My dad works at ACIC! he recalls telling his date, using the abbreviation for the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center. The date wasnt impressed. She thought her beaus father worked for some ice company, rather than the secretive federal agency that for decades has been at the forefront of the high-tech world of mapping the Earth and space. Finnie tells me the story because as the federal government mulls the future location of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which is what ACIC eventually became, he has been thinking a lot about how important his fathers employer has been to the history of St. Louis. Thomas C. Finnie came to St. Louis in August 1950 to become the chief of operations of ACIC. At the time, the mapping agency was on the northern reaches of downtown, at 710 North 12th Street, in the Central Terminal Building (now known as the Globe-Democrat Building). Finnie would only be in that building for a short time, as the agency was in the process of its move to its current location, on the old federal Arsenal property on the citys South Side, between the Anheuser-Busch plant and the Mississippi River. Similarly to today, the agency had outgrown its landlord and was seeking to move. St. Louis civic leaders, from the chamber of commerce to its elected officials fiercely lobbied the federal government to keep the agency in the city. They did. Over the years, Finnie recalls talking to his dad about why. In part, it was about citizenship. ACIC in the 1950s was one of the larger employers in St. Louis outside a factory where African-Americans could get a job that could lift them into the middle class. Its workforce was diverse and for Finnie, recalls his son, that was always an important cultural element of the agency. It has grown tenfold in employees since that time. One of the things Dad was really proud of was that there was equal opportunity for African-Americans at ACIC, Finnie says. Thats one of the reasons hes been so disappointed in what he sees as a botched effort by St. Louis leaders to make sure the NGA stays in St. Louis. City officials want to relocate the agency into the heart of the footprint of developer Paul McKees NorthSide Regeneration project, just north of the long-ago leveled Pruitt-Igoe projects. The city and the region really need to step up their efforts, he said. Were doing a lousy job compared to Illinois. Indeed, political leaders in Illinois have rallied behind a poaching effort to bring the NGA to a site adjacent to Scott Air Force Base. Sadly, some of them have even played the race card, as in, why would the NGA want to locate next to a warren of neighborhoods, crack houses, shuttered sites and broken infrastructure with racial problems, as a recent Belleville News-Democrat editorial argued. Finnie believes those who would use race to pull the NGA jobs from St. Louis see the issue backward. Thats why he and his brother, Tom, a former city manager in Springfield, Mo., wrote a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers urging the corps to consider the views of their father. We believe he would evaluate the four proposed sites for the NGA West campus first on their technical merits for getting the job done (including NGA staff considerations) and second on the impact on the St. Louis region. While no one, and certainly not us, ever spoke for Dad, we believe the North St. Louis City site best meets both the technical requirements for the organization and Dads test, Its the right thing to do for the community, wrote the Finnie brothers. Not long ago, the Finnies were meeting with a group of four former colleagues of their fathers, including three men who would follow the elder Finnie as top civilian directors at the mapping agency. All of them, Bill Finnie said, shared their opinion that locating the NGA on the North Side wasnt just the right thing to do, it fit the agencys history of inclusion. Bill Finnie, a former Anheuser-Busch executive who teaches business at Washington University and runs a consulting company, remembers one black man in particular whom his father had taken under his wing. Charlie Martin was a 1949 graduate of Lincoln University who landed a job at ACIC. There, Thomas Finnie saw Martins management potential and helped him get a grant to Yale University, first to get a masters degree, and later a doctorate. Both Martin and Finnie were among the first class in the NGAs Hall of Fame, opened in 2001. Perhaps its just coincidence that the building where Thomas Finnie came to work in 1950 is now in the footprint of McKees North Side redevelopment. Or that it hosts a high-tech drone company that uses the same kind of technology that NGA workers use. Perhaps its just coincidence that the proposed location just north and west of there offers easy access to the Cortex development that is becoming the hub of high-tech jobs in St. Louis. But it feels like something more. It feels like destiny. The record-smashing Meramec River retreated quickly Friday from neighborhoods and interstates, leaving behind mud, fouled basements and flood victims with major challenges ahead. Below St. Louis, the Mississippi River breached a farm levee and reached the town of St. Mary, Mo., usually five miles from the main channel. Water was rising toward a record crest at Cape Girardeau, where the high concrete floodwall was expected to hold. The Mississippi was falling upriver from the Gateway Arch, where the crest early Friday was the third-highest on record. Highway officials reopened interstates 55 and 44 Friday morning after the flooding Meramec retreated from low-lying pavement. They opened state Highway 109 at Eureka and Highway 21; late Friday both eastbound and westbound Highway 30 at Fenton was open. But nobody had a good estimate for drying out Route 141s low and swamped interchange beneath I-44 south of Valley Park. The Meramec, fed by a weekend of downpours across south-central Missouri, rose 35 feet and higher to break records set in December 1982, when another drenching spell sent the volatile river quickly beyond its banks. The nighttime crest that year and the chaotic water rescues in once-vulnerable Valley Park, and subsequent flooding, helped the city finally get a high levee in 2005. The levee and its gates held by inches late Thursday. Mayor Mike Pennise canceled his evacuation order about midday Friday, allowing the roughly 350 evacuees to return home. The levee did a wonderful job, he said. But in communities without similar protection, damage was widespread. Estimates are still being accumulated as inspectors follow the retreating river, but a check of emergency agencies along the lower Meramec shows that more than 2,100 homes and buildings were damaged, from basement backups to high water in living rooms. Those numbers are going to change wildly over the next few days, St. Louis County emergency director Mark Diedrich warned Friday. He said it would take a week to prepare formal reports to the state for Missouris expected request for federal assistance. An unofficial breakdown looks something like this: 1,000 in St. Louis County, including at least 80 homes and 40 businesses in hard-hit Eureka; nearly 400 in Pacific, which straddles the Franklin-St. Louis County line; 300 in unincorporated Jefferson County; 290 in the greater Fenton area; and 175 in Arnold. There could be duplicates in the counts. A spokeswoman for the American Red Cross of Eastern Missouri said it provided nearly 4,300 meals and counted 448 overnight stays in area shelters through the week. FALLING WATER As usual, the Meramec rose and fell quickly. In Sullivan, 60 miles southwest of St. Louis, the river had fallen 25 feet since cresting late Monday and already was below flood stage. After record or near-record crests on its lower stretch, the Meramec by Friday had fallen 16 feet at Pacific, 13 feet at Eureka, 9 at Valley Park and 3 feet at Arnold, where its flow met the still-flooding Mississippi. The Meramec beat the 1982 records by 4.4 feet at Valley Park, nearly 4 feet at Eureka, and by 2 feet at Arnold, where the previous high mark was during the Mississippi River flood in 1993. In Pacific, the crest missed the 1982 record by less than 3 inches. Two Metropolitan Sewer District treatment plants, at Valley Park and Fenton, remained out of service because of the Meramec. Trouble at the Valley Park plant caused sewer backups in some homes. In High Ridge, where the Big River swamped Water District 2s purification plant, the Missouri National Guard showed up with two portable water-purification systems, and the Iowa National Guard was expected to arrive Saturday with a third. Each truck-sized machine can treat 30,000 gallons a day, a spokeswoman said. Because rainfall amounts were less in northern Missouri, flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi upriver from the St. Louis area didnt test historic levels, and both were falling Friday. In the fertile bottoms of St. Charles County near the confluence, the Mississippi chased many residents of West Alton from their homes after a levee was topped. Officials in Portage des Sioux had warned residents to prepare for a similar evacuation, but a nearby levee held. The high water attracted empathetic elected officials. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner toured flood-damaged parts of the Metro East on Friday, from Grafton to Prairie du Rocher. Our hope is to quantify today as much as we can so we can seek funds from the federal government in these areas, Rauner told reporters in Pontoon Beach, where Mayor Mike Pagano gave the governor a flood tour. TOURING OFFICIALS In St. Charles County, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., took a helicopter tour with County Executive Steve Ehlmann on Friday. They said they would seek options to fortify protection along Dardenne Creek, which flooded part of Interstate 70 during the downpour. The Mississippi was falling slowly at Grafton and Alton, and crested Friday morning at the Gateway Arch at nearly 42.6 feet, or seven feet below the high mark of Aug. 1, 1993. Flood stage downtown is 30 feet. The river was expected to fall below that level on Jan. 7. The Missouri River fell at Hermann, Washington and St. Charles, where it crested at 35.1 feet Thursday. That is five feet below the 1993 level in St. Charles and the 13th highest on record there. In the Meramec valley, the return of major roads solved the biggest challenges for motorists, who for several hours Thursday could use only the Telegraph Road Bridge. But in the flooded communities, work will take a long time. In Pacific, officials allowed some residents to check on their homes after inspectors gave approval. Police officers and National Guard soldiers staffed command posts, roughly along the railroad embankments that protected most of the area to their north. But the city required everyone out of the flooded area after 4:30 p.m. for a curfew, said emergency director Dian Becker. Above the town at Blackburn Park, an overlook on the bluff, Mark Kramer scanned for his home on flooded Second and Watson streets. Trees blocked the view, but he assumed the worst. Kramers wife, Tara, spent the previous three nights with a daughter in St. Charles. Kramer went with their three dogs to a friends home near Pacific. I dont know how much our nerves can take after this, Kramer said. You cry if you dont laugh. Their story isnt just about this flood. They lost a home south of the Meramec during a flood in 2008. And on Nov. 11, their second home near the Twin Rivers Bridge burned. Then they moved to Pacific. BOATS BREAK LOOSE In Eureka, the river flooded many businesses along South Central Avenue, reaching almost to the railroad tracks and overwhelming several efforts to protect restaurants with sandbags. Boats drifted from a storage lot and were dumped by the receding river along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe grade and in nearby Kircher Park. Eureka Fire Protection District spokesman Scott Barthelmass said the rivers strong flow extensively damaged the storage area and probably did the same to low-lying structures near the channel. It ruined a stretch of the Burlington line, undermining the ballast. Debris is everywhere, he said. In Fenton, the local fire district had placed pumpers in two subdivisions, Meramec Meadows and Riverside, that had been cut off to vehicle traffic by the flood. The plan was for National Guard vehicles to ferry firefighters into those subdivisions had there been fire calls. The pumpers were returned to station after the crest. During the flooding, the department rescued seven people, Deputy Chief Tim Buehne said. Fenton Mayor Michael Polizzi said most of the damage to homes was from basement backups, especially in the Riverside subdivision, where he said homes were above the floodplain boundaries. Many low-lying properties in Fenton had been bought out after previous floods and turned into parkland. Polizzi praised the many volunteers who helped with flood-fighting. Everybody had been working with few breaks, Polizzi said. Wed be sandbagging and then hear about the basements. It was very frustrating. But there was an outpouring of blessings from the community. Almost the best thing you can hear is when the water starts cresting. In Arnold, Mike Turnbough on Piper Drive spent Friday watching the receding water in his yard and the slowly falling stew inside his basement, where sewer backup rose seven feet. It ruined family pictures on a shelf and appliances, including the water heater. I used to have a finished basement, said Turnbough. Its not the end of the world. It could have been worse. But I think Ill just keep the basement bare concrete from now on. He ran a pump Friday to clear his basement. He said he was amazed at the power of the backup as it filled his basement. It was just bubbling, like a discharge with force, he said. Turnbough stayed in his home throughout the flood, running a generator and heater with fuel he ferried on his ATV through water 4 feet deep on subdivision streets. His mother bought the home in 1997, and Turnbough said neighbors told him the 1993 flood had risen into the street. This time, he said, the crest crossed his yard and entered his garage. His home is off Starling Airport Road. Christine Byers, Joel Currier and Nicholas J.C. Pistor of the Post-Dispatch contributed information for this article. JEFFERSON CITY Amtrak service between Kansas City and St. Louis will get back to normal Sunday in the wake of flood-related disruptions that began on the line Wednesday. Christina Leeds, a spokeswoman for the nations passenger rail service, issued a statement Saturday noting that the River Runner trains twice daily service across Missouri will resume their scheduled operations Sunday. Amtrak had been busing passengers between Jefferson City and St. Louis and skipping service at the stations in Hermann and Washington. The Amtrak route shares a line used by Union Pacific for freight traffic, which also was disrupted by flooding along the Missouri River. The Omaha, Nebraska-based train operator said Wednesday that 70 trains in the St. Louis area had been held or rerouted because of high water levels. Passengers on the Chicago to New Orleans train also have been affected by high water in southern Illinois, with Amtrak busing riders on that route between Carbondale, Ill. and Memphis. ST. MARY, Mo. A swift and swollen river current sent water spilling into homes and business in parts of this tiny town early Friday morning. St. Mary, a town of about 360 residents built around the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, woke up to its bank, bar, and more than a dozen homes under water after a small levee breach. This used to be a big town at one point, said Irvin Brooks, who was in St. Mary on Friday surveying damage to his daughters home. The floods have helped drive people away. Small towns need some attention too. St. Mary has lost about half of its population since the early part of the 20th century. The older, lower part of town was hit by the flooding. The town, founded by French settlers, hummed to the unsettling beat of power generators and barking dogs on Friday. Amy Richardson, Brooks daughter, said she had been away when the water came. We knew it was coming, Richardson said, saying she packed up her belongings and moved early in the week. Richardson had lived in a house on Third Street with her husband and four children. Happy New Year, said Richardson, 31. A new year full of changes. The Missouri Highway Patrol was in town assisting with relief efforts on Friday, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. David Woods, the St. Mary clerk, took on the title of emergency management director as the flood threat appeared after last weekends heavy rain. We are in damage assessment mode, Woods said. Unless something stupid happens up north. Woods said he didnt expect any more damage unless a levee up river would fail. St. Mary is in southern Ste. Genevieve County. The levee protecting the town of Ste. Genevieve remained in good condition on Friday The water lapped at St. Marys eastern front and stopped around Third Street. Several businesses, including First State Community Bank, were under water as residents attempted to reinforce the rest of the town with sandbags. Sandbagging efforts were underway early Friday morning before the water flooded into town. We fought it hard all night long, said Pam Myers, a St. Mary resident who helped her neighbors sandbag. Mountain Dew is about all thats keeping me up, she said. Cape Girardeau holds Downriver, the Mississippi slowly crept up the flood wall in Cape Girardeau on Friday as officials expected to notch a record high water mark, besting the Great Flood of 1993. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., appeared at the downtown flood gate on Friday and highlighted Cape Girardeau as a model of flood fighting vigilance, while noting significant improvements will need to be made to the areas water system, particularly in St. Louis. This is a really unique, long-term effort by Cape, Blunt said. The city, with help from the federal government, has bought out homes in the flood plain and strengthened its levee system over the years. The river is forecast to crest at 50 feet on Jan. 3, more than a foot higher than the record 48.5 feet set in 1993. The high water mark, along with 1973, was painted on the wall behind Blunt, who was flanked by federal and local officials. The river slowly rolled by on Friday as the event appeared to have minimal impact on the city. Many downtown businesses were closed for New Years Day, but traffic moved unimpeded. The levee remained strong, officials said. Onlookers appeared on the steps of the citys courthouse that overlooks the river. Its scary, said June Campbell, of Cape Girardeau, as she watched from high ground. I remember in the 50s when the whole town was flooded, Campbell said. Now we have the wall. The citys flood wall was constructed in the late 1950s and has helped keep the water out of Cape Girardeau. We are very fortunate, said Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger. Rediger said about 20 of the citys homes had water and had been evacuated, along with about five to eight businesses. Stan Polivick, the citys assistant public works director, said workers would be out in force 24 hours a day monitoring the situation. Well be here probably until mid-January, Polivick said. Polivick pointed to the 1993 mark on Friday and noted: Thats why we built the wall a little higher. Even with the record crest, Polivick said, the levee system still has at least four additional feet before it would reach its limit. Blunt used the opportunity to highlight the importance of the river to the states economy. The river is going to become more important than ever, Blunt said, noting that world food demand is expected to significantly increase over the next decade. The Mississippi is a major thoroughfare for Midwest agriculture. You want to be sure the river can withstand these kind of challenges, Blunt said. WASHINGTON The two Pauls make a great team of opposites. Heres Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman, taller than Kobe Bryant and heavy with gravitas. Theres Paul Light, the spry professor of public service, armed with the wit of a television talk show host, no taller than Volckers shoulders. They are like a straight-man-and-comic duo. Instead of laughs, however, they come bearing somber news about government, about the cascade of breakdowns that leaves the public ill-served. Thats the thrust of Lights 37-page paper presented this month at a National Press Club event sponsored by the Volcker Alliance. The organization focuses on the implementation of public policy and was started by Volcker in 2013, the year he turned 86. Like a granddaddy of public policy, he has served Republican and Democratic presidents during almost three decades of federal work. He pointed to one cause of government breakdowns by quoting a 1989 commission report he chaired. Volcker said the erosion in the attractiveness of public service at all levels most specifically in the federal civil service- undermines the ability of government to respond effectively to the needs and aspirations of the American people, and ultimately damages the democratic process itself. By Lights count, there have been 48 federal agency breakdowns since 2000, from the deadly to the inconvenient, including the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the launch of healthcare.gov. In the report and the discussion, and during interviews with both men, they acknowledged government successes. But by exposing the embarrassingly long list of failures of execution, Volcker said he hopes to catalyze attention to what needs to be done to effectively implement public policy. Light, a professor of public service at New York University with a long history of government scholarship, said the breakdowns reveal the effects of recent disinvestment in governments capacity to implement policy. One characteristic shared by the breakdowns is errors of omission instead of commission, according to Light. The federal government did not hijack the aircraft that killed so many Americans on September 11, 2001, but it did not imagine the possibility in time to prevent the tragedy, he wrote. The government did not breach the levees when Hurricane Katrina came ashore in 2005, but it did not have the leadership or plans in place to respond quickly. Casting a spear at both parties, Lights calculations determined that the number of breakdowns has increased significantly over time. There have been more breakdowns under President Obama, who is on pace to set an unwanted record, than under George W. Bush, but not by much, 3.5 per year on average compared with 3.1 per year. Lights report said that the blame for inaction falls on congressional Republicans and the president alike, but aimed its most withering criticism at the GOP: The Republicans have done everything in their power to undermine performance. They have never met a freeze or cut they could not embrace, they have repeatedly stonewalled needed policy changes, and they have made implementation of new programs as difficult as possible. The Republicans have cut budgets, staffs, and collateral capacity to a minimum, proving the adage that the logical extension of doing more with less is doing everything with nothing. They have used the presidential-appointments process to decapitate key agencies and have appointed more than their share of unqualified executives. Light said that the new Republican majority allowed the once-proud House Oversight and Government Reform Committee once a treasured source of reform legislation under both parties to fall into disrepute as a playground for frivolous investigations and bureaucratic harassment. He argues that reforming government as a whole is the way to reduce breakdowns. The time for tinkering on individual causes has long since passed, he said. Light and Volcker called for greater attention on turning policy into action. Just as the Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of legislative proposals, bills also should have an implementation assessment to help guide execution of the laws. Greater funding and staffing for agencies would help prevent breakdowns, as would improved organizational culture, structure and planning. And the M in the Office of Management and Budget needs more muscle. Reducing the layers of the federal bureaucracy and overlap among agencies also would help. Everyone loves to discuss how big or small government should be, Volcker said, or what its strategy should be to reduce income inequality or defeat ISIS [the Islamic State militant group]. Those debates are important. Very important. But theyre also irrelevant if we cant trust that government will actually be able to deliver on its strategic goals and implement the laws of the land. What we need is attention much more attention to the nuts and bolts of management within the government. Without it, the fate of our great democracy is increasingly precarious. BERLIN For 70 years since the Nazi defeat in World War II, copyright law has been used in Germany to prohibit the publication of Mein Kampf the notorious anti-Semitic tome in which Adolf Hitler set out his ideology. That will change this year when a new edition with critical commentary, the product of several years work by a publicly funded institute, hits the shelves. While historians say it could help fill a gap in Germans knowledge of the era, Jewish groups are wary and German authorities are making it clear that they still wont tolerate any new Mein Kampf without annotations. Under German law, a copyright expires at the end of the year 70 years after an authors death in this case, Hitlers April 30, 1945, suicide in a Berlin bunker as the Soviet army closed in. That means Bavarias state finance ministry, which holds the copyright, can no longer use it to prevent the works publication beyond the end of last year. The book has been published in several other countries; in the U.S., for example, Bavaria never controlled the copyright. In Germany, many argue that holding back Mein Kampf merely created mystique around the book. The idea of at least a partial version with critical commentary for the German market dates back as far as the late 1960s. The Munich-based Institute for Contemporary History, which is behind the new version, sought and was denied permission to produce the book in the mid-1990s when it published a volume of Hitlers speeches. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf or My Struggle after he was jailed following the failed 1923 coup attempt known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Millions of copies were printed after the Nazis took power in 1933. The rambling tome set out Hitlers ultranationalist, anti-Semitic and anti-communist ideology for his National Socialist German Workers Party, or Nazi party, airing the idea of a war of conquest in eastern Europe. The book should not be underestimated as a historical source and also as a key to understanding the history of National Socialism, the director of the Munich institute, Andreas Wirsching, said ahead of the new editions mid-January publication. Among serious historians in Germany, you wont find one who is against a commented edition and hasnt been calling for one for years, said Sven Felix Kellerhoff, a journalist with the daily Die Welt and a historian who has written about Mein Kampf himself. That goes from conservatives to the left. Jewish opinion varies. The head of Germanys Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, says that knowledge of Mein Kampf is important in explaining Nazism and the Holocaust so we do not object to a critical edition, contrasting Hitlers racial theories with scientific findings, to be at the disposal of research and teaching. One of his predecessors is more critical. Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor who heads Munichs Jewish community, says she trusts the expertise of the institutes researchers but doubts that the new edition will achieve its aim of demystifying and taking apart Mein Kampf. It is likely to awaken interest not in the commentary, but the original and that remains highly dangerous, Knobloch said. It could still have an impact because both of the core ideas are timeless: ultranationalism and racism. Given that Mein Kampf is already widely available in university libraries and on the Internet, we dont see a need to print more copies of it and thus ensure mass distribution, including of an annotated version, said Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress. The publishers say they understand the objections, while noting that the book is already freely available secondhand and online, not to mention in other languages, without annotations. Christian Hartmann, who led the team putting together the heavily annotated version, says that we are linking Hitlers text and our commentary firmly together we are practically encircling Hitler with our remarks. Hartmann said they have attempted the most intensive examination and rebuttal that is possible of Mein Kampf. Amid disagreement over the annotated editions merits, there is wide agreement that Hitler still shouldnt be left to speak uncontradicted. In mid-2014, Germanys federal and state justice ministers agreed that new editions without commentary should continue to be prevented after the copyright expires, likely using laws against incitement. It remains to be seen whether their resolve will be tested. There are currently no known plans to publish a Hitler-only Mein Kampf in Germany. After the end of World War II, the Allies turned over what remained of Hitlers assets the Nazi leader was officially registered as living in Munich to the Bavarian government. Those included the copyright of the German original of Mein Kampf. Authorities in Munich subsequently ensured it wasnt republished, though there was no official ban on the book. That use of the copyright of course had its reasons, Wirsching said. In the early years of West Germany, there were any number of Hitler admirers; there wasnt just neo-Nazism, there was also old Nazism. But this is a different generation, a different political culture, a solid political democracy that in my view can definitely withstand an edition with commentary. That Bavarian government took the same view when, in 2012, it said it would put $545,000 into backing the project and was even considering a version specifically aimed at students. But the following year, governor Horst Seehofer did an about-turn, arguing that supporting publication of Mein Kampf didnt fit with Bavarias participation in a drive to have modern Germanys main far-right party banned. However, the Institute for Contemporary History insisted that it would go ahead, Bavarian officials then indicated that they wouldnt object, and the researchers didnt have to return the funding. The new edition of Mein Kampf, which has expanded to nearly 2,000 pages with the Munich institutes commentary, roughly double the length of the original, doesnt appear likely to fly off the shelves. With a print run of up to 4,000 copies, it costs $64. There wont be an e-book, since the editions layout cant be adapted to the format, but publishers are considering an online edition, perhaps in 2017. Any proceeds will go to charity, Wirsching said, but given the costs of dedicating historians to the task and producing the voluminous tome, he doesnt expect any. In the end, I think this will be an entirely nonprofit enterprise, he said. Both the United States, a big country of 318 million, and the Netherlands, a smaller one of 17 million, spend much more on health care than the average rich country. But all that money has a highly unequal impact. The Dutch spend less than Americans per person, yet their children are some of the healthiest in the developed world, according to UNICEF. American children are some of the least. A new study from the journal Health Affairs may help explain why. Drawn from large national surveys in both countries, it shows that Dutch children get much more routine and preventative care. They visit or call the doctor about twice as often as American children. Ditto the dentist. In the United States, access to primary care seems to be a matter of who can afford it. Poor children are much less likely than rich children to see a doctor or a dentist for outpatient treatment or checkups. But in the Netherlands, its the opposite. The poorest children have more doctors visits, and just as many visits to the dentist. (This excludes trips to the hospital or emergency room.) Getting to the doctor early in life is important, says lead author Dougal Hargreaves, a pediatrician and associate professor at University College London. We know health care in childhood and adolescence can have an especially big impact, both at the time, and on health outcomes later in life, he says. Consistent childhood checkups head off serious problems and set up good habits for adulthood. Yet, as the researchers note, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned that millions of American children are not getting important preventative care, such as blood pressure checks and screenings for vision or developmental problems. Hargreaves and his colleagues, Jeroen Struijs, a researcher with the Dutch Ministry of Health, and Mark Schuster, chief of general pediatrics at Boston Childrens Hospital, could not infer from the data why the children were contacting the doctor or the dentist. But from the broad patterns they could see that the United States and the Netherlands are mirror opposites. This study reminds us that we need to continue to look for ways to improve childrens access to health care and to assure that the care they receive is high quality, Schuster said in an email. Among children under 10 in the United States, the poorest 20 percent visit or call the doctor about twice a year. The richest 20 percent visit or call three times a year, a difference of 50 percent. In the Netherlands, the poorer the child, the more likely he or she will get frequent outpatient care. Among children under 10, the poorest 20 percent contact the doctor about five times a year, compared with 3.7 times a year for the richest 20 percent. In the United States, theres also a relationship between income and visits to the dentist. The richest adolescents go to the dentist nearly twice a year, while the poorest barely go once a year. In the Netherlands, all children go to the dentist at least twice a year on average. The children with the most health problems, of course, are the poor, not the rich. Poor children in both the United States and the Netherlands are more likely to say (or have their parents say) that they are not in good health. Poor children in both countries also more regularly end up in the hospital. The aim of health care should be meeting the needs of every child, no matter their background, Hargreaves says. And these data really show that children from lower-income households, on average, tend to have greater needs. Yet, only in the Netherlands are poorer children getting more routine care, more nonemergency interactions with doctors. The question is how these differences in access contribute to the Dutch advantage in childrens health. In fairness, the gap might better be described as the American disadvantage. From birth to old age, Americans are sicker and die earlier than people from most other wealthy countries. The health disadvantage is pervasive, warned a 2013 report from the National Research Council. It affects all age groups up to age 75 and is observed for multiple diseases, biological and behavioral risk factors, and injuries. The report names two major causes for the health disparities. First, Americans just seem to lead riskier lives overall. They are at higher risk for obesity, heart disease and STDs, and are more likely to die by gun violence or in car crashes. Then, inequality exacerbates these problems. Despite the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, the United States still has higher levels of poverty and uninsurance than many of its peers. About 10 percent of Americans are uninsured, compared with less than 1 percent in the Netherlands. So even though the U.S. health care system spends much more money on people, many people are still left out of the system. The comparison between the United States and the Netherlands is interesting, Hargreaves adds, because there are many similarities between their health care systems. The Netherlands requires citizens to buy private health insurance on competitive, but highly regulated exchanges, and provides subsidies to those with lower incomes. This setup resembles what the ACA looks like for people in the United States who dont have health insurance through their employers. The major difference is that the Dutch system, though it too is market-based, places a much bigger emphasis on health care access and primary care. Expanding access to routine care was also one way the ACA was supposed to bring down health care costs. Its easier to fix a problem if you catch it early, or so the logic goes. So far, its not clear if this argument proves true for adults. But it may make more sense for children, who have much longer lives ahead of them. There are many conditions in youth that benefit from timely medical attention. The ACA lists 26 preventive measures, from autism screening to obesity counseling, that insurance companies must make free to encourage people to come in. PHILADELPHIA Mayor Michael Nutter says he believes he is leaving at the top of his game. But even with the notable successes, he said Philadelphias deep-seated poverty is stopping the city from reaching its potential. Povertys vise-like grip, he said, will put you in a bad mood every day. I love what I do, and I think weve gotten pretty good at it, Nutter said as he reflected recently on his eight years in office. I could give you 20 stats on how wonderful the city is, but no matter what we do, no matter how great we continue to be or strive to become, when one out of four folks in the city are living below the federal poverty line ... it ultimately holds back the citys potential. Nutter, 58, took office in 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession, and much of his early work was triage. But this year, he welcomed Pope Francis and international attention to a city of 1.5 million showing signs of progress and momentum. High school graduation rates are up. Violent crime is down. Millennials are flocking to the thriving city center. Building is booming. But poverty lingers: stubborn, intractable and looming over Nutters accomplishments like a shadow. It is the thing that nags him as he surveys his legacy before leaving office next week. It is persistent. It is deep, Nutter said. Thatll put you in a bad mood every day. For a generation, the poverty rate in Philadelphia has been more than 20 percent making it the poorest big city in the country. Mayors preceding Nutter have attempted to tackle the crisis; his successor, former City Councilman Jim Kenney, has already said he will make fighting poverty a priority. Five years into his term, Nutter began a coordinated effort to tackle poverty that focused on job creation and training, more access to affordable housing, connecting people with social services and expanding early childhood education. Last month, the city announced it had effectively ended veteran homelessness by providing housing for nearly 1,400 vets through a network of resources. Mayor Nutter cares about poverty, said City Council President Darrell Clarke, who shared a tense relationship with Nutter as mayor and whose district is one of the poorest. But its about caring versus implementing strategies. Was it his primary focus? Not early on, but eventually. Philadelphia is also the largest city with a black mayor the citys third and blacks make up more than 40 percent of the population. Whether discussing disparities in education, criminal justice or gun violence, Nutter said being an African-American mayor in the city, at this time, has made a difference. What I brought to this work and to this office every day is a very keen understanding and awareness of what its like to grow up as a young black boy in this city, Nutter said. Those experiences are on my mind daily. It has certainly helped us elevate issues of poverty, crime and education at the national level. People hear that message a little differently when somebody like me is standing in front of a bank of microphones. Nutter will continue to serve on the advisory council for My Brothers Keeper, an initiative of President Barack Obamas administration aimed at black males a role he said could increase after he leaves office. While I will not be in elected office, that does not mean I cannot be engaged and involved in some other ways, he said. My work here is not done. Ill have a different platform to stand on and have my voice out there ... to truly help folks to make better life decisions, especially young black men. He will again work to try getting Democrat Hillary Clinton elected president, and has already been dispatched to other states on her behalf. As Ive said with a smile, I dont want to go, but I have to go, Nutter said of leaving office. Its been incredible, and I knew this day would come, but it came a whole lot quicker than I thought. A look at forecast and record crest levels at gauges along St. Louis-area rivers. ASK THE EXPERTS Questions for Metro Transit? Our monthly live chat is set for noon Wednesday. Log onto STLtoday.com/chat to join the discussion. The weekly Ask the Road Crew live chat starts one hour later, at 1 p.m. at the same web address. Andrew Gates of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Steve Runde of the St. Louis Streets Division and David Wrone of the St. Louis County Department of Transportation will field your questions. In December 2015 Britain received the last of fourteen CH-47F Chinook helicopters ordered in 2009. Actually Britain wanted to buy another 22 American CH-47Fs back then in order to provide the army with 70 of these transport aircraft. That order was reduced to 14 in 2011 as a result of budget cuts. Because of the long waiting list for Ch-47Fs Britain was initially told it would not receive all 22 until 2017. Because of the reduced order all of them arrived by the end of 2015. Originally, the 22 new CH-47Fs were to be paid for by cuts in the budgets of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. But the defense budget cut kept coming until they reached the CH-47F program. The delivered British Chinooks will cost nearly $40 million each. Britain now has 60 CH-47Fs, all equipped slightly differently depending on how long ago they arrived. In 2009 the original CH-47F order was justified by the fact that Britain was then losing about a hundred troops in Afghanistan each year, most of them because of roadside and suicide bombs. Many of these casualties could be avoided if more helicopters were available. Back in 2009 media reports pointed out that British troops in Afghanistan had one helicopter for every 700 troops while the Americans had one for every 200. British commanders admitted that they needed (based on American experience) about fifty helicopters. The British government promised more, and the order for 22 Chinooks was part of an effort to make it so, at least in the future. Britain has been using CH-47s since 1980 and these have served in the Falkland Islands, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. The CH-47 is the best helicopter for use in Afghanistan, having proved itself able to deal with the dust and high altitude operations better than other transport choppers. The CH-47 has been engineered, over the years, to deal with the dust. The first CH-47s entered service in 1962, able to carry only five tons. Current models carry more than twice that. Some 750 CH-47s saw service in Vietnam, and 200 were lost in action. During 1982-94, 500 CH-47s were rebuilt to the CH-47D standard. The new CH-47F is more durable and easier to maintain than the CH-47D, and most D models will be upgraded to the F standard eventually. Right now, everyone wants more CH-47s (used, refurbs, new, whatever), and there are not enough to go around. By the end of 2015 the U.S. and Britain revealed that they are sending more commandos (SAS, Special Forces, SEALs) to Iraq and Syria, all in response to the November 13 ISIL attack in Paris. Previously it was known that Jordan and Iran also had commandos operating in the area. Recently Russia has sent some of its spetsnaz commandos to Syria and several other nations (mostly NATO) are also making contributions. All this is shaping up to look like Afghanistan in the decade after 2001. So many nations spent commandos to Afghanistan in that time that this soon be called "the Commando Olympics". This was not because so many nations had contingents there but because so many of them were working together for the first time. The different commando organizations weren't competing with each other and were performing similar missions. But each national contingent used slightly different methods and equipment. Naturally, everyone compared notes and made changes based on combat experience. That was the draw for commandoes; getting and using "combat experience." Training is great, but there's nothing like operating against an armed and hostile foe. This is big thing, as the participating commandoes are becoming a lot more effective. But you can't get a photograph of this increased capability, and the commandoes aren't talking to the press. So it's all a big story about commandos in Afghanistan and Syria is something you'll never hear much about, except in history books, many years from now. From the beginning, in September, 2001, Afghanistan was very much a special operations (commando) war. The United States asked all of its allies to contribute their commando forces, and most eagerly obliged. This enthusiasm came from the realization that this part of the world was particularly difficult to operate in. In addition, most nations saw Islamic terrorism as a real threat, and knew that key terrorist leaders were still hiding out in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Even after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which many Western and Middle Eastern nations opposed, they kept sending their commandoes to Afghanistan. All were encouraged by the American example, where a few hundred Special Forces operators managed to use some Afghan allies and U.S. warplanes equipped with smart bombs, to bring down the Taliban government in less than two months. The situation in 2015 Syria is very similar and the international collection of commandos is very similar. In Afghanistan the abundance of commandos had some interesting side effects. In 2009 the new commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan had a Special Forces background and he changed the rules for how special operations forces operated there. This made it easier for commandos to operate in Afghanistan and that encouraged several nations to keep their commandos in Afghanistan even though most nations were preparing to withdraw most of their military forces there. While Britain invented the modern commando during World War II the United States took this a step further and developed something different after World War II; the U.S. Army Special Forces. This was a unique organization in military, and intelligence, history. No other nation has anything like the Special Forces, and never had. The idea of training thousands of troops to very high standards, then having them study foreign languages and cultures, is unique to the Special Forces. The war on terror is the kind of war Special Forces are perfectly suited to dealing with. But because of decades of operating independently, the Special Forces troops tended to operate on their own but with infrequent collaboration with regular army (or marine) troops. Many in the Special Forces and regular forces have urged that there be more operations featuring closer cooperation and coordination between Special Forces and the more traditional combat troops. That is what happened in Afghanistan and that experience is now used in Syria. Dirty Little Secrets DLS for 2001 | DLS for 2002 | DLS for 2003 DLS for 2004 | DLS for 2005 | DLS for 2006 DLS for 2007 | DLS for 2008 More German Armor Heads East by James Dunnigan January 1, 2016 Recently Lithuania ordered German Boxer wheeled Infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to replace old American M113s. This follows an earlier order for German PZH2000 155mm self-propelled artillery. Lithuania is buying 88 Boxer IFVs (84 combat + 4 command variants) plus maintenance services, spare parts and weapons for about $440 million but contract hasnt been signed yet. The first IFVs are to be delivered to Lithuania in 2017. The Boxer began in 1999 as a joint British- German effort to create armored utility vehicle for their forces. In 2001 Netherlands joined the program but then in 2003 Britain withdrew from the program to develop another design on their own. In 2006 both the Dutch and Germans agreed to buy 472 Boxer vehicles (200 for the Dutch and 272 for Germany). In 2008 Boxer successfully completed trials with the German Army and in 2011 five Boxers were used in Afghanistan (where none were lost). The Boxer itself is an eight-wheeled armored vehicle is operated by a crew of three along with eight passengers and weighs from 25 to 33 tones (depends on the version). Moreover its air transportable by the new A400M. Its design is modular for maximum flexibility. Every chassis can be equipped with different snap-in modules for different purposes like infantry carrier, command vehicle, ambulance, supply carrier, IFV and so on. These modules are interchangeable and can be added or removed in less than an hour. The modular armor is ceramic and is attached to steel hull with fastening bolts. This design allows quick replacement of damaged modules or easier upgrade when new armor technology develops. Moreover vehicle has triple hull floor for better protection against anti-tank mines. For survivability front armor can withstand 30mm autocannon rounds, while the all-round protection can withstand 12.7mm fire. This is accompanied by lowered radar, thermal and acoustic signatures which are making it harder to detect. To ensure sufficient mobility the vehicle is fitted with a new high power 700 horsepower diesel engine which gives sufficient a power-to-weight ratio. Boxer armament can be configured to suit specific national requirements of every country. For example German Boxers have a remotely operated gun mount with a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, while the Dutch are equipped with a 12.7-mm machine gun. The Lithuanian variant will be equipped with Israeli unmanned turret with a 30mm gun, coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun and Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). These have a max range up to 4,000 meters. This makes Lithuania Boxers the heaviest armed variant in use. This purchase is a part of large modernization program triggered by aggressive Russian politics like the Ukrainian invasion. To fund this modernization program Lithuanian parliament have risen military expenditures on defense for 2016 by 35 percent. As a result Lithuanian defense spending in GDP will increase to 1.48 percent of GDP. -- Przeys&&22;aw Juraszek Israeli customs inspectors recently found and confiscated 4,000 dolls dressed as Palestinians and holding rocks. These were for children and part of a Palestinian Authority (which runs the West Bank) media campaign which, for the last several years, has been urging children to grow up to fight Israel and, if they are brave enough become suicide bombers. The dolls were made in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). This sort of thing is nothing new. A decade ago a shipment of souvenir statutes of the burning twin towers got through to Gaza where they were sold to those seeking a reminder of this great Arab victory. While the Palestinians in the West Bank required two decades of propaganda before accepting the idea that their kids should become suicide bombers, people throughout the region have long gone along with the idea that non-Moslems deserve to die. Thus in 2001 people throughout the Arab world cheered as pictures of the burning towers appeared on their TV sets on September 11. Here was an Arab accomplishment and many Arabs were quite proud. The sad fact is that there have been very few Arab accomplishments in the past century or so. Currently, the 340 million citizens of the Arab league countries, with a population nearly ten times that of the state of California, has an economy (GDP) about the same size as Californias. Even with all the oil wealth, the majority of the worlds known oil deposits in fact, the Arab world has fallen behind every other region in the world, except black Africa, in economic growth and development. Israel, with a population of eight million, produces more scientific papers each year than 340 million Arabs. Greece, with a population of ten million, translates more foreign language books each year than 340 million Arabs. Ignoring new, or foreign, ideas, has long been an Arab custom. But now many more Arabs are beginning to see it as a bad idea. Meanwhile the Palestinian government urges kids to commit suicide. I admire George Washington even more than I admire Robert Edward Lee. George Washington's farewell address is remembered for his warning us against political parties and for warning us against foreign entanglements. We followed his advice concerning foreign entanglements until April 1917 when we entered WWI. My own opinion is that the consequences of our entering WWI made WWII inevitable and that had we not entered WWI there would not have been a WWII in Europe. Would the world and the US be better off if the US had kept out of the war in Europe in 1917? Could we have avoided war with the Japanese Empire? Could we have gotten away with standing on the Monroe Doctrine and telling the world's powers to keep out of the Western Hemisphere? Despite the growing prospect of massive starvation and total economic collapse, many (apparently most) of the factions in the Tripoli and Tobruk governments refuse to approve the December 17 peace deal. This self-destructive sense of entitlement and resistance to compromise is common throughout the region but Libya is an extreme case. Unless this factionalism and corruption is overcome there is no possibility of avoiding a catastrophe. At the moment the only ones benefitting from this are criminals (especially smugglers, of people and goods) and really extreme religious fanatics like ISIL (al Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant). And even ISIL is succeeding mainly because they have cash and no scruples and that appeals to enough local thugs to make recruiting possible. In Libya ISIL attracts the more fanatic men from other militias and has concentrated this evil in a few places (Sirte, Derna, Ajdabiya and Benghazi) and everywhere ISIL is under attack by local militias. ISIL is believed to have more than 4,000 armed men in Libya. While there are far more (over 100,000) armed men in other groups who oppose ISIL nearly all these other gunmen are only concerned with defending the area they live in. Thus ISIL can concentrate on expanding. In addition to the battles in Ajdabiya ISIL is facing the most opposition in Benghazi where the more effective forces of the Tobruk government quickly go after any ISIL activity. In Derna ISIL has been largely chased out but is still on the outskirts trying to fight its way back in. In Sirte the local militias, some of them rival Islamic terrorists, are less effective defending against ISIL. Thus in Sirte ISIL is able to use its terror tactics (public executions and beatings) for force civilians to submit to ISIL rule. ISIL is making a major effort to expand its control by moving forces from Sirte east into territory controlled by the Tobruk government. The main target is the oil export port of Ajdabiya. There are already some ISIL forces fighting in Ajdabiya but military supplies and reinforcements are needed. These must travel along the coast road between Ajdabiya and Sirte and that involves lots of hostile encounters with anti-ISIL militias. The forces defending Ajdabiya are receiving some help from air strikes delivered by the handful of Libyan Air Force warplanes the Tobruk government has operational. NATO has offered to provide air support, and already has some commandos on the ground. But the Tobruk government is in the process of carrying out the recently signed peace deal with the rival Tripoli government and some of the Tripoli factions oppose a return of NATO air power. So it appears that permission for NATO to hit ISIL from the air in Libya will have to wait until the political differences there can be sorted out. There is some urgency about this because ISIL is concentrating on Tobruk government territory and Ajdabiya is a key oil export facility. Overall during late 2015 the fighting throughout Libya was fairly low key, causing fewer than a thousand casualties (dead and wounded) a month. People are pretty much fed up with all the fighting since 2011. One of the major sources of deaths in Libya is occurring offshore. The people smuggling across the Mediterranean is mostly from Libya and in 2015 that led to the deaths (at sea) of over 3,500 migrants and smugglers. In many respects it is another cost of the war in Libya because the smugglers would not be able to operate from Libya were it not for the lawless atmosphere there. The smuggling gangs bribe whoever controls a port they use and still make enormous profits. In the grand scheme of things Libya is the ninth most active site of Islamic terrorism worldwide. In 2015 Iraq and Afghanistan are first and second most violent with Nigeria third while Pakistan and Syria are fourth and fifth. The other most terrorized nations in Africa were Somalia at eighth place. Much of the fighting in Libya centers on control of oil. Although the major buyers of Libyan oil made it clear in November that they only wanted to deal with the original National Oil Company based in Tripoli that resolve is weakening. In March 2015 the Tobruk government has set up a rival oil company in an effort to pressure the Tripoli government. At first this was thought to be a ploy to persuade Tripoli to sign the peace deal. While the peace agreement was signed on December 17th it has not been implemented yet and until it is the National Oil Company is threatening to sue any countries that deal with the new Tobruk oil company. That appears to be a bluff because Egypt recently agreed to buy oil from Tobruk. Everyone in Libya is having growing problems exporting oil and this is a huge problem. Like many undeveloped countries that found themselves oil rich after World War II Libya is dependent on oil income for basics like food and other essential supplies. Because of the factional fighting oil production has declined from 1.5 million barrels a day before the 2011 rebellion to 920,000 barrels in 2013, 460,000 in 2014 and about 400,000 barrels a day now. The country has been burning through its pre-war cash reserve and that is expected to be exhausted soon. If oil production is not restored to 2011 levels the government will burn through cash reserves and credit lines eventually. Since 2013 the predictions were that the cash reserves would be gone by the end of the year but that has been delayed by continuing to cut imports. At this point all that is getting in is essentials and not enough of that. Many, if not most, Libyans have left the country or are planning to. One reason for the ISIL success is that they have cash and use that to buy support. But without more oil income the economy will collapse and with that food and other essentials will not be available for most Libyans. Foreign aid donors are reluctant to fill the gap because of the chaos and corruption. Put another way, foreign aid donors know from experience that a situation like Libya means many factions preferring to steal food aid or demand large bribes to let it pass even if these actions mean many Libyans starve to death. So why bother and waste aid that is needed in places where it will actually reach those in need. Fortunately the foreign banks holding most ($67 billion) of these reserves (the Sovereign Wealth Fund) have frozen these funds until there is a true government in Libya. At the moment the Tobruk government is recognized by the UN but the internationally recognized Libyan Central Bank is in Tripoli, controlled by the rival Tripoli government. Until the Tobruk government is back in the traditional capital (Tripoli) that cash will not be released. Implementing the December 17 peace deal would free those funds but even that is not sufficient incentive to get many factions to cooperate. The Tobruk government has tried another approach. In January 2015 Tobruk forces seized the Benghazi branch of the Libyan Central Bank and began looking for bankers to run a new Central Bank headquarters outside Tripoli. The Central Bank (which controls cash and gold reserves) headquarters remained in Tripoli for so long because bank officials managed to convince the UN that they were neutral and trying to continue paying government salaries and bills for essential imports. This worked for a while because the UN believed that recognizing the functional neutrality of the Central Bank would help achieve a peace deal with the Tripoli government. Because of that the UN initially criticized the seizure of the Benghazi branch. The Tobruk government insisted the Benghazi seizure was done, in part, to prevent Islamic terrorist groups from attacking the branch, whose vaults contain a lot of cash (and remained intact and under guard.) Since then a unification (of Tobruk and Tripoli governments) has been negotiated and signed. But until it is implemented Libya will not have a fully functional central bank. Egypt continues its tight border controls with Libya. Mainly Egypt wants to keep weapons and Islamic terrorists from entering Egypt and stop illegal migrants (some of them new recruits for ISIL in Libya) from crossing into Libya. Smugglers still get a lot of people and goods into and out of Libya using the fact that the 1,100 kilometer long border largely runs through thinly populated desert. The desert route is more expensive and many illegals cannot afford it. Egypt continues making public calls for international help, from anyone, to help stop the violence and chaos in neighboring Libya. Egypt has been making this appeal for most of the year. These appeals have, so far, been answered with silence. Egypt has carried out some unofficial air strikes but wants an international effort (at least one other nation besides Egypt) to carry out an open and official air support campaign. One of the two governments in Libya (Tobruk) also called for some international help and got the same response as Egypt. In the meantime Egypt has developed closer, and sometimes official, economic relations with the Tobruk government. This includes a recent deal to buy two million barrels of oil a year from fields Tobruk controls. Egypt probably got a big discount but this deal was probably worth over $50 million to the Tobruk government. Egypt has, since at least 2013, provided the Tobruk some covert military support (trainers, advisors, special equipment). That appears to be continuing. December 17, 2015: The Tripoli and Tobruk government signed the peace deal that merges the two government. Initially this will mean that nine member ruling council that will serve for one year and supervise elections. This agreement comes after 15 months of negotiations. All the major donor nations (Western and Arab) backed the deal. This deal might still fall apart because of the feuding Tripoli factions or widespread resistance by many of the factions loyal to either government. One of the key factors in this peace deal is the agreement of Arab Gulf States. The UAE (United Arab Emirates) has always backed the more secular Libyan rebels and recognizes (along with Egypt and the UN) the Tobruk government. Qatar along with Turkey and Sudan always backed more Islamic rebel groups and continues to support the Tripoli government. Qatar, Turkey and Sudan have long believed that you can coexist with Islamic conservatives. That concept has become less viable as it becomes apparent that the ancient tradition of Islamic conservatives eventually evolving into Islamic terrorists was still operational. This produced al Qaeda and its evil spawn ISIL. Many Arabs deal with this by insisting that al Qaeda and ISIL are both creations of the United States and Israel. There is no evidence for this but to many Moslems it feels good. Most Islamic terrorist groups in Libya do not accept this peace deal, but that was expected. December 15, 2015: Saudi Arabia announced the formation of an anti-terrorist organization (the Islamic Military Alliance or IMA) composed of 34 (so far) Moslem nations. This includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Cote dIvoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Qatar, the Palestinians, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and Yemen. Many people in Pakistan, Afghanistan Lebanon and Malaysia objected to their nation joining the IMA. Three of these nations have large Shia minorities while Malaysia has many non-Moslems, including Hindus. Some nations are not welcome, like Iran, Syria and Iraq. This is because the Sunni Gulf States (led by Saudi Arabia) are at war with Iran, which considers Syria and Iraq allies. A growing number of Moslem nations are openly complaining that Saudi Arabia is the source of most of the Islamic conservatism that propelled al Qaeda and ISIL, the Taliban, Boko Haram and many other Islamic terrorist groups into existence. Many IMA members are the recipients of Saudi financial assistance, so refusing to join the IMA was not considered fiscally prudent. The IMA is meant to deal with ISIL and this should include Libya. But Saudi Arabia, like most everyone else, is waiting for some unity to develop inside Libya before offering help. December 14, 2015: An American transport, carrying twenty U.S. military personnel, landed at an airbase controlled by Tobruk government. On board were armed men in civilian clothes who were U.S. Navy SEALs and found that the faction controlling the base was not the one they had arranged to work with. The SEALs were asked to leave and they did. No one is revealing details about how this happened. It did come out that U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) personnel have been operating in Libya for at least a year and in greater numbers of late. But the SOCOM personnel can only work with some factions, even among those loyal to the Tobruk government. Other NATO countries (like Italy and Britain) also have commandos, trainers and advisors in Libya helping forces belonging to the Tobruk government (which is recognized by the UN as the government of Libya.) The NATO military assistance operation is to contain 6,000 personnel and most of those are to arrive in the next few months. Wellesbourne Airfield The Birthplace Trust is seeking cash to help its proposals to develop an international visitor centre in Henley Street and improve the conservation and setting of the Birthplace. At this stage both the RSC and SBT approaches to the CWLEP are early expressions of interest. A Birthplace Trust spokeswoman told the Herald this week: It fits in with our work that is currently funded by Arts Council Englands museum resilience fund. Its just an expression of interest at this stage and not a confirmed project proposal. She added: The SBT commissioned feasibility work in 2011-2012 to clarify opportunities and constraints around a re-development of the Shakespeare Centre. However, it was clear that more work was needed to crystallise our ideas. In 2015 we successfully applied for around 450,000 museum resilience funding from Arts Council England (ACE) to provide the vital resource to develop the concept including audience research and business planning which will be completed in March 2017. After this the SBT will evaluate the outcomes to progress from the research into the delivery phase. A spokeswoman for the RSC told the Herald: Along with a number of Coventry and Warwickshire councils, business and cultural organisations, we have put forward an early expression of interest to the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP, in response to their request, for the second growth deal funding round which may run nationwide in 2017. Our outline proposal is for support towards the proposed redevelopment of our costume workshop. We are in the early stages of developing the scope for this project and Arts Council England have already awarded us a capital grant towards the renovation of the space. The project would not take place until 2017 at the earliest, as our focus is on the completion and re-opening of our current building projects, the Swan Wing and The Other Place. The news will come as a blow to Town boss Carl Adams, who was hoping to see his side seal a derby double following the Boxing Day victory over Redditch United. Town are due to return to action on Wednesday night at Cambridge City before returning to the DCS next Saturday to take on league leaders Poole Town. Gazit-Globe (NYSE: GZT) announced the closing of its public offering of 17.0 million shares in Israel on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange at a price of NIS 35.5 per share (approximately US$ 9.1 per share). The gross proceeds to the company were approximately NIS 604 million (approximately US$ 155 million). Gazit-Globes controlling shareholder (50.2%), Norstar Holdings Inc., purchased 8.5 million shares for a total consideration of approximately NIS 300 million (US$ 77 million). The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to refinance existing debt and for general corporate purposes. The underwriters syndicate was led by Leader Capital Markets and Clal Finance Underwriting and included Barak Capital Underwriting, Leumi Partners, Poalim IBI, Excellence Underwriting, Inbar Underwriting, Value Base and Epsilon Underwriting. Rachel Lavine, CEO of Gazit-Globe said: "We are pleased with the results of the offering and we thank our investors for their confidence in the company. The offering will allow the company to maintain a strong balance sheet and high liquidity for the benefit of the companys operating activities while strengthening its ability to identify and execute new investment opportunities in its core activity. We remain committed to further strengthen the companys position as a leader in the global real estate market and to create value for our shareholders. NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Daniella and Eli Malakov of Forest Hills delivered New York's first New Year's baby at the stroke of midnight. The baby boy, to be named at his bris next week, weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. LIJ's second baby, delivered 31 seconds later, was born to Vanessa and Joseph Sparacio of Franklin Square. Austin Sparacio, who also weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, is being featured in a new ad campaign by Northwell Health, formerly the North Shore LIJ Health System, which is ushering in its new name in a TV commercial featuring one of the first of more than 42,000 babies that will be delivered in Northwell Health hospitals in 2016. The touching, first-of-its-kind ad debuts, which debuts late Friday afternoon, features emotional footage of Ms. Sparacio and Austin embracing for the first time. Those tender moments are captured in real time, inserted into the TV ad and broadcast within hours of the birth. The new ad can be seen at: www.northwell.edu/looknorth The start of the ad campaign on New Year's Day coincides with the official launch of the North Shore-LIJ Health System's name change to Northwell Health, which is New York State's largest health provider and private employer with a workforce of more than 61,000. "There's no better way to symbolize Northwell Health's new beginning than to highlight the first of more than 42,000 babies who will be delivered at Northwell Health hospitals in the coming year," said Northwell Health President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dowling. Northwell hospitals account for 17 percent of all births in New York State and 1 percent nationwide, far surpassing any other New York area health system. The "Happy Birthday" ad is part of Northwell Health's robust 360-degree rebranding and marketing campaign and new tag line, entitled "Look North." Created with advertising agency J. Walter Thompson New York, the campaign introduces Northwell's new name, website, tagline, logo and philosophy to millions of consumers throughout the New York metropolitan area and the health system's more than 61,000 employees. It provides a look into Northwell's pioneering vision for shaping the future of healthcare. "Look North" is Northwell's first brand campaign in five years and the biggest marketing push in the 25-year history of the 21-hospital health system. The "Happy Birthday" ad will air on New York area broadcast stations, including: WABC, WNBC, WCBS and WPIX, with a print version running the week of Jan. 4 in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other publications. "As the largest healthcare provider in New York State, we are pursuing new and different ways of telling our story of innovation, providing consumers with a glimpse into the advanced care and individual attention that our patients receive from our more than 61,000 employees," Mr. Dowling said. "Our unique, creative advertising approach vividly captures how our health system is redefining science and medicine while continuing to put the focus on the all-important human touch," said Ramon Soto, senior vice president and Northwell's chief marketing and communications officer. Mr. Soto said the campaign will also include a digital and social media initiative directing viewers to the new Northwell "Look North" hub page (Northwell.edu/looknorth), giving them the opportunity to learn more about the campaign and explore baby-related content and other health news. Future elements of the campaign will launch on January 18. "The birth of a new healthcare system dedicated to a new standard in care deserves more than just another hospital commercial. It's not just advertising; it's news," said Eric Weisberg, executive creative director at J. Walter Thompson New York. "We wanted to do something wildly unique to demonstrate the breakthroughs in care happening throughout Northwell Health. Capturing the first birth in their 21-hospital network and releasing the spot on air in a matter of hours would not have been possible without the unprecedented collaboration, partnership and vision of the Northwell teams." Northwell has a long history of doing things differently, beginning with its creation on Long Island in 1990, when it became the first health system in New York State. With $9.5 billion in annual revenue, the health system has evolved into a vast clinical, educational and research enterprise. Among the milestones over the past two decades include: the 1999 establishment of a biomedical research arm, now known as The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, which includes more than 1,500 scientists, investigators and other employees ; the 2010 expansion into Manhattan with the addition of Lenox Hill Hospital and the 2014 opening of Manhattan's first freestanding emergency center, Lenox Health Greenwich Village; the 2010 founding of New York State's first allopathic medical school in 40 years the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, which graduated its first class in May of this year; a new nursing school in 2015 named the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. the 2013 creation of the health system's own health insurance company, CareConnect; a major ambulatory expansion that now includes hundreds of outpatient physician practices throughout the metropolitan area; the largest ambulance transport system on the East Coast and the New York area's first hospital-based helicopter emergency medical service; and strategic alliances with such internationally renowned institutions as the Cleveland Clinic, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. About Northwell Health Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and private employer. With 21 hospitals and nearly 450 outpatient practices, we serve 8 million people in the metro New York area and beyond. Our 61,000 employees work to change health care for the better. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our services in more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu. About J. Walter Thompson Worldwide J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, the world's best-known marketing communications brand, has been creating pioneering solutions that build enduring brands and business for more than 150 years. Headquartered in New York, J. Walter Thompson is a true global network with more than 200 offices in over 90 countries, employing nearly 10,000 marketing professionals. The agency consistently ranks among the top networks in the world and continues to be a dominant presence in the industry by staying on the leading edgefrom hiring the industry's first female copywriter to developing award-winning branded content today. For more information, please visit www.jwt.com and follow us @JWT_Worldwide. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-years-first-baby-born-at-stroke-of-midnight-at-long-island-jewish-lij-medical-center-300198365.html SOURCE Northwell Health Fire service personnel move a man to a waiting ambulance outside Femme Fatale gentleman's club in Central Auckland. Two people rushed to hospital from an Auckland brothel had taken the class B drug GHB, police say. The pair were transported to Auckland Hospital from Femme Fatale gentlemen's club on Wellesley St at 8.30 on Saturday morning. They were a woman in critical condition and a man in serious condition, St John Ambulance spokesman Robbie Walker said. JASON DORDAY/FAIRFAX NZ Emergency services outside Femme Fatale on Wellesley St West. A police spokesperson said the male patient told police the pair had taken Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate or GHB, a drug also known as "Liquid Ecstasy". READ MORE: * Behind the red lights of New Zealand's brothels * Alleged brothel like a 'fast food restaurant' GHB is a central nervous system depressant popular with club goers because it provides a euphoric high, increased sex drive and a feeling of tranquillity. However, it has numerous side effects including sweating, loss of consciousness, vomiting and hallucinations. A 2002 study found 69 per cent of GHB users reported losing consciousness. Colourless and odourless, GHB is also used as a date rape drug. It is particularly dangerous and potentially fatal if mixed with alcohol. Auckland Hospital said both patients from Saturday's incident at Femme Fatale were in a stable condition. An eyewitness at the scene saw one patient, a man, writhing around on a stretcher as he was transported to a waiting ambulance. A woman who answered the club's phone said she had "nothing to say". Femme Fatale bills itself as "New Zealand's #1 gentlemans club" and offers massages and an escort service. Emergency services took two people to hospital from Femme Fatale on Wellesley St, Auckland, after they apparently took an illegal drug. Auckland police are warning summer holidaymakers against taking recreational drugs after seven people were hospitalised in 48 hours from taking illegal substances. They included a man and woman taken from Auckland brothel Femme Fatale on Saturday morning after apparently taking the class B drug GHB. Ambulances took the pair from the Wellesley St venue to Auckland Hospital shortly after 8.30am. They have now been released. The man told police they had taken Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate or GHB, a drug also known as "liquid ecstasy". However Detective Senior Sergeant Marcia Murray said police could not confirm exactly what drugs were taken by the pair until they review the results of a toxicology test. READ MORE: * 'Liquid ecstasy' drug hospitalises two people in Auckland brothel incident * Behind the red lights of New Zealand's brothels * Alleged brothel like a 'fast food restaurant' GHB is a class B drug which has a number of side effects including sweating, loss of consciousness, vomiting and hallucinations. It is commonly used at raves and as a date rape drug. Police were also investigating five other cases from the last two days where women were taken to hospital having consumed unconfirmed illegal substances, Murray said. "We do not yet know if there is anything linking the different cases but we are seriously concerned at the number of people who have been hospitalised and want people to think twice before they take illicit drugs." At a time of year when recreational drug use levels are high, Murray said she wanted everyone to "stay safe". She urged anyone who had taken a drug to seek medical attention "because of how quickly things can take a turn for the worse". "If you are taking substances where you don't know where it is from or what it contains, you are taking a very serious risk with your health and you are putting your life at risk," Murray said. "The consequences of taking illegal substances can be life threatening and we want people to recognise the dangerous risk they are taking." When beer aficionado Dylan Shearer was studying for a career in landscape architecture, he never imagined he would have a future in the craft beer industry. Three-and-a-half years later, Shearer, 26, and his business partners Shigeo Takagi, 28, and Jordan Evison, 26, have taken over the former Governor Beer premises in Auckland's Grey Lynn, and plan to funk up the local craft beer scene. JASON DORDAY/FAIRFAX NZ Funk Estate co-founder Dylan Shearer has wasted no time getting comfy in the company's new HQ, putting a brew on as soon as the keys were handed over. Up until now, the Funk Estate founders had been outsourcing their beer production to established breweries like Aotearoa Breweries in Kawarau, Tuatara Breweries in Paraparaumu and the Kereru Brewing Company in Upper Hutt. Originally based in Wellington, the trio left the heart of New Zealand's craft beer industry to chase their dream of having their own brewery. READ MORE: *Craft beer in Wellington: it's one great big hoppy family *Craft brewing transforms NZ hop industry *Is it a beer? Is it a wine? Marlborough craft wine to hit stores next year JASON DORDAY/FAIRFAX NZ Dylan Shearer, originally from Nelson, has been brewing beer ever since finishing high school. "The opportunity came up and we thought it was too good not to take advantage of it," Shearer said. "It's always been our goal to get our own brewery. For the first two years it didn't seem we would ever get there with the amount of money we had but it was what we were always working towards." Rent was now an issue but being masters of their own production outweighed the disadvantage of the additional costs, particularly when they wanted to experiment with some "weird and wacky" beers. Shearer said their most critically acclaimed beer was an imperial stout they made each year for Valentine's Day that contained five aphrodisiac ingredients including chocolate, figs and maca root. They picked up three medals for the loved-up concoction this year, including a gold at the New Zealand Brewers Guild awards. In the past, Funk Estate beer production could range between 6000 to 10,000 litres a month and Shearer said they would probably make 10,000 litres of beer a month if they pushed their new facilities to the max. To keep up with demand, one of the next steps was to double the capacity of the brewers and fermenters to 2400 litres. An off-licence was also part of the plan so customers could buy beer straight off the estate. In the longer term, Shearer said the goal was to build up their presence in Auckland, which he believed had potential for a craft beer scene that could rival Wellington's. "Auckland's craft beer culture is already starting to kick off in a very big way and it's only going to get bigger and bigger, purely because that's the way the industry as a whole is going. And the population is so massive here compared to Wellington." Craft beer was starting to determine the success of bars in Wellington's CBD and that was likely to happen in Auckland as well, Shearer said. "If you open a new bar that's not on Courtenay Place, and you don't have a craft beer offering, you're limiting your success. "People who want to go out and spend good money on a meal, they want to have a nice beverage to go along with it. They don't just want the standard same old offering." A visual perspective of the first stage of the Kapiti expressway - a $630m four-lane link between McKays Crossing and Peka Peka. Wellington motorists should get an easier commute for Christmas next year, with an extra lane into the capital and an early finish expected for the Kapiti expressway. And while the proposed Basin Flyover's defeat has disrupted transport planning for the region, the New Zealand Transport Agency said it was pushing on with other projects. The urban motorway in Wellington city is already receiving a $50 million upgrade. This will add a fourth northbound lane and transform it into the country's first smart motorway, where a computer automatically lowers the speed limit if it thinks congestion is about to occur. This project is on target to be completed by May. KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ The NZ Transport Agency spent 2015 adding a fourth northbound lane to Wellington's urban motorway. It is now considering squeezing in a fourth lane heading south. But the agency is now investigating squeezing in an extra lane heading south into Wellington from the Ngauranga Interchange, where State highways 1 and 2 converge. READ MORE * Wellington's 'smart motorway' moves into next phase * Wellington motorway to get fourth lane 'stitched on' * Wellington motorway to get multiple speed cameras * Kapiti expressway turns two Neil Walker, the agency's Wellington highways manager, said the extra lane would be hewn out of the existing road space and would only extend about half a kilometre south from the interchange. NZ Transport Agency This drive-through animation explains how Wellington's 'smart motorway' will work. "We're only thinking about it at this stage, but we might be able to do something there," he said. "We want to make the best use of our time while we're there [upgrading the motorway] but it couldn't be too costly and we don't want to disrupting motorway traffic longer then we need to be." Adding a fourth southbound lane all the way to the Terrace Tunnel has been on the cards for a while. But it was not expected until after a second Terrace Tunnel had been built in 2024. MONIQUE FORD/FAIRFAX NZ The public got their close-up look at the new Kapiti Rd bridge, off Te Roto Drive in Paraparaumu, which forms part of the Kapiti expressway. The NZ Transport Agency is hoping to have the new road open before Christmas 2016. But because the agency now needs to revisit a congestion solution for the Basin Reserve in light of its plans for a flyover falling over development and construction of second Terrace Tunnel is on hold indefinitely. Despite disruptions, Walker said progress was being made on highway projects across the Wellington region. This included the first stage of the Kapiti expressway, which could open before its scheduled completion date of February 2017. "There's a real willingness to deliver that project early. It would be nice to have it open by next Christmas." Construction of the expressways first stage, a $630m four-lane link between McKays Crossing and Peka Peka, had benefited from a good weather and community support, Walker said. Avoiding major ground flattening work should also shave 15 months off part of the project. That alternative work, which begins on January 5, will involve widening the road shoulders and replacing concrete median barrier with a wire rope barrier. The new approach will also allow contractors to work more at night, Walker said. With all of the necessary property acquired and land contamination issues resolved, only earthworks, construction and paving remained. "We've got a clear run through to the end." Walker said it was a big year ahead for transport across the Wellington region, with major construction also set to begin on the Gully motorway and the $43m Haywards Interchange on SH2 in the Hutt Valley. PROGRESS REPORT ON WELLINGTON'S HIGHWAY PROJECTS Transmission Gully motorway: Minor earthworks have begun. Major earthworks begin in 2016 with the motorway opening by 2020. Kapiti expressway (McKays to Peka Peka): Upgrade of Raumati Straights and final earthworks/paving will be complete in 2016. Completion date is February 2017 but it could be open before Christmas 2016. Kapiti expressway (Peka Peka to Otaki): Construction contract will be awarded in late 2016 and the expressway will be finished by 2020. Otaki to Levin highway upgrade: Safety improvements at Manakau and Ohau are complete. Consents for improvements south of Levin will be sought in 2017 with construction beginning in 2019 and finishing in 2024. Petone-Grenada highway: Detailed designs will be prepared in 2016. Resource consent will be sought in 2017 with construction starting in 2019 and finishing in 2023. Wellington motorway upgrade: Fourth northbound lane and smart motorway computers will begin operating in May 2016. Basin Reserve: Public consultation on an alternative to the proposed highway flyover will begin in 2016. There is no timeline for construction. Second Mt Victoria Tunnel, Second Terrace Tunnel and Widening of Ruahine St and Wellington Rd: All on hold until there is progress on the Basin Reserve. Existing Mt Victoria Tunnel refurbishment: On track for completion in July 2016. SH58 safety improvements: Some curve realignment and safety upgrades were completed in December. Further improvements between Mt Cecil Rd and Harris St will be designed in 2017. SH2 Haywards Interchange: Construction began in September and will be finished in 2017 SH2 Melling Interchange: Investigations into this will be done in 2016. A business case will be developed in 2017. Wellington to Hutt Valley cycleway: Construction of the Petone to Melling section will begin in 2016 and be done by 2018. Construction of the Ngauranga to Petone section is expected to begin in 2019 and be done by 2022. Wanaka's New Year's revellers were, for the most part, hot and happy but maybe not all were healthy. There were just five arrests for minor disorder type offences, compared with 10 in Queenstown. Two vegetation fires - one in Wanaka's Mt Aspiring Road, and another on a rural Tarras property - have raised concerns the arid countryside could go up in flames. SUPPLIED Rhythm & Alps Festival goers cool off in the Cardrona River. A total fire ban is in place. READ MORE * Fireworks light up New Zealand's New Year celebrations * World welcomes 2016 - New Year's Eve around the globe Wanaka Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said the five arrested were men aged between 18 and 29, from Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch. 1 of 6 MARJORIE COOK Wanaka country pop star Jody Direen performs at the Lake Wanaka Centre on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2015. 2 of 6 MARJORIE COOK Jody Direen at the Lake Wanaka Centre. 3 of 6 SUPPLIED Rhythm & Alps Festival goers cool off in the Cardrona River during the New Year's Eve music festival, December 31, 2015. 4 of 6 Rhythm & Alps signs are reflected in the sunglasses of Kyla Davies, of Queenstown 5 of 6 SUPPLIED Fire dancers perform on top of the Rhythm & Alps fire truck. 6 of 6 SUPPLIED The Rhythm & Alps crowd enjoys entertainment from the main stage. Four were charged with disorder offences and one was "a detox". "I think one was at Rhythm & Alps and the other four were in the CBD, in town here," Nicholson said. Another three people were processed for drink-driving on New Year's Eve. MARJORIE COOK Wanaka country pop star Jody Direen performs at the Lake Wanaka Centre on New Year's Eve. "I think it was reasonably well behaved, all things being considered . . . Overall, given the number of pople in town, it was not too bad and on par with previous years," Nicholson said. Senior Sergeant Ian Temple of the Southern District Command Centre said crowds in Queenstown and Wanaka were well behaved with only a few minor incidents. "It was pleasing to see that most people were out enjoying themselves responsibly," Temple said. The St John Ambulance service was busy throughout Central Otago, territory manager Kelvin Perriman said. Sixteen St John staff worked each day of the Rhythm & Alps festival, treating about 170 patients for mostly minor injuries or issues. Three were transported to local medical centre and hospital for additional care, Perriman said on Facebook. The music festival attracted at least 6000 to the Cardrona Valley and as jovial campers started to pack up their tents and pick up rubbish today, organiser Alex Turnbull could not have been more thrilled. "Everyone has been safe and everyone has been happy," he said. "It was a pretty big week for us and it went really, really well." A crowd of thousands enjoyed a scorching hot first night of The Branding Music Festival on the banks of the Clutha River at Queensberry, near Luggate, with Australian and New Zealand acts getting the two-day camping party underway. Organiser Sarah Perriam could not be contacted. In Wanaka country-pop star Jody Direen was entertaining a rowdy crowd of a sing-along fans who hit the floor from the very first song. The heat was such that Direen had to change her outfit after just 15 minutes, after the tape holding up her costume melted. In town, punters were pressed in like sardines at bars and there was a long queue to get into the Water Bar. At least 1000 people - mostly sunburned, boisterous teenagers - thronged into the closed off area of Ardmore St for the annual New Year's party and fireworks display. Many seemed unsteady on their feet. Tearful young women were being comforted by friends, some high spirited young men were reeling from some of their more playful encounters with each other, and a few were being sick. It seemed fewer family groups came out this year, in contrast to previous years. There was a good natured atmosphere on top of Mt Iron, where dozens were star-gazing and enjoying the lakeside fireworks display from on high. Wanaka's first vegetation fire of the year provided the finale at 0.15am. Two appliances attended and it was extinguished in about half an hour. Deputy fire chief Garth Campbell said the fire was "just stupidity really" and it was lucky brigade members were close to the station and got to Mt Aspiring Road quickly. "It was a small grass fire and we suspect it was started from a flare. But we don't actually know The police saw it go off . . . It is so highly not recommended not to have any private fireworks or anything that can cause a spark as it is extremely dry. We also went to a brazier fire last night. Braziers are banned. There are to be no naked flames at all," Campbell said. Volunteer firefighters from Tarras and Luggate were up by 7.15am to deal with a fire in some sticks and stumps in an area known as The Blue Gums, about 4km south of the township. Tarras fire chief Mark Davidson and his Luggate counterpart Rod Anderson also urged against lighting fires. Davidson said he was "less than impressed" after a late night driving taxis in Queenstown. The stump fire cause was not known and they were pleased they did not have to chase it. "Heat and low humidity means rapid ignition and spread," Davidson said. "We have got to make sure it doesn't become a bigger fire on a day when the conditions are less than favourable. So we will have to dig it out and deal with it properly. That could take one hour. It could take five. It depends on what we find," Davidson said. "My advice to people is to be very, very careful and understand that in the modern management of rural fires, if there is a fire, people can expect a bill." Two water tanks, a fire appliance and a digger were working at the fire scene. Anderson said both brigades were also called out to Tarras earlier in the week to deal to a fire in a drum. "I want to remind people they can't use open drums for burning. It is too dry. There is a total fire ban. They are just too dangerous," Anderson said. Wanaka was sweltering under 29 degrees Celsius at noon today. The next big event is the Wanaka Rodeo on January 2, when conditions are forecast to be a slightly cooler 23 deg C. Seven people are in hospital following a crash involving two vehicles in the North Waikato on Friday. It came less than an hour after a serious crash in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, which saw five children injured. Police have launched an investigation after a woman at home alone challenged two burglars who broke into her house during the night. At about 4.45am on Friday, the woman was awake in bed in her Matamata home when she saw a man looking at her through her bedroom door. Northland Police have released the name of the victim who died in Whangarei Hospital yesterday from injuries received after an assault in Kaitaia on New Years Eve. He was Mr Lee Rata, aged 35 years, from Kaitaia. The assault happened in Bonnett Road, Kaitaia, around 11pm on New Years Eve. Fifteen police are investigating the assault and several search warrants have been executed in Kaitaia. A post mortem is being held today. "Mr Rata received a severe beating and it must have been seen by someone, says Detective Inspector Kevin Burke, Northland Police District Criminal Investigations Manager. There were a number of people in the area at the time. "Mr Ratas family are naturally grieving and we urge people who have information about what happened to come forward to police. This would help give the victims family some form of closure. Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the victim earlier in the evening and people who were in the Bonnett Road area attending a party to contact them on 09 408 6500. Alternatively, if you wish to pass information anonymously please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Source: New Zealand Police. Two days into the New Year and two men are fighting for their lives following two separate crashes in the Bay of Plenty. A 43-year-old man is on life support in Waikato Hospital after a quad bike rolled, injuring him and a one-year-old child. #DP DP bristles at prosecution probes targeting top officials of previous administration The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) bristled Wednesday at prosecution investigations that led to requests for arrest warrants for former top officials of the previous Moon Ja... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man who beat a woman to death with a 2-by-4 board in 1990 was charged with brutally beating a 78-year-old woman during a robbery on New Year's Day. Willie McKee Jr., 42, approached the woman just after 8:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Lodi Street. He repeatedly punched and kicked the woman before making off with with her purse and wallet, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said at a news conference this morning. She suffered extensive head and facial injuries and was rushed to Upstate University Hospital, where she's currently in critical, but stable condition. The woman's son, one of nine children, spoke to reporters following the press conference. He held a photograph of his mother. Her right eye was severely bruised and swollen and her head wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. She was bleeding from her head and face when police arrived, Fowler said. Her son said his mother's face was repeatedly stomped on. Her son, who chose not to be identified, said the woman is bleeding from her brain, cannot see and is fighting for her life. "She's in very, very, very bad shape," he said. It all started when the woman, a longtime North Side resident, walked to a neighborhood store to buy a cup of coffee, her morning routine. At some point, McKee demanded money from her. She turned away from McKee, her son said, at which point McKee attacked her. "She's an innocent 78-year-old lady. She's my mom," her son said. McKee and the woman lived about a block away from each other on Pond Street, but had never met before, her son said. In addition to being a mother of nine, she's a "bingo fanatic" and has about 100 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, a number her son said was not hyperbole. Several neighbors witnessed the robbery and provided police with a description of the suspect, Fowler said. Armed with this description, police caught up with McKee in the 400 block of Ash Street, about two blocks away from the robbery. The woman's family applauded police for quickly arresting McKee. "It was awesome," her son said. "They did a very good job." Fowler thanked the public for helping police find the suspect. "This person viciously attacked a 78-year-old member of our community and the public didn't stand idly by and watch it happen," Fowler said. "The public did their part." When the case against McKee is ultimately turned over to the Onondaga County District Attorney's office, Fowler suspects the assistant district attorney put in charge of the case will feel the same way he does: that McKee needs to go to jail "for a long, long long time." "You're not going to be able to attack a member of our community, especially an elderly member of our community, and get away with it," Fowler said. McKee, of 1015 Pond St., Apt. 2, was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest. He was arraigned in City Court and sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail. McKee has an extensive criminal history, including arrests for assault, weapons possession, burglary and larceny, Sgt. Richard Helterline said. He was most recently charged with misdemeanor assault on Nov. 27. Details on that arrest were not immediately available. McKee was 16 when he and two other men beat Cheryl Coleman to death with a wooden board inside a vacant South Salina Street house in a drugs-for-sex deal gone wrong. McKee pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for testimony against his two co-defendants, Gregory Brown and Carlton Lewis. Both Brown and Lewis were convicted of murder sentenced to up to life in prison, where they both remain. McKee served 18 years in prison for the crime and was released in 2008. In 2010, he was sentenced to up to three years in prison after he was convicted of driving while intoxicated for the second time. He served about two years and was released to parole in July 2012. Contact Jacob Pucci: Email | Twitter | 315-766-6747 Scriba fire.jpg Firefighters battling a fire at May's Polynesian Motel and Mini-Mart in Scriba. (Scriba Fire Department) Scriba, N.Y. -- Several fire departments are battling a blaze at May's Polynesian Motel and Mini-Mart in Scriba, just outside of Oswego on State Route 104. The fire was called in at 9:45 p.m., according to dispatchers at Oswego County's 911 center. Everyone who was in the hotel and store made it out. But the fire quickly spread from the store to the motel, which was recently renovated, according to the business' web site. At 11:27 p.m., the Scriba Volunteer Fire Department posted on its Facebook page that fires in both buildings had been brought under control. Three Red Cross volunteers are helping one family who was forced from their home as a result of the blaze, said Dan Hartman, a Red Cross spokesman. The motel's web site says it's the perfect spot for power outage workers, anglers, business travelers and tourists. We'll provide more information on the fire later. Contact Marnie Eisenstadt anytime: email | twitter | 315-470-2246. SCRIBA, N.Y. -- The owner of May's Polynesian Motel and Mini-Mart in Scriba was found dead inside his convenience store after a fire on New Year's Day. All the entry points to the convenience store where 48-year-old Steven May's body was found were barricaded and chained shut from the interior, Oswego County Undersheriff Eugene Sullivan said in a statement. Firefighters first arrived to the motel and convenience store, just outside Oswego on State Route 104, around 9:45 p.m. Friday after a motel occupant reported smelling smoke. Firefighters found flames coming from both ends of the motel and from the southwest corner of the convenience store. Scriba firefighters had to force their way into the barricaded store, Sullivan said. Oswego County fire investigators found several points of origin where the fire started in both buildings, according to the sheriff's office. Both ends of the motel, as well as the southwest corner of the store were significantly damaged. One family staying in a motel room was evacuated and is being assisted by the Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office will determine May's cause of death. Contact Jacob Pucci: Email | Twitter | 315-766-6747 caughdenoyrd.JPG Caughdenoy Road is closed near Maple Road after this car crashed into two utility poles. (Onondaga County Sheriff's office) Clay, N.Y. -- Caughdenoy Road will be closed between Maple Road and Navara Lane until National Grid crews can come clean up the mess caused when a car spun out of control. The car crashed into two utility poles, knocking both down, just before 4 p.m., according to Det. Jon Seeber of the Onondaga County Sheriff's office. There are also wires down in the road. Seeber said it is unclear how long the stretch of road will be closed. The driver, whose name was not released, sustained minor injuries, according to Seeber. The crash is currently being investigated. We'll provide more information when it's available. Contact Marnie Eisenstadt anytime: email | twitter | 315-470-2246. 4V9P5334.JPG Syracuse Crunch forward Jonathan Drouin plays keep-away from Springfield's Jaime Sifers during a game at the War Memorial. (James Walzer | Syracuse Crunch) Syracuse, N.Y. The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned forward Jonathan Drouin to the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning announced Saturday. Drouin, 20, has played in 19 games for Tampa Bay this season, recording two goals and eight points. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound forward made his return to the ice Dec. 30 against the New York Rangers after missing the previous eight games with a lower-body injury. Drouin played in 70 games during his rookie season in 2014-15, scoring four goals and adding 28 assists. The Crunch is at Toronto for games against the Marlies on Saturday and Sunday. Both games start at 3 p.m. TALLAHASSEE Amid the dozens of school choice bills filed for the upcoming legislative session, one that aims to expand a program for the parents of children with disabilities is on a fast track for early approval. The bill would increase by 37 percent the amount of scholarship money for thousands of parents of children with special learning needs to spend on private school tuition, diagnostics and therapeutic services and curriculum and materials. It has passed through all its major committees and is on the second-reading calendar, which means it is positioned for a vote of the full Senate at the beginning of the session, which starts Jan. 12. 'My hope is this will be on the floor the first week of session for a vote,' Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, the bill's sponsor, said by telephone Thursday. The bill would make the Personal Learning Spending Account program permanent in Florida, and allocate $73 million toward about 7,300 scholarships. That would be a $20 million increase over the funding the program got in the current budget cycle, which was almost three times the initial amount of $18.7 million for the program. The bill has the support of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, who has a child with Down syndrome and spearheaded creation of the Personal Learning Spending Account Program two years ago to give parents with children who have what he calls unique abilities control over determining their child's education. 'It's important because there are thousands of families who are now taking advantage of the personal learning scholarship accounts,' Gaetz said. About 4,300 students were enrolled through Step Up For Students and the AAA Scholarship Foundation. 'Our expectation is that if we place the scholarship in as a permanent statute the number will be about 7,300 next year,' Gaetz said. Before the spending account program, students with intellectual disabilities had few options, Gaetz said. 'The public school system in many places tried very hard to accommodate students with disabilities,' he said. 'Sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't. But basically students with disabilities had to fit into the offerings of those public school systems.' The program gives parents whose children meet at least one of nine categories of disability an average of $10,000 to spend on their child's education as they see fit, either by paying for private school tuition and fees or by purchasing educational materials and developing a program tailored to their needs. Hillsborough County resident Stephanie Willson has had her son Noel enrolled in the program for two years. She told a Senate committee she used the money to provide a customized education program for her 9-year-old son with Down syndrome. At age 3 he entered the early exceptional learners program offered by Hillsborough County public schools. A McKay Scholarship then paid for private school, before his parents pulled him out of that program and tried home-schooling before placing him back in public schools. 'We've been back and forth a little, and never found the right fit,' Willson said. The PLSA gave her the freedom of choice to develop a curriculum tailored to his needs that allows her to home-school her son again. 'I appreciate the work of the public schools, but there is no one size fits all,' she said. 'The PLSA allows my child to maximize his potential.' The only concern school districts might have is if they are asked to provide diagnostic services or to develop an individualized education plan, or IEP, for the students without compensation, said Jeff Eakins, superintendent of schools for Hillsborough County. 'Typically students already have a pre-diagnosis or already have been in the school system and already have an IEP, so there is not too much of a burden,' Eakins said. 'We just have to be fully aware of what the possibility would be.' The bill also takes last year's proviso language and makes it permanent, expands and clarifies the definition of autism and permanently expands the program to include 3 and 4 year olds, East said. The personalized learning spending program is the ultimate in education customization for parents of students who have one of nine designated disabilities, he said. 'We say, 'Here is your money; here is your $10,000. Spend it as you see fit. Choose a school if you want, a therapeutic service, buy a curriculum that fits your student's needs,' ' East said. Gaetz's bill also would establish a path to creating postsecondary education programs for students with special education needs beyond 12th grade, another important issue for Gardiner. 'When these kids age out of the public school system too often that is the end of their education and training,' Gaetz said. 'Sometimes they wind up back at home sitting in their parents' house with no job or marginal employment.' If approved, it would create a way for colleges and universities to offer a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program for students with disabilities and a statewide clearinghouse with information for parents. It comes with an $8 million allocation $1.5 million to create the statewide center, $3 million for start-up and enhancement grants and $3.5 million for scholarships. It would help create programs similar to one started last year with 80 young adults enrolled at Pensacola State College, Gaetz said. The bill also would permanently enshrine in statutes a House initiative approved on a smaller scale last year to give public school districts and charter schools financial incentives to mandate school uniforms or uniform dress code requirements. The program is a priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, but was not offered as a quid pro quo, Gaetz said. 'This was an effort on my part to be respectful of the House priority brought to us last year,' Gaetz said. Seven districts received a total of $3.75 million $10 per pupil of incentive money for implementing student dress codes. 'There is compelling testimony that they believe the student attire policy improves the education environment of the schools,' Gaetz said. BETTER WAY: About 5,200 Florida teachers will receive bonuses more than $8,400 to each instructor under a new state program that rewards teachers based on their ACT or SAT exams, The Associated Press reported. The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program, enacted by state lawmakers during the 2015 legislative session, set aside $44 million to give cash bonuses to teachers who meet two criteria: 1) scored in the top 20 percent of their SAT and ACT college entrance exams; and 2) were rated "highly effective" on their last job evaluation. The scholarships program was widely panned by educators who correctly noted there's no proof a high test score has any connection to teaching ability. There are better ways to incentivize teachers. For example, state Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, has proposed legislation that would forgive education loans up to $16,000 for educators who commit to teach a science, technology, engineering or mathematics course for eight years at a public school in the state. GIVE US A BREAK: State-mandated testing and the pressure on educators to boost student test scores has made recess a disposable commodity. Some elementary schools in Florida no longer offer it to students. Companion bills filed in the upcoming legislative session by state Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, and state Sen. Alan Hayes, R-Umatilla, would require school districts to provide 20 minutes of uninterrupted recess each day for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Even adults who work eight-hour days need periodic breaks. How much more is this true for children? State lawmakers should pass House Bill 833 and Senate Bill 1002. INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Hackers took no time off for the New Year's holiday. An astute bank customer alerted deputies Friday morning to a skimmer device on a Bank of America ATM at 6300 State Road A1A, Indian River Shores. Once that first device was discovered, deputies and police fanned out across the county to check ATMs at bank branches, grocery stores and convenience stores and found three more, at Bank of America branches at 13555 U.S. 1 in Roseland; 710 South Fleming St., Sebastian; and 5780 20th St., Vero Beach. Investigators believe there also may have been a fifth ATM skimmer placed in a machine in the county. Skimmers are small devices criminals affix to the card slot of an ATM or a gas pump to secretly swipe credit- and debit-card information when customers insert their cards. Many banks have upgraded their technology to include alarm sensors if anyone tries to tamper with an ATM, Indian River County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Eric Flowers said. Skimming remains more common at gas pumps. Deputies were continuing to check ATMs, Flowers said late Friday afternoon. It is unknown if these latest attempts are related to a similar incident in September, when the Indian River County Sheriff's Office investigated two people seen placing a skimming device on an ATM at the Bank of America on State Road 60 near 58th Avenue in unincorporated Indian River County. "To my knowledge we never did identify those suspects," Flowers said. The skimmers found Friday had been installed on top of the card-insertion slot, Flowers said. Detectives also discovered a pinhole camera above the touch screen, which they believe was intended to capture the user inputting his or her personal identification number. "We encourage anyone who has used any of these ATMs in recent days to carefully check your bank statements and consult your bank about requesting a new card," Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said in a news release. "As soon as we can get video of the suspects from the banks, we will release the photos in an attempt to capture these thieves and bring them to justice." Detectives will attempt to recover suspects' fingerprints and DNA, officials said. The Sebastian and Indian River Shores police departments are assisting in the investigation. Indian River Shores police declined to comment on Friday, saying they would issue a news release Monday. Flowers said other Treasure Coast counties have been alerted to watch for the skimmer scam. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office alerted its deputies on Friday about the Indian River incidents. Bank of America customers should call 800-432-1000 to check on their accounts. Anyone with information about the devices found on Friday should contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477 or www.tcwatch.org. Russia's plan to embark on a moon exploration may have to wait because of economic crisis. Roscosmos, the country's federal space agency, is now facing budget cuts from the government, imperilling major space programs. Financial Woes Russia's economy is currently in the midst of hard times. The Russian rouble is falling, western sanctions are piled up and oil prices are getting lower. With this, the government had to implement cutbacks on the budgets of different sectors. All departments including those in charge of health and welfare are also affected by the cuts. Roscosmos said some government officials are looking at revising the space program up to 2025. Although detailed information and particulars were not provided, the statement of the agency suggests that the ambitious space exploration plan may have also been struck by the economic turmoil that Russia is presently battling. New Budget According to Izvestia, a Russian broadsheet newspaper, Roscosmos sent a draft proposal of some amendments to the moon exploration program, which shows big slashes on its budget. Among the proposals in the draft is the cut of funds for the manned leg of lunar flights by 88.5 billion roubles ($1.22 billion) to 329.67 billion roubles ($4.51 billion). The funds for the spacecraft, however, will not be affected significantly. Roscosmos is yet to comment on the numbers, and all the agency said was that the plan is a very extensive one. Moon Base In April 2014, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said the country planned to build a large station on the moon, which will pave the way for numerous scientific breakthroughs. "The revised project of the federal space program for 2016-25 envisages the study of the Moon by automated orbiters, as well as by building up scientific and technical potential for further studies, including by manned missions," said Roscosmos. The agency did not conclude that the moon base plan has been cancelled already. The only information it shared is that a manned flight to the moon will not happen before the year 2029. Russia: Still A World Leader In Space Exploration Despite the obstacles being faced by the Russian space force, it may still be considered one of the leading space exploration teams in the world. President Vladimir Putin repeatedly said in the past that it is time to look back at the Soviet-era space glory. In 1957, the USSR was the first to launch the artificial "sputnik" satellite. The agency was also the first one to send a man into space and perform the first spacewalk in history. Russia's biggest rival, the U.S., landed on the moon six times from 1969 to 1972. The N-1 heavy rocket of the Soviet, which was designed to send humans to the moon, has not been able to complete even one successful mission. Photo : Christopher Michel | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After posting a series of distressing tweets, Ian Murdock, Debian GNU/Linux founder, died at age 42. Murdock is most popularly acknowledged for setting up the Debian GNU/Linux operating system in 1993. He had just started a new career last month with Docker, a technology startup company in San Francisco. On the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 28, Murdock posted a series of distressing tweets on his account. He threatened to kill himself right after he was arrested by police for purportedly assaulting an officer. Some users thought that Murdock's Twitter account might have been hacked. People tried to reach out to him and calmed him down. They even promised to clear his name. However, Murdock passed away hours after the incident. Ben Golub, Docker's CEO, announced his death in a blog post without disclosing any details as to how Murdock died. "It is with great sadness that we inform you that Ian Murdock passed away on Monday night," he says. Golub also wrote on the blog post how Ian initiated the open source movement by embracing open contribution and open design. "It is a testament to Ian's commitment to openness and community that there are now more than 1,000 people currently involved in Debian development," he writes. The announcement of Ian Murdock's passing was also made by three people: Ana Guerrero Lopez, Paul Tagliamonte, and Donald Norwood, who are all members of the Debian Project. They mourned the death of Ian Murdock who was a "stalwart proponent of Free Open Source Software, Father, Son, and the 'ian' in Debian." The Linux organization further said that the Debian community will remain active, thanks to thousands of dedicated developers who are doing their best to continue in providing the world with a secure and dependable operating system. Until now, no in-depth details of his death have been disclosed to the public. Ian's family asked the public for privacy these difficult times. A Docker spokesperson also added that Ian's death is a "private matter." Still, the free-software community was shocked upon hearing the news of Murdock's death. San Francisco police said that it was on Dec. 26 at 11:30 p.m. when Murdock was reported trying to break into a house. Later, he was said to fight with the police officers resulting in tickets for obstruction of a cop and two counts of assault. It was also reported that Murdock was drunk. A few hours later, on Dec. 27 at 2:40 a.m, he was detained. He was bailed later upon paying a bond. We mourn the loss of Ian Murdock - he made immeasurable contributions to OSS - The circumstances are puzzling though https://t.co/RFd4IUBVqE Werner Vogels (@Werner) December 30, 2015 RIP Ian Murdock (19732015), the founder of Debian project. You'll be missed. pic.twitter.com/Nq7yly3D4s Linux (@Linux) December 30, 2015 Ian Murdock was a friend. I am shocked and saddened. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace. jzemlin (@jzemlin) December 30, 2015 Debian is saddened to share the news of the passing of Ian Murdock. We will miss him dearly. https://t.co/1EhZ5BwKSH The Debian Project (@debian) December 30, 2015 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aid agencies have warned against increasing threats of hunger, disease, and war in 2016 with the strongest El Nino weather cycle on record. The natural weather event, which helped seal 2015's position as the world's warmest year, is set to worsen droughts in certain areas and flooding in others. Africa will be hard hit with about 31 million hounded by food shortage, and one-third situated in Ethiopia where 10.2 million are estimated to require humanitarian help. While food insecurity in Africa is expected to be at its peak in February, regions that include Central and South America and the Caribbean will experience El Nino in the coming six months. University of Reading Dr. Nick Klingaman said, depending on measurements, this will be the strongest El Nino on record books. "In a lot of tropical countries we are seeing big reductions in rainfall of the order of 20-30 percent," he said, citing Indonesia's bad case of drought, Indian monsoon being 15 percent below normal, and forecasted reduced monsoons for Brazil and Australia. The current El Nino is the most forceful since 1998, anticipated to be one of the three most powerful ever. The World Meteorological Organization said that the peak three-month average surface temperatures of water in tropical Pacific regions, for instance, are projected to exceed 2 degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. No Signs Of Waning NASA warned that this current brewing in the Pacific has no signs of letting up, as viewed from the latest satellite image from the Jason-2 mission. The latest image maintains a "striking resemblance" to one from December in 1997 by Jason-2's predecessor during the last massive El Nino event - both reflecting the classic pattern of a completely developed El Nino. "The images show nearly identical, unusually high sea surface heights along the equator in the central and eastern Pacific: the signature of a big and powerful El Nino," said NASA, pointing out the higher-than-usual sea surface heights that indicate a thick warm water layer. In this naturally occurring phenomenon happening every two to seven years, warm waters of the central Pacific expand eastwards heading to North and South America. It typically peaks late in the calendar year, although the impacts can be felt until the spring and up to 12 full months. In the United States, many of the largest El Nino impacts are expected in early next year, with several relatively cool and wet months across the southern U.S. and relatively warm, dry conditions over the northern part. Drought-stricken California and the West can experience some relief, but watch out: in 1982-83 and 1997-98 El Nino events, there were around twice the average rainfall amount in Southern Cali, with ensuing floods, mudslides, high winds, high surf, and lightning strikes. El Nino events are usually followed by La Nina, which can bring opposite but similarly risky effects. As in the 1998 El Nino, the heat transfer tends to be trailed by an ocean cooling, a La Nina onset. Dr. Klingaman said it is possible that at this time in 2016, the world could be seeing the opposite of many El Nino impacts. "In places where we are seeing droughts from El Nino, we could be seeing flooding from La Nina next year," he explained, dubbing it as disruptive either way. Grim Forecast, Humanitarian Mission The United Nations stressed that it is crucial to ensure security for El Nino-affected populations. "Only by protecting and stabilizing vulnerable countries can we ensure people are not forced to leave their homes in search of food or a new livelihood," the agency said, pinpointing the 60 million people already forced to leave their homes due to conflict. To aid agencies like Oxfam, the worry is the continuing El Nino exacerbating existing stresses such as the wars in Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan. Existing food shortages, too, are expected to worsen in Southern Africa, with Malawi estimated to have nearly 3 million requiring humanitarian aid before March. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua are also already bearing the brunt of drought and rain shortages, while further flooding is expected to strike in Central America in January. "Millions of people in places like Ethiopia, Haiti and Papua New Guinea are already feeling the effects of drought and crop failure," said Oxfam's Jane Cocking. She said other mass-scale emergencies should not be allowed to develop in other places, as the world cannot cope while it responds to emerging portents in Latin America and Southern Africa. Food prices in developed nations, too, will bear the consequences, with staple food prices rising by up to 10 percent and crops such as rice, coffee, sugar, and cocoa specifically getting affected. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The disappearance of electrons in Earth's atmosphere that has puzzled scientists for the past 50 years may finally be understood after researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered evidence of what could very well be the cause of this phenomenon. During a presentation at the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) annual meeting last month, MIT atmospheric electrician Earle Williams and his colleagues explained how particles of meteor dust found high above Earth may be absorbing the electrons in the planet's atmosphere. This, in turn, creates what they describe as a "D-region ledge," where the concentration of electrons rapidly drops. Williams said that physicists have long been baffled by the missing electrons, and had considered every possible explanation for the phenomenon they could come up with, from clouds of ice flying high above Earth to electrically charged clusters of water. In their study, Williams described the location of the D-region ledge as "the most dramatic gradient" part of the ionosphere. He said it is highly conspicuous and it needs to be better understood. D-Region Ledge Electrons in the atmosphere are produced when ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun come into contact with atoms of nitric oxide. However, scientists have noticed that since the 1960s, there has been a significant drop in the concentration of electrons found in the atmosphere during nighttime. This sudden decrease in electrons was discovered when rockets where sent into the upper atmosphere to measure its electron density, temperature and pressure. Researchers believe this "electron ledge" typically occurs within the D-layer of the ionosphere, which can be found between 37 miles and 56 miles above the surface of Earth. The D-region ledge is often used as part of modern communication. While the portion of the ionosphere located above the ledge is known to conduct electricity, the electron-depleted area below the ledge does not allow the passage of electromagnetic waves. Electron-depleted air found below the ledge serves as an insulator, which allows radio waves and electromagnetic waves between the ground and the atmosphere to circle the world. Scientists have yet to determine why the D-region ledge is in the atmosphere, but they believe it is most visible at night and that it can be observed equally above the poles of Earth, the equator and even in other parts of the planet. Cracking The Case Of The Missing Electrons According to Williams and fellow researcher, Joanne Wu, of the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan, they have considered various prevailing hypotheses that could help them understand the nature of the D-region ledge, but they were not able to find one they could use. One of these hypotheses suggests that ice clouds could be the ones absorbing the electrons in the atmosphere. However, ice clouds are known to form mostly in high altitudes whereas the D-region ledge can be found equally prominent in different parts of Earth. The researchers then came across an earlier study featured in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences that described another part of the atmosphere known as the sodium layer, which is formed from the fine dust particles of meteoroids. The findings of the study point to how space rocks traveling through the upper atmosphere become heated when they interact with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen. These rocks then collide with other atoms as they continue to penetrate the atmosphere, causing them to become hot enough to reach boiling point. It is at this point in which atoms of sodium are detached from the meteoroid. Williams and his colleagues considered these findings in their search for a possible explanation for the D-region ledge. The team's new theory involves having minerals in meteoroids, such as silicon and iron, boil off in order to form a cloud of dust and smoke. The atoms of these minerals would then collide with the atoms of nitrogen and oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, causing free electrons from the atoms of silicon and iron to be knocked off. These electrons would then form glimmers of faint light too small to be visible to the naked eye. The dust from the meteor would combine with the free electrons that came about after the UV rays from the sun interacted with Earth's atmosphere. It is believed that the D-region ledge is more prominent at night because the sun's UV radiation is 100 times more powerful during the day, causing the free electrons produced at daytime to minimize the effect of the ledge. Williams said that if their theory is correct, these actions could form a thick layer of dust, which could then descend gradually to Earth as a result of gravity. The dust particles that end up on the planet's surface are so small that they are barely detectable. The researchers' theory has it that the D-region ledge occurs 53 miles above Earth because the distance corresponds to the part of the atmosphere where meteoroids often burn up upon entry. Ionospheric physicist Morris Cohen of the Georgia Institute of Technology, who is not involved in the current study, said the theory posited by Williams and his colleagues is plausible as there are numerous circumstantial evidence to support it. Cohen, however, argued that it will be difficult to test the theory directly because the part of the atmosphere described in the MIT study is not easily accessible. "It's too high to reach with balloons, and it's too low to hit with satellites," Cohen said. Photo : Climate State | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Animal charity group Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) asked 2,000 adults in Britain to share their day-to-day complaints. SPANA found that in Britain, 30 million adults experience first world problems every single day. Their biggest complaint? A runny nose. SPANA compiled a list of top 50 first world problems encountered by Britons every day. The top 50 included not having Wi-Fi, having 3G signal instead of 4G, chipped nail polish, a pulled muscle from exercise and a recording that clashes with the TV. The SPANA survey found 90 percent of adult Britons believe complaining about small things is part of human nature. And they sure like complaining: 85 percent of Britons like to whine about something. SPANA chief executive Jeremy Hulme said the first world problems that made it into their top 50 list were "trivial." "It's so easy for minor, everyday problems to seem like a big deal, and most people in Britain admit to losing perspective at times," said Hulme who said the gripes Britons face daily are so insignificant when compared to the other problems encountered by people and even animals in other parts of the world. Hulme highlighted the daily toll working animals endure in many developing countries, which is just one of the "real" problems people encounter in other parts of the world. Apart from having tough lives, these working animals don't get crucial veterinary care when they become injured or sick. The SPANA survey also found 45 percent of Britons try not to become too engrossed in the severity of the world's current, real problems. Moreover, 12 percent said they try not to watch the news because they are afraid of what they will find. Top 50 First World Problems A runny nose Getting a call from unknown numbers Being placed on hold when calling a company hotline Receiving a "We Missed You" card from a missed parcel delivery People who don't follow queuing etiquette No Wi-Fi Paying five pence to carry your own shopping bags home Door-to-door sales people Bad phone signal Failure to find the end of the sellotape Standing inside a public transport Forgetting an online account password Unable to find anything interesting when shopping for clothes Using a tin opener because the tin doesn't come with a ring pull When someone forgot to replace the toilet paper Running out of milk Delayed online deliveries Finding unexpected items at the self-checkouts' bagging area Dipping a biscuit in a cup of tea and losing half of it Satsumas that are not pip-free Getting blisters from wearing new shoes Unable to fast forward live TV Neighbors parking in front of your house when they have more parking space than you do Late public transport Recording clash on Sky+ Cold tea Having a closet full of clothes but can't find anything to wear When hotels have plug sockets placed far from the bed or mirror Having 3G signal inside of 4G Having to sit near or in front of children when on a plane Forgetting to wear gloves on a chilly day Creme eggs not on sale year-round Late takeaway deliveries When important emails go straight into the junk folder Too much ice makes it hard to get to the actual drink A power shortage means you can't make tea or watch TV When meter reading folks and deliveries arrive at awkward times When the office is too hot but the outside is too cold Packing and returning clothes that you bought online but didn't like A chipped nail polish When hot water runs out A run in your nylons or pantyhose Forgetting the phone charger at home Getting change in coins instead of notes When coffee, tea or wine stains the teeth Over brewed tea with scum on top Coffee shops having long queues Towels and bed linen don't match When taxi drivers don't arrive on time Having a pulled muscle after exercise Photo: William Brawley | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hawaii has ushered in the New Year with a law raising the legal age for smoking both traditional and electronic cigarettes to 21, the first U.S. state to introduce such a measure. If it makes it increasingly difficult for adolescents and young adults to gain access to cigarettes, that could prevent them from becoming addicted to tobacco and its health risks, public health officials in the state say. "In Hawaii, about one in four students in high school try their first cigarette each year, and one in three who get hooked will die prematurely," says Lola Irvin of the health promotion and chronic disease prevention division in the state's Department of Health. For the first three months following the Jan. 1 implementation of the law, warnings will be issued to people under 21 who buy cigarettes, and to businesses that sell them to those younger than 21. After that three-month "education" period, there will be fines: for underage buyers, a $10 fine for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent infraction. Businesses found selling tobacco to those under 21 will be fined $500 for a first violation and as much as $2,000 for repeat offenses. While a number of U.S. cities and counties have passed similar ordinances, Hawaii's new law is the first statewide ban passed. Officials at a number of Hawaii's military bases said the facilities would comply with the new law, and expressed support for the action. Bill Doughty, a spokesman for the Navy Region Hawaii, described it as an issue of fitness and readiness. "When we can prevent sailors from smoking or using tobacco, if we can get them to quit, then that improves their fitness and readiness, and it saves them a ton of money too," he says. In preparation for the measure going into effect, the state's Health Department distributed 4,000 information signs to businesses to display about the new law, according to Lila Johnson, the agency's public health educator. Health officials have also been in discussions with the tourism and travel industry to help inform visitors to the state of the regulations, she says, noting that people would be coming into Hawaii who would not be aware of them. "It's a matter of education," she says. "We hope to see a lot more states picking it up so we're not the only one." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Back in 2000, the United Nations laid out a set of goals to achieve over a 15-year period. The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) covered many areas, from halving the world's poverty rate, to eradicating the spread of HIV and AIDS, to giving equal education opportunities to women worldwide. Now that 2015 has come to a close, we ought to assess the efforts made by the U.N. members who signed into these MDGs. Here is a reminder of the eight promises the United Nations made 15 years ago: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Global partnership for development Unfortunately, many reports from around the world state that these MDGs have turned out to be broken promises. In Ethiopia and India, for example, learning levels have not improved over the past 15 years. The problem with "the world's greatest promise" as expressed by many critics from its early stages, is that the MDGs were too broad with big ideas, doing little to address sustainability for the member nations and to get to the root of the underlying causes behind extreme poverty, hunger, inequality and other issues which the MDGs struggled to address. On another note, some of the MDGs were met victoriously. It was reported that five years before the target date, the goal of halving the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day was met. Also, child mortality rates around the world have considerably decreased, more women are joining the workforce (albeit still earning far less than men), and HIV and malaria cases are also on the decline. Despite these successes, many of the goals are going backwards from where they stood in 2000. In light of this, the United Nations has closed this chapter of the MDGs and for 2016 onwards has introduced a set of 17 new goals with 169 targets as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. This is a big leap from the original eight goals and 22 targets of the MDGs for 2015. 1. No poverty 2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being 4. Quality education 5. Gender equality 6. Clean water and sanitation 7. Affordable and clean energy 8. Decent work and economic growth 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure 10. Reduced inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action 14. Life below water 15. Life on land 16. Peace and justice strong institutions 17. Partnerships for the goals The Global Goals for 2030 were launched in September 2015 and observers are hoping that these goals for sustainable development will help stimulate action over the course of the next 15 years where the MDGs fell short. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two baby boys in New York were born exactly at midnight on Jan. 1. Zayden Noel was born "at exactly midnight" at the New York City Health + Hospitals/Coney Island in Brooklyn just as Time Square's crystal ball fell. Baby Zayden weighed 7 pounds and 1 ounce and quickly gained fame as New York's new arrival for the year. However, doctors at the Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens said New York's first 2016 baby was born at their hospital at the "stroke of midnight." Their New Year baby will be named after the boy's bris (circumcision) ceremony this January. Brooklyn's New Year Baby Baby Zayden's 25-year-old mother, Stephanie Diaz, went into labor sometime around 10 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2015 at the New York City Health + Hospitals/Coney Island. Diaz said the hospital's doctors and staff kept telling her that her baby will be born on Jan. 1. "He came exactly on his due date, exactly on time," added Diaz, who recounted having a TV in the delivery room. The crystal ball on Times Square was dropping just as she was giving birth. Baby Zayden's 31-year-old father, Paul Staley, said the experience made him cry and that he'll remember the moment for the rest of this life. The couple also has a 4-year-old son. Queens' New Year Baby In Queens, the 7-pound, 4-ounce baby boy was born to proud parents Daniella and Eli Malakov at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Twenty-six-year-old mother Daniella, whose due date was actually Dec. 30, 2015, said her baby's arrival wasn't planned. Based on the in utero fetal tracking device provided by the hospital, the Malakov baby arrived at the "stroke of midnight." "We've gotten very used to timing milliseconds because everybody is looking for that New Year's baby," said Patricia Garofalo, a nurse at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The hospital's spokesman Terry Lynam said they had four other babies born within the New Year's first few minutes. It's A Tie The team at New York City Health + Hospitals/Coney Island claimed to have same test as the one used by the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and it the results were exactly the same as well. It seems that both mothers in Brooklyn and Queens gave birth to their little boys at the same time, so it's a tie. More New Year Babies In Bronx, Rosana Alvarez gave birth to a baby girl at 12:22 a.m. at the Lincoln Medical Center. The baby girl weighed 6 pounds, 4.9 ounces. Other states also welcomed newborns a little past midnight on Jan. 1. Baby Jaylanie Rodriguez was born at the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago at 12:01 a.m. Jaylanie, who weighed 5 pounds and 10 ounces, is the firstborn of Aliyah Rodriguez. In Massachusetts, Baby Carmelita Skaza was born at the UMass Medical Center at 12:02 a.m. Carmelita is the hospital's first birth in 2016. In Houston, Key'Asia Adams was Memorial Hermann hospital's first born in 2016, however, the time of her exact birth was not released. Photo: Heather Katsoulis | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Officials from the health department of Puerto Rico confirmed on Friday that the island has recorded its first case of locally-acquired Zika infection. The disease, which is spread through the bites of mosquitoes, is being linked to an increased incidence of a severe neurological disorder among infants in Brazil. Congressman Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico said on Thursday that despite the confirmation of infection, residents of the island should remain calm and must continue to take necessary safety precautions against mosquito bites. He added that disease experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are set to arrive in Puerto Rico in the early part of this month to help guide physicians on the island to diagnose Zika fever properly and treat infected individuals. The CDC has issued a health advisory to tourists visiting Puerto Rico and other disease-affected areas, warning them about the potential transmission of the Zika virus through mosquito bites. The disease is known to be most potent on pregnant women, which could cause developmental problems to their unborn child. What Is Zika Fever? The Zika fever is an illness caused by the Zika virus (ZIKV), which is a member of the flavivirus genus. It is related to other insect-borne diseases such as yellow fever, West Nile, dengue and Japanese encephalitis. The ZIKV was first detected in a monkey recovered from the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947, and was later seen in specimens of Aedes africanus mosquitoes from the same forest in 1948. The first case of Zika infection on a human was recorded in Nigeria in 1952. There are currently two known lineages of the ZIKV: the African lineage, which is linked to the first recorded cases of infection, and the Asian lineage, which has been detected in the Americas and the Pacific most recently. How Is The Zika Virus Transmitted? The most common form of transmission of the ZIKV is through the bites of disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. However, other species of mosquitoes, such as the Aedes africanus, Aedes albopictus, Aedes polynesiensis, Aedes unilineatus, Aedes vittatus and Aedes hensilli, can also become potential carriers of the virus. Mosquitoes with the ZIKV often bite their victims during daytime, particularly in mid-morning and the period between late afternoon and evening. The Zika virus can also be obtained through perinatal transmission. An infected mother can transfer the virus to her child either through trans-placental transmission or during delivery. Two cases of ZIKV transmission through sexual intercourse were also recorded. What Are The Symptoms Of Zika Infection? While a majority of people infected with the virus (between 60 to 80 percent) do not show any signs of infection, those who do typically experience symptoms within three to 12 days after getting bitten by a ZIKV-carrying mosquito. Some of the typical symptoms include fever, rash, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and joint pain. Other signs include headache, vomiting, muscle pain and pain behind the eyes. Illness caused by the ZIKV is often mild with symptoms only lasting for several days to about a week. It rarely requires the hospitalization of infected individuals. There have been no recorded deaths related to Zika infection. How Can I Get My Zika Infection Treated? As of the moment, there is no known form of treatment for the Zika virus. People infected by the disease are often asked to get plenty of rest, drink fluids regularly to avoid getting dehydrated and take pain and fever medicines such as paracetamol and acetaminophen. Doctors advise patients to avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until they can rule out dengue infection to lower the risk of hemorrhage. Microcephaly In Brazilian Children Cases of Zika infection in Brazil are currently being associated to a considerable rise in microcephaly incidence among newborns. Microcephaly is a neurological condition that disrupts the normal brain development of children while they are still in their mothers' womb. While the Zika virus was only detected in Brazil during the early part of 2015, the infection is believed to be linked to more than 2,400 microcephaly cases that were reported in the country last year. The figure is a significant increase compared to the 147 cases that were recorded in 2014. According to local doctors, a large number of affected mothers experienced symptoms similar to those of Zika infection during the early stages of their pregnancy such as rash, headaches and mild fever. Infants affected by microcephaly are born with abnormally small heads, which can result in severe developmental problems and early death. Brazilian health officials are investigating 29 infant deaths related to microcephaly after they discovered through an autopsy that a baby born with the disorder also carried the Zika virus, establishing a potential connection between the two conditions. The Health Ministry of Brazil said on its website that the situation is unprecedented in world scientific research. As a result, government officials have advised women to postpone their pregnancies as much as possible. Six of the country's states have already declared a state of emergency. Pernambuco has already reported more than 900 microcephaly cases, making it the hardest-hit Brazilian state. Researchers are currently trying to determine whether the Zika virus does indeed cause microcephaly in newborns. Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Is this a 800-year-old mobile phone that was left behind by Aliens? No, its just a hoax Considering that mobile phones started coming into the market in the 1980s, the claims made by conspiracy theorists that an 800-year-old mobile phone was left behind by ALIENS in Austria certainly sound absurd. A YouTube video has emerged which claims to show an 800-year old artefact that appears similar to a Nokia mobile phone, with a screen, control keys, and 12 keys with Cuneiform symbols. The video footage posted by YouTube channel Paranormal Crucible claims to show an authentic filming of an artefact discovered by archaeologists at Fuschl am See, between the city of Salzburg and Bad Ischl in Austria. However the picture appears to be fake. The Cuneiform symbol writing system as one of the earliest writing systems and was first used by the Sumerian people, who lived in Babylonia (in modern Iraq). The script was characterized by wedge-shaped marks which were inscribed on clay tablets. The video reveals that the artefact was found earlier this year, although it doesnt provide any other detail about the alien phone or archeological dig. Its very likely that it was made in Photoshop, taking inspiration from some old Nokia phone that it looks similar to. However, conspiracy theorists are excited to see the picture. According to the speaker on the video, UFO researchers believe that an advanced extra-terrestrial species visited earth in the distance past. If this is true, then its possible artefacts like this were copied directly from extra-terrestrial technology. The claim that the artefact is 800 years old also seems to be hoax. Cuneiform mostly fell out of use in around the 7th and 6th centuries BC, and had almost entirely ceased to be used except in scholarship by the 5th century AD or so. It certainly wasnt in regular usage to be the markings that would be used on a mobile phone keys, even if there was a civilisation that had the ability to make one. Some have suggested that finding the phone in Austria suggests some greater conspiracy at work. But its far more likely that the story has warped in the telling, and that the strange location was never intentionally introduced. What a device like this with Cuneiform writing is doing in Austria is something that no one is able to fully understand or explain, writes conspiracy website, To The Death Media. Regrettably the information about this sensational discovery is limited. The website also questions how an object from the Middle East ended up in Europe. But others have suggested that it might have come from an even more unusual location. The narrator of the video says that UFO researchers believe that an advanced extraterrestrial species visited earth in the distance past, and if this is true, then its possible, artefacts like this were copied directly from extra-terrestrial technology. Scott Waring, of UFO Sighting Daily, is also satisfied with the evidence. It is evident from this cell phone like device that someone with an advanced knowledge of the future created it, wrote Waring. The language is said to go back tens of thousands of yearsvery cool discovery. The speaker on the video also added: Until further analysis of this peculiar-form tablet is completed, we can only speculate at what it truly represents. But maybe one day, our true history will become clear, and the bright light of truth will finally reveal its secrets. Microsoft to now join Google, Facebook to notify email users of suspected state-sponsored attacks Recently, Reuters had reported that Microsoft had failed to notify more than 1,000 users that they were victims of a hacking attack. Reuters said that the Microsofts own former employees had determined that the hack was sponsored by the Chinese government. However, the Redmond giant is disputing this report. According to Reuters, the victims included activists from Chinas Tibetan and Uighur minorities in particular who used Microsofts Hotmail email service from 2009 to 2011. In an email to Fast Company, the company said that it never concluded the Chinese government was to blame. The attackers exploited a since-fixed flaw in Hotmails security to obtain copies of the victims emails, according to a previous report explaining the malware behind the hack, the. Microsoft says it required the affected users to reset their passwords and cautioned them it had identified suspicious activities tied to their accounts. In a media statement, a Microsoft representative said, Our focus is on helping customers keep personal information secure and private. Our primary concern was ensuring that our customers quickly took practical steps to secure their accounts, including by forcing a password reset. We weighed several factors in responding to this incident, including the fact that neither Microsoft nor the U.S. government were able to identify the source of the attacks, which did not come from any single country. We also considered the potential impact on any subsequent investigation and ongoing measures we were taking to prevent potential future attacks. On Wednesday, Microsoft said it would change its policy and in future inform its email customers when it suspects there has been a government hacking attempta policy that has already been adopted by Facebook, Google, and Yahoo. We will now notify you if we believe your account has been targeted or compromised by an individual or group working on behalf of a nation state, the company said in a statement. In the China case, two former Microsoft employees told Reuters that the company required affected users to change their passwords, but didnt disclose that they were victims of a state attack. Some of the victims believed the password-change prompts were routine security measures, according to the report. In announcing the new policy, Microsoft said: As the threat landscape has evolved our approach has too, and well now go beyond notification and guidance to specify if we reasonably believe the attacker is `state-sponsored.' According to the former employees, the Hotmail attacks targeted diplomats, human rights lawyers, media workers, and others in sensitive positions inside China. Security experts and online free-speech activists have been calling for more direct warnings since a long time, saying that they speed up behavioural changes from email users. The Chinese government is a resolute defender of cyber security and strongly opposes any forms of cyber attacks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, adding that it punishes any offenders in accordance with the law. I must say that if the relevant party has some real and conclusive evidence, then it can carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with China in a constructive way in accordance with the existing channels, Lu said at a daily news briefing. But if theres the frequent spreading of unfounded rumors, it will, in fact, be of no benefit to solving the problem, enhancing mutual trust and promoting cyber security. Are you looking for The Pirate Bay proxy list for 2022 to unblock the pirate bay torrent site? Dont worry anymore, as in this article we have shared some of the best Pirate Bay Alternatives and TPB Proxy and Mirror Websites that are working. The first word that probably strikes our mind when we talk about Torrent Sites is The Pirate Bay. This immensely popular BitTorrent website uses peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing technology and has stood the test of time and is by far one of the most reliable torrenting websites. However, due to legal issues, you might not be able to access the pirate bay in several countries. This blockage can be bypassed using pirate proxies. NOTE: Techworm does not condone using torrents to illegally obtain content. Using the following torrent websites for illegal purposes is done entirely at your own risk. Techworm takes no responsibility for any legal problems you encounter. One the earliest Pirate Bay Alternative when any of the top pirate bay proxy servers were not working. Kat torrents have all the latest films, movies, music, and more releases. Due to copyright violations, the original domain kat.cr was blocked in several regions. You will find a wide range of Kat proxy domains to help you access this TPB alternative. 1337x was the ultimate torrent site back in the period between 2010 to 2014. Then like every popular torrent site, it was blocked virtually everywhere. According to TorrentFreak, it is amongst the third most popular torrent sites. You will find quality torrents here, contributed by groups such as Yify, EZTV, RARBG, and others. There is also a Top 100 torrents section that houses the most sorted out and trending torrents right now on the website. TPB houses everything ranging from retro games to movies, and it is considered the best torrent site out there. Consider Yify/YTS as the best for movie torrents, having the best prints available in the least possible size. You will find Yify movies torrents in different places as it is widely popular and considered the benchmark for quality video torrents. Yify offers torrent files alone, and there are no magnets links available. Use the torrent files for downloading movies on your device using an excellent torrenting client. We have Torlock, where all the torrents are verified, hosting a tracker library of over seven million torrents. As we were lurking on the site, we came across a distinct category image, which we dont often find on other torrenting sites. Along with that, we can also create an account on the site to maintain a list of the favorite bitrrorents. The last one here is Anidex, which is the best TPB alternative for downloading anime and manga torrents. They house over a million different anime torrents here, with the manga ones in .cbz format, easy for reading. Find diverse anime games here in a dedicated section. Finding the proper subtitles is a real problem for Animes. Search for them here as they are listed in a different language, from German to Arabic. List of 5 most disastrous smartphones ever released The past decade has seen a rise in the number of smartphones that have been launched in personal computing technology. Where high profile hits like Apples iPhone and Samsungs Galaxy Note series made a mark in that time, there were many phones which did not get even noticed. Here is a list of the five most disastrous smartphones that were ever released. No. 1: The BlackBerry Storm This smartphone tops the list of the worst smartphone ever. However, thanks to the strength of the BlackBerry brand and a major marketing push from Verizon, which was eager to have a device that could counter the incredible hype AT&T was generating with the iPhone at the time, the device initially sold very well. But the Storm was met with mixed reviews when users starting using the phone with some pointing towards serious usability problems. It was also deemed that the SurePress touchscreen wasdifficult to learn and a hindrance to fast typing. A number of reviewers also ran into multiple software glitches during their testing, such as lockups, sluggish performance and refusal to switch orientation. It was also noted that the web browser was still unable to handle complex webpages correctly, hinting that the iPhones Safari is a better mobile browser. Even before the Storm was released, RIM knew it had a soul-crushing stinker on its hands, as employees started referring to it as the Sh*t Storm. Also, former co-CEO Jim Balsillie admitted that he was dismayed at Storms delayed response to touch-screen clicks when he was using it. It is learnt that this past May that almost every BlackBerry Storm that shipped in 2008 needed to be replaced. The Storm was such a disaster that Verizon demanded that RIM pay it back $500 million to make up for the losses it took trying to sell the device. No. 2: The Amazon Fire Phone The reception to the Fire Phone has been mixed. Amazon has messed up almost everything about the Fire Phone. Drawbacks such include the 2013-level technical specs (including the lack of Bluetooth LE), the underdeveloped OS, confusing interface, bland design, Fireflys poor accuracy, its high price, and the exclusivity of the device to AT&Ts network. Its unique features dont provide enough utility, and come at the expense of battery life and performance. The users also criticized the limited [Amazon] ecosystem, including the lack of frequently used apps available on other platforms. Essentially, Amazon CEO Bezos made an overly expensive machine packed with his own dream features that were appealing to himself and just about nobody else. The device was predictably a huge flop and Amazon has wisely decided not to make a sequel to this device. No. 3: The Microsoft Kin One Kin One was a short-lived mobile phone line from Microsoft designed for users of social networking and messaging device. Microsoft described the phones target demographic as men and women between ages 15 and 30. It even included a specially dedicated smiley-face key. Unfortunately for Microsoft, even its own focus groups said that the phone was total waste, which should have been a glaring red flag to scrap it. The Kin One went on the market in May 2010. Within two months, Verizon stopped selling the phones because of poor sales. Microsoft scrapped its planned European release, stopped promoting the devices and ceased production. No. 4: The HTC First Facebook deceived HTC into making the first Android device to be pre-loaded with Facebooks own user interface layer, Facebook Home in lieu of HTCs own Sense. It was hated by Android fans and didnt even seem to win over many hardcore Facebook users who preferred to keep some distance between themselves and the omnipresent social network. The HTC First was panned by critics for its poor camera and lack of removable storage, and was also affected by the similarly underwhelming reception faced by the Facebook Home software. The HTC First was also sold as an AT&T exclusive. Since its launch, AT&T had only sold 15,000 units worldwide of the device in its first month, which led AT&T discontinue its sales of it almost immediately. No. 5: The HTC Chacha The HTC ChaCha is a Facebook-centric Android smartphone that was announced by HTC in February 2011 at the Mobile World Congress that had its very own Facebook button. The phone promptly flopped, as it had a butt-ugly design that made it look like the device had been put through one of Unbox Therapys patented bend tests except it was all intentional. The drubbing of the phone would have shown both HTC and Facebook that there was no market for a Facebook phone. Samsung, what exactly are you up to with an in built projector in a foldable smartphone? Only this year, during the month of June, Samsung was successfully able to publish a patent at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office suggesting that the company was working on a smartphone with foldable display tech. Another detail the patent did not tell you was the fact that the smartphone sporting this form of display might also be running a projector inside its housing, which is quite impressive. Let us hope that Samsung is successfully able to bring the device to the market. According to the patent details, the projector will not only be used as a medium to view video clips and images on a larger flat surface, but it will also possess holographic properties. In short, it is possible that you will be taking advantage of the projector in order to project a keyboard on a flat surface and start to tap those keys like you would normally do with the smartphones keyboard. In addition to the projected keyboard, you could also use the projector to execute tasks from the flat surface, and it would be just like using your smartphone to accomplish the same task. However, since the patent was filed in June, we should not expect a smartphone sporting these features to come this quickly, although we are pinning our hopes that it gets announced sometime this year and that too with impressive, powerful and efficient hardware. Naturally, thanks to the added features, the smartphone will have a much larger price tag, but we expect that only limited units are going to be manufactured in order to see how the globe reacts to such a product. If there is a positive sales results for Samsung, then you can definitely hope that better handsets with a multitude of features are going to be released in the future. Till then, we will continue to keep you informed on the latest on-goings in Samsungs quest to provide the most innovative smartphone to users. Cardiff businessman killed in US drone strike in Syria after becoming an ISIS hacking expert A Syrian-based Bangladeshi alleged militant of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was killed in an American drone strike in Syria, reports the Washington Post. He was one of 10 IS leaders killed in air strikes. Siful Haque Sujan, 31, was a British-educated computer expert who spent more than a decade studying and working in the UK before becoming a top cyber expert for the ISIL. His name came alongside a number of IS militants including the alleged mastermind of Paris attacks, who were killed in US airstrikes in December. He was a leading figure in the militants hacking campaign who supported anti-surveillance technology and weapons development for the jihadist group. Pentagon spokesman Army Colonel Steve Warren said: Now that hes dead, ISIL has lost a key link between networks. My point is this: We will continue to hunt ISIL leaders who are working to recruit, plan and inspire attacks against the United States of America and our allies. Members of the Cardiff Bangladeshi community said they were shocked and surprised and had no indication he had been radicalised. In Syria, Sujan, who took on the name Abu Khalid al-Bengali, was taken under the wing of British jihadi hacker Junaid Hussain, who led ISIS hacking operation. The fanatic became a senior figure for ISIS also known as Daesh after replacing Hussain, who was killed by an air strike in August. According to the Pentagon, the Bangladeshi businessman who lived near Cardiff before joining ISIS was killed as part of a campaign to wipe out the brutal militants. The news of his death near the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa on December 10 came less than 18 months after he left his home near Cardiff, where he had studied and gone on to be a well-respected director of a computer firm. Sujan entered the UK in 2003 and went on to study computer system -engineering at the University of Glamorgan. He later set up a Newport-based computer firm about 20 miles away with his brother that provided online ordering systems. He also held at least two patents for devising computers systems and was regarded as a pillar of the local Bangladeshi business community, and was even photographed at a business function with former Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan. He is believed to have left the UK in July 2014 and left for Syria, after he was denied a special visa to remain in the UK despite an immigration tribunal being told he was an individual of considerable ability. South Wales Police Det Supt Lee Porter said: We are unable to confirm or deny the accuracy of these reports at this time but are currently working with our partners to ascertain what has happened. While we understand Mr Sujan had lived and worked in south Wales, he had left the UK in 2014 thus was not a resident of Wales at the time of his reported death. His friends in Cardiff expressed shock at the news of his death and said he never showed any extremist tendencies while living in the UK. He was a fun, happy-go-lucky guy as far as I knew him, said one former business associate. Another associate, who had known him for more than 10 years, said he was shocked. He was an entrepreneur and he -became a friend, he said. He helped -everyone create websites for their businesses. He was always coming up with ideas. He was very intelligent and persistent, but was just a normal run-of-the-mill chap. He loved helping people and was friends with everybody and it didnt matter about their religion or culture. Another colleague described him as thoughtful, punctual, dutiful and hard-working, while another considered him gentle and down to earth. Friends said he became increasingly religious after the death of his sister-in-law and he adopted his nephew to bring him to live in the UK. Sujan left Britain in July 2014 after telling friends that he and his wife are returning to Bangladesh for family reasons. At least one of Sujans former colleagues has been questioned by counter-terrorism police since his death. The current tenant residing at Sujans property said, Before he left he began growing a long black beard. He was very religious because Id seen him praying in the house a couple of times. I havent spoken to him since he said he was leaving to take his family back home, but Ive been told by the estate agents I have to leave in three months because someone else who also owned the house is selling it. A spokesman for the University of Glamorgan said: In common with the UKs other major international universities, we take -seriously the shared effort to counter radicalisation, and in this we work closely and appropriately with our local faith communities and the relevant agencies. In December, coalition strikes also killed Charaffe al Mouadan, a Syrian-based IS member who was directly linked to Abdel Hamid Abaaoud, the Paris attack cell leader. Mouadan, who was killed by an airstrike last Thursday in Syria, was planning additional attacks against the West, according to Col. Steve Warren. Were striking at the head of this snake, Warren said. We havent severed the head of the snake yet, and its still got fangs. We have to be clear about that. Theres much more fighting to do. Why Anonymous believes that Steven Avery of Netflixs Making a Murderer is innocent Steven Avery has been making headlines since last week. The man is the star of Making a Murderer, the Netflix-produced documentary series investigating a real-life murder conviction. The series chronicles Steven Avery, a convicted murderer currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Teresa Halbach. He previously served 18 years in prison for sexual assault, which DNA evidence later cleared him of. Avery was born in July, 1962 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. According to the trailer for Making a Murderer, the Avery family didnt fit into the community as they were particularly poor, had received poor education (Avery is described in the documentary as barely functioning and having an IQ of 70) and dressed differently to everyone else. In 1985, Avery was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman, Penny Beerntsten, for which he received 32 years imprisonment. However in 2003, 18 years later, the conviction was overturned as DNA evidence proved he didnt commit the crime. Avery then enjoyed two years as a free man, in which he began to file a $36million lawsuit against Manitowoc County for his wrongful conviction. However in 2007, he was convicted by a jury of first-degree intentional homicide and being a felon in charge of a firearm for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, 25. Avery is currently serving a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, at the Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin for the crime. During the trial, his lawyers argued that the county police officers framed Avery for the murder to avoid the impending lawsuit. The online hacktivist group, Anonymous also believes the same and is trying to prove he is innocent and was framed. Anonymous say that they have evidence that will help Steven Avery and have set up a Twitter account specifically for this purpose. Anonymous used the Twitter account to taunt the two police officers who are profiled in the film, claiming that they have found emails and phone records that support the allegations. Anonymous posted a threat to the local sheriffs department that they would release the documents unless they were officially released. The deadline that was given in that tweet has since passed, but no information has yet been made public. The account has said that another group, GhostSec which is a Anonymous affiliate will be taking charge of releasing the documents. GhostSec says that the evidence would be unveiled shortly while another tweet says that GhostSec is no longer connected with #OpAvery. https://twitter.com/thetrueghostsec/status/681979146852012033 #GhostSec has denied involvement with #OPAveryDassey appears the threat of leaks, and this account @OPAVERYDASSEY is a hoax. Bryan Clark (@bryanclark) December 30, 2015 The Netflix documentary highlights a range of alleged problems with the case, including what critics have said was coercive questioning and a reliance on possibly dubious evidence. A paste on Pastebin also seems to point to the fact. It remains to be seen what kind of evidence Anonymous possesses and whether the authorities will take cognizance of such evidence. If you happened to be in Ikea recently, you might have noticed a few new plush toys around the place. They look something like this: Adorable, right? As it turns out, the story behind them is even more adorable. Ikea choses ten designs from around the world and put said designs into reality. The only difference is that each of the designs were made by actual children from their own imagination. As Carol McSeveny, IKEA's Childrens' sales leader explained, the "final creations show that anything is possible with childrens imaginations." The above design was made by eight-year old Olivia Wildman from Essex, UK. "We fell in love with Olivias drawing when we first saw it, and we have stayed true to her illustration, right down to the little legs and quizzical expression that give it a character all of its own," said McSeveny. IKEA got kids around the world to design toys for them and they're just so fking cute i cannot pic.twitter.com/GFudYKIro8 cheok. (@ryancheok_) January 1, 2016 The toys are still available in most Ikeas and 1 from each toy purchased goes to UNICEF's child education projects around the globe. This one's definitely our favourite. Via Twitter He said: The human population of the world is growing and is occupying more space. Its got to be accommodated somehow or another and I think most people would like to see that it accommodates a certain amount of the natural world as well as the human world and everything we require to keep it going. The secret to happiness is to ignore an endless stream of emails by turning off your app, according to psychologists who warn constant updates are a "toxic source of stress". Due to technology enabling people to be at their emails constant beck and call, a culture has developed where people must feel they are constantly available for work, according to research. As a result, an unwritten organisational etiquette has become ingrained in the workplace and employees have developed habits which negatively impact on their emotional well-being. Studies have found that continuously checking and reading emails due to a push notification feature which alerts users to new messages even when they are not in their Mail app, prompts signs of tension and worry. And experts have recommended that switching off the Mail app on your mobile phone will alleviate anxiety both in and out of the office. A report from the London-based Future Work Centre, which conducts psychological research on people's workplace experiences, said emails were a "double-edged sword" that provided a useful means of communication but could also be a source of stress. Imagine the Sphinx (or a frog?) next to the pyramids sitting in a reflecting pool of water.... In short, my blogs are a series of thought clusters on the origins of the state, religion, mythology, and their significance today. A major theme is reflected by the story *blogs 8,9) of Prince and Princess Goldenlocks;. http://jesusthebogomil.blogspot.com From time to time, some of the blogs may be edited and revised. PS I remain convinced that humankind must (and will) return to the wood to survive. The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, said the Ministry of Equality and Equity would be a central agency of the Executive Branch. | Read More Through the many seasons of television's most iconic 1980s soap opera, the steadfast and strong Miss Ellie Ewing played by Barbara Bel Geddes was a safe haven from the storms of Southfork ranch, and a family touchstone for the generations-old Ewing dynasty who ruled it. That is, until someone had the mad idea of handing the role to Donna Reed during Bel Geddes' absence from the production for health reasons and, in an instant, and with no in-universe explanation, the weeping Miss Ellie at dying Bobby's bedside changed faces. After being well established as the older of Roseanne's two daughters in the hit sitcom of the same name, actress Lecy Goranson headed off to college in real life, forcing the producers to recast the role. Sarah Chalke wasn't bad, she was just ... different. It didn't go down too well with the audience either, and Goranson returned a season later, though she and Chalke subsequently alternated and, on occasion, the show's writers made light of it with occasional references to the fact that the two girls, while both blonde, looked quite different. Herr Otto Flick in 'Allo 'Allo! Richard Gibson was replaced by David Janson in Of all the hopelessly cliched characters in this brilliant parody of the British drama Secret Army, the town's resident Gestapo boss, Herr Flick, was perhaps the bluntest. Richard Gibson played him with limping, twitching brilliance for most of the series until, inexplicably, the role was recast with David Janson who, compared with his predecessor and saddled with doing an imitation of an actor who was himself playing to a cliche, didn't measure up. Roman Brady in Days of Our Lives People close to Briggs have briefed that the woman's complaint arose over a compliment about her "piercing eyes" and an uninvited peck on the cheek. Others believe the behaviour was more inappropriate than that. Channel Nine's respected political editor, Laurie Oakes, reported the alleged kiss had been on the woman's neck. Briggs confirmed little in a carefully-worded statement that appeared to have been written by a lawyer rather than an MP or a political staffer. He said he invited the woman out for drinks to a "popular, and as it transpired, very crowded bar", with his chief of staff, Stuart Eaton. "At no point was it my intention to act inappropriately and I'm obliged to note for the record that nothing illegal has been alleged," he said. Turnbull, who was handed the findings of an investigation into the incident on Christmas Eve, said it was a "serious matter". Brough boil lanced But the way in which Turnbull exploited the explosive announcement of Briggs' resignation to clear a separate and potentially much more damaging barnacle in the form of Mal Brough has also become a serious matter for Labor which has accused the PM of "grotesquely" exploiting the holiday dead zone for news to "take out the trash". Minutes after Briggs stood up in Adelaide on Tuesday, Turnbull announced Brough would stand aside until the Australian Federal Police concludes its investigation into the Special Minister of State's involvement in the copying of the diaries of the former Speaker Peter Slipper. The Brough boil had grown since it was revealed Brough had been raided by the AFP, allowing the Opposition to exploit the discrepancies in the story Brough told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program and his statements in Parliament in relation to the James Ashby Slipper affair. Senior Coalition figures agreed this week that the issue had to be lanced before Parliament returned this year (2016). The MPs' exits turned what should have been a week focused on little else than the findings of the trade union royal commission into what looked like a shambles for Turnbull. The final report by the royal commission was always going to be a springboard for the government to attack an unpopular Opposition Leader in Bill Shorten, even with Shorten escaping any adverse finding by Commissioner Dyson Heydon. Abbott-urgers surface But now the key players have been put in stocks and the slow processes of law have been put in motion, Turnbull has still been left with two men overboard. It also gave two Tony Abbott-urgers, Eric Abetz and Nationals' Senator John Williams, a soapbox to call for the return of their man to the fold. "I think if Tony Abbott were to go back in the cabinet that would be a good way to heal the wounds of the past," Williams said. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will pick up Brough's portfolio of Special Minister of State, and Defence Minister Marise Payne will pick up his second portfolio, Defence Materiel and Science. Turnbull will hold open Brough's job but the Prime Minister is expected to announce a reshuffle in early February which will largely hinge on the future of Truss. Coalition colleagues expect the National Party leader to announce his retirement when Parliament resumes in February, a decision that would likely make way for the ascension of Barnaby Joyce. Brough a bigger loss After the disaster that was the failed defection of Ian Macfarlane, National Party members are again calling for greater representation in the ministry. A Liberal who did not wish to be named said: "The IQ quota has gone up and the talentless arrogance quota has gone down" with the exits of both Brough and Briggs. But of the two, hardman Brough is Turnbull's bigger loss. The Queenslander was John Howard's Minister for Indigenous Affairs and became the public face of the Coalition's Northern Territory Emergency Response "the Intervention" aimed at combating alleged high rates of child neglect and abuse in Aboriginal communities. Along with Howard, Brough lost his Queensland seat of Longman in the 2007 election. Brough's return to Parliament began in November 2011 when Slipper quit the Liberal Party after being lured to the Speaker's seat in a ploy to lessen Julia Gillard's burden in running a minority government. Investigation may allow Brough's return In March 2012, James Ashby, a sometime Newcastle radio DJ who joined Slipper's staff the previous year, allegedly sent Brough images copied from the Speaker's official diary without authorisation. Months after, Ashby launched legal action against Slipper, alleging sexual harassment. Slipper was also accused of misusing $954 of taxpayer-funded Cabcharges. In July 2012 Brough was subpoenaed by the AFP in connection to legal action against Slipper. Lawyers for the Commonwealth told the court Ashby had colluded with another staffer to undermine the Speaker's reputation and advance his political opponents, including Brough. It is his part in an apparent attempt to end Slipper's parliamentary career that the AFP is still investigating. Unlike Briggs, Brough was a Turnbull supporter and one of the tight inner-sanctum that met to plot Tony Abbott's downfall on the night before the September party room spill. On Tuesday, Brough stood aside. Depending on the result of the AFP investigation, Brough may live another day. Briggs's career killer But Briggs has effectively killed his political career. Inappropriate behaviour of MPs towards women was once routinely swept under the carpet, but in 2016 with Malcolm Turnbull increasing the number of women in his first Cabinet to underscore his government's new look from the Abbott era as a bastion of equal opportunity, the Adelaide MP's indiscretion was simply a Briggs too far. In his first public statement on the scandal, more than 24 hours after the Liberal minister fell on his sword on Tuesday, Turnbull appeared to dismiss the idea that the incident could be interpreted as playful flirtation. "This is a serious matter," he said. "It was considered very carefully with due process, consultation with senior colleagues. It was considered very, very carefully. Ministerial standards were breached. His conduct did not live up to the standard required of ministers and, as a consequence, he reflected on that and made a decision to offer his resignation, which I accepted, and it was the appropriate course of action." Turnbull remains under attack by the opposition for what it calls "grotesque media management" in getting the Briggs' resignation announcement and the sidelining of Special Minister of State Mal Brough out the door on the same day. Call for transparency Shadow special minister of state Gary Gray called on Turnbull to explain why Briggs waited a month to resign for his behaviour during the late-night drinking session in Hong Kong. "This grotesque form of media management that would think it appropriate to drop this out in the week between Christmas and New Year in order to avoid questions is absolutely appalling," Gray said. He has written to the Public Service Commission and Briggs seeking a clearer timetable of when the complaint was lodged and action taken. "We don't want anything released that will identify the public servant but we should understand when the government knew of this event, why it was necessary to carry out several investigations and why it took so long," he said. Gray said the matter should have been dealt with before Parliament rose for the year in December. "This should have been dealt with in a transparent way in the Parliament with a simple statement to be conducted in an open way with an apology and resignation from the minister and most importantly with dignity and the protection for the Commonwealth public servant," he said. Labor sharpens its knives Pathankot: A gold medal-winning Indian shooter was among 10 people killed in an audacious predawn assault on an air force base, officials said on Sunday, as troops worked to clear the compound near India's border with Pakistan after a 15-hour gunbattle. Six Indian security personnel were killed and the bodies of four militants had been recovered after the assault on the heavily fortified Pathankot air base in the north-western state of Punjab. Officials said the gunmen, wearing army fatigues, managed to enter the base before dawn on Saturday. Once inside, they opened fire. Theres something about the first few minutes of Jan. 1 that convinces you to resolve to improve yourself in the coming year.Perhaps, its that after imbibing the sixth glass of bubbly (or seventh whos counting?) on New Years Eve. Or, maybe its that in the midst of the holidays, youve finally gotten the chance to stop and realize some things about yourself that you dont exactly love.I had gone home for winter break and realized I had gained almost 50 pounds in three-and-a-half years of college, Raafi Alidina, now 26, said via email of his senior year of college New Years resolution. I was super-scrawny when I started freshman year and a decent amount of that weight was just growing into body but there was still a lot of weight from just poor eating habits, not exercising, etc. So, I made a resolutionthat year, 2012, would be the year I finally started working out regularly for an extended period of time and get into the kind of shape I wanted to be in.According to a survey conducted last year by Nielsen, 37 percent of respondents said they wanted to stay fit and healthy and another 32 percent wanted to lose weight as New Years resolutions.Only 16 percent of respondents said they didnt plan to make any resolutions. That means more than 80 percent got swept up in the New Years resolution hype.Its a tradition, Dr. Pauline Wallin, a clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania and author of Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide For Transforming Self-Defeating Behavior, told The Daily Beast. And misery loves company, she added with a laugh. Making resolutions for the New Year seems as organic and commonsensical as New Yorkers avoiding Times Square during the ball drop.As people, we often focus on negatives, Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago, told The Daily Beast. We focus on the things weve missed, things we didnt get to do. A resolution kind of publicly states that in a nicer way: These are the things I didnt get to do. Its to say next year, Im hoping to do that. Of course, it doesnt take an expert on subliminal messages to see that gyms, health food stores, and other companies are playing to our New Years hunger for improvement. Ive noticed that the advertising from the local grocery store has changed. Last month it was advertising butter, nuts, and sugar, and now they are promoting cottage cheese and yogurt, said Wallin. But it takes more than a few days of fat-free Greek yogurt or not buying a handle of bourbon to accomplish resolutions. Its easy to see yourself being different, but you tend to underestimate the amount of effort involved, said Wallin. You jump on the New Years resolution bandwagon, plus youre bloated from from the holidays. Youre not that tempted, so its easier at first. Thats a few days, [but] then the hunger comes in. And the motivation exits. Alidina discovered this for himself shortly after he got back to school. My routine was different than at home, and I had never really worked out while at school, so I hadnt figured out how to keep up with assignments and studying, my social life, and exercise. Exercise just fell out of the picture as a result. The problem is we make very unrealistic goals, like The wedding is coming up in June, Im going to lose 40 pounds, said Ferrari. Thats not going to happen. Unless youre going to have just waternot even bread and water because breads have carbsyoure not going to do it and then youre going to boomerang. In fact, according to an oft-touted study by psychologist John Norcross at the University of Scranton, about a quarter of people who made resolutions have given up just two weeks into January. When Norcross did a follow-up survey two years after the resolutions were made, only 19 percent said they had kept to to their resolution goals. Any kind of behavioral change usually requires several attempts, said Wallin, and Alidinas experience confirmed it. He described how when March hit, I saw myself shirtless in a full-length mirror for the first time in a long time, and I didnt like what I saw. For some people who may feel insecure in the first place, this [failing to achieve a New Years resolution] may be another way of reinforcing the thoughts, like Im no good, and lowering self-esteem, said Dr. Ferrari. If you lack self-confidence already, trying to obtain these unrealistic goals will only push low self-esteem. It can be a vicious cycle. It can be Let me have another jelly doughnut because I cant do it, anyways. By no means did Ferrari or Wallin think New Years resolutions in and of themselves were bad ideas. Rather, it was the kinds of resolutions people tend to set for themselves that proved problematic. We need to be realistic in those resolutions, said Ferrari, by which he specifically meant ones resolutions should be observable, specific, and behavioral. For example, saying you want to get in shape is way too vague. You cant quantify it or create a specific target or goal around it. However, saying you want to go to the gym two more times a week than you usually do is specific enough and achievable enough that it becomes a manageable prospect. Wallin offered similar advice. If you want to run five miles, you run one mile and youre huffing and puffing. Whats more likely to keep you motivated? Thinking Ive got one mile under my belt. or Ive got four miles to go? Focus on the smaller number at the beginning of your journey, either in pounds or laps youve run. Meanwhile, she advised that when youre close to achieving a goal but not quite there, dont rest on laurels and think of all youve accomplished, but how little is left to fully complete your goal. Focus on how close you are to meeting your goal, Wallin said. If youve lost a lot of weight and theres cake in the office room, focus on how few pounds are left to lose to meet your goal. Once youve achieved a part of your New Years goal, its easier to stick with it, as Alidina found. After his first attempt failed, he found a specific exercise program that was structured over a finite period, nine weeks, to which he was able to commit. When he had achieved that, he made other changes. I kept thinking, Do I really want to ruin that insane workout for a couple of cookies? No, its not worth it. Alidina ultimately lost 27 pounds and was in the best shape of my life. Another way to increase your odds for New Years resolution success rate is cringe-inducing for some of us: Going public. While the social media universe is a treasure trove of trolls eager to piss all over ones dreams, Ferrari suggests using social media platforms to share goalsat least with friends and loved ones. When you publicly post something you want to do, it is much more likely to get done than something you do privately, Ferrari said. Simply by going online and saying This is something observable and attainable that I want to do, youre more likely to achieve it because youre held accountable by others. Surround yourself with friends who are more likely to work with you, Ferrari added. Its a mosh pit for success. You jump and everyone catches you. Were social animals. Were social creatures. The shirtless children ran through the gutters and played with the broken glass and the dull brass cartridge shells from the riot of the night before. The flat sky was an open oven door and its heat made people spill out of the tenements and onto the stoops, or onto milk boxes set up on the sidewalk, and they sat and watched the children pick up the brass shells and pocket them as if they were prizes. They watched the cops too. The cops were everywhere, four and five of them on a street corner, wearing white steel helmets, and the people of Harlem watched them and hated them yesterday afternoon. When I see a white cop, I cant help myself, I just cant stand looking at one of them, Livingston Wingate was saying. Im supposed to be a responsible person and I try to rub it from my mind. But right now, when I look across the street here and see those white cops, I get disturbed. I just cant stand looking at them. Wingate is an official. He is a lawyer who has worked for the government in Washington. He now is one of the major figures in running HARYOU-ACT, which has been formed to help young people in Harlem. When people of position talk the way he did, the trouble is bad. And yesterday afternoon, while everybody in Harlem waited for the sun to go down and night to cloak the streets and make moving around easier, you wondered just how bad it would become. Some of them wanted to get at it in the daylight. The fire trucks had 129th Street, between Madison and Fifth, tied up during an alarm at 2:15 in the afternoon, and to make room for a hook and ladder coming through, the guy driving us pulled in to the curb in the middle of the block. Right away, somebody moved off the stoop: a kid with a shaved head and a gold polo shirt. He was about nineteen and he went to another stoop, where three other kids were sitting. He said something to them and they looked at the car. Then they got up and came onto the sidewalk and the one with the shaved head walked across the street and spoke to a crowd on another stoop. Then he came walking back, looking at the car; and when you stared back at him, his eyelids came down and made his eyes narrow. What are you lookin at, you big fat white bastard? he said. Oh, come on, its too hot for this nonsense, we told him. Were goin to show you whats nonsense, he said. Were goin to stick some nonsense right into your fat white belly. A fireman, rubber boots flopping on the melting tar street, walked over from an engine. He had an ax in his hand. A new ax. Big, with a light yellow wooden handle. The kid with the shaved head didnt even notice him. He just kept walking past the car and went back to the stoop where three waited for him. What the hell are you doing here? the fireman said. Dont you listen to the newspapers? Were trying to get through. They were stoning us last night, the fireman said. You dont know what it was like here. They were trying to kill us. Get out of here if you got any brains. Then he went back to the truck. The other firemen came out of the tenement and climbed onto the trucks. There had been no fire and now the three trucks were starting to pull away. Hey, fat white bastard, the shaved head called out. Why dont you stay around here till these trucks leave? Oh, come on, he was told. Two trucks left, and then the hook and ladder moved by, and the minute it did, the guy driving us in the car pulled away from the curb and started up the block. The kids came out from both sides. They were walking at first, but then one of them ran and tried to get in the back door on the right-hand side, but now the car was moving too fast and he couldnt make it and then, with the car heading up the block, you saw his bare black arm pull back and then come up and something came through the air at the car. Whatever it was, it exploded when it hit the street behind the car. Who knows what it was? Molotov cocktails were all over the place Saturday night. Maybe it was nothing more than a firecracker. You couldnt tell. If somebody snapped his fingers on 129th Street in Harlem yesterday afternoon, the noise made you jump. It all came down to this in Harlem. All the talk and all the speeches and all the ignorance and all the history of this deep vicious thing of black against white which they classify under the nice name of civil rights came crashing down from the rooftops inside garbage cans. The symbol of a couple of hundred years of sinful history became a black arm pulling back and then coming around to throw something at a white cop. And there seemed to be no way to talk to anybody. For a while the big main avenues of Harlem seemed quiet and police-state orderly yesterday afternoon, the people sitting on the side streets with a bitterness which went right through you when you saw it in their faces. There seemed to be nobody who could stop what everybody thought the night would bring. At 4:15 p.m. we drove to the Mount Morris Presbyterian Church with Judge James Watson to hear Jesse Gray address a rally. Gray is an irrational man who is a force in Harlem only because of the white press, which failed in its obligation to check out people it writes of. Publicity made Jesse Gray, and yesterday afternoon was to be his great chance for rabble-rousing. Then Jesse Gray got up and this church turned into something youve never seen before. Before today is over, well be able to separate the men from the boys, Gray said when he got up. Only one thing can solve the problem in Mississippi, and thats guerrilla warfare, Gray said. Im beginning to wonder whats going to solve the problem here in New York. He threw the line out into the hot airless church and he waited for the answer he knew would come. He got it. Guerrilla warfare, they shouted. Oh, my God, Judge Watson said in the back of the church. Oh, my God. Establishment Republicans had a miserable year on the campaign trail. But on Capitol Hillfar from Make America Great Again hatsthey cleaned up. Conservatives on the Hill, emboldened by Republican gains in the midterm elections, followed the battle cry of the Heritage Foundations powerful lobbying arm against their Establishment overlords. But over the past year, theyve faced defeat after biting defeat. Most of these wins were on wonky, unsexy issueslike funding for infrastructure construction and rules about how the president can negotiate trade agreements. Not exactly the most scintillating stuff. But while these individual debates may not have galvanized national attention, they were hugely important to Tea Party-friendly conservative groups. And the cumulative losses these groups face suggest that their clout may have flatlined or they overplayed their hands. Heritage Action, the lobbying wing of the powerful Heritage Foundation think tank, got a major shellacking in March during the fight over Doc Fix legislation, which overhauled how doctors who treat Medicare patients get reimbursed. Heritage Action key-voted against the bill, citing concerns that it would grow the national debt by half a trillion dollars over 20 years. Despite the groups protestations, though, the Doc Fix passed the House with just 37 no votes (only four of whom were Democrats). In the Senate, just eight members voted against it. It was a tough loss for Heritage Action. And many more followed. Trade legislation drew significant opposition from the group in June, as members fought over whether Congress would give the president extra authority to negotiate trade deals, allocate funds to support Americans who lose jobs due to said deals. While issues like Trade Adjustment Assistance and Trade Promotion Authority may not roll off the tongue of your average Tea Partier (or, well, your average human being), Heritage Actions key-voting against trade provisions helped energize grassroots conservative opposition. That, combined with Breitbart News and the Drudge Reports liberal (and frantic) use of the Obamatrade moniker stoked opposition on the right. And all those guys lost. Congress gave the president additional authority to negotiate trade deals and allocated more funds to help Americans who lose jobs to overseas competition, and the president announced he plans to have the U.S. sign on to the new Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal. Is Anyone Still Scared of Heritage Action? wondered National Journal. It was a good question. And it was a question that arose again in July, when legislation came up to change funding for the National Institutes of Health and the FDA. The bill was called the 21st Century Cures Act, and, well, was complicated. Heritage Action opposed it adamantly, for comparably complicated reasons. If NIH funding mechanisms get your juices flowing, check out Heritage Actions release explaining its stance. If not, just rest assured that it was a big deal for the group, and the group lost. Seventy-seven House members voted against the bill, 70 of whom were Republicans. And, of course, theres perhaps the unsexiest issue of all: the highway bill! Next time youre trying to get out of an unpleasant conversation, just bring up infrastructure funding and see what happens. The highway bill allowed more than $300 billion for transportation spending, and it reauthorized the Export-Import Banka program that gives loans to U.S. businesses that have overseas commerce, and that conservatives have long criticized as corporate welfare. Heritage Actions denunciation of the bill said the highway projects were funded with almost exclusively with embarrassing budget gimmicks. The Ex-Im banks funding expired this summer, and Congress couldnt get it reauthorizeddue in large part to conservative oppositionuntil the Highway Bill came up. Ending this bank was a major blow to the culture of crony capitalism festering in Washington, said Heritage Actions statement, and reviving it now damages the conservative movement and the credibility of efforts to rid the federal government of favoritism for special interests. The president signed the bill early in December. But there was one last loss to be felt: the year-end omnibus spending billa legislative package full of the kind of spending projects that make conservatives want to scratch their eyeballs out, including funding for Planned Parenthood. Heritage Action, naturally, key-voted against it. And the House, as was natural in 2015, passed it anyway. It wasnt always this way. During the 2013 government shutdown, Heritage Action exerted enormous influence to pressure members of Congress against supporting any funding for the Affordable Care Act. And members shivered at the prospect of facing primary challengers who would attack them over low marks on the groups vote scorecard. But now, much of that fear seems to have abated. When Heritage key-votes against a bill now, it is almost guaranteed to get less conservative, and guaranteed to pass both chambers and become law, said one former Republican House leadership staffer. They have reverse Midas touch. Heritage Action didnt respond to a request for comment on this story. I sometimes think that every museum label should carry a disclaimer: Warning. The title you are about to read may tell you more about the historical reception of the painting than it does about the painting itself. Google Rembrandt and philosopher, for instance, and the first thing you will see on your screen is the image of a painting that now hangs in the Louvre. The painting, which is titled Philosophe en meditation (philosopher in meditation) and dated 1632, shows an old bearded man seated in an interior, with a large open book on the table beside him. Golden light from a window illuminates his figure, while the rest of the interior is plunged in shadows. To his right is a winding stair that disappears into a dark recess and the bent form of an old woman tending a fire. Though you wont be able to see it on the screen, the indistinct form of another woman is also disappearing up the stair. Ever since this painting arrived at the Louvre at the end of the eighteenth century, commentators have been tempted to associate its philosophe with the contemplative artist who created him. One nineteenth-century French poet simply decided that Rembrandt was the philosopher. Another saw the very genius of Rembrandt in the figure and attributed the picture as a whole to the artists wish for an interior in which to house his mysterious thought. In the mid-twentieth century, the writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley described the paintings symbolical subject matter as nothing more nor less than the human mind itself. On Saturday, an Egyptian court will decide whether novelist Ahmed Naji is a threat to public morals. But first, they had to literally separate fact from fiction. Naji published a chapter containing scenes of sex and drugs in an upcoming novel, The Use of Life, in Egypts biggest arts magazine, and prosecutors thought he was delivering a first-person account of drugs and sex. The prosecutor doesnt understand the concept of the novel, so hes dealing with it as if its a personal confession, said the 30-year-old novelist. So for them, its not the main character of the novel, its Ahmed Naji who was having sex using a condom and smoking hash. Najis case is a good example of the Egyptian legal systems propensity to enable busybodies. Suits by random lawyers are broadly defined and based on public interest, like changing Fathers Day to coincide with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis birthday. But the most infamous are Hisba suits, which allow third parties to sue to protect societys understanding of right and wrong. Egypt may have a secular government, but prudes staff its institutions and other moralists can take advantage of the system. All of that applies here. Najis book had already passed by Egyptian government censors, but it didnt make it past a lawyer who felt scandalized when he read the paragraph of sex and drugs. He got so worked up, the lawyer alleges, that his blood pressure dropped and he became ill. So the lawyer, Hani Salah Tawfiq, brought charges of harming public morals against Naji and his editor-in-chief, who was also charged with negligence for letting such content pass through. The young author could be fined close to $1,300 and go behind bars for up to two years. Naji isnt concerned though, and his indifference and a highbrow confidence show it. Dressed in all black with a chevron mustache, he ate dinner at a Cairo kebab restaurant discussing his case before an art talk. They are ignorant, Naji said of the prosecutors. They find this kind of case involving media or journalists as a good opportunity for them to appear as a guard of public morals and to get some attention. Naji didnt go to his court sessions, which force defendants to stand in a cage and dont exactly imply innocent until proven guilty. When President Mohamed Morsi went on trial after being ousted, he would yell through the bars, so the authorities encased it in glassanother indication of the rights of the accused provided in Cairo. So instead, Naji sat a coffee shop and let lawyers do the talking. Najis lawyers brought on Sonallah Ibrahim, the doyen of Egypts old nationalist left, as an expert witness, and prosecutors responded by asking him to read the passages in question. Egyptian courts are no stranger to absurdity like this. In fact, one of Ibrahims books is about an absurd court in an Egyptian retelling of Kafkas The Trial. He refused, and so did the head of the Cairos writers union, whose testimony explained to the court the difference between fiction and non-fiction and why a bare-breasted painting is not pornographic. Naji isnt sure if the court gets the nuance. The magazine that published the excerpt, Akhbar al-Adab, is not a stranger to political struggles, despite being publicly owned. Naji has been working there since he was 18. After refusing to work with a pro-Mubarak editor before the 2011 revolution and going on an outright strike against another editor, whom he later described as a Muslim Brotherhood shill after it, he finally fell into a rhythm with the new editor. They didnt think twice about publishing the chapter containing the sex scene. The chapter, after all, is pretty vanilla and quotidian, as far as sex in literature goes. Naji and his lawyers also believe that there could be a connection with the military governments effort to up its moral credentials. Naji got calls from one newspaper reporter telling him that the prosecutor leaked court documents to him. Sisi recently approved forming a national council for morals, and specifically named cultural and literary sectors as part of its purview. But its hard to tell in Egypt as to what motivates what writers and novelists like Naji see as obvious repression. A lot of institutions dont talk and sometimes go rogue to make arrests or issue warrants. Connecting the dots between attacks on art or basic freedom of speech is difficult. Just this week an art gallery and a major publisher were both raided in Cairo. What immediate threat they posed to the regime isnt obvious and the Cairene cultural scene has been reeling, trying to make sense of it. As for the lawyer that brought the case against Naji, the writers lawyer doesnt mince words. He is a stupid man. Even today, Orson Welles has a troubled reputation. There are still those who will argue that he peaked with Citizen Kane and never fulfilled his promise. Frankly, and this is no knock on Kane, but I find that preposterous. How can a man who made The Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil, and The Lady From Shanghaithree of the greatest films ever madebe said to have not fulfilled his promise? But even so, it is a complicated track record. There are the films butchered by the studios, including Ambersons and, until recently, Touch of Evil. There are films, such as The Trial and The Immortal Story, that are rarely seen, and others, such as Its All True, that were never finished. And then there is Chimes at Midnight, Welless movie about Shakespeares Falstaff, which has almost never been seen at all, by anyone, since its initial release in 1966. Panned when it opened in the U.S., quickly removed from circulation, and thereafter tied up in disputes over ownership, it has rarely been available on tape or DVDunless, like me, you were lucky enough to own a pirated copy. For any Welles fan, it has always been a sort of Holy Grail, not least because it was Welless favorite of his films, the one of which he said, If I wanted to get into heaven on the basis of one movie, thats the one I would offer up. I think its because it is, to me, the least flawed I succeeded more completely, in my view, with that than with anything else. If you were a Welles fan, wouldnt you want to see that movie? Now, after four decades, the wait is over. Under the auspices of Janus Films, a newly restored version of the film Welles considered his masterpiece, made from the original 35 mm print, will be released in New York and Los Angeles on New Years Day, with other dates in select cities nationwide over the course of the winter and spring. Having seen the newly minted version, I cant say if youll agree with Welless verdict, but if you care anything about his movies, or about Shakespeare, I dont think you will come away disappointed. To make Chimes at Midnight, Welles combined passages from several Shakespeare plays, but mostly Henry IV parts one and two, elevating the character of Falstaff from an ensemble role and making him the main attraction (with Welles himself as the star). No one talks much about Welless skill as an adaptor, but the seeming ease with which he seamlessly combines and condenses Shakespeare is one of the true miracles of this production. He gives us just enough of the rest of the story to make it all make sense without taking our eyes off the corpulent main attraction. The result is a film as nuanced as any Welles ever made, ultimately a comedy and a tragedy in equal measure, which is no mean feat. It also contains, in my opinion, the best battle scene ever filmed. The roughly 10 minutes devoted to the battle of Shrewsbury is war from the foot soldiers point of viewchaotic, vicious, and utterly confusing, albeit extremely well edited. The confusion is the point: Warfare, to Welles, was indeed nasty, brutish, and not nearly short enough. The slaughter that he etches on the screen will haunt you for days. He has directed a sequence, the Battle of Shrewsbury, wrote Pauline Kael in The New Republic in 1967, which is unlike anything he has ever done, indeed unlike any battle ever done on the screen before. It ranks with the best of Griffith, Ford, Eisenstein, Kurosawathat is, with the best ever done. The first time I saw the film, that battle scene was the thing that thrilled me most instantly. Kael is right: Youve never seen its like. But on subsequent viewings, I came to realize that the battle is just the cherry on the sundae. What draws you back again and again to Chimes of Midnight is the complicated character of Falstaff himself, a character embraced by critics from Samuel Johnson to Harold Bloom (who thought Falstaff and Hamlet were Shakespeares two greatest creations), and the character that Welles himself called the most difficult part I ever played in my life. I think I know what he meant. Sir John Falstaff is a liar, a thief, a coward, and obsequious in the face of power. He is also a fat, goatish old drunk. And yet, he is ultimately a good man. And so, as he would be the first to tell you, we love him, as Prince Hal, his apprentice in sin, loves him. Banish plump Jack, Falstaff warns Hal, and banish all the world. Flawed and sometimes even pitiable, Falstaff draws us in because he is flawed, never less than human, often funny (often at his own expense), and a truly joyful man who embraces friendship above all else, a trait that, in Shakespeares telling, and in Welless, will prove his tragic undoing. There is one shot in Chimes at Midnight, a shot that seems to take an eternity but which cant last as much as half a minute, in which the camera gazes upon Falstaffs mute face when Hal, now crowned Henry V, tells him, I know thee not, old man, and banishes him. The look on Welless face is not purely sad, or even shocked. Those things are there, yes. But a half-smile plays across his face. There is almost something admiring in his gaze. It is a mixture of emotion that blends confusion, rejection, love, and pathos all at once, and in its stillness and complexity, it is one of the greatest pieces of acting I have ever seen. People we know do things that, in the moment, make us say, How like Iago, or How like Macbeth. But most of us would admit that we do not know anyone completely like Iago or Macbeth or Viola or Cordelia. But with Falstaff it is different. He is such a man of parts, a man so delightfully, infuriatingly human, that we cannot help but think him real. And we do know people like him, people who we love even as they drive us mad. No wonder he was Queen Elizabeths favorite Shakespeare character, so much so that she ordered him to write a whole play around Falstaff. (And if shed given him more than a fortnight to complete it, he might have done better than The Merry Wives of Windsor.) Putting the fat man in the spotlight, Welles gives him his rightful place at last, if not in his own play then at least in his own movie, and a great one, too. If Chimes at Midnight wont get you into heaven, who would want to go there? Most countries ushered in their new year by hosting increasingly beautiful displays of fireworks. Others, by increasingly archaic displays of public execution. Today Saudi Arabia executed 47 people, which is the biggest mass execution in the kingdom since the early 1980s. This follows a blood-soaked 2015, in which the country executed 158 people, the highest number in two decades and a 90 percent increase from the year before. Despite that staggering sum, with their actions today the second of January 2016, Saudi Arabia is already almost a third of its way to beating last years abysmal record. Indeed, this strict Sunni-Wahhabi religious kingdom, one of the few absolute monarchies left in the world, still stages public executions, crucifixions and floggings. The death penalty is applied in a wide range of cases, including apostasy, terrorism and witchcraft. Though most of those killed today were accused of terrorism, one must remain incredibly skeptical about the justice system of a country in which even atheism is deemed a terrorist offense by law. Among those killed today was Ayatollah Nimr al-Nimr. He was a vocal Saudi-Shia opposition cleric who publicly criticized the ruling al-Saud family and called for elections. In 2011 Nimr said that he favored protest over violence, "The weapon of the word is stronger than bullets, because authorities will profit from a battle of weapons. The Saudi interior ministry however, accused him of being behind attacks on police and allying with another regional theocracy, Shia Iran. In fact, Saudi Arabias regional tension with Iran has reached such levels that it is prepared to countenance the execution of minors. A 17 year old relation of al-Nimr has been sentenced to crucifixionhis headless corpse to be displayed in public for several days. And Abdullah al-Zaher, who was 15 when he was arrested, also awaits beheading. This makes him the youngest person so far to be sentenced to death. Beyond executions, Nobel Prize nominee Raif Badawi, a blogger who started the "Free Saudi Liberals" forum in 2008, has been convicted of "insulting Islam" and given a 10-year prison term with 1,000 lashes. And as Lujain al-Hathlouls and Maysa Al Amours imprisonment shows, women still cant drive in Saudi Arabia. Nor, apparently, can they use social media to complain about being unable to drive. Meanwhile, neighboring Yemen has been carpet-bombed to oblivion by the House of Saud. That one of our closest allies could maintain such an appalling human rights record should be a matter of deep shame to America and Great Britain. In todays Information Age this barbaric track record can no longer be hidden from view. Under increasing pressure, the UK Ministry of Justice dropped a large contract to train Saudi prison staff. This decision was initially opposed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who only reversed track after facing a sustained human rights campaign. To his credit, Justice Secretary Michael Gove backed the move. And heres the rub. While Iran is no better, through Saudi Arabia the absurdity of our global alliances are laid bare. This medieval throwback of a regimeour allybelieves in and enforces many of the same punishments as those they are helping us to fight: ISIS. As this graphic shows punishments for apostasy, blasphemy, homosexual acts, treasonwhich could mean anything from organizing political opposition to acts of militancy, adultery, fornication, highway robbery and banditry are identical under Saudi law as well as under ISIS rule. In both cases, these punishments are justified by a medieval take on Islamic scripture. Just as ISIS does, a Saudi interior ministry statement issued today began with passages from the Quran and cited Prophetic tradition in order to justify the mass executions. The Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh appeared on television soon after to describe the killings as just and Fawzi al-Zafzaf, a scholar from Egypt's highest Sunni authority Al-Azhar, welcomed the executions by saying Saudi Arabia has applied the law of God. Among the Prophetic traditions cited by Saudis interior ministry was one from the books of Sahih Muslim: whoever comes to you while your affairs are united and wants to disunite you, sowing dissension amongst you, kill him. How funny, just like ISIS, I had used this same hadith during my days as a committed Islamist, arguing for the necessity of forcibly unifying all Muslims behind a global Caliph, and overthrowing the Saudi regime as an obstacle to such unity. And heres the rub. The Islamic State group seeks to enforce a totalitarian version of Islam over society. The Islamic Republic of Iran claims it already enforces Islam, and fights the Islamic State by supporting the Party of Allahor Hizbollah, to do so. Saudi Arabia claims that the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Party of Allah, and the Islamic State group have got it all wrong, and that they enforce the true version of Islam in their kingdom. Monty Pythons Judean Peoples Front would be bitingly proud. Until we recognize that the ideology calling for any version of Islam to be imposed over people is wreaking havoc in the region, and holding entire societies back from progress, the Middle-east stands little chance of recovering from the turbulence it currently faces. Saudi Arabia just happens to be one of the wealthiest, most organized, and most active proponents of this idea. And like homophobes hating their closet gay side, the Saudis have threatened to sue anyone who compares them to ISIS. So sue me. UPDATE: On Saturday night, January 2, Iranian protesters ransacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran, throwing Molotov cocktails and trashing furniture before police finally cleared them out. According to The Independent, Shia demonstrators in Bahrain were tear-gassed while Riyadh send "hundreds of armored vehicles" to Qatif, inside Saudi Arabia, to contain protests there. Former Iraqi Prime Minister and current Vice President Nouri al-Maliki, of the theocratically oriented Dawa Party, declared that the execution of al-Nimr will be the death knell of the Saudi government. Irate New York State residents, including a state senator and an assemblyman, are calling for the renaming of Donald J. Trump State Park, in Yorktown Heights. With his recent remarks about Mexicans and Muslims, Trump has shown himself to be a bigot, said the creator of an online petition urging the name change. Just a few miles further up the Taconic State Parkway, however, is another state park named after a public figure who made disparaging remarks about various minority groups. This other gentleman once complained to an interviewer that the foreign elements were failing to conform to the manners and the customs of most Americans. He believed the kind of immigrants that would benefit America would be Europeans with blood of the right sort. He warned that the mingling of white with oriental blood on an extensive scale is harmful to our future citizenship. He also boasted that he helped bring about a quota on Jewish students admitted to Harvard; he worried about Jews overcrowding the professions; and he was convinced that the best way to settle the Jewish question essentially is to spread the Jews thin all over the world. These may be the kind of sentiments many would imagine to have been expressed by Donald Trump, but in fact they were uttered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States. It goes without saying that the differences between the two men are vast. It is a monumental understatement to note that FDRs accomplishments as president dwarf Trumps achievements as a real estate developer and entertainer. Yet in their attitudes toward foreigners and immigration, they had more in common than is generally realized. Like many upper-class white Protestants of his time, FDR harbored a strong disdain for most immigrantsexcept for those with blood of the right sort, as he put it in a newspaper column he wrote in 1925. He advocated restricting immigration for a good many years to come and limiting subsequent immigration to those who could be most quickly and easily assimilated. How different is that from what Mr. Trump is currently advocating? Roosevelt was deeply suspicious of Japanese immigrants. They are not capable of assimilation into the American population, he wrote in another 1925 column. Anyone who has traveled in the Far East knows that the mingling of Asiatic blood with European or American blood produces, in nine cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results. These remarks were not some youthful indiscretion on FDRs part. He was already a mature public figure and a rising political star, having served as a New York State Senator, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and the Democrats 1920 vice presidential nominee. Nor could FDRs statements be chalked up to off-color humor, although he did indulge in his share of that. Presidential secretary William D. Hassett wrote in his diary of Roosevelt telling a joke that described the Japanese people as the offspring of an ancient union between humans and baboons. FDRs grandson, Curtis Roosevelt, recalled that the president would tell mildly anti-Semitic stories in the White House, in which the protagonists were always Lower East Side Jews with heavy accents. Sometimes humor can be very revealing. Roosevelt did not keep a diary or tape-record his Oval Office conversations, as some later presidents did. What we know of his private views of Jews comes mostly from third parties who were friendly to FDR and did not expect his statements to be made public. For example, it was FDRs friend, U.S. Senator Pat Harrison (who helped clinch the nomination of Roosevelt at the 1932 Democratic convention), who noted the presidents use of the phrase dirty Jewish trick to characterize a tax maneuver by the owners of the New York Times in 1937. It was the eras most prominent Jewish leader (and FDR stalwart), Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, who privately recounted a 1938 conversation in which the president alleged that Jewish domination of Polands economy was the cause of Polish anti-Semitism. U.S. Senator Burton Wheeler, a Roosevelt friend and political ally, jotted down a remark that FDR made to him in 1939: You and I, Burt, are old English and Dutch stockwe know there is no Jewish blood in our veins, but a lot of [other] people do not know whether there is Jewish blood in their veins or not. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr., privately noted (in 1941) FDRs aforementioned statement about restricting the admission of Jews to Harvard. And Vice President Henry Wallaces diary is the source of President Roosevelts statement (in 1943) about spreading the Jews thin all over the world. Admitting no more than four or five Jewish families in each community would be best, Wallace reported the president as recommending. Some will point out that such sentiments about Asians and Jews were common in those days. But what makes Roosevelts remarks particularly alarming is the likelihood that they played a role in some of his policy decisions. FDR had no compunctions about herding more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestrymost of them American citizensinto detention camps in 1942, in part because of his deeply-held belief that persons of Japanese ancestry were inherently untrustworthy and dangerous. (Asked by Time magazine if he would have supported the internment of the Japanese, Trump hedged: I certainly hate the concept of it. But I would have had to be there at the time to give you a proper answer.) Roosevelts policy of turning away European Jewish refugees who were seeking haven from Hitlerduring years when the U.S. quota for German immigrants was only 25 percent filledlikely was based to some degree on his personal conviction that having too many Jews in the country could lead to them having undue influence. The president gave full expression to this perspective during a session of the 1943 Casablanca Conference. He remarked that Jewish residents of Allied-liberated regions of North Africa should not be allowed to overcrowd the professions, because that could lead to the same kind of understandable complaints which the Germans bore towards the Jews in Germany, namely, that while they represented a small part of the population, over fifty percent of the lawyers, doctors, school teachers, college professors, etc, in Germany, were Jews. (Roosevelts statistics were, of course, wildly inflated.) All of which brings us back to the question at hand: Should public sites bear the names of individuals whose views on some subjects are abhorrent? If their records include some deeds that were admirable and others that were not, how should one be weighed against the other? Should we take into consideration the fact that FDRs views probably influenced government policy and affected peoples lives, while Trumps are (at least for now) just bombastic rhetoric? In a different world, the names Donald J. Trump and Franklin D. Roosevelt might not be thought of in the same sentence. But if motorists on the Taconic State Parkway are mortified when they pass the exit sign for Donald J. Trump State Park, perhaps they should think twice when, moments later, they pass the sign for Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. Sadly, the two men had more in common than most people realize. Dr. Rafael Medoff is the founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and author of 16 books on Jewish history and the Holocaust. What does America stand for? is a question with many answers to many people around the world, even more than What should America stand for? The crisis today isnt which answer is the best, or even which question is most relevant, but the fact that neither question is being asked much at all in America itself even during this heated presidential primary election season. 2016 isnt simply a choice between pushing the swinging pendulum of American politics back again or continuing with the status quo. Nor is it a choice between extremists and centrists (or primary extremists who will magically transform into centrists even before the last convention balloon has popped). Both the Republicans and the Democrats have had their dalliances with relatively extreme ideological nominees in the past. They have not fared well in the general election. Barry Goldwater may have laid the ground for the Reagan Revolution in 1964, but he was battered by Lyndon Johnson. George McGovern might not have looked so bad in hindsight after Richard Nixon met his Watergate, but that doesnt change the fact that he made Nixon look like Napoleon in the 1972 landslide. Next years election could look similar if Donald Trump or Ted Cruz come out of the GOP primary to gift-wrap the election for Hillary Clinton. The Tea Party remnants, evangelicals, and other groups who appear to hold so much sway in the Republican primary are not a big enough base for a candidate who has offended nearly every other group in America. Or 2016 could enter uncharted territory if Bernie Sanders sticks around long enough to pull Hillary even further to the left. Shes no ideologue, but the more the Democrats follow Sanders down the Socialist path the more we have to wonder what it will be like to have a Goldwater versus a McGovern election with no sane center in sight. What happens when the GOP is Nationalist, the Dems are Socialist, and Trump is National Socialist? Im sure Im not alone in not wanting to find out. This risk is even greater in foreign policy. Clinton has essentially endorsed President Obamas play-acting policy, as befits his former Secretary of State. The Obama White House sees the Islamic State as a communications problem that would go away if only the American people would agree that the White House is doing a great jobdespite 75% of Americans saying the battle against terror is not going well. Meanwhile, Obama and John Kerry continue to insist that Vladimir Putin can be an ally, an idea that was naive seven years ago, foolish four years ago, and cant be called anything less than insane or suicidal at this point. With security now the top issue for most Americans, its awkward for Hillary to denounce the do-nothing Obama policy that has led this to be the case since she was one of its architects. Coming to rescue Clinton from this dilemma is a new breed of GOP neo-America First nationalist/isolationists whose tenets seem to be that 1) America is Gods chosen nation and 2) the rest of the world can go to Hell. This is dubious theology at best, and the fact that America wont be in good shape for long if the rest of the world is in flames should be obvious. The Cruz-Trump line that the United States can prosper while hiding between two oceans and occasionally carpet-bombing a far-off land is preposterous as well as morally repugnant. The America Firsters who wanted to keep America out of World War II had a first principle that said, No foreign power, nor group of powers, can successfully attack a prepared America. That was quickly refuted by Pearl Harbor (immediately after which the America First Committee disbanded) and has been disproved even more emphatically by the 9/11 attacks and the spate of foreign and homegrown terror attacks in recent months. Playing defense hasnt worked since 1941 and, thanks largely to technology, attacks are only getting easier. The isolationists also ignore the fact that globalized economies have global interests and that stability is essential for global trade. Unless the U.S. is prepared to roll back the countless benefits its companies and citizens reap from cheap energy and global markets for American products and services, walking away as the chaos grows is self-destructive in the extreme. To be fair, Donald Trump isnt exactly isolationist in the way Cruz and Rand Paul are. If its possible to glean anything from Trumps incoherent statements on foreign affairs, its that he favors bombing terrorists while partnering with those who sponsor and protect those same terrorists. If this sounds like just another outrageous Trump position, this is the policy of the supposedly supremely rational Barack Obama, who has made deals with Cuba and Iran, held peace talks with Putin, and walked away from his Syrian red line, which has since been painted many times over in blood by Bashar Assad. Obamas sporadic military interventions with no long-term strategic basis are intended to improve poll numbers, not national security. Saying the U.S. cares, but only enough to drop a few billion dollars worth of explosivesoften hitting civilians and infrastructuremakes things worse. Telling the world to go to Hell is bad enough; doing so while fanning the flames even hotter is sickening. A foreign policy choice between more Clinton/Obama lip service and Trump/Cruz nationalism is terrifying. After two two-term presidents with diametrically opposed ideologies on foreign policy and domestic affairs, America is facing an existential challenge. Is it to be just another country, one more nation-state that just happens to be much richer and stronger than any other? Or is there still a case and a cause for American exceptionalism that says that the only nation founded on the idea of freedom has the obligation to use its immense wealth and power to promote that freedom elsewhere? My personal answer isnt much of a surprise since its one that I share with nearly everyone who has lived in an unfree state or who has had their freedom mortally threatened. I grew up in the Soviet Union in a mixed familyand I dont mean my Armenian-Jewish heritage. My Baku relatives included die-hard Communists who would excuse nearly every catastrophe and shortage as the fault of flawed individuals, not the state or the system. They lived in a fragile truce with my father and his brother and cousins, natural skeptics who wanted me to grow up without illusions. For an inquisitive child who was included early on in family arguments, there were clear flaws in the delightful theory that everything should be shared from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. I had been exposed to a real meritocracy early in life at the chessboard, and the idea that it was wrong to enjoy the fruits of success seemed ridiculous. Why work hard if my hard work produced no benefits for me and my family? And if Socialism was so wonderful, why did it have to be imposed by force? Why could the great and generous state only be criticized in whispers? Of course the Soviet authorities were well aware of these contradictions and their subversive effects, and so they subverted their own propaganda with hypocrisy. There were rewards for success, to a degree, establishing the principle of everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others so well summarized in George Orwells Animal Farm. It turned out that not even the chessboard was safe from politics, as I discovered when I began my assault on chess Olympus and the reigning world champion, establishment darling Anatoly Karpov. Thanks to chess, I also had the rare privilege of foreign travel as a teenager, which gave me the chance to witness the horrors of capitalism and democracy with my own eyes: high living standards, functioning institutions, a vibrant civil society. It didnt take long for me to realize that the West was the real world and it was my home that was the charade. I began to speak publicly about this disconnect in interviews with Western publications, pushing my luck as a celebrity and also pushing the edge of creeping liberalization under Mikhail Gorbachev. Chess had long been an ideological tool to promote the superiority of the Soviet Man over the selfish and lazy West. So it was quite a scandal for the Soviet world champion to proclaim his admiration for Americans as close to true human nature, as I did in the summer of 1989to Playboy magazine, no less. When Ronald Reagan went to Berlin and demanded that Gorbachev tear down this wall in 1987, it was difficult for most of us living behind that wall to imagine its fall could be anything but a blessing for us. It was not mere rhetoric; it was a tangible demonstration that people on the outside cared about our fate, and were fighting to free us from it. Having been raised to think of the United States as an enemy that might bomb us into oblivion at any moment, this evolution to thinking of the U.S. as an allyof the Soviet people, against our leaderswas no small transition. How are the oppressed people of Russia, Iran, and Syria supposed to feel about America today when they see Obama making deals that empower their despotic rulers? The end of the Cold War also marked a transition of how Americans were perceived in the world and how they perceived themselves. Its one thing to be the good guy in the movie when there is an Evil Empire to vanquish. With no rival worth the effort after the USSRs collapse, the white cowboy hat of Ronald Reagan was retired. It made a brief reappearance on the uneasy head of George W. Bush after 9/11, but the catastrophic outcome of his invasion of Iraq put it back in the closet. Regardless of where you stand on the 2003 Iraq War, and because of my background I cannot condemn any action that removes a dictator, that it took so much campaigning and falsified evidence to generate public support was a clear sign that Americans had moved on from the business of fighting evil. But the Iraq War was a rebuke to bad planning and lousy implementation, not a refutation of the idea that America can be an essential force for good in the world. America must do better, not do nothing. No matter how much the isolationists and pacifists want to believe it, the jihadists, dictators, and other threats to American lives and its interests will not disappear even if the U.S. continues to retreat from every global challenge and conflict. Nor will ceding geopolitical influence and security commitments to other nations make the world safer or more stable, especially if that power is ceded to aggressive dictatorships like Iran and Putins Russia. Europe is closer to the front lines against jihadism and Putins aggression but has let its military atrophy along with its will to use it. The complete lack of a coherent EU security policy means that unless the United States rediscovers its role as an active force for stability and security in the world, both stability and security are in trouble. If stopping the Islamic State is a real priorityas Obama says it is, as every 2016 candidate says it is, as the American people say it isthen it should not be so difficult to discard the policies that have clearly failed to do so. Seventy years ago, Harry Truman built new institutions and made a huge investment in stabilizing Europe and stopping the advance of Communism world-wide. The CIA, NSC, NATO, Voice of America, and the Marshall Plan, intervention in Greece, Taiwan and Korea, all parts an ambitious economic, military, and communications offensive to fight and win the Cold War. The GOP fought Truman on many of these bold plans, as did members of his own cabinet, but eventually the containment model was accepted by the Republican Eisenhower and every subsequent administration as a necessity. So far Marco Rubio is the only prominent candidate to demonstrate the preparation and instincts to return America to its vital role, but even he has been limited by poll numbers and intimidated by the focus groups that insist America should mind its own business until it goes out of business. I hope that there is still a place in 2016 for an optimistic vision that calls for using Americas incredible resources to help instead of harm, to build instead of bomb, to free the oppressed instead of bargaining with their oppressors, and to protect the innocent instead of considering them collateral damage. Americans have become accustomed to demanding the impossible and their politicians have become accustomed to providing it. Massive debt fuels education and the stock market. Calls for greater security are accompanied by a refusal to invest or sacrifice to achieve it. The bipartisan acceptance of reality has gone missing in Americas hyper-partisan political environment. The idea that America must be a force for stability and freedom has been abandoned by Washington, reflecting an American Main Street more interested in fleeting stock market values than in the lasting values of global democracy. 2015 was a dangerous year and 2016 will be even more dangerous unless America remembers what it stands for. This declaration constituted a virtual ban of transgenics. It was also consistent with the government's emphasis on endogenous development. ' Endogenous development', as Christina Schiavoni and William Camacaro describe it, means development from within: Thus it "implies first looking inside, not outside, to meet the country's needs, building upon Venezuela's own unique assets. This means valuing the agricultural knowledge and experience of women, Indigenous, Afro-descendants, and other typically marginalized campesino (peasant farming) populations as fundamental to Venezuela's food sovereignty. This also means preserving Venezuela's native seeds, traditional farming methods, and culinary practices." Such endogenous development received further support when in June 2012, Chavez made the Country Plan (2013 - 2019) his presidential campaign platform. The Plan, which is now the law of the land, includes among its five major objectives, "the construction of an eco-socialist economic model of production based on a harmonic relationship between humans and nature that guarantees the rational and optimal use of natural resources, respecting the processes and cycles of nature." The Plan also prioritizes the expansion of agricultural production, but only in a way that advances the goal of food sovereignty (1.4) and accelerates democratic access to the necessary resources for sustainable agricultural production (1.4.2). A chronology of popular participation The blog of Eco-Socialist Space of Popular Power (CDR-SUR) provides a detailed chronology of the popular struggle for input and impact on the new Seed Law. In 'The Process of the Collective Construction of the New Seed Law in Venezuela', CDR-SUR indicates that the people as legislator of seed policy first emerged in response to a notice by the legislative branch of government in mid-2012 that the National Assembly would be considering a substantial revision of the 2002 Seed Law. Since a transgenic and big agribusiness lobby had been at work trying to influence seed policy, it was also time for eco-socialists and other ecological movements to weigh in on the issue. In response to the Assembly's notice, several hundred social and ecological organizations organized the 'International Meeting of Guardians of Seeds' in Monte Carmelo (October 26 - 29, 2012), in the State of Lara, in order to draft measures for consideration by the National Assembly that would unequivocally ban transgenic seed and protect Indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant seed from privatization. More than 1,000 persons, 116 organizations, and 162 institutions participated in the grassroots (popular) deliberations (CDR-SUR). It did not happen without a fight While the idea of the people as legislator is grounded in the Constitution and the organic laws of popular power, it took some public pressure on the National Assembly and government ministries (called Ministries of Popular Power!) for this legislative voice to be heard and taken into account. In March 2013, while the relevant legislative committees and government ministries were holding hearings on the Seed Law Project, the 'Venezuela Free of Transgenics Campaign' (VFTC) lobbied unsuccessfully for inclusion in the initial phase of debate. The ecological movement, undeterred, organized the Venezuela Free of Transgenics Open Seminar at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela in March 2013 which sponsored periodic forums on the debate over seed policy. On May 25, 2013, the VFTC collected signatures at a national mobilization held in the Plaza de Los Museos in Caracas, to petition the National Assembly to include the coalition's voice as a legislative partner in the Seed Law deliberations (CDR-SUR). The next day, according to CDR-SUR, Alfredo Urena, a deputy of the National Assembly and president of the Permanent Subcommission on Agro-Food Development, formulated an action plan to ensure that the Seed Law would be anti-transgenic. In June of 2013, the VFTC stepped up its organizing and education efforts. These efforts included, as part of the Fourth Venezuelan Congress on Biological Diversity (June 28), a workshop on the' collective construction of a Seed Law proposal' (CDR-SUR). This collective effort produced documents directly relevant to the legislative deliberations on the Seed Law. On 21st October 2013, as documented by William Camacaro and Frederick B. Mills in Venezuela and the Battle against Transgenic Seeds (6th December 2013), the VFTC mobilized in front of the National Assembly to prevent the advance of a Seed Law proposal because it contained stealth provisions that would have opened the door to transgenic seed and possibly allow the privatization of locally shared 'free' seeds. National Assembly accepts the principle of popular participation This was a critical turning point in the eco-socialist struggle to influence the nation's seed policy. As CDR-SUR points out, on 22nd October, in a meeting between the VFTC and legislators involved in drafting the Seed Law, it was agreed that there would be popular participation in the construction of the Seed Law, referred to as the Popular Constituent Debate on the New Seed Law. According to CDR-SUR, "The Popular Constituent Debate convened on the 28 and 29 of October in Monte Carmelo, Sanare in the State of Lara on the occasion of the Day of Peasant Seed (Semilla Campesina)." It was here that a consensus was hammered out by a large variety of agroecological organizations on the basic objectives of the Seed Law. As a follow up to this conference in Monte Carmelo, "the second round of discussion [by 135 peasant collectives and educators] took place in the City of Naguanagua in the State of Carabobo from November 1 to 3, 2013" (CDR-SUR). The focus of this round was in large part to determine the procedures of popular debate to ensure that the final product was indeed a result of collective deliberation in concert with key legislators of the National Assembly. These procedures were to ensure the practice of inclusion, public dissemination of information, and the constitutionally grounded praxis of the people as legislator. The third round of discussion was held at the Latin American Institute of Agroecology Paulo Freire (IALA) in Barinas state on November 22, 2013. During this round the Popular Constituent Debate constructed a proposed preamble, objectives, and structure for the proposed law. It was agreed that the Popular Constituent Debate would meet two more times in the states of Aragua and Merida. After the last round of Popular Constituent Debate on the New Seed Law, the members of the Popular Movement for the New Seed Law and the National Assembly set up a work group to construct the consensus draft of the law and it is this version that entered into the first of the two required discussions by the National Assembly. On October 14, 2014 the proposed Seed Law was approved by the first discussion, one of two discussions normally required prior to the passage of a proposed bill. A global precedent for participatory legislation During 2015, workshops were set up to review the proposed seed law before the final discussion; these workshops included members of the National Assembly, the Venezuela Free of Transgenics Campaign, and several government ministries. Through the workshops, several additional mechanisms were built into the law. These included a means for popular control over seeds by means of the recognition of the Popular Council for the Storage and Protection of Local, Peasant, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant Seed, as well as a recognition of the government's role in licensing free seed and thereby protecting it from patents or other forms of privatization. In 'Venezuela to Consider Ban on Transgenic Seed' (8th June 2015), Camacaro and Mills discuss the consensus reached by the collective efforts of the agroecological movement with regard to seed policy. In short, the popular version of the Seed Law proposal (June 2015) was constructed over a two year period of collective deliberation by a broad coalition of agroecological oriented organizations and movements. On 26th December 2015, The Popular Movement for the New Seed Law issued a celebratory statement declaring: "This 22 of December, with the approval of the new Seed Law by the National Assembly, we close the legislative cycle of popular constituent debate and collective deliberation that we initiated more than two years ago. The product of our struggle is a law that has no precedent anywhere in the world in terms of both its emancipatory content and the way it has been made possible by the protagonistic participation of the People as Legislator." The Seed Law was also endorsed "after ample discussion" by the Presidential Council of Communes. A statement issued by the Council on 3rd June reads: "From the diverse voices of the Presidential Council of Popular Government of the Communes, the comuneros (members of communes) of the country solicit the prompt approval, in the second discussion [by the National Assembly], of the Seed Law ... "The Seed Law, constructed collectively from the grassroots, is anti-transgenic and makes us advance significantly towards the recovery and consolidation of local, peasant, Indigenous and Afro-descendant seeds. Moreover we are speaking about a proposed Seed Law, profoundly anti-imperialist and ecosocialist, that incarnates the legacy of the Leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Chavez, at a moment in which the transnationals of agribusiness aim at privatizing seed and life." The people as legislator, then, consisting of both the nationwide agroecological movements as well as the highest level of communal representation, made full use of their constitutionally grounded constituent power to partner with the liberal democratic state to forge the nation's seed policy. Summary of the Seed Law The new Seed Law is inspired by the eco-socialist movement in Venezuela and the worldwide peasant movement La Via Campesina and is informed by the Indigenous philosophy of 'vivir bien' (living well). As the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma, explains: "Vivir Bien well is to live in equality and justice. It is where there is no exploited and no exploiters, where there are no excluded and no persons who exclude others, where there are no marginalized persons and no persons who marginalize others. Vivir Bien is to live in community, in collectivity, in reciprocity, in solidarity, and, most important, in complementarity." (note 2) The Seed Law contributes to Vivir Bien and advances eco-socialist principles by promoting small and medium-scale farming using agroecological methods rather than monoculture that depends heavily on environmentally harmful chemical interventions. Moreover, it prioritizes the collective interest in the farming community's control of the means of production, distribution and consumption of food. This law bans transgenic seeds and thereby avoids the political capture of seed policy by the corporate interests of transnational big agriculture while promoting and protecting the heirloom seeds and farming methods of Venezuela's Indigenous, peasant, and Afro-descendant communities. Traditional seeds (semillas campesinas) will be immune to patents and privatization and come under the control of the communities that share them. The seed is considered a living thing, and as such is not only an object at hand for use in agriculture, but a subject that is entitled to certain rights and protections. These rights, combined with the philosophy of Vivir Bien and eco-socialist principles, form the ethical and legal basis for the development of food sovereignty and food security and of resistance to transnational corporate capture of the nation's agricultural policy. The law is consistent with Article 127 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: "The genome of living things cannot be patented, and the law that refers to bio-ethical principles regulates the matter." It is also consistent with the Country Plan 2013 -2019 that declares one of the "great historic objectives" to "construct an eco-socialist economic model of production, based on the harmonious relation between man and nature, that guarantees the use and rational and optimal utilization of vital natural resources." (p. 19-20) In closing, with the passage of the Seed Law, history is being made in Venezuela. Not only is the law extraordinary in and of itself, both for its content and the for the highly participatory way in which it was developed, but the fact that it was passed at this very moment, in the face of adverse circumstances both globally and nationally, is all the more remarkable. Fighting the global tide of corporate seed dominance Globally, national seed legislation is increasingly being co-opted by corporate agribusiness interests, with many governments turning a blind eye, or worse, actively colluding in the process, as has been powerfully documented by GRAIN and La Via Campesina. Nationally, Venezuela's food system has been under attack by, among other things, an 'economic war' being waged by some elements of the opposition, resulting in food shortages that played a definitive role in influencing the recent elections. The economic war has shown that, despite important advancements made toward food sovereignty, i.e., toward greater national and local popular control over the food system, since the inception of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution, much work remains to be done to achieve a food system that is truly equitable, sustainable, and under the firm control of the people, in partnership with the government. The people, however, are clearly determined, and they are not going to sit back passively and wait for this to happen, as we have seen with the major popular organizing and mobilizing efforts that ultimately led to the successful passage of the Seed Law. The passage of the Seed Law thus marks a major step forward for food sovereignty in Venezuela, as well as a victory for the global food sovereignty movement, and a warning sign to corporate agribusiness. However, as they say in Venezuela, "la lucha sigue" - the struggle continues - and indeed the passage of the Seed Law is one step, albeit an important step, in a much longer process. As the popular movements who worked on the Law's passage are already emphasizing, now is the time to disseminate it, defend it against likely backlash, and push forward its full implementation. While the Venezuelan people will remain the protagonists in this process, they are calling for international solidarity to defend what might arguably be the world's most revolutionary seed law. Frederick B. Mills is a Professor of Philosophy at Bowie State University William Camacaro, MFA, is a Member of the Bolivarian Circle of New York 'Alberto Lovera' and an expert on Venezuela. Christina Schiavoni is an activist and scholar focused on food sovereignty and the right to food. This article was originally published on CounterPunch. The 2016 Oxford Real Farming Conference will be held in Oxford Town Hall on 6th & 7th January. View the programme, get a flavour of the event from previous years by watching the film (in embed, above), or exploring past conferences. Book your tickets for either of both days here. Notes 1. In the section on chronology, the authors are indebted to the content of a chronology of the struggle produced by the CDR-SUR (Espacio Ecosocialista Del Poder Popular, Nov. 6, 2015). We have translated parts of that document into English. All shortcomings are, of course, our own. 2. Entrevista al President Evo Morales Ayma, con motivo de la aprobacion en la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas de la Declaracion de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indigenas, La Paz, 24 septiembre, 2007 in Vivir Bien: Mensajes y documentos sobre el Vivir Bien, 1995-2010, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia.) 3. All translations of government documents are unofficial. Appendix: highlights of several Articles of the Seed Law (unofficial translations) Article 1 of the law summarizes its main features: The present Law has as its objective to preserve, protect, and guarantee the production, propagation, conservation, and free circulation and use of seed, as well as the promotion, research, distribution, and commercialization of the same, based on a socialist agroecological vision, with the aim of consolidating our food security and sovereignty, prohibiting the release, the use, the propagation, and the entrance into the country and the national production of transgenic seeds as well as the patents and right of the breeder over the seed, in a manner that is sovereign, democratic, participatory, co-responsible and in solidarity, making special emphasis on the valorization of the Indigenous, afro-descendent, peasant and local seed, that benefits biodiversity and helps to preserve life on the planet in conformity with what is established in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela." Article 2 lays out the goals of the law: 1. Promote the transition from conventional systems of production based on monoculture and the use of agrochemicals with agro-industrial and/or corporate seed for conventional use, to an agroecological system and the preservation of the environment in the short, medium and long term, based on agro-biodiversity. 2. Promote the production of seeds that are necessary to guarantee national production, with the goal of avoiding importation and achieving national sovereignty. 3. Promote the transition to communal and eco-socialist agriculture, in order to protect agro-biodiversity by means of the production of local, peasant, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant seed. 4. Revalorize and re-legitimize the local, traditional, and ancestral knowledge wisdom, beliefs and practices of the peasant, Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and other communities. 5. Prohibit the privatization of seed. 6. Orient the organization and planning of public policy in function of the different scales of production, distinguishing the policies intended for family agriculture or polyculture in small-scale production from the policies intended for big producers. Article 3. Seed is recognized as a living thing and a constituent part of Mother Earth and for this reason it is considered an object as well as the subject of right and the application of norms pertaining to the preservation of life on the Planet and the conservation of biological diversity. Article 4. The local peasant, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant seed is declared a common good of public, cultural as well as natural material and immaterial interest of the peoples; this seed is considered a contribution of our communities to the improvement of vegetable varieties and their propagation and preservation for a sustainable form of agriculture that constitutes the basis of our food and our culture. Article 5. The production, importation, commercialization, distribution, release, use, propagation and entrance into the country of transgenic seed is prohibited. The National System of Seeds will develop and guarantee the technical, organizational, and institutional capacity to prevent, identify, detect, correct, return, and to sanction the violations of this prohibition. One of the principle values of the law, expressed in Article 8, is that it "promotes, in a spirit of solidarity, the free exchange of seed and opposes the conversion of seed into intellectual or patented property or any other form of privatization." With regard to popular power (grassroots democracy), Article 9 provides that a Popular Council will be responsible for the storage, protection and regulation of Indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant seed "with an emphasis on the exchange and local distribution of seed to guarantee our food sovereignty and the construction of an eco-socialist model of economic production." Article 11 of the law also creates a National Seed Commission constituted by officials from several ministries related to agriculture, as well as representatives from both the Presidential Councils that deal with seed policy and the Popular Council for the storage and protection of local, Indigenous, peasant and Afro-descendant seed. This Commission will be responsible for planning and promoting seed policy as well as facilitating research, development, production and commercialization of seed. Article 14 creates the National Institute for Seed (INASEM) which will be responsible for providing the material resources and administration necessary for implementing much of the policy developed by the Seed Plan, such as operating labs, offering technical assistance and issuing licenses for the disposition of certain categories of seed. This institute will also include spokespersons from the Presidential Council concerned with seed policy, but is largely a governmental body. SHARE By Sen. Mitch Mcconnell Special to The Gleaner Last year, voters chose to end the dysfunction in Washington. They elected a Republican Senate to advance a common-sense agenda, and Kentuckians honored me with the opportunity to serve as Senate Majority Leader. I promised that under my leadership the Senate would work for the American people again, not the other way around. One year later, I am proud to say the new Republican majority has done just that. We've passed important bills, many of which have become law, that will help empower people to achieve and succeed. And we've put bills on the president's desk to distinguish what a working Republican Congress would be able to achieve with a different president. As the Obama Administration's War on Coal continues, we passed two bills to block the administration's so-called "Clean Power Plan," a plan that consisted of anti-jobs regulations aimed at ending the utilization of coal-fired energy plants. Although both of these bills passed the Senate and the House with bipartisan support, the president plans to veto them. To help Kentuckians who are suffering from the War on Coal, I worked to pass an amendment to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that offers support to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), which works to train laid-off coal miners for new jobs. I also helped EKCEP secure an additional $7.5 million federal grant to further its mission. Crucially, the new Republican Senate also passed the first repeal of Obamacare, coupled with a redirection of federal funds from Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide health services for women, but no abortions. Unfortunately, the president is expected to veto this bill. But passing it is a significant symbolic victory which demonstrates that the Senate is listening to your concerns about higher costs and higher taxes, and is working overtime to repeal Obamacare. And we will continue this fight after this president leaves office. I led the bipartisan passage of the Highway Bill, which is the longest-term highway funding bill in nearly two decades. It designates the Natcher Parkway between Bowling Green and Owensboro a part of the federal highway system to boost economic development in the region. We came to the aid of our service members and their families by getting the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed and signed into law. Its enactment allows construction to begin on a brand new, state-of-the-art medical facility at Fort Knox. The NDAA also includes funding for construction of a new special operations facility at Fort Campbell, and new school construction at Fort Knox. The appropriations bill I worked to pass provides an additional $75 million to advance construction of a new VA medical center in Louisville to serve Kentucky veterans. Enhancing Kentucky's economic outlook remains a top priority of mine. I secured language signed into law that will protect the transportation between states of legally grown industrial hemp. This helps pave the way for the future commercial development of this important agricultural commodity, which I believe will create jobs in Kentucky. I also supported $200 million to allow vital cleanup work to continue at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and help support 1,600 jobs at the site. Further, I worked to enact permanent tax relief for Kentucky small businesses and farms, and regulatory relief for rural and community financial institutions that provide so many Kentuckians with loans to operate their businesses. Aside from economic matters, there are issues important to Kentucky families that I made a priority in Washington. There is a growing heroin and opioid epidemic plaguing our state, and too many babies are being born dependent on opioids. I am proud to have authored a bill signed into law to focus federal resources on preventing and treating these babies who deserve our protection and concern. I worked to pass the Adoptive Family Relief Act, which will provide financial relief to Kentucky families who out of the goodness of their hearts have legally adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but have been unable to bring their children home due to the DRC government's suspension of exit permits. Furthermore, I helped pass permanent tax relief for Kentucky's low-income and working families, including a provision to improve section 529 savings accounts, to help Kentucky families save for college tuition expenses. All of these achievements make 2015 a year of progress in Washington. The era of dysfunction is over. But more remains to be done. As long as President Obama remains in the White House, he will veto legislation that could support jobs for our coal miners or repair our nation's health care system. Next year offers us a chance to elect a Republican president who would sign these bills. We shouldn't waste it. In the meantime, Kentuckians should be glad to know that a promise made is a promise kept. The Senate is working again. And as Senate Majority Leader, I will continue to fight for them. Two construction workers killed in accident that shut down bridge Two construction workers were killed and a woman is facing charges following an accident that shut down the Great River Bridge on Tuesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK -- After Joe Lasker moved from New York to Connecticut in 1955, it took years for the acclaimed painter and childrens' book author, who died on Dec. 3 at the age of 96, to grow accustomed to his new, non-urban surroundings. "For years, he would keep going back to New York to paint," said Lasker's son, David, a Toronto resident. "He would go for the day and just paint." A native of Manhattan's Lower East Side, Lasker eventually warmed to the sights of South Norwalk, particularly the view of Norwalk Harbor from the painting studio in his Village Creek home; many of his late works depict local landmarks like Hoyt Island, the Norwalk River Railroad Bridge and the tidal marshes near Village Creek with their lush grasses. "It was the new and last phase of his paintings," David Lasker told The Hour. "He was doing seascapes. In a way, it was like Monet doing the same painting ten times but with different light conditions. ... He was interested in the clouds and the shapes and the different qualities of light at the various times of day." A painter from childhood, Lasker began winning public art commissions from the U.S. Treasury Department while still in high school. (His Works Projects Administration-era murals can still be seen on the walls of post offices in Calumet, Mich. and Millsbury, Mass.) After World War II, during which he served as a corporal in the 1147th Engineer Combat Group, Lasker entered the art school of famed Abstract Expressionist Hans Hofmann --whose lax attendance policies allowed Lasker to collect his G.I. Bill stipend without actually participating in classes by visiting the classroom once a week and signing an attendance register. Lasker was a vocal critic of the abstract painting in vogue during the post-war era. In an anecdote later recounted by his son David, Lasker claimed that his teacher Hofmann couldn't tell the difference between fine painting and hastily-drawn charcoal scribbles. One day, as Lasker sat in the classroom waiting to sign the attendance book, "Hofmann was going from student to student, giving each a lengthy critique," Lasker told David. "Quickly, I covered a page with scrawled lines and blobs. ... Hofmann sat down next to me and praised 'the looseness, the push-and-pull tension' of my work of art. His critique lasted 10 minutes." Lasker's antipathy toward Abstract Expressionism led him to contribute to Reality, an arts journal that argued against non-representation art, favoring literal narrative depictions over the meta-narratives of "gestural" painters advocated by critics like Clement Greenberg. "I feel that much of American art of the last 60 years has something missing, namely narrative," Lasker once said in an interview, according to David. "Without narrative there would be little left of the art of the Old Masters, of 20th-century expressionism and surrealism. There would be no Guernica by Picasso." In Connecticut, Lasker began to write and illustrate beloved books for children like "The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car" and "Merry Ever After". He also co-founded the Connecticut Association of Children with Learning Disabilities (CACLD) and was friends with local artists including sculptors Stanley Bleifeld and Harvey Weiss and illustrator David Levine. (Levine worked for the New York Review of Books and was "probably the most famous caricaturist who ever lived," David Lasker told The Hour.) According to his wife Mille, a longtime teacher of special education at Coleytown Elementary School in Westport, Lasker was a "staunch" Democrat who contributed to civil rights causes and travelled to Norwalk schools to talk about his books. During his long career, Lasker was awarded many prizes and fellowships, including the Prix de Rome and Guggenheim Fellowships and awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Academy of Design. His present dealer, the Brian Liss Gallery in Toronto, plans to bring out a print edition of Lasker's works. "It took (Joe) a long time to see the landscape here, and then he just loved it," Millie Lasker told The Hour. "He loved being here in Norwalk." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PATHANKOT, India -- Suspected militants infiltrated an Indian air force base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday and exchanged fire with security forces for hours, leaving at least four gunmen and two Indian troops dead, officials and news reports said. Although it was unclear who staged the attack, it was being seen as a possible attempt to undo recent progress made in relations between rivals India and Pakistan, coming just a week after the first visit to Pakistan in 12 years by an Indian prime minister. The attack at the Pathankot air force base began a couple of hours before dawn, and by late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But just two hours later, fresh gunfire erupted, with an air force helicopter firing at an area of the base. Shots could also be heard from inside the base, located about 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva said Saturday night that troops were conducting combing operations of the entire base in order to be able to fully secure it. She added that the full number of casualties would be clear once the base was completely secured. By 8 p.m., no gunfire had been heard around the base for more than two hours. The defense ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a likely terror attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," the ministry said in a statement. Despite the intelligence on a possible attack, at least two air force troops were killed in the gunbattle, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. PTI, citing police, also said at least four gunmen had been killed. The attack began at around 3 a.m., when a group of gunmen entered the section of the base where the living quarters are located, the defense ministry said. The attackers, however, were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, it said. Police said they suspected the gunmen were militants, and were investigating whether they had come from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where they've been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, and the attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the country's relationship with its archrival. The violence came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. Ahead of Modi's visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. In the past, the contentious issue of Kashmir has halted talks between the rivals. "These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir," said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir's capital, Srinagar. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must "exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests." Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign ministry condemned the attack. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it said in a statement. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but "if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply." India's defense minister, national security adviser and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force met Saturday to discuss the situation. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in India's Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK New Years Eve dinner plans unraveled quickly for Stephanie E. Scofield and Anthony J. Taliercio when she began having labor contractions Thursday afternoon. The Norwalk couple had planned to go out to eat with her parents in Stamford, then canceled those plans for an earlier dinner by themselves in Greenwich. But that plan also fell through and the young couple didnt even have time to eat a delivered pizza. Everyone kept saying, Youre going to have a New Years baby, the first baby of the New Year. I said, No way. No, no, no. And everybody else was right and I was wrong, Scofield said. We were really looking forward to (going out to dinner) but I actually started having contractions a couple hours before. I was trying to get through them so we could still go but it was good that we didnt. Instead, the couple spent the New Year at Norwalk Hospital and were by early Friday morning the proud parents of the first baby born at the hospital in 2016. Anthony Joseph Taliercio Jr., arrived at 1:55 a.m., weighing 9 pounds, three ounces and measuring 22 inches. Hes been really good so far. He sleeps and he loves to eat. Hes a big boy, said mother Stephanie Scofield, holding the newborn baby. They told us he was big but we didnt think he was this big. Father Anthony J. Taliercio made another observation. Hes the cutest kid of the year, right? he said. Moms due date was Jan. 2, but Anthony Jr. decided to arrive early just as grandmother had predicted. She predicted we were going into the hospital before midnight and the baby was going to be born after midnight, Anthony J. Taliercio said. Family members stood alongside the young couple in the maternity ward of Norwalk Hospital on Friday afternoon and admired Anthony Joseph Taliercio Jr. the first grandchild born to either side of the family. We were here all night until she had the baby, said grandfather Donald Scofield, also of Norwalk. She had mother in there during the delivery along with Anthony. Anthony Joseph Taliercio Jr.s early arrival wasnt the only surprise in store for the family. After arriving at the hospital, Anthony J. Taliercio learned that a sister of his brothers wife had given birth at the hospital hours earlier. And that seemed to follow a pattern. Twenty-five years ago, Taliercio and a cousin were born an hour apart from one another, both at Norwalk Hospital My mom and her sister had a baby at the same time, an hour apart, right here, Taliercio said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK David J. Mapley has no shortage of colorful metaphors for his neighbors property at 41 Bayne St. Industrial hellhole, weed-infested Chernobyl and Bayne Street Dirt Alps are but several used by Mapley for the ongoing, multi-year construction project that began several years ago with extensive tree clearing. The owner of 41 Bayne Street has deforested his land, blighted his property, and flaunted every permit and zoning law there is he clearly doesn't care what rules he violates, and we as a neighbourhood suffer, wrote Mapley, who lives at 37 Bayne St., in a recent email to city officials. Meanwhile, no work has ever been done on his house. Please act, Mapley concluded. For more than a year, Mapley and his neighbors have pleaded for the city to do something about Athanasios Athanasiadis property at 41 Bayne St. Athanasiadis could not be reached immediately for comment but spoke to The Hour in October. He found his neighbors characterizations of his property unfair. (Blight) is because a house is deteriorating or there are major issues, Athanasiadis said. The fact that I have a mound of dirt on my property because Im doing landscaping on my property, I dont see why Im being put into so much trouble. In December 2012, Athanasiadis obtained a zoning permit and later a building permit to create a foundation for a two-car garage. Since then, neighbors have seen the property deforested and later become an excavation site with trucks and other construction vehicles entering and exiting. Now, after the citys issuance of a blight citation, imposition of fines and a flurry of emails from neighbors, improvements appear to be underway. Last Monday, construction crews worked to finish grading dirt in the backyard of the property, apparently in preparation for the planting of new trees, which laid on their sides with bags around their roots. Brian L. McCann, assistant corporation counsel in the citys law department, said the citys Department of Public Works has given Athanasiadis until early this week to complete excavation-related activities on the property. As far as construction on the house, that may continue for several months, McCann said Thursday. But the rock crushing, the moving soil into the site, moving soil out of the site, my understanding is by mid next week thats all going to be done. Director of Public Works Bruce J. Chimento said the excavation permit issued Athanasiadis expired Thursday and that an inspector will visit the property Monday to establish that the work has been completed. Athanasiadis said in October that the city denied him an extension to remedy the blight situation. He noted that he was being fined on a daily basis. The city did not work with me in any way, shape or form, Athanasiadis said. In October, Norwalk Chief Building Official William D. Ireland, who is also the citys blight prevention officer, issued Athanasiadis a Notice of Blight, giving him until Aug. 10 to correct blight conditions or be subject to a fine of up to $100 a day. Ireland said the city followed all necessary legal procedures when handling the matter. The deadline passed and the fine kicked in, reaching $3,700 by Oct. 2. Athanasiadis hasnt paid any of the fines yet, according to McCann. He said the law department will go to State Superior Court in an effort to collect the fine and stands ready, if progress is not seen on the property, to request a court injunction to remedy the blight conditions. Were hopeful that the injunction will be mooted by the progress this weekend, McCann said. Neighbors arent holding their breath. If tomorrow all four heavy-duty machinery located on my neighbor's lot will be taken away then I'd be really happy. I'd be thrilled if later some green is planted in that little neighborhood clearing he had created, Vic Levy, another Bayne Street resident, told The Hour. I won't hold my breath though because its been two-and-a-half years and from the tone of the city representatives I'm guessing permit extension will be granted and excavation business will continue. McCann said the city gives property owners some leniency with open building permits people are allowed to have a certain state of disrepair. But he added that the city might wish to close loopholes by limiting the amount of such disrepair and not allowing construction vehicles to be stored on site for lengthy periods of time. At this point, McCann is hopeful that the recent grading work and apparent preparation for landscaping at 41 Bayne St. are evidence that the situation is being remedied. Its a good thing they finally understood the severity of the situation, McCann said. HARTFORD A law protecting married couples' conversations as confidential doesn't apply to a convicted killer whose husband testified at trial about incriminating statements she made, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a love-triangle murder case. Sheila Davalloo, 46, formerly of Pleasantville, New York, tried to prevent her husband from testifying at her trial in 2012, citing the marital communications privilege in state law. But a judge allowed his testimony and a jury convicted her of murder in the death of 32-year-old Anna-Lisa Raymundo in 2002. Raymundo was beaten and stabbed nearly 20 times in her Stamford condominium. Prosecutors said Davalloo killed Raymundo because she was in a sexual relationship with Raymundo's boyfriend, Nelson Sessler, and wanted him all to herself. The three worked together at Stamford-based pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. Davalloo appealed to the Supreme Court after the state Appellate Court upheld her conviction. The 7-0 ruling released Thursday said the Supreme Court concluded that Davalloo's self-incriminating statements to her husband were not confidential because they were not "induced by the affection, confidence, loyalty and integrity of the marital relationship," as required by state law. Raymundo's relatives and Davalloo's public defender, Mark Rademacher, did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. Davalloo's husband, Paul Christos, testified during his wife's murder trial that she frequently told him stories about a friend, "Melissa," and the intimate details of Melissa's workplace love triangle with "Jack" and "Anna Lisa." Prosecutors said "Melissa" was really Davalloo, "Jack" was Sessler and "Anna Lisa" was Raymundo. Christos also said he lent his wife night-vision binoculars and an eavesdropping device so she could help "Melissa" spy on "Jack." He testified that she had a lock-picking kit and had practiced picking locks at home. Authorities believe Raymundo let Davalloo into her condo just before she was killed. State prosecutor Timothy Sugrue said that while there is some gray area on confidential marital communications in state law, he believed it was clear that Davalloo's comments to her husband were not protected. For example, he said marital communications are confidential if the spouses are talking about themselves or their marriage. "I'm glad for the families that it's over," he said of the murder case. "This will bring a long, drawn-out process to a close." Rademacher, Davalloo's public defender, argued in court documents that his client's comments to her husband were "induced by the affection ... of the marital relationship" because she was admitting adultery to him. Sugrue disagreed, saying Davalloo essentially was enlisting her husband's help. Davalloo was identified as a suspect in Raymundo's murder after being arrested for stabbing Christos four months later at their home in Pleasantville. Police said Davalloo persuaded Christos to play a game in which she handcuffed and blindfolded him and asked him to guess what she was touching him with. She then stabbed him with a paring knife, but he survived. Davalloo was convicted of attempted murder in the stabbing of her husband and sentenced to 25 years in prison. She will serve the 50-year prison sentence she received for Raymundo's murder after she completes the New York sentence. Associated Press HARTFORD -- Free, guided hikes were held at Connecticut's parks and forests to mark the new year on Friday. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection offered five hikes on Friday as part of the First Day Hike Program, a joint effort of all 50 state park systems and a private organization called America's State Parks. Hikes were held at the Osbornedale State Park in Derby, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield, Scantic River State Park in East Windsor and Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden. State park staff and volunteers led the hikes, which average one to two miles or longer. "Last year, we hosted 41,000 people who hiked 79,442 miles in our state parks across the country when we launched America's State Parks First Day Hikes," said Priscilla Geigis, President of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). "Think of it as the start of a new and healthy lifestyle, for the whole family." Years ago a prominent educator in Connecticut, a lifelong liberal, was appointed president of a college in the poorest part of Chicago and began attending neighborhood meetings to familiarize himself with the community. At one such meeting a woman rose to praise her social worker. This social worker, the woman said, was now her daughter's social worker as well and in time, the woman said she hoped, would become her granddaughter's social worker too. Thus the scales began to fall from the lifelong liberal's eyes and he was reminded of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.'s rueful proclamation some decades earlier: "Three generations of imbeciles are enough." But the imbecile factory chugs away, as was documented painfully the other day by the report of the state Office of the Child Advocate about the death of 2-year-old Londyn S. in Plymouth a year ago. The report found that the little girl died after ingesting drugs kept around the house by her mother after many months of obvious neglect and abuse about which social workers of the state Department of Children and Families knew or should have known. Baby Londyn's mother has been charged with manslaughter. In 34 pages the child advocate's report details what an ordinary reader can construe only as flagrant negligence by the social workers. While DCF Commissioner Joette Katz admits that the case should have been handled better, promises better procedures, and has shuffled personnel, she has disciplined no one, lest she prompt other social workers into ordering more child removals, which can do harm as well as good. Governor Malloy has just shrugged about the case, noting that mistakes will happen. Declining to shrug, Republican Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano again has called for Katz's resignation. But he doesn't understand the problem either. The report shows that negligence by social workers is a mere symptom rather than the cause of the problem. For what the report describes is just another turn in the cycle of poverty. The report notes that baby Londyn's mother "also had involvement with DCF when she was a child" and was "raised in a culture of mental health and substance abuse." According to the report, the woman had been chronically mentally ill, drug-addicted, and unemployed; often beat her children and neglected their basic medical care as well as her own; was repeatedly arrested for shoplifting; and, while unmarried, kept having children, ultimately four, by different men. If those men took any responsibility for her and their children, the report does not record it. While the social workers did not appreciate the situation, the deranged woman's 12-year-old daughter did. She told a police officer: "If you think my father is messed up, you should see my mother." So the compelling question here is not about the competence and policies of the child-protection agency but about what enables the depravity in which baby Londyn lived and died. Where does a mentally ill, drug-addicted, unemployable, and supremely irresponsible woman obtain the financing needed to live from year to year and feed a drug addiction while bearing and abusing children? The child advocate's report identifies some forms of government and social-service agency assistance received by the deranged woman, including medical insurance. This assistance probably also included cash and food and housing subsidies. All of it arose from the catastrophic public policy premise that it is better and cheaper to subsidize such depravity indefinitely and without question, no matter how bad it gets, than to take responsibility for stopping it. On this premise one hand of government, the child-protection agency, is assigned to coddle, remediate, and take the blame for the slob culture that is created and sustained by the other hand. So why blame only social workers for what even elected officials fail to see? Chris Powell is managing editor of the Journal Inquirer in Manchester, Connecticut. As 2015 went, 2016 promises to be a very good year for the East Norwalk Association and its East Norwalk Association Library. Moving into its 101st year of, originally, providing traditional library services, the East Norwalk Association Library will continue to grow and adapt to the particular needs of its community. Building on existing services and programs the East Norwalk Association Library will focus on the ever-changing needs of its increasing in numbers of cardholders and others. From "maker space" activities including 3D printing, to enhanced public computer stations for adults, young adults and children, to collaborations with the Marvin School, Homebound Services, free library Book Nooks, Wi-Fi, entertaining and educational year-round and special summer children's programs, study spaces for individuals and tutors, the East Norwalk Association Library will continue to be a special neighborhood services hub. Various surveys and person-to-person discussions with Library users and other members of the public were held during the past year. Overwhelmingly, the Library received high marks for how its staff responded to the public's needs, its inventory of circulating materials, the various programs offered, free public computer availability and Wi-Fi accessibility. Recommendations, where received for special needs and other requests, were and will be continually considered, The East Norwalk Association, too, will benefit from the input provided by the Library Planning Committee which was set in place by the Third Taxing District electors at its Annual Meeting last March -- three members of the ENA Board participating with the TTD Commissioners and their chosen public members and Library Consultant. A culminating meeting of the Committee is planned for Jan. 12 to finalize the Consultant's report which will be turned over to the ENA for their use. The East Norwalk Association will present its budget request to the electors of the Third Taxing District at their Annual Meeting on Monday, March 2. This request, as was for the past three years, will not seek any increase for operating expenses for its East Norwalk Association Library. The Association services to the community will continue to grow, however, based upon the judicious spending of its granted funds, in-kind services, public and business contributions and an accelerated grant-application effort. The East Norwalk Association, itself, continues to serve its community through an annually elected Board of Directors, governed by its bylaws originally written in 1910 and modified over the years to accommodate the changes of time and circumstance. Regular monthly Board meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month. Membership in ENA is open to all residents of East Norwalk. ENA is committed and dedicated to serving its community -- all of East Norwalk. Visit www.eastnorwalklibrary.org, for more information, or call (203) 249-6293. "BOOK NOOK" AT GUS'S Having relocated to 58 Van Zant St. in East Norwalk (across from the East Norwalk Association Library and next to the Firehouse, Engine Company #3), licensed master barber Gus Mandrozos -- an East Norwalk resident -- offers a family orientated barbershop for men and boys and is the newest location of the Library's "Book Nook" program. The "Book Nook" project was developed from a nationally recognized "Little Free Library" program where boxes of books are placed at various locations, free, for the public to take, read, enjoy, keep, pass on or return for others to have. The East Norwalk Association Library "Book Nooks" were built by Girl Scout Troop 50-961 which meets regularly in the Library's Van Zilen Community Hall. The Scouts, guided by the Woodworkers Club in Norwalk, cut, assembled and decorated the "Book Nooks" -- material for the project was donated by Hatch and Bailey, Rings End, and Select Plastics. To date, six "Book Nooks" have been built with five being put in place -- Penny's Diner, Ripka's Beach Cafe, 25 Van Zant Street Office Condominium, the TTD Office, and, now, Gus's Barber Shop -- with more than 600 adult and 400 children's books having been distributed through the "Book Nook" project. With more than 20 years of experience, Gus's tonsorial expertise has received accolades from his loyal customers: "At Gus's you get more than just a haircut. You pay for the fun and enjoyable experience that goes along with it. Gus is a proud barber who puts tremendous effort and pride in the cuts he gives. Settles for nothing short of the best." The spa-like barbershop offers professional haircutting and a host of specialized hair treatments and styling. In the words of another patron: "Great service! Gus is a master of his craft. I recommend everyone to make their appointment for a professional cut." And, for the additional convenience of his clientele, free Wi-Fi. For more information, business hours or an appointment, call (203) 957-3333 -- or visit Gus's Barbershop on Facebook. ANNUAL LIVE GREEK BOUZOUKI NIGHT -- OPA! Harbor Lights restaurant at 82 Seaview Ave. in East Norwalk is holding its Annual Live Greek Bouzouki Night on Saturday, Jan. 16. The public is invited to dine in style at "Connecticut's classiest venue on the water." With live music starting at 9:30 p.m., the evening will feature vocals by Iraklis Pantzos, Sofia Tzinis, and Rena Tsapelas. No cover charge, and the full menu will be available until midnight. Call (203) 866-3364 for reservations, or visit www.harborlightsrestaurant.com for more information. FREE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN As an extension of the Norwalk Reads twice-a-year citywide free book distribution for the children of Norwalk, the East Norwalk Association Library has an ongoing, year-round program. Children can sign up for the program, receive a "Free Books" card, and receive three free books each month. To date more than 260 children have joined the East Norwalk Association Library "ongoing" Norwalk Reads program -- many returning regularly each month for more books. @Body No Indent:EAST NORWALK ASSOCIATION LIBRARY WEBSITE An updated website -- www.eastnorwalklibrary.org -- has been published. The new website includes pages devoted to the East Norwalk Association and its East Norwalk Association Library. The pages include organizational background, history, programs, and contact and directions information. A link provides a searchable inventory -- by title or author -- of the Library's circulating materials -- including whether the item is available. The site was designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Comments, questions, and support can be managed by phone, address and links to staff email addresses. The website will be regularly updated to assure inclusion of changed and new information as well as catering to the needs of the users. @Body No Indent: "LIKE" EAST NORWALK LBRARY ON FACEBOOK The East Norwalk Library now has a "Facebook" presence. Log onto Facebook and search for East Norwalk Library -- "like" the Library and you'll be privy to happenings, and other bits of information regarding the East Norwalk Library and the community it serves. @Body No Indent:EAST NORWALK ASSOCIATION LIBRARY HOURS Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 to 5:30 p.m., closed Sunday and Holidays. "Inside East Norwalk" If there's some East Norwalk "happening" or other East Norwalk news or features you would like to share with the readers, email: stan@eastnorwalklibrary.org, or call (203) 249-6293. As we head into a new year and another election cycle, all evidence points toward a disheartening replay of years past. We will see a rearranging of the players, perhaps, but the continuing landscape in Washington is unmistakable. Though Congress recently passed a budget agreement and a highway bill, it seems mainly to have spent the past year spinning its wheels. Our great deliberative bodies continue to be embroiled in an unnecessary standoff with themselves and a poisonous relationship with the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. More money than ever is flooding the system. On deck is a batch of candidates merely demonizing the other side in hopes of rallying support by scratching at the basest itches of the electorate. We have never been more divided. The deterioration has brought our country's government to such a crisis point that we have decided to join voices to sound an alarm. The United States was launched in grand revolutionary spirit as an experiment, and after 240 years, the experiment continues. Democracy doesn't work in a vacuum: The system is only as good as its citizenry and the representatives it sends to work its daily machinations in city, state and national governing bodies. In the sense that our system begins with the single voter, it remains revolutionary. But turnout in the 2014 midterms was dismal and, worse, those who did turn out don't represent a wide and diverse sampling of Americans. Those at the far extremes are continuing to control what's happening in the center, and our leaders have done little to bridge the gap. We have a combined 59 years in elected office. We don't see eye to eye on a range of issues, and, indeed, we understand the particulars of our present moment differently. Nonetheless, our efforts to find common ground while in office were inspired and informed by a set of principles that are inseparable from American democracy. As we look out on today's contentious political landscape, calling on these principles can help to define our challenge and chart our path. We offer the following criteria for what we should all expect from our candidates, governments and, ultimately, ourselves, as the 2016 election nears. Compromise: Make no mistake -- our political system was built by men in vigorous conflict with one another, but there's a spark that comes from opposing ideas sharing the same space. It's the purpose of the two chambers of Congress and the party system. We shouldn't expect some kind of mass delirium to infect Democrats and Republicans that makes them all agree; we wouldn't want that. Our strength comes from the disagreement, but we need to harness it properly and use it for something beyond the destruction of the other side. Reaching for compromise is no less than the duty of our elected representatives. Our current officeholders are embracing the conflict and ignoring its purpose. Representative democracy is not winner-take-all. The Constitution was designed as a harmonizing system, balancing the competing interests of all the people toward something that serves everyone. We need to insist that our representatives move beyond the ideological purity that reads compromise as betrayal. Chemistry: Government comes down to people interacting. As Senate leaders, we each had a phone on our desk that directly patched us to each other. It created a chemistry that begins at the top and trickles down. But our representatives in Washington no longer know one another as people. Few members of Congress even live in Washington anymore. They no longer share meals or glasses of wine in the Senate dining room, their spouses never meet, their children don't play together. Between commuting to their home states and the Sisyphean task of raising money, often there simply isn't time. If our representatives knew one another personally, they might think twice before painting one another with a wide and ugly brush. We need to look for candidates who understand the necessity of getting to know the other side. Leadership: Leadership is the ability to sense where the best angels of the public want to go and helping them get there. It's about governing -- not necessarily winning -- and finding common ground that leads to action. Our leaders have stalled on the major issues of our time: immigration, cybersecurity, energy policy, tax reform. Leadership takes genuine courage, courage to act on the recognition that the choice between right and left is a false one when it comes to getting things done. We must demand of our leaders that they actually lead. Vision: Nothing is more upsetting than seeing political leaders refuse to even attempt to inspire the country as a whole. We have seen more than enough strategy on how to beat the other side, to flip blue states to red or vice versa, or to win over some demographic slice. What we haven't seen is a vision of where we can all go together, inclusively, as a nation. Whether that ultimate vision is something we entirely agree with -- and the likelihood that we'd be in lockstep with one another is low -- we still want leaders who communicate something beyond their own or their party's aspirations. We need to expect them to offer this vision, and for it to be wide enough to embrace us all. We have enormous faith in the judgment of the American people, but it has become impossible to even know what that is anymore. Our political process is rewarding the extremes, and the political leadership reflects the view of that minority. It has become a race to the edges and a downward spiral. Citizens are too turned off to vote, which only empowers those who demand no compromise -- leading to more discontent and less inclination to vote. Democracy requires active engagement, mindfulness and tolerance. We can't expect our leaders to do their part if we don't do ours. We must retake control of our duty as Americans. The only way to turn the spiral around is for the individual American to make a commitment to vote in the coming year. If these resolutions for the New Year are to take root, there is only way: It is in our hands. Trent Lott and Tom Daschle were, respectively, Senate Republican leader from 1996 to 2003 and Senate Democratic leader from 1995 to 2005. Each served as Senate majority leader twice during those years. Their book "Crisis Point: Why We Must - and How We Can - Overcome Our Broken Politics in Washington and Across America," co-authored with Jon Sternfeld, will be published this month. NEW YORK (TIP): Why would Zia want to climb five floors of a hotel? Why did someone think Zia could fix his TV? Was Zia practicing Urine therapy? What did Christopher Lee and Alyque Padamsee [] DHAKA (TIP): Amid sporadic violence, thousands of people today queued up in Bangladesh to vote in the first-ever local body polls on party lines, joined by opposition BNP which had boycotted the 2014 general elections. [] CHICAGO (TIP): Soldiers and volunteers packed sand bags Wednesday in a frantic effort to stave off floodwaters in the US state of Missouri, where 13 people have been killed and several towns have been engulfed. [] LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): The India Association of Long Island (IALI) held its 38thAnnual General Body Meeting on Dec 27, 2015at Mint Restaurant in Long Island. It was attended by anoverwhelming record crowd of over 200 [] WASHINGTON (TIP): The US has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to Indian students was not because of black-listing of two California-based institutions but based on the immigration assessment of individuals even as India [] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The long-standing leadership dispute within the Golkar Party is likely to escalate following the Law and Human Rights Ministry's decision to revoke the decree that had previously recognized the chairmanship of Agung Laksono, who won the party leadership during a contested national party assembly (munas) in Jakarta in 2014. Idrus Marham, Golkar's secretary-general under the rival faction of incumbent chairman Aburizal Bakrie, claims to have received a letter from the ministry on Thursday detailing its decision to revoke Agung's stake in the chairmanship. 'With the revocation of the decree, it stands that the registered management structure from [the 2009 national assembly in] Riau remains,' Idrus told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. 'And since the line-up from the Riau meeting already convened at a national meeting in Bali, continued legal action won't trouble implementation of the decision.' In May, the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) annulled a decree issued by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly that endorsed the leadership of Agung, thus restoring the party's leadership to Aburizal, with Idrus as secretary-general and Agung as deputy chairman. This was further upheld by the Supreme Court's ruling issued in October 2015 which upheld the PTUN decision. Idrus said that Golkar was scheduled to hold a national consultation meeting in Bali on Jan. 4, where party leaders from across the country were expected to discuss the party's future plans. The meeting will also set the date for a national executive assembly. Officials from the opposition camp are to be accommodated in the new central board lineup, to honor previous attempts at reconciliation initiated by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, according to Idrus. 'It is our commitment that Golkar is to remain solid. We are bound by an agreement that states that whoever wins in court will accommodate the Golkar extended family, including those from [the munas in] Ancol. We are in the process of accommodating everyone,' Idrus said. Meanwhile, Ace Hasan Syadzily, a member of Agung's central board, insisted that the fresh move made by the ministry would not result in Aburizal's camp having legal status in the dispute. 'The letter from the Law and Human Rights Ministry only states that the decree issued for our camp has been revoked. It doesn't follow that [the decree] recognized the decision from the Bali meeting,' Ace said on Thursday. Ace said the ministry's new decision should be seen as an impetus for both camps to settle their differences in a national meeting. 'We must consider the option of having a joint national assembly,' he said. On Tuesday, senior Golkar politician and advisory board head Akbar Tandjung appealed to both camps to hold a national assembly early in 2016 in order to ensure positive results in the reconciliation process. According to constitutional law expert Irmanputra Sidin, Aburizal's leadership remains official, regardless of any appeals. 'As long as we agree that the rule of law reigns in Indonesia, that the 1945 Constitution remains the highest order of the law and that the authority of the judge outweighs the powers of the executive branch, then the legitimate leadership is that of Aburizal Bakrie and Idrus Marham,' Irman told the Post on Thursday. Commenting on the ministry's decision, Kalla said that Golkar Party should hold a national consultation meeting in order to extend the chairmanship of Aburizal as well to anticipate the vacuum of power in the party, considering that the chairmanship of Aburizal expired at the end of 2015. 'Therefore, maybe [Aburizal's chairmanship] needs to be extended for a while, through a national consultation meeting,' he said on Friday. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 A member of the House of Representatives has criticized the National Police's counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, which on Friday wrongly arrested two men on suspicion of terrorism in Surakarta, Central Java. The men were physically and psychologically tortured before they were released. 'It is a matter of deep regret that these men, these innocent men, were tortured,' said Saleh Partaonan Daulay, a member of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, in Jakarta on Saturday, as reported by tribunenews.com. Densus 88 officers, Saleh said, needed to prepare for operations with utmost thoroughness, to avoid charges of unprofessionalism. 'The two men were arrested on their way to the mosque. Over the course of their interrogation, the police realized that they were not terrorists,' said the National Mandate Party (PAN) lawmaker in his written statement. According to Saleh, Densus 88 has made similar mistakes on numerous occasions, but has never issued a public apology. Saleh noted that in May 2014, counterterrorism officers wrongly arrested Kadir, a resident of Banyu Harjo in Surakarta. In July 2013, two Muhammadiyah members ' Sapari and Mugi Hartanto ' were also wrongly arrested. In December 2012, a further 12 Surakartans were wrongly detained by the counterterrorism force. 'There have certainly been many other incidents that have not come to light,' he added. The lawmaker demanded that the National Police publicly apologize to the families of those wrongly arrested, stressing that accusations of terrorism, especially public accusations, were a serious matter. The National Police also needed to overhaul the procedures used in arresting suspected terrorists to avoid a repetition of such mistakes, he went on. 'Terrorism is undoubtedly a grave threat to the nation. But arrests must be carried out properly,' Saleh concluded. (bbn) LONDON (Reuters) - British soldiers may be put on trial for alleged crimes committed in Iraq including murder, the head of a government unit investigating claims of torture and unlawful killing said in an interview published on Saturday. Mark Warwick, a former police detective who is in charge of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), was quoted as saying by The Independent newspaper that he believed there would be sufficient evidence to justify criminal charges. "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of Ihat investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority to prosecute and charge," he said. Ihat, which was set up by Ministry of Defence in 2010 and is independent of the military for its investigations, has received cases relating to more than 1,500 alleged victims of mistreatment and unlawful killings, according to the British government's website. It is due to complete its investigations by the end of 2019, more than 10 years after Britain withdrew its last combat troops from Iraq following its participation in the U.S-led invasion in 2003. The process has not yet resulted in any recommendations for a prosecution and it has been criticized by rights campaigners for moving too slowly. Warwick appealed for patience. "I think people need to understand the complexity, the volume and the geography aspects of this, and you can't underestimate putting those three factors together and trying to conduct ethical investigations," he told The Independent. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will review all the caseload to better understand the picture and then I think we can say whether 2019 seems realistic," Warwick said. A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said it took all allegations of abuse or unlawful killing extremely seriously. "The vast majority of UK service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law," she said. "Where there is sufficient evidence, members of Her Majesty's Forces can be prosecuted." In 2014, the International Criminal Court in The Hague reopened a preliminary examination of allegations of "systematic detainee abuse" by British troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. A wide-ranging British public inquiry into the Iraq War is likely to be published in mid-2016. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by David Clarke) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu Sat, January 2, 2016 The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad arrested on Thursday six suspected terrorists in Tayawa village, Tojo Una-Una regency, an hour's drive east of Poso city, Central Sulawesi. Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Idham Azis confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects were believed to be members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) led by Santoso, alias Abu Wardah. 'Yes, we have arrested them. [The suspects] are currently undergoing questioning at the Central Sulawesi Police headquarters,' Idham said on Friday. Refusing to identify the suspects, Idham promised to provide thorough information in the next few days on the identities of the six suspects. The arrests were part of the Camar Maleo IV Operation, which began in January last year with the aim of apprehending the perpetrators of continuing violence in the province. Idham said that the manhunt for Santoso and his followers would continue but had yet to decide how long the security operation would go on and whether the Indonesian Military (TNI) would get involved. 'We will continue to evaluate the operation,' said Idham. According to Idham, security personnel captured 24 of Santoso's followers alive while seven others died in a shoot-out during a police manhunt for MIT members, under the codename Camar Maleo in 2015. Of those captured alive, 17 are still undergoing legal proceedings, while the rest have been sentenced to prison. 'Some of them are detained in Palu and Jakarta,' said Idham. He added that during the operation, two police personnel were killed and four others were injured in shoot-outs with the Santoso-led group. During the 2015 Camar Maleo Operation, police confiscated a number of items from the MIT group, including five government-issued M-16 assault rifles, 35 homemade bombs and active ammunitions. 'All of the evidence was collected in the Camar Maleo I, II, III and IV operations,' said Idham. During the operation in August, a police officer was killed in a shoot-out allegedly with members, Santoso's group. Idham further said that based on intelligence reports, 32 MIT members were believed to have joined the Islamic State (IS) movement, three of them women, the wives of Santoso, Basri and Ali Kalora. The women, who hailed from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, were widows of MIT members from Bima who went to Central Kalimantan and married MIT leaders. They allegedly aim to seek revenge for their late husbands who were killed in earlier operations in Bima. 'They chose to stay with their husbands in the forest. They are of the principle of dying as martyrs along with their husbands,' said Idham. Operations against terrorism in Poso have been ongoing for the past 14 years, but no significant results have been achieved. The police have yet to tackle the Santoso-led group that has been operating in the region for the last four years. In March, this year, TNI held a military exercise involving around 2,000 soldiers in Poso, Central Sulawesi, an action likely aimed at sending a message to a suspected terrorist group in the area. TNI insisted that the joint combat exercise in Poso was not aimed at arresting members of a terrorist network, but added that if soldiers apprehended any members of the group, the TNI would hand them over to the police. At that time, TNI chief Gen. Moeldoko threatened to shoot any suspected terrorist operating in Poso. From the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, Poso was the scene of sectarian conflict between Muslims and Christians that claimed thousands of lives on both sides. Although the conflict officially ended with the signing of the Malino Accords in 2001 and 2002, the region remains a terrorism hotbed. --------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The government will respond to a proposal for amnesty requested by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Nurdin bin Ismail, popularly known as Din Minimi, following his recent surrender. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said on Thursday that the government applauded the surrender of Din and other members of his group. 'We will grant it, but there is a process to follow,' Jokowi said as quoted on the Cabinet Secretariat website, setkab.go.id, on Thursday. Jokowi said the government had long urged members of the group hiding in the forests of Aceh to lay down their weapons and join government efforts to develop the province. When asked whether Din and his 120 followers would undergo a legal process or automatically be granted an amnesty, Jokowi said he would find the best solution. 'The group has long wanted to surrender,' Jokowi said on the sidelines of his visit to Papua. Din had been a major target of security operations before he and his group surrendered to the government during a ceremony presided over by National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso on Tuesday. The group agreed to surrender after being promised an amnesty for any crimes committed by its 120 members who have left their hiding places and for 30 members apprehended by Aceh Police. During the ceremony, the group handed over dozens of guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Din's group was blamed for several attacks over the past three years, including the killing of two soldiers and several kidnappings in the country's westernmost province. The Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict's (IPAC) latest report titled 'Din Minimi: The Strange Story of an Armed Group in Aceh' contends that Din had been falsely portrayed by various parties opposed to the current Aceh government, which is led by former GAM members, as a Robin Hood 'who abducts corruptors and drug dealers and uses the ransom money to assist orphans and widows neglected by the GAM leaders now in power'. The report further says Din had drawn the attention of parties who would like to see Aceh Party, the political party led by former GAM members, discredited. These parties, according to the report, include political rivals, intelligence personnel and extremists. 'Din Minimi is a criminal, whose activities only underscore how much violence lurks below the surface in Aceh after the 2005 peace agreement,' IPAC director Sidney Jones said. 'No matter how poorly [the Aceh Party] has governed, there is no excuse for turning an armed thug into a hero.' Sutiyoso said one of Din's demands was that the government improve the lives of widows and fatherless children as well as former GAM combatants. Sutiyoso said only local administrations in Aceh could respond to the demand. Meanwhile, the central government would follow up on Din's request for an amnesty for his men. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Friday that the government would follow up on the request as soon as possible. 'Yes, just like Pak Sutiyoso said, we will consider all of these. [The request] will be responded to immediately,' he said. Responding to Din's demand to improve the lives of former GAM members and affiliates, Kalla said the government had been doing that job ever since it facilitated the reconciliation process in Aceh in 2009. 'There are already a lot [of programs], [amounting to] trillions [of rupiah]. Maybe there's a lack of information on that,' said Kalla. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Effendi Simbolon slammed the government's plan to grant an amnesty to Din's group, saying it was wrong for the government to make a deal with insurgents. -------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Bogor Sat, January 2, 2016 BOGOR: A car traveling at high-speed hit four pedestrians on Jl. Raya Cikaret in Harapan Jaya, Bogor regency, on Thursday evening, leaving them with minor injuries. Bogor spokesperson Adj. Comr. Ita Puspita Lena said that the multipurpose van driven by Aditya Bagus Wijaya, 23, had been speeding in the direction of Jl. Raya Setu Cikaret as quoted by tribunnews.com. 'After hitting four people, the driver attempted to run away but residents caught him,' she said. Aditya was beaten by the residents, she said. The victims of the car accident have been identified as Juju Jubaedah, 34, with an injury to her left leg; Dewi, 25, who received a minor injury to her left leg; Eli Herliana, 28, who also received a minor injury to her left leg and Siti Hawa, 45, who reported an injury to her back after the incident. All four are residents of Kampung Cikaret. 'Juju Jubaedah and Siti Hawa were sent to Cikaret General Hospital to get treatment,' Ita said. There is a possibility that Juju had her leg fractured, she added. The police had taken Aditya into custody. A joyful celebration: Thousands of people converge on National Monument (Monas) park in Jakarta on Thursday night to welcome the New Year.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)" border="0" height="297" width="510"> Millions of Indonesians, from Aceh to Papua, bid farewell to 2015 and welcomed the New Year with joy. Lanterns and spectacular fireworks illuminated the skies of many cities and towns in the archipelago. Though this year the venue for the festivities in Jakarta moved from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to Ancol, the enthusiasm and scale of the celebrations were not diluted. Bracing traffic congestion, terror threats and economic slowdown, millions of revelers rushed to beaches, mountains and holiday resorts. New Year greetings were exchanged everywhere on Friday. Munching scrumdiddlyumptious cakes, drinking favorite drinks, people welcomed the New Year with trumpets. Perhaps, New Yearas Eve is the only global festivity celebrated by billions of people, irrespective of their religious beliefs, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds, every year. Some people may claim that New Yearas Eve is related to Christianity. It is a fact that most of the revelers are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and Sikhs. It belongs to everybody. People just want to enjoy the moment once in a year. Not everyone was free to celebrate New Yearas. The Banda Aceh administration decided to prohibit New Year celebrations in the Aceh capital because celebrating the New Year was considered to not be in accordance with the prevailing Islamic law. The fact is that more than a billion Muslims across the globe celebrated New Yearas Eve on Thursday night with various activities, including prayers. President Joko aJokowia Widodo spent New Yearas Eve in Raja Am pat, a major tourist destination of Indonesia. It was the right decision by our President to share the joy with our Papuan brothers and sisters on New Yearas Eve. Wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. a JP/ Veeramalla Anjaiah Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Padang Sat, January 2, 2016 PADANG: The Padang chapter of the Anti-corruption Integrity Institute has launched the first anti-corruption school in West Sumatra. Integrity coordinator Arief Paderi said the school would be attended by 167 students, 165 from West Sumatra and two from Riau. They are university students and alumni from a number of higher learning institutes. 'The school applies the cadre system. We hope the school will be able to produce anti-corruption activists,' Arief said in Padang on Friday. Arief added that the Integrity Institute provided anti-corruption education to the public, especially the younger generation, so that people could gain technical skills and actively involve themselves in the anti-corruption movement in West Sumatra. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Denpasar Sat, January 2, 2016 DENPASAR: A Chinese tourist, identified as Qi Ruiling, 57, is reported to have died from head injuries after she fell 15-meters down a cliff at Pura Batu Bolong in the Tanah Lot resort area, Tabanan regency, Bali, while taking selfies on Thursday. Her husband Feng Fang, 57, survived. He fell into the sea and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. 'The husband and wife couple slipped and fell off the cliff when they were taking selfies,' said eyewitness Saputra, a member of the local Search and Rescue Unit, who immediately provided help. The Search and Rescue Unit were able to rescue Feng Fang and he was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital, while his wife Qi Ruiling died from head injuries at the scene, Antara reported on Thursday. According to Saputra, the Chinese tourists were on vacation in Bali and had been taking selfies featuring Tanah Lot Temple in the background. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, January 2, 2016 Online, Dec. 27 The Transportation Ministry's director general of land transportation, Djoko Sasono, has stepped down from his position after acknowledging his failure in preventing traffic congestion during the Christmas holiday. 'As part of my responsibility regarding this [congestion], I declare my resignation as director general of land transportation,' Djoko said during press conference at the Transportation Ministry in Jakarta on Dec. 26 as quoted by kompas.com. Massive congestion occurred on some toll roads in the Jakarta area, such as the Jakarta-Bandung toll road and the Cikampek toll road, during the Christmas holiday from Dec. 23 to Dec. 25. Your comments: Resigning for the wrong reasons, and wrongly giving the impression that a government is responsible and capable of preventing such traffic congestion. Does that mean there can never be a traffic jam during the Christmas holiday? Sorong The government is responsible for providing adequate infrastructure! It has failed in this so far. Well there we are ' the administration' policy of finding scapegoats has backfired ' the good people are leaving! Cisero While I do not agree with him resigning over this particular incident, it has been noted that over the past year his department has allowed rampant roadworks to take over many of the city's busy thoroughfares without any thought for traffic management and public safety. Pherplexed Traffic congestion is not the sole problem of the Transportation Ministry. Lacking infrastructure, overcapacity of vehicles, coordination with traffic police and out-of-date, questionable examination procedures for driver licensing make it a rather complex matter. Nevertheless, chronic congestion needs the right medication for clean soil, water and air. Suwiwi A high-ranking Indonesian official taking responsibility for failure, this is really uncommon and so honorable. But until the Transportation Ministry starts to understand that building more roads to welcome more cars is not a viable solution, many more will have to resign. Jakarta, and Indonesia in general, needs to develop a well-organized and modern public transportation system that gives a viable alternative to private vehicles. Benam An honorable man taking responsibility for something that is totally out of his control. I'm sure he is protecting someone much higher. Willo Why didn't the minister resign instead? Jon Terry Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Sat, January 2, 2016 Two international school teachers were sentenced to prison for sexually abusing kindergarten pupils before they got acquitted a few months later, a man was found guilty for murdering a prostitute and, also in the same year, a pimp was jailed for his involvement in a celebrity prostitution ring. These made up three of the most prominent criminal cases in 2015. In 2015, the South Jakarta District Court stole the international spotlight as cases of sexual abuse involving two teachers and five outsourced janitors at the prestigious Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) that came to light in 2014 entered the courtroom. The acceptance of a 'magic stone' as evidence, which according to prosecutors was used by the teachers to drug the kids, the death of one of the suspects in police custody and the imposition of gag orders that closed the hearings to the public made it one of the most controversial cases in 2015. After almost a year since the case emerged, the court's judges rendered their verdict on April 2 by sending both Ferdinand Tjiong and Neil Bantleman to 10 years' imprisonment for repeatedly abusing three pupils in 2013 and 2014. The conviction, however, was overturned by the Jakarta High Court on Nov. 30. The case is currently under Supreme Court review as the prosecutors decided to fight the acquittal. The Supreme Court is also currently examining judicial reviews filed by five outsourced cleaners who were sentenced to between seven and eight years in prison for sexually abusing one of the three alleged victims in the teachers' case. Christopher Daniel Sjarief, a son of a wealthy businessman, had also drawn public attention as he walked free after causing the deaths of four people during a traffic collision as the court 'only' handed him one-and-a-half-year suspended prison sentence on Aug. 27. 'Court sentence is not an instrument for revenge, it is a mechanism to return harmony to the society,' presiding judge Made Suardana said during verdict reading. During the trial, it was revealed that Christopher's family had provided financial compensation to a number of survivors and widows of the victims in exchange for an 'amicable written agreement'. Also, 2015 was the year when a celebrity prostitution ring in the capital was exposed in court. In his verdict, presiding judge Effendi Muchtar mentioned the name of three B-list celebrities: Amel Alvi, Tyas Mirasih and Shinta Bachir. Robby, who claimed he had a list of more than 200 sex workers, half of them celebrities, was caught while waiting for Amel, 22, who was still in a hotel room with a client. During the trial, it was revealed that for Amel's services Robby charged Rp 80 million (US$5,800), Rp 20 million of which was paid to the magazine photo model. Robby got one year and four months for running the prostitution ring, but none of the clients or sex workers were dragged into court as suspects. Another high profile case was the murder of a sex worker by 24-year-old M. Prio Santoso, then a teacher at a private education center. On Nov. 31, the judges describe the incident as a 'sadistic murder' and sentenced him to 16 years' imprisonment. ' JP/Indra Budiari Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 Responding to criticism that the new leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been slow in bringing changes to the antigraft body, the KPK's new commissioners said they needed more time to settle into their new job. KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo also said on Thursday that commissioners could not comment on ongoing investigations. Agus said that he and four commissioners, Alexander Marwata, Basaria Panjaitan, Laode Muhammad Syarif and Saut Situmorang, had conducted a series of one-week briefings at the KPK in order to better understand the organization and to get up to speed on ongoing cases and how the antigraft body should deal with them. Agus said that the new leaders would need another 10 days to sit down together and draw up their four-year strategic plans, which would lay out the future vision and mission of the antigraft body. He added that each one of the new leaders had developed their own plans and recommendations to be presented in the meeting. 'All of us have a different vision and mission for the KPK. We have to sit down and find common ground first,' Agus said, adding that the new commissioners would also ask for advice from the KPK's high officials. He said the strategic plan would detail which cases the KPK would prioritize for 2016. Agus maintained that he would personally prefer a situation in which the KPK focused primarily on high-profile cases. Late last year, the House of Representatives elected Agus, former manager of the National Procurement Agency (LKPP), Alexander, a former Jakarta Corruption Court ad hoc judge, Basaria, a police inspector general, Laode, a law professor at Makassar-based Hasanuddin University, and Saut, an expert at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), as five new KPK commissioners. Given the background of the new commissioners, antigraft watchdogs have predicted that the KPK will experience a kind of regression. During their confirmation hearing, the five elected commissioners said that they would focus on the prevention of graft rather than aggressively prosecuting high-profile graft cases. Agus said on Thursday that he would start working on programs for the coordination, supervision and monitoring divisions. He said that currently, the KPK had shown too little concern for the coordination, supervision and monitoring divisions. 'The three divisions are important because the KPK can't work alone without coordination with other law enforcement bodies,' he said, referring to the National Police and Attorney General's Office (AGO). Agus further said that the new leaders would also start to reform the KPK's internal management, including its human resources. During their first week in office, the new leaders mostly engaged in ceremonial agendas. The leaders hosted a discussion with Culture and Education Minister Anies Baswedan and 500 headmasters on how to address cheating and improve integrity in education. The five commissioners also participated in the inauguration of the KPK's new headquarters with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on Tuesday, during which they were told by the President to resist political interference. Agus further promised to boost Indonesia's corruption perception index (CPI) level, which, he said, had indicated no progress in corruption eradication efforts. 'We hope we can reach a higher CPI level in the near future,' Agus said, warning the public of Indonesia's low 2015 CPI level. The CPI level currently stands at 34, only having climbed two points from the score registered in 2013 and still much lower than Malaysia's 50. Separately, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) expressed doubts about the ability of the new commissioners to handle high-profile corruption cases due to their pledge to focus primarily on preventative measures. ICW activist Emerson Yuntho said that the five new commissioners did not inspire confidence, because the House had only selected figures who they deemed to be supine and unwilling to rebel against the House's planned revisions to the KPK law. (foy) --------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned on Thursday four top councilors from the Legislative Council (DPRD) of Musi Banyuasin South Sumatra for questioning in a graft case surrounding the regency's 2014 accountability report (LKPJ) and the deliberation of the 2015 regional administration budget plan (RAPBD). The four suspects are DPRD chairman Riamon Iskandar and deputy chairmen Darwin AH, Islan Hanura and Aidil Fitri. However, only Darwin showed up at KPK headquarters for questioning, in spite of the anti-graft body's decision to extend the detention period for the four suspects. 'The KPK will extend the detention period from Jan. 4 to 12,' KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said on Thursday in Jakarta. The antigraft body has kept the suspects detained since Dec. 15 at the KPK's detention center in East Jakarta. The four councilors are alleged to have received bribes from Musi Banyuasin regent Pahri Azhari, who sought to get approval from the councilors for his 2014 accountability report and the 2015 budget. Pahri and his wife, Lucianty, who is also a local councilor in the regency, were also named suspects and have been detained by the KPK since Dec. 18. The two, however, have claimed that they were the victims of an extortion scheme devised by the four councilors. The investigation into the graft case, which caused Rp 2.56 billion (US$185,000) in state losses, began after the KPK caught four suspects red-handed, comprising two councilors and two local government officials in Palembang, South Sumatra, on June 19. The councilors are Bambang Karyanto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Adam Munandar of the Gerindra Party and the officials are Syamsyudin Fei, the head of the local administration's budget and assets management body and Faisyar, the head of Musi Banyuasin Development Planning Board (Bappeda). The KPK's early investigation indicated that Syamsudin paid the bribe to Bambang and Adam to influence the DPRD's decision on the regency's budgeting. KPK investigators seized cash used to pay the bribe during the raid at Bambang's residence. The money was only a second installment of a total Rp 17 billion demanded by the DPRD to secure the accountability report and the budget proposal. KPK investigators also revealed that the amount of bribery money was initially Rp 20 billion. Following the case, the PDI-P has officially dismissed Bambang from the party for breaching the party's code of ethics. The bribery scandal is not the first implicating local councilors in South Sumatra. In 2008, South Sumatra Police grilled three Banyuasin councilors ' HM Basjir, Arkoni MD and Slamet Somo Sentono, in an operational fund graft case estimated to have caused Rp 5.6 billion in state losses. The investigation was prompted by the Development Finance Comptroller audit in July 2007. The audit revealed a number of budget transactions that appeared to violate existing regulations. (foy) _________________ The KPK's early investigation indicated that Syamsudin paid the bribe to Bambang and Adam to influence the DPRD's decision on the regency's budgeting. -------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com An operation to secure an Indian air force base has ended and the assailants are dead, police say 14 hours after an attack by suspected Islamists (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu) Pathankot (India) (AFP) - A dramatic assault on an Indian air base near the Pakistan border was finally declared over Saturday 14 hours after suspected Islamist militants struck, leaving three security officers dead, authorities said, an attack that threatens to undermine the countries' fragile peace process. At least four attackers also died in shoot-outs with security forces at Pathankot base in northern Punjab state, after gunmen suspected to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Islamist group infiltrated the site at 3:30 am (2200 GMT) Saturday. The assault -- a rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir -- comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to Pakistan, the first by an Indian premier in 11 years. The possible involvement of Pakistan-based militants in the attack threatens to derail talks between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since independence in 1947. "I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists in 'Pathankot Operation'," Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted. Security officials only confirmed that four attackers had died. An Indian army source said "at least three security personnel have died" in the incident, with at least three others injured, adding that officers were still combing the base for residual explosives. Modi, on a visit to the southern city of Mysore, responded to the attack on Twitter Saturday evening. "Enemies of humanity who can't see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed," he tweeted. Pakistan also moved to condemn the attack, and voiced optimism over continued dialogue with its long-time foe. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India... to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," Islamabad's foreign ministry spokesman said. Story continues - Strategic base - The Pathankot air base houses dozens of fighter jets and is important for its strategic location about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Pakistan border. "They are from Jaish, Jaish has claimed responsibility," Indian army Lieutenant General Satish Dua told reporters of the attackers. AFP was not able to verify the alleged claim of responsibility. Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is banned in Pakistan, fights against Indian rule in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, where a separatist conflict has claimed up to 100,000 lives. While Punjab has largely been spared such violence, however, it has not been immune. In July, three gunmen said to be Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militants killed seven people, including four policemen, in an attack in the Sikh-majority state. Modi's December 25 visit to the Pakistani city of Lahore to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif indicated a potential thaw in tensions, and the foreign secretaries of both countries are to meet in Islamabad this month. Pakistan opposition senator Sherry Rehman said the attack must not disrupt the planned dialogue. "#Pathankot is about derailing peace. Don't let terror define our agenda. Pak-India talks must go on." But Modi's friendly outreach to Pakistan had prompted critics to warn of retaliation by militants. "Our prime minister visited and after that the terrorists came here. They want friendship with Pakistan but look what they are doing to us," said Ashok Kumar, 52, a shopkeeper in Pathankot. A protest broke out on the road leading to Pathankot base in the early afternoon as angry residents burned effigies apparently intended to resemble Pakistani militants, an AFP journalist said. - Fragile peace - Sameer Patil, a security analyst at the Gateway House think-tank in Mumbai, said Saturday's attack was likely to be a cross-border strike possibly carried out in retaliation for the visit. "There is substantial first evidence of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants trying to sabotage the peace process," he told AFP. India blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed for a December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament that killed 11 people, led to a massive military build-up at the border and brought the two countries almost to the brink of war. New Delhi later suspended all talks with Islamabad after Islamist gunmen attacked the city of Mumbai in November 2008, killing 166 people in attacks planned from Pakistan. The two countries agreed to resume a peace process in 2011 but tensions spiked again in recent years, with cross-border shelling in Kashmir claiming dozens of lives since 2014. Authorities had put Punjab on high alert Friday after five gunmen in army fatigues hijacked a car driven by a senior police officer, which was later found abandoned on a highway connecting Pathankot to Kashmir. It was not clear if there was any link with Saturday's attack. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 Fishing industry players have urged the government to address supply chain issues in the distribution of fresh fish to the local fish processing industry. Fish Cannery Association (Apiki) chairman Ady Surya said that the organization, an association of 41 processing companies, saw a drop in exports of at least 50 percent this year due to an insufficient supply of fresh fish. 'Fish stocks are now abundant [after the government took drastic action to combat illegal fishing] but they are not fresh so we cannot process them,' he said recently. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has recently limited fish imports and banned fishermen from directly selling fish to traders while still at sea. 'The journey back to the port just to sell the fish raises logistics costs even higher and makes the fish less fresh,' Ady said, adding that if the government wanted to continue with its current program, it should provide better cold storage facilities near ports to keep fish fresh. The ministry's fishing port director Syahril Fauzi has acknowledged the lack of cold storage facilities and said that the government was currently in the process of attracting more investors to open cold storage facilities and increase electricity supply in regions to increase ice production. However, Ady said that poor coordination among state institutions was a common problem. The association also suggested the government allow imports during bad fishing seasons as it needed at least 360,000 tons of tuna and 265,000 tons of sardines annually. It hopes to see its exports increase by 20 percent from 2014 rates. Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) fisheries division head Thomas Darmawan shared the same concerns as Ady. 'The state needs to eventually integrate markets and cold storage facilities near all ports. Now they are located far from one other. Consumers mostly live on Java Island and the ports are all across the archipelago with cold storage facilities located hours from there,' he said. Today the country has 816 fishing ports, with only 22 under the ministry, according to Syahril. The ministry plans to upgrade the 22 ports next year and is calling for private parties and financial bodies, such as banks, to contribute to improving the other 794, including provision of cold storage and ice production facilities nearby. The total capacity of cold storage facilities that were available to fisheries in 2014 was 7.2 million tons, insufficient for the nation's 14 million tons of fish annually, based on Indonesia Cold Storage Association (ARPI) data. The ministry allocated Rp 235 billion (US$17.1 million) for the opening of 58 cold storages and 38 ice factories this year. In the future, it also plans to allow local cold storage facilities to be 100 percent foreign owned. Currently, foreign investors can only partially own the facilities. It also plans to collaborate with Indonesia Fisheries Public Company (Perindo) to revamp the 110-hectare Muara Baru fish market in North Jakarta using state budget funds in 2016. 'We want to make it modern and convenient for people to buy fish there, just like Sydney Fish Market,' Syahril said. According to Perindo president director Agus Suherman, Muara Baru is 110 hectares in size, 40 ha of which is the docking area for ships and the other 70 ha are rented to businesses. By next year, the firm aims to have increased its cold storage capacity, from 600 tons to 5,000 tons, open a warehouse for equipment reparation and have a sea water reverse osmosis unit that will be able to supply 1,500 cubic meters of clean water daily. (rbk) --------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 JAKARTA: A senior politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said on Friday that the party had not yet decided to recall Taufik Kurniawan from his position as the House of Representatives' deputy speaker. 'I haven't heard the news. The replacement is still a rumor,' said PAN deputy chairman Mulfachri Harahap as quoted by tribunnews.com. Mulfachri said that the party could not make a decision as most of its central board members were away for the New Year holiday. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Taufik will leave his position as House deputy speaker and that Mulfachri is ready to take his place. Senior PAN politicians said that Taufik might be called on to replace Ignasius Jonan as transportation minister, if President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo decided to have another Cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, PAN politician Asman Abnur has been pegged for the position of environment and forestry minister, a move that would replace Siti Nurbaya Bakar, a NasDem politician. PAN is expected to get two seats in the Cabinet, in return for its pledge to support the Jokowi administration. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nani Afrida (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The Navy sunk 10 more illegal fishing boats on New Year's Eve, a moved aimed at further proving that the country is serious about promoting its territorial integrity. 'We remain consistent, so anyone violating our laws should receive harsh punishment,' Navy spokesperson Commander M. Zainuddin said in Jakarta on Thursday. Zainuddin said that out of the 10 illegal boats, four were foreign boats flying Philippine and Malaysian flags, while six boats flew Indonesian flags but had foreign crews. The Navy sank the boats in the four different locations; in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, Beting Camar, Belawan in North Sumatra, in Ranai, Riau Islands, and in Tahuna, North Sulawesi. Zainuddin said the Navy had received a court order to carry out its task and that the decision to sink the boats was based on allegations that they did not have the necessary documents to run their fishing operations in Indonesian waters. The Navy also involved the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force (Satgas 115) in their operations against illegal fishing activities. According to ministry data, the country caught 157 illegal fishing boats in 2015, 107 of which have been sunk. The largest number of the boats came from Vietnam, with 39 boats, followed by the Philippines with 34 boats, Thailand with 21 boats, Malaysia with six boats, Papua New Guinea with one boat and China with one boat. Article 69 of Law No. 45/2009 on fisheries stipulates that the coast guard can sink foreign vessels operating illegally in the country's territorial waters with sufficient preliminary evidence. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is leading the campaign against illegal fishing and has said that it costs the country billions of dollars in lost revenue every year. Meanwhile, Satgas 115 director Rear Admiral Widodo said that Indonesia would continue to be the target of illegal fishing activity. 'Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam need huge amounts of fish, but they don't have the supply, so their fishermen try to meet demand by conducting illegal fishing activities in our area,' Widodo said on Thursday. Widodo said that his unit would step up its efforts by conducting more patrols, including air surveillance operations. 'Ibu [Minister Susi Pudjiastuti] has said that Satgas should step up air patrols. We expect zero violations this year,' Widodo said. -------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The directorial debut of stand-up comedian Ernest Prakasa approaches the grim issues commonly faced by minorities in a different way and from a lighter angle. Packaged as a comedy, Ngenest: Kadang Hidup Harus Ditertawakan (Pathetic: Sometimes Life Must be Laughed At) is not as funny as one would expect from one of Indonesia's pioneering comedians. Ngenest is a comedy with a solid story containing some romantic drama. It is unlike other comedies released recently that more of less string together a sequence of skits. An adaptation from a trilogy of books of the same title also authored by Ernest, the film is based on the story of his life as a Chinese-Indonesian that is divided into four periods. Ernest plays himself in the film and he wrote the script. Bullied since his first day at elementary school in a middle to lower-class neighborhood, Ernest finds solace with schoolmate Patrick, who is also of Chinese descent but with a bigger physical build. Together they create a sanctuary on the rooftop of an abandoned building; their hiding place to escape the thugs trying to get at their pocket money. The teenage Ernest (Kevin Anggara) comes up with the idea befriending the school bullies to the dismay of teenage Patrick (Brandon Salim). The new friendships don't work well and Ernest, who is still at junior high school at that time, makes a vow to marry a 'local' girl in the hope of having 'less Chinese' children. He has to forget the vow because his low grades only allow him to enter an all-Chinese high school. The next scene jumps to Ernest's life in Bandung, West Java, as a student at a state university. Ernest (Ernest Prakasa) meets the Sundanese Meira (Lala Karmela) at a Mandarin course. In an instant, Meira wins his heart. Despite his vow, the problem of different religions threatens his future. It is Patrick (Morgan Oey), studying in an unmentioned university also in Bandung, who advises Ernest to 'go with the flow' in a comical analogy that, in hindsight, stands at the center of the story's premise. 'Not all of our dreams will come true, not all of our worries will happen,' says the character. After five years of dating, Ernest and Meira get married but the titular character cannot help but worry that their future children will have slanted eyes, a feeling that torments his professional life and marriage. Produced by Starvision's Chand Parwez Servia, the cast is filled by stand-up comedians and stage actors who bring Ernest's sharp-witted lines to life. The cast includes Henky Solaiman, Elkie Kwee, Ferry Salim, Olga Lydia, Ade Fitria Sechan, Budi Dalton, Arie Kriting, Ge Pamungkas, Adjis Doaibu and Muhadkly Acho. Attention goes to the teen actors and Morgan, who in December won Best Newcomer at the Piala Maya awards for his performance in the religious themed Assalamualaikum Beijing. The chemistry between Ernest and Morgan as well as between Ernest and Meira is heartfelt. Throughout the 91-minute duration, Ernest introduces us to what life is like being a Chinese-Indonesian in a melting pot community. If it is seen as a stereotyping, then it ought to be seen as a legitimate one. There are laughs but also alot of tears in the film. The title itself is a portmanteau from Ernest and ngenes, a slang word for mengenaskan, or pathetic. But it's a comedy, so there is nothing too maudlin here. Although the film is rated for those aged 13-years or older, there are sexual innuendos that may not be suitable for all viewers. It paces well, but the ending scene for such complex story seems like a brush-off of what had come before. The Overtunes, a band currently rising in popularity, contributed two love songs to the film. The guitar-strumming trio also appear in the film. In cinemas on Dec. 28, Ngenest is a good choice for couples and best friends to have some genuine laughs while also contemplating the nature of relationships. ' Photo courtesy of Starvision Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 The members of the opposition parties grouped in the Red-and-White Coalition (KMP) are no longer solid, following the wish of the National Mandate Party (PAN) to join the ruling coalition to get ministerial posts in President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's government, according to a politician of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Fahri Hamzah, who is also House of Representatives deputy speaker, said on Saturday that the PKS' stance during the recent hearings of the House's ethics council to probe into an alleged violation of ethical codes by then House speaker Setya Novanto also showed its different stance from other KMP members. 'PAN has announced its decision to join the government, while the PKS and the Democratic Party had supported the stance of the ruling coalition in the recent council hearing,' said Fahri in Jakarta as reported by tribunnews.com. According to Fahri, the remaining solid KMP members are the Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP). Initially, the KMP consisted of five political parties: Gerindra, PAN, the PPP, Golkar and the PKS. Those parties supported Prabowo Subianto during the presidential election and they established an opposition coalition in the House of Representatives. Because of its solidity, they managed to dominate the House's leadership positions. But later, PAN openly announced its wish to join the ruling collation known as the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH), whose members include the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Hanura Party. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party had decided not to join either the KIH or the KMP. According that Fahri, 2015 was a year of political maneuvering to weaken the KMP, which was marred by leadership schisms in Golkar and the PPP caused partly by government intervention, and it was a year that ended with the downfall of the House speaker. However, he believed that the KMP would still exist and remain an important political group to balance the government's executive power. As well, the leadership within the KMP could be convinced that maintaining its position would strengthen their stance in the elections in 2019. He believed that currently the popularity of Prabowo was higher than that of President Jokowi. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Abdullah al-Shihri (The Jakarta Post) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Sat, January 2, 2016 Saudi Arabia executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges on Saturday, including a Shiite cleric who was a central figure in 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the kingdom. The killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr may spark new unrest among Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, largely concentrated in the kingdom's east, and in Bahrain, which has seen low-level violence since 2011 protests by its Shiite majority demanding greater rights from its Sunni monarchy. The cleric's name was on a list of the 47 carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. It cited the Interior Ministry for the information. Saudi state television also reported the executions. Of those executed, Saudi Arabia said 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. Saudi Arabia said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. The executions were carried out Saturday in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns, it said. Al-Nimr had been a vocal critic of Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy, which harshly suppressed the 2011 Shiite-led protests. Saudi Arabia sent troops to help Bahrain quash the uprising, fearing it would spread. Amnesty International has called the verdict against the cleric, who was in his mid-50s, part of a campaign by Saudi authorities to "crush all dissent." Before his arrest in 2012, al-Nimr had said the people do not want rulers who kill and carry out injustices against protesters. He was asked at his trial if he disapproves of the Al Saud ruling family. "If injustice stops against Shiites in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion," the cleric responded, according to his brother Mohammed, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press before the verdict. Al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but said he never carried weapons or called for violence. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of all those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a gray beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by Saudi men. After listing the names and images of those executed, Saudi state television showed black-and-white footage of previous terror attacks in the kingdom, one showing bodies in a mosque after an attack. Soft, traditional music played in the background. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide. Coinciding with the rise in executions is the number of people executed for non-lethal offenses that judges have wide discretion to rule on, particularly drug-related crimes. (bbn) Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell and Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 2, 2016 A pharmacy building known as Apotek Chung Hwa was established in 1928 on Jl. Pecinan, an area that is also popularly known as Jakarta's Chinatown, in Glodok, West Jakarta. Eighty-seven years later, the historic building has received a face-lift to become the Pancoran Tea House. Located adjacent to Glodok Market, the two-story tea house is one of the three sites in Kota Tua that has just been renovated by the Jakarta Old Town Revitalization Corporation (JOTRC) and the Jakarta Endowment for Art and Heritage (Jeforah). 'This tea house is the entrance of Kota Tua and Jakarta's Chinatown,' JOTRC president director Lin Che Wei said recently, while pointing at an old map of the area that shows it is the first building visitors who come from Central Jakarta see in Kota Tua. Lin said the idea to convert the old pharmacy into a tea house comes from Gan Djie, who lived around the Kota Tua area and served as Chinese captain, the highest official in the semi-autonomous Chinese community appointed by the Dutch colonial administration, from 1663 to 1675. According to Lin, Gan always served tea free of charge to everyone who stopped for a rest in front of his office in Kota Tua. At that time, there were not as many in the area who sold food and drink as now, which made Gan's tea precious to travelers visiting the busy area. Every day Gan put eight teapots with cups in front of his office, making the place one of the most popular buildings in the area. The Pancoran Tea House is set to start operating in the near future, emphasizing that besides selling it, the house would also serve tea for free to people who stop by the building, like Gan did in the past. However, he said transforming Apotek Chung Hwa into a tea house was not an easy job as most parts of the building had been damaged. Only 20 percent of the building's structure and materials remain original and the rest are replicas of the original parts. It took 10 months for JOTRC and Jeforah to renovate the building. 'The revitalization of the building was not only physically repairing it, but also reviving the historic value of the area. The tea house has a strong connection with Kota Tua,' Lin continued. According to Lin, the revitalization was an important part for the 1.3-kilometer-wide area of Kota Tua to get world recognition as one of the heritage sites in Indonesia. The revitalization project also aims to evoke public empathy for traditions and social solidarity within the area's community. He said besides the Pancoran Tea House, JOTRC and Jeforah have also finished the revitalization of the old Post Office Building that has been transformed into an art gallery and a building at Jl. Malaka No. 7-9 that would be granted to the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ). In January 2016, JORTC is set to send the latest phase of its UNESCO World Heritage submission for Kota Tua to be recognized as a historic area. UNESCO is expected to announce the results in mid-2017. JOTRC project manager Anneke Prasyanti said after completing the three projects, JOTRC expected that the revitalization of 12 other historical sites in Kota Tua would be finished in 2016, including the Jasindo building, the Jiwasraya building and the Kerta Niaga building. 'However, I must admit that this Pancoran Tea House was the most difficult one,' Anneke said. She said she could not find the building's original shape because it had undergone several changes in the past. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Batang, Central Java Sat, January 2, 2016 Unlike in previous years, 43-year-old Neman Surono, a villager from Blado district, Batang regency, Central Java, said he had not seen rainwater inundate his front yard during the beginning of the rainy season over the past few weeks. 'Now when the rain falls, the rainwater no longer submerges the street and the yard in front of my house. It water runs directly into the absorption wells,' he told The Jakarta Post recently. Living in Bismo subdistrict, located some 850 meters above sea level on the northern slope of the Dieng mountain range, Neman said residents in his village used to struggle to preserve clean water throughout the year. During the dry season, his village would experience drought, and during the rainy season, they had to deal with floods. The locals, however, have recently begun to feel at ease after building 80 absorption wells, with a capacity of two cubic meters each, across the village with support of the USAID-funded Indonesia Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene (IUWASH) program The subdistrict has a spring that supplies water to the regency-owned tap water company, PDAM Batang. The spring has a water debit of 240 liters per second but during the latest prolonged dry season in November 2015, the debit decreased to just 190 liters per second. Research conducted by IUWASH revealed that the water debit of the spring had been decreasing by 5 to 10 percent a year. The spring supplies 50 percent of the clean water needs of PDAM Batang's 40,000 customers. 'That's why we encourage [people] to make infiltration wells. This is an instant way of infiltrating the run-off back to the ground so it can supply water to the spring,' IUWASH's Central Java regional coordinator Jefry Budiman said. The advantages of absorption wells have also been enjoyed by residents of Patemon subdistrict, Tengaran district, Semarang regency, Central Java. As many as 286 absorption wells have been built in the region with financial aid from PT Coca Cola's corporate social responsibility (CSR) program and technical assistance from IUWASH. 'We helped organize the people and the technical matters,' Edy Triyanto of IUWASH said. Data from IUWASH showed that a total of 3,300 absorption wells had been built across Indonesia since 2011, requiring US$38.7 million. The remaining infiltration wells were built in Pematangsiantar and Sibolangit, North Sumatra, in 2013, in Pacet district, Mojokerto, East Java, in 2014 and in Malang, East Java, in 2015. Environmental expert Sudharto P. Hadi of the Semarang-based Diponegoro University said that the wells saved water during the rainy seasons. 'One thing for sure, the rainwater will not just run as it is but will be infiltrated back to the ground,' Sudharto said. Other efforts to conserve water include the reforestation programs conducted by the CSR forum and PDAM Batang. 'We are trying to preserve the upstream area through reforestation for damaged forest. We ask the community to participate and preserve the environment,' said PDAM Batang director Yulianto. WTIN1 As streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are building more original content, documentaries have become a major attraction for these companies to acquire or develop on their own. Netflix has been leading the charge in original nonfiction works with the recent success of their "The Jinx"-like true-crime series "Making a Murderer," and receiving Oscar nominations for documentaries they've acquired like "The Square" (2013), and "Virunga" (2014). Legendary documentary filmmaker Errol Morris is also working on a true-crime project for Netflix. But when it comes to the direct-to-stream route Michael Moore is one filmmaker you won't see doing a deal with Netflix and the rest. "It is crucial that documentaries that are made for a theatrical audience have theatrical distribution," Moore told Business Insider in a recent interview. "I think for the audience it's much better to see some of these films with 200 other people in a dark theater than home alone." Moore's new movie, "Where To Invade Next," follows the Oscar-winning filmmaker as he travels to countries around the world to highlight things he believes other countries are doing better than the United States. The documentary was a hot item to purchase when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. There were even rumors among industry attendees at the festival that Netflix was interested in buying the worldwide rights to the film. Michael Moore Jason Merritt Getty But Moore decided to go with a yet-to-be-named upstart company made by former Radius Founders, the streaming arm of The Weinstein Company, and the founder of the Alamo Drafthouse. The film has already played theatrically in New York and Los Angeles, and will play at more theaters in February. "I have to be honest, when I'm watching a movie on television or my computer, I don't really in my head think that I'm watching a movie," said Moore. Story continues This isn't to say that "Where To Invade Next" won't be available on streaming services in the future. But for the initial run, Moore was adamant his film be shown in traditional theaters. "I and the others that make these movies for theaters, we make them for a 50-foot screen," said Moore. "We make them to be experienced with others, because you're going to have a different emotional response. The laughter, the crying, the anger, whatever it is. And I think there's something very valuable about that." NOW WATCH: The best places to go if the world is going to end More From Business Insider Book reviews for the young and the old. This site reviews children, teen, and adult books with a few interesting things thrown into the mix. Check out the labels on the right hand side for specific genres or topics. 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Thailands second most important destination after Bangkok, the Andaman Sea island was one of 47 cities from 33 countries included as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. They were categorised in seven creative fields (Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music). Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said, Phuket is no longer just a beach resort. It has become a complete holiday destination with a broad range of cultural attractions and convention facilities. Being recognised by the United Nations most important cultural organisation for its culinary creativity is an added asset. He added, Phuket is already world famous for its seafood. And promotion of Thai cuisine is one of the TATs topmost priorities because it is an indispensable part of the travel and tourism experience. Launched in 2004 and now comprising 116 Member Cities, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy. UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova stated, The UNESCO Creative Cities Network represents an immense potential to assert the role of culture as an enabler of sustainable development. I would like to recognise the many new cities and their countries that are enriching the Network with their diversity. In 2015, UNESCO marked the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the international community in September 2015, highlights culture and creativity as key levers for sustainable urban development. The Network will continue to serve as an essential platform to contribute to the implementation and achievement of this international agenda. The latest listing of UNESCO Creative Cities can be seen here. Often dubbed as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket as Thailands largest island is famous the world over for its beaches, diving, water-sports and other marine-related activities. In recent years, the island resort has seen the emergence of a spectacular product range, especially spas, health and wellness resorts, attractions and boutique hotels. Strong airline connections now provide direct access from many parts of Asia. One of the fastest growing market segments is weekend holiday breaks by visitors from neighbouring countries; such as, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. In 2014, visitor arrivals and departures to Phuket totalled 11,958,603, (Thai 3,499,187; foreigners 8,459,416), generating an estimated B259.290 billion in tourism income, reports the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Trends, advantages and incentives of solar power in Phuket in light of rising energy demand With power demand in Phuket slated to rise steadily by 10 per cent annually for the foreseeable future, pressure is on for the government to import more fossil-fuel-combustion- derived energy from power plants in Krabi, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Songkhla and Surat Thani. technology By Steven Layne Saturday 2 January 2016, 02:00PM Yet at the same time, the dawning of a solar power revolution is upon us, as more and more individuals and companies around the planet come to realise that renewable energy is a no brainer, whether in respect to the environment or investment. Here The Phuket News speaks with William Mono, owner of the islands leading solar company Mono Sun Technology, about solar power in Phuket, and Thailand. What are some of the trends with solar power in Phuket and the general region? More and more residents and businesses are installing grid-connect systems, which feed the solar power back into the grid, and can theoretically roll back your meter. Whereas in the past we mostly installed stand-alone systems on remote islands, for instance, out in the sticks where there wasnt grid power, and the client needed to depend on battery systems. But now, Id say just in the past two years, 90% of our work has been grid-connect systems, in your ordinary residential neighbourhoods and at private homes. Is there still a demand for stand-alone systems? There is still some demand for stand-alone systems, especially for clients off the grid, but such systems can be a little more cost-prohibitive because of the element of battery systems whereas grid-connect systems dont require a battery as you draw your electricity directly from the grid, which is essentially your battery. But even on many of the islands off Phuket, theyre running off large diesel generators already, so theyre more seeking hybrid systems to reduce their fuel consumption. What about power outages? With grid-connect systems, theres a safety element that will shut off the power generation if the power goes out. This is necessary so workers dont get electrocuted when working on the grid. There are hybrid systems for clients who require back-up when the power goes out, but technically these arent 100 per cent legal and have yet to be certified by the PEA. Whats the return on investment (ROI) like for a solar system these days? As costs for solar panels and equipment have drastically fallen, so has the ROI period. Whereas in the past, it could have been 10 to 20 years before you broke even, depending on the system, now youre looking at only 5-6 years, without subsidies, or only 3-4 years with subsidies. The systems will last 30 years plus, and we can offer warrantee guarantees of 25 years. So its really a no brainer when you crunch the numbers. One example was for a large-scale system quote we did for a factory in Phuket. About 10 years ago, the client was looking to go solar, and the system they would have needed would have cost US$5 million, or upwards of B200 million at the time. Now, for the same sized system, with newer equipment would only be about B18 million. It depends on the size of the system too. Generally, the larger the system, the cheaper rate per kilowatt and thus shorter ROI period. So Monosun can advise residents, businesses and organisations who want to invest in solar? Indeed, in addition to our regular residential and commercial clientele throughout Phuket and the rest of the kingdom, were currently consulting with a local organisation about the prospect of constructing a large solar plant that would help curb Phukets rising demand for energy, which mostly comes from coal and oil power plants off the island. Solar is definitely a viable and smart solution for Phukets power issues, which will continue to grow as the demand rises as much as 10 per cent annually. Are there any buy-back programmes in Phuket right now? Currently there arent any new programmes for the residential sector. In the past, thereve been at least two types of incentives offered to the general public. More than a decade ago, they started with a buy-back programme for Very Small Power Producers (VSPP), which enabled those with a contract to sell excess power that which they didnt use back to the grid. In practice, most [VSPP contractees] didnt produce excess power, as youd need a fairly large power system to have excess. The latest incentive applied a feed-in tariff (FIT) model, which stipulated that you sell all the power you generate back to the PEA all of it, so you wouldnt use any of it. Under this programme, the government agreed to buy electricity at a subsidized rate of nearly B7 per kilowatt-hour, whereas the normal rate is only about B4.75. But they reached their quota already and stopped issuing contracts a few months back. Are there any government incentive programmes for private individuals or investors now? The government recently launched a programme inviting private investors to invest in solar systems that would be installed on government land. Under this scheme, the investor would get a certain return from the sale of electricity, and the government unit which operates that land would also get a cut for their own coffers. If anyone is interested in the details, were happy to consult and can serve as the go between. Just give us a call or email us. Monosuns shop, warehouse, and Phukets only Solar-assisted bakery is located on Chao Fa West Rd, across from the entrance to Kajonkiet Pattana School. For more information, visit taspower.com, or call 076-263717 Fee for repeat offenders who don't mow grass could be increased Those who fail to keep their lawns cut are charged a $100 fee per incident for the city to cut their lawns. The council looks to increase this fee. John Tory versus Sly James Kansas City Mayor Sly James was so confident in the Royals beating the Blue Jays in the AL Championship Series that he wagered Missouri barbecue on it. In response, Toronto Mayor John Tory vowed to send his rival some Canadians maple syrup so he could drown his sorrows if his team lost. We all know the outcome: Royals advanced to the World Series, and Tory politely promised to send a gift. Norm Kelly versus Meek Mill Councilor Norm Kelly (also known as the Internets dad) had a beef with Meek Mill after the Philadelphia rapper accused Drake of not writing his own lyrics. Before Meek Mills scheduled performance at the Molson Amphitheatre, Kelly tweeted: Youre no longer welcome in Toronto, @MeekMill. At least the rivalry resulted in some good: Norm and Drake became BFFs. Toronto versus raccoons Toronto is in a longstanding war with its peskiest inhabitants: Raccoons. City Halls comical debates about animal control resulted in the approval of new raccoon-proof green bins. Tory launched a militant campaign that included a product-testing video and the endorsement of an animal behaviourist. Although he won the battle, we all know raccoons will win the war. Dumb sports fans versus reporters The sick trend of trying to humiliate female TV reporters on air isnt new but it spread fast in Toronto this year. A Hydro One employee was involved in one vulgar incident at a Toronto FC game after he shouted F--- her right in the p---- at CityNews reporter Shauna Hunt. Later, another man shouted obscenities at CBC journalist Charlsie Agro while she was on air covering the Pan Am Games closing ceremonies. Cyclists versus pedestrians After years of construction, new bike lanes along Queens Quay caused confusion for pedestrians and cyclists. One incident resulted in a brawl after a pedestrian was allegedly run into while trying to cross the street. A video of the incident shows the pedestrian punching the cyclist in the face at the south side of Lower Simcoe and Queens Quay. Confrontations such as these resulted in additional signage for cyclists on the Martin Goodman Trail. Density creep versus developers So-called Density Creep crusaders banded together in a campaign to Save Our Streets, to push for more midrise developments. Their fear? That the value of their property would go down: Right now, all the houses are $1.1 (million) to, say, $2.2 (million), but theyre looking at putting in places that are only $500,000, said one homeowner. Even after the group experienced social media backlash, members continued to fight developers, who they say flouted city zoning laws. Uber versus taxi drivers The continuing struggle between Uber drivers and taxi drivers came to a head in Toronto as council continued deciding how to equalize old and new services through regulations. Cab drivers protested by staging a hunger strike at City Hall and swarming the downtown core in protest, in December. Dozens of taxis were double-parked in silent protest in front of city hall, affecting morning and evening commutes. While no arrests were made during the protest, tickets were handed out to taxi drivers who were driving recklessly, including one who clipped a police officer. Read more about: SHARE: NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - January 01, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 15, 2016 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nimble Storage, Inc. (NMBL), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 27, 2015 through November 19, 2015, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Nimble Storage and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 15, 2016. About the Lawsuit Nimble Storage and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. These false statements and omissions include, in part, that Nimble Storage: (i) was being negatively impacted by intense competition from well-entrenched, large competitors who were slashing prices in order to maintain market share; (ii) had made a conscious decision to focus its sales and marketing efforts towards the large enterprises market and to reduce sales efforts in the U.S. commercial market; and (iii) was losing sales in both sales channels due to this change in sales strategy and the intense price competition. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un attends a meeting at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang, in November 2015 (AFP Photo/-) North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's uncle has described how fear of the deadly power politics in Pyongyang drove him and his wife to defect to the United States nearly 20 years ago. In a telephone interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency, Ri Kang said the couple had been deeply concerned what might become of them in any power struggle that followed the eventual death of Kim's father Kim Jong-Il. Ri is married to Ko Yong-Suk, the younger sister of Kim Jong-Un's mother. "After spending nearly two decades near Kim Jong-Il, I had felt the cruelty of power," Ri said Wednesday. "I thought it wasn't such a good idea to live near that." Ri and Koh had been tasked with looking after Kim Jong-Un while he was studying in Switzerland as a teenager, and rather than return to North Korea they chose to defect to the United States in 1998. Kim's mother was very ill at the time and receiving treatment in Europe. She would eventually die in France in 2004. "My wife thought we could get some good treatment for her sister in the US. I went there out of fear of what those in power can do," Ri said. It would be another 13 years before Kim Jong-Il died, and the transfer of power to Kim Jong-Un was relatively smooth. However, Ri's worries about the pitfalls of Pyongyang's power politics were well founded. After two years at the helm, Kim Jong-Un had another of his uncles by marriage, Jang Song-Thaek, purged and executed. After living in relative anonymity in the United States for so many years, Ri and his wife came under the media spotlight last week when it emerged that Ko had filed a defamation suit in Seoul against three South Korea-based defectors from the North. She is seeking a total of 60 million won ($51,900) for remarks the defectors made on South Korean TV talk shows between 2013 and 2014. The alleged defamation covers claims that Ko once managed a secret fund for Kim Jong-Il, that her father collaborated during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula and that she had plastic surgery after defecting to the US. Story continues "My wife has a heart condition and she was very upset by what the defectors said," Ri told Yonhap. The interview did not reveal where the couple lived in the United States, but Ri said he was running a successful laundry service. The couple have two sons and a daughter who are attending university in different US states, he added. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- A U.S. district judge in New York decided against dismissing a case against General Motors (GM) related to its faulty ignition switch issues, USA Today reports. The automaker will be going to trial on January 11. The judge concluded that plaintiff Robert Scheuer brought forth enough evidence to support a jury trial. Scheuer is suing GM for injuries he received in 2014 after an accident in his 2003 Saturn Ion, USA Today added. Last February GM recalled thousands of vehicles after revealing that the automobiles had faulty ignition switches that could result in the engine suddenly shutting off while the car was in motion. The switch issue would result in almost 2.6 million vehicle recalls and there are at least 124 deaths tied to the problem. "Today's ruling paves the way for the jury to have an unfettered and full view of GM's behavior in covering up this defect," Scheuer's lawyer Bob Hilliard told USA Today. "This gross negligence evidence will now be shown under the bright lights of a court of law and there can be little doubt to the true damning nature of the truth of what GM did." Shares of GM closed lower by 0.49% to $34.33 on Wednesday afternoon. Recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. TheStreet Ratings has this to say about the recommendation: We rate GENERAL MOTORS CO as a Buy with a ratings score of B. This is driven by several positive factors, which we believe should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks we cover. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and solid stock price performance. We feel its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows: Liontrust's Stephen Bailey on why he is avoiding a third of the FTSE All Share as signs indicate dividend cuts are on the horizon. Simply 'buying the market' is not an option, he says. In 2016, we expect the prospects for different parts of the stock market to be more polarised than at any stage since the global financial crisis. This has created several dangerous yield traps investors should be wary of. In the Liontrust Macro Equity Income fund we are actively avoiding sectors that make up almost a quarter of the FTSE ALL-Share's market cap and a third of its yield: mining, high street banks, tobacco and utilities. It is a myth that one needs exposure to these areas in order to achieve a decent yield. While we are long-term investors, these are areas of the market which look substantially mispriced in the short to medium term. Mispriced mining: Investment opportunities in the sector are 'substantially mispriced', according to Bailey While the FTSE 100 yielded 3.6 per cent in the year to 30 November 2015, the ratio of profits to dividends is currently less than 2. This is relatively low, and we would warn that some dividends are less secure than others. For this reason, we do not think that buying the market is a viable option, particularly for income investors. Next year, we think it will be just as important to work out which parts of the stock market to avoid, as which parts to invest in. Simply zeroing in on the sectors that offered the most income last year would leave you exposed to some investments that could offer lacklustre growth prospects, or even be at risk of dividend cuts. Mining For example, commodity prices are now under pressure due to the slowdown in the Chinese economy, which means funding dividends is becoming difficult, as evidenced when Anglo American recently scrapped its dividend. While demand for commodities has weakened, the bigger problem is that the miners havent adjusted their output accordingly, meaning prices have tumbled. This has created a vicious circle where miners need to boost supply in order to maintain cash flow and dividends, only leading to further price falls. Slump: Commodities have been badly hit by a mixture of falling demand and rising production The miners have also protected cash flows and dividends by slashing their investment in improving existing facilities or acquiring new sites. BHP Billiton represents an extreme case, as it has decided to increase borrowings in order to fund shareholder dividend payouts. This increased debt pile has led to concerns that its credit rating may be cut. In our view, these mining companies should be taking a long-term approach and exploiting the temporary downturn to pick up undervalued assets from distressed sellers such as Glencore. This approach would allow the big industry players to leave the commodities downturn in better strategic and competitive shape than they entered it. It would, however, require them to put long-term investor returns ahead of short-term dividends. High street banks The big UK banks are blighted by significant legacy issues, which we think highlights their inferior prospects compared to the up-and-coming 'challenger banks'. The big four are facing pressures on all sides. Politically, the UK government is trying to reduce its risk and satisfy the public demand for retribution after the financial crisis. Lacklustre: High street banks are blighted by a whole host of problems, affecting their ability to pay a dividend On a regulatory level, they are being forced to increase their capital buffers, an expensive process. And on an operational level they are burdened by a creaking IT infrastructure and an outdated business model. All of this means dividend payments in the sector appear to be at risk. The most recent batch of earnings from the UK banks showed these headwinds are continuing to bite financially. Lloyds failed to give any guidance on future dividend payouts, while issues including ongoing PPI provisions caused its earnings to be weaker than expected. RBS revealed a Q3 bill of 967m for litigation, misconduct and restructuring costs, while Standard Chartered confirmed rumours of a rights issue and cancelled its final dividend. We maintain our zero weighting to the UK large-cap high street banks, preferring to own a selection of smaller challenger banks that we believe offer strong earnings growth due to their tight cost control. Of these, we view Virgin Money as potentially the most disruptive force within the industry. It has taken market share in the mortgage and savings market and has now moved into SME lending. Tobacco At first glance, tobacco looks like a sector with decent cash flow growth, but delving deeper reveals some significant unaddressed issues. There are not many industries whose operating model involves killing their consumers, and emerging markets are now following developed markets lead in legislating against tobacco. At the moment, cash flow growth mainly stems from mergers within the industry, and rising tobacco prices. But there is only limited scope for the former, while the rise of plain packaging will remove a large chunk of brand value, harming pricing power. Rise of the health-conscious: For the first time the number of smokers is declining Tobacco executives are fully aware of the threat to their traditional business and have tried to hedge themselves by acquiring and developing e-cigarette and vaping brands. But we believe this is a false hope. At best it is a cannibalisation of existing business, and we think that the number of new vaping consumers will actually be far less than the numbers quitting cigarette smoking. These tobacco stocks British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco are bond proxies in our view, which offer minimal prospects of dividend growth in the medium to long term. Power utilities Disappointing growth: Less need for power, and a thorny political backdrop have been bad news for utlities While the businesses that own UK power utilities may appear priced for profits growth, as the above chart shows, the use of their services has not grown enough to support this. And on top of falling demand for power, the sector also has to cope with the whims of different governments. Bailey: It's important to work out which parts of the stock market you should be avoiding The wider economic backdrop has become increasingly negative for utilities as the political environment has evolved from one of mild endorsement (for green energy at least) to political hostility. Now that the coalition has been replaced by a Conservative majority government, there is no need to pander to a liberal element through green energy subsidies. Drax has already found this out to its cost as after incentives for its transformation from coal-fired power stations to biomass were removed earlier in the year. Where to find good yields There are, however, plenty of areas of the UK market that have favourable tailwinds and offer the prospect of good yields and dividend growth. Chinas stuttering economy started the year on the back foot as the countrys manufacturers suffered another month of decline. The official purchasing managers index of activity where scores below 50 show contraction stood at just 49.7 in December. It was the fifth month in a row that factory output has fallen, fuelling fears over the outlook for the worlds second largest economy. Slowdown: Work goes on at an automobile factory in Beijing. Factory output in China has fallen for the sixth month in a row The slowdown in China cast a shadow over the global economy last year and has clouded the outlook for 2016. Sagging demand for raw materials from China has sent commodity prices tumbling, taking its toll on miners around the world and countries that depend on the industry. With worries about China mounting, Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, this week warned that global growth will be disappointing and uneven in 2016. Chinas economic growth is expected to have cooled from 7.3 per cent in 2014 to 6.9 per cent in 2015, its slowest pace in 25 years. The IMF is forecasting growth of 6.3 per cent this year. Beleaguered British steel makers fear the Governments support for Chinas attempt to be granted market economy status by the European Union will render them defenceless within weeks. Steel makers, who are against such a move, fear the European Commission will grant China limited market economy status but offer protection for some industries against it using its economic weight unfairly. We could be offered protection which turns out not to be worth a great deal in the long term, said Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, which represents steel makers. Closures: British steel makers have faced a year of devastation If China is successful it would mean that the EU accepts that the government in Beijing no longer plays a role in the countrys industry. As a result the EU would no longer be able to impose tariffs on goods from China if it was found that they had been dumped at below market prices. The European Commission, which is expected to make a decision as early as next month, is regarded as being increasingly sympathetic towards China. The UK is a strong supporter of the Chinese move although other countries including Italy are not. The granting of market economy status would make it more difficult for the US to impose tariffs on Chinese products and its government has warned that approval of the application would mean the EU would be unilaterally disarming its trade defences. British steel makers have faced a year of devastation following the closure of SSI UKs plant in Redcar with the loss of thousands of jobs. In addition, employees were lost at Tata Steel and the workforce at Caparo was also slashed. Steel companies and unions are united in blaming Chinese firms for dumping cheap steel on their markets. The Government and the EU have come under fire for not reacting quickly enough to the threat. The UK steel industry which fears the Governments support for China will see the EU bow to its demands to be recognised as a market economy has forged an alliance with steel giants across Europe in an attempt to block the move. Companies and unions have criticised China for providing state support to its steel makers which sharply increased their exports to Britain and the EU last year. The most recent figures show that the UK imported 687,000 tons of steel from China in 2014 compared with 303,000 tons the year before. Iraq's Asaib Ahl al-Haq group (The League of the Righteous) has demanded the end of the Saud family's rule in Saudi Arabia (AFP Photo/Haidar Mohammed Ali) Karbala (Iraq) (AFP) - The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric Saturday sparked outrage in neighbouring Iraq, from protesters threatening the royal family to politicians calling for diplomatic action. Hundreds of people demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and some leaders urged the government to close down the newly reopened Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. The office of Hadi al-Mudaressi, an Iraqi cleric whose brother has a strong following among Bahraini Shiites notably, organised a protest near the mausoleum of Imam Hussein in Karbala. "No red lines from now on", "We will reap your souls, Saud and Khalifah", read some of the banners, referring to the Saudi and Bahraini ruling families. "This is what I tell Al-Saud from the sacred land of Hussein: I swear to God that the sheikh's blood was not spilled in vain," said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. "We will make the earth shake under your feet," he said. Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ashtari, from Mudaressi's office, said he wanted "the Iraqi government to take a clear and honest position regarding this major tragedy." A cleric from Bahrain who was at the protest, Sheikh Habib al-Jamri, said the world should react to Nimr's execution. "Sheikh Nimr was an icon for Islamic resistance," he told AFP. "His words were his weapon. They couldn't defeat his words so they detained him, tortured him and today executed him in front the world's eyes, like a challenge to global conscience." Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi expressed "great shock" and warned of the destabilising potential of Nimr's execution. "Freedom of speech and peaceful opposition are basic human rights granted by divine and international laws. Violating them impacts the region's security, stability and social fabric," he said in a statement. Story continues Several Sunni clerics also condemned Nimr's execution, which looked likely to strain a recent attempt at diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. - Diplomatic tension - Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraq's Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- also said Baghdad should take action. "Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons," a statement from his office said. The embassy only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudis were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a recent figure. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family's) rule," Abdelsamad's office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimr's execution. "Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, today they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a "high price". "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. MANZINI Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Paul Dlamini joined over 12 000 gospel music lovers in celebration of the new year at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre. This was during the Umlilo Crossover Gospel Music Festival. The massive show was hosted by Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane of Izinceku Zamagawugawu. The DPM was accompanied by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini as well as Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Gideon Dlamini. Indeed it was a unique celebration for the cabinet ministers as they joined Gawuzela on stage with their candles on celebrating the year 2016. The DPM took time, to wish those who attended a Happy New Year. He declared that this year was one of success and people should put all their trust in the Lord as they enter into the new year. About 10 minutes before cr- ossing over to 2016, Gawuzela asked all the dignitaries to go to the stage with candles in their hands. He then asked everyone who was present to light his or her candle. When the clock struck midnight, everyone was in so much excitement for having made it to the new year with candles held high in hand. It was then time for some serious dancing to the songs of Mduduzi Nezinceku Zamagawugawu as they gave an hour-long performance. During the performance, Gaw- uzela also took time to encourage the music lovers to forget about the past year and focus on the new year with hope and faith that it will be the best year for them. He also thanked all those who attended the show, saying the numbers had increased from those of last years. Simelane said God willing, he would definitely host another celebration next year. MBABANE Famous Manzini Wanderers player and police officer Gcina Kwere Mazibuko has been fired from the police service for drink-driving. Mazibuko used to play for Royal Leopards before he joined the Manzini side about two years ago. Mazibuko had been arrested, charged and convicted on several counts of drunk driving on various instances, which, however, took place while he was away from duty. He was based at the Mbabane Police Station and his dismissal from work is with effect from December 31, 2015. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed the dismissal and said the reason bothered around cases of misconduct which included several convictions for drink-driving and negligent driving. As a police service, we do not condone bad behaviour and we are law-enforcers and so we should uphold the law at all times, Mamba said. Mamba said the national commissioner of police had the authority, guided by Section 29, Paragraph E of the Police Act, to take disciplinary action against any police officer who is in breach of the law. Mazibuko appeared before the police disciplinary board, which reached the verdict to dismiss him from work. He had worked as a police officer for over five years. It was gathered that among his convictions, he had appeared before a Manzini magistrate after a kombi belonging to Manzini Wanderers that he was driving overturned. His cases of driving under the influence of alcohol date back to November 2013. At some point, in August 2014, Mazibuko was given a warning by the police disciplinary board. Mamba revealed that Mazibuko still had a right to file for appeal. This year, several police officers were brought to book for cases of malpractice. Two officers based at KaPhunga Police Station were charged for the alleged theft of a laptop and E12 000 cash from a scene of a car accident where the owner of the items died on the spot at Mkhondvo River. One of the officers eventually resigned from work. Two other officers based in Mbabane are currently on suspension for charging people amounts of E5 000 in order to erase their fingerprints and convictions records from the police data base. The two have their cases pending. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Ron Hellman As we close the books on 2015, with a plague of pessimism infecting the populace, I give you an antidote the positive, optimistic and upbeat Susan Stewart. Against the odds, Stewart has succeeded in making a career, and a living, out of acting. I first met Stewart a number of years ago when she was active in Queens community theater in such productions as Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Lovers and Other Strangers and Little Shop of Horrors. She also appeared in a couple of Outrageous Fortune Company shows at Queens Theatre in the Park: How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel, and the Pulitzer Prize-winner Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz. That was before she turned pro by joining the unions Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. But she still says that the Queens Theatre in the Park dressing room was by far the nicest one Ive ever worked in. A lifelong resident of Queens, born in Manhattan, Stewart is a graduate of Townsend Harris High School and Queens College. In college she had lead roles in SubUrbia, The Crucible, Our Town, Miss Julie, and in two international productions that brought her to South Korea and France. Some venues in new plays she has performed in are the SoHo Rep, Cherry Lane Theatre, The Looking Glass, The Red Room and Kraine Theatre. TV roles include Six Degrees with Campbell Scott, Cupid with Bobby Cannavale, Blue Bloods and Royal Pains as Alex Vegas sister where she had to hobble around in six-inch heels. A particularly memorable experience was doing the film Life in Flight with Patrick Wilson. Stewart has had the good fortune to be in many financially rewarding commercials, where her fluency in Spanish has been a plus. You may have seen or heard her in spots for mobile phones and pharmaceuticals, voiceovers and public service announcements, channel promos, New York Lotto, Ikea and Crest toothpaste. An actor she admires is Vanessa Aspillaga, who was the original Marela in Anna in the Tropics, and a favorite show is Little Shop of Horrors. My dream one day is to play Seymour, she said, in a gender-bending revival. But right now her focus is on motherhood she has two sons, one a toddler and the other just a few weeks old. Stewart has had the talent, ambition and dedication to make it in a challenging profession. Her advice to someone starting out: Work begets work. If you keep doing what you love, and youre good at it, the opportunities will be there. In other words, dont be fearful, go out and do it! Happy sixth birthday to granddaughter Addison, and Happy New Year to all! Beaver County COVID-19 cases and deaths tracker New coronavirus cases increased 6.6% in Pennsylvania in the week ending Sunday as the state added 13,256 cases. The previous week had 12,431 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. SHARE "Mysteries of Love and Grief" by Sandra Scofield (Texas Tech University Press, $29.95) By Bridget Knight of the Times Record News Within hours of finishing Sandra Scofield's engrossing memoir of her family's life in Wichita Falls, I found myself inexplicably dashing to a crammed cabinet in a dusty storeroom at the Times Record News, where a century of city directories are stored like forgotten fossils at the Smithsonian. I had to know: Would I find a listing for Frieda Hambleton, the family glue at the center of "Mysteries of Love and Grief," or had her lifelong struggles to protect her family from repeated heartbreak faded without a trace, save for the few boxes of tattered letters, pictures and small possessions mailed to Scofield upon her grandmother's death? As I stared at the green-gray page from the 1962 directory, reading the simple entry for Mrs. Hambleton, the enormity of Scofield's accomplishment hit me. Gleaned from her own childhood memories, handwritten notes scrawled on the back of Polaroids, and the memories of one aunt, Scofield has earnestly reconstructed the realities of life for lower-income residents for most of the twentieth century in Wichita Falls. The powerful story is her family's, but the neighborhoods, schools, factories, stores even the tiny surrounding farming communities belong to us all. With that backdrop, I found it nearly impossible to put this slim nonfiction volume down. At the heart of this revealing tale is a series of premature deaths, one a tragic farm accident (Frieda's father), another the result of youthful carelessness (her first husband and true love) and a third, the lingering result of poverty and illness (Frieda's daughter, the author's mother). The events play out not in chronological order, but as a series of vignettes, each possibly the result of a single item in the inherited box. We learn about Frieda's almost compulsive need to be self-reliant, leaving her stepfather's farm in Devol, Oklahoma, where she landed after her husband's death, with three small children. A house on North Lamar Street provided refuge, and jobs, first as a railroad line cook in West Texas, then later at the General Mills flour plant here, provided the minimal subsistence her family required. Husbands apparently came and went, although they seem to have been little more than specks on the wallpaper, or a means to an end. Her last enabled her to settle into a house on Grant Street, which became a refuge for her family during her life, then later, the source of its permanent schism after her death. We meet Sandra, as a student at Huey Elementary, a boarder at the Academy of Mary Immaculate, then as a young woman aimlessly seeking a place anywhere other than Wichita Falls. Her story is not pretty, with its lost jobs and an arrest, but it is powerful. We sit with Frieda by her failing mother's bedside, then again as she cares for her dying daughter. Men cannot be counted on they die or leave but women die too. We can almost feel Frieda's determination: Grief must be overcome to protect the family. Her unconditional love is palpable. But grief, like love, is mysterious, as this book's title so presciently captures. It is silently passed down to later generations with sometimes paralyzing consequences. Few people realize the impact grandparents' heartbreaks and fears had on the lives of their grandchildren. Scofield came to see just that, and her readers are richer for it. MSUs Career Management Center is helping students on the road to the real world by opening a Career Closet filled with professional clothes that can be borrowed for job interviews. SHARE By Sarah Johnson Many Midwestern State University students don't have the resources to buy professional clothing when invited to interview for their first "real" job. To help students make the most of their one chance to make a good first impression, the Career Management Center at MSU is launching its career closet to students this month. The Career Management Center is seeking donations of men's and women's professional clothing to loan to students for interviews and career-related events. Items needed include new or gently used suits, blazers, dress shirts, blouses, slacks, skirts, ties and shoes that follow current professional fashion trends. All donations can be delivered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the Career Management Center in Clark Student Center 108 at MSU. Cindy Price, college coordinator at the Career Management Center, said that the center's mission is to introduce students to the professional development process and guide them as they search for a satisfying career. The Career Closet is just one way to help students make the sometimes difficult transition from student to career professional. "First impressions are formed in about seven seconds, which puts a lot of pressure on MSU students to look their best when they interview for new jobs," Price said. "A donation of professional clothing could make the difference in securing a great job offer for a student." For more information, call 397-4473. Sweet fundraiser Silky, smooth, delicious and decadent, chocolate is America's favorite go-to food. Did you know that every second Americans collectively eat 100 pounds of chocolate? Christ Academy is betting the smell of chocolate will bring people to the second annual Chocolate Soiree Jan. 8 at the Wichita Falls Country Club. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests will peruse their choice of chocolate creations by local chefs. Each chef will display his or her talent in vying for the People's Choice and Judges awards. The evening will include a silent auction, Golden Ticket raffle, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and lots of chocolate. Music will be provided by the Dallas String Quartet. Black and white cocktail attire preferred. The Chocolate Soiree supports Christ Academy's scholarship programs, which provide support for families with financial needs, teachers' families, academic scholarships and military, clergy and sibling grants. Tickets are $50 per person. Deadline is Jan. 4. Register online at christacademywf.org. Excellence in art The Wichita Falls Museum of Art at Midwestern State University serves the community by offering excellent art exhibits, entertaining events, beautiful facilities and educational programs. There are no memberships or admission fees. Your gift enables the museum to continue to serve the campus and the community. Your gift can be earmarked for educations programs for children, exhibition support, musical performances or educational programs for adults. Send your contribution to WFMA at No. 2 Eureka Circle, Wichita Falls, TX 76308. SHARE Church of the Good Shepherd Anglican, 1007 Burnett St.: The church has called a new rector, the Rev. Brian Chase, of Canton, Ohio, who will celebrate his first service Jan. 10. First Baptist Church, 1200 Ninth St.: Barbara Miller will lead a gathering at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at her home, 4818 Wyoming Ave., to pray for revival and forgiveness of sins. Reservations are requested, but all are welcome. Call 692-1872 or 613-4165. First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd.: On Jan. 3, the Prime Timers luncheon will be at noon and the retiring church board will meet after services. A congregational meeting will be Jan. 10 after services, with meeting of the new church board immediately following. First Christian Church of Iowa Park, 210 E. Cash St.: The current events study will be at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3. First United Methodist Church, 909 10th St.: Fifth- and sixth-grade children who would like to learn to make small talk at parties and improve their table manners can sign up for the Manners Matter class starting Jan. 14. The five-week class will be taught by Dee King and will end with a dinner-dance party Feb. 11. Registration is $65 and is due by Jan. 10. Sign up on the church website. Floral Heights United Methodist Church, 2214 10th St.: The evangelism committee will meet at noon Jan. 5, and LOL.com will meet at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7. Friberg-Cooper United Methodist Church, 5511 Old Friberg Church Road: A "Pancakes with the Pastor" breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. Jan. 3. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 4605 Cypress Ave.: The Lutheran Women's Missionary League will meet at 9 a.m. Jan. 2. Midweek activities will resume Jan. 6, with classes for age 3 through eighth grade. Bible class will resume at 9 a.m. Jan. 7, and the crafters will begin the new year at 9 a.m. Jan. 8. Pairs & Spares will take a trip to Rockin' M Ranch for a distillery tour Jan. 9. Participants will meet at 3:45 p.m. at the Catholic church in Scotland to caravan to Rockin' M, then eat dinner at Thad and Paisley's after the tour. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1501 Ninth St.: The pastoral office will reopen Jan. 4. St. Marks United Methodist Church, 4319 McNiel Ave.: The church office will be closed until Jan. 4, but regular service schedules will not be impacted. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 11th and Holliday: Activities Jan. 3 include a collection for the Interfaith Ministries pantry, installation of church officers and board members, and a trustees meeting after the worship service. The board of elders will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 4. On Jan. 6, Midweek Bible school will resume at 4:45 p.m. and the confirmation class will meet at 5 p.m., but the Agape Ringers will not have a rehearsal. The Tabitha Joy Lutheran Women's Missionary League will meet at 9:15 a.m. Jan. 9. Trinity United Methodist Church, 5800 Southwest Parkway: A men's breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 2. Holy Communion will be celebrated during the 10:30 a.m. service Jan. 3. The regular Wednesday schedule will resume Jan. 6. The deadline for submitting items for church briefs is 4 p.m. Wednesday. To have an item listed, mail the information to Bridget Knight, Times Record News, P.O. Box 120, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. Please limit announcements to special events, meetings or guests. Limited space does not allow listings for regular weekly events. Items may be faxed to 940-720-3444 or emailed to bridget.knight@timesrecordnews.com. We are sorry, but church brief items cannot be taken over the phone. SHARE Bob and Mary Carlton, volunteers with First Christian Church Coats for Kids, hold a coat headed to a designated student at Fowler Elementary School. Before Christmas, the Coats for Kids drive presented 566 new coats to needy elementary school students in Wichita Falls ISD. Contributed photos First Christian Church volunteer Lee DeVilbiss sorts through hundreds of coats purchased for the churchs Coats for Kids ministry. January marks the busiest time of the year for drive organizers, who fan out to scour post-Christmas sales for bargains on next years stock. Contributed photo The Sunday before volunteers with First Christian Church Coats for Kids make their deliveries to hundreds of elementary school students, the outwear is arranged on the church pews for blessings at both morning services. It may be hard to tell what the kids from Scotland Park Elementary School were drawing on their thank you note to First Christian Church, but its easy to see they were excited about the winter coats the churchs Coats for Kids program delivered after Thanksgiving. By Sarah Johnson "I love this coat!" "It's my favorite color!" These are just a few of the comments over the years from Wichita Falls Independent School District elementary-age children as they received their coats through First Christian Church's Mary Sue Winstead Coats for Kids program. But the sweetest note was written by a little girl whose coat brought more than warmth. "Thank you for the jacket. Now I can stay warm. Also my mom doesn't have to spend money because of your help. So I know that Jesus is real happy that you did that. Thank you so much for your help." The coats are given away at Thanksgiving, but the coat-buying takes place in January to take advantage of the post-holiday sales. Diana Costello, along with Judy Muir and Debbi Schmidt, heads up the committee that oversees the program. As a former teacher, Costello knows all too well the need that exists even for a simple item like a winter coat. "It makes me feel good that our church has been giving away coats since 1999," Costello said. "There are other organizations that give away coats, but ours is the only one that gives new coats." The program is simple, but far-reaching. Each year in October, WFISD teachers and counselors are asked to provide information on students who are most in need of a coat. The church receives the list and tries to fill each school's request. "When we first started, we would have requests for about 900 coats and we couldn't meet the need," Costello said. "It wasn't that we didn't have enough money, it was that we couldn't find that many coats at the price we set." The committee tries to keep the cost of the coats at an average of $25 each. "In the very beginning, we also used to include junior high kids in the coats program," Costello said. "It became apparent that junior high kids were a little more knowledgeable about style, so we just went with elementary school age. Now, we give to preschoolers through sixth graders and Head Start kids." Once the children are identified, the work begins. A group of 40 to 50 volunteers gather at the church to sort coats by school, gender and size. Each coat has a card attached with the child's name. Last year, 556 coats were delivered to the elementary schools. Since the program's inception, 8,000 coats have been donated. "We have a huge stack of thank you letters and drawings sent to us by the kids and teachers," Costello said. Costello said she is most proud of the fact that the Coats for Kids program is not a budgeted item for the church. "Coats for Kids is funded solely by donations," she said. "The congregation gives love offerings throughout the year. This is the time of year where we make a push because we are shopping for the sale coats." David Hartman, pastor of First Christian Church, said he is most proud of the church's commitment. "Giving is part of the DNA of First Christian Church of Wichita Falls," Hartman said. "In the very first year of its founding 1890 church members were providing Bibles to anyone in Wichita County who didn't have access to one, including prisoners at the county jail. Coats for Kids is one of the expressions of this congregation's 125 yearlong commitment to giving. In Matthew 25, Jesus described six corporal acts of mercy: To feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the unclothed, tend the sick, visit the imprisoned, and welcome the stranger. He said that anyone who did those for the neediest of his brothers and sisters was doing it for him. First Christian's Coats for Kids ministry is part of this congregation's ongoing effort to fulfill that mandate from Jesus, in this case by ensuring that every schoolchild who needs a warm coat is clothed with one. We never cease to be mindful that every one of those children is precious, made in the image of God, and every one of them bears the face of Jesus." The Coats for Kids received the Wichita Falls Junior League Give Light Award in April 2015 for its contribution to the community. For more information or to donate to the program, call First Christian Church at 692-2282. VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: Holliday clinches third straight district title Check out results from Monday's and Tuesday's high school volleyball action, including a district title for the Holliday Lady Eagles. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In 2015, Capital Region unemployment fell, private-sector jobs hit a record high, construction surged, and people rediscovered the area's downtowns. At SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany, IBM researchers created the world's most powerful microprocessor, while at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' manufacturing operations in East Greenbush, new blockbuster drugs led to a major expansion that created hundreds of new jobs. General Electric Co. completed a $10 billion acquisition of Alstom SA's power generation assets, which were folded into Schenectady-based GE Power. GlobalFoundries continued to expand, although it was unclear at year's end just how many people worked at its massive semiconductor fabrication plant in Malta. Tumbling oil prices reduced the flow of crude by rail into the Port of Albany, which had become a major transshipment point between North Dakota's Bakken fields and refineries up and down the East Coast. The port was also preparing for an influx of freight from the newly expanded Panama Canal. New locks that can handle far larger ships will open sometime in 2016. In Albany, the port invested in a larger crane and was lengthening its wharf. JetBlue began service at Albany International Airport, while US Airways and American completed their merger and announced plans for American to return to the Albany-Chicago market it had abandoned seven years earlier. Those flights begin in March. Passenger rail improvements a second track between Albany and Schenectady, longer platforms and a fourth track at the Rensselaer station, new signals and crossing improvements continued to move ahead, albeit slowly. The Capital District Transportation Authority bought larger, articulated buses to accommodate the growing number of passengers on the region's first bus rapid transit route. CDTA also began planning two additional routes for the service, which it calls BusPlus. Hospital groups weren't done with their expansions. St. Peter's Health Partners began work on a new patient tower at Troy's Samaritan Hospital, while Albany Medical Center continued to add to its campus on New Scotland Avenue in Albany. Ellis Medicine completed the expansion of a new emergency department, while physicians' groups added urgent care centers in Clifton Park and elsewhere. Pipeline projects, meanwhile, faced opposition from residents in area counties. In Rensselaer County, it was a natural gas line that would bring additional supplies from Pennsylvania to eastern Massachusetts, while a dual pipeline between Albany and northern New Jersey would move crude south to refineries and finished products north to the Capital Region. Bricks-and-mortar retailers struggled during the year as more consumers turned to online shopping. Supermarkets intensified their competitive efforts, with Price Chopper continuing its multi-year conversion to its new Market 32 format. And as Cumberland Farms expanded, Stewart's Shops increased its store renewal and expansion program, spending $30 million in 2015 and predicting it would spend even more in the coming year. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. A new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened at the former site of the Latham Circle Mall, now rebranded as the Shoppes at Latham Circle. After a delay of more than a year, work on other stores at the center was progressing as 2015 ended. While retail growth was sluggish, the wave of hotel construction continued, with a new Renaissance by Marriott opening at the former DeWitt Clinton in downtown Albany, and new hotels up and down the Northway corridor, from Colonie to Saratoga Springs. A Doubletree by Hilton opened in downtown Schenectady, and the casino under construction nearby included plans for two hotels. In the area's downtowns, old factories, warehouses and office buildings were being converted to residential uses. New construction was adding more living space. Filling the apartments were empty-nest baby boomers and millennials. Young adults were apparently in no hurry to buy a house, especially if they had student loans to repay. Nationally, student debt climbed to $1.2 trillion by the end of September, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Of that, 11.6 percent were either more than 90 days delinquent or in default. eanderson@timesunion.com 518-454-5323 Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made no secret of his desire to make New York state the national leader in environmental policies and practices. His administration relentlessly promotes renewable power generation and has begun to redesign the state's energy system through its infrastructure and regulatory framework. With his recent precedent-setting directive to the Department of Public Service, Cuomo made New York the only state to require a specific percentage of power from renewable generation. Cuomo's directive is particularly notable because it also marks New York's first formal policy declaration of the importance that nuclear power plays in maintaining a clean energy portfolio and achieving emission reductions, highlighting upstate plants in particular. However, it is the entirety of New York's nuclear fleet that deserves recognition, not just upstate power plants. There is no difference between the nuclear facilities that operate downstate and those upstate. More Information Arthur "Jerry" Kremer, former chairman of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee, is the chairman of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance, of which Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, is a member. www.area-alliance.org. See More Collapse According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, almost 60 percent of the carbon-free electricity in New York is produced by nuclear power plants. Of all the carbon-free technologies available, such as wind turbines and solar panels, nuclear is the only power source than can deliver energy around the clock and in all types of weather. As the governor emphasized in his directive, "additional attention needs to be given to ensure emissions-free sources of electricity remain operational." This means all of New York's nuclear power plants. There has been some movement in the state to differentiate between individual nuclear power plants, with governmental support of some plants coupled with disapproval of others. This sends conflicting messages that communicate New York's energy policies are unstable and subject to the prevailing winds. If New York wants clean energy and economic growth, it must send the clear message that it supports and values nuclear power plants. It is too late to save the James A. FitzPatrick plant, as bad policy and low natural gas prices have forced its closure. But it is not too late to preserve the rest of New York's essential nuclear fleet, including Indian Point Energy Center, which contributes 25 percent of New York City and Westchester County's energy. Most importantly to Cuomo's climate change goals, Indian Point emits virtually zero carbon and provides the clean energy the governor is so aggressively seeking. The plant's operation prevents 8.5 million tons of toxic carbon emissions into the atmosphere the equivalent of keeping 1.6 million cars off the road. A study by the Charles River Associates found carbon emissions would increase by 15 percent if Indian Point were to close. Toxic emissions from fossil-fueled electric generation disproportionately harm already over-polluted and underserved communities in New York City. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Despite its environmental necessity and stellar safety record, Indian Point is bogged down in the most drawn-out license renewal process in the history of the industry longer than the license renewal process of all other nuclear power plants in New York state combined. The staff of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is on site at Indian Point 24 hours a day and has recommended license renewal. The nonprofit in charge of New York's electric grid expressed concerns about reliability, meaning potential blackouts and brownouts, without Indian Point's power, especially following severe storms like Sandy. Cuomo said it best: "Talking about goals and achieving them are two different things." It's time for New York to stop talking about clean energy goals and start achieving them. State support for the continued operation of Indian Point is necessary to achieving New York's Clean Energy Standard. LONDON A group of American hackers, New World Hacking, has claimed responsibility for the cyber attack on the BBC website, which took it down for three hours on New Years Eve. The group claims to target those supporting Islamic State, and said that the BBC attack was merely a test of its capabilities, according to the BBCs technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones. In a tweet to Cellan-Jones, the group said: We are based in the U.S., but we strive to take down Isis (Islamic State) affiliated websites, also Isis members. It added: We realize sometimes what we do is not always the right choice, but without cyber hackers who is there to fight off online terrorists? The reason we really targeted (the) BBC is because we wanted to see our actual server power. The group said it hadnt planned to take the BBC site down for multiple hours. A member of the group known as Ownz told BBC reporter Leo Kelion that New World Hacking consisted of 12 people, eight men and four women. They formed the group in 2012. Their other activities have included a cyber attack on the Ku Klux Klan, and the #OpParis campaign to close IS social media accounts following the Paris terror attacks. A BBC source has admitted that the cause of the websites crash was a distributed denial of service attack, where the site is bombarded by traffic until it falls over. Officially, the BBC has not said that it was the victim of a cyber attack, preferring to blame its problems on technical difficulties. Related stories Cyber Attack Brings Down BBC Website for Several Hours Former Racing Driver David Coulthard Joins New 'Top Gear' Watch: 'Sherlock' Holiday Special Trailer Reveals 'the Bride' Not One More KCPD Killing Here's a look at a local protest movement taking shape.In the media, police have been under fire for deadly shootings.Statement from organizers seenhere on TKC . . .In the last 10 years, KCPD has killed 47 local residents. KCPD has one of the highest rates of officer involved killings in the nation. Recent comments made by KCPD to local press indicate the 47 police killings are acceptable and that the Kansas City community supports the police actions.This joint action, co-sponsored by One Struggle KC and Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, serves as a public display that the community does NOT condone the 47 police killings. We are outraged and we will not tolerate KCPD killing our residents.Find out more about the #47GoneKC andThe protest is scheduled for Monday @ 4:30 PM - 27th Street & Prospect Ave. KCMO##########Developing . . . Telegraph advises its readers to "head to Koufonissia for the sort of sand, sea and sun that recalls the long-forgotten Greece of the Sixties Koufonisia in the Cyclades island complex and Paleochora, in south-west Crete are among Europe's 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016, according to Telegraph. The British newspaper site's article advises its readers to "head to Koufonissia for the sort of sand, sea and sun that recalls the long-forgotten Greece of the Sixties its where Athenians in search of an unpretentious and reasonably priced beach break go. Hidden away between the larger Cycladic islands of Naxos and Amorgos, Koufonisia is made up of two tiny islets, Ano Koufonisi (Upper Koufonisi) and Kato Koufonisi (Lower Koufonisi), which are separated by a 655ft sea channel. While Kato Koufonisi remains uninhabited, Ano Koufonisi, with its whitewashed Cycladic cottages, has a buzzing little community of 366. Locals live mainly from fishing it is claimed that there are more boats than residents there are no real roads and hardly any cars, so everyone either walks or cycles. Even the larger island can be circled in a day on the flat coastal path, with little for company other than the endless sea views, and maybe a few goats. On the lovely long beach of Pori, where the sand is satin white and the sea a dazzling turquoise. Facilities come in the form of a beach bar serving cold drinks and snacks but not much else. Stay in Above the port, Koufonisis windmill dates from 1830 and was in use until 1956. Since 2006, it has been available for rent as an apartment sleeping four. It is beautifully furnished with local antiques, and has a private sea-view terrace. From 150 (119) per night for four people (00 30 22850 74294; windmill-villa.gr)." Easygoing seaside village The list also includes Paleochora, south-west Crete in its 5th place and comments the following: "Giving onto the Libyan Sea, on Cretes southern coast, Paleochora (48 miles south of Hania) is an easygoing seaside village, popular with Greeks in search of an unpretentious summer retreat. Everything is local and family-run: low-key B&Bs, informal tavernas and cafes, plus a much-loved therino (open-air summer cinema). The main beach, Pachia Ammos, is a half-mile curving swathe of sand, dotted with umbrellas and sun-beds, with a naturist area at the far end. Beyond the village are more secluded bathing spots, some nudist-friendly. Peaceful Gialiskari (2.5 miles east) is a pebble beach that was popular with hippies in the Seventies, while Grammeno (three miles west) is a sand-and-pebble beach backed by a grove of cedar trees. There are excursion boats from Paleohora to Elafonissi, and a coastal ferry to Agia Roumeli and Sougia, or you can hike up a rocky gorge to the village of Anydri (three miles) for lunch at an old-fashioned taverna. Stay in Manto Studios, a welcoming family-run B&B near the main beach (mantostudios.gr; two-person studio, with breakfast, 39 in June)." Telegraph's full list of Europe's 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016 follows: 1. Palagruza, Dalmatia, Croatia 2. Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia 3. Anamur-Iskele, Turkey 4. Koufonisia, Greece 5. Paleochora, south-west Crete, Greece 6. Viveiro, Galicia, Spain 7. Cies Islands, Spain 8. Comporta, Troia, Portugal 9. San Pantaleo, near the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia 10. Notre Dame, Porquerolles, France Read full story here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report A soldier and an elderly Muslim man were slightly injured when a man drove his car at troops protecting a mosque in Valence in southern France on Friday, officials said. The driver was seriously wounded when the soldiers shot at him but his injuries are not life-threatening, the government said in a statement. The driver was taken to hospital and his motives were not yet known. He had not yet been questioned. The 29-year-old driver is not known to local intelligence services, a source close to the investigation said. He is from a suburb of Lyon, about an hour's drive from Valence and his wife has arrived at hospital to see him, the source said. The injured passerby was a 72-year-old worshipper who was hit in the calf by a stray bullet shot by the soldiers, Valence mayor Nicolas Daragon told the iTELE news channel. The soldier had slight injuries to his legs. "The four soldiers were in front of the mosque, a moderate, quiet mosque, in between two prayer sessions, at a time when many worshippers arrived," Daragon said. "A car drove at them." The driver tried twice to hit the soldiers and they shot at him on his second attempt, he said. France has been on high alert since Islamic State militants killed 130 people in shootings and suicide bombings in Paris on November 13. Soldiers are protecting sensitive places across the country, including official buildings and religious sites.-Reuters Kuwait-based Equate Petrochemical Company has joined hands with the country's fire safety directorate to launch a special awareness campaign for safety and security of desert campers. This is the second year KFSD and EQUATE have launched the Stay Safe in the desert' campaign. Kuwaits first international joint-venture in petrochemical industry, Equate is a joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Colonel Khalil Al Amir, the director of Public Relations & Media at KFSD, said: "After the success witnessed during 2015, this is the second time we are launching the campaign with Equate. Figures issued by KFSD for camping season 2013-2014 noted a 50 per cent decrease in camping accidents when compared with previous years, which shows that we are going in the right direction." "Most camping accidents are caused by heating sources, from kerosene, coal and oil, which brings the need for overall awareness to achieve the desired results," he stated. Amir called upon the parents to closely observe their children while camping, keep them away from fire sources and educate them about dangers associated with fires. Equate Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) leader Mohammad Al Shamary said: "Overall integrated cooperation between KFSD and Equate is a true example of our slogan Partners in Success. Previously, together we have launched partnerships relevant to Firemen Day, international training courses, Safety at Every Home Campaign (Safe) and the desert safety campaign that is being continued right now." "The current campaign addresses general safety guidelines, safe locations for camping, observing safety when setting up tents and sitting or sleeping in them, the importance of having a fire extinguisher, calling 112 in case of emergency, as well as other applicable recommendations to address all aspects of EH&S as strategic objectives for Equate to ensure overall sustainability," he added.-TradeArabia News Service We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Bathinda, January 2 The staff of the district Health Department, including the Civil Surgeon, took an oath here yesterday to be humble and compassionate towards the patients. The oath was taken across the state as the step was initiated by the state Health Department. Narendra Kumar, an employee at the Civil Hospital said, The oath was taken by all employees of the department and orders for the same had been issued by Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani. Senior Medical Officers and office-bearers of different bodies of doctors, pharmacists and paramedical staff led their respective groups during the oath-taking ceremony. Employees of the hospitals, health centres and dispensaries at district and block level administered the oath at the Civil Hospital. Civil Surgeon Tejwant Singh Randhawa said, The entire medical and paramedical staff today took a pledge to take to polite behaviour as it can make the patients feel comfortable at hospitals and they can recover soon. He said, The oath was taken by the doctors and other staff members during meetings held at various government hospitals and medical centres of the region. With this, the patients will also gain confidence in the government health sector. TNS New Delhi, January 1 The Delhi High Court has directed the Income Tax Department not to effect to any fresh assessment order it passes against Vodafone for 2011-12 till February 18, when its plea against a dispute resolution panels decision to disallow exemptions amounting to over Rs 2,800 crore is taken up. The dispute resolution panel (DRP), set up under the Income Tax Act as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, had disallowed exemptions under various heads, including network site rentals, annual licence fee, unaccounted income, depreciation on 3G spectrum and transfer pricing adjustments on advertisements and marketing expenses. It had also referred the matter back to the assessing officer (AO). A Bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva last week allowed the AO to pass the assessment order but asked him not to give effect to it till the next date of hearing on February 18. The court also issued notice to the Centre, DRP and the Income Tax (I-T) Department and sought their replies on Vodafones plea alleging that the panels November 16 order disallowing the exemptions was illegal and arbitrary and contrary to provisions of the I-T Act. PTI R K Kichlu Tribune News Service Jammu/Ramban, January 1 Ten persons, most of them labourers, were charred to death while four others received burn injuries in a major fire at Dhalwas in the Chanderkote area of Ramban district on Thursday night. The victims were employees of a construction company which was entrusted with the excavation work at the countrys longest road tunnel between Chenani in Udhampur district and Nashri in Ramban district. The 9.2-km-long tunnel is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May. According to sources, 10 persons died on the spot and their charred bodies were extricated from the prefabricated structure where they were staying and sleeping. One of the victims has been identified as Rakesh Kumar of Khanpur in Himachal Pradesh. District Magistrate, Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar said it would be premature to comment on the cause of the fire. The preliminary reports indicate that a short circuit could have led to the fire in the shed, he said. The fire started around 12.45 am. The district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry, headed by Additional Deputy Magistrate, Ramban, Babu Ram. The inquiry panel would submit its report to the District Magistrate within 15 days. Immediately after receiving information about the incident, we rushed to the spot. Fire engines were pressed into service and we managed to douse the fire within 25-30 minutes. Thereafter, we launched a search operation for the bodies and 10 bodies were extricated from the damaged structure, said Dar. He said it was difficult for them to establish the identity of the deceased as the bodies were completely charred. We recovered 10 bodies nine of them were completely charred, Dar said. The District Magistrate said the forensic experts have been called to conduct DNA tests. The DNA tests of the bodies and their family members will be done to ascertain their identities before handing over the bodies to their relatives for last rites, he said. The police said the victims were mostly labourers and employees of Beg Construction Company engaged in excavation work at the Chenani-Nashri tunnel. Scores of other workers sleeping in the nearby sheds managed to escape after the fire broke out in the temporary structure. The missing inmates of the damaged shed who are suspected to be the victims have been identified as Irfan Latif, Mohammad Rafi and Desraj of Doda, Ishtiaq Ahmed of Banihal, Sheikh Irfan, Rohit Singh of Mukerian in Punjab, Showkat Ali of Chandigarh, Nasirudin Shah of Banihal and Devinder Kumar of Udhampur. The injured are Omkara Singh of Ramban, Mohammad Afzal Naik of Udhampur, Rais Ahmed of Namar in Banihal and Mohd Yousuf Beg of Banihal. They were discharged from a Batote hospital after being administered first aid. Amit Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, December 31 In a major security concern, Pakistan has increased its mobile tower range near the international border, keeping security agencies on their toes. The Defence Ministry remains tightlipped on the issue. Pakistan has spread its mobile tower range across the international border, touching the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Jammu and Kashmir. Mobile phones in Kathua and Samba districts in Jammu and Kashmir are catching the service of Pakistani telecom operators, which have raised their signal strength near the international border. Pakistani telecom operators like Mobilink, Zong and PakUfone are active on National Highway 1, which connects Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. It had remained among the targets of terrorists for 12 years. After crossing Lakhanpur, prepaid mobile phones of networks from the rest of the country stop working and mobile phones start searching for network automatically. Some mobile networks from the other side of the border are tracked by the mobile phones, causing fear among tourists and pilgrims and raising a a big question mark on security. A number of incidents involving terrorists had taken place on the highway in recent years. The strong mobile signal strength on this side of the border could help Pakistani terrorists in their operations. Despite repeated attempts, the Defence Ministry did not respond on the issue. A technical expert of a telecom operator in Jammu told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity that no one was allowed to install a tower or radiation equipment within a radius of 10 km from the border on the Indian side. Suhail A Shah Anantnag, January 1 Four persons, including two Army men, have been arrested in Kulgam district of south Kashmir for allegedly extorting money on gun point while posing as Hizbul Mujahideen militants. The Army men have been found involved in more than one case of extortion, the police said. The police were investigating an extortion complaint by a doctor from Khrewan village of the district when the role of the two Army men came under scrutiny. The accused soldiers have been identified as Muhammad Yousuf Teli and Muhammad Rafiq Khanday of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. They are presently posted with the 19 Rashtriya Rifles camp in the Larkipora area of Kulgam district. The police said the accused Army men were the residents of the district. According to police report, an FIR (303-2015) under sections 34, 386 and 452 of the Ranbir Penal Code was registered against the accused after an extortion complaint by Dr Bila Beigh from the Khrewan Malpora area. Dr Beigh told the Tribune that two armed men, posing as Hizb militants, had held his family hostage on Sunday evening and ransacked their house, before decamping with Rs 32,000 and some electronic gadgets. I was in Delhi when the incident took place. My sister and her husband were at my place and they were in deep shock, Dr Beigh said. Station House Officer (SHO), Qazigund, Parvez Ahmad said it was Dr Beighs sister who had spotted one of the accused at the Emergency Hospital in Qazigund, where she works as a senior dental technician. The police swung into action and arrested the identified man, who led us to his accomplice, the SHO said. The two were identified Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat and Nisar Ahmad, he said. While the police were interrogating the arrested duo, one of Dr Beighs neighbours Muhammad Yousuf Teeli approached him and confessed to have provided weapons to the accused duo. He pleaded for forgiveness and was worried that he will be thrown out of the Army, Dr Beigh said. I, however, informed the police regarding the incident and they picked up the threads from there, he said. The police questioned Teeli and subsequently secured a confession from him of being involved in multiple extortion cases. He also led us to one of his accomplices. Both have been produced in court and sent to remand, the SHO said. The police officer said the Army men have also confessed to having carried out similar extortions across Kulgam and in neighbouring Anantnag district. Balrampur, January 2 Twelve persons were today killed when their jeep rammed into a bus that was carrying foreign tourists, the police said here. The police said the Tata Max jeep was carrying 13 pilgrims who had gone to the Prabhunath temple in Nepal. The tragedy occurred in the morning as their vehicle collided head-on with the tourist bus near Sudama Bhatta, they said, adding that the foreign tourists are safe and have been sent to their hotels. Ten persons died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at BPS Memorial Hospital in Balrampur following the mishap, which occurred at 12 km from the Balrampur district headquarters. An injured person, identified as Rajesh, is receiving treatment, they said. The state government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the victims. PTI New Delhi, January 2 Direct transfer of kerosene subsidy to the bank accounts of users will help in better targeting of the benefits to those who actually deserve it, Finance Ministry said today. The government last night said it will roll out Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for kerosene from April 1 where the users will buy the cooking fuel at market rate but will get financial support directly in their bank accounts. "Congratulations to Petroleum Ministry for announcing DBT in kerosene. Subsidy should be targeted and reach those who actually deserve," Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said in a tweet. DBT in kerosene will help curtail subsidy outgo for the cooking fuel which in 2014-15 was about Rs 24,799 crore. "DBT in kerosene: Reforms continue," Das tweeted. The cash subsidy to be paid to users will be equivalent to the difference between current PDS price of about Rs 12 and market rate of Rs 43 per litre. The scheme will be rolled out from April 1 in Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh; Panipat and Panchkula in Haryana; Shimla, Solan and Una in Himachal Pradesh, and Chhatra, Giridih, East Singbhum, Hazaribagh, Jamtara and Khunti in Jharkhand. Besides, the scheme will be implemented in Hoshangabad, Harda, Khandwa and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh; Amaravati and Latur in Maharashtra; Taran Taran, Pathankot and Mohali in Punjab and Pali, Jhunjhunu and Kota in Rajasthan. Currently, the government transfers subsidy to LPG users as well as to beneficiaries of scholarship and pension schemes directly to their bank accounts. PTI Tribune News Service Guwahati, January 2 With the New Year celebrations passing off peacefully in Assam under the strict vigil of security forces, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today claimed that peace and stability had returned to the state given the manner in which people welcomed 2016. Assam is back on the path of peace, development and social harmony. Though the state has surged ahead on various fronts, it still has miles to go, he said. Gogoi called upon the militants who are still at large to join the mainstream and thereby help the government to usher in permanent peace and faster economic development. Ranjita Biswas Natures grandeur in the West Coast of the USA can be encapsulated in two words: Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park. The vast country has many national parks, and honestly, the authorities maintain these with dedication. But these two have their own legends and attract millions of visitors every year. For the holiday visitor, road trips run by tour operators offer an additional prospect of getting introduced to the countryside which air travel hardly does. So ignoring warning of the strain of the long journey, one started out from San Francisco on a sunny day. After a comfortable three-hour drive, the guide broke the spell by declaring, We are at Yosemite Park. Looking out from the window, an astounding sight greeted. Huge granite cliffs rose up to the blue sky majestically. A part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. These looked like an impregnable wall as if cocooning the valley with its giant sequoias trees, black oaks, brooks and animals from outside gaze. The names of the cliffs are romantic too, El Capitan and Half Dome, for example. The waterfalls here are some of the highest in the world. Unfortunately, we couldnt see the iconic Bridalveil Fall cascading down almost 2000 ft as the state of California has been experiencing unprecedented drought for the last five years. But the crevices cutting deep into the granite rocks gave an idea of its stupendous power. Theres an interesting anecdote about the parks name, the guide said. In 1851, when Jim Savage, a gold prospector, later headed the Mariposa Battalion looking for the tribesmen who were attacking White posts, he was told ahead lived the Ahwahneechees (they kill, other tribes warned) who called the valley Ahwahnee, place of the gaping mouth. In the European tongue, it became Yosemite and the name stuck. In 1890, the beautiful valley was declared a reserved park by a presidential decree. Only five per cent of the 3,079 km park is open to visitors. There are cottages and camping sites in dedicated areas for those who like to explore the wonder of the park more intensely. That night we stayed at the nearby town Fresno, which has many good hotels. The next day we travelled to Las Vegas. The evening was spent exploring the glittering city. From Vegas travel time to the Grand Canyon National Park depends on the choice of tour. With the opening of the West rim in 2007 with its skywalk bridge, its become very popular with tourists. Its a shorter route but I chose the longer one to the South rim on advice of previous travellers. Less noisy and more pristine, I was told. I am glad I stuck to my gun though the rest of the group chose otherwise. The driver cum guide Tess of the Grand Canyon Tour Company was a local girl. Her wicked sense of humour entertained us a lot even as she spilled many gems about the barrenvalley: this is where combat soldiers of the US army fighting in Afghanistan were trained (now withdrawn) because of similar terrain; this is where hit Hollywood movie Independence Day was shot; the needles of those cactus trees the Mormons call Joshua tree were used for sewing, etc. The Grand Canyon is, simply, grand. The clearly visible strata of the rocks tell the story of two billion years of earths geological history. Standing at first stop, Mather Point the deep gorges in the volcanic valley chiselled by elements of Nature for thousands of years looked like an Impressionist painting. Red, ochre, yellow, the jutting cliffs showed off many hues as the sunlight changed. Next, the bus transported us to the next lookout point Bright Angel Lodge which also has a visitors centre to get all the information and boutiques to buy local knick-knacks. Native Americans had inhabited the gorges for centuries but the first Europeans to arrive in this gorgeous valley were the Spaniards in the 16th century. The valley of rocks is cut deep by the long Colorado river. At one time only mules carried the explorers. Many of the early explorers disappeared in this mystic land too. Since 1979, the National Park has been recognised as a Unesco heritage site The West rim offers optional tours on the Skywalk and also a helicopter ride (extra charge). While Yoshmite is green and full of lakes and falls, Grand Canyon is majestic and austere. But both are signposts of Natures inimitable creation. Saba Naqvi I watched two entertaining things in the last few weeks of 2015: the movie BajiraoMastani and the Ram Madhav interview to Al Jazeera. The movie worked for me because it got me thinking about the Maratha empire and thereby opened a line of intellectual enquiry. Although I was deeply bored by the lovely ladies dancing and pining in picture-perfect frames, I have concluded that the object of their passion, Bajirao I, was a fascinating historical figure. Here we had a Brahmin warrior expanding the Maratha empire to its limits and sustaining a confederacy---where rulers paid homage to them in return for protection. At its peak the Maratha power extended to Kandahar in the West, Bengal in the East and modern-day Tamil Nadu in the south. Just when I was immersed in thought and research about the Marathas, out popped BJP-RSS man Ram Madhav with his remark that Akhand Bharat is a possibility. Incidentally all our desi anchors should take lesson in gladiatorial journalism from the Al Jazeera anchor who conducted the interview. The pace was breathtaking, the sarcasm entertaining, the questions designed to pin the hapless Ram Madhav down. Cornered, he came up with the Akhand Bharat line, as if to say that even we -- the right guys on the Hindu Right -- have profound thoughts and grand civilizational visions! But seriously if Akhand Bharat is a benign idea that promotes unity, then I am Alice living in Wonderland. Its an article of faith for individuals from the sangh parivar who talk of an undivided India not because of love thy neighbor, but because they would like to dominate all religions and peoples under the Hindu nation of their imagination. It is mostly a stupid idea. Although apologists of the Hindu right have now tried to describe Akhand Bharat as an idea of unity as opposed to division, this is a little hard to digest. Over the 18 years I have covered the BJP and Sangh parivar, I have heard the Akhand Bharat phrase most frequently from the ranks of the VHP. Eyes blazing, voice shrieking, I remember Praveen Togadia talk of flying the bhagwa dhwaj (the saffron flag) from Lahore. Cut to the movie where Bajiraos armies carry a saffron flag and set off for battle with the cries of Har Har Mahadev. Could it be just a coincidence that in our own times that the persona of Shivaji and the symbolism of the empire run by the Peshwas has been used by those who would have an India or even Akhand Bharat - where the bhagwa dhwaj flies high. I have, however, no clue about the historical accuracy of details in the Sanjay Leela Bansali. Theres this elaborate song, which reminded me of both Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah, in which the lady Mastani uses the dance form of kathak to first showcase her absolute love for the Man. The film also got me thinking about the Maharashtrian Brahmins of Nagpur, Ram Madhavs bosses, who run the RSS and display the Akhand Bharat map in their headquarters. Their confederacy may not extend to Pakistan and Bangladesh, but it certainly does to the BJP that has to frequently pay homage in return for support of the troops, oops, cadre. But I do wonder what sort of fantasy keeps the Akhand Bharat idea alive among the Sangh parivar. I suspect that at one level its nothing more than an Amar Chitra Katha interpretation of history where the evil kohl eyed Muslim tyrant is shown his place by the heroic pure hearted Hindu king/warrior. And if the contemporary Brahmins of Nagpur draw inspiration from Bajirao, theres a twist to the tale that could not sit easy with them: his passion for the half Muslim Mastani, who became his second wife in the face of great opposition from the family. The Brahmin resistance is nicely depicted in the movie. I would like to enter the New Year with the wish for more romance across religions (and castes) but fear I enter the territory of love jihad. But surely this does not quite apply if the woman is a Muslim because in that case the Hindu man would have won her over to the other side. Since women are glorified chattel anyway, is love jihad only applicable when a Muslim man makes a conquest of a Hindu damsel? In such matters I always turn for guidance to the VHP and Bajrang Dal, who are all certified PhDs on the subject. As I sign off my first article for 2016, dont get me wrong. I have nothing against Akhand Bharat whose literal translation is undivided India. Now that our prime minister has made the giant leap of visiting Pakistan, I say open the floodgates. The worst that could happen is that all those psychopathic terrorist groups killing the people of Pakistan and each other would no longer have to take trouble to infiltrate India. A united subcontinent may fox Mr Shah, the president of Indias only truly patriotic party. Next time the BJP loses an election, he will not be able to accuse anyone bursting crackers in Pakistan, but being a clever fellow he may settle for China perhaps. Ravi Dhaliwal in Gurdaspur You wouldnt know where Qadian is unless you know what it stands for. For the record, the towns streetlights are switched off because the Municipal Committee owes Rs 26 lakh to the power utility. It has irregular water supply for its over 40,000 residents. And its lone government hospital is too far for comfort. Yet, the town manages to live off its history: its the land of the Ahmadiyyas, a community much persecuted in Pakistan, but holds aloft a belief that, as Muslims, the world must be full of love and empathy. So, when you are in Batala, Punjab do look for the path to righteousness, hardly 12 km away, the distance warped in time and space. Last week, like each year, the Ahmadiyyas thousands of them from the US, UK, Canada South America, and of course, Pakistan congregated at Qadian, where the sects founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born and lies in peace. We tend to forget our problems back home when we are here, said one of them from Pakistan. For many like him, the home is not more than 125 km via Wagah border, and where the prevalent common wishing as-salamu alaykum (peace be upon you) can land them in jail. We are Muslims, affirms the sects fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, as he delivers his sermon from his London headquarters. The speech is instantly translated in seven different languages by interpreters. The paths to righteousness and arrogance are two parallel roads that intersect several times in ones life. It is often hard to recognize one road from another. What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity; the way to arrogance is tarred with the fixation for the self only, says Munawar Ahmad, who belongs to Chenab Nagar Rabwah, 100 km from the Wagah border. Thats the essence of the Ahmadiyya spirit, he says. Rabwah housed the Ahmadiyya headquarters before the Partition. For three days in December (any Friday decided by the sect), the town of small Muslim world reverberates with the uniqueness of Jalsa Salana. There are rules, though. And they are: There should be absolutely no malice towards anybody. The word hate is not to be spoken. Each visitor is above suspicion. Discussions about the pros and cons of other religions are not allowed. Thats why when one enters Qadian, s/he is greeted with banners of Love for all, hatred for none. That comes from a community which has given so much to Pakistan (see box) and has received only suspicion and rejection. Islam teaches that one must adhere to the limits set by God Almighty. For instance, a person who is financially well off can purchase what is lawful. However, if a person who is unable to purchase something attempts to acquire it by employing unlawful means or by incurring a crippling debt, then this amounts to fulfilling his selfish desires over the injunctions of God Almighty, says the Khalifa in his sermon at the end of the three-day convention. Speakers at the convention are encouraged to highlight the good points of other faiths. Muslim speakers are encouraged to speak on Krishna and Hindu speakers are asked to speak on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Pakistan Muslims do not recognise the community. They claim that the founder of the Ahmadiyyas compared himself with Prophet Muhammad, which was blatantly wrong and blasphemous in nature. This is fiercely contested by the community. The people should understand the Ahmadiyyas are a sect of Islam. It is not a new religion. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad never described himself as being greater than Prophet Muhammad. It is alleged that we provoke violence to gain sympathy from the West. In our more than 100 years of history, we have not incited even a single incident of violence, says sects spokesman Abdul Salam Tari. Press Secretary K Tariq Ahmad said, Obedience to the policies and plans of ruling governments and sympathy to mankind are the main features of the movement. We always involve our community in humanitarian activities during natural calamities. Our movement is spread across 206 countries. The community has its own TV channel, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA) and has established 516 missions across the world. The community has printing presses in 11 countries. Leading figures of the community say the sect categorically rejects terrorism in any form. Our founder said that war of the sword had no place in the world. War with the pen was a better option. That is why he penned nearly 100 books on moderation and also on how to maintain restraint in the face of opposition, said Mohammad Gul, working with a US agency in Wade Island, Pennsylvania. The Messiah San Salvador, January 2 Salvadoran authorities has said 10 people have been shot dead in the early hours of the New Year, including an 11-year-old killed by men dressed as police. Police officials say five people were killed in a rural eastern area of the country and five gang members died in a confrontation with police. Two men, two women and an 11-year-old child were slain early yesterday by men dressed like police who stormed into two humble dwellings and sprayed them with gunfire in the Los Cerritos community about 160 kilometers (95 miles) east of the capital, San Salvador. In the second incident, National Police Commissioner Veronica Uriarte says agents on patrol encountered five alleged gang members in Valle Nuevo just south of San Salvador and exchanged gunfire. AP Karachi, January 2 Pakistan's army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has vowed to rid the country from the scourge of terrorism, asserting that "all negative forces" would be scuttled. "The new year will be the year when terrorism will end," he said yesterday while addressing tribal elders of Gwadar, Talar and Turbat areas of Makran division. The new year would be the "year of national solidarity", he said, adding that the nation would witness the birth of peace and justice in the year. Gen Sharif, however, stressed the need for the entire nation to extend support to the armed forces in this regard. "Peace and justice will be ensured across the country with the support of the nation," he was quoted as saying by the Dawn. He said the "elements involved in the bad practice of financial misappropriation" should also be dealt with strictly. There was a nexus between terrorism, corruption and crime, he said, adding that the elements involved in terrorism and financial corruption had developed close relations to help each other out. All the "negative forces" in the nexus would be defeated, said the army chief during a visit to review the progress made in the projects undertaken by army engineers as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He went on to add that Balochistan would be turned into a peaceful province. The army would help make the Gwadar seaport fully functional, he said, adding that the port would bring progress and prosperity to the people of Balochistan. The army chief directed the officials concerned to take stringent measures for the security of engineers and labourers, particularly the Chinese nationals, working on various projects. While highlighting the importance of the under- construction projects, Gen Sharif said all possible measures would be taken in collaboration with the provincial government to make Gwadar a safe city for local and foreign investors. Underlining the potential of Balochistan as a hub for trade in the region, he said that completion of the projects was directly linked to the law and order situation and vowed that the armed forces would take all necessary actions to help bring back normalcy in the province. PTI On Dec. 1, police said Nevaeh Estellita Brookens-Roldan arrived at a Tulsa hospital with two black eyes, multiple bruises to her face and back, and brain injuries consistent with being severely shaken. EMSA personnel found Nevaeh unresponsive and in cardiac arrest when they arrived at her mothers home at the Parkview Terrace Apartments, 6034 S. Santa Fe Ave., just after 5:30 p.m. that day after her mothers boyfriend asked neighbors for help. The boyfriend, Nathaniel Watkins, told police he shook the girl repeatedly until she became limp because she wouldnt stop crying, and then put her in a cold bath to revive her, according to his arrest report. He ran to the neighbors home after Nevaeh wouldnt wake up, he said. Nevaeh was pronounced brain dead on Dec. 3, which would have been her first birthday. Her death is one of six in Tulsa in 2015 that involved children ages 10 and younger, and one of 58 homicides that occurred in the city in 2015. In 2014, the Tulsa Police Department worked 54 homicide cases. Deaths caused by gang violence and child abuse or neglect helped push the number up 7 percent in 2015, and, because gang-related homicides are harder to close, brought the departments clearance rate down to 81 percent from an average of 85 percent. Child abuse cases increase Watkins is at the Tulsa Jail on charges of child abuse murder and child neglect, while Hallelujah Brookens, Nevaehs mother, faces a charge of permitting child abuse by injury. An arrest report indicates Brookens told police she left her daughter with Watkins while she went to a Job Corps class but said she began to distrust him when Nevaeh had unexplained injuries and cried around him. But authorities allege Brookens knew or reasonably should have known that allowing Watkins access to her daughter increased her risk of harm, according to the charges filed against her. Tulsa Police Cpl. Greg Smith, who works in the child crisis unit, said Nevaehs death was one of two in December perpetrated by someone who is not a blood relative of the baby. Its hard to say why theres such an uptick in killings of kids this year, Smith said. You get people that may or may not be experienced raising children. Kids cry and stay fussy and interrupt you when youre trying to do things, and people in cases we work get mad and lash out at the child for interrupting their day or bothering them. Sawyer Paige Jefferson, 1, died Dec. 5 from injuries consistent with extensive physical and sexual abuse that police say was caused by Cody Alan Johnson, who was dating Sawyers mother and taking care of the girl at the time. Johnson is in custody on a murder charge in the girls death, and he and the girls mother reportedly first told authorities Sawyer was injured after slipping on her pajamas and falling on a toy. This year we didnt really have deaths caused by neglect like we did a year or two before, Smith said. For example, if youre not paying attention and the kid falls into a tub and drowns, that would be a neglect case. But all of these look like intentional injuries. The first death child crisis detectives investigated this year occurred June 26, when 2-year-old Charity Simmons was allegedly killed at the hands of Dinero Reddick, a 13-year-old relative. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office ruled Charitys death a homicide due to blunt force trauma, noting multiple injuries to her head and face and a bite mark on her left shoulder. A probable cause affidavit states Charitys liver was lacerated and her adrenal gland ruptured. Reddick faces a child abuse murder charge, while Charitys mother, Christina Simmons, was charged with child neglect based on allegations she failed to provide proper or safe supervision for her daughter. It may only be a few seconds of anger, but an adult on a child results in significant injuries or death, Smith said of the altercations. We see the same types of injuries in cases that arent as severe but could have lifelong consequences. They arent as high-profile as homicide cases, but this year there are so many that its really brought (child abuse) to peoples attention. Melissa Gantz, a child specialist for the Child Abuse Network, said severe child abuse cases, unfortunately, occur too regularly. The Child Abuse Network provides forensic interviews, mental health consultations and other support services for families that have open cases with law enforcement and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. It can stretch our resources when things pick up in the community and get more busy, Gantz said of the caseload. Many of the abuse and neglect cases seen by authorities involve harm caused by a caregiver or other adult who does not have experience taking care of children, she said. Thats why its important for parents to monitor their own stress levels in addition to those of the people who supervise their children. If a parent or other caregiver appears stressed, Gantz said, the other parent or another trusted adult should offer to help so the primary guardian can have a break. But not everyone is a suitable fit to watch children, she said. Adults should know the background of the person they leave their kid with, whether its a daycare center or someone theyre in a relationship with or family, Gantz said. Dont feel afraid to report something. Definitely report it if theres something going on. Three other children died this year in cases not investigated by child crisis workers: 5-year-old Braydon Creech on March 19 and 10-year-old Arnav Khamitkar and 6-year-old Arush Khamitkar on April 1. Braydon was fatally shot by his father, Bryon Creech, during a 16-hour standoff that began at his wifes new home after she called police twice to report he was violating a protective order. Police said he assured them Braydon was OK in the home throughout the night of March 19 despite not letting officers talk to him, and they found his body around 10:30 a.m. March 20 when Creech ended the standoff. Creechs murder case is pending in Tulsa County District Court. The Khamitkar siblings died in an apparent triple murder-suicide at their home in the 18600 block of East 49th Street, when police said their father, Sudheer Khamitkar, shot his wife, Smita, and their sons before shooting himself. Tulsa police classified Braydons and the Khamitkars homicides as being three of nine domestic violence-related deaths. Deaths connected to gang violence remain open Elon Shaw, 27, was fatally shot July 2 at the Suds N Go Car Wash in north Tulsa, and a friend of Shaws told police he did not believe Shaw was the target. A man approached Shaw and his friend at the car wash and started firing before fleeing on foot to a nearby Shell gas station. No arrests have been announced in the case, which police have since said has ties to fighting between the Hoover Crips and a group of smaller gangs in Tulsa. Shaws family has consistently denied he was associated with gang activity. Three days later, 26-year-old Lontonio Isaac was shot inside a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 400 block of East Latimer Court. Sgt. Sean Larkin, the day shift supervisor for the Tulsa Police Organized Gang Unit, has said the home where Isaac was found is affiliated with the Hoover Crips. On Sept. 20, 29-year-old Damon Dyer was shot multiple times while sitting inside a GMC Yukon at Mohawk Boulevard and Hartford Avenue. The vehicle began moving on Hartford Avenue and crashed into a parked car and carport, and Dyer died at a Tulsa hospital after arriving in grave condition. Tulsa Police Homicide Sgt. Dave Walker, who has supervised the homicide unit since 2011, said types of homicides fluctuate from year to year but that 2015 was unusual due to an uptick of violent gang activity that occurred mostly during the summer. We had three where the bullets hit the mark and killed somebody, and on a couple of those they werent even the attempted target, he said. Those would ordinarily be shooting with intent to kill or another lesser charge. Gang-related homicides take longer for police to close because it is more difficult to get potential witnesses to come forward as they often fear retribution, Walker said. Dyers, Shaws and Isaacs deaths are three of Tulsa polices 11 open homicide cases. When you have a lot of those (gang-related deaths), your clearance rate will likely be lower by the end of the year, he said, describing officers efforts to curb gang violence as like keeping a lid on a powder keg. Unfortunately, putting people in jail for murders that are gang-related doesnt always educate those that are still out there. They still have the guns, they still have the same mentality. Whenever they decide to rear their head and shoot into a building ... the gang unit is always working against that. Its a constant battle. SUNDAY Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea Chelsea secured an impressive away success, their first victory in Guus Hiddink's second spell as interim manager, and climbed to 14th in the process. Oscar broke the deadlock on 29 minutes, tapping in after Diego Costa broke clear. Willian doubled the advantage after the interval with a stunning effort from distance before Costa sealed the win from close range moments later as the Blues extended their unbeaten run to four. Wasquehal 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain Holders Paris began their French Cup defence in the last 64 with a much-changed side, and despite a dominant performance against fourth-tier Wasquehal their only reward was a solitary goal after the break. Captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic nodded the clincher after meeting Marco Verratti's lofted pass on 60 minutes. Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid Madrid lie four points off the Liga summit after twice squandering the lead in a game they finished with ten men. Karim Benzema rounded off a fine team move on 16 minutes, but Daniel Parejo levelled from the spot before the visitors lost Mateo Kovacic for his challenge on Joao Cancelo. Gareth Bale headed Madrid back in front late on, yet Paco Alcacer struck almost immediately to make it a frustrating start to 2016 for the Merengues. SATURDAY Atletico Madrid 1-0 Levante Midfielder Thomas Partey struck with nine minutes to go to propel Atletico to the top of the Liga, bottom-of-the-table Levante having frustrated Diego Simeone's men in Madrid. Atletico had the better of the first half, and both Koke and Juanfran struck the crossbar in the second period, but they were able to take full advantage of Barcelona's earlier slip as the Ghanaian battled through to finish. Lionel Messi's men were frustrated Getty Images Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona Barcelona were denied a goal for the first time in the Liga this season as their city derby against Espanyol ended goalless Barcelona's first 0-0 in all competitions since December 2014. Lionel Messi found the post with a free-kick in the first half, Andres Iniesta had an effort ruled out for offside, and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork, but Espanyol got due reward for a resolute defensive performance. Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United Arsenal did not impress at home against a struggling Newcastle side, but an opportunistic finish from Laurent Koscielny on 72 minutes was enough to secure all three points for Arsene Wenger's men. Arsenal have won six of their last seven games in all competitions and have taken sole command at the top of the Premier League, with Leicester unable to find a way past Bournemouth. Watford 1-2 Manchester City City ended a five-game wait for an away success, coming from behind to win 2-1 at promoted Watford in Saturday's late English game. Aleksandar Kolarov headed into his own net from a Ben Watson corner on 55 minutes to put the hosts in front, but made amends on 82 minutes, setting up Yaya Toure for the equaliser. Sergio Aguero then headed the 84th-minute winner his first goal since 21 November. Guimaraes 0-1 Benfica Midfielder Renato Sanches scored his second Benfica goal to earn his side a 1-0 win at Vitoria Guimaraes, and put the pressure on Portugal's top two Porto and Sporting CP. The 18-year-old's angled finish means Benfica are unbeaten in seven Liga games, but remain third in the table. Nicolas Gaitan wore the captain's armband as he made his first appearance since 8 December. UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: 18-year-old Renato Sanches Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). The Kansas City Royals will finally get second baseman Omar Infante back to full health for the first time in two years. According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the 34-year-old underwent elbow surgery to remove bone chips in November. Infante is expected to be at full strength by the start of spring training. The team believes that Infante altered his throwing motion because of the elbow pain, which then forced a shoulder problem. Kansas City is confident that the shoulder pain will go away because of the fixed elbow. With Ben Zobrist joining the Chicago Cubs this winter after playing a part of last season in Kansas City, Infante has a clear path to retake the starting slot at second base. The only threat to take away that position is the fourth overall draft pick by the Royals in 2010, Christian Colon, who has hit .303 with 12 RBI and five stolen bases in his major league career. With Infante active, the infield will include: Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escober, Infante and Eric Hosmer ranging from left-to-right. Infante is the oldest of the infielders for Kansas City. The right-handed hitter is also the oldest player in the starting lineup for the Royals. Infante was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1999 out of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. He has played for the Tigers (2002-2007), Atlanta Braves (2008-2010), Miami Marlins (2011-2012), Tigers (2012-2013) and Royals (2014-2015) across his 14-year major league career. Over 1,468 career games, Infante has a .272 batting average with 82 home runs and 531 RBI. The best season for the second baseman came in 2010 with the Braves, which was his only All-Star year. The 34-year-old, who was 28 at the time of the outstanding season, slashed .321/.359/.416 with eight home runs and 47 RBI across 134 games. SHARE CAMARILLO O.P.E.N. will hold workshop Outstanding Professionals Employment Network (O.P.E.N.) will be holding the "Strategies for a Successful Job Search" workshop from Jan. 11 through Jan. 15 at the Camarillo Public Library, 4101 E. Las Posas Road. The five-day workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The free workshop is sponsored by the Employment Development Department, America's Job Center of California and Russell Fischer Business Collection. To enroll, visit http://www.eu-open.org. OXNARD Chamber breakfast planned for Jan. 14 The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce's Business @ Sunrise breakfast will be held Jan. 14 at the Residence Inn by Marriott/River Ridge, 2101 W. Vineyard Ave. Check-in will start at 7:15 a.m., followed by a buffet breakfast and the program. In 2015, Gov. Brown signed over 800 bills, including a number of significant additions to the existing labor laws in California. Steven Lee, of Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold LLP, will present an overview of the changes affecting your business. Advanced reservations are encouraged and are discounted if made by Jan. 11. Make reservations by visiting http://www.OxnardChamber.org or calling 983-6118. SIMI VALLEY Ribbon cutting set for Friday The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at Liberty Tax Service on Friday at 1115 E. Los Angeles Ave. The grand opening will include food, raffle prizes and an opportunity to meet other local business owners and residents. Liberty Tax Service is a full-service tax and accounting office owned and operated by a certified public accountant and experienced staff. It also promotes giving back to the community by offering free tax returns to various interest groups during the tax season. Liberty Tax Service also offers a referral program that can give residents in the community a chance to earn money. For more information, including time of the event, call 582-9540. Gym aims to help children with autism A gym aimed at children with autism will open this week in Simi Valley. We Rock the Spectrum Simi Valley will provide children, regardless of their developmental levels, with a fun, inclusive, and motivational environment. The grand opening event will be held Saturday at 2888-B Cochran St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We Rock the Spectrum uses specialized equipment to help children strengthen movement, sensory processing and self-care skills while improving interpersonal communication and behavior. The grand opening celebration will include a ribbon cutting and a chance for children to use the specialized equipment. Cost is $12 per child and 20 percent of proceeds go to the My Brother Rocks the Spectrum Foundation. We Rock the Spectrum was founded in 2010 in Tarzana and the national franchise now has more than 30 locations. For more information call 387-6444 or go www.werockthespectrumsimivalley.com VENTURA Payroll tax seminar planned The Employment Development Department is offering the Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the EDD Tax Office's Training Room, 4820 McGrath Ave., Suite 200. Participants will learn California payroll reporting requirements, about independent contractor reporting requirements, electronic filing and payment requirements and options, and federal payroll reporting requirements. The seminar is free. To make reservations, visit http://www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars or call 866-873-6083. To share news about your company or business-related organization, email dajustesen@VCStar.com. If there is an event involved, please email the information at least three weeks in advance of the event. STOCK PHOTO Gavel. SHARE CAMARILLO Top 10 nominationsdeadline is Friday Camarillo's Top 10 Community Award nominations are now being accepted at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. The following awards are being accepted for people, business and organizations for: Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Business of the Year, Stan Daily Lifetime Achievement Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, Youth of the Year, Senior of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Service Organization of the Year, Educator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year. Each year, nominations of organizations and individuals whose deeds and actions have contributed to the betterment of Camarillo are submitted to the Chamber of Commerce. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee of community representatives and business professionals. Deadline for submission of nominations is noon Friday. The chamber's Top 10 Awards Banquet, where the winners will be honored, will be held March 4 at the Serra Center. For more information about the awards or to attend the banquet and ceremony, call the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce at 484-4383 or visit http://www.CamarilloChamber.org. VENTURA CMH bariatric center gains accreditation Community Memorial Health System's Bariatric Weight Loss Center has achieved a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Qualifications accreditation under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Adolescent qualifications require the center to provide pediatric and psychiatric expertise, and also to include the specific health needs of an adolescent. Families are an integral part of the process and are included in this major health challenge. To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Community Memorial met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. For more information about the center, call 658-5839. Institute recognizes local DUI attorney DUI Attorney David Lehr has been included in the 2015 10 Best DUI Attorney for Client Satisfaction list put out by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys. The American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top 10 DUI attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the "10 Best" list must pass AIDUIA's rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research, and AIDUIA's independent evaluation. AIDUIA's annual list was created to be used as a resource for clients during the attorney selection process. Lehr is based in Ventura. For more information about Lehr, call 477-0070 or visit http://www.ventura-dui.com. Sandra Sunken SHARE By Sandra Sunken January is the traditional start of tax-filing time, but there's no need to stress. Here are tips to get this filing season off to a good start. Begin by gathering the items you need to complete your 2015 individual income tax return in one place such as a file folder. Official forms include W-2s and 1099s that you receive from your employer, broker, bank, or other financial institution. Before you put them in the folder, look them over for errors. Getting a corrected copy may take time, so asking early is a smart move. Though you have until April 18, 2016, to file your return (April 19 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts), who needs the stress of waiting until the last minute? While you're pulling the paperwork together, remember you'll also need documentation for all your 2015 charitable contributions, or you risk losing your deduction. Even gifts under $250 require a bank record or a receipt from the charity. Check whether your children need to file a 2015 tax return too. A return is needed if wages exceeded $6,300, the child had self-employment income over $400, or investment income exceeded $1,050. If the child had both wages and investment income, other thresholds apply. Now's also a good time to consider whether you'll contribute to a Roth or traditional IRA. Since you have until April 18 to make a contribution (April 19 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts), you can schedule an amount to set aside from each paycheck for the next few months. The maximum contribution for 2015 is the lesser of your earned income for the year or $5,500 ($6,500 when you're age 50 or older). Another filing requirement to consider: the need for a gift tax return. For 2015, you may need to file a return if you gave gifts totaling more than $14,000 to someone other than your spouse. Some gifts, such as direct payments of medical bills or tuition, are not subject to gift tax. Gift tax returns are due at the same time as your federal income tax return. Give your accountant a call for more tips on getting ready for tax time. Sandra Sunken is principal of Sunken Accountancy Corp. in Ventura. SHARE RE/MAX Gold Coast recently announced its ranking as the number 190 real estate firm in the United States in sales volume, according to RISMedias 27th annual Power Broker Report. RE/MAX Gold Coast reported a total sales volume of $954,389,617. in 2014, representing 228 closed residential transactions. It is the commitment and quality of our agents that has placed us in a lead position for growth, strength, success and generosity and we appreciate their hard work and dedication, said Michael Sipes, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gold Coast. Our Realtors are the leaders in the community, and it is rewarding to watch them positively affect the lives of others. Now in its 27th year , the Power Broker Report has long honored the business feats of remarkable real estate leaders and brokerage firms who continue to shape the industry. Each April, RISMedias Real Estate Magazine highlights the Top 500 Power Brokers firms according to sales volume and transactions. RISMedia President and CEO John Featherston congratulated RE/MAX Gold Coast for the prestigious ranking in this years Power Broker Report. The firms represented are the nations most elite brokerage firms serving literally millions of consumers with real estate needs, Featherston said. 2014 was a growth year for many real estate firms across the country, as low inventory created a ripe environment for home sellers and move-up buyers, and continued low interest created and rising rents enticed more tech savvy real estate consumers will look to proven real estate firms ad tier agents to help firms reputation as a trusted resources for todays homebuyers and sellers. RE/MAX Gold Coast is one of the most dynamic and respected real estate firms in Ventura County with more than 230 agents, five branch offices, a property management company, a cleaning and handyman division and an in-house escrow company. To learn more about RE/MAX Gold Coast, contact Briana Bouffard, Business Development Director at 339-3500. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Cook du jour Cindy Jones poses with her seafood pasta salad. SHARE By Eva Smythe City: Ventura Specialty: Almost homemade cooking Secret: Simplicity and planning ahead Simplicity refined: These days, Cindy Jones embraces simplicity. Balancing work and family can be challenging, but Jones has discovered that advance planning and eliminating excess are key. Instead of lavish meals, Jones opts for the nearly homemade approach, and has uncovered a wealth of healthy and timesaving recipes. For her shrimp pasta she sautes shrimp with garlic butter, olive oil and Old Bay Seasoning, then adds broccoli or spinach to al dente angel hair pasta. Her seafood pasta salad with imitation crabmeat, corkscrew pasta, Italian salad dressing and vegetables offers a quick and easy solution to mealtime dilemmas. Her son Jacob's favorite is her tri-tip roast flavored with a packet of onion soup mix and a packet of ranch dressing mix, along with hot pepper cheese. Place the tri tip in a Crock-Pot (with no water) for eight hours on low, then shred and serve over rice. However, Jones notes the importance of "not making the same stuff over and over again." "Casserole person:" Jones considers herself a "casserole person," who sometimes scours the Internet for inspiration. Her ravioli casserole is a tasty blend of frozen ravioli, marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Her Thanksgiving Day cornbread casserole features two Jiffy cornbread mixes, a stick of melted butter, two cans of creamed corn and sour cream. Combine and then pour into a 9-by-13-inch pan. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. "It comes out custardy and is really delicious," she advises. Her favorite casserole is her mother's goulash, which includes a can of tomato soup, a pound of bacon, a pound of ground beef, a little sugar and pasta shells. Fry the bacon and hamburger and mix with tomato soup. Cook noodles al dente. Place in a casserole dish for 30 minutes at 350. "It's really good," she said. Neighborhood crusade: What began as a crusade for a neighbor with breast cancer has transformed into a close-knit neighborhood family. Jones and her neighbors donated the proceeds of a bake sale to benefit a local charity, Ribbons of Life, when a comrade was stricken with cancer, and the group has been inseparable since. To toast the new year the neighbors host a chili tasting event. Last year Jones prepared chili with kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, tri tip, corn, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and a little sugar. "We love to try them all out," she said. "It's great to get together for a fun chili day." Cindy's Seafood Pasta Salad Makes: 4-6 servings Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time (refrigeration time): 2 hours Ingredients 8 ounces corkscrew pasta 2-3 broccoli crowns cup mayonnaise cup zesty Italian salad dressing cup grated Parmesan cheese 8 ounces imitation crabmeat cup chopped green bell pepper cup chopped tomato cup sliced scallions Directions Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in colander. Cut broccoli into florets by removing each head to include a small piece of the stem. Cut enough florets to make 1 cup. To partially cook broccoli, heat 1 quart of lightly salted water in a 2-quart saucepan over high heat to a boil. Add broccoli florets. Return to a boil, and boil 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain broccoli from saucepan, then immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain and cool. Combine mayonnaise, Italian dressing and cheese in a large bowl until well blended. Add pasta, broccoli, imitation crabmeat, bell pepper, tomato and onions. Toss gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. To nominate an amateur cook to be Cook du Jour, email DeAnn Justesen at deann.justesen@vcstar.com. photo by ROB VARELA/THE STAR Maria Brown (front to back), Pat Saenz, and Jackie Flores-Ortega, all of Ventura, exercise during the Crossfire class, a high intensity circuit training class offered at Mavericks Gym in Ventura, Tuesday morning. SHARE Tim Oroke of Ventura uses an elliptical machine as he works out at Mavericks Gym in Ventura Tuesday. ABOVE: Instructor Sara Pisan works with Jackie Flores-Ortega of Ventura during the Crossfire class, a high intensity circuit training class offered at Mavericks Gym in Ventura. RIGHT: Marian Cargnino of Ventura warms up on a treadmill as she works out at Mavericks Gym in Ventura Tuesday morning. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Maria Brown (from left), Pat Saenz, and Jackie Flores-Ortega, all of Ventura, high-five each other after finishing their Crossfire class, a high intensity circuit training class offered at Mavericks Gym in Ventura. By Tamara Koehler Weight loss, exercise, and healthier eating are the top resolutions Americans are making for 2016. And the chances of reaching and keeping those goals may be better than ever. Thanks to technology, foodies, and gym evolution, fitness is a pervasive and year-round message with new definitions. Buy a new iPhone and by the time you get home, an embedded health app has counted your steps. Go out to eat and many restaurant menus list the calories of each dish. Even traditional gyms are preaching the message of everyday fitness through programs focused on improving the muscles used in daily activities like working at a desk or carrying a child. "Getting fit is less about getting slimmer or bigger and more about your whole lifestyle," said Morgan Steven, general manager of Maverick's Gym in Ventura. So if healthy living is your goal for 2016, here are some tips from the experts. 1. Stop procrastinating. Now. "Procrastination is health's No. 1 enemy," said Clifton Allen, owner of Edge Fitness Club in the Channel Island Harbor. Breaking fitness down into day-size doable segments helps people get started and stick with a program, he said. "Our members learn, in moderation, how to work out, eat, sleep and live a healthy lifestyle one day at a time. Everyone has a different starting point." Taking an immediate action can sideline procrastination. So make an appointment with a nutritionist or sign up for a nature walk. 2. Enjoy yourself. Lori Jacobson loves practicing yoga in the air. Jacobson is an expert in Aerial Yoga, a gravity-defying method that uses a looped fabric pinned to the ceiling. Practitioners hang and stretch and glide into yoga postures with the fabric as support. Afterward, the feelings of leanness, length, and alignment are powerful rewards. Jacobson took up yoga more than a decade ago, and now teaches at the Aerial Studio in Ventura. "I love everything about yoga, the way it connects the body and mind, reduces stress." Her advice for staying committed to a fitness program is simple. "Find something you enjoy, that you really love doing. It's the only way you'll stick with it." 3. Don't be so negative. Give up bacon, go to the gym every day at 5 a.m., no sugar, no alcohol. There's nothing like a joyless list of do's and don'ts to stop a fitness resolution dead in its early tracks. While there's a lot to be said for the short list above, it's based in negativity. And that's just not how the brain likes to do business, according to recent neuroscience research. Changing behavior and habits requires substitution and a little bit of reverse psychology, according to Art Markman, a cognitive scientist at the University of Texas who studies the way people think. Don't resolve to stop eating bacon, decide to eat differently. Don't resolve to exercise in ways you hate, decide to make movement fun. 4. Get real. The new thinking in fitness is functional movement, according to Steven. That means basing workouts on an individual's movement patterns, past injuries, strengths, limitations, and daily physical tasks. "It's recognizing that lifting weights over head is the same movement as putting groceries away on a high shelf, or that doing squats strengthens the muscles used when picking your baby up from the ground," Steven said. That philosophy has changed the way Maverick's and other traditional gyms define fitness and develop fitness plans. "Getting fit can be restorative exercises for injured or older people, it can be a plan to help someone bend and reach more easily," Steven said. "It's really about feeling better and learning about the body." SHARE The Conejo Valley Interfaith Association consists of over a couple dozen congregations including Jewish, Mormon, Protestant, Unitarian-Universalist, Muslim, Catholic, Unity and Religious Science communities of faith, which meet monthly in dialogue and fellowship in service of greater understanding, peace and harmony. The association recently had its annual Conejo Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, at Temple Adat Elohim, attended by 1,000 congregants, including 18 clergy and an interfaith and youth choir in celebration of the gratitude we all share at this time of the year. In response to the fear and hatred generated in our country against Muslims in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, the undersigned of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association issued a statement of support: We, the members of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, deeply mourn the tragic deaths caused by all acts of terrorism throughout the world, including the recent deaths of the 14 innocent victims in San Bernardino. Our hearts break for those who lost their lives or were injured, as well as for the deep loss experienced by their loved ones and their communities. As people of faith, we stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers of the American-Muslim community. They, too, mourn these deaths; as frequent victims of extremist violence themselves, they, too, share the same concerns of all Americans, indeed, citizens of the world over, for the threat terrorism poses. We understand Islam to be a religion of peace, not reflective of the extremism that encourages hatred and violence. Therefore, we deplore the growing political and religious rhetoric of fear and discrimination directed at Muslims, particularly when expressed by those in leadership positions, who carry an added responsibility for defending our American ideals of religious freedom. We implore all people across our nation, as do we pledge ourselves, to uphold our nation's ideals of human dignity and religious understanding, reminding us that in the end, all people no matter our religious beliefs are children of a loving Creator. The signers below represent themselves individually: the Rev. Anne Hines, Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; the Rev. Gifford Smith, United Church of Christ of Simi Valley; Cantor David Shukiar and Rabbi Andrew Straus, Temple Adat Elohim; the Very Rev. Melissa McCarthy, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany; Yahya Merchant, Islamic Center of Simi Valley; the Rev. Molly Rockey, Unity of the Oaks; Bishop Larry Bagby, Steve Simmons, Jim Doolan, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Pastor Craig Beeker and the Church Council of New Hope Lutheran Church in Agoura Hills; the Rev. Stephen Rambo, Center for Spiritual Living of Simi Valley; Deacon Guillermo Rodriguez, St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Community; Cantor Kenny Ellis, Temple Beth Ami; the Rev. Steve Peralta, United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks; the Rev. Dr. Sue Rubin, Center for Spiritual Living Westlake Village; Shepha Schneirsohn Vainstein, of nonprofit reGeneration; Teri Helton, faith community nurse and Ventura County Interfaith community co-chairwoman; the Rev. Dr. Gary Dickey, United Methodist Church of Westlake Village; Rabbi Richard Spiegel, Temple Etz Chaim; Rabbi Belle Michael, Campus Ministry, California Lutheran University and Anne Condon, First Church of Christ, Scientist. The purpose of the interfaith association is to create a "sacred space" for clergy and interfaith representatives to dialogue and commune together by seeking out and celebrating our commonalities, while accepting and respecting our differences in belief and practice, in order to live together in greater understanding, peace and harmony. Our motto is the Golden Rule, which is common to most religious traditions: "One should treat others as one would like others to treat them." The Rev. Anne Hines is interim minister of the Conejo Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship and a member of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, which meets monthly and welcomes clergy and representatives of all religious faiths. She can be contacted at minister@cvuuf.org. SHARE CAMARILLO Program welcomes returning Catholics A program designed to welcome back returning Catholics will begin a new 10-week series at Padre Serra Catholic Church, 5205 Upland Road. The program, "Landings," focuses on sharing and exploring faith issues and reaches out to those Catholics who are currently inactive. "Landings" offers returning Catholics a supportive community within which they can explore their faith and their future with the church. Lay members of the parish will host the meetings on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the San Fernando Room at the church, beginning Wednesday. Interested parties and those who want more information should call the Padre Serra Parish office at 482-6417, ext. 341. OXNARD Bishop will speak during Clergy Night Knights of Columbus, Oxnard Council 750 will present Clergy Night on Jan. 12 at Knights of Columbus Hall 632 South D St. Social Hour will begin at 5 p.m. with the dinner program at 6 p.m. The distinguished speaker will be Bishop Joseph Madera. Clergy Night is an event the Knights of Columbus, Council 750, hosts each year to thank those serving holy orders and living a consecrated life. Madera was raised in Mexico and received his priesthood at the Holy Spirit Missionaries House of Studies in Coyoacan, Mexico City. Upon his ordination, he assisted in the minor seminary of the Holy Spirit Missionaries. After his work at the seminary, Madera was sent to the United States to serve in California. He is well-known in the Catholic Community in Oxnard where he served as a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church during the 1960s and '70s. In 1980, Madera was consecrated a bishop and named Bishop of Fresno. During his tenure with the Diocese of Fresno, Madera founded the KNXT television station. Tickets cost $20 per person. Clergy will be admitted without charge. Reservations are required. Proceeds will benefit the Knights of Columbus, Council 750, Charity Fund. For more information, contact Bill Harris, Grand Knight, at 436-9883 or billharris805@gmail.com. SIMI VALLEY Chabad communal Shabbat dinner set Chabad of Simi Valley will hold a communal Shabbat dinner Jan. 15 at 4464 Alamo St. Services will be held at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. Dinner includes challah, gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, chicken, salads, side dishes and dessert accompanied by insightful discussions, l'chaim toasts, spirited songs and melodies. Cost is $12 per adult, $9 per child or $50 for a family. Volunteering and sponsorship opportunities are available. Space is limited. RSVP by Jan. 12 at 577-0573 or visit http://www.chabadsimi.org. "Journey of the Soul," a six-week educational course, will take place Mondays starting Jan. 11 from 8-9:30 p.m. at 4464 Alamo St. The course will explore the mysteries surrounding the spiritual dimension of existence. Cost is $65 single, $110 couple, and $50 seniors and students. Register online at http://www. chabadsimi.org. For more information, call 577-0573. "Art and Soul: Live Creatively!" and "Music: The Pen of the Soul" are interactive workshops for women produced by the Rosh Chodesh Society. They will take place Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. at a private residence. For more information and directions, call 577-0573 or email info@chabadsimi.org. The Aleph Art Room will celebrate Jewish holidays through food and art projects featuring Tu B'Shvat the New Year for Trees. Children 5-12 years old can carve a fruit arrangement or create a personalized wooden plant. Class will be held Jan. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 4464 Alamo St. Cost is $10 per child and includes supplies (discount for siblings and friends). For more information and to register, call 577-0573 or visit http://www.chabadsimi.org. Nicole D'Amore Columnist SHARE Rhoads CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Work by local artist Mel Rhoads, Can Hear the Ocean. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Work by local artist Mel Rhoads, Carpinteria Tar Bluffs. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Work by local artist Mel Rhoads, Horse Barn. I may have 10 or more paintings going at the same time, some for years. I will bring them back to the easel many times." Mel Rhoads, artist Art has always been an important part of Mel Rhoads' life. Recently he was awarded a Lifetime Membership Award by the Buenaventura Art Association, and he regularly has oil paintings on exhibit at the Buenaventura Gallery, the Studio Gallery in Oxnard and the Portico Gallery in Montecito. It all started in grade school, when a visiting art teacher would bring poster paper and paint for the students to use. "I could hardly wait for my turn," Rhoads said. "I don't remember what I painted, but I do remember the excitement of applying the colors to the paper." He and wife Jan grew up together in a small Pennsylvania town, and he worked in her family's store in high school. After four years in the Air Force, he began studying architecture and civil engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He took a watercolor class as an elective. "I really liked that," he said. He and Jan reconnected and married in 1959, between his junior and senior years at Cal Poly. They moved to their current home in Oxnard in 1962. They had three children, and he worked as a civil engineer and surveyor, starting his own company with another engineer in 1968. He continued to work at the company after selling it, retiring in 1997 with plans to paint full-time. In 1969 he took a course through Famous Artists School, a correspondence school in Connecticut founded by Norman Rockwell and other artists. The three-year program featured 24 assignments. "It was a very good, classical type of training," Rhoads said. Assignments were returned to the student with comments by a knowledgeable artist. He bought books and started using painting videos, preferring that to workshops. While he was working, he estimates, he did about six paintings a year, occasionally showing them in galleries. He discovered the Buenaventura Gallery driving home from a meeting in the early 1970s. He joined the group, held various board positions and volunteered through the years. After retiring, he applied his engineering mentality to disciplined painting. "I just sort of transferred that thinking to my painting," he said. Rhoads began focusing on landscapes shortly before retirement. "I had a lot of memories that were easy for me to retain and I liked to try to reproduce those," he said. He uses his photographs for reference: "The memory will usually trigger an idea, and then I have a lot of reference material to refer to." But he was reluctant to try plein-air painting. "I was terrified of the thought," he said. He finally set aside his fear and contacted Chris Weber, who coordinates a local plein-air group. "I was the first one there, way before anyone else. I looked around for something I thought I could do without a whole lot of messing up," he said. He compares plein-air painting to a stage play with too many people. "The whole thing is disorganized, and the audience doesn't know where to look," he said. "That's the hardest part, I found, of working outdoors. It was a long time until I really got the discipline to choose something and design around it. Very often it happened by accident. "The whole thing turned out to be a good experience really, a bit of a turning point," he said. Rhoads starts by doing an underpainting in raw umber thinned with mineral spirits. Then, when he's satisfied, he adds color. He mixes all his paint from just three colors: Rembrandt Permanent Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Medium and Windsor and Newton Ultramarine Blue, as well as white. "I don't find a problem making any color I want out of those three," he said. "I may have 10 or more paintings going at the same time, some for years," he said. "I will bring them back to the easel many times. Some go along swimmingly and others get stuck." His wife is his best critic. "I can't do it, but I can tell him what's right or wrong," she said. "I enjoy what I'm doing," Rhoads said. "I've always been a student, and I look forward to continuing." STOCK PHOTO SHARE By Staff Reports A Port Hueneme resident was assaulted with a machete early Friday, officials said. An assault victim was reported about 3:40 a.m. in the 600 block of West Channel Islands Boulevard, Port Hueneme police said. Officers found the victim, described as a male, with cuts to his forehead and both arms, authorities said. It was later discovered he was assaulted with a machete, police said. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said. Police said the victim was not cooperating with authorities. Anyone with information about the incident should call 986-6530. SHARE California's new "motor voter" law has taken effect, even if it's not yet in massive use, and so far the sky has not fallen. That was the prediction from many Republicans the moment Gov. Jerry Brown signed the new measure into law last fall, with many GOP activists predicting it would lead to "state-sanctioned voter fraud" and flood the voting rolls with noncitizens. But it has not happened yet, and probably never will. That's because the same rules that prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving the same type of California driver's license as citizens or legal residents will apply to everyone automatically registered to vote during visits to Department of Motor Vehicles offices. The new law registers every eligible Californian who goes to the DMV to get a driver's license or renew one. Once Secretary of State Alex Padilla has set up specific procedure to be followed in all offices, every eligible person who doesn't opt out will be registered. The opt-out option will be offered to everyone qualified to vote. The fears of many Republicans stem from the fact that many new driver's license applicants today are Latinos and their participation rate in the last few elections has hovered just above 15 percent, the lowest for any ethnic group. Asian-Americans are next lowest. The GOP knows that Latinos who do vote have long gone mostly Democratic, one reason some Republicans give for opposing a path to citizenship for the undocumented. This is one reason Republicans in many other states have made voter registration and voting itself more difficult for everyone, requiring some kind of official photo identification before even registered voters can get a ballot to fill out. California's new law also requires photo ID, something GOP critics of the new law passed without Republican support in the Legislature ignore. A quick visit to the DMV's website reveals that besides passing written and road tests, recipients of new legal-resident driver's licenses must show a Social Security card and prove their "legal presence" in California and the nation. That proof can be a birth certificate, a passport, an immigration green card or even Border Patrol crossing cards and Mexican consular IDs. Only those whose identification proves they are eligible to vote will automatically be registered. That's why Padilla could confidently say after Brown signed the new law that "We've built the protocols and the firewalls to not register people that aren't eligible. We're going to keep those firewalls in place." In fact, they've been up for years. But the tea party and other conservative organizations that oppose making voting easier for eligible citizens ignore all this. Yet, the DMV's rules make it easy for any clerk to tell who's an eligible voter, and Padilla promises the procedure he's still setting up will ensure even more security. Registering to vote has always required showing some of the same documentation needed for a driver's license. Forged versions of those documents are no easier or harder to obtain now than before. On Dec. 31, 2015, actor Omar Sy was spotted arriving to Drais Nightclub at The Cromwell in Las Vegas for an exclusive New Years Eve performance by Grammy Award-nominated artist Nicki Minaj (Pictured: Drais Nightclub Owner Victor Drai and Actor Omar Sy Photo credit: Bryan Steffy / Getty Images / www.BryanSteffyPhoto.com). Upon arrival, Sy took a moment for photos with Drais Nightclub owner Victor Drai. Sy, known for recent roles in blockbuster hits such as Jurassic World and X-Men: Days of Future Past, and his party enjoyed panoramic views of the citys eight-minute firework presentation alongside partygoers from exclusive viewing areas at the rooftop club. Later in the night, the French actor was seen taking in Minajs full-length concert performance presented by Drais LIVE. More than 700 students and staff at Jacob E. Manch Elementary School will jump their way to better health to help raise money for the American Heart Associations Jump Rope for Heart campaign. February is Heart Month. Impressed by the students initiative to learn more about heart health and raise money for The American Heart Association, The Cannery Casino & Hotel is sponsoring the students event by donating $1000 to the American Heart Association. Jump Rope for Heart is part of a national fundraising and awareness campaign aimed at promoting exercise and heart health education in the classroom and beyond. Manch Elementary school is one of 30,000 schools across the country promoting messages on the importance of regular physical activity, good nutrition and avoiding tobacco. 700+ students and staff will be jumping rope for The American Heart Association. WHEN: Thursday, Feb 24, 2011 TIME: 9am to 10:30am WHERE: Jacob E. Manch Elementary School 4351 N. Lamont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89115 (Nellis & Craig) This donation is part of the Cannery Casino & Hotels ongoing commitment to supporting the schools in our community. Each year, for more than 5 years, The Cannery Casino & Hotel has donated at least $20,000 worth of books, clothing, backpacks & field trips to Jacob E. Manch Elementary and its sister school next door, Zel & Mary Lowman Elementary. In Ho Chi Minh City, more than 200 passengers, mostly foreign tourists, were greeted with a special ceremony upon their arrival at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 9:15 am, as they were considered the very first international visitors to the city. The visitors, who arrived on board the Vietnam Airlines flight VN 599 from Hong Kong and VN 581 from Kaohsiung, were given gifts typical for the Vietnamese traditions such as conical hats, teas and coffees, during the welcome event. They were also treated to Vietnams traditional music performances at the airport as part of the ceremony jointly held by the citys administration, travel association, tourism promotion center and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. The family of Okuhara from Japan pose with their gifts. Photo: Tuoi Tre On the New Years Day, there were more than 1,500 passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat from such countries as Sweden, France, Japan, Singapore and Cambodia. Saigontourist said they received a group of tourists from Austria, who will tour Hanoi and other northern provinces, whereas other travel firm such as Vietravel, Apex and TNK Travel took a number of vacationers to explore Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region. Asa Josefsson, coming from Sweden, said she chose to spend her New Years holiday in Vietnam to see how the country has changed since her last trip ten years ago. Josefsson was a reporter when she first visited Vietnam in 2006, and is now returning with her husband and two children, she told Tuoi Tre(Youth) newspaper at the airport. The family will enjoy their retreat in Mui Ne, a resort town in south-central Vietnam, and later explore Ho Chi Minh City before returning home, she said. In 2015 Ho Chi Minh Citys international arrivals topped 4.7 million, up 7 percent from 2014, according to the citys tourism department. The citys tourism revenue was VND96 trillion (US$4.29 billion), a 10 percent year on year increase. The leading tourist markets of Ho Chi Minh City include the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Australia, Russia, Singapore and France. This year the city will focus on promoting its tourism in such markets as West Europe, Northeast Asia, North America, Australia and the ASEAN, said Van Thi Bach Tuyet, director of the tourism department. In 2015 Vietnam served 57 million domestic tourists and welcomed more than 7.9 million international visitors in 2015, down 0.2 percent from a year earlier, the first decrease since 2009. Vietnam targets to receive 8.5 million international tourists, and serve 60 million domestic holidaymakers, in 2016, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. The country also aims to increase its tourism revenue to VND370 trillion (US$16.52 billion) from the VND338 trillion ($15.07 billion) turnover this year. Hundreds of same-sex couples in Chile will head to registry offices this week to celebrate civil unions, which become legal for the first time in the country on Thursday. Although the Catholic Church is a powerful influence in the region, Latin America has been relatively quick to embrace the recognition of same-sex unions. Same-sex marriage has been legalized in recent years in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and some parts of Mexico. Chile does not yet allow full marriage but securing same-sex civil unions in one of the region's more conservative countries was a victory for activists, and a joy to people like Roxana Ortiz. She will be one of the first to take advantage of the new law when she celebrates a civil union with her Spanish partner, Virgina Gomez. "I'm really proud that we can obtain something in my country ... that we acquired in Spain more than six years ago. Because it was really sad to arrive in Chile and see that we were nothing," said Ortiz at the home she shares with Gomez in this coastal city. It was a relief to have a legal status both for themselves and their daughter, said Gomez. Lagging social progressiveness Chile, which returned to democracy in 1990 after a brutal 17-year military dictatorship, is one of Latin America's most economically developed countries, but is less socially progressive than many of its neighbors. In 2004, it became the last country in the Western hemisphere to legalize divorce, and it is one of the few that still outlaws abortion in all cases something that center-left President Michelle Bachelet is trying to change, against strong opposition. Polls show only around a quarter of Chileans support same-sex marriage. However, there was broad cross-party support in Congress for allowing civil unions. The path to legalizing unions began under Bachelet's predecessor, moderate conservative Sebastian Pinera. "Independent of political colors and the governments in power, these are issues that are important for the country," said Cecilia Perez, a minister in the Pinera administration, at the signing ceremony for the new law on Tuesday. China has created three new military units as it seeks to build a stronger, more efficient fighting force -- and at a time when it seeks to strengthen its position on maritime territory disputes. Chinese state media announced late Friday that China will set up a new army unit to oversee its strategic missiles. It also plans an army general command to oversee its land forces and a support unit to assist combat troops. President Xi Jinping said the new units are being created "to realize the Chinese dream of a strong military." The announcement came a day after Beijing said it is building its second aircraft carrier, in the latest sign of Beijing's rapid modernization of its naval forces. Aircraft carrier It is expected to be about the same size as China's only other aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and will employ conventional power, rather than nuclear. The 50,000-ton carrier will carry China's J-15 fighter jets and other aircraft. The launch date for the vessel has not been confirmed. China is engaged in tense territorial disputes with many Asian countries, particularly in the vast South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. Beijing has stressed that the expansion of its navy is no threat to its neighbors. It has said the Liaoning will be used mainly for scientific research and training missions. The Liaoning is not yet fully functional. But it has already conducted South China Sea training missions that suggest Beijing will continue to take an assertive stance on the maritime disputes. Opposition political parties plan to meet next week to decide whether to participate in the Congo Republics presidential election now scheduled for March 20. This, following the recent approval of a new constitution that removed term limits to allow long-term President Denis Sassou Nguesso to seek another term. Last October's referendum, approved by more than 92 percent of voters, removes a two-term limit and an age limit of 70 for presidential candidates. But the opposition dismissed the referendum as illegal, which led to the change in the constitution. Perfect Kolelas, leader of the opposition Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development party, says all the opposition political groups are sharply against the referendum that led to the removal of term limits in the new constitution. He says the groups will soon decide their next line of action about the March presidential vote. He says the opposition parties are displeased with the decision of President Nguesso to remove term limits and seek re-election. We still think the referendum was still illegal and is still illegal. And if we decide to go to the election, it means we are going to win the election. And if we win the election, we are going to cancel the referendum and this constitution. We are going to cancel it. Kolelas says Nguessos administration has no right to determine the date of the election. This after the Communications Minister announced the formation of a new national electoral committee and the adoption of draft electoral law. Our political movements are still working on that. On the 7th and 8th of this month we are going to have a big meeting in order to decide [what] to do in order to go to the election, said Kolelas. We will be happy if everything is good. We are looking for the transparency of the process, we are working on that. If we can get the minimum of transparency of the election, we will [decide] on that. For Utah Republican Central Committee, Former Member, Utah House of Representatives, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2011. Utah Architect, #utpol Guinea and Sierra Leone have been declared Ebola-free, while Liberia is expected to follow in mid-January. Experts say that health care systems need to be rebuilt and that safety practices adopted during the crisis must be maintained to prevent future outbreaks. The epidemic touched many parts of society in the three countries stricken by the virus. Economies declined as quarantines affected cross-border trade, while unsteady health care systems collapsed. The outbreak, which started in March 2014, killed over 11,000 people and infected over 28,000. Children heavily impacted UNICEF says children have been particularly affected. It says 22,000 children in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia have lost one or both parents. Children also missed vaccinations, and several million between ages 3 and 17 missed from six to nine months of school. Parents stopped registering their children at health care centers, which many considered to be places where the disease could be easily contracted. "A child that is not registered does not exist in an administrative sense," said Patrick Moser, a spokesman with UNICEF in New York. "They're vulnerable to exclusion; it's difficult to obtain identity documents, have access to basic health and social services, and there's even the danger of being trafficked or illegally adopted." Education gains must be maintained UNICEF says the outbreak reinforced the need for educating rural people on simple methods of stopping the spread of the virus. But this was complicated by rumors and misinformation. Some said the outbreak was created by the West and health care workers were there to kill people or force them into trafficking. Dr. Mohamed Ayoya, UNICEF's representative in Guinea, told VOA in an email that at the beginning of the outbreak, people told him that the treatment centers are really 'extermination camps' and once you agree to go there, you'll never come out. "To many, he said, treatment centers were places where shady tests were conducted, where people were used as guinea pigs to carry on various experiments and then killed to get their organs." Ayoya said. "Most thought that spraying their houses with chlorine water, which was used by the Red Cross, was actually a way of spreading the disease." UNICEF countered with efforts of its own. Moser said that in Sierra Leone, sirens on ambulances scared people and fueled rumors that bodies were being stolen. So the sirens were removed, and the community members and leaders were invited to ride in the vehicles. "They'd come out and tell the rest of the community, 'Look, I came back, I'm alive. I didn't die in the ambulance. It's safe,' " he said. "Little things like that made a huge difference. In a similar case, he said one young farmer in Guinea was helping to build roadblocks to keep health care workers out of the community. The farmer said the responders were forcing people into slavery and selling body parts. "Until one day his 15-year-old niece got Ebola and was taken to an Ebola treatment center. She returned to the village alive and well. Everyone was astonished," Moser recalled. Her uncle is now a social mobilizer active in the public education campaign against the virus. Replacing traditions with safe practices UNICEF revived 23 community radio stations and built six new ones to strengthen the education program. They emphasize efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola like frequent handwashing, particularly in schools. Many people have stopped shaking hands, a widespread tradition in West Africa. Families are discouraged from touching sweat, urine and other fluids from those infected and to call an ambulance or pickup vehicle for the ill or deceased. At funerals, the family is also taught to refrain from touching the dead. The bodies are sprayed with chlorine and put in white plastic bags for burial. In Liberia, the bodies are often burned after the funeral. UNICEF says financial support is needed to continue supplies, to rebuild education and health systems, and to improve water and sanitation. Extended families who have taken in children will need cash transfers and other assistance. Health experts say that will depend on the continued support of the donors once the urgency of the crisis fades from the international media. The New York man who is accused of planning to carry out a New Years Eve attack on a Rochester bar on behalf of the Islamic State terror group has had psychiatric problems since childhood, according to his family. Federal authorities said Emanuel Lutchman, 25, had also been in trouble with the law since 2006 and converted to Islam while serving a five-year sentence for robbery. Lutchman was charged with attempting to provide material support to IS. The FBI said he had pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and wanted to leave the United States to live in the IS caliphate. "The boy is impressionable,'' his father, Omar Lutchman, told NBC News. "First he was a Blood, then he was a Crip" references to street gangs "then he became a Muslim. He's easily manipulated.'" The father and the suspect's grandmother, Beverley Carridice, told the network that Lutchman is married and has a 2-year-old son but has been having marital problems. 'We gotta do this' Lutchman had a contact overseas who urged him to show his support for IS, according to court papers filed Thursday. The contact told him to plan an operation on New Years Eve to kill 1,000,000s of kuffar [nonbelievers]. Court records said Lutchman armed himself with knives, a machete, duct tape, zip ties and ski masks. On a drive with an informer, Lutchman pointed out a restaurant/bar in Rochester that he later confirmed would be his target. Its going to get real after this. Its just you, me and the Lord. We gotta do this; we gotta do this precise. If we grab somebody, they can't live, Lutchman is quoted in the criminal complaint as saying to the informant. Assistant U.S. Attorney General John Carlin confirmed the alleged plan was to have been executed later Thursday, but said, Thankfully, law enforcement was able to intervene and thwart Lutchman's deadly plans." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement, The arrest of Emanuel Lutchman is an important reminder of the new normal of global terrorism. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's top agent in western New York state, Adam Cohen, said that while the alleged New Year's Eve plot was thwarted, the bureau "remains concerned about people overseas who use the Internet to inspire people in the United States to commit acts of violence where they live. News of the arrest followed reports from around the world that security precautions were tightened in many cities to protect New Year's celebrations. Rochester, which is in upstate New York, canceled its planned New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. At least two people have died in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, where a suicide bomber detonated himself inside a restaurant popular with journalists and government officials Saturday. A VOA reporter said the incident took place at the Village restaurant, near the presidential palace in Mogadishu. The bomber killed himself and one other person, and injured at least four others. Several journalists fled the scene before the blast. They told VOA they had seen the bomber struggling to set off his explosive device. The Village restaurant was the scene of two previous attacks three years ago one in September 2012, when 15 people were killed, and the second one in November of the same year, in which four people died in twin explosions near the restaurant. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, one of 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia Saturday, was a central figure in Shi'ite protests that erupted in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring. Al-Nimr had been regarded as the most vocal Shi'ite leader in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif. He publicly criticized the ruling al-Saud family, and called for pro-democracy demonstrations and elections. He was arrested in 2012. At his trial, al-Nimr did not deny the political charges against him, but said he never carried weapons or called for violence. Saudi Arabias Supreme Court rejected an appeal in October against the death sentence passed earlier on al-Nimr. Carrying out al-Nimr's execution could have serious repercussions in the Sunni kingdom, and may further inflame sectarian tensions in the region. Al-Nimr's family was shocked by news of the execution, the cleric's brother said, but they hoped reaction to the news would be peaceful. "Sheikh Nimr enjoyed high esteem in his community and within Muslim society in general and no doubt there will be reaction," Mohammed al-Nimr told Reuters by telephone. "We hope that any reactions would be confined to a peaceful framework. No one should have any reaction outside this peaceful framework. Enough bloodshed." Irans Shi'ite leadership said the execution of al-Nimr "would cost Saudi Arabia dearly." In a statement aired on its TV network, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, an Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia in Iraq, called on Baghdad to reconsider the re-opening Friday of the Saudi embassy. Saudi Arabia had closed its embassy in Baghdad in 1990, after the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad Friday in a move meant to help strengthen a regional alliance against the Islamic State group, which has seized territory in Iraq and Syria. Saudi Arabia had cut off diplomatic ties and closed its Baghdad embassy in 1990 after the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Thamer Al Sabhan told al-Arabia TV the reopening would allow the two countries to coordinate security and military efforts against extremists. The countries first discussed reestablishing diplomatic ties a year ago when a Saudi delegation traveled to Baghdad in January 2015 to start preparations to reopen the embassy. Thaw in relations The move Friday is the latest sign of a thaw in relations between Baghdad and Gulf Arab nations, some of which have viewed Shi'ite-led Iraq as too close to their main regional rival, Shi'ite Iran. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia has long accused Iraq of being too close to Iran and of encouraging sectarian discrimination against Sunnis, charges denied by Baghdad. Tensions have eased between the Sunni Muslim-ruled states of the Gulf and Iraq since Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi took office in August 2014. At the time, Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi security analyst with close ties to the Saudi government, said the move was prompted by both the change in Iraqi leadership and the threat from IS, which is the target of U.S.-led airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria. "The Saudis think there is a gap now. If they leave Mr. Abadi without help, he will be forced to go to the Iranians," Alani told Reuters in January 2015. "With the change of leadership, change of circumstances, they think that it's time to bring back Iraq ... to the Arab fold and to reduce the Iranian influence." Several months ago, Qatar's emir appointed Zayed al-Khayareen as Doha's ambassador to Iraq, the first since closing its embassy 25 years ago. Abadi's predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki, had accused both Qatar and Saudi Arabia of funding IS insurgents, allegations denied by both countries. The Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has announced an end to the cease-fire declared last month that was violated frequently by both sides. The Saudi News Agency said Saturday that the coalition declared the truce is over as of Saturday, due to continuous attacks by the rebels. The truce was enacted December 15 after nine months of bombing by the coalition. But it has been violated by both sides, on a nearly daily basis. Pro-government fighters in Yemen report they have killed a senior al-Qaida leader along with at least two other militants. Ali Abed al-Rab bin Talab, better known as Abu Anwar, was the head of a court set up by al-Qaida in Yemen's largest province, Hadramawt, which the extremist group largely controls. Yemeni officials said Abu Anwar's convoy was heading to the southern port city of Aden. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked militants have exploited the chaos of Yemen's civil war to make incursions into the strategic port city, where militant attacks on pro-government officials have escalated in recent months. Al-Qaida's Yemen branch is considered by Washington to be the most dangerous offshoot of the terror network. Yemen's crisis erupted in September 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sana'a, forcing President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi's government to flee first to Aden, and then to Saudi Arabia when the rebels took over the port. Yemeni forces, backed by Saudi-led airstrikes, have since retaken Aden, but Yemen's capital is still under rebel control. The airstrikes and fighting on the ground have killed close to 6,000 people and created a severe humanitarian disaster in Yemen. U.N. experts say close to 80 percent of the population is in dire need of food and basic health care. Iran's supreme leader says Saudi Arabia will face "divine revenge" because of its execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shi'ite critic of Saudi Arabias ruling royal family. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday "The unjustly spilt blood of this martyr will have quick consequences." The supreme leader said Nimr "neither encouraged people into armed action nor secretly conspired for plots, but the only thing he did was utter public criticism rising from his religious zeal." Iran's Revolutionary Guard said in a statement Sunday Nimr's death would lead to the "downfall" of Saudi Arabia's monarchy. The Guard described Nimr's execution as a "medieval act of savagery." Nimr's execution has caused international outrage and a serious escalation of diplomatic tensions in the region, with unrest predicted in Shia-majority areas. Nimr, who was among 47 people executed Saturday in Saudi Arabia, was a widely revered Shi'ite Muslim cleric convicted in 2014 of sedition and other charges and sentenced to death. He was an outspoken critic of the kingdom's ruling al-Saud family and a key leader of Shi'ite protests in Saudi Arabia in 2011. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply dismayed" by the execution of Nimr and the 46 other people, and called for "calm and restraint in reaction" to the executions. The U.S. warned that Nimr's death would only add to strife between religious sects in the region. "We are particularly concerned that the execution of prominent Shia cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Saturday in a statement. Shia-majority Iran, which made frequent requests to the Saudis to pardon Nimr, had some of the strongest reaction to the news, saying Saudi Arabia would pay a high price for the execution. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari, strongly attacked Saudi Arabia for ramping up sectarian tensions in the region. The speaker of the Iranian parliament said Saudi Arabia, which is founded upon an ultraconservative Sunni ideology known as Wahhabism, would face a "maelstrom'' from which it would not escape. Iran also summoned the Saudi envoy to Tehran to protest Nimr's killing. Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesman Mansour Ben Turki called Iran's reaction "irresponsible," and the government summoned Iran's envoy to the kingdom to protest the critical Iranian reaction Soon afterward, protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, smashing furniture and setting fires before being cleared out by police. Soon after, protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, smashing furniture and setting fires before being cleared out by police. Authorities said Sunday 40 suspects have been arrested in connection with the rampage. Tehran's prosecutor said an investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow. A top Shi'ite cleric in Lebanon warned there would be a backlash because of Nimr's execution. Sheikh Abdul-Amir Kabalan, said, "This is a crime at a human level and will have repercussions in the coming days." Iran and Saudi Arabia have been vying for leadership in the Muslim world since Iran's 1979 revolution, which elevated hard-line Shi'ite clerics to power. The U.S. war in Iraq further enflamed religious and ethnic tensions by leading to a Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad and a crucial shift in the sectarian balance of power in the region. After Arab Spring protests erupted in 2011, Saudi Arabia and Iran entered into a fierce proxy war in Syria, where they support opposite sides of the conflict, and in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been bombing Iranian-allied rebels since March. They also support opposing political groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain. Protests over the Nimr execution were held in Bahrain, where police used tear gas on the crowds, as well as in India and outside the Saudi Embassy in London. More demonstrations were being planned for Sunday in Lebanon and Tehran, where the majority of outrage is expected to be focused. As 2016 begins, Daddy Hasan Kamara, one of more than 4,000 Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone, is grateful to have his children with him. They mean the world to him. Nine of his family members were not so lucky and died from the disease, including one son. Im really suffering, Im really seeing things very hard, Kamara said. Since his recovery, he has not been able to find work. He has eight children and two sisters to care for. He contracted Ebola from his mother in November 2014, a time when the virus was surging across Sierra Leone. When I was in the treatment center I was totally mad over the whole thing," he said. "Even when the doctors called me to give me medicine, I always ignore [them], and then there were times the doctors feared me. The Ebola virus, which is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, also ravaged Guinea and Liberia. The initial outbreak started in December 2013. Over 11,000 people died during the crisis. Now Sierra Leone and Guinea have been officially declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization. Liberia should be completely free of Ebola transmission by this month. Worries over Ebola return It is clear the emotions and memories are still raw for those who fought the virus as well. Salieu Jalloh is a social mobilization officer with the U.N. children's fund, UNICEF, in Sierra Leone. He went door to door informing people on how to protect themselves from the disease. Jalloh is happy 2016 was rung in Ebola-free but worries about a recurrence. One of the biggest warnings about Ebola transmission is to avoid body contact. This is a difficult task for Sierra Leoneans, because the society is very affectionate. We dont want them to abandon" such behaviors as hugging and shaking hands, he said, "but theres little you can do. You see people back-slapping each other, handshaking, dancing together. Its frightening. As for Kamara, he worries about his future. He does not know how he will pay his rent or continue to provide for his family. He has been getting help from friends but knows that will not last forever. Still, he is trying to keep his spirits up and hopes that 2016 will bring him better luck. The Taliban claims it gained control of about 10 percent of Afghanistan during the past year, and says it still holds most of the captured territory. A senior Afghan defense official did not discuss the Taliban claims, but said Saturday that Afghan counter-terrorist squads raided a Taliban-controlled prison and freed scores of inmates in Helmand province, an area that both the Taliban and the Kabul government have struggled to control. The Afghan official said government security forces carried out the operation at the prison without ground support from NATO units, and only limited intelligence and planning support by the U.S. military. The Taliban said its temporary capture of the key northern city of Kunduz in September was the most significant action in 2015. The group's "review of jihadi progress in 2015," sent to reporters Saturday, claimed the past 12 months were "one of the most successful and inspiring" periods for its fighters in the past 15 years since before American forces and other coalition troops arrived in Afghanistan to oust a Taliban administration in 2001. The past year "was fraught with numerous significant and sometimes unanticipated achievements," the Taliban review contended. The Taliban claims to control 34 of nearly 400 districts across Afghanistan, in more half of the country's provinces. Afghan and Western security officials quoted this week in The Washington Post estimated the Taliban's influence was even greater; they said the insurgents either control or have a significant presence in roughly 30 percent of the districts. The Taliban "progress review" said insurgents have been active in a long list of Afghan provinces Farah, Badghis, Ghor, Panjshir, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Helmand, Herat, Kunduz, Nuristan, Sar-e Pul, Paktika, Takhar, Logar, Jowzjan, Faryab, Kandahar and Ghazni. At the beginning of 2016, the Taliban said, battlefield advances have put its fighters closer to several provincial centers, and claimed Taliban fighters are only "a stone's throw away" from the capitals of Baghlan, Helmand and Faryab provinces. With support from U.S. and other NATO military units, Afghan security forces struggled for weeks to retake control of Helmand, the southern province where most of Afghanistans poppy crop is grown. The Taliban claims it either controls or threatens to control 10 of Helmand's 14 districts. The government's deputy defense spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, declined to discuss the Taliban claims in detail when he met with reporters Saturday in Kabul. We should all accept that there is a war going on in Afghanistan. Our security forces, including army, police and intelligence personnel, are getting killed every day while undertaking heroic acts of defending their country, Waziri said, urging critics to respect these sacrifices. Waziri confirmed that Afghan army commandos freed about 60 people overnight from a Taliban prison in Helmand, which borders Pakistan. Those released included security personnel who had been held hostage by the insurgents. NATO confirmed that Afghanistan's national counterterrorism unit, the 1st Ktah Klas (KKA), carried out the raid Friday night and early Saturday in northeastern Helmand. A NATO statement said the Afghan Air Force's Special Mission Wing conducted a helicopter assault to free the prisoners in the Nahr-e-Saraj district without suffering any casualties. "U.S. forces provided only limited intelligence and planning support to this operation," a coalition spokesman said. "No U.S. forces were on the ground during the operation." During more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan, NATO forces have worked to drive Taliban fighters from their traditional heartland in Helmand province. Overall, however, a recent United Nations assessment showed the Taliban expanded its influence in parts of Afghanistan last year that had not seen any insurgent activity since 2001. Through November, about 7,000 members of the Afghan security forces were killed during 2015, and 12,000 wounded a 26 percent increase in the total number of dead and wounded in all of 2014, The Washington Post reported, quoting a Western official with access to recent NATO statistics. A spokesman for NATOs Resolute Support mission said approximately 6,500 civilians were killed or wounded by insurgent attacks in 2015. Chris Goossen spent last Christmas eating snacks and watching movies with a bunch of guys at The Bridge, Lincolns largest residential treatment program for alcohol and drug addiction. He had to schedule time with his toddler son at the library. But he got a few gifts from strangers and was grateful to be safe and warm, with hope for a better future. This Christmas, Goossen spent a few hours with friends but hung out with 3-year-old Jac at his apartment for most of the day. He even took a couple of days off work so Jac could stay home from day care to play with his new toys. Goossen has a job, his own place and shares parenting of Jac. He is working to reconnect with his three older children. Hes become involved with a church, thanks his god for a chance to be of service and for his life free of alcohol and drugs. He volunteers at The Bridge and is active in helping others find a better way to live without drugs and alcohol. The Bridge, he says, was the beginning. It is a "great place, a safe and caring place. The program at 721 K St. is probably best known as detox -- it's where police take drivers who fail sobriety tests or people who are publicly intoxicated. The Bridge also offers a full range of addiction treatment programs for people without insurance or the money to pay the full price for treatment. Some of these programs are found nowhere else in the region. Its a big building, three stories tall, housing a big program -- 68 beds licensed for various programs related to alcohol and drug addiction. And it is in the middle of a $3 million renovation that will make the 108-year-old building better suited for helping addicts. Goossen was part of the long-term residential program, where men can stay for as long as a year, far longer than the typical outpatient or month-long inpatient programs. This gives men with chronic addiction more time to work on issues, find a place to live, get a job, get on their feet. Fifth stop a charm Goossen agreed to share his story because he is grateful for the new beginning counseling staff and programs at The Bridge gave him, and he believes the remodeling project will allow them to be even more effective. The Bridge was his fifth stop -- the fifth time he'd been in an addiction treatment program since he was 19 and got picked up for DUI. Goossen got drunk for the first time in sixth grade when he broke into his parents' liquor cabinet. He got so drunk he kissed a stuffed pheasant and sang "Hotel California" in his young-boy tenor voice. His first week at college, he got so drunk at a fraternity rush party he ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. He had three drunk-driving convictions in 7 years before turning 28. But none of this stopped him from drinking and drugging, using the chemicals that made him feel adequate, made him feel his friends liked him, chased away the depression and loneliness and eventually became the only way he knew how to cope. He put together more than a year living sober and straight in Florida. But mostly he stayed high and drunk. The booze and drugs robbed him of everything he thought was important. He flunked out of college, lost jobs, got arrested, and lost his wife and family. A year ago he was unemployable and in trouble with Child Protective Services. My life was just a mess. I was sinking fast on my own devices and was very sick. Goossen was engulfed in the insanity of addiction, which he says is an obsession of the mind. When I drink I cant stop and when I stop I cant stay stopped. He started treatment with the idea that all he needed was a 30-day quick fix. After all, hed been through this before. I know this stuff. What are you going to tell me that is different? he thought. But this time he stuck with it. For 4 months, he lived at The Bridge and worked with the counseling staff. He stuck around long enough to learn new behaviors, to create a routine that involved getting enough rest and good nutrition, long enough to stop blaming the booze and the drugs and take responsibility for himself, long enough to build a support network and develop a new, more mature relationship with his god. And his obsession left. Probably the coolest thing that happened is that I woke up one morning and went to get my morning coffee and the obsession to have that drink was gone, he said. Lots of options Goossen was involved in The Bridges oldest treatment program, but the staff of 52 offers an assortment of options for clients and families. The Bridge also offers the only respite program in the region, where men and women can live for as long as seven days during crisis. Perhaps they are waiting for a spot in a residential treatment program or a halfway house, or they just need a few days to clear their head and emotions, a break from a treatment program at The Bridge or somewhere else. And it has 12 of the 15 detoxification beds in the region where men and women are medically cared for while they physically detox from alcohol and other drugs, according to Amanda Tyerman-Harper, with Region V Systems. The Independence Center, which generally serves people with insurance coverage, has the other three detox beds in the region. The Bridge also offers a more typical short-term residential treatment program of 30 to 45 days for men and several outpatient programs addressing substance abuse and mental health issues for both men and women. The Bridge's renovation project will keep patients separated from the public and create more efficient use of the space. So far, counselors have new offices, theres a new kitchen so food doesnt have to be delivered from the jail, and a large community meeting room has been remodeled with new heating and air conditioning. Its really Christmas every other month when we get a new phase completed, said Phil Tegeler, executive director. The Bridge began as civil protective custody on Cornhusker Highway, a place where police took intoxicated people instead of jail. Some still call it Cornhusker Place, a holdover from those early days, when Lincoln was a pioneer in a more humane and less expensive way to deal with publicly intoxicated people, according to Tegeler. But The Bridge has been offering long-term inpatient treatment since 1985, just two years after it opened. Last fiscal year it offered services to more than 5,200 people, with a $3.25 million budget that comes from local, state and federal sources, including a federal substance abuse block grant that makes treatment possible for people who have no health insurance or money to pay for treatment. Staff members are dually credentialed as mental health and substance abuse counselors, Tegeler said. The program uses what is called motivational interviewing, identifying motivation factors for individual clients, said Clover Frederick, marketing manager. It also cooperates with the assortment of 12-step programs that can help people remain sober and straight after treatment, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Alanon and Cocaine Anonymous. For Goossen, it was his bridge to a healthier life. The counseling staff gave him the help he needed at the time, and a foundation for a life beyond addiction, he said. How to help The Bridge has raised $1.2 million of the $1.5 million it needs to finish renovating its 108-year-old building. People can donate by going directly to the website, TheBridgeNebraska.org, by sending a check, or dropping by in person at 721 K St. The southwestern U.S. state of Texas on Friday celebrated its new law that allows people to openly carry handguns. The law allows licensed Texans for the first time since 1871 to carry a holstered pistol in public. The open carry law passed in the Republican-dominated 2015 legislative session. Supporters of the new law rallied at the Texas State Capitol in Austin Friday with their holstered guns. Texans who have passed a required safety course and have a concealed handgun permit can visibly carry their holstered weapons in public. Supporters of the law say it will enhance public safety. Opponents say there is scant evidence open carry states are safer places to live. More than 40 U.S. states have some form of an open carry law, but Texas is the most populous U.S. state allowing people to tote their guns into an array of businesses and public places. The new Texas law comes amid what U.S. President Barack Obama described Friday in his weekly address as the country's "epidemic of gun violence." He said he will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday to discuss the options available to him to stem the tide of violence. Ugandas electoral commission has issued a new directive banning all presidential candidates from campaigning in specific areas, including places of worship, markets and health institutions. This, after calling on the inspector general of police, Gen. Kale Kayihura to enforce the directive. In a press statement issued to all political parties and their presidential candidates, Badru Kiggundu, chairman of the electoral commission says the new directive forms part of the electoral bodys measure to ensure an equal playing field ahead of the February vote. The EC has noted with concern some presidential candidates who have made it a habit of going to various hospitals and conducting campaigns amidst patients. The Commission would like to guide that hospitals are not campaign venues just like markets and schools are not, said Kiggundu. But opposition groups rejected the new directive as yet another attempt by the electoral commission to undermine their campaigns for presidential, parliamentary and local elections. They argue that the banning of campaigns in specific areas comes just days after a senior government health official banned all politicians from visiting health institutions in the run up to the elections. The official also petitioned the chairman of the electoral commission seeking to enforce the ban. Jotham Taremwa, spokesman for the electoral commission, says the new directive was necessary to ensure a peaceful process ahead of the polls. The electoral commission has communicated and guided the candidates in the presidential race to ensure that while they are on their campaign trail they dont use markets because, that is where people are selling their produce. They dont use schools because the children have to study, they dont use hospitals because there are patients getting treatment, and there is need for privacy, said Taremwa. We guided them to try and use the open field, which can host their large crowds, we have guided [them] on that. And the ministry of health has also come out to put out a statement and ensure that the candidates know that the hospitals and other health facilities are out of bounds for them. For years, politicians, including main opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), campaigned at markets to explain their policies. Besigye recently went to visit a health facility where an official there got into trouble for talking to the opposition leader about the challenges they face at the center. The opposition groups say the latest ban is to stifle their campaigns aimed at preventing the public from knowing the true nature of the state of affairs. Taremwa disagreed. Even when you visit hospitals, it has hours to visit, even with permission, when you get in you dont shout," he said. "How do you campaign by keeping silent and observing the privacy of the sick people? You dont use cameras to photograph every other sick patient or area. So really, the opposition is being unfair to the electoral commission, and we are not doing any bidding for the NRM (ruling National Resistance Movement). Because we have not banned others and allowed the NRM to use those health facilities as the campaign venue." Supporters of the opposition parties have also expressed concern about the directive, saying it undermines the freedom of expression and association as stipulated in the constitution. Some are considering seeking legal redress about the directive. Taremwa denied the electoral body is contravening the constitution with its latest directive, saying the accusations are farfetched. We have not stopped anybody from talking to anyone. We are saying, 'please, if it is a market, people are selling their [wares], are you going to stand in the middle of the market and start inviting people to listen to you?' There are some wrong elements and they are going to come and pick peoples produce and run away with them ... Nobody has denied them any freedom to speak. They can speak on top of their lungs as long as they are not in the hospital wards. An organization fighting for community empowerment says Zimbabweans should spearhead the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly last year. The SDGs are a global initiative that builds on the eight Millennium Development Goals established in 2000. Fischer Chiyanike, president of the United Nations Organization-Zimbabwe, told VOA Studio 7 the country has identified some of the achievable goals that can be initiated and implemented by communities. We have come up with seven priority SDGs for the next five years although these SDGs were declared (for implementation) in the next 15 years. These are critical SDGs in Zimbabwe. Number one, our focus is on the eradication of poverty, (SDG) number two focuses on food security, number five is gender equality, number six is on water and sanitation to provide clean water in Zimbabwe, then number 13 is on adaption and mitigation on climate change, number 16 is on peace building and governance and number 17 is on means of implementation involving financing and development all these SGDs. He said these goals can be implemented through utilizing some of the lessons of the MDGs. It will be difficult if we do not use some of the recommendations that were made at the Rio [De Janeiro] 2012 Summit We agreed that we were going to engage the grassroots In Zimbabwe it can be difficult to implement the goals as we need food on the table but we need to engage people at this initial stage so that no one will be left behind. He noted that the development model that should be utilized in implementing these SDGs should be based on strategic community engagement and not a top down decision making process in which the state and civil society impose ideas on local people. The 17 Sustainable Development goals which target poverty, hunger, quality education, gender equality, climate change action to peace, justice and strong institutions are on target for the next 15 years or 2030. As the year 2015 comes to an end, there are many news stories that stood out during the course of the year. One of the top stories was the death of Cecil the lion, which resulted in rave media reviews worldwide resulting in a White House petition to deport its killer to Zimbabwe. This was closely followed by a dispute over finding a man with the oddest facial features in the Mr. Ugly Contest and President Mugabe denouncing his own party before falling at the Harare International Airport. Cecil the lion was killed in July in Zimbabwes north-western district of Hwange, Matabeleland North province, well-known for having the majestic Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya as it is commonly referred to by local people. The death of the lion captured international attention as some sections of the Zimbabwean community and London researchers had classified it as a tourist attraction and research project. The lion, which had an attractive black mane and prized for fathering several cubs as the dominant male, succumbed to its death when it was speared to death by American hunter, dentist Walter Palmer of Minnesota, who went into hiding after it emerged that he had killed one of the most-prized wild animals in Zimbabwe. However, the global attention given to Cecil, left many ordinary Zimbabweans surprised, with many saying that they were not even aware that the lion was being used for research purposes and for attracting tourists. Harare resident, Emmah Chandigere, says it was disturbing that some people mourned Cecil the lion when a human rights activist Itai Dzamara of Occupy Africa Unity Square was abducted by unknown assailants about nine months ago. TOO MUCH MEDIA HYPE The hype created by the media on Cecil the lion was too much considering that the large populace in Zimbabwe didn't know (anything) about Cecil the lion. No one knew who Cecil was up until the time he died. The hype was unnecessary given the standpoint that Itai Dzamara had gone missing and the hype given to the lion's death was more than that given to a human being, Itai Dzamara. Chandigere says the lions death was a wakeup call for the Zimbabwe National Parks to make citizens aware of important animals they have in the country. The hype only came out after the death of the lion. We never knew that there was Cecil before his death and I wonder what Zimbabwe National Parks is doing with regards to marketing such important (issues) if they are important to Zimbabwe as a nation. Why can't they conscientise people with regards to such animals. Fadzai Nhetembwe says the majority of Zimbabweans like her do not have the luxury of visiting parks and other tourism destinations as they live from hand to mouth. We were surprised to hear about Cecil the lion. We only knew him after his death. We do not have money to tour national parks or other tourism areas as we do not have the funds hence we heard about Cecil the lion after his death. We do not know about things that exist at our national parks and other tourism places. Another Harare resident, Prosper Dube, who was born in Hwange, says he was also not aware of the existence of Cecil. I didn't know anything about Cecil the Lion. I picked it from the media, firstly international media. I was surprised that such a lion existed in Hwange. When I heard the noise around Cecil the lion that is when I started researching on this lion and up to now am still researching. Cecil the lion had lesser impact on the Zimbabwean people and people were actually surprised why such an animal created such a hype. MANY PRESSING ISSUES PRESIDENTS FALL However Amos Chikwukwa says it was sad that the local media had to pick the story from the international press. He believes that this is an indication that Zimbabwe has too many pressing issues. Surprisingly, it became a big story outside Zimbabwe first, while it had no space in the country. There is too much focus on the economy and political instability, etc. It points that Zimbabwe has other important things to focus on. Remember also the president falling at Harare International airport and when he also said pasi neZanuPF (down with Zanu PF). For Ostallos Siziba a former University of Zimbabwe Student Representative Council president, the two events clearly reflect that the president is now too old. What is clear is that President Mugabe is no longer even in control of himself physically. That was just a simple step he missed. It is a clear reflection that he is too old and can not run a country as this has an impact on the broader economy and political affairs of the country. (Mr.) Mugabe has been running the country with those slogans then suddenly he says pasi neZanuPF . It shows he has lost it and therefore he cant run a country. Howevr for Ryan Dick,the media blew President Mugabe's fall out of proportion The fall is not a big issue. Anyone can fall young or old. We cannot blame him or his age for the bad economy, sanctions ruined everything. Another story that captured the attention of Zimbabweans and other people worldwide was a contest for finding the countrys ugliest man. Two-time reigning champion William Masvinu called for a re-run accusing the judges of being biased towards the eventual winner Mison Sere. Musvinu argued that Sere came fourth when he took the 1st prize in 2013 and asked what could have changed since he came with the same face? A group calling for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe says they will intensity their campaign this year. Charles Nyoni of Occupy Africa Unity Square, led by abducted political activist Itai Dzamara, says they have devised many ways of ensuring that the president leaves office for allegedly failing to do his job. Nyoni said the organization would also put pressure on the state to find Dzamara, who was abducted by unknown assailants nine months ago. There is quite a lot the state can do to ensure that Dzamara is found. In the first place they should intensify investigations on his disappearance, he said. He noted that they will intensify their campaign of pressing President Robert Mugabe to step down. We are going to be very much active as we now have a lot of partners as well as sympathizers on the ground willing to walk the talk with us, said Nyoni. He also said they are not afraid of state security agents, who have stopped all their protests since they started gathering at Harares Africa Unity Square grounds. All donations to the bar can be made to the human fund. Photo: NBC In what seems to be a George Costanzalike gambit to make every patron seem more attractive by comparison, a pair of bar owners in Melbourne, Australia, have decided to theme their bar around Seinfelds George Costanza. The Sydney Herald reports that the bar, named Georges Bar, features autographed items, Seinfeld paste-ups, and a menu tailored around jokes from the iconic series (how many times will a drunk patron shout no soup for you! at a bartender? Too many times, probably). When you walk in, co-owner and -operator David Barrett said, The two front doors have two Georges quotes: Its not a lie if you believe it and Everyone must like me. I must be liked. Because George Costanza seems to be weirdly popular with Australians (another conceit that sounds like a plot from Seinfeld), Barrett is also talking with a local artist whos in the middle of doing eight different George Costanza paintings about displaying some of his pieces. Lets hope theyre all about The Timeless Art of Seduction. Luckily Jason Alexander seems happy to be the master of this domain. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2011 Getty Images In an emotional year-end post on his LiveJournal, George R.R. Martin revealed that Winds of Winter wont be completed before the release of the next season of Game of Thrones, despite rumors that it would be coming soon. For months now I have wanted nothing so much as to be able to say, I have completed and delivered THE WINDS OF WINTER on or before the last day of 2015, Martin wrote. But the books not done. Nor is it likely to be finished tomorrow, or next week. Martin went on to detail his publishers original plans for the books release, which were structured around a series of deadlines to insure the book reached the public before the next season of the show. I blew the Halloween deadline, and Ive now blown the end of the year deadline, Martin wrote. And that almost certainly means that no, THE WINDS OF WINTER will not be published before the sixth season of GAME OF THRONES premieres in April (mid April, we are now told, not early April, but those two weeks will not save me). The Winds of Winters release date has been a point of speculation for some time, though most signs indicated that it would be released sometime in the winter of 2016. At this point, Game of Thrones, the TV series, has caught up with Martins A Song of Fire and Ice book series, which means that the television show will start to pioneer new ground for the world of Westeros. And, according to Martin, this means that the two may start to deviate from each other even more. So when you ask me, will the show spoil the books, all I can do is say, yes and no, and mumble once again about the butterfly effect. Those pretty little butterflies have grown into mighty dragons. Some of the spoilers you may encounter in season six may not be spoilers at all because the show and the books have diverged, and will continue to do so. So then when will get The Winds of Winter? Whenever George R.R. Martin gets to it, thank you very much. The guys been under a lot of stress. So put away those shame bells and give him some breathing room. Fremont Health Medical Center has announced the addition of Dr. Andrea VerMaas to the medical staff. VerMaas is a board certified family physician who has joined Drs. Thomas McKnight and Thomas Wolf at Prairie Fields Family Medicine. VerMaas attended medical school and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is also certified in Advanced Pediatric Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation. VerMaas is a member of both the Nebraska and American Family Academy of Family Physicians. VerMaas is able to see patients from newborn to geriatrics. In addition, she performs colonoscopies and endoscopies, and is certified in placement of implantable contraceptives and general gynecological health for women. For more information about VerMaas and other physicians on the medical staff at Fremont Health Medical Center, visit www.FremontHealth.com. The Waco-McLennan County Library is having a free New Year, New You program beginning Thursday at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd. Beachbody coach Kyla Swann will present the four-week program geared to help participants make healthy lifestyle changes. The program will continue each Thursday through Jan. 28, with hour-long sessions offered at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Weekly topics will be time management, healthy eating, exercise and stress relief. For more information, call 745-6018. Fricke in concert Janie Fricke will present a concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Bosque Arts Center, 215 S. College Hill Drive in Clifton. The concert kicks off the BACs 2016 Troubadour Concert Series. Tickets cost $75 for second tier table seating, $50 for third tier table seating, and $35 for general admission chair seats. For more information, call 675-3724 or visit www.bosqueartscenter.org. Altrusa luncheon Altrusa International of Waco will have a luncheon fundraiser at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Baylor Club in McLane Stadium. Dr. Patricia Sulak, a nationally-recognized physician, author, researcher and medical school professor, will present a program titled What Makes Us Sick, What Makes Us Healthy and What to Do About It. Cost is $35. The reservation deadline is Jan. 11. For more information, call 715-4302 or email wacoaltrusa@gmail.com. Arches Resolution 5K Temple Parks and Recreation is having its third annual Arches Resolution 5K at 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at Lions Park, 4320 Lions Park Road in Temple. Preregistration costs $20 and closes Sunday. Race day registration is $25 and will be available from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Lions Park. The event will be chip timed. Awards will be presented to the overall male and female winners, as well as to individuals who finish in the top three in their respective age groups. For registration information, visit www.racetemple.com or call Tracy Klusacek at 298-5582. HCGS meeting The Hill County Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the Hill County Courthouse Annex, 126 S. Covington St. in Hillsboro. The meeting will include the installation of 2016 officers and program planning for the upcoming year. For more information, call Cleo Y. Davis at 582-3603 and leave a message. DRT meeting The Sterling C. Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd. Sue Coffelt, an administrator of seven DNA family projects through Family Tree DNA, will speak about Using DNA to Find Ancestors. For more information, email Susie Perkins at susieperkins06@gmail.com or call 749-2342. Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event. Notices cannot be accepted by phone. Because of high volume, some items might be omitted. Cesar Sequieda, 11, has learned deep breathing keeps the anger at bay when his sister touches his belongings. But the fifth-grader also learned to care for horses and create his own bracelets in art therapy alongside 39 other at-risk youth nearing the end of the first year of a new local program. Cesar, of Waco, said he really likes the members of the Medicaid waiver program called Youth Empowerment Services and housed at the Heart of Texas Region MHMRs Klaras Center. Cesar, whose favorite subjects are math and science, said that, while he loves the art therapy, he likes being around the horses more. The YES staff will soon throw a pizza and bowling party for Cesar. Theyve determined he has graduated out of the program, which has grown quickly in its first year. YES Behavior Specialist Kiera Collins said growth can be attributed in part to the support the community has given to help area children succeed. The yearlong program is directed toward the most at-risk youth at the Klaras Center for Families, which works with youth from 3 to 17 years of age who have significant emotional or behavioral difficulties and require intensive services. Collins said youth in YES are in danger of out-of-home placement or inpatient psychiatric treatment. The staffs goal is to provide a variety of treatment options in the home and with the household to keep the child with the family. The program focuses on the youth in school, learning deficits, vital skills, goal setting, communication and safety plans, among other topics. Local partnerships Collins said she has worked hard to create community partnerships to help expand the program. William McKeever at D20 Prints provided wood block T-shirt printing sessions for the youth, Collins said. Brazos Books offered a discount on the books for the program, and Half Price Books has donated books for the kids, she said. After visiting with numerous salons, Collins said, she connected with Cherie Hudson at The Cutting Edge Salon and Spa. Hudson provided some deserving parents of children in the program with donated services. We pick some of the neediest mothers who really needed self care. They had put themselves on the back burner to take care of kids, she said. Collins said theres more room for growth in the program and she hopes to find other organizations, businesses or nonprofit groups willing to work with the at-risk youth. Collins said Angie Veracruz, Central Texas Artists Collective co-founder, has provided clients with bi-weekly art sessions. Veracruz said she looks for opportunities for the organization to get involved with the community and connect artists. Working with the youth has been an eye-opening experience, she said. The youth come from rough situations in life but, in general, she said, they are really good kids. The children just want to be heard, Veracruz said. Instead of creating a paint-by-number technique, Veracruz said, she tries to design an open environment in her sessions allowing the youth to express themselves through art. Veracruz said art is about choices, and whether painting, drawing, sketching or creating something new, it allows the youth to make their own decisions as they move through each piece. I try to remind them, as in life, we get to make our own decisions. Someone isnt going to hold your hand the whole way. Be confident in your decision making, Veracruz said. She said whether its a sport or art, allowing the youth the chance to express themselves and think about their day is a therapeutic process. Collins said there are a lot of the youth interested in more hands-on type building, engineering, video game design and music creation. Some of the kids, or mainly all of them, they dont really have that kind of extra parents support because of everything thats going on. When you have a team of people focused on you and focused on your successes and your achievements, you can almost see a change in how they see themselves, Collins said. We are open to any type of positive partnership that can make a difference with our kids. Collins said Cesar came to the program with a lot of anger issues. Since that first day, he has made a 180-degree turn, she said. Hes a very bright kid, very, very smart, she said. Hes an all-around really good kid, its just, a lot of stuff was going on in the home. Behavioral Specialist Jessica Hernandez has worked with Cesar since she joined the program three months ago. Every day is an adventure, Hernandez said. The kids see us and they run to us and give us a hug, said Hernandez during a break from playing Candy Land with Cesar on Thursday. Hernandez said she thinks the services are making great improvements in the lives of the children. The program hasnt seen a hospitalization in four months, she said. Thats a big accomplishment for us, she said. Often, the at-risk youth have a breakdown because of troubles they are facing in life and end up in the hospital or a psychiatric center, Hernandez said. Transforming lives Collins said the team works together to lift up and support the most at-risk youth, reminding the children they are supported and loved. She said they hope to transform a life and give a family hope for the future by showing the youth and their parents that a group of people is cheering them on to succeed. Each case manager in the program is assigned 10 children and meets with them daily. Three children are on track to graduate from the program this year. Every 30 days, the staff meets and discusses where a youth is in terms of goals set at the beginning of the program, Collins said. The youth and their parents create outcome statements at the beginning of the program so case managers have something to work toward. She said the statements outline the needs in these individuals lives. The need could be something as simple as knowing that your past doesnt define you, Collins said. For the parent, it could be knowing that youre a good parent or that youre doing all that you can do. Its very basic to the core of what that individual needs in order to feel that theyll be OK in the future. As the 2015 Christmas season comes to a close, its essential we reflect on the progress that weve made and the work yet to be done to protect religious liberties. Religious liberty is the underpinning of our nation and Constitution, and the battle to protect that precious freedom should be fought just as strong today as it was in 1776. Its no wonder that nearly half of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence held seminary or Bible school degrees. Nor is it surprising that John Hancock, first signer of that American history-founding document said, Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us. Yet efforts to take those rights from us are still at work: challenges to our national motto, In God We Trust, on police cars in Childress; city officials in Orange removing a public Christmas nativity scene out of litigation fears from a group of atheists; or Beaumont city leaders initially blocking police officers from voluntarily participating in Bible studies during their lunch hour. I took a stand to support religious freedoms on each of these issues and led the way to have In God We Trust permanently placed in the Senate chamber; added Under God to our state pledge; co-authored the Merry Christmas bill to combat political correctness in our schools; and established an annual Christmas tree tradition in the Texas Senate for the first time in at least 70 years. I was proud to speak out and I will always fight for a nation that was founded upon the Old and New Testaments. Imagine telling brave men and women who take a potentially life-threatening vow to Serve, Protect and Defend they cant, on their own time, study their Bible or pray to be kept safe during their work shifts. Fortunately, city leaders realized this was an infringement on the officers First Amendment rights and they backed down after I asked them to reconsider. These scenarios seem all too common in a country that specifically guarantees the free exercise of religion through the First Amendment of the Constitution. Thats why the Texas Senate has taken action to reaffirm First Amendment religious liberty protections. In last years legislative session, the Senate passed the Pastors Protection Act to protect houses of worship, religious organizations and their employees and pastors from being required to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies if it would violate their religious beliefs. It also protects such employees, pastors and organizations from lawsuits arising out of the exercise of their First Amendment right. I have also charged the Senate State Affairs Committee with the task of studying and recommending how the state of Texas should work to affirm the constitutionally guaranteed religious liberty protections of all Texans. As Hancock penned so many years ago, it is the Christian and social duty of all of us to defend those rights which heaven gave. I hope you will join me and the Texas Senate in fighting to preserve our religious freedom. May God bless you and the great state of Texas. The first hearing on this Senate State Affairs Committee interim charge will be Feb. 17. Prior to his 2014 election as lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick chaired the Senate Education Committee and served on a total of six committees including those overseeing finance, transportation, higher education, redistricting and criminal justice. He previously hosted a daily afternoon talk show on KSEV-AM 700 in Houston and raised over $16 million for children with disabilities through his radio station. One day you wash up on the beach, wet and naked. Another day you wash back out. In between, the scenery changes constantly. Its that time of year again! Summer in Waterford, with plenty of sunshine, and if you look carefully you may spot the odd artist atop... ITS hard to believe the much-loved Waterford Greenway has been open just five years, as many locals feel they have been living with the... WATERFORD is the most sunny city in Ireland and the county is second in the sunshine league, being pipped to first place by our... Waterford is set for a summer like no other on several fronts after two years of Covid-19 restrictions. With the countys hurlers triumphing in the... RENTS in Waterford are now spiralling out of control, with costs 16.2% higher than they were in the same period last year and... A Garda sergeant, who was seen assaulting a member of the Traveller community, was not prosecuted or disciplined over the incident, it has emerged. The... DESPITE the pressing need to do so, over half of all Irish people say they could not afford an average cost of 56,000 to... Empty and derelict pubs in Waterford can now be converted into houses without the need for planning permission. The Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien has... ... but you will need to show proof of jab get into bars STUDENTS heading to college in September will not have to be vaccinated... Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has described the progress which has been made on the purchase of the former Waterford Crystal site for... THERE was a great response to this years Spring Clean initiative in Waterford, as over 50 groups from the county registered to get down and... "As a parent, I would have strong reservations about letting young people compete in a pool that was used for such a sick event as a gay swimming carnival." So said Queensland's welfare, youth and ethnic affairs minister 30 years ago, at the height of the nation's AIDS fear and the state's own homophobia, led by the Bjelke-Petersen government. The 2015 Brisbane Pride festival would have been unthinkable in 1985, according to released state cabinet documents. Credit:Glenn Hunt "It seems these people who promote such an immoral, unnatural and deviant lifestyle are turning up everywhere in New South Wales," Geoff Muntz said. "...You'll never hear of a gay mardi gras or gay swimming carnival in Queensland." These acts of simple kindness and the quiet, respectful way these people from Syria, Libya, Iraq, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Bangladesh and Pakistan were treated are in strong contrast with Australia's approach. The question of "stopping the boats" has become a narrow-cast focus for a much larger issue that involves the lives of millions of innocent people caught up in some of the most intractable, violent conflicts this world has seen. Abu Jabar (right) and Um Jabar in the Turkish city of Izmir before they made it to Germany. Credit:Ruth Pollard The Italian government faced this when it started its short-lived Mare Nostrum rescue program in the Mediterranean Sea when thousands started fleeing from Syria, Iraq and beyond through Libya towards Europe. In 2014, Mare Nostrum rescued 140,000 people. Italy cancelled the mission due to the high costs of the operation estimated at 9 million ($13.5 million) a month and criticism from its European allies about the rescue operation acting as a "pull factor" for desperate people. Hundreds of people died as a result. A Syrian family covered with thermal blankets walk after they arrived from Turkey at the Greek island of Lesbos in October. Credit:AP And even with the rescues cancelled, those desperate people kept coming. During the first four months of 2015, the number of people dying at sea reached new heights. By the end of March, 479 refugees had drowned or were missing, and in April 1308 people drowned or went missing at sea, compared to 42 the year before. A sign at the Wesley Uniting church in East Maitland. Credit:Ryan Osland My country, Libya, is at war ... my message is, 'I need peace.' ... I just want to live in a safe place and have peace in my country. Rafaa, a Libyan fleeing to Germany This grim toll led European Union leaders to agree to increase their operations, including the participation of naval vessels from several EU states in Operation Triton, run by Frontex, the European border agency. Frontex relies on member states to supply staff and equipment, and it often falls short on both fronts. Ali Deeb from Latakia in Syria walks towards the refugee camp he is staying in near Braunschweig, Germany. Credit:Kate Geraghty Tens of thousands rescued Even so, tens of thousands of refugees have been rescued this year by Operation Triton and the combined efforts of private organisations and NGOs such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, which has had two rescue boats in the Mediterranean, and the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, the Norwegian Society for Search and Rescue and Sea Watch, each of which have one boat. In the Aegean Sea the most popular route for Syrians fleeing via Turkey to Greece the Turkish and Greek coast guards have rescued tens of thousands of people this year alone while other small groups like Proactiva Open Arms, a volunteer group of Spanish lifeguards, have pulled thousands of people from the sea off the coast of the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios. A local stands next to a pile of discarded life jackets after the arrival of refugees and migrants to the Greek island of Lesbos. Credit:AP At least 806,175 people, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, arrived in Greece this year. A further 150,317 arrived in Italy, according to the International Organisation for Migration, who announced this week that more than 1 million refugees had arrived in Europe in 2015. It is the highest flow of refugees and migrants since World War II. Many of the Syrian refugees Fairfax Media has met in the last year are now living their first bitter winter in Germany, like the aspiring chef Ali Deeb, whom I first met on a rescue boat off the coast of Libya in late August. The 21-year-old, who left Syria to escape both compulsory conscription into the Syrian armed forces and pressure to join the local opposition militia, had made his way to the German city of Hannover along with his childhood friend Ahmed, Ahmed's sister and her husband. They all applied for asylum. "I could not do any of it I cannot go into any army because I cannot kill anyone," he says of his decision to flee. They were sent to a reception centre in Braunschweig, where he stayed for two months. Then, suddenly, he was told he must move. As a single man, Ali was sent to a city in the north, his friend Ahmed and his family were sent to another town in the south. Now he lives in an apartment with 11 other people. "It is a very crowded apartment, there are four people in each room, but this is a temporary situation," Ali says, with characteristic optimism. Each month, he makes the six-hour journey south to visit Ahmed, and in the meantime they wait for their paperwork to make it through the German system, go to language class and worry about the friends and family they left behind in Syria. For Abu Muaad and his wife Um Muaad, who only arrived in Germany on December 15 after risking the rough winter swell in the Aegean Sea with his brother Abu Jabar, his wife Um Jabar and their cousin Abu Khalil, the world is a much safer but unfamiliar place. Their passage from the Turkish coastal city of Izmir to the Greek island of Lesbos was thrown into doubt after Turkey signed a $US3.2 billion deal with the EU aimed at stemming the flow of refugees, prompting the arrest of hundreds of refugees, including Abu Muaad and his family. They were released and vowed to try to cross the Aegean again. For days I heard nothing from them it was unclear whether they had been arrested again trying to leave Turkey or whether they had fallen victim to the sea, as at least 10 people do every day. Finally, on December 7, word came through they had made it to Greece. Eight days later they were in Berlin and now, Abu Muaad says, they are in a refugee camp awaiting housing. "Germany is very nice, but our home [in Syria] is better," he says of his beloved home town of al-Shaddadi, which was all but unrecognisable when Islamic State took over 18 months ago. He and his wife insist they want to return to Syria as soon as it is safe, and plan to use their time in Germany to study and work so they can return home to rebuild their shattered country. 'People are dying' For 35-year-old Rafaa, a Libyan from the besieged city of Benghazi, the decision to leave his home became more urgent as the violence surged around him. "They are fighting between each other, people are dying and there are no civilian services in Benghazi," Rafaa says. "The hospital is closed the kids didn't go to school because it is not a safe situation in the city. "My country, Libya, is at war my message is, 'I need peace.'" Rafaa Younis from Libya outside a refugee camp on the outskirts of the small town of Hilbersdorf in Germany in September 2015. Credit:Kate Geraghty When Fairfax Media tracked down Rafaa who had been rescued from the same boat as Ali Deeb off the coast of Libya he was in a refugee reception centre in the German city of Chemnitz, 280 kilometres south of Berlin. "I just want to live in a safe place and have peace in my country," he said, as the rain began to fall outside his temporary home. With Europe's land borders sealed, people are forced to pay thousands of dollars to smugglers and risk their lives in leaky, overcrowded boats on the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Even the rough waters and freezing weather of winter have not stopped the flow. Everyone involved in these rescue operations acknowledges that, in the long term, rescuing refugees from unseaworthy boats is not the solution to the global humanitarian crisis we are facing. But until a solution is found, they say, it is the only way. The alternative is unthinkable The alternative is unthinkable leaving people trapped in countries where their own government drops hundreds of deadly barrel bombs on civilian market places, schools and hospitals, enslaved by IS, or condemned to a lifetime of conscription in an army run by despots. Jouri weeps as her aunt recounts their family's journey after they were forced to flee their home in Syria. Credit:Alice Martins Once they flee these intolerable conditions and until European governments have agreed on a safer and more humane way to deal with the mass movement of people, the only alternative is to rescue them at sea and facilitate their crossings at land borders. International aid agencies such as Medecins Sans Frontieres as well as the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have worked to fill the gaps left by governments. But these governments have avoided developing any coherent policies to deal with the mass movement of people, allowing some refugees (Syrians and Iraqis) to cross their borders while leaving others to sit out the freezing winter in makeshift camps. Some countries, such as Slovenia, have built fences to keep people out. They have also failed to usefully participate in a solution to the Syrian civil war, one of the major causes of the global refugee crisis the world is facing. Britain and France are now bombing IS positions in Syria while Russia, in an aggressive bid to prop up the unflinchingly violent regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has already killed hundreds of civilians in its two-month long campaign of air strikes on mostly opposition-held areas. Far from bringing the war in Syria closer to an end, three new countries conducting air strikes in the already decimated country have forced even more Syrians to flee. And even now we are not at the crux of the refugee crisis, because Europe despite all the hand-wringing and hype is not its epicentre. Turkey is host to the world's largest number of refugees, with more than 2 million Syrians taking shelter inside its borders. Four million flee war Syria is the source of the largest number of refugees in the world, with more than 4 million people forced to flee a war that is now in its fifth year, with a death toll of at least 200,000 and rising. Of those, at least 1.6 million are children. Almost one out of every four refugees is Syrian, with 95 per cent living in surrounding countries, the UNHCR says, while Syria also has the largest number of internally displaced people, at 7.6 million. In Lebanon a tiny country compared to Turkey, with a deeply dysfunctional government nearly 1.5 million Syrian refugees now make up a quarter of the population, while in Jordan there are at least 654,000 refugees.Pakistan is hosting 1.51 million refugees, according to the UNHCR, while Iran has 982,000. The enormity of those numbers should put the European refugee crisis in perspective, and it should highlight the hard-heartedness of Australia's decision to take in a modest extra 12,000 Syrian refugees while leaving 827 people to be detained indefinitely in horrific conditions in Nauru and on Manus Island. In Europe, in stark contrast to their governments' dithering, many Europeans have spent the last few months showing compassion and an enormous practical capacity to welcome those arriving in their countries. From welcome signs written in Arabic at train stations to citizens offering to drive refugees across borders, arriving at reception centres with blankets, warm jackets, teddy bears and beanies, to those assisting with the rescue of people coming by boats, Europeans have responded mostly with kindness and empathy. One dead, one injured in falls from cliffs in Shawnee Forest By The Associated Press Jan. 01, 2016 | 02:31 PM | OLIVE BRANCH, IL Authorities in Alexander County are urging residents living behind the Len Small levee to move to higher ground after Mississippi River water began to overtop it on Friday. The levee in the far southwestern tip of Illinois protects the towns of Olive Branch, Hodges Park, Unity and other rural homes. All told, about 500 people live behind the levee. Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said the river is expected to rise another foot and a half before cresting Sunday, so flooding is expected to get much worse. He issued what he called an emergency evacuation order Friday, after calling for voluntary evacuation on Wednesday. The county is also urging residents in and near East Cape Girardeau and McClure to evacuate. The move is precautionary: A levee there is holding for now but a record crest is predicted. By The Associated Press Jan. 01, 2016 | 10:51 AM | MEMPHIS, TN Western Tennessee and Kentucky are still facing flood threats as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Authority work to control water levels. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the Cumberland River at Dover through Monday evening. The river was expected to rise to near 66.6 feet. Flood stage is 67 feet. Minor flooding along the Ohio River was affecting parts of Owensboro and Paducah in Kentucky, with most cresting expected by Tuesday. Moderate flooding was reported along the Green River near Paradise, Kentucky. The Mississippi River was expected to crest in Memphis at 41 feet on Jan. 8. Flood stage is 34 feet. Although no major flooding was expected in the city, officials were moving to protect roads and a local airport. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Advertisement By The Associated Press Dec. 31, 2015 | FRANKFORT, KY By The Associated Press Dec. 31, 2015 | 05:24 PM | FRANKFORT, KY Kentucky state lawmakers will return for a 60-day legislative session with a new Republican governor, a bare-knuckle battle for control of the state House and a massive pension shortfall. The issue sure to dominate the session that begins Tuesday in Frankfort will be how to spend $21.4 billion in tax money over the next two years. But lawmakers will have plenty of other matters to contend with along the way. Medicaid, the option for local sales taxes, and laws on campaign finance and union membership all could be on the table. Smoking bans and start dates for children in public schools also could come up. Some issues, like Medicaid, could be decided on partisan lines. The state House remains in control of Democrats, while Republicans hold the Senate. Following the historic agreement subscribed in March 2015, Fincantieri has signed on Dec. 30 a memorandum of agreement with Carnival Corporation & plc for the construction of four new cruise ships of an overall value of about 2.5 billion euros. The final contracts, subject to several conditions, including satisfactory shipowner financing, are expected to be executed in 2016. Two ships will be built for the Costa Asia brand, one for P&O Cruises Australia and one for Princess Cruises. The four units will all be built at the shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera, with deliveries scheduled in 2019 and 2020. Once entered into service in their respective fleets, they will serve growing cruise markets, including China, Australia and others. Each unit will be designed and developed specifically for the brand and for its reference guests. The 135,500-ton Costa Asia and P&O Cruises ships will carry 4,200 passengers. Princess Cruises new 143,700-ton ship will carry 3,560 passengers and will be its fourth Royal Princess class vessel, after Royal, Regal and Majestic, currently under construction in Fincantieris shipyards and scheduled for delivery in 2017. Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: The signing of this agreement happens during a real and beyond all expectations boom of the cruise sector. This announcement confirms, once again, the effectiveness of our strategy: with these projects, based on those of the prototype units acquired in extremely challenging conditions, we ensure our group not only continuity and development, but also a new-found profitability in this segment. We will deliver on our fleet enhancement plan with the construction of these four new ships, that are consistent with our long-term strategy of measured capacity growth over time, said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. These ships will be great additions to our fleet that support our goal to exceed guest expectations and create great vacation memories for each guest onboard our ships. These strategic investments in new ships that wow our guests are an important part of our measured growth strategy, which includes replacing less efficient ships with newer, larger and more efficient vessels over a very specific period of time. This fresh momentum for the partnership between Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation, announcing a program of this magnitude for the first time this year, is of the greatest strategic importance not only for the shipbuilding industry but for the entire domestic economy. In fact, the agreement highlights a long-term program by US-based Carnival Corporation, which has invested through its partnership with Fincantieri over USD 25 billion in Italy, making it one of the country's largest foreign investors. In fact, Fincantieri has built 59 ships for Carnival Corporations different brands since 1990, with another 10 ships for the group currently in the companys orderbook. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/01/2016 (2483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Relocating Winnipegs rail lines out of the city would be a massive undertaking, but several expensive projects to go over, under and around existing lines along with a larger tax base after land is freed up could make relocation financially attractive in the long term. More than $290 million has been budgeted or spent in the past decade on building grade separations (underpasses and overpasses) at rail crossings in Winnipeg, including the upcoming $155-million Waverley Street underpass. And there are at least four more large-scale projects anticipated in the coming years, including underpass upgrades for Pembina Highway, Marion Street and Osborne Street, and a strategy for replacing the aging Arlington Bridge. Add in the $590-million Southwest Transitway, which includes the planned Pembina Highway project, and the price tag for keeping traffic flowing over or under rail obstacles in Winnipeg looks increasingly steep. However, relocating the rail lines could be a permanent solution and significantly reduce the citys future spending on grade separations, proponents say. This is a window of opportunity the City of Winnipeg should take advantage of, according to one rail consultant. Mary-Jane Bennett, a British Columbia-based railway expert, has been studying rail relocation for the city of White Rock, just south of Vancouver. Shes seen first-hand what rail relocation can do for a metropolitan area. In the Surrey-White Rock region, studies determined removing the rail lines could beautify the area and provide better access to a scenic beach. From the B.C. perspective, its something that has gained traction and gained the imagination of a number of players, Bennett said. In Winnipeg, rerouting train traffic away from the city and removing the rail lines could free up 480 acres of prime downtown real estate land the city would get tax revenues from. Currently, the city gets only about $870,000 a year in property taxes from all the railway tracks that snake through it (although this does not include taxes from rail yards and maintenance facilities). The potential of the freed-up land should not be looked at in the sense of property taxes alone, according to Christina Maes Nino, who works for the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. It would depend on whats done with the land. If its turned into a public park, the tax benefits wouldnt be great, but the public benefits would be huge. If its turned into commercial or residential development, that would be a different story, Maes Nino said. The rail lines, the value of their property, considering its the middle of the city, its a great location that would be really desirable. Certainly it could bring a good deal of revenue back to the city, especially at a time when the city doesnt have enough revenue. Regina is capitalizing on a similar opportunity. The Saskatchewan capital is in the midst of a major revitalization project that includes developing the now-vacant Canadian Pacific Railway yards in the downtown area. The rail yards in Regina were relocated to a new hub built west of the city in 2011. The province spent about $100 million on the yard-relocation project and building transportation links to the new hub. The city now has about 17 acres of prime land it is looking to turn into commercial and residential development. While consultations are ongoing, the city estimates the development will cost $500 million, most of it from private investment. At least one report in Winnipeg has estimated the cost of rail-line relocation at about $1 billion, which compares favourably with the multiplying costs of bridges and underpasses. With a federal law that gives Transport Canada the ability to set out rail-relocation plans and kick in up to 50 per cent of the cost, the potential cost savings of relocating the tracks rather than continuing to build bridges and underpasses look increasingly clear. Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press View of the CP rail yards in Winnipeg's North End. Art DeFehr, a local businessman and rail buff, proposed an alternative rail route that runs south of the city and includes new tracks and yard facilities for the rail companies in his $1-billion estimate. Just to build the bypass is not that expensive, DeFehr said. What I was working into my estimate was actually rebuilding yards and things like that. What has never been done, in my view, is a study that takes into account all of the possibilities. They often look very narrowly at fixing yards and things like this, but I dont think theres ever been an actual study of moving the rail lines south of (Winnipeg). But for any relocation plan to benefit the city fully, Winnipeggers will need to have their say about not only how much money the relocation brings in, but also how it affects their neighbourhoods. I think what we need to get the buy-in needed to develop that land is a shared community vision for what happens there, Maes Nino said. Winnipeg tends to dream of, One big thing thats going to fix Winnipeg. We move the rail lines out of Winnipeg it needs to fit with everything else. I think the vision itself has to come from Winnipeggers, and they need to be involved in the process. We cant just build a new neighbourhood like its an empty plot of land surrounded by nothing. Making the grades There are several ongoing projects for grade separations at rail crossings in Winnipeg. Some are under construction, others are in the planning stages. Here is a look at whats been proposed: Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files A view from Jarvis Avenue of the CPR Winnipeg Yards and the Arlington Bridge. Pembina Highway underpass The city wants to increase the width of the Pembina Highway underpass at Jubilee Avenue to improve traffic flow. Its part of the Southwest Transitway project, which has an estimated total cost of $590 million. The upgrade is supposed to provide a third northbound traffic lane and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists. Study cost: $1.3 million Year: 2011 Projected cost for project: $72.5 million CPR yards crossing study Arlington Bridge, which spans the Canadian Pacific Railway yards, opened in 1912. It is reaching the end of its life and cannot be repaired, according to a recent consultants report. The CPR yards crossing study is looking at possible ways to handle traffic once the bridge is closed. Options include widening the McPhillips Street underpass or building a tunnel connecting Sherbrook Street south of the rail yards with McGregor Street to the north. Study cost: $1.5 million Year: 2013 Projected cost for project: Early estimates are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Marion Street widening More traffic is expected to flow along Marion Street as a result of new developments to the east and southeast in Transcona and Sage Creek. The city wants to look at widening Marion and building either an underpass or overpass at the CPR Emerson rail line, which dissects Marion just east of Archibald Street. Currently, delays due to trains are common and the city says the roads there were not designed to handle the increasing traffic volumes. Study cost: $1.25 million Year: 2013 Projected cost for project: $250 million Osborne Street underpass (proposed study) The city has proposed a design study for reconstructing or widening the Osborne Street underpass at Confusion Corner. Estimated study cost: $2.5 million Year: Possibly 2019 Ongoing and completed projects Kenaston Boulevard underpass With booming residential growth in south Winnipeg, increasing traffic was further compounded with delays caused by trains south of Taylor Avenue. To alleviate traffic congestion, the underpass was built in 2004, along with the construction of Sterling Lyon Parkway. Cost: $48 million BORIS MINKEVICH/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES An underpass at Waverley Street will cost an estimated $155 million. Plessis Road underpass After being delayed nearly a year, two lanes of the Plessis underpass opened in October 2015. The underpass (for which construction began in 2012) was proposed because of regular traffic congestion at the rail line between Dugald Road and Kernaghan Avenue. Two more lanes are expected to open in September, and the whole project is set to be completed by March 2017. Cost: $85.4 million Waverley Street underpass About 30,000 vehicles cross the train tracks at Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue each day, and they are frequently backed up because of the approximately 40 trains that cross at that spot. Funding was firmed up for the project in 2015, after the federal government agreed to kick in its share in a pre-election announcement. Cost: $155 million Panet Road-Molson Street widening Traffic congestion is common because of passing trains near the Concordia Avenue intersection. Clearing the congestion is slow because there is only one lane of traffic in each direction at the intersection. The city is widening Panet and Molson to four-lane, divided roads to improve traffic flow. The reconstruction will also include separate left-turn lanes and right-turn cutoffs at the Concordia intersection. Construction began in 2013. Cost: $10 million inayat.singh@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Sometimes the system works and lightness triumphs over darkness. I saw it for myself this year in one of the most amazing immigration stories Ive been lucky to cover. A year after fleeing Somalia and travelling by plane, bus and on foot across three continents, Yahya Samatar swam down the Red River into Canada in August. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Yahya Samatar enters the refugee hearing this morning. The day after he arrived, the aid worker sat in the cramped office of Hospitality House Refugee Ministry on Main Street and described in detail his amazing journey. I was riveted but at the same time unsettled. After all hed been through to get someplace safe, there was no guarantee hed be allowed to stay in Canada. Ive covered several Immigration and Refugee Board hearings and have not seen many Somalis granted protection by Canada. Ive heard adjudicators rule the refugee claimant may fear for their safety in Somalia, but thats no reason to let them stay in Canada; that the terror group al-Shabaab isnt much of a threat, even though it was bombing government buildings in the capital Mogadishu at the time. Samatar worked for western NGOs in Somalia on humanitarian projects such as feeding people and investing in womens health the kinds of things that promote a civil society. Samatar was doing the kind of work that needs to be done to make Somalia a livable place again for his wife and four children not to mention hundreds of thousands of refugees whove fled since the failed state imploded more than 20 years ago. Last year, I met many of them who are stuck in the worlds largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya, near the border with Somalia. Theyre stuck because its still not safe for them to go home. The Kenyan government wont let them leave the refugee camp or become permanent residents of Kenya. Theyre not even allowed to build shelters that are too sturdy because theyre considered permanent homes. Kids who were born in the camp after their parents fled fighting and famine in Somalia in the 1990s are now having kids and they have little hope for the future. Even those with loved ones in Canada who are trying to sponsor them to come to Winnipeg were stuck. If they were lucky enough to be called by Immigration for an interview with a visa officer, they couldnt leave the refugee camp to get to the Canadian consulate in Nairobi. Samatar was working to try to make Somalia a place they could again call home, but I was afraid hed get the well-worn boot from Canada. On the day of his refugee board hearing, the adjudicator in Toronto came out swinging at the video conference. He asked a lot of questions about Samatars aid work in Somalia. He pored over Facebook entries on Samatars timeline the only evidence the refugee claimant who swam into Canada could provide. Then there were technical problems with the video-conferencing system and the session adjourned while technicians tried to fix it. It wasnt looking good for Samatar. I figured the session would be put over to another day, then there would be a delay of several weeks while he waited for the adjudicators decision and chances were it wouldnt be good. But when the glitch was fixed and his hearing resumed, a shocking thing happened. The Immigration and Refugee Board member came back and said hed heard enough: he believed Samatar and was granting him protection in Canada. I was stunned. And relieved. Canadas immigration system works. Samatar is still doing aid work, volunteering with refugee resettlement groups in Winnipeg and waiting for his wife and kids to join him. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/01/2016 (2483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. With funeral details still in the works, tributes to former premier Howard Pawley continue to flow from political allies and foes alike. Brandon Sun Archives Brandon Sun Howard Pawley. Circa 1985. Former premier Gary Filmon remembered Pawley earlier this week as a gentleman with a preachers speaking style and a staunch dedication to his principles. He was very dedicated to public service, to his principles and to the New Democratic Party, said Filmon, who was leader of the Tory opposition for much of Pawleys time as premier and succeeded Pawley in the post in 1988. He was very tenacious in his commitment to the things he believed in. Recalling the events of 30 years ago, Filmon said, despite contentious times in the legislature, Pawley was a kind person outside the house, able to share a chuckle over the days events with members of rival parties. In the mid-1980s, those events included an attempt by Pawley to entrench French language rights, a move the Conservatives opposed and that prompted a legislative log-jam and days of bell-ringing at the legislature as members were summoned for votes. Since his death Wednesday morning in Windsor, Ont., Pawley has been widely praised for his ability to listen, to consult and to lead gently by consensus. I remember him saying he regarded himself as one vote in cabinet said Filmon, a unusual approach to governing when Pawley bore the weight of leading his namesake government. Flags at Winnipeg city hall, at Windsors city hall and at the Manitoba legislature are at half-mast to mark Pawleys death. The Ontario-born lawyer served as Manitobas NDP premier from 1981 until 1988 before becoming a political science professor at the University of Windsor. He was 81. Its not yet clear when Pawleys funeral will take place, but an online book of condolence has been set up on the Manitoba governments homepage for the public to sign. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Flags at half-mast at the Manitoba Legislature Thursday to honour former Premier Howard Pawley who died at the age of 81. In a statement Thursday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Pawley a remarkable Canadian, widely respected for his championing of human rights, social justice, and economic development. Today we mourn the loss of an exceptional visionary whose trail-blazing work made life better for the citizens of Manitoba and, by extension, for all Canadians, said Trudeau. His legacy will live on in the many advances our country has made toward achieving greater social justice for all. Pawleys political career as a minister and premier included the creation of public auto insurance, the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord and a historic defeat when a fellow NDP MLA voted with the opposition Progressive Conservatives to reject the budget and bring down the majority government in a non-confidence vote. maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/01/2016 (2483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Most Manitobans like the idea of moving rail lines out of Winnipeg, but many remain skeptical relocation will occur, a poll conducted on behalf of the Free Press suggests. A Probe Research telephone survey of 1,000 adults across the province in early December suggests 59 per cent of Manitobans support the idea of moving rail lines out of the city, as the Selinger government proposed late last year. The poll suggests 23 per cent of Manitobans oppose the idea, while 18 per cent are unsure. Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press View of the CP rail yards in Winnipeg's North End. The poll also suggests 48 per cent of Manitobans do not believe rail relocation is likely, compared to 41 per cent who believe it is likely and 10 per cent who are unsure. The public kind of wants this, even if they think its not going to happen, Probe Research president Scott MacKay said in an interview. Theyve heard this before, in that its an issue that emerges every couple of years. Maybe the most recent round of discussion has been more formal, in that the governing party says they want to do this, continued MacKay, qualifying his statement by noting the NDP placed third in the most recent Probe poll of voter preferences. The NDP could almost promise anything. When youre that far behind, you become like a third party or a fringe party: you can say whatever you want, because your chance of being elected is minimal. The Probe poll suggests support for rail relocation is strong both within Winnipeg and outside city limits, though support is stronger inside the Perimeter. Support is strong among supporters of all three major political parties, though markedly weaker among voters who prefer the Progressive Conservatives. Tory supporters are also more skeptical of the prospects for rail relocation, compared to their NDP and Liberal counterparts, the poll suggests. As well, younger Manitobans are more optimistic than older ones are about the prospects for moving rail lines out of the city. MacKay said the strong support for rail relocation could provide policy direction to Manitobas next government. The large percentage of respondents who are unsure whether to support the idea is also significant, he said. Sometimes, the smart group is unsure. Theyre saying they arent going to offer an opinion until they know the costs, he said. Though many policy experts believe rail relocation will provide Winnipeg with long-term benefits that include neighbourhood revitalization and a reduced infrastructure-maintenance burden, the short-term and medium-term costs are unknown. One proponent has placed the tab in excess of $1.5 billion. After being presented with the Probe survey results, Canadas two largest railway companies remained cool to the idea of moving rail lines out of Winnipeg, noting both the cost and difficulty. CN Rail reiterated it will participate in a provincial rail-relocation study even though it believes the project will be both extremely complex and costly, stated Kate Fenske, the railways Winnipeg-based media and community relations manager for Western Canada. Canadian Pacific Railway is still considering whether it will participate in the Manitoba study. Relocation of rail yards is a complex and serious issue, which would involve CP, local and national customers, regulators, local community organizations and all levels of government, stated Salem Woodrow, a CP spokesman in Calgary. An extensive review would need to take place to determine the impact to customer service and the full cost to all stakeholders, which will be significant. bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/01/2016 (2483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. There have been some constants in the Palomino Clubs 27 years: its owner Cary Paul, the Kosher Cowboy sign and a devoted group of regulars. David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press Palomino Club owner Cary Paul during the second last day before the club closed its doors. On the eve of Saturdays giant farewell blow out, devoted club-goers gathered in beer-soaked herds to spend one last Friday night at the iconic bar. Within minutes of its doors opening at 7 p.m., groups began pouring in, and it wasnt about picking up a girl or guy for the night as the club has been known for. It was about having one last drink at the place that has been part of their lives for so many years. Some were men and women in their 40s and 50s reliving the days when they spent every Saturday at the Pal. Others were attending the Pal for the second night in a row, with plans to return Saturday in an attempt to soak up every last moment of their beloved bar. Its doors will close forever after Saturdays bash, soon to be bulldozed and replaced by a 60-unit condo building. Ive been coming here since I turned 18, was the oft-repeated answer when a patron was asked how many years they have been coming to the Portage Avenue mainstay. The early crowd Friday night skewed older, but Paul said the past two weeks have been an ageless crowd, from those who just turned 18 to those who have been coming to the bar for decades. From the original hardwood floors, now blackened from years of country music fans boot scootin boogie-ing on them to the infamous Kosher Cowboy sign and one very inappropriate neon pig sign, much of the inside of the Pal has remained the same. Its those two pigs engaging in an illicit act that had a god-fearing musical act from Nashville refuse to perform until they turned off the sign, according to Paul. David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press Many of the bar's patrons have been going since they tuned 18. DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 'Its never changed, it has never themed itself to the flavour of the day:' owner Cary Paul Its never changed, it has never themed itself to the flavour of the day. So many people have met here, and it has touched so many peoples lives, Paul said. The only thing thats really changed is the paint. Its that sense of familiarity that kept Neil Sullivan coming back time and time again. Sullivan, now 46, said his bond with the bar was solidified in one wild night in his 20s, which ended in a cake fight in the middle of the bar. Instead of kicking him out, the manager, Jacquie Neufeld, helped him out, cleaned him up and got him home safe. Jacquie was really the second face of the bar, he said of the beloved former manager who died earlier this year. The Pal really is a timeless place; it a mix of people, its a nice and comfortable environment without a sense of pretension. The other face of the Pal is its owner Paul, who is immortalized on the back section of the club nicknamed the Kosher Section after the wooden sign bearing a caricature of Paul with the words, The Kosher Cowboy. A nickname Paul, who is Jewish, earned while training as a steer wrestler. Within the first year of the Pals opening, the sign was mounted and the Kosher Section was created. The horseshoe-shaped tables were a frequent request for bachelorette parties and other events. Fridays party was about the music, a chance for any band who came to jam for one last time. A fitting final Friday for a country bar that has hosted famous country musical acts such as Faith Hill in her early years. Frequent patron Eryn Garriock describes the Pal as the first bar you go to when you turn 18 and the one you keep returning to. She said she has been coming to the bar for 20 years, knowing every time she walks through its doors she is going to have a great time. Its going to be sad to say goodbye, she said. Its going to be a sad day, saying goodbye to such an iconic place in Winnipeg. kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/01/2016 (2483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In a democracy, the people transfer power to elected representatives to make decisions on their behalf. In this system, theres no need for referendums or other forms of direct democracy. Its fine in theory, but it doesnt anticipate every contingency. The prospect of Quebec separatism, for example, led to a Supreme Court judgment that said Quebec would need a clear majority more than 50 per cent of the popular vote to negotiate its departure from Canada. La belle province will never leave without a referendum. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters during an interview with The Canadian Press in Ottawa on Wednesday. The federal Liberals are now getting ready to fulfil a campaign promise to change the voting system so the results are a fairer representation of the popular will. There is no plan for a referendum, even though any change would fundamentally alter Canadian democracy and how it functions. Is that fair? Is it democracy? Three other provinces in recent decades have tried to eliminate the existing first-past-the-post voting system (FPTP) to make political representation more democratic. A referendum was held in each case. All of them failed. British Columbia held two referendums on the subject, each asking voters to support an electoral system that would be fairer than FPTP. In 2005, nearly 58 per cent supported change, but it was less than the required 60 per cent threshold. In 2009, just 39 per cent voted for a new system. Nearly half the electorate didnt even vote. A similar result occurred in 2005 in P.E.I., where the case for change seemed formidable. In some previous elections, for example, the opposition was reduced to one or two seats, despite winning 45 per cent of the popular vote. New Zealand succeeded in changing its system by following a long and cumbersome process that consulted the population at each step. In 1992, the people were asked in a non-binding referendum if they wanted a more proportional system. Nearly 85 per cent said yes. They were then asked to choose from four alternatives, with a mixed-member proportional system being the favourite with 62 per cent. A year later, a binding referendum was held, with nearly 54 per cent in favour of the change and 46 per cent opposed. Turnout was 83 per cent. Finally, a third referendum was held in 2011 to determine if the electorate still liked the system after they had some experience with it. More than 56 per cent of New Zealanders opted to stick with the new way of electing their representatives, ending a nine-year process of change and education. Some of the lessons learned from provincial referenda in Canada were that people were not adequately consulted or educated. The governing elite manipulated and distorted the process and the information that was provided to voters. Over the course of the four referenda from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island to Ontario and back a process of policy-learning appeared to be going on as the various provincial governing and political elites added new twists picked up from each preceding campaign to help ensure defeat of the referenda, according to research by Dennis Pilon, published in the Canadian Political Science Review. Its not yet clear what new system Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be advocating he initially wanted some form of ranked-ballot system but he has promised broad consultation with Canadians. The Liberals are opposed to a referendum, which they can reasonably defend on several grounds, including the fact they campaigned on changing the system. Time will tell if that is good enough for Canadians, or, for that matter, if there is any demand for a new way of electing our representatives. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In the early 1980s, when Hungary was still deeply cloaked within the Iron Curtain, when grocery lines wrapped around city blocks, infrastructure crumbled and travel outside the country was restricted, my uncle Gabor in Budapest saved what money he could and headed for the scenic grasslands in the east. It was an escape, a yearning for beauty amid economic malaise and depressing city life. He had been enamored for years of the 19th-century poetry of Janos Arany and Sandor Petofi, who evoked the plains quiet, boundless, bare beauty and who wrote eloquently of lonely shepherds, withered peasant women and wild horses. Through Hapsburg and Ottoman rule, this vast, empty plain, called the Puszta, was for Hungarians their own Big Sky Country, and it remained an untamable, immutable terrain symbolic of liberty, even when the nations farms were collectivized under the Soviets. In 1973, most of the great plain was designated Hungarys first national park, and in 1999 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bloomberg Elizabeth Zach for The Riding-tour guide Albert Hajdu drives a carriage through the Hungarian Puszta, a natural grasslands area. This wild terrain in the countrys east came to symbolize an immutable patch of liberty during eras of political strife. MUST CREDIT: Elizabeth Zach for The Washington Post. My uncle, who taught high school English in Budapest, recalled recently how when he walked across the fields during that visit, you could see and feel each of the words of these great poets, one by one words that as a schoolboy, I had to learn and know now by heart. When he told me this, I was preparing to visit Hungary, specifically Hortobagy National Park in the Puszta. It was September, and the refugee crisis at Hungarys southern border with Serbia was an exodus of biblical proportions. Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban was vociferously defending his state police and the construction of a wall to keep out the refugees. This all gave me pause: My father Gabors brother, and a refugee of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution had followed the same route toward Austria (and then onward to the United States) that the Syrians and others were now traversing. Perhaps I could balance, in a way, the distressing images of refugees with scenes from my countrys heritage by visiting the majestic Puszta. I was keen to see this landscape that my father, a mostly irascible man, admired as much as Gabor did though my father never had the chance to travel there himself. When he died in 2012, I was all the more determined to see this mystical region that filled his imagination, and that he had, sight unseen, vividly described for me when I was a child. A print in our living room had depicted cowboys in billowy trousers galloping across the wheat fields and shepherds in floor-length sheepskin robes, and I still have a 1973 Hungarian stamp from my childhood collection that shows a detailed rendering of the Nine Arch Bridge in the town of Hortobagy. I was especially eager to go horseback riding in the area. Upon arriving in Budapest, I took the train to Hajduszoboszlo, where I was met by Reka, my guide. After throwing my backpack in her army-green Suzuki Samurai, she drove me past stalks of sunflowers and cornfields baking in the early autumn sun, with bicyclists teenagers as well as seniors weaving in and out of traffic. I could see large nests atop chimneys. (More than 240 bird species, including herons, egrets, warblers, eagles and cranes are sighted in the Hortobagy National Park annually.) After checking into the Sovirag Hotel just off of the main road in Hortobagy, we sat for lunch outside at a nearby roadside inn, the Hortobagyi Csarda. Built at the end of the 18th century, this inn, like others in the region, was a popular resting spot for cattlemen and shepherds, as well as traveling merchants selling salt from the mines of Maramures County in present-day Romania. As we sat outside, it was quiet, but I could imagine gypsy musicians meandering about as guests drank palinka, Hungarys traditional and potent fruit brandy. Reka encouraged me to order the goulash, telling me the beef comes from the Pusztas distinctive grey horned cattle. I know the dish well I grew up eating it but this meal was exceptional, with the paprika sauce at a perfectly flavoured pitch and the beef extra tender. A nap afterward would have been welcome, but I had arranged to ride. A short walk took us to the green-and-white gabled bungalow of Albert and Judit Hajdu. Behind the thick ivy draped across the front, we entered a courtyard filled with a riot of lavender, roses, lilac, geraniums, marigolds, rosemary, amaranth, zinnias and trees heavy with enormous quinces. The hosts, neither of whom spoke English, greeted us warmly and led us to a handsomely carved wooden table with benches and offered us espresso. Albert soon vanished around the side of the house and reappeared leading two horses. After tying them to a tree in the courtyard, he set about gently lifting up their hooves and cleaning around the shoes with a knife. He then saddled up. Judit, meanwhile, brought me a paper and motioned that I should sign it. Written in barely passable English, it seemed to be a waiver of liability. Id had to sign the same in California the previous month when Id had two hours of riding instruction at a Bodega Bay ranch. I shrugged and signed my name. Before long, I was sitting atop Madar. Albert leaped onto his own horse and led me outside the courtyard. We veered toward a road bordering a field and railroad tracks, and, while trying to follow Alberts instructions in Hungarian, I discovered he could, thankfully, speak German, as do I. We trotted onward at a pleasant pace until we reached a crossroads. Albert directed me to turn right and cross railroad tracks. But, try as I might, Madar refused deaf, too, to the belting out of commands by Albert, who was also clearly losing his patience with me.I thought you said you know how to ride? he growled at me, exasperated. How can you get on a horse and not know how to ride? I reminded him when we met at his house, Id told him and his wife Id had only two hours of instruction. But that paper you signed claims youre an experienced rider! he shot back. He angrily slung a rope around Madars neck and pulled hard so we might follow him. I was chastened, and not just a little afraid as we headed into the open fields with Albert barking orders at me. Just like my father, I muttered to myself. But in leaving the road and entering the wild grasslands, both Albert and the horses mellowed. He pointed out clusters of fall aster and blackthorn, wild pear trees and lustrous rosehip bushes, looking as though they were on fire in the setting autumn sun. In the distance, we saw a shepherd with his two Kuvasz herding dogs and headed toward them. Suddenly a wild hare jumped across our path. Although Madar took it in stride, Alberts horse was spooked, throwing his rider to the ground. It took some minutes before Albert regained control and composure, but he was clearly just as Id been earlier chastened. We continued in silence, the sunset radiating before us. He gradually turned jovial, talking about his favourite Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes and Gary Cooper westerns. When we reached his house, Judit offered us quince palinka and Albert toasted our ride, and the Puszta. The next day, Reka and I met Albert for a wooden carriage ride. He dressed as a driver from an earlier time, with a black vest and riding boots, and a feather in his fedora. We passed several of the Pusztas traditional sweep wells and happened upon a barn as a shepherd was letting out his flock of Racka sheep, kicking up a dramatic dust storm. And when we neared a clearing in a forest, Albert pointed out a herd of gray cattle behind an electric fence and suggested I could crawl underneath to get closer for a photo. Skeptical and timid, I eventually shimmied underneath the wire and gingerly approached these magnificent beasts which, to my surprise, held perfectly still while eyeing me, as if posing. As we turned toward town, Reka and Albert chatted in Hungarian as I watched a flock of cranes gracefully circle above and until we reached a meadow with some neglected farmhouses in the near distance. What caught my eye then were fluttering ribbons in the red, white and green colors of the national flag. I saw as we approached that they adorned a small dried wreath affixed to a wooden post. Albert stopped the carriage before them. This was a memorial, he said quietly. Between 1950 and 1953, at the height of Josef Stalins purges across the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, several thousand Hungarian families were rounded up and imprisoned in the remote Puszta. These farmhouses, said Albert, had served as quarters for one of those labour camps rare artifacts, because when Stalin died in 1953 and the camps were dismantled, almost no trace of them was left. We sat in the carriage as Albert translated the inscription on the post. I then got down and walked alone toward the farmhouses. I had thought of my father during the previous days horseback ride, mostly of how he pined all his life for the beloved homeland he had left. He had no choice, I thought but no, he had, and he chose freedom. And so, as I stood before these pitiful farmhouses on the windswept plain and later that evening, watching television images of refugees on Hungarys southern border I thought of Petofis musings on the dilemma of liberty: Liberty and love These two I must have. For my love Ill sacrifice My life. For liberty Ill sacrifice My love. The Washington Post CP Morning fog floats above the village of Borzonce, some 230 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. (Gyorgy Varga/MTI via AP) If you go Where to stay Sovirag Hotel 4071 Hortobagy, Czinege J. u. 52-53 011-36-52-369-130 soviragvendeghaz.hu/en/ A Hungarian bed-and-breakfast designed like a Swiss chalet, with a pretty courtyard and sauna. Rooms about US$51. Where to eat Hortobagyi Csarda Petofi ter 1, Hortobagy hortobagyicsarda.eu (only in Hungarian) 011-36-70-589-010 This traditional whitewashed half-timbered inn has outdoor seating and a museum of Puszta memorabilia. Main dishes between US$5-US$8. What to do Hajdu Lovasudvar Hortobagy, Sarkadi Imre u. 15. szallasinfo.hu/hajdulovasudvar/index.php?ln2 Bird-watching tours are about US$71 for four hours. Horseback tours are about US$24 an hour and carriage rides are about US$30 an hour. The owners speak Hungarian, German and French. Information visithungary.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/01/2016 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TEHRAN, Iran Protesters in Iran, angered by the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric, broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran early Sunday, setting fires and throwing papers from the roof, Iranian media reported. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said the countrys top police official, Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, rushed to the scene and police worked to disperse the crowd outraged by the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Shiite leaders in Iran and elsewhere across the Middle East swiftly condemned Riyadh and warned of a sectarian backlash. Saudi Arabias execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, which also included al-Qaida detainees, threatened to further enflame Sunni-Shiite tensions in a regional struggle playing out between the Sunni kingdom and its foe Iran, a predominantly Shiite nation. Iranian security stand guard to protect Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran, Iran, while a group of demonstrators gathered to protest execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) While Saudi Arabia insisted the executions were part of a justified war on terrorism, Iranian politicians warned that the Saudi monarchy would pay a heavy price for the death of al-Nimr. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi envoy in Tehran to protest, while the Saudi Foreign Ministry later said it had summoned Irans envoy to the kingdom to protest the critical Iranian reaction to the sheikhs execution, saying it represented blatant interference in its internal affairs. In Tehran, the crowd gathered outside the Saudi embassy and chanted anti-Saudi slogans. Some protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the embassy, setting off a fire in part of the building, Sajedinia told the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Some of them entered the embassy. Currently, individuals who entered the embassy have been transferred out (of the building). However, a large crowd is still there in front of the embassy, Sajedinia told ISNA early Sunday. Some of the protesters broke into the embassy and threw papers off the roof, and police worked to disperse the crowd, Sajedinia told ISNA. He later told Tasnim that police had removed the protesters from the building and arrested some of them. He said the situation outside the embassy had been defused. Al-Nimrs execution promises to open a rancorous new chapter in the ongoing Sunni-Shiite power struggle playing out across the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and Iran as the primary antagonists. The two regional powers already back opposing sides in civil wars in Yemen and in Syria. Saudi Arabia was also a vocal critic of the recent Iranian agreement with world powers that ends international economic sanctions in exchange for limits on the Iranian nuclear program. The clerics execution could also complicate Saudi Arabias relationship with the Shiite-led government in Iraq. The Saudi embassy in Baghdad reopened for the first time in nearly 25 years on Friday. Already on Saturday there were public calls for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to shut the embassy down again. Al-Abadi tweeted Saturday night that he was shocked and saddened by al-Nimrs execution, adding that, peaceful opposition is a fundamental right. Repression does not last. Hundreds of al-Nimrs supporters also protested in his hometown of al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighbouring Bahrain where police fired tear gas and bird shot, and as far away as northern India. The sheikhs brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said in a telephone interview that Saudi authorities told the family they had already buried the body, but didnt tell them at which cemetery. The family had hoped to bury his body in his hometown. His funeral would likely have attracted thousands of supporters, including large numbers of protesters. Instead the family planned to hold prayers and accept condolences at the mosque in a village near al-Qatif, where the sheikh used to pray. A spokesman said in a statement that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was deeply dismayed over the Saudi Arabia executions, including that of Al-Nimr. Germanys Foreign Ministry said the clerics execution strengthens our existing concerns about the growing tensions and the deepening rifts in the region. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. is particularly concerned that al-Nimrs execution risked exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced. He said the U.S. is calling on Saudi Arabia to ensure fair judicial proceedings and permit peaceful expression of dissent while working with all community leaders to defuse tensions after the executions. Al-Nimrs death comes 11 months after Saudi Arabia issued a sweeping counterterrorism law after Arab Spring protests shook the region in 2011 and toppled several longtime autocrats. The law codified that the kingdom could prosecute as a terrorist anyone who demands reform, exposes corruption or otherwise engages in dissent or violence against the government. The convictions of those executed Saturday were issued by Saudi Arabias Specialized Criminal Court, established in 2008 to try terrorism cases. The executed al-Qaida detainees were convicted of launching a spate of attacks against foreigners and security forces a decade ago. To counter Arab Spring rumblings that threatened to spill into eastern Saudi Arabia, the kingdom sent troops in 2011 to crush Shiite protests demanding more political powers from the Sunni-led, fraternal monarchy of Bahrain. More security forces were also deployed that year to contain protests in Saudi Arabias oil-rich east, where al-Nimr rallied youth who felt disenfranchised and persecuted. A Saudi lawyer in the eastern region told The Associated Press that three other Shiite political detainees were also executed from among the 47. The lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Saudi Arabia says all those executed were convicted of acts of terrorism. Al-Nimr and the three others mentioned had been charged in connection with violence that led to the deaths of several protesters and police officers. Saudi Arabias top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh defended the executions as in line with Islamic Shariah law. He described the executions as a mercy to the prisoners because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. Islamic scholars around the world hold vastly different views on the application of the death penalty in Shariah law. Saudi Arabias judiciary adheres to one of the strictest interpretations, a Sunni Muslim ideology referred to as Wahhabism. Saudi Arabia carries out most executions through beheading and sometimes in public and has drawn comparisons to extremist groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group which also carry out public beheadings and claim to be implementing Shariah. It strongly rejects the comparisons and points out that it has a judicial appeals process with executions ultimately aimed at combating crime. The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah issued a statement calling al-Nimrs execution an assassination and a ugly crime. The group added that those who carry the moral and direct responsibility for this crime are the United States and its allies who give direct protection to the Saudi regime. In a press conference Saturday, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said the executions were carried out inside prisons and not in public, as is sometimes the case. The Interior Ministry, which announced the names of all 47 people executed in a statement, said a royal court order was issued to implement the sentences after all appeals had been exhausted. Meanwhile, the execution of al-Qaida militants raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist groups branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, had threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of its fighters. One of the executed was Faris al-Shuwail, a leading ideologue in al-Qaidas Saudi branch who was arrested in August 2004 during a massive crackdown on the group following the series of deadly attacks. The executions took place in the capital, Riyadh, and 12 other cities and towns. Of those executed, 45 were Saudi citizens, one was from Chad and another was from Egypt. In announcing the verdicts, Saudi state television showed mugshots of those executed. Al-Nimr was No. 46, expressionless with a grey beard, his head covered with the red-and-white scarf traditionally worn by men in the Arab Gulf region. Al-Nimr, who was in his 50s, never denied the political charges against him, but maintained he never carried weapons or called for violence. At his trial, he was asked if he disapproved of the Al Saud ruling family because of speeches in which he spoke out forcefully against former Interior Minister and late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdelaziz, who is King Salmans elder brother. If injustice stops against Shiites in the east, then (at that point) I can have a different opinion, the cleric responded, according to his brother, who attended court sessions and spoke to The Associated Press just days before the Oct. 2014 verdict. U.S.-based Human Rights Watchs Middle East director Sarah Leah said regardless of the crimes allegedly committed, executing prisoners in mass only further stains Saudi Arabias troubling human rights record. She said al-Nimr was convicted in an unfair trial and that his execution is only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest. Al-Nimrs brother told the AP by telephone that the executions came as a big shock because we thought the authorities could adopt a political approach to settle matters without bloodshed. He urged people to adopt peaceful means when expressing their anger. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to human rights groups. ___ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Abdullah al-Shihri in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Maamoun Youssef in Cairo, Reem Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain, Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. New Years fire destroys bowling alley, diner PRESTON, Minn. A New Years Day fire has destroyed a popular bowling alley and diner in the southeastern Minnesota town of Preston. Co-owner Shelly Hanson reported a fire in the kitchen of B&B Olympic Bowl and Restaurant as she prepared the restaurant for opening Friday morning. She was able to get out without being hurt. Assistant Preston Fire Chief Josh Ristau tells the Post-Bulletin the building is a total loss. Ristau says the fire spread to an open attic area, causing it to escalate quickly. Paul and Shelly Hanson have owned the bowling alley and restaurant since 1990. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Income inequality is 2016 Great American Think-Off topic NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. The Minnesota sponsor of the annual Great American Think-Off says income inequality is this years debate topic. Entrants will debate whether income inequality threatens democracy. Arguments should be based on personal experience and observations. There is no fee for entering. Entrants must submit an essay explaining their position in 750 words or less by April 1 for a chance to win one of four $500 cash prizes and a trip to western Minnesota for the debate. Two winning entries from each side will be selected. Winners will be invited to debate on June 11 at the Cultural Center in New York Mills. Essays can be submitted online, by email or mailed to Think-Off, c/o Cultural Center, P.O. Box 246, New York Mills, MN 56567. Man dies in logging accident COOK, Minn. A logging accident has killed a 52-year-old man in northern Minnesota. The St. Louis County sheriffs office says Scott Thomas of Cook was logging in a section of woods about seven miles west of Cook when a large tree he had been cutting with a chain saw fell on top of him. The accident was reported about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Thomas died at the scene. Man dies after snowmobile goes through ice TOWN OF NEWBOLD, Wis. Authorities in northern Wisconsin say a 58-year-old Rhinelander man is dead after his snowmobile went through the ice. The Oneida County Dispatch got a 911 call late Friday morning that a snowmobile had gone through the ice in shallow water on the shore of Lake Mildred in the township of Newbold. The operator was found near the snowmobile. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victim is identified as Russell A. Johnson. Man arrested after shot fired in strip club WEST ALLIS, Wis. A Milwaukee man is under arrest after police responded to a gun being fired inside a West Allis strip club early on New Years Day. Police were called around 3:45 a.m. Friday to Heartbreakers Gentlemens Club. A preliminary investigation indicates a patron inside the club fired at least one gunshot. The 33-year-old suspect was disarmed by club employees and eventually arrested by West Allis police officers. Police say the man apparently was hurt while being detained by club employees. No one else was hurt, and police say apparently no one was hit by gunfire. Mayor apologizes for calling Obama a Muslim SUPERIOR The mayor of a northern Wisconsin city is apologizing for his Facebook comments calling President Barack Obama a Muslim. A letter from Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen appears in the Superior Telegram on Friday. In his letter, Hagen says his calling Obama a Muslim was a poor choice of words in a moment of anger. WDIO-TV reports Hagen also apologized to the Muslim community for being insensitive. But the mayor continues to stand by his dislike of Obamas policies. Hagen drew protests and calls for his resignation after he posted on Facebook that Obama is a Muslim who has destroyed the fabric of democracy. Father, daughter dead in murder-suicide CUDAHY, Wis. Cudahy police say a 27-year-old man shot and killed his 2-year-old daughter before killing himself early on New Years Day. Police were called around 1:40 a.m. Friday by a woman asking for medical assistance. When officers arrived they found the man and his daughter suffering from gunshot wounds. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the man died at the scene. The girl later died at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin. Names of the father and daughter have not been released. Diane Pillsbury, director of the Baraboo Area Senior Citizen Organization (BASCO), believes the recent $12,000 grant awarded to the group, which meets at the senior center within the Baraboo Civic Center, was the result of hard work and being the squeaky wheel. For the past year, Pillsbury had been pursuing the Aging Mastery Program grant, awarded to BASCO by the National Council on Aging. She found out at a conference in September that 13 rural communities would be chosen from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Washington state to institute a pilot Aging Mastery Program, which will include 10-week programs designed to help seniors take steps to improve their lives. After applying for the grant, she made sure to be included in webinars, asking questions when she could. I really tried to be in their face, Pillsbury said. She wrote a slogan into the grant which read, BASCO has what it takes to ramp the AMP, hoping grant facilitators would remember Baraboo. I was bound and determined to get that program here, Pillsbury said. Others at the senior center noticed her efforts. Judy Curtin, North Freedom, regularly attends senior center events. We thank everybody who helped us get the grant, Curtin said. Diane did a lot of work for it. She really did. Pillsburys strategy must have worked, because word of the grant award came through this week. A training workshop will be held in February and then it will be time to implement the grant. Its neat to be on the cutting edge of a new program that will be available throughout the country, she said. Its a jump start to the senior center that will provide a new level of programming. Some of that programming will include workshops and presentations on exercise, getting enough sleep, medication management, financial fitness and other ways to make the most of the golden years. Seniors will be rewarded for completion and implementation of the programs into their daily lives. Pillsbury said the grant will cover materials, speakers, training expenses and marketing efforts to establish the program in the area. Three 10-week courses are expected to be held throughout the next 18 months, with a total participation of 80 or 90 senior citizens. According to the National Council on Agings website ncoa.org, initial pilot projects with 464 participants demonstrated a strong demand for the program and older adults significantly increased their social connectedness, healthy eating and physical activity levels and communication with health care providers, among other positive behaviors, after participating. Pillsbury said, with 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 years old every day until 2029, programs like these are essential for allowing them to take charge of their lives. For her, working with senior citizens and bringing a new program to the area have been satisfying experiences. This is what I like to do, she said. I like to change things, make them better. Repairing or replacing parts of the Merrimac bridge to ensure future railroad service through Sauk County is estimated to cost at least $7.6 million, a state official says. The source of those funds has yet to be determined, but would likely include mainly state government and railroad money. But again, its too early to tell what work will be done, when it needs to be done, and what source of funds will be used, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Railroads and Harbors Section Chief David Simon said. In a letter to Sauk County Board Chair Marty Krueger, DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb said his agency recently completed a review that favored repair or replacement of major components of the Merrimac bridge. Simon said the current estimate for that project is $7.6 million, although that could go higher depending on which repairs and replacements are selected. Typically, upgrades to a state-owned line such as the one that runs through Sauk County are funded by a Railroad Preservation grant. The railroad Wisconsin & Southern in this case must apply for the grant. And the project is then funded with 80 percent state funds and 20 percent railroad funds. Analysis completed With the interest of ensuring rail service to Baraboo and Reedsburg continues, the DOT recently completed a cost-benefit analysis of alternatives involving the rail bridge in Merrimac and the separate, defunct line that runs through Sauk Prairie. The two tracks meet south of Baraboo before the adjoined line continues up through Baraboo and Reedsburg. Based on that analysis, the DOT decided that the line currently in use over the Merrimac bridge was the best long term option. But the state said major components of the bridge will have to be repaired or replaced. As part of its inquiry, the DOT contracted with the engineering firm Ayers Associates in September to refresh structural analysis the firm conducted in 2010 and 2014. Engineers identified structural upgrades that would extend the life of the service life of the bridge for 40 years. However, the load capacity of the bridge would not be upgraded, as railroad representatives have previously requested. A study done by Ayers Associates in 2010 determined that the bridge should be replaced if the railroad wants to increase traffic and haul heavier loads. The study said the bridge could continue to be used at its 2010 load capacity for another 25 years with an investment of $4.2 million, although railroad officials said that option was not desirable. The most recent study compared the Merrimac bridge to the Sauk Prairie line from a cost perspective. Calculations showed that over a 40-year time horizon, the Merrimac Bridge route is substantially more cost effective than restoring rail service to the abandoned Sauk Line that runs through Sauk City, Prairie du Sac, and the now defunct Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Gottlieb wrote in his letter to Krueger. Even with a 105-year analysis that included the cost of replacing the bridge, the Merrimac route had the lowest life cycle cost, the DOT determined. Future service ensured Upgrades to the Merrimac bridge not only would ensure future rail service through Sauk County, but would allow progress on conversion of the Sauk Prairie line into a multi-use trail that will be known as the Great Sauk Trail. In consideration of the Departments commitment to the Merrimac bridge route and the resulting obsolescence of the Sauk rail corridor, WisDOT will proceed with a plan to rail-bank the Sauk rail line by removing the railroad track and entering into an interim rails-to-trails agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Gottlieb wrote. The interim trail agreement will contain language that preserves the corridor as a federally rail-banked corridor until such time rail service is restored. During a meeting last month, Sauk County Board Chair Marty Krueger said the villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac each have committed $207,500 to the first segment of the trail. And the county board may consider a resolution later this month to pledge the same amount. Krueger said a fundraising group known as the Friends of the Great Sauk Trail is prepared not only to fill the gap in the funding for segment one, but intend(s) to go after raising enough money to actually see the project through Badger to Devils Lake. Simon said the rail banking process which includes removal of the track can sometimes pay for itself with the scrap value of the steel rails. In other words, a contractor may choose to bid the project at zero dollars because (they) can get paid by selling the steel rails, Simon said. This is yet to be determined as well. Its anybodys guess what exotic pets might live under the radar in Reedsburg homes. But city officials agreed Dec. 28 to issue the citys first-ever exotic pet permit to a resident on Walnut Street. The wife fell in love with the idea of a pig, said James Benesh following approval of his permit by the citys Ordinance Committee. Were talking a little pig here a requirement police Chief Tim Becker asked the committee to write into Beneshs permit. What I dont want to have is a piglet show up at 3 pounds and turn into a 1,200 pound sow thats cruising down Main Street, Becker said. Benesh and his wife Amanda, who have three young children and a fourth on the way, plan to welcome a Juliana Pig, also sometimes called a micro pig, into the family. According to information from the Juliana Pig Association yes, there is such a thing the pig breed averages between 30 and 50 pounds and 13 to 15 inches in height. Becker also asked the committee to write other requirements into the permit. The state doesnt require rabies shots but I think that we should, Becker said. Becker also asked the committee to require the animal to be spayed or neutered as the gender dictates a move Beneshs veterinarian said is likely to make the pig more docile and to require the animal to be supervised when outdoors in the same way city ordinance stipulates for dogs. Benesh said he already planned to do all those things and that keeping the animal on a strict diet will keep its size in check. We dont want to have a 100 pound pig, Benesh said. We want to keep him small. Committee member Tom Seamonson called the permit request a can of worms before casting the only vote against it. I lived on a farm for half of my life and I think thats where animals belong, Seamonson said. City ordinance prohibits keeping, selling or offering for sale any exotic domesticated or wild animals without a permit. The ordinance defines exotic as Any wild animal which is not native to Wisconsin and may have been domesticated such as ferrets and primates. The ordinance makes exceptions for small caged birds and animals, reptiles, and aquatic and amphibian animals. Benesh said his occupation takes him inside homes in both Baraboo and Reedsburg and officials might be surprised to see the exotic pets hes encountered. He just wanted to do the right thing by seeking official permission, he said. I know a lot of people with animals in their homes theyre not supposed to have, Benesh said. They just dont say anything about it. Stakes higher than ever for farmers as they feel squeeze of inflation Money China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Raymond "Beaver" Tempest talks with his lawyer Michael Kendall after Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini rules to release Tempest on bail to home confinement after vacating Tempest's conviction in the murder of Doreen Picard. Arts Hub Plan Shows 10 Year 900,000 Loss This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jan 2nd, 2016 Secret plans to all but convert the Peoples Market to an Arts Hub reveal a planned 900k loss over ten years, which could rise to 2,100,000 if uncertain Arts Council Wales funding is not secured. Councillors will this week be reviewing the business plan for the proposed change of use from Peoples Market to an Arts Hub. As Wrexham.com readers will know we, along with other local and national media, were mistakenly sent a copy of the secret plan, and have already highlighted one potential issue where 10% of the revenue will be based off the Council giving away a town centre carpark along with parking price rise. Excluding the ongoing subsidies hinted at in the secret reports, the current total estimated cost of the redevelopment is 4,563,500 with 2.3 million from the Arts Council Wales, 700,000 from the Welsh Governments Vibrant and Viable Places scheme and 1,563,500 from Wrexham Council. Looking further at the documents it is revealed that the overall loss predicted totals nearly 1m, with a further 1.2m of funding that is integral to the 10 year business plan is uncertain. The 120,000 a year funding from the Arts Council Wales is defined as assumed, with a following sentence reading: Whilst at this stage there is no certainty of this level or sustained commitment from ACW, the scale of recent annual settlements and discussion around a more strategic sustainable future centred on the new OW development would suggest this level of funding would be reasonable to assume. There is no information in the 10 year projection of alternative sources of funding if the Arts Council Wales money does not come through, ceases or as with many budgets currently, suffers funding cuts. The ongoing losses are referred to in the public section of the report allowing some insight to the plans (Such as this Daily Post report) however the longer term view lacks solid numbers, with just the first three years having data and the remaining seven noted as having losses at a similar level thereafter. In the document seen by Wrexham.com the base ten year loss projections are Y1: 188,145 Y2: 126,752 Y3: 78,926 Y4: 55,648 Y5: 78,926 Y6: 78,926 Y7: 55,648 Y8: 78,926 Y9: 78,926 Y10: 78,926 (Total 899,749). These figures are based off an adjusted model, but the document also includes a Pessimistic and Optimistic view giving a range of the loss over the 10 year period from 600,876 in the most optimistic model to a 1,216,456 loss in the worst case scenario. Both the pessimistic and optimistic models have the 120,000 yearly Arts Council Wales included unchanged. The secret report does note: The current repairs and maintenance cost for the Peoples Market is understood to be 48k pa which could be transferred across to the new OW organisation. This has not been assumed within the figures presently but would have the effect of reducing the deficit by this amount. A general maintenance budget is included in the business plan, set at 114k pa, with an unbudgeted note suggesting a reserve or sinking fund be established to allow a strategic maintain plan to be put in place. Where such a reserve is to be built from in the context of the ongoing losses is not covered in the document. The report also gives information to two further income sources, totalling around 50,000pa revenue from mobile phone mast placements and ring fenced rent from the old Library site that will become the new Town Centre Police Station. The latter has a defined expiry, with no information to what will replace that funding once the agreements expire. The public section of the report states: This business plan has been prepared on the basis that the future activities will be managed by an Arts Trust independent of the Council, with no firm information to where such losses would be covered from aside from a vague line mentioning further years may see a reduction in the funding requirement from the Council. There is talk of a creation of a Wrexham Trust, a super trust that could run several services currently provided by Wrexham Council including the Arts Hub, however such a decision and structure could be decided well after these plans get the green light. Unfortunately with the planning application and scrutiny documents being placed just prior to Christmas and relevant meetings occurring so soon in the New Year it has not been possible to get further detail from the Arts Council Wales. Previous questions asked of the consultation process to Wrexham Council remain unanswered, and further queries as explained here were also not commented on. A markets representative spoke at a previous scrutiny meeting stated their view that If the Peoples Market does turn into the the Arts Hub what happens to the other two markets as from the accounts it seems they are not going to survive? The business plan for the Arts Hub refers to a similar financial link: high service charges at the Peoples Market, which, in turn, support the operation of the other two (smaller) indoor markets in Wrexham. The business plan cites the Quarterbridge Report (Wrexham.com FOIed a copy of Quarterbridge but it was declined by Wrexham Council on grounds of commercial sensitivity) over the impact of markets to the town, saying Quarterbridge supported the transformation to arts and cultural use and that the plans by no means signal the end to indoor market operation within the building. There is no further mention of the impact on the other two markets in the town, with the self-raised financial link of support being left unexplored or explained. The future of the market traders in the Peoples Market is hinted at, with the redevelopment creating a diversified footfall, which, in turn, will help to assess if the current mix of market traders is still relevant to the location and catchment or might benefit from diversification with specialist traders and/or crafts traders. Councillors are being asked by the Council to scrutinise the plan, and recommend the proposed designs and implementation of the project to the Council Executive Board. Alongside this they are also being asked to recommend the spending of 1.5m of Council funds, along with the allocation of associated VVP money for the project, and although the application is already lodged with the Arts Council Wales for their 2.3m contribution that too still requires formal authorisation. If the above remains in Part 2 it will be discussed behind closed doors on January 6th (Wednesday), however if it is seen as not commercially sensitive and in the public interest it could be brought into the Part 1 public discussion earlier in the meeting. Filipino Police Impressed By Wrexhams Model Community This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jan 2nd, 2016 A recent fact finding visit to Wrexham and other areas of North Wales by a team of police officers from the Philippines has been commented on in the Far East. The full article (readable here in full) gives an insight to the trip, noting a 12-member study group on a weeklong immersion with the North Wales Police last month. The group was tasked with producing a community policing blueprint or tool kit that could be applied to the Bangsamoro or elsewhere in the Philippines. The trip included visits to the St Asaph HQ, as well as visits to Wrexham Police Station, Wrexhams CCTV centre and Caia Park. The outside view of the fact finding mission includes insight such as to highlight how UK police see offenders as customers, and that the reception area of a police station could be mistaken for that of a corporate office rather than a jail facility. A first world policing culture was referred to, with Mercedes Benz for police cars noted. Wrexham was highlighted when the group visited a massive central command in Wrexham, where emergency calls are received and where various parts and establishments are monitored by high-definition security cameras. Here, the Philippine group saw how a duty officer can control the CCTV cameras to focus on a street, an establishment or a person of interest. Shops have radios to alert the police about shoplifting, riots or other untoward incidents. From the control room, the police can track down the offenders and make arrests. The visit to Caia was seen as a showcase described as an impoverished community previously torn by racial tensions and crime but has now been transformed into a model community, and where the police perform not only law enforcement but also social work. In Wrexham town, the Philippine group was impressed by how the police went to great lengths to secure the communities. The study tour was part of the community policing project for the Bangsamoro in Mindanao funded by the British Council, the UKs international organization for cultural relations. In response to the article North Wales Police Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said We were pleased to facilitate the visit which focused heavily on community policing issues. I am glad that they felt there was such value in visiting North Wales Police. A year ago, the word on Kevin Robinson was that he had lost it. His bands, Viva Voce and Blue Giant, had dissolved. In their place, he started Electric Ill, playing pastel-colored electro-funk worlds removed from the psychedelic pop and country rock he made his name on. He cut his hair and dyed it blond and insisted on being called "Kaylee Rob." People knew Robinson and his wife and bandmate, Anita Elliott, were getting divorced, and the assumption was that losing both his marriage and artistic partner had sent him flying off the rails. Robinson swears he wasn't having a breakdown. But he heard the mutterings. And if the audience wanted a crazy person, he was going to give it to them. "I felt like owning it," he says from a picnic table outside his Hawthorne neighborhood apartment. "If people are saying I lost my mind, I'll hang a neon sign around my neck that says 'Midlife Crisis' with an arrow up to my face." That doesn't mean Robinson wasn't actually in crisis, though. He and Elliott were together his entire adult life. When they came to Portland in 2003, it was as an indie-rock power couple with two well-regarded albums on their resume. He'd never made music without her, at least not seriously. If Robinson's public meltdown was a put-on, it helped disguise the real freak-out happening in private: He spent last summer sleeping in a tent in his backyard, because he could hardly bear to be in the house they used to share. At age 39, Robinson is starting over from scratch. He's divested himself completely from his past projects, including Electric Ill, and is performing solo for the first time. For someone whose career, not to mention identity, was so closely intertwined with another person, the transition is much more complicated than simply taking the stage alone. "Re-creating yourselfprofessionally, personally, emotionallyin complete public view," he says, "is kind of a mindfuck." Robinson met Elliott in Muscle Shoals, Ala. In 1998, they formed Viva Voce, a band blending indie-pop jangle with psychedelia and classic Southern rock. He played drums, she sang and played guitar. After a stint in Nashville, the couple got pulled to Portland by Menomena's Danny Seim. Viva Voce played the inaugural PDX Pop Now, and in 2004 released its third album, The Heat Can Melt Your Brain, which broadened its fan base enough to tour Europe. Robinson claims that's the last year he held a straight job. By 2009, however, the strain of being in a band with only each other was beginning exact a toll. Viva Voce expanded to a four-piece that year, to lighten their load musically. But the reception for 2011's prophetically titled The Future Will Destroy You was tepid, and band problems began bleeding over into the relationship. Issues they once shrugged off exploded into arguments. Robinson says the group's last tour "was like going from one beheading to the next." Elliott left early and flew home to Alabama. "Everything just started to slowly disintegrate," Robinson says. "When the shit really started to get thick, I was like, 'I didn't marry a guitar player. I married you. I'd rather have a love in my life than a musician in my life.' I never heard that back to me." In the initial aftermath of the divorce, Robinson admits he was in a sort of daze. As he came out of it, he entered what he calls the most prolific period of his life, filling hard drives with new songs. Robinson describes his life now as "rad." But in a lot of ways, he's still struggling to find his footing. Having given up on the idea of ever making money from music again, he is basically unemployable, he says; the day of our interview, his phone got shut off. A few weeks ago, he and his new girlfriend fled their shared house after a confrontation with one of their roommates. "Won't Let Me Sleep," a song Robinson posted to Bandcamp in January, addresses the past year with unambiguous regret. "I'm fighting off the dark," he sings over drums and acoustic guitar. "Somehow I missed that mark.a But Robinson is sure of one thing going forward: He doesn't want to be another sad-sack songwriter, crying over a past he can't change. "Woe is fucking relative, dude," he says. "You think your shit's tough? Shut your mouth and listen to someone else talk for a while. Then you'll realize if you could put all your problems in a giant pile to swap with people, you'd pick yours right the fuck back up." SEE IT: Kevin Robinson plays Cymaspace, 4634 NE Garfield Ave., Suite B, on Saturday, July 12. 8 pm. $5. WWeek 2015 Professionals in the human and technological field, both in Washington and in Jerusalem, snorted in light of the information which came in from the Wall Street Journal about American espionage against the Israeli prime minister Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Anyone deeply involved in this field will not get worked up over this report, and will not be surprised either - twice a year, almost regularly, the intelligence mice take such stories out of the attic, so that no one complains about a lack of headlines. Friendly Spying Report: US spied on Netanyahu over efforts to block Iran deal Yitzhak Benhorin NSA listened in on conversations between the Israeli PM and his aides, as well as communications between Israeli officials and US lawmakers, the Wall Street Journal reports. Report: US spied on Netanyahu over efforts to block Iran deal Why didnt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convene an urgent press conference following the report? How is it possible that the American intelligence agencies did not rush to put their experts in the media's spotlight in order to attack Israel once again and accuse it of being responsible for the situation? Why isnt anyone getting excited over the sensational discoveries about mutual spying between the United States and Israel? There's a simple reason for that: Everyone knows that the entire world spies on the entire world, and the main problem is in fact knowing how to properly sort out the information flowing in from every direction. US President Barack Obama. Israeli government officials understand that every word they say is documented by different intelligence services, and mainly by the Americans (Photo: MCT) Israel is already used to having the entire world's intelligence attention focused on our senior government officials, and they have already learned to be careful. They know not to talk when they shouldnt, and understand that every word - on the telephone, in utmost discretion, in bunkers reinforced with concrete and in the garrets - is documented by different intelligence services, and mainly by the Americans. In Washington they know very well how to collect political information, but have yet to learn how to analyze it properly. They know that the entire world is watching them and waiting for a blunder which will expose a little of what is happening behind the scenes. The basis of the solution found for the difficult problem of intelligence collection in Israel is silence: Not to share and not to disclose what the prime minister sees as an important diplomatic secret. In other words, to keep a very small number of people in on the secret and, in addition, to make sure to talk and disclose as little as possible. Government officials often speak about a certain issue on the radio, on television and in the press as if they know a secret and have some hidden wisdom, but the truth is that they know nothing and are only pretending to know in order to save face. Even the current babbling government makes sure to share its big secrets with very few people. But the principle of little exposure is not at all simple in the modern era, in which one cannot blow one's nose without the picture being distributed online within seconds. Today's world is breached and open to everyone. The Americans listen in on the entire world, drawing everything they want to know through their technology. At the moment, they are interested in Israel mainly in terms of political debates and insights ahead of a possible decision to launch a war. The Israelis, on their part, assume that the American ear is always attentive everywhere, that they listen to every word and that they cant be stopped. Government officials and people of authority have gotten used to seeing the Americans as world governors in that area too, and are trying to compete with them through advertising and public relations, just like the fly who rested on the large ox's back, and once they finished their work said to the ox: "We plowed, huh?" 1) If you see a piece of art you like on a favorite artist's Blog, don't be afraid to request a couple more photos of the work. Most artists will happily oblige. You might like to see close-up detail of some section... or perhaps an image to confirm the coloring is consistent.2) Look for the artist's email address. Apart from a direct email contact, artists often post contact phone numbers. They do this for a reason. They would like you to phone them. So do it! If you'll feel better talking to a 'real person' make the call. But I would always recommend making direct email contact with the artist.It's helpful to have a line of communication from the point when you make your purchase, to the point when the work is dispatched to you. Most artists also would like the opportunity to follow up and ensure the work has arrived safely. Don't simply place your order and make your payment. Take the opportunity to communicate with the artist. It will make the whole process run more smoothly.3) Consider purchasing more than one piece of art at a time.If you fall in love with the work of a particular artist, consider purchasing a piece and leaving it with the artist. Then, when you see another work by the same artist you wish to purchase, ask for both pieces to be sent together. This will reduce freight costs considerably. Most artists will be happy to hold a paid artwork in storage, especially if they realize it's because you wish to purchase a second piece.4) Email the artist and ask them if they have any artworks not yet posted on their blog.Some artists don't have the time to post every piece on their blog. Or some pieces are displayed, and then taken down after a time. It doesn't hurt to ask the artist to email images of any works they have in their 'stock room'.... and it can be a way to discover secret treasures. The manhunt for the man who shot and killed two at the Simta bar in Tel Aviv on Friday is ongoing. The police have established a command center in the Tel Aviv area, and are searching for a man of average built, with glasses and a black jacket. As time passes, the police lean more and more towards the conclusion that the attacker managed to get to a hideaway spot, and is no longer fleeing. The police is now waiting for the man to make a mistake. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We continue to search exactly as we did yesterday," said a police official, "right now there isn't any indication of where he is, and that's why forces are spread all over the Central region and northern Tel Aviv." The attacker. Police are still searching. The shooter apparently did not carry a cell phone, which could have been used to gather information about his escape route. Unless he prepared a hideaway in advance he'll have to move in order to eat, and that's what police are currently waiting for. The police don't discount the possibility that he is being assisted by someone else, and are trying to find out if any of his family members or friends knew of his plans beforehand. At first, police were unsure if the event was a terror attack or a criminally-motivated shooting. Hours later, the suspicion that it was terror-related gained strength: The shooter's father called the police and reported identifying his son in the footage that was broadcast in the news. The terrorist is an Israeli Arab man who has expressed support for ISIS in the past. The bag he left behind in the nearby shop contained a Quran. The attacker is a 31-year-old resident of Ar'ara, and was once sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to steal an IDF soldier's weapon. He attacked the soldier at the Karkur junction, hitting him and attempting to grab the soldier's M-16 rifle. In the end, the soldier, who later required hospitalization, managed to overcome the attacker and caused him to flee the scene. Shimon Ruimi, murdered in the Friday attack. The attacker was arrested the next day, assaulting a policeman in the process. He was diagnosed with mental problems, albeit not problems that would absolve him of criminal responsibility for his acts. He apparently developed a drug and alcohol habit starting at a young age. The attacker also has a past of drug offenses. He was arrested in 2005 after selling 1.1 kilograms of hashish to an undercover policeman for NIS 16,500. He was sentenced to treatment in a facility under house-arrest conditions. Alon Bakal. Murdered in the Friday attack. Meanwhile, police are still investigating another murder that happened about an hour after the Shooting in Dizengoff Street. Amin Shaaban, 42 year-old taxi driver from Lod was found dead in the sands near the Mandarin Hotel in northern Tel Aviv. The police are checking to see if his murder is somehow connected to the pub shooting. A press gag order was issued on Friday for both cases. Iran summoned Saudi Arabia's charge d'affaires in Tehran on Saturday to protest the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shi'ite cleric in the kingdom, Iranian state television said. Nimr was executed alongside three other Shi'ites and dozens of alleged al Qaeda members, sparking anger among Saudi Arabia's minority Shi'ites. Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah also condemned the, calling it an "assassination" and blaming it on the United States and its allies' support for Riyadh. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and three other members of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority were executed on Saturday alongside 43 Sunni jihadists, drawing condemnation by Shi'ites across the Middle East. The "real reason" for the execution was "that Sheikh Nimr... demanded the squandered rights of an oppressed people," Hezbollah said in a statement, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority. A day after a terrorist murdered two people in a Tel Aviv pub, several Israelis were still hospitalized, while others were back home and still reeling from the horrifying shooting. Among the wounded were several friends of Shimon Ruimi, who was killed while attending a birthday party for one of the wounded. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We feel relieved now that he finished the difficult, critical series of surgeries," said Tzahi Luzon, whose brother Ido was wounded in the attack on Saturday. He said Ido had been on the way to a birthday party. "To the best of my knowledge he was simply passing by coincidentally and was at the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. Ido Luzon with his dog, Django Before he was evacuated to the hospital, Ido asked friends to find his dog, Django. "He was with him at the scene and disappeared," said Tzahi. "We didn't know where he'd disappeared to and put up a Facebook post that ended up going ultra-viral. I want to say thank you to all the people who went outside for look for him. We did it because we knew the first thing Ido would do when he woke up was to ask where Django was." 32-year-old Tel Aviv resident Uriah Ron found Django hours after the terror attack in an apartment building stairwell. "I went to visit a friend who lives two buildings away from the attack on Dizengoff Street and saw a ginger dog in the stairwell, wet and shaking from the cold," said Ron. "I thought someone might have gone upstairs and left him there for a few minutes. I went home after the visit and when I arrived at Gordon Street I asked myself, what was that dog doing there? I returned to the building and it seemed strange that there was a dog there and no one had touched him or was watching him." People gather to light candles at the scene of the terror attack (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Uriah called a friend who supports animal welfare. "She immediately sent Ido's brother's post to me and I realized it was the same day," he said. "I contacted a friend who knows the family, and after a few minutes someone arrived and took the dog to be examined. He was so hungry, cold miserable and exhausted that he ate cat food. I hope he gets back to Ido and that they both get better." 25-year-old Hadar Klein from Ramat Gan was at the pub when the terrorist opened fire. Like many others at the pub, she had arrived to celebrate a friend's birthday and ended up in the line of fire. "The shots just didn't stop," she recalled. "I tried to further into the bar. Two rounds hit me in one side and came out the other. One of them fortunately missed the main artery by a centimeter." Ariel Nusbacher, whose birthday party was being held at the pub at the time of the attack, was released from the hospital on Friday evening after being lightly wounded. "I still need to digest what happened to me," he said. His mother said victim Shimon Ruimi was a very close friend and that Ariel was taking his death very hard. "I can barely talk to him," she said, "he says, 'mom, I want to be alone.'" Israel Avitan, also lightly wounded in the attack, recounted the shooting: "I was sitting inside inside and then two friends went to the bathroom and the friend who I just heard was killed went outside to smoke. I didn't want to stay by myself so I sat with him. I heard shots and felt something burning my back. I fell and didn't see anyone standing up. I crawled into the pub and all the chairs were overturned. We got everyone and went into the kitchen. My brother called the MDA." Suspicion was aroused on Friday of intentional damage to electricity power lines in the West Bank, after residents in several Gush Etzion settlements had their electricity cut off for six hours overnight on New Year's Eve. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Israel Electric Corporation claimed that the electricity line had been damaged on purpose, and the IDF is looking into the matter. Gush Etzion in the West Bank, where several settlements were cut off from electricity after a suspected attack on a power line (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum) An initial investigation revealed that in a Palestinian village nearby, a wire with a stone had been thrown at a power line that provides electricity to Jewish settlements in the area. This apparently caused the power to be cut off, and repair teams that arrived on Friday morning to fix the outage realized that the blackout was not accidental. Among the settlements cut off from Thursday night until Friday morning were Tekoa, Kfar Eldad, Nokdim and Sde Bar. "We didn't know how we would cook for Shabbat. Families were considering whether to leave the settlement and spend Shabbat elsewhere for fear that they would stay with young children in a house with no electricity during stormy weather," said Marina Berger from Tekoa. On Friday morning, staff repaired the damaged part of the line and electricity returned to the affected settlements. However, despite the repair, minor outages were still being reported on Friday. "Since the morning there have been three blackouts," said Marina. "We have little girls and they're in rooms with no heating." The Gush Etzion Regional Council responded: "The government must state categorically that harm to Jewish residents of Gush Etzion will harm the quality of life of Palestinians in the area." At the beginning of the week, Peace Now released a report on construction plans beyond the Green Line, mostly in a very sensitive and controversial area, E1, near Jerusalem. This is a very important report. The Israeli public must know about construction plans beyond the Green Line. Those who support one big state will rejoice and welcome the plans. Those who are against turning Israel into a binational state will be horrified. I am among the latter. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Not many hours passed before Prime Minister's Office issued an official statement : When he served as Minister of Housing, Ariel ordered some theoretical plans for development of E1. He did this on his own initiative and without approval. The Ministry of Housing has no authority to plan or build beyond the Green Line. The plans in question have no binding status." The quick response was important. The international outcry, at least this time, was dampened before it even broke out. The settlement of Ma'ale Adumim (Photo: Reuters) It's not that there isn't any construction beyond the Green Line. Of course there is. And as part of the binational project, there's also construction outside the main blocs. But the Prime Minister's Office is sensitive when it comes to international criticism. We need to welcome that. What is interesting, though, is that the Prime Minister's statement was published in English only. Hebrew readers should know about it too. Right-wing NGOs anonymous donors Uri Zakai, from Meretz, released reports this week about the donations made to three right-wing NGOs: Honenu, Regavim, and Im Tirzu. Some of the pages were empty. Why is that? Because the names of some of the donors remained confidential, with approval from the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits. MK Dov Khenin also wanted to read out the list of donors to the Ir David Foundation, which enjoyed a lot of donations. Instead of reading out the list, he remained silent. There are confidential donors there as well. It's all legal, but it reeks. This only serves to emphasize the fact that the NGO bill proposal approved by the government this week is harmful, discriminatory, and unnecessary. Transparency is an important thing, but when some of the right-wing NGOs get special authorization to hide their sources of funding - the demand for transparency is an excuse that is beyond pathetic. And when they claim that there's a difference between foreign governments funding left-wing NGOs and private funding for right-wing NGOs - it's an even more of a pathetic excuse. Because the interests of states are obvious and public, even if they are wrong. The interests of private individuals might be far more dangerous. According to the legislation's logic, if an NGO receives funding from a Saudi millionaire that also funds Hamas, it could hide the source. There's need for a law regulating the donations to all NGOs, on the left and right, both on the issue of transparency and on the issue of objectives. Primarily, transparency needs to include all sources of funding. Secondly, donations from sources that nurture racism, discrimination and the right of return, who aid the BDS movement, or who deny Israel's right to exist as both as Jewish and democratic state - must be barred. And it doesn't matter if it's Saudi Arabia or Sweden, a right wing donor or a leftist one. And thirdly, we need to adopt the rules used by civilized states. We'll get back to that. It's not too late to fix the legislation. We must hope the members of Knesset do the right thing. Suspending the Human Rights Act In light of the increasing threat of legal suits against soldiers who took part in the war against terror, the defense minister announced he intends to suspend the Human Rights Act, which includes answering to the European Convention on Human Rights. This did not happen in Israel - it came from the British Secretary of State for Defense, Michael Fallon. There are human rights activists there too, a local version of Breaking the Silence, who are collecting testimony against British soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. There, they are called "ambulance chasers," a derogatory term reserved to property damage lawyers, who chase after ambulances transporting car accident victims. The human rights act, Fallon explained, inhibits the operational effectiveness of our troops because they start to worry about whether they will end up in a court or not." And just so there's no doubt about it, a spokesman from the Defense Secretary's Office issued a statement that says: "We will ensure our Armed Forces overseas are not subject to persistent legal claims that undermine their ability to do their job." There was no outcry in the British press, nor protests or claims made of fascism - not over the intention to suspend an important law, nor for the derogatory term used against lawyers who represent those hurt by the British Military. Quite the opposite. Following Fallon's statement, The Telegraph printed an unsigned editorial titled " Britain's soldiers need the legal freedom to fight ." "Human rights are critical," the editorial stated. "Nevertheless, the fight against terrorism should not be undermined by those who would hamstring the troops with petty and vexatious claims." It's safe to assume that if this had happened in Israel, half the world, including Britain, would've painted Israel as a state trying to cover up war crimes. But not to worry. Lawyers in London will continue trying to file lawsuits against Israel over war crimes, and Breaking the Silence's activists, of course, will be received there with open arms. And that's not all. In the past, Britain funded the Israeli organization. If anyone thought there was a limit to double standards, think again. And something else: Is there a chance of Sweden or France funding a British organization that gathers claims of war crimes against British soldiers? The answer is obvious. It's time that the things that are obvious between Sweden and Britain are made obvious between Sweden and Israel as well. And if this is not achieved diplomatically, there will be no choice but to take the legislative path. Jewish terrorism encouraging Arab terrorism? The video from the " wedding of hate " was aired on Wednesday's news broadcast. The very next morning, it was a political commentator on Israel Radio - public radio - who thought he still has a chance to spew out his political views. "In my humble opinion," he said, "Arab terrorism encourages Jewish terrorism." He is of course against Jewish terrorism. He's only explaining it and helping understand it. There's no need to provide explanations or to try to understand it, not the Jewish underground of the early 80s, Baruch Goldstein in the 90s, or the "price tag" hooligans in recent years. An understanding of this kind is more suitable for Baruch Marzel, not a political commentator on public radio. The truth is that the commentator said something completely different: "Jewish terrorism encourages Arab terrorism." And that's interesting. Because support for Jewish terrorism is next to nonexistent. Yes, there are several hundreds of hooligans from the extreme right wing in Israel, and it's safe to assume they have several thousands of supporters, and if we exaggerate, we'll reach something that is less than one percent of the population. Compared to that, Palestinian support of the current wave of terrorism - meaning, slaughtering Jews with knives - is at 67 percent. Even Mahmoud Abbas stresses this is a " justified popular unrest ." When a Jew is murdered in a terror attack, candy is being handed out on the Palestinian street. However, when a Palestinian child is murdered by a Jew, and this happens on average once every few years, 99 percent of Israelis are shocked, condemn it, and are feeling remorse. So saying Jewish terrorism encourages Arab terrorism is like saying an ant can carry an elephant. But damn the facts. When the comment "Jewish terrorism encourages Arab terrorism" is said, it is seen as coming from among the enlightened, the thinkers, and the progressives. But when the opposite it said, that "Arab terrorism encourages Jewish terrorism," it is seen as coming from among the benighted. Both of these statements are benighted. Not just on the right, on the left as well. The Israel Police and the Shin Bet continued their unprecedented search for Nashat Melhem, 29, the suspect in Friday's shooting in Tel Aviv that claimed the lives of two Israelis and wounded several others. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Tel Aviv's schools will open under heavy security on Sunday, with Mayor Ron Huldai telling Channel 10: "I have something very simple to say to the citizens of Tel Aviv: If a parent feels it isn't safe, don't send your child (to school). We will not come to you with complaints." Armed police conducting searches in Tel Aviv on Friday following the shooting (Photo: EPA) Huldai clarified that "schools, kindergartens and all of Tel Aviv's services will be open to the public tomorrow. That's how it must and should be." Huldai noted that the police and other security services acknowledged parents' fears and would be significantly increasing the number of forces on the ground on Sunday, especially around education institutions. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality released a statement on Saturday evening saying that because of "the current security situation and the attack that occurred yesterday on Dizengoff Street, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality is making special security arrangements. Special patrols and the security and monitoring department of the municipality are expanding their operations across the city, 24/7, in full cooperation with the police. "Security patrols will be increased around education institutions and municipal facilities and special emphasis will be placed on patrols around kindergartens and also crowded areas," the statement continued. "We call on the public to maintain their routine and stay restrained, but to also maintain increased awareness and report any exceptional incidents," the statement added. All school trips will take place as planned and there is no instructions regarding their cancelation. Parents of children in Tel Aviv's educational system received a message on Saturday evening informing them of the increased security, as well informing them that teachers would be at the school entrances. People placing candles at the scene of the shooting in Tel Aviv that killed two people (Photo: Inbal Halamish) "Staff has been advised on increasing alertness," one kindergarten wrote to parents. "We ask that people not linger at the entrance to the school and to allow children to enter the building. Police patrols and security are being reinforced because of events." The Ramat Gan Municipality, along with city police and the national police, instructed an increase in security in a number of areas. The city plans to send police cars to patrol near schools. City police will also increase patrols at construction sites. Typically crowded spots are also to receive additional security. Security companies and guards at schools have been trained accordingly and are even supposed to be checked themselves. The municipality emphasized that the security boost was only a precaution. One parent, Achaz Agam, said he would send his children to school on Sunday. "I know the situation is problematic, but we can't let other people control our lives," he said. "If we live in fear we'll never send our children to school. Today it's Tel Aviv, and tomorrow it'll be any other place. We have to show some kind of ability to return to routine." Meital, the mother of a four-year-old, was not comfortable sending her child to school. "The terrorist has still not been caught," she said, "it really scares me, we don't have guards right now and there are only police patrols. I will go to work but he will stay with his grandmother. The feelings are horrible to tell you the truth, the 'Tel Aviv bubble' has burst. There have been helicopters here and security forces have been patrolling since the morning, right here next to the house, it's just terrifying. I prefer to be cautious for the moment and not send the child because it scares me. The gate may be closed, but what problem is there to climb? I didn't go out of the house with three small children today. Thousands of police officers, Shin Bet operatives, and Border Guards continued searching for the terrorist throughout Saturday. "We are continuing our search just like yesterday," said a police source. Israel Police has asked the public to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious people or incidents. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people today in the biggest mass execution since 1980. Those executed include Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric. Some were beheaded, others shot. Don't worry, there's nothing to be concerned about, the executions were "even-handed". Please consider Saudi Arabia Executes Prominent Shia Cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The execution on Saturday morning of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a staunch opponent of the ruling Al Saudi family, has further stirred sectarian tensions in the Gulf and triggered threats from regional rival Iran. The Iranian foreign ministry accused Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorist movements and extremists abroad while confronting domestic critics with oppression and execution. The Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies, the Iranian foreign ministry said. One activist said that 45 of those executed were al-Qaeda members and sympathisers, with the other two being Shia. Many of the charges related to terrorist attacks that took place during the al-Qaeda insurgency that was put down a decade ago. Shia activists have denied that Sheikh Nimr was involved in violent resistance, but many Saudis argue that his incitement against the government was tantamount to terrorism and often defend his death sentence. The activist said the government probably executed Shia dissidents at the same time as al-Qaeda sympathisers to back its claim to be taking an even-handed approach in its crackdown down on terrorism. The Shia minority in the oil-rich eastern province has for years complained of discrimination. The Saudi Press Agency report, citing the Koran, said: The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. Saudi Arabia executed prominent Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, stirring a chorus of condemnation and sectarian anger across the region. Nimr was a talismanic figure in protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, where the Shia minority complains of marginalisation. His arrest in July 2012 sparked days of protest. Hundreds of Shias marched through Nimrs home district of Qatif in protest at the execution, eyewitnesses told Reuters news agency, chanting "down with the Al Saud" in reference to the Saudi ruling family. Describing the executions as acts of mercy to prisoners who might have committed crimes on their release, Saudi Arabia's leading cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, said they were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdom's security. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's crime was speaking out against the government.In order to get rid of al-Nimr, Saudi Arabia had to get rid of 46 others, mostly Al Qaeda or alleged Al Qaeda sympathizers.As further proof of even-handedness, al-Nimr was not crucified for his alleged "."We would not want to crucify people for mischief would we? Beheadings are far more appropriate.The Telegraph reports Saudi 'will pay high price' for execution of top Shia cleric, warns Iran There you have it. Not only were the executions "even handed", they were also "acts of mercy".: Irans foreign ministry spokesman accused Riyadh of hypocrisy. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," said Hossein Jaber Ansari.: Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shia Council called the execution a "grave mistake": Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said it would have repercussions on regional security.: A German foreign ministry official said Nimrs execution strengthened existing concerns about increasing tensions and deepening rifts in the region.: From Guardian : Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, responded to news of the executions by describing capital punishment as abhorrent, and called on the prime minister to do more to pressure foreign governments into abolishing the death penalty. Britains shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, described the execution as profoundly wrong. However, "prime minister David Cameron insists UK must have close ties with Saudi Arabia".: Striking image from one of the protests in Bahrain. The banner reads to hell with you.Protester holds a banner saying to hell with you as she takes part in a protest against the execution of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities, in the village of Sanabis. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/ReutersIn the US, there was deafening silence from president Obama as well as our state department. And why not? After all, those executions were "" by our Saudi friends. What else can possibly be said?When your friends sponsor terrorism and execute their own citizens simply for being dissidents, you just have to look away. Friends must be friends, otherwise they aren't friends. And in the drive for perpetual war, Saudi Arabia is the biggest friend we have.Mike "Mish" Shedlock 2015 ended with unexpected high yields, but cool, wet weather this growing season fueled fungal diseases and weed growth in corn and soybean fields across Iowa. Agronomists say farmers should plan carefully to avoid seeing more of these yield robbers in the future. Northern Corn Leaf Blight Mark Licht, Iowa State University Extension cropping systems agronomist, said Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) was the biggest issue in Iowa cornfields in the 2015 growing season in terms of disease pathogens. Licht said NCLB first showed up this year as corn reached pre-tassel stages, but it was set back by dry weather in early July. More wet weather in late July brought a second wave of disease pressure. Fungicides were effective in treating NCLB, but the two distinct incidences of the disease meant proper application timing was a bit tricky. In Southeast Iowa, where excessive moisture impacted yields, Iowa State Extension field agronomist Virgil Schmitt said he received a number of calls from farmers regarding a resurgence of NCLB after previous treatment. Schmitt noted most fungicides are effective for 10 days to two weeks from application, then the fungicide begins to break down and is no longer effective. Mike Wormley, agronomist and certified crop adviser at Key Cooperative in Newton, said he advised producers to delay spraying fungicide until tassel time as postponing application could increase the return on the investment. Wetness in corn leaves for more than six hours and room temperature heat are ideal conditions for NCLB. Thats what we had this year, Schmitt said. He said gray leaf spot, which likes hot, humid conditions, wasnt as common this year. Knowing your hybrid is probably most important, Licht said. Some respond better to fungicide treatment. Licht said producers should understand which hybrids are more susceptible and recognize that risk by scouting more closely and being prepared to provide fungicide. Schmitt agreed. Genetics is really key. Most of the seed companies do a really, really good job of scoring their hybrids, he said. However, he cautioned against selecting hybrids just for disease resistance or susceptibility. He suggested starting with a short list of the highest-yielding hybrids, since a higher yield means you can afford to lose more to disease pressure and still make a profit. From that short list, lean toward those with better resistance, Schmitt said. Since NCLB can overwinter in crop residue, Licht said rotating severely affected fields is a good idea, but he did not recommend additional tillage. If youre coming back to corn next year, youre at more risk, Licht said. Sudden Death Syndrome Once again this year, Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) reared its ugly head in Iowa soybean fields, but Licht said it was not as severe as many had feared. He said the majority of SDS presence formed a roughly diagonal line across the state from Northwest and North Central regions to Central, South Central and Southeast Iowa. South of Highway 92, we had a lot of SDS, Schmitt said. He said the infection stage of the disease favors cool wet soils during the first 72 hours after planting, which was common this year. In the second stage, good growing conditions in August caused SDS to blow up, he said. Licht said the soil-borne pathogen that causes SDS could remain in the soil for two years, even after a corn rotation. Schmitt said Bayers ILeVO seed treatment is proving to be a good tool for fighting SDS, though not bulletproof. He said improving field drainage and compaction could also improve soybean root health. Split-season nitrogen This year, Licht said a large geographic area of the state probably would have benefited from split-season application of nitrogen as leaching likely occurred in some areas. The years we are wet are the years we do better with spilt season, he said. With wet May and June conditions, plants could benefit from later nitrogen applications, but Licht cautioned that not being able to access wet fields could mean not getting nitrogen to the plants when they need it most. In Newton, Wormley said he is getting more questions about split nitrogen application from producers. He said many farmers have found it makes sense to apply some nitrogen in the fall when prices are low and re-apply with the first pass of chemicals Wormley said this year some people who waited to sidedress nitrogen around V5 had difficultly because the corn was so tall that even high-clearance equipment couldnt manage it. Some hired planes to fly on urea. In Southeast Iowa, Schmitt said the rainfall did flush some nitrogen. He said precise nitrogen application timing is always ideal but the subtle economics and risks involved with split application require careful planning. Other 2015 issues Licht said glyphosate resistance in waterhemp continues to be a developing issue. People definitely need to be thinking of having a really good, sound herbicide program. There is quite a bit of seed out there, Schmitt said. He said Iowa State Extension strongly recommends using multiple effective sites of action at full rates with proper timing and to do something different if youve always used the same technique year after year. Licht received reports of northern corn rootworm in Central and North Central Iowa this year. Compromised root systems likely also contributed to lodging issues this fall. We used a high percentage of our soil nutrients, he said, noting the plant would cannibalize the stalk to fill the ear. This years conditions created a good environment for stalk rot as well, he said. All three agronomists said that aside from the increased disease pressure, this growing season was close to ideal, although a little more heat at times would have helped. Schmitt said cooler conditions this summer gave the crop more time to fill kernels. We did a lot of things right, he said. The big issue was a little bit too much moisture. He said wet roots in Southeast Iowa needed more oxygen to thrive. Southeast Iowa yields were about 20 bushels off the state average this year because of excessive moisture. I think the big takeaway this year is Mother Nature holds the trump cards, Schmitt said. DES MOINES Gov. Terry Branstad announced Thursday that Iowa National Guard soldiers would be enlisted to provide assistance to flood-ravaged parts of Missouri. National Guard officials, in cooperation with the governor and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, are deploying about 45 members and 20 vehicles from the Iowa Army National Guard to High Ridge, Missouri, to provide water purification and water transportation services. The Iowa soldiers are members of Companies A, B and C, 334th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, located at Camp Dodge, Cedar Rapids and Oelwein. The soldiers and their equipment were to arrive in Missouri on Friday and begin transporting and producing potable water that day, according to the governors office. The Iowa National Guard is providing one Tactical Water Purification System (TWPS) and 15 Hippos (Load Handling System Compatible Water Tank Racks for transporting water) for the mission in Missouri. The TWPS uses state-of-the-art reverse osmosis technology to produce 1,500 gallons-per-hour of potable water. The Hippo consists of a 2,000-gallon potable water tank with an integrated pump, engine, alternator, filling stand and 70-foot hose reel with bulk suction and discharge hoses. It has the capacity to pump 125 gallons of water per minute, Branstads office announced. The state of Missouri requested assistance from Iowa to help provide potable water after High Ridges Public Water Supply District 2 Treatment Plant was contaminated by extensive flooding, according to the governors office. The plant serves about 6,500 customers in High Ridge and Murphy, and is located about 350 miles southeast of Des Moines. More than 20,000 Missouri residents were without potable water due to flooding. Support is provided under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact an agreement executed previously between all 50 states, to assist one another in times of crisis, Branstads office said in a news release. EMAC is a national, mutual aid and partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor-declared or federally declared emergencies. Once the conditions for providing assistance to a requesting state have been set, the terms constitute a legally binding contractual agreement that make affected states responsible for reimbursement, according to Branstads office. Changes in Fuel Usage: New England Grid Comparison of first nine months 2015 to similar 2014 Comparison of first quarter 2015 to last quarter 2014 During the first three quarters of 2014, (January through September) Vermont Yankee was running. During the first three quarters of of 2015, it had shut down.Scott Luft writes the ColdAir blog , which is mostly concerned with Canadian energy issues. http://coldair.luftonline.net . However, in early December, Luft tweeted some comparisons of energy sources in the Northeastern U.S., before and after Vermont Yankee shut down. Similar charts are below.First look at the top chart--the nine-month comparisons. About 1500 GWh more electricity was produced in the first nine months of 2015 than in the first nine months of 2014 (see the "all fuels" line). Almost all of the change in electricity (top chart) was produced by an expansion of the use of natural gas, making up for the drop in nuclear and coal. There was also an expansion of utility-scale photovoltaic energy, but the vast majority of the change in power supply was expanded use of natural gas.One anti-nuclear commentator challenged these results, saying that looking at the first three quarters was a clever way to cherry pick data and avoid the true story of what really happened. Nuclear and natural gas usefell between the last quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015.And indeed, they both did (second chart).This wasn't anything to be proud of, however. The first quarter of the year is quite cold in the Northeast, and people use natural gas to heat their homes. Therefore, many natural gas-fired power plants cannot obtain fuel. Oil and coal take up the slack. Nowadays, natural gas plants are equipping themselves to be dual-fired, so they can burn oil.Nuclear went down, natural gas wasn't available, and oil and coal use went up. Nothing to celebrate. We're not looking at "green" energy expanding.You can double-click to expand the charts.------After I saw Luft's tweet, I contacted Scott Luft and asked him about his sources. Luft very kindly re-produced his sources and spreadsheets. Luft's information came from several queries to the EIA data browser Luft had pulled the information into spreadsheets. Later, my husband George pulled the same data into the Macintosh spreadsheet that he likes better. Then he made the charts from the data. The data from his spreadsheets is shown below. It is all based on queries to this EIA database Deepest appreciation to Scott Luft and George Angwin.Also, Scott Luft compiled a " storify " of his twitter interchange with Mark Z. Jacobson on this subject. In my opinion, Jacobson comes off badly in the exchange. It doesn't take complex work to show the flaws in Jacobson's arguments. You simply start with quoting him directly, and the facts take it from there. How to write a review? This series filled my sister and I with such joy and we would wait eagerly for each season to come into the library s... GARNER For a little boy enduring grueling chemotherapy sessions, state troopers decided to brighten the familys holiday with a $500 donation. Since he was diagnosed with Burkitt leukemia in July, 5-year-old Cohen Smith has endured six chemotherapy rounds at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to battle the aggressive cancer. When his story came to the attention of troopers at Mason Citys post, their union unanimously voted to give their yearly $500 charitable donation to his parents for medical and travel expenses. Two troopers surprised the family with the check at their home on Thursday morning. With a bald head, clad in a red GAP sweatshirt and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajama pants, Cohen was subdued by the unexpected attention, clinging to his mother as cautiously gave one trooper a high-five. It breaks your heart, said Trooper Keith Duenow afterwards. He hoped maybe it makes a little bit of an impact. When Cohen started complaining of stomach pains and flu symptoms for about a week last summer, his parents Steve and Brenda Smith took him to Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond, thinking he had a gastrointestinal issue. Doctors told them he might have a twisted intestine. None of their four older children have had any serious health problems. The cancer diagnosis at Mayo was a shock. Some days are good and some days are bad, Brenda said of her son. He very rarely complains about not feeling good. Since July, she has given up her daycare business until at least the spring to take him up to Rochester every two weeks for appointments. When he goes through chemo, they are typically in Minnesota for three to five days at a time. In September, daycare customers and church friends held a benefit that raised several thousand dollars for his cancer costs, she said. Cohen is currently in remission, but has two chemotherapy rounds left, and will subsequently be checked for cancer every year. We just left it to God, it was really out of our hands, Brenda said. As the two troopers left her son with a patrol hat, badge sticker, temporary tattoos, coloring books, and stickers, she said he was normally an outgoing child who likes to play outside and loves watching Paw Patrol cartoons on television. He wants to be a firefighter or police officer when he gets older. She couldnt guess how much the final bill will be for his cancer treatments, she said. The $500 check the troopers left will probably be used for gas expenses to Rochester. Dealing with pediatric cancer has reset some of their priorities, now more grateful for the time they spend together, especially at Christmas. The kids could have had nothing under the tree and all of us being together would have been plenty, she said. And, enjoy every moment: Life is just too short to do anything less than that, she said. New Delhi: Hundreds of thousands of odd-numbered cars will go off the roads in the national capital as the odd-even scheme enters its second day today. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday was spotted riding on his bicycle while heading to the AIR office in New Delhi. Sisodia owns an odd-numbered car and therefore, the minister left his four-wheeler at home and used his bicycle to commute on the second day of the odd-even plan. Several odd-numbered cars were spotted rushing to their destination early morning today. The restriction period is from 8am till 8pm. The private vehicles are free to play on roads before 8am or after pm. Pollution live metres have been installed at six place in Delhi by the state government for monitoring real-time air quality. The meters displayed real-time values of the particulate matter - PM 2.5 and PM 10 in air. Also, a portable air monitoring station was deployed in New Delhi for air quality assessment. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses were very much in demand on Friday, the first day of the novel odd-even car formula. An estimated 4 millions commuters availed the service of the public transporter on first day of the car plan. However, as per the officials of Delhi Metro, they saw no substantital jump in its ridership. As many as 203 people were fined for violating the norms in the odd-even scheme on the first day of its implementation in Delhi. At least 76 auto-rickshaws were also challaned for refusing to carry passengers to their destination. Few auto-rickshaws were issued challans for refusing to run by meter, thus causing inconvenience to people, who choose to take public transport to commute. According to a government officials, nine complaints were received against bus services. Ghaziabad: Invitation to some Muslim clerics for birthday celebrations of a Hindu priest has kicked off a row with Hindu groups protesting the move while the oganisers of the programme denied extending any such invitation. Members of Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and Hindu Yuva Vahini protested at the collectorate here and their representatives handed over a memorandum to the district magistrate alleging that an invitaion was extended to Muslim clerics to join the birthday celebrations of Shri Kalki Peethadheeshwar Acharya Pramod Krishnam at Dudheshwar Nath Temple on January 4. They alleged that it was a politically-motivated programme and would hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. Organiser of the event B K Sharma, however, said no invitation was sent to any Muslim religious leader and only politicians and social dignitaries would attend it. When contacted, Acharya Pramod Krishnam said the temple belonged to everyone and "no permission is required for organising any function at its premises". District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said Additional District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police have been directed to monitor the situation. Pathankot/New Delhi: At least four terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, were killed in a gunfight that lasted nearly 15 hours after they breached a high-security security perimeter and entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot town in northern Punjab early on Saturday to carry out a Fidayeen attack, police said. A tweet by Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said five terrorists had been killed in the operation. This was later withdrawn. Prior to the initial tweet, the number of terrorists killed had been placed at four. Police sources said that at least three IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 am. The counter offensive lasted nearly 15 hours. "We have also lost security personnel in the Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families. We can never forget their sacrifice," the home minister said. Though the firing initially stopped around 9 am after four of the terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were again heard around 11.30 am. The counter-offensive ended after nearly 15 hours. The base is located around 250 km from Chandigarh. The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, MI-35 attack helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were prevented from getting near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said. The IAF, in a statement in New Delhi, said that the terrorists' plan to destroy "valuable assets" was "foiled" due to "effective preparations" and "coordinated efforts". The central government's response to the terror attack, which came just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'surprise' visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, was measured, with Rajnath Singh talking of "peace" and a "befitting reply" in the same tone. Rajnath Singh said in New Dellhi: "Any terrorist attack on us from Pakistan, and we will give it a befitting reply." "Pakistan is our neighbour, we want peace, but any terror attack on India will get a befitting response," he added. "It could have been worse. I congratulate my security forces for their valour and the way they tackled the terrorists," Rajnath Singh said. The IAF claimed that the terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the base. The statement said intelligence inputs had been received of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation and preparatory action had been taken to thwart any such attempt. The Western Air Command chief, Air Marshal SB Deo, was on location and personally supervised and coordinated with the Army, NSG and local civil police for exchange of information and operational activities, the statement said. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval monitored the terror attack from New Delhi. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who had been rushed to Pathankot on Friday evening following apprehension of an attack, the IAF's Garud commandos and army commandos led the counter-attack on Saturday against the terrorists, who are suspected to have crossed into India from Pakistan through the border, 30 km from Pathankot. The Punjab Police and its elite SWAT commando units provided the outer cordon to the counter-operations to ensure that no terrorist was able to escape. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police officer stationed near the IAF station said. Intelligence officials said that the terrorists involved in the fidayeen attack could be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) terror outfit, as per PTI. The terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were initially reported to be around four to six. Two IAF attack helicopters and UAVs could be seen assisting security forces in the combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "The Air Force moved its barricades near the chowk around 5 pm on Friday. Area residents were alerted and told to remain inside. The first gunshots were heard after 3 a.m. and continued for the next 5-6 hours," Ashok Mehta, a local resident told the media, IANS reported. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot district on Friday after a senior police officer had said he and his two companions were abducted by five armed men in army fatigues but released later. This is the second major fidayeen attack by Pakistani terrorists in north Punjab in just over five months. A terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015, left seven people dead, including a senior police officer. With the opposition attack on the union government following the fidayeen attack, union minister Prakash Javadekar said that talks with Pakistan will take place with terror as the key issue. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said in New Delhi. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan's turn to reciprocate." Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met NSA Ajit Doval and three service chiefs in New Delhi on Saturday to assess the situation in the wake of the terrorist attack. A report from Islamabad said that Pakistan has condemned the terror attack. In a statement issued in Islamabad, Pakistan's foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the government, people of India and the bereaved families, Radio Pakistan reported. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region," the statement added. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack." (With Agency inputs) Guwahati: Almost five days after they gang-raped a minor girl in a moving train, police on Saturday arrested two Army jawans from Guwahati Airport. The arrested jawans, Pankaj Kumar and Balak Kumar Yadav, are accused of raping a teenager inside a compartment of moving Howrah-Amritsar Express on Monday. Another Army jawan, Monjiris Tripathy, who is accused for forcing the victim to consume alcohol is already in police custody. Tripathy was arrested by GRP from Madhupur railway station the same day whereas Kumar and Yadav were absconding since then. The victim, who has fled from her home, boarded the compartment at Howrah station and was later gangraped my these armymen inside a compartment of the moving train. The girl was found from the compartment when RPF raided the train at Madhupur station on receiving a message from RPF Howrah. Tripathy was then arrested. John Gaps III, an award-winning former Associated Press photographer, has died. The 63-year-old documented everything from war zones to the NCAA College World Series. His family confirmed his death on Tuesday. The Omaha World-Herald had hired Gaps in the early 1980s while he was still in college. He joined the AP in 1985. Based in Iowa, Gaps covered events around the world, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to Princess Dianas funeral. He was shot in the leg by an Israeli officer in the Gaza Strip in 1994. Gaps left the AP in 2000 to become senior photographer at the Des Moines Register. Gaps said: You become aware of the fact that the work you did is going to outlive you. And thats something. Islamabad: India and Pakistan have exchanged a list of their nuclear installations as part of a bilateral agreement. Both sides have also exchanged a list of prisoners being held as prisoners in the respective countries. The agreement pertaining to nuclear installations was signed on Dec 31, 1988, and came into force on Jan 27, 1991. It requires the two countries to inform each other about their nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 every year. Citing the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, the new.com.pk on Saturday said that the two countries exchanged the list of prisoners imprisoned in jails under the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access between India and Pakistan. The agreement on prisoners, signed on May 31, 2008, says that a comprehensive list of nationals of each country lodged in the respective countrys jails had to be exchanged twice a year on Jan 1, and July 1. Lahore: A Pakistani court on Saturday refused to entertain a petition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's recent visit here, saying there was no urgency to hear it during winter vacations. The petition challenging Modi's visit has been rejected by the Office of the Registrar of the Lahore High Court, a court official told PTI. Advocate Azhar Saddique today filed the petition in the Lahore High Court stating that Modi along with his delegation visited Pakistan without any "official permission" as most of the members of the delegation travelling with him stayed at the airport premises without visa. The Indian Premier along some members of his delegation on December 25 went to Jati Umra where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Raiwind residence is situated near here. The court rejected the petition saying that there was "no urgency" and that it cannot be entertained during the vacations. Sadique said he would file the petition after the vacations. Modi sprang a surprise with a 150-minute visit to Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and held talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the "larger good" of the people of the two countries. Modi made the stopover here on his way back home after a day-long unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he went following a two-day trip to Russia last month. New Delhi: Former Indian Air Force official Ranjith KK, who was recently arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan-backed ISI, will be probed over Pathankot terror attack. The Delhi Crime Branch will probe whether the dismissed IAF officer Ranjit had any role to play in the Pathankot terror attack, in which 2 jawans have been killed. Ranjit, who was an airman in the Indian Air Force, was arrested in December last year, for allegedly sharing secret information with ISI. A native of Malappuram district of Kerala, Ranjit joined IAF in 2010. He was dismissed immediately by the IAF after being arrested by Delhi Police Crime Branch from Bhatinda in Punjab. Ranjit, who was sent to four-day police custody, will be produced before the court today. Sources say that Delhi Police might ask for an extended custody to question the former IAF officer on Pathankot terror attack. Jammu/New Delhi: Condemning the attack on the Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday pointed out that friendship and terror cannot go hand in hand. "We condemn the attack. Our Air Force needs a salute for fighting them off immediately. How they entered the place needs to be investigated. I think our Home Minister has rightly said that India will give back a befitting reply. Congress has tried to politicise the matter. We are certain that friendship and terror cannot go together," Javadekar told ANI. Echoing similar sentiments, Minister of State in the Prime Minister`s Office, Jitendra Singh, said India`s forces were efficient in combating terrorists, but such situations and eventualities needed to be monitored and prevented more efficiently. "It is not right to talk on these kinds of issues, as it is related to security. The concerned agencies have taken cognizance. Elements who cannot stand peace, carry out such attacks from time to time, but the peace process has a strength of its own," Singh said. Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station . The Pathankot National Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including national capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. New Delhi: After terrorists attacked the India Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the incident was the `first major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s bold Pakistan gambit`. In a series of tweets, Omar took a swing at the Bharatiya Janata saying the time had come for the ruling party to change their stand with the hostile neighbour. "The BJP now has to sidestep its previous `terror & talks can`t go together` & insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks," Omar tweeted. He expressed confidence that the terrorists had crossed over within the last few hours with the Air Force base as a specific target. Two IAF personnel were martyred, six were injured and four terrorists killed in the gunbattle that ensued in the attack on the Air Force Base this morning. According to sources, the terrorists had infiltrated into India three days ago from Bahawalpur in Pakistan.Security forces had been on high alert since yesterday following the attack on a senior police officer, due to which the attack today morning near the Air Force base was contained in the non-operational area of the base ensuring the safety of the civilians and protecting the Air Force equipments. Based on the developments of yesterday the Army had sounded an alert accordingly and placed 2 Army Columns, a Special Forces team in the Air Force Station prior to the attack today. A National Security Guard team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans. Mumbai: Condemning the terror strike by Pakistani militants in Pathankot, Shiv Sena on Saturday said "terror and peace talks can't go simultaneously" as it expressed concern that the attack happened within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Lahore. "Whenever there is an attack on us, there is no need to say who is behind it. We can say with eyes closed that attackers are from Pakistan," Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab. In the ensuing gunbattle, three security personnel were killed along with four attackers. Noting that the attack took place after the PM's unscheduled stopover in Lahore last week, Raut said, "We don't want to play politics but its a fact that bilateral peace talks and terror attacks are taking place simultaneously. This won't do." Peace talks and terror cannot go together and this has been Sena's stance from the beginning, said Raut, whose party is a key ally of BJP and part of the NDA government at the Centre. "Just saying that such attacks will invite befitting reply from India won't suffice. The Union Home Minister is a serious person and we respect him. But when will we give befitting response to Pakistan? Raut asked. Raut's remark came in the wake of Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying India would hit back hard if there is any terror strike on its soil. Mysuru: Calling the Pathankot attackers the 'enemies of humanity,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the attack was carried out by elements which can't see India's progress but it was foiled by security forces. Modi also said that he was proud of brave Indian forces who quelled the attack on Air Force base at Pathankot on Saturday. The PM also expressed his condolences for three security men who laid down their lives while fighting militants in Pathankot. Enemies of humanity who can't see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed: PM &; PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 2, 2016 Proud of our Jawans and security forces: PM @narendramodi in Mysuru &; PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 2, 2016 PM Modi was speaking at a function in Mysuru. He is on a two-day visit of Karnataka, where he is scheduled to attend several functions. New Delhi: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi grabbed attention and praises for his surprise visit to Pakistan, on Saturday he came under severe attack on social media for initiating talks with the hostile neighbour. Twitter was abuzz with angry reactions following the Pathankot attack where three security personnel were killed in a terror attack by Pak-based militants. While some of them questioned the PM Narendra Modi's Pak visit, some of them demanded an appropriate reply to Pakistan. Some of them also termed the attack as a move to derail the peace talks between both the countries. " You cannot change your neighbours but you can finish them " #Pathankot &; Boring... (@graphicalcomic) January 2, 2016 #Pathankot underscores the need for an effective, trust-based #IndiaPakistan Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism to counter the common enemy. &; Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) January 2, 2016 Modi gave Surprise Visit to Nawaz Sharif. Now Nawaz Sharif gave Surprise to Modi. How did u feel like? #Pathankot &; Vinod Mehta (@DrunkVinodMehta) January 2, 2016 #Pathankot Terror shld be countered with equal measure..Defence shld be more Aggressive not against any Country But surely against Terrorism &; Sapna Mishra (@ISapnaMishra) January 2, 2016 #PathanKot incident proves dat d hidden forces on both sides never want ddialogue.This is 2 sabotage peace process. pic.twitter.com/m1T4lxUIWQ &; JahanAra M Wattoo (@jahanarawattoo) January 2, 2016 In a pre-dawn attack on Pathankot Air Force base, near the Pakistan border, four militants and three security men were killed on Saturday. At least four gunmen suspected to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Islamist group dressed in army uniforms infiltrated Pathankot air base at around 3:30 am. According to sources, the terrorists had infiltrated into India three days ago from Bahawalpur in Pakistan. New Delhi: The Indian establishment on Saturday exercised restraint and avoided making direct anti-Pakistan comments after the fidayeen attack at an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in northern Punjab. The attack comes within days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s unscheduled stopover in Lahore while returning from Russia via Afghanistan. Modi condemned the attack and said that enemies of humanity who could not see the nation succeed had attempted to cause harm to the armed forces. "The nation stands united against these enemies and their evil designs will never succeed. I am proud of the jawans and security forces martyred during the operation," Modi said at a public function in Mysuru, about 140 km from Bengaluru. "Proud of our Jawans and security forces," a tweet from PMO India earlier quoted Modi as saying. Despite criticism from some Congress leaders of the government`s policy towards Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh only said the government wants peace and good relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan, but would not shy from giving a befitting reply. "Let them (opposition) say whatever they like, but our policy is clear. We want peace. But we will not tolerate any terrorist activity on our soil and will give a befitting response," Singh said. Unidentified terrorists attacked the IAF base in Punjab`s Pathankot town early Saturday, leaving three IAF personnel and five terrorists dead. Rajnath Singh`s cabinet coleague Prakash Javadekar, while supporting his stance of giving a "befitting reply" to terror", did not rule out talks with Pakistan in future. "As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue," he said, adding that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a beginning, now it is Pakistan`s turn to reciprocate." Meanwhile, Pakistan condemned the Pathankot attack. In a statement, Pakistan`s foreign office extended heartfelt condolences to the Indian government, people of India and the bereaved families. It also wished the injured people speedy recovery, Radio Pakistan reported. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting South Asian region, the statement added. Pathankot: The gunbattle between terrorists and the security forces near the Indian Air Force base has subsided and combing operations have begun to smoke out the hiding terrorists. Two IAF personnel were martyred, six were injured and four terrorists killed in the gunbattle that ensued. According to sources, the terrorists had infiltrated into India three days ago from Bahawalpur in Pakistan. Earlier today, around five militants in Army fatigue opened fire near the Air Force station here early in the morning today and a massive gunbattle started between the security forces and the attackers. Security forces had been on high alert since yesterday following the attack on a senior police officer, due to which the attack today morning near the Air Force base was contained in the non-operational area of the base ensuring the safety of the civilians and protecting the Air Force equipments. Based on the developments of yesterday the Army had sounded an alert accordingly and placed 2 Army Columns, a Special Forces team in the Air Force Station prior to the attack today. A National Security Guard team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans. Meanwhile, top officials have convened an emergency meet at the Air Force Headquarters in Delhi and the situation is being monitored at the highest level. Re: Are you still reading the other newspaper in town? Did you know that [ #permalink sanjayism wrote: Are you still reading the other newspaper in town? Did you know that the Daily Bugle is owned by an out-of-town business syndicate that couldnt care less about the people of Gotham City? Read the Daily Clarion, the only real voice of the people of Gotham City! Which of the following most directly refutes the argument raised in the advertisement above? (A) Over half of the advertising revenues of the Daily Clarion come from firms whose headquarters are located outside of Gotham City. (B) The Daily Clarion usually devotes more of its pages to out-of-town news than does the Daily Bugle. (C) Nearly 40 percent of the readers of the Daily Clarion reside outside the limits of Gotham City. (D) The editor-in-chief and all the other members of the editorial staff of the Daily Bugle have lived and worked in Gotham City for ten years or more. (E) The Daily Bugle has been published in Gotham City for a longer time than has the Daily Clarion. Advertising revenues cannot be connected to content of the newspaper. Incorrect Does not mean the remaining pages are not focused on news related to real issues of Gotham city. Incorrect. Still majority readers are from Gotham city. Incorrect The content owners are from Gotham city, hence they represent the voice of Gotham city. Correct. Does not directly imply that the news in Daily Bugle is primarily about Gotham city. Incorrect Question Type: Logical FlawPremise 1: The Daily Bugle is owned by an out of town syndicate.Premise 2: The Daily Bugle does not care about the people of Gotham CityConclusion: Read the Daily Clarion, the only real voice of the people of Gotham City!Analysis: The argument's author assumes that the ownership influences the content of the newspaper. An out of town owned newspaper cannot be the real voice of the people of Gotham city, since Gotham city is not represented in the newspaper's ownership.(A) Over half of the advertising revenues of the Daily Clarion come from firms whose headquarters are located outside of Gotham City. -(B) The Daily Clarion usually devotes more of its pages to out-of-town news than does the Daily Bugle. -(C) Nearly 40 percent of the readers of the Daily Clarion reside outside the limits of Gotham City. -(D) The editor-in-chief and all the other members of the editorial staff of the Daily Bugle have lived and worked in Gotham City for ten years or more. -(E) The Daily Bugle has been published in Gotham City for a longer time than has the Daily Clarion. -Answer D.Thanks,GyM_________________ Indore: RSS's joint general secretary Dattatraya Hosbole said here today that his organisation didn't think that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a mistake in lunching at the residence of his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore last month. The statement by the senior RSS functionary defending Modi's decision to visit the neighbouring country came on a day when Pakistani terrorists attacked IAF base in Pathankot. Hosbole was speaking to reporters at Vishwa Sangh Shivir here. To a question, he said "Why shouldn't Modi eat with Nawaz Sharif? We don't oppose this. We believe the whole world is one family and it's our duty that we behave well (with others). This is India's religion, this religion should be followed. "The National Security Adviser of India is capable of dealing with the issue of terrorism. We have full confidence that that he would deal with the issue in the right way," the RSS leader added. To another question, Hosbole said "one has to use various means such as persuasion-purchase-punish- exploitation of division (`saam-daam-dand-bhed') as per the circumstances. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee undertook bus journey to Lahore but the Kargil war too was fought during his tenure." The RSS leader also praised Modi for getting Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend Ganga-aarati in Varanasi during his visit to India. "The heads of all the prominent countries visit other countries to develop diplomatic ties. But the Prime Minister of India, an RSS volunteer that he is...also got the Prime Minister of another country to perform Ganga-aarati in India," Hosbole said. To a question on Nepal, he said RSS wanted good relations with that country. "Nepalis live in India in large numbers. But in the last five months (during the political logjam in that country which has strained the bilateral ties), no Nepali has been harmed in India. Nor have the Indians living in Nepal come to any harm. Nepal is witnessing a political strife such as every country witnesses," he said. Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: In a pre-dawn attack, militants open fire in Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab early on Saturday morning. As per reports two terrorists have been killed so far in gunbattle between security forces and attackers. The firing is on in the area behind Air Force base. The terrorists, believed to be 4-5 in number, launched the attack at the base in the wee hours. The entire area has been cordoned off, police said. The attack comes days after PM Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Pakistan. It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Diana Nagar before being eliminated after 12 hour gun battle. Yesterday, five suspected militants abducted an SP and two others and thrashed them before dumping them from vehicle. After the incident a combing operation was launched in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. New Delhi: Veteran Communist leader Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away here on Saturday. He was 92-year-old and was being treated at GB Pant hospital in the national capital. "The CPI leader died at 8.20 pm. Our team tried hard but could not save him. His condition was very critical," said Dr Vinod, who led the medical team at GB Pant Hospital here. The veteran CPI leader was undergoing treatment after tests detected a blood clot in his brain and had described his condition as "critical" . Bardhan had suffered a paralytic stroke on December 7, following which he was admitted to the hospital. "He is still critical and is partially responding to medicines. Doctors have kept him under observation and are waiting for improvement to take further action," CPI had said earlier in a statement. Speaking to news agency ANI, party national secretary D Raja said, "Its a great loss not only for CPI but for entire communist movement of country." "His demise marks the end of an era of communist leaders who fought for independence of the nation," he added. "Heartfelt condolences on passing away of Shri AB Bardhan, CPI leader & veteran trade unionist," said President Pranab Mukherjee. Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also condoled the demise of the veteran CPI leader. Saddened to hear of the demise of senior CPI leader AB Bardhan ji. He was known for his deep concern for workers, poor and needy. Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) January 2, 2016 With the demise of Shri AB Bardhan the country has lost one of the pillars of left wing politics. My condolences to his grieving family. Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) January 2, 2016 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in her condolence message, said, Saddened at the passing of veteran politician AB Bardhan. Condolences to his family and colleagues in his party." Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar were also among a host of leaders to condole the death of the veteran leader. "V sad to hear the demise of Comrade Bardhan. May his soul rest in peace," Kejriwal tweeted. V sad to hear the demise of Comrade Bardhan. May his soul rest in peace Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 2, 2016 Nitish Kumar posted: "Deeply saddened to hear of Veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan ji's death.He was a leading figure of the trade union movement & a voice of the poor." Deeply saddened to hear of Veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan ji's death.He was a leading figure of the trade union movement&a voice of the poor Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 2, 2016 UP CM Akhilesh Yadav also took to Twitter to condole Bardhan's demise. Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan has been a leading figure of the trade union movement and Left politics in Maharashtra. He had won as an Independent candidate in Maharashtra Assembly polls in 1957. He later rose to become the General Secretary and then President of All India Trade Union Congress, the oldest trade union in India. Bardhan had moved to Delhi politics in the 1990s and became the Deputy General Secretary of CPI. He succeeded Indrajit Gupta as the General Secretary of the party in 1996. Faridabad: A 14-year-old girl, who used to work as a servant at a doctor's place, was allegedly found dead under mysterious circumstances here. The aggrieved kin of the minor girl today blocked the road in Sector 17 area here after the police failed to file a case against the doctor, police said. The family alleged that Dr Gupta, the employer of the victim, was badly drunk on New Year's eve and had raped the girl and later killed her. They also accused the doctor of conducting the girl's post mortem without informing them. Meanwhile the police tried to persuade the family not to block the roads while assuring them justice. Although no FIRs have been launched in the case. New Delhi: Saturday's attack at Pathankot Indian Air Force base is the second terror strike in Punjab within a span of six months. Following are some of the terror-related incidents that have taken place in Punjab between 2001 and 2016 (these do not include seizure of arms and ammunition during the period). March 1, 2001: A 135-yard underground tunnel detected across India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. Jan 1, 2002: Three Army personnel killed and five others injured when a group of unidentified terrorists attacks them at a firing range in Damtal, close to Punjab's border with Himachal Pradesh. Jan 31, 2002: Two persons killed and 12 others injured in explosion in a Punjab Roadways bus at Patrana in Hoshiarpur district. March 31, 2002: Two people are killed and 28 others injured in a bomb blast on Ferozepur-Dhanbad express train at Daroha, about 20km from Ludhiana. Apr 28, 2006: At least eight persons are wounded in a bomb blast on a bus carrying 45 passengers at Jalandhar bus terminus. Oct 14, 2007: Seven persons, including a 10-year old child, are killed and 40 others injured in a bomb blast in a cinema hall in Ludhiana. July 27, 2015: Seven people, including a Punjab Police Superintendent, killed when three terrorists carry out a strike on a police station in Gurdaspur district. All three militants also killed. Jan 2, 2016: Four terrorists and three security personnel killed when militants storm IAF base in Pathankot. Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Saturday condemned the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot, saying it was a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to sabotage the peace process, which must not be allowed to be happen. Noting that the attack took place only a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit, Singh hoped that it was not a repeat of what happened after then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's Lahore bus journey. The Kargil war took place soon after Vajpayee's visit. "It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to subvert and sabotage the peace process between the two countries (India and Pakistan) which must not be allowed at any cost", the Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha said here. "It is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand," he said. The former Punjab Chief Minister said it reminded him of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Lahore, while Pakistani army was planning an attack on Kargil. "I hope it is not the repeat of what happened after the Lahore bus journey", the Amritsar MP said, while pointing out that the attack has taken place only a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit. He said while the peace process should continue, India at the same time must not lower its guard. "We can't allow our people, soldiers and police personnel to be killed by the militants from across the border and Pakistan needs to own up responsibility and deal with such elements firmly", he said, adding, they know where the problem lies and they must resolve it. Capt Amarinder also saluted the martyrs for their bravery. "Even as we grieve your loss, the entire nation is proud of you for the exemplary valour and courage you have shown today by killing the terrorists and the nation will always remember your great sacrifice", he said. "Our security personnel were alert, but the surprise element lies with the attackers and who knows when and where they will strike," he said. Pathankot: A high alert was sounded in Punjab on Friday after 4-5 suspected Pakistani terrorists in army uniform abducted and thrashed a Superintendent of Police and his two associates before dumping them some distance away and speeding away in his vehicle on Thursday night. SP Salwinder Singh has claimed that he and his friend along with an employee of his were coming back after paying obeisance at Narot Jaimal Singh area on Thursday night when five men signaled them to stop, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) R K Bakshi said. "As per their statement they were kidnapped and later two of them, including SP, were dumped at Tajpur village near here and third - Rajesh - was thrown out a few distance away with injury marks on his body," the SSP said. The place of the incident is just about 15 kms from the border with Pakistan. Salwinder said as they stopped their vehicle, all the five men barged inside the vehicle and started beating them. He claimed that one of them took the driver's seat and drove towards Pathankot. After a while, Singh was pushed out of the vehicle and his two companions were driven away by the men. Later, the men pushed one person out of the vehicle near Pathankot and slit the throat of the third man, who has been identified as Rajesh Kumar, was dropped near Damtal hills on the Punjab-Himachal border after he pretended to be dead. Police said the vehicle was recovered near Dhira village. Inspector General (Border Range) Lok Nath Angra said high alert has been sounded and search operation was launched to apprehend the culprits. "They could be Pakistani militants," DIG (Border range) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said, while informing that the assailants were four in number and wearing army uniform. Asked about reports that the assailants had used the SP's mobile phone to make a call to Pakistan, the DIG did not rule it out. He said the combing operation is under process in entire border area of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, where some Pakistani terrorists carried out an attack some months back. Yavatmal: Three men hailing from Hyderabad were arrested on Saturday and a pistol, 60 live cartridges and a few detonators were seized from them. The trio travelling in a van was intercepted at Kharabi Check Post under Darathi Police Station in Umarkhed tehsil in the wee hours of today, police said. During questioning police found something suspicious about their behaviour. They searched the van from where they found a pistol, 60 live cartridges, three mobiles and a few detonators, SP Akhilesh Kumar Singh said. All these items and the van (registered in Andhra Pradesh) were seized and the trio was placed under arrest, he said, adding that the accused were on their way to Pusadtaluka in the district. The arrested were identified as Mohammad Masiyoddin Owaisi (35), Mohammad Umar Gazi (27) and Mohammad Mibajoddin (22), all residents of Hyderabad. A criminal offence under the Arms Act was registered against them. A team of Anti-Terrorism Squad from Yavatmal has gone to Umarkhed to investigate the matter, police sources said. Lucknow: Thirty-three candidates of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) have been elected un-opposed as `zila panchayat adhyakshs`. Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother and PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav were personally monitoring the high-stake polls. The party had cracked whip on senior and prominent party leaders for opposing official party candidates, so much so that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav went into a sulk after three of his close associates were expelled from the party. The places where SP candidates won unopposed include Etah, Kasganj, Lucknow, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Kanpur rural and city, and Etawah. SP candidates have also won unopposed in most places in Bundelkhand, including Jhansi, Hamirpur, Mahoba and Chitrakoot. Senior Samajwadi Party leaders say Mulayam had taken it upon himself to ensure that there was consensus on party candidates at most places. New York: It's a case of complete madness! A 20-year-old man, who had sex with a donkey, told investigators here that he was forced to do the sex act because his penis went out of control after he saw the animal. Gideon D. Swartzentruber avoided jail time after pleading guilty to having sex with a donkey. But he asked a judge this week to revoke his light sentence and send him to the prison instead. The accused, who hails from Neillsville in Wisconsin, admitted to encountering a female donkey and briefly having sex with it. In his explanation to the investigators about his behaviour, he said that at the time of the incident his privates were out of control. According to a report on nypost.com, the judge slapped him with a years probation and a fine of $443 and mandatory counselling. After Swartzentruber urged the court to send him to jail, the judge granted his request and sentenced him to a 30-day stint in the slammer. Swartzentruber, a farmhand, has been fired from his job since then. His boss had caught him in the act with the donkey. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of sexual gratification with an animal. He said that he did not hurt the donkey and that it was the first time he had done anything like that. MBS: HKU Hey !!!I have an admit from both manchester business school (with scholarship) and HKU LBS track for the session starting in fall 2016My back ground is technical (2 years) with a transition to project people and finance management (3 years) in a family business environment in the Indian infrastructure segment.I want a holistic mba experience with a special focus on finance.(gap area) Ideally would want to work at some renowned Organization before i head back !!!My first preference would be a finance role after mba as thats an area which am really interested to expand on. Having said that do international firms hire right out of bchools for finance roles??. Also ...does NOT having a a big finance brand in your CV makes it impossible to land a finance job (irrespective of how you perform in school) in HK and UK ..???I am aware my profile is more suited to a consulting job, so the next answer i seek is -- How is the consulting market in HK and UK for expats (esp indians)??? Does knowing mandrin in HK a prerequisite for a consulting roleboth these schools seem close in terms of quality,faculty and rankingsother points that are baffling me in regards to this decision are:-Pros:-1.Strong consultancy driven practical program with significant internship possibilities.2. More group assignments and consulting projects and learning out side the class room which i prefer.3. Slightly economical because of the scholarship.4. Better brand recognition (maybe?)5. Spaced out program with internshpi which lets you sink your teeth into the subject matters.cons:-1. UK visa situation for expats (esp indians) is pretty tight. Nearly rules out the possibility of landing a job in UK or converting an internship (finance or consulting)2. Longer duration at 18 months.3. Relatively weak in financepros:-1. Very strong finance base. good job and stay back opportunities. (my applicability for the finance domain remains a question)2. More expat friendly with regulations.3.Tighter program so it finishes earlier.4. Chance to spend 3 months in london LBS and network (don't know whether this a significant aspect or just eye wash)cons:-1. Incase the finance roles are difficult to convert owing to my background. Very limited other opportunities.2. Mandarin and local language dependence in marketing and consulting roles.3. Younger program so not much brand value outside HK and a slimmer alum directory.Any suggestion/help/tips/correction/guidance or additional info that helps me narrow down the choice will help greatly.thanks Shanghai: China has unveiled changes to the structure of its military described by President Xi Jinping as "a major policy decision to realise the Chinese dream of a strong army", state media reported. Beijing in November said it planned sweeping changes in a move intended to enhance the ruling Communist Party`s control over the People`s Liberation Army (PLA). The changes announced late Friday will see a new army unit set up to oversee China`s arsenal of strategic missiles. Besides the "Rocket Force", the PLA also unveiled an army general command to serve as the headquarters for land forces and a support unit to assist combat troops, the official Xinhua news agency said. The changes come as China acts more aggressively in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea and comes just after Beijing announced on Thursday it is building its second aircraft carrier. The nation`s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a secondhand Soviet ship built more than 25 years ago that was commissioned by China in 2012 after extensive refits. At the same time, Xi, who is chief of the Communist Party and also serves as head of the military, is planning to slash China`s number of troops by 300,000 to roughly two million to craft a more efficient fighting force. China`s Central Military Commission, which Xi chairs, on Friday also released guidelines to help build the country`s vision of a modern military before 2020 by cutting troops and improving the quality of combat personnel, Xinhua said. The new PLA Rocket Force is tasked with maintaining conventional and nuclear weaponry with the ability to both deter and strike, Xi told a ceremony for the founding of the three new organisations, according to Xinhua. But a spokesman for China`s Ministry of Defence denied any shift in the country`s nuclear weapons policy. "China`s nuclear policy and nuclear strategy are consistent, there has been no change whatsoever," spokesman Yang Yujun said Friday, according to a transcript posted on the ministry`s website. The new unit would take over from the Second Artillery Force, he said. Beijing`s forces have been involved in sometimes tense confrontations with Japanese and Philippine units over maritime disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea respectively, prompting fears that the disputes could result in armed clashes. Gaza city: The Israeli air force carried out attacks on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early Saturday, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. According to the sources, the Israeli strikes targeted four empty facilities ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, causing damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its "aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip". "The IDF holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. Late Friday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Gaza`s Islamist rulers Hamas responsible for all such incidents. Also on Friday, two Palestinians were slightly wounded by Israeli gunfire after they stormed the border fence in northern Gaza, the Israeli army and Gaza medics said. Baghdad: The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric on Saturday sparked outrage in Iraq, where some leaders called for the closure of Riyadh`s newly reopened embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom`s east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia. Khalaf Abdelsamad, who heads the parliamentary bloc of Iraq`s Shiite Dawa party -- to which both Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki belong -- said Baghdad should take action. "Abdelsamad urges the Iraqi government to close down the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons," a statement from his office said. The Saudi embassy in Baghdad only just reopened on December 15, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq`s invasion of Kuwait. The ambassador himself has only been in the country three days. A justice ministry spokesman said 61 Saudi nationals were detained in Iraqi prisons six months ago. He could not immediately provide a more recent figure. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family`s) rule," Abdelsamad`s office said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in the country, reacted with similar demands. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, a top leader in the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary group that is dominated by Tehran-backed militias, condemned Nimr`s execution. "Even as the rulers of Saudi Arabia are supporting terror in the entire world by sending takfiris, weapons and car bombs to Muslim countries, today they executed the most honest man in Saudi Arabia," he said in a statement. Takfir is a part of the ideology of some extremist Sunni groups -- such as the Islamic State group that controls parts of Iraq and Syria -- that considers other Muslims infidels. Mohandis has close ties with Tehran, which reacted by warning Saudi Arabia that it would pay a "high price". "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution," an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said. Saudi Arabia executed more than 150 people in 2015. According to rights organisations, China, Iran, Pakistan and Iraq are the world`s worst executioners. Islamabad: Pakistan will get rid of the menace of terrorism in 2016, the country's Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has vowed. The new year will be the year when terrorism will end in Pakistan, citing a report on Dawn online, the IANS news agency quoted the general as saying. In order to achieve that goal, the General has sought the support of the entire nation, the report said on Friday. The army chief said that there was a nexus between terrorism, corruption and crime. He said that elements involved in terrorism and financial corruption had developed close relations to help each other out. All the "negative forces" in the nexus would be defeated, he said. The new year would be the "year of national solidarity", he said, adding the nation would witness the birth of peace and justice in the year. (With agency inputs) Tel Aviv: Israeli security forces pressed a manhunt Saturday for the Arab Israeli suspected of killing two people and wounding seven others at a Tel Aviv pub, with the motive still unknown. The New Year`s Day shooting came amid a wave of Palestinian attacks on Israelis and days after the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group threatened the Jewish state with violence. Police partially lifted a gag order on Saturday, naming the suspected shooter as Nashaat Melhem, 31, from the Arab village of Arara in northern Israel. They distributed his picture and encouraged public vigilance, as a massive manhunt continued. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there was a "strong possibility that this was a terrorist attack but we haven`t ruled out criminal motives". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a cautious tone in Saturday evening remarks at the site of the shooting, refraining from defining it as anything beyond a murder. "There was a despicable murder here yesterday -- incomprehensible cruelty," he said after lighting a candle outside the pub. "Young people, whose entire lives were ahead of them, the ages of my own children, were innocently sitting celebrating a birthday and were murdered in cold blood." Netanyahu noted that security forces were working "around the clock to apprehend the murderer." The shooting has been condemned by the council of Arara, the suspect`s hometown, which as well as by the head of the Joint List, which groups the main Arab parties in parliament. The premier praised "the condemnations of the crime from the Arab sector," while stressing he expected to hear such from "all Arab members of parliament." He noted the existence of Arab Israeli "enclaves in which there is no law enforcement and in which there is Islamist incitement, rampant crime and illegal weapons that are frequently fired at events such as weddings." He said he had formulated a plan to dramatically increase law enforcement in the Arab sector." "You can`t say `I`m an Israeli in my rights and a Palestinian in my duties` -- whoever wants to be an Israeli has to be one all the way, in rights and duties, and the first duty is to obey the country`s law," he stressed. Arab Israelis are those who remained in the Jewish state after its 1948 creation, as well as their descendants. They account for more than 17 percent of the country`s population. They often complain of discrimination in various fields, including building permits, infrastructure and education. Members of his family told media Melhem had been suffering mental issues, and had been imprisoned for attacking an Israeli soldier in what he said was an attempt at revenge over the death of a relative shot by police in 2006. Security camera footage from a nearby store showed a bespectacled young man with a backpack calmly pretending to shop before going to the exit, placing the backpack on a trolley, removing what looked like a submachine gun and opening fire in the street. One of those killed was identified by his father as Alon Bakal, a law and business student who was a manager at Simta, the pub that was targeted. Police named the second fatality as Shimon Ruimi from southern Israel. They issued a gag order on the investigation, as well as the one into the death of an Arab Israeli taxi driver found shot in north Tel Aviv a short while after the shooting rampage. They have refused to say whether the attacks were linked. In a recording released a week ago and attributed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the secretive IS leader pledged to attack Israel. Baghdadi said IS has "not forgotten Palestine for a single moment". "And soon, soon with God`s permission, you will hear the footsteps of the mujahedeen... We are getting closer to you day by day," he said. Meanwhile, in a wave of Palestinian attacks since October 1 -- including stabbings, car-rammings and gunfire targeting security forces and civilians -- 22 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have been killed. At the same time, according to an AFP count, 138 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks on Israelis. Riyadh: Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia executed Saturday a prominent Shiite cleric, who had been behind anti-government protests, drawing angry condemnation from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq. And the EU expressed concern about possible "dangerous consequences" in a region already fraught with sectarian tensions, just hours before Riyadh summoned Iran`s envoy to complain about Tehran`s "aggressive" remarks. Nimr al-Nimr, 56, was executed along with 46 other men, including Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda killings, the interior ministry said. That sparked demonstrations in at least one city in oil-rich Eastern Province, where Shiites complain of marginalisation, as well as in Bahrain, Iran and Iraq. The interior ministry said the men had been convicted of adopting the radical "takfiri" ideology, joining "terrorist organisations" and implementing various "criminal plots". An official list published included Sunnis convicted of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudis and foreigners in 2003 and 2004. Some of them had been convicted of taking part in May 2003 attacks on expatriate compounds in Riyadh that killed 35 people, nine of them Americans, the ministry said. Others were involved in 2004 attacks on a housing complex in the eastern city of Khobar, in which 22 people were killed, most of them foreigners, and other assaults. Among them was Fares al-Shuwail, described by Saudi media as Al-Qaeda`s top religious leader in the kingdom. Notably absent from the list, was Nimr`s nephew, Ali. He was arrested at the age of 17 and allegedly tortured during detention before being sentenced to die, sparking fury from rights watchdogs and the United States.All those executed were Saudis, except for an Egyptian and a Chadian. Some were beheaded, while others were shot by firing squad, said ministry spokesman Mansur al-Turki. Executions have soared in the country since King Salman ascended the throne last January, with 153 people put to death in 2015, nearly twice as many as in 2014. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said: "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution. It will "pay a high price for following these policies," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. Turki said Iran`s reaction was "irresponsible", and Riyadh summoned Tehran`s envoy in protest. The foreign ministry "handed the Iranian ambassador... a stern protest letter over the aggressive Iranian statements on the legal sentences carried out today against terrorists in the kingdom," said a statement published by the official SPA news agency. Tehran ally Hezbollah said Saudi Arabia`s rulers are "global criminals" and denounced Nimr`s execution as a "heinous crime". Rights groups have repeatedly raised concern about the fairness of trials in Saudi Arabia, where murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy are all punishable by death.Amnesty International`s Middle East and North Africa director Philip Luther told AFP the kingdom was using "the guise of counter-terrorism" to clamp down on dissent. The trials "were politicised on the one hand and grossly unfair, because the international standards for fair trial were grossly flouted." In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the case "raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and the respect of basic civil and political rights". It also has "the potential of enflaming further the sectarian tensions that already bring so much damage to the entire region, with dangerous consequences," a statement said. Iran`s Basij student militia, connected to the country`s elite Revolutionary Guards, called for a demonstration Sunday outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran. In Saudi ally Bahrain, police used tear gas to disperse dozens of youths from the majority Shiite population protesting the executions. And prominent Iraqi Shiite lawmaker Khalaf Abdelsamad called for the closure of Riyadh`s embassy and urged the government to expel its ambassador. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr will have serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (royal family`s) rule," his office said. In Yemen, where the kingdom is leading a coalition against Shiite rebels, the religious scholars association controlled by them condemned the execution. Reactions will not be limited to "angry protests; they will turn into a sweeping revolution" against Saudi authorities, said the statement published on the rebels` sabanews.net website. Nimr`s brother, Mohammed, said he had hoped that "wisdom and a political solution" would prevail to spare the cleric`s life. And he warned that his execution could trigger "negative reactions" inside and outside Saudi Arabia. "This action will spark anger of (Shiite) youths" in Saudi Arabia, but "we reject violence and clashing with authorities". The Bahraini government and the United Arab Emirates voiced support for the conservative kingdom, saying the executions were necessary to confront extremism. Nimr was arrested in 2012, three years after calling for Eastern Province`s Shiite-populated Qatif and Al-Ihsaa governorates to be separated from Saudi Arabia and united with Bahrain. The interior ministry had described him at the time of his arrest as an "instigator of sedition". A video on YouTube in 2012 showed Nimr making a speech celebrating the 2012 death of then-interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. "Let the worms eat him," Nimr had said, while also criticising the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where the Shiite community has also complained of marginalisation. The anti-government protests that erupted in eastern Saudi Arabia five years ago coincided with a Shiite-led protest movement in Bahrain that was later crushed with help from Saudi troops. Scores of men and women turned out Saturday to protest peacefully in Qatif, some carrying placards bearing Nimr`s photo. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people on Saturday, including a prominent Shiite cleric behind anti-government protests and Sunnis convicted of involvement in deadly Al-Qaeda attacks, the government said. The 56-year-old cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom`s east, where the Shiite minority complains of marginalisation. But the list does not include Nimr`s nephew, Ali al-Nimr, whose arrest at the age of 17 and alleged torture during detention sparked condemnation from human rights groups and the United States. Also read: Iranian cleric says Nimr execution will bring down Saudi government Announcing the executions, the Saudi interior ministry said the 47 had been convicted of adopting the radical "takfiri" ideology, joining "terrorist organisations" and implementing various "criminal plots". The list, published in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency, includes Sunnis convicted of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks that killed Saudis and foreigners in the kingdom in 2003 and 2004. All of the executed were Saudis, except for an Egyptian and citizen of Chad. The list includes Fares al-Shuwail which Saudi media outlets have described as the top religious leader of Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested in August 2004. They were executed Saturday in 12 Saudi cities, the ministry said, without elaborating. Saudi executions are usually carried out by beheading with a sword. Executions have soared in the country since King Salman acceded the throne in January 2015, after the death of king Abdullah. Last year, Saudi Arabia executed 153 people convicted of various crimes, including drug-trafficking, after 87 were put to death in 2014. Authorities in the kingdom set up specialised courts in 2011 to try dozens of Saudis and foreigners accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda or of participating in the wave of attacks that swept the country from 2003. Those shootings and bombings killed more than 150 Saudis and foreigners. The kingdom`s current Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef oversaw a crackdown on the militants at the time. In 2009, Al-Qaeda announced a merger of its Saudi and Yemeni branches forming Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) -- classified by the United States as the network`s deadliest branch.But Nimr was arrested for completely different reasons in 2012. The interior ministry had described him at the time as an "instigator of sedition" as it announced his arrest in the Shiite village of Awamiya in the east after being wounded in the leg while putting up resistance. A video published on YouTube in 2012 showed Nimr, a slightly built man with a white beard, making a speech celebrating the 2012 death of then-interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the crown prince`s father. "Let the worms eat him," Nimr said at the time. "Those who killed our sons and jailed them, how would we not be happy for their deaths... May God take their lives one after the other, the families of Al-Saud and Al-Khalifa," he said in reference to the Sunni ruling families of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia`s Shiite-populated east has been the scene of periodic clashes involving security forces after demonstrations broke out almost five years ago alongside a Shiite-led protest movement in neighbouring Bahrain. Most of Saudi Arabia`s Shiites live in the oil-rich east, where many say they are marginalised. Tehran: Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, Iran`s foreign ministry said. Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned the execution, which came after his Shiite country repeatedly asked its Sunni-ruled rival to pardon the cleric. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. Nimr, 56, was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence," said Ansari. For its part, the Basij student militia connected to Iran`s elite Revolutionary Guards called for a demonstration on Sunday afternoon in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. California: Multiple planes took to the skies Friday in California to lampoon Donald Trump in a series of "skywriting" messages, including: "America is great! Trump is disgusting." Six skywriting planes were used in the anti-Trump stunt above the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, CNN said. Other messages hitting out at Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the White House, included: "Anybody but Trump," "Trump loves to hate" and "Trump is delusional." It was not immediately clear who was behind the protest, images of which were posted on social media. Trump, whose controversial run for the White House has seen him call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, did not make any immediate response. The billionaire real-estate tycoon and reality TV star, who has said that Mexico is sending rapists and other criminals into the US, greeted the 2016 election year by proclaiming on Facebook: "2015 was a very special year, and I am grateful for your support! "We are making history together! The silent majority is no longer silent." Tripoli: The UN`s envoy for Libya held talks in Tripoli Friday, seeking to encourage the administration there to commit to a national unity government that would end years of bloodshed. Martin Kobler, on a desperate diplomatic push to get Libya`s two separate administrations to sign a power-sharing agreement, met Thursday with representatives of the internationally-recognised government near its headquarters in the east of the country. "More discussions in Tripoli -- I invite all to take responsibility for Libya`s future, take responsibility for next generations," Kobler tweeted on Friday after meeting with the head of the rival parliament in Tripoli, Nouri Abusahmein. Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi and now has two governments and parliaments. Jihadist groups such as the Islamic State have taken advantage of the lawlessness to make gains along the coastline, and the UN estimates that fighting has forced 435,000 people from their homes. On December 17, under UN guidance, envoys from both sides and a number of independent political figures signed a deal to unify the government. Around 80 of 188 lawmakers from Libya`s internationally recognised parliament and 50 of 136 members of the rival Tripoli-based General National Congress signed the deal. It calls for a 17-member government, headed by businessman Fayez el-Sarraj as premier, based in Tripoli. But analysts have cast doubt on the viability of a deal that would seek to bring together two parliaments controlled by hardliners. Abusahmein asked Kobler to meet a number of leaders in the Tripoli-based administration, including senior military and intelligence officers and judiciary. "We believe that for any political agreement to be effective on the ground, all parties tasked with implementing it have to be present with us today," he said. At a press conference in a VIP lounge at Tripoli`s Mitiga airport late Friday, Kobler said that in meetings with both administrations he put forward "five points." Firstly, "the Libyan political agreement is the basis of all discussions. There is no alternative," he said. Secondly, "there should be no parallel initiatives. All initiatives should be based under the umbrella of the United Nations," Kobler added. The process must be "inclusive," and also be guided by the principle of "the peaceful transfer of power from the old institutions to the new institutions," he said. Finally, he said, there was "the principle of Libyan ownership. It must be a Libyan agreement and the Libyans must steer the process." The press conference was cut short by Jamal Zoubia, head of the media department in the Tripoli-based government, who told Kobler that the event was "illegal" as he needed prior permission. Hi Can someone please evaluate my profile Undergrad GPA : 65% (Mumbai University) - Though I did my graduation and CA together. Work Experience : 2 years in Project Finance in a leading Infra companies in India and currently 1.5 years into a business strategy role at one of the leading manufacturing companies in India (spent 3 months in Tokyo with the Technology partners). Also as a sidenote, as a part of my CA Course, I've worked as an Article for 3.5 years with KPMG (statutory audit) GMAT score : 720 Chartered Accountant - 1st Attempt CFA Level 2 cleared Extra curricular activities : Won quiz competitions in school / Part of Shiamak Davar Dance academy for about 4 years (Featured in a few Bollywood movies) Would be able to get a really good recommendation. Schools Targeted : Ross Michigan / INSEAD Singapore / ISB / NUS / Chicago Booth Washington: Some 200 Muslim employees were fired from a meat-packing plant in the US following a disagreement over praying at work. The victims, mostly Somalian immigrants, had complained about inadequate prayer time at Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Though the company had provided a separate room for the Muslim employees to pray, the workers claim the policy has been changed. All of these employees are good employees and dont have any other issues. They feel missing their prayer is worse than losing their job. Its like losing a blessing from God, a media report quoted Jaylani Hussein, a council spokesperson, as saying. According to the report on tribune.com.pk, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has claimed that the workers had been treated with prejudice and told, If you want to pray, go home. However, the company said there has been a misunderstanding and its policy of allowing time for prayer has not changed. A company spokesperson said that workers were advised that not turning up for work for three days in a row would put them at risk of losing their jobs and when they didnt turn up they were terminated. Cargill makes every reasonable attempt to provide religious accommodations to all employees based on our ability to do so without disruption to our beef-processing business, the spokesperson added. 25-year-old Terri Hunter has revealed that she needs to have sex up to 12 times and that her sexual addiction is out of control. The youn... CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Dec. 31, 2015) - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES North Sur Resources Inc. ("North Sur" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:NST) is pleased to announce that further to the Corporation's press release dated August 19, 2015, the Corporation has entered into an arm's length amalgamation agreement dated December 30, 2015 (the "Amalgamation Agreement") with Integrated Commerce Technology Holdco, Ltd. ("ICT Holdco"), a private corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws of Alberta, and North Sur Subco Inc. ("North Sur Subco"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation established to facilitate the transaction. ICT Holdco is the parent of Integrated Commerce Technology, Inc. ("ICT"), a corporation formed under the laws of Nevada, the owner of intellectual property and know-how relating to a reverse ATM stand-alone "coupon based" machine that is used for cash, debit and credit card transactions (including secure auditable cash payment systems to the legal cannabis industry) and such other rights and assets (the "Assets") that relate to such technology. Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, the parties thereto will effect a "three-cornered" amalgamation whereby ICT Holdco and North Sur Subco will amalgamate with holders of ICT Holdco each receiving one common share of North Sur ("North Sur Share"), for every common share in ICT Holdco held (the "Transaction"). The Transaction is expected to constitute a Change of Business and Reverse Takeover of North Sur pursuant to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") Policy 5.2 - Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers, and upon completion thereof North Sur will be a Tier 2 Technology Issuer. Upon completion of the Transaction, North Sur will be engaged in the development and marketing of the Assets with a focus on installing reverse ATM stand-alone "coupon based" machines known as "Greeniosk", a cash and collections solution providing a purchase through deposit audit trail, initially targeting the State legalized cannabis industry in the United States. ICT's management believes there is a large potential market opportunity for Greeniosk to capture a small percentage of the significant revenue generated through the sale of State legalized marijuana. Story continues According to researchers from The ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment and research firm based in Oakland, California, the U.S. State legalized cannabis market grew from $1.5 billion in 2013 to $2.7 billion in 2014 in combined retail and wholesale sales. It is estimated there are currently over 12,000 dispensaries servicing more than 1.5 million shoppers who purchased State legalized marijuana in 2014, either medical or recreational. A total of 23 States and the District of Columbia have medical cannabis laws, with 14 active State markets in 2014. Four of those states and Washington, DC, have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over. Many predict that other states will follow Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon in enacting legislation or approving ballot measures that expand the permitted use of cannabis. The Transaction Pursuant to the Transaction, ICT Holdco will amalgamate with North Sur Subco and holders of ICT Holdco will each receive one North Sur Share for every ICT Holdco common share held. The amalgamated entity ("Amalco") will be wholly-owned by North Sur and ICT will be wholly-owned by Amalco. In connection with and as a condition of the Transaction, North Sur will consolidate its shares on a 6:1 basis (the "Consolidation"). There are currently 23,390,000 North Sur Shares and options for 420,000 North Sur Shares outstanding which will result in approximately 3,898,333 post-Consolidation North Sur Shares and options for 70,000 post-Consolidation North Sur Shares. ICT Holdco shareholders, other than subscription receipt holders (see "Private Placement" below), will be issued an aggregate of 24,283,330 post-Consolidation North Sur Shares in exchange for shares of ICT Holdco held thereby. Upon completion of the Transaction it is expected that the outstanding post-consolidation North Sur Shares prior to the completion of the Private Placement (as defined herein) will be held as follows: (i) existing holders of North Sur Shares will hold approximately 13.8%; and (ii) ICT Holdco shareholders, other than subscribers to the Private Placement, will hold approximately 86.2%. Terms of the Transaction Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, ICT Holdco and North Sur have provided customary representations and warranties to one another with ICT Holdco also providing certain representations and warranties to North Sur with respect to intellectual property ownership and rights relating to the Assets. In connection with the Amalgamation, the insiders and majority shareholders of ICT Holdco will enter into escrow agreements, which will include an escrow and indemnification on the intellectual property for two years with 25% of the post-Consolidation North Sur Shares issued to such ICT Holdco shareholders posted as security. The Transaction is subject to conditions customary to such transactions including: approval by North Sur shareholders of the Transaction as a Change of Business/Reverse Takeover under policies of the Exchange; Exchange approvals related to the Transaction and listing of North Sur Shares to be issued in connection therewith; North Sur having obtained a waiver of Exchange sponsorship requirements or in the alternative, a sponsor filing an acceptable sponsor's report with the Exchange; North Sur receiving Exchange approval no later than January 29, 2016, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in writing; North Sur convening and holding a shareholders' meeting no later than February 29, 2016 unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in writing for the approval of the change of business, the Consolidation and a name change in connection with the Transaction; and certain founders and insiders of ICT Holdco entering into the Exchange's form of escrow agreement. Each party has agreed pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement to use its reasonable commercial best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of conditions precedent at or prior to the closing date of February 29, 2016, or such other date as may be agreed to by the parties in writing. Unless all of such conditions are satisfied or waived by the party for whose benefit such conditions exist, to the extent they may be capable of waiver, the Transaction will not proceed. There is no assurance that the conditions will be satisfied or waived on a timely basis, or at all. The Transaction is also subject to a customary mutual exclusivity clause ending the earlier of the closing date of the Transaction and upon termination of the Amalgamation Agreement. The Amalgamation Agreement may be terminated: (i) by a party upon a condition for its benefit not having been fulfilled or performed and not being cured within five business days of notice thereof; (ii) by mutual agreement of ICT Holdco and North Sur; or (iii) unilaterally, if the Transaction does not become effective on or before March 31, 2016. Private Placement It is expected that ICT Holdco will conduct a subscription receipt financing for subscription receipts of ICT Holdco, each such subscription receipt entitling the holder thereof to one share of ICT Holdco upon conversion in accordance with its terms (the "Private Placement"), for gross proceeds of between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000. Further details regarding the Private Placement will be disclosed once available by way of press release. Management of the Resulting Issuer It is expected that upon completion of the Transaction, the management of North Sur (the "Resulting Issuer") will be reconstituted with Sylvain Desrosiers being appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer and Douglas Porter as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Similarly, following the Transaction the board of directors of North Sur would be reconstituted with the appointment of Sylvain Desrosiers, Charles Crowder, Russell Jackson, Douglas Porter and another director to be determined. Sylvain Desrosiers: Sylvain Desrosiers is the proposed President and CEO and a director of the Resulting Issuer. Mr. Desrosiers has a controlling interest in ICT Holdco and has specialized in creating, developing and marketing various successful innovative technologies. His expertise includes electronic security, GPS driven technologies, compliance and auditing for the cargo shipping and gaming industry. Mr. Desrosiers has been doing business in Canada, United States, Latin America and Europe for almost three decades. Mr. Desrosiers founded and led several successful businesses during his career; including Imaging Technologies Systems, Inc., a private company that was one of the first companies to specialize in positive identification cards for various industry such as access control, student ID and State Driver License. He sold his interest in ITS in 1996. He co-founded AXS Technologies, Inc. from May 1997 to 2002, He was the CEO of its subsidiary Alco Advanced Technologies, Inc., an electronic access control company that developed and manufacture innovative hardware and software (named Intelli-M that was the first IP based access control in the world with multiple patents). From 2002 to 2006 he was the CEO of Progressive Casino Technologies, Inc. a company specialized in Digital Video Recording for the gaming industry with the first digital fail safe system and the utilization of H.264 video data compression method that became the industry standard to this day. He was CEO of Southern ITS International, Inc. (OTC Markets), from March 2012 to September 2015, a technology integration company for the gaming industry with the first installation of complete Network Video Recording system with IP cameras in the Gaming industry. Mr. Desrosiers also founded Port Scanning Services, Inc., a private company, Emap, Inc., a private company, and Integrated Commerce Technology, Inc., a private company specialized in Secure Auditable Cash Transaction Systems known as Greeniosk. Mr Desrosiers is fluent in French, English and Spanish. Charles Crowder: Mr. Crowder is a proposed director of the Resulting Issuer. Charles has over 35 years of business and legal experience in the Americas, specializing in natural resources, land acquisition and early stage or venture capital businesses. During the 1990s, Mr. Crowder owned and managed several operations focused on forestry projects and natural resources in South America with over 2,000 employees for operations in Bolivia and Chile. Mr. Crowder served as Director and Vice President of the Bolivian National Forestry Association and Director of the Chilean National Forestry Association. During the 1980s, Mr. Crowder was President of a trading company and owned 32 entities involved in real estate acquisition and development. He also taught graduate seminars on law and business as a Visiting Professor at the Thunderbird School of International Management in Phoenix, AZ. During the 1970s, Mr. Crowder represented over 20 Indian Tribes, was General Counsel to the Navajo Nation with 160,000 members and established the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT). From 1969 to 1972, he opened and managed the international department of the law firm Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson, Westover, Killingsworth, & Beshears, where he led investment missions to Central America and Mexico. He formed and managed a Cummins diesel distributorship in Panama that was sold to a NYSE company and authored the 30 year trust law in Mexico, allowing direct foreign investment in Mexican beaches. He left the law firm to work directly with the Howard Hughes Group and former executives. Mr. Crowder has worked for the U.S. Dept. of State in South America and USAID as a Capital Development Officer & a Foreign Service Reserve Officer. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Arizona. He is fluent in English and Spanish and conversant in Portuguese. Russell Jackson: Mr. Jackson is a proposed director of the Resulting Issuer. Formerly employed in the equity capital markets, Mr. Jackson has been a founder and director of several public and private companies. Mr. Jackson was a founder and director of C & C Energy Canada Ltd., a Columbia focused E&P company which was bought by Pacific Exploration and Production, from inception to IPO (2005 - 2010) and also served as President of C & C Energia (Barbados) (2005 - 2007). He was also a co-founder and director of North Sur (2011 - 2013). Presently, Mr. Jackson is a co-founder and director of Sun God Resources, a private energy company focused on Latin America (2014 - present) and also serves as Chairman of Guatavita Gold Corporation (2006 - present), a Colombia focused gold company. Douglas Porter: Mr. Porter is the proposed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary and a director of the Resulting Issuer. Mr. Porter is currently the Chief Financial Officer and a director of North Sur (January 2011 - present). Since 1997 Mr. Porter has been Managing Director of Porter Valuations & Financial Consulting Inc., a specialty business valuation firm providing valuation and financial consulting services to a broad spectrum of private and public companies throughout Western Canada. He is also currently CFO and director of several publically traded and private companies, including, Altitude Resources Inc., a publicly-traded junior coal explorer focused in western Canada (2012 - present) and Guatavita Gold Corporation (private). Mr. Porter is CFO of STIMWRX Energy Services Ltd., a privately-owned oilfield service company (2014 - present) and is also a director and Audit Committee Chair of Manson Creek Resources (April 2006 - present). Previously, he was a director of Forent Energy Ltd. (December 2008 - June 2014). Mr. Porter has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary (1990) and is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator. Name Change Concurrent with the completion of the Transaction, it is expected that North Sur will change its name to "Integrated Commerce Technology Ltd." or such other name as may be determined by North Sur and ICT Holdco. Loan to ICT As previously announced, North Sur has advanced ICT $409,000 (the "Secured Loan"). Concurrent with executing the Amalgamation Agreement, the Corporation advanced an additional $70,000 to ICT as part of the Secured Loan. The Secured Loan bears interest on the outstanding principal amount at a rate of 6% per annum, with maturity occurring on the earlier of: (a) one (1) year from the effective date of such loan, in the event the definitive agreement in respect of the Transaction has not been executed by the lender and the borrower; and (b) in the event such definitive agreement has been executed before one (1) year from the effective date of such loan, the earlier to occur of the following: (i) the date of termination of such definitive agreement, and (ii) the closing of the Transaction. In the event of default, unpaid amounts shall bear interest at a default rate of 8% per annum. The Secured Loan is to be used to assist ICT in the development and fabrication of the Greeniosk system, which includes system software and a reverse ATM stand-alone "coupon based" machines for cash, debit and credit card transactions (including secure auditable cash payment systems to the legal cannabis industry). Additional Information In accordance with Exchange policy, North Sur Shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as the TSXV determines, which may not occur until completion of the Transaction. North Sur will issue subsequent press releases in accordance with the policies of the Exchange as additional information to the Transaction becomes available, including details concerning sponsorship or waiver thereof (and if waiver is sought, there is no assurance that such waiver will be obtained), summary financial information, and to the extent not contained in this press release, additional information with respect to the Private Placement, the proposed business of the Resulting Issuer and insiders of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Transaction. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including TSXV acceptance and disinterested shareholder approval, if required. The Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of North Sur should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements or information that contain terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "estimate", "may", "could", "will", "the review and analysis of other business opportunities" and similar expressions constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that North Sur or a third party expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including our future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects, outlook and opportunities are forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the completion and timing of the Transaction and Private Placement, expected terms of the Private Placement (including the use of proceeds), the Secured Loan, the requirement for shareholder approval and the parties' ability to satisfy closing conditions and receive necessary approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of North Sur which have been used to develop such statements and information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although North Sur believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because North Sur can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that the Transaction and the Private Placement will occur or that, if the Transaction and Private Placement does occur, each will be completed on the terms described above. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results and developments may differ materially from the results and developments discussed in the forward-looking statements as certain of these risks and uncertainties are beyond our control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and the other cautionary statements and risk factors and uncertainties contained in this news release. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Rumble Introducing the recipe for seafood Chijimi (Korean pan cake) made with Nira (garlic chives) and squid. Adding carrots adds a gentle sweetness and the indescribably enchanting texture of fluffy, chewy pancake is almost addictive. Thinly cooked with the flavor of sesame oil and dipped in the authentic homemade sauce, this dish is a delicious dinner or finger food. The recipe can easily be modified for restricted diets, substituting the squid for thinly sliced pork, or even subbing all animal based products with vegetarian ones (roasted vegetables instead of meat - vegetable broth instead of chicken, etc). ============================================================= YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvC... Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hungrycooki... ============================================================= 00:38 Prepping Ingredients 01:25 How to Gut a Squid 03:43 How To Make Chijimi Dipping Sauce 05:28 Putting Together the Chijimi 06:43 How to Cook Chijimi Ingredients (for one chijimi) Weak (Cake) flour... 1/3 cup Potato starch ... 2 tbsp Water... 1/3 cup Garlic chives ... 1/3 bunch Carrots ... 1/8 (about 5cm) Squid ... 1/2~1 Salt Torigara (chicken bone) soup stock base (or Hondashi) 1 tsp Olive oil Sesame oil Sauce Soy sauce... 2 tablespoons Vinegar... 2 tablespoons Kochijang... 2 tsp Ichimi chili pepper Sesame oil... 1 tablespoon La-Yu (chili oil) Sesame Cooking Recipe Slice the Garlic Chives into 3~5cm pieces and julienne the carrots. Gut, wash, and prep the squid into about 3-5cm strips. This is a good time to prepare the sauce, so mix the sauce ingredients together to create the dipping sauce for the pancakes. Add cake flour and potato starch, mixing loosely. Add water, salt, and torigara (chicken bone broth concentrate) or a different stock base like Hondashi, and stir until smooth. Lastly, add prepped vegetables and squid into the bowl and mix to incorporate. Place the a pan over high heat and when hot, pour in sesame oil and olive oil. Add the batter made in step 4 into the pan, shape, and cook for 1~1.5 minutes on one side. When solid and lightly browned, flip the pancake and cook the other side through, pressing down with a spatula as needed. Before completely cooked through, pour sesame oil along the rim of the pan and cook for 1~1.5 minutes more until browned. Reduce heat to medium and cook until both sides are both sides are fragrant and of good color. After removing from the pan when fully cooked, cut into bite sized pieces and serve with prepared dipping sauce. Cooking tips Thinly sliced pork is a delicious alternative to squid. This recipe can also be made vegetarian by subbing meats with roasted eggplant or other hearty vegetables, and broth subbed with vegetable broth concentrate. If you like a sweeter dipping sauce, add a pinch sugar when putting the sauce together. If you add an egg the taste will be much richer. However, add more flour to the batter as too small of an amount will result in a heavier, less crispy pancake. A recommended ratio will be about 1 cup of flour to 1 egg. When cutting pancakes, the chives are a little hard to cut and tend to lose their shape so cut them carefully. The pancake is easier to cut if you have a pizza cutter on hand. Russias Strategy Two things are necessary to understand a nations strategy. The first is to view the world through the eyes of that nation to know what it hopes for and fears. The second is to understand that the nations leader is far from a free agent. He (or she) became the leader by making endless political and financial deals along the way, and he remains the leader only to the extent that he satisfies others. There are also constraints and imperatives surrounding the leader that shape his actions. Some derive from internal politics, but the most important have to do with power, or the lack of it. In order to deal with an adversary, or to crush him, understanding the world from his point of view is essential. People tend to personalize power. We believe that the leader makes decisions as he wishes. When he does what we want him to do, he is wise and decent. When he thwarts our plans, he is a fool and a monster. This makes the world a simpler place but also a fantasy land. It imagines that someone rules a country of millions alone and by his own whimsical neurosis. We see that personalization when people talk about Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union was the result of an inefficient economy, low oil prices, and extreme demands on the Soviet defense system. Its collapse also led to a cataclysmic decade. Plunging into privatization, the economy was essentially looted by those best positioned to take advantage of it. These were extremely clever and fast businessmen, the intelligence and security services, and Western investorsall of whom became extraordinarily wealthy. The rest of the Federation plunged into far worse poverty than they had experienced in the late Soviet period. What Westerners thought of as liberalization was, from most Russians point of view, simply devastating. Even most of the oligarchs and the FSB (formerly KGB) could see this situation was unsustainable and realized that instability in Russia would ultimately threaten their newfound wealth. This internal imbalance in wealth was compounded by Russias strategic position. The Russian Empire, and later the Soviet Union, worked to maintain a buffer zone between itself and the European Peninsula consisting by the 20th century of the Baltics, Belarus, and Ukraine. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, these were all independent states, and the West began asserting its influence on them. From the Russian point of view, this was catastrophic. Russia had defeated Germany in World War II only because of its strategic depth. Westerners respond that surely Russians have no fear of invasion today. But Russia remembers that in 1932, Germany was a tattered liberal democracy, hardly armed, with massive economic problems. By 1938, it was the dominant military and economic power in Europe. By 1941, German soldiers were outside of Moscow. The Russians know for a fact that intentionsand even capabilities can change in the twinkling of an eye. What Europe or the United States intends now has nothing to do with what they could face in 10 years. Indeed, the Russians saw the contempt with which the West held them in Kosovo in 1999 where their desire that the West not bomb Serbia was brushed aside as if it had no significance. The Russian Empire and the Soviet Union were held together by their intelligence and security servicesand by money and the distribution of resources. The region was vast and disorderly. Privileges were used to hold the elites and the security services and to frighten them and others. It was no accident that the most efficient and effective institution in the Soviet Union had been the KGB. And it was no surprise that when it became clear that Russian President Boris Yeltsins liberalization had failed catastrophically, it was a KGB officer, deeply embedded with both the intelligence service and the oligarchs, who took over. That it was Vladimir Putin was not the key. There were many like him. That it was an FSB man who knew where the oligarchs (some of them former KGB officials themselves) kept their money was the key. For only if the oligarchs were served could a new regime be created, and only if they could be intimidated could the new regime take firm control. No matter who the actual person was, an FSB man who knew the oligarchs well, was going to take over. Russia had two imperatives. The first was to create order out of the chaos of the Yeltsin years. Critical to this was the strategy of using the export of raw materials to fund economic modernization. The means to do this was reversing much of the privatization of the 1990s, crushing resistant oligarchs, and aligning the rest with the export strategy. The second imperative was to restore the buffer zones to the West, accepting the Baltics membership in NATO, but being utterly insistent on at least the neutralization of Ukraine. Ukraine provides Russia with much needed strategic depth, forcing invading armies to stretch their supply lines before reaching major Russian cities. It was Ukraine where, in World War II, the Wehrmacht had bled out its life. Ukraine also hosted Russia's Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean Peninsula, which gives Russia access to the Black Sea and Mediterranean. The two imperatives ran parallel. The United States and other Western countries had their own strategy in the region, trying to replicate the Eastern European uprisings of 1989 in other nations in the former Soviet Union and elsewhere. Their goal was to create liberal democracies, and the means was to support democratic uprisings through funding non-government organizations that could shape and organize political change. From the Western point of view, the question of the Russian Federations borders had been settled in 1991, and the fate of other former Soviet republics was not Russias concern. From the Russian point of view, the West and particularly the United States were undertaking regime change by funding anti-Russian factions under the guise of liberalization. Liberalization to many Russians was merely another word for economic looting. Russian decision makers saw these uprisings as attempting to create a network of pro-American states intended to deny Russia its buffer zone. For the Russian leadership, the American justification of human rights was simply a cover for what had to be an attempt to destroy the Russian Federation by surrounding it with hostile states along borders that were indefensible due to topography and distances. Whether this was the American intent or whether this was a Russian misreading was immaterial. The Russians could not assume anything but the worst case. Ukraine was the heart of everything for Russia. If Ukraine was part of the Western alliance system, Russia could not be defended. Russia believed that if the Americans were as obsessed with Ukraine as they appeared to be, their intentions could only be malign. In the Russian view, those malign intentions dated back to 2004 when the US underwrote the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the same year the Baltics were admitted to NATO. The Russians reached a conclusion: The United States was not only a hostile power, but was actively seeking to undermine Moscows regional influence. In 2008, seven weeks before Lehman Brothers collapsed, the Russians went to war with Georgia. The issue over the security of the Caucasus was really secondary to a simple message the Russians delivered to Ukraine. Georgia was a de facto American ally, and from the perspective of Moscow strategists, US entanglement in Iraq and Afghanistan meant Washington was unable to come to Georgias aid. The message to Ukraine: this is what American guarantees are worth. It was a warning not to stake national security on American guarantees. To a great extent, it worked, as Ukraine shifted from a neutral to a pro-Russian stance. Starting in late 2013 and again looking at it through Russias eyes, the Americans resumed their attempt to subvert Ukraine by underwriting the uprising in Kiev. This time, however, it was the Russians who failed their allies. Russian intelligence clearly failed to understand what was happening in Kiev and failed to counter it. Russia seized Crimea officially, but Crimea was already a major Russian base by treaty and was dominated by the Russians. They changed the legal status not the correlation of forces. In eastern Ukraine, their attempt to trigger a pro-Russian uprising failed, and the Ukrainian forces, as poorly trained and armed as they were, ultimately fought the Russians to a standstill. If 2004 was a warning to others in the region about American weakness, 201415 was an American warning to them about Russian weakness. The events of 2008 led to Russias economic crisis of 2014. As I have written previously, the economic crisis in Europe and the United States led to the decreased appetite for Chinese exports. This in turn lessened Chinas need for importing raw materials. After the markets caught up with reality, oil prices plunged, and with them the viability of the Russian economy. Behind this was a much greater problem: the failure of Russia to use oil revenues to modernize its economy. The deals Putin made to become president required the diversion of funds from that purpose to gaining political support for Putin. The state could not both manage the support base of its regime and modernize the economy. It was an economic and managerial impossibility. Thus, Russia was massively vulnerable to energy price cut offs. It also lost one of its major weaponsthe ability to cut exports of gasbecause Russia urgently needed that cash flow and because the Europe ans had worked hard to diversify sources of energy. Thus, in 2014, Russia faced a dual crisis. It had failed to prevent the installation of a pro-Western government in Kiev, and its economy had been struck a terrific blow. Russia feared that, given its imbalance from the two blows, the United States would follow up with further aggressive moves. When a boxer is staggered, he goes into a clinch. In this case, the Russians understood that the Americans vulnerability remained an overextension in the Middle East. Russia also recalled that the overextension in 2008 had paralyzed the United States in Georgia. For Russia, the period from Sept. 11, 2001 until 2014 was a period in which the United States was so obsessed with the Middle East, it had no resources to place elsewhere. Russias strategy, therefore, was to prolong the American focus in the Middle East, while creating the basis for a settlement over Ukraine. From a military sense, the Russian intervention in Syria was of little consequence. A small number of fighter planes were sent with enough troops to protect them. However, from the psychological point of view, the Russians hoped to transform their position. First, they had demonstrated the ability to project power far from Russias borders. Second, Moscows intervention was designed to make it appear that Russia had saved the Assad regime, and therefore it drove the decision. The US had no intention of overthrowing Assad while IS was the likely beneficiary. However, the Russians made the US appear to be an equal power. This was critical to Russia both overseas and at home. Currently, the Russians are trying to increase their influence, reaching out to Iran and to the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as talking to the Israelis. They are brilliantly creating the sense of Russia as a great power and causing the US potential grief. At the same time, the Russians have sought to minimize conflict in Ukraine. The goal is either to split Germany (which wants a settlement) from the United States, or to get the US to agree to a settlement. Such a settlement would include an agreement that Ukraine can have a pro-Western government, but that no Western military assistance or forces would be made available. Eastern Ukraine would be given some autonomy. And Crimea would return to some prior condition in which Russia is the overwhelming power, but Ukraine has some formal rights. That would be the Russian goal. But it should be noted that Russian strategy is built on a base of sand. Syria is intended to roll back the reality of Ukraine, but nothing can roll back the reality of the Russian dependence on a deeply discounted resource for its economic survival. Russia is engaged in a massive defense buildup in the face of this economic crisis. And its deployment in Syria is far from decisive. It can reach out to Iran and others, but they are aware of the limits of Russian power. In the long run, the Russian Federation is facing the same problem as the Soviet Union did and will thus weaken. Its current strategy is constrained by weakness but compelled by the fact it is the only option available. A strategy of bluff follows from the reality of weakness when that weakness threatens to be fatal. Meaning that the economic and strategic weakness we see makes Russia more of a risktaker in the coming years, not less. Having been unable to overcome its core economic weakness and having a clearly dysfunctional intelligence service on which it must depend for national unity, Russian strategy appears logical. Its economic weakness is deeply rooted in its political arrangements. The FSBs weakness stems as much from its deep involvement in the complex financial arrangements that run Russia as the challenges of maintaining the security of the Federation. Russias strategy is not the result of miscalculation but of hard realities. And, therefore, any strategy based on bluffing strength when weakness is manifest is unlikely to succeed. Russia is trying to buy time, but time may hurt rather than help. The economic bleeding will not stop soon. The United States has time on its side and can afford to be clumsy. In fact, that clumsiness is built into its national strategy, which is a story for a later date. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with Khaled Meshaal, leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, on Saturday in Istanbul, Turkish presidential sources said, a day after Israel and Turkey said they were close to patching up five-year political rift. A source from Erdogan's office said Meshaal "briefed Erdogan on the latest developments in the region", without giving further details. Islamist Hamas controls the Gaza strip. Israeli officials said late on Thursday that a deal with Turkey was struck to normalize ties following high-level bilateral talks in Switzerland. Turkish officials said a final agreement was yet to be sealed, but that given the progress it would not be too long. Israel's once-strong ties to Turkey soured in 2010 when Israeli commandoes killed 10 Turkish activists when storming the Mavi Marmara, a ship in a convoy seeking to break an Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Turkey had demanded Israel apologize over the assault, pay compensation and lift the Gaza blockade. For Israel, limiting Hamas activity in Turkey has been key. Under the preliminary deal between the two countries, Saleh al-Aruori, a senior leader in the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas who has been living in Turkey, would be barred from the country, the Israeli official had said. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ London (AFP) - British soldiers accused of unlawful killing and torture during the Iraq War could face prosecution, the head of an official unit probing alleged abuses said in an interview published Saturday. Former police detective Mark Warwick, who is now leading the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) set up by the Ministry of Defence, told The Independent newspaper he believed his team had gathered enough evidence to justify charges. "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of probe investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) to prosecute and charge," he said. The SPA considers criminal cases within the armed services. "There are lots of significant cases that we are investigating and at the appropriate time it will be a matter for us to discuss with the SPA whether they meet the war crimes threshold," he added. The Ministry of Defence said it was taking the claims "extremely seriously", but added that "the vast majority of UK service personnel deployed on military operations conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the law." The inquiry has heard evidence of at least 1,514 possible victims, 280 of whom are alleged to have been unlawfully killed. However, Warwick warned that it may take until beyond 2019, when the unit's funding is due to end, to work through all the claims and bring prosecutions. One of its most high-profile investigations is into the death of Iraqi hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, who was beaten after while held in custody by British soldiers in 2003. Warwick said the case remained "a live criminal investigation". Human rights campaigners however criticised the the unit for lengthy probes with no prosecutions having materialised so far. "The incredibly slow pace... is wholly unacceptable," Carla Ferstman, director of the human rights charity Redress, told the newspaper. Story continues "Things seem to still be moving at a snail's pace. This cannot be a whitewash." A British inquiry set up to probe allegations of atrocities carried out by troops during a firefight near the town of Majar al-Kabir, southwest Iraq, in 2004 cleared them of the most serious claims but found they had mistreated nine detainees. It was the second public inquiry into allegations of abuse by British soldiers in Iraq, following one that concluded in 2011 which examined the death of Baha Mousa. That inquiry found that Mousa was hooded, assaulted and held in stress positions along with nine other Iraqis following their detention by 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment in September 2003. Tehran (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of a prominent Shiite cleric and 46 other men prompted outrage in parts of the Middle East, with Iran warning Riyadh would pay a "high price". But several Saudi allies offered their support after Riyadh implemented death sentences against cleric Nimr al-Nimr, Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned Riyadh for executing Nimr despite repeated Iranian requests for clemency. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... The Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence." Parliament speaker Ali Larijani also condemned Nimr's death, saying Riyadh would not emerge "easily from the quagmire they created by the martyrdom of this great sheikh". All Iran's seminaries will be closed Sunday to protest Nimr's execution, with a demonstration expected in the Grand Mosque of Qom, the heart of Shiite faith in Iran, the ISNA news agency said. The Basij student militia connected to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards called for a demonstration Sunday afternoon in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are major rivals in the Middle East and are arrayed on opposing sides in several regional conflicts. Nimr was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. He was arrested in 2012, with the interior ministry describing him as an "instigator of sedition". Story continues - 'Serious consequences' - His execution also drew fire in Iraq, where the head of the Shiite Dawa party's parliamentary bloc urged Baghdad to close the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and "execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons." Khalaf Abdelsamad also warned the execution would have "serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (ruling family's) rule." Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki both belong to the Dawa party. In the holy Shiite city of Karbala, hundreds demonstrated and urged the closure of the newly opened Saudi embassy. "I swear to God that the sheikh's blood was not spilled in vain," said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. "We will make the earth shake under your feet," he said, addressing Saudi's royal family. In Lebanon, the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah accused Riyadh of "assassinating" Nimr. It accused Washington of "direct and moral responsibility for this crime" because of its longstanding alliance with Riyadh. Meanwhile, Syrian Information Minister Omran Zohbi described the executions as a crime, saying they were "an assassination of freedoms and human rights." He urged international organisations to hold Riyadh accountable, saying "this group assassination is a horrific humanitarian and political crime." Rights group Amnesty International said it appeared the kingdom was "using execution to settle political scores". Middle East and north Africa director Philip Luther told AFP the kingdom was using "the guise of counter-terrorism" to clamp down on dissent. The trials of Nimr and the others "were politicised on the one hand and grossly unfair, because the international standards for fair trial were grossly flouted. "What is going on is an attempt to silence criticism of Saudi Arabia particularly among the Shia activist community". The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, members of a Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen, praised the executions. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan called them a "clear message against terrorism and those who call for and incite sedition and unrest to tear apart the society's unity and threaten social peace in the kingdom". Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, also backed Riyadh in "all deterrent and needed measures it takes to confront violence and extremism". Police used tear gas to disperse small demonstrations condemning the executions. First Zika Virus Case Confirmed in Puerto Rico The Puerto Rico Department of Health reported the first locally acquired case of Zika virus infection there on Dec. 31, a case where the virus was confirmed in a resident of Puerto Rico with no known travel history. Health officials in Puerto Rico are monitoring for other cases. The Puerto Rico Department of Health reported the first locally acquired case of Zika virus infection there on Dec. 31, a case where the virus was confirmed in a resident of Puerto Rico with no known travel history, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is working closely with the Puerto Rican agency to investigate how the patient contracted the virus. Health officials in Puerto Rico are monitoring for other cases. CDC also has issued a travel notice advising people traveling to Puerto Rico to take usual precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites to reduce their risk of infection with Zika virus and other mosquito-borne viruses, such as dengue and chikungunya: wearing insect repellent, using air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when possible, and emptying standing water inside and outside the home. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection or any medicine to treat it; outbreaks of Zika have occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, and Brazil is investigating the possible connection between Zika virus infection and cases of microcephaly in newborns. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. For more information about the Zika case in Puerto Rico, visit this website of the Pan American Health Organization: http://www.salud.gov.pr/Pages/Home.aspx. For more information about Zika, visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/. The virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. Honest reviews of Hawaii restaurants and travel experiences from the Santos family in Honolulu, Hawaii. Please join to follow this blog and leave comments about the places you read about. Click on "Older Posts" at the bottom of each page to continue your adventure. This blog is for fun only. I am not a food critic. Just call them like I eat them. Enjoy! Email:greateatshawaii@gmail.com Instagram @greateatshawaii The Saudi embassy in Tehran has come under attack from petrol bomb throwers amid a backlash against the execution of a prominent Shia cleric. Video footage posted on Twitter shows Molotov cocktails hitting the front of the mission and other pictures on social media show the building on fire. There was fierce criticism of Saudi Arabia after it executed Nimr al Nimr and 46 other people at prisons around the country. The 56-year-old was a driving force behind the anti-government protests in the east of the Sunni-ruled country during the Arab Spring in 2011. Iran's foreign ministry called for calm as police dispersed a large crowd that gathered outside the embassy in the Iranian capital, some of whom later broke into the building. There have also been outbreaks of unrest in Bahrain, where demonstrators took to the streets, and in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad, where the Saudi consulate was the scene of protests. Iran is ruled by a majority Shia-led government. Pictures posted on social media showed what appeared to be troops moving into Saudi areas where the Shia minority were due to protest. It came despite an appeal by Mr Nimr's brother who called for a "peaceful" response to the execution, saying the family did not want to see further bloodshed. The United States warned Saudi Arabia, which has a Sunni Muslim majority, that its execution of Mr Nimr "risks exacerbating sectarian tensions." The list of those executed did not include Mr Nimr's nephew, Ali al Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested in 2012. Reports he had been sentenced to death sparked global outrage because of his age and the severity of the punishment. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron urging him to intervene. The UK has close ties with Saudi Arabia. Most on the list were detained after a series of attacks by al Qaeda between 2003 and 2006 in which hundreds of people were killed. Four, including Mr Nimr, were Shias accused of shooting policemen. Story continues All but two - an Egyptian and a Chadian - were Saudi nationals. The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, with four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. Saudi Arabia's top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al Sheikh, said taking their lives was a "mercy to the prisoners" as it would save them from committing more evil acts. Iran's Foreign Ministry warned the kingdom would "pay a high price", while a leading Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, predicted the repercussions will "wipe" the Saudi ruling family "from the pages of history". That view was shared by former Iraqi PM Nouri al Maliki who said in a statement Mr Nimr's death "will topple the Saudi regime". The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah called it an "assassination" and the country's Supreme Islamic Shia Council described it as a "grave mistake". The criticisms prompted the Saudi government to accuse Iran of sponsoring terrorism and having no shame. "The Iranian regime is the last regime in the world that could accuse others of supporting terrorism, considering that (Iran) is a state that sponsors terror, and is condemned by the United Nations and many countries," a foreign ministry spokesman said. In the UK, the Foreign Office said the UK opposes the death sentence in all cases and added that: "The Foreign Secretary regularly raises human rights issues with his counterparts in countries of concern, including Saudi Arabia." Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said carrying out the death sentence on Mr Nimr was "profoundly wrong". A demonstration was held outside the Saudi embassy in London in protest at the executions. Mr Nimr's brother Mohammed al Nimr told Reuters: "We hope that any reactions would be confined to a peaceful framework. No one should have any reaction outside this peaceful framework. Enough bloodshed." Last year 157 people were put to death in Saudi Arabia, compared to 90 in 2014. News Mohamed Bin Zayed orders $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine This additional aid comes from the belief of the President of the importance of human solidarity, especially in cases of war and conflict, and is part of the UAE's continuous efforts to mitigate the humanitarian repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis. Seven Years Against Prison: On the practice of prison noise demos in Ontario by The Hamilton Institute For the past seven years, anarchist and other radicals in South-western Ontario have celebrated New Year's Eve with noise demos outside of the areas many prisons. We love to party and celebrate on New Year's and this tradition has allowed us to do so in a spirit of antagonism and solidarity. Here we offer some history and analysis of these actions Notes on the practice of prison noise demos in South-western Ontario Seven Years Against Prison Notes on the practice of prison noise demos in South-western Ontario The prison door opens, and now he knows what to do; keep the memory alive, leave no space for oblivion, never forget the comrades left behind, pick up the thread of insurgency from where it was interrupted, pour the poison of insubordination into the reproduction networks of the capitalist society From For a new combat position of anarchist insurgency For a Black December By imprisonned anarchists Nikos Romanos and Panagiotous Argirou For the past seven years, anarchist and other radicals in South-western Ontario have celebrated New Year's Eve with noise demos outside of the areas many prisons. We love to party and celebrate on New Year's and this tradition has allowed us to do so in a spirit of antagonism and solidarity. We can have fun in a way that actually inspires us and that brings some joy to people who are locked up. Connecting through the walls with prisoners is a direct action against the alienation and separation that prison creates and it transforms the urban space, bringing in to focus the prisons that dot the landscape and making vivid the coercive violence of the state that controls our lives. Prison impacts us every day, whether or not we're locked up, and the New Year's Noise Demos make this conflict tangible. One of the initial intentions of the noise demos in Hamilton was to participate in an international practice of anarchist solidarity with prisoners. In 2009, it was a direct response to a call to support an international hunger strike campaign by anarchist prisoners, launched by Gabriel Pombo Da Silva from a prison in Germany. The following year, several of our comrades were still locked up from the G20 mobilizations and there had been demos earlier in the year at Vanier/Maplehurst and The Don Jail in support of anarchist and other prisoners held there. This marked a time when, for many of us, the reality of prison intruded more starkly into our lives and the combative anger of the demos that year showed an escalation in hostility still anchored in the spirit of international solidarity, particularly with prisoners in the US state of Georgia who were on hunger strike and with an international call for new year's noise demos (the exact same text has been re-released this year as a fresh call for demos). This year, let's show our solidarity with the international call for a Black December released by anarchist prisoners in Greece, Nikos Romanos and Panagiotis Argirou. They called for insurrectionary actions around the world which they hope will be the detonator for the restart of anarchist insurgency, inside and outside the prisons. Their call has already been answered by more than fifty actions around the world, including in Canada, where an attack on a police vehicle and a confrontational march in Montreal have been claimed as part of Black December. (There is a timeline of actions at rabble.org.uk). From 2011, the demos expanded to support prisoners in struggle at the Grand Valley Prison in Kitchener, to visit anarchist prisoners in West Toronto and in Penetanguishene, the Syl Apps youth prison in Oakville while continuing to anchor themselves with a stop at Hamilton's Barton Jail. This prison, described as 'a monument to human misery', that looms over one of Canada's poorest urban areas, remains very overcrowded and kills several of its prisoners every year. The shit-eating screws of the OPSEU union use the Barton Jail as a centre-piece in their disputes with the province, allowing conditions there to degenerate to deadly levels to improve their negotiating position. In 2012, a so-called strike action by the guards only ended after a prisoner died following a month of lockdown. (But can they really be thought of as workers when their job is to manage the misery of others? Would not such an action more accurately be called hostage-taking or extortion?) This year, we're stopping at the new Toronto South, or Mimico, prison on the Toronto-Mississauga border. This new maximum security nightmare, which, when full, will be among the largest prisons in Canada, has already seen at least two prisoners die in the year it's been open. Prisoners there describe being locked down three or four days a week and being persistently denied needed medical care. There is no yard in this jail they meet their requirement for outdoor time by putting prisoners in a concrete room with windows. There are no real visits either although friends and family still have to travel to the jail, they can only see their loved one by video screen. The Mimico prison is an escalation of the cruelty and cynicism of the system against us all and it deserves to be vigorously opposed. The intensive management and surveillance of the lives of those locked inside it mirrors the increasing social control we experience outside. The prisoners there have been courageously organizing to demand better conditions, using hunger strikes, press releases, and collective demands, and they definitely deserve our support and participation in a shared struggle. It's beautiful that we've kept the tradition of New Year's noise demos alive for so many years as a chance for collective joy, for collective rage, a chance to dramatize the violence of the capitalist system, to remember its many victims, a chance to participate in an international mobilization against prisons and the world that needs them. Happy fucking New Years. Prison is not a domain reserved for specialists such as those who have done time themselves or have a particular rapport with individual prisoners, it is the underlying reality of everyday life, each and every discourse of capital taken to its logical conclusion. Alfredo M Bonanno in Locked Up. Joma Sison welcomes Pia Wurtzbachs welcoming Americans stance by eps Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison found nothing wrong in the answer of newly crowned Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach during the pageants critical question and answer portion where she was asked if she thought the U.S. should have a military presence in the Philippines. I think the United States and the Philippines have always had a good relationship with each other. We were colonized by the Americans, we have their culture in our traditions even up to this day and I think were very welcoming with the Americans. And I dont see any problem with that at all, went Pias reply. Neither did Sison see any problem at all with Pias answer. To be fair with Pia, she successfully evaded the question whether the US should have military presence in the Philippines. There is really no problem welcoming Americans. There is a difference between Americans and U.S. military forces, the exiled leftist leader long based in the Netherlands posted on his Facebook page. In 1991, the Philippine Senate voted to reject a treaty that would extend U.S. military presence in the country, particularly in Clark Air Base in Pampanga and the Subic Naval Base in Zambales, that had started since the end of World War II. Other personalities identified with the left were likewise forgiving. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr. posted a similar sentiment he qualified as his own personal opinion on the subject. The question about US military presence in the Philippines wasnt fair. It was calculated to elicit a YES, considering that the contestant was under a lot of pressure. Saying NO to US troops, in front of a predominantly American crowd, would harm her chances of winning. Perhaps she wasnt prepared to take that risk. She went with the safe and popular answer, at least for the home crowd. Could she have answered differently? Of course. But I cant really presume to know what was going on in her mind at the time, or the pressure she was feeling. I only hope that after all this, she would keep an open mind when it comes to contrary views on the issue. I hope she would find time in the future to sit down with the victims of abuses by US troops, many of whom are women. Hindi pa naman siguro yun ang FINAL, FINAL answer nya, Reyes said. Former Bayan Muna party list representative Teddy Casino tweeted that Pia should get together with womens group Gabriela so she could have a better grasp of the U.S. bases issue. The shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson policeman began as he was jaywalking across a four-lane street with no traffic and no sidewalks at midday, not because it was dangerous to jaywalk, but because traffic violations are a major source of revenue to fund police and most city services for many cities in the midwest. Michael's arrest was bread and butter for police services. Unfortunately, he was killed by police (revenue) collection officer Wilson to ensure that such funding continue. March 20, 2015, updated Dec. 2015I was so impressed by MIT emeritus linguistics professor Noam Chomskys NY Times op ed interview The Roots of American Racism that I forwarded it to several of my friends, with this introduction below:Ok gentlemen, here is a NY times interview of Noam Chomsky, the oracle of our nation, who tells us what we must know about why our so-called enlightened democracy is and has been a slave owning oligarchy almost since the first English landing in the "new world." The genocide began and has continued here and across the globe, ever since.I pre-apologize if this is an inconvenient truth for you, but some truths must be known if we are to not re-live them again and again in Afghanistan, Ferguson, Vietnam, Iraq, Wounded Knee, Cuba, The Philippines, the Alamo, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Chile, etc. etc. etc.!!!my lifelong friend Tom (w/ an MA in history) wrote: Before I read (present tense) this, Afghanistan and Ferguson have something in common? It will take some convincing for me.Hi Tom,The common denominator between Afghanistan and Ferguson, and any other case of one country or class in conflict with an asymmetrical power imbalance, is that a powerful ruling elite controls, exploits and ultimately, if challenged, in even a minor way, destroys those without power, quickly and directly with weapons or gradually and indirectly with abuse; over-work without sustainable wages, such as white tenant farmers during the dust bowl or black sharecroppers during reconstruction, or low-grade chemical degradation such as of Mexican farmworkers in present day U.S.Here are the parallels:Afghanistan in the 1800s is haplessly between two mighty empires in what English fiction and historical writer Rudyard Kipling called, "The Great Game" -- the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia.So in 1838 the British rode on horseback to conquer the diverse tribal people of Afghanistan to further secure their century old colony, India, the so-called Jewel in the Crown of Queen Victoria, fearful that Victorias cousin, Czar Nicholas I, coveted India. To save the empire and British honor, hundreds of thousands died in the rocky gorges of the Khyber Pass and it began the gradual dimming of the British Empire due to cost over-runs of this and every other warand most of British history is the tragic history of one war after another, and oftenseveral wars at the same time. Hence the ironically proud claim: the sun never sets upon the British Empire until it will finally set if even a fraction of the Empires enemies can sustain a coalition and obtain their own weapons of mass destruction. I hope this does not happen because I love British literature, but I fear we may live in a time such as depicted by the Percy Bysshe Shellys 1817 poem, Ozymandias, which describes the remains of a long dead mighty emperors stone statue, decaying in the desert sands, where nothing remains of his civilization. I fear it may prove to be much more than just another Romantic poem, but a tragic prophecy.By 1979 it was Russia's turn to what historian Barbara Tuchman aptly named, "The March of Folly when empires suffer from national hubris, and spend themselves to an early death spiral to conquer, control and exploit a lesser empire.As Russia invaded Afghanistan seeking its millennia long dream of a warm water port (eventually needing to then invade Pakistan to finally get to the warm water of the Indian Ocean) suffered its own "Vietnam, aka: ignoble defeat.Zbigniew Brzezinski, president Carter's national security advisor, ensured this by providing the Afghanistan army with Stinger missiles to enable resistance fighters to shoot down hundreds of Soviet planes and helicopters--causing so many Russian deaths that Russian mothers, after ten years of war, were no longer willing to give up more sons to Mother Russia, bitterly protested the waralmost sparking an insurrection--and Russian spent itself into near financial collapse.See the quote below:Zbigniew Brzezinski admitted in an interview:How Jimmy Carter and I Started the MujahedeenBy Alexander Cockburn And Jeffrey St. ClairQ: The former director of the CIA, Robert Gates, stated in his memoirs ["From the Shadows"], that American intelligence services began to aid the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan 6 months before the Soviet intervention. In this period you were the national security adviser to President Carter. You therefore played a role in this affair. Is that correct?Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahedeen began during 1980, that is to say, after the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, 24 Dec 1979. But the reality, secretly guarded until now, is completely otherwise: Indeed, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. And that very day, I wrote a note to the president in which I explained to him that in my opinion this aid was going to induce a Soviet military intervention.Q: Despite this risk, you were an advocate of this covert action. But perhaps you yourself desired this Soviet entry into war and looked to provoke it?Brzezinski: It isnt quite that. We didnt push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would.Q: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didnt believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You dont regret anything today?Brzezinski: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter: We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam War. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupported by the Russian people, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.Gil: So the CIA plan worked, but our U.S. ruling elite failed to learn from our own history in Vietman, and our folly was replicated as we funded Osama bin Laden's "liberators" to damage the USSR. Then by the 1990s bin Laden began his plot to kill the other giant empire, the U.S. So on Sept. 11, 2001, he sprang his U.S. A. trap upon us at the World Trade Center, and the rest is our tragic history---we marched back into Afghanistan "to get bin Laden, but George W. Bush did not really want to capture bin Laden at Bora Bora. He realized that we must not because if we captured him, he would tell the world his tale of collaborating with the Saudi Royal family and GHW Bush family and Dick Cheney-Halliburton Corporation on oil infrastructure projects in the middle east, cashing our CIA issued checks, receiving our weapons, training his terrorists at the camps we built for the Mujahedeen, who bin Laden renamed al Qaida.Now back to Ferguson, Mo: the ruling elite of mayor, city manager, DA, judge and police milked the powerless Black population with petty infractions like parking, jay walking, or changing lanes without signaling (as did Sandra Bland in Texaswhich led to her death days later). One black teen had a $500 fine for not crossing at a crosswalk on a street without sidewalks. In addition to high fines for municipal infractions that cannot be appealed, late fees and court costs are added, atop of other fines to the extent that they provided more than 60% of the municipal budget--more than $2 million per year. The city manager and fiscal officer sent a memo to the police chief, "can your officers increase last year's fines to $3 million?" The police chief responded cheerfully, "We'll do our best!"So that is why Michael Brown was stopped by Officer Darren Wilson, for jaywalking--in the middle of the day, on an almost empty street--not because it is dangerous, but rather because the city needed the fines to be able to afford police and all other city services to "serve and protect" the citizens of Ferguson (sic).So the U. S. Attorney Generals Department of Justice report just released, concluded that the Black population was used as a fiscal source for city services.Not dissimilar to how the pre-emancipated Black population, called slaves at the time, were used as a source of free labor to enable their owners to live a life of ease and luxury. It took a warthe Civil Warwith 600,000 dead Americans, to end that despicable abuse of one population by another. Let us pray that we do not need a second civil war to resolve the present injustices in our nation.Do you need more explanation of the connection?I would like to discuss further, over a beer. Our own beer summit?Regards, Gil Down with Indias Economic Warfare Against Nepal! by Steven Argue 02 Jan 2016 [Photo: Nepali children. UNICEF estimated that if the blockade continues through the winter months, more than 3 million children under the age of 5 in Nepal are at risk of death or disease during the harsh winter months due to a severe shortage of fuel, food, medicines and vaccines". Photo credit, Nepal Youth Foundation.] Down with Indias Economic Warfare Against Nepal!For the Rights of the Marginalized Madhesi People!Forward to Workers and Farmers Socialist Revolution in India, Bhutan, and NepalBy Steven ArgueIn April and May of 2015 two devastating earthquakes hit Nepal, killing 9,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Now, on top of that devastation, since September 23, 2015, Nepal has been under a vicious economic blockade carried out by India. As a result, fuel and medicines are in short supply, rebuilding from the earthquake has been stopped, the economy has greatly slowed, and a major humanitarian crisis is looming. This economic blockade against Nepal should be seen as nothing less than an act of war by the government of India against Nepals 28 million people. Indias economic blockade is combined with political unrest and Indian incursions into Nepalese territory that have killed around 40 people.At its heart, a central motive for Indian aggression against Nepal is the strengthening of Nepalese economic ties with the Peoples Republic of China. A key tool India is using in this battle, besides outright economic aggression, is Indias backing of the demands of the marginalized Madhesi people. Yet, despite the cover-ups in most of the western and Indian press, mountains of evidence prove Madhesi riots alone are not blockading the Indian border. India itself is blocking shipments into Nepal. This is not the first time India has behaved in this manner. A similar economic blockade by India in 1989 shut down 19 of 21 border crossings between India and Nepal. The New York Times at that time cited warming relations between Nepal and China to be the fundamental reason for Indias economic blockade against Nepal at that time. I will argue in this article that the same motive is driving Indias economic blockade of Nepal today. (Nepal's Economy Is Gasping as India, a Huge Neighbor, Squeezes It Hard, New York Times, April 10, 1989)As India attempts to bully Nepal, growing friendly ties between China and Nepal are, however, providing a framework where Nepal will be strengthened in its ability to stand up to Indian aggression. Chinese friendship has included large grants of fuel and other aid for Nepal to rebuild after its earthquake. A new trade agreement also promises increased Chinese trade and investment in Nepal as well as Nepalese access to Chinese ports. This will reduce Nepals dependency on India, aid in development, and strengthen Nepals ability to resist Indian aggression.A profound irony is that the current economic blockade of Nepal has pushed Nepal in the direction of even stronger friendly relations with China. This was an obvious inevitability. Assuming that Indian Prime Minister Modi isnt stupid, Indian aggression must then be directed against Nepal with intentions of either annexing the Madhesi territories and or bringing about a regime change in Kathmandu to install an undemocratic government that will do Indias bidding.While formally independent, Nepal has long been largely under the control of the British imperialists and then India after India gained formal independence in 1947. Unfair water deals between India and Nepal have dammed Nepalese rivers and flooded Nepalese farmland to provide India with water without giving compensation that many Nepalese would see as adequate. Yet, unlike neighboring Nepali speaking Sikkim, which was annexed by India through force in the 1970s, Nepal has maintained its formal independence.Although Nepal was officially independent and not a colony of Britain, it was still controlled by the British in the same manner that the United States controls many countries, including through the imposition of bloody coups. This British violence included the Kot Massacre of 1846 which established the Rana Dynasty. Under the British imposed Rana monarchy, Nepal remained impoverished and illiterate as it supplied its famous Gurkha soldiers to fight for the British Empire around the world. The Gurkha soldiers came from Nepals impoverished peasantry. Meanwhile, the wealthy Rana Monarchy was paid by the British for each soldier it provided.After India gained formal independence from Britain, Nepal came under the control of India as did the other mountain kingdoms of Bhutan and Sikkim. The Nepalese monarchy and its Hindu state was only finally deposed in 2008 due to a popular insurrection led by Maoists. A secular state and bourgeois democracy was established as a result at that time. This was no thanks to India which was the top military supplier to the brutal monarchy of Nepal. India also likely had a hand in Nepals 2001 palace coup that slaughtered the faction of the royal family who opposed sending the Nepalese military to fight against the Maoist insurgency. Ten members of the faction of the royal family opposed by India were murdered. Official explanations are contradictory and defy credibility on many different levels. When all was settled, that coup placed a pro-Indian faction of the monarchy in power that was prepared to wage war on the Maoist led workers and farmers insurrection of Nepal.The Blockade Is Being Carried Out By IndiaToday, many of the facts regarding Indias current economic blockade of Nepal are disputed. Nobody is denying that Nepal is under devastating economic blockade. Yet, the Indian government claims that it is not India, but instead an uprising of the Madhesi people on the border of India and Nepal who are blocking the passage of fuel, medicine, and food. The Indian government says that the Madhesi people have risen up and done this because they are being underrepresented in Nepals new constitution, a constitution that India has repeatedly publicly opposed.India has two major incentives for their denials. If India were to admit that they are carrying out an economic blockade of Nepal they would be admitting to violations of free trade agreements signed by both countries. In addition, Indias economic blockade violates UN conventions agreed to in 1965 and 1973, with both India and Nepal as signatories, which prohibit this kind of economic blockade against a landlocked country.Yet, despite Indias denials, there is plenty of evidence that India has imposed an economic blockade against Nepal. India border security officers (of the Seema Shuraksha Bal or SSB) have been quoted directly in the Indian press admitting to being ordered to block shipments into Nepal. Observers have also witnessed a large scale slowdown in processing by Indian customs officials. This includes a December 10th BBC article that reported a line of delayed trucks 14 miles long at one border crossing where there was no Madhesi activity. In addition, the Indian Oil Corporation, a private Indian owned capitalist company, is refusing to load fuel tankers from Nepal. This is presently the monopoly oil supplier to Nepal from India.In addition to the Indian border security officers of the SSB admitting to blockading the border, they have also been caught in other acts of aggression against the Nepalese people in actions related to enforcing the blockade. On November 25th, photographs show that Indias SSB officers opened fire on and injured 4 Nepali villagers. In a November 2nd police crackdown against the border blockade inside of Nepal, dozens of Nepali police were injured and an Indian national was killed. This fits with other evidence that plain-clothed Indian soldiers and SSB are being sent into Nepal to carry out violence and enforce the blockade. On November 29th, 13 armed SSB officers were captured inside of Nepal in Jhapa by villagers. They were disarmed and handed over to police. In an extremely forgiving response, the Nepali government immediately released the SSB officers and said it would not respond officially to the incursion so as not to further harm bilateral relations between Nepal and India.Within Nepal, the economic blockade is being widely denounced. People are marching in the streets chanting Back off India, Modi! Remove Blockade. Modi refers to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose government is leading the blockade. Protests are also being held against the blockade at embassies around the world. On December 15th the Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), after warnings against the transmission of Indian propaganda in Nepal, destroyed the main tower transmitting digital satellite service with a petrol bomb. Nepal's Prime Minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, elected in October in the midst of the crisis and a member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), has soundly denounced Indias economic blockade. In his November 15th address to the nation, Prime Minister Oli made his position clear, stating:"It is unthinkable that a sovereign nation faces such an inhumane and severe pain, misery and blockade in the 21st century for having a Constitution with progressive, pro-people and democratic contents through an elected Constituent Assembly with people's overwhelming participation and democratic franchise."Nepal is passing through a serious humanitarian crisis which should not happen even during the wars. The blockade imposed by our southern neighbor has underestimated the feeling of the Nepali and Indian people. Imposing a blockade to a landlocked nation is a breach of international treaties, norms and values."Exactly how progressive and pro-people Nepals new capitalist constitution is will be a question open to criticism, but it is not a question for India to decide. It is especially not a question for India to decide through a vicious economic blockade against the people of Nepal.Madhesis Demands Are JustDespite the justified unity of much of the Nepalese people against Indian intervention, it is also true that Nepals marginalized Madhesi minority really are not being properly represented by the government.A key problem is that the federal system being adopted with Nepals new constitution divides much the Madhesi population up into federal districts where they will be a minority rather than establishing federal districts in a way that will allow the Madhesis better representation and better language rights.Another major problem is the brutal manner in which the Nepalese police have attacked the protest movement, leaving around 40 people dead. Not all of these people killed were protesters, some were police killed by rioters, and some deaths likely had to do with the interference of Indian SSB forces, but it still has been clear to the Madhesis that the Nepalese government is responding to their demands with inappropriate violence including brutal beatings and police killings.Nepal could better respond to the just demands of the Madhesis and by doing so put itself in a stronger position to counter Indias blockade and attempts at intervention. Yet, Indias economic blockade is an act of war against the entire people of Nepal.The Devastation Caused By The BlockadeFor the 28 million landlocked people of Nepal, trade with India is essential. Yet, Prime Minister Modis economic blockade prevents the movement of adequate oil and gas for cooking and heating as well as medicines into Nepal. Hospitals have run out of essential medications including the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis. The lack of fuel has caused many industries to shut down or greatly curtail production. On November 24th, the Nepal Rastra Bank revealed that during the economic blockade exports have dropped by 25.4% while imports have plunged by 31.9%.Petroleum shortages are serious as well. Commercial jets are even rerouting out of concerns over the ability to refuel. Petroleum cannot be bought for private vehicles, instead it is being rationed out to ambulances, buses, and taxis. Still, huge lines of taxis are lining up at petrol stations and getting nothing. Few busses have enough petroleum to run and transportation to schools is thereby greatly hindered. UNICEF estimates that 1.6 million children have been denied school as a result of the economic blockade. The lack of petroleum, paper, and ink has also hindered the printing of needed text books. The few busses that run are so overcrowded that people, including children and the elderly, pile on top of bus rooftops and numerous deaths have resulted from this unsafe condition.This Indian attack on Nepal comes on the heels of two devastating earthquakes in April and May that killed 9,000 people and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Yet, due to a lack of fuel under the blockade, the construction of buildings and infrastructure has been brought to a standstill. Presently, 200,000 families are still homeless and living in tents due to the earthquake and economic blockade. They are facing a tough winter in the elements as Nepals high elevations get very cold.Food shortages are also resulting, both directly from the blockade at the border and as a result of the lack of transport due to the lack of fuel. On November 30th, UNICEF estimated that if the blockade continues through the winter months, more than 3 million children under the age of 5 in Nepal are at risk of death or disease during the harsh winter months due to a severe shortage of fuel, food, medicines and vaccines". These problems become especially deadly as they combine with the lack of adequate shelter and risks of hypothermia.The economic blockade of Nepal is also threatening Nepals forests. Despite a close relationship the Nepali people generally have with their forests and wildlife, trees are starting to be felled in community forests to provide fuel and national parks have put together plans to provide people with emergency firewood, first through distributing reserves and then going into a second phase of felling trees. Nepalese forests are the home of many beloved animal species the world over, including the endangered red panda, Asiatic elephant, one-horned rhino, and Bengal tigers. Indias economic blockade is threatening many successful efforts of forest and wildlife conservation in Nepal.Due to economic hardship and rapidly growing unemployment, hundreds of thousands of new Nepalese workers are being forced to consider their prospects for jobs elsewhere, including in India and the Persian Gulf. Numerous U.S. backed dictatorships in the Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, strip many of the immigrant workers who come to their countries of all rights, take their passports so they cannot leave the country, stop paying for work, and literally hold foreign workers as slaves.To add insult to injury, in Saudi Arabia, Wahhabi (Salafist) morality is also shoved down the throats of immigrant slaves. A number of foreign workers have been executed for violating Wahhabi morality. For instance, recently a Sri Lankan woman, working as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery while her male partner was sentenced to 100 lashes. These murders by stoning involve burying a good portion of the womens body in the earth and then turning a group of people lose on her who throw stones at her until she is dead.It is worth noting, Saudi Arabia is one of the leading partners of the United States in the Middle East. Just as the U.S. supplied military aid to the extremely repressive Hindu monarchy in Nepal during the Nepalese civil war, the United States is fine with backing dictatorships and religious fanatics everywhere as long as it fits with its imperialist interests of capitalist exploitation of resources and labor as well as war profiteering.Nepals Economic Relations with ChinaThe current flashpoint in Indias fight against Nepal is Nepals new constitution which India says violates the rights of the Madhesi people. Yet, India, which tramples the rights of many oppressed nationalities within its own borders, is simply manipulating this question to gain more leverage and control in Nepal. Underlying the question of Indian control in Nepal is Indias desire to dictate to Nepal who they will and who they will not sell their future rich supply of hydroelectric power to.A major bone of contention India has with Nepal is growing Chinese investment in hydroelectric power in Nepal. China has now surpassed India as the biggest investor in Nepal. In fact, the single biggest foreign investment in Nepal today is a 1.8 billion dollar Chinese project building a hydroelectric power station. That plan was approved in April. This plan will help bring Nepal some energy independence, providing energy starved Nepal with some free electricity with the rest of the electricity to be sold to Nepal. This will also help Nepal achieve some independence from Indias bullying. In addition, Nepalese officials are courting China for an additional $400 billion in Chinese investment in Nepals hydroelectric power potential and are willing to sell China excess electricity.Sheshadri Chari, a leader of Indias ruling far right BJP (sitting on the partys national executive committee) and foreign affairs expert of the party, explained Indias position on NDTV in opposition to these plans. In the middle of Indias economic blockade against Nepal, Chari boldly declared in regards to Nepals future hydroelectric power:Nepal said if India cannot do it, we will go to China. We said go to China, you can go ahead and do it. But finally it is not possible for China to take all of this electricity to China and use it. It has to ultimately be sold to India or sold to Bhutan.These demands on who Nepal can and cannot sell the hydroelectric power to are part of a long standing bullying posture of India in opposing Nepals right to self-determination and control over its own resources. Before the end of Nepals civil war in 2006, India was the biggest arms supplier to Nepals brutal monarchy. Since the election of Nepals constituent assembly in 2008, India has been attempting to continue to bully the Nepalese people on issues of hydroelectric power, trade, and investment. In fact, a leaked document in 2014 showed India was seeking strong preferential treatment for Indian investors in Nepals hydroelectric potential. Modis government was also seeking an agreement that would have made India and Bhutan the monopoly purchaser of Nepals hydroelectric power. Under what Modi was trying to push on Nepal, India would build and control the hydropower stations of Nepal and India would buy that power at whatever rates India wanted.Despite the obvious disadvantages of the proposed hydropower deal offered by India, Nepals right wing Nepali Congress Party government in power at that time spoke positively of what was being offered. On July 21, 2014 Nepals Minister for Energy, Radha Gyawali, stated:In the cooperation draft sent by India, there are some provisions that need discussion. We will discuss them in detail before signing an agreement. But overall, the draft proposal is positive,The Minister even promised a deal would be signed before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit Nepal which came soon after.As details of the lopsided agreement were leaked and emerged in the Nepalese press, major leftist parties denounced it. On July 20, 2014, the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Mohan Vaidhya, called the leaked details of the hydro-power deal shocking. His statement also opposed many decades of unequal agreements between Nepal and India regarding Nepals water resources and called for scrapping the treaties on Gandak, Mahakali, Koshi, Upper Karnali, Arun III, and the High Koshi Dam.Strong opposition to Indias proposed deal prevented it from being adopted. In April, agreements for Chinese investment were sealed and by September, Indian anger had escalated to the current economic blockade. In October a coalition government of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) was elected, replacing the rightwing Nepali Congress Party government of Sushil Koirala.Nepals Maoist Led Bourgeois RevolutionBefore 2006, the Nepali government was a monarchy and a Hindu state lacking a basic separation of religion and state. Despite the United States fighting a revolution to end such a system in 1776, an important supplier of military hardware to the extremely repressive Nepalese monarchy was the United States. Even more important was Indian military aid to the Nepalese monarchy. Despite foreign intervention on behalf of the king, by 2006 the popular Maoist insurgency had seized 80% of Nepal where it carried out land reform, nationalizations, measures for womens liberation, and measures for the liberation of Nepals many oppressed nationalities.The successes of the Maoist insurrection brought the Nepalese ruling class to the negotiating table in 2006. As concessions to the Maoists, India and the Nepalese ruling class agreed to abolishing the Nepali monarchy, establishing a parliamentary bourgeois democracy, and making the Nepalese government secular and no longer a Hindu state. While these were important gains, they came at far too high of a price in what the Maoists agreed to give up. This price included giving up the territories that had been liberated in the workers and farmers insurrection and turning them back over to control by the repressive capitalist state. This ended most of the gains that had been made in those territories and allowed the brutal Nepalese military, police, and bourgeoisie to retain their power. For India and the Nepalese ruling class, the few relatively minor democratic steps forward they agreed to were, in their minds, far preferable than the potential abolition capitalism and the capitalist state in a workers and farmers socialist revolution.Despite the current gains of the Nepalese bourgeois revolution being extremely limited, some attempts have been made to destroy even that. In September the constituent assembly voted on an attempt to revert Nepal back to a Hindu state and monarchy by adding those provisions to Nepals constitution. This proposal was put forward by the National Democratic Party Nepal. This is a party that, despite its name, also wants Nepal to revert back to a monarchy. They believe the Nepali kings to be a reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Yet, more than two thirds of Nepals Constituent Assembly rejected the proposal. The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, was deposed in 2008 and was only able to maintain his rule through brutal undemocratic means, including slaughtering other members of the royal family in 2001.It has been declared by some that a reason for Indias economic blockade of Nepal is Nepals refusal to revert back to a Hindu state under the new constitution. Voices making this accusation include elected parliament member of the Indian Congress Party, Manish Tewari, who states:Eighty five percent of the constituent assembly voted to adopt the constitution. Now at that point in time if you [the BJP] start insisting that the constitution should declare Nepal as a Hindu Rashtra, because some of your constituents want it, and subterfuge it in the demand that some people are being marginalized, which is in fact correct, and then decide to take sides in that faction fight rather than wait for the constitution to be adopted, and then through a process of gently nudging bring about the appropriate amendments and a new course of time you could have handled it better. But your real angst is why did Nepal declare itself a secular state rather than a Hindu Rashtra.While there is no doubt that constituents of the BJP dream of a Hindu Rashtra in in Nepal, the capitalist ruling class of India gave up on the Hindu state and monarchy in Nepal in the 2008 negotiations with the Maoists. What they have not given up on, however, is the idea of India controlling Nepals resources, despite Nepals democracy currently standing in the way of this happening. This has put the entire framework of the 2006-2008 peace agreement in the crosshairs of the Indian ruling class.During the Nepalese civil war from 1996 to 2006, the Nepalese monarchy routinely carried out war crimes against civilians, journalists, and dissidents including rape, torture, and murder. During the war, the government commonly arrested and killed people. Torture was also routine. A study by Singh et al. found that fully 70% of inmates during the civil war underwent tortures, including routine rapes. As would be expected in any propaganda war, the Maoists are also accused of similar crimes, but these accusations have less weight in evidence and are weighted with biases in favor of the state like referring to arrests carried out by the Maoists in territory they controlled as kidnappings while these are simply referred to as arrests when carried out by the kings brutal military and police.Indias Prime Minister Modis present attacks on Nepal are, in fact, attempting to chop-away at the entire framework of Nepals peace agreement, parliamentary system, and secular constitution. An important component of this has been the Modi government, in the midst of carrying out the economic blockade, going to the United Nations with charges of war crimes against the elected Maoists in Nepals parliament. According to Indias right wing Hindustan Times, India is demanding effective functioning of Nepals Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and full implementation of its recommendations, including prosecution of those responsible for the violent insurgency. The Hindustan Times further warns, This is a direct message to the Nepali Maoists that Delhi will not shield its crimes during the past.There you have it. While the United Nations is in no position to force Nepal to abolish its democracy and prosecute its Maoists, this position established by India lays the foundations for any future undemocratic coup that India can carry out in Nepal, a foundation that includes the outlawing Maoist activities and throwing the Maoists in prison. For Nepalese progressives and communists, as well as internationalists the world over, these demands and the strong-arm tactics of India against Nepal should be seen as nothing less than what they are:1. A deadly attempt to punish the forces that have brought democratic progress and secularism to Nepal.2. An unacceptable violation of Nepalese sovereignty through strong arm tactics.3. A brutal attack on the entire people of Nepal through economic warfare that targets the people of Nepal for punishment rather than any supposed criminals within the Nepalese government itself.Today, those who rule India think that it is their right to dictate who Nepal can and cannot sell their future electrical power to. Yet, besides obvious brutal arrogance, a more sinister question arises. How could the current economic blockade decide future hydroelectric sales carried out by Nepal? One can only surmise that the only way India could possibly control future hydroelectric sales through their current actions is through regime change and ending democratic reforms in Nepal.Chinas Progressive Role in the HimalayasAfter Indian independence, Nepal came greatly under the influence of India, as did the other mountain kingdoms of Sikkim and Bhutan. As India became a regional power, a repetitive reason for Indian aggression against Nepal and Bhutan has been their relations with the Peoples Republic of China.Of note is also the BJPs inclusion of Bhutan as a country acceptable for Nepals future electricity sales, but exclusion of China. Bhutan itself has a history of Indian intervention designed to prevent better relations with China. This Indian interference has been brutal in Bhutan as well. Bhutans first Prime Minister, Jigme Palden Dorji, was assassinated by Indian operatives in 1964 for trying to establish more balanced relations with China. That assassination put the kings younger brother, Lendrup Dorje in the position of prime minister. Indian troops were then placed at the border crossing between Bhutan and China where they remain to this day.Bhutan, unlike the Peoples Republic of China, never had a social revolution. It is a country with no separation of religion and state and was, up until 2011, still ruled by a monarchy. In 1958, the Buddhist absolute monarchy of Bhutan freed its slaves, carried out a land reform, and carried out some democratic reforms that elevated Jigme Palden Dorjis position to that of prime minister. This was not coincidental to influences and fears the Bhutanese ruling class would have had of the potential spread of the social revolution that was taking place in China. The Chinese Revolution had, after all, during this same immediate time period freed the chattel and serf slaves held under the Dalai Lamas brutal feudal system where amputations and gauging out eyes were accepted punishments for escaped slaves, communists, and other criminals.Today, the Indian allied Bhutanese ruling class remains extremely repressive. As capitalism and imperialism keep Bhutan poor, Bhutans Nepali speaking minority, communists, and journalists remain highly oppressed by the Buddhist government and the Nepali speaking minority even faced outright ethnic cleansing in the recent past.Among Bhutans statistics is an illiteracy rate of 47%. The standard of living is so poor in the country that the king announced in the 1970s a new measure, the measure of Gross National Happiness based on Buddhist values rather than the material world. Similar clap trap runs like diarrhea from the mouth of the Dalai Lama, the deposed former absolute ruler of Tibet.Progress came to Tibet through communist revolution. With the overthrow of the Dalai Lama, in the time of Maos rule, chattel slavery and serf slavery were abolished in Tibet; Punishments like amputations of limbs and removal of eyes for escaped slaves, communists, and other crimes were abolished; Religion and state were separated; Life expectancy doubled; Education was provided to everyone for free where the average person had none before the revolution; Healthcare was provided where there was none; And massive state run development programs in Tibet today continue to raise the standard of living.Governments in capitalist countries, however, often try to convince the people who are suffering under their economic system that their salvation lies in the spiritual and not the material world. This is part of the program of the far right Hindu fundamentalist Indian Prime Minister Modi. As he imposes austerity and privatization in India on behalf of the profits of the wealthy capitalists, the workers instead, including port workers, tend to resist. Modis program is one where he hopes to divert peoples attention from their real suffering through spiritual distractions and communalist hatred between religions. Similar questions arise in Nepal.Fully 44.1% of Nepals population remained illiterate as of 2011. When have such statistics of deprivation ever made the headlines of the western imperialist corporate papers? A happy smiling Dalia Lama who lived in extravagant luxury while keeping the majority of the population of Tibet in Slavery, illiteracy, and hunger, meeting with world imperialist leaders, giving each other legitimacy, as the Dalai Lama preaches about happiness catches the attention of the imperialist press far more often.In Bhutan in 2007, the formation of some political parties was legalized, and five were established by government political insiders loyal to the king and his Buddhist ideology of Gross National Happiness. The Bhutan Communist Party (MarxistLeninistMaoist) (BCP-MLM), however, remains banned. The rise of the BCP-MLM was inspired by Nepals Maoist movement. Likewise, the Bhutan monarchys supposed democratic reforms came, probably not coincidentally, at the time of a growing threat of Maoist insurrection in Bhutan and one year after Nepals democratic reforms were won through a negotiated deal with the Maoists.Fact is, China, due to their social revolution, outdoes capitalist Nepal, Bhutan, and India on all basic measures of real happiness from womens literacy and literacy in general to life expectancy. These are real human gains brought about in the material world that bring real human happiness. Gross Human Happiness based on Buddhist values in a quaint mountain kingdom? That may play well among relatively privileged new age adherents in the west who often have their basic needs met, in part due to the wealth gained in the imperialist world centers through capitalist plunder of subjugated countries, but for much of the world, development and other advances are life and death questions. And far more than capitalism, it is primarily the efficiency of planned socialist economies established in workers and farmers anti-imperialist revolutions that can deliver the goods.False claims of imperialist propagandists aside, Chinas rapid development did not begin with Deng Xiaopings market reforms. Instead, rapid economic development started in China due to the anti-imperialist socialist revolution led by Mao and has continued due to the fact that many of the most important key sectors of the economy remain socialized through state ownership.Of interest is the growing role of the Peoples Republic of China in developing the underdeveloped world, including Chinas hydroelectric project in Nepal as well as their continuing investments in Nepalese infrastructure. The investments of the Chinese state owned banks, state owned power companies, and other state owned industries are now perfectly capable of doing what capitalist investment from India and major imperialist powers has not done. They are developing countries that the imperialist powers preferred to keep underdeveloped under colonial and neo-colonial control.China seeks to continue their rapid development while reducing their carbon footprint, and they are able to do so because important sectors of the Chinese economy remain socialist. The Chinese Communist Party through their current 5-year plan has directed its state run banks and energy industry to highly prioritize Chinese investment in renewable energy. This includes international investment. As a result, even some of Chinas neighbors are benefitting directly from some of the remaining socialist gains of the 1949 Chinese Revolution through socialist investment in their economies, including Nepal.A profound irony of Indias economic war on Nepal is that while it intends to pull Nepal away from China, it is actually pushing Nepal in the exact opposite direction. On December 28th, 2015, Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao announced at the conclusion of talks in Nepal, China supports Nepals efforts in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and stands ready, together with the new government of Nepal, to expand cooperation in connectivity, energy, production capacity, post-disaster reconstruction, tourism and other areas so as to achieve mutual benefits, win-win results and common development, and elevate the long-lasting and friendly China-Nepal comprehensive cooperative partnership to new levels.At a joint press conference held by Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao, it was announced that China and Nepal had agreed to an additional $500 million in Chinese aid for earthquake reconstruction, $140 million for repair and maintenance of the Araniko Highway, a permanent supply of Chinese petroleum to Nepal, increased trade, a transit treaty granting Nepal access to Chinese ports, the opening of more border points for transit trade, and an end to visa requirements for Chinese tourists visiting Nepal.Western Imperialist Backing of the BlockadeWhile the west remains silent on Indias attacks on Nepal, China is providing real material aid that is helping Nepal secure its independence from India. Interestingly enough, one of the advocates opposing the Indian blockade of Nepal is exiled Bhutanese journalist Indra Adhikari. For his writing, he was forced to leave Bhutan by its repressive Buddhist monarchy in 1992. Adhikari presently has a petition on Change.org that has nearly 36,000 signatures that is asking for UN and EU intervention against Indias blockade of Nepal.While Indra Adkhiris sentiments are in the right place, fact is, the United States, EU, and the UN (which the U.S. and EU largely control) tend to be extremely involved in opposing anything in the world that they dont like. Instead of condemning Indias economic blockade of Nepal, the United States has instead publicly urged both sides to settle their differences. Likewise, the propaganda of the western corporate media rarely lays out the truth of the economic blockade by India and instead repeats the Indian lie that it is caused solely by unrest within Nepal itself. The deafening silence of the imperialists on Indias aggressive unilateral attacks on Nepal should be seen as at least tacit approval. That is if the imperialists are not in fact actively involved behind the scenes in supporting Indias hostility as part of the wests wider agenda of isolating China and overthrowing the remaining gains of the 1949 revolution.Can you imagine the response of the western imperialists of the U.S. and EU if a country like Russia was carrying out similar hostility against a neighbor as India is carrying out against Nepal? They would be screaming about Russian aggression, as they already scream such things constantly where it does not even exist. The imperialists obviously have no problems with Indias attempts at bullying Nepal back into submission.Suspiciously enough, on September 22nd, one day before India initiated its economic blockade of Nepal, high level talks were carried out between the United States and India. From those talks, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a joint statement with India saying, "Ties between the United States and India have never been stronger." They further state:The Sides recognized that the India-U.S. partnership was a significant contributor to the peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions and around the globe. Building on successful cooperation in Asia, the Sides welcomed continued cooperation under the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region agreed by President Obama and Prime Minister Modi.Signaling that India has joined the imperialist U.S. and Japanese axis powers against China, the joint statement further says, The Sides announced that the first ministerial meeting of the India-United States-Japan trilateral would convene on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. They also welcomed Japans participation in the MALABAR 2015 naval exercise later this year.As a regional capitalist power, India is at war both with its impoverished farmers in a number of regions, at war with a number of oppressed nationalities, and nearly at war with China, Pakistan, and any vassal neighbor like Nepal that tries to set an independent course. Billions of dollars in arms sales by both capitalist Russia and the imperialist United States to India should be opposed and it should be questioned why neither Putin nor Obama seem to have any problem with India bullying its neighbors.U.S. imperialist interests in Indian arms sales are transparent. Besides immediate profit made by the arms industry, the United States imperialists have the same interests as the Indian government in crushing revolutionary uprisings by Indias poor and oppressed peoples as well as in countering China.Like Indias aggression against Nepal, which includes a motive of isolating China, the United States is itself actively engaged in projects designed to isolate and hurt the Peoples Republic of China as well. These include the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement largely designed to isolate China and ice out European imperialist competitors in Asia as well as designed to hurt labor and environmental standards in participating countries. In addition, Obamas increasingly aggressive military orientation towards China, termed Pivot Asia, is part of a long standing imperialist policy of promoting capitalist counterrevolution in China through economic pressures, military encirclement, and imperialist support for deeply regressive Chinese counterrevolutionaries. These counterrevolutionaries include the Dalai Lama, the Falun Gong, and the new rising star of Chinese advocates of capitalist counterrevolution, Liu Xiaobo who advocates sweeping privatizations, retroactively endorses the brutal pro-imperialist capitalist dictatorship of Chiang Kai-shek, and is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, a CIA front.China is not, of course, without problems. The phenomenal gains of the early years of the Chinese socialist revolution were tempered with a lack of workers democracy, numerous cases of unjustified brutality and repression, and now the brutality of that early system has combined with extensive capitalist inroads that threaten the future of the revolution, create unacceptable inequalities, and have abolished some of the early gains of the revolution like guaranteed socialized health care for all. Despite these losses, some major gains of the 1949 Chinese Revolution do remain that must be defended from imperialist attacks just as Nepalese sovereignty must be defended from Indian attacks.The Madhesi QuestionWhile India has no right to interfere in the internal affairs and international relations of Nepal, it is evident that problems of the new constitution do play into the hands of Indian intervention.Weakening the position of the Madhesis in the constitution and carrying out police oppression against them has, in fact, weakened the position of Nepal in relation to Indian intervention. As the Madhesis are the people in Nepal most culturally linked to India, this may seem counter-intuitive. Yet, in alienating the Madhesis, the Nepalese government has given Prime Minister Modi a ready-made formula for Indian intervention in Nepal.Indias intervention is the height of hypocrisy when one looks at the fact that Indias demands for more rights for the Madhesis are being made by a foreign government and party that politically and militarily backed a monarchy opposed to democratic reforms in Nepal in the first place. In this context, it is clear that India has no right to make any demands on Nepals democratic process, and instead the issues faced by the Madhesis need to be settled by the Nepalese people themselves.Prime Minister Oli, who was central in writing the new constitution, opposed better representation for the Madhesis. Arguments have been made that if given more self-determination, the two Tarai provinces would come more under the control of India. This, in turn would put Nepal under more pressure to adhere to the dictates of India.The Madhesi people are not only the victims of a new constitution that underrepresents them, they are also under brutal attack from the same state security forces that brutally oppressed the Maoist insurgency. Prime Minister Olis party claims to be Leninist, yet Lenins program on nationalities was one of granting national rights of self-determination and language rights as part of a union of socialist republics. This was seen less as a means of breaking the tsarist empire up than as a means of forging unity between nationalities as equals. It was under this program that the Bolsheviks were able to carry out a sweeping proletarian revolution that was able to stand up to imperialist attacks, including foreign invasion.Prime Minister Oli, however, despite the name of his party, is neither Leninist on the national question nor communist when it comes to the Nepalese economy. Far from granting federalist rights to the Madhesi people in the Nepali constitution, Oli played into Indian hands by fully undermining the national rights of the Madhesis.The Nepalese Federal Socialist Party explained a far better position than Prime Minister Olis in their founding program. They instead argue that federalism and language rights, like secularism, are essential to the unity of Nepal:Secularism is an important notion of democracy. Every citizen should have a right to observe a religion or not. The State should not err by recognizing any one of the religion as a State religion. The State should be secular in true sense. Likewise, the linguistic policy of State shall also have to be multilingual. All the citizens of country shall have to be oriented towards learning generally three languages, viz. any two languages of inside the country and one additional international language to enhance competitive capacity in international forum. Guarantee of education in mother tongue also has to be guaranteed. The federal government should allow the expression of diversity in country embedded in a cultural form. This shall evoke a feeling of all citizens are equal inside the country.Officially, the new constitution has accepted a form of federalism that allows for some language rights, but with the official districts jerry-rigged to undermine the marginalized Madhesis, this loses meaning. Under the new constitution Nepali is the official language of Nepal, while under section 7a, provinces are allowed to conduct regional work in one or more languages spoken by the majority. Yet, the gerrymandering of districts, rather than drawing more organic lines, means that many Madhesis will be living as minorities within districts where their language is not recognized. This in turn will serve to undermine job and educational opportunities for an already marginalized people.This is not only a tragedy for the Madhesis, it is a tragedy for Nepal. The natural inclination of the Madhesis to rebel against this injustice then has become Prime Minister Modis cover for economic blockade, using this weakness to his advantage in carrying out Indias current economic war against the entire people of Nepal under the cover of the Madhesi protest movement. In addition, as this struggle potentially escalates into civil war, it may be used by India to annex an important piece of Nepal or as a means for India to pressure the Nepalese ruling class into carrying out undemocratic regime change in Kathmandu.Modis counterrevolution, if successful, will likely consist of an anti-democratic coup abolishing the democratic gains of the revolution, expelling Maoists from the government, and once again relegating the Maoists and other advocates of democracy, secularism, worker liberation, farmer liberation, and womens liberation to custody under the torturers, rapists, and murderers who comprise the security forces of Nepals bourgeois state.In stark contrast to Indias acts of economic war against Nepal, the Peoples Republic of China has congratulated Nepal on their constitution and have worked to replace fuel supplies and other essential trade cut off by India. While China has wisely suggested the Nepalese government consider measures to appease the Madhesi people, their stance has been one of non-interference with the internal affairs of Nepal.Against The Maoist Staged Theory of RevolutionWarming relations between China and Nepal have brought India to the point of issuing bellicose warnings against Nepal playing the China card. India is pointing out that obvious geographical barriers of the Himalayas prevent China from playing the same role in Nepal as India. This is, in essence, is a call by India to say, Resistance is futile Nepal, you have no real alternative but to submit to the demands of our economic blockade!Although exaggerated and ignoring moves to improve infrastructure for trade between Nepal and China, these warnings are not without some merit. This is actually an important warning from Modi to Nepalese communists. While playing the China card is extremely important in maintaining Nepals national sovereignty, the far more essential card is that of worker and farmer socialist revolution. Yes, Nepals trade relations with India remain essential. This makes Indias interference in Nepals internal affairs all the more criminal and points to Nepals need for a socialist revolution, not just in Nepal, but across India. Unfortunately, the 2006 deal between the Nepalese bourgeoisie and Nepalese Maoists weakened near term prospects for socialist revolution both in Nepal and India. Not only did the Maoists give up 80% of Nepal where a social revolution was in full swing, a total betrayal of all those who died fighting for the prospect of a better world, much of the Maoist leadership in Nepal have also now given up on the prospect of socialism itself.In February 2013, Agni Sapkota, spokesperson for the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) declared at the party's seventh convention, "The global context and our local geo-political reality shows that socialism and communism will not benefit the country."This statement goes against all of the lessons of the two major revolutionary victories claimed by Maoism, the October 1917 Russian Revolution and the 1949 Chinese Revolution. Both revolutions moved rapidly to socialist economies. As a result, both countries, very poor before their revolutions, went through rapid development.The October 1917 Russian Revolution was a revolution that fulfilled its promises. The Russian Revolution was only able to fulfill its promises because it was socialist. Through socialism the Russian Revolution was able to break from international imperialist pressures, be immune to internal reactionary capitalist pressure, and also rapidly build the economy in ways that capitalism cannot do.The Russian Revolution led by Lenin and Trotsky ended Russia's involvement in the inter-imperialist mass slaughter of World War I; Brought about a sweeping land reform for the farmers; Abolished capitalism and created a socialist system that was capable of turning one of the poorest countries in the world into an industrial powerhouse capable of defeating two major imperialist invasions, including smashing the Nazis, and rebuilding to provide everyone with a guaranteed job, housing, education, and health care; Brought national rights to oppressed minorities forming republics of ethnic regions, legalizing their languages and providing education in those languages while also giving the economies of the traditionally poorest republics special help through the planned economy; Brought about big advances in women's rights and rights for homosexuals; Made education and health care priorities, And ended government backed pogroms against Jews. Central to the Bolsheviks ability to carry out this program was their overthrow the capitalist system.Like the gains of the Soviet socialist revolution, the gains made in in the 1949 Chinese Revolution were predicated on the adoption of a socialist economy. This included a doubling of life expectancy under Maos socialist rule, rapid development (which started in 1949), land reform, the abolition of slavery in the most backward regions like Tibet, big advances for women rights, huge advances for literacy, guaranteed healthcare for all, and the successful defense of half of Korea from a brutal U.S. imperialist attack that killed up to 5 million people.Numerous gains of the Chinese and Russian Revolutions Have Been LostIn Russia, Yeltsins 1993 capitalist counterrevolution brought unemployment, despair, and a drop of life expectancy by 10 years within 10 years. Putin has since turned some of this around through limited re-nationalizations and using some of the economic and military strength of Russias socialist past to stand up to the bullying of the U.S. and EU imperialists. Still, Yeltsins capitalist counterrevolution remains a world historic set-back for the working class that has only been turned around on a few questions by Putin.A holdout against capitalist counterrevolution in the former USSR, however, remains the Republic of Belarus which has almost fully maintained a state owned socialist economy. Belarus never went through the tragedy of the capitalist shock therapy imposed by Boris Yeltsin and his ilk across the former USSR and, as a result, the Belarussian people have been far better off. Despite economic problems since the end of the Soviet Union, unemployment remains officially under 1%, at 0.6%. As in the United States, real unemployment is far higher than official figures, but is still lower than in Belorussias capitalist neighbors. In 2009 an official census found 6.1% of the population identify themselves as unemployed, so this is a far more realistic figure. That is still far better than capitalist Ukraine which had an unemployment rate of over 41% before the country was further devastated by war and IMF-U.S.-EU austerity. Likewise, in Belarus education remains a well-funded state priority which is free at all levels including higher education. Belarusian healthcare also remains free and state owned with infant mortality lower than the United States 6 per thousand live births, at 3.9 per thousand live births in Belarus instead.Massive capitalist inroads into the Chinese socialist economy have also greatly hurt the Chinese workers and farmers. Numerous socialist gains of the revolution have been lost, including guaranteed free socialized healthcare. Yet, some gains remain like state ownership of the banks and state ownership of many essential central industries like steel, electricity, and cement. It is through this state ownership, as from the beginning of the revolution, that China has been rapidly developing and, since the 1950s has never reverted to the history of massive famines that existed routinely under feudalism, capitalism and imperialism. Likewise, state ownership in central components of the economy allows for state economic priorities in building for human needs including housing, mass public transportation, and renewable energy to further build up the economy and combat global warming.Yet, despite the lessons of history showing the superiority of socialism, the two ruling communist parties in Nepal have adopted a capitalist program and, in the process, chopped off their communist roots. The degeneration of Nepals two mainstream communist parties can be seen in part as a result of the natural pressures of bourgeois public opinion and the opportunism that takes place within and outside of all socialist parties in capitalist societies. History has shown, over time in a capitalist society these pressures degenerate most parties whether they be Maoist, Trotskyist, Castroist, social democratic, or old Moscow line Communist parties with political ideologies born out of Stalinism. Yet, within the Maoist ideology, there is also a ready-made ideology for defeat found in Stalins two stage theory of revolution which was adopted by Mao.The Tragedy of Two Stage Theories of RevolutionIn the Russian Revolution, Lenin and Trotsky advocated the immediate overthrow of capitalism as the only means to advance the revolution. The Mensheviks (social democrats), on the other hand, advocated a staged theory of revolution, where the first stage would be all about the smashing of the remnants of feudalism and the development of capitalism and the second stage would be for the establishment of socialism. While the theory talks of two stages of revolution, in reality this program sets the fight for socialist revolution back to some future date that never comes.The Mensheviks had their chance in Russia. The Russian Revolution went through two stages in 1917. The first, led by the social democratic Mensheviks happened in February, so became called the February Revolution. Almost nothing really improved under the pro-capitalist Mensheviks. They re-started the inter-imperialist war with Germany, a war where workers had no interest. They opposed a needed sweeping land reform for the poor peasantry. Likewise, they opposed a socialization of industry needed for the working class and society as a whole. The Mensheviks, through a program that claimed it was too early for a socialist revolution in Russia, carried out backward pro-capitalist policies.As the Mensheviks were busy betraying the revolution, Joseph Stalin entered negotiations with the Mensheviks to merge the Bolshevik and Menshevik parties. Upon his return from exile, Vladimir Lenin put an end to those negotiations. Lenin also adopted Trotskys position that the nature of the revolution must be socialist in Lenins famous April Thesis.Trotsky had developed his theory on the need to skip over the bourgeois stage of revolution in prison after the failed 1905 revolution. In that revolution, Trotsky realized that the bourgeoisie no longer had a progressive role to play as it did in earlier bourgeois revolutions elsewhere. Trotsky explained this through his theory of combined and uneven development. In this theory Trotsky explained that backward Russia already had developed in ways that had not occurred in France before the French Revolution. This was as a result of the infusion of some of the technologies and other advances that had occurred in the west into Russia. Trotsky saw that as a result, a significant working class had developed in Russia before the bourgeois revolution had taken place.Combined and uneven development had two major impacts on the revolutionary struggle in Russia. The first impact was the fact that the working class had the potential to seize power and take the revolution beyond the bourgeois phase of revolution. The second was that the bourgeoisie recognized this fact and, out of fear of the working class, preferred the fetters of feudalism under tsarism to any attempt at bourgeois revolution. The bourgeoisie, unlike in the time of Marx, was no longer a revolutionary class pitted against the remnants of feudalism, but a class that instead clung to supporting the power of the tsarist state out of fear of the working class. From this understanding, Trotsky developed the Theory of Permanent Revolution which stated, in part, that for the future Russian revolution to succeed it must be led by the working class and must be socialist in character.It was after the adoption of the April Thesis that Lenin and Trotskys parties merged and moved on to lead the October Revolution against the Mensheviks in power. Had it been up to Stalin, there would have never been an October Revolution. Stalin would later revive his support for the Menshevik staged theory of revolution after Lenins death, imposing that program on Communist Parties around the world and expelling those who disagreed as Trotskyists. In China, Stalins adoption of the two staged theory of revolution led to a period of time where he supported the nationalist Chiang Kai-shek and ordered the Chinese Communist Party to disarm and join with his nationalist forces. As a result, Chiang Kai-shek was able to round-up and massacre at least 10,000 worker communists in Shanghai in 20 days in 1927. Fortunately, the communists were eventually able to recover and Mao led them to power in 1949. After taking power, Mao was pushed onto the road of carrying out a sweeping socialist revolution, despite carrying Stalins ideology of two staged revolution. For Mao, the course of events in the unfolding class struggle and the imperialist war in Korea, gave Mao two choices, carry out a thorough sweeping socialist revolution and land reform or betray the revolution. Fortunately, Mao made the right decision.Stalins theory of staged revolutions is also where Nelson Mandelas, the ANCs, and the South African Communist Partys capitalist program came from. As a result of that staged theory carried out in practice, racist Apartheid laws have been dismantled, but the same capitalist system and power structure exists. As a result, the ANC and SACP were never able to deliver on many of their promises regarding housing, education, health care, and employment. It will take socialism to reach those goals. Likewise, the police of the ANC and SACP led capitalist state now gun down striking workers in defense of capitalist profit just as they did under Apartheid. The roots of this betrayal were growing long before the ANC and SACP took power as both parties accepted Stalins two stage theory of revolution and thereby accepted the violence, exploitation, and oppression inherent in the capitalist system.Stalins two stage theory has also led to the unfortunate betrayal of the Nepalese Revolution by its Maoist leadership in 2006. Revolutionaries must defend the limited democratic gains made by the Maoists from Indian and internal attack, but the balance sheet is one that shows very limited gains at the cost of 13,000 killed in Nepals civil war, and even those gains becoming highly threatened without taking the revolution to a higher socialist stage.Both South Africa and Nepal are just two of the most recent examples of how Stalins two staged theory helped ruin the vanguard of the revolution, leading what were otherwise extremely promising revolutions to what are now instead largely defeats for comparatively extremely small gains.The Mensheviks, opposed to the leftist agenda of the Bolsheviks, almost lost power in August 1917 due to a rightwing military coup led by General Kornilov. At that point, the survival of the revolutionary Menshevik government depended, in part, on critical military support from the Bolsheviks led by Lenin and Trotsky. The Bolsheviks saw this as only a temporary alliance, seeing the critical need to defeat Kornilov, but they also used the situation to arm the working class both to fight against the far right and to prepare for the struggles to come against the Menshevik Kerensky government.Through patiently winning the working class to their side and military preparations, the Bolsheviks led the workers and peasants to power in a second revolution, the October 1917 Russian Revolution.The future revolution in Nepal requires a defense of the gains of the 2006 revolution from Indian attack, but it also requires a defense of the Madhesi people from nationalistic Nepalese attack. Moving towards this necessary revolution cannot be done simply by pressuring the powers that be, it requires the building of a revolutionary vanguard independent the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), both of which are now playing the role of the Mensheviks in modern day Nepal. In rebuilding a revolutionary vanguard in Nepal, India, and around the globe, it will be essential to discard all two staged theories of revolution. Likewise, an essential component of this revolutionary vanguard is Lenins program for the liberation of all oppressed and marginalized nationalities in a federation of socialist republics.Down With Indias Economic Blockade of Nepal!Defend The Madhesi People from Chauvinistic Attack!For a Return to Lenins Policy on Oppressed Nations!For the Rebuilding of a Vanguard That Adheres to Lenin and Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution!For Workers and Farmers Socialist Revolution in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Beyond!-Steven Argue for the Revolutionary TendencyRevolutionary TendencyIndian Hands Off Nepal!This is an article of Liberation News, subscribe free: Los Angeles, CA The fallout from a The fallout from a data breach can be massive in scope, as evidenced by the millions of people affected when their personal information is illegally accessed. Some cases involve stolen card numbers and consumers who allege their credit cards were used illegally. But other cases involve identity theft, where consumers dont find out until later that their information has been used to make big purchases or access large sums of money. The problem, data breach lawsuits allege, is that companies simply dont take protection of customer information seriously. In the past few years, many high-profile lawsuits have been filed concerning data breaches at national companies. How high profile? Companies including Target, Home Depot and Michaels have all been accused of failing to protect consumer information. But its not just retail companies that face claims. Universities, financial institutions, insurance companies and health care providers have also faced lawsuits linked to data breaches.When information including Social Security numbers, date of birth and medical information is taken, thieves can file false tax returns and take out a mortgage in the victims name, putting the victim at risk of having his or her credit rating ruined. Even when the breach is uncovered in time, victims must spend their own time setting things right, notifying the proper people and organizations, and canceling cards.Worse still is when companies are warned that their security systems arent up to snuff, but fail to take appropriate action, creating ideal circumstances for a hacker to take advantage of the situation. Some companies are accused of knowing about a data breach for too long before notifying consumers that their information was made vulnerable.Perhaps the most egregious breach is that of SanrioTown.com, an online community for people who love Hello Kitty. According to(12/21/15), the breach allegedly exposed members first and last names, birth dates, genders, countries, e-mail addresses, some passwords, and password questions and answers. Sanrio has not commented on the alleged leak.Companies who fail to adequately protect consumer, employee or client information can face lawsuits to recover damages sustained as a result of negligence. They may also face fines or other sanctions from regulators and lawsuits from shareholders.Recently, data breach lawsuits have been settled, including a proposed $10 million settlement in the Target data breach lawsuit. Portsmouth, NH Bob Sprankle was a teacher who began to suffer debilitating abdominal pain stemming from hernia surgery performed in 2007. According to a report in the Portland Press Herald (11/3/15), the pain became chronic, progressing to such a degree that he was largely confined to his home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Sprankle applied for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, but like many individuals Bob Sprankle was a teacher who began to suffer debilitating abdominal pain stemming from hernia surgery performed in 2007. According to a report in the(11/3/15), the pain became chronic, progressing to such a degree that he was largely confined to his home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Sprankle applied for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, but like many individuals Wrongly Denied Disability Claims , he was made to wait. And suffer.Many an LTD lawsuit has asserted that insurance providers systematically deny legitimate LTD claims. An appeal can take years, with many insureds simply giving up entirely.Sprankle didnt give up, and he had several friends and angels in his corner to assist him in his battle for benefits. Nevertheless, the journey to eventual approval was long and hard.The respected teacher was denied LTD not once, but twice. Coworkers and various medical professionals undertook for Sprankle, and vouched for the fact he was under extreme, debilitating pain. However, the provider, in this case the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (Maine PERS), did not agree. Critics cite various changes to the Maine PERS that effectively resulted in an increased rate of denials.When Sprankle was denied benefits in 2013, according to the report, he attempted to return to his teaching job at Wells Elementary School for the upcoming academic year, beginning in the fall of 2014.He lasted a little over two months, according to the report in theHis lower abdominal pain was reported to have become unbearable, to the point where he could no longer walk the halls. Sprankle increasingly found himself lying down in a supply closet between classes, in an effort to gain a bit of relief from his pain, and to help conserve whatever strength and energy he had left for his students.His efforts proved fruitless, and he left the school for good in November 2014. He applied for LTD benefits again, and again was denied. But then something happened: an area newspaper caught wind of the story and used Sprankle to help illustrate and personify all that was wrong with the status quo of the Maine PERS system. That was on August 23 of last year. Soon after the story came out, Sprankle was invited to re-apply for LTD benefits. The state reviewed his case yet again this past fall, and in early November, Sprankle was granted with permanent retirement disability.Sprankle, just 52, would receive 59 percent of his salary ($71,000 per annum) until age 65. Sprankle, continuing in a state of extreme agony from his medical condition, credited Representative Robert Foley (R-Wells) for helping him in his fight.This is like an enormous weight has been lifted from our shoulders, Sprankle said in the November 3, 2015 media report.And then, Sprankle died.Just a month after finally achieving approval for LTD benefits, Sprankle passed away. The(12/10/15), which just a month before had been reporting a happy ending for Sprankles Wrongly Denied Disability Claims, had to come back and report on the death of the beloved teacher.Part of the victory won by Sprankle with the help of Rep. Bob Foley was an announced reformation of Maine PERS in order to help minimize and prevent wrongful denials. And Maine PERS is not in isolation, as many carriers including MetLife, Principal Financial Group, Guardian, The Standard and others have been at the receiving end of a bad faith insurance lawsuit.Sprankle, living through constant pain, won his fight. However, he didnt live long enough to benefit from it. The popular Catholic priest and spiritual leader of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has raised the alarm over what he says is a plot to assassinate President Muhammadu Buhari. L-R: Father Ejike Mbaka, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammdu Buhari at the state house when Mbaka visited Aso Rock late last year The Enugu-based priest who has been in the news for a while because of his role in the 2015 elections, recently visited the president on Friday, December 18, 2015 in the presidential villa, Aso Rock. READ ALSO: FIVE Things Gov Aregbesola Wants You To Know About President Jonathan And PDP [article_adwert] During his visit to the state house, Mbaka declared that Nigeria will succeed not minding whats presently happening. Mbaka came into the consciousness of Nigerians when in his 2015 New Year message entitled From Goodluck to Badluck, he prophesised that the former President Goodluck Jonathan would be defeated in the 2015 presidential elections. Daily Post reports that in his 2016 New Year message, on Friday, January 1, Mbaka raised the alarm over plans to kill Buhari because of hithe president's stance on corruption. Mbaka said: ''Many people are planning to kill Buhari; there are many plans on how to eliminate his life so that corruption will continue; so that embezzlement will continue. But I speak to Buhari that God who put you there will protect you; be firm, remain resolute, dont be intimidated; President Buhari God and his people are behind you, you are the answer to the prayer of His people.'' The priest also accused Jonathan of killing Nigeria after which he added, ''he handed over the skeleton to Buharis government.'' READ ALSO: Buhari vs Jonathan: The Least Hated Person In The Nation Is About a month ago, Aisha, the wife of President Buhari visited Mbaka when she was in Enugu for another edition of her women's health initiative project called the ''Aishat Buhari women health initiative'' at Queens school Enugu. Source: Legit.ng The memories from the 2015 Headies Awards will forever linger in the hearts of everyone as music industry heavyweights Olamide and Don Jazzy started the New Year by turning on each other, leaving many in the Nigerian music industry shocked. YBNL and Mavin Records boss, Olamide and Don Jazzy It would never have occurred to anyone that these two had it in them to brawl in the open space, having collaborated on the song Skelemba, which is included in Olamides November 2014 album. The show of shame by mavin records boss and YBNLs street champion started following a series of events at the awards in Lagos after Marvin Record starlet, Reekado Banks, beat Olamides protege, Lil Kesh, to the coveted Next Rated Artist award. READ ALSO: My Relationship With Don Jazzy- Di'ja [article_adwert] Olamide expressed his frustration at the decision when he accompanied Adekunle Gold, another YBNL act, who won the award for Best Alternative Artiste, to receive the award. "He (Lil Kesh) is our next rated artiste. He had back to back hits throughout the year Lyrically, Shoki, Gbese and Efejoku," he said among other things before throwing the mic on the stage. The situation took a turn when Don Jazzy, apparently feeling slighted, told Olamide to come and take the car, which comes with the Next Rated award, if he wanted it while receiving the special recognition award. The comments enraged the YBNL boss who took to Twitter to blast Don Jazzy, warning him to stay away from Lagos mainland. In a series of tweets Olamide accused Mavin's boss of ruining D Banjs career and oppressing artistes signed to his record label. READ ALSO: Back To Back, Olamide Shut Down Lagos With OLIC 2 See some of his tweets below: Source: Legit.ng One year after the deadliest Boko Haram massacre, Baga town on Lake Chad in northeast Nigeria remains deserted as thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. [article_adwert] Deserted Baga town. File photo Many men, women and children were killed in the Nigerian towns of Baga and Doron Baga on January 3, 2015, when Boko Haram insurgents launched a fierce attack. The total number of dead remains unclear as the Nigerian army claims that only 150 Nigerians were killed, while some other sources say that up to 2,000 people died. It is hard to believe now that town used to be a lively trading centre of 200,000 residents, where merchants would travel to sell cattle, leather goods and trade fresh produce. READ ALSO: Boko Haram Can No Longer Attack Towns - Buhari Muhammad Alhaji Bukar, who was forced to leave the town after the terrorists' attacks, said: Baga is still deserted, we are all living in camps and homes of friends and relatives in Maiduguri because we are scared of returning home. The Nigerian army recaptured Baga in March and soldiers patrol its dusty streets today. With fewer than a 1000 Nigerians living now in Baga the towns lasting emptiness shows how difficult it is to get people back home and renew peace to the battered northeast region. The scheme of the Boko Haram attacks The Nigerian military and forces from neighbouring countries have over the last year been able to flush the insurgents out from captured towns, but is not able to stop the Boko Haram members from regrouping in the surrounding villages and bush. Spurned not crushed, the militants had found cover near Baga in the little islands lined with tall grass that dot the freshwater lake. As Bukar Kori, head of the Bagas traders union, said: We cant return to Baga yet, it is still not safe, especially with Boko Haram lurking on nearby islands. READ ALSO: South African Politician, Malema, Attacks Jonathan Over Baga Killings Today, an estimated 700 people are living in Baga, with the majority of the towns former residents staying in Maiduguri. President Muhammadu Buhari's government insists that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. However, going into 2016, the militant sect continues to wreak havoc by sending out suicide attackers, sometimes in groups. Last weekend in an attack that continued for 48 hours, the terrorists stormed Maiduguri unleashing dozens of suicide bombers, killing at least 22 people. Source: Legit.ng Hossein Jaber Ansari, Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, has said that Saudi Arabi will answer for killing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr today, January 2. Protest against execution of prominent Muslim cleric [article_adwert] The official IRNA news agency cited Ansari as saying: The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility & imprudence." READ ALSO: Kaduna Residents Happy Over El-Zakzaky's Arrest Nimr, 56, was a leader of the peaceful protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shia minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. Today's executions were managed at the same time in 12 locations across Saudi Arabia. Of the 47 killed, one was a Chadian national while another was Egyptian. The rest were Saudis. Saudi Arabia provided more than 150 executions last year, the highest figure recorded by human rights groups for 20 years. Source: Legit.ng 02 January 2016 - 11H05 Letter of Invitation: I would be available to answer any queries regarding best suburbs to integrate socially, just to let you know 21 suburbs of South Australia which are red-flagged by Australian banks. I am happy to provide detail answers to any questions with reference to Property Investment, Subdivision, Development, Buying/ Selling Residential, Commercial, Rural Properties and Businesses. I am available in person (Tue/Thu at 1289 South Rd, St. Marys, SA 5042 12 to 5 p.m) or on cell to answer any questions, and concerns you have to decide about your Real Estate. (Cell: 0431 138 537, Email: Saqlain@Dukesrealestate.com) Click here to invest in South Australian Residential Commercial, Rural Properties, Schools & Businesses. I sell land on this Earth for as cheap as 10 cents/ Sq.M to a price equivalent to price of 2 Aussie Mangoes/ Sq.M. I hope tomorrow I will be selling and leasing Moon's Surface. (Earth is rising over the Moon's Surface), Source: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateSA5000/photos/a.899877783394135.1073741829.899009183480995/920077631374150/?l=734b9eef72 : alalam.ir/news/1775095 #___ pic.twitter.com/i90znZwACs Consequences of the martyrdom of #SheikhNimr won't be seen just in #Saudi's east but also #Iraq, #Bahrain & #Yemen.. https://t.co/NViKMc6Sha AFP/File | Saudi Shiites protest in Awamiyah in eastern Saudi Arabia on October 24, 2014 against the death sentence on Nimr al-Nimr TEHRAN (AFP) - Saudi Arabia will pay "a high price" for executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," Ansari said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. 2016 AFP ======================================================= Nimr al-Nimr From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Ambox current red.svg This article is about a person who has recently died. Some information, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change as more facts become known. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Nimr Baqr al-Nimr or Sheikh Nemer Baqir Al-Nemer by Talkhandak.jpg Portrait of Sheikh Nimr Religion Islam[1] Denomination Twelver Shia School Mohammad Hussaini Shirazi, Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi[1] Personal Nationality Saudi Born 1959 Al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia Died 2 January 2016 (aged 56 or 57) Saudi Arabia Children Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr (nephew) Senior posting Title Sheikh Religious career Website www.sknemer.com Nimr Baqr al-Nimr (Arabic: )[1] (1959 2 January 2016) also spelled as Bakir al-Nimr,[2] al-Nemr,[3] al-Namr,[4] al-Nimer, al-Nemer, al-Namer, commonly referred to as Sheikh Nimr, was an educated clergy man in Qom Seminary Schools in IRAN and Shia a Sheikh in al-Awamiyah, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.[5] He was popular among youth[1][6] and critical of the Saudi Arabian government.[1] He called for elections in Saudi Arabia.[7] He claimed that he was beaten by Mabahith when arrested in 2006.[1] In 2009, he criticised Saudi authorities and suggested secession of the Eastern Province[8] if Saudi Shias' rights were not better respected.[9][5] A warrant for his arrest was issued and 35 people were arrested.[9][4] During the 20112012 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr called for protestors to resist police bullets using "the roar of the word" rather than violence,[3][10] predicted the overthrow of the government if repression continued,[11] and was seen by The Guardian as having "taken the lead in [the] uprising".[6] On 8 July 2012 al-Nimr was shot by police in the leg and arrested, in what police described as an "exchange of gunfire".[12][13] Thousands of people protested in response in several protests[13][14] in which two men, Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel, were killed by police bullets.[15] Al-Nimr started a hunger strike and appeared to have been tortured.[15][16][17] The Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed concern for al-Nimr's health during his hunger strike on 21 August, calling for international support to allow access by family, lawyer and human rights activists.[18] On 15 October 2014, al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in Saudi Arabia, 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces"[19] and his brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, was arrested on the same day for tweeting information about the death sentence.[19][20] Nimr Baqr al-Nimr was executed on or shortly before 2 January 2016 among 47 people executed.[21] His execution was condemned by Iran and Shiites throughout the Middle East, as well as by Western figures and Sunnis opposed to sectarianism. Contents [hide] 1 Religious career 2 Points of view 3 Popularity 4 2004 and 2006 arrests 5 2009 sermon and arrest order 6 Protests, arrest and death sentence 6.1 20112014 Saudi Arabian protests 6.2 July 2012 arrest and hunger strike 6.3 Trial 6.4 October 2014 death sentence 6.5 2015 appeal and imminent execution 6.6 Execution 7 Reactions against the death sentence to Sheikh Nimr 7.1 Petitions from NGOs 8 Reactions to execution 8.1 Reactions by organizations 9 Personal life 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Religious career[edit] Al-Nimr has been a Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah since 2008 or earlier.[1] He studied for about ten years in Tehran and also studied in Syria. He initially followed Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussaini Shirazi and as of 2008, followed Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi.[1] As of 2008, he was independent of the two main political groups in the Eastern Province Shia community, Islahiyyah (the Shirazis) and Hezbollah Al-Hejaz (Saudi Hezbollah).[1] Al-Nimr has been the Friday prayers leader in al-Awamiyah since 2009 or earlier.[9] Points of view[edit] Al-Nimr supported "something between" individual and council forms of guardianship of the Islamic Jurists as a form of government.[1] He supported Kurdish majority control of Iraqi Kurdistan.[1] Al-Nimr believed that Shia ayatollahs would not promote violence and "murder in the name of God". He supported "the idea of elections".[1] Al-Nimr criticized Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy, which brutally suppressed massive pro-democracy Shia-led demonstrations in Bahrain in 2011.[22] Al-Nimr stated that the United States (US) "wants to humiliate the world."[1] In August 2008, he said that he saw US citizens as a natural ally of Shia as the thinking of both US citizens and Shia is "based on justice and liberty".[1] He believed that the Saudi state is "particularly reactionary" and that "agitation" is needed to influence the state in general and the Saudi state in particular.[1] According to John Kincannon, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, Al-Nimr made statements "perceived as supporting Iran".[1] In August 2008, he stated that he believed that Iran and other states outside of Saudi Arabia act mainly out of self-interest, not out of religious solidarity.[1] Al-Nimr stated that in the case of internal conflict in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Shia would have the right to ask for international intervention in analogy to requests for foreign military intervention by Kuwaitis and Saudis to the US in the 199091 Gulf War and people from Darfur during the War in Darfur.[1] Al-Nimr criticised Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, who was crown prince of Saudi Arabia, following Nayef's death in June 2012. He stated that "people must rejoice at [Nayef's] death" and that "he will be eaten by worms and will suffer the torments of Hell in his grave".[23][24][25] Popularity[edit] Al-Nimr was described by US diplomat Gfoeller as "gaining popularity locally" in 2008.[1] The Guardian described him as "[seeming] to have become the most popular Saudi Shia cleric among local youth" in October 2011.[6] He retained his popularity in 2012, with thousands of people participated in Qatif street demonstrations in his support following his July 2012 arrest.[13] 2004 and 2006 arrests[edit] Al-Nimr was detained for several days in 2004.[15] He was arrested by Mabahith in 2006 and beaten during his detention. Residents of al-Awamiyah campaigned to support him and he was released[1] after several days.[15] 2009 sermon and arrest order[edit] In February 2009, an incident occurred in Medina involving differences in Shia and Sunni customs at the tomb of Muhammad, filming of Shia women by the religious police, protests by Shia in Medina and arrests. Six children were arrested during 48 March for taking part in a 27 February protest in Safwa.[4] Al-Nimr criticised the authorities' February actions in Medina and the Minister of Interior in particular for discrimination against Saudi Arabian Shia.[4][2] In a sermon, he threatened secession,[5][8] stating "Our dignity has been pawned away, and if it is not ... restored, we will call for secession. Our dignity is more precious than the unity of this land."[9] A warrant for his arrest was issued in response. Protests took place in al-Awamiyah starting 19 March. Four people were arrested, including al-Nimr's nephew, 'Ali Ahmad al-Faraj, aged 16, who was arrested on 22 March.[4] The police started tracking al-Nimr in order to arrest him and tried to take his children hostage.[2] By 1 April, a total of 35 people had been arrested and security forces installed checkpoints on roads to al-Awamiyah. As of 1 April 2009, al-Nimr had not been arrested.[9] The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said that the authorities were "persecuting Shia reformist Nimr Bakir al-Nimr for his criticism of policies of sectarian discrimination against the Shia in Saudi Arabia and for his call for reform and equality."[2] Protests, arrest and death sentence[edit] 20112014 Saudi Arabian protests[edit] See also: 201114 Saudi Arabian protests In October 2011, during the 20112012 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr said that young people protesting in response to the arrests of two al-Awamiyah septuagenarians were provoked by police firing at them with live ammunition. On 4 October,[3] he called for calm, stating, "The [Saudi] authorities depend on bullets ... and killing and imprisonment. We must depend on the roar of the word, on the words of justice".[10] He explained further, "We do not accept [the use of firearms]. This is not our practice. We will lose it. It is not in our favour. This is our approach [use of words]. We welcome those who follow such [an] attitude. Nonetheless, we cannot enforce our methodology on those who want to pursue different approaches [and] do not commit to ours. The weapon of the word is stronger than the power of bullets."[3] In January 2012, he called on authorities to "stop bloodshed", predicting that the government would be overthrown if it continued its "month-long crackdown" against protestors.[11] He criticised a list of 23 alleged protestors published by the Ministry of Interior. The Guardian described him as having "taken the lead in [the] uprising".[6] July 2012 arrest and hunger strike[edit] On 8 July 2012 al-Nimr was shot by police in the leg and arrested. According to Ministry of Interior spokesperson Mansour al-Turki, policemen tried to arrest al-Nimr and colleagues who were in a car. Al-Nimr and his colleagues fired live bullets at the policemen, police shot their guns in response, al-Nimr and his colleagues attempted to escape and crashed into a police car.[12] According to al-Nimr's brother Mohammed al-Nimr, Nimr al-Nimr was arrested "while driving from a farm to his house in al-Qatif".[13] The Saudi Press Agency stated that al-Nimr was charged with "instigating unrest".[15] Mohammed al-Nimr said that his brother "had been wanted by the Interior Ministry for a couple of months because of his political views".[13] Thousands of people protested in response.[13] Two men, Akbar al-Shakhouri and Mohamed al-Felfel, were killed in the protest.[15] Pictures of al-Nimr "covered with what appeared to be a blood-stained white blanket" were published online by Eastern Province activists.[15] On 16 July, activist Hamza al-Hassan stated that al-Nimr had received a brief visit by his family during which officials stated that the purpose of the visit was to request al-Nimr's family to "calm the angry protestors". According to al-Hassan[16] and Press TV,[17] al-Nimr had been tortured, had bruises on his face and had broken teeth". On 19 July, al-Nimr's family said that al-Nimr had started a hunger strike.[17] Al-Nimr's family visited him again on 22 July. They stated that he had been badly tortured, with signs of torture on his head, that he was continuing his hunger strike, and that he had weakened.[26] Al-Nimr's wife, Muna Jabir al-Shariyavi, died in a New York hospital while he was imprisoned. Two thousand people attended the funeral in Safwa on the evening of 30/31 August, called for al-Nimr to be unconditionally freed, for all Shia and Sunni detainees to be freed, and chanted "Down with Hamad", "Bahrain Free Free, Peninsula Shield out".[14] On 21 August, the Asharq Center for Human Rights expressed concern that al-Nimr was on the 45-th day of his hunger strike while in prison and said that he had not been charged. The Asharq Center appealed for international support for allowing access to al-Nimr by his family, lawyer and human rights activists.[18] Trial[edit] Amnesty International stated that apart from the charge of firing at security forces on 8 July 2012, the other charges, of "disobeying the ruler", "inciting sectarian strife" and "encouraging, leading and participating in demonstrations" were based on documentary evidence of al-Nimr's sermons and interviews. Amnesty viewed these as representing the right to free speech and that al-Nimr did not incite violence in these. Amnesty stated that witnesses whose testimonies were used during the trial did not testify in court and that al-Nimr's lawyer was not given a fair possibility to defend him.[20] The European Saudi Society for Human Rights (ESSHR) reported details of five of al-Nimr's court appearances following the 8 July 2012 arrest. According to the ESSHR, 33 charges were laid in the first appearance, on 25 March 2013. On the 29 April 2013 court appearance, the defence was unable to respond to the charges because it did not have the details of the list of charges. On 23 December 2013, al-Nimr's lawyer said that al-Nimr was unable to respond to the charges because he did not have a pen and paper. Al-Nimr's lawyer was informed one day before the fourth appearance, on 15 April 2014. The ESSHR stated that neither al-Nimr's lawyer nor his family were informed prior to the fifth court session, on 22 April 2014.[27] October 2014 death sentence[edit] On 15 October 2014, al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in [Saudi Arabia], 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces".[19] Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International stated that the death sentence was "part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to crush all dissent, including those defending the rights of the Kingdom's Shi'a Muslim community."[20] Nimr al-Nimr's brother, Mohammad al-Nimr, tweeted information about the death sentence[19] and was arrested on the same day.[20] The head of Irans armed forces warned Saudi Arabia that it would pay dearly if it carried out the execution.[28] 2015 appeal and imminent execution[edit] In March 2015 the appeal court of Saudi Arabia upheld the death sentence against Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.[29] On 25 October 2015, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia turned down the appeal moved by family of Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr against death sentence. The brother of Nimr, while discussing with reporter of Reuters disclosed that decision came out as a result of hearing without notice to lawyers and family members of Sheikh Nimr. However, his brother had a hope from King Salman for grant of pardon from sentence of death.[30][31][32] Execution[edit] On 2 January 2016, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry announced that Nimr had been among 47 people executed.[33][21] Surprisingly, the list of those executed does not include Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, the cleric's nephew, who has also been sentenced to death over his alleged role in anti-regime protests in 2012, when he was 17 years old.[34] Reactions against the death sentence to Sheikh Nimr[edit] On Saturday 8 November 2014, there was a demonstration outside Downing Street where Amina Taylor of Press TV (London) conveyed the Britons' request to the head of the UK Government for his intervention on behalf of prominent Saudi Arabian Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr who was handed the death sentence in October 2014.[35] Reportedly on 13 November 2014 Muslims of different nationalities including Afghan, Iranian, Indian, Pakistani, Iraqi and Lebanese gathered in an organized protest in front of the United Nations against the death sentence of Sheikh Nimr and raised their voice for the freedom of all political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.[36] In March 2015 Nigerian people staged a protest in the city of Kano against the detention and death sentence of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, according to Tasnim News Agency.[37] On 13 May 2015 Shia marjas Ja'far Sobhani, Naser Makarem Shirazi, and Hossein Noori Hamedani condemned the death sentence.[38] Aware of the imminence of the execution of Sheikh Nimr in May 2015, Shia Muslims all over the world have staged peacful rallies and forwarded their petition to UNO to prevent the death sentence. Protests intensified and people took to the streets in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India and Iraq. In Iran, the only country with a predominantly Shiite population in the Middle East, clerics and scholars staged a mass sit-in on 13 May in Qom and Mashhad, to show their solidarity with Sheikh Nimr and record their agitation.[39] On 17 May 2015 Ahlul Bayt News Agency reported a peaceful protest rally in solidarity with Sheikh al-Nimr staged in Berlin, Germany. Demonstrators demanded that the Saudi Government immediately release Sheikh Nimr and drop all illegal charges against the Shia Saudi cleric. The protesters also condemned the systematic and widespread violations of human rights in Saudi Arabia.[40] On December 31, 2015, a group of prominent Sunni clerics of Iran called the United Nations and other international organizations in a letter for heightened efforts to free al-Nimr.[41] Petitions from NGOs[edit] On 20 November, 2015, besides two volunteers working for human rights and international religious freedom, 15 organisations from different religions and communities functioning for rule of humanity and justice have collectively requested the US Secretary of State to approach and press the King of Saudia Arabia to waive the sentence of death awarded to Sheikh Nimr, Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher. The signatories of the petition were: Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB); Amnesty International; Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy; Center for Inquiry (CFI); European Center for Democracy & Human Rights (ECDHR); European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR); Freedom House Human Rights Foundation; Human Rights Watch; Hindu American Foundation (HAF), International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF); Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (MHRSA); Muslim Public Affairs Council; PEN American Center; Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED); Shia Rights Watch (SRW); Dr. Toby Matthiesen, Senior Research Fellow in International Relations of the Middle East at the University of Oxford; William C. Walsh, lawyer.[42] Reactions to execution[edit] Riyadh's main regional rival Iran and its Shia allies immediately reacted with vigorous condemnation, threatening Saudi Arabia and the House of Saud with severe repercussions, in protests ranging as far as India.[43] Saudi Arabia People in the Qatif region of Saudi Arabias Eastern Province have taken to the streets with protesters marching from Nimrs hometown of al-Awamiya to Qatif, chanting, "Down with the Al Saud".[44] Sheikh Nimr's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, said that the pro-democracy movement in Saudi Arbia will only grow up after this execution.[45] He described his brother as "a humble, religious man who lived a simple life, making him attractive to many youths", and that his execution "will spark anger of (Shia) youths", and said he hoped any response would be peaceful.[43] Saudi Arabia summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh over Irans "hostile" remarks after the execution.[46] Bahrain Hundreds of people held a protest rally in the capital Manama.[47] Demonstrators carrying pictures of Sheikh Nimr were involved in a clash with police in the Bahraini village of Abu-Saiba.[48] Bahraini government, a Saudi ally which also has faced unrest from its Shia majority population, backed the execution.[43] Germany - an unidentified German Foreign Ministry official expressed concern over the execution.[49][43] Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khameni tweeted that "[a]wakening is not suppressible",[50] and compared the Saudi government to the ISIL, also famous for its mass executions.[43] Khamenei's website carried a picture of a Saudi executioner next to notorious Islamic State executioner Jihadi John, with the caption "Any differences?"[51] The speaker of Iranian parliament Ali Larijani said the execution will prompt a "maelstrom" in Saudi Arabia.[52] Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabian charge d'affaires.[53] Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said the execution of Sheikh Nimr "who had no means other than speech to pursue his political and religious objectives only shows the depth of imprudence and irresponsibility".[44] He said that the Saudi government "supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution".[54] Iranian lawmakers asked the Foreign Ministry to downgrade diplomatic ties with the Saudi government.[46] Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, member of the Assembly of Experts and Friday prayer Imam, predicted the fall of Saudi Arabia's ruling family following the execution.[54] Both high-ranking Shia and Sunni clerics of Iran condemned the execution. Shia marja Naser Makarem Shirazi called it "deeply shocking" and called the Saudi government "the center for spreading sedition and Takfiri ideology". Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani said the execution "once again showed the criminal nature" of the Al Saud regime and that it paves the way for the regime's fall. Grand Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani urged all Shia and Sunni Muslims to react against the incident. Ayatollah Abbas Kaabi, Seyed Mohammad Vaez Mousavi and Ayatollah Hassan Mamdouhi also slammed the executions, underlining that "Saudis has dug its own grave". Ayatollah Hosseini Bushehri the head of Qom Seminary Schools announced that large number of clerics and seminary school students of Qom will close their teachings sessions on Sunday.[55][56] Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) condemned the execution, comparing the attitude and actions to those of ISIL. IRGC said "harsh revenge" would topple "this pro-terrorist, anti-Islamic regime". Saudi Arabia summoned the Iranian ambassador in response.[51] Sunni clerics including representative of Iran's Sunni-populated Southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan at the Assembly of Experts, Chairman of the Sunni Lawmakers' Fraction at the Iranian parliament Abed Fattahi, Molawi Abdolhamid Ismailzehi (the Friday prayers leader of Iran's Southeastern city of Zahedan) also condemned the execution. Iranian seminaries held a protest rally in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and condemned execution of the Shiite cleric by chanting "death to Al Saud".[57] Locals in Tehran gathered outside the Saudi diplomatic mission to protest the execution. Elsewhere, in the Iranian holy city of Qom, dozens of men, some dressed in robes and turbans, marched through the city, holding up pictures of al-Nimr.[46] Reports have emerged of crowds breaking into and setting fires at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has appealed for calm, and to respect diplomatic premises.[58] Palestine Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) condemned the execution, saying that the Saudi government "insists on pouring oil to the flames of sectarian sedition".[57] Britain - Britains shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, described the execution as "profoundly wrong", and condemned the act of execution in general.[43] Iraq Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the execution would have repercussions on regional security. [43] The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a Shia political party, and several Iraqi Shia MPs condemned the execution.[59] Former Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki said that his countrymen "strongly condemn these detestable sectarian practices" and said that this "crime" will be the downfall of the Saudi government, just as "the crime of executing the martyr al-Sadr did to Saddam".[48] In Iraq, prominent religious and political figures demanded that Iraqi-Saudi ties be severed.[51] Head of the Badr Organization, Qasim al-Araji, said "it's a big crime that has opened the gates of hell", calling on Baghdad to cut diplomatic ties "immediately".[46] Asaib Ahl al-Haq, another Iran-backed militia group, has accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to provoke Sunni-Shiite strife, adding that "What the use of having a Saudi embassy in Iraq?"[46] Moqtada al-Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric, called for demonstrations to take place in Arab states of the Persian Gulf to protest the execution of al-Nimr.[46] Kataib Hezbollah's leader, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, hailed the execution of al-Nimr as "a crime that is added to the criminal record of Al Saud".[46] Lebanon Hezbollah - Hezbollah condemned the killing as an "assassination", describing Sheikh Nimr as a spiritual scholar who always sought dialogue and resisted injustice.[60] Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shia Council called the execution of al-Nimr "an execution of reason, moderation and dialogue" and a "grave mistake".[43][46] Pakistan Pakistans Muslims Unity Assembly decried the execution as a challenge against millions of Muslims worldwide.[47] Yemen Ansarullah movement (the Houthis) described Sheikh Nimr as a "holy warrior" and called the Saudi execution a "flagrant violation of human rights"[47] after a "mock trial".[46] European Union High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini condemned the execution, stating that "The specific case of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and the respect of basic civil and political rights".[61] Reactions by organizations[edit] Numerous Shiite actors and Shiite organizations have vowed to avenge the death of Nimr al Nimr by overthrowing the Saudi royal family or cutting all economic and diplomatic ties with the monarchy.[62][63] Human Rights Watch said the executions "further stains Saudi Arabias troubling human rights record". Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, said Nimr was convicted in an unfair trial and that his execution was "only adding to the existing sectarian discord and unrest".[43] adding that "Saudi Arabias path to stability in the Eastern Province lies in ending systematic discrimination against Shia citizens, not in executions".[46] Amnesty called Sheikh Nimr's trial political, grossly unfair and the execution was to settle political scores.[64] [65] Personal life[edit] Nimr al-Nimr's nephew, Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, who participated in the 201112 Saudi Arabian protests,[66][67] was arrested in 2012 at the age of 17, sentenced to death in 2014, and expected ratification of his sentence by King Salman, to be carried out by beheading and crucifixion.[66][67] See also[edit] Shi'a Islam in Saudi Arabia References[edit] 1.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Gfoeller, Michael (2008-08-23). "Meeting with controversial Shi'a sheikh Nimr". WikiLeaks. 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Retrieved December 6, 2015.Online version: http://shiarightswatch.org/ngos-urge-sec-kerry-to-act-in-case-of-sheikh-nimr-al-nimr/?print=pdf 43.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12077919/Saudi-Arabia-beheadings-highest-in-two-decades.html 44.^ Jump up to: a b http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/02/444213/Nimr-Saudi-Arabia-Qatif-Shia-cleric-/ 45.Jump up ^ http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81903796/ 46.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j https://www.rt.com/news/327705-nimr-execution-saudi-crime/ 47.^ Jump up to: a b c http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/02/444158/Bahrain-Saudi-Arabia-protest-Sheikh-Nimr-execution/ 48.^ Jump up to: a b http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/nimr-al-nimr-execution-protesters-tear-gassed-in-bahrain-after-saudi-arabia-carries-out-death-a6793761.html 49.Jump up ^ http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/02/444218/Germany-Saudi-Arabia-Nimr-execution/ 50.Jump up ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jan/02/middle-east-condemns-saudi-execution-of-shia-cleric-live 51.^ Jump up to: a b c http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-idUSKBN0UG03B20160102 52.Jump up ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&profile=default&search=+Muslims+Unity+Assembly&fulltext=Search 53.Jump up ^ http://english.irib.ir/news/item/220881-iran-summons-saudi-envoy-over-nimr-execution 54.^ Jump up to: a b http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/nimr-al-nimr-execution-iranian-cleric-says-death-penalty-will-bring-down-the-saudi-arabias-ruling-a6793681.html 55.Jump up ^ http://theiranproject.com/blog/2016/01/02/nimrs-execution-sparks-angry-reaction-from-shia-sunni-senior-clerics/ 56.Jump up ^ http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/02/444201/Iran-Makarem-Shirazi-NouriHamedani-SafiGolpaygani-Nimr/ 57.^ Jump up to: a b http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941012001441 58.Jump up ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/nimr-al-nimr-execution-saudi-arabian-embassy-in-tehran-attacked-by-protesters-a6794271.html 59.Jump up ^ http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/01/02/728110/story.html 60.Jump up ^ http://english.irib.ir/news/item/220883-lebanon-s-hezbollah-slams-nimr-execution-as-assassination 61.Jump up ^ http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160102_01_en.htm 62.Jump up ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12077919/Saudi-Arabia-beheadings-highest-in-two-decades.html 63.Jump up ^ http://www.trust.org/item/20160102122727-s6fhn/?source=search 64.Jump up ^ "Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Anger at execution of top Shia cleric". BBC World News. January 3, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016. 65.Jump up ^ "Saudi execution of Shiite sheikh political-Amnesty". The Daily Star Lebanon. January 2, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016. 66.^ Jump up to: a b "Saudi Arabia: Stop execution of Ali al-Nimr". Amnesty International. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-23. 67.^ Jump up to: a b Hartley, Eve (2015-09-22). "Ali Mohammed Al-Nimr Sentenced To Crucifixion In Saudi Arabia For Attending Pro-Democracy Protest". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-23. External links[edit] Letter of Sheikh Nimr to His Mother before Execution ================================================== . Saudi Arabia executions threaten to plunge Middle East into greater turmoil Mass executions have been seen as a statement of intent delivered by an increasingly powerless Saudi Interior Minister Bill Law, James Cusick, Sam Masters | @billlaw49 | 4 hours ago| 5 comments | 6shares A protester holds a portrait of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr in Qatif A protester holds a portrait of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr in Qatif AFP/Getty The beheading of dozens of Sunni and Shia prisoners by the Wests main Middle East ally, Saudi Arabia, threatens to renew sectarian violence in the oil-rich kingdom and plunge the Middle East into greater turmoil. The mass executions in Riyadh, Mecca, Medina and in the eastern and northern regions have been seen as a bloody statement of intent delivered by an increasingly powerless Saudi Interior Minister. Among those killed was Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a leading Shia cleric with the rank of ayatollah, a political prisoner and vocal supporter of protests against the Saudi royal family. His death, which has sparked outrage in Iran, the dominant Shia power in the region, is likely to lead to an escalation of hostilities in Yemen, where a proxy war between the two nations is being fought. Read more Saudi executions were worthy of Isis so what now for the West? Irans leaders reacted furiously. Seminary students marched through the holy city of Qom in protest. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a senior cleric, told the Mehr news agency: I have no doubt that this pure blood will stain the collar of the House of Saud and wipe them from the pages of history. Protests were also reported in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Pakistan, Bahrain, Iraq and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of armoured vehicles have been sent to Qatif in the province to contain protests. Security forces in other Shia-populated areas are also said to be on high alert. The clerics brother, Muhammad al-Nimr, appealed for calm, saying his brother had wanted only peaceful protests. Protesters in Bahrain held up placards reading: Damn you. Tear gas was later fired to disperse the crowds. In Bahrain, we knew Sheikh Nimr as a peaceful reformist, said Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the advocacy director at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy. His loss will be mourned throughout the world. Regional sources told The Independent on Sunday that the deaths were ordered as part of a feud that threatens the future of the Saudi royal family. The executions went ahead despite international condemnation and calls to spare six Shia prisoners who had been jailed three as juveniles under the kingdoms draconian anti-terror laws. The execution of Sheikh Nimr, ordered by Interior Minister Muhammad bin Nayef, has escalated the sectarian hatred that is tearing the region apart. An internecine power struggle within the ruling family is predicted to affect the countrys relationships with both its neighbours and the West, which holds lucrative arms contracts with Saudi Arabia. 4-wreckage-Reuters.jpg Bombing in Yemen In Britain, it was left to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to offer qualified criticism of the Saudis. An FCO spokesman said that Britain opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, adding that it undermined human dignity and did not work as a deterrent. Responding to questions from The IoS, the shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, said Saudi Arabia was profoundly wrong to have executed Sheikh Nimr. He said London should seek assurances from Riyadh that his nephew Ali al-Nimr would not be killed. Read more Former Iraq PM al-Maliki says execution will 'topple Saudi regime' In Iraq, where Iranian militia have been fighting Islamic State alongside the army and where, this week, Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy for the first time since Iraqs invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki said: We strongly condemn these detestable sectarian practices and affirm that the crime of executing Sheikh al-Nimr will topple the Saudi regime. Iraqs Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, said: Violating human rights leads to repercussions on the security, stability and the social fabric of the peoples of the region. Mohammed al-Sayhud, an MP from Iraqs ruling coalition, said the execution of Sheikh Nimr was intended to set the region on fire. Of the six sentenced to death as young men, three were killed Mohammed al-Sheikh, Ali al-Rebh and Mohammad al-Suwaimil. Writing to The Independent a day before the executions, the mothers of the six, and Fatimah al-Faraj, the mother of Sheikh Nimr, described their collective torment. Their right to life could be taken away at any moment, the women wrote. 'Free Sheikh Nimr!' - Londoners at Saudi Embassy Mohammed bin Nayef, the Interior Minister, was once viewed as the most significant power in the Saudi elite. In an attempt to reassert his authority over the Defence Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, he ordered the 47 men to be executed, The IoS has learned. [He] was desperate to prove his authority inside the ruling family, a source said. Mohammed bin Nayef had nothing left. Mohammed bin Salman had taken everything else. He had no other tools. Also killed were two Sunni clerics, Faris al-Showail and Hamad al-Humaiti, both held for several years before being executed. They were advocates of violent jihad and al-Qaeda sympathisers. Saudi Arabias top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, said the executions were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdoms security. He described the executions as a mercy to the prisoners. Sheikh Nimr was seen as a key figure in protests that broke out among Shia communities in the oil-rich Eastern Province in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011. He was arrested a year later. His nephew, Ali al-Nimr, who was 17 when he was arrested and also faces execution, was not listed as one of those killed. Neither was Dawoud al-Marhon and Abdullah al-Zaher, whose mothers wrote to The Independent last week. Read more Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Profile of the cleric executed by Saudi Arabia The former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told The IoS: The sad fact is that, over the last 100 or 200 years, this is what the Saudi system of justice has produced. We deplore it and find it abhorrent, but it is not done as an act of terrorism. We probably did the same a few hundred years ago when we burnt people at the stake. Irans retaliation could come in Yemen, where Shia Houthi rebels backed by Tehran are fighting a Saudi-led coalition. The Saudi-led coalition, which has been bombing the Houthis in Yemen for nine months, announced the end of a ceasefire that began on 15 December. The ceasefire had been repeatedly violated by both sides. Almost 6,000 people have been killed since the Saudi coalition entered the conflict in March, almost half of them civilians. Asked if the UK should be pressing the Saudis to reform their policies, Sir Malcolm said: That is not the way the world works. You cant just trade with the countries you approve of, otherwise you would be ruling out trade with China, Russia, and probably three-quarters of the world. More about: | Saudi Arabia| executions| Nimr al-Nimr| Police investigating the suspected drowning of a Western Bay of Plenty man are asking for witnesses to the incident to come forward. A 29-year-old unemployed man is believed to have drowned at Kaiate Falls, Welcome Bay, around 2pm yesterday. Ben Carson greets people at the Beacon Drive-In restaurant in Spartanburg on the day of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Feb. 20, 2016 Ben Carson greets people at the Beacon Drive-In restaurant in Spartanburg on the day of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post See photos of Ben Carson on the campaign trail See photos of Ben Carson on the campaign trail The band of black conservatives gathered at a Washington hotel on a spring evening in 2013 with the future of their cause and the country on their minds. Joining them was Ben Carson, the renowned neurosurgeon whod electrified Republicans several weeks earlier with a sharp attack on President Obamas policies at the National Prayer Breakfast. Now a half-dozen of Carsons admirers all prominent African American conservatives wanted him to go further. Over dinner in a palatial room at the Willard InterContinental, just two blocks from the White House, they courted Carson with views that had long set them apart from much of black America. Niger Innis, spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality, said he thought Obama would make it easier for a country to accept a black conservative as president. Antiabortion activist Alveda King told Carson that he was a role model for my son, not like Obama, whom she deemed so liberal that his inspirational pull went no further than his race. And pizza magnate Herman Cain, whod briefly been a Republican presidential front-runner in 2012 before being derailed by disputed sexual-harassment allegations, was eager to confront liberals in the next election cycle. Kick their butts! he exhorted the group as they dined in the Willards private Holmes Room. Ben Carson introduces his wife, Candy, as he announces his candidacy for president during an official announcement in Detroit, Monday, May 4, 2015. (Paul Sancya/AP) It was Cain whod invited Carson to the gathering, and the others suspected an unstated reason. It felt as if we were witnessing a passing of the torch, Innis says. But only if Carson was willing to trade his identity as a medical pioneer the first doctor in the world to separate twins conjoined at the back of the head for something far more polarizing: a black GOP presidential candidate. The decision to remake himself would be the culmination of a long political journey for Carson. But it also would reveal his sense of destiny and supreme self-confidence. He knew a run for the White House was likely to exact a steep price on his carefully cultivated public image. His against-the-odds rise from poverty to accomplished pediatric neurosurgeon had made him an African American hero. In speeches, books, and a movie about his life based on his autobiography, Gifted Hands, he was inspirational, aspirational and apolitical. Though hed always been conservative, he publicly bragged about being a registered independent. And hed already deflected another attempt to persuade him to step into the political arena. After his prayer breakfast appearance, the Wall Street Journal published an editorial proclaiming Ben Carson for President. In response, Carson told reporters he did not wish to wade into the cesspool of modern politics. Then he did it anyway. Ben Carson announces his candidacy for president in May 2015. (Paul Sancya/AP) A political transformation Hed flirted with running for office before. About 11 years ago, Carson made an appointment with Michael Steele, a black Republican who was serving as lieutenant governor of Maryland. Steele remembered the surprising discussion: Carson was thinking about entering into politics. Steele told him to be cautious. All the fancy resumes and wonderful things youve done wont matter when someone wants to come after you, Steele said he told him. I ended that discussion, and I remember it well, by saying, Why would you want to sully such a wonderful reputation as a neurosurgeon with politics? Carson just laughed. He then sought the counsel of Donlin Long, who was the head of the neurosurgery department at Johns Hopkins. According to Long, a group of Republicans had approached Carson about a run for the U.S. Senate. Long suggested a deeper question: What do you want to do with your life? There was no way he could do both, Long explains. At his age, at that point in his career, he had to decide whether he was going to be a politician or a physician. Carson, now 64, chose medicine the realm that had made him famous. In 1987, after hed cut the brain blood vessel that connected conjoined infants Patrick and Benjamin Binder, a young Carson stood in front of microphones and a gaggle of reporters at his first major news conference to describe the surgery. The public fascination with the Yale-educated, square-jawed, soft-spoken black surgeon led to book deals, biographical plays and public speeches, in which he would promise young people that through faith in God and diligent study that they, too, could lift themselves out of poverty. [The story of the surgery that made Ben Carson famous] Carson felt the message had a special resonance for African Americans. Early in his medical career, he grew tired of seeing able-bodied people who were not working, he said in a December interview with The Washington Post. They had grown dependent on welfare, he concluded, and he quietly found himself swayed by President Ronald Reagans argument that government had become the problem, not the solution. He didnt talk much then about his political evolution from a flaming liberal to a staunch conservative. He was still trying to reconcile his belief that Republicans generally did not care about African Americans. And Carson was quickly becoming a prominent figure in black America, drawing the praise of liberal civil rights activists such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Both said they reached out to Carson but could never get a read on him. He was always courteous, but always elusive. We just exchanged words of respect, but it never really went beyond that, Jackson recalled. In the spring of 1994, Carson found himself in a room at the Supreme Court for a weekend of networking events with the Horatio Alger Association, an exclusive society of high-fliers who started their lives in dire poverty. Attending was Justice Clarence Thomas, whose conservative ideals made him such a pariah among African Americans that Carson was somewhat skeptical of him. In Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas, a biography written by two Washington Post reporters, Carson said he challenged Thomas immediately when they met. He asked why Thomas was against busing when it was largely seen as a key instrument to help desegregate schools. He told me he didnt want these kids thinking they have to go somewhere else to be successful, Carson recalled in the book. He concluded that Thomass argument made a lot of sense. After his induction into the Horatio Alger society, Carson befriended other members such as Terry Giles, a prominent white lawyer who grew up pumping water in the Ozarks, and Bob Brown, an African American who had raised hogs in rural North Carolina and became an adviser to President Richard M. Nixon. Together, they would laugh at each others I was so poor jokes. Behind the humor was a subtle affirmation of the American Dream and a reminder that the up-from-the-bootstraps narrative was not exclusive to Carson. His friends at Horatio Alger shared similar traits: They grew up poor, many of them raised by a strong single parent or a grandparent who did not accept excuses. They were service-oriented. And they usually voted Republican. I came to realize that many of my political beliefs were based on nothing other than propaganda, said Carson, who was a registered Republican for a time before switching his party affiliation to independent in 2001. Murray Carson, the eldest of his three children, said his father would come home and devour programming on Fox News, particularly The OReilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes. I dont know why people were so surprised he was so conservative or would run for office, said Murray Carson, a 32-year-old Web programmer. At our home, he loved talking about this stuff. The chosen one? As he neared retirement, Carson could not stop talking about the state of the country. In 2011, he co-authored a book with his wife, Candy, called America the Beautiful that detailed his increasing conservatism. Carson advocated tough punishments for terrorists, proposed a flat tax, expressed his admiration for the tea party and voiced disdain for political correctness. He had grown frustrated at organizers who asked him not to utter the words Jesus Christ during his speeches. Most of all, he worried about the legacy of Barack Obama, the president who had eclipsed him as an inspirational figure among African Americans. Carson hated the explosion of the national debt and questioned whether those who supported Obama saw anything beyond the fact that he was the first black president. Carson began to wonder whether his voice could help to loosen the liberal grip on black Americas politics. He had spent decades building up a reservoir of goodwill. He had given hundreds of college scholarships through the Carson Scholars Fund and planted reading rooms in dozens of low-income schools throughout the country. I always wanted to do what was needed to strengthen the country, Carson said. But I was preoccupied with medicine. At the prayer breakfast in 2013, he took his outrage public, criticizing Obamas policies while standing at a lectern a few feet from the president. Carson talked about the country being in danger of falling, like the Roman Empire, from moral decay and fiscal irresponsibility, and he lambasted Obamas signature health-care overhaul. As the presidents smile wilted into a grimace, a viral video and a conservative folk hero were born. Armstrong Williams, the conservative commentator who serves as Carsons business manager, was thrilled. Were going to rachet it up, he remembered thinking. And they did. The newer, bolder Carson was on television comparing homosexuality to bestiality, causing such an uproar that he was forced to apologize. Then he called the presidents health-care law the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery. Many who admired him were stunned. Say it aint so, Sharpton said were his first thoughts when he heard Carsons slavery comparison. Weve had black Republicans before, so its not that hes on the right that is particularly surprising, Sharpton said. Its that hes so far right. That winter, a conservative activist named Mike Murray knocked on the door of Carsons new retirement home in Florida. Carson answered the door in shorts and a T-shirt. He invited him to the living room, and Murray sat near Candy Carsons organ. Over three hours, Murray told Carson he wanted him to be the face of an organization that would push for the repeal of Obamacare. Im concerned about being too political, Murray remembers Carson replying. But Murray was persuasive. People are hungry to hear from you, he said, and you could do this the right way. Together, they ventured throughout the country, urging legislators and voters to sign a petition. Everywhere they went, Murray recalled, people told Carson that he was the right one to deliver the hard truths about the state of the country. Carson basked in their admiration. He said he began to believe that the country needed someone who has been able to utilize the strength of lots of other people, as well as their own intellect, to solve problems that no one ever solved before. Maybe that would be a more useful skill set than time in Washington, D.C. It has to be someone, Carson thought, as he recalled it in an interview earlier last year. Then he chuckled. Maybe it just happens to be me. Then came a sign from the divine, according to Murray. The two men had agreed that Carson would call the 100,000th person to sign the health-care petition. The woman did not want her full name made public, Murray said, but he identified her in a mailer as a woman named Emily from Virginia. When Carson reached her, Murray said, she told the neurosurgeon that her dying son was once one of Carsons patients. He helped to save him. Now she wanted him to run for president to save the country. I couldnt believe it, Murray said. Everyone will think she was a plant. In a February 2014 email to supporters, Carson wrote that he might have received a wink from above. That November, Carson grabbed a voter registration form in Florida. In the party field, he checked Republican. Take the Risk Carson had written a whole book about making tough choices. In Take the Risk, he laid out four key questions: Whats the best thing that can happen if I do this? Whats the worst thing that can happen if I do this? Whats the best thing that can happen if I dont do it? Whats the worst thing that can happen if I dont do it? Now he asked himself those questions about a presidential campaign. The best thing that would happen if he ran? People would respond positively to my message, he said, and we could get back on the right track to restore the concept of fiscal responsibility. The worst thing? I would lose something that he hates to do and youd get someone who had very bad ideas in there, he said. He considered the best-case scenario if he didnt run the election of another candidate who would do a good job. But that seemed far less likely than the worst-case scenario another failed president. Before he made any decisions, there was one person Williams wanted Carson to see. In January 2015, Williams drove him to the steps of the Supreme Court. Are you kidding me? Carson told Williams, starting to laugh. Awaiting Carson in his chambers was Justice Thomas. He warned me, Carson recalled. If youre black and conservative, anything is fair game in terms of trying to destroy you. Giles echoed Thomass warning during a visit to the Carson home. Everyone loves you, Giles said he told Carson. If you run, at least half the country is not going to like you anymore. Are you ready for it? The warnings would quickly prove true. Carson would be derided for suggesting that millions of armed Jews would have survived the Holocaust. Hed be laughed at for pronouncing the name of the militant group Hamas as if it were a Mediterranean chickpea dip. Some of the details in the Carson autobiography about his temper would be questioned by reporters and disparaged by GOP rival Donald Trump as impossible-to-believe crap. And his campaign would first soar and then stumble, with top advisers resigning in a New Years Eve campaign shake-up. But as Giles and his wife sat with Ben and Candy Carson on the porch of their Florida home, Carson was resolute. I need to do what is best for my family and my country, Carson told Giles. If somebody dislikes me for that, thats okay with me. He seemed ready, Giles said, so I was in. The doctor-turned-candidate had spoken: The country needed a new direction. And so did he. DC Braus Alpha Domina Mellis, a complex and flavorful IPA. (Steph Harding/From DC Brau) The week before Christmas brought the annual release of DC Braus Alpha Domina Mellis double IPA, and the brewery had an extra treat for all good little beer lovers: This years batch is double what it was in 2014. DC Brau President and head brewer Jeff Hancock says just under 4,000 gallons of Alpha Domina Mellis III, or ADM3, will leave the brewery this winter, heading to restaurants and bars from Virginia to Connecticut. (The company had planned to can Alpha Domina Mellis for the first time, but the can design didnt receive government approval in time, so this is a draft-only release.) Its a good thing Alpha Domina Mellis will be easier to find, because hopheads will be hunting for it. The recipe varies from year to year, though a heavy dose of wildflower honey from Burnside Farms in Haymarket, Va., is a constant. The malt comes from Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, Va. But what everyone will remember most about this years release is the witchs brew of hops. It features Falconers Flight, the citrusy hop blend used in DC Braus popular On the Wings Of Armageddon Imperial IPA, along with Citra, Mandarina Bavaria, Hull Melon, Equinox and something known as Experimental Variety 05256. From the honeydew melon and tropical fruit aromas to the long, lingering bitter finish, it all adds up to one of the brewerys most complex and flavorful IPAs yet. Fritz Hahn DC Brau Alpha Domina Mellis III. dcbrau.com. $5 per pint and $15 per 64-ounce growler at the brewery; expect to pay $9 per glass at beer bars. Rob Cox, left, is the winemaker and Kirk Wiles is a co-owner of Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, Va. (Dave McIntyre) When a business wants to expand, it seeks new sources of raw materials. Thats not so easy for Virginia wineries. The dramatic growth in the number of wineries over the past eight years, from 118 in 2008 to 252 today, has outpaced the growth in vineyard acreage and grape supply. So to grow his Paradise Springs brand, Kirk Wiles decided to go west. He could have bought grapes from other states, blending them into his Virginia wines or labeling the wines as American. But Wiles didnt want to dilute his commitment to all-Virginia wines. Instead, he decided to create a new line in California. Paradise Springs Winery of Clifton is now joined by Paradise Springs of Santa Barbara. Wiles and winemaker Rob Cox work with Doug Margerum, a noted Santa Barbara County winemaker, to produce the new wines. [Wines to try this week] Wiles is chief executive and co-founder, with his brother, Drew, and their mother, Jane Kincheloe, of the winery they founded in 2007 in southwestern Fairfax County. He and Drew are the ninth generation to farm the land, which was part of a grant from Lord Fairfax to the Kincheloe family in 1716. The Kincheloe name appears on road and park signs and throughout the history of Clifton, a picturesque town delicately balanced on the edge of time and suburbia. The winery, located southwest of the town, has earned acclaim with its red wines and its 2009 chardonnay, which won the Virginia Governors Cup. Production has grown from about 1,500 cases of the 2008 vintage to 12,000 cases in 2015. The decision to expand westward was driven by the scarce availability of high-quality wine grapes in Virginia, Wiles says. How do we grow the winery brand without relying on Virginia grapes? We wanted to establish roots in other areas. Theres irony here, of course. By preserving the integrity of his Virginia wines, Wiles has turned Paradise Springs into a multi-regional brand perhaps the first bicoastal U.S. wine brand. That goes against the popular image of small, artisanal family wineries and echoes labels such as Layer Cake, which sells wines from California, Australia, Argentina, Italy and Spain. The new Santa Barbara wines include a delicate pinot noir from the Santa Rita Hills ($55), sourced mostly from the vineyards owned by Hilliard Bruce Wines. There is also a racy sauvignon blanc from Happy Canyon ($35), an area in the eastern part of Santa Barbara County, rich and citrusy with grapefruit and passion-fruit flavors. Both are from the 2014 vintage and are available from the winery, though they will be in limited distribution here. For the 2015 vintage, there will also be a chardonnay from the Santa Rita Hills and a pinot noir sourced exclusively from the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, the first planted in Santa Barbara County in the early 1970s. Wiles plans to open a Paradise Springs tasting room in Santa Barbara that will also introduce the Virginia wines to California consumers. It will open the door on both sides to help us tell our story out there, he says. Even with the new emphasis on Santa Barbara, Wiles and Cox say they are not dropping their focus on Virginia and the effort to find new sources of wine grapes there. They now buy grapes from several vineyards, most notably Williams Gap in Loudoun County and Indian Springs in the Shenandoah Valley. Were lucky we got into the business before the real expansion and were able to forge good relationships with growers, Wiles says. But with fierce competition for existing vineyards, hes looking for land to develop in the Shenandoah, a region many Virginia winemakers cite for its potential for new vineyards, especially at higher elevations. The land search is focusing on the quality of the site rather than its accessibility to visitors. We have the traffic and tourism here in the Clifton tasting room, which opened in 2011, Wiles says. We dont need tourism out there. McIntyre blogs at dmwineline.com. On Twitter: @dmwine. THE DISTRICT Suspect arrested in September slaying D.C. police on Friday arrested a suspect in the killing of a 22-year-old man who was shot in Southeast Washington in September, according to authorities. Nathaniel Beasley, 24, of no fixed address, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. Police said he was arrested on a warrant. Beasley is charged in connection with the Sept. 19 shooting of Deontray Ingram of Southeast. Police said Ingram was found a few minutes after 4 a.m. in the 2400 block of Elvans Road and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not describe a motive for the shooting, and the arrest affidavit was not available on Friday because the suspect had not yet made his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Peter Hermann Two men sought in Southeast shooting A man was shot in Southeast Washington late Friday, police said. Police said the shooting occurred about 11:35 p.m. in the 100 block of Wilmington Place SE, near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Upsal Street. The victim was conscious Saturday afternoon, said D.C. police spokesman Lt. Sean Conboy. Police were searching for two men wearing black clothing who were armed with a handgun, the department said in a tweet. No suspect had been named by Saturday afternoon. Faiz Siddiqui Maryland Police identify woman found dead on trail A woman found dead New Years Day on a park trail in Prince Georges County was identified as a 20-year-old Hyattsville resident. Prince Georges police said Saturday they are investigating the death of Catherine Alvarado as a homicide. Authorities were called to the park trail about 7:20 a.m. Friday after the body was spotted by a jogger. Police found the victim with apparent trauma to the upper body. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the county said. Her body was found on a stretch of the Northwest Branch Trail near Ager Road and East-West Highway in Hyattsville. Preliminarily, detectives do not believe this was a random act, the county said in the release. Capt. Stanley Johnson of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police told The Post on Friday that when the man jogged by, he could clearly see her. The Park Police agency patrols about 27,000 acres in Prince Georges, but the county police are taking the lead on the investigation. Detectives have not identified a suspect or a motive in the killing. The county said a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment. Faiz Siddiqui VIRGINIA Heart disorder blamed in death of VMI cadet An autopsy has found that a Virginia Military Institute cadet who collapsed during training died from a congenital heart disorder. Eighteen-year-old Sean Duc Hoang suffered a fatal arrhythmia and collapsed Sept. 21 while running as part of VMIs routine physical training. The first-year cadet from Fairfax was pronounced dead a short time later at a hospital in Lexington. The Roanoke Times reported that the state medical examiners office concluded that Hoang suffered a fatal arrhythmia, or an abnormal heart rhythm. A VMI spokesman said the school conducts extensive health screenings of incoming cadets and had no knowledge of Hoangs heart condition. Associated Press THE DISTRICT Man arrested in fatal shooting in Southeast D.C. police on Friday made an arrest in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man in Southeast Washington in September, authorities said. Nathaniel Beasley, 24, who was not listed as having a fixed address, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. Police said he was arrested on a warrant. Beasley is charged in the Sept. 19 shooting of Deontray Ingram of Southeast. Police said Ingram was found a few minutes after 4 a.m. in the 2400 block of Elvans Road and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not give a motive for the shooting. The arrest affidavit was not available Friday because Beasley had not yet made his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Peter Hermann Man arrested in 2011 fatal shooting D.C. police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death four years ago of a 37-year-old gas station attendant who allegedly was gunned down during a robbery in Southeast Washington when he tried to call 911. The suspect was 14 at the time, police said Friday, and he is being charged as a juvenile with murder. His name is not being released because he is considered a youthful offender. The victim, Mohammed Mukta Abduselam, moved from Ethiopia to the Washington area in 2007. Lt. Sean Conboy, a D.C. police spokesman, said tips from residents and DNA were used to build the case after the fatal shooting, which occurred about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 2011, at the King Gas Station in the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE in Congress Heights. Peter Hermann MARYLAND Police: Girl was killed by 15-year-old boy A 16-year-old girl was fatally shot and her mother was wounded early Sunday by a teenager who then shot himself in the head inside a home in Howard County, Md., according to police. Authorities late Sunday afternoon said they had identified the suspected gunman as a 15-year-old boy. His name was not made public. He was in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. A police statement said it is unclear if he had any connection to the victims. Police identified the 16-year-old as Charlotte Zaremba, a student at Howard High School, and her mother as Suzanne Zaremba, 52. The mother was treated and released from Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The shooting happened at about 2 a.m. in a home in the 4800 block of Knoll Glen Road in Ellicott City, about midway between Baltimore and Washington. Police said another family member was home at the time of the shooting, but was in another part of the house and was not hurt. Howard County police said in a statement that the mother heard a scuffle in her daughters bedroom and walked inside. Police said the suspected gunman fired a shot at her, and then the girl, and then himself. Police said they knew of no motive. Peter Hermann Jogger finds womans body along park trail A young woman found dead by a jogger Friday morning along a trail in Prince Georges County had suffered trauma to her upper body, police said. The body had not been identified as of Friday evening, and a cause of death is to be determined by the Maryland medical examiners office. But Capt. Stanley Johnson of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police said the death does not appear to be an accident. Police said the body of the woman believed to be Hispanic in her 20s or early 30s was found about 7:20 a.m. along the Northwest Trail near Ager Road and East-West Highway in Hyattsville. Johnson said the body was clothed and was near the popular hiking-and-biking trail. When the man jogged by, he could clearly see her, Johnson said. Peter Hermann About 3 a.m. on New Years Day, Ian Jerome Butts of Northeast Washington telephoned his father, who was working a shift as a driver at a local bakery. He had called to wish me a happy new year, and he told me that he loved me and I told him that I loved him, said the Rev. Henry Lockamy, 63. That was the last time I heard from him. Two hours later, Lockamy heard a knock on his front door. Police told him that Butts, a 36-year-old father of four young children, had been struck and killed in a Southeast Washington crosswalk by a driver who fled. The death left a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and 5-year-old twins without a father, Lockamy said. And it shook a religious family to its core, said the assistant pastor at Gods Shepherds for Salvation Church in Northeast Washington. Im numb. Im numb, Lockamy said Saturday. If they have a conscience, and Im pretty sure everybody have a conscience, theyre gonna turn theirself in. Police said Buttss body was found along the 3500 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, near C Street, about 4:10 a.m. Friday. Authorities say Butts was in a crosswalk when he was struck. The driver, police said, fled in a blue or black Chevrolet Equinox that may be damaged. [Man fatally struck by hit-and-run driver] Lockamy said the children were in disbelief. They keep on asking for their father, Lockamy said. We told them that their father was going up in the clouds, but they want to speak to him. Buttss wife, Tjamanquie Moody, 32, said her husband had been celebrating the holiday that night with his brother and a few friends. Shortly after 1 a.m., Butts wished her a happy new year as he left a friends house the last time the couple spoke. When Butts was struck, Moody said, he may have been walking to his fathers home. She had spent the evening at church. I just wish he would have just came on to church, she said. And I wish the person would have just stopped tried to see if he was okay. Moody said her husband of three years was creative and curious, a devoted drummer, a poet and an occasional sketch artist. She said he had earned his GED a few years ago and was preparing to take classes in mortuary studies at the University of the District of Columbia. Lockamy recalled surprising his son at age 7 with a black Ludwig drum set. Lockamy often played a bass guitar at home, he said, and his young son would come out of his bedroom and ask, Daddy, what you doing? That was his excuse to get out there, Lockamy said. Hed come out there and watch me play the bass. So he gave his son an instrument of his own and a set of sticks. When I brought him the drum set, I set it down in the living room, and he got on that drum set and God just took over from there, he said. He played for the church all the time. Most of the time he played by himself, but you thought it was a whole band in there. Moody recalled Valentines Day about two years ago. She said that despite being short on money, Butts had resolved to get her something special. She arrived home that day to find a fruit arrangement with bananas, strawberries, grapes and chocolate, and a pink flower in the middle her favorite color. It was just so gorgeous and I knew it was from his heart, she said. Moody pleaded on Saturday for the driver of the sport-utility vehicle that hit her husband to come forward. Her family is a forgiving one, she said. If it was a mistake and you didnt know, just come to let us know, she said. Just free us and most of all, think about his four children that you have left out here at a young age. A supporter in 2014 holds a sign promoting paid sick days in San Diego. California has since become one of four states to enact sick-leave legislation, and advocates hope Maryland this year will become the fifth. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Democrats will try again in 2016 to make Maryland one of the few states in the nation that require employers to provide paid sick leave for workers. State Senate Majority Leader Catherine E. Pugh (D-Baltimore) and Del. Luke H. Clippinger (D-Baltimore) said last week that they will propose bills to require businesses with 10 or more employees to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work. Both lawmakers sponsored similar legislation in 2015, but the measures stalled at the committee level. They said that they will introduce new versions of the bills within the first weeks of the 2016 legislative session, with minor changes to clarify details such as how the rules would apply to businesses that already provide paid sick leave. We want to present the best bill possible, but at same time we want to accommodate as many people as we can, Pugh said. Sick-leave advocates have tried for the past year to capitalize on support from the Obama administration to promote policies on paid sick leave. They have achieved some success at the state and local levels, including in the District of Columbia, New York City and Montgomery County. Maryland would be the fifth state to enact sick-leave legislation, following California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon. [ Montgomery County joins localities providing paid sick leave ] President Obama endorsed mandatory paid sick leave during his 2015 State of the Union address, during which Pugh sat with first lady Michelle Obama. U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez attended Montgomery Countys bill signing in June as part of the administrations efforts to promote the cause. More than 720,000 workers in Maryland lack paid sick leave, according to Working Matters, a driving force behind efforts in the state to promote the benefit. The Democrat-controlled General Assembly balked at sick-leave proposals dating to at least 2013, with many lawmakers fearing a potential backlash amid heightened concerns about the states business climate. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has focused on limiting regulations and making the state more friendly to business owners; for that reason, advocates say, legislative leaders are unlikely to seek a floor vote on paid sick leave unless they believe they have a veto-proof majority. The 141-member House needs 85 votes to overcome a veto, and the 47-member Senate needs 29; Democrats hold 33 seats in the Senate and 91 in the House. In 2015, 77 delegates and 22 senators co-sponsored the sick-leave bills, eight and seven votes short of a veto-proof majority, respectively. There was a feeling last time that the first year of a governors term would not be the right time to put this on his desk, said Melissa Broome, deputy director of the Job Opportunities Task Force. At this point, theres really no reason to wait. Hogan spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver Churchill did not offer a position on paid sick days but said the governor will carefully review any bill that makes it to his desk. More than 140 groups have expressed support for Maryland sick-day legislation since October, including unions, businesses, faith-based organizations and public-health advocates. Sick-leave advocates say workers should not lose pay when staying home to recover from illness or care for a sick child. They also say the requirement would save employers money, boosting worker morale and loyalty and preventing the spread of illness by employees who go to work when they are sick so they wont lose pay. Opponents contend that the mandate would be overly burdensome for businesses, many of which are still recovering from the recession or adjusting to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act and Marylands minimum-wage hike. The Institute for Womens Policy Research estimates that paid sick leave would cost Maryland employers about $119 million a year while providing more than $137 million in annual benefits, largely as savings from lower turnover and reduced spread of the flu. Montgomery Countys law, like the proposals from Pugh and Clippinger, requires employers to provide at least one hour of paid time off for every 30 hours worked. A similar proposal to the Prince Georges County Council failed last fall, with several members saying that the state should enact the policy instead. In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, A Maryland state Senator carries documents on the Senate chamber floor, which is emblazoned with the state seal, during a session in Annapolis, Md. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press) The Italian words Fatti maschii, parole femine are displayed on a yellow ribbon on Marylands state seal. The state has long considered the phrase its motto and has translated it as, Manly deeds, womanly words. That translation doesnt sit well with state Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel). He has filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would adopt a more gender-neutral translation, Strong deeds, gentle words, and codify the motto into law. The current translation just struck me as sexist, Simonaire said. I have five daughters, and Im very concerned that Maryland is holding onto outdated references. . . . I dont believe Maryland is a sexist state. A spokesman at the Italian Embassy in Washington said the phrase is derived from a comment made by Pope Clement VII in the 16th century, when he was returning to Italy after a trip to France. The words, embassy spokesman Paola Bozan said, are generally understood to mean men do things, and women talk about things. Another, wordier, translation: When you need things done, ask a man, because women only talk and dont arrive to a conclusion. The Maryland state seal imprinted on the chair of the House Speaker. (Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Post) For reasons that are not entirely clear, the phrase was incorporated into the shield of the Calverts, Marylands founding family, which in turn became part of the state seal, used on official documents and displayed in state buildings in Annapolis. Legislation passed in 1959 codified the seal in state law and translated the Italian phrase as follows: Deeds are manly, words are womanly. In 1979, there was another law passed, changing the translation to: Manly deeds, womanly words. Legislators have tried several times since then to change the translation, but none of those efforts have been adopted into law. In 2001, the state archivist said the translation should be strong deeds, gentle words. That change is noted on a plaque that hangs in the Miller Senate Office Building, but to the consternation of Simonaire both it and the use of the phrase as the state motto remain unofficial. Simonaire said he is not trying to rewrite history with his bill, but to make the motto more reflective of what Maryland is. His effort comes as the General Assembly considers whether to take up an advisory panels recommendation to change the states song, Maryland, My Maryland, a Civil War-era anthem that urges the state to join the Confederacy and describes Union soldiers as Northern scum. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) dismissed the panels call to change the song as political correctness run amok. Elaine Rice Bachmann, deputy state archivist and the co-chairman of the panel, said her group was not charged with considering changes to the state motto or seal. But she did not rule out such a request in the future. Those may be coming our way, she said. Julie Gallagher, left, and Jamesha Johnson, 14. Julie is a volunteer mentor with Community of Hope, a nonprofit that works with homeless families in the District. She has mentored Jamesha since Jamesha was 6. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Julie Gallagher was describing what a mentor is. Somebody whos older but not your parent, she explained. Someone, she added, whos kind of cool. Im kind of cool, said Julie, 38. Jamesha Johnson, 14, shot Julie a look that said, Yes, but the truly cool dont go around announcing it. That affectionate teenage side-eye is possible only when you have the sort of relationship that Julie and Jamesha have. The pair mentor and mentee have known each other since Jamesha was 6. Julie Gallagher, left, and Jamesha Johnson, at the beginning of their mentoring partnership. (Courtesy of Emily Barrows) Armed with a degree in history and political science, Julie came to Washington from Cleveland and worked for a Democratic polling outfit. When I first came here, I didnt want to be one of those people who gets on the Metro and goes to my job and forgets that theres another part of D.C., Julie said. She volunteered with a group called the Homeless Childrens Playtime Project, which invites caring adults to visit children living in D.C. homeless shelters. At the time, Jameshas family was in a transitional living program in Southeast run by Community of Hope, a partner in The Washington Post Helping Hand. One of the kids Julie met was Jamesha. She was very sweet a little shy at first, which is true of me, as well, Julie said. Julie visited every Saturday morning, usually playing with Jamesha and a friend. They always wanted to do my hair, Julie said. That was fine with her. I can always go home and put conditioner in my hair and get all the knots out. If they want me to be their live Barbie doll, go ahead. Jameshas friend had a mentor. Jamesha the youngest of five children didnt. At the time, Community of Hope was just starting its mentoring program, with the aim of broadening the horizons of District children growing up in poverty. I think that in certain areas of D.C. there are kids who really only see whats in a five- or 10-block radius of their home, said Abayea Pelt, Community of Hopes volunteer and mentor specialist. Even though you can see almost a whole world in D.C., you wouldnt know it if you never get on the bus and go across town. I think mentoring allows a child to see more of what the world has to offer. Community of Hope has 26 mentor/mentee pairs. They could use more mentors especially, well, MENtors. Our need is mainly for male mentors, for our guys who would like to be matched, Abayea said. Mentors undergo a background check and commit to two meetings a month over the course of a year. A meeting is just some meaningful interaction, Abayea said. Sometimes mentors will go to a museum or to the monuments or the zoo. They might go to the movies or out to lunch. A meeting can also be going to the mentees home and playing a board game or helping with homework. Julie and Jamesha have done all of those things and more. They especially like getting their nails done. The pair fascinate the nail technicians, who are curious exactly how they are related. Jamesha is in high school now. Her family is stable. She thinks she might like to be a lawyer or a pharmacist. Julie thinks she has helped Jamesha. Jamesha has helped Julie, too. Shes enriched my life in so many ways, Julie said. I dont see her as being my child she has a wonderful mother but I feel like Im an important part of her life. Once, early in their relationship, Jamesha had a question. We were walking past Cardozo High School and she said, Miss Julie, how long are you going to be in my life? I said, For as long as you need me. I really meant that. We need your help Not long after meeting Jamesha, Julie changed careers. She left politics, took a job at Community of Hope, then went to graduate school to study clinical mental health counseling. Today she works for the D.C. Department of Human Services, helping youth in foster care. I came here to make a change, Julie said. I realized I could make more of a change. If youre interested in being a mentor, contact Community of Hope at cohdc.org. There is another way to support families like Jameshas. Thats by making a monetary donation to Community of Hope. Last year, the nonprofit organization helped 411 D.C. families escape homelessness. We are barely one-third of the way toward our goal of raising $250,000 by Friday. Your gift can get us closer. Make a tax-deductible donation by going to posthelpinghand.com. To give by mail, send a check, payable to Community of Hope, to: Community of Hope, Attn: Helping Hand, 4 Atlantic St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20032. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. The heavens revel in the young year as meteors, the moon, a dim comet and five visible planets frolic and some dance together through the night. Jupiter rises about 10:40 p.m. in the eastern heavens. The planet, seen at a bright -2.2 magnitude, snuggles between the constellations Leo and Virgo. Late in January, the large gaseous planet rises about 8:45 p.m., while the chubby, waning gibbous moon hangs above Jupiter on Jan. 26, then leapfrogs the planet the next night. Looking like a beacon from above, Venus rises about 4:30 a.m. in the east, chilling in the constellation Scorpius. The planet seems to beam at a -4.0 magnitude (very bright). Throughout the rest of this week, Venus and the ringed Saturn (zero magnitude, far more dim than Venus) appear to move closer that is, until those planets conjunct Saturday. The waning crescent moon hovers above Venus and Saturn on Wednesday morning, and then to the left of the two planets on Thursday. Mars rises about 1:40 a.m. in the eastern sky, in the constellation Virgo early in January, as a first magnitude object. Our reddish neighbor remains quite high in the southern sky by sunrise. Late in the month, it rises just after 1 a.m. Incidentally, Sunday is the summer solstice on Mars, according to the Planetary Society (planetary.org). The last Martian summer solstice was Feb. 15, 2014; the next is Nov. 20, 2017. Find the fleet Mercury loitering in the western evening sky for about the next week, when it sinks toward the sun. By late January the fast little planet emerges in the eastern sky rising before the sun about 6:30 a.m. By Jan. 22, its about a 1.2 magnitude and brightening rapidly to start February. The Quadrantid meteors streak through Sunday and Monday nights, with a predicted peak time of 3 a.m. Monday. Although about 100 meteors an hour are predicted, according to the International Meteor Organization (imo.net), you may see only a handful because of urban and suburban light pollution. In the same region of sky, where the Quadrantid meteors seem to emanate, the double-tailed Comet Catalina (C2013 US10) is near the bright star Arcturus, in the constellation Bootes. Find the comet with binoculars before sunrise, high in the east. Down-to-earth events Tuesday : Astronomer Elizabeth Warner explains upcoming sky events of 2016, at the University of Marylands Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. After the talk, enjoy heavenly tours through telescopes. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse. Friday: Einstein, Time and Light, a lecture by physicist and Nobel laureate William D. Phillips, explains how Albert Einsteins thinking shapes the key scientific and technological wonders of contemporary life. Hosted by the Washington Philosophical Society, at the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Ave. NW. 8 p.m. philsoc.org. Saturday: Caroline and William Herschel two of astronomys 18th-century superstars come back to life at the regular meeting of the National Capital Astronomers. Jennifer Horowitz plays Caroline and Dean Howarth plays William. The astronomers meet at the University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. 7:30 p.m. capitalastronomers.org. Jan. 10: The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club features a telescopic show and tell at its regular meeting, 163 Research Hall, George Mason University. 7 p.m. novac.com. Jan. 20: Exploring Alien Atmospheres, a lecture by Hannah Wakeford, a NASA postdoctoral fellow who studies exoplanets, at the University of Marylands Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. Afterward, look toward the heavens through telescopes, weather permitting. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse. Jan. 21: A Tale of Two Planets: What Earth and Mars Are Teaching Us About the Evolution of Habitable Worlds, a lecture by Pamela Conrad of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. At the Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P St. NW. 6:45 p.m. Registration required. carnegiescience.edu. Jan. 30: Exploring Venus, Earths Planetary Twin, Jennifer Whitten, postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonians Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, reveals geological secrets of our toasty neighboring planet. 5:15 p.m. Albert Einstein Planetarium, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. airandspace.si.edu. Jan. 30: How Stars Are Born, a presentation at 100 Science North Building, Montgomery College, Takoma Park. 7 p.m. (The colleges planetarium is being reconfigured.) Friedlander can be reached at PostSkyWatch@yahoo.com. Prince George's County police officers with the Special Assignment Team investigate a gun that was confiscated from an apartment in this file photo. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) Killings in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties increased last year, reflecting trends in homicide figures for the District and other large cities across the country. In 2015, Montgomery experienced one of its deadliest years in two decades with 30 homicides, and Prince Georges ended a three-year streak of declines with 81 killings. The number of homicides remained low in the Northern Virginia jurisdictions adjacent to the District. Officials in Montgomery and Prince Georges said no singular explanation has emerged to account for the increases. They noted that other categories of crime that tend to have an impact on people more often such as burglaries were down as a whole. In Montgomery, burglaries fell 22 percent, according to initial figures. Prince Georges reported nearly 4,000 fewer crime victims last year, with a 17 percent combined drop in the number of property and violent crimes. Cities nationwide noted similar increases in homicides for 2015 a trend so concerning that chiefs of some of the largest police departments gathered for a summit in the District this past summer to discuss the violence. The District logged 162 homicides in 2015, compared with 105 in 2014 an increase of more than 54 percent. Baltimore with nearly 350 slayings saw one of the bloodiest years in its history, with a more than 60 percent increase. New York, Chicago and Milwaukee also reported increases in killings. [Tracking D.C.-area homicides.] Prince Georges interim police chief, Hank Stawinski, said many county cases involved long-standing interpersonal disputes or disputes that precipitated immediate violence. One man died after arguing with another over a lawn mower. Another man was killed after a fight over a parking space. And another man was fatally shot after a spitting incident at a gas station. Theyre not the kinds of things that you can anticipate, Stawinski said. Before, people would have cross words and get into a fistfight, but now it is escalating to a point where people are pulling out a gun and killing each other. Montgomery County officials saw similar behavior. The disturbing aspect of many of these cases is that the escalation to taking another humans life was done with seemingly little effort, said Capt. Darren Francke, head of the Montgomery police forces major crimes unit. In 2015, Montgomery recorded its highest homicide total since 2002, the year that six people in the county were killed by Beltway snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. Excluding 2002, last years total is the highest in two decades, going back to the nations crack epidemic, when Montgomery had 34 slayings in 1992, according to state totals. Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman, called all the homicides tragedies leaving behind layers of affected family and friends. Theres a hole in these peoples lives. Theres holes in their hearts, he said. Theres an empty chair at the dinner table. Brian Shefferman, who runs the public defenders office in Montgomery, said he has not seen any underlying trends that explain the increase in homicides. And even as someone who constantly reads reports of crimes some horribly violent Shefferman said he feels pretty safe living in the county. Lets face it, he said, with a population of more than 1 million people, 30 is not an alarming murder rate. What is alarming, according to some Montgomery officials, is a subset of the homicides linked to gang violence. In court papers, detectives have connected three killings to a resurgence of the MS-13 gang: one man found in a shallow grave in August, another man found shot to death in woods next to his bicycle and an 18-year-old found floating in a creek after assailants stabbed and threw heavy rocks at him. The suspects arrested in the three cases so far range in age from 15 to 19. The countys top prosecutor, John McCarthy, said two more homicides are likely to be linked to MS-13, as will be evident when all arrests and trials are concluded. Thats a significant number of homicides in our county for a specific gang, he said. In addition to 77 homicide cases investigated by Prince Georges police in 2015, four more slayings occurred in the county but were handled by other law enforcement agencies: one by Greenbelt police, two by U.S. Park Police and one by a federal agency in the fatal shooting of a security guard on the U.S. Census Bureau campus. Although Prince Georges reported a homicide increase, the 2015 tally is far removed from the triple digits the county averaged between 2000 and 2010, and it follows record declines. County police investigated 54 killings in 2014 and 56 in 2013. Maj. Robert Brewer, head of the Prince Georges police forces criminal investigations division, said that 2014 was a fantastic year for our reductions in this crime category. Its hard to compare. A majority of the homicides in Prince Georges involved people who knew each other or occurred in neighborhoods bordering the District or within the Beltway. The number of homicides in Fairfax County rose to 12 in 2015, after 10 the previous year. Police are investigating the apparent electrocution of an Alexandria woman in December as a homicide but are awaiting a final ruling on her cause of death from the Virginia medical examiner. The number of slayings is in line with what the county has seen in recent years. Fairfax police have made arrests in 10 of the 12 killings. The city of Alexandria saw four homicides in 2015, and all remain unsolved. Two were fatal shootings, and two were cases of young Hispanic men found dead in parks. Arlington County had a single homicide a psychologist found dead in her home in April as her young children wandered outside. Her estranged husband was charged months later in her slaying. In the vast majority of the homicides in Maryland and Virginia, the victim and the alleged killer knew each other either as acquaintances, friends or relatives. That was the circumstance in the death of 35-year-old Tonya Wilkerson-Sullivan about a month after she and Antoine Elvin Sullivan exchanged sunrise wedding vows at National Harbor. After an argument in their Largo townhouse on Oct. 25, Sullivan fatally shot his wife before killing himself in the presence of her 4-year-old son. Wilkerson-Sullivans death was one of 15 homicides involving domestic violence in Prince Georges last year. Days later, ribbons of purple tulle a color symbolizing domestic-violence awareness draped the familys front porch as dozens of people attended a vigil in Wilkerson-Sullivans memory. They wore T-shirts printed with her image and remembered how Wilkerson-Sullivan who survived a previous abusive relationship often offered strength to others. After purple balloons were released to the sky, those in attendance prayed, shared memories and were asked to hug 35 people one for every year Wilkerson-Sullivan lived. You have to know that love doesnt hurt, said Talaya Wilkerson, her niece. I hope everyone takes the time to learn to love each other right. Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report. The decision to close a suburban Maryland hospital has triggered a series of heated hearings in the state capital, demonstrations by union members, and allegations of betrayal from residents and politicians. Dimensions Healthcare System stands by its decision to convert the formerly full-service Laurel Regional Hospital into an ambulatory-care facility, with company officials saying the change is vital to curbing millions of dollars in operating losses and improving the delivery of health care in Prince Georges County. The company has announced plans to eliminate inpatient services at the facility by 2019. But those who live, work and govern near the hospital, as well as those who used to work at the facility, say the decision was made without sufficient public notice or input and without regard to community needs. The planned closure and the outcry that has accompanied it illustrates a broader shift that is underway in U.S. health care, with providers trying to consolidate expensive inpatient services within larger, more centrally located facilities. The model of medicine is changing, Dimensions chief financial officer, Lisa Goodlett, said in an interview. We understand their sentiment and frustration, she added. However, this was a business decision. We saw the writing on the wall. Dimensions, which runs the Laurel facility, Prince Georges Hospital Center and several health centers in the county, is leading the effort to build a regional medical center in Largo that would anchor the countys health-care network. The $651 million public-private project is awaiting state approval. Converting the Laurel hospital to a more modest outpatient facility would stem financial losses there, officials say, and improve the fiscal outlook for the planned regional hospital. A majority of Prince Georges residents go outside the county for hospital treatment, according to a 2009 study conducted by the nonprofit Rand Corp. Those who do use county hospitals are disproportionately poor and uninsured, which means Dimensions has to absorb a significant amount of uncompensated care. One of the goals of the regional hospital in Largo a joint effort by Dimensions, the University of Maryland Medical System and the county is to keep Prince Georges residents in the county when they need hospital care. At the Laurel facility, admissions have declined steadily since 2013, with about 5,300 visits in 2015 compared with 7,200 in 2006. The maternity ward has gone from delivering 1,000 babies in 2012 to fewer than 700 in 2015. Dimensions chief executive Neil J. Moore told state lawmakers at a recent hearing that the facility was losing up to $50,000 a day because it was not fully utilized. Said Goodlett, The customers have voted with their feet. The facility also faced financial pressure from the planned move of Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park to the White Oak section of Montgomery County, less than 10 miles from Laurel. Last winter, Goodlett wrote a letter to the Maryland Health Care Commission opposing the projects application, saying it would jeopardize the existing hospitals long-term viability. In July, the Dimensions board voted to reduce services at the hospital, an effort that began this past fall. A total of 105 hospital employees lost their jobs in the fall. Sixty-four were rehired at other Dimensions facilities. The maternity ward has closed, and 27 of the hospitals medical and surgical beds were eliminated. Although the board that voted on the closure included Dels. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince Georges) and Tawanna P. Gaines (D-Prince Georges) and County Council member Andrea C. Harrison (D-Springdale), elected officials and community leaders in Prince Georges say there was no notice that the decision was on the table and no opportunity for public input. At a Health and Government Operations Committee hearing in Annapolis in November, Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince Georges) asked Moore, the Dimensions chief executive, a battery of questions, including about his $600,000 salary, and she accused the company of failing to alert the community that the hospitals future was uncertain. I have sat here for nine years, and not once have you said that Laurel was in trouble, Pena-Melnyk said, to nods of approval from activists in attendance. You look incompetent, she added. It is really not in the public health interest to close this hospital. Pena-Melnyk and Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince Georges) have filed a bill that would prohibit the closure or partial closure of hospitals under certain conditions. The bill also would authorize the county Board of Health to hold public hearings on proposed closures and give the board the power to stop them. Union leaders who represent the hospitals workers said they, too, felt blindsided. They unsuccessfully sought a restraining order to stop the closure. At community meetings, angry senior citizens accused Dimensions of intentionally leading the hospital to financial ruin. It is an important commentary on what happens when a huge health system decides that they want to change health care and not include the community, said Jennifer Epps, a vice president of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union. To just drop this bomb is just not fair. Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe accused Dimensions of a chronic failure to manage a quality facility. Noting that the local population is projected to grow, he has suggested the county allow another company to buy the property and operate it as a full-scale hospital. As the uproar intensified, Dimensions issued news releases and submitted an op-ed to the Laurel Leader newspaper to explain its decision. The company said it was under no obligation to engage the public in its deliberations, even though the hospital receives public subsidies. But officials said they plan to seek community input before building the new facility. Gov. Terry McAuliffe poses in front of a sidewalk bookstore in Havana during his April 2010 trade mission. The books behind McAuliffe were displayed in crates that once held Virginia apples. (Obtained by The Washington Post) Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, determined to make his mark in an office once occupied by Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, heads to Cuba on Sunday, hoping to capitalize on a historic thaw between the United States and the communist island nation. The timing for McAuliffe (D) is just as momentous. The three-day trade mission comes as the term-limited governor reaches the midway point of his stint and as Republicans maintain a tight grip on the General Assembly. With the House and Senate firmly dug in against many of his top priorities, McAuliffe is staking his governorship on nonpartisan goals he can pull off largely on his own chief among them, economic development and foreign trade. He is setting his sights not across Capitol Square as much as across oceans. Ninety-five percent of the worlds customers live outside of the United States of America, McAuliffe said in an interview with The Washington Post. Ive got to go where the customers are. . . . For many of these countries, you cant do it with a phone call. [Virginia farmers find an eager trading partner: Cuba] Since running for governor in 2013, McAuliffe has stressed the need to expand and diversify the states economy, which is highly dependent on military and other federal spending. That is a goal with bipartisan appeal, but building a legacy around those aspirations is proving to be a tremendous challenge, with McAuliffe up against stiff economic head winds and skeptical Republicans. The governor has turned off some GOP legislators by trying to sell partisan social policies as economic development. Enhancing gay rights or abortion access? That, the governor contends, would make the state more open and welcoming to new businesses. Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, McAuliffe argues, would create 30,000 health-care jobs and shore up rural hospitals. So far, Republicans havent bought it. So now, as the governor heads off on his latest international trip, he has an opportunity to delve into economic development work in its purest form, the realm where he is most likely to shine. Away from Richmond, apart from his larger social agenda, McAuliffe will simply be selling Virginia. I think where he is most successful and where his legacy is potentially made, if hes going to have one, is going to be on economic development, and not just on bringing jobs to Virginia, but on transforming the Virginia economy, even just a little bit, from dependency on federal spending, said Quentin Kidd, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University. In a funny way, its a safe refuge from the fights in the General Assembly that he cant win. But in Cuba, McAuliffe has not chosen an easy course. The small, relatively poor country still labors under most Cold War-era trade restrictions, even after a year of detente. Some of McAuliffes GOP foes roll their eyes at the notion that Cuba can boost Virginias fortunes. Its probably not where Id be going, said House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights). Del.-elect Jason Miyares, a Virginia Beach Republican who in November became the first Cuban American elected to the General Assembly, was more pointed, calling on the governor to meet with dissidents. As Governor McAuliffe decides to ring in the New Year in the only non-democratic nation in the entire Western Hemisphere, perhaps he should keep in mind the thousands of dissidents that are harassed, beaten and imprisoned each day in Cuba simply because they yearn for freedom, Miyares said in a statement Friday night. But Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) sees potential in Cuba. His brother and father once held a special State Department license to do telecommunications work on the island. My brother says theyve got beaches that go for miles and miles, Albo said. Im sure theres money to be made there, and the first person who gets in there wins. McAuliffe is not the first Virginia governor to see economic promise in an island that is just a three-day sail from the Port of Virginia. His three immediate predecessors have courted Cuba, starting with now-Sen. Mark R. Warner (D). Warner wanted to lead a Virginia trade mission to the island when he took office in 2002, taking advantage of liberalization that became law when President Bill Clinton signed the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act. Advisers, worried about the optics of a potential sit-down with Fidel Castro, talked him out of it. Warner instead sent his commerce and trade secretary, who helped Virginia farmers sell about $800,000 in apples and soybeans to Cuba in 2003 the first exports from Virginia to Cuba since President John F. Kennedy imposed a trade embargo in 1962. Virginia has been selling to Cuba ever since. The value of that trade $25 million in sales in 2014 is dwarfed by exports to Canada ($3.7 billion) and China ($2 billion), but it could add up, Kidd said. Diversifying the economy is about little bits here and little bits there, he said. Interest in Cuba has only grown since President Obama moved to normalize relations a year ago, raising hopes that in the not-too-distant future the trade embargo will be fully lifted and the country transformed. McAuliffe will be the fourth sitting U.S. governor to travel there since 2015, behind New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R). McAuliffe hopes to have a head start because of Virginias relationships there. As things are changing between us and Cuba, the foresight that four governors have shown Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Bob McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe really does put Virginia in a good position to recapture business and grow business and, as we go beyond agricultural trade, give us the ability to be standing right at the front of the line to talk about the opportunities, said Todd Haymore, McAuliffes secretary of agriculture and forestry. Even critics concede that McAuliffe has been an ebullient cheerleader for the state, one with an enormous network of national and international contacts amassed over decades in politics and business. A former Democratic National Committee chairman and close friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, McAuliffe had associates in Kuwait and Oman he could call on during a November trade mission to helped get bans on Virginia poultry lifted. Listen I sat down with the crown prince in Kuwait, McAuliffe noted. I said: Your highness, youre buying food from all over the globe. Youre importing it. Buy your chickens from me. Its not a hard sell. I have relationships with these folks. Ive known them forever and ever. And he does have a record of some success with his strategy. The governor often recites a list of gains over his first two years: New economic development projects worth $9 billion more than any other governor in Virginia history and double what his past two predecessors achieved at the same point during their terms. And an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, the lowest since August 2008. But the picture is not all rosy in a state hit particularly hard by the recession and the automatic federal spending cuts known as sequestration. Since March 2008, Virginia has lost 293,400 private-sector jobs each worth an average of $148,000 a year to the states economy, said Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University. So far, it has replaced 224,500 of those but with positions worth an average of $113,000 a year. Economic growth flatlined in 2014, landing Virginia 49th among 50 states and the District. In a sense, McAuliffe is pushing right uphill, Fuller said. It isnt that you can just go out and do a reasonably effective job of raising the profile of the state and attracting investment. The home base is still bleeding. It isnt all net gain. Its serious triage which is needed, and Im not sure that some of the economies can be saved. And you cant just backfill them with investment from China. [Terry McAuliffes Rolodex can pay off for Virginia] McAuliffe also has led trade missions to China (twice), Japan, South Korea, Europe, India and the United Arab Emirates. Whenever the governor plays on the international stage, there are always suggestions that he is capitalizing on his connections to the Clintons, a former president and an aspiring one. The Cubans understand that Mr. McAuliffe can give them perhaps some insight, a back channel to the Clintons, said John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. When they talk to Governor McAuliffe, they can easily and they should picture him wearing one of Mrs. Clintons pantsuits, because thats pretty much whats going to come out of his mouth. Hes going to be the channeler-in-chief. The island is not entirely new territory for McAuliffe. After losing the Democratic primary in 2009, he volunteered to sell Virginia apples and wine in Cuba. He came away with nothing but a tongue-lashing from a Cuban official about the perceived injustices of the U.S. trade embargo. It is not unusual for first-timers to return from Cuba empty-handed, said Kirby Jones, a Cuba trade consultant who accompanied McAuliffe on that April 2010 visit. It just didnt click and pan out at that time, Jones said. This trip could be totally different. [ Virginia didnt wait to have a relationship with Cuba ] Once McAuliffe won the governorship in 2013, he began cultivating a relationship with Cubas top Washington-based diplomat, Jose R. Cabanas, who was then chief of the Cuban Interests Section. (Cabanas only officially became ambassador as relations were normalized.) McAuliffe has visited Cabanas several times at the Cuban Embassy in Washington and twice entertained him in Richmond. You know, Ive gone up to the embassy. Ive sat, had a Cuban cigar with him, McAuliffe said. Ive had a glass of rum with him. This is how you build relationships with folks. That approach has worked better with foreign leaders at times than with some Richmond Republicans. McAuliffe put out the welcome mat for the GOP in his first session, upgrading the mansion bar at his own expense and inviting legislators over for nightly receptions. Cox and some other Republican leaders continue to scoff at his cocktail party outreach. Candidly, its probably one of the more difficult relationships I think Ive had with a governor, Cox said. His personality its different. Its very over the top, and in some ways that plays well for him. People like enthusiasm. Theres nothing wrong with that. [But] the constantly claiming credit, the constant I and me its just something legislators and others are turned off by. Cox and other GOP leaders have worked well with McAuliffe on some critical issues, including plugging a projected $2.4 billion budget hole in 2015. And some Republicans have warmed to McAuliffe personally while remaining cool to his more partisan goals. Sen. Thomas A. Garrett Jr. (R-Buckingham), one of the legislatures most conservative members, joined the governor for a beer at the mansion in December. I like him as well as anybody I know that I dont trust, Garrett said. When McAuliffe unveiled his $109 billion spending plan in December, Republican budget leaders had nice things to say about its focus on K-12, higher education and economic development even as they flatly rejected his latest call for Medicaid expansion. The governors office saw that as progress as well as a good reason to keep hunting for wins overseas. The governor has forged great working relationships with many Republicans in the General Assembly, and that has produced real results on key issues, said his spokesman, Brian Coy. Those relationships will continue to bear fruit. The governor also recognizes that he has a unique opportunity and a unique skill set when it comes to bringing new jobs to Virginia and finding new markets for Virginia products. And hes going to pursue that task just as vigorously as he does his legislative agenda. On the eve of his three-day trade mission to Cuba, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Saturday pushed back against a Republican legislators demand that he meet with dissidents while on the island. Del.-elect Jason Miyares, the first Cuban American elected to Virginias General Assembly, called on McAuliffe to spend time with the Ladies in White and others at odds with Cubas communist regime. Miyaress family fled the country in 1965. As Governor McAuliffe decides to ring in the New Year in the only non-democratic nation in the entire Western Hemisphere, perhaps he should keep in mind the thousands of dissidents that are harassed, beaten and imprisoned each day in Cuba simply because they yearn for freedom, said Miyares, who in November won a House seat, representing Virginia Beach. As Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe holds the same seat as Thomas Jefferson, and as such he has a special responsibility during his Cuba trip to speak out on behalf of the timeless universal truths of his predecessor; the self-evident truths that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights including the Right of Life, Liberty and the Pursuant of Happiness, Miyares said in a written statement issued late Friday night. Mr. Jefferson was able to utter those words to the mighty British Empire 240 years ago, surely Governor McAuliffe can advocate these same timeless principles to the Castro regime today. [McAuliffe, at the midpoint of term, sets sights on Cuba and other foreign markets] McAuliffe heads for Cuba on Sunday for a three-day trip intended to promote exports of Virginia products at a time of warming relations between the two countries. His public schedule for the trip, dominated by meetings with the various government officials who do the buying for Cubas centrally planned economy, gives no indication that the governor plans to meet with dissidents. McAuliffes spokesman said the governors job in Cuba is to promote trade, but noted that an improved U.S.-Cuban relationship offers hope for progress on human rights. The purpose of the Governors trip is to open new markets for Virginia products, McAuliffes spokesman, Brian Coy, said via email in response to Miyaress statement. He believes opening trade relations is a key strategy to create new economic activity and opportunities for families in Virginia and Cuba alike. For the first time fifty years, the US and Cuba have a formal diplomatic relationship and a process agreed to by both governments for discussing human rights. The Governor is pleased with this significant achievement as he believes it, along with greater commerce and trade activities, will pave the way for better relations between the US and Cuba, something that citizens of both countries support. McAuliffe will be the fourth sitting U.S. governor to travel to Cuba since President Obama announced plans just over a year ago to begin normalizing relations with the communist country. He follows New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R). None of the others met with dissidents during their trips, said John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, which provided information to McAuliffe and other governors ahead of their trips. Generally we have suggested that when governors go down, that they steer away from anything that is truly going to be provocative for the Cubans, because theyre supposed to be there as chief marketing officers for their states, Kavulich said. I think theres a different role for a United States senator or a member of the House of Representatives, he added, noting that unlike governors, members of Congress have an official role in making foreign policy. But Kavulich said that McAuliffe is in an awkward spot because he has close personal ties to former president Bill Clinton and current Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. Its tough because that delegate does have a point youre an elected official, youre a very visible official, youve got that tie to the Clintons, he said. So maybe you should say, Im here trying to get business as a state official, but as a human being, as a father, as a husband, I think its important that anyone who comes to a country not gloss over issues just because theyre inconvenient. ILLINOIS Chicago data shows increase in homicides As it scrambles to regain public trust battered by the video of a black 17-year-old being shot 16 times by a white officer, the Chicago Police Department released crime statistics Friday that reveal a drop in some major crimes in the city but a significant increase in the number of homicides and shootings. The department pointed to reductions in overall crimes for the fourth straight year and the lowest number of violent crimes since the 1960s, something it has for months told a city that has seen mounting homicide numbers: 468 in 2015 after falling to 416 in 2014. The news release, which came weeks after Chicago made public the video of Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting Laquan McDonald in 2014, also acknowledges that trust in the department has been shaken. It does not mention the forced resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, the murder charge against Van Dyke or federal and local investigations, but it does include several major reforms that were announced this week. In addition to building upon our public safety accomplishments, our focus for 2016 will be to restore the trust of the people of Chicago by being more transparent and continuing to work . . . to take a critical look at our department to develop best-in-class policies and practices, interim police superintendent John Escalante said in the statement. Associated Press OHIO Protesters call for prosecutor to resign Protesters upset by a decision not to indict two white police officers in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy who had a toy gun at a playground, marched to the home of the Cleveland prosecutor on Friday and repeated calls for him to resign. More than 100 people stood outside the home of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty during the peaceful protest, which also included demands for a federal investigation into the shooting. A march leader told protesters not to vandalize the home of McGinty, which is in a neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland. Police officers accompanied the marchers and stood in McGintys driveway but did not intervene. The protesters chanted, New year, no more! and McGinty has got to go! Protesters have called for McGintys resignation since he announced Monday that the officers would not face criminal charges in Tamirs death. But criticism of him dates back months, as frustration grew over the length of time it took to reach a decision concerning the November 2014 shooting. Associated Press OREGON Father, son to return to prison over arsons The father and son of a prominent Oregon ranching family plan to surrender at a California prison next week after a judge ruled they served too little time for setting fires that spread to government lands they leased to graze cattle. Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time: the father three months, the son one year. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each. The decision has generated controversy in a remote part of the state where the Hammonds are well known for their generosity and community contributions. Its also playing into a long-simmering conflict between ranchers and the U.S. government over the use of federal land for cattle grazing. In particular, the Hammonds new sentences touched a nerve with far-right groups that repudiate federal authority. The son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the government over grazing rights, is organizing opposition. In 2014, after the Bureau of Land Management sought to remove Bundys cattle from public rangeland, armed militiamen confronted federal officials. Bundy stopped paying grazing fees more than 20 years ago and owes more than $1 million. Associated Press Quake strikes Oklahoma town: A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck north of Oklahoma City early on New Years Day, the latest in a series of temblors in the area in recent days that has prompted state regulators to call for more restrictions on oil and gas operators. No injuries and only minor damage were reported after the quake, which struck at 5:39 a.m. Friday near Edmond, about 16 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. N.Y. man crushed to death by falling elevator: A 25-year-old man was crushed to death on New Years Eve by a falling elevator in New York City. Police say the accident happened around midnight Thursday in an apartment building on Broome Street in Manhattans Lower East Side. The victim was identified as Stephen Hewett-Brown of the Bronx. Witnesses told the Daily News that the victim died after shoving a woman out of harms way. A police spokesman said he has no information on the circumstances of Hewett-Browns death. Police say no criminality is suspected. Boy, 5, missing from New Years party: Scores of police officers, firefighters and volunteers in western Pennsylvania searched Friday for a 5-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from a New Years Eve party barefoot and coatless. Jayliel Vega Batista was last seen about 11 p.m. Thursday running near an intersection in Allentown, police said. He had been at a party and was playing with a toy when he left out of nowhere, his sister, Tayritza Molina, 16, told the Morning Call of Allentown on Friday. Authorities said the boy should not be approached, as he is likely to run from strangers. Pilots death in small-plane crash considered suicide: The death of a man whose plane clipped one building before smashing into another in the heart of downtown Anchorage, Alaska, was a suicide, a spokeswoman for his family said Friday. Theres no reason to think that Doug Demarest was trying to harm anyone but himself, said Jahna Lindemuth, a managing partner at the law firm where Demarests wife works. Lindemuth declined to say how the family knew it was a suicide and asked that the familys privacy be respected. Demarest, 42, was flying a plane owned by the Civil Air Patrol on Tuesday when he clipped the building that houses a law firm and crashed into an unoccupied commercial building. He died at the scene. No one else was hurt. From news services Sarah Poggi is an obstetrician practicing in Alexandria. The narrator asked: Are you going to be a victim or a survivor-protector ? I am an obstetrician, and I was taking my annual online course on workplace violence. My favorite part is the instructions on how to fight a gunman if one shows up at my office: I am advised to throw a cup of coffee at them. But in our infection control course, I learned I couldnt have any food or drink in the hospital. As a backup, it was suggested that I could hurl a stapler. I use a paperless records system, but I keep my stapler locked and loaded just in case. Four years ago, when I was first required to view this material, I was cynical about it. Then in 2012 the tragedy at Sandy Hook unfolded, and other shootings have followed. Last January, my medical school classmate Michael Davidson was shot to death at Bostons Brigham and Womens Hospital by a family member of a former patient. Davidson was murdered in pro-gun-control Massachusetts. I practice in Virginia, with more relaxed gun laws. Over the past year I paid more attention to my training, which focused on identifying behaviors of concern. I learned that people dont just snap. Even normal patients and family members can be frustrated by a lack of control over health problems. These feelings can escalate to the use of profanity, yelling and threats. The course suggested that I should call security if patients display these behaviors of concern. While the vast majority of our patients are lovely, we still see these kinds behaviors with some frequency. It is difficult to discern which incidents merit action. Our receptionist smiles easily and has a bell-like laugh, but lately she has been a bit more solemn in our staff meetings. Dr. Poggi, its getting crazy out there, she told me. [Mrs. X] swore at me in front of the waiting room because we were 20 minutes late. I was running through the routine Ebola travel questionnaire, and a man whose wife had a head scarf yelled at me that I was profiling them because they were Muslim. Sometimes the invective that she hears is aimed at me. (Note: If you think what you are telling the front office will not be repeated, you are misguided.) An obese patient was angry because, as per national standards, I suggested that she minimize her weight gain during her pregnancy, which was not well received. Upon her exit from the office, she threatened: I am going to get Dr. Poggis ass! More recently a patient requested that the results of her amniocentesis a test of amniotic fluid be given to her by phone. I had relayed the information that, based on preliminary testing, there was a 95 percent chance they would be positive for Down syndrome. When, as requested, I called her with this result, she was furious that I had not brought her in to the office. I had been informed that she had previously been observed to storm around the waiting room cursing and bullying the staff. I got off easy. Did I report any of these behaviors of concern? No. I justified every case, empathizing with the patient: The patient frustrated by lateness had children to pick up. The Muslim couple was at risk for preterm delivery. The obese woman felt bad about her weight. The patient whose fetus had Down syndrome was blaming the messenger. Notifying security in such instances seems likely only to aggravate an already angry patient. In all of the above cases, I apologized to the patient for her negative experience. But there is also a self-serving motive for letting intemperance go unchecked. An angry patient is far more likely to grade me poorly than a satisfied one is to grade me highly on one of the many doctor-rating Internet sites. I am also subjected to patient satisfaction surveys as dictated by the Affordable Care Act. Heres a reasonable-sounding sample question: How often did doctors treat you with courtesy and respect? The possible answers are never, sometimes, usually and always. My hospital has made it clear that some of the federal funding we receive is tied to the proportion of always answers; we get no credit for usually, which might as well be never. Nor is there a mechanism to identify what a patient might consider disrespectful. We are receiving mixed messages about our patients. On one hand, we are told to watch for angry behavior and to report it. On the other, we are incentivized to excuse the same behavior and even accommodate it. In my office we treat patients civilly, using honorifics when we address them and speaking politely as we involve them in clinical decision-making. We do this not only because its the right way to treat people but also because we are aware of their ability to publicly shame us or to deny us compensation for issues that have nothing to do with the care we provide. In this setting, how are we to treat the rude, even threatening patient? We are tired of the concept that the customer is always right when a patient displays a behavior of concern. And to be honest, we are also a little afraid. In his Dec. 28 op-ed, Capitalists should listen to Bernie Sanders, E.J. Dionne Jr. helped clarify the confusion surrounding the term socialist. As he pointed out, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a Democratic candidate for president, is better described as a social Democrat rather than a democratic socialist. The term socialist traditionally described someone who believed in government ownership of the means of production and centralized economic planning, as was the case in the Soviet Union, which Mr. Sanders has disavowed. It isnt so much that socialism has evolved as that modern socialists have become advocates of a system once referred to as the welfare state. The political innovator who created the first welfare state was the iron chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck felt that German capitalism would thrive if workers were provided with certain social guarantees, such as health care, disability insurance and old-age pensions. Bismarck had contempt for socialism and sponsored anti-socialist legislation. Isnt it ironic that the policies advocated by this 19th-century Prussian conservative are often associated today with socialism? Jim Taylor, Alexandria Barton Swaim is author of The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics. When I was young, my friends and I would support our more improbable factual claims by following them with the words ask anyone. One of us would make a preposterous statement, another would say it wasnt true, and the response would be something like: Sure it is. Ask anyone. In time, we would learn that the rules for corroborating assertions were more stringent and that disputable claims required either reasoned argument or reference to a reputable source. Lately, though, Ive wondered whether some journalists are relying too much on the ask anyone method of citation. Its more sophisticated form appears in a passive-voice clause that includes the word widely: widely believed, widely suspected, widely thought, widely considered, and so on. Clearly, there are some beliefs or suspicions that really are shared widely, and there is nothing wrong with saying so. When a Telegraph reporter writes that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is widely believed to have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by Russian-backed separatists, thats reasonable. The connection cant be documented with finality, not yet anyhow, but almost everybody believes it. Just as often, though, that little word widely seems designed to appear to do the work of citation or argument without actually doing it. You can sense the authors thought process: If he writes U.S.-British relations are thought to be at their most strained in decades, the obvious question is, Thought by whom? But if he inserts a widely, the problem somehow goes away. U.S.-British relations are widely thought to be at their most strained in decades. Ah, well, if its widely thought, its probably close to the truth. Consider this passage, from a recent article in the Economist on the trend toward greater college enrollment by women: Numbers in many of Americas elite private colleges are more evenly balanced. It is widely believed that their opaque admissions criteria are relaxed for men. Maybe its widely believed and maybe it isnt it depends on what widely means but that allegation is a serious one, and it deserves more support than a casual allusion to whats widely believed. Similarly, an article published on the website of San Franciscos public media outlet KQED explained some Democratic congressional leaders reluctance to support the Iran deal. Its widely suspected, we learn, that many of these elected leaders have been influenced in part by powerful conservative pro-Israeli lobbying groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which strongly opposes the agreement. The passive voice, together with the vague qualifiers many and in part its widely suspected (who suspects it?) that many lawmakers were influenced in part by lobbyists allows the writer to make an unsubstantiated opinion sound like unassailable fact. Sometimes writers attempt to use a widely clause to validate an observation but make nonsense of it in the process. From a recent article in the New York Times: In the early years of the AIDS crisis, it was widely believed that the threat to women via sexual transmission was overblown. But that belief couldnt have been very widely held if the threat was over-hyped right? And again, in an otherwise fine piece on British novelist John Cowper Powys in the Telegraph, we read that his name remains little known, even though he wrote what are widely thought to be at least three other great novels. If the greatness of those novels is so widely appreciated, how can Powyss name remain little known? By far the most insidious use of widely, however, occurs when the word refers to a manifestly small number of people who nonetheless share the writers view. Earlier this year, for instance, a writer for the Los Angeles Times began his column by noting that it is widely held that the dopiest anti-Obamacare lawsuit is King vs. Burwell. And an editor at the New Republic observed that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is widely considered one of the most socially inept candidates. Maybe both these statements are true and I am irritated by them only because, not sharing the writers political views, I am not included in their uses of widely. But when the New Yorker, in a highly flattering profile of Secretary of State John Kerry, refers offhandedly to George W. Bush, who is widely considered the worst President of the modern era, I am pretty sure that that widely does not mean what most of us mean when we use it. Surely a widely considered opinion must be shared by almost everyone who has an opinion on the subject. In any case, most people do not actually believe George W. Bush to have been the worst president of the modern era. Ask anyone. Soon, voters will have the opportunity and impertinence to insert themselves into the 2016 presidential conversation that thus far has been the preoccupation of journalists and other abnormal people. The voting will begin in Iowa, thanks to Marie Jahn. When, after 38 years as recorder for Plymouth County in northwest Iowa, Jahn decided to retire in February 1975, local Democrats decided to throw her a party. When it came to attracting a speaker, the best they could entice from their partys national ranks was a former one-term governor of Georgia. According to Steven Hayward in The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order: Carters obscurity was confirmed when he appeared on the syndicated TV game show Whats My Line? He stumped the panel, which not only didnt recognize him, but failed to guess he was a state governor. When pollster George Gallup drew up a list of 38 potential Democratic presidential candidates in 1975, Carters name was not on the list. Eleven months after the fete for Jahn, Jimmy Carter finished second in the hitherto obscure Iowa caucuses, behind uncommitted. This semi-triumph became his springboard to Olympus. The caucuses would never again be obscure. The moral of this cautionary tale is that voters can be startlingly disruptive. Perhaps they are somewhat less likely to be so today. Surprises might be more difficult to spring now that there is saturation journalism about presidential campaigns that are in high gear a year before the first votes are cast. But American politics often has had quirky aspects, as historian Morton Keller demonstrates in his Americas Three Regimes: A New Political History (2007). The Republican Party, Keller says, became known as the Grand Old Party in the 1880s, when it was about 25 years young. In 1840, when William Henry Harrison, scion of wealthy Virginia planters, ran for president as the hardscrabble log cabin and hard cider candidate, the resulting paraphernalia included glass log cabins containing whiskey from Pittsburghs E.C. Booz distillery, which enriched American slang. The Era of Good Feelings, the decade after 1815, was, Keller says, more an Era of No Feelings: In the 1820 presidential election, Richmonds 12,000 residents produced 17 votes. Only 568 of Baltimores 63,000 residents voted. Nine percent of those eligible in New Jersey voted. No one will ever call 2016 part of an Era of Good Feelings. If, however, Donald Trumps vitriol pumps up the number of voters, this will at least lay to rest the canard that high voter turnout is a sign of social health. Given the pandemic distaste for todays politics, it is consoling to remember that things change. In the late 19th century, Robert Ingersoll, a.k.a. The Great Agnostic, was the nations most outspoken atheist and a leading Republican, a combination unlikely today. In the third decade of the 20th century, even a politician with national aspirations could be proudly parochial: The Democrats 1928 presidential nominee, New York Gov. Al Smith, reportedly said he would rather be a lamppost on Park Row than the governor of California, and when asked his thoughts about the problems of states west of the Mississippi, he supposedly replied, What are the states west of the Mississippi? In 1952, the Democratic presidential nominee, Adlai Stevenson, dismayed by the mainstream medias conservatism, fretted about a one-party press in a two-party country. Today, there is a sense in which there are few two-party states. In the presidential election 40 years ago, Carter against President Gerald Ford, 20 states were won by five points or less, including the six most populous states: California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Ohio. (Note the absence of Florida, now the third-most populous state.) In 2012, just four states were decided by five points or less (North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Virginia). Today, Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginias Center for Politics identify just seven states they consider super-swingy: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia, all of which voted for George W. Bush and Barack Obama twice, and Iowa and New Hampshire, which have voted Democratic in three of the past four elections. But, again, things change. One session of the Connecticut Legislature in the 1790s, Keller writes, devoted itself primarily to imposing a tax on dogs. The next session was given over to discussing whether or not to remove that levy. This was, of course, long ago, before government became ambitious, caring and reviled. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. CHANCELLOR ANGELA Merkel of Germany walks a very narrow tightrope in managing the gravest crisis to hit Europe in years. As more than 1 million refugees from Syria and North Africa streamed into Germany in 2015, Ms. Merkel was firm in her resolve to welcome them. It is important not to follow those who, with coldness or even hate in their hearts, want to claim Germanness solely for themselves and exclude others, she said in her year-end address. Ms. Merkels instincts have been right, both as a humanitarian response to the tide of misery and as an opportunity to build a stronger Germany. But she faces deep and serious unease in her own political camp over the influx. At the annual conference of the Christian Democratic Union in mid-December, she won a standing ovation with a declaration that we want to and we will palpably reduce the number of refugees, because its in everyones interest. The ruling coalition is discussing measures that could result in a less welcoming policy in 2016, including expedited deportations for those deemed unworthy of asylum and more hurdles for those who have settled in Germany and want to bring family members. Ms. Merkel is clearly feeling the heat. In Sweden, too, ardor for the plight of the refugees peaked and cooled. As Post correspondents Griff Witte and Anthony Faiola reported, Sweden was at the forefront of nations welcoming the refugees as waves of people braved the Aegean Sea to reach Europe. Sweden took in more asylum seekers, on a per capita basis, than any other nation on the continent. But now Swedens center-left government is deploying new border controls and slashing benefits to send an unmistakable signal to refugees: Dont come. A Swedish official acknowledged that, despite the nations generosity, Even we have our limits. Europes open-borders Schengen Area has been trampled by the refugee influx, which prompted individual nations to revive internal border controls that had long ago melted away. Despite promises, the European Union has taken little concrete action to gain control of the continents external borders, and it does not seem likely to do so in the near future. Nor does Turkey seem equipped to stem the tide on its own, despite a large aid package from the E.U. Its understandable that the sense of lost control has fueled reactionary sentiments, as have the worrisome reports from investigators that at least three of the attackers in the Nov. 13 assault on Paris traveled the same path being taken by refugees. However, Germany, Sweden and all Europe should not succumb to rising xenophobia. As long as the Syrian civil war continues, the refugees will keep coming, and European nations cannot seal themselves off. Nor should the United States, which has been deficient in welcoming refugees from Syria. The only way to truly stop the tide is to stop the war. That should be the focus of European and U.S. policymakers in 2016. THE DECISION by prosecutors in Montgomery County, Pa., to bring 12-year-old sexual assault charges against Bill Cosby was greeted with elation by women who say they too were victimized by the comedian. The best Christmas present theyve ever received, attorney Gloria Allred said of women she is representing in their civil claims against Mr. Cosby. That reaction is understandable, particularly since the allegations of sexual abuse were too long brushed aside. Its hard, though, for us to feel anything but sadness at the pain these women said they experienced and at the crumbling of an icon who was once revered for the good he did and for his ability to get us to laugh. It was hard to see that man the one who brought the world Cliff Huxtable and Fat Albert in the frail 78-year-old who was arraigned Wednesday on three felony charges of aggravated indecent assault. Mr. Cosby is accused of drugging and sexually abusing a young woman he had mentored; the alleged incident took place at his suburban Philadelphia home on a January night in 2004. Attorneys for Mr. Cosby denied the charges. Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law, they said in a statement. The accused are presumed innocent, and it will be up to a jury to decide whether Mr. Cosby is guilty of these charges. It is hard, though, to accept claims of no wrongdoing by Mr. Cosby, given the sordid stories that have blotted his career. Andrea Constand, the alleged victim in the Pennsylvania case, is not alone in her accusations of abuse. More than 50 women have come forward with eerily similar and credible recollections. Mr. Cosbys own words in a deposition in a civil suit brought by Ms. Constand damn him; he acknowledged securing drugs with the aim of giving them to young women he wanted to have sex with. That deposition, which Mr. Cosby never thought would become public and which he fought to keep secret, apparently provided the additional evidence prosecutors said they needed to bring charges against him before the statute of limitations expired. Still, as legal experts point out, prosecutors face challenges with a case so old and one that previous prosecutors decided not to press. Whatever the outcome of the legal case, another verdict the one about Mr. Cosbys legacy has already been rendered: It is irretrievably gone. The inspiring messages embodied in his career about the importance of family, self-reliance and understanding among the races have been dirtied. Those who have been most hurt, including the women he allegedly abused, are the people who once looked up to him. For that, Mr. Cosby must bear the guilt. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims make their way to cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called Jamarat, the last rite of the annual hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Sept. 24. (Mosa'ab Elshamy/Associated Press) Mahjabeen Islam is former president of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. It has become clear that thousands of hajj pilgrims died Sept. 24 in Mina, Saudi Arabia, but the Saudi government is sticking to its story of 769 fatalities the number released two days after the disaster. The combined numbers reported by various Muslim governments far surpass this total Iran alone reported more than 460 deaths and counts made by the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse news agencies exceed 2,000, with hundreds more unaccounted for. Less than a week after the tragedy, the Saudi vice minister of health stated that the death toll had reached 4,173, but the figure was later retracted. An inquiry was promised, but the prognosis for a speedy and fair investigation is poor. Transparency and accountability are not Saudi strong suits. Still, more than enough is known to draw one important conclusion: Muslims planning to take part in the annual five-day pilgrimage to Mecca should be aware that until better crowd-control measures are put in place, they will be putting their lives at risk. The hajj is a journey of a lifetime for Muslims and a transformative experience for many people. I, too, had some dramatic experiences during my one hajj and two umrahs (minor pilgrimages), and I treasure those memories. But I wouldnt go again. Saudi arrogance and hostility toward visitors, especially women, are too great. Poor preparations of the pilgrims, along with a language barrier, are significant problems. Far too many of the Saudi boy scouts and soldiers who monitor and guide pilgrims speak only Arabic, so the majority of pilgrims from the Muslim world are out of luck. Travel agencies in the various countries are supposed to guide their clients through the steps of the hajj. But a handful of people cannot accompany hundreds each step of the way. And instructions can be misunderstood or forgotten. During my hajj in 2004, we had been repeatedly admonished to avoid attempting to retrieve lost sandals during the stoning of the devil, or Jamarat, ritual, but I saw my friend do exactly that. She was being swallowed up by a vortex of people, and we extricated her just in time from a deadly crush. The death toll was more than 240, and the moment is forever stamped in my memory. Two years later, during the same ritual, 345 people were killed in a similar stampede. Afterward, international outrage forced the Saudis to reconstruct the entrance and exit to the area, and there were no more incidents. Until Septembers catastrophe. Whats known about what happened is that a panic broke out on narrow streets near the entrance to the Jamarat site, about three miles from Mecca, but reports have been contradictory. Iran and many other countries blamed Saudi mismanagement. The Lebanon-based newspaper Ad-Diyar, citing witnesses, reported that a convoy escorting Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in the incident by making some pilgrims turn against the flow of the crowd. Saudi authorities denied this report and instead blamed pilgrims for not following instructions. Other witnesses said closed exits touched off the panic. Its clear that some simple, workable steps need to be taken. The administration of the hajj should be a fully international effort. All Muslim countries should send a large contingent of guides to Saudi Arabia months in advance. These guides should receive ground training at each of the sites where the hajj rituals occur, especially with regard to crowd control. During the hajj, they could then be stationed at important locations wearing colored jackets denoting the country they represent or the language they speak. Each Muslim country should be responsible for training its pilgrims. A training course on hajj rituals and crowd responsibility should be created by Saudi Arabia and translated into the various necessary languages. Formal hajj training sites should be established in all countries with significant Muslim populations, and a hajj visa should be issued only if a certificate of training is attached to the passport. The hajj is a pillar of Islam and must be completed once in our lives. But why would any Muslims make the pilgrimage knowing that they risk injury or death? Muslims will not announce that they are boycotting the hajj, for that seems blasphemous and could invite retribution. But as parents and breadwinners with responsibilities to their families, they simply will refrain from making travel plans. The Saudis have a strong incentive to act. It would be naive for them to think that Muslims wont think twice before making the hajj until definite, credible arrangements are made to ensure their safety. According to the Al-Hayat newspaper, Saudi Arabia received $16.5 billion from Muslim pilgrimages in hajj in 2012. Saudi Arabias main source of revenue is oil. Falling oil prices have contributed to a Saudi budget deficit of $98 billion this year, with a projected shortfall next year of $87 billion. The Saudi intervention in Yemen is costly. Discontent in the royal family and rumors of a possible palace coup have been reported. High unemployment remains a problem. And now a horrific tragedy has struck the hajj. Riyadh can no longer afford complacency. Muslim countries and Saudi Arabia badly need to conduct a transparent inquiry into the cause of Septembers hajj crowd collapse and make swift arrangements for a detailed, international orchestration of hajj for the future. The survival of pilgrims is not all that is at stake. The Saudi monarchy may be as well. Zunar is the pen name for the Malaysian political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque. Im a cartoonist in a country where cartooning can be a crime. Under my pen name, Zunar, I expose corruption and abuses of power by the Malaysian government. As it happens, I have a good deal of material to work with. For instance, Prime Minister Najib Razak is currently facing questions about a $700 million donation made to his personal bank account. Last February, police raided my home in the middle of the night and hauled me off to jail. I was handcuffed for eight hours and thrown into a cell with all the other criminal suspects. I managed to avoid telling my cellmates what I was in for: using Twitter. I was accused of sedition over a series of tweets I sent out opposing the jailing of a prominent Malaysian opposition leader. Now Im facing nine charges under my countrys archaic, colonial-era Sedition Act, which could result in a 43-year prison sentence . The court proceedings against me begin this month. I was in the United States in November to receive a press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. While I was discussing my case with American journalists and cartoonists, President Obama was in Kuala Lumpur meeting with Najib the third time they met face to face. Obama is eagerly courting Malaysia in his efforts to fight extremism and to advance the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and his meeting reportedly focused on that to the virtual exclusion of everything else. Thats a grave disappointment and a missed opportunity. Obama has a responsibility to put the issue of human rights on the table. The legal assault against me is nothing new, but it marks a major escalation. The authorities have repeatedly sought to silence me. My office has been raided multiple times since 2009, and authorities have confiscated thousands of my cartoon books. In 2010, five of my books including 1 Funny Malaysia were banned by the home affairs minister, who declared the contents detrimental to public order. Later that year I was detained by police and locked up for two days after the publication of Cartoon-O-Phobia. To say the least, the Malaysian government has no sense of humor. In late 2014, my webmaster was called in for questioning, and three of my assistants were arrested for selling my books. I was also brought in for questioning by the police, and the company that processes orders for my website was forced to disclose my customer list. In January, the police raided my office and then opened two investigations in February under the Sedition Act. Thats when they really threw the book at me. The government hasnt just targeted me and my associates; it also has cracked down on the entire ecosystem of free expression. Three companies that printed my books were raided and warned not to print my books in the future or their licenses would be revoked. Likewise, bookstores that carried my book were raided and their licenses were threatened. As a result, no one dares print or sell my books. In such an environment, people like me must turn to the Internet to share our opinions and art. But now that space is under attack as well. Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey recently proclaimed that the platform is a bastion of freedom of expression and speaking truth to power. With my personal slogan of How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand, I embrace his vision. The reality, though, is quite different. If a person can face sedition charges for stating a belief in 140 characters or less, then there is no freedom of expression. The Malaysian Sedition Act is incredibly broad, banning any act, speech or publication purported to bring contempt against the government or royal sultans. In 2012, Najib pledged to repeal the act because, he said, it represents a bygone era. Hes since reversed course and moved to strengthen it. Ive been charged with one count of sedition for each supposedly seditious tweet. I could successfully fight one, or maybe two, counts, but nine counts and a potential 43-year prison sentence make clear that the government wants to make an example of me. I need help from people around the world who share my commitment to freedom of expression. Amnesty International is highlighting my case as part of its Write for Rights campaign, the largest human rights effort on the planet. You can personally write to Prime Minister Najib and call on his government to drop the charges against me and to abolish laws like the Sedition Act that squelch freedom of expression. Public pressure from around the globe can make a big difference in my case and beyond. I hope youll join with me to take a stand. Sitting among graves adorned with holiday wreaths, Andrew Suzuki of Warrenton, visits the grave of his son Matthew Suzuki on the third anniversary of his death at Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60 in Virginia, December 22, 2015. Many of the graves in Section 60 are casualties of recent conflicts. Matthew Suzuki served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Bob Friedmans Dec. 26 Free for All letter, On which graves should wreaths go?, questioned the appearance of a wreath on a Jewish grave marker. On wreath day, we make an announcement to the 60,000-plus volunteers that, out of respect for the Jewish beliefs and traditions, we should not place a wreath on any marker with the Star of David religious symbol on it. However, if one sees a Jewish marker with a wreath on it, volunteers can assume it was placed by a family member who was present and wanted one placed. Some people of the Jewish faith who cant be present make a special request and sponsor a wreath on a specific Jewish marker. We have a rabbi speak at our opening ceremony to address Jewish traditions. We dont call the wreaths Christmas wreaths. They are veterans remembrance wreaths. Wayne Hanson, Springfield The writer is coordinator of the Arlington Wreath Project. The writer is a contributing editor to The Post. His email is jim.hoagland@washpost.com. Germanys citizens and leaders have earned the worlds respect over the decades since World War II by repeatedly taking the moral and political high ground. From Willy Brandts imaginative Ostpolitik approach to relations with the Eastern bloc to the peaceful and effective reunification of their divided country in 1990, and on to Angela Merkels principled welcome of Syrian refugees in 2015, Germans have set standards that the rest of us have to admire. So why in the world are they risking that hard-earned reputation for the sake of a seemingly corrupt gas pipeline deal with Russias Vladimir Putin especially since the vast changes in the global energy markets of the past year have made the Russian deal obsolete, as well as damaging to European unity? And why is the Obama administration doing so little to discourage Chancellor Merkel from going along with Putins pipeline skulduggery? This makes no sense. Putins objective is blatant. He intends to lock in revenue for his Gazprom corporation while deepening Western Europes dependence on Russian gas and strangling Ukraines ability to resist his faltering destabilization campaign there. And yet Merkel persists in describing the proposed Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a commercial project that makes market sense. But it doesnt, says Anders Aslund of the Atlantic Council. Consumption of natural gas in the European Union has fallen by 21 percent over the past decade, and the existing Gazprom pipeline under the Baltic Sea is now operating at half capacity. And Gazprom is no ordinary state corporation. It pursues Russias geopolitical goals, cutting supplies or raising prices when the Kremlin wants. The views of Aslund, a Swedish economist with extensive experience in Russia and Ukraine, are bolstered by Gerhard Schroeders role as the head of the board of directors at Gazproms Nord Stream subsidiary. Schroeder signed the initial sweetheart deal with Putin for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in 2005 shortly after his defeat by Merkel at the polls. It was in his final days as Germanys chancellor that he began discussions with Putin about going on the Gazprom payroll, according to one source in a position to know. And the surprise announcement in June by Gazprom of its intention to build yet another pipeline that bypasses Ukraine which currently earns about $2 billion in transit revenue for Russian gas passing through its territory is vigorously defended at every turn by the vice chancellor of Merkels coalition government, Sigmar Gabriel, a major figure in Schroeders Social Democratic Party. Certainly by the standards Germany has developed to overcome its Nazi past and to protect its strong sense of social unity, this is tawdry stuff. It is not just about the money, of course. It is also about the geopolitics of placating Putin. And that suggests a surprising lack of solidarity by Germany toward its neighbors to the east. In the two years I lived in Germany, I came to admire the German willingness to share the burden of hard times broadly across society. The willingness of German workers to restrain demands for wages and benefits helps explain why German unemployment today is half of that of France. The sacrifices made to absorb the former East Germanys population on equal terms speak for themselves. But Merkels failure to recognize an essential reality for Putin, economics is war by other means suggests that solidarity now seems to stop at Germanys frontiers. And as Italys Matteo Renzi and other European Union leaders pointed out at the E.U. summit in Brussels two weeks ago, Nord Stream 2 would gravely undermine the E.U.s efforts to form a common energy market that is pledged to move toward decarbonization. It may be no coincidence that Gazproms escalation of pipeline positioning comes as Putins military campaign in the eastern part of Ukraine seems to be faltering. Putin has found it much harder to control the insurgent forces he has armed there than he apparently expected. One rebel leader, Igor Strelkov, has been quoted in Moscow as having criticized Putin for not helping his forces enough. Putin may sense that time is running out on his Ukrainian adventure and that he must either win or deal now. U.S. law was recently changed to permit the export of oil, and the country has an abundance of low-cost natural gas. The administration should make clear that it will provide Ukraine with emergency energy supplies if need be. And President Obama, who is making a push to wrap up a new trans-Atlantic trade pact, should use his enhanced working relationship with Merkel to make sure that Germany lives up to its own high standards of behavior and solidarity with allies by abandoning a strategically dangerous pipeline. In his final Fine Print column, As I say goodbye to The Post, some words of advice for a profession I love [The Fed Page, Dec. 30], Walter Pincus claimed that the American political system [is] the most democratic in the world. That is dangerous dogma, not fact. The Constitution does not require a democratic election process. Elections are left to the states. A democratic process would require a majority vote or proportional representation of parties (which wouldnt make much sense in our system). Many countries have such requirements and clearly have more democratic political systems than we do. The original Constitution also was even completely silent about the right to vote (often limited at the time to white, male property owners), a fact that has been partially addressed in amendments. The lack of a majority vote requirement and the ability of the super-wealthy to dominate politics have allowed for two-party control and for consensus on many key issues in the political class, while the majority of members of both parties disagree in vain. In more democratic systems, third parties open the political system, allowing new ideas to flourish. Meanwhile, our system continues to degenerate and serve the people less and less well. William Bill Samuel, Rockville Danielle Allens recommendation in her Dec. 30 op-ed, We already know how to win the war on drugs, to model the U.S. approach to illegal substances on the handling of tobacco, has a glaring logical flaw: Seriously addicted tobacco users can function effectively as workers, parents and citizens. There is no deformation of judgment and character inherent in tobacco addiction. As those who have dealt with addicts or with their families know, addiction to cocaine, opiates and similar substances produces behavioral changes that destroy the work and family lives of those addicted. The war on drugs has been unsuccessful in reducing abuse and addiction. More funds for treatment and prevention are badly needed; however, new and creative policies will not be built on ignoring the devastation of personal functioning inherent in drug addiction. Linda Gore, Gaithersburg Danielle Allen equated education to reduce tobacco use with education plus decriminalization to reduce illicit drug use. Does Ms. Allen know of any instances in which innocent bystanders were killed by someone high on tobacco? People get killed all too often by someone high on an illicit drug. Just before reading Ms. Allens column, I learned that my two darling nieces, one in preschool and the other in second grade, were killed in a high-speed, rear-end crash by a driver who seemed to be high on drugs. Retaining criminalization might prevent some of these tragedies. To me, thats reason enough to keep the pressure of criminalization on illicit drug users. Effective education and prevention strategies take time to develop and are validated by the test of time. I worked for about eight years during the 1970s as a part of New Mexicos statewide drug abuse education initiative. It was very slow progress and by no means a substitute for the criminal justice system as a deterrent. A complement to, yes, but not a substitute for. John Levchuk, Columbia Danielle Allen argued that the successful anti-tobacco approach would solve the illicit drug problem. I am not convinced. Legalizing and controlling marijuana for recreational use follows the tobacco model. But in states that have legalized marijuana, businesses promote marijuana, and that may increase its use rather than reduce it. Decriminalizing hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine is useful but falls short of solving this problem. On the positive side, it would help addicts get treatment rather than jail time. But Ms. Allen assumed that such treatment programs would dry up the demand for hard drugs. This may not be the case with new addicts coming along, despite anti-drug campaigns. The demand for illicit drugs is stable, as is the supply. Illicit drug cartels make sure that the supply is just adequate to keep the price stable. And law enforcement agencies have only interdicted about 10 percent of these illicit drugs since 1971 , when President Nixon declared the war on drugs. Lawrence Schwartz, Fairfax The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will turn 81 in a couple of months. His critics say he is clinging to power. His supporters see an indispensable man. Abbas tells foreign visitors he is weary. The Palestinian leaders elected term in office was scheduled to end seven years ago. Yet on Abbas goes, presiding over a stalemate with the Jewish state; fighting with the Islamist movement Hamas; and trying to manage a status quo that American diplomats call unsustainable and Palestinians call apartheid: the 48-year Israeli military occupation. Quietly, but cognizant of the political life span of any one leader, Palestinian politicians are jockeying for the top job. One of a handful of names on a short list of possible successors to Abbas is Mohammed Dahlan, 53, a former chief of security in Gaza and protege of Yasser Arafat who lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates. Viewed as an archrival to Abbas, Dahlan was kicked out of the Fatah political party, which Abbas leads, in 2011. He was accused of corruption and defamation, charges he denies. From his perch in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, Dahlan plots his comeback. [Palestinians dont hate Abbas, but theyre tired of him] Dahlan has friends in high places who can write big checks to charities that support Palestinian causes and that Dahlan helps administer. His detractors say he lacks broad support on the street back home. But he may have enough clout to emerge as a power broker. Dahlan is close to Abu Dhabis crown prince, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who has disbursed $50 million in aid to families needing temporary shelter in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas fought a devastating 50-day war with Israel in 2014. Dahlan is also friends with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, the countrys former top general whose regime has kept Gazas border with Egypt closed for most of the past year. Both men share a deep dislike of Hamas and its founding organization, the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas has branded Dahlan a spy or an Israeli pawn because he was part of past peace negotiations. Dahlan recently sat down with The Washington Post at his villa in Abu Dhabi. He wore designer jeans and a white T-shirt that showed off his gym-trained physique. His aides came and went; most have been with Dahlan since his days in Gaza, where he was born. Dahlan sees the Israeli- Palestinian conflict through a lens of personalities, and he blames Abbas, President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the impasse. [Netanyahu and Abbas shake hands for the first time in 5 years then try to take it back] Dahlan asserted that Obama made no real efforts to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, arguing that the United States never pressed Israel to make tough concessions, such as halting the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, on lands that Palestinians want for a future state. As for the Israeli leader, Dahlan said that Netanyahu can do what he wants because the Palestinian leadership is compliant. He called Abbas a failure in that the senior leader has devoted 10 years to negotiations with nothing to show for it. No Palestinian in the past, present or future will be as easy with the Israelis as Abu Mazen, Dahlan said, using Abbass popular nickname. The Palestinian leadership, he said, should end the false game of negotiations and suspend security coordination with the Israelis. Palestinian police keep order in the 40 percent of the West Bank under their partial control; they keep armed men away from confrontations while Palestinian intelligence keeps an eye on Hamas and allows Israeli troops into Palestinian cities to make arrests. Dahlan said that coordination must stop until Israel gives the Palestinians something in return. Israeli officials say threats to end security coordination are nothing more than a bluff. The arrangement, they say, protects the Palestinian Authority from Hamas and other antagonists and keeps the West Bank free of warlords and gangsters. Governance of the Palestinian people has been split since 2007 between the militant Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the more moderate Fatah party in the West Bank. Dahlan said no progress is possible for the Palestinian cause until the political factions reconcile. Dahlan called the years since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip a big zero. They cannot show that their rockets are the solution, he said. But Hamas is popular these days, both in Gaza and in the West Bank. Recent polling by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 51 percent of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would vote for the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and just 41 percent for Abbas. The third-most popular choice is Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison. A leader of the first and second Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, Barghouti is considered a terrorist by Israel and the Palestinian Nelson Mandela by his supporters. Dahlan appears among the third tier of presidential possibilities, pulling about 6 percent support. He has charisma and acts like a leader. He rose up from a Gaza refugee camp, said Mukhaimer Abu Saada, a political scientist at al-Azhar University in Gaza. He could achieve many things within a short time. He is one of the youngest Fatah leaders, in comparison with others. Dahlan demurs when asked if he wants to be the next president of the Palestinian Authority. President of what? Dahlan said. When I say I dont want anything, it is because there is nothing to be president of. The most recent polls found that two-thirds of Palestinians think Abbas should resign. Youths, especially those who launched the months-long campaign of near-suicidal attacks on Israelis, are no longer listening. A majority of Palestinians now support the frequent knife attacks. [Israelis are calling attacks a new kind of Palestinian terrorism] Dahlan said he is opposed to armed struggle against Israel. He says the current leaderless attacks are the product of hopelessness. He advocates resistance with minimal losses. There are no plans for a succession of leadership and no elections scheduled, though balloting is years overdue. Dahlan talks a lot about reviving the Palestinian leadership, holding elections, bringing in young people. He complains that most of the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization have been serving for 30 or 40 years or more. Youth must be involved. We must support youth to play their role in the society. We must build an authority and strengthen it, Dahlan said. We must hold legislative elections now. Booth reported from Ramallah. A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim, bottom, holds a portrait of Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, as others shout slogans during a protest against Saudi Arabia in Srinagar, in India-controlled Kashmir. Jan. 3, 2016 A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim, bottom, holds a portrait of Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, as others shout slogans during a protest against Saudi Arabia in Srinagar, in India-controlled Kashmir. Mukhtar Khan/AP The countrys announcement that it has killed 47 people has caused an uproar across the region. Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran on Sunday amid the furor. The countrys announcement that it has killed 47 people has caused an uproar across the region. The countrys announcement that it has killed 47 people has caused an uproar across the region. Protesters stormed and torched the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran on Saturday after the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric ignited sectarian tensions across the already inflamed region, jeopardizing U.S. diplomacy aimed at tamping down conflicts in the Middle East. The unrest erupted after Saudi authorities announced that Sheik Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, 56, was among 47 people put to death. Some were killed by firing squad, others by beheading, according to a statement from Saudi Arabias Interior Ministry. Most were Sunnis accused of participating in al-Qaeda attacks in the kingdom. Nimr, however, was one of four Shiites put to death for political activism and the leading figure in the anti-government demonstrations that swept the mostly Shiite east of the country in 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring protests elsewhere in the region. The death sentence was carried out despite international appeals for clemency and repeated warnings from the kingdoms archenemy in the region, Iran, that there would be consequences if the popular cleric were killed. The U.S. State Department, which had refrained from publicly joining the appeals for Nimrs life, said it had raised concerns at the highest levels of the Saudi government about the judicial process. In a statement, it called on Saudi Arabia to respect and protect human rights and to permit peaceful expression of dissent. We are particularly concerned that the execution of prominent Shia cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced, the State Department said in a statement. In this context, we reiterate the need for leaders throughout the region to redouble efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions. Shiites around the world expressed outrage, potentially complicating a surge of U.S. diplomacy aimed at bringing peace to the region, according to Toby Matthiesen, an expert on Saudi Arabia at the University of Oxford. Nimr had become a household name amongst Shiite Muslims around the world. Many had thought his execution would be a red line and would further inflame sectarian tensions, he said. So this will complicate a whole range of issues, from the Syrian crisis to Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Iran are backing rival sides in Syrias war, and their enmity risks derailing a diplomatic effort led by the United States and Russia to convene peace talks between the factions in Geneva this month. The two feuding powers also support opposing sides in the war in Yemen and more broadly find themselves in opposition in the deeply divided politics of the mixed Sunni-Shiite nations of Iraq and Lebanon. The Obama administrations hopes that the conclusion last summer of an agreement limiting Irans nuclear program would help bridge the sectarian divide between Tehran and the United States biggest Arab ally were further diminished by the eruption of fury that followed Nimrs death. Angry demonstrations were held in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, where protesters broke into the Saudi Embassy, ransacked it and set it ablaze. Video posted on Twitter showed crowds smashing windows with crowbars and overturning furniture. Demonstrators also torched the Saudi consulate in the city of Mashhad. Irans top police official, Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, later told the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency that police had removed the protesters from the building and arrested some of them, the Associated Press reported. He said the situation outside the embassy had been defused. The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that there would be repercussions. The Saudi government will pay a heavy price for adopting such policies, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari, calling the execution the depth of imprudence and irresponsibility on the part of the Saudi government, according to Iranian news agencies. Iran summoned the Saudi charge daffaires in Tehran to complain about the execution, and Saudi Arabia reciprocated by calling in the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh to protest the hostile remarks made by Iranian officials. The execution also triggered renewed unrest in both Saudi Arabia and neighboring Bahrain, after years of calm following the suppression of the demonstrations in 2011. Activists from both countries used Twitter and other social media to appeal for an uprising. In the eastern Saudi city of Qatif, hundreds took to the streets, and Saudi officials expanded patrols and bolstered checkpoints to deter further upheaval, according to a Qatif activist who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. The Nimr family issued a statement expressing shock and dismay at the execution, and urging restraint and self-control among Nimrs followers. The clerics brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, pledged on his Twitter account that the democracy movement would endure. Wrong, misled and mistaken [are] those who think that the killing will keep us from our rightful demands, he tweeted after the execution was announced. In Bahrain, where demonstrations by the countrys Shiite majority against the ruling Sunni royal family were quelled by the intervention of Saudi troops in 2011, there were reports of scattered protests in several Shiite towns and villages. Videos posted on YouTube by Bahraini activists showed hundreds of people, some wearing T-shirts featuring the bearded clerics face, marching through the streets in at least four locations. Nimr had long served as the voice of Saudi Arabias Shiite minority, the target of discrimination, but he rocketed to prominence in 2011, articulating the sentiments not only of Shiites but also of many others in the region demanding change after decades of authoritarian rule. He had consistently advocated nonviolence, and his views transcended the Sunni-Shiite divide, said Maryam al-Khawaja, a Bahraini human rights activist with the Gulf Center for Human Rights who lives in exile in Denmark. He said Sunnis and Shiites should unite and that anyone who supports the oppressors should be condemned, she said, citing a 2012 speech in which Nimr condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is from the Shiite-affiliated Alawite sect and is backed by Iran, and the regions Sunni authoritarian leaders, including the Saudi royal family. This was a big part of why he became problematic for the Saudi regime, because he refused to abide by the sectarian discourse that is basically enforced on everyone, Khawaja said. Nimr was arrested by Saudi security forces in 2012, after being shot in the legs during a car chase. He had been charged with instigating unrest and undermining the kingdoms security, as well as delivering speeches against the government and defending political prisoners. [Sectarianism comes back to bite Saudi Arabia] Condemnations also poured in from other Shiite figures and organizations. Lebanons Hezbollah movement said it held the United States and its allies responsible for Nimrs execution because they are giving direct protection to the Saudi regime. This crime will remain a black mark that will plague the Saudi regime, which has been committing massacres since its inception, Hezbollah said in a statement. In Iraq, there was an outpouring of anger from Shiite leaders and politicians, with the influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calling on Shiites in Iraq and across the region to protest the execution. He told Iraqis to take their demonstrations to the newly reopened Saudi Embassy in Baghdads fortified Green Zone, which welcomed a new Saudi ambassador to Iraq on Friday for the first time in nearly 25 years. Iraqs al-Sumaria television channel reported that Shiites in Karbala were demanding that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi close the Saudi Embassy. Abadi condemned the execution but offered no immediate response. Yemens Houthi rebel movement also issued a condemnation on its website. [In legacy of a revered martyr, Saudi Shiites find sustenance] The advocacy group Amnesty International criticized all of the executions, including those of the accused al-Qaeda operatives, saying those killed had not been given fair trials. Nimrs execution, in particular, suggested that Saudi authorities are using the death penalty, in the name of counter terror, to settle scores and crush dissidents, Amnesty International said in a statement. Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in the past year, a record number according to human rights groups. Nimrs nephew, Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, is on death row he was sentenced last year to death by crucifixion for participating in the protests while he was 16 or 17 years old, also drawing widespread international condemnation. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Read more Ali al-Nimr was a boy when thrown in Saudi prison Ali al-Namrs mother urged President Obama to rescue her son Shiite protests pose major challenge for Saudi Arabia In the Alamar neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, the streets dont have names. To find an address, you need to know the zone, the block number and the apartment, because all the buildings look the same. Long and rectangular, five stories tall, their facades have been stripped by the ocean air and re-pigmented in curlicue patterns of mildew. Alamar is the largest public housing project in Cuba, if not one of the largest in the world, with 100,000 residents. In a country sworn to socialist equality, it is arguably Cubas most equal place, because everyone pretty much has an identical apartment. It was a model city, said Roman Perez, 76, a retired bus driver who lives in Zone 8, block D52, apartment 21. He helped build D52 and two others with his own hands, as a member of a communist worker micro-brigade. This was Fidel Castros idea. We had everything then, Perez said. Everyone looked after each other. That was 40 years ago. Today, with U.S.-Cuban relations on the mend, this island has come to the edge of a new post-Castro era. The countrys ideological foundations are cracking, and new uncertainties are coming perhaps none larger than whether the egalitarian values of Castros revolution will be swept away by rising inequalities and the breakdown of Cubas socialist welfare state. A Che mural at the bodega in Alamar reads "Until Victory, Always." The revolutionary hero's image is ubiquitous on the island. (Lisette Poole/For The Washington Post ) Communist Party elders want to keep a lid on market forces, but with every incremental opening, yawning income gaps emerge. The owner of a small private restaurant can earn hundreds of dollars a day, or more, in a country where three-quarters of the labor force works for the state and the average government salary is $20 a month. Tour guides and hotel chambermaids make more than scientists and doctors. Younger Cubans do not seem too troubled. But these disparities, authorities fear, bear the seeds of social tensions, resentments and crime. Men Die, But the Party Is Immortal, says a billboard in Alamar, trying to reassure residents who may wonder what will happen after Fidel, 89, and current President Raul Castro, 84, are no longer around. Cuba remains a society of unusual social and economic parity in Latin America, a region beset by deep class divisions and the worlds worst homicide rates. A fraying system of cradle-to-grave benefits keeps Cubans living in a kind of state-administered, socialized poverty, earning high scores on U.N. human development surveys but little for Cuban wallets. On the surface, Alamar looks like the kind of peripheral urban slum that a visitor would not dare enter in Sao Paulo or Bogota or Mexico City. Yet it is a place with no gangs, and essentially no guns or drugs, where neighbors know each other and parents send children out to play in the cracked stairwells and weedy lots. Social and economic equality and political conformity have been reinforced by the monotony of the architecture. Old-timers such as Roman Perez say they would not want to live elsewhere. But most of the other members of Perezs micro-brigade have died or moved away. Their children are impatient to get out of Alamar, to somewhere better. They see Cubas model city, and the countrys revolution, as running on fumes. Alberto Garcia Rivera (center) talks on a payphone at the Falcon shopping center in Alamar. (Lisette Poole/For The Washington Post ) [Facing new test, Cubas revolution circles back] City of the future Before it was a neighborhood, Alamar was an argument. In capitalist countries, governments built housing projects that gave shelter to the poor but failed to fix the root causes of poverty and marginalization. Fidel Castros proletarian city would be different. It would endow residents with a sense of ownership and belonging by enlisting them in the construction of their own homes. The idea came at a low point for Castro. In 1970, he had mobilized the entire island in a drive to achieve a sugar harvest of 10 million tons. Students, factory workers and nearly all other able-bodied males were sent out into the sweltering cane fields with machetes. The whole thing was a disaster. The sugar harvest fell short, shredding Castros veneer of invincibility. The Cuban leader pivoted to a new fixation: Havanas housing shortage, the product of a 1960s baby boom and the mass migration of Cubans from poor rural areas to the capital. There were few undeveloped spaces big enough for his ambitions. But the completion of a road tunnel under the Bay of Havana in 1958 had opened up the citys eastern coastline to developers. Their blueprints had contemplated an American-style suburb. The rebels takeover a year later iced those plans. We were living in a one-room apartment, said Luis Castillo, who had migrated to Havana from Santiago in eastern Cuba. He came to Alamar in 1979 on the promise that his family would receive an apartment in exchange for his labor as a mason. We slept out in the open, in the foundation of the building, said Castillo, 88, who still lives in the apartment he helped build. We even worked on Sundays. Castro visited Alamar often in those years, dropping by to inspect progress and show off the project to visiting foreign dignitaries. State television reports hailed the rise of Cubas city of the future. In an era of right-wing military rule in Latin America, at least one apartment in every building was reserved for foreign revolutionaries and activists who might need a refuge. Alamar today is becoming a different sort of refuge, a destination for rural migrants from Cubas interior who cant afford to live anywhere else in Havana. Four years after Raul Castro allowed Cubans to begin buying and selling property, Alamar apartments list for $5,000 to $10,000, a tenth of what they would be worth in parts of the city that attract tourists. Like the great sugar harvest, Alamars grand ambitions fell short. Building materials and budgets were diverted to meet construction quotas for residential units, leaving little or nothing for parks, recreation areas and stores, let alone upkeep of the buildings. The neighborhoods 25 zones are laid out in no particular order, and the apartment blocks too were positioned in haphazard fashion. Open areas between buildings have since been filled in by weeds and debris. The disarray is compounded by the lack of a downtown or central plaza. One part of Alamar is so remote its known as Siberia. Alamar became the reference point for what happens when you remove the concept of architecture from the construction process, said Miguel Coyula, a Havana architect who is an authority on the citys history. Such criticisms sting for Humberto Ramirez, who was assigned to Alamar in 1972 as a young architect. He eventually became the projects top technical engineer. Despite the inexpert labor force, he said, most of the buildings remain solid. The Alamar buildings did fail as an example of urban planning, Ramirez acknowledges. But they achieved their goal, he said. They provided housing. And they created a place of equality for the socialist society we were building. [$75,000 will get you a lot of house in Havana if youre Cuban] Hard times set in When Olga Mederos moved to Alamar in 1986, there were strict rules. No pets. No exterior alterations. No religious believers. She tried to put some potted plants on her balcony and got a reprimand. Alamar wasnt so run-down then, said Mederos, 55, who lives in Zone 8, D54, with her adult son. People followed the rules. They took better care of the common areas. On weekends, everyone would volunteer to pick up trash and sweep the stairwells. Alamar was then like a gated community, except that the homeowners association was the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), the Communist Party watch group found in every neighborhood on the island. It enforced the residential rules and the political ones, too. It aimed to create a community of model workers, devoted revolutionaries and altruistic neighbors. It worked, in a sense, for a while. Cuba was more prosperous then, floating on generous Soviet subsidies. Bus service to the rest of Havana was plentiful. So were the food rations at government bodegas. When the Soviet Union folded, Cuba fell on hard times, but Alamar fell harder. The power blackouts were constant. Gasoline shortages meant six-hour lines at the bus stop. Mederos remembers taking her children to the rocky shoreline to cool off and watching neighbors push off on makeshift rafts bound for Florida. The apartment blocks of Alamar still have CDR watch groups, but neighbors rarely volunteer anymore to pick up trash or work on Sundays. After 25 years of economic austerity, a collective exhaustion has set in, the toll of steady emigration, corruption large and small, and the knowledge, from the impossible-to-filter influences of globalization, that Cubans live better in almost any other country than their own. Mederos came from a family of committed revolutionaries and had moved her parents into the building adjacent to hers. Her father, Aldo, 82, was a photographer for the Communist Party newspaper, Granma, and what was then the Ministry of Communications. He was the first Cuban to print the grisly photos confirming the death of revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967. The photos were still wet when they took them to Fidel, he said. The egalitarian ideals of that era are lost today on Aldos grandson, Alejandro, 28. He has an American flag in his bedroom but little else. Trained as a veterinary technician, he was laid off during Raul Castros campaign to downsize the state bureaucracy. Sometimes he drives a taxi. His mother says he is desperate to leave. He says to me, I dont want to turn 50 in this country with no car and no house of my own, Olga Mederos said. Medeross daughter, Wendy, 33, studied for a career as a social worker. But she grew disillusioned a decade ago when Fidel Castro responded to chronic pilfering at state gas stations by assigning young social workers to operate them. She had not gone to university to pump diesel. She works today in the sales department of the state telecommunications company. As elsewhere in Cuba, many of those who sacrificed the most for the Castros revolution are today struggling to survive. Medeross 80-year-old mother, Olga Chang, earns $2 a day selling pastry and candy in the street. Nearly half of her $15 monthly government pension goes back to the state for her small-business license. Olga Changs husband, Aldo, keeps thick manila envelopes of old photos that tell the story of a life in the service of Cubas socialist dream. There is one of him and Olga on a motorcycle in the early 1960s, when his little photography studio also afforded them a Chevrolet coupe. Aldo has photos of a youthful Fidel Castro speaking in Moscow, Hungary, Brazil, back when Aldo traveled the world to document El Comandantes sojourns. A few black-and-white prints show Aldo with a machete in the cane fields. He volunteered for 12 sugar harvests. When I show these to my grandson, he says, What good did it do? Look at you now. Youve got nothing, Aldo said. He shuffled the image to the bottom of the pile, looking away. Maybe its true, he said. Maybe hes right. Read more: The other migrant crisis: Cubans are streaming north in large numbers For these Hemingways, a crossing of the Florida Straits conjures Old Cuba Cubas island of broken dreams By Pavel Polityuk KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine will investigate a suspected cyber attack on its power grid, the energy ministry said on Thursday, an incident the country's secret service has blamed on Russia. A power company in western Ukraine, Prykarpattyaoblenergo, said on Dec. 23 that a swath of the area it serves had been left without energy, including the regional capital Ivano-Frankivsk, due to "interference" in the work of the system. Ukraine's SBU state security service blamed Russia, which has not so far commented on the allegation. The energy ministry in Kiev said on Thursday that it had set up a special commission to investigate what happened. While cyber attacks are commonplace, few successful assaults on industrial targets have been documented. If the SBU's accusations are validated by the probe, it would be the first time a specific power outage has been credibly linked to a cyber attack, said Robert Lee, a former U.S. Air Force cyber warfare operations officer. Lee said it was too early to say whether the SBU's account was credible. If the claims are validated, then the incident could prompt other nations to use similar tactics. "Once there is a precedent, that would open up avenues for states to feel comfortable in going that route," said Lee, chief executive of cyber security firm Dragos Security. The SBU said in a statement on Monday that it had managed to thwart malware that was launched by "Russian security services". "It was an attempt to interfere in the system, but it was discovered and prevented," an SBU spokeswoman told Reuters on Thursday, adding that the region would have faced a much longer blackout if the malware had executed as the attackers had intended. The Kremlin could not immediately be reached for comment. Cyber security experts consider Russia one of the world's most advanced cyber powers, along with the United States, China, Israel, France and Britain. Relations between Russia and Ukraine have sharply deteriorated since Moscow annexed Crimea last year and supported pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia has complained that it itself has become a target, saying Russian security services had detected a sharp rise in cyber attacks after the Ukraine crisis worsened and ties with the West deteriorated. Crimea has lost at least one quarter of its power after Ukraine switched off supplies to the contested peninsula on Wednesday, a situation that Ukrainian police blamed on unidentified saboteurs blowing up an electricity pylon. (Additional reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Richard Balmforth) On more than one occasion, General Dwight D. Eisenhower perplexed younger officers by referring to a Dougherty wagon. Having joined the military in 1911, Ike was well acquainted with a type of wagon frequently used as an ambulance. Around the time of the Civil War, such wagons were made in St. Louis by a man named Dougherty. That perplexes me. He was far from the only one manufacturing such wagons, but like other proprietary names -- such as Kleenex -- his name came to represent the type. Yet there is really nothing known about him. On the other hand, I have learned a lot about one particular Dougherty wagon, and if it is a representative model, perhaps the mysterious Dougherty deserves his fame. The ambulance with which I am so well acquainted left St. Louis, Missouri by steamboat in 1862. It was one of three being brought up the Missouri on the Emelie by the trading and shipping firm of Harkness and LaBarge. They were already trading at Fort Benton, and had some idea of establishing a post at present-day Deer Lodge. Arriving in June and accompanied by others of their families, Harkness and LaBarge made up a party to visit the Great Falls of the Missouri. Three of the party were on horseback. The other eight rode in the ambulance. After camping out overnight, they started the next morning at 4 a.m. and reached the falls a few hours later. According to James Harkness, Madam LaBarge and Margaret Harkness, leaving the ambulance, ran to the point from which the first glimpse could be had and (were) the first white women to have seen the Great Falls of the Missouri. Margaret was Harkness daughter, and it seems the women stayed at Fort Benton when the ambulance began the next stage of its journey. Before it left, however, Margaret adorned it with an American flag -- a bold statement with the Civil War raging back in the States. It was a rough trip for the Dougherty, and when it was found that flooding had washed out part of Lt. Mullan's famed road, a new section had to be built. Harkness joined in the effort, along with other parties. Finally, they were able to haul the ambulance up with oxen, making two miles in two days. Harkness was not overwhelmed with the situation at Deer Lodge, and the plans of his partner (which would have resulted in the town being named LaBarge City) were eventually abandoned. On Aug. 7, 1862, he returned to Fort Benton, writing, was ready to start when I sold the ambulance to John Grant -- a great relief to me as I never wish to drive another wagon over these mountains. The Dougherty wagon had found a permanent home -- but its travels were not over. Johnny Grant sold the wagon to Conrad Kohrs in 1866, and its next recorded adventure was in 1877, when it was sent down to the Big Hole to bring back survivors from the Aug. 9 battle. It stopped 15 miles short of the actual battlefield, when, along with other wagons loaded with supplies for the wounded, it met the returning combatants. A list of those bringing aid was impressive, including Dr. Mitchell, one of the founders of the hospital at Warm Springs, and future Copper Kings Marcus Daly and W. A. Clark. The list of supplies they carried ranged from the expected (bandages, surgical instruments, medicines) to the should-have-been-expected (two gallons of whisky, four gallons of brandy) and the surprising (one case each of strawberries, peaches, oysters and sardines). Its next documented journey was decidedly more pleasant. On Aug. 20, 1883, the Kohrs family left for Yellowstone National Park, riding at times in the ambulance, although every member of the party had a saddle horse as well. They passed through Virginia City and then spent several weeks in the park touring, camping and fishing. Their last stop was at Mammoth Hot Springs, and Kohrs acknowledged that we were so weary of hot water that we gave them only a cursory glance and appreciate now that we neglected the beauties of this locality. Many a modern-day tourist has probably thought the same. The family returned home in October, having spent a delightful seven weeks. The Dougherty wagon, of course, made no comment (despite having, as all wagons do, a tongue), but it remains in the collection at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge. Various pioneers have recorded its history, but if it could speak theres just one lingering question Id like the answer to. Who the heck was Dougherty? Lyndel Meikle lives in the Deer Lodge area. The most important step in any journey, it's been said, is determining what direction to head. The number one Helena religion story in 2015 was about how the Roman Catholic Church took steps toward healing for victims of sexual abuse and not protracted, self-serving legal actions. This approach caught the attention of bishops and other church leaders across the country and led to several major stories in the Catholic press. Road less traveled The most notable Helena religion story of the past year was the quiet, behind-the-scenes ministry to victims of child abuse in Montana. The Diocese of Helena held seven services from Sept. 30-Oct. 8, according to the Dec. 4 issue of the National Catholic Reporter, a leading church publication. The services were called, "Vespers -- A Healing Journey." Some 1,200 took part. Bishop George Thomas presided at each of them, calling them "the most difficult and challenging tasks in my 40 years of priesthood." The Bishop called the process a "road less traveled." During his homily at each service, Bishop Thomas expressed his "deep sense of inadequacy" in trying to find words to communicate his grief and sadness for those who suffered, many of them in silence, through the years. Also, victims helped plan the services and read statements. At two of the services, readers were so overwhelmed emotionally that they had to "stop and collect themselves" before continuing. Kathy Walter of Butte told the NCR reporter that she came away having "really felt the presence of God. It changed me," she said. "It struck me how seriously the diocese is addressing the kind of evil perpetrated on victims, how serious the diocese is in asking forgiveness and healing in addition to offering healing, the healing power of Jesus and that healing is ongoing into the future, not a one-time event. I have renewed respect for my church." John Brown, also of Butte, said he appreciated "the bishop's empathy and understanding for what abuse victims have been through." Bankruptcy plan approved In March, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, approved a bankruptcy and reorganization plan for the Diocese of Helena granting $21 million for 360 sexual abuse claimants. Despite the complexity of the case, it took less than three hours for the court and the diocese to reach an agreement. Judge Terry L. Myers called the settlement a "singular achievement." He and others hailed the mediation and negotiation employed to reach the agreement. Ford Elsaesser, the lawyer who handled the details for the diocese, said Bishop Thomas and the diocese emphasized reconciliation and full disclosure from the start. "I have been doing Chapter 11s for almost 33 years," Elsaesser told the National Catholic Reporter, "and this has been remarkable. I have never felt better about how a Chapter 11 went from start to finish than this one." Mike Patterson, lead attorney for the diocese, said, "This has certainly been the smoothest sexual abuse litigation that I have been involved with, and that includes (cases involving) the Mormons, Boy Scouts, school districts, other churches and public entities." Insurance will pick up about $14.4 million of the diocese's liability. The diocese will pay about $2.6 million to victims. That has necessitated the selling of the diocesan camp and retreat center along with staff cuts. Trinity Center A novel outcome of the sexual abuse settlement will be the Trinity Center, a 450,000-square-foot retail, commercial and hotel space near the Interstate 15 and Custer Street interchange. The Diocese of Helena announced the project in November. Judge Myers of the Bankruptcy Court had approved the proposal in early March to help compensate sexual abuse victims. Plans envision a hotel and convention center, restaurants, movie theater, retail stores, landscaped parking, water features, dog park and walking trails. 150 years of ministry Roman Catholics did not garner all the headlines in 2015. St. Paul's United Methodist Church celebrated 150 years of ministry in Helena. The congregation celebrated throughout the year with special events. The present building is its fifth home. The first home was on a pile of logs on what is now State Street. The Rev. E.T. McLaughlin stood atop them on March 26, 1865, to launch what would become one of Helena's landmark churches. YWCA reopens Thanks to broad community support, the YWCA completed its renovation project in December and once again provides a safe and secure home for women in transition. Many Helena churches helped in a variety of ways, including St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, which provided rent-free office space during the construction. Rebel archbishop In May, Orbis Books published John A. McCoy's "A Still and Quiet Conscience: The Archbishop Who Challenged a Pope, a President, and a Church." It's the story of how Raymond (Dutch) Hunthausen rattled the Roman Catholic Church and the rest of society by actively opposing nuclear weapons and by opening the church to the gay community after he left Helena to become the archbishop of Seattle from 1975 to 1991. Hunthausen ran headlong into President Ronald Reagan's Cold War policies and Pope John Paul II's desire for a conservative episcopate. The IRS garnished his salary, and the Vatican took away some of his authority. The Vatican also assigned a watch-dog bishop to keep a close eye on him. Now in his 90s, he lives in Helena. He thrilled Helena residents last spring by turning over the first shovel of dirt for the renovation of the Carroll College Physical Education Center. Farewells At least two well-known members of the clergy departed this life in 2015. The Very Rev. Arch Hewitt, who died in February, had served as dean of St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral from 1982 to 1991 as well as a member of the Board of St. Peter's Hospital. The Rev. Steve Moody died in November. He had served as pastor of Clancy United Methodist Church from 1992 to 2001, then going on to First Christian Church. Many Helena residents will remember him for his 10 years as the St. Peter's Hospital chaplain. *** The Very Rev. Stephen Brehe is the retired Dean of St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away he once was a religion reporter and had to compile year-end reviews like this one. Don't be too tough on him if he missed your favorite religion story of the year. Water can be hard to come by on Mark Fixs southeast Montana ranchland this time of year, which is why dams punctuate the creek across this acreage. The small pools of water assure Fixs thirsty livestock have a place to drink. Lately though, the dams have gone dry. Drought conditions in southeast Montana are off to an early start that doesnt speak well for the rest of winter. Its a problem thats spreading across the state. We just got an inch or two of snow last night. So, it helps a little, but we really havent got the snow you guys got in Billings, Fix said. Were just going to have to watch it and see what the heck. Moisture in the Tongue River drainage, where Fix lives, is just 46 percent of average. In nearby Miles City, the community will close out the year four inches below normal. The state winter and spring outlook also is poor. The National Drought Information System, which does long-term forecasting for the United States, gives Montana the worst drought outlook of any state from now through March. Western Montana is the largest pocket of forecasted persistent drought in the U.S., while all of Montana east of Helena is in for likely drought development over the next three months. Montana is kind of the bulls-eye for below-average levels of precipitation for the rest of winter. That is our concern, said Tom Frieders, National Weather Service meteorologist in Billings. Theres the possibility of a storm or two pulling parts of Montana out of drought risk, but the overall trend is for a dry winter, Frieders said. El Nino weather conditions have formed over the Pacific Ocean, meaning that near the equator, ocean surface waters are warming. Those warming surface waters create warmer-than-average temperatures in Canada and the northern continental United States. Drier-than-average weather then sets up over the northern and western United States. Wetter conditions set up in the Gulf Coast. Not all of Eastern Montana is edging toward drought. In Glasgow, where the snow is 6 inches deep, the National Weather Service is reporting moisture levels 1.3 inches above average for 2015. Jordan was a full two inches above average. Mountain ranges in southwest and southcentral Montana were at or near average for snowpack. However, the U.S. Drought Monitor through Tuesday shows a seven-county region stretching from Carbon County in south-central Montana to Dawson County in the east. Comparatively, none of the counties in Eastern or Central Montana were in drought trouble at this time last year when Western Montana began showing moderate drought. There are now 472,103 Montanans living in drought areas, according to the Drought Monitor. Back at Fixs place, the rancher is thinking about possibility of hauling water to livestock this winter if conditions dont improve. Fix is no stranger to dry conditions, less than a foot of water falls on this southeast Montana landscape every year. But when dry conditions hit, salt begins building up in what water there is. Across the border in Wyoming, the residual effects of a now-bust coalbed methane operation are trapped in the soil. The dryness tends to bring those problems to the surface, where the water runs foul for several weeks every spring before the Tongue River Reservoir clears up. The reservoir has a fair amount of water left in it, Fix said. Its just going to be nip and tuck. DENVER The $3.5 billion U.S. marijuana market is emerging as one of the nations most power-hungry industries, with the 24-hour demands of thousands of indoor growing sites taxing electricity grids and unraveling hard-earned gains in energy conservation. Without design standards or efficient equipment, the growing facilities in the 23 states where marijuana is legal are responsible for greenhouse-gas emissions almost equal to those of every car, home and business in New Hampshire. While reams of regulations cover such things as tracking individual plants, package labeling and advertising, they lack requirements to reduce energy waste. Some operations have blown out transformers, resulting in fires. Others rely on pollution-belching diesel generators to avoid hooking into the grid. And demand could intensify in 2017 if advocates succeed in legalizing the drug for recreational use in several states, including California and Nevada. State regulators are grappling with how to address the growth, said Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Pam Witmer. We are at the edge of this, Witmer said. We are looking all across the country for examples and best practices. The corporatization of what was once off-the-grid agriculture is taxing electrical systems as the nation prepares to comply with the Paris climate agreement and the Environmental Protection Agency tries to reduce greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants, which are considered the single largest domestic source of emissions that contribute to global warming. Consumers seeking a green lifestyle are likely unaware that their cannabis use could cancel out their otherwise low-carbon footprint, Evan Mills, an energy analyst for Californias Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, wrote in an email. Indoor growing in 2012 racked up at least $6 billion a year in energy costs, compared with $1 billion for pharmaceutical companies, Mills found in a study he did independent of the research institution. Some larger facilities use as much as $1 million worth of power a month. Cultivation operations are waiting for new infrastructure to bring them power. With the marijuana industry just coming out of the shadows, utilities are without data to forecast its electrical needs. We dont have aggregated energy audits from hundreds of grow operations that show us an energy footprint, said John Morris, director of policy and regulatory affairs at CLEAResult, an Austin, Texas-based consultancy that works with growers and utilities. We have utilities in the Northwest putting in new transformer substations to meet the load. Producers are having to go out and build infrastructure. In Colorado, more than 1,234 licensed grow facilities account for almost half of new demand for power. In 2014, two years after residents voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, growing sites consumed as much power as 35,000 households. In California, indoor production consumed 9 percent of household electricity in the nations oldest legal medical marijuana market, the amount used in 1 million homes, Mills found. In a Denver warehouse this month, growers wore sunglasses as they checked on 150 top-heavy flowering marijuana plants. The four-foot-tall bushes were flourishing under dozens of 1,000-watt bulbs. All these things consume too much power, said Paul Isenbergh, a commercial real estate broker and co-owner of the 3,100-square-foot medical-marijuana operation called Sense of Healing. The air conditioning, the lighting, the fans, the scrubber, the humidifier. The atmosphere is calibrated to mimic outdoor conditions to allow growers to reap multiple harvests a year. The intense heat from the lights requires air conditioning and fans to keep grow rooms at 75 degrees, a dehumidifier to prevent mold and a carbon-dioxide injection system. The electricity costs as much as $5,000 a month. Electricity represents as much as 50 percent of an operators overhead, yet profits far outweigh costs, with a pound of medical marijuana selling for about $2,500 on the wholesale market, Isenbergh said. His costs to raise the weed from clippings are only $600 a pound. In Arcata, Calif., in the marijuana-growing hotbed of Humboldt County, officials are banking $300,000 a year from an excessive energy use tax that went into effect in October 2013. Voters approved the tax in 2012 after police and fire departments spent as much as 20 percent of their time responding to calls at growing operations. The City Council placed the measure on the ballot after finding that 10 percent, or 663, of Arcatas households were being used for large-scale marijuana cultivation, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Many were receiving subsidized rates based on low reported income, said Mayor Michael Winkler. Instead of having our electricity use going down, we had roughly a 30 percent increase in electricity use in five years prior to the tax, Winkler said. We were not meeting our sustainability goals as a result. Now we are. The tax caused the number of large home-grow operations to fall 90 percent, he said. In Boulder County, Colo, commissioners levied an energy-usage fee on such facilities after learning that a 5,000-square-foot operation consumed 29,000 kilowatt hours a month, about five times more than a typical commercial use, said Ron Flax, the countys sustainability examiner. Such operations send about 30,334 pounds of carbon dioxide per month into the atmosphere, county statistics show. The fee will go in part to pay advisers to help growers become more efficient. It will go into full effect next year. Most of the power in our region is coming from the burning of coal, which has a powerful negative footprint, Flax said. We were aware there would be an increase in the carbon footprint because of this industry. We are trying to get out ahead of it. CHARLESTON At one time, Samantha Kater and her friend Katie Marie Floyd thought they'd both get the same tattoo. It was a quotation Floyd chose: "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were big things." While Floyd went ahead and got the tattoo, Kater decided against it. But, as she'll tell you, there are other marks that connect her with the woman she said was her best friend since childhood. Now, Kater tells young people what happened to her and Floyd four years ago. She wants to try to make sure nothing like it happens to them. "I never did imagine I'd be burying my best friend," she said. For a little more than a year, Kater has been speaking to high school students, trying to hit home with a personal message about the dangers of drinking and driving. She's willing to tell them about her accident, during which Floyd was killed, because she thinks "they just never thought of it that way." She starts her presentations by showing a photograph of Floyd, and that's one of the times when she'll pause or hesitate before she can continue with her story. "It's really hard for me to look at pictures of her," she said. The night Floyd never wanted to drive, so Kater was the one who drove when they went out together on the night of Oct. 28, 2011. Most of the 23-year-olds' time was spent at taverns in Ashmore. Kater said she didn't drink that much, ordered food at one point, but didn't eat it. Floyd spent part of the time talking to a friend, and after she and Kater left, Floyd was convinced she left her purse in the friend's truck. Without Floyd's house keys, Kater called a friend, Jordan Pollard, to come help her get Floyd up the stairs to her apartment, so she could stay there instead of going home. But Floyd insisted on looking for her missing purse. They, along with Pollard, went back to Ashmore to look for it at the taverns. Kater said she then agreed to drive to the friend's house in Kansas "just to make her happy," but the purse wasn't in his truck after all. It was around 3:30 on the morning of Oct. 29 by the time they reached River Hill on Illinois Route 16 on the way back to Charleston. Kater said she glanced at Floyd, looked back at the road and realized the car was starting to go off the road. "The last thing I remember was the car spinning," she said. When she woke, she was lying across the car's center console. She called out for Floyd and Pollard, but "nobody would answer." It was later, when she woke again in the emergency room of a hospital, that she learned all that happened, partly because two sheriff's deputies told her she was going to be arrested. Floyd had died from massive head injuries. Pollard had been injured, but was treated and released at the hospital. Eventually, Kater found out that someone found Floyd's purse and turned it in to the post office in Ashmore. Kater's own injuries included back and neck fractures and doctors told her she'd never walk again. "At this point in time, I didn't want to live anymore," she said. "I prayed I wouldn't wake up when I closed my eyes." Nonetheless, she was fitted with a back brace and was able to go to Floyd's funeral visitation. Floyd's family wanted her to stand with them. The doctors also told her she couldn't work, but she had a child and "I had to put food on the table." But she was fired from her job because she was often away from work for medical treatment and court appearances and "I couldn't miss either one." The court story In court, Kater was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, an offense that applies to drivers who are legally intoxicated at time of an accident that kills another person. It's not unusual for such a case to take some time to resolve, and Kater eventually pleaded guilty in October 2013, two years after the accident. There was no guarantee on her sentence at the time she pleaded guilty, and Kater said she followed her attorney's advice "to be prepared not to come home." That was because while prison time wasn't required for her conviction, state law calls for probation only if there are "extraordinary circumstances" that justify it. As Kater tells the students to whom she speaks, what happened is part of the reason why she's there to tell her story. "I didn't go to prison that day," she said. During Kater's sentencing hearing, Circuit Judge Mitchell Shick spoke extensively about the purpose and aim of laws against drunken driving. He also explained that the law doesn't define what "extraordinary circumstances" for probation are supposed to be. Shick noted the support Kater received, including from Pollard and from Floyd's family, and decided he had to ask, "Is Ms. Kater a danger to the public as she sits here?" In sentencing Kater to the longest probation term possible, four years, Shick said it was vital that she take part in a project to show others "how one evening of a bad choice can completely shatter a life." "I think you have the potential, you know it, to do a lot of good but it's going to take strength that right now you may not have, but you're going to have to find it," the judge said. "If you do that, you might be able to save lives." Pam Kelly, a probation officer of 25 years who supervises Kater's case, said it took some time before Kater was ready to start her presentations. Her sentence represents a unique situation and was possible only because she proved herself trustworthy and "completely changed," Kelly said. She also takes part in Kater's presentations, making sure the students realize why Kater includes so many details in her story. "These things are integrated in her memory," Kelly said. "She's not sorry for herself. She wants you to know that it's not just over with." Reactions Kater said her presentations regularly conclude with students thanking her and telling her she "opened their eyes." Her sentence requires her to do the presentations but she says she "wanted to share my story, regardless." During a recent talk at the Treatment Learning Center in Humboldt, Kater told the students that whether they get along with family members or if there's any reason they might not want to, they should call someone for a ride if they've been drinking and can't drive. "You're going to much rather have them come pick you up than bury your best friend the next week," she said. She also told of the ongoing feelings and problems she has because of what happened. She completed alcohol treatment before she was sentenced but hasn't been able to do other counseling because "I didn't feel like I deserved help." Her injuries still affect her, but she now owns two businesses, has another child and a fiance. But missing Floyd means planning her wedding isn't what it should be. "It's not a happy time because she was supposed to be standing next to me," she said. Item No "x x x. The elements of the crime of theft as provided for in Article 308 9 of the Revised Penal Code are as follows: (1) t... The New York Council for the Humanities and the Harriet Tubman Boosters in cooperation with Cayuga Community College's School of Media and the Arts next week will start a six-week reading and discussion series exploring America's democratic ideals and its history of race in society. The series, called "James Baldwin's America," will run on Thursdays starting Jan. 7 through Feb. 25. "Racism seems more intense than ever today and the Harriet Tubman Boosters are pleased to provide an opportunity for thoughtful conversation on this challenging subject in our community," said Laurel Ullyette, President of the Harriet Tubman Boosters, in a release. Baldwin, an African American author who also wrote "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "The Evidence of Things Not Seen," delves into both the promises and failures of American democracy in this series, according to the release. George Kilpatrick, the recent recipient of PEACE Inc.'s Lifetime Achievement Award and president and CEO of Kilpatrick Media and Marketing, will facilitate the reading discussions. The program is free and open to the public, though the participation cap is 15 people. It will take place at the Cayuga Community College's School of Media and the Arts. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Laurel Ullyette (315) 253-2547 or harriettubmanboosters@gmail.com. Long story short: A mother was shopping at a farm market while nursing her baby. An employee told her she needed to cover up, after which the mom wrote to the market owner to complain. The incident, shared on Facebook, ignited a firestorm from angry breastfeeding supporters and elicited an apology from the market owner, who said the employee was out of line. No kidding. There are two lessons to take from this. First is from the human angle. Breastfeeding is a perfectly normal activity. Somewhere between cave dwellers and today mankind decided to sexualize the female breast, whose purpose is for mothers to provide nourishment for their young. Anyone who has been to a farm or whose pet has had babies knows this. Second is from the legal angle. New York state law is very clear on this. Mothers in public have the right to breastfeed their baby in any public or private place where they normally have a right to be. That includes stores, day care centers, doctors' offices, restaurants, parks, movie theaters and many other places. Further, no one can tell a nursing mom to leave any of these places because she is doing what is perfectly normal. Nor can anyone legally tell a mom to breastfeed in a bathroom, a basement or a private room. Some breastfeeding moms prefer privacy when nursing their babies in a public setting; those who do are usually pretty discreet. In any case, people troubled by it can simply look away. Sadly, Susan Niedzielski, a lactation consultant and president of the Mohawk Valley Breastfeeding Network, says what happened in this case is not unusual. She said she hears from many mothers who get dirty looks or have been asked to leave or to cover up because the Oneida County, Madison County and Herkimer County area is not considered a breastfeeding-friendly community. That's shameful. And disturbing. As we sit poised on a brink of a new year, let's make a resolution to get an attitude adjustment. The podunk reputation regarding breastfeeding is much more embarrassing than seeing a baby at its mother's breast. Really. The Observer-Dispatch, Utica The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been under deep scrutiny, and rightly so, since revelations early last year that approach lanes to its George Washington Bridge were shut down as part of a political payback scheme. What's more, audit after audit has shown the authority has been beset by cost overruns and is in dire need of structural changes. Earlier this year, it also was reported that some Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioners and their families got preferential treatment, and were allowed to bypass regular security lines and get other perks when they flew out of certain airports. Yet, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have repeatedly saw fit to reject solid measures to ensure more transparency and accountability from the authority. Both the New York and New Jersey legislatures passed bills that would have created an office of inspector general to provide more oversight and required annual audits of the agency, among other strong features. Cuomo and Christie believe a special panel they formed last year has made better suggestions, including structural changes, that will improve operations. Ultimately, though, the governors still control matters, splitting the duties of appointing members to the authority board. The authority has major responsibilities, including overseeing ports, airports, bridges and tunnels. Locally, it also has control over Stewart International Airport, which has struggled to lure airliners that can increase passenger service from the key facility. The authority plays a key role in how people and goods get transported and delivered. It needs a string of successes, not scandals that have been both big and small and uncertainty in how the authority is supposed to operate. It's imperative the governors work in earnest to fix these problems. The Poughkeepsie Journal SKANEATELES | It may have been Santa Claus who traveled around the world on Christmas Eve delivering presents, but on New Year's Eve, it was Onondaga County Legislator Michael Plochocki who brought gifts to the Skaneateles Library and Skaneateles Town Hall. The legislator, whose district includes Skaneateles, visited the village Thursday to recognize the 125th anniversary of the library's building and formalize the town board's receipt of county funding for the Skaneateles Falls playground project. The first stop was the library, where Plochocki presented Library Director Nickie Marquis with a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Onondaga County Legislature in honor of the building's milestone, which officially took place Feb. 27. He said the certificate is one of two kinds of awards the legislature gives out. The Gold Seal Award is typically reserved for individuals who make significant contributions to the county, while the certificate usually goes to organizations that mark significant anniversaries or milestones. Though the actual anniversary took place 10 months before, Plochocki said a series of events prevented him from getting the honor to the library in a timely manner, but he was happy to bring good tidings on the last day of the year. One of three libraries in Plochocki's district with the Marcellus Free Library and Maxwell Memorial Library in Camillus, the Skaneateles Library is also one of the oldest libraries in the county, the legislator noted. "The library is older than that, but the building itself is 125 years old," Marquis said. As well as being able to recognize the library as the county legislator, Plochocki said the library is significant to him because his family owned a camp on Skaneateles Lake from the time he was a toddler and his mother would take him to the library during the summer. One part of the library that always fascinated him was its collection of staghorn coral fossils. Though it isn't always on display in the building, whenever it was out he made sure to stop in and look at it. "I always loved collecting fossiels," Plochocki said. "That's (staghorn) something unique to this area. It's one of the only places in the world you can find these." For Marquis, the recognition comes for the library as it celebrates its history at the 49 E. Genesee St. building but also looks ahead to its future with the proposed Skaneateles Library and Learning Center at the former Stella Maris property. She noted the sale of that property to Peter and Elsa Soderberg is still pending it must be approved by the Vatican City since it is Catholic Church property and in the meantime the library board continues to look at how to renovate or expand the current building. "It's not 100 percent going to happen, but we're excited about the possibilities," Marquis said of the relocation. "If we do move the library, it's still going to be in the village and be a part of the village." At the town hall, Plochocki presented Supervisor Mary Sennett on her last day in office with a contract through which the town officially accepts the funds earmarked specifically to build a new playground in Skaneateles Falls. Parks Manager Sue Murphy, who wrote the application when the town originally applied for Community Development money for the project, recalled being in disbelief at the Dec. 17 town board meeting when Plochocki awarded the town funding from the contingency portion of the county's budget. "It's exciting," Sennett said. "It's quite a New Year's gift. ... I look forward to seeing it come to fruition." The outgoing supervisor noted the town recently set up an agreement with National Grid to use the company-owned property in the hamlet as a parking area for the current playground, so the new equipment will fit right in. "I'm happy the county had enough money left over this year that we were able to hand it out to some of our local communities," Plochocki said. "I'm glad we made their Community Development wishes come true." Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) A Library of Virginia exhibit exploring the slave trade in Virginia before the Civil War is making its way to Lynchburg. "To Be Sold: Virginia and the American Slave Trade" will be on display at the Lynchburg Museum in downtown Lynchburg from Jan. 12 to March 6. In addition to that exhibit, the Lynchburg Museum will display items from its collection, items from Poplar Forest recovered from Jefferson's slave quarters and items from Lynchburg including slave registers from the Library of Virginia. Lynchburg Museum Director Doug Harvey said the museum has slave sale receipts and an image of a Lynchburg slave from the Library of Congress. The museum will display deeds of manumission, deeding slaves free from Quakers who settled Lynchburg. The copies include deeds from John Lynch, who founded the city and freed his slaves about 80 years before the Civil War. Those records were housed in the Campbell County Clerk's Office because Lynchburg was part of Campbell County at the time. "Slavery is an extremely complex topic ... very painful topic to a lot of people," Harvey said. "We're hoping this will provide a basis to what we know of, what was going on in the world around us 150 years ago." Sweet Briar College is lending the exhibit an original letter from Martha Penn Taylor, a slave, asking Elijah Fletcher to buy her so she would not be separated from her family. Slaveholder Elijah Fletcher was the father of Indiana Fletcher Williams, the founder of the all-women's college. Central to the library's exhibit are two paintings by British artist Eyre Crowe who witnessed the slave trade in Richmond and Charleston in 1853. "Slaves Waiting for Sale" presents the enslaved in the moments just before they are sold, and "After the Sale: Slaves Going South" documents the chaotic scene as the enslaved are herded onto railroad cars or marched away in lines in groups that sometimes numbered in the hundreds, according to a news release. The museum is partnering with the Legacy Museum which will host a black genealogy workshop and lecture as part of the exhibit. Library of Virginia staff will come to Lynchburg to host the workshop at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Legacy Museum. The exhibit is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. ___ Epic Systems Corp.s growth continues, in epic proportions at least for the Madison area. The Verona electronic health records company, founded in 1979, now has a workforce of 9,400, spokeswoman Dana Apfel said. Thats believed to be an increase of about 1,400 in the past year. To house those employees, Epic is in the midst of building two more clusters of office buildings. Campus 4, the Wizards Academy Campus, has two buildings completed. Three more will open over the next six months, along with an underground parking ramp with more than 2,000 stalls, said Adam Sayre, planning and development director for the city of Verona. Designed to resemble a historic academic center, like Oxford University in England or the fictional Hogwarts school from the Harry Potter series, the five buildings will add 1,580 offices to Epics Verona campus. A large cafeteria building, Kings Cross, already is open; it is Epics second full-sized cafeteria. Meanwhile, construction of campus five also is underway, with a Storybook theme based on literary classics. Its five office buildings will provide another 1,600 offices and 1,500 parking spaces. The first building is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016 with two more to open later in the year. Roads around Epic also are being upgraded. Nine Mound Road will be expanded to four lanes in 2016, a joint project by Epic and the city of Verona, Sayre said. We just need a bigger road because of the traffic, he said. That is: traffic of Epic employees coming and going. Epic CEO and founder Judy Faulkner, 72, took steps in 2015 hinting at plans for her retirement from the privately owned company but did not say when she will retire. She told Modern Healthcare magazine, in a story published in March, that when she retires, she will leave most of her stock in the company in a charitable trust, tentatively called Epic Heritage Foundation. In December, Faulkner and Epic set up an endowment to fund three faculty associate positions in the UW-Madisons computer sciences department, where student enrollment has nearly doubled over the last five years. Computer scientists will be needed in almost every industry and there is a significant shortage. Through this gift, the UW-Madison computer science faculty will educate more computer scientists to help fill current and future needs, Faulkner said in a news release from the UW. Epic says its software is being used by or being installed at 360 health care organizations based in 10 countries, holding records of 180 million Americans, or 55 percent of the U.S. population, as well as 42 percent of the people in Denmark. The company has said it had $1.8 billion in revenues in 2014. Promega opens Kepler building Promega Corp. in Fitchburg opened its newest building, the Kepler Center, in fall 2015, but it will be this spring before the 126,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center is fully operating. In the works for 2016 will be development of plans to expand several of Promegas 18 branches in 2017 in California, the United Kingdom, Germany and China. Promega founder and CEO Bill Linton recently told staff, We will continue to invest in the capability and capacity of the company for the long term. Beyond buildings, Promegas leaders are looking forward to the introduction in late 2016 of the Spectrum CE System. Most of Promegas 3,500 products are biological substances such as reagents used in research and drug discovery. The Spectrum CE System is an instrument to be used for forensic analysis, by organizations such as crime labs, and for paternity identification. Its a first for the company, and it breaks new ground in the forensic community, spokeswoman Penny Patterson said. Promegas website says the Spectrum CE System offers a more streamlined approach and can handle more challenging cases than current DNA analysis instruments. Patterson said Promega also expects to have to ramp up production to meet demand for NanoBIT, or NanoLuc Binary Interaction Technology. A biological substance derived from a protein, NanoBIT was named one of the Top 10 innovations of the year by The Scientist magazine for its ability to monitor specific activities in a cell. The more scientists understand the interactions in a normal cell, the closer they get to understanding non-normal disease states and what triggers them, Patterson said. Behind the scenes, the company also continues to deal with an attempt by disgruntled shareholders to buy Promega shares and take over the company. The effort began last summer over what the shareholders said was their concern over the privately owned Promegas future. Exact Sciences pushes on Exact Sciences is working on several fronts in 2016: Expanding orders for its Cologuard test to screen for colorectal cancer; getting a building constructed to hold an expected surge in employees; and convincing a federal panel to upgrade its recommendation for use of Cologuard. The Madison company dealt with a series of ups and downs in 2015, the first full year Cologuard was available to the public. In late 2014, after federal regulators approved the use of Cologuard and Medicare said it would reimburse most of the cost, Exact was charged with getting the word out about its novel, noninvasive, DNA-based stool test. By the close of 2015, more than 100,000 of the tests were expected to be completed. For 2016, Exact thinks it will more than double that, with 240,000 Cologuard tests to be completed, spokesman J.P. Fielder said. We are very optimistic about the year ahead and the number of tests that we (expect) to be completed, Fielder said. We understand patients want this test and physicians continue to order this. Exact had planned to anchor a huge Downtown development, the $200 million Judge Doyle Square project, that would have involved a public investment of $46.7 million, or nearly one-fourth of the total price tag. Exact was promising to bring 400 jobs Downtown. Then an advisory panel, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, came out with a preliminary report in October listing Cologuard as an alternative choice for colon cancer screening, not one of the primary options. Exact stock plunged nearly 50 percent and opponents of the development raised an even more skeptical eye. Exact pulled out of the Judge Doyle Square project saying it will build an addition onto one of its buildings at University Research Park instead. A timetable is not yet available. Exact and its supporters have appealed to the task force to raise its recommendation. A final report by the panel is not expected until late 2016, Fielder said. In the meantime, the company continues to ramp up. Exact now has more than 700 employees, with 450 at its headquarters in University Research Park and labs in the town of Madison. The company hired 275 employees in 2015, Fielder said. He would not project how much the staff will grow in 2016 but said about 50 positions in Madison are open now. I would say 2015 has been a strong year, Fielder said. Use for Oscar Mayer property up in the air Whats known about Madisons Oscar Mayer plant closure is that a year from now, it is expected to close, ending a nearly 100-year run in Madison and eliminating 1,000 jobs from the local maket. That process was put in place Nov. 4 when Kraft Heinz announced the Madison plant would close, with Oscar Mayers headquarters moving to the Chicago area and manufacturing jobs to other Kraft Heinz facilities in Iowa and Missouri. What isnt known is what will happen with the property on Madisons North Side. Kraft Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen said in a Dec. 22 email that the property is expected to be put on the market the first quarter of 2016. The company, which was formed as the result of a 2015 merger that was made final in early July, has had luck in the past selling large manufacturing plants that it closed while streamlining its business. For example, California-based Ruiz bought a former H.J. Heinz plant in Florence, South Carolina. After the facility is retooled and a distribution center is added, it is expected to employ more than 500. Heinz employed 200 there. And, in Pocatello, Idaho, Amys Kitchen bought a former Heinz property and currently employs 175 there with plans for 1,000 in 15 years. Heinz previously employed 401 there. MadREP President Paul Jadin said his agency and several of its partners have met with Kraft Heinz regarding the property. Our next step will be based on direction from (Mayor Paul Soglins) office regarding overall plans for the district. That will likely occur in January, he said in an email exchange this week. Bob Van Enkenvoort of the State Journal contributed to this report. [Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a correction. The original slightly misstated the number of Cologuard tests Exact Sciences expects to have completed by the end of 2015 and projects to complete in 2016.] Parents who volunteer in schools would be legally required to report signs of child abuse and neglect under a Republican-backed bill. The list of mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect would expand to include any adult who volunteers in a school for at least 40 hours in a school year, under the bill authored by Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, and poverty would no longer be a reason not to report signs of a child not having proper food, clothing or shelter. Investigations into neglect or abuse would not be triggered solely because a child was living in poverty. Current law requires all school employees to report such signs and says if the signs are a result of poverty, then abuse and neglect have not occurred and therefore the signs dont have to be reported. Bill Savage, a spokesman for Brandtjen, said the bill seeks to identify all children who dont have all of their needs met in order to put social services representatives in touch with parents. Youre not abusing your child if youre just so poor you cant afford food, said Savage. We make that distinction so that we dont throw people in jail because youre poor. Savage said if a sign of neglect for any reason goes unreported, then social services will never know and then people wont get the help that they need. But opponents of the bill say asking casual volunteers to take on the responsibility of being a mandated reporter could result in fewer volunteers, and put strain on government agencies tasked with investigating child abuse and neglect. Dan Rossmiller, lobbyist for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, said in a blog post the bill could impose costly requirements on school districts without directly contributing to ensuring the safety of children and that it could have a serious chilling effect on the willingness of people to volunteer in schools. The bill requires the volunteers and contractors to receive training on what must be reported. The change in reporting requirements would require schools to keep track of how many hours volunteers and contractors spend in direct contact with children each school year or risk liability. Schools would also have to track these hours to know who must receive required training, Rossmiller said. He said criminal penalties facing mandated reporters who fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect could deter volunteers. The state Department of Public Instruction also opposes the bill, citing similar reasons to Rossmiller. DPI lobbyist Dee Pettack also testified at a recent hearing on the bill that because the bill removes the words severe or frequent from the phrase severe and frequent bruising in the states definition of physical injury, students who are bruised from normal child activity would be suspected of being abused under the bill. Pettack also pointed out that changing the definition of abuse and neglect to exclude the exception of poverty for reasons of reporting, but not for investigations, would result in many more cases of suspected situations of abuse that Child Protective Services would not be looking into. Virginia has long been a source of guns used in crimes in other states. Of the 5,000-plus firearms recovered in Maryland in 2014, for example, more than 500 came from its neighbor with looser gun regulations. So its encouraging that Virginia is getting stricter about enforcing its own gun laws. Starting in February, the state will end its reciprocity agreements with any state that doesnt meet Virginias standards for concealed-carry permits. For instance, a Virginian convicted of stalking, or who is facing charges of stalking, is not allowed such a permit. Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, sensibly wants to apply this law much like Virginias laws about, say, speeding to out-of-staters. Thus concealed-carry permits from 25 other states, many of which are easily obtained, will no longer be valid in Virginia. Likewise, Virginians will no longer be able to use their concealed-carry permits in six states that require reciprocity. Concealed-carry laws swept the nation on a recent wave of support for gun rights. But theres no compelling evidence they make anyone safer. The concealed-carry movements more extreme sibling, open carry, has even less to recommend it. In October, a Colorado woman called 911 after seeing her neighbor carrying a rifle. The police dispatcher informed her that under the states open-carry laws, his conduct was legal. Minutes later, the neighbor went on a shooting spree, murdering three before being killed by police. Both concealed carry and open carry are ideological movements, not strategies for public safety. Not that Virginias refusal to recognize the most lax concealed-carry regulations of 25 other states qualifies as a comprehensive strategy; its only a small step. Nevertheless, its always worth making even a modest effort to reassess hastily adopted laws with no evidence to support them. If opponents of Virginias new policy disagree, perhaps they should help end the federal ban on gun violence research and put their convictions to the test. CHICAGO - "Donald Trump tearing away the skin of the onion of white civility, Louis Farrakhan, the head of Chicago's Nation of Islam movement, said last week. "He's beginning to show something of the character of the white people following him... He is exacerbating the race situation in America." Words that would cause street riots if Trump were to say the same about Farrakhan, news commentators are saying. "If he becomes president, he'll take American exactly where America is heading," to the abyss of hell. And if America picks Trump as their leader, "maybe you'll go there faster," Farrakhan told Chicago radio show host Cliff Kelly. This blog is written solely by John Ray, who has a Ph.D. degree in psychology and 200+ papers published in the academic journals of the social sciences. It does occasionally comment on issues in psychology but is mainly aimed at giving a conservative psychologist's view on a broad range of topics. There are very few conservative psychologists.The blog originated in Australia and many (but not most) posts discuss Australian matters. Australians have an unusually good awareness of events outside their own country. Australian newspapers feature news from Britain and the USA not as an afterthought but as a major part of their coverage. So Australians do tend to have a truly Western heart, which is the reason behind the old name for this blog. So events in Australia, Britain and the USA all feature frequently here, plus occasional coverage of other places, particularly Israel.SCOTUS is the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the landThe "GOP" stands for "Grand Old Party" and refers to the Republican party. The GOP is at present center/Right, while the Democrats have been undergoing a steady drift Leftwards and now have policies similar to mainstream European Leftist parties.The ideological identity of both parties has however been very fluid -- almost reversing itself over time. In the mid 19th century, the GOP was the party of big government and concern for minorities while the Democrats advertised themselves as "The party of the white man" -- an orientation that lasted into the mid 20th century in the South. The Democrats are still obsessed with race but have now flipped into support for discrimination AGAINST whites.Was Pope Urban VIII the first Warmist? Below we see him refusing to look through Galileo's telescope. People tend to refuse to consider evidence if what they might discover contradicts what they believe.Climate scientist Lennart Bengtsson said. The warming we have had the last 100 years is so small that if we didnt have meteorologists and climatologists to measure it we wouldnt have noticed it at all.The term "Fascism" is mostly used by the Left as a brainless term of abuse. But when they do make a serious attempt to define it, they produce very complex and elaborate definitions -- e.g. here and here . In fact, Fascism is simply extreme socialism plus nationalism. But great gyrations are needed to avoid mentioning the first part of that recipe, of course.Beatrice Webb, a founder of the London School of Economics and the Fabian Society, and married to a Labour MP, mused in 1922 on whether when English children were "dying from lack of milk", one should extend "the charitable impulse" to Russian and Chinese children who, if saved this year, might anyway die next. Besides, she continued, there was "the larger question of whether those races are desirable inhabitants" and "obviously" one wouldn't "spend one's available income" on "a Central African negro".Hugh Dalton, offered the Colonial Office during Attlee's 1945-51 Labour government, turned it down because "I had a horrid vision of pullulating, poverty stricken, diseased nigger communities, for whom one can do nothing in the short run and who, the more one tries to help them, are querulous and ungrateful."The book,, authored by T.W. Adorno et al. in 1950, has been massively popular among psychologists. It claims that a set of ideas that were popular in the "Progressive"-dominated America of the prewar era were "authoritarian". Leftist regimes always are authoritarian so that claim was not a big problem. What was quite amazing however is that Adorno et al. identified such ideas as "conservative". They were in fact simply popular ideas of the day but ones that had been most heavily promoted by the Left right up until the then-recent WWII. See here for details of prewar "Progressive" thinking.R.I.P. Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet deposed a law-defying Marxist President at the express and desperate invitation of the Chilean parliament. He pioneered the free-market reforms which Reagan and Thatcher later unleashed to world-changing effect. That he used far-Leftist methods to suppress far-Leftist violence is reasonable if not ideal. The Leftist view that they should have a monopoly of violence and that others should follow the law is a total absurdity which shows only that their hate overcomes their reasonFranklin Delano Roosevelt was a war criminal. Both British and American codebreakers had cracked the Japanese naval code so FDR knew what was coming at Pearl Harbor. But for his own political reasons he warned no-one there. So responsibility for the civilian and military deaths at Pearl Harbor lies with FDR as well as with the Japanese. The huge firepower available at Pearl Harbor, both aboard ship and on land, could have largely neutered the attack. Can you imagine 8 battleships and various lesser craft firing all their AA batteries as the Japanese came in? The Japanese naval airforce would have been annihilated and the war would have been over before it began. FDR prolonged the Depression . He certainly didn't cure it. WWII did NOT end the Great Depression . It just concealed it. It in fact made living standards worse Joe McCarthy was eventually proved right after the fall of the Soviet Union. To accuse anyone of McCarthyism is to accuse them of accuracy! The KKK was intimately associated with the Democratic party . They ATTACKED Republicans!People who mention differences in black vs. white IQ are these days almost universally howled down and subjected to the most extreme abuse. I am a psychometrician, however, so I feel obliged to defend the scientific truth of the matter:The average African adult has about the same IQ as an average white 11-year-old and African Americans (who are partly white in ancestry) average out at a mental age of 14. The American Psychological Association is generally Left-leaning but it is the world's most prestigious body of academic psychologists. And even they have had to concede that sort of gap (one SD) in black vs. white average IQ. 11-year olds can do a lot of things but they also have their limits and there are times when such limits need to be allowed for. America's uncivil war was caused by trade protectionism . The slavery issue was just camouflage, as Abraham Lincoln himself admitted . See also here Leftist psychologists have an amusingly simplistic conception of military organizations and military men. They seem to base it on occasions they have seen troops marching together on parade rather than any real knowledge of military men and the military life. They think that military men are "rigid" -- automatons who are unable to adjust to new challenges or think for themselves. What is incomprehensible to them is that being(to use the extreme Prussian term for following orders) actually requires great flexibility -- enough flexibility to put your own ideas and wishes aside and do something very difficult. Ask any soldier if all commands are easy to obey. CAIRO - Governor Bruce Rauner returned early from his year end vacationing with family "out of the country" to tour southern Illinois flood-stricken areas. He visited six different flooded locations Friday and is spending Saturday touring five areas damaged by near-historic river levels. The governor summoned approximately 20 Soldiers from the 2-130th Infantry Battalion, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to the Illinois Army National Guards Marion Readiness Center early on New Years Day. In addition, an Illinois Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with hoist capability was placed on standby. The helicopter and crew is part of B Co., 1-106th Aviation Battalion based out of the Illinois Army National Guard flight facility at Midway Airport in Chicago. Local communities continue to battle rising flood waters and the state stands ready to assist as needed, Governor Rauner said. Activating these Illinois National Guard Soldiers is a prudent step should they be needed at a moments notice by local communities as flood waters are expected to continue to rise in some areas through the weekend. Haiti's Independence Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Haiti on the 212th anniversary of their Independence Day. "When I visited Haiti last October, I noted Haitis future depended on the unity of its people and the countrys ability to develop strong and stable democratic institutions. I said then and I believe today that the legitimate transfer of power can only take place through elections. "As Haitians pause to take stock of more than two centuries as an independent state, they also have an opportunity to more fully realize the democratic governance they so greatly need and deserve. To this end, we urge the countrys leaders to work together to organize free, fair, and transparent elections that will attract broad participation and reflect the will of the Haitian people, and to inaugurate a new president by February 7, as mandated by the national constitution. "The partnership between the United States and Haiti is of long standing and reflects the close ties between our peoples, our collaboration in business and many other sectors, and our commitment to advance shared values in the region and around the world. The United States looks forward to deepening its friendship with Haiti in years to come." Sally Veazey sat in her living room, speaking with pride about the animal trophies that adorned the walls, including bison, bighorn sheep and elk, as the 1964 movie The Unsinkable Molly Brown played in the background. Like Molly Brown, Veazey could also be described as unsinkable. In February, she will mark 34 years of surviving breast cancer, and has had three joints replaced in three years. Despite past health issues and fears of future injuries, Veazey spends much of her time delivering and picking up furniture to sell at the Assistance League thrift shop, known as Cedar Closet. I like doing what I do, Veazey said. I like helping people. She spends much of her time working at the thrift shop, where she has served on various board positions and is now in charge of deliveries and pickups. She also volunteers with the Elks Ladies, the Arizona Historical Society and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Her volunteer spirit and her dedication to serving the community earned Veazey the honor of being named the female Arizona Daily Sun Citizen of the Year in a vote by former winners. Gaye Knight, who nominated Veazey for the award, said Veazey always goes above and beyond in her volunteer work. "She is such an energetic person," Knight said. "She's always there to help people. She always amazes me, she's really big-hearted." Veazey credits her volunteer spirit to her husband, the late Robert Veazey, a descendant of the Babbitt family. Sometimes he would pay other peoples gas bills before he would pay our own, Veazey said with a smile. She lived in Flagstaff as a child, but her family moved around for a few years before returning to Flagstaff, where she graduated from Flagstaff High School. She and Robert lived in Scottsdale for years before he decided to move back to Flagstaff in the mid-1990s. I joined the Assistance League of Flagstaff when we came back because I was bored, Veazey said. I told my husband I needed something to do. Veazey spent Monday morning driving the shops truck to Munds Park to pick up furniture, then to Forest Highlands to pick up dishes and to another house in Flagstaff before returning the truck and coming home. I try to work at least one shift a week in the thrift shop, she said. But sometimes with all of the pickups and drop-offs its hard to do that. I would really rather go there than clean my house! The Assistance League uses the money raised from the thrift shop to fund various projects, including Hug-a-Bear, which provides teddy bears to children dealing with trauma; and Operation School Bell, which helps provide school and hygiene supplies for children, creates kits for victims of assault and directly helps homeless and needy people by providing clothing and necessities. Veazey is in charge of the leagues Kiddie Closet, which provides a diaper bag, diapers, newborn clothes and other basics for new mothers in need. Bunny Gaylord, a friend of Veazey's and a former Arizona Daily Sun Citizen of the Year, said Veazey is willing to help with volunteer projects, and to give a hand to other members of the community. "She's a go-getter," Gaylord said. "She never gives up, and she's always willing to pitch in and help. She helps a lot more than people know." Gaylord, who also volunteers for the Assistance League, said Veazey is always greatly missed when she cannot work for health reasons. "She's always there if we have a question," Gaylord said. "Whenever there is a problem, someone will always say to call Sally." Gaylord said Veazey is also known to give sweets and desserts to people in the community. "She's always ready to give somebody a treat," Gaylord said. "She's fun to work with, and I'm grateful that she's part of our community." Veazey is known for bringing her homemade dessert breads to people in town, including unexpected places like the Motor Vehicle Division. People always complain about the MVD, Veazey said. I brought them some bread and I said I wanted them to know I had a good experience there. I take bread to Verizon, and I spoil the guys at the bank and at Frys. Some of them just become your kids after a while. She bakes more than 100 loaves of bread for the annual Boys and Girls Clubs luncheon in Scottsdale and makes enough beans to feed hundreds of people at the monthly Elks Club steak dinners over the summer, as well as for the Arizona Historical Society for the Old Timers Picnic. "Half the people in this town call me 'Aunt Sally,'" Veazey joked. She has also worked at the will call booth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly Phoenix Open) for the past 29 years. Its wild and crazy and so much fun, she said with a laugh. People who worked there before say theyre retiring, and I say they will have to take me out feet first because I have so much fun working there. She said she was honored to be nominated for the Citizen of the Year, but never expected to win. I just enjoy helping people and I enjoy giving back, she said. I enjoy working hard. Its the end of the year, when newspaper columnists are supposed to fill in the blank 2015 was the year of ____ and decide whether the phenomenon in question falls into the category of good thing or good riddance. This year, however, so much of what happened has been framed as larger-than-life, as history in the making that I find myself at a loss when it comes to identifying the One Defining Trend. There was the big stuff, like guns, refugees and government dysfunction. And then there were the perhaps more boutique-like but no less compelling points of discussion, such as the rise to fame of the writer Ta-Nehisi Coates (the new James Baldwin), the public emergence of Caitlyn Jenner (who was on the short list for Time magazines Person of the Year), and the degree to which campus political correctness has seemingly run amok (if you read this column with any regularity you dont need me to provide examples). It wasnt enough that Adele had a great voice and sold a lot of records. She had to be the biggest pop music story of our time (thanks, Rolling Stone). And it wasnt enough that a few videos of egregious student outrage went viral; it had to be an epidemic of coddled, narcissistic millennials whose oversensitivities were ruining the academy for all time. The way weve been fixating on a few extreme examples of such phenomena does more than just make the perpetrators look stupid. Its creating cultural distortion and generating misinformation. Last week, for instance, the news-o-sphere graced us with one of the most troll-baiting college controversies yet, a melee at Oberlin College over culturally appropriative dining hall offerings. It seems that, among other culinary grievances, a few students thought the manner in which their sushi was being prepared was disrespectful to the Japanese because the rice was undercooked and the fish was not fresh enough. (Never mind that Oberlin is in Ohio, a place not traditionally known for its raw fish cuisine or its training of sushi chefs. Never mind that the idea of being able to eat sushi in a college cafeteria is well, never mind, again.) It can be immensely pleasurable to make fun of this kind of thing. But that doesnt excuse portraying outliers as pace setters. What Oberlin eats is a non-story at least the parts of it were hearing most about. Oberlin has about 3,000 students, only a handful of whom seem to be complaining about microaggressive food. Among them, at least one was onto something, but it wasnt underdone sushi rice. A student said she had joined the protest because when the school menu included Indian tandoori on a Hindu holiday, the tandoori was made with beef, even though many Hindi do not eat beef. This is more a gaffe than a punishable offense, but at least its something that legitimately warrants fixing. Predictably, though, the ridiculous demands about sushi got all the attention. That in turn got people sputtering on social media about the politically correct apocalypse, at least when they werent rhapsodizing about Adele or consigning anyone who disagrees with Coates to the wrong side of history. Which brings me back to what stands out about 2015. If the last 12 months can be characterized at all, it has to be as the year of hyperbole. We mock the blustering Donald Trump, with his astonishingly excellent doctors report and his pronouncement that Hillary Clinton was the worst secretary of State in the history of the United States. But a lot of our Facebook and Instagram feeds arent much better. And the bluster starts young. On the radio show This American Life, host Ira Glass recently interviewed three pre-teenage girls about why they post selfies on Instagram and wait for their friends to respond with comments like stunning! and perfect! and cutest! The girls suggested it was a way of monitoring their place in the ever-fluctuating social hierarchy. There may be something to that, but considering the number of adults passing around comments like life changing! and essential reading! about events they dont seem to care much about or articles they havent read, I have to wonder whether Trumps rhetoric and pre-teen gush are merely the way weve all gotten used to expressing ourselves online. In which case, we wont be saying good riddance to hyperbole any time soon. In fact, 2016 may end up being the year of hyperbole all over again. And that will be the worst thing ever in history. Just you wait and see. If you would like to find out more about the artists of Indiana, or if you have something to offer, feel free to post a comment, ask a question, or contact me at: info@hoosiercartoonists.com You can also look at my other blogs at: and my artist's blog at: Thanks for looking. Diesel had a market share of only 1-3 per cent in North America, Japan and China, compared with 53 per cent in Europe. Last month, Continental's finance chief said the scandal was having little effect on diesel markets in the United States or Europe. By Reuters: Volkswagen's emissions test-cheating scandal could kill nascent markets for diesel cars in North America, Japan and China, the chief executive of automotive supplier Continental has told a German newspaper. "The diesel passenger car could sooner or later disappear from these markets," Elmar Degenhart said in an interview with markets daily Boersen-Zeitung published on Thursday. ALSO READ: Volkswagen's Pune plant rolls out record 1.23 lakh units in 2015 He added that diesel had a market share of only 1-3 per cent in these countries, compared with 53 per cent in Europe. Last month, Continental's finance chief said the scandal was having little effect on diesel markets in the United States or Europe. Volkswagen, Europe's biggest carmaker, had been promoting diesel as a clean alternative to gasoline in the United States, a market where it was struggling for a breakthrough, before the cheating came to light in September. advertisement ALSO READ: Volkswagen celebrates the launch of the iconic 21st Century Beetle in India Degenhart said Continental had not supplied any software to manipulate emissions tests to any of its clients, reiterating what a company spokesman told media in October. "We developed and supplied the engine controllers in line with VW's specifications. The installation and tuning of the software, the so-called calibration, was done by VW," he said. He added that Continental was not aware of any legal investigations against it in connection with the scandal. Staff at Continental's arch-rival Bosch, the world's biggest automotive supplier, are being investigated by public prosecutors in the German city of Stuttgart to find out whether they were involved in VW's test-rigging. ALSO READ: Volkswagen ditch Das Auto slogan in image makeover Continental is striving to build up its software, electronics and sensors business, which is already bigger than its core tyres business, as carmakers demand services such as mapping and traffic information for Internet-connected cars. "The likelihood that we will begin to support the building of this new business with acquisitions is relatively high," Degenhart said, adding that large acquisitions were possible but unlikely in this area and not currently planned. He added that Continental had not given up on the development of electric car batteries despite a joint venture with South Korea's SK Innovation ending last year. "We are convinced that it is only a matter of time before electro mobility, and there I include hydrogen power in the long term, prevails," Degenhart said. ALSO READ: NGT notice to Volkswagen over emissions But he said the price would have to fall below 100 euros ($109) per kilowatt hour of storage capacity from 250-300 euros currently for electric cars to succeed. Asked what he would do to keep shareholders happy, Degenhart said he did not rule out raising Continental's dividend payout ratio in coming years from 15-30 per cent of net profit currently. By India Today Web Desk: Indian-origin cancer research expert Harpal Singh Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cancer Research UK, has been honoured with a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his influential work on prevention and treatment of the disease. Singh's name has appeared in the 2015 New Year's Honours list. The list also includes several other Indian-origin professionals. The citation accompanying his knighthood said that he "has been hugely influential in promoting research into the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and cancer care. CRUK's income and research spend are at an all-time high". "Under his leadership, it has been instrumental in pushing the government to take further measures to reduce smoking and to ban sun-beds for under-18s. He also chaired the Independent Cancer Taskforce and authored the NHS Cancer Strategy Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes. A Strategy for England 2015-20, published in July 2015." advertisement "He has been instrumental in setting up the Francis Crick Institute as a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation." Here are some interesting facts about the man: Harpal Singh Kumar was born in India in the year 1965 Singh's parents were both refugees. During partition, they fled to India from Pakistan and later, moved to Britain In 1997, he founded Nexan Group, a venture capital-backed medical devices company In 2002, he joined Cancer Research Technology Limited as a chief executive In 2004, he became Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Cancer Research, UK in 2004. He became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April 2007 He has won the Mobil Prize, Metal Box Prize and Hughes Prize A knighthood is one of the highest honours that an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve. While in past centuries, knighthoods used to be awarded solely for military merit. Today, they also recognise significant contributions to national life The knighthoods are conferred by the Queen or a member of the Royal Family acting on her behalf in Britain. Queen usually presents insignia at the ceremony. More than 3,000 traffic police officers, who were deployed across the city following a well-drafted strategy, however issued challan to 81 violators. Traffic cops stop a car with an even-digit UP registeration number on the first day of the odd-even trial. By Ankur Sharma: Fewer traffic on Delhi roads and relatively lesser flow of complaints saved the day for Delhi Traffic Police on the inaugural day of the odd-even policy in the national Capital. More than 3,000 traffic police officers, who were deployed across the city following a well-drafted strategy, however issued challan to 81 violators. "Our teams prosecuted almost 81 violators for driving even number cars today. We will prosecute motorists driving odd number vehicles on Saturday," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said. According to traffic police, on a daily basis they receive 75 to 100 calls during peak hours reporting on traffic congestion but due to lesser cars on Friday they received just one or two complaints from across Delhi. According to the traffic police, the real test will be managing vehicles on Monday, when traffic is expected to be more than double as compared to the weekends. advertisement "The number of complaints we received on the first day of the trial period of odd-even scheme is almost negligible. We noticed one obstruction on carriageway from Moti Nagar towards Shadipur due to breakdown of a bus and there was also heavy traffic jam noticed at Baba Khadak Singh Marg. Apart from these two calls we didn't receive any actionable calls from Delhiites regarding jams," a senior traffic police officer told Mail Today. According to the police, during peak hours, beginning from 8 am to 11 pm, Delhi notices heavy traffic, long tails of vehicles on intersections. "During peak hours we receive 75-100 actionable calls. From 8am to 11 am, every important intersection witnesses long tail of vehicles, slow traffic etc but on Friday there was no such issue," the officer added. "Due to less number of vehicles on roads, we received very less jams calls. It is quite obvious that when there is low traffic flow, traffic snarls would not occur. We focused on implementing odd-even formula. We have deployed our staff at various strategic locations, violators will be prosecuted," Muktesh Chander added. Policemen are also claiming that on Monday the scenario might be different as traffic flow is expected to increase. "Monday will have double the traffic flow than Friday and we will have to engage our staff for both traffic management as well as odd-even formula implementation. Monday will be a challenge for traffic cops but we are ready with our force," the officer added. According to the traffic police, Lajpat Nagar, NH-8, South Ex, Saket, Subroto Park, ITO, NH-24 witness heavy traffic snarls during peak hours on usual days. Normally, speed of vehicles during peak hours is 5-10 kilometre per hour. "On Friday, surprisingly the bottlenecks did not witness slow traffic or any other disruption. Vehicles were crossing intersections in one signal cycle. Normally, at ITO, Subroto park etc drivers cross intersections in three to five signal cycles," the officer added. Also read: This is how 7 Delhi ministers are travelling on January 1, first day of odd-even plan By Ankur Sharma: The crime graph of the Capital has taken an upward turn consecutively for the third year. The Delhi Police registered almost 25 per cent more molestation cases while the number of rape cases also saw a nominal rise when compared to last year. Similarly, street crimes, heinous crimes, thefts, etc have also seen a steep rise. However, the police have a different perception and claim that the consistent increase in number of crimes against women is only because every case is being registered due to free registration of FIRs. Delhi Commissioner of Police BS Bassi on Friday heaped praises on his force while citing the example of free FIR filing. The Delhi Police, up to November 30, 2015, has filed a total of 1,74,423 cases as against the 1,39,799 cases till the corresponding period in 2014. According to the data provided by police, 25 per cent more cases of molestation were registered in the Capital till November 30, 2015. In 2014, over 4,000 women filed complaints of molestation at various police stations but in 2015, the number rose to 5,027. Similarly, in 2014 the Capital witnessed 1,997 cases of rape but in 2015 the figure marginally increased to 2,005. In 2012, when the Nirbhaya gang rape took place, Delhi recorded 706 cases of rape. advertisement The Capital has also witnessed a steep rise in street crimes like robbery, snatching, etc. According to the data, roads in the city have become more unsafe when compared to 2014. Delhi saw a rise in robberies by 20 per cent, according to the police. In 2015, the police registered 9,028 cases of snatching - a 30 per cent rise when compared to 2014. The Capital also saw 6,969 cases of robbery in 2015 while the number of cases was 5,873 in 2014. According to the commissioner, no victim has been facing problems in filing FIRs in Delhi. "There were a lot of hassles in registering a FIR earlier. There were many complaints that people had to pay to get a case registered. We have ensured truthful registration of FIR now," Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi had said earlier. Meanwhile, apart from heinous crimes, cases of theft, vehicle thefts, burglary, etc have also seen a steep rise, varying from 15 to 30 percent in 2015. "We have introduced online FIR for vehicle thefts. Anyone whose car has stolen from Delhi can file a complaint from his/her home or office. This could be a reason of steep rise in vehicle thefts," a joint commissioner rank officier told Mail Today. According to a senior police official, currently investigation officers are over burdened and are handling hundreds of case. This is leading to pendency of cases. "Currently, major worries of district heads are pendency of cases and quality investigation. Even in heinous crimes, IOs are unable to devote time as they are handling hundreds of cases. Free registration has presented a problem of pendency. This will be the biggest issue in the coming months," a top officer of the Delhi Police said. Also read: As child rapes rise, women lawyers demand castration Nirbhaya's parents demand fast track of rape cases , . . Please Donate In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers. If you appreciate what I write please make a donation. Racist PayPal Tries to Close Down My Blog As you can see from this article PayPal have removed my blog. I would therefore ask people to make any future donations to the following: Name of Account: Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre Account No: 04094107 Sort Code: 09-01-50 Reference: Web donations By Baishali Adak: The first day of implementation of AAP government's odd-even scheme might have gotten a thumbs up from the social media but reports say pollution levels were actually higher than most days. The Centre's own National Air Quality Index (NAQI) rated Delhi's air on Friday as 'very poor', citing Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 as the 'prominent pollutant(s)'. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, also labeled Delhi's PM 2.5 level on Friday as 'very poor'. Of the seven stations it monitors in Delhi, T3 Airport Terminal fared the worst on Friday with an index of 425. As per the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) hourly data, the most polluted spot of Delhi, Anand Vihar, read 923 g/m3 PM 10 level at 7:30 pm. This is nine times the normal level of 100 g/m3. PM 2.5 read at 480 g/m3 which is eight times the normal level of 60 g/m3. And these readings were taken near the closing time of the oddeven car rationing scheme - 8 pm. advertisement This was, in fact, one of the most polluted days in the city after November 11, Diwali, when pollution levels hit an alarming high. On Diwali, Anand Vihar had clocked a PM 10 level of 2,308 g/m3 around 11 pm and PM2.5 level of 619 g/m3 at midnight. Even on a regular weekday, the subcity bordering UP's Ghaziabad and Sahibabad has a PM 10 reading of 500-600 g/m3. For instance, on 1 November, 2015, Anand Vihar's PM 10 reading from 8-9 pm was 676 g/m3. On 9 October, 2015, it was 553 g/m3. Vehicle emission are a key source of carcinogenic PM as per a recent report brought out by IIT (Kanpur) on Delhi's air pollution. While there were very few motorists on roads as majority of private offices remained closed on the first day of the year, the air quality was far from normal. Environmentalists attributed the high pollution levels to a number of exemptions given by the Delhi government particularly to the two-wheelers that pollute more than cars. Anumita Roy Chowdhry, Executive Director at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which is spearheading Delhi's anti-pollution campaign, said: "Estimates show that two-wheelers because of their staggering numbers (55 lakh bikes in the city) contribute as much as 31 per cent of the total particulate load from vehicles. If this segment is left out and with a sizeable number of cars also being driven by women, who have been exempted, the overall effectiveness of the programme is compromised." "The government cannot rely on the odd-even plan forever. It will have to strategise further, bring in newer ideas like hiking parking charges, improving public transportation etc to reduce air pollution," she added. Even the AAP government, which hailed the odd-even debut day as grand success, acknowledged that the city air wasn't safe still. Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who briefed reporters outside the Delhi Secretariat on Friday, said, "The levels are still up three to four times." He was pointing at the digital display screen flashing real-time air quality data installed outside the secretariat. "Imagine if you are five feet tall. You are standing in water that is 15 feet in height, which means that it still three times above your tolerable level," the minister explained. Dr Gufran Beig, Senior Scientist and Project Director, SAFAR, IITM (Pune), said, "On Friday in Delhi, PM 2.5 levels started to reduce sharply in the morning hours, from 8 am onwards, and later slowly until 2 pm, roughly a 10 per cent fall. This was probably a sign of reduced vehicular emissions from the odd-even plan." After 2 pm there was an increase in PM 2.5 as compared to data from previous days. "Why this happened needs to be examined scientifically. Probably, maximum temperature levels played a role," said Beig adding it is still premature to conclude anything with just 10 hours of data available for comparison. Live meters to record pollution were installed at six locations in Delhi for monitoring real-time air quality. A portable air monitoring station was also deployed in the city for air quality assessment. Also read: BJP MP Satyapal Singh stopped at India Gate for travelling in even-numbered car Delhi's odd-even plan takes baby steps to better air quality Fresh gunshots have been heard as security forces continue their combing operation in and around Pathankot Air Force base, which was attacked by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists earlier today. Top government sources told India Today that six JeM suicide attackers had sneaked into India from Gurdaspur border from Bahawalpur, Pakistan. By India Today Web Desk: Fresh gunshots have been heard as security forces continue their combing operation in and around Pathankot Air Force base, which was attacked by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists earlier today. Four attackers, one Air Force commando and two Defence Service Core (DSC) jawans were killed in the fierce gunbattle which started at about 3.30am. Two suicide attackers are believed to be hold up inside the air base. | See pics Also Read | 4 militants killed in terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base Here are the latest updates: 15-hour long gunbattle ends in Pathankot, fifth terrorist killed. "We have credible information that this attack was sponsored by some elements across the border," Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home told reporters. Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area. In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to thwart any such attempt, says a statement issued by the Defence ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The meeting took place at Palam airport when the PM was leaving for Mangalore and parrikar landed in Delhi from Goa. Parrikar later held a high level meeting with Army Chief, IAF Chief, Navy Chief, NSA Ajit Doval at South Block over Pathankot attack. Arun Jaitley: Terror attack on Air Force base in Pathankot is highly condemnable. Kudos to brave soldiers for dispelling the attack & salute to martyrs. Sukhbir Singh Badal: Our forces will give a befitting response to any assault on national unity and integrity from across the border. Intelligence agencies intercepted four phone calls. Sources said one of the attackers spoke to his mother in Pakistan's Punjab province and sought her blessings for the fidayeen mission. Total four calls were intercepted by intelligence agencies. Three calls were made by these attackers to their Pakistan-based handlers. Two to three grenade blasts heard in the last one hour from inside the air base. Heavy firing reported from the area. Search of two more suicide attackers still on. Home Minister Rajnath Singh told India Today that NIA will probe the Pathankot terror attack. Role of Jaish-e-Mohammad can not be ruled out, he said. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal : These terrorists came from Pakistan and it is the duty of that country to control these elements. Damage could have been bigger but just because of the timely alert we were able to contain it. Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot AirForce Base.My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 2, 2016 : These terrorists came from Pakistan and it is the duty of that country to control these elements. Damage could have been bigger but just because of the timely alert we were able to contain it. Top government sources told India Today that six JeM suicide attackers had sneaked into India from Gurdaspur border from Bahawalpur, Pakistan. AK-47s, handgrenades, GPS tracker and a large amount of ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists. High alert sounded in Himachal Pradesh. That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit. #PathankotAttack Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016 IAF has pressed into service two attack helicopters which are targeting the areas from where the firing is believed to be coming from. 2 loud explosions heard from inside IAF base. Firing heard during combing operations at Pathankot air base. Sources say security sources suspect that there could one attacker hiding inside the air base. The attacker could be a fidayeen (suicide) bomber. NIA team has reached Pathankot Air Force base. Read: Will give befitting reply to any attack on India, says Rajnath Singh Will give befitting reply to any attack on India, says Rajnath Singh Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena: This attack is on a very sensitive air base in Pathankot and it is very serious. Shiv Sena has said that peace talk and terrorism cannot go hand in hand. Captain Amarinder Singh of Congress: Some elements in Pakistan do not want India-Pakistan talks to happen. We are very proud of men who have sacrificed their lives for India. Punjab DG of Intelligence has issued alert for all police stations and police buildings in the state for possible terror attack. A sheet of paper with Jaish-e-Mohammed written on it recovered from the car whose driver was killed by the attackers. Read: Will India-Pakistan peace process be a victim again? Will India-Pakistan peace process be a victim again? The terrorists had taken this car with them after attacking Gurdaspur SP yesterday. The vehicle was found abandoned today near the air base. Security beefed up in New Delhi in the wake of the terrorist attack at Pathankot Air Force base. Security has been significantly heightened at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other important installations in the national capital. advertisement --- ENDS --- Last week, the single-judge bench in Srinagar created ripples when it asked all constitutional authorities to hoist the state flag on their vehicles and buildings as mandated under Section 44 of the J&K Constitution. Both flags were used at the oath-taking ceremony of J&K CM Mufti Muhammad Sayeed (right). PM Modi was also present. By Naseer Ganai: With division bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court staying hoisting of the state flag order, it is likely to become a major political issue between ruling coalition partners Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP, with the latter against it and the former in support. While staying the single-judge bench order delivered last week in Srinagar by Justice Hasnain Masoodi, the division bench in Jammu comprising Justice Tashi Rabastan and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, in a response to an appeal against the single-bench order stayed the judgment. Single judge order Last week, the single-judge bench in Srinagar created ripples when it asked all constitutional authorities to hoist the state flag on their vehicles and buildings as mandated under Section 44 of the J&K Constitution. The bench was responding to a petition challenging the PDP-BJP government's decision to withdraw a circular of March 12, 2015 which had called for strict implementation of hoisting of the state flag alongside the Tricolour in the state. advertisement The single bench had reiterated the special status enjoyed by J&K under Article 370 and had questioned the Sixth Amendment which replaced Sadr-i-Riyasat with the governor. It observed that the "elective status of head of the state was an important attribute of the constitutional autonomy enjoyed by the state." The single judge had left ample room for the state legislature to amend the Constitution and restore Sadr-i-Riyasat to the state. On November 24, 1966, the governor replaced the Sadr-i-Riyasat after the state Constitution had been amended on April 10, 1965 by the Sixth Amendment. The division bench stayed the single-judge order on petition which contended that the March 12 order had no "statutory flavour" as J&K Prevention of Insult to State Honours Act, 1979 is a penal statute and its provisions cannot be enforced through executive orders like a circular. The division bench gave the stay on an appeal filed by BJP leader and former top counter-insurgent police officer Farooq Khan. Khan in his appeal had stated that he had fought against "separatist and terrorist forces while in police and are now continuing the same politically." Against law He had described the single judge bench judgment as "against law and facts" and had contended that the state flag cannot be directed to be treated at par with national flag as national flag is a symbol of sovereignty. He had described the single judge bench order as creating a "nation within a nation". "The single judge has decided issues of vital importance and significance in a cursory manner and the judgment is more of a political speech than the judgment of a constitutional court," pleads Khan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the oath-taking ceremony of the new government on March 1 last year; both flags were used at the ceremony. With the power generation stabilising in Karnataka, the government has withdrawn the unscheduled power cuts in Bengaluru. The government has assured uninterrupted power supply to Bengaluru but power cuts will continue in rural areas of the state. By Mail Today: With the power generation stabilising in Karnataka, the government has withdrawn the unscheduled power cuts in Bengaluru. The government has assured uninterrupted power supply to Bengaluru but power cuts will continue in rural areas of the state. Karnataka's Energy Minister DK Shivakumar announced the withdrawal of load shedding in view of optimum power generation in hydro stations and thermal stations. In addition, the government is purchasing power from other states to meet the demand. From August 2015 till December 2015, Bengaluru faced one of the worst power crises with electricity supply being withdrawn for almost 6 hours per day in view of poor water storage in hydro stations and technical snags in thermal stations. The terrorists in Pathankot used a Toyota Innova which was a Pakistani registered vehicle. By Press Trust of India: The terrorists, who carried out the attack in Pathankot, were in regular touch with their Pakistani handlers, who even arranged a taxi for them by calling from a mobile number of that country. Sources said the terrorists had first used a Toyota Innova vehicle yesterday and it has been found that the driver was called from a Pakistan number. Security agencies are questioning the driver and trying to find out whether he (driver) had been offering regular services to Pakistan-based smugglers, who have links with the terrorists, or was it a case of him not realising that it was a Pakistan number. The driver of the Innova was called to a particular spot near Pathankot where the terrorists boarded the vehicle. The sources said that the car was used for travelling on an untarred road and dumped after a while as the rim of the vehicle got damaged. advertisement The terrorist then hijacked an SUV (Mahindra SUV X500) in which a Superintendent of Punjab Police was travelling along with a friend and a cook. The SP and the cook were forced to leave the vehicle while the friend, a jeweller, was taken as hostage. The terrorists snatched a mobile phone from them and used it to dial the number in Pakistan which was used to call the driver of the Toyota Innova. From this number, they had called their handlers thrice and once to a family member who was told that they were on a suicide mission. Security agencies have found that from the Pakistani mobile number, the handlers were actively giving the directions to the terrorists. Since the Pakistani number was under surveillance, security agencies were able to find out the possible target of the terrorists, leading to dispatching of 160 NSG commandos, army special forces besides others. Also read: Pathankot terror attack planned by ISI: The inside story Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other regional countries to eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region, a statement issued by the country's foreign office said. By India Today Web Desk: Reacting to the Pathankot terrorist attack, the Pakistan Foreign office has issued a statement condemning the attack and has expressed condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families . The statement also says that Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other regional countries to eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting this region. "Pakistan Foreign office extends heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery," the statement said. "Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot, India, today, in which many precious lives have been lost. Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other regional countries to eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it added. advertisement Four attackers, one Air Force commando and two Defence Service Core (DSC) jawans were killed in the terror attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot. A massive combing operation is on to hunt for two more terrorists suspected to be hiding inside the air base. Also read: Pathankot terror attack planned by ISI: The inside story Pathankot terror attack: Will India-Pakistan peace process be a victim again? A group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at an Air Force base in Punjab. Indian army soldiers take positions outside the Indian airbase in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, January 2, 2016. By India Today Web Desk: It was just pre-dawn, when a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab. As it happened | Pictures After a 15-hour long gun battle, at least four terrorists have been neutralised. However, in the encounter three jawans including 2 Indian Air Force jawans and a a Garud commando were also killed. The IAF in its report said the likely plan of the terrorists was to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force. 4 bodies of terrorists have been recovered. The search operation is going on in around 14-km area of air base. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command Air Marshal SB Dev is on the location and is personally supervising and coordinating with the Army, the NSG and local civil police for exchange of information and operational activity. advertisement The Army has deployed infantry combat vehicle (Bakhtarbahdh Gadhi) and flood light in there where the combing operation is underway in Pathankot Airbase. The attack by terrorists, suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, took place at around 3.30 am. The terrorists, with huge quantity of RDX in their possession, made their way to the base from the back side where there is a jungle. But they could not go beyond the 'langar' (eating place) near the outer perimeter of the IAF complex as the security forces were ready to take them on, a sources said, about the operation which was supervised directly by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Anticipating an attack after some armed men abducted an SP of Punjab Police on Thursday night, a team of NSG commandos had been rushed here last night itself after the NSA held a series of meetings with the Army Chief and top IB officials on Friday. An army detachment was also positioned at the Air base, the sources said. Army, Air Force personnel, Helicopters, NSG commandos and SWAT teams had been engaged to counter the militants in the coordinated counter operation, police said. Pakistan number used to hire taxi by terrorists The terrorists, who carried out the attack in Pathankot, were in regular touch with their Pakistani handlers, who even arranged a taxi for them by calling from a mobile number of that country. Sources said the terrorists had first used a Toyota Innova vehicle yesterday and it has been found that the driver was called from a Pakistan number. Security agencies are questioning the driver and trying to find out whether he (driver) had been offering regular services to Pakistan-based smugglers, who have links with the terrorists, or was it a case of him not realising that it was a Pakistan number. The driver of the Innova was called to a particular spot near Pathankot where the terrorists boarded the vehicle. This was the second big terror attack in Punjab in less than a year. Three terrorists had stormed a police station in Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur in July last year before being eliminated in a 12-hour gunbattle. The attack came just a week after Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with an aim of improving ties. Terrorist calls mother and says, "I am on a suicide mission." Intelligence agencies intercepted four phone calls which were related to Pathankot terror attack. Out of the four calls, three were made the attackers to their Pakistan-based handlers. One of the terrorists called his mother in Pakistan's Punjab province to seek her blessings. Sources said the attacker asked his mother to bless him before he goes ahead with the fidayeen (suicide) mission. "Son, please have some food before you lay down your life," a woman is heard telling her terrorist son in the phone call intercepted by Indian agencies. Who said what While Home Minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that any terror attack on the Indian soil will be given a befitting reply, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described Pathankot attack as a first major challenge to PM Modi's Pakistan overreach. "Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response. Any aggression towards us will receive a befitting reply from our side," Rajnath Singh said. After the operation ended, Rajnath congratulates armed and other security forces on successful operation. advertisement Omar Abdullah tweeted, "That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit. From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target". Security has been beefed up in Jammu city because Union railway minister is scheduled to attend an inauguration in Jammu today. By India Today Web Desk: Security has been beefed up across the state of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and extra ordinary security precautions are being taken in Jammu after sealing the Pathankot-Jammu national highway following terror attack in neighbouring Punjab. Union railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, who arrived in Jammu on Friday, is scheduled to inaugurate a multi-facility complex at Jammu railway station today. "Pathankot-Jammu national highway has been sealed to ensure that no militant is able to sneak into the state from across Pathankot. "Security has been beefed up in Jammu city because Union railway minister is scheduled to attend an inauguration here today, a senior police officer told IANS. "BSF troops guarding the international border and the army guarding the LoC in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts have been cautioned to maintain extra vigil on the border" the official added. advertisement As news about the terror attack near Pathankot Air Force station in Punjab reached Kathua district, army was moved out on the highway to seal it and check all movements on and around the national highway. In the past, terrorists have used the highway high jacking vehicles to carry out attacks on civilians and the security forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the efforts of Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami, the head of the Avadhoota Datta Peetha in Mysuru for his community service and social welfare programmes. By Aravind Gowda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the efforts of Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami, the head of the Avadhoota Datta Peetha in Mysuru for his community service and social welfare programmes. Modi, who is on his maiden trip to Mysuru after becoming PM, was felicitated by the Swami at the Datta Peetha Ashrama in front of hundreds of devotees and followers. In India, the spiritual and religious leaders have a greater role in uplifting the downtrodden. Unfortunately, they are not recognized for their work because our saints think it is their duty to serve the underprivileged sections of society,?? the PM said in his address to the Peetha's gathering. The PM urged the Swami to continue his good work and spread the message of peace and harmony. Modi was honored with the traditional Mysuru silk shawl and sandalwood garland. Karnatakas Governor Vajubhai Vala was also present on the occasion. --- ENDS --- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a two-day trip to Karnataka from today to participate in programmes organised by the government and private agencies. By Mail Today: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a two-day trip to Karnataka from today to participate in programmes organised by the government and private agencies. Modi will participate in the centenary celebrations of Sri Shivaratri Rajendra Swami, the 23rd pontiff of the renowned Suttur Mutt in Mysuru on Saturday evening. The Mutt belongs to Lingayats, the largest community in Karnataka. On Sunday, he will address the 103rd Indian Science Congress also in Mysuru. ALSO READ | PM Modi and Parliament on Lashkar's radar, alert issued Later, he will travel to Gubbi Tumakuru district where he will lay the foundation stone for the helicopter assembly unit of the HAL. In the evening, he will travel to Bengaluru to participate in the 21st international conference on yoga. He will leave for New Delhi the same evening. --- ENDS --- Donations can be sent to BNC at Max Obuszewski, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212 . Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast [dot] net. The process of the much-delayed organisational elections in Congress could get a fillip after the return of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi from Europe next week amid indications that his much talked elevation could happen soon. By Press Trust of India: The process of the much-delayed organisational elections in Congress could get a fillip after the return of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi from Europe next week amid indications that his much talked elevation could happen soon. On December 27, Rahul took to Twitter to announce that he will be travelling to Europe for a "few days", the first time that he has gone public about a trip abroad. Sources in the party say that the Congress vice-president could be back any time after January 8 following which a meeting of Congress Working Committee may also happen. ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi to welcome the New Year in Europe "He (Rahul) is ready to take on the mantle. It is wrong to say that he does not want to become president. There is also no truth in suggestions that Gandhi may wait till the completion of assembly polls in Assam before he is elevated as Congress President," a party functionary said on the condition of anonymity. advertisement The leader felt that the elevation of Gandhi should be happening "sooner than later" but refused to attach a time line. Congress President Sonia Gandhi had responded by saying "ask him" when reporters queried her on Rahul's elevation as president in the party some days back at a Foundation Day function. Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh had said a few months back that the grassroot Congress workers wanted the elevation to happen soon but the decision can be taken only by the Congress president. A section of leaders in party also believe that Rahul should have agreed for an elevation longtime back. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee in September last year decided to extend the deadline of the completion of party's internal polls for one more year till 2016. This led to a speculation that Rahul's elevation has been advanced for one more year. The party, however, later indicated that the Congress vice-president could be given the responsibility even earlier and the one year extension is only the upper limit for completing internal polls. Sonia's latest term comes to an end in December this year. The organisational polls held after five years culminate in the election of the new party president. Sonia, who took over as Congress chief in May 1998, is already the longest serving president of the 129-year-old party. Rahul Gandhi became vice-president in the organisation in January 2013. By Mail Today: The Karnataka police arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly repeatedly raping a bed-ridden woman in Karkala in Dakshina Kannada district. According to the police, Ganesh Nayak, a driver, also doubled as a social worker by visiting homes of people needing nursing care. A NGO had assigned him the task of taking care of a bed-ridden middle-aged woman in Karkala. Ganesh allegedly sexually molested her under the pretext of nursing her. Recently, when the woman was alone at home, Ganesh allegedly raped her repeatedly. After the victim's mother returned home, she was shocked to learn about the rape. She lodged a complaint on the basis of which the police arrested Ganesh. At least four terrorists attacked Air Force station at Pathankot in Punjab early today. By India Today Web Desk: About 4-5 terrorists, believed to be Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives, attacked Pathankot Air Force (IAF) base early today. Four attackers and two IAF personnel were killed in the fierce encounter which lasted for over 5 hours. Four to five militants, believed to be from the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), dressed in army uniform launched the attack at about 3.30 am with an aim of destroying the air base. According to latest reports, the encounter has ended and combing operations in the area are underway to ensure that no militants are hiding inside the air base. NSG team and Garud Commando Force were rushed to the air base. Security forces ensured to restrain the terrorists to the domestic area of the Air Force station. The technical area of the airbase is safe while the entire area has been cordoned off. There has been no damage to helicopters and MiG-29 fighter jets stationed at the base. advertisement The terrorists are believed to be the same attackers who had abducted Gurdaspur SP and two others yesterday and thrashed them before dumping them from vehicle. DIG (Border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said that helicopters have also been dispatched to the area for assistance in operation. The entire state of Punjab is on high alert and security has been tightened across Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. According to official sources, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a high-level briefing with senior military officials after intelligence inputs had alerted security forces of a possible terror attack in Pathankot on Friday. The attack comes days after PM Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Pakistan. It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Dina Nagar before being eliminated after 12 hour gunbattle. The terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operatives today has raised questions over the upcoming foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan. By India Today Web Desk: The terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operatives today has raised questions over the upcoming foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan. While Home Minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that any terror attack on the Indian soil will be given a befitting reply, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described Pathankot attack as a first major challenge to PM Modi's Pakistan overreach. ALSO READ | Terror attack on Pathankot air base: What we know so far "Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response. Any aggression towards us will receive a befitting reply from our side," Rajnath Singh said. Omar Abdullah tweeted, "That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit. From past experience I'm sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target". That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit. #PathankotAttack Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) January 2, 2016 advertisement Omar had earlier welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore on way to Delhi from Kabul. The former CM, however, had also said that more is needed to be done than just "grand gestures". ALSO READ | 4 militants killed in terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base, encounter ends "The re-engagement with Pakistan is a good step and a very welcome development. However, more than grand gestures we need consistency," Omar had said. Investigative reporting from the inner city to Wall Street to the United Nations This is the blogspot version InnerCityPress.com Illegal armed groups violated the ceasefire agreements 20 times from 1800 on Friday until 0600 on Saturday, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Ukraine's east said in a report published on its Facebook account on Saturday morning. "After midnight militants have already twice used weapons against our soldiers. Overall, 20 such cases have been registered since 1800 of yesterday," reads the report. On Friday evening near Maryinka, militants shelled the ATO positions in the area of Sartana using small arms, and Shyrokyne using large-caliber machineguns. North of Horlivka, militants used 82mm-caliber mortars to shell the Ukrainian military positions in the area of Zaitseve. In Svitlodarsk, the unlawful armed groups were firing from grenade launchers and automatic weapons at Luhanske. Farther to the east, militants used heavy machine guns and small arms to fire on the ATO forces positions near Troitske. The Ukrainian military positions also came under fire from small arms and grenade launchers in the area of Pisky, Opytne and south of Avdiyivka, the press center said. All in all, on the first day of 2016 militants violated the cease-fire 42 times in the ATO zone, the press center said. To the best of my ability I write about my experience of the Universe Past, Present and Future This trend began in earnest with the removal of Saddam Hussein government in Iraq, leading to the present situation of dominance by the Iran-allied Shiite majority there. It has continued and likely will continue in 2016 as a result of the wealth and legitimacy that the regime promises to receive from the policies of rapprochement that are currently predominant among Western governments. But at a time when Iran is becoming increasingly involved in a range or regional conflicts including the civil wars in Syria and Yemen, many Western policymakers are pushing back against this rapprochement. As pointed out once again in The Tower on Wednesday, these critical voices are generally concerned that the nuclear deal has emboldened familiar bad behavior from Iran, while sending the message that major consequences will be slow in coming, if they will come at all. The Tower recalled attention to an August editorial by former CIA Director David Petraeus, in which he argued that the Obama administration had been dealing with Iran as it would otherwise deal with nations like Japan and the Netherlands. This, according to Petraeus and other critics, is plainly unjustified in light of Irans long history of aggressive and destabilizing behavior and non-cooperation with Western nations. Such critics arguments against rapprochement have been helped along by the persistence of Iranian belligerence and provocative activity in the wake of the nuclear agreement. Most recently, it was revealed that the naval forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had test-fired a barrage of rockets within 1,500 yards of a US aircraft carrier and other Western vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred only 23 minutes after the test-fire was announced via radio broadcast, according to the Associated Press. It led US Central Command spokesperson Commander Kyle Raines to declare, Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognized maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law. It is highly likely that Tehran is aware of this and that the IRGC specifically intended the incident as a threat and a symbol of defiance against the West at a time when the nuclear deal has led to expectations of closer relations. The seriousness of that threat is very much in doubt, as Western analysts tend to dismiss the notion that Iran could sink a US aircraft carrier, although the IRGC has repeatedly claimed to be capable of just that, and also of prevailing in open conflict with the US military. In response to the news of the confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz, an article in the National Interest took a measured approach to assessing that threat, acknowledging that Tehrans particular claims are suspect but also pointing out that the use of sea mines could lead to the sinking of US vessels if the recent provocations lead to more deadly confrontation. Iran has previously threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz, and in April these threats became particularly salient when Iranian naval vessels shadowed a US-flagged cargo vessel and later seized a Marshall Islands-flagged one. Soon thereafter another confrontation with the US occurred when Iran attempted to break through a blockade of Yemen in order to deliver a suspected weapons shipment to Houthi rebels. Earlier, while nuclear negotiations were still ongoing, Iranian naval forces conducted war games involving a mockup of a US aircraft carrier like that which witnessed the rocket test-fire last week. Iranian state media presented the drill as confirmation that the Iranian military could sink such a vessel in under a minute by swarming it with small ships and land-to-sea weapons. The National Interest reiterated the general dismissal of this propaganda, noting that such tactics have never been shown to be effective in actual combat, against moving targets. But there is no doubt about the provocative nature of such maneuvers, or the symbolic effect it can have for Iranian hardliners. And such provocations have not only occurred at sea. In October and November, Iran drew the renewed ire of many critics of the nuclear deal when it conducted two test-launches of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1929. In addition to constituting a potential military threat, the tests underlined Iranian officials outright rejection of foreign restrictions on its ballistic missile work, including those restrictions that Iran is called upon to abide by for eight years under the terms of the resolutions governing the nuclear deal. These and other incidences of anti-Western aggression have served to strengthen the case of those who feel that Iran is being given too much leniency. To date, the Obama administration has arguably undermined all efforts to counter this leniency, even reassuring Iran that it would help to circumvent new congressional rules that bar Iranian business travelers from receiving visa waivers. Nevertheless, the US Treasury Department has continued to enforce existing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. And on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported upon one of the only signs that this enforcement may be expanding in response to the criticism brought on by Irans various recent provocations. Congressional Republicans and many Democrats have been noticeably frustrated by the Obama administrations apparent refusal to take serious measures against the October and November ballistic missile tests, or to even respond to congressional letters urging such action. But according to an unnamed source close to the Treasurys sanctions enforcement wing, the department is current working toward the announcement of sanctions against companies known to have ties to Irans ballistic missile program. If these reports prove accurate, it will arguably be one step back from the rapprochement policy that has been blamed for emboldening Iranian provocations. But it remains to be seen whether the Obama administrations critics will regard those sanctions as truly sending the message that continued ballistic missile work will result in severe consequences. It is even less clear whether they will see that message as being broadened to include the Strait of Hormuz rocket fire and the general surge in anti-Western rhetoric that has been observed in recent months. The incident was described in detail by US Central Command, and was decried as an unsafe and unprofessional deviation from the usual interactions among Iranian and Western vessels in the region. But on Thursday, a spokesperson for the IRGC said not only that the test in question did not occur as described, but also that the IRGC naval forces had not conducted any exercises at all during the preceding week. The implausibility of this claim is underscored by the fact that Voice of America News and various other outlets have indicated that the test was witnessed by a French frigate and a number of commercial vessels, as well as by the American aircraft carrier and two American destroyers. Nevertheless, it stands to reason that some Iranians whose primary sources of news are Iranian state media and propaganda networks will only have access to the IRGC side of the story, which describes the US account as false claims and psychological warfare. The IRGCs provocation and subsequent denial thus serves the dual purpose of demonstrating defiance to Western powers and also leading some Iranians to believe that such defiance is justified by supposed persecution of the Islamic Republic by the West. Tehrans treatment of the Strait of Hormuz confrontation is reminiscent of its propaganda efforts in the wake of preceding provocations, such as the test firing of two long-range ballistic missiles, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions barring Iran from work on potential delivery systems for nuclear weapons. Although congressional Republicans and other opponents of the Iran nuclear agreement have been frustrated with the relative lack of response from the Obama administration in the wake of those tests, preliminary reports emerged this week to indicate that the US Treasury Department was preparing new sanctions on companies with ties to the Iranian ballistic missile program. The Fiscal Times elaborated on Thursday by specifying the United Arab Emirates-based Mabrooka Trading and the Iranian Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics as two entities that are likely to be subjected to these new sanctions. While more explicit details are so far lacking with regard to these enforcement measures, it is possible that the Strait of Hormuz incident helped to justify this American announcement. The interplay between these issues may also suggest a broader deterioration in relations between the two countries at a time when proponents of the nuclear deal are looking forward to large-scale rapprochement. In fact, the Fiscal Times suggested that the implementation of the sanctions was likely to elicit a response from Tehran that might be more dramatic than expected. On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivered a letter to Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan, ordering the Iranian armed forces to accelerate production of missiles in response to the sanctions. The message was shared publicly via Rouhanis website and apparently constitutes the personal response from his administration, which is regarded by some Western leaders as being comparatively moderate. Critics of Iran, including the dissident National Council of Resistance of Iran, categorically reject this characterization, and Thursdays letter may give additional fuel to their arguments, especially if it is a precursor to more a more serious response later on. In any event, that letter strongly reiterates the defiance that had previously been expressed by Iranian officials in both word and deed. The October and November ballistic missile tests followed up on declarations that Iran would not abide by any restrictions that Iran considers to be beyond the scope of its nuclear enrichment program. This separation of the issues was subsequently justified, as Thomson Reuters reminded readers on Thursday, via the claim that the test-fired weapons were not intended to carry nuclear warheads, even though they were capable of doing so. Rouhanis letter once again claimed that the issue of Irans missile supply is entirely separate from the nuclear issue. But this seems to tacitly acknowledge what the Obama administration has long said in defense of the nuclear agreement: that the US and Europe retain the right to impose sanctions on non-nuclear issues such as human rights and support for terrorism, without violating the deal. The Iranians have repeatedly tried to characterize any sanctions enforcement as well as any tangential measures like the recent ban on visa waivers for Iranian travelers as de facto violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But Tehrans eagerness to separate the nuclear agreement from the issue of nuclear-capable missiles may help to undermine that argument. This in turn may open the way for more serious conflict to take place between the two countries while the deal remains technically in place. And the latest provocations in the Strait of Hormuz lead some to believe that this is a likely outcome. Considering that Iran also shadowed Western vessels, attempted to run a US-supported blockade, and seized a Marshall Islands-flagged commercial vessel earlier in 2015, some experts anticipated more such confrontations in the future. The Navy Times quoted Anthony Cordesman, a national security expert with the Center for Strategic and International studies, as saying that the continuation of these sorts of Iranian activities in the Persian Gulf would help to make sure that Iran is at least as serious a threat as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the coming year. That resolution bars Iran from further work on or testing of weapons that are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although Iran characterizes those restrictions as applying only to missiles that are designed to carry a nuclear bomb. It is not clear what the practical difference is between these two types, but in any event Iran has also declared its unwillingness to abide by any such restrictions. Rouhanis message to his defense minister reiterated the idea that missile control is a separate issue from Irans nuclear program and that the Rouhani administration had only entered into agreements regarding the latter. Nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal pointed out on Friday that the new disputes over missile control cast fresh doubts on the long term viability of the July 14 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed upon between Iran and six world powers. The Journal notes that the Western powers involved in that deal had previously expressed hope that the two Iranian ballistic missile tests one in October and one in November would not seriously endanger the other elements of the deal, even if those tests did constitute a violation of the European Unions resolution governing implementation. Still, Western critics of the Iranian regime have been pushing for their own governments, particularly the Obama administration, to take steps to express opposition to the ballistic missile violations, and to make it clear that there would be consequences for more of the same. The US Treasury Department finally indicated this week that it was preparing to take measures toward this end, in the form of new economic sanctions that would be enforced outside of the scope of the nuclear deal. At the same time that Iran refuses to abide by the terms of such non-JCPOA enforcement measures, Iranian officials have at times indicated that they would view the actual implementation of such measures as violations of the JCPOA. Regardless of whether these contradictory sentiments were governing Rouhanis decision-making process in ordering the expansion of Irans ballistic missile stockpiles, it seems clear that the previous violations of Security Council resolutions threaten to set off a series of retaliations that could eventually threaten the actual text of the nuclear agreement. Whats more, this danger appears to have further exposed the extent to which the Obama administration and its allies are willing to make compromises and concessions in order to preserve that agreement. In a move that will certainly stoke the ire of individuals and groups who have criticized the administration on this point in the past, the Treasury apparently drew back from its sanctions threat following Rouhanis threats of escalation. Voice of America News pointed out on Friday that the Obama administration said that those sanctions, which would have affected about a dozen Iranian and non-Iranian businesses with ties to the countrys ballistic missile program, still remained on the table. But it was unclear when or even if they would actually move to enforcement. Meanwhile, the administration also indicated that it was looking at alternative, diplomatic means of responding to the missile test violations. This latter statement seems to suggest persistent faith in the diplomatic process in spite of the objections from critics who say that the process was based on false premises about a moderate Iranian government under the leadership of President Rouhani. Western critics generally feel that the Iranian side of the nuclear negotiations was able to exploit this faith to secure an agreement that promises large-scale sanctions relief in exchange for very few commitments from Tehran, none of which indicate a general change in hostile behavior. As Iran News Update pointed out on Thursday, Rouhanis threat of an expanded missile stockpile gives additional ammunition to the National Council of Resistance of Iran and other groups that insist Rouhani is a regime insider and an implausible source of moderation or reform. In the months since the conclusion of nuclear negotiations, there has been a surge in anti-Western rhetoric coming out of Tehran. And while most of this has originated in the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his allies in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, some of it has come from Rouhani as well. Thursdays letter included examples of this. According to Business Insider, Rouhani used it to accuse the US of continued hostile policies and illegal meddling in the form of its enforcement of UN resolutions. Just days earlier, Rouhani further undermined his own moderate credentials, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, when he used an Islamic unity conference to praise pro-government protests that helped to bring an end to the 2009 Green Movement protests against the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani was initially embraced as representing a major shift away from that hardline presidency. But this characterization has been strongly questioned by his former supporters inside of Iran, even though it has generally been defended by Western leaders including US President Barack Obama. Whereas the conclusion of the nuclear agreement seemed to support the moderation narrative, it coincided with an increase in the number of executions inside of Iran, as well as other signs of a heightened crackdown on dissent and un-Islamic elements of society. Rouhanis comments at the December 29 conference explicitly praised the theocratic system of governance in place in Iran, saying for instance, Irans security today is established under the supreme leader. He added that the pro-government demonstrations in 2009 demonstrated broad-based support for the clerical government, although this claim ignores the fact that those demonstrations were dwarfed by the reformist protests that they were responding to, which were violently repressed by Iranian security forces. RFE/RL quoted one commentator as saying that Rouhanis hardline perspective on the 2009 events had shattered the dreams of many of his remaining supporters. But many others had already withdrawn support over a range of broken campaign promises, relating to virtually all expected reforms other than rapprochement with the West over the nuclear issue. Now, his contribution to confrontation with the US may undermine that campaign promise, as well. Rouhani certainly will have help in this. Other elements of the Iranian regime have been much more consistent about negatively impacting relations between the two countries. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has arguably taken the lead in this, as demonstrated by its decision last week to test-fire naval weapons in the vicinity of a US aircraft carrier, its role in a surge of recent arrests of persons accused of having ties to the West, and its boastful commentary about Iranian military capabilities and readiness for war. In the latest example of this, Agence France-Presse reports that IRGC General Hossein Salami has expanded upon former propaganda regarding Irans missile capabilities. In an unprecedented move early in October, the IRGC broadcast images of hidden missile silos on state television. At a prayer gathering on Friday, Salami suggested that those images represented an insubstantial portion of the total IRGC stockpile. We lack enough space in our stockpiles to house our missiles, he said, nonetheless adding that Iran would never stop developing this defense deterrent. Whether incidental or intentional, this statement clearly reflects that which was expressed by Rouhani in his letter. The similarity is all but certain to inflame commentary among Western critics and Iranian dissidents suggesting that the Rouhani administration and the IRGC are ideologically and strategically close together, and that Rouhanis record does not justify concessions or the preservation of the nuclear deal in the face of belligerence. What You Can't Discuss: This is a partial list of taboo topics within progressive-left venues around the Arab-Israel conflict. You cannot discuss this material because it undermines the "Palestinian narrative" of perpetual victimhood. This narrative is a club used by the Arab and Muslim enemies of Israel, along with their western progressive allies, to delegitimize that country in preparation for its eventual dissolution. 1) The centuries of Jewish dhimmitude under the boot of Islamic imperialism. 2) The recent construction of Palestinian identity, its connection to Soviet Cold War politics, and how this is an Arab people with a Roman name that refers to Greeks. 3) Arab and Palestinian Koranically-based racism as the fundamental source of the conflict. 4) The ways in which contemporary progressive anti-Zionism serves as a cloak for gross anti-Semitism. 5) The Palestinian theft and appropriation of Jewish history. 6) "Pallywood." 7) The historical connections between the Nazis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Palestinian national movement. 8) The perpetual refusal of the Palestinian-Arabs to accept a state for themselves in peace next to the Jewish one. 9) The progressive portrayal of terrorists as those fighting a righteous war of "resistance." 10) The Arab-Palestinian indoctrination of children with Jew hatred. 11) Human rights violations against women, children, and Gay people in the Muslim Middle East. 12) The fact that violent Jihadis call themselves "Jihadis" and claim to love death above life. This is only a partial list, so please let us know the many more that we are missing. Betty and I spent the winters in Venice, Florida. Some years we have out-of-town guests who spend the Christmas holidays with us. This year we joined 74 seniors from the Venice and Sarasota area to travel by bus to Savannah, Georgia. The two buses from "All Around Tours" traveled the 400 miles to Savannah from Venice in nine hours. Our accommodations were superior as we lodged at the Marriott Courtyards in the historic district of Savannah, a city of approximately 144,000. Outlying areas bring the city close to 300,000 population. A very Christian religious community, there are over 400 churches representing many denominations. In fact, John Wesley, Methodist Church founder, preached in one of the churches. In the Deep South, Savannah becomes hot and humid with many thunderstorms. Although the city is at risk for hurricanes, it has a lower risk than some other coastal cities such as Charleston, South Carolina. The winters are mild with occasional cold fronts that rarely last for any length of time. Savannah lies approximately 20 miles upriver from the Atlantic Ocean, yet the Savannah River is deep enough to accommodate large ocean going ships. Many container ships leave the port for destinations throughout the world. However, there is no cruise ship terminal. As the city has an elevation of only 49 feet above sea level, it is prone to flooding. This is the reason that residents build their homes on 10- to 12-foot pillars. The typical "up-scale" home will then have two stairs on either side of the front door. If you tour the city you will not the unique architecture of the homes. Note also the use of black rod iron fences surrounding many homes. The difference between low and high tide on the Atlantic side of the city is nine feet. Due to the differential between low and high tides, you can view a large amount of marsh or swamp land bordering the city of Savannah. This is the largest differential in any state, except for perhaps a few inlets in the state of Maine. History On February 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe and settlers from England arrives aboard the ship Anne on the shores that would later become the city of Savannah. General Oglethorpe's group was met by John and Mary Musgrove, who were Indian traders. The Musgroves had arrived a few years earlier and befriended the local Indians in the area. By the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, Savannah had become an important commercial seaport. Soon after the beginning of the war, British troops took control of the city. Despite American and French soldiers attempting to defeat the British, they were unsuccessful, and the British did not leave the city until July 1782. Georgia's mild climate offered perfect conditions for growing cotton, which became the dominant commodity following the American Revolution. Today, all of the cotton warehouses along the Savannah River have been converted to retail establishments. Always an important seaport for the Confederate Government, it was Union General Sherman who, having already destroyed Atlanta, sent his troops marching toward Savannah. Charles Green, a prominent businessman, rode under the white flag of truce to General Sherman's camp on the eve of Dec. 21, 1864, to ask that his cit be saved from bombardment. General Sherman complied with Green's request and, in fact, accepted Green's invitation for a few senior officers and himself to stay in Green's mansion in Savannah. The next day General Sherman sent a telegraph to President Lincoln, stating, "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton." Points of interest Our local guide was always dressed in an ankle-length antebellum dress, wore white gloves and carried a lace parasol. Our tour company always uses a local guide or expert in the region to give us the history of what we are viewing. She was a delightful middle-aged woman and very much a lady. "As you probably know, 'antebellum' simply means before that terrible war of Northern Aggression," Miss Ardis said. Miss Ardis is a society lady of Savannah. She was well versed on the history of the region. However, if you visit the city, I would suggest that you purchase the booklet, "The Savannah Walking Tour Guidebook." The booklet will suggest four unique walking tours where you can "soak up" the feeling of this historic city. If you feel that there is just too much walking, you can take a trolley tour or a very unique horse-drawn carriage ride. The guides on both the trolleys and the carriages are all well versed on the history of their beloved city. As you enjoy the tour, notice the live oak with the moss hanging down the branches. Beside the Savannah River is located both the Westin and Hyatt hotels. The guests from both hotels often book passage on short excursion rides on either of two paddle-wheel steamboats docked beside these hotels. Also, a parking lot is available for passengers that have called ahead for rides on either boat. Other tours could include a Paula Deen Tour, where you will be able to have a buffet dinner at Paula Dean's Lady and Sons Restaurant at 5 p.m. The Old Town Trolley has exclusive entry to her restaurant. Of course, due to her popularity, I would suggest that you make reservations. Yet another tour is "Ghosts and Gravestones," where tours run from 7 to 10:45 p.m. seven days a week. This tour is closed on St. Patrick's Day and reservations are required. While in the Savannah area, be sure to visit Tybee Island and view the very large working lighthouse. This location has been a popular vacation spot for more than a century, offering miles of public beaches, a popular fishing pier and abundant wildlife. The top three historic sites you should visit while on Tybee Island are Fort Pulaski, used briefly during the Civil War; Fort Screven, a premier fort that was in operation until after World War II; and Tybee Island Light House and Museum, which dates back to the earliest days of the state of Georgia. We were in Savannah for a total of four days and three nights. During this time we had several tours, attended a Christmas play at the historic Savannah Theatre and had several outstanding meals. One such dining experience was an evening meal at Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding Home on Dec. 23. The unique portion of our dining at Mrs. Wilkes' was that all of the 24 separate dishes were served family style at a table with seating for 10 to 12 guests. Now I am appreciative of the term "boarding room reach." The separate dishes were all native recipes. (I personally did not appreciate the "southern way" of cooking.) On the evening of Dec. 24, we had a great meal at the Pirate's House Restaurant. As this restaurant has been in operation since the early 1800s, rumor has it that in the bar area there is a trap door that was used by ship captains to "recruit" deck hands for their ships that were leaving the docks the next morning. In fact we did see the trap door and very gingerly stepped around the door. Our Christmas night dinner was held at Kevin Barry's Irish Pub. As this was Christmas night, we did not have the opportunity to hear Kevin Barry's band. MATTOON -- A fire on the evening of New Year's Eve destroyed an approximately 100-year-old, two-story brick building that served as the main warehouse for Standerfer Construction. The Mattoon Fire Department reported that its personnel were dispatched at 7:51 p.m. Thursday to the fire scene at 1901 Wabash Ave., just south of the K.C. Summers auto dealership, a block off of Illinois Route 16. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has not been determined yet. Construction company owner Bill Standerfer said a colleague alerted him about the fire during a New Year's Eve gathering and he then reached the scene at approximately 8 p.m. "It was fully involved. The flames were way up. The smoke you could see way across town," Standerfer said. Smoke from the fire billowed into the air and filled downtown Mattoon for hours as the blaze burned and firefighters doused it with water from tankers. They tackled the fire from both the ground and above. Mattoon fire Chief Tony Nichols said the department dispatched all of its available personnel and equipment to the fire. Consequently, he said volunteer firefighters from Wabash Fire Protection District were called in to staff the main fire station at City Hall while his personnel were tied up at the scene. Nichols also said volunteer firefighters from Lincoln Fire Protection District were called to the scene to provide extra manpower and use their equipment to assist with the water supply needed to extinguish the fire. "For that volume of fire, we needed more water," Nichols said. The Mattoon Police Department provided crowd control amid the onlookers who turned out to see the fire on New Year's Eve, Nichols said. The Mattoon Public Works Department blocked off adjacent streets and brought in salt and sand to spread on the icy grounds around the fire scene. Nichols said the frigid weather overnight Thursday caused the water and the mist from the firefighting hoses to freeze to whatever surfaces this liquid coated. "The ground was frozen and slick," Nichols said. Firefighters were at the warehouse overnight as they worked to extinguish the flames. The last crew did not leave the scene until approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday. Nichols said the fire appears to have originated near garage doors at the northwest corner of the warehouse. He said the roof and the second floor collapsed, leaving behind the brick shell of the exterior walls. An Ameren Illinois crew was scheduled to dig up a gas meter on Friday at the warehouse in preparation for A.J. Walker Construction Co. to demolish the brick walls today, Nichols said. The scene will then be safe for firefighters to enter so they can try to determine the cause of the fire, he said. Standerfer said the warehouse contained about 90 percent of the tools and other equipment for his business, including two trucks. Standerfer said he is thankful that no one was hurt, that the fire did not reach his nearby office, and that he has good insurance coverage for the building and its contents. "We will survive the fire," Standerfer said. The building was constructed approximately 100 years ago as a warehouse for the Homann food distribution company, Standerfer said. This structure was subsequently used by Farrier Construction and A.J. Walker before he purchased the warehouse in 1988, Standerfer said. Job Description Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) is an Ethiopian Residents Charity Organization, non-political, non-religious and not-for-profit civil society organization working in areas of sustainable wetland/ natural resources management and livelihoods improvement with the aim to achieve the dual goals of environment and development in Ethiopia. EWNRA is looking to hire professionals to fill the following vacant posts in Menschen fur Menshen Switzerland funded project entitled: A Richer Life: Action to Reduce Outmigration of Smallholder Rural People in Southern Oromia Region, Ethiopia to be implemented in Abaya and Gelana Woredas, Borena Zone of Oromia Regional State. 1. Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator Gelana Woreda, Borena Zone Duties and responsibilities: Under the supervision of and reporting to the Project Facilitator/Coordinator based in Abbaya Project Office, the Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator is responsible for overall project implementation, management and administration, planning and reporting, woreda level human resources and material resources management, coordination of alt field operations as well coordination with stakeholders, focal level project implementing partners and establishing smooth working relation with communities and government offices within Gelena Woreda. She/he has to have good experience in participatory approaches and have full commitment to implement the project in bottom up approach. Qualifications and Experience: In view of the stated job requirements, the potential candidate for the post should have M. Sc or B. Sc degree from recognized University/College in Rural Livelihoods and Development, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development or combination of these and other closely related fields. Besides, s/he should have at least 4 years of demonstrable work experience for M. Sc holder and 6 years for B. Sc holder in areas of Integrated Rural Development (IRD), Integrated Environmental/ Watershed Management, Livelihoods and Food Security. In relation to these areas of specialization candidates who worked as and/or actively involved in combinations of assignments including capacity building, project planning. M & E, project coordination and management are considered more relevant, but not the only ones. Number required: 1 (one) Duty Station: Tore Town, Gelana Woreda 2. Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) Officer Duties and responsibilities: Under supervision of and accountable to the Project Facilitator/Coordinator the PPM&E Officer is responsible, independently and/or with other staff members for the development of the programme of monitoring and evaluation for this project to provide feedback for planning. This will focus on project activities, project impact the environmental consequences of the project and the socio-economic situation of the local community. The PPME Officer will also liaise and coordinate his/her work with the project team as well as with government staff in the appropriate woreda level signatory Offices. He/she will work in the field with the Projects Woreda Project Officers and the governments Development Agents. Demonstrated competencies in own subject matter/area specialization, effective report writing skill, superior language and composition skills in executing the job assignments are the ideal requirements of the job. Reasonable multiple assignments, meeting deadlines, working for extended hours are the prominent features of the job that the prospective candidate would understand in advance and should be able to endure in applying for the job. Qualifications and Experience: In view of the stated job requirements, the potential candidate for the post should have Bachelor or Master degree from recognized Universities/Colleges in Agricultural Economics, Natural Resources Economics, Rural Livelihoods and Development (with background in Agriculture), Agricultural Extension and Rural Development or combination of these and other closely related fields. Besides, s/he should have at least 8 years for Bachelor and 6 years for Masters holders a demonstrable work experience, of which two years in the area of PPME. Number Required: 1 (one) Duty Station: in Abbaya Woreda, Guangua Township with extensive travel to kebeles within both Gelana and Abay Woredas. 3. Cooperative and Marketing Officer Duties and responsibilities: Under the supervision of and being accountable to the Project Facilitator/ Coordinator or Gelana Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator, the Cooperative and Marketing Officer/s is/are responsible, independently and/or with other staff members for organizing and providing technical support to cooperatives and marketing and value chain development activities, Facilitate the establishment of cooperative societies where it is deemed necessary in consultation with local communities and responsible government institutions including Cooperative Promotion Offices at woreda level. Follow up the existing cooperative societies within the project intervention localities and provide the necessary technical support for strengthen them. Qualifications and Experience: the potential candidate for the post should have BSc degree from recognized Universities/Colleges in Agricultural Economics, Cooperative Management/ Accounting, Rural Livelihoods and Development (with background in Agriculture), Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development or combination of these and other closely related fields. Besides, s/he should have at least 5 years of demonstrable work experience in areas of Integrated Rural Development (IRD). Cooperative Promotion, Cooperative/agricultural Marketing, Livelihoods and Food Security. NGO experience is an advantage. Number required: 2 (two) Duty Station: One in Abbaya Woreda and one in Gelena Woreda 4. Livestock Management Officer Duties and responsibilities: Under supervision of and accountable to the Project Facilitator/Coordinator or Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator the Livestock Management Officer will be in charge of project activities to be implemented within local communities in both Abaya and Gelena woedas. Responsible for implementation of project activities which include interactive training and learning support on livestock rearing, and productive management; feed (fodder/forage) development and management; tracking animal health problems and taking actions in collaboration with project intervention woredas animal health institutions, responsible for preparing monthly reports for the activities undertaken within the woredas to the facilitators and PPME, keep appropriate records of community members who are supported by the project. Work in close collaboration with other staff members within the project. Qualifications and Experience: the potential candidate for the post should have Bachelor Degree from recognized Universities/Colleges in livestock management or other closely related fields. Besides, S/ he should have at least 6 years of demonstrable work experience in areas of livestock management at community level. NGO experience is an advantage. Number required: 2 (two) Duty Station: One in Abbaya Woreda and one in Gelena Woreda 5. Irrigation and Water Officer Duties and responsibilities: Under supervision of and accountable to the Project Facilitator/Coordinator the Irrigation and Water Officer is responsible, independently and/or with other staff members. S/he should provide technical assistance at grassroots level for water supply and micro irrigation activities. Assist in the designing and construction of water schemes and irrigation units. Monitors the construction of adequate and separate water schemes and irrigation units. Checks the proper deployment of construction materials, tools and equipment required for water supply and irrigation units construction. Qualifications and Experience: The potential candidate should have B. Sc degree or Diploma in hydraulics engineering or equivalent combination of education from recognized Universities/Colleges. S/he should have at least 4 and 6 years of demonstrable work experience in water supply and irrigation sector for B. Sc and Diploma holder, respectively; and working in NGO is advantageous. Number required: 1 (one) Duty station: Abbaya Woreda and working in both Abbaya and Gelana Woreda equally. 6. Population Health Environment Livelihood (PHE-L) Integration Officer Duties and responsibilities: Working with and reporting to the project facilitator/coordinator, the Population, Health Environment Livelihood Integration Officer will be in charge of project activities to be implemented within local communities within the project intervention kebeles within the two woredas. She is responsible for field level implementation of the envisaged project activities designed for the target communities. Work in close collaboration with local community members. Responsible for implementation of the project activities, focused on PHE-L Integration and provide training, establish and establish and support PHE clubs, involve in PHE-L integration discussions, establish woreda and kebele level PHE-L taskforces and undertake environment related activities. Responsible for preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual reports for the activities undertaken within the woredas and kebeles. Qualifications and Experience: The potential candidate should have B. Sc degree in Nursing, Environmental Health Science, Health Officer or equivalent combination of education from recognized Universities/Colleges. She should have at least 6 years of demonstrable work experience in and working in NGO is advantageous. The post is reserved for female candidates Number required: 1 (one) Duty station: Abbaya Woreda and working in both Abbaya and Gelana VVoreda equally 7. Community Development Facilitator Duties and responsibilities: Under supervision of and reporting to Project Facilitator/Coordinator or Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator the Community Development Facilitator will Coordinate and deliver technical support to the local communities to undertake a number of project activities. Provide technical support and coordinate kebele level development workers. Facilitate and responsible for the implementation of project activities within the kebeles under his coordination. Closely work in harmony with local communities where EWNRA undertakes field intervention activities, etc. Qualifications and Experience: the potential candidate for the post should have Bacheor degree or Diploma from recognized Universities/Colleges/ATVET Colleges in Natural Resources Management, Rural Livelihoods and Development (with background in Agriculture), in Crop Agronomy o combination of these and other closely related fields. Besides, s/he should have at least 6 and 8 years of demonstrable work experience for degree and diploma holders respectively in areas of Integrated Rural Development, Livelihoods and Food Security. NGO experience is an advantage. Number required: 3 (three) Duty station: Gelena Woreda 8. Horticulture/Coffee Agronomist Duties and responsibilities: Under supervision of and accountable to the Project Facilitator/Coordinator or Assistant Project Facilitator/Coordinator the Horticulture/Coffee Agronomist will be in charge of project activities to be implemented within local communities in both Abaya and Gelena woedas. Responsible for implementation of project activities which include interactive training and learning support on vegetable production, coffee management, nursery and seedling management, coffee processing, taking actions in collaboration with project intervention woredas agriculture and coffee institution, responsible for preparing monthly reports for the activities undertaken within the woredas to the facilitators and PPME Officer, keep appropriate records of community members who are supported by the project. Work in close collaboration with other staff members within the project. Qualifications and Experience: the potential candidate for the post should have Bachelor degree from recognized Universities/Colleges in Horticulture (incorporating Coffee Agronomy) or other closely related fields. Besides, s/he should have at least 6 years of demonstrable work experience in areas of Horticulture at community level. NGO experience is an advantage. Number required: 2 (two) Duty Station: One in Abbaya Woreda and one in Gelena Woreda Additional Requirements For all Positions: Competency in computer applications of MS Offices packages is required. Understanding and speaking local language, Oromifa is obligatory. Cooperative, team player, gender sensitive and excellent in interpersonal relationships. Have a strong commitment and openness to learn and share. Female candidates are encouraged to apply for all the posts. Salary: As per the organizations scale Terms of employment: Annually renewable contract based on successful performance initially for one year and for minimum of three years. Place of work: As specified in each of the vacant post Closing date: 10 days after this announcement and only short listed applicants will be contacted Your rating: none Rating: 0 0 votes How to Apply Interested and qualified applicants fulfilling the above requirements are invited to submit/sent to EWNRA by addressing the position he/she applied in the following address. All supporting documents (copies of credentials), CVs and Application letter should be sent through postal address and only CVs and Application letter sent in digital form through the email address. Email: woinshetkm@gmail.com Postal Address Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association P.0.Box: 1518 code 1110 Addis Ababa Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resource Association Abaya Project Office P.o.Box: 100, Dilla Please do not apply online if other application instructions are stated.Please do not accept payment requests at any of the recruitment phases! 5 total views, 5 today Hello there! Here is a list of fabulous food, music, news, videos, graffitis, comments from the guestbook, and images of the world in pictures. Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible, the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing world. Kiss your Mom and Dad, tell them that you are loved. May you live forever in happiness and good health. LoL, Zalina and Mail In the nearly three years Fuse Coworking has been open, it has nurtured four companies that have had successful "exits." Those companies -- Nobl, Best Option Trading, Hail Varsity and FuturePay -- have "matured enough to have outgrown the coworking platform and left Fuse as successfully funded small businesses that have created good jobs in the community and transitioned into making lease payments with local property owners," said Andy Beecham, one of Fuse's founders. But now it's time for Fuse to make its own "exit." Lincoln's first true coworking space has secured new investment and is moving into a much larger space. This month, Fuse will officially open its new space on the top floor of the old Salvation Army building at 151 N. Eighth St. That's just across the street from Fuse's current space on top of the building that houses The Mill coffee shop, but it's a huge leap forward in terms of involvement with the startup scene. The former Salvation Army building is home to one of the offices of one of Lincoln's largest and most-well-known tech companies, Hudl, as well as Nebraska Global, a venture capital fund and incubator for software companies. Fuse's founders say the new space, which at 15,000 square feet is more than twice as large as the old space, gives them the ability to do more. "The scope of what we are able to do will match our ambitions much better," said Bob Hinrichs, another of the founders. Those ambitions include providing more education and training opportunities, something Fuse had started to do in 2015 but plans to do much more of in 2016. One of those training initiatives is partnering with the Omaha Code School to offer Star City Code School, a 16-week intensive program that gives people the the qualifications to become a software engineer. "Coding is infiltrating everyone's job," Hinrichs said. "Everyone's going to need to know a little coding." The Star City Code School adds "something that was missing in Lincoln," he said. Chuck Norris, vice president of Nelnet Capital, a division of the student finance company, said most people don't pursue a course of study in college that includes much coding, so the new code school, "creates opportunities for these individuals." He said the coding and other educational opportunities that will be available at the new Fuse space will be an important part of workforce development in the city. The involvement of Nelnet, along with Speedway Motors, will create many new opportunities for Fuse, as well. Though not willing to disclose the scope of the investment, Beecham did list off some of the things it will allow Fuse to do: Increase membership Beecham said Fuse has about 35 regular members paying monthly fees but has had to turn away numerous interested parties over the years because of not having enough space. The larger space, which has more private offices, should allow Fuse to boost membership to more than 100, he said. Boost marketing efforts Beecham said Fuse has done a good job getting the word out to the startup community, but needs to raise more awareness among small businesses, freelancers and telecommuters. The new investment will allow for some paid advertising and marketing efforts, rather than just relying on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Craigslist. It also hopes to host more and different kinds of events. A full-time director Fuse is currently looking to hire a full-time executive director for the space, which will be its first full-time employee. "This project really represents more than just an evolution of Fuse -- it's almost a reinvention," Beecham said. Beecham, Hinrichs and Fuse's other co-founder, Matt Westenburg, said co-working isn't a highly profitable business and they didn't go into the venture expecting to make much money. But they have managed to stay in the black every month and have nearly recouped their initial investments. The sound business model likely helped attract Nelnet and Speedway, but the the two companies already have an extensive history supporting startups. Both companies were early investors in Hudl, and both have supported other startup companies as well. They also have collaborated on other projects, including the new headquarters building for Hudl on Canopy Street in the West Haymarket and the redvelopment of the area around 21st and O streets into the Telegraph District. And Nelnet bought telecommunications company Allo Communications earlier this year with the aim of providing 1-gigabit Internet service in Lincoln, something that is integral to continued development of technology companies. "We have the same vision for Lincoln," said Speedway Motors President Clay Smith, speaking of himself and Nelnet Executive Chairman Mike Dunlap. "We're aligned in many ways with how we'd like to see Lincoln grow and prosper." With the new and improved Fuse, the potential for that growth and prosperity will take a big leap forward. What If series starts Sunday First-Plymouth East minister, the Rev. Jacob Buchholz, will lead the January sermon series, What If beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Buchholz will take a look pivotal moments in Biblical and Christian history and ask what if they had never happened. The sermon schedule is as follows: * Jan. 3 -- What If Adam and Eve Didnt Eat the Fruit? * Jan. 10 -- What If God Never Gave the 10 Commandments? * Jan. 17 -- What If Jesus Died of Old Age? * Jan. 24 -- What If The Bible Had Never Been Written? * Jan. 31 -- What If Constantine Had Never Become a Christian? First-Plymouth East is held at Kloefkorn Elementary School, 6601 Glass Ridge Dr. For information go to firstplymouth.org. 12th Night Revel is Jan. 10 The 12th Night Revel: A Tale of Two Gwyns/Gwens seasonal celebration will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 10 at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington St. Hosted by the St. Davids Welsh Society of Nebraska the family-friendly event contains all the elements of an ancient mid-winter festival, including early music on traditional instruments, a mummers play featuring the Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) and storytelling. Admission is free. Donations will be received. The St. Davids Welsh Society of Nebraska was established in 1910 for the purpose of preserving and celebrating Nebraskas Welsh heritage and influences. For information call 402-742-0477, email NebraskaWelsh@gmail.com or go online to facebook.com/NebraskaWelsh. Welcome to 2016. Pope Francis declared it the Year of Mercy among the Roman Catholics. Others see the new year as a fresh start, a new beginning, and even the often wished for do-over. With 2015 fading from view in the rear view mirrors of our lives, its aftereffects linger -- be it casting shadows over perception, sunshine on the memories or worry about brewing clouds on the far horizon. This is why we invited six Lincoln faith leaders -- representing various faiths and denominations -- to share their words of wisdom, their hopes and their encouragement as we head into 2016. Their words, while often rooted in Biblical passages, share a common message for all -- regardless of doctrine or belief. *** A few weeks ago, after finishing a swimming workout, I had barely taken a step toward the locker room before panic set in. Everything had gone blurry. I could not see my hand before my face. The world was a blend of smeared colors, one bleeding into the next. Had I been stricken with some terrible disease? Did I need 911? Fortunately, mortal fear lasted only a moment, alleviated when I realized I had put on someone else's glasses. I have needed glasses since the tender age of 8. Like many millions, I know the difference between blur and focus depends on the lens through which we see the world. As I think about my wishes for the coming year, this episode at the pool seems an apt metaphor for the state of the world as 2015 comes to an end. Things seem jumbled and chaotic, but we do not have to live in a cloud of fear. We can choose vision over fear and bring the world into clarity. In 2016, may we not be blinded by anger, fear or hate. Nor may we look through rose colored glasses which prevent us from seeing what needs repair. Let us instead look to the world through corrective lenses, with vision to inspire our better instincts of love, unity, and compassion. May those on the periphery, the lonely, the hungry, the homeless, be brought into our line of sight. May the images of stranger, refugee, immigrant dissolve into pictures of neighbor, brother, sister, and friend. May our prayer this year be the same as every year, that the many scattered colors of the spectrum be brought together in a united frame of completeness and peace. We share one world. May 2016 be a year in which we share one vision. -- Rabbi Craig Lewis Congregation Bnai Jeshurun * * * The transition from one year to another always comes with a sense of freshness, the opportunity to start anew -- sometimes the promise of starting anew! The year coming to an end, 2015, has not been a good one for my family and me. In fact, it has been the hardest year of my life. So I find that Im glad to say goodbye to 2015, happy to see it come to an end, to welcome a new period of life. Whatever our personal situations, all of us can hope for some communal changes in 2016. As is true of so many of you, I find myself praying for more peace and greater justice in the global community in the year ahead, for less pain with which all of us most cope. At some point most of us carry such desires, and we have to nurture them quite consciously; otherwise we can can become cynical about the possibility: More peace? Right. Greater justice? Sure. Thats why its critical where we place our hope for change. If we place it only -- or even primarily -- in ourselves, we might accomplish some change together. But if we place our hope for change in the One who loves all creation with the fiercely compassionate love of Jesus, we can feel far more hopeful. Without abdicating our own role in bringing about more peace, greater justice, and less pain, we can also trust that God is working at the same time and with the same intention. We can trust that we are not alone in a task that at times seems overwhelming because at times it is. By ourselves. But we never are alone in our hope, or our intention, or our work. -- Father Jerry Thompson St. Marks Episcopal on the Campus * * * do not be anxious about your life -- Jesus (Matthew 6:24) do not be anxious about anything -- St. Paul (Philippians 4:6) If you are headed into 2016 with great hope and confidence, then you can stop reading. The rest of us are happy for you sort of. But if you see some challenges, trials, or anxiety-producing-stuff in the coming year, keep reading. Jesus and Paul spoke to people who had concerns and they had to remind their listeners of some crucial truths. What do I need to remember as I face the coming year? Anxiety is very common. The same St. Paul who tells the Philippians to not be anxious is the Apostle who candidly admits in that letter that he wants to be less anxious himself (2:28)! Sometimes people of faith feel even worse about their anxieties because they seem to reveal that we are not properly trusting in God. Anxiety breeds more anxiety! Paul and Jesus give us clues as to how the Christian (and anyone else who wants to try it) is to begin to deal with anxiety: * Talk to God about your anxieties. We call this prayer. God wants to hear from us and invites us to pray. He is listening. He cares. Add in some words of thanks for what youve received already. * Put your anxieties in perspective. Jesus says that the Father knows what we need and promises to provide what we really need. Not what I want. Not what Id like. What I need. That list is a lot shorter than Id like to admit. The coming year can be one of fear and anxiety or one of prayer and promises. As a pastor and a fellow anxiety sufferer, Im here to commend the latter path. Someone who cares is listening. -- Pastor Stu Kerns Zion Presbyterian Church *** When I was a child I was taught the song, Hes got the Whole World in His Hands. Maybe you remember it too: Hes got the little tiny babies, in his hands Hes got the whole world in his hands. This childrens song suggests that we are more connected than it might appear at first glance. This is easy to forget in a day when sitting in the local coffee shop can become an international experience. I was just a little boy when I was taught that song of trust. I was raised to believe that we are uniquely connected in the race called human. I continue to choose to believe in our common bond as fellow travelers on this terrestrial ball called earth. However, this can be a challenge in an ever increasing shrinking world. In the fifth installment of the Star Wars saga, The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker finds Yoda to be more intimidating than Luke had envisioned. However, Luke soon realizes he is invested in the relationship more than he is fearful of the little green being, and so Luke begins his training. One day, in a forest with the Jedi Master Yoda, Luke senses something in the woods, so he asks wise Yoda what is out there. Yoda responds. Only what you take with you. Later, while in the woods, Luke encounters Darth Vader and engages the villain in a lightsaber fight. Luke defeats his arch enemy and with a sense of accomplishment he stands over his foe, watching Darth Vaders mask melt away, revealing Lukes own face underneath. Isnt that how fear works? Fear preys on our deepest insecurities about the other, only to unveil our true selves? We fight the other, only to find out we are the enemy. We need to learn to walk together and, in order to do that, we are going to need to learn to love and respect one another. How should we respond to fear? Some might consider bravery to be the right response. However, I believe a more virtuous response to fear is love -- because, Hes got the whole world in his hands. -- Pastor Harry Riggs First Baptist Church *** As we turn the page on the calendar, many of us would like to put the last year or race wars, political hotness, terrorist attacks and the life forgetfully behind us. This says nothing of the more personal struggles many of us have faced. 2015, not entirely unlike other years in the history of the world, has been difficult. And yet, as one standing in the long history of orthodox Christianity, I still believe that Jesus is on the throne and that from that throne He has been -- and continues to be -- in control of all things. Theologians call this the doctrine of Gods sovereignty. Its one of the hardest things to get our heads around as Christians: that God has not promised to deliver us to our own personal definition of the good life. Instead, were to surrender in faith and trust to a God who is sovereign -- despite how difficult our circumstances may be. Admittedly, that doesnt take away the pain we experience. It doesnt take away suffering or frustration. Faith in the God of the Bible doesnt make us glib, naive optimists. Instead, Gods sovereignty invites our faith to come alongside our pain, suffering and frustration. It invites us to see that God is with us in the midst of these things working all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28) The 18th century Anglican pastor John Newton summarized it this why when he wrote that everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. Thats truth that Christians get to hang on to. Its truth we need to hang on to. 2016 will be difficult in its own ways. But a Christian worldview allows us to see that in the difficulties, God is either teaching us to rely on Him in faith, or return to Him in repentance and all the while encouraging us to cry out in a patient, enduring, expectant prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come. -- Pastor Todd Bumgarner 2 Pillars Church *** As we begin 2016, I have been reflecting on the words of Pope Francis. The Pope says that mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope. Mercy is a profound and transformative force, one that can unite our families and communities, and can calm and soften our troubled hearts. Mercy can draw each one of us into deeper communion and friendship with one another, and with God. On December 8, the Catholic Church began a Jubilee Year of Mercy that will last for most of 2016. During the Year of Mercy, well give thanks for Gods mercy to us, and seek to become more merciful to one another. During the Year of Mercy, Ive been encouraged that Catholics across Nebraska are committed to works of mercy: to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the lonely and indigent, and to pray for those in need of healing, forgiveness, and peace. Mercy often does as much good for the merciful as it does for those who receive mercy. When we forgive a wrong, we are relieved from the burden of bearing a grudge. When we give what we have to those who need it, we discover the freedom and joy of unbounded generosity. When we give ourselves to others, we discover the profound meaning of our humanity: to love, simply, in imitation of the profound and merciful love with which God loves us. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, said Jesus Christ. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mercy gives our lives meaning. Were made for mercy, my faith tells me: made to receive mercy, and made to be merciful to others. Of course mercy is not without challenges. As we practice mercy, we discover our shortcomings, and our egocentricity, and our preference for the comfortable and easy paths. We repent, resolve to do better, and try again. As were challenged by the difficulties of being merciful, we discover that we cant do it on our own. To love other people as they deserve, we need the grace of God in our lives. Amid the chaos, violence, and hopelessness of modern culture, in a time when so many of people are seeking meaning and answers, we might all consider making 2016 a year of mercy in our lives. We might find that mercy has a multiplying effect: one act of mercy encourages another; our merciful choices begin to form the foundation for a civilization of love. In 2016, I invite each of you to visit the Catholic parishes of Southern Nebraska. We are a Catholic community, like all communities, of sinners, to be sure. But we are a community seeking the mercy of God, and seeking to be mediators of Gods mercy to the world. I invite you to seek Gods mercy in unity with the Catholic Church of southern Nebraska. And I pray that in this Year of Mercy you will encounter the love of God, and that you will find love, hope, joy and peace in giving and receiving the boundless gift of mercy. -- Bishop James D. Conley Catholic Diocese of Lincoln In 1955, Shirley Wenzel found herself out of the classroom and at home near Elmwood with a new baby. Unaccustomed to the solitude and isolation, the former grade school teacher called upon other new mothers in the village of 600 to band together. And on Dec. 1, 1955, Wenzel and 11 other new or soon-to-be moms gathered for what was billed as a "moms' night out." Sitting around a living room, drinking coffee, eating desserts and talking about the challenges of being a mother and a wife -- these dozen ladies decided to meet monthly. After a great deal of discussion, they named themselves the Modern Mothers Club. "'Modern mothers are long gone, now we are more like modern grandmothers," quipped Rosemary Peterson, one of the 60-year-old club's charter members. Or great grandmothers, giggles another. But modern? Well, maybe not so much anymore, say the clubs eight remaining members. Which leads us to the second Thursday in December, when Elmwoods Modern Mothers Club celebrated its diamond anniversary and its final meeting. They voted back in 2013 that this year -- the clubs 60th anniversary -- would be the final year of the Modern Mothers Club. Nobody really wanted it to end, confessed 55-year member Jeannie Spaulding. But nobody wanted to be the last man standing, quipped Wenzel, who at age 87 shares the honor of being one of the oldest members of the club. Dressed in flowing dresses, sparkling sequined jackets, fancy hose and not necessarily the most sensible of shoes, these mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers gathered at Elmwoods claim to fame -- the Bess Streeter Aldrich House -- and closed the book on a six-decade legacy of mother power that built a community park, fought the war on polio, spearheaded 30 years of community blood drives and raised children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Keeping with tradition, they marked the event with an eight-verse poem penned by Spaulding. Sixty years of being together Is really a very long time For a group of modern mothers Who started in their prime. Over the last sixty years We've all grown together -- Helping better our community While relying on each other. * * * "It all started with an idea to do something for the community," Wenzel said. They didnt really have a game plan, as much as a desire to work together. They struggled to define their club. But on one point they were unanimous, they were not an extension club. They were independent, free to spend their $1 annual dues as they saw fit. Free to set their own agendas, programs and goals. They were a club that one night a month got dad off the couch to give mom a break from diapers, bottles and baths. Wenzel described it as a study club. They learned about the community, about motherhood and homemaking. They had a purpose: Give help wherever it was needed. If we saw something in the community that needed to be done, we did it," Wenzel said. "That was really our intent. The only requirements of membership were to have a child or be pregnant and an invitation to join. Membership was limited to 24 people -- the maximum any member's living room could hold, said Martha Bornemeier, a member since 1958. It would have changed the atmosphere if we would have had to find a place (like a community center or church) to hold our meetings, Spaulding said. At times there were waiting lists to join. In 1962, club members invited 17 guests to a get-acquainted meeting in the Elmwood Methodist Church parlor. The hope was this new group of mothers would spin-off into a second club, but that never came to fruition. * * * "We've all raised our families While sharing each others advice. And when Modern Mothers Club night came We all went anxiously, without thinking twice." * * * There was something special about this core group of moms. And something mysterious -- at least in the eyes of their husbands and children. Our kids were curious about this club that was so important to us," Spaulding said. "They wondered what it was all about." The ladies regale over the little boys who were caught with their ears to the second-floor heat registers hoping to hear what it was that made mom so excited and had dad growling Modern Mothers again! Nothing stood in the way of Modern Mothers Club -- not tornadoes, blizzards or flooding. You dont cancel Modern Mothers Club, Spaulding said. Nothing warrants that! * * * We've had every program imaginable And we've toured far and wide Whenever funds or workers were needed We jumped right in with pride! * * * The liberated mothers became known throughout the village for their philanthropic and community service, reads the opening page of Leaves from a Modern Mothers Memory Book, a giant three-ring binder filled with photographs, annual reports and memories of the 48 ladies who at one time or another held membership in the club. Mothers marched on soliciting for polio, baking goodies and cranking freezers for money-making projects, while enriching their lives with interesting and challenging programs on their night out with the girls, the memory book introduction reads. From the start, Elmwoods somewhat neglected community park was their baby. It began simply by hauling buckets of soapy water to the park and scrubbing down picnic tables and benches. The following year they repainted those benches and tables, and built a sandpile. In 1959, they made it official, voting to make the park the clubs main project. In the decades that followed, they purchased swings, playground equipment, picnic tables and trash bins; commissioned a fireplace; raised money to build restrooms and a shelter; planted numerous trees (some in memorial to long-time members) and in 1970 bought in a merry-go-round. Monthly meetings centered around education programs and activities to help them be wiser mothers and wives. The Modern Mothers Memory Book reads like a cultural time travelogue. * In 1957, they learned about insurance, savings plans and dental care. * In 1958, the state patrol taught them about safe driving. * In 1959, they learned about civil defense. * In 1962, the club watched the film "Communist Encirclement." Lincoln pediatrician Dr. Paul Bancroft presented a program on "Facts of Early Childhood." The following year Bancroft returned, presenting "Teen-agers and Nebraska: A Good State to Live." * In 1968, they learned about soft water. * In 1979, they learned how to conserve water. * In 1981, they learned how to cook in a microwave oven. * By 1985, they had learned how to use food processors. Educational topics evolved from personal grooming and space-saving secrets in the early 1960s to arthritis, menopause and mental aerobics in the 80s and '90s. They crafted ceramic tile ashtrays, flower arrangements, dough Christmas ornaments, plastic shrink art (aka Shrinky Dinks), wallhangings, fabric-covered shoes, papier mache topiary trees and centerpieces for the area nursing home. They toured Southeast Nebraska: a trip to Nebraska City to see the community park; a chartered bus to Omaha for the big screen opening of The Sound of Music; tours of Lincolns Gooch Mill, Pershing Auditorium, Earl May Nursery, the Cornhusker Hotel, and an unplanned side trip to a Syracuse taxidermy shop. They played games: hearts, bingo and chicken foot dominoes. They raised money -- $5 and $10 at a time -- through bake sales, a lunch stand at the Elmwood Garage Sale and summer watermelon feeds. If we needed rain, we had a watermelon feed, quipped Martha Bornemeier, noting how the fundraiser proved to be a better barometer than a meteorologist. They paid for books for the Elmwood Library, music equipment for the Elmwood schools, red wagons for the Helping Hand School for the Retarded, draperies for the Bess Streeter Aldrich House, Christmas street lighting for downtown, shrubs for the Schools, sponsored a Girl Scout and later Boy Scout troop, and gave money to the Weeping Water and Alvo rescue departments and the Elmwood Fire Department. The also funded a new Santa suit. We started out working in the park, Martha Bornemeier said. And our last project was cleaning the cemetery. That tells you how much we have evolved over the years. * * * "After raising our families Our grandkids came along -- Then it was their turn to ride our club floats In the parades of years that are gone. "We've been very well rewarded For our club's good deeds done. For along with all the hard work We always had so much fun! * * * In 1962, the club received a Good Neighbor Citation from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben "cited by neighbors for unselfish and patriotic deeds beyond the field of personal gain or welfare, thus exemplifying the good neighbor spirit in Nebraska." Fifty-three years later, the citation is still an emotional source of pride for these ladies. As is the inclusion of the clubs Memory Book in the Nebraska Historical Society archives. We put our footprint down. We are a part of history, Wenzel said. More importantly, they are a sisterhood -- sharing joys, sorrows, frustrations and accomplishments. Perhaps the clubs biggest controversy came in 1962 when, a lively discussion was held about dropping modern from the club title, the annual report noted. No action taken. Not then. Not ever. The ladies smile, dirty laundry -- no matter how minor -- shall not be aired. But the memories oh how many there are. They giggle like school girls regaling in an impromptu remember when session, including: * The mystery lady who showed up at the Halloween costume party: I remember grabbing her leg and thinking Thats a mans leg, squealed Roberta Bornemeier. I didnt know who it was, I certainly didnt know it was my husband. * The time they borrowed a Model T and it backfired so loud that kids scattered thinking it was a gunshot. * The time Wenzel and Spaulding commandeered an old abandoned home for the Halloween party, rebelliously ignoring no trespassing signs. The party was interrupted by a sheriffs deputy. Do you know youre not supposed to be here? he asked the costumed ladies. Wenzels sister, the wife of the school's principal, turned pale. What if they were written up in the local newspaper? Oh, her husband would be mad. It wasnt until much later that Spaulding confessed she and the deputy had been in cahoots. But two of the girls never ever believed it was a set-up, Spaulding said with a grin. There were lots of parties over the years: an Easter Parade of extreme hats, a taffy pull, hard times parties recalling gatherings of the Great Depression era, the annual gathering to decorate a room in the Aldrich House followed by the formal attire Christmas party, and a surprise performance by the Belly Whistlers, a rather unsightly group of middle-aged, untoned men dancing in the anonymity of paper bag-covered heads. * * * "We've shared lots of laughter And we've shared many tears While bonding as true friends forever Over all of these past 60 years. So, we very lovingly say, 'farewell for now' To our beloved Modern Mothers Club. We know we'll all have a grand reunion -- some second Thursday, Among those shining stars way up above." The number of rapes and attempted rapes reported to Lincoln police last year hit the highest mark in the past 25 years, according to police report data. Through November, police had received 188 reports, a 23 percent increase over the 152 cases reported in all of 2014, the department said. The number has climbed steadily from the mid-2000s, when police investigated an average of 110 sexual assault cases a year. Statewide, the number of reported rapes has increased since 2000, even as the total number has fallen nationwide, according to the FBI. What's driving the numbers isn't clear, police and victims' advocates say. "Its hard to know," said Patsy Martin of Voices of Hope, which works with rape victims. "Are sexual assaults up, which is bad? Or is sexual assault reporting up, which is good?" Rape is the most under-reported crime -- Lincoln police say 16 percent are reported -- and Voices of Hope always sees more victims than police, Martin said. At least anecdotally, this year has been on par with recent years, she said. That may indicate that reporting is up, which Martin, Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady and Lincoln Police Chief Jim Peschong attribute to factors including how cases get reported and more awareness of services. Victims can report sexual assaults anonymously online on the Lincoln Police Department's website at lincoln.ne.gov/city/police/, by calling 402-441-3866 or by going to a local hospital, Peschong said. Victims who want to be anonymous are assigned a report number, and exam results go to prosecutors only if the victim signs a release. The department pays for their sex assault exams, as it does in regular rape investigations, according to the department's website. "I dont know of any law enforcement agency in the country that winds up doing what we do on that, the chief said of the reporting option started in 2003. Most victims who report sexual assaults go directly to police or hospitals, he said. Today, Casady said, emergency room staff looks closely for signs patients who come in may have been sexually assaulted -- unlike when he was a street cop decades ago. When they spot someone they think has been raped, they contact police. "If theres any remote hint from the medical staff that (the victim) may not have had (sex) consensually, that will automatically kick in the process," said Peschong. But not all cases result in arrest. So far this year, 12 percent of sexual assault cases were cleared with an arrest or for another administrative reason, the chief said. Investigators might not be able to put together prosecutable cases for every victim, he said, but the reports may help them identify patterns and find predators. Unlike some departments, LPD doesn't close cases or reclassify them if a victim decides not to cooperate, Peschong said. "Were hoping that at some particular point in time the victim will come back around," he said. He said he hopes that helps give victims confidence they will be taken seriously by police if they do come forward. In the end, higher numbers last year may be attributed to both more assaults and more victims filing reports, Casady said. Binge drinking among young adults may be a factor, he said, noting that many rape cases involve victims who couldn't give or revoke consent because they were too drunk, and research has shown heavy drinking, particularly among college students, has increased in recent years, he said. Voices of Hope sexual assault advocates now work at both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Wesleyan University, Martin said, noting that going to the organization for help does not mean a victim must file a police report. "A lot of time its dealing with their own trauma," Martin said. She acknowledged that seeing high-profile cases that don't end in charges can discourage victims from reporting, but said the way society approaches the problem continues to improve. "I think Lincoln is a community that is doing as good or better as any place, she said. The artist remembers when the doctor told him he had to quit drinking. He was in a psych hospital, and theyd given him a prescription for hope: antipsychotic medication to still the voices and tame the thoughts. The pills will work, the doctor told Bob Donlan. But you cant drink for a year. Donlan was silent. In my mind, I said, 'That is impossible.' That frightened me more than the mental illness. And it was impossible in the beginning. It took three attempts in four years, sidetracked by depression and denial. But he did it. Hes been clean for 19 years. Donlan recites the date: November 5, 1996. The man with the masters degree in fine art, the man who moved to Chicago after college and had his first psychotic break had stopped trying to do it alone, stopped trying to wrestle away the truth. He found a recovery program. He took his medication. And he had his art. When I had a jones to drink or use, I would pick up a pencil or a paintbrush, he says. It took years to purge some of that dark energy out. Donlan is 51. A thoughtful teddy bear of a man who lives with his wife in Omaha and still paints himself out of painful places. This winter, his art is on display in downtown Lincoln, 31 pieces, most of them filled with color and images of strong women. Most of them painted in a flurry after a phone call from a friend. The call came from Dean Settle, who owns the Metro Gallery and wanted to know if Donlan would lend his talent to a fundraiser for St. Monicas, a place where women with addiction go to get clean and get their lives back. I loved the idea, Donlan says. I know (addiction) can be one of the hardest groups to raise money for. When the call came, hed been painting himself out of another black hole. In late August, hed gone to the hospital with stomach pain. Two emergency surgeries followed, the first nearly killing him. Five days later, he was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. You know cancer is the scariest word on the planet, so I got thrown into fear, he says. I was in the hospital for three weeks and when I got home, I was weak and in pain. The only thing I could hold was a pencil. Surgeons sliced open his gut, making an incision nearly 10 inches long, an open wound still healing. Donlan drew morbid pictures, the pencil moving without thought to create figures staring into the abyss, dark circles and splayed bellies, he says, like death was laughing at him. I drew tons of these images and in the process of doing that I was able to expel some of the fear. But it lingered as he started the next phase of his treatment, an intense regimen of chemotherapy. People in chemotherapy kind of shut down their lives, but the show was instrumental in keeping me going. Too weak to stand, he sat to compose his work for the show. Out came multimedia images of reclining women. Paintings of his two daughters. Strong female forms embellished with swaths of patterned wallpaper and brocade cords. I found color. Bronzes and oranges and purple, and I found life. It kind of surprises me. It didnt surprise Settle. The art collector who had a career helping people with mental illness and developmental disabilities had long admired Donlans work. He had some of his paintings for sale in his own gallery when the opportunity to help St. Monicas presented itself. This is probably one of his best big shows," Settle says of Donlan's contribution to the cause. "There is so much emotion that he packs into his work, I can feel it when Im in that room. Proceeds from the sale of the 31 pieces will be split between the artist -- to help with his medical and living expenses -- and St. Monicas. On the third floor of the Nonprofit Hub on 14th Street, a poster board introduces viewers to the show via a collage of art by women in recovery at St. Monicas. Women struggling with addiction, struggling with mental illness. And on the walls of the next room, Donlans paintings spill off their canvases onto their frames, like life escaping its boundaries. That was intentional, says the artist with more than 19 years of recovery. I like the idea of painting the frame because I think people can live beyond what they think they can do. The pages have long since yellowed on first editions of Nebraska Reports that date back to 1871, when the state was in its toddler years and the Nebraska Supreme Court had newly formed. The pages of that first hard-bound record of high-court decisions held answers to legal questions in Mattis v. Robinson, The City of Brownville v. Middleton, The People v. Loughridge, Porter v. the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company -- and more. Some 145 years later, the cases could be all but forgotten to those not in the legal profession but for a project to go digital with all current Nebraska Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions. That led to the idea to create an online library of all the courts' cases and offer it free to the public. It went live this week at www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/public/supreme. Supreme Court Justice William Cassel, who worked on the project as part of the court's Electronic Publications Committee, said Thursday this is both an end and a beginning. It's a landmark change for the court, he said, and a tribute to Peggy Polacek. As the court's Reporter of Decisions, Polacek's name was on the spine of the last hard-bound book, and now she's the first reporter of the electronic age, he said. Polacek said she loves the books, so it's bittersweet. But when she thinks of how the change will make opinions more accessible to the public "it's really exciting." "It's a new era for us," Polacek said. Before, people had to go to law libraries or legal research companies like Westlaw and pay a fee to get the decisions. Now, public libraries that didn't typically carry the Nebraska Reports will have access through the website, and people can search them for genealogy purposes or famous historical cases like that of mass killer Charlie Starkweather. Cassel said the decision to go digital was grounded in financial hard times. But people had been voting with their pocketbooks for years, with fewer buying the hard-bound books in the age of the Internet and in the face of rising publishing costs. It also was an acknowledgment that the publishing world has changed. The Internet is the Gutenberg press of the 21st century, Cassel said, sitting at his desk with an iPad in front of him. "We have embraced the new technology." So far, only a few other states have gone to releasing state Supreme Court opinions online, Cassel said. And Nebraska is the only so far to replicate the appearance of a book. But it was more complicated than just scanning in old books, which was farmed out over the summer to a firm that works with historical documents. When it came to hard-bound printed volumes, Cassel said, there were thousands of back-ups in the form of books. Going forward, the decisions of the state's appellate courts will be online only, which required the committee to consider digital back-ups of back-ups. Not only did the members have to consider things like format changes and how people will access the official records 50 years from now, but also the more immediate need of warding off hackers who may try to manipulate them. Cassel said it may not be the first place lawyers will go to do legal research, but it will be a place both lawyers and the public can go to get true and correct copies of the official record, particularly going forward. "And it will stand the test of time," he said. CHICAGO -- The night before a recent screening of the new Fox animated TV series "Bordertown," nationally syndicated political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz and I bellied up to the rail at a Detroit bar and our eyes instantly fell on the same thing: The band that night was the Skeeto Valdez Experience. This is what it's like being different -- you go someplace new and your eyes naturally gravitate toward what looks most familiar. And it's exhilarating and delightful to see something that's a little part of you in a place that's clearly designed for the masses. This is exactly the feeling that I, and an auditorium of Wayne State University undergrads, experienced during the viewing of "Bordertown," which premieres Jan. 3 following "Family Guy." After watching two episodes, our reactions were unanimous: We loved it. Full of quick-hit sight gags, knowing asides and the ridiculous, "Bordertown" is un-self-consciously funny -- and not tone-deaf and offensive as some feared when the project was first announced. Many Hispanics were worried when the network said that a new comedy based on the usually-not-hilarious struggles of border communities was being created and produced by Mark Hentemann and Seth MacFarlane, respectively. The duo are behind the very politically incorrect and sometimes downright offensive series "Family Guy" (full disclosure: I adore "Family Guy"). But the show quickly added on two of the brightest lights in comedy based on the Latino experience -- Alcaraz and Gustavo Arellano of "Ask a Mexican!" fame -- and Valentina L. Garza as a supervising producer, upping the probability that it would actually be funny and enjoyable to both non-Hispanic audiences and Latinos. "Bordertown" is about the Buckwalds and the Gonzalezes. Bud Buckwald, voiced by Hank Azaria from "The Simpsons," is a married father of three and a Border Patrol agent who's feeling slightly threatened by the, ahem, demographic changes in his neighborhood. His neighbor -- and ultimately, his friend -- Ernesto Gonzalez is hardworking and industrious. He's been in the country less than 10 years, but he and his family are already living the American Dream, and doing better than the Buckwalds. After watching just two episodes, I had several pages of notes about things that stuck out as being thoughtful, super-subtle (and therefore all the more priceless to those who "got" the joke) and just plain crazy and funny. My favorite moment was a scene -- after which a giant border wall with Mexico had been constructed and subsequently sidestepped -- in which Ernesto Gonzalez was railing against undocumented newcomers moving in and taking their landscaping jobs. All of a sudden, there's a "ding" and he says, "Hey, I just became a true American!" What I found most wonderful about the backstory to this bit is that Alcaraz isn't completely sure who wrote it. He explained that every writer on the show was on equal footing -- there wasn't an expectation that the Hispanics would write the Hispanic jokes and the other writers would do the rest; it was a true collaboration. That standard was, Alcaraz told the audience, set by lead writer Hentemann, who wanted a show that wouldn't pull any punches but, above all, would be authentic and hilarious. Success on both counts. "The reaction has been very, very positive," said Alcaraz, who spoke to me last week at the tail end of a whirlwind promotional tour across the country. "And my favorite reaction is when people say 'This is not what you expect it is.' After they see it, all the negative expectations go out the window. It's edgy and has that 'I can't believe they let them put that joke on TV' feel. "I still can't believe they let us put political satire that addresses immigration on TV. To me, it's revolutionary because cartoons can help to show so much reality, can show things more truthfully, as they are, and it feels good to have that as part of a show that also has bathroom humor. There's something for everyone in this show." It's true -- based on what I've seen, this is definitely not a "Latino show" or, worse, a bummer "immigration issue" show. It's really about friendship, the melding of cultures, our own insecurities and gaffes, and, of course, equal opportunity insults. Don't miss it. Law enforcement officials in Grand Island set an example that might be worth following in other communities across the state. The Grand Island Police Department and the Hall County Sheriffs Office designated a portion of their parking lot as a Transaction Safe Zone to reduce the opportunity for crime when people try to complete transactions they have arranged online through Craigslist and other websites. Across the country scams, robberies and even killings have been tied to contacts made through online marketplaces. One of most horrific crimes occurred earlier this year in Longmont, Colorado, when a pregnant woman went to buy baby clothes advertised on Craigslist. Police said the woman she met stabbed her and cut the baby from her womb. The attacker faces a charge of attempted murder. Grand Island police officials are also encouraging people to use the zone if they are worried about violence breaking out when fathers and mothers exchange childen to comply with visitation arrangements. Law enforcement officials say that nationally about three million children a year witness violence with long-lasting repercussions. Creation of the safe exchange zones is a national trend that is accelerating rapidly. The Wall Street Journal said in June that at least 70 departments had created the zones. An Internet search shows that scores have been created since then all across the country. Police departments usually dont invest much in creating the zones. Typically they are located in lobbies or in parking lots. To address liability concerns, many departments post rules making clear that no officers will be present or help in the transactions. For example, the North Kansas City Police Department says, Members of the police department will not assist in the facilitation of the transaction, which would include obtaining identification from the buyer or seller, checking serial numbers on items involved in the transaction, or negotiating types of payment. The sale or purchase of firearms will not be permitted in the police station lobby. The police department assumes no liability regarding the quality or authenticity of the items involved in the transaction. However, the exchange zones are under electronic surveillance and officers are nearby if trouble breaks out. Police Departments where exchange zones have been established say they are used regularly. Officers quoted in news accounts say they think the zones have helped reduce crime because only legitimate buyers and sellers are willing to use them. If the Transaction Safe Zone proves useful in Grand Island, it might work in other locations in Nebraska. Fifty years ago, Nebraska voters set the stage for enormous change that they did not see coming when they chose a small-town Republican banker as the state's new governor. The events that would fundamentally change the state occurred in 1967, but the transformation was set in motion at the November general election in 1966. Most Nebraskans can't name Norbert Tiemann today or tell you who he is or what he did. But historians can. Tiemann, who was elected to the state's first four-year gubernatorial term, is celebrated by neither political party today, and there is scant recognition of him at the state Capitol. But his election 50 years ago began to paint the landscape of modern-day Nebraska, and, as a political consequence, opened the door for a Lincoln Democrat named Jim Exon who subsequently won two terms as governor and then moved on to an 18-year stint in the U.S. Senate, writing some history of his own. Scholars have cited Tiemann as the most significant or consequential governor in Nebraska's modern era. "(He provided) gubernatorial leadership that was unprecedented in its activist or dynamic qualities," Nebraska historian Frederick Luebke has written. OK, here's some of the big hits on the scoreboard: * Creation of a state sales-income tax system; * Creation of state aid to local schools; * Creation of the University of Nebraska at Omaha; * Creation of the state Department of Economic Development; * Collective bargaining for state employees. The first two achievements shaped Nebraska's future, particularly the sales-income tax system that provided a substantial and steady revenue stream that was reasonably fair in terms of its balance and impact. The new tax system "had the effect of removing glaring inequities and redistributing the tax burden among all areas and classes of the state," Luebke has written. The state income tax was the largest bone of contention; it represented a huge change for Nebraska, and it was politically toxic. Most of the conservative Republican base in Nebraska, along with some influential corporate voices and the Omaha World-Herald, strenuously argued for a sales tax only. Nine of the 11 senators who ultimately voted against the sales-income tax bill hailed from Omaha. One of them, Clifton Batchelder, would challenge and wound Tiemann in the 1970 Republican primary race, setting him up for Exon to move in for the kill and defeat him in the general election. Tiemann and the Legislature were under the gun to create a new tax system to support state government after voters in the 1966 election repealed the state property tax system, essentially leaving state government with no real means of support while reserving property taxes for local government. A sales tax only, despite its essentially regressive nature, not only had the political appeal of avoiding a state income tax, but it also was attractive to conservative elements because it would sharply limit the state's revenue stream and thereby apply reins to state government. State aid to schools would have been virtually impossible to achieve along with other actions like transforming the financially troubled Municipal University of Omaha into UNO. "If it had just been a sales tax, it would have been unfair to lower-income people," Tiemann observed in an interview in 2009. In his 1990 assessment of the Tiemann years, Luebke wrote that Tiemann was "willing to take risks more daring than those of any of his predecessors (and) he paid the price of dynamic leadership." "I knew that meant there probably was no way I could get re-elected," Tiemann said in 2009. But, he said, "I wouldn't do anything differently today." Tiemann died at his home in Dallas in 2012 at the age of 87. His general election opponent in 1966 was Democratic Lt. Gov. Phil Sorensen, younger brother of Ted Sorensen, who was President John F. Kennedy's chief White House aide and presidential speechwriter. Sorensen no doubt also would have pushed hard for a sales-income tax combination if he had been elected. One of the ironies is that Sorensen might not have been able to achieve what Tiemann did because he was a Democrat without the same political leverage a Republican had. Fifty years later, the state continues to balance its tax system. A new legislative session convenes Wednesday, and both Gov. Pete Ricketts and state senators will propose and consider local property tax and state income tax changes, adjustments or credits. Former Republican Gov. Dave Heineman took a brief stab at repealing the income tax in 2013 but soon discovered that it appears to be securely locked in place. RACINE When Melvin and Fluvia Nelson opened their store in 1940 in West Racine, the concept was: the store known to have everything. It still is. Three-fourths of a century and two generations of Nelsons later, the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach is still Nelsons Variety Stores claim to fame. We sell anything from aspirin to zippers, says owner-operator Jeff Nelson, grandson of the founders. In November, Nelsons reached the 75-year mark in selling its extensive collection of everyday and hard-to-find merchandise. The founders, who were living two blocks away at the time, opened their first store at 3208 Washington Ave., Nelson said. In 1956, they bought a building on the other side of the block and moved the store to its current site, 3223 Washington Ave., Nelson said. And in 1978 Melvin and Joan Nelson, Jeffs parents, built and opened their north-side store at 4636 Douglas Ave. Both stores carry similar selections of merchandise. But the West Racine store has that old-time ambience with shopping baskets the Nelsons bought in about the 1940s and those creaky, tongue-and-groove wooden floors. Walking inside feels like stepping into the middle of the 20th century. The merchandise itself contributes to the old-timey atmosphere. We carry harder-to-find, nostalgia items, Nelson said. Older toys and hairnets are examples. And just about any yarn color or type you can imagine. Also old-time candies. That long list includes bubblegum cigars, wax lips or fangs, Turkish Taffy, Candy Buttons (which one pulls off a long sheet of paper to eat), Bun bars, Slo Pokes, Sugar Babies, Nestles Chunky, and many, many more. The grandkids know them now, Nelson said. One woman customer comes in regularly for several boxes of candy cigarettes. I dont know if shes trying to kick cigarettes, he said. Tens of thousands of items Nelson, who joined the family business in 1978 after graduating from Ripon College with a double major in history and political science, was asked how many different items his stores carry. Oh, I have no idea, he said at first. Then he guessed perhaps 30,000 to 40,000. He gets them from 40 to 50 or more distributors. For the Green Bay Packers alone, I probably have 10 different companies, he said. Im always looking for new stuff. His store carries school supplies and Mardi Gras merchandise year-round. It does a good business in miniatures which Nelson said are most often used by students building dioramas for school. The toy aisle is another trip down memory lane. Three children browsing there last week continually picked up things to look at that it appeared they may not have seen before such as the Groan Tubes that make a funny sound when moved. The toy section also carries about 60 different humor wigs, Nelson said, such as the blond mullet and the billionaire wig that looks suspiciously like Donald Trumps hair. Unfortunately, there wont be a fourth generation of Nelsons to run the store, Jeff said: His two daughters each have different careers. He figures hes perhaps five to eight years from trying to sell the business and retiring. In the meantime, if you need a 69-cent rubber duck, Nelson knows where you can find about 75 different kinds to pick from. 1. a secure room to hold valuable ideas 2. to leap or spring into new ideas Withering on the Vine The Demographic Time Bomb is Most Marked in Japan The demographic time bomb whereby the elderly population assumes a greater and ... Government Sexual Libertinism Coming to a Government School Near You Further to our piece yesterday on the promotion of sexual libertinism in government schools, we rep... Some Random Observations The Aftermath of Mass Pre-Mediated Murder A few observations on the murder of 14 people in San Bernadino and the wounding of many more see... Letter From the UK (About State Tyranny) Ta-ta UK freedoms! Miranda matter outs vindictiveness of wounded police state Annie Machon is a former intelligence of... The Big One The Panoptican State Is Actually Operational Yesterday the "big one" dropped. The Guardian reported that the US and UK spy age... Fraud Central German Professor: NASA Has Fiddled Climate Data On Unbelievable Scale by James Delingpole BreitbartLondon A German professor ha... Statist Groupthink More and More Fashionable The Rise of Liberal Intolerance in America Edward Luce Financial Times I t ought to be a triumphal moment for American liberalism .... Vacuous Greenism Anti-Fracking Luddiocy Think of any technology that involves carbon based energy and its utilisation, and the lunatic fringe can be found ... "It is Finished": the Sixth Word from the Cross It is Finished: our Lords Sixth Word from the Cross What is history? That simple question covers a multitude of complexity, profundity... Zoologist, media consultant, and science writer, Dr Karl Shuker is also one of the best known cryptozoologists in the world. He is the author of such seminal works as Mystery Cats of the World (1989), The Lost Ark: New and Rediscovered Animals of the 20th Century (1993; greatly expanded in 2012 as The Encyclopaedia of New and Rediscovered Animals), Dragons: A Natural History (1995), In Search of Prehistoric Survivors (1995), The Unexplained (1996), From Flying Toads To Snakes With Wings (1997), Mysteries of Planet Earth (1999), The Hidden Powers of Animals (2001), The Beasts That Hide From Man (2003), Extraordinary Animals Revisited (2007), Dr Shuker's Casebook (2008), Karl Shuker's Alien Zoo: From the Pages of Fortean Times (2010), Cats of Magic, Mythology, and Mystery (2012), Mirabilis: A Carnival of Cryptozoology and Unnatural History (2013), Dragons in Zoology, Cryptozoology, and Culture (2013), The Menagerie of Marvels (2014), A Manif estation of Monsters (2015), Here's Nessie! (2016), and what is widely considered to be his cryptozoological magnum opus, Still In Search Of Prehistoric Survivors (2016) - plus, very excitingly, his first two long-awaited, much-requested ShukerNature blog books (2019, 2020). Dr Karl Shuker's Official Website - http://www.karlshuker.com/index.htm 2015: A difficult year to watch from afar In a year in which Nepal made numerous headlines across the world, they have not always been easy to digest In a technology-driven banking world, new Security First Bank Regional Branch President Verdella Vetrovsky says one thing hasnt changed: Face-to-face contact and quality service from bank staff to customers is a top priority. The great thing about a small town U.S.A. bank is that youre not a number, you are a person, Vetrovsky said. We know our customers and can answer their questions. We are a one-stop shop in that we can provide all banking services that anyone would ever need. We offer a full variety of services from deposits and lending to online banking...You name it, we offer it. Vetrovsky said her goal for the bank in 2016 is to have the best year yet in continuing hands-on, quality and wide-ranging services and one-on-one banking. If we can go above and beyond, thats all that anybody can ask for, Vetrovsky said. Vetrovsky started her current position on Dec. 21 after her previous position as retail services manager and wearing lots of different hats before that. She started with the bank when it was First National Bank in 1971. The bank merged into Security First Bank in 2008. Vetrovsky is president of all Security First branches in Beatrice, Blue Springs, Cortland and Clatonia. Security First branches are located throughout Nebraska and in Rapid City, South Dakota. I remember hand-filing all checks and hand-checking all the dates, Vetrovsky said. I remember thinking, This is a lot of work. Its very detailed. Now, everything is processed by image online. Vetrovsky said canisters of checks used to travel back and forth from Beatrice to the processing center in Lincoln. A big concern today that people didnt worry about in 1971 is fraudulent acts and scams, she said. Our fraud department does a great job of notifying customers if anything fishy going on in their accounts, Vetrovsky said. We do protect our customers. Customers are always protected. Vetrovsky is a Beatrice native and calls herself a strong believer in and supporter of Beatrice and the Gage County area. She said the same is reflected through the local Security First branches that provide donations, sponsorships and public relations for worthy, local causes. Vetrovsky praised her staff for always doing a great job. She oversees about 35 staff members. Downtown branch supervisor Sheri Holsing, who has worked for the bank for 18 years, said she was not surprised to hear of Vetrovskys recent promotion. Shes been doing a lot of this already, Holsing said of Vetrovskys duties. Shes very knowledgeable about what shes doing. Shes very fair and does a great job. Holsing said Vetrovsky does a lot for the community and is involved in a lot of community programs, organizations and clubs. Im very proud to work with her and for her and beside her, Holsing said. Security First branches in Beatrice are located downtown, on North Sixth Street, at 19th and Court, and at Villa Apartments. Agreement reached to end syndicate in Dang Rapti Zone Public Bus Transport Entrepreneurs Committee has finally agreed to end syndicate system in transport system, paving the way for new entrepreneurs to enter the business. Flood victims left in lurch The families of Tepari village in Banke district, who were displaced by Rapti river flood on August 14, 2014, have still not received the compensation announced by the local administration. Islamic State attacks Iraqi army base near Ramadi Fighters from so-called Islamic State (IS) have launched an attack on an Iraqi army base near Ramadi, just days after the city was recaptured by government troops. KMC bringing in more public buses for Valley Metropolis plans to import around 25 electric buses, which will be operated by Sajha Yatayat, in first phase Manmohan Institute Bill: MPs call for making hospital state entity, seek to change the name Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties have registered amendments to Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences Bill-2015, demanding that Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences property be brought under government ownership and students be provided education for free. No cold-related deaths in quake-hit Dolakha' The District Health Office, Dolakha has claimed that no earthquake-displaced person has died of cold in the district so far. The Chepang people of Chitwan and their conversion to Christianity Ostracised by elites and fed up by the governments inaction, this impoverished community perhaps found themselves easily influenced by Christs stories relayed by people who brought them food and clothes 1. Yes. Its important to cast my votes early and avoid the lines on Election Day. 2. Yes. With nearly two weeks of early voting, its a more convenient way to take part. 3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, in case any last-minute information surfaces. 4. No. Im not planning to vote early or on Election Day. It isnt worth my time. 5. Unsure. It depends on how the campaigns are shaping up. Ill play it by ear. Vote View Results By most personal and professional metrics, 2015 was one for the books. On the figurative side, since late May co-author/daughter Mary Grace Foxwell and I have talked, read, and signed our way through nearly 70 events highlighting our book, The Land of Milk and Uncle Honey, from Bismarck, N.D., to New York City. And, literally, across the tens of thousands of miles we traveled and the thousands of readers who gathered to listen, chat, and ask questions about farming and food, only one mildly disparaging remarkaimed more at me than the bookwas heard. Not so with this weekly effort. Letters, telephone calls, and emails from Maryland to Montana arrived daily to comment and question, debate and deflate. Twice a year these writers get their due, like Clarence from Illinois who began a September email to me with, You disappointed me, Alan. Clarences disappointment arose when, in noting the rise of corn and soybeans production his native North Dakota, I had assume(d) that wheat production there was seriously declining. In fact, Hard red spring wheat was grown on 9 million acres in the state last year as its farmers continued to diligently seek increased diversification! Clarence did close on a sweeter note, however: Dont worry, I will continue to read your articles;and Im sure you will try to be accurate with your facts. Im sure. Another emailer was more direct: Regarding your July 10 article you are slipping. A 15-paragraph column without mentioning your beloved Uncle Honey? You should be ashamed. Ask your priest for a proper penance. Slipping or not, Im pretty sure we Lutherans remain priest-less. An August email from a Wisconsinite began with kudos on the book before offering a 1,000-word editorial on why I should limit any enthusiasm about consumers [who] vote with their dollars because decades in the animal feed business had shown him that when given an option, the consumer doesnt give a rip. That may be true of the fogey generationhis and mine. Younger generations, however, care deeply. Twenty years ago organic food was for hippies; today its a $40 billion market that will grow by 8 percent in 2016. Another emailer wrote to comment on two columns that examined the checkoffs $60 million purchase of the slogan Pork. The Other White Meat from the National Pork Producers Council, or NPPC. The checkoff, he recalled, began when a group of mostly hog farmers got together in Moline, IL, to see if something could be done about losing ground to the Tysons of the world with broilers. That was the embryo of the NPPC. All committed to participate in collecting a voluntary checkoff and, soon, money poured in like water over Hoover Dam. Shortly thereafter an administrator was hired, then an office building complete with a copper roof was built, and the checkoff, through Congressional action, became mandatory so even more money could be played with. The result? Per capita consumption of pork did not increase margins tightened to lead to consolidation China became the largest pork producer in the United States. The lesson, he concludes, is that if you want something screwed up, get the government involved. OK, but someone invited the camel, government, into the checkoff tent and that someone was the NPPC. The invitation eventually paid a dividenda fat, $60 million dividendthat NPPC then used to largely transform itself from a Midwestern hog grower group to a Capitol Hill political organization. For every criticism or complaint received since June, many others arrive with praise. Some, like a late November email from Tom in South Dakota, came with both. Though I often dont take the time to read your column because, quite frankly, our political views are pretty much opposite, your latest column touched my heart and left a tear of joy in my eye as I shared it with my wife Thanks for the gracious note, Tom. I hope to hear from youand many morein 2016. Beatrice area teens will come together on the dance floor for the 70th year of the Snowball dance on Sunday. The event started in 1945 as a private party planned and paid for by Beatrice teens and parents to teach the teens etiquette and the planning of big events. Today, the general concept of the dance remains the same, with the most notorious of many rule changes over the years being the addition of a breathalyzer at the entrance, used on every guest and hostess, and the note on invitations that guests are not required to take the date that was suggested to them by hostesses. Jackie Hovendick, whose mother helped begin Snowball, and Sue O'Neill attended the event in the 1950s. "It gives girls a chance to dress like princesses," O'Neill said. "Girls of all ages love to dress up. For a lot of them, the only other chance is their wedding." They said girls today pay to get pedicures, manicures and hairdos for the ball. "I did my own hair," O'Neill said. Hovendick said she got her first pedicure in late adulthood. "We peroxided our bangs blonde and hoped it didn't turn out orange or green," Hovendick said. The dancing has changed, too, they said. "In a lot of dances today, you don't hold your partner," Hovendick said. "The dances have changed terrifically, which is fine." The Snowball was simpler 70 years ago, they said, before different groups of hostesses voted on several changes in traditions over the years. "People got upset, thinking they were being discriminated against if they weren't invited," Hovendick said. "To me, that's wrong. It was just a private party...That's a part of life." Sticking with the original snowball tradition, hostesses (seven female students from each Beatrice High School sophomore junior and senior class) still sift through the BHS enrollment list of more than 400 to match guests as suggested dates. This is the most challenging part of the planning process, said five BHS senior hostesses. The teenage girls said they spent four hours in October pairing up the senior class. "We try the best we can," said BHS senior and Snowball hostess Chesney Schmidt. "We are not supposed to talk at school about the matches...Sophomore hostesses have the hardest time because they're new and don't know how everything works." BHS senior Cassidy Wrightsman called the pairing process overwhelming. "A lot of people get upset," Wrightsman said. "We don't require you to go with your date (that we paired you with). We encourage everyone to go whether your date does or not." Guests can RSVP to the hostesses with a different date. The Snowball gets a bad reputation by some, sometimes called the "Snobball" and other "not nice names," the hostesses said. "It gets discouraging," Wrightsman said. "We don't have to do it and spend our own money on it. I just hope everyone knows that we do it so they can have fun." Each hostess and her mother or father help plan the event and pay $150 toward the decorations, food, rent of classics, a DJ and invitations. The girls said Snowball is more fun and more formal than prom. Girls wear floor-length dresses to Snowball and short dresses to prom, they said. It's fun because it's not a school event with teachers present and more people attend, they said. "I think it's a good tradition because it's another opportunity for the student body to get together with friends and have some fun outside of school," Wrightsman said. The hostesses said they hope Snowball continues and continues to be fun. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 43F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. The nations capital is experiencing something of a thaw in polarization and partisanship. And the largest iceberg that that has broken free is the Every Student Succeeds Act, the most consequential education reform in the last 15 years. Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Republican chairman of the Senate Education Committee, called it a Christmas present to American children. President Barack Obama proclaimed it a Christmas miracle. The president of the American Federation of Teachers said the law marks a new day in public education. What does this mean for students? Lets start, as educators are wont to say, with a review. In 2001, No Child Left Behind, the last major federal education reform, mandated yearly testing in the basics of reading and math for children in third through eighth grade. Schools were required to show yearly progress for students of every background (including every racial background). If a school consistently failed, it was required to implement reforms and, in the worst cases, hire new teachers and reorganize. The law set the utopian goal that every child should be proficient in reading and math by 2014. The whole thing was a mess from the start. Failing schools didnt like to be labeled failures, which made administrators feel like they were, like, you know, failing or something. Many teachers didnt like the relentless emphasis on testing, which ate into their time for the unmeasurable joys of learning. Gov. Jerry Brown of California spoke for many when he recalled the formative prep school experience of an exam that consisted entirely of one question, asking students to give their impressions of a green leaf. That question, he said, has haunted me for 50 years. You cant put that on a standardized test, he explained. The Every Student Succeeds Act ends the backseat driving of the federal government in education policy. State and local officials will now be free to set academic goals and to determine if schools are meeting them. While the law still mandates consequences for the worst-performing schools, states will determine what those consequences actually are. Student testing will still take place, but it wont mean as much. This, according to Obama, will relieve undue stress for educators and students. California, for example, is so happy to be free from the tyranny of testing that it has suspended the California High School Exit Examination and ordered schools to retroactively reward diplomas to students who failed the test during the last decade. It has also suspended its Academic Performance Index, which allowed parents to see how the test scores achieved by their local school compares to other schools. In California, accountability will now be imposed according to multiple measures in eight priority areas, leaving parents entirely mystified about the actual performance of their local school. The Every Student Succeeds Act is a win-win-win for everyone who counts. Most Republicans are pleased that the federal role in enforcing educational standards has been effectively abolished. Many teachers are pleased to see lower stakes on standardized tests. States and localities are pleased that they can declare all their schools successful, or at least to make accountability a fuzzy, gentle, toothless friend. The problem? We actually have some experience in how education systems operate in the absence of accountability enforced from above. Before No Child Left Behind, only 29 states had real accountability systems; 11 states did not disaggregate by race at all; only 22 states reported graduation rates by high school. What will happen with the end of federal nagging? Well continue to see some high-flying states doing really creative, good things for students, concludes education researcher Chad Aldeman. But well see a lot more just kind of getting by and doing the bare minimum, particularly when local politics and inertia prevent state leaders from pursuing bold changes on behalf of disadvantaged students. This is the group that loses in the Every Student Succeeds Act disadvantaged students, particularly African-American students. Their betrayal by our educational system can now be more effectively hidden in the proliferation of priorities. We live in a nation in which gaps in academic achievement between black and white students are large, continuing and disturbing. This is a national scandal a systemic failure resulting in racial injustice. A retreat from educational accountability is the measure of our complacency. And what does it say that the one thing everyone in Washington can agree on effectively devalues the educational needs of black children? Its the second day of a new year, or, as I like to call it, New Years Resolution Day. Today is the day we take the resolutions we made to our friends two days ago and get started putting them into action. Everybody knows Jan. 1 doesnt count toward resolutions. Youre probably a bit hungover, youve got party leftovers to eat, everybody you know has the day off, so you cant possibly be expected to start on your resolutions right away. Our efforts start today. Tomorrow, on the other hand, is the day we officially start to backslide, before giving up entirely by this time next week. Its tradition, but not one I want to follow. Thats why this year Im resolving to give up on resolutions. I feel like theres a good chance of this one actually sticking, since it takes literally zero effort. I can respect the idea behind New Years resolutions. That clean 1/1 date is an enticing time to make a big change. But after watching us join together to vow to lose weight, be nicer to our fellow humans, visit the gym and whatever else, then completely fail to actually do those things, Im skeptical of the wisdom of signing up to collectively make a huge lifestyle change. Not that there arent things I need to change. It turns out Im not actually perfect and I could use some polish here and there. Id like to save some money this year, get outside a bit more and donate more time to helping other people out. The big year change seems like a great time to hang those changes on, but Im not sure thats actually true. As I grow older, I find that any time is as good as another for deciding to make a change. We can make resolutions any time, but what we really need is follow-throughs. That goes for our personal lives and the community as a whole. I dont know if Ive ever seen a year as universally hated as 2015. Conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats all seem to agree last year was just the worst. Whether the complaint is too much outrage, too much terrorism, too much fear-mongering or too much political correctness, no one seems to have a good thing to say about last year, with the exception of my editor, who put together our year-end roundup for Thursdays paper. Despite all the complaints and well wishes for the future, I didnt see a whole lot of plans that would actually improve 2016, except, ironically, Quit whining. This last year highlighted a lot of issues facing our community, especially when it comes to diversity and justice. As noted in the round-up earlier this week, George Millers tragic death last August led to the difficult beginnings of a community discussion about opportunity and race, about neighborhoods and crime. La Crosse residents came together at Powell Park to resolve to do something about inequality on a local level. The difference between this resolution and the traditional New Years ones is that this one has actually had some follow-up efforts. The Human Rights Commission met to discuss issues facing minority groups in La Crosse, again discussing ways to make an impact on economic inequality. The appearance of a Confederate flag on University of Wisconsin-La Crosse kept that discussion going, pointing out the divisions between how students of different backgrounds see a symbol that dates back to the days when some Americans owned other human beings. Everyone is calling for 2016 to magically improve our lives, somehow making us able to set aside our differences at the same time we set up our weight loss goals, but we cant just expect 2016 to be better without putting in some real effort, not just the same effort we put into our resolutions. Im not a big believer in resolutions, but if you must make a resolution, take a page from our community and follow through on it. MADISON It was a proposal that some lawmakers said caught them off-guard. In July, a last-minute grab-bag of changes to the state budget brought a bombshell: an attempt to curtail public access to records of how government officials in Wisconsin do their jobs. A bipartisan outcry led Gov. Scott Walker and GOP legislative leaders to kill the open records changes almost as swiftly as they were proposed. Six months later, the secretive process by which those changes were attempted remains unchanged in spite of one key lawmakers efforts to alter it. Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, says he wants to shed light on the workings of the Legislatures powerful budget-writing committee, which attempted to enact the open records changes. The Joint Finance Committee passed a budget motion that included those changes late at night on July 2, a few hours after the motion was made public. Kooyenga and at least one other lawmaker who voted for it, Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, since acknowledged that they didnt fully understand the measure when they voted on. Kooyenga, the Assembly vice chairman of the Joint Finance Committee, said hes considering proposals to keep that from happening again. One idea Kooyenga favors is to require budget motions that come before the committee to be made public for a minimum amount of time at least 24 hours before the committee votes on them. Kooyenga also told the Wisconsin State Journal hes mulling a proposal to permit lawmakers outside of the committee to sponsor budget motions a step that could help link budget proposals to the lawmakers behind them. Currently, only the 16 members of the Joint Finance Committee may sponsor budget motions, though many more lawmakers are involved in the process behind the scenes. In July, immediately following the open records flap, Kooyenga publicly floated the first of these proposals. Speaking in December, he said it failed to gain traction among fellow lawmakers particularly in the Senate, where Kooyenga said no lawmakers have been willing to cosponsor it. We are running out of time for the changes to be considered during the current Legislature, Kooyenga said. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald didnt respond to requests for comment on the proposals. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, asked if there would be changes made in 2016 to the process of crafting budget wrap-up motions, indicated its not likely. Why would there be? Vos said. Vessel for last-minute mischief The open records changes were tucked into a particularly contentious type of budget motion known inside the Capitol as a wrap-up, or 999, motion. The committee constructs the state budget by approving a series of budget motions, then forwarding them, as a package, to the full Legislature for final consideration. The wrap-up motion typically marks the close of the Joint Finance Committees work on the biennial budget. They can be a vehicle for technical corrections to the nearly 700-page budget before it passes the committee and goes before the full Assembly and Senate. But to Kooyenga, such motions also have become a vessel for last-minute mischief for changes expected to be controversial or unpopular. Its been going on for years, both parties. It has to stop, Kooyenga said. State law requires government bodies, including the Legislature and its committees, to give public notice at least 24 hours before they meet. Still, it gives lawmakers broad leeway to make their own rules for public notice of their meetings and of proposals taken up at them. The Joint Finance Committee has made a practice of providing at least 24 hours notice of its meetings. But the substance of what is taken up in those meetings sometimes is not unveiled until theyre underway especially in the case of the wrap-up motions. The wrap-up motion to the state budget that included the open records changes was made public the evening of July 2, as most Wisconsinites looked ahead to the July 4 weekend. Hours later, the Joint Finance Committee passed it in a party-line vote. The state Senate reversed course five days later, pulling the open records changes from the budget. A Gannett Wisconsin Media analysis found the use of budget wrap-up motions has swelled in recent years, as they have become lengthier and included many more provisions. But Rep. John Nygren, the co-chairman of the Joint Finance Committee, disputes the notion that the panel is operating in greater secrecy. In years past, Nygren said the committee would vote on similar motions, also hundreds of pages long, with scant review by lawmakers or public notice. From a transparency standpoint, were probably further along and going to go further along - than weve been before, Nygren, R-Marinette, told the State Journal. Questions about how it would work Nygren said he generally favors bringing greater transparency to the committee. One example, he said, is that he has talked to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the nonpartisan service agency that supplies information and analysis on the budget, about publishing more budget documents electronically instead of on paper. But Nygren said said hes not sure if extending the 24-hour notice requirement to budget motions would be effective, noting current iterations of this requirement in other committees are not ironclad. Some legislative committees have informal 24-hour notice requirements for the contents of bill amendments that come before their committees. But lawmakers can easily waive such informal requirements. You hate to make that a policy that you end up breaking, Nygren said. In practicality, I would have questions about how it would work. Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, one of four Democratic members of the Joint Finance Committee, agrees that a 24-hour notice requirement for budget motions would be difficult to implement. But Erpenbach said he favors creating a public link between non-members of the Joint Finance Committee and budget language they request. Part of the controversy surrounding the open records flap centered on which lawmakers sought the changes, since the sprawling wrap-up motion in which they were included had a blanket sponsorship as such motions typically do by the co-chairpersons of the Joint Finance Commitee, Nygren and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. Darling couldnt be reached for comment for this article. Weeks after the dust-up, a State Journal report based on public documents showed that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos requested the changes. Walkers office also was involved, though he later called the changes a huge mistake. Todd Berry, president of Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, a nonpartisan government research group, has observed the state budget for more than two decades. In past years, Berry said both parties have exploited the lack of transparency in the budget committee and in particular, surrounding the budget wrap-up motion. The process is especially ripe for abuse when a single party controls state government, he said. Yet the process remains unchanged, Berry said, because legislative leaders have incentive to maintain the status quo. Keeping budget motions, especially wrap-up motions, secret until the last minute allows them to be used as a safety net for lawmakers in the majority especially for changes that lawmakers would rather keep under wraps. Its been going on for years, both parties. It has to stop. Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield BURLINGTON, Wis. (AP) This years winner in a Wisconsin liars club contest has won for a fib thats half true. Gene OBrien of Rural a small, unincorporated village near Waupaca took first place in the Burlington Liars Clubs World Champion Lie Contest. OBriens winning submission was: I grew up in a family with 16 children. I never got to sleep alone until I got married! The 72-year-old retired general contractor said on Thursday that he really did come from a family of 16 children with no twins. OBrien said hes been telling people his winning quip for years. He said his friend Daryl Lockwood, who won the lie contest in 2013, told him, Youve got to turn that in. Instead, Lockwood entered OBriens lie for him. OBrien said his wife, Jeanne, appreciates his standing joke. He said the couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November, so I can get away with just about anything. Runner-up Neil Everts of New London submitted this whopper: It has been so dry here that the river is only running every other day. Jill Rozell of Burlington took third place with this entry: According to research presented at the 2015 World Climate summit, a major climate shift occurred as the result of hot flashes experienced when the baby boomers reached menopause. The club has been holding the annual contest since 1929. There is no entry fee, and the club says on its website that the contest is open to anyone except politicians, as we consider them professionals. To help accommodate all the Hmong who resettled in La Crosse in the late 20th century, members of Christ Episcopal Church created the Friendship Program (1988-1998). One of those members, Betty Weeth (1922-2004), was the owner of this White Hmong pleated skirt. Miss Betty, as she was better known to community members, advocated education, sponsorship and naturalization, and higher quality medical care and living conditions for Hmong refugees. She was trusted by the Hmong community because she was there for them in times of need. She found sponsors for families trying to get to the United States. When landlords took advantage of Hmong tenants who were unaccustomed to Wisconsin winters, Miss Betty helped them heat their homes. She not only worked face-to-face with Hmong families, but also collaborated with Hmong community leaders and local government officials to create better relations between the two. Some La Crosse community members were resentful toward the Hmong for receiving tax money for health and education programming. But Miss Betty believed everyone had the right to receive an education, and this helped fuel her work with the Hmong. Due to Betty Weeths fortunate upbringing, she had opportunities in life, such as a college education paid for by a wealthy benefactor. This experience led her to believe that opportunities were not to be squandered. In her work with the Hmong, Miss Betty encouraged children and parents to go to school to attain jobs in medical fields where applicants who could speak both Hmong and English were needed. The work Miss Betty did to help the Hmong showed them that she and other La Crosse citizens were committed to helping them in their adjustment. Through her hard work, she gained respect from Hmong community members and many gifts of traditional Hmong clothing. Competing measures differ on investor regulations RALEIGH After a measure introduced in last year's legislative session allowing more investors to get in at the early stages of startup companies failed to become law, competing bills have been filed in the current session encouraging entrepreneurs to seek capital through options resembling kickstarter.com, gofundme.com, and other "crowdfunding" mechanisms.The idea is to enable North Carolina entrepreneurs to raise capital from smaller North Carolina investors to start or expand their businesses without becoming entangled by many of the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations that larger corporations and professional investors must confront. Federal law allows for such exemptions from SEC regulations by small investors financing new companies.But the competing measures take much different approaches to the level of regulation investors would face.said Rep. Chris Millis, R-Pender, whose House Bill 63 takes an expansive approach to crowdfunding.In contrast, a separate measure filed by Reps. Brian Brown, R-Pitt, and Rob Bryan, R-Mecklenburg ( House Bill 14 ) and a companion Senate bill introduced by Sen. Rick Gunn, R-Alamance ( Senate Bill 35 ) would place tighter limits on potential investors.Brown said his bill is similar to the "JOBS Act," a crowdfunding bill filed during the last session that passed the House but did not get through the Senate. Brown said that his bill and Millis' bill were filed to begin the dialogue on how to create "the strongest and most transformative" intrastate crowdfunding legislation.Brown's bill would place a $2,000 limit per company on nonaccredited investors participating in the state's crowdfunding programing. A nonaccredited investor, as Millis puts it, is a "new guy off the block" who wants to make a return on his investment. The measure also would limit the amount of capital a company could raise through crowdfunding to $1 million if the investments were made using unregistered securities that were not subjected to audits and $2 million if the investments were audited.Millis' bill would up the nonaccredited investor's limit per company to $5,000, place no limit on the number of companies a non-accredited investor could support, and set no limits on the amount of capital companies could raise through crowdfunding.Accredited investors would have no limits in the amount of investment per company or number of companies, Millis said.Instead of being regulated through the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, the state crowdfunding program in Millis' measure would be regulated through the N.C. Securities Commission of the N.C. Secretary of State.Both H.B. 14 and S.B. 35 are 16 pages long, spelling out a number of regulations and disclosures required by companies raising capital through the state crowdfunding program. The measures also include several unrelated economic development incentives, which may be one reason last year's JOBS Act stalled at session's end.In contrast, Millis' bill is only three pages long. Millis said the longer bill was inspired by laws in several other states. He said there are flaws in the approach primarily that the regulations are too burdensome and discourage people from using the new crowdfunding strategies.Millis said.Millis said that his bill would allow both existing businesses and startups to use the new crowdfunding method.Millis said.Investors would be notified of the process for investment, Millis said. They'd be given a disclosure brochure similar to the way Realtors provide brochures to people buying a home.Brown said he and Millis are working, along with U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., on the federal level, to craft the compromise bill.Brown said they wanted to counter bad actors that will inevitably pop up.Brown said. He said he wants the final bill to have clear expectations and reporting information that will be given to the business investor.In an analysis of the Millis and Bryan bills provided to Carolina Journal, Raleigh businessman and investor Tom Vass says the Millis version would do much more to aid small, growing companies.For starters, Vass said the Millis provision placing oversight in the hands of a state agency would clarify some of the potential legal and regulatory burdens businesses would face if they were required to scrutinize individual investors.In addition, Vass said the Bryan bill, by limiting the amount of money companies could raise through crowdfunding, serves "no constitutional public purpose" and contains numerous restraints on trade.Brown said.Brown said of the separate approaches.Commerce Secretary John Skvarla isn't ready to comment on the two bills, spokeswoman Kim Genardo said, but Man dies after snowmobile goes through ice TOWN OF NEWBOLD, Wis. Authorities in northern Wisconsin say a 58-year-old Rhinelander man is dead after his snowmobile went through the ice. The Oneida County Dispatch got a 911 call late Friday morning that a snowmobile had gone through the ice in shallow water on the shore of Lake Mildred in the township of Newbold. The operator was found near the snowmobile. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victim is identified as Russell A. Johnson. Man arrested after shot fired in strip club WEST ALLIS, Wis. A Milwaukee man is under arrest after police responded to a gun being fired inside a West Allis strip club early on New Years Day. Police were called around 3:45 a.m. Friday to Heartbreakers Gentlemens Club. A preliminary investigation indicates a patron inside the club fired at least one gunshot. The 33-year-old suspect was disarmed by club employees and eventually arrested by West Allis police officers. Police say the man apparently was hurt while being detained by club employees. No one else was hurt, and police say apparently no one was hit by gunfire. Mayor apologizes for calling Obama a Muslim SUPERIOR, Wis. The mayor of a northern Wisconsin city is apologizing for his Facebook comments calling President Barack Obama a Muslim. A letter from Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen appears in the Superior Telegram on Friday. In his letter, Hagen says his calling Obama a Muslim was a poor choice of words in a moment of anger. WDIO-TV reports Hagen also apologized to the Muslim community for being insensitive. But the mayor continues to stand by his dislike of Obamas policies. Hagen drew protests and calls for his resignation after he posted on Facebook that Obama is a Muslim who has destroyed the fabric of democracy. Father, daughter dead in murder-suicide CUDAHY, Wis. Cudahy police say a 27-year-old man shot and killed his 2-year-old daughter before killing himself early on New Years Day. Police were called around 1:40 a.m. Friday by a woman asking for medical assistance. When officers arrived they found the man and his daughter suffering from gunshot wounds. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the man died at the scene. The girl later died at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin. Names of the father and daughter have not been released. New Years fire destroys bowling alley, diner PRESTON, Minn. A New Years Day fire has destroyed a popular bowling alley and diner in the southeastern Minnesota town of Preston. Co-owner Shelly Hanson reported a fire in the kitchen of B&B Olympic Bowl and Restaurant as she prepared the restaurant for opening Friday morning. She was able to get out without being hurt. Assistant Preston Fire Chief Josh Ristau tells the Post-Bulletin the building is a total loss. Ristau says the fire spread to an open attic area, causing it to escalate quickly. Paul and Shelly Hanson have owned the bowling alley and restaurant since 1990. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Man dies in logging accident COOK, Minn. A logging accident has killed a 52-year-old man in northern Minnesota. The St. Louis County sheriffs office says Scott Thomas of Cook was logging in a section of woods about seven miles west of Cook when a large tree he had been cutting with a chain saw fell on top of him. The accident was reported about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Thomas died at the scene. Friday, January 1, 2016 When putting together an estate plan with clearly defined objectives there are certain common mistakes that should be avoided. It is important to focus on how that assets that a person leaves will impact the recipients. People should plan ahead for the possibility of any disability because not having a plan in place could lead to many problems. A will is important, but it is not the only estate planning document that people should have and is not a guaranteed way to avoid the probate process. This article discusses other estate planning documents that people will need to have besides a will. People should speak with an experienced estate planner to get personalized estate planning advice. See Some Common Estate Planning Mistakes, Idaho Estate Planning, December 29, 2015. Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse for bringing this article to my attention. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2016/01/common-estate-planning-mistakes-that-should-be-avoided-.html A suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan killed at least 26 people and left more than 40 wounded last week. The explosion occurred in the Pakistani city of Mardan. The blast took place outside the door of a government office. The office was the National Database and Registration Authority. That office was in charge of issuing national identity cards. The attacker arrived at the offices gate on a motorbike. The cyclist was stopped by a security guard. He detonated an explosive vest, according to a witness. An investigation into the identity of the bomber is underway. A Pakistani official said if the bomber was not stopped at the gate, the death toll would have been higher. It is estimated that the rider was carrying up to 12 kilograms of explosives. A BBC report said about 50 people were wounded in the blast. Some were injured critically. Most of those killed or injured were civilians. The attack is one of the deadliest in Pakistan since a December 2014 massacre left 150 students and teachers dead in Peshawar, the BBC reported. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack. In a statement sent to VOA, the group said it targeted the office because it is part of Pakistans anti-terrorism war. But a spokesman for the mainstream Taliban in Pakistan said the Taliban had nothing to do with the bombing in Mardan. I'm Jonathan Evans. Ayesha Tanzeem and Ayaz Gul wrote this story for VOAnews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story blast n. a powerful explosion motorbike n. a small motorcycle cyclist n. some who rides a motorcycle or bicycle detonate v. to explode or to cause something to explode massacre n. the violent killing of many people faction n. a group within a larger group that has different ideas and opinions than the rest of the group The End of Music, LLC/Courtesy of HBOThe first ever fully authorized documentary about Kurt Cobain was released in 2015. The film, called Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, was directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen, while Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt and Courtney Love, was an executive producer. To make Montage of Heck, Frances and Love granted Morgen unprecedented access to Cobain's personal archives, which included never-before-seen video of the late Nirvana frontman, including footage from his childhood and his life living with Love. The archives also included Cobain's personal audio recordings, which were used to score the film. In addition to interviews with Love and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Montage of Heck also include interviews with Cobain's mother, father and sister. It did not, however, include any interviews with former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. In response to Grohl's absence, Morgen said that he did interview the Foo Fighters frontman, but the director didn't have time to include the footage in time for the film's premiere. Montage of Heck premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where Frances and Love shared a hug, marking the pair's first public appearance together in several years. The film was given a brief theatrical release in April before it aired on HBO in May. Montage of Heck was well-received by critics and was nominated for seven Emmys, including nods for Outstanding Documentary, and Outstanding Writing and Directing for Nonfiction Programming. In the summer, Montage of Heck returned to cinemas for an extended theatrical run. The theatrical cut included another previously unheard Cobain demo. Morgen then revealed that a collection of Cobain's personal recordings will be compiled into an album. Called Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings, the album was released as a 13-song CD, as well as a 31-track deluxe edition. The Home Recordings included early demos of Nirvana tracks, such as "Been a Son" and "Sappy," plus audio of never-before-heard songs, and even a few spoken word segments. The album also featured Cobain's cover of The Beatles' "And I Love Her." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Guest speakers tackle topic of memorials, memory Alfred Brophy, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, was one of two experts to lead discussion on memorials and building names at the Brewster Forum on Tuesday. Brophy argued for more resistance to renaming in most cases. Derek Alderman, head of the Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, and Gerald Prokopowicz, ECU professor of history, listen to discussion about memorials and building names at the Brewster Forum on Tuesday. ECU sophomore Emmett Sarkorh asks a question during the Brewster Forum, part of the Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series, on Jan. 26. Attendees explored the challenge of reconciling history with contemporary realities in the naming of memorials. (Photos by Jay Clark) The controversy and debate surrounding memorials and building names, and the role they play in shaping our collective memory and understanding of history, have played out in recent years locally, nationwide and even globally.Two authorities on the subject met to discuss the topic "What's in a Name? Memorials and Historical Memory" on Tuesday in East Carolina University's Hendrix Theater. Derek Alderman, head of the Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, and Alfred Brophy, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, participated in the Brewster Forum, a debate-style presentation moderated by Gerald Prokopowicz, ECU professor of history.The Brewster Forum is part of the Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series, now in its ninth year. The series, said William Downs, dean of ECU's Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, seeks to engage the campus and the citizens of eastern North Carolina on topics of enduring importance.The topic for this year's Brewster Forum, Downs said in his introduction, was clearly motivated by the public debate over renaming Aycock Hall, but was also an opportunity to address important larger issues surrounding the challenge of reconciling history with contemporary realities.he said.More than 80 students, faculty and community members attended the event, during which each speaker gave opening remarks, followed by a discussion prompted by questions from the moderator and then questions from the audience.Alderman, who taught at ECU from 2000-2012, said he is open to renaming or at least discussing the renaming of buildings that honor controversial figures.he said, but he emphasized that more important than the renaming itself is the discussion and work that surrounds it, hopefully resulting in a more thorough understanding of history.Brophy argued for more resistance to renaming, though he acknowledged that in some extreme cases, renaming could be appropriate.he said.he added.Brophy agreed with Alderman on the importance of discussing and contextualizing the history that led to the name or monument in the first place.Alderman said.Both speakers commended ECU for its approach to the controversy surrounding Aycock Hall. They agreed that the university got it right by allowing discussion and not making a rushed judgment, and by providing for contextualization of the history through the building of Heritage Hall, where the building's namesake and other people of historical significance to the university will be acknowledged.Alderman said,he added.The two speakers also participated in a small-group session with students on campus earlier in the afternoon. Several students offered insightful and thought-provoking comments that helped shape the evening's discussion, said Alderman.he explained.Geography student Tristan Briggs said she attended and participated in both events because of their relevance to the national issue.Alderman and Brophy, along with the students in the small group, listed a number of places and ways that the tensions over monuments and place names have come to the forefront throughout the U.S. and abroad.Minh Phan, a geography student, described a discussion in Richmond Hill, Ga. over its designation as a Henry Ford city after Ford was criticized for anti-Semitism.Phan said.said English student Sarah McKeever.In the end, Alderman and Brophy agreed, it's a complicated issue, and one for which there is no one-size-fits-all solution. First and foremost, it's important for the public to have a voice in the discussion.Brophy said. A burial place in Washington, D.C. is using goats instead of poison to remove weeds. Congressional Cemetery, which opened in the early 1800s, is near Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill is where important buildings and business of U.S. government are located. Many former members of the U.S. House and Senate are buried there. The cemetery is also the final resting place of former FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Director J. Edgar Hoover and famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. There are more than 65,000 graves there. Burials still take place today. In recent years, many weeds have grown in the cemetery. Officials did not want to use poisons, called herbicides, to kill the weeds. The cemetery is near the Anacostia River. Officials have worked for many years to remove pollutants from the river, which runs through the city. Lauren Maloy is the program director at the cemetery. She says because it is close to the river, We are always looking for ways to make sure that we are sustainable, that we are not using pesticides that might hurt the environment. So cemetery officials decided to use goats. The animals are less costly than chemicals and do not hurt the environment. And the goats eat a lot of weeds. The animals are owned by Mary Bowen, a farmer. She operates a company called Browsing Green Goats. The cemetery pays her company more than $11,000 to have the goats remove unwanted plants from each hectare of the cemetery. But Mary Bowen says that is about half the cost of using herbicides. An electronic fence keeps the goats from leaving the cemetery. Mary Bowen says she examines the fence every day. She says she has not lost a goat in five years. She says the goats do not need to be told what to do, and they only stop eating when they want the food to settle in their stomachs. Mary Bowen says she hopes the goats will help more people understand that they can keep their property free of weeds without hurting the environment. Im Kathleen Struck. Correspondents Joseph Mok and Yiyi Yang reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story weeds n. a plant that grows very quickly where it is not wanted and covers or kills more desirable plants cemetery n. a place where dead people are buried grave n. a hole in the ground for burying a dead body poison n. a harmful or deadly substance herbicide n. a chemical used to destroy plants or stop plant growth sustainable adj. able to last or continue for a long time; involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources pesticide n. a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops Flying devices, called drones, may be one of the most important technologies of the future. The number of jobs for people who know how to design, build and control them is increasing. Because of this increase, several U.S. universities and colleges started offering degrees in unmanned aerial systems, or UAS. One of these universities is the University of Washington in Seattle. Christopher Lum is an aeronautics research scientist with the university's Autonomous Flight Systems Laboratory. Lum helps students explore how civilian drones can safely share the skies with regular aircraft. Ryan Valach loves the three years he spent in the flight lab. "One of the coolest parts is [working] with industries and all the cool technology we work with. It is a definitely an opportunity that a lot of students don't usually get," he said. Ward Handley is seeking a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics at University of Washington. When the drone program first began, he did not think it was a good idea. "I decided, no I do not want to work on drones because of the privacy issues," he said. Drones can be used to invade people's privacy. But when an offer for a paid position in the drone lab appeared, Handley changed his opinion. He said, "I'd like to see them used for good rather than [bad]. I think there are good enough [purposes] for them that are really useful. However, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is creating new rules to control the use of drones. The FAA is the part of the U.S. government that controls air travel and traffic. A new FAA law requires drone owners to register their drones. All drones must be registered in a government database by February 19, 2016. People who do not register their drones could face fines of up to $20,000. Changing current rules may also present problems for students looking for drone-pilot experience. One problem for many school's unmanned aerial systems programs is finding a legal place to fly. Students at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon fly inside the college gymnasium. In Seattle, University of Washington student Alec Bueing showed off the place where his department tests the drones. "It's just a [big] room that we move the tables and chairs out of. ... If it happens to get out of control toward the windows we [reduce] any damage," he explained. Lum explained why they test drones inside a building. He said it takes a very long time to get official permission to fly outside. "The federal [laws] are a little bit [restricting]. ... We need to register our aircraft. We need to [get] what is called a Certificate of Authorization," Lum said. That process can take months. The FAA wants to replace the way it examines requests to register drones. Now, the FAA looks at each case differently. The organization wants to create a national rule for civil UAS, and UAS used for business, later in 2016. "At this time, Kansas State University is the only school with [permission] to offer unmanned aircraft flight [classes] to students [outside]," an FAA representative wrote. The FAA selected Kansas State and 15 other universities to be part of a national academic research group, called the Center of Excellence for UAS. The group will receive federal money to expand research and training. Also in the group is the University of North Dakota. The university is the first to offer a UAS degree. Lum and some of his students recently moved their research to Australia. Australia has fewer rules governing UAS. A professor at Western Washington University also took his department's drones to Canada for the same reason. I'm Pete Musto. Tom Banse reported and wrote this story for VOA news. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Now it's your turn. Do you think government should let private citizens use UAS? Are UAS common in your country? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story unmanned aerial systems n. flying vehicles or machines controlled either by onboard computers or by the pilot on the ground or in another vehicle aeronautics n. a science that deals with airplanes and flying aircraft n. a machine such as an airplane or a helicopter that flies through the air master's degree n. a degree a college or university gives to a student usually after one or two years of additional study following a bachelor's degree astronautics n. the science and technology of human space travel and exploration privacy n. the state of being away from public attention database n. a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer gymnasium n. a room or building that has equipment for sports activities or exercise show(ed) off p.v. to cause a lot of people to see or notice someone or something of which you think highly academic adj. of or relating to schools and education Nebraska Library Commission Library Development Director Richard Miller recently announced the accreditation of public libraries across Nebraska. The application for Public Library Accreditation was developed for Nebraska public libraries in order to assist and support improvements in Nebraska public library services. The purpose of the accreditation process is to establish expectations for governance, services, and resources for public libraries. The anticipated outcome is that in public libraries that meet statewide guidelines, Nebraska citizens will have access to accurate, quality library and information services that meet community needs. Nebraska public libraries may apply for accreditation after providing assurance that they meet twelve minimum qualifications including having a certified library board and library director, local funding, an email address, and other minimum requirements. Accreditation also requires that the library use a community-based planning process to complete a strategic plan, to be approved by the Nebraska Library Commission. Lexington Public Library was awarded the Silver Level of accreditation in recognition of exemplary library services and programs provided to the community of Lexington. Kathy Thomsen, Library Director stated that, The mission of the Lexington Library is to offer current resources and relevant, innovative programming to area residents, which will empower them to be responsible and successful members of the world community. The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates public libraries as they move forward toward the realization of this vision for the future: Affordable, reliable, progressive, and equitable library service for all Nebraskans regardless of their economic status and geographic location. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information. Sharing good books, and a passion for reading and writing You can't debate someone who will never change their mind. They used to hand out these if you joined the Howdy-Doody Club . Last night, ... As part of our South-Morocco tour, we planned to spend New Year's Eve in Ouarzazate. Or near. We usually stay 20km from the city, at the border of the lake, in a family run B&B named "Les Tourmalines". A quiet, wonderful place. Before leaving Casablanca, I contacted Peter, a friend who lives there and operates enduro tours in the region to hook up for a ride. Luckily he was available and willing to show me around so we agreed he'd pick me up on the 31st at 0900 and we'll leave from Tourmalines. After a quick coffee we headed west on tarmac, to then turn south into the desert and towards the lake. The terrain was great, starting in a riverbed that allowed for high speed with some occasional technical bits, then turning into rocky speedy sections until we climbed to the hill surrounding the lake. We longed the water and our path included technical descents and some climbs through the rocky terrain that was sometimes longed by savanna-like grass. We then arrived to Ouarzazate and turned south towards the Fint oasis. I've been there a couple of weeks before on my bike but I obviously took the known road, while Peter now showed another path that got us to the valley from the other side so we could cross the oasis. The into the valley was a well-flowing speedy "piste" that I greatly enjoyed. Once in the valley we had to cross the river a couple of times and had to choose our way as there was no defined path in some sections. It was a great fun. We returned to Ouarzazate from the other side of the valley and went to Peter's HQ. He showed me his workshop and we chatted around, then had lunch and coffee in front of the workshop. As Peter is also the importer of Motoz tires, I got myself a new rear tyre that his mechanic was kind enough to fit while we ate. Leaving him to prepare for the evening party I headed back to the family, but as I didn't fancy 20km on asphalt, I wondered off to some unknown dirt roads that sometimes led the wrong way. I gave me the opportunity to test the tyre and to explore the area. The tyre works great by the way. I can only recommend. Will test in in the sand soon :) I've uploaded below a short video of the ride, the map and trip data as well as some pics. Enjoy. Thank you Peter for the ride and happy 2016 to all! The previous poll on Eastern NC NOW showcased what are many of OUR Constitutional Republic's certain obstacles to remain viable, where the top encumbrance to that continuance as a functioning Republic was the Biden /Harris Wide Open Southern Border. Understanding this overwhelming concern to real America citizens: Do you believe it important to challenge the veracity of those legislated concerns of Democratic Socialists by transporting Illegal Migrants to their Sanctuary cities, counties and states for their direct care? Yes; test the depth of their sense of well being by giving Democratic Socialists an opportunity to enact all Sanctuary provisions in their communities to test how much they truly do care. No; the Biden /Harris Wide Open Southern Border Project is designed to only inundate "Red States" to begin their Demographic Upheaval for the benefit of we Democratic Socialists, our politics. If you thought 2015 was an explosive year for Bollywood, 2016 is going to be even more amazing. The list of films releasing this year is endless, but the levels of excitement only seem to be increasing. On the one hand we have films like Fitoor, which sees a pairing that has never been on screen before (Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapoor), Sultan and Dangal, which sees superstars playing wrestlers, and on the other hand we have film such as Jai Gangajal, where we'll see Priyanka Chopra in a police avatar, and Befikre where we'll see Ranveer Singh looking like a normal man again. Here's listing the 10 most awaited Bollywood films of 2016: Fan Since the new year is about forgetting and moving on, let's put Dilwale behind us and get to the point. In Maneesh Sharma's Fan, Shah Rukh Khan plays a superstar, and his biggest fan. Apart from the obvious visual affects, this film seems to be promising, mostly because for once, we get to see SRK playing a non-romantic character. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Ranbir Kapoor. Anushka Sharma. Exotic European locales and Dharma Productions. What's there to not look forward to in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil? This will also be Karan Johar's most recent directorial project after Student of the Year and we're most excited to see how the casting with turn out. (This could also be Ranbir's ticket back into commercial cinema) Neerja Before we heard that Sonam Kapoor was going to star in a biopic about the brave PanAM flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, we couldn't place the fashionista, urbane Sonam that we know into this character. However, the trailer of the film proved us wrong, and how. Sonam's muted, expressive performance as Neerja has definitely piqued our interest in the film. Ki and Ka There aren't too many heroes that can match upto the swag of Kareena Kapoor. She's been paired opposite most leading male stars, and now in R Balki's next she stars opposite Arjun Kapoor. What is really interesting about Ki and Ka is that Kareena plays a fiesty working woman and Arjun plays a home husband. This should be fun to watch. Udta Punjab Abhishek Chaubey's film on the drug issues in Punjab brings together Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor on screen after many years. Although they're not paired opposite each other and probably won't be seen together in one frame, Udta Punjab is still one of the highly awaited films of 2016. It also stars Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh. Rangoon A film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj based on World War 2, with Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut. Enough said. Kapoor and Sons Shakun Batra's directorial next (after Ek Main Aur Ek Tu) has Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra abs and Fawad Khan. Malhotra and Khan play brothers in this film and it's a light-hearted comedy. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor. Looks like a fun, breezy film and who doesn't like one of those? Gauri Shinde's untitled next We know Shah Rukh Khan can romance anyone, but when it's Alia Bhatt on the other side, you have our attention. Reports have claimed that the two aren't pitted against one another and this film graphs Alia's characters various relationships. Hindi remake of O Kadal Kanmani The hindi remake of Mani Ratnam's O Kadal Kanmani has Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur and we have no doubt that the levels of intensity the original film has will be duly recreated with this cast (have you guys seen Aashiqui 2?). The hindi version will be directed by Shaad Ali. Raees And finally, the best for the last. Imagine Shah Rukh Khan playing a Muslim, Gujarati liquor baron? You can't right? Neither could we. But it's happening, and it may be clashing with Salman Khan's Sultan. Either way, this year is going to be the year of reinvention, where we see actors playing characters that they have never attempted in their character, and suffice it to say that Raees tops our list. Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists today carried out a pre-dawn strike at the Air Force base in Punjab's Pathankot, triggering a fierce gunbattle in which three securitymen and five infiltrators were killed, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore. With the obvious intention of destroying fighter jets and attack helicopters housed there, up to six terrorists in army fatigues attempted to storm the base which is barely 35 kms from the international border with Pakistan but failed to go beyond the outer periphery. Indian intelligence sources say the terrorists came from Pakistan and Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) links cannot be ruled out. What is clear is that the Pathankot strike is an attempt to undo recent progress made in relations between archrivals India and Pakistan, coming just a week after the first visit to Pakistan in 12 years by an Indian prime minister. Both sides played it carefully while putting out official reactions. In Islamabad, the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement: Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot, India, today, in which many precious lives have been lost. We extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region. Former International rifle shooter Subehdar Major (Retd) Fateh Singh, who won a gold and silver for India at 1st Commonwealth Shooting Championship in the capital back in 1995, today was martyred while fighting in Pathankot. Singh was 51 years old and was a part of the Defence Security Core (DSC). He was posted with the Dogra regiment. #PathankotAttack: Call intercepts reveal Pathankot terrorist informed his mother about the suicidal mission: Sources https://t.co/VJAlAaWK60 CNN-IBN News (@ibnlive) January 2, 2016 Intelligence Bureau Sources say #PathankotAttack militants came from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/5BfMBKbpz9 CNN-IBN News (@ibnlive) January 2, 2016 Proud of our Jawans and security forces: PM @narendramodi in Mysuru PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 2, 2016 WATCH: 'Enemies of humanity attacked #Pathankot Air Base but our forces did not let them succeed',says PM Modi https://t.co/enMWc4qEPG ANI (@ANI_news) January 2, 2016 The attack at the Pathankot air force base began a couple of hours before dawn, and by late morning it appeared that the violence had ended with the killing of the gunmen by Indian forces. But two hours later, more gunfire erupted and an air force helicopter was seen firing at an area of the base, a major installation located about 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi. Air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva said Saturday night that troops were combing the entire base to fully secure it. She said that the combing operation was expected to continue through the night, and that the full number of casualties would be clear once the base was completely secured. The defense ministry said there had been intelligence reports about a likely terror attack on military installations in Pathankot, and that the air force had been prepared to thwart any attackers. "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all the security agencies a group of terrorists were detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Air Force Station at Pathankot," the ministry said in a statement. Attack began at 3 a.m. near residential quarters The attack began at around 3 a.m., when a group of gunmen entered the section of the base where the living quarters are located, the defense ministry said. The attackers, however, were unable to penetrate the area where fighter helicopters and other military equipment are kept, it said. Police said they suspected the gunmen were militants, and were investigating whether they had come from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed in its entirety by both. Rebels routinely stage attacks in Indian-held Kashmir, where they've been fighting since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir's insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, and the attack was viewed by many in India as an attempt to unravel recent progress in the country's relationship with its archrival. Violence comes a week after Modi-Sharif hug The violence came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to meet with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The visit was seen as a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The two leaders also held an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks last month. Ahead of Modi's visit to Pakistan, the national security advisers of both countries had met in Thailand. The foreign secretaries of both nations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad later this month. In the past, the contentious issue of Kashmir has halted talks between the rivals. "These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir," said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir's capital, Srinagar. Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out, and that all sides must "exhibit political maturity and sagacity to defeat the vested interests." Modi, at a speech in the southern city of Mysore, said: "I congratulate the nation's security forces for turning the intentions of our country's enemies into dust. They didn't let them succeed. And I salute the martyrdom of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives." Pathankot, in Punjab state, is on the highway that connects India's insurgency-wracked Jammu and Kashmir state with the rest of the country. It's also very close to India's border with Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign ministry condemned the attack. "Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region," it said in a statement. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that India wants peace with Pakistan, but "if there is any kind of terror attack on India, we will give it a fitting reply." India's defense minister, national security adviser and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force met Saturday to discuss the situation. In July, gunmen staged a similar attack at a police station and a moving bus near Gurdaspur, a border town in India's Punjab state. The three attackers then killed four policemen and three civilians before being shot dead by security forces. ISI may have joined hands with JeM Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency has reportedly joined hands with banned Islamic militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to "revive" the latter's base, according to intelligence sources. The tie-up is to carry out terrorist attacks across India, sources told IANS on condition of anonymity. Over the last eight months, intelligence officials had intercepted several Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls of cross border discussion between ISI agents and their contacts in terror modules in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Sources said the Saturday fidayeen attack at the frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in northern Punjab could have been carried out JeM militants who were being backed by ISI for several months. "We are not very sure if the intercepted calls were to JeM militants, but the possibility is high," the sources said. "After LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India), the ISI is now reported to be backing JeM for its revival in Kashmir and other Indian cities. ISI's motive is to establish large number of terror outfit modules of different militant groups in several parts of the country," the official said. Maulana Masood Azhar formed Jaish-e-Mohammed in March 2000, shortly after his release from prison in December 1999, in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC 814 which was taken to Kandahar, in Afghanistan. Sources said the group, in coordination with LeT, was implicated in the 2001 attack on Indian Parliament in New Delhi. In December 2002, four JeM members were caught by Indian authorities and put on trial. All four were found guilty. One of the accused, Afzal Guru, was sentenced to death for his role in the attack. The group was formed after a split within Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), another militant group. A majority of HUM members joined JeM. IANS in its December 30 report last year had detailed LeT plans on a new year attack which included Punjab as a prime target. The attack, it was said, would be carried out to avenge the death of Abu Qasim, a senior commander of LeT who was killed in an encounter with security forces. Qasim had carried out an attack on a BSF convoy in August in Udhampur, Punjab. Intelligence officials had told the agency that the alert was based on the busting of a pan-Indian ISI-backed spying ring unearthed by Delhi Police's Crime Branch wing in November-December last year. Six ISI moles including a serving leading aircraftsman (LAC) Ranjith KK, a library assistant Kafaitullah Khan, a Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Abdul Rasheed, a retired Indian Army havildar Munawwar Ahmad Mir, Rifleman Farid Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and a government teacher Sabar were arrested during the Delhi Police operation. Ranjith was sent for police remand while the other five alleged ISI moles are already in 14-day judicial custody. Sources said that Ranjith is being questioned by the intelligence agencies and Delhi Police sleuths over the Pathankot terror attack. At least five terrorists were killed by commandos following the attack, police said. Ranjith, who was sacked from the IAF after his link with ISI was established, was later arrested from Bathinda Air Force Station in Punjab on December 28. He had allegedly shared information on some recent IAF exercises, movement of aircraft and deployment of various air force units with a woman, who spoke with a British accent, during a VoIP call that was intercepted by military intelligence and IAF's liaisonig unit. "Ranjith was fooled by a fictitious Facebook account in the name of Damini McNaught who pretended to work as an executive with a British magazine that wanted some Indian Air Force information for its next issue," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav had said earlier. Intelligence officials are also in touch with the Kolkata special task force (STF), which has also arrested some alleged ISI operatives from the city since November 14. The task force had arrested Akhtar Khan, his brother Zafar Khan, Irshad Ansari, Asfaq Ansari and Mohammad Jahangir for providing secret information to ISI, the sources said. (With Agencies) Gaza City (Palestinian Territories): The Israeli air force carried out attacks on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early on Saturday, Palestinian security sources said, just hours after rockets from the enclave hit southern Israel. According to the sources, the Israeli strikes targeted four empty facilities ranging from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, causing damage but no casualties. The Israeli army said its "aircraft targeted two Hamas military training facilities and two military sites in the Gaza Strip". "The IDF holds Hamas responsible and accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. Late yesterday, two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, without causing casualties or damage. Since the end of the devastating war between Israel and Gaza militants in the summer of 2014, nearly 30 projectiles fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave have hit the Jewish state, according to military data. Sunni militants claiming links to the Islamic State jihadist group have said they were behind rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave in recent months, but Israel holds Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas responsible for all such incidents. Also yesterday, two Palestinians were slightly wounded by Israeli gunfire after they stormed the border fence in northern Gaza, the Israeli army and Gaza medics said. PTI Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of a prominent Shiite cleric and 46 other men prompted outrage in parts of the Middle East, with Iran warning Riyadh would pay a "high price". Angry protesters set parts of Saudi consulate in fire in Iran's northeastern religious city of Mashhad on Saturday, Tabnak news website reported. But several Saudi allies offered their support after Riyadh implemented death sentences against cleric Nimr al-Nimr, Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda attacks. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned Riyadh for executing Nimr despite repeated Iranian requests for clemency. "The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... The Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies," he said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. "The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence." Parliament speaker Ali Larijani also condemned Nimr's death, saying Riyadh would not emerge "easily from the quagmire they created by the martyrdom of this great sheikh". All Iran's seminaries will be closed Sunday to protest Nimr's execution, with a demonstration expected in the Grand Mosque of Qom, the heart of Shiite faith in Iran, the ISNA news agency said. The Basij student militia connected to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards called for a demonstration Sunday afternoon in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are major rivals in the Middle East and are arrayed on opposing sides in several regional conflicts. Nimr was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Eastern Province, where the Shiite minority of Saudi Arabia complains of marginalisation. He was arrested in 2012, with the interior ministry describing him as an "instigator of sedition". - 'Serious consequences' His execution also drew fire in Iraq, where the head of the Shiite Dawa party's parliamentary bloc urged Baghdad to close the Saudi embassy, expel the ambassador and "execute all Saudi terrorists in Iraqi prisons." Khalaf Abdelsamad also warned the execution would have "serious consequences and bring about the end of the Al-Saud (ruling family's) rule." Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki both belong to the Dawa party. In the holy Shiite city of Karbala, hundreds demonstrated and urged the closure of the newly opened Saudi embassy. "I swear to God that the sheikh's blood was not spilled in vain," said Said Saad al-Mussawi, one of the protesters. "We will make the earth shake under your feet," he said, addressing Saudi's royal family. In Lebanon, the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah accused Riyadh of "assassinating" Nimr. It accused Washington of "direct and moral responsibility for this crime" because of its longstanding alliance with Riyadh. Meanwhile, Syrian Information Minister Omran Zohbi described the executions as a crime, saying they were "an assassination of freedoms and human rights." He urged international organisations to hold Riyadh accountable, saying "this group assassination is a horrific humanitarian and political crime." Rights group Amnesty International said it appeared the kingdom was "using execution to settle political scores". Middle East and north Africa director Philip Luther told AFP the kingdom was using "the guise of counter-terrorism" to clamp down on dissent. The trials of Nimr and the others "were politicised on the one hand and grossly unfair, because the international standards for fair trial were grossly flouted. "What is going on is an attempt to silence criticism of Saudi Arabia particularly among the Shia activist community". The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, members of a Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen, praised the executions. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan called them a "clear message against terrorism and those who call for and incite sedition and unrest to tear apart the society's unity and threaten social peace in the kingdom". Bahrain, which has itself faced unrest from its Shiite majority population, also backed Riyadh in "all deterrent and needed measures it takes to confront violence and extremism". Police used tear gas to disperse small demonstrations condemning the executions. AFP Ive been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for that. Sinc... 6 years ago We already know that the Government tried to slip out lots of bad news (including crucial evidence of the hardship caused by the Bedroom Tax) in a giant Take out the Trash day before Christmas, but the Financial Conduct Authority used Hogmanay to slip out the fact that it wasnt going to bother with publishing a review into banking culture. Apparently it wouldnt help. Try telling that to the people who suffered as a result of one of the worst crashes in history. Tim Farron was on this one straight away and ended up getting quoted pretty widely. He said: As Australians we can aspire to be great mums and dads, athletes and writers, lawyers and doctors even prime ministers. But we cannot be our nation's head of state. We can be born poor and rise to wealth, come from overseas and soon be naturalised, be illiterate and learn to excel even win a Nobel Prize. But we cannot be our head of state. Australia can never define itself on its own terms while it defers to an inherited monarchy of a nation locked in our past and dictating our future. Credit:Jessica Shapiro We can hide our views or scream them out, volunteer near home or change the world, dismiss religion or pray to God even become a Saint. But we cannot be our head of state. That honour belongs to the British monarch by birth and wealth and historical accident. We have no say and no recourse. A 23-year-old woman is fighting for her life in a Sydney hospital after she overdosed on drugs at the music festival Field Day, held on New Year's Day. A St Vincent's Hospital spokesperson told Fairfax Media the woman was admitted during a "very busy night" and remained in a "critical condition" on Saturday morning, but would not provide further details. Field Day attracted more than 28,000 people to The Domain. Credit:Nicole Elphick The one-day festival at The Domain in Sydney attracted more than 28,000 people who were eager to continue partying long after the New Year's Eve fireworks. NSW Police said they arrested 184 revellers in relation to drug offences, including eight charged with drug supply. "Customers are expecting more and more from their suburban local hotel," says Mr Lawler, the group's chief executive. "You can't just offer cold beer and schnitzel." Mosman publican Ben Lawler, who is refurbishing his hotel, says customers are expecting more and more from their suburban local hotel. Ben Lawler wants to change all that, and not just north of the bridge. In the last six months, his Public House Management Group purchased four hotels across Sydney, from Paddington to Narellan, as publicans race to bring quality boozers further out into the 'burbs. It's a part of Sydney where mansions are a dime a dozen and residents are more likely to own a boat than a barbecue. But there's one thing Mosman has historically lacked: a really good pub. At the Buena Vista Hotel in Mosman, purchased in August for $16 million on behalf of private investors, PHMG will renovate the property and install a restaurant with an upmarket pub-bistro menu. Coffee and breakfast will be served in the morning and the bar will focus on trends such as rose, gin and cocktails. "It'll be totally different to what Mosman's ever had before," he says. In recent years, hoteliers have refurbished several old pubs in places such as Surry Hills and Chippendale. But consumer preferences are now encouraging better nightlife options further away from the city. In part, that has been prompted by the 1.30am lockout in the CBD and Kings Cross. "I think that's a given," says Andrew Jolliffe, director of Ray White Hotels. "That's been a real lever for the decentralisation of those typically food and beverage areas." Commercial real estate agents had a bumper 2015 in the pub market, with CBRE alone managing 15 hotel transactions across metropolitan Sydney, including Drummoyne, Petersham in Campsie. Nightlife tsar Justin Hemmes purchased the Newport Arms Hotel, which is due to relaunch later this month with Merivale's customary full-service food offering and a games yard. Epiphany Party at Ascension TWIN FALLS Ascension Episcopal Church welcomes the community to worship services of Holy Communion at 8 or 10 a.m. Sunday. At both services, healing prayer will also be available. Healing prayer services will also be held at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 6. Childrens Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. The adult education class meets from 9 to 10 a.m. continuing the video/discussion of the Gospel of Luke. A fellowship coffee hour will be held after the 10 a.m. service. An evening Epiphany Party will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6. All are invited to bring undecorated Christmas trees and greens for the bonfire. The evening will conclude with a light meal and Epiphany activities. Ascension Episcopal Church is at 371 Eastland Dr. North, Regular worship and Christian Education is held on Sundays and Wednesdays. Information: www.episcopaltwinfalls.org or 208-733-1248. Ascension is handicapped accessible. Unitarian Universalists Will Gather TWIN FALLS The Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will meet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Vendor Blender and Event Center, 588 Addison Avenue West in Twin Falls. Everyone is welcome. The building is handicapped accessible and child care is available. Information: 208-734-9161. Methodists to Celebrate Epiphany Sunday TWIN FALLS Epiphany Sunday will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3 at First United Methodist Church, 360 Shoshone Street East, Twin Falls. The service will be lead by the Reverend Mike Holloman, who will also preside over Holy Communion. A special offering to support the UMCOR West Depot in Salt Lake City will be taken. United Methodist Magic Valley Ministries have been collecting items for relief kits, which are made and donated by people from the western United States and are distributed wherever they are needed, anywhere in the world. A team of eight people from the local churches will travel to Salt Lake City later in January to deliver these supplies and to assemble the relief kits. The First Sunday Food Drive will gather food donations and good, wearable shoes, and then take them to the Lincoln School Food Bank to be distributed among homeless students there. Agape Luncheon Set for Jan. 13 GOODING The Agape Ministry luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Community Meeting Room at the Gooding County Fairgrounds. The theme for this luncheon will be Salt and Light. Anelise Rose of Gooding will share her testimony with the emphasis on being Salt and Light in this world. A native Californian, Anelise and her family moved to Twin Falls and then to Gooding to plant a Calvary Chapel in this area. Sylvia Legaard, also of Gooding, will share musical selections. Because this is a catered event, reservations are required. If you will be having lunch, please contact Carolyn Herzinger at 208-934-5700 today. Cost of the lunch is $8.50. The program, which begins at noon, is free to the public. As we enter a new year, some cases from 2015 still linger. Here are five of the most high-profile cases Times-News reporters are covering as 2016 begins including murder cases in Twin Falls, an attempted murder in Jerome, a rape charge in Gooding County and a Twin Falls robbery. Twin Falls duo charged with Kent Storrer murder Jacob Lyn Marshall, 20, and Jerry Burton Kimball, 22, are charged with murder for the July 25 slaying of Kent Storrer, the son of developer Gary Storrer. Jasper Qualls, the son-in-law of Kent Storrer, was wounded during the shooting. Prosecutors say Marshall was driven to kill and Kimball was a willing accomplice. The two test drove a car Qualls posted for sale on Craigslist before Marshall killed Storrer with an AR-15 rifle before fleeing with Kimball in the stolen car, court records said. Marshall and Kimball were both indicted by a grand jury in August and charged with murder, murder conspiracy, robbery, robbery conspiracy, and two counts of battery with intent to commit a serious felony. Both men waived their rights to a speedy trial, and the next step is for the prosecution to decide whether to seek the death penalty in Marshalls case. The deadline for that decision has been pushed back twice as the defense seeks to put together its argument for why Marshall shouldnt face the death penalty. The new deadline for a death penalty decision and the next significant step in the case is set for Feb. 29. Jerome restaurant owner charged with shooting mechanic over affair Ricardo Nunez, 63, of Shoshone drove himself to St. Lukes Jerome after being shot Oct. 5, and then was flown to Boise to have several surgeries at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. The mechanic told police he was shot on the side of the road and didnt know his assailant. But Licano-Serrano, 37, of Jerome was arrested in Utah in October and charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery in Nunezs shooting. Prosecutors said Licano-Serrano, the owner of the Tiger Stop restaurant and convenience store in Jerome, was fleeing to Mexico when he was arrested. Licano-Serranos attorney claims his client shot Nunez in self-defense, but prosecutors say he shot Nunez because the older man was having an affair with his wife. In late November, Licano-Serrano was charged with two additional felony counts of kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Licano-Serranos attorney said the cases are likely to be combined at some point. But for now, a pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 8 in the attempted murder case, while a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6 in the kidnapping case. 87-year-old Twin Falls man charged with murder The 87-year-old Twin Falls man is accused of shooting and killing Barbara Sue Chitwood, 81, in a pre-planned attack Aug. 21 at the home they shared on Lacasa Loop. Welch, who is charged with one count of murder, is being held in Twin Falls County Jail but his health is a serious problem. Keith Roark, his defense attorney, predicted in October the case would not go to trial and would be resolved within two or three weeks. But Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs said in December he didnt know why Roark made that prediction and there have been no talks of settling the case before it goes to trial. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 17, and a jury trial is set to begin March 1. Gooding County EMT charged with rape Dwayne S. Woodbridge, 36, of Wendell is charged with twice raping a coworker, kicking her in the ribs and masturbating in front of her at EMT headquarters. Prosecutors say Woodbridge raped the woman shortly after she asked him to donate his sperm so she could get pregnant through artificial insemination. The woman told police they were friends before the request, but after he donated his sperm it was like a switch flipped and he was completely different. The woman has two children with Woodbridge one she said was conceived either through artificial insemination or the first rape, and another through the second rape. Woodbridge had a preliminary hearing Dec. 17 and his case was bound over to district court at that time. The next step in his case, a district court arraignment, is slated for Jan. 12. Four charged with robbing man who was later found dead Four people are charged with robbing Tigre Martinez the same morning he was found dead in the room he rented in a Twin Falls home. Caleb Jon Hinton, 32, Dwayne Lee McCormick, 31 and Kaite Lynn Pingree, 20, all of Twin Falls are charged with robbery in the case. Laaken Shai Draper, 20, also of Twin Falls, is charged with robbery conspiracy. The group told police they beat up Martinez and then bound and gagged him while they robbed him over a drug debt. When they left, Martinezs body was limp, and a roommate found him dead later that morning. Nobody has been charged with Martinezs death, although his sister told the Times-News shes fighting for lobbying for murder charges in the case. Hinton and Draper both have preliminary hearings scheduled for Jan. 15, while Pingree is set to be arraigned in district court Jan. 4. McCormick was scheduled for preliminary hearing Dec. 31 but that hearing was vacated, and a new hearing was not yet scheduled. Here we are, another turn of the calendar, another chance at those resolutions. I will make the Fitbit more than a stylish bracelet. After I find the Fitbit charger. I will Kondo-ize my entire house. After I find the Marie Kondo book telling me how to master the art of decluttering. I will pay every one of those speed camera tickets before they double. After I find a way out of the anger loop that consumes me every time I run afoul of a ridiculous speed trap designed not for public safety, but to pad the citys budget. And I will find my happy place. All these things are reasonable. All doable. I know I can do better if I just try harder. The same thing applies to our country. In 2016, we can do better if we just try harder. How about we vow, as Americans, to tackle a few collective shortcomings this year? How about we stop thinking Pinterest is the real world? No one needs to create custom water bottle labels for every party they have. And nails really dont need to be painted for every holiday. Lets stop thinking every meal has to be a miracle. Our greens dont have to be micro, our burgers dont have to slide, donuts do not have to cost $30 a dozen, and lets let a toddler deconstruct dinner for free. When the menu item description sounds like E. L. James wrote it, back away, and just go to Subway. Its OK. We will be OK. Lets unplug in 2016. Americans spend an average of 35 hours a week couching it in front of television, living our imaginary lives as zombie hunters or Olivia Pope. Thats like a second job. 35 hours. A week. Lets vote. American voter turnout is low and getting lower. Only 57 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2012 election year. About 30 million more people watched the Super Bowl than voted for our countrys leadership. More people have bought the Twilight series books, Bon Jovi albums and Wii boxes than voted in the last presidential election. And while were on to serious things, how about we reread the U.S. Constitution and start acting like we live in America, a country founded on the principles of religious freedom and tolerance. That ought to end all talk of deportation, banishment, surveillance or internment because of religious beliefs. How about, in 2016, we actually try to fix the housing crisis in America and refuse to accept the idea that 600 children without homes are still living in an abandoned hospital in the nations capital? Or get infuriated by the fact that 24 percent of the nations children are growing up in poverty and try to do something about it? How about, in 2016, we believe women dozens of them when they come forward and confess that they were drugged and raped by an American pop culture icon? This week police and prosecutors finally believed one. And Bill Cosby is beginning 2016 with a mug shot and an aggravated indecent assault charge. All these suggestions are reasonable and ought to be doable. But the truth is, they represent deeply rooted problems that will take a lot of work for us to fix. I guess I could say the same thing about my chaotic life my schedule too full to exercise, my house too wild to tame. It shouldnt be that hard, right? Ill find that FitBit charger. Ill do better. Cathy Griders involvement with Billings Federal Credit began more than 20 years before she started working there. Her parents were customers and sometimes stopped by the office. One of the loan officers remembers me crawling across the desk when I was about 3 years old, so Ive had a passion for this place for a long time, said Grider, who is Billings Federal Credit Unions marketing officer. Soon after graduating from Montana State University Billings, Grider went to the credit union to apply for a car loan. She also learned that they were looking for a marketing officer. Not only did she get the loan, she got a job. Grider says the credit union goes a step beyond the idea of providing quality customer service. We take the time to sit down with someone who was maybe told no by a different lender, she said. Often we can really tell that theyre trying. They may be working two jobs. They may have gone through a divorce and had thought that their spouse was paying the credit card. So, being able to sit down with the customer and getting the big picture instead of just looking at a credit score can make a difference. Grider is also president of Billings Advertising and Marketing, a club for professionals who work in advertising, marketing and public relations. BAM provides an opportunity for professionals to network and stay connected on the latest industry trends. Things are always changing in the marketing world, and you have to learn how to do it right in order to be effective, Grider said. In addition to bringing in experts and speakers, BAM does public service work by providing marketing assistance to selected nonprofit organizations. Its a great way to give back to the community, Grider said. For an entire year, an organization gets free marketing services from various people within the club. They can be TV spots, radio and print. Its an awesome thing for a nonprofit. Whats the biggest challenge you face in your job? Letting people know what a credit union is and the many great products and services we offer. Often, we have higher rates on savings products and lower rates on loans than any other financial in town. We are very competitive. Whats the best business advice you have received? Be the tortoise, not the hare. Slow and steady wins the race. The tortoise wins every single time. Business success is much the same. The tortoises start slow, plan carefully and work their plans. The tortoise in the fable did not merely stand still. He slowly crept toward his goal, the finish line. Entrepreneur tortoises work hard, but more importantly they work smartly and consistently. Who gave you that advice? Dave Ramsey Heres what Id like to do to improve my community: Teach more people about budgeting and saving, particularly kids. When it comes to teaching kids about money, it is never too early especially when it comes to the importance of saving. Teaching kids the significance of saving and budgeting at an early age will lead to lifelong habits. Outside of work, my biggest passion is: Time with my family whether its enjoying a meal, traveling, playing at the park or snuggled up under a blanket watching the Broncos on Sunday afternoon. The best thing about memories is making them. Which living person do you most admire? My grandmother, Marie Mahaha. She grew up in an orphanage, then became a nurse and owned an A&W. She is a testament to the fact that you can do anything you set your mind to. Greatest of all, given her childhood, she taught us the value of family. Our extended family is very close and for that I feel very lucky. Aside from profit and loss, how do you measure success in your job? By improving the quality of our members lives by delivering sound financial solutions. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Having a solid work-life balance. Achievement in my career and enjoyment at home with my husband and kids are both valuable to me. Idaho doesnt have the workforce to sustain the jobs we need to fill. Desirable talent like engineers and other skilled workers isnt widely available here, forcing many organizations to recruit employees from out of state. Recent news reports indicate businesses considering expanding in or relocating to Idaho are no longer clamoring for tax breaks and are instead talking about the need for talent. Thus, the Gem State must invest in efforts that bring together industry and education, and libraries are an important part of that solution. So much education takes place out of school, and Idahos libraries are well equipped to help people get into jobs and run businesses. Often the only source of free broadband connectivity in rural Idaho, libraries are among our communities most prized assets. The quality of the library is second in importance only to fire protection, according to an analysis of 67 community values ranked in 26 Idaho Rural Partnership Community Reviews the University of Idaho Center for Resilient Communities compiled last year. This mirrors the findings of a national study conducted by the PEW Institute, which discovered libraries are more valued and respected than schools and police. Entrepreneurs and small businesses the lifeblood of the economy can turn to local libraries for help writing business plans, finding financial resources, and figuring out which forms to file. Like every Idaho resident, businesses have access to our Libraries Linking Idaho website lili.org whenever and wherever, allowing them to boost productivity without purchasing information and resources elsewhere. Its mighty array of resources includes a Small Business Reference Center with tools and detailed how-to instructions on a wide range of small business topics. The Business Source Premier section provides the industrys most-used business research database and the single most substantial collection of active, peer-reviewed business journals. And lili.orgs LearningExpress Library offers self-paced skill-building tools on subjects ranging from business writing and grammar to math and software like Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite. Individuals can access library resources for professional-development purposes services that are especially vital to unemployed and under-employed people preparing for the workforce and searching for jobs. In addition, lili.org includes resources that can help prep people who are pursuing a career that requires a license or certification like real estate or law enforcement. Meanwhile, the Idaho Commission for Libraries continues to collaborate with the Idaho Department of Labor, public libraries, and educators statewide on workforce development initiatives. Individual libraries throughout Idaho are also doing exciting things. The Meridian Library Districts unBound technology laboratory lets residents including entrepreneurs and established businesses experiment with emerging technology. Up north in Bonners Ferry, the Boundary County Library District offers a Youth Business Incubator and a Learning Center with a Fab Lab. Plus, 28 Idaho public libraries are participating in the Commissions nationally recognized Make It at the Library project designed to create makerspaces in libraries statewide. Our libraries are huge economic engines in their own right. The Online Computer Library Center reports U.S. libraries purchase an estimated $14 billion in goods and services annually. Libraries also deliver an incredible return on investment, according to an analysis of 10 major ROI studies of public libraries in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin between 2004 and 2009. Communities enjoyed an average return on investment of $4.52 for every $1 spent on public libraries with ROI ranging from $2.38 to $6.96. Communities looking to bolster their economy would be wise to invest in their local libraries. Theyre powerful engines of economic development. I am still having some problems motivating myself to start writing a trip report, so for now, you get this thing where I summarize some memorable things every month for 2015Main thing I remember about this month was I had my first major altercation with Tom. It was the only one I felt very guilty about and apologized for. I realized that I hurt his feelings a lot and he didn't really do anything in particular. Fridays were just very bad days for me there. Tom's behavior generally didn't help. For some reason almost every Friday he acts like he's either very manic or on some pretty decent Adderall. Those of you familiar with that can understand what I mean. Just very frantic and super hyper. I can't really be around someone like that very well. I get high anxiety from it. On top of that, generally on Fridays he likes to basically not get any work done. I relied on him most of all in my own work, so all of that added up to a fairly impressive explosion that amused the crap out of everyone there except for Tom who was very hurt. I think in January or maybe early February we had a second altercation. When that happened, he accused me of being controlling and then told me a depressing story about his ex wife. Loyd said in all the years he'd known him, he'd NEVER opened up before about something that personal. I think there was some sort of point to the story, but maybe I missed it. My best guess is that my behavior reminded him of his ex wife and he didn't like that. I took that to heart and improved. I realized at some point that Tom is old and he will never change. One of my best qualities is adapting, though, so I just adapted and learned to deal with his antics.I found out late February that I would be moving back to California to work on my current project (that's starting to wrap up). I took that dramatic trip to Disney Land too for Alexis's birthday. Long story short, our mutual friend Matt who has a lot of money from his Liberal propaganda website Addicting Info demanded that I go to Disney Land for Alexis's 30th bday. He refused to take no for an answer, and offered to pay for my plane ticket, so I eventually agreed to go. Matt is an alcoholic and caused a lot of drama. There was constant drama he created between him and his boyfriend at the time, who was a really sweet guy who I felt bad for. Alexis is a very sensitive sort and got upset at all the drama and was crying and IMO being very dramatic herself. I don't think the trip was really that bad for me, though. For one, Matt paid for a first class plane ticket (my first time in first class!), and two, I was able to break away from the group a lot and go off on my own when I didn't feel like dealing with Matt's drunken antics.Another memorable thing was that I had my last altercation with Tom. It was because Loyd promised that I could go on a call for the first time, but Tom refused to take me. I still don't know why. He made up a lot of bullshit about it and that part especially upset me because I didn't want to hear the bullshit. It was actually the only time Tom managed to hurt my feelings. I think I managed to hurt his feelings many times, but again, he's sensitive and I take pride in the fact that I'm not a very sensitive person. I decided to let it go because I was only gunna stick around for another couple weeks, and I didn't want to spend that entire time being pissed off at Tom. Tom is actually sensitive to my moods and he never liked me to be sad or grumpy, so had I felt like carrying a grudge against him for the rest of the time I was there, I know it would have created nonstop drama.The first few weeks of this month weren't too great. Loyd and Sophia gave me a TON of shit about leaving . I thought I would be nice and provide them with three weeks (maybe even a little more) notice so they could find a replacement. They tried their hardest to talk me out of it. I don't think that either of them really knew I had a Master's, so maybe they didn't understand. They actually thought I was making a horrid mistake about moving back to CA. I know I made the right decision, but I still think Sophia thinks that I made the wrong decision.My last couple days were pretty good. I made cupcakes for the last auction I had there. Tom doesn't like sweets and he decided to be nice and eat a cupcake anyway. Then for the rest of the day he told me how much the cupcake sucked and how much he didn't like it XD. I didn't take that personally, although at some point he stopped because he said my feelings were gunna be hurt. Anyway, there is a particular customer there called Dirty Dave. The guy is kind of a ... problem. He's basically a homeless person who lives out of his van filled with stuff that he tries to sell at the flea market. He likes to bid on a lot of stuff from EAC and then never pay for it. Also I'm pretty sure we provide him with his one and only meal during the auction (normally we provided the customers pizza and soda). Sometimes he put the slices of pizza in his pocket.Anyway, so even though Tom hated my cupcakes, he decided he wanted control over who got to eat them. He came up to me and announced Dirty Dave had arrived so I better put the cupcakes away. I told him that all of us (coworkers) had a cupcake, so the rest were for the customers and it was ok if Dave took some. Tom scowled but went somewhere. So Dave take one cupcake... eats it, Tom is watching him closely. Tom walks up to me and tells me I should REALLY put the cupcakes away. There were about 3 left, so I said I didn't want to take any home and if Dave wanted to eat the rest, that's fine. So right before the auction, Dave ate all the rest of the cupcakes. Tom got more and more agitated and by the last cupcake he was wildly gesticulating behind Dave about how I definitely needed to put the cupcakes away OMGRIGHTNOWIMMEDIATELY. It was the most amusing thing. The next day, Tom went back to teasing me about how Dirty Dave was my boyfriend because I like making cupcakes for him.So most of my male coworkers at EAC had their favorite boyfriends for me. Gerry's favorite boyfriend for me was Tom, as was Mike's. Mike would especially get bad with the teasing about me and tom wanting to supposedly fuck/elope/something else. I laughed it off while Tom just got very silent and very agitated. Loyd's favorite boyfriend was "Cereal" this Russian kid who was the assistant to one of our regular customers. Cereal's real name is Kiril, but Loyd couldn't pronounce it, so he became "Cereal". Loyd figured out that I thought he was cute because I guess I was checking him out and Loyd noticed. When he called me out on it, I got BEET red and kind of gave myself away. Cereal is about 25, already has a wife, and is as skinny as a bean pole. Sofia was very surprised I found him so cute because of how skinny he is. "He looks like a worm, how can you find him cute?!" He also can't speak English very well and that kind of frustrates Joy. I dunno I guess he kind of reminded me a lot of super young David Bowie.Tom's favorite boyfriends for me alternated between Dirty Dave and Mark Gluckman, this super weird customer who actually used to work for EAC but got fired because he exploded at Sofia so badly. He has a massive temper problem. For the first couple months I worked there, most of my work involved cataloging his mass collection of crap from his father who had recently passed away. Almost all of it was broken and/or pissed on. Along with being "antiquers", his family also breeds Pomeranians for a living. Gluckman is gay, though, and actually Tom invited him over one day to check out some crap at his house. I think he regrets telling me that story because from that time on I teased him about being a more suitable match for Gluckman since you know, he likes to invite the guy over XD.ANYWAY, the end of March involved the fun road trip Justin and I took to get me back to California. He drove most of the time because I don't like driving and he does. We passed through the Southern States and it was much more interesting than the trip I took to get to Maryland. I got to go to New Orleans for the first time and am itching to get back (Justin didn't like New Orleans much). We also stopped by San Antonio and checked out the Alamo and Riverwalk. We both really enjoyed San Antonio. We also got to meet up a bit with my good friend Jeremy, who I was very excited to see. Also we got to see Kami and I got to meet her husband (then fiancee) for the first time.I started my project working on the Mineta (San Jose politician who became Secretary of Transportation during Bush Administration) Papers. The job was all together much better than EAC except that it was boring and I am never comfortable in my office because it's kept too cold.Nothing of interest really happened this monthDad and I went on that huge kyacking trip down the Russian River. It was about a 9 mile trip and I don't quite know how I made it, but we did! Surprisingly, my arms hurt a lot less at the end than the kyacking trip I took with Justin. We saw a lot of wildlife including a family of River Otters!Justin came over to visit this month. I won tickets on the radio for a trip to Great America. It was an awesome deal. We got fast passes and food coupons too : ). We also went to Santa Cruz to see Eddie Money (it was my third time!) and stopped by Natural Bridges beach. Justin got very angry at me because I wanted to scale this cliff thing there and I did. He said I did it just to upset him. Otherwise it was a fun trip.Also I'm very proud of my little article I posted on buzzfeed ^_^ http://www.buzzfeed.com/lisaz458071856/top-10-zaniest-80s-music-videos-125r1?fb_ref=click_share . It's about bad/zany 80s music videos.I got a new betta. Sadly he died a couple weeks after I got him because he jumped out of his tank : (. The tank's filter was being more noisy so I hastily checked out out in the morning and may not have closed the lid of his tank. I was very sad and didn't get another betta. I may get a new one when I get to Florida.I got to see Blue Oyster Cult!! Show was awesome, although they didn't do "Godzilla" in the set I watched. Same free concert series that goes on every week of summer at the Santa Cruz Board Walk. I was surprised to find out that Jeffrey is a fan of Blue Oyster Cult. I could have gotten him to come along with me. I went by myself.I finally got the guts to call Tom. He was happy to hear from me and told me to keep in touch. I was encouraged by this and I do continue to keep in touch.At the very end of this month, Chaos and I met up to go to PAX. It was the third time we went there. It was a great trip this time due to the fact that her extremely dramatic ex roommate did not go. Last time we went to PAX, he had a hissy fit about something or other, hung around the top story of the parking garage we were parked at, then threatened to throw himself off.Justin found out that I'd continued smoking because I kind of sort of took it up when Chaos provided me with as many cigarettes as I wanted to smoke (normally when we see each other, I just smoke one or two, but that time I smoked a LOT). He threatened to break up with me so I stopped ... for a while, then took it up again, then stopped again.Also I believe it was this month that mom and I got to see Heart. AMAZING performance!! Ann still sings like she's in her heyday, and it's amazing because she's in her mid 60s now.I was depressed about turning 30 this year. I didn't want to celebrate much. I requested Russian food for lunch and mom made me some savory blintzes (blintzes with ground meat), Russian potato salad, borsh, and maybe something else. Alexis made me a delicious dinner that night and Matt was there for a surprise! It was great seeing him. He did not get obnoxiously drunk that night, so I was happy.On Oct 10, I went down to So Cal to attend my good friend Kami's wedding. It was great to see a fun smallish wedding done on a budget.Went to Florida to do my interview at Nova. It was scheduled on Tom's bday. I did the interview, stopped by a 7-11 to pick up Tom's bday present (a bag of dorritos), and hung out with the gang. I also got to see Natacha separately (she was finally able to get out of there). Tom was actually busy that day and Joy wasn't there, so I decided to stop by the next day too. It was great catching up with Tom. Justin thought that Tom liked me due to "the way he carried himself around you". Still not quite sure what that means. It was nice that the gang got to meet Justin. I didn't get to see Loyd unfortunately due to... kind of annoying Loydness, but maybe I'll get to see him if/when I move back down there in April.I stayed for a week there. Didn't do a whole lot... Justin's car is a piece of crap and can't really travel far from town. We got to see his mom and kinda just went down to our favorite eateries there.Nothing of interest really happened this month. I found out I was rejected from Nova and I was very sad and disappointed. It took me a couple weeks to get over the disappointment, but I did : ).Actually, I believe this was the month that dad and I went to that local charity concert for the Norcal wildfire. There were a lot of great cover bands (all the cover bands featured at least one member from the group). I enjoyed the Doors concert the most, followed by the Jefferson Starship band, and I also liked a couple of the Chicago hits (25 or 6 to 4!!). Norman Greenbaum also played in this concert. I guess he was ok, dad still makes fun of "that dirty hippie that sings about Jesus".My huge family trip to Vietnam and Cambodia!! I usually am too lazy to do trip reports properly, but I promise I will this time. I would also like to make a scrap book for this trip. I have always wanted to do that with all my trips, but the only trip I did that with was my 2009 trip to Australia. Maybe tomorrow I will start working on that.I'm excited to see what 2016 has in store for me ^_^. SUPPOSEDLY Justin and I will get married. Right now it's looking like I don't really wanna do a wedding, but want to do a honeymoon to Japan (his choice, not mine...) Hope everyone has a great year! Read along as Matt does stupid things in interesting places around the world....or don't. Don Lorash was in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1968. He lives in Boyd. He went to school in Joliet. This is part of his Vietnam story. Lorash: "When I got drafted in 1965, my dad had just had a heart attack and he needed help at home and we went to the draft board and got me a 90-day deferment so that I could finish up the fall work because my brothers were all younger than me and they were all in school. So, during that 90-day deferment, I had heard about the Navy Reserves which allows you to drill for a year and you go to boot camp and you drill for a year and then you go for two years of active duty. That worked out really well with dad being sick and me being able to help him at home. That's what I did. I joined the Navy Reserves in fall 1965." He went on active duty in October 1966. He was an engineman, a diesel mechanic. Many of the assignments for the typical engineman were on swiftboats being used in the "Brown Water Navy" in Vietnam's rivers. Lorash: "When I found out that I would be going overseas, it wasn't a real good feeling. You go through lines of shots for days when you go over there. You get everything from smallpox and whatever. We got our orders and I knew I was going overseas, but when I got my orders, I went to the Current, which was a rescue/salvage ship. That's because the main propulsion guys were electricians and diesel mechanics. I lucked out for most enginemen. I wasn't assigned to a swiftboat in the middle of the Mekong Delta, being cannon fodder for the Viet Cong. Anyway, it was a very interesting job for me because I enjoyed the mechanics part of it. But, you're on a ship that's 140 feet long, 40 feet wide, flat-bottomed. It's like riding a cork in a bathtub." "When you're that small and flat-bottomed, you're just bobbing and weaving and whatever and when you look past the fan tail of the ship, and one time all you can see is the dirtiest, muddiest, stinking water you've ever seen and you can't see above those waves. Then the next thing you see is this cloudy gray sky and you'd have to look over the edge of the boat to see the water beneath you. Then when you go off the wave, those twin screws that are built for power, they come out of the water, and when you go back into it, those four blades on the props and start hitting the water, that old ship, she just shudders and you go down and up the other side. We'd do that sometimes for days, going around the typhoons. You're stuck with 85 to 90 guys like the size of three normal houses, you know? You sometimes get tired of each other. And you're working -- a lot of times because you were shorthanded -- you'd be six hours on, six hours off. You did have some stuff you had to do if you were doing the 4 to 10 watch, then during the day, they had stuff, normal maintenance stuff, it was very interesting ship for me.... I was in the A gang, which was out of the machine shop, (taking care of) the divers, their compressors, which were 125-pound compressors that supplied air for the divers when they went down in hard suits or to fill their bottles for their scuba gear. ...My job when we were at sea was to run the evaporator, making fresh water. You bring cold water in to this pressure cooker and there's steam running through coils, and the fresh water comes up off the brine, then it goes over the top and gets the cooler. That's how we made fresh water at sea... When George Bush decided that us blue-water sailors were not included in the contamination of Agent Orange, they found out the Australians did a terrific study on that that because we concentrated the ocean water, that we got even more Agent Orange than guys who were drinking the water on the land. That was one of the things that we did. We were the support group for the guys were on land in Vietnam. We brought ships that were aground, we got them floated again. We had a tanker setting in the bay that the Viet Cong sabotaged and sunk it. We had to patch that hole and pump all the water out of it, and get everything out of it that they had had." "Because we were built for power, not speed, our top speed was 13 mph. If we were towing something, that dropped us five or six. It took us forever to get anywhere we were trying to go." Gazette: You spent a lot of time traveling? Lorash: "We did. We spent a lot of time at sea. When the only thing you can see out there is water and you came from the hills of Montana here, and the biggest body of water was Cooney Dam, then you get out in the middle of the ocean and all you can see is water and sky, it's kind of unnerving at times. We never saw anybody else. It isn't like you travel in groups like the aircraft carrier guys." About a fourth of the personnel on Lorash's ship were divers. Gazette: So if something goes down, because of enemy fire or if something runs aground, or sinks, it's your job to go get it and salvage it? Lorash: "That's what we did. The ship that the Viet Cong blew a hole in and sunk, that was a fuel tanker. They had unloaded, luckily. But, they sabotaged it so that it couldn't go back and get more fuel. You need food not only for the troops, but you need fuel, which is the food for the mechanical stuff, tanks, whatever. But the merchant vessels and that one tanker and the rest of them were merchant vessels with I don't know what was on there because I was always under deck I didn't see what they brought off the ships. It was cargo. It could have been anything from ammunition to food for the troops. But, it would take days to off-load them onto barges and take them in. A couple of times we weren't that close (to land). One vessel went aground 200 miles north of Da Nang. They were a long ways from port when they went aground. They were a long way from port when they went aground. The tugs come up with the barges and you load the barges and you take it back to where it was supposed to go or go to the nearest port." Gazette: It's kind of hard to imagine these ships running aground. Lorash: "I can tell you they're not supposed. That's how that goes, you know. You don't know why. It's like running into a chuckhole on a road. There's a coral reef, you know they're there. You're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and you're off three or four miles, you know, that's not a long way. But, if there's a coral reef there, you better know where that is and you better steer around it. That's what happened to them. A couple of them were coming into the harbor and they hit a mudbar. One of the ships that was right in the mouth of the harbor, hit on the mudbar and we had to drag it off that. That ship sat there for a week with the tide and everything rolling it back and forth, so it just kept on sinking deeper and deeper and deeper. That was one of the longest times that we ever worked on one, when that was stuck on the mud. When they were on the coral, then you get the high tide and get them off loaded, once you get it to start moving, there's only so much noise because the coral is so coarse, it's kind rubbing it on sandpaper, so once you get enough force and start moving, that vibration came through the tow cable and it was just piercing on your ears. You knew you knew when that outfit you were pulling on started to move because you could hear it. I don't care where you were. Engines were roaring and we were at full speed and sometimes we'd do that for six or eight hours, just as hard as those old engines could run with just as much electricity as they would generate for those main motors. When it moved, you knew it, there was no doubt. Man, there was pandemonium. Everyone was doing high-fives and whatever Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. Why should Congress eliminate subsidies for solar energy? The most powerful reason is that solar energy has come of age and is ready to compete on its own terms without help from the government. No energy industry in the past century has benefited so much from technological innovation, with the costs of solar panels plunging 80 percent within the past decade. In the United States, solar power is riding high. There are a range of pro-solar policies, including requirements in most states that utilities generate a given share of their electricity from solar power, a guaranteed price per kilowatt of solar power, and subsidies to manufacturers of solar panels and the households that buy them. A federal tax credit dating back to 2008 allows taxpayers to write off 30 percent of the cost of installing rooftop solar power systems. All of this has been the governments gift to the solar industry. The solar tax credit is no longer needed, and its due to expire at the end of 2016. Congress should do away with it now. Reliable gas plants Heres why: Even with subsidies and state mandates, solar power supplies only 1 percent of the nations electricity and even less globally. Despite the Obama Administrations preference for solar, it hasnt been of much help in meeting the nations energy needs. Solar power has a capacity factor the total amount of energy a solar array generates as a percentage of its full capacity of about 25 percent. Wind power is about 35 percent. In contrast, natural gas plants and nuclear reactors produce electricity about 90 percent of the time. Hence, natural gas and nuclear power, along with hydro, far outshine solar and wind in providing energy reliability and security. Without the continued benefit of clean-burning natural gas and nuclear power, it will be impossible to meet environmental standards for clean air. 5 new nuclear plants The good news is that the use of gas and nuclear power is increasing. Gas consumption is rising steadily, with about 20,000 new gas wells a year being built in North America since 2000. At the moment, five new nuclear plants are under construction. In the United States and many other countries, natural gas and nuclear power are a necessity, but too often discounted and placed at a disadvantage in competition with subsidized renewables. The United States cant afford the status quo. The solar tax credit should be dropped. Putting my experiences of Life In NYC in a more personal perspective, and checking in with international/national, tech and some other news Ken Ono is a professor of mathematics at Emory University, Atlanta, a lifelong admirer of Indian mathematician Srinivasan Ramanujan, and one of the co-producers of the Ramanujan biopic, The Man Who Knew Infinity. Dilip DSouza recently interviewed Ono as part of a Google Hangout organized by the non-profit Gyanome. Edited excerpts: I know a little bit, Dr Ono, about how you have developed an interest in Ramanujan, but you have talked about it before in a similar Hangout we had about a year ago, and Im sure you have talked about it elsewhere. Your adviser, Basil Gordon, actually sparked your interest. Can you start by telling us a little bit about his study of Ramanujan and how that sparked yours? I have to say that my father was a math professor. He was a professor at Johns Hopkins for many years, and at first glance it might not come as a surprise that I ended up myself becoming a mathematician. I credit my PhD adviser, Basil Gordon, for really being the person who sparked my love for and my passion for mathematics. Before graduate school, I could do well on examinations, I could memorize material, I was a robotic student. But my PhD adviser was a genius. Hes not as well known as I think he should be. Hes the one who sparked my interest. We would meet every week at his house in Los Angeles, only a few blocks from the beach; its a very beautiful place. We would work for two or three hours each Saturday. What was very ironic, or I should say unusual, about Basil Gordon is that he was a Renaissance man. He was an accomplished writer. He was an accomplished musician, and it was his habit to start our weekly meetings with a poetry reading or he would play the piano, maybe a Chopin nocturne, and his point was that mathematics is hard, we are confused all the time. And its not about solving equations, its looking for beauty. And if we werent in the proper frame of mind, how could we produce mathematics? That was, I found, very surprising. No teacher or mentor before had ever tried to make me see mathematics that way. What he did was, he used Ramanujan as a role model, as someone who succeeded not because of ordinary school training, and not because of ordinary coursework, but as a man who saw beauty in formulae. Ramanujan was an inspiration for Gordon. Of course, I knew about Ramanujan long before I worked with Gordon, but it was during the year of 1991, when Robert Kanigels book, The Man Who Knew Infinity came out, Basil Gordon and I, we went to the bookstore, we bought copies, and we read the book together. Basil is no longer alive, he regretfully passed away two years ago. I dont want to cry, but I will tell you Basil Gordon was an amazing man, and he helped me find myself. I hope that I could be to my PhD students, you know, 10% of what Basil Gordon was to me. He was that important. Ramanujan was one of his great heroes. I have always been fascinated, Dr Ono, by how Ramanujan found so many different formula for pi in particular. Did he have a particular interest in pi, or did pi just pop up as he was studying other infinite series and so on? Whats your idea about that? Well, its a excellent question. I think that Ramanujan, if he were around today, would be very surprised that we celebrate pi day all over the world on 14 March. I think he would find that strange. I guess the short answer to your question is that pi would have certainly been an important number to Ramanujan, but it wasnt important because its this crazy figure that he was trying to pursue for many different reasons. Rather its that pi appears in so many different areas of number theory as a critical constant. Perhaps its a better testament to the taste that he had in mathematics that a lot of the formulae he produced ended up involving pi. Hypergeometric functions dating to the early works of (German mathematician Carl Friedrich) Gauss involve objects called elliptic integrals. These are related to volumes, and whenever you are computing a volume of an area of things that have arcs, you expect pi to appear. Also, Ramanujan was a world expert on continued fractions and he found very beautiful expressions for pi. I gave a lecture yesterday at the International Centre for Theoretical Science (Bengaluru), and I made a point of it to say that to most of us, pi is this impossibly difficult number. There are some people who have memorized a hundred digits of pi, 3.14 a hundred digits, but at some point you have to say, pi is 3.14 and eventually nobody knows, right? Theres no repeating pattern. The thing is, Ramanujan, when he wrote down pi in terms of continued fractions, its very easy to see the pattern. In fact, Ramanujans formulas for pi are perhaps some of the best examples of beautiful, symmetric formulas where most people would think that there is no such beauty apparent. Ramanujan was very good at finding these formulas, and these formulas are of very different categories. Square root of two and numbers like the golden ratio are a little bit simpler than, say, E and pi, but Ramanujans formulas, he found equally beautiful formulas for all of them. I didnt know that. I didnt know that he had found formula for other irrationals, too, but actually, thats the core of what I want to get at today: can you give us an idea of how Ramanujan came up with these formulae at all? What is the process in his head? After all, these are not the kind of things that somebody like me is going to be just thinking about or playing around with numbers, even though I have an interest in numbers. How did this young man in rural Tamil Nadu come up with these ideas? What was going through his head? Well, to answer your question, Dilip, I wish I knew what was going on in his head. If I had a time machine, if there was one person in my life I would like to go back in time and meet, it would be Ramanujan. I cant offer you a rock-solid answer, but let me do my best. The easiest examples to start with would be the golden ratio. The golden ratio is this number phi, its expressed as one plus the square root of five over two. Thats a little bit complicated. Some people express the golden ratio as the limits of the successive terms in the Fibonacci sequence. The representation I liked most is the representation by a continued fraction. A continued fraction that expresses the golden ratio requires only knowing the number one. Its one plus one divided by one plus one divided by, and you go on forever. Thats a beautiful expression, you could teach this to bright high school students. All you need to know is the quadratic formula to realize that that is the golden ratio. Very bright students will quickly discover that the expression for the golden ratio as a continued fraction is shared by lots of quadratic irrationals. Ramanujan certainly knew this fact... Instead of being content with knowing this kind of theory, he decided to throw in a parameter. Why dont I consider a continued fraction, not in terms of numbers, but in terms of variables?" Where, if you choose the variables to be simple numbers like one, you would happen to get back to golden ratio. He then asked, Well, if you did this, what kind of numbers would you get if you chose numbers other than Q? What that open up a whole new world for other kinds of expressions?" Well, Ramanujan did this, and in his very first letter to (English mathematician G.H.) Hardy, Ramanujan ended with three formulas, and these three formulas are called the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction, and these are the formulas that stunned Hardy. They astonished him. These are the formulae that Hardy responded by saying, They must be true, and Ramanujan must be a genius, because no one would possibly have the imagination to invent that." How did Ramanujan end up producing that? Thats a great question. All I can tell you for sure is that he did and Im so thankful that he did, because its a gift to the world of mathematics. Theres been over 7,000 papers that mathematicians have written over the last hundred years based on those two or three lines. What do you think it must have been like to be Ramanujan? To think like him? To walk in his shoes? To talk like him? In fact, Im asking you this because of your relationship with the film. You are a mathematical consultant to the film. Is this the kind of thing that you are telling the film crew about, or maybe Dev Patel, the actor? Well, I did my best, having never met Ramanujan. Theres no footage of Ramanujan. In fact, there are only two surviving photographs, so theres very little that we can go on. On the set, as a math consultant, my job was to teach Dev how to communicate like mathematicians, and to do my best to try to infer what their personalities would have been like. Which was actually quite easy to do, because Hardy, of course, was the great British chaired professor. Its easy for us to get him. He wrote important books, he was all about step-by-step, concrete formulation of mathematics. Ramanujan was something completely different. How did he manage to do his work? We dont know. It was certainly not by any procedure we would understand, and so in advising the producer of the director, it was very easy to say, I cant explain this to you. Its a mystery to me. Try to imagine a professor trying to make sense out of someone who has brilliant ideas which are clearly right, and help them figure out how to bring those ideas to the surface, so the rest of the world of mathematicians could understand that." How does the film compare to other similar films... say to Good Will Hunting? Good Will Hunting is really not a film about mathematics, its a film about a young man who is struggling with his own identity; he was brilliant and he was struggling to embrace his brilliance. Ramanujan, in some ways, was obviously very brilliant, but very different in that he embraced his identity as the producer of mathematics. First of all, the main theme, the way we described Ramanujans a character, a true, living human being, is very different from what one found in Good Will Hunting. I think our film will be one of the first films where the director took great pains in explaining how a mathematician does his work without compromising the human side of the story. Lets make it quite clear, the idea of Ramanujan is an idea that resonates with all teachers in the world everywhere. Its the idea that greatness and talent is often found in the most unforgiving of circumstances, and teachers have the moral responsibility to try to recognize that, and then take the next step, and nurture these talented students, despite whatever circumstances. Despite the financial circumstances. Despite their religious beliefs. Despite their countries of origin, and all that. That, I think, is truly the idea of Ramanujan. Hardy perhaps was the only living person who could have recognized Ramanujans talents, and thats what the story is about, how these two men from very different countries, very different cultures figured out how to work together and produce great mathematics. Why do you say Hardy was the only living mathematician of that time who could have done this? I often hear other mathematicians sort of complain that its a pity that Ramanujan had not sent his letter to Professor X in Germany or someone else, so on and so forth. Its easy to try to imagine how mathematics would have developed differently had Ramanujan been discovered by someone else. Say Henri Poincare, the French mathematician who lived around the same time; what if Ramanujan had sent his letters there? I actually write about this in my book, in the epilogue of my book. This is a question that I feel quite strongly about. My point is that Hardy was perhaps the only true person who could have recognized Ramanujans talent. Perhaps (British mathematician John Edensor) Littlewood would have been suitable. Almost everything in Ramanujans notes involves analysis, classical analysis and formulae that relate to classical number theoretic constructions. Ramanujan didnt know anything about any of the other standard courses in mathematics, and so, well, heres a better test. If we were to type up Ramanujans notes and distribute his notes to professors at major universities all over the world, you will discover that even today, in the 21st century, most mathematicians would not know what to make out of his formulas. It takes a very special person to see through pages and pages of formulas with no words to see their value. If I could just conclude with one brief statement. Its that Ramanujan transformed Hardy. Ramanujan transformed this generation of Japanese mathematicians. I applaud you and everyone who carries on his tradition, because its not just the mathematics. Maybe for me its mathematics, but its really the idea of Ramanujan. Young people, even old people, middle-aged people, we all need our heroes, and when they are true stories, thats when you have to take notes and pay attention, because we all have something to learn from that. Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.com Topics A prototype of the latest version of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle will be headed to Europe soon for a series of demonstrations, according to the ... MIRLN stands for Miscellaneous IT Related Legal News, since 1997 a free monthly e-newsletter edited by Vince Polley (www.knowconnect.com). Earlier editions, and email delivery subscription information, are at http://www.knowconnect.com/mirln/ KANSAS CITY, Mo. Darryl Burton sits a few feet from his desk, where an open laptop waits. He has a research paper to write. At least 10 pages on the doctrine of Scripture and what the words in the Bible mean to him. After that, he has two more graduate papers and some reading to wrap up for seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology. Pretty heavy stuff for a man who never finished high school. And who not long ago was a skeptic, full of questions about God and the religion his late grandmother clung to so closely. Burton had stopped going to church as a young teen, unable to relate or see how God was working in his life living in urban St. Louis, where he and his eight siblings, mother and grandmother were stifled by poverty. His grandmothers words warned: One of these days, boy, youre going to need Jesus. I only hope you remember to call on him. Today, with the booming voice of a seasoned preacher, Burton tells his story across the country and abroad to prisoners and churchgoers, students and civic groups. And he recalls how his grandmothers words echoed in his mind during the late 1990s as he faced life behind bars as Inmate 153063 inside the Missouri State Penitentiary. Eventually, he says, those words, along with a newfound faith and a team of people who believed in him, led him from the pit to the pulpit. I just kept hearing, One of these days, boy, Burton says, sitting inside his office on the campus of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. I just couldnt get that out of my mind. So I said, OK, lets learn about this Jesus. Part of Burtons story has been talked about across the country for years, flashed in headlines and television newscasts. He served 24 years behind bars for the murder of a St. Louis man before a judge ruled that his 1985 trial was constitutionally flawed and overturned that conviction. It was based on the testimony of two men, one who kept changing his story and another who had more felony convictions than the jury was told. Since his 2008 release, which lawyers and supporters fought eight years for, Burton has been asked to speak in venues from big halls to biker bars. Many have marveled at his ability to move beyond the nightmare of spending nearly all of his adult life in a prison cell for a crime he said he didnt commit. As Burton sees it: If I hadnt forgiven them, I would still be in prison. A spiritual prison. In December, he completed seminary. And in January hell start full time at the Leawood megachurch as an associate pastor in congregational care. Hell continue some of the work he has done as a Church of the Resurrection intern and pastoral associate, helping families in need and working with a mens group, showing people what true forgiveness looks like. Theres no one who represents himself more humbly than Darryl, said Karen Lampe, the churchs executive pastor of congregational care. He just wants to do the very best he can. I think hes trying to make up for lost time. He is one amazing gift for us. A gift the church wouldnt have received if not for the letters Burton wrote and some of the answers he received. He estimates that he wrote more than 700 letters during his time behind bars, reaching out to legislators and attorneys, Oprah Winfrey and groups dedicated to freeing wrongly convicted inmates. He penned an especially memorable one in 1998, before his religious skepticism turned to conviction. Dear Jesus Christ, he wrote. If youre real and you know all things, you and I know Im innocent. If you help me get out of this place, not only will I serve you, but I will tell the world about you. Sincerely yours, Darryl Burton. A 2-day trial On a June day in 1984, Burton had gone to see his parole officer. He was 22, had his GED and planned to start classes at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis. He wanted to study business administration and sociology. After a burglary charge, Burton was set on his future. He wanted to spend more time with his infant daughter. Then St. Louis police showed up and arrested him in the death of Donald Ball, a man who had been shot while filling his car with gasoline. Even as Burton was being booked into the city jail, he thought everything would be OK. The truth would come out. After all, he wasnt even in the state when the murder happened. Hed been in Washington state, visiting a friend. Witnesses said the man who shot Ball was a light-skinned African-American. Burton has dark skin, tagged with many nicknames growing up, including Lights Out. The killer was described as 5 feet 5 inches. Burton is 5 feet 10. No physical evidence or suggested motive ever tied him to Balls death. I thought Id be let go within 24 hours, Burton said. He said he saw his public defender just once before the trial, and no one worked to get receipts or other documents that would have proved he was in another state at the time of the shooting. Burton recalls the trial lasted two or three days. The prosecutor called two witnesses. One was a man hed never met, the other a man hed known in his younger days. Both said Burton killed Ball. I couldnt believe people would go in and lie on me, Burton said. It took jurors less than an hour to come back with their verdict. Burton was sentenced to 50 years without the possibility of parole. Before he left the courtroom, he had a message for the judge: I dont know how long it will take, but Im going to fight this case until I prove Im innocent. Burton spent countless hours in the prison law library, researching and writing briefs and motions. He told other inmates that one day he would be freed. They told him he didnt understand the system. I had moments when I felt really sure I was going to get out, Burton said. And then I had moments when I was just depressed and wanted to give up. My mother would leave the visiting room and I would say, Thats the last time Im going to see her. I didnt want to live. In 1990, he heard back from Centurion Ministries, a small organization in New Jersey. Founder James McCloskey and his group were dedicated to taking on cases of inmates wrongly convicted. Because of the demand for help, it would be 10 years, the group told Burton, before it could take on his case. He would wait. He wrote Centurion Ministries two or three letters a year to make sure the group didnt forget about him. In the late 1990s, Burton picked up the Bible and focused on the words in red ink, signifying the words of Jesus. He related to the man and his stories. Some of Jesus edicts were harder. Jesus said, Love your enemy, Burton said. And Im like, What? Pray for them And Im thinking, Yeah, right, Ill pray a building falls on them. Forgive them Thats impossible. Through gritting teeth, Burton started to pray for the people who had lied about him, for the people inside the justice system. He read Luke 23:34: Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. After a while, he no longer prayed through clenched teeth. The words and intention flowed freely. It became real, and I began wanting what was best for those people. Learning to walk The world changed without him. His first day at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri, he had walked under a massive welcome banner with the words Leave all your hopes, family and dreams behind. He walked out of prison in August 2008, unsure of the freedom and hopes and dreams he could have. At TGI Fridays that night, he asked Cheryl Pilate, a Kansas City attorney who worked with Centurion Ministries since 2000 to free him, if the restroom was an area where he could go. It was obvious he was overwhelmed, Pilate said. When you havent been in the outside world for 24 years, everything is new, everything is different. It takes a while to come to terms with it. Inside the restroom, he wondered what was wrong with the toilet. It kept flushing on its own. And at the sink, why didnt the faucet have knobs? How could you get the water to come on without any knobs? (A stranger helped.) Technology flustered him. Laptops and cellphones. The Internet was new to him. He would struggle getting a job, with a 24-year gap in job experience. He had no drivers license, no set plan for the future. Initially, he would tour around telling his story. After reuniting with his daughter, the two of them would sometimes speak to groups together. When Burtons future wife first heard him tell his story, she remembers thinking how gifted he was. She had grown up six doors down from Burtons family in St. Louis and knew his younger siblings. She wasnt surprised when he wanted to go to seminary in 2012. But the couple didnt know how difficult it would be. For Darryl, it was like being flown to Japan and just dropped off. I didnt know the language, anything, Burton said. It was like learning to walk. Everything about the campus was foreign. Taking notes. Studying. Understanding heavy theology. He needed complete silence some days, said Valerie Burton, who married Darryl in 2011. I had to be quiet, no TV. All of his books were spread out on the dining room table. Hed stay up late, overnight sometimes. Hed fall asleep in the chair. Some days he wanted to give up. But he always went back to one thought, she said: If I can make it through prison, I can make it through something like this. When Burton sat down to write his first research paper hes cranked out many 15- to 20-page papers in the past three years he grabbed a yellow legal pad and a pen. He planned to write it out longhand and turn it in. His wife laughs at the memory now and how she explained to him they needed to get a computer. When he didnt understand something, he asked for help. And he often started the conversation explaining why he was so lost. And despite having lost more than two decades of his life, he never expected anything, said Stan Basler, visiting professor of restorative justice and prison ministry at Saint Paul. The students work on the long papers is what impressed him. Basler tells students he doesnt want a book report he wants to hear their voices in the paper. But he also wants to make sure theyre engaged with the material and understand it. Some papers come in with few sources and little focus on the material. With Burton, Basler would see papers where two-thirds of the content was on the material. He wasnt asking anyone for a free ride, Basler said. He really applied himself. It was obvious to me in every course that he was working hard. Hes helped people On a recent Friday morning, Burtons voice filled a high school classroom. All of you have been on this earth long enough to have someone say something about you that wasnt true, he said, dressed in sharp dark pants and shirt, a sparkling cross around his neck. Imagine being put in a closet, in a box, for 24 years, and you cant get out because someone lied on you. For nearly an hour, the two dozen high school students sat fixed on Burtons words. No one yawned or doodled. No one tried to pass a note or talk to a friend. Its what Burton typically gets when he speaks. No matter where he goes, no matter what crowd hes talking to, everyone understands injustice, he says. And his message of hope and forgiveness? Very powerful, says Lampe, the minister. At Church of the Resurrection, where Burton started as an intern in 2013, hes visited homes to talk with families going through rough times. Before Lampes son had surgery last year, she wanted Burton to be the one to give him a blessing I knew it would be beautiful. Burton also leads a mens group at the church where members have experienced problems from addiction to incarceration to relationship woes. Hes helped people in our congregation that have forgiveness issues, Lampe said. Earlier this month, she sat with Burton and went over his annual review. She gave him goals for the year and told him hed have until January 2017 to complete them. But shes learning thats not how Burton works. He said, They told us in prison when we had something to do, we had to walk out and start doing it, Lampe said. Im going to walk out and start doing it. The lessons from behind bars, and his experiences with the criminal justice system, creep up in other ways. He wakes early, usually around 4:30. Thats when hed get up in prison. He had to leave himself enough time to get ready before the call to breakfast. And everywhere he goes, whether its to a movie or to a convenience store to buy gas or a soda, he asks for a receipt. He wants proof that he was there. Every receipt goes into a drawer, and at the end of the year, they go into a plastic grocery bag. The bag goes into a stack in the closet. Hell soon add the bag of 2015 receipts to the pile. I didnt have a receipt last time, he said, eyes wide. And I was locked up because of it. I couldnt prove where I was. Though he finishes seminary this month, he wont receive his master of divinity until a ceremony in May. Theres a lot of temptation to see him simply as a miracle, one of those amazing things that happen, Pilate said. But no one waved a magic wand over him and then he was all of a sudden the amazing man we see today. Hes worked very hard. For now, Burton will continue to share not only his experiences, but the Scriptures and stories from the Bible. They helped him, he said, at a time when the only thing or person he had faith in was himself. Now he wants to make sure hes lived up to that letter he wrote in 1998. I feel like Jesus kept his part of the deal, Burton said. And I feel compelled to keep mine. Im trying to keep my commitment. Its been a busy year for the new Missoula County sheriff and undersheriff. And while T.J. McDermott and Jason Johnson say a series of high-profile disputes and lawsuits have been a distraction during their first year in office, they add that they have worked hard to better support deputies and bring together the community to find answers to serious issues. Our goal has always been and will be in 2016 to be the sheriffs office in Montana that other agencies look to and say, Weve got to be like that, Undersheriff Johnson said. Sheriff McDermott said one of the most important aspects of his job is supporting his personnel, making sure they have the numbers, equipment and training they need to do their job. The first step in that process has been putting more deputies out on patrol this year. For the first time in decades, the county commissioners approved a budget enhancement request for four additional deputies, McDermott said, adding that one of those positions will work full-time in Seeley Lake, where there were only two deputies operating previously. That is huge for our department, the staffing levels have been low for a long time. On Wednesday, McDermott and Johnson held a swearing-in ceremony for three new patrol deputies, reading them the oath of office and code of conduct for law enforcement officers. On the equipment side, the sheriffs office transitioned deputies into new, more versatile and practical uniforms last year. The move was made with the support of a local businessman, and didnt use taxpayers funds. Working within its existing budget, the sheriffs office also finished outfitting the last deputies with body cameras and stun guns, modernized all ballistic vests and upgraded its fleet of patrol vehicles, some of which had logged more than 160,000 miles. Now, the department has put in place a plan that will replace vehicles every five years or 100,000 miles. Now, I think the oldest car is a 2013 and we are on a schedule to replace them without a budget increase, McDermott said. A dedicated position also was created to track and make sure all deputies are completing mandatory training on equipment and protocol. To improve the response in sexual assault cases, all nine of the office's detectives have also received specialized training that includes a focus on working with victims who been traumatized, he said. During his campaign last year, McDermott talked about wanting to implement a civilian advisory board for the sheriffs office, something it never had in the past. That nine-member panel is set to start work early this year. McDermott said an additional, three-person civilian panel will act as a compliance review board to evaluate grievances against deputies. That panel will also keep track of statistics on complaints, and provide feedback to the sheriff on how to improve the offices practices. *** Likely the most talked about issues in the past year are the disputes and lawsuits involving McDermott and Johnson and supporters of one of their opponents in the 2014 election, former Undersheriff Josh Clark. McDermott and Johnson were voted in following a contentious election season during which they each were awarded $60,000 after filing human rights complaints against former Sheriff Carl Ibsen for retaliation to their candidacy. After the election, Clark resigned three shifts into a rotating assignment as night shift patrol deputy, later filing a complaint of his own claiming he was illegally "demoted" for opposing McDermott. In a report on the complaint, Montana Human Rights Bureau investigator Josh Manning found probable cause that the sheriff's department illegally retaliated against Clark. Clark's complaint is currently set to be taken up at a Human Rights Bureau hearing in June that will determine what, if any damages, he should be awarded. His attorney, Quentin Rhoades, said Clark is seeking about $1 million in damages, but would settle for $750,000. Rhoades said the damages being sought come from a Human Rights Bureau formula that takes into account Clarks pay and benefits, the five more years he expected to work, as well as his expected retirement pay, plus about $100,000 in non-monetary damages. Former Capt. Mike Dominick settled a discrimination complaint after he was moved from captain of detectives to managing the sheriff's office's secure evidence facility. He took a new position with the County Attorney's Office and retained his same level of pay. Paige Pavalone, the former public information officer who returned to standard deputy duty under McDermott, was later fired by the department after she was accused of being untruthful during the investigation into the arrest of a co-worker. Pavalone was also placed on a "Brady list" of officers whose credibility as a witness was put into question. The County Attorney's Office later said that while she was labeled as having problematic credibility, no specific list of "Brady cops" exists. Following her termination, Pavalone filed a lawsuit against the sheriff's office and other county officials, as well as a human rights complaint. Her attorney, Josh Van de Wetering, said she believes her firing was based on her support of Clark. They are waiting on the results of the human rights investigation to move forward with the lawsuit. McDermott said the complaints and lawsuits are intended to distract and obstruct the operations of the sheriffs office, and he is committed to not letting that happen. I anticipated some problems from my opponent and his team just simply because they werent willing to put the results of the election behind them and move forward, he said. Van de Wetering said he thinks thats the wrong mentality to have, given the serious nature of his clients complaint. If the sheriff wants to take it seriously or not, thats up to him, he said. I have great faith in the court system to handle this. Everything that happened to her was politically motivated. Either politically motivated or sexism discrimination. Rhoades said that even if the sheriff wants to say that the lawsuits are politically motivated, that doesnt explain the investigators finding that Clarks complaint had merit. Mr. Manning doesn't have an ax to grind, Rhoades said. If the new sheriff puts you on the lowest level of the team, the point is to humiliate you to the point you will leave so they dont have to deal with you anymore. Like Van de Wetering, Rhoades said Clarks complaint has real substance, and he wants to see the sheriffs office treat it as more than just sour grapes. If they think this is frivolous they are dead wrong, Rhoades said. McDermott and Johnson both said they believe that by early fall all the office's internal issues were resolved. While the sheriff acknowledges complaints against them are still open, he doesnt give it much attention at this point. I think we could have been Mother Teresa and we couldnt avoid it, Johnson said. We could have and we tried to do everything right, but no, I dont think we could have prevented the lawsuits. *** Heading into the new year, McDermott said his primary focus is adopting a new master plan for jail diversion. The operation of the jail, overcrowding at our jail, has been an issue before I took office and since I took office, McDermott said. In the past, solutions which include addressing mental health, addiction and homelessness, and the use of out-of-jail solutions like house arrest have been largely fragmented, McDermott said. He believes elected officials and community leaders are now united in the effort to find a better, more comprehensive fix for what to do with nonviolent and non-dangerous offenders. McDermott said measures like house arrest, GPS tracking and check-in sobriety programs have seen a more than 70 percent success rate, and part of the jail diversion plan will be to expand the use of them for people who are awaiting trial. If you take a guy who has a family, has a full-time job, has benefits and you put him in jail for an extended period, hes going to lose his job, hes going to lose his health care benefits and then you come out and how do you recover from that? Johnson said. At one point this year, the Missoula County jail, which can house more than 400 inmates, became so overcrowded that 16 people were sleeping on the floor in the booking area, and McDermott had to reach out to Ravalli County and ask if some of them could be transferred there. Addressing the large number of people with mental health conditions and those who can't afford to post bond will be another component of the plan. One possible solution that McDermott wants to see is building a 24-hour mental health crisis facility where people who are arrested can get proper treatment. We know that place is not our jail, he said. There are people who are in our jail because there is simply no other place for them. Johnson said deputies are receiving training to help them identify underlying mental health issues, but added that the variety of resources in Missoula for people with such conditions don't include crisis treatment. He cited places like West House in Hamilton, which works collaboratively with law enforcement to provide medical staff to help people in a mental health crisis. McDermott said the plan will also include looking at revising the bail schedule for people who are arrested. He hopes to work with the County Attorneys Office and courts to examine a persons ability to post bond so that low income isn't the reason anyone eligible for release remains in jail. The sheriffs office has already created an administrative position at the jail to evaluate the inmate population daily and communicate with the courts who is most best eligible to be released and placed in a different program. The jail diversion master plan, which is being drafted by state Sen. Cynthia Wolken, likely will be completed and ready to present to the county commissioners for approval early this year, McDermott said. HAMILTON This year marks the 100th that the Bitterroot Public Library has stood in the grand building on State Street in Hamilton. Library staff have selected a theme of 100 Years of Empowering Our Community and are planning events and displays throughout the centennial year. Mark Wetherington, director of the library, said 100 years is a milestone worth celebrating. It is also a perfect time to look ahead and ask bigger questions about what roles libraries can play in their communities in the 21st century, Wetherington said. Our core mission supporting lifelong learning, reading for pleasure and freedom of information is still as relevant now as it was in 1916. However, the materials and services used to accomplish that mission have changed significantly, he said, and will need to continue evolving to meet the needs and interests of the community. The Hamilton Ministerial Association opened the first free library in Ravalli County in April 1903 in a room donated by the Ravalli County Bank. Three months later, Hamilton residents voted to support the library with a one-mill levy, making it a public entity. In 1907, the library moved to the newly constructed City Hall at the corner of State and Third streets, now the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department. As the library grew, the town approached steel magnate Andrew Carnegie for money for a new building. He required it to provide a building site, and in 1914 the Hamilton Womens Club arranged the gift of two lots next door from Margaret Daly. Architect A.J. Gibson designed the building with a daylight basement and classic detailing, and the library opened to the public July 8, 1916. A portico and addition were later built. It has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To celebrate the centennial, the library is planning events across the community. Already on the calendar are the monthly Read to Cats and Dogs program at the Bitter Root Humane Association and a presentation on the history of libraries and literacy in the Bitterroot Valley at the Ravalli County Museum in April. Youth Services librarian Sally Blevins organizes the program that benefits dogs, cats and readers of every age. Our goal is to read to 100 dogs and cats during the year and post our progress at the library, Blevins said. The readers gain fluency and the animals become more socialized, making them better pets when adopted. To participate in the program, meet Blevins at 3:45 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Humane Association. Blevins will also continue to host weekly story times at the library. Babies and Toddler Story Time is for babies 2 and younger with an adult at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, and Childrens Story Time is for kids ages 3 to 5 at 10:45 a.m. Fridays. Our weekly story times will include 100 tips for early literacy easy ways to help pre-readers enjoy books, songs and rhymes, Blevins said. During the summer, we will have challenges to hike, walk or bike 100 miles during our On Your Mark, Get Set, Read summer reading program. Talk about fun. Information about other events will appear on the librarys Facebook page, website, and in a monthly column in the Ravalli Republic newspaper. As part of the centennial celebration, the library is accepting artwork depicting what the Bitterroot Public Library may look like in 100 years. The art may be used for bookmarks, library cards, fliers and displays. Library assistant Tamara Stoker said she is excited to see the submissions. We live in such a talented community and the idea of displaying artwork showing the library 100 years in the future is really exciting to me, Stoker said. Im looking forward to seeing what we get from the community and the schools, and I hope we get something to use as our centennial library card that really shows a creative portrayal of the future of libraries. SHERIDAN, Wyo. Local veterinarian Candice Carden spent the first two weeks of December at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, treating Kr Montana Shake Em and Rusty, two of her clients' horses. She did X-rays to find the reason for the animals' limping and prescribed pain meds to ease the discomfort. But in addition to the typical remedies, Carden brought acupuncture needles. Acupuncture a traditional Chinese practice consists of sticking fine needles into the skin in various strategic places around the body to release pain or provide other treatment. Humans have done acupuncture on animals for thousands of years, according to the Chi Institute of Traditional Veterinary Medicine, a specialist school in Florida. But Carden, owner of Powder River Veterinary Clinic, said what's changing now is how people who haven't heard of the idea respond. "It's becoming more widely accepted," she said in a phone interview on a Wednesday in mid-December while working to remove a horse's fractured tooth. Her clients decided it was worth it to fly her to Nevada so she could help keep the animals healthy during the 10-day competition. "There's a lot of money up for grabs there," Carden said. Carden grew up in Afton and attended veterinary school at Colorado State University. While most of her practice focuses on general care for horses, the acupuncture she does is split about evenly between horses and dogs. She's also done bucking bulls and cows. Most often, Carden uses acupuncture to ease pain, but she also tries it when an animal has nerve damage and cannot use a muscle properly. The needles she inserts stimulate "the tiny, tiny, tiny, electric currents" in the muscle to help the animal regain control. "I've done a few things for people who were pretty skeptical, and to be honest I was pretty skeptical when I started it," she added. But unlike with medical treatment of humans, Carden said, there is no placebo effect. "You can't argue with results, I guess, is the bottom line," she said. Caroline Arrott, associate veterinarian at Big Goose Veterinary Clinic and Wellness Center, agrees. Arrott, who has been practicing veterinary medicine for 19 years, said that while the theory behind acupuncture is the same for humans and animals, the practice is, as one would expect, quite different. "Because you can't say, 'Lay down on this table, take a deep breath, lay still, shut your eyes, think calm thoughts, you know, enjoy your acupuncture session,'" she said. Arrott said that beyond easing pain, animal acupuncture can boost nervous system, endocrine system, liver, kidney and reproductive health, among other benefits. Arrott treats horses, too, and the few temperamental ones she has worked with force her to be light on her feet. With them she uses the "throwing needle technique" literally aiming and throwing the needle into the horse from a few inches away, almost the way a person throws a dart. Some animals Arrott treats are easy-pleasers and relax under her care, seeming to remember how they feel better after the visit. But others, like Chance, get nervous. Chance is a 12-year-old miniature Dachshund. He had always had back problems, according to his owner, Valerie Schuman, perhaps in part due to the stress his breed's abnormally long back creates. But one day in June, Schuman said Chance could not move when she checked on him. Schuman thinks her other, larger dog might have knocked him over. So Schuman brought Chance to the vets at Big Goose and over the course of a couple of weeks, he received two acupuncture sessions and one chiropractic session, another service Big Goose offers. Not just that Chance took herbal supplements, and still does, to help strengthen the discs in his back. Within a month Chance was back on his feet, walking. "I didn't even know if he would recover," Schuman said, calling it a "miracle" that he had. When Chance's session was over, Arrott pulled the needles out and Schuman fit a black hoodie around him, pinching the Velcro shut. A model patient, Chance will be back again in another 30 days for more acupuncture. In recent years, Congress and the Pentagon have stood in the way of President Obamas goal of shutting down the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The legislative hurdles have been predictable in a Republican-led Congress that so often opposes Mr. Obamas initiatives reflexively. The stalling at the Defense Department, where officials have used every bureaucratic trick in the book to slow down the release of inmates, is startling, though, and basically amounts to insubordination. A Reuters article on Tuesday shed new light on the Pentagons obstinance on Guantanamo and the extent to which the department has sought to keep detainees locked away for years without due process in a prison established to sidestep the Constitution and international law. Officials at the Pentagon, Reuters reported, scuttled a potential plan to resettle Tariq Ba Odah, a Yemeni detainee who has been imprisoned since 2002 and was cleared for release in 2009. He is now severely malnourished from having been on a hunger strike for almost nine years. After officials at the State Department persuaded officials from a foreign government to consider taking Mr. Ba Odah in September, those officials made the reasonable request to examine his medical records. Mr. Ba Odahs lawyer approved the request. The Pentagon, however, stalled for six weeks, preposterously arguing that it was protecting Mr. Ba Odahs privacy. Mr. Ba Odah remains locked up, raising the likelihood that he will die in detention. Copyright 2022 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved Whatever is going on in the world, in my life, in my mind...whatever! Local sheriffs are seeing a continuing uptick in applications for concealed weapon permits. "We've seen an increase in new applications along with the renewals we get," said Butte-Silver Bow Undersheriff George Skuletich Friday. Some officials say the world's violent climate has residents on edge and ready to arm themselves for self-protection. "I really see people wanting to take that self-defense stance," said Wynn Meehan, sheriff for Broadwater County. "I think it's a benefit. Everyone has a right to protect themselves, but do it educated and cautiously," he added. The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office had already seen a marked increase in new permits before the year's end. In 2014, it processed 666 permits. As of mid-December, the total for 2015 was already 797. In December alone, 103 new and renewal permits were processed in Lewis and Clark County, most of those being new, according to stats supplied by the sheriff's office. Last week, Meehan received a dozen applications for concealed weapons permits in Broadwater County. "We're seeing an increase," Meehan said. "It's gotten a lot of attention with the amount of violence going on." Meehan referred to an increase in violence locally, nationally and internationally. "I think it's just got people on edge," he added. In Jefferson County, the number of applications and renewals for permits became so daunting officials began having designated days to meet with applicants and review paperwork. "It really takes normally most of the day," Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle said. "We've been having that many." About eight months ago, the county began accepting new applications only on Tuesdays and renewals on Thursdays. The uptick continues, he said. "Overall, the nationwide climate is contributing to it," Doolittle said. "I do think people are looking at self-protection." Doolittle encourages people to train and take weapons courses. "Carrying a concealed weapon is a big responsibility," he said. Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton echoed Doolittle's sentiments. "Concealed weapon permits are not for everybody," he said. "We haven't had many problems with permit holders," Skuletich said, "But if a permit holder is convicted of a violent crime, a domestic situation or whatever, we jerk the permit that day." Applications can be made with the local sheriff's office where the interested party resides. Permits last four years. The requirements for applicants for concealed weapon permits include being a U.S. citizen and a resident of Montana for at least six months with a valid ID. Applicants must also demonstrate familiarity and proficiency with a firearm proved by completion of a hunter or safety course or by law enforcement or military training. Applicants also are screened for violent criminal records or a history of mental illness. In Lewis and Clark County in 2015, four applications were denied. Another three permits were revoked. While Montana is an open-carry state, Dutton said, if a citizen were to walk down the street brandishing a firearm, others would surely question the intent. "It makes people nervous. They're going to call us," Dutton said. "Especially with today's climate with active shooters, people are very nervous," he added. The new EPA Clean Power Plan for Montana, which would reduce Montanas carbon emissions by 47 percent, has generated the sky is falling reactions from the coal industry and their political supporters. NorthWestern Energy, a loud leader in the anti-EPA propaganda campaign, responded with a report from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research claiming catastrophe would result. Professional computer modelers have a saying, garbage in, garbage out. When NWE set the studys restrictions, boundaries and assumptions, it guaranteed the study would only produce the results NWE wanted a prediction of unacceptable job losses and a depressed economy. When the Bureau of Business and Economic Research allowed itself to be used as a hired gun by NWE, it hurt its own credibility as an objective business organization operating under the protective umbrella of the University of Montana. I hope that I am not the only one who thinks that Montanas universities should be not be used as a platform to support political propaganda. Instead, we Montanans must realize that the coal industry is in its last stage of life. The signs of the coal industrys death are obvious, not only on Wall Street and in the circles of responsible public leadership, but to anyone who is paying the least bit of attention. Instead of allowing ourselves to be distracted by false scenarios, we need to be looking for smart options for ramping up zero-carbon emission energy sources while ramping down coal-fired power. And just as importantly, develop options that provide a future for those workers who have spent their lives working in the coal industry. Hopefully, Governor Bullock will rise above the politics of coal and challenge his Clean Power Advisory Council to identify options meeting or exceeding the new CPP targets. -- Duane Catlett, Clancy The two stereoscopic photographs of settlers in covered wagons traveling the Oregon Trail through southwestern Wyoming in 1859 are very rare. There werent a lot of photographs being made out West in that era, and these are even more unusual considering they was taken by famed painter Albert Bierstadt, much better known for his softly focused, large-scale idyllic landscape paintings. The images are kind of hard to see, but they are pretty amazing pieces, said Tamsen Hert, president of the Wyoming State Historical Society. State treasures The photographs were one of Herts favorite artifacts out of the 41 submitted last year for a friendly competition seeking Wyomings Most Significant Artifacts to commemorate the states 125th anniversary. A panel of judges narrowed the 41 to 25 and about 2,000 people voted online for their top 10 choices, which included the Bierstadt photos. We thought it would be a fun way to garner interest in the artifact side of Wyoming history, she said. And although pieced together on a shoestring budget, Hert said the competition was so successful that another one is planned in 2016. Were trying to get more of the museums involved, she said. Were hoping the park system might contribute because of the National Park Service centennial. Albert who? Although Bierstadts brothers became well-known in the 1860s for their photography, the ones submitted by the Museum of the Mountain Man, located in Pinedale, Wyo., are some of the last remaining out of an estimated 50 glass plate stereoviews taken by Albert Bierstadt. The photographs were made during a trip west with Frederick Landers road survey expedition in the spring and summer of 1859. In a description about the significance of the artifacts, the museums staff wrote: These stereoviews probably represent the earliest photographs of Oregon Trail emigrant wagons crossing through what is now Wyoming. In addition to the rarity of these Bierstadt images, they serve to visually document a major transition of American cultural history as Wyoming, as well as the entire western landscape, evolved from being a fur trade frontier to becoming a region of pioneer settlement. Thousands more Although interesting for their history, the stereoscopic photographs represent only a fraction of the thousands of artifacts found in Wyomings many museums. The competition really highlighted the strengths of the Wyoming museum community as a whole, said Doug Cubbison, curator of the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum in Casper, Wyo., and an executive board member of the Wyoming State Historical Society. True West magazine held a competition of the top 10 museums of Western history and Wyoming had two of them. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, of course, and the Fort Casper Museum, a really small city museum. Thats indicative of the strength of our museum consortium. Veteran nominee Last year the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum nominated a mess kit assembled by World War II prisoner of war Leonard Robison, who would return from the war to live in Casper, Wyo., as its submission to the competition. During his time as a POW and slave laborer in the Marutzu Camp, Niigata, Japan, from 1942-1945, he assembled these objects by being one of six known survivors of over 100 diphtheria victims in the camps, the museums staff wrote in its nomination form. These four simple items are silent witnesses to the torture, brutality, starvation, disease, neglect and death suffered by them over the course of three and a half years. Cubbison said even though there are an estimated 40,000 artifacts contained just in the veterans museum, it was fairly easy to choose the mess kit assembled by Robison as one that had historic significance, was scarce and valuable. Albert, again Interestingly, Bierstadt had another piece nominated as a significant artifact: an 1889 painting set in either the Sweetwater River valley or more likely in Yellowstone National Park depicting an Indian on horseback stabbing a lance into a large bull bison. The oil painting was nominated by the Whitney Western Art Museum in Cody, Wyo., part of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. A collection of 1905 ration tickets from the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming was also a top 10 finisher in the competition, submitted by the Plains Indian Museum in Cody, Wyo., also part of the Center of the West. The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone residents (traditional enemies living on the reservation) presented the tickets to officials in exchange for food and supplies, according to curator Rebecca West. Other top 10 artifacts included: the Wyoming state flag, South Pass City mill, a mammoth skeleton, a 1863 map, a sheepherder wagon, an Apatosaurus specimen and Clovis points. A complete list of the nominated artifacts, along with details about them, can be found online at the UW Libraries website. A strange thing happened the other day in Washington, D.C.: Marco Rubio actually showed up for work. Without needing MapQuest he found his way to the Senate floor. He even remembered where his seat was. These days a Rubio sighting in the Capitol is rare, the birdwatcher's equivalent of spotting a blue-footed booby. Like all senators who've run for president, Marco's been away a lot. The reason for his recent detour to Washington was to cast a very important vote affecting the security of this country, and of all the Floridians he's supposed to represent. The Senate was considering a law to prevent persons on the FBI's terror watch list from buying explosives or guns. To most Americans, that's a no-brainer. Rubio showed up to vote against the bill. Went out of his way to vote against it. This was only one day after the mass shootings in San Bernardino. The measure was defeated by the Republican majority, slaves as always to the NRA, which opposed the law. (Rubio isn't the only GOP senator running for president who's terrified of the gun lobby Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham voted against the watch list ban, too.) In his prime-time speech from the Oval Office, President Obama asked: "What could possibly be the argument for allowing a terrorist suspect to buy a semiautomatic weapon?" Political cowards can always find an argument. Rubio and others, including Jeb Bush, say they're concerned about the accuracy of the government's no-fly list, which is a part of the FBI's consolidated watch list. The no-fly database was initiated after 9/11 to stop terrorists from boarding commercial airline flights. In its early years the list included some improbable names, including Sen. Ted Kennedy, the deceased 9/11 hijackers and hundreds of others that shouldn't have been there. We don't know exactly who's on the no-fly list now, because it's secret. Rubio says banning gun sales to everybody that the FBI considers a possible threat would penalize innocent citizens who are mistakenly put on the list. He got this script straight from the NRA. The real bad guys on the watch list must be laughing their butts off. We won't let them get on an airplane, but they can stroll into any gun shop and buy an AR-15. What a country! According to the General Accounting Office, more than 2,000 persons on the U.S. terror watch list were able to legally purchase firearms between 2004 and 2014. If that doesn't scare you, nothing will. It's a small comfort that the FBI can track who among its terror suspects is buying guns. The fact that even one of them can legally obtain assault weapons is outrageous. Nobody is naive enough to believe that any law can stop aspiring terrorists from arming themselves. The San Bernardino killers weren't on the watch list, and they obtained their legally purchased assault rifles through a friend. But why make it easier for murderous zealots like these? Under current laws, even if the radicalized San Bernardino couple had been on the watch list, the FBI could not have legally stopped them from buying guns, ammo or explosive materials as long as they gave their real names. Most Americans, including plenty of Republicans, think that's nuts. The very minimum we should do to protect the homeland is prevent these maniacs from buying high-powered weapons over the counter. What other modern nation under threat allows such reckless nonsense? Since 2007, the government has pushed Congress to prohibit the sale of weapons and explosives to those on the terror watch list. As president, even George W. Bush supported such a ban. Over and over it gets defeated, led by NRA stooges like Rubio. (He also voted against a bill to have gun-show dealers and online firearms sellers use background checks to identify convicted felons and mentally ill persons). U.S. intelligence gathering is far from flawless, as we know from 9/11. But what's the point of making lists of potentially dangerous individuals if law enforcement can't act on that information to avert future bloodbaths? It's likely that some of those 2,000-plus persons on the watch list who have bought weapons pose no harm to the public. It's also likely that some have violence in mind, and these plots can simmer for years. If the day ever comes when one of those watch-list suspects uses that legally purchased weapon for mass murder, part of the blame will fall on those in Washington who made it so easy. Just try to find Marco then. Carl Hiaasen is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may write to him at 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Senior Resources Senior Resources is located in the Shepley Building, 1808 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine. Hours are 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. The agency provides services to Muscatine County residents age 60 or older and programs and activities each month for all seniors. For more information, call 563-263-7292 or 888-667-2026. Adult Day Center Senior Resources Adult Day Center provides loved ones with socialization and programs while caregivers complete errands and appointments. Senior Resources also offers bathing and a low-stimulus room. For more information, call 563-263-7292 or 888-667-2026. Advance Care Planning Honoring Your Wishes is a community-wide program that helps people create an advance care plan so people can outline their future healthcare goals. You will then make a written plan that will describe your wishes to others if you cannot communicate. This service is available at no cost for adults ages 18 years and older. Call Senior Resources for more information. Chore Program The Chore Program helps seniors age 60 and over, in Muscatine County, with lawn mowing, snow shoveling and heavy household cleaning. A sliding fee scale is used to calculate the rate. Please call Senior Resource if you have any questions. Home Repair Program The Home Repair Program is offered by Senior Resources and helps seniors age 60 and over, in Muscatine County, to fix or repair minor household problems. A sliding fee scale is used to calculate reimbursement for labor. Please call Senior Resource if you have any questions 263-7292. Meals on Wheels Senior Resources Meals on Wheels program consists of a lunch-time meal delivered by volunteers to area seniors who have trouble cooking for themselves, possibly live alone and have no one in the home to cook for them or for someone who has just gotten out of the hospital and needs help temporarily with meals until they get back on their feet. If you would like more information or to sign up for the program, please call Shannon at 563-263-7292 or email to meals@sr-resources.org. Medical equipment Senior Resources and sponsor Trinity Episcopal Church are offering the Durable Medical Equipment Lending Closet. The program, which lends medical items free of charge, is available to residents of Muscatine and the surrounding area, but not limited to seniors. Anyone borrowing equipment is asked to sign it out and agree to bring it back. There is no time limit. Items include: bath benches, canes, commodes, crutches, walkers, walkers with wheels and wheelchairs.Donations for this program can be dropped off at Senior Resources, 1808 Mulberry Ave., or Trinity Episcopal Church, 211 Walnut St. Pickups can also be arranged by calling Senior Resources at 563-263-7292 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; or Trinity Episcopal Church at 563-263-2177 from 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday-Friday. Outreach The Outreach program helps seniors file paperwork with the Department of Human Services, gives referrals to other agencies, and makes friendly visits along with other special projects. Available in Spanish. Call Laura at 563-263-7292 for more information. SHIIP program Senior Resources offers free and confidential Medicare counseling through its Senior Health Insurance Information Program. This service is offered through the State of Iowa to help people sort through confusing information about Medicare and health insurance. For more information, call Laura at 563-263-7292. Volunteers needed Senior Resources is looking for volunteers to deliver Meals On Wheels. We have five routes that go out from Trinity Muscatine hospital Monday-Friday. We have two routes that go out on Saturday mornings. The routes take about an hour. For more information call Shannon at 263-7292. Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) -- Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler delivered this week's Republican address, calling for a renewed effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "As Congress returns next week, in one of our first acts of the new year, the House will vote on a bill that would eliminate key parts of Obamacare and stop taxpayer funding for abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood," Hartzler said in her address. Calling the potential passage of that bill a "significant step in improving our health care system," Hartzler criticizes the manner in which Obamacare "forces peolpe to buy insurance that's much more expensive than what they need." "If we want to make health insurance more affordable, we should make insurance companies compete for your business," Hartzler implores, saying that Americans should not be mandated to purchase insurance. "We owe it to the American people to take our best shot at repealing Obamacare, and that's what we'll do next week," Hartzler concludes, previewing the "choice" the president would have to make should the bill reach his desk -- "does he support the people and women's health, or does he support Washington mandates and tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood." Read the full transcript of the Republican address: Hello, Id like to first extend my thoughts and prayers to those affected by the catastrophic weather events of this past week. Missouri is experiencing extensive flooding as are other states. Families across the South are picking up the pieces of their lives after being devastated by tornadoes. Ice and snow have caused power outages in multiple states. It wasn't the holiday week we were expecting but there is help. If you are affected, I urge you to reach out to your U.S. Representatives office, state and local authorities, or the federal and state emergency management agencies for resources to deal with the aftermath. While the assistance can't undo the damage, it can help get you on a path to recovery so 2016 can be a New Year with new hope. As Congress returns next week, in one of our first acts of the new year, the House will vote on a bill that would eliminate key parts of Obamacare and stop taxpayer funding for abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood. This would be a significant step in improving our health care system. If this bill becomes law, patients will be able to choose a health insurance plan that works for themwithout Washington getting in the way. Thats the problem with Obamacare: It forces people to buy insurance thats much more expensive than what they need. And when you force millions of people to buy expensive and unaffordable insurance, its not that surprising to see premiums going up. Deductibles are going up tooall while peoples choices are disappearing. Theyre losing their doctors. They cant find a good plan. Millions of people have lost the plans they had. Far too many are paying more and getting less. If we want to make health insurance more affordable, we should make insurance companies compete for your business. That means we should not force people to buy insurance. It means the exact opposite. Our bill addresses this injustice by eliminating the core of Obamacare: It repeals the individual mandate. If this bill becomes law, you wont have to buy insurance or face a penalty. It will be your choice. This bill also eliminates the employer mandate to offer insurance. No longer will job creators have to choose between hiring more workers or paying for coverage they cant afford. And this bill eliminates many of the Obamacare taxes on things like prescription drugs and medical devices. Critical medicine and medical devices are the very things that save lives. They should never have been taxed in the first place. This bill will set things right. The point of health care is to preserve and protect life. Thats why this bill stops taxpayer funding for abortion providers. The people have, for years, asked Congress to stop sending taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood, especially after we learned last year of the disturbing practices Planned Parenthood officials engage in such as harvesting and selling baby body parts. These actionsalong with the hundreds of thousands of abortions they perform each yearshow a blatant disregard for human life. That's why this bill places a moratorium on taxpayer funding to abortion providers and redirects that money to community health centers. These health centers serve eight times more women patients than Planned Parenthood, and they provide much more comprehensive care. We were sent to Congress to fight for the American people. They do not want their healthcare dictated to them by Washington. And they dont want their tax dollars going to abortion providers. We have taken many votes to preserve health care choices and protect precious tax dollars in the House. If the president didn't hear the people's voices earlier, hopefully, he will through this bill. It will go directly to his desk by way of the reconciliation process, which avoids obstruction by Senate Democrats. We owe it to the American people to take our best shot at repealing Obamacare, and thats what well do next week. As a result, President Obama will soon have a choice: Does he support the people and womens health, or does he support Washington mandates and tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood? For the sake of the American people, I hope he makes the right choice. Thanks for listeningHappy New Year and God Bless. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Minister of Communications Yunus Carrim gazetted a new broadband policy for South Africa on Friday, 6 December 2013, promising to connect 50% of the population at 5Mbps. By 2020 90% of South Africans must have access to 5Mbps, while 50% of the population must enjoy speeds of 100Mbps. President Jacob Zuma announced during his State of the Nation address that 2015 will mark the beginning of the first phase of the South African governments broadband roll-out initiative. Telkom has been designated as the lead agency to assist with the roll-out. The initial phase of the governments broadband roll-out will encompass offices in 8 rural municipalities. While this is a start, it will not do much to help the government to achieve its lofty goal of having half of South Africans connect to the Internet at 5Mbps in 2016. Akamais Q3 2015 State of the Internet report shows that on 22% of Internet users in South Africa connect at speeds of 4Mbps or higher. South Africa was also the only one of the surveyed EMEA countries to see a decline in 4 Mbps broadband adoption decline on a year-over-year basis, as its adoption rate dropped 5.2%. While this is bad, it is even worse when you consider that only a small percentage of South Africans have access to the Internet. This means that only 22% of the people who are lucky enough to access the Internet have speeds of higher than 4Mbps. The following table shows just how poorly South Africa compares when looking at 4 Mbps broadband adoption in the EMEA region. More on broadband Fixing South Africas broadband rollout failure: Minister Bad broadband more harmful than Apartheid: minister How to make broadband cheaper Will Jarvis is finding out what it means to be a second-generation vintner in the Napa Valley. Will is son to William and Leticia, founders of the Jarvis Estate winery and vineyard located in the eastern hills above Napa. The estate is about a 15-minute drive from downtown and has stunning views of the valley and beyond. Ive always known I would eventually come back, said 32-year-old Will during a winery tour. After graduating with my MBA from Stanford in 2011, I spent a couple of years in banking, gaining outside experience. But my parents and I always knew that Id help my family manage the winery someday. The Jarvis estate is composed of more than 1,300 total acres, 37.5 of which are planted in vines. A large understated door at the entrance to a cave opens to a 45,000-square-foot system of tunnels that house all the winery operations and are powered by solar energy. The vast underground caves are lined with barrels. Sconced lighting provides an elegant glow to the cave walls, and the sound of rushing water grows louder as one twists deeper down under the earth. Will and his father lead the tour, each talking in turn, highlighting that their wines are all estate-grown and emphasizing that all the winemaking occurs underground in temperature-controlled conditions. Up ahead, a spectacular underground waterfall comes into view. Will grew up in Napa, and by the time he finished middle school he had made his own first wine. After going to elementary school in Napa, I transferred to Harker private school down in San Jose, he said. I spent my weekdays there and weekends back home. When I was about 13 I got the idea to ask the headmaster if I could make wine for my science project that year. I was a little surprised when he agreed. I picked the grapes myself and made the wine in my dorm room. A few months later I had created my first vintage. My parents and I opened a bottle of it years later and we were all pleasantly surprised by the fruity flavors. Williams path to wine and the Napa Valley was not as clear cut as his sons. He was born in 1925 in Sayre, Okla. His first stint in college was at the University of Oklahoma, after which he went on to Annapolis to become an officer in the U.S. Navy, spending time in China just after the end of World War II. Back in the United States after his tours of duty, he furthered his education at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. After obtaining his MBA at Stanford, he did what many other successful men of the 1950s did he went to work for Hewlett-Packard and then left to start his own company. After HP, I spent a year back at Stanford taking graduate-level electronics courses to learn the latest technology, he said, And then in 1960, two other engineers and I started Wiltron, an electronics company. Looking for a place to settle By the early 1980s, his company Wiltron had grown into a multimillion-dollar business, and he and his wife Leticia were spending some of their time traveling and exploring the world. We had spent time in France studying French literature at three different universities in three different French regions, he said. Each region had its own winemaking style, and we got interested in wine. By the mid 80s, Will had been born, and William and Leticia were looking for a place to settle. We had some friends who had a place in Napa, William said, but we couldnt decide between moving to France or staying here. But his wifes background helped tip the scales. My wife grew up on a hacienda in Mexico, and the hills above Napa must have reminded her of home, he said. That was enough. Beyond the ties to Leticias memories of growing up, Napa provided an environment that supported experimentation. The great soils here were reminiscent of our French experience, William said. But my engineering background led me to wonder at the time if all their winemaking traditions were really founded in good science. For example, the French said that older vineyards were better. Dr. Smart, our viticulture consultant, said the reason old vineyards were better is that the vines had fewer leaves, which permitted more sunlight on the grapes. He proved that we could achieve the same result on new vineyards by just picking the leaves that shaded the grape clusters. Many vineyards in Napa are doing that now. Elegant underground table The tour pauses at an underground room set with an elegant table covered in wine glasses and plates of cheese and bread. Seven wines are poured, including the 2006 cabernet sauvignon reserve ($230). Although known for their elegant cabernets and chardonnay, on that day, two of the standouts included the 2012 merlot ($52) and the 2012 tempranillo ($88). They produced 1,477 cases of the merlot, which had velvety tannins and rich dark-fruit flavors, finishing with chocolate and a hint of raspberry. Although the 2012 tempranillo is nearly sold out, only now available in half bottles, this wine is stunning with rich, round tannins and deep plum flavors that blend seamlessly with leather and cigar tobacco. The wine lingered on the palate, leaving a lasting impression of cherry cola and clove. Second-generation challenges Will the winemaking approach change over time? Will is quick to respond. Im a strong believer in the winemaking process that has been established by my dad, consulting winemaker Dimitri Tchelistcheff and our winemaker Ted Henry, he said. So what are some of the challenges faced by second-generation Napa Valley vintners like him? One of the most unique challenges is how to strike the right balance between respecting the established traditions and also making your own mark, Will said. I think Ive been able to strike the right balance so far, but I would never change something that was already working well just to satisfy my own ego. He said he looks to other Napa Valley families for inspiration. I think Peter Mondavi Jr. is a good example, he said. Peter is a fellow Stanford alum and an active contributor to the business school. I saw him speak once or twice at Stanford, and it seemed like there was successful continuity between Peter Mondavi Sr. and the next generation. Will sees technology as one way to make his mark. I see an opportunity to take advantage of recent agricultural technologies to optimize the consistency of our production, he said. This is an increasingly important challenge in the context of climate change, which can result in increased variability from year to year. An example of using new technologies is our recent collaboration with Fruition Sciences, which has already proved to be useful during the 2015 growing season, allowing us to optimize our water use. Like his parents, Will supports the local arts. My parents have given me a deep appreciation for the performing arts, said Will. They have steadfastly supported the local community through their creation of the Jarvis Music Conservatory in Napa, which I also strongly support. I think the conservatory is relatively unknown, in spite of its quality programs, and I see an opportunity to increase its activity and visibility. When William was asked what hed like to be remembered for in 50 years, he looked at his son, a small smile on his face. I hope the winery is still making high-quality wine, he said and paused for a moment. Wine caves can last for a very, very long time. Besides, our name is on the bottle. Will returned his fathers gaze, repeating his fathers words with earnestness, Our name is on the bottle. Tim Carl is a Calistoga resident and freelance writer. Anyone's list of best books of the year is going to be incomplete and biased. Mine, for example, is weighted toward books about economic theory and the financial industry. That means that 2015 is the perfect year for me to list my recommendations, since this was a particularly epic time for books about the discipline of economics. In no particular order, here is a short list of good ones: "The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath" by Ben S. Bernanke The story of the housing crash, the Lehman shock and the global financial crisis is by now common knowledge. What's less known is how modern economic theory guided the thinking of the elites charged with halting the crisis. "Courage to Act" tells this story. Ben Bernanke was the right man in the right place at the right time. He was by training an expert on the Great Depression who just happened to be chairman of the Federal Reserve during the onset of a new and similar crash. He was one of the only mainstream economic theorists who had thought deeply about the connections between finance and the macroeconomy. No person was more suited to the job than Bernanke. Very few would have had the "Courage to Act" as he did. Bernanke is too modest to say this. It is only by reading his memoir that one gets a clear sense of his thoughtfulness, intellectual humility and powerful intelligence. This stands in strong contrast to the confused, ad-hoc decision-making apparatus of the Treasury Department, regulators, the large financial institutions and Congress. "Courage to Act" is a reminder of why an independent Fed, staffed with our most thoughtful and humble macroeconomists, is an important institution. "Economics Rules: The Rights and Wrongs of the Dismal Science" by Dani Rodrik As mainstream economists go, Dani Rodrik is a reformer. He is one of the only top scholars in the field to have questioned the hallowed pro-free-trade consensus, and to have explored the taboo idea of government industrial policy that targets industries and infrastructure to promote growth. So Rodrik is in a unique position to write a book about the econ profession and its discontents. The central tenet of Rodrik's book is that economic models are basically just fables. For any phenomenon -- for example, the housing market -- there are many alternative models. Each one represents a different way of thinking about this market -- a different simple, imaginary world that hopefully sheds light on one thing that could be affecting housing. Economics, Rodrik asserts, is a craft, not a science -- the key to being a good economist isn't to find the right model, but to wisely pick from among the menu of available alternative models in each situation. This vision of what economists do is familiar to anyone who has worked in the profession, but will be startling and -- I predict -- a little off-putting to outsiders who are used to getting more concrete results from science. In my opinion, it underrates the importance of the empirical revolution taking place in economics, which promises to help us choose between economic models not based on plausibility, but on evidence. "Economics Rules" is a must-read for critics and defenders of econ alike. "Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics" by Richard Thaler Richard Thaler is another rebel economist. In the 1970s and 1980s, the profession began discarding its long-cherished assumptions of perfectly rational consumers and producers, and toying with ideas from psychology. Thaler was one of the people at the forefront of this effort, and in "Misbehaving," he narrates the history of the behavioral mini-revolution. This story is engaging because it shows how scientific fields change direction. If you've ever read the philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn, you're familiar with the idea that anomalies accumulate and slowly poke holes in the dominant theory until a crisis is reached. Thaler's memoir recounts the process of anomalies piling up. It is fundamentally a story about how the economics discipline collectively realized that it was wrong about some things. It isn't the story of how a new paradigm arose to replace the old one -- in fact, that hasn't happened yet. Eventually, we will get a more complete understanding of how economic agents make decisions, but these things take time. "Chicagonomics: The Evolution of Chicago Free Market Economics" by Lanny Ebenstein The so-called Chicago School of economics was the last great political-economic school of thought to emerge in the U.S. It blended libertarian political ideas with simple mathematical modeling, all organized around one central principle -- that markets work. Many influential ideas and schools have emerged since the Chicago School, but all of them have been either limited in scope or have avoided mixing political ideology with assessment of the facts. Chicago was grandiose, sweeping and uncompromising. It attracted some of the nation's brightest minds, and had a huge and lasting impact on our economic policies. In "Chicagonomics," Lanny Ebenstein, a historian of economics, tells the tale of how this intellectual movement came together and found its destiny. "Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction" by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner The books in the list so far have been all about theory -- about how economists and policy makers hunt around in the dark for something that seems to make sense. But it's nice to know that sometimes, social scientists can actually predict the future. Phil Tetlock and Dan Gardner have written an excellent book about the times that forecasting has worked. Drawing on lessons gleaned from observing individuals who have been remarkably successful at predicting political and economic events, Tetlock and Gardner offer their scholarly insight into how forecasting should best be done. Debbie Peecook spent the last 30 years climbing the ranks at the Napa Police Department, becoming the highest ranking female officer whose career began here. Although she loves her job, its time to retire, she said. If we keep staying, then nobody else can grow here, Peecook said in an interview on Wednesday, her last day on the job. Peecook, now 53, decided to become a police officer when she was 21 with no college education and a full-time job, she put herself through the Napa Valley Police Academy. It was 1985 and Peecook was among only a handful of women on the Napa Police force. She hadnt been initially drawn to law enforcement. She was working in the horse industry, not making much money, when she met a female deputy from the Napa County Sheriffs Office. Peecook talked to the deputy about her job and decided that being a police officer seemed exciting. The benefits were good, and putting bad guys in jail sounded like fun, she said. For the first few years, like many new officers, Peecook worked patrol during the graveyard shift. Right away, she felt that things would be different for her because she was a woman. It was difficult for women to get any specialty assignments or advancement opportunities, she said. There would have been no way I would have been promoted. But Peecook wasnt seeking promotion. Not yet. Her goal was to be on the SWAT team. She wanted it desperately, she said, and tried out for the position repeatedly in the beginning part of her career. The department let her try out for the position, but it was clear to her even then that it was not going to happen. I was pulled aside by some of the SWAT guys who said, Ya know, good job. But even if you could pass this, its not the place for you right now. I knew I was not gonna get there, but I just wanted them to at least consider it. And they considered it for a nanosecond. They told her to keep trying, but her goals had to change, she said. Peecook made the most out of the various roles she did get during her career, even taking additional courses, earning her degree and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities. She took her specialty assignment as a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer seriously as well. Peecook was the only DARE officer at the time to teach in elementary, middle and high schools. She worked not only in drug, alcohol and gang prevention, but tried to help with intervention. DARE was a big deal back then, she said. Following her DARE assignment, Peecook was finally given some more dangerous and physically demanding roles such as positions on the gang task force, with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau, and the police dog unit. She also worked as a crime scene specialist, in youth services, as a communications manager and in special operations. In the last 10 to 15 years, opportunities for female officers became more achievable, she said. During that time, Peecook was promoted to lieutenant and even worked as a tactical commander for the SWAT team. Her favorite position, though, was working with the dog unit. It was very fun. Not only did she enjoy working alongside her dog, Max, Peecook also enjoyed going out to serve search warrants, working with the SWAT team, riding in helicopters over the valley and travelling to other cities to provide aid. During that time, she even used vacation time to go to Southern California and work the California/Mexico border. As a police officer, Peecook saw her share of danger. She was in a few fights, including one shoplifting incident during which she pulled the female shoplifter out of the getaway car in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven. During another incident, Peecook pulled over a vehicle whose driver later admitted that he was planning on shooting her if she hadnt taken him out of the car. She said that she could feel something was off even before she got to the pulled-over station wagon. I sure hope cover gets here fast, she thought. Although threats were made to her and her dog partner, like any other officer, there were many times that being a female worked to her advantage, she said. Females bring a different aspect to law enforcement, she said, because women are often skilled communicators and can talk many people down. Being a female supervisor, though, wasnt always easy. It was difficult to train, mentor and discipline certain officers who didnt want the help at all, especially those who had been at the department longer than she had. Many, who were unwilling to listen in the first place, definitely didnt want to hear it from a woman, she said. At the Napa Police Department, there are not many more women on the force than there were in 1985 when Peecook began. Now that shes retired, there are only six female officers out of 74 sworn officers, she said. Law enforcement is not a widely sought-out position by females, Peecook explained. It is still seen as a career dominated by men, and many women think that in order to be an officer you have to be super fast, strong and able to fight, she added. Peecook doesnt know what exactly she will be doing now that she is retired, but she will be spending more time with her dogs, cats, chickens, goats and horse, Weston. She and Weston will continue to do dressage something Peecook has always been involved with. The possibility of going back to school excites her as well as continuing her work with Friday Night Live and other alcohol prevention and intervention programs. At the end of the day, its satisfying to not only put bad guys away, she said, but to also see the successes around the community. People who commit crimes sometimes get their lives together, and when they do, they often thank officers for not leaving them alone and for influencing them to change for the better, Peecook said. Police work is about problem solving and helping people out, she said. Women interested in law enforcement should go on a few ride-alongs, she said, adding that there are many different opportunities within law enforcement, so women should not underestimate themselves when it comes to a career. These days, women who want families can become police officers, she said. You can balance both. You can have both. Seven years ago, I sat across from Farrah Fawcett in the living room of her Los Angeles condo. In what would be her last media interview before she died in 2009, the actress described her suspicion that an employee at UCLA Medical Center had shared details of her cancer treatment and the setbacks along the way with the National Enquirer. Whenever she sought treatment there, the tabloids were quick with a story, even if it wasnt right. I actually kept saying for months and months and months, This is coming from here, Fawcett said in the summer of 2008. I was never more sure of anything in my life. To prove her theory, Fawcett set up a sting: In May 2007, she withheld news of her cancers return from nearly all of her relatives and friends. Within days, the story was in the Enquirer. I couldnt believe how fast it came out, Fawcett said. A UCLA employee was caught and charged with selling information to the tabloid. She pleaded guilty but died before she was sentenced. In 2008, prompted by Fawcetts experience and those of other celebrities, California passed a law authorizing fines on hospitals that fail to protect patient privacy. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it; his then-wife, Maria Shriver, was one of those whose records had been accessed inappropriately at UCLA. At the time, I thought that this was a problem largely confined to the People magazine world of celebrities and that this law would quash the prurient interest in their medical records. I was wrong. After spending the past year reporting on loopholes and lax enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal patient-privacy law known as HIPAA, Ive come to realize that its not just celebrity patients who are at risk. We all are. Ive talked to hundreds of people who said their medical records were hacked, snooped in, shared or stolen. Some were worried about potential consequences for themselves and their families. For others, the impact has been real and devastating, requiring therapy and medication. It has destroyed their faith in the medical establishment. I spoke to Jacqueline Stokes, a cybersecurity consultant. When she went to what was supposed to be a secure website to check the results of a paternity test shed purchased at a local pharmacy, she stumbled upon 6,000 other peoples test results. She complained to the federal regulator that enforces HIPAA, but she was told that the lab wasnt covered by the law when it was drafted in 1996, its authors probably hadnt imagined such things as over-the-counter paternity tests. Stokes gave up when she was told to contact a different agency. I met Kenneth Chanko, whose dad, Mark, was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2011 after being struck by a sanitation truck. Unbeknownst to his family, a real-life medical show, NY Med, was filming in the hospital at the time. The following year, Mark Chankos widow was watching the show on ABC and realized that the blurred-out man dying on the TV screen in her living room was her husband. No one had told the family or asked for permission. The Chankos filed a lawsuit against the hospital and the TV network, as well as a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services office for civil rights, which enforces HIPAA. The lawsuit was dismissed and is being appealed to New Yorks top court. The complaint with the civil rights office, filed in January 2013, is pending. In the meantime, New York Citys hospitals voluntarily agreed this summer not to allow commercial filming of patients without their permission. I talked to Edie McGee, a lawyer for a federal agency who lives in Maryland and whose name was leaked to the media in 2003. She had just returned from China after adopting her daughter when she came down with an upper respiratory infection. Doctors suspected she had the SARS virus. Before the lab results even came back, a Washington Post reporter showed up at her door, and other media outlets wanted interviews, too. And I spoke with a woman named Frances whose diagnosis with a sexually transmitted disease was plastered on Facebook by a former friend who worked at the Indiana hospital where she received treatment. PLZ HELP EXPOSE THIS HOE! the public post said. Frances now drives miles out of her way to go grocery shopping so she can avoid people in her town. I was surprised by just how many health workers have leaked details about acquaintances who have STDs. Ive written about nursing-home workers who posted dehumanizing, explicit photos of residents on Snapchat and about a New Jersey psychology practice that didnt redact patients mental health diagnoses or treatments as part of legal actions to secure payment of unpaid bills. Even the names and diagnoses of minors were included. In each story, a common theme emerged: HIPAA wasnt working the way we expect. And the agency charged with enforcing it, the HHS office for civil rights, wasnt taking aggressive action against those who violated the law. We all know HIPAA, whether we recognize the acronym or not. Its what requires us to stand behind a line, away from other customers, at the pharmacy counter or when checking in at the doctors office. It is the reason we get privacy declaration forms to sign whenever we visit a new medical provider. It is used to scare health-care workers, telling them that if they improperly disclose others information, they could pay a steep fine or even go to jail. But in reality, it is a toothless tiger. Unless youre famous, most hospitals and clinics dont keep tabs on who looks at your records, if you dont complain. And even though the civil rights office can impose large fines, it rarely does: It received nearly 18,000 complaints in 2014 but took only six formal actions that year. A recent report from the HHS inspector general said the office wasnt keeping track of repeat offenders, much less doing anything about them. Making matters worse, HIPAA does not allow patients to sue health providers for damages if they violate the law. So if the federal government doesnt enforce the law, there are often no consequences for breaking it, though some patients have found grounds to sue under some states laws. What can be done? For one, the HHS civil rights office could use tools already at its disposal: When the office imposes fines for HIPAA violations, it gets tokeep the money for its own enforcement efforts, rather than hand it over to the treasury. Experts I interviewed said the agency needs to use its authority more and demonstrate that its serious about violations, particularly repeat ones. ProPublica recently analyzed data requested under the Freedom of Information Act and found that hundreds of health providers have been cited for violations multiple times. The top offender was the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, followed by CVS Health. Moreover, the government still needs to write regulations to implement provisions of a law passed in 2009. One would require health providers to give patients, upon request, a log of everyone who looked at their electronic medical record. Another would give patients whose privacy has been violated a share of the money HHS recovers. Finally, the government has yet to submit to Congress a report due in 2010 with recommendations for how to deal with the privacy of health information not covered by HIPAA. For our part, we as patients and loved ones of patients need to stay vigilant. We need to ask for and keep copies of our medical records. We should look for errors and ask for corrections. Beyond that, we can request a list of who has looked at our electronic records (although providers may not have the ability to generate this or could simply say no). You can ask to speak to your hospitals or clinics privacy or compliance officer with such a request. After my mom died in 2013, I worried that her death might have been caused by a medical error. In the course of trying to investigate, I asked for a listing of everyone who had looked at her records. In the course of trying to investigate, I asked for an accounting of everyone who had looked at her records. It was dozens of pages, and even though Id been writing about health care for more than 15 years at that point, I couldnt make much sense of it. I didnt know who the people were or why they had looked at her records. Im sure many, if not all, of them had legitimate reasons to do so to take her blood, process her prescriptions, adjust the settings on her ventilator, etc. That said, now that I know about the steps I can take to protect myself, Im pretty sure I will take them going forward. Ultimately, though, privacy boils down to trust. It has to. If we need medical care, we seek it and whether our records will be kept secure is generally not foremost in our minds. Ive thought often this year about how what Fawcett told me years ago foreshadowed a much bigger problem. Im a private person, she said. Im shy about people knowing things. And Im really shy about my medical care. It seems that there are areas that should be off-limits. We just finished the end of a year, when newspaper columnists are supposed to fill in the blank 2015 was the year of ____ and decide whether the phenomenon in question falls into the category of good thing or good riddance. Last year, however, so much of what happened was framed as larger-than-life, as history in the making that I find myself at a loss when it comes to identifying the One Defining Trend. There was the big stuff, like guns, refugees and government dysfunction. And then there were the perhaps more boutique-like, but no less compelling, points of discussion, such as the rise to fame of the writer Ta-Nehisi Coates (the new James Baldwin), the public emergence of Caitlyn Jenner (who was on the short list for Time magazines Person of the Year), and the degree to which campus political correctness has seemingly run amok. It wasnt enough that Adele had a great voice and sold a lot of records. She had to be the biggest pop music story of our time (thanks, Rolling Stone). And it wasnt enough that a few videos of egregious student outrage went viral; it had to be an epidemic of coddled, narcissistic millennials whose oversensitivities were ruining the academy for all time. The way weve been fixating on a few extreme examples of such phenomena does more than just make the perpetrators look stupid. Its creating cultural distortion and generating misinformation. For instance, the news-o-sphere recently graced us with one of the most troll-baiting college controversies yet, a melee at Oberlin College over culturally appropriative dining hall offerings. It seems that, among other culinary grievances, a few students thought the manner in which their sushi was being prepared was disrespectful to the Japanese because the rice was undercooked and the fish was not fresh enough. (Never mind that Oberlin is in Ohio, a place not traditionally known for its raw fish cuisine or its training of sushi chefs. Never mind that the idea of being able to eat sushi in a college cafeteria is ... well, never mind, again.) It can be immensely pleasurable to make fun of this kind of thing. But that doesnt excuse portraying outliers as pace setters. What Oberlin eats is a non-story at least the parts of it were hearing most about. Oberlin has about 3,000 students, only a handful of whom seem to be complaining about microaggressive food. Among them, at least one was onto something, but it wasnt underdone sushi rice. A student said she had joined the protest because when the school menu included Indian tandoori on a Hindu holiday, the tandoori was made with beef, even though many Hindi do not eat beef. This is more a gaffe than a punishable offense, but at least its something that legitimately warrants fixing. Predictably, though, the ridiculous demands about sushi got all the attention. That, in turn, got people sputtering on social media about the politically correct apocalypse, at least when they werent rhapsodizing about Adele or consigning anyone who disagrees with Coates to the wrong side of history. Which brings me back to what stands out about 2015. If the last 12 months can be characterized at all, it has to be as the year of hyperbole. We mock the blustering Donald Trump, with his astonishingly excellent doctors report and his pronouncement that Hillary Clinton was the worst secretary of State in the history of the United States. But a lot of our Facebook and Instagram feeds arent much better. And the bluster starts young. On the radio show This American Life, host Ira Glass recently interviewed three pre-teenage girls about why they post selfies on Instagram and wait for their friends to respond with comments like stunning! and perfect! and cutest! The girls suggested it was a way of monitoring their place in the ever-fluctuating social hierarchy. There may be something to that. But considering the number of adults passing around comments like life- changing! and essential reading! about events they dont seem to care much about or articles they havent read, I have to wonder whether Trumps rhetoric and pre-teen gush are merely the way weve all gotten used to expressing ourselves online. In which case, we wont be saying good riddance to hyperbole any time soon. In fact, 2016 may end up being the year of hyperbole all over again. And that will be the worst thing ever in history. Just you wait and see. Meghan Daum is a columnist at the Los Angeles Times. A shortage of city revenue, leadership changes at the St. Helena Public Library, and a legal battle over a winery were among the biggest stories the Star covered this year. Here are the top 10 new stories of 2015, as voted by the Star staff: 1. City wrestles with revenue shortage In January, City Manager Jennifer Phillips and Mayor Alan Galbraith started warning that the city budget needed serious attention. The news just got worse from there. First Phillips reported that previous city officials, toward the end of their tenures, had authorized the repayment of $1.9 million in flood control grants to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Although mentioned in the budget, the expenditure was never mentioned at a public meeting and came as an unpleasant surprise to the City Council and the public. An overly optimistic budgeting assumption made by previous city officials swelled the General Fund deficit from $1 million to $1.5 million. The city used fiscal reserves and deep spending cuts to balance the 2014-2015 budget, but it was only a temporary fix. Phillips 10-year financial forecast projected that revenues would just barely keep pace with basic operating costs, leaving no money left over for crucial infrastructure projects like road repairs and the replacement of the aging City Hall and police station. The council appointed a Revenue Source Task Force to explore the citys options and make recommendations in time for the next budget cycle. As the committee delves into sensitive topics like tax hikes and hotels, the city is already investigating a potential voter-approved real estate transfer tax for the November 2016 ballot, as well as higher water and sewer rates, city service fees, and development impact fees. 2. Turmoil at the library The St. Helena Public Library is one of the citys gems, and the firing of its director amid deep budget cuts became the biggest controversy to embroil St. Helena in 2015. On June 8, amid tense discussions over budget cuts, library patrons were stunned when word spread that Library Director Jennifer Baker had been fired and escorted out of the library. Library patrons immediately protested her dismissal and criticized City Manager Jennifer Phillips decision to replace her with Rebekah Barr, who was facing DUI charges. Phillips fired Barr a few days later and publicly apologized for the appointment. As speculation ran rampant over the reasons for Bakers firing, the Star used the Public Records Act to acquire emails that gave new insight into the rift that had formed between Baker and Phillips. Emails among city officials showed that Phillips had been frustrated for months with Bakers approach to cutting the librarys budget, occasionally sharing her frustration with other city staffers. Things have since calmed down at the library, with longtime employee Chris Kreiden named permanent library director. Baker is now working for the Napa Valley Unified School District. 3. Winery approval sparks legal battle The countywide debate over winery tourism came to St. Helena after critics of the Davies Family Winery sued the city and the applicants, claiming that the projects environmental impacts hadnt been adequately analyzed. Before the previous City Council approved the project last December, opponents pressed for a full environmental impact report to study its effects on traffic, noise and safety. They said the new tasting rooms close proximity to St. Helena High School would pose a hazard to student drivers and pedestrians. Calling themselves Citizens Voice St. Helena, Geoff Ellsworth, Susan Kenward and other opponents took their case to court. In September a Napa Superior Court judge sided with the city and the applicants, who are paying the citys legal expenses. In November, Citizens Voice announced they plan to appeal the ruling. 4. Neighbors fed up with short-term rentals In 2012, with the popularity of home rental sites like Airbnb creating a boom in illegal short-term rentals (STRs), the city decided to bring the industry out of the shadows. Three years later, many neighbors say theyve had enough. The ordinance that created St. Helenas STR permitting system gave neighbors a say in the approval process and tried to hold operators accountable for noise complaints. But when the city re-evaluated the ordinance this year, neighbors said many STRs whether permitted are an unwelcome commercial intrusion into St. Helenas residential neighborhoods. Neighbors complained of constant problems with loud parties and rowdy guests. Others contended that STRs, when operated responsibly, can produce much-needed revenue for the city, help struggling homeowners and benefit local businesses. After hearing hours of public testimony, the Planning Commission and City Council agreed that the regulations need to be overhauled, but stopped short of banning STRs entirely. The city is also improving its enforcement and cracking down on unpermitted rentals. 5. Upvalley rushes to aid of Valley Fire victims For some residents of Lake County and the northernmost reaches of Napa County, the Valley Fire was the disaster of a lifetime, burning 76,000 acres, destroying more than 1,950 structures, including 1,281 homes, killing four people, and leaving thousands of refugees in need of food, shelter and comfort. The fire started Sept. 12, and local volunteers and businesses mobilized within hours, collecting donations and delivering truckloads of supplies to the evacuation center at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. Generous people like Suzanne Nicholas and Donny Frate, who set up a donation center at their house on Hudson Avenue, were joined by hundreds of volunteers who flocked to the fairgrounds. Donations and aid poured in from businesses and nonprofits like Sunrise Horse Rescue, the Napa Valley Vintners, Sunshine Foods and many, many more. The fire is out, but for the people who lost their homes and livelihoods, the struggle is far from over. 6. Bello bankruptcy case ensnares locals After the opulent Bello Family Vineyards tasting room opened in 2012, proprietor Michael Bello said he wanted to bring Southern Cal flavor to the Napa Valley after years of working in the construction industry, making wine, and owning a champion racehorse. But there was trouble from the start, with union representatives picketing outside the tasting room and a local concrete company claiming it hadnt been fully paid for its work. This August, the Star reported that 81 people and businesses were facing clawback lawsuits in connection with the bankruptcy of one of his companies, Walldesign. Various members of the Upvalley wine industry who had done business with Bello were forced to settle with the companys creditors because theyd received checks from the bankrupt Walldesign rather than from Bello himself. According to creditors, Bello had used the proceeds from Walldesign to fund a lavish lifestyle, and invoked the Fifth Amendment when questioned about a secret bank account. In December tastings were relocated to the winerys Rutherford estate, and the St. Helena tasting room was sold. 7. St. Helena responds to drought Brown lawns and buckets in showers became ubiquitous in St. Helena this year, as citizens conserved water in response to a statewide drought. The 2014-2015 rainfall season was close to average, but it wasnt enough to make up for years of drought. St. Helena wasnt subject to the mandatory conservation targets imposed on larger cities, but the city hired a water conservation coordinator and set an informal goal of using 25 percent less water than in 2013. Water customers responded by conserving 20.9 percent, short of the citys target but still impressive. St. Helena gets its water from Bell Canyon Reservoir, two wells near the Pope Street bridge, and a long-term contract with the city of Napa, so its water supply is much more secure than systems that rely on the state water project. 8. City mulls fate of Adams Street, City Hall This year St. Helena continued to struggle with a difficult quandary: a crumbling City Hall and police station, a politically contentious vacant property on Adams Street, and no money to burn. The decrepit City Hall complex long ago reached the end of its useful life, but the city cant afford to replace it. The Adams Street property has been considered a candidate for a new City Hall, community center or affordable housing, but the city cant afford to develop it. In early 2016 the council will solicit ideas from developers on what could be done on each site. 9. Ohio woman killed on bike On May 26, Maria and Brad Crozier of Cleveland were celebrating their one-year anniversary by returning to St. Helenas Harvest Inn, where theyd been married. After a wine tasting at Merryvale, the Croziers were riding their rented bikes back to the hotel when Maria ran into the side of a slow-moving box truck on Main Street in front of the Merryvale driveway. With Brad about 20 feet behind her, Maria was run over by the trucks rear tires and killed instantly. Croziers blood alcohol level was found to be 0.18, more than twice the legal limit for driving a car. Police determined that the driver, who was delivering mail to the St. Helena Post Office, was not at fault. 10. Book club kicked off Wine Train Eleven women, 10 of them black, were removed from the Napa Valley Wine Train in St. Helena on Aug. 22. Wine Train officials said theyd been loud and disruptive, but the women, members of the Sistahs on the Reading Edge Book Club of Antioch, claimed theyd been singled out because of their race, and filed an $11 million lawsuit against the Wine Train. The storys racial overtones drew nationwide attention, especially on social media. A new ownership group acquired the Wine Train in September, and the litigation continues. ThePrint: Armenia eyes procuring Akash missiles, loitering munitions from India Armenia MP to international colleagues: Azerbaijan intends to carry out new aggression Armenia PM: We hope Azerbaijan will cooperate in clarifying destiny of our compatriots Newspaper: Where is 1991 declaration by which Armenia, Azerbaijan once recognized each other's territorial integrity? Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions at midnight PACE lawmakers call for Azerbaijan militarys immediate withdrawal from Armenia Australia reverses decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital Nouriel Roubini: In some sense, World War III has already started EU considers paying Elon Musk to provide Starlink Internet to Ukraine U.S. will continue to take practical, aggressive steps to make it difficult for Iran to sell drones to Russia German Prosecutor's Office searches Deutsche Bank headquarters Head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency fired amid reports of ties to Russia Uruguayan Chamber of Deputies condemns Azerbaijan's invasion of Armenian territory Spanish minister: EU is far from solution to energy crisis Fake Azerbaijani names of Syunik province communities removed from Google Maps and Google Earth apps Artsakh President presents details of meetings held in Yerevan to MPs Lavrov: Russia sees no point in maintaining its previous presence in Western countries UAE: OPEC+ decision has no political motive Opposition to David Price: Right to self-determination is the right of people of Artsakh to survive Iran is ready to negotiate with Ukraine to resolve ambiguities Deputy Speaker of Armenian National Assembly: 47 PACE deputies made written statement condemning Baku's aggression Lapid will discuss Kiev request for Israeli systems with Kuleba Morawiecki: Poland is not afraid of losing EU funds Armenian President meets with Sofia Mayor Speaker of Armenian National Assembly to Norway FM: Withdrawal of Azerbaijani Armed Forces from Armenia is a priority Nikol Pashinyan receives delegation headed by Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt Iran responds to Borrell's garden and jungle statement: EU needs to accept realities or it will continue to wither Pashinyan: No one can accuse Armenia of evading its obligations Congressman: U.S. was not active in terms of security in Armenia, but now situation is changing Indian defense company Solar group says it has received orders from Armenia for 'Pinaka' missiles Price: U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan will not be used for offensive purposes against Armenia Military expert assesses possibility of new hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan Russian Embassy: Armenians' attitude towards Russians who moved to Armenia remains very friendly Clarification by Price: What Could Armenian-American military cooperation look like? Armenian Defense Minister visits DEFEXPO exhibition in India President of Artsakh talks about results of discussions held in Armenia Borrell angers UAE with his comparison of world outside Europe to 'jungle' Public Council formed in Artsakh China Daily: Party's anti-graft efforts generate fruitful outcomes Price: We demand that Azerbaijan return to its initial positions Aghajanyan: This visit should be seen as another stage in dynamic development of Armenian-American relations Ukraine will officially ask Israel for transfer of air defense systems Head of National Assembly Commission: 2023 state budget turned out to be biggest in Armenia's history Turkey conducts test launch of its own ballistic missile over Black Sea Students of Brusov State University hold protest outside building of Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia Armenia MFA: Yerevan has always openly and publicly stated its position on dialogue with Turkey Military exercises of IRGC Ground Forces on border with Azerbaijan continue for second day in Iran Blinken accuses China of violating status quo on Taiwan Armenian Foreign Minister: We see Azerbaijan's unconstructive behavior Izvestia: European banks stop accepting SWIFT-transfers from Russia Mirzoyan calls on Cavusoglu to speak for himself Norwegian FM visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and pays tribute to victims of Genocide Mirzoyan: We need to understand to what extent CSTO recognizes this aggression against Armenia MFA: Armenian authorities apply to OSCE to send observers to border with Azerbaijan NYT: Conflict between Turkey and Greece may cause split of NATO Ararat Mirzoyan Details of peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan were presented to Norwegian FM Price of gas in Europe drops to almost $1,200 per 1,000 cubic meters for first time since June Armenian Defense Minister meets with his Indian counterpart First images of damage to Nord Stream are published Erdogan's spokesman: Meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is impossible now Peskov redirects question of drone purchases from Iran to Russian Ministry of Defense Secretary of Armenian Security Council presents consequences of recent Azerbaijani aggression to Brazilian ambassador Trial of Robert Kocharyan and Armen Gevorgyan is held in Yerevan IAEA chief says he wants to meet with Putin again Pashinyan: Azerbaijan creates fake news on ceasefire violations by Armenia US House of Representatives members visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Taliban, Iran border guards fire at each other Another high treason exposed in Armenia Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan armed forces violate ceasefire in Sotk-Kutakan sector World oil prices on the rise Trump slightly ahead of Biden in New York Times poll Armenia defense minister heads for India Newspaper: Karabakh dissatisfied with President's Yerevan visit, meeting with Armenia PM Azerbaijan fires toward Armenia positions at night Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs much more modern air defense systems Liz Truss is called upon to resign EU to review relations with China White House accuses Iran of lying Poland may not receive 75 billion euros in regional aid from EU Crash of SU-34 in Yeysk captured on video SJC: Criminal case will be initiated against judge Arusyak Aleksanyan Germany fines Telegram more than 5 million euros Scholz instructs ministers to prepare to extend operation of Germany's remaining three nuclear power plants Two people killed in Yeysk after military plane crashed Saudi Arabia rejects U.S. accusations of supporting Russia amid war in Ukraine Only candidate for post of military prosecutor of Armenia is named Expert: Iran is preparing for scenarios in form of attacks on Azerbaijan and sending troops to Artsakh German intelligence service opposes Chinese company's investment in Hamburg port Fire area at crash site of Su-34 in Krasnodar territory is 2,000 sq. m. EU approves military training mission for thousands of Ukrainian servicemen Supersonic Su-34 fighter-bomber crashes in Krasnodar territory Elon Musk on likelihood of World War III EU Commission intends to propose 'dynamic' natural gas price cap this week Dmitry Medvedev: Supplies of weapons to Ukraine will ruin relations between Russia and Israel Charles Michel welcomes rapid deployment of EU mission on Armenian border Swiss MPs horrified by consequences of Azerbaijani aggression: We support Armenians European Union announces new sanctions against Iran Tehran Times: Iran remains vigilant about developments in South Caucasus region Natural gas supply to Armenia will be temporarily suspended Daily Beast: Biden must stop next Armenian Genocide before it's too late YEREVAN. Karen Balayan, President of AYAS Nautical Research Club of Armenia, considers the using of a drone to be a more effective way in the search for an Armenian church in Issyk-Kul, a lake in Kyrgyzstan. Balayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the international expedition, which was planned in the last few years to find this church, did not take place for several technical reasons. In fact, two expeditions were being prepared, he said. A Russian-Kyrgyz-Armenian joint expedition was planned at Russias initiative. () So far they are silent, and we dont show initiative, since we are not the [respective] funders. Karen Balayan said another respective expedition was planned with world-renowned Russian traveler Fedor Konyukhov. He proposed an Armenian-Russian joint expedition, Balayan added. The problem is that he, Konyukhov, is constantly in expeditions. The President of AYAS recalled that his club has its view on exactly where to look for this Armenian church in Issyk-Kul. As per Karen Balayan, the water of this lake is very transparent, and this will facilitate the search with a drone. For some, food is life; and not just any type of food, but good food. Emory Alumni Association's EmoryWire caught up with alumnus and food editor of Atlanta Magazine,Evan Mah 13C, to get a taste of his culinary delights and where best to find them. 1. What are the elements of a delicious meal? Im going to go off-script and suggest a more exacting question like What does it take to be a great restaurant? This is particularly relevant since Atlanta Magazine will be naming the 50 best restaurants in January. Its easy to eat wella cheeseburger at Bocado or even just a bucket of fries from Leons Full Service does the soul goodbut creating a great restaurant is much more complicated. First, we consider the price range and the restaurants ambition. Are they trying to be 5-star fine dining or a casual neighborhood hangout? That sets the bar for service standards, quality of ingredients, execution, and creativity. Consistency, too, matters a great deal, and the best restaurants fire on all cylinders every night of the week (no small task). We also consider what the restaurant brings to the area. Are they giving us something weve never seen before (like Gunshow)? Are they reviving a style of dining that we didnt know we missed (like Little Bacch)? Some people think that if theyre paying $125 for dinner, the food better blow their mind. Thats an unfair expectation, and its important to remember that at a certain price point, dinner is about the experience. Food should be great, no doubt about that, but expert hospitality and comfort offer a type of luxury and sensation that a lobe of foie gras cant. 2. What has been the craziest dish you have ever eaten? Summer 2011 I studied abroad in China, and, at the end of the trip, I met-up with a professor in her hometown of Chengdu in the Sichuan province. This region is known for hot pot, a dish that involves cooking raw ingredients in a broth bubbling the middle of the table. Eel, mushrooms, thin slivers of beefthat was all fine. Then the server plopped down a plate of one perfectly intact whole brain (of what animal, I cannot say). They didnt even try to mask what it was, and I imagine the kitchen just pulled out the brain, quickly ran it under water, and then sent it out. The taste, from what I remember, was metallic, similar to bad sweetbreads (the thymus gland). 3. If you had to choose one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be? Its hard to say, since some of my first instinctscheese puffs, pigs-in-a-blanket, pastawould likely lead to diabetes or a terrible case of gout. Im sticking with the nigiri at Tomo. Im a sushi snob, and Tomohiro Naito is the only guy who can make rice that makes me question what Ive been eating all my life (and Im Chinese). Its just warm enough and unbelievably textured and savory. And in the event I have to pick one wine to uncork for the rest of my life, its the 2006 Etienne-Sauzet Montrachet. I could eat and drink this stuff behind bars and still be the happiest guy on the planet. Benjamin Boyce : The bottom part of the left wants to destroy every order and the top part wants to centralize things. I dont know w... The Special Operation Force of Afghan National Army on Friday conducted a raid against a Taliban hideout in Nahri Sarraj district, releasing 59 people from Taliban custody, Xinhua quoted the country's defence ministry as saying. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Rassoul Zazai, a spokesperson for the army's 215 Maiwand Corps, said the operation was launched based on a confirmed tip off and that no member of the security force was hurt during the raid in the province, 555 km south of Afghan capital Kabul. Several Afghan soldiers were among the freed people and they were shifted to the army Corps, according to Zazi. Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments. --Indo-Asian News Service py/vm ( 161 Words) 2016-01-02-11:31:35 (IANS) The Army Chief was addressing tribal elders of Gwadar, Talar and Turbat areas of Makran division where he reiterated the need of 'national solidarity' to get rid of terrorism reports the Dawn. Raheel highlighted that the armed forces had been rendering great sacrifices for the cause of peace and stability in the country. The army chief briefed the potential of Balochistan as a hub for trade in the region. Moreover, the Army Chief pledged that the armed forces would take all necessary actions to help bring back normalcy in the province.(ANI) The Finance Ministry in a release said that the agreement was signed between Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affair Raj Kumar and World Bank's Operations Adviser in India Michael Haney. Of the total project cost of 100 million Dollar, 50 million will be available as IDA credit, and the balance will be funded from the Union Budget. The project takes an integrated and holistic approach to address the high dropout and unemployment rate among minority youth. Minority BPL (below poverty line) youth in the age group of 17-35 years will be the main beneficiaries of the project. The funds will be disbursed on achievement of specific results such as number of student enrolled, number of students' successfully completing education and skill components. (ANI) Bobby Khanna, the owner of Riyz Continental, was shot at in front of his Mahanagar house while he was heading home from his restaurant nearby. He has received gun shot wounds in the chest, face and stomach. Doctors at the trauma centre, where he was rushed to by neighbours, told IANS that his condition was critical. In the initial probe, the incident seems to be a result of a property dispute, an investigating officer said. --Indo-Asian News Service md/pku/vm ( 113 Words) 2016-01-02-11:05:49 (IANS) The release of top United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) founding general Secretary Anup Chetia from jail is a sign that peace could return to Assam soon. Chetia's joining the pro-talk faction of the ULFA has only strengthened the peace initiative that the government of India had begun with the ULFA three-years ago. On November 24, ULFA general secretary Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia was released from Guwahati central jail after 18 years of incarceration in Bangladesh and prisons in India. The court had granted him bail in the last of the four cases registered against him. Soon after the release, Chetia apologised for the 2004 Independence Day blast in Dhemaji, Assam. Thirteen people, including 10 school children, died in the incident. Chetia has pledged to never to take up arms and said he will join the ongoing peace process. "I render my sincere apology to the people of the state (Assam) who has lost their relatives and near and dear ones in our armed struggle. I thank the central and the state government for bringing me back from Bangladesh and also express my gratitude towards the Awami League (BNP) government of Bangladesh. I assure the people of the state that we shall not repeat the mistake of 1992 where we backtracked from peace talks in the corridors of Delhi. Now situation is different. I would like to work for peace and would like to play my role in the ongoing tripartite peace dialogue between the centre, state and ULFA," said Chetia. Chetia was detained in Bangladesh in 1997 for illegally entering the country using a forged passport, and was found in possession of arms and foreign currencies. On November 11, 2015, Bangladesh handed over top ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India's Central Bureau of Investigation and he was brought to Guwahati on a transit remand. The release is seen as breakthrough in the ongoing talks between ULFA, the Centre and state government. "It is a major development where one of the important leaders has come to Guwahati and said that insurgency and terrorism will not solve any problem, he has come to join peace talks. Peace talks will get more momentum except Paresh Baruah who is leading other faction who is somewhere in China or Burma border but I believe Anup Chetia's inclusion in peace talks will help peace talks and people of Assam will get good news from Chetia and the ULFA," said Naba Thakuria, Senior Journalist and Column Writer. However, Paresh Baruah, who is the head of military wing of ULFA, is continued to oppose to any peace talks. Experts believe the exclusion of the Baruah faction hinders the peace process. "Unless Paresh Baruah joins the peace talks there will be a little doubt which may create problem. Therefore, it should be the duty of Anup Chetia to please Paresh Baruah as they are cousins. So, Anup Chetia should take initiative to talk to Baruah and Baruah should himself understand that it is not 1970's or 90's but 2016, therefore, he should come back and join the peace talks and support the people of Assam," Thakuria added. In the last few decades, Assam has witnessed violence perpetrated by ULFA. In January 2007, the outfit struck in Assam killing approximately 62 Hindi-speaking migrant workers, mostly from Bihar. However, hopes are high that peace will prevail in the state and there will be rapid development and prosperity. (ANI) The Defence Expo will give the Goans an opportunity to see a wide range of defence equipment manufactured by the world's leading companies, he said at a function organised by the union ministry for road transport, national highways and shipping in Goa. "Goans have not seen much. Goans will now get a chance to see a wide range of defence-related equipment," he added. Parrikar said he was surprised by the opposition to shifting of the Defence Expo to Goa, even as he said eight other states were keen to host it. Held alternately in national capital Delhi and Bengaluru, the prestigious Defence Expo for 2016 will be held on Naqueri plateau in the picturesque coastal village of Betul in south Goa since a new convention centre is coming up at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The Defence Expo 2016 is the ninth in a series of biennial exhibition of land, naval and internal homeland security systems organised by the defence ministry. --Indo-Asian News Service maya/tsb ( 204 Words) 2016-01-01-23:01:09 (IANS) Dakota Access LLC pipeline has filed 23 condemnation suits against 140 individuals, banks and a coal mine to gain easements through North Dakota. Most of the suits were filed in December against landowners in Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie, Dunn, Mercer and Morton counties, mostly counties where people are feeling pipeline fatigue from numerous oil and gas pipeline projects. No suits were filed in Emmons County, which is far from the oil patch and where the pipeline would exit into South Dakota. Energy Transfer Partners plans to build the 1,200-mile pipeline starting in Stanley through North Dakota, continuing through South Dakota and Iowa and terminating in Illinois. The company claims the pipeline can transport half of the states Bakken oil production of more than 1.1 million barrels daily. Bismarck attorney Derrick Braaten said his firm represents about one-third of the individuals who are still holding out for better terms before theyll sign, equivalent to about 10 percent of the pipelines 358 miles through the state. Braaten said besides fair compensation, landowners want best-possible reclamation standards, including correct soil stripping, suitable revegetation and noxious weed control. Reclamation is the main issue for landowners, Braaten said, adding that he believes an agreement is at hand and actual trials wont be necessary. Pipeline spokeswoman Vicki Granado was not available -- the corporate office was closed for the holiday Thursday -- but has previously said the company is working on voluntary easements. The company reported to the North Dakota Public Service Commission on Wednesday that its easement acquisition is at 86 percent of the project. Formal hearings already have been held and a permit is pending. PSC Commissioner Randy Christmann said easements are a private matter and not required for a construction permit, but (theyre) not completely disregarded either. Illinois and South Dakota regulators issued permits in December but one from Iowa is also pending. Christmann said even though the company may want to begin construction this spring, the PSC wont hurry the application along. Well spend as much time as we have to. If it takes longer, so be it, he said. One issue is how Dakota Access and the proposed Enbridge Sandpiper pipeline will resolve a stretch of parallel easements for the two separate projects. A shared easement would minimize land disturbance but could also make accountability less obvious, Christmann said. At least four terrorists were killed following an attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot district of Punjab early Saturday. The gunfight has ended and combing operations are under way. Unconfirmed reports said two IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Goa, was monitoring the situation and was in touch with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and other officers, the ministry sources meanwhile told IANS, adding Parrikar will reach Delhi soon. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources said. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh and about 30 km from the border area with Pakistan. Police have cordoned off the area and army has been called in. The number of terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were reported to be around four to six. The gunfight has stopped but the area was still being sanitised and the exact number of terrorists that were killed will be known once the combing operations were over, an army official said. "Though firing is over but the complete area is not sanitised. There is always possibility of one terrorist hiding and waiting in a different area. Keeping that in mind operations continue till complete area is sanitised," the official said. The security forces repulsed a major attack by the terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF station told IANS. There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. Based on Friday's development, the army sounded an alert and had placed two-army columns and a special force team in the Pathankot base prior to the attack, an army spokesperson in New Delhi said. "NSG team has also teamed up with them to foil the terrorist plans; local Brigade Commander of Army is coordinating the operations; in addition UAVs of the army and IAF have also been put into action to get inputs," the spokesperson added. The technical area where MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept was safe. The security forces were already on high alert in the past 24 hours after an incident in a nearby area where a senior police officer was abducted in his car late Thursday but released later. Two IAF helicopters could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. "High alert has been sounded in Kathua district and entry into the state from neighbouring Punjab at Lakhanpur is being monitored and checked," said a senior police official in Jammu. The army has been moved out on the highway to ensure no militant could sneak into Jammu and Kahsmir, the defence sources said. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police official said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015 leaving seven people dead, including a senior police official. --Indo-Asian News Service js/ao/py/pr/ ( 606 Words) 2016-01-02-10:19:37 (IANS) In a major terror attack at least four terrorist in army uniform attacked at strategic Air Force Station here early this morning in the outskirt of city near the international border with Pakistan. Terrorist, armed with assault guns managed to barged in to the first security gate at around 0330 hrs and opened fire at the two sentries deployed there leading to casualties. On hearing the gun shots security personnel swung into action and retaliated. They were soon joined by army and Punjab police. Fierce encounter is going on in the Air base and security forces are trying their best to contain the terrorist in the non operational area of the base so that they could not sneak in to the technical area where fighter planes were kept. At least two terrorist have been killed in the encounter. The whole area has been cordoned off and roads leading to the Air base have ceased to general movement. Air Force Helicopter are being used to monitor and assist in operation and to access the position and number of terrorists. The Nation Security Guard(NSG) has been called in for assistance in operation. The attack is suspected to have been carried out by the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. The attack comes within six months of when three terrorists had attacked the Dina Nagar Police Station killing seven people including four cops. RKS DS SHS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-517308.Xml Life remained crippled for the third day today in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, where two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in a night-long operation by security forces. Additional security force and state police personnel also remained deployed in main town Pulwama and other tehsil headquarters, where massive protests erupted yesterday after Friday prayers. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads. Work in government offices and banks was also affected due to strike. . Streets also wore a deserted look with only security forces deployed on both sides as vehicles were off the road. However, traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through as large number of security forces had been deployed at Pampore, Awantipora and other areas to prevent any stone pelting. Rashtriya Rifles (RR), CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police killed two LeT militants in a night-long operation at Gursu, Pulwama on December 31. One of the slain militant was identified as Manzoor Ahmad Bhat while another was a foreign national. UNI BAS SHS NS1100 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-517362.Xml They were arrested in Raxaul in East Champaran district. "A team of SSB officials arrested two Chinese nationals for taking photographs without permission," said Assistant Commander of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Satish Chandra Gupta. "We have recovered two mobile phones and one camera from them," he said. Immigration official S.M. Sharma said that preliminary investigation suggest that they were roaming for last two months near the India-Nepal border areas. --Indo-Asian News Service ik/pr/vm ( 112 Words) 2016-01-02-11:59:35 (IANS) At least 10 pilgrims were killed and six others injured when the vehicles they were traveling in collided due to dense fog under Dehat Kotwali police station area here today. Police spokesperson here said the accident occurred in Tulsipur area on the Buddhist circuit when the jeep with pilgrims was returning from Nepal collided with a bus. In the accident all the 10 people of the jeep were killed while six passengers of the bus injured. The deceased were the native of Shravasti district and were returning from Nepal after having darshan of some religious places in the Himalayan kingdom. The bodies were yet to be identified and the injured have been admitted to the hospital.UNI XC-MB DS SHS 1148 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-517448.Xml Security was stepped up in the national capital today in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pathankot Air Force Base.Following the terrorist attack in Punjab, security was increased at the airport, railway stations, bus stands and other places in the capital. Police vigil was also heightened in prominent markets of the city like Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension , Chandni Chowk, Connaught place, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj and Azad Market.Security was also beefed up at the VIP movement zone in Lutyen's Delhi, police said.Police have been asked to remain alert, Special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team and quick response teams have been deployed in several parts of the city for quick response in case an emergency situation arises, police said.Special Police Commissioner (Law and Order) is taking stock of the situation.Suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked an Air Force Base in Pathankot in the wee hours today, triggering an encounter in which four attackers and two IAF personnel were killed and six security men injured.UNI SM/AR SHS 1125/1203 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-517481.Xml The deceased identified as Rajwardhan alias Nanya Sambhaji Gavali (18), was a student of Vivekanand college. As he was going from flyover bridge with his friends, another youth, who was coming from opposite side, called him to meet and strike him vigorously with sharp weapon. He was reached to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. After the attack,the arrested absconded from the scene. Other three friends, who were on the spot, gave name of suspected killer, who was identified as Shiva Powar, resident at Maharana Pratap Chowk of the city. The investigation was on, police added. UNI SSS NV SHS RK1205 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-517444.Xml The president of the Punjab unit of the Congress party, Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday expressed disappointment over the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, saying it is a sad development. "It's sad that this has happened after some efforts were made to restore peace with Pakistan, which everyone wants, but obviously, it seems that there are some elements in Pakistan who don't want that to happen," Captain Singh told ANI. "What happened in Pathankot was obviously an attack on the aircraft and to destruct as many aircraft as possible. It was the vigilant santris and airmen of the Indian Air Force who stood their ground. Two of them have died but they didn't let any major damage take place," he said. Singh had in a earlier tweet said "Pathankot attack clearly aimed at sabotaging peace process. It is obviously rogue elements in Pakistan who need to be dealt with strongly." Early this morning, around five militants dressed in army fatigues opened fire near the Pathankot Air Force station. The Pathankot National Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were roped in to engage the terrorists in a gun battle that began shortly after 3 a.m. with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base. At the time of the filing of this report, four of the five militants have been killed. There is a heavy deployment of security in and around the air force base. A terror alert has also been issued for most parts of northern India, including national capital New Delhi. It is also being reported that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Pathankot, though this is yet to be formally confirmed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also expected to chair a high-level security meeting that will include the three service chiefs and heads of various key security and intelligence agencies to review the overall security situation and to assess the situation on ground. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a visit to Karnataka today. During his two-day stay in the state, the PM will visit the Avadhoota Datta Peetham this afternoon, and will also attend the centenary celebrations of Jagadguru Dr Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math, an official statement said.Tomorrow, Mr Modi will inaugurate the 103rd session of Indian Science Congress at the University of Mysore. He will also lay the foundation stone for a new helicopter manufacturing unit at Tumkur and will inaugurate the 21st International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its Applications, at Jigni. UNI RBE SHS 1243 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0379-517511.Xml Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the even-odd formula envisaged by the Delhi Government will not work in Goa as it is a tourist state. Speaking at function organised to lay foundation stone for infrastructural projects in the state at Old Velha, around 10 km from here yesterday, Mr Parrikar said, "Goa cannot have formula like Delhi as it is visited by many tourists. We do not require odd even formula. If we adopt this, then we would have to tell the touriststhat come with even number plates and next day change it to odd. He further said the improvement of infrastructure in the state was solution to problem of traffic chaos. "When roads are smooth and traffic is clear, vehicles runs at the speed of 60-70 km/h emitting less poisonous gas but when there is traffic jam vehicles run slow and emit more CO2 thus polluting environment, he added. Mr Parrikar said the state has got support from the Centre and hence many projects had been sanctioned for the state. To check pollution, the even-odd scheme was introduced by the Delhi Government yesterday and is to be in force till January 15.UNI AKM NV SHS NS1206 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-517445.Xml Iola Two Hearts was a regular at the Memorial Congregational United Church of Christ until it burned to the ground. Her grandparents were married there, and it's where she was baptized. "I was crying," she said of the October day she heard the news after evacuating her hometown of Cannon Ball to escape two wildfires. Two Hearts cannot attend other churches in Cannon Ball on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation because she said they do not have ramps accessible for her wheelchair. So she sits at home on Sundays watching a church service broadcast on her TV from Arkansas. She and others involved with the church are hopeful donations can be raised to rebuild the facility. The Rev. Gordon Rankin, conference minister for the South Dakota Conference of the United Church of Christ, said the church did not carry property insurance, which would have provided funding for a new building. He said the plan is to put up a new facility, though the first priority is to address the nearby cemetery torched by the fires. The Rev. Mike Kills Pretty Enemy used to drive from his home near McLaughlin, S.D., to lead the services at the church in Cannon Ball, 57 miles away. The afternoon of Oct. 11, he was en route to a funeral in Cherry Creek, S.D., when he realized something significant had happened. "I said that's got to be a big fire to have this many firetrucks coming," he recalled. At the funeral, he learned from Facebook that a church had burned but it wasn't until later that he got word it was his. The following Sunday, he drove to the site to survey the damage. "The fire went around some houses and it looks like it pinpointed our church," he said. The building stood for 100 years, doubling in size in the 1960s when the Big Lake church south of Cannon Ball moved north to join it. Kills Pretty Enemy, who has been pastor there for 2 1/2 years and also serves at other regional churches, said, at most, four families came to worship. Since the fire, he has not been up to Cannon Ball to lead any services but said he would be willing to make a trip for a funeral or another event, likely to be held at the Cannon Ball community center. Wilson Elk said he's been staying at home on Sundays since the church burned. He served as the building's janitor and tends to the Big Lake Cemetery south of town, which also was in the fires' path. He has already rebuilt the fence with new corner posts and wiring with money from the Cannon Ball District. The blaze burned wooden boxes outlining graves and wooden crosses that served as markers, some of which dated back to the 1800s. "When the spring comes, I'm going to rebuild them," Elk said. Two Hearts, meanwhile, has two grandsons ready to be baptized. "I don't know where they're going to go," she said. She's hopeful that will change with a new facility. "We could still rebuild if we have faith in the Lord Almighty that it can be rebuilt," she said. In a major security breach, terrorists entered a frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) base near this town in northern Punjab early Saturday and engaged the security forces in a fierce gunfight. At least four terrorists were killed by commandos following the attack, police said. Police sources said that at least two IAF security personnel were killed and four others were injured in the terror attack that started around 3.30 a.m. Though the firing stopped around 8 a.m. after the four terrorists were neutralised, sounds of firing and grenade explosions were heard again around 11.30 a.m., making it clear that security agencies were still engaged in a gun battle with one or two more terrorists who could still be hiding inside. The MIG-21 Bison fighter jets, helicopters, missiles and other critical assets of the IAF at the base were secure and the terrorists were not allowed to get near the technical area where these were stationed, IAF sources said. In New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Any terrorist attack on us from Pakistan, and we will give it a befitting reply." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the attack, while the Congress said incidents of terrorism are on a rise in Punjab. "Why has Punjab suddenly become the hotbed of terror activities in the last few months? The state has been calm for the the last 20 years," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. National Security Guards (NSG) commandos, who had been rushed in here on Friday evening following apprehension of an attack, IAF's Garuda commandos and army commandos led the counter-attack on Saturday against the terrorists who are suspected to have crossed into India from Pakistan through the border area, 30 km from here. Punjab Police and its elite SWAT commando units provided the outer cordon to the counter operations to ensure that no terrorist is able to escape. Intelligence officials said that the terrorists involved in the fidayeen attack could be from Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM). Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is in Goa, was monitoring the situation and was in touch with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and other officers, the ministry sources meanwhile told IANS, adding Parrikar will reach New Delhi soon. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval was also monitoring the terror attack from New Delhi, sources said. The IAF base is around 250 km Chandigarh. The terrorists, who were in army fatigues, were reported to be around four to six. Punjab Police Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Hardeep Singh Dhillon said that the counter attack was in progress. "Though firing is over but the complete area is not sanitised. There is always possibility of one terrorist hiding and waiting in a different area. Keeping that in mind operations continue till complete area is sanitised," an army official said. Two IAF helicopter gunships and UAVs could be seen assisting security forces in combing operations. The security forces repulsed a major attack by the terrorists who had planned to damage the frontier air force base where fighter squadrons were stationed. "The terrorists were contained in one area of the air force station. They could not reach near the technical area of the air force station where IAF aircraft and other assets are located," a Punjab Police official stationed near the IAF station told IANS. There were intelligence reports that terrorists could attack defence installations in the region around the New Year. The Pathankot-Jammu highway was put on high alert. The entire area near the IAF station was sealed. Security forces were put on high alert in Pathankot in Punjab's frontier district Gurdaspur on Friday after a senior police official said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues but released later. Terrorists from Pakistan had launched a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on July 27, 2015, leaving seven people dead, including a senior police official. --Indo-Asian News Service js-ao/pr/vm ( 669 Words) 2016-01-02-13:23:37 (IANS) The stage is set for the Indian Science Congress, the largest national science event, will host its 103rd session at University of Mysore from January 3. The mega event, which will be held in the University of Mysore, incidentally celebrating its centenary, after 33 years at the Manasagangothri campus, which saw sea change with multiple facilities spruced to receive 15,000 delegations from across the country and abroad. This year, the focal theme of the Congress, "science and technology for indigenous development in India" is expected to give a push to the make in India campaign. Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) is a premier scientific organistion of India, which will be holding this event annually. The Indian Science Congress Mega Expo 'Pride of India - Frontier Science and Technologies' are the major attractions during the five-day event.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on January 3.Besides addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister will distribute 28 awards.After the inaugural session, Nobel Laureates including Arthur B McDonald, USA; Dan Schetman, Israel; Sir John Gurdan, UK, Serge Haroche, France; David J Gross, USA, and Fields Medal winner Manjul Bhargava will take part in the special panel discussion on the topic 'Science and technology - present and future'. K S Rangappa, Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University, said there would be 400 senior scientists, will delivering plenary talks on subjects like nano science, space science , technology and applications, diabetes, evolution, the fortiners, atomic energy, safe water and sanitation, diseases and drug development , public private partnership for the Swachh Bharat mission initiative.400 plenary speakers and 100 eminent speakers delivering talks throughout the five-day event. On the opening day, Bharat Ratna C N R Rao will deliver the M Visvesvaraya lecture on 'Doing Science in India'.The 9th science communicators meet will be held three sessions which will be inaugurated by nobel laureate prof Das Shecthman on January 4.The Children Science Congress popularly known as Rashtriya Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan is organized every year along with the Indian Science congress.It is a unique opportunity for the young students from all over the country, to improve the scientific treatment and expand their innovative talents in the field of science and technology.MORE UNI BSP SHS 1324 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-517535.Xml A group of militants during wee hours today attacked the Air Force base at Pathankot in Gurdaspur district of Punjab triggering an encounter. Four militants were eliminated while three air force personnel were killed in the gun battle. "The members of NIA team immediately rushed to Pathankot following the encounter," official sources here said. An NIA team is already camping in Jammu and Kashmir to investigate the August 5 Udhampur attack where Lashkar militant Mohammad Naved Khan was arrested alive. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted ''this is the first challenge to PM Narendra Modi's bold Pak gambit.'' Meanwhile, alert has been sounded along Jammu-Pathankot highway and security has been beefed up.UNI VBH DS ADG 1425 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-517577.Xml Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa todaysought personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modito direct the Ministry of External Affairs for taking up with SriLankan authorities to secure the immediate release of 84 Tamilfishermen and 62 fishing boats in its custody including the29 fishermen and their boats apprehended on December 31. In a demi-official letter to Mr Modi, a copy of which was releasedto the media here, the Chief Minister said I write to bring to your notice yet another unfortunate incident of apprehension of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on the eve of the New year.'' ''I understand that 3 mechanized fishing boats with 29 fishermen on board, went for fishing on December 27 from Akkaraipettai fishing base of Nagapattinam District and were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on thursday last. The boats and the fishermen have been taken to Trincomalee inSri Lanka,'' she added. Ms Jayalalithaa said the recurrent instances of attacks upon, and abductions ofour fishermen on the high seas in the Palk Bay continue unabated and is a matter of serious concern affecting the life and livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishermen on a daily basis. The Tamil Nadu government reiterates its commitment to the retrieval of Katchatheevu, which it considers to be an integral part of India. I also reiterate my request to the Government of India not to treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as a settled question, as the constitutionality of the 1974 and 1976 agreements has been challenged on a very valid legal grounds by me, in my personal capacity in the Supreme Court and subsequently, the state government has also impleaded itself in this case. I had requested as part of my Memoranda presented to you on June 3, 2014 and August 7, 2015 the sanction of a comprehensive Special Package for deep sea fishing and infrastructure at a cost of Rs.1520 crore and a recurring grant of Rs.10 crore per annum for maintenance dredging. I request the Government of India to expedite the approval of the package. I would like to remind you that prior to the most recent occurrence, 55 fishermen and 59 fishing boats are still in Sri Lankan custody. The fishing boats have been subjected to serious damages due to prolonged periods of disuse and the onslaught of the exceptionally strong monsoon this year. I request that the only means of livelihood of these fisherfolk is restored in a refurbished condition by the Union Government at the earliest. Further, it is very unfortunate that these innocent fishermen have continued to be incarcerated throughout the festive season which they were unable to spend with their families, the Chief Minister said.UNI CS 1432 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-517739.Xml A day after hundreds of villagers indulged in vandalism and arson to protest against the supply of water to 29 villages from Chambaleshwar Dam through the Ganga Bawadi Scheme, police today booked over 150 villagers in this regard. Angry villagers, who had been staging a strike since the past several days, reached the dam area yesterday and vandalised water plant, set ablaze a poclain machine and beat up workers. On receiving information, police reached the spot and controlled the situation. Later, when police reached the village, they were driven away by villagers. Police have registered cases against more than 150 villagers. Meanwhile, as a result of vandalism caused by the villagers, water supply has been affected at Diken and Manasa areas. Villagers are protesting the project as it would reduce water supply for irrigation of crops in the area.UNI XC-PS SHS NS1416 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-517616.Xml Market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in a separate case of Godavari Biorefineries (GBL), has ordered winding up of Sameerwadi Sugarcane Farmers' Welfare Trust as money collected through this trust allegedly constituted collective investment scheme, which wascarried out without obtaining certificate of registration from the regulator. Further, Sebi has asked the company along with nine other entities, including its Chairman Narsang V Padhiyar, to refund investors with an interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum. According to the order by Sebi, the trust was collecting contributions from sugarcane farmers. With the contributions, the trust bought shares of GBL. GBL issued 83 share certificates to the trust of different denominations representing 22,69,600 shares.During the process of hearing, it was proposed by the entities to sub-divide 83 share certificates into 45,392 share certificates consisting of 50 shares each and to make a distribution to each of the beneficiaries on a pro rata basis. On the process of refund, Sebi said, "The noticees shall, jointly and severally, refund to the beneficiaries the money equivalent to the value of their investment with regard to pro rata shares in the jumbo share certificates along with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from the date of investment till the date of refundand after adjusting amount of dividend paid, if any." However, considering the desire of a large number of beneficiaries for pro rata distribution of shares, Sebi Whole Time Member Rajeev Kumar Agarwal said, "I allow the noticees to make pro rata distribution of GBL shares to contributories/ beneficiaries who givepositive consent for such pro rata distribution of shares". Sebi also restrained the trustees of the trust from buying, selling and dealing in securities and from accessing the securities market, directly or indirectly, till the CIS is wound up and all refunds are made.UNI JS NV AW1428 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-517732.Xml Markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has directed Astha Green Energy Ventures India and its directors to refund Rs 43.77 crore to investors along with an interest of 15 per cent. According to the order by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the company allegedly violated provisions of the Companies Act and Sebi norms relating to raising money from the public through issue of equity shares. The regulator said the company and its directors "within a period of one year from the date of this order, jointly and severally refund Rs 43,77,47,300 collected pursuant to the allotment of shares... to allottees with interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum from the date of receipt of money till the date of such refund."It added: "However, the noticees (the company and its directors) shall ensure that not less than 50 per cent of the refund/repayment directed above is made to the allottees in six months starting from the date of this order." Sebi also asked Astha Green Energy Ventures and its directors Keshav Reddy Mereddy, Arjun Reddy Mereddy, Jayanth Reddy Mereddy, Kunduru Raghuveer, K Jayaveer, N Ram Bhupal Reddy and N Jayapal Reddy to file a status report at the end of each quarter. Further, the regulator restrained the firm and its directors from "directly or indirectly, accessing the capital market" till the refund, except for the purpose of compliance of the order. The directors are also restrained from associating themselves with any listed public company and any public company which intends to raise money from the public till the date of refund of money to the investors. The order shall come into force with immediate effect, Sebi said. UNI JS NV AW1426 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-517733.Xml Police said here that acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted at a hideout in a locality of ward no. 3, leading to arrest of four criminals from there. Some pistols and live cartridges were recovered from the possession of arrested criminals. "All the arrested criminals are being interrogated in connection with cases pending against them", police informed. UNI XC-KKS AKM SW CS1446 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-517631.Xml After terror attack at bordering Pathankot airbase in Punjab this morning Himachal Pradesh Police beefed up the security along porous border and entry points to announcing high alert n the state. DGP Sanjay Singh today declared high altar in the state as all porous borders joining Punjab and Jammu and Kashimir has been plugged after beefing up security. As the information was received from bordering Pathankot airbase this morning of terror attack police administration announced high alert ordering the all bordering posts to keep strict vigil about any possible intrusion and escaping of terror group. Taking precaution security forces plugged all borders and entry points along Damtal of Chamba, Pathankot of Kangra district Hoshirpur in Una, Badi Brotiwala and Nalagarh in Solan district. The vigil and patrolling has been increased in important installation. as additional forces has been deployed in sensitive area. Pathankot joined with Jogindernagar Railway line and Nurpur of Kangra district with raod transport. However, there is no threat of terror attack in the state and step has been taken as precautionary measure.UNI ML SHS NS1415 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-517563.Xml A sub-divisional magistrate's (SDM) court here has issued 27 arrest warrants against 24 former sarpanchs in connection with irregularities to the tune of Rs 30 lakh committed during their tenures. Bhind SDM BB Agnihorti issued a warrant each against 21 ex-sarpanchs and three warrants each against three former sarpanchs yesterday. He said arrest warrants were issued against ex-sarpanchs for using funds withdrawn for development work for their personal use. He said former sarpanchs would be sent to jail if they fail to return the money. They would be required to pay for their food while they are serving jail term.UNI XC-PS AY AE PR1601 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-517784.Xml Today, let's look at the winners of the 2015 Richard Freeman Junior Deal of the Year from the International Bridge Press Association. The deal occurred during a four-day training visit to the Czech Republic by two pairs from the England under-20 team, Laura Covill-Stephen Kennedy and Freddie Illingworth-Ben Norton. This auction was produced by Illingworth (North) and Norton. When West opened one diamond, and North sensibly overcalled two clubs (to make a takeout double with only a doubleton spade and such a skewed hand would not have been wise), South's two-heart advance was forcing for one round (an agreement that I like). Then the jump to five diamonds was Exclusion Key Card Blackwood. It agreed hearts, indicated a diamond void, and asked for key cards excluding the diamond ace. South's six-club reply (step four) indicated two key cards and the heart queen. Now came the key agreement: six diamonds invited the grand slam and asked for help in clubs. Although the singleton was not as good as the king, South anticipated being able to establish his partner's suit with ruffs. So he jumped to seven hearts. South won the first trick with dummy's spade jack, drew one round of trumps, and claimed 13 tricks: three spades, six hearts, one diamond, one club and two diamond ruffs in the dummy. But even if West had led, say, a trump, declarer would have had no trouble ruffing down the club king. Their homework had really paid off. Shiv Sena has backed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe's reported remarks that there is dearth of 'talent' within BJP as compared to Congress,resulting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not be able to expand his cabinet to improve the performance of the government. Mr Sahasrabuddhe said as compared to Congress, the BJP has less talent, may be the inner voice of RSS, as he is true loyal to Sangh Parivar, the edit says. Party mouthpiece 'Saamna' editorial said here today "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talent is skyrocketing, but, our country is terrible. To run the government, Mr Modi needs hundreds of hands like him. The work for time being is not necessary to go long way." Recalling Congress regime, it said 'Pranab Mukherjee, would have been good Prime Minister than Dr Manmohan Singh, but the country welfare was not considered at that time, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's loyality was considered and Dr Singh got a lottery. No doubt, Dr Singh had done good job, but, in his cabinet, who was highly talent? it asked. "Country has came out of superstition that only Congress party is able to enjoy the power at the Centre, economist, which has within Congress, similar, talent are in other political parties also,' edit said and added whatever Mr Sahasrabuddhe said it is 'true', it might be inner voice of the Sangh Parivar. However, on reported remarks of Mr Sahasrabuddhe, several criticism was done within BJP, causing, he issued clarification saying that his statement has misinterpreted by media, there is absolutely no question of any dearth of talent in BJP and that its ministers both at the Centre and states have fared far better than those of Congress and other parties. Attacking at the state government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for sidelining the Sena ministers, the editorial said, 'We had clearly told BJP to make full use of the efficiency of Sena ministers in the state. But, due to political hatred, killing the talent, which is harmful for the state and country for thedevelopment. UNI ST NV SW AE NS1500 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-517643.Xml RJD chief Lalu Prasad, a strong critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s foreign policy, sought to put the Centre in the dock after terrorists' attack at Air Force base in Pathankot this morning. Mr Prasad in a bid to embarrass the Modi government told newspersons here, "Not right to question foreign policy right now, stand with our soldiers in this fight." The RJD chief renewed his attack on the Narendra Modi government`s foreign policy by taking a leaf from Mr Modi brief stopover at Lahore recently to congratulate his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday. To pre-empt any chance of facing criticism for politicising the Pathankot attack, Mr Prasad took special care to express his solidarity with soldiers in this fight. In his earlier attacks, Mr Prasad had also targeted Mr Modi for "deteriorating relationship" with Nepal and his government failure to check discrimination and marginalisation of Madheshis in Nepal. The RJD chief said Mr Modi only spoiled India`s relationship with Nepal during his visit to the Himalayan kingdom. He had also expressed doubts over the Modi government`s foreign policy, stating that the future of the country`s relationship with other countries was also uncertain. UNI DH AKM SW AE NS1547 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-517780.Xml Mr Kumar called on the Governor at Raj Bhawan and greeted him on New Year. He presented a bouquet to the Governor while wishing him a happy and healthy life. The Governor also wished Mr Kumar that Bihar could develop and prosper under his leadership in days ahead. The Chief Minister handed over the new Bihar dairy to the Governor, which was formally released yesterday. The Chief Minister remained closeted with the Governor for 45 minutes. UNI KKS AKM SW CS1612 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-517856.Xml All the eight farmers' union and four farm labourers will intensify their fight against the "anti-farmer" policy of Punjab government. The dharna which was to be held on January 6-8 at Badal village has now been postponed as the new date will be decided on January 10 meeting of all the unions, announced Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Sukhdev Singh Kokari, president and general secretary respectively of BKU Ugrahan here today while they were addressing a meeting of the farmers and farm labourers. The dharna programme was changed because of severe cold. Both the leaders have asked the activists of the organisations to be ready for the intensified struggle regarding their demands. The Ugrahan and Kokari were critical of the "anti-farmers" policies and their failure to accept their demands, despite the assurance by the state government. The farmers and farm labourers unions are demanding Rs 40,000 compensations per acre to farmers whose cotton crop were damaged following white fly attack, alongwith Rs 20,000 to farm labourers, withdrawal of black law of prevention of damaging public and private property, compensation to farmers due to steep fall in Basmati. The two farm leaders also criticised the government for displaying drawbacks on compensating Rs 64 crore to farmers as now the government says it was not possible to identify the farmers and farm labourers who need to be compensated them. Both the leaders opined that the failure of the government to compensate has led to increase in the suicide by the farmers.UNI XC NC AE CS1545 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-517652.Xml Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the terrorist attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot. He paid glowing tributes to the Air Force personnel who were martyred while fighting the terrorists. "It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan at subverting and sabotaging the peace process the two countries (India and Pakistan) are looking forward to, which must not be allowed at any cost", he said in a statement, adding that, "It is the responsibility of Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand". The former Chief Minister said it reminded of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Lahore, while Pakistani army was planning an attack on Kargil. "I hope it is not the repeat of what happened after Lahore bus journey", he observed while pointing out the attack has taken place only after a few days of Prime Minister Modi's Lahore sojourn. He said while the peace process should continue, India at the same time must not lower its guard. "We can't allow our people, soldiers and police personnel to be killed by the militants from across the border and Pakistan needs to own up the responsibility and deal with such elements firmly", he asserted, adding that they know where the problem lies and they must resolve it. Capt Singh paid tributes to those martyred while dealing with terrorists and saluted them for their bravery. "While we grieve your loss to nation, at the same time, the entire nation is proud of you for the exemplary valour and courage you have shown today by killing the terrorists and the nation will always remember your great sacrifice," he said.UNI NC RSA AE 1501 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-517706.Xml As the police van was passing through south Delhis Hauz Khas area, a fight broke out between two groups. In the clash, one of the convicts died, identified by the police as Manoj. In a similar incident in August 2014, two inmates were allegedly beaten to death by seven others, including an infamous outer Delhi-based gangster, in a fight that broke out inside the prison van heading from Rohini court to Tihar jail.UNI SY/AR RSA AE 1645 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-518025.Xml Delhi government's ambitious 15-day Odd-Even car trial scheme, that kicked off on the first day of New Year to restrict the number of vehicles in the capital to cut vehicular emissions, has been hailed by the International media as an 'innovative idea'. ''Overwhelmed'' by the response of the people to the experiment, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters that the pilot initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has turned ''into a movement''. Apart from Twitteratti, the car-rationing scheme received a word of praise from various media publications across the world. "Indian capital starts limiting cars for 2 weeks to clear air," said the headline of one of the leading US satellite news channel, Fox News. Lauding the initiative, the article further said, "The plan represents the most dramatic effort the city has undertaken to combat pollution since a court order in 1998 mandated that all public transport run on CNG. The result was almost always a warning, not the 30 dollar fine that has been announced." Leading Pakistan Newspaper, The Dawn's report on the coverage of Delhi Odd Even Scheme said, "Hundreds of traffic police and volunteers took to the streets to enforce the scheme, including dozens of children wearing smog masks and holding banners urging drivers to comply." Israel based broadsheet newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, writes, "Official data showed the pollution load was reduced by some 10 per cent, with about 200 people fined for breaking the new regulation on its first day of implementation on Friday." Chinese media praised the 'car-pooling' initiative, taken by the Cabinet Ministers of Delhi government, including Mr Kejriwal who car-pooled with two of his cabinet ministers on January 1. China's Daily Asia headline says, "Delhi ministers carpool to office under odd-even rule." As per the scheme, from January 1-15 , number plates ending with odd numbers - one, three, five, seven and nine - will be allowed on odd dates while number plates ending with even numbers - zero, two, four, six and eight - will be allowed on even dates. The rule would be in place from 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs every day except Sunday. The trial will run for an initial two-week period barring exemptions to catagories like VIPs, women, CNG vehicles, emergency vehicles and two wheelers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last year named New Delhi as the world's most polluted city. The pollution is at its worst in the winter, with grey skies and a dense cover of smog through the early morning hours.The Delhi government announced the odd-even scheme after a court ordered authorities to tackle pollution levels which was more than 10 times the World Health Organisation's safe limits.UNI AP RSA 1708 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0412-518026.Xml Terrorists would never succeed in intimidating India by such acts of cowardice, said Dr Singh in a statement issued here. He praised security personnel for confronting terrorists bravely, gunning down all the four terrorists and preventing them from reaching to other aircraft and helicopters at the airbase. Dr Singh paid tributes to those killed while dealing with terrorists and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.UNI AS-PS ADG CS1702 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-517949.Xml Official sources said here that a resident of Warisnagar, one Rajesh Kumar had lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Bureau, accusing ASI R P Singh of demanding Rs 50,000 as bribe for extending favour in a case. VB sleuths laid a trap against the officer and caught him red handed while accepting the cash at Warisnagar Chowk in the district. Sources said that the ASI is being brought to Patna for interrogation and will be produced before the vigilance court later.UNI XC DH AD ADG CS1700 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-517953.Xml Police said here that Ramgovind Chaubey and Ramprit Chaubey were taking their ailing mother to Varanasi for treatment when their vehicle collided with a truck parked road-side near Kurmabad village. Both the sons died on the spot while five others on board the vehicle, sustained injuries in the incident. "All the injured had been sent to Varansi for treatment", police said adding that the bodies had been sent for postmortem. Poor visibility due to dense fog was stated to be the reason behind the accident, police stated. The victims were native of Mahadeva village under Nasriganj police station in Rohtas district. UNI XC-KKS AKM AY CS1622 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-517765.Xml Lawmakers will continue to gather information next week on two studies: whether or not North Dakota should reinstate voter registration and the potential impacts of the U.S. Supreme Courts same-sex marriage decision. The interim Judiciary Committee meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Harvest Room in the state Capitol. North Dakota is the lone state in the country without voter registration, having eliminated it in 1951. Secretary of State Al Jaeger said his office has been providing general information on voter registration to the committee. We think once they see all the pros and cons theyll proceed accordingly, he said. Jaeger declined to say which side of the fence hes on with the voter registration issue. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Silrum will provide a presentation to the committee, which consists of an overview of voter registration in neighboring states. Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, said the questions to answer through the study are simple. Whats the upside to it? Would we disenfranchise fewer voters? Is there a good reason why were unique in that sense? Hogue said. Once you implement voter registration you (also) lose some control to the federal government. Two previous interim studies, in 1975-76 and 1999-2000, looked at the issue, and in several legislative sessions dating back to the late 1950s, attempts have been made to bring registration back. In 1975 a voter registration bill passed both chambers but Democratic Gov. Art Link vetoed it due to concerns over some of the laws language. Hogue said so far support for bringing back voter registration appears to be soft, with a majority of lawmakers being more concerned about verifying residency of voters. He said both the Republican and Democratic-NPL parties have a partisan interest in having voter registration: it would provide a more effective avenue for them to track their voters. Another study that will draw testimony Tuesday is on the impacts of last Junes U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case. The case legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Do we have to change our statutes? Hogue said was the main question. A ballot measure approved by 73 percent of voters in 2004 added a provision in the North Dakota Constitution declaring marriage as being between one man and one woman. The high courts decision overruled the same-sex marriage ban in North Dakota and those in 12 other states. I dont know if well need to do that or not, Hogue said of removing the language from the constitution since it was nullified by the court decision, though other areas of North Dakota Century Code may need adjusting. Information on legislative committees and meetings can be found at www.legis.nd.gov. Renukumari Reang, 22, was electrocuted when she switched on the television set in her home at Sarbang in southern Tripura on Friday night. Five of her family members tried to rescue the young woman and were injured, police spokesman Uttam Kumar Bhowmik told IANS. The five were admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. In another incident, a tribal couple hailing from Jharkhand died after they fell into a water body in an inebriated condition. Sambhu Orang, 42, and his wife Bina Orang, 35, fell into a ditch at Jirania in western Tripura on Friday night, police said. --Indo-Asian News Service sc/pm/ ( 144 Words) 2016-01-02-17:27:37 (IANS) Six people including two security personnel were killed in a militant attack at Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot District of Punjab on Saturday. While four militants were shot down by security forces, six others suffered injuries in the attack. At least four militants barged into the air base at around 03:00 am and started indiscriminate firing. Though no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far but local media reports said that the militants are operatives of Pakistan- based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Gun shots could be heard at around 11:00 am after a brief lull as security personnel conducted combing operation in the premises. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, said India wanted peaceful relations with Pakistan but would give befitting reply to attacks on the country. "Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peaceful relations with not just with Pakistan but with all our neighbouring nations. We also want peace but any militant attack on India will get a befitting response from India," said Singh. The attack comes a day after a senior police official was abducted with his team by five militants in army fatigues on Friday. The security and paramilitary forces contained the militants in a non-operational area of the base. Technical area of the base, where MiG 29 and helicopters are housed, is safe. The air base was cordoned off and heavy security was deployed in the area. A civilian, who suffered bullet injuries in the firing, was rushed to Civil Hospital in Pathankot. "One injured person has been brought to our hospital with gunshot injuries on his thigh and foot. All X-rays have been conducted and his chest and abdomen are absolutely clear," said Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Dr. Bhupinder. The attack comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impromptu visit to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, in a bid to revive bilateral talks that had previously been derailed by militant attacks. The raid resembled an assault last July by gunmen on a police post in Gurdaspur that killed nine people. However, Saturday's pre-dawn attack appeared to have been much more audacious by targeting a large military facility.(ANI) "Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by the security agencies, the group of terrorists was detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Pathankot IAF Station," said an IAF statement. The statement further said, "The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, preventing them from entering the technical zone, where high value assets are parked. Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the IAF has been foiled." The operation was going on by the time this report was filed. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command is on location, and supervising and coordinating with the army, National Security Guard (NSG) and the Punjab Police for exchange of information and operational activity, it stated. In the operation that started in the morning at 3.30 a.m., four terrorists and three security personnel were killed, while six other injured have been admitted to a hospital. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs at South Block here on Saturday. According to reports, Parrikar was briefed by the NSA and the three service chiefs on the overall security scenario. (ANI) On micro-blogging site Twitter, Mr Gandhi, who is abroad on a holiday, offered condolences to the families of brave soldiers martyred in the attack. ''Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force Base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack,'' Mr Gandhi tweeted. Suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked an Air Force Base in Pathankot in the wee hours, triggering an encounter in which four attackers and three IAF personnel were killed and six security men injured.UNI AR RSA AE 1828 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-518222.Xml Strongly condemning the terror attack at the Pathankot Air Force Base, Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma today said India is fully capable of dealing with the terrorism and would surely give a befitting reply to the perpetuators of the attack. The BJP leader said Indian Armed Forces needs to be applauded for foiling the nefarious designs of the terrorists. "My humble tribute to the Indian Jawans, who laid their life, while fighting with the terrorists," Mr Sharma said in a statement here. Reiterating that India is a powerful country in the world and would never allow attempts by the terror groups to disturb the peace of the country, he said every time terrorist target India - be it Punjab or any other state, the Indian forces have emerged victorious, giving befitting reply. "The anti-India forces would never be able to achieve success in their futile attempts to create terror in our country," the BJP leader said. On the issue of the efforts being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Pakistan for the peace process, Mr Sharma categorically said the peace process and terrorism are two separate issues. "Terrorists, who have attacked today, are having backing of some internal agencies of the Pakistan, which are hell bent upon making efforts to disrupt the peace process. However, India would never allow these forces to sow the fresh seeds of terrorism," he said.UNI XC DB AE CS1857 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518094.Xml The Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued a showcause notice to the Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Dalhousie for non-compliance of a order passed by the Court. The HC asked the Executive Officer Rakhi Kaushal to show cause why she should not be dealt with under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act. The Court also directed the respondent to appear in person before the court on March 15, 2016. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan observed that the said officer has prima facie breached the judgment passed by single judge which was upheld by the division bench. The petitioners were working as Beldar in the respondents council since 1997 and the services of the petitioners were terminated by the Council in 2002. The petitioners challenged the termination before the High Court and Court directed respondents to consider the case of the petitioners. But the respondent council filed LPA against the orders passed by the Court. The LPA was also disposed of by the division bench with the direction to comply the orders immediately. Despite this when orders were not complied, the petitioners filed contempt petition before the Court.UNI ML JS SW AE RAI1837 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518243.Xml Terming the Pathankot terror attack "most unfortunate," Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Punjab will urge the Centre to completely seal the sensitive spots and increase vigil at the international border in the state to curb the infiltration from Pakistan. Addressing mediapersons after attending a bhog ceremony of Jathedar Karnail Singh Kolianwali, younger brother of Punjab Agro Chairman and SGPC executive committee member Jathedar Dayal Singh Kolianwali, Mr Badal said the security agencies were taking necessary action in the aftermath of Pathankot attack and search operations were on. He said as per the preliminary reports, the terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan and keeping in view this aspect, the Centre should identify infiltration sensitive spots and install modern surveillance equipment to prevent cross-border intrusion. He added that Punjab is the most peaceful state as the state government has taken every possible step to maintain peace but some forces inimical to the cause of harmony are trying to vitiate the atmosphere which the state would not tolerate at any cost. Mr Badal said the Punjab police has also been instructed to step up vigilance so that such dastardly incidents do not re-occur. Replying to other queries, he said the law is taking its own course in Abohar incident and accused were being strictly proceeded against. Criticising the politicisation of the issue, he warned that no culprit would be spared in the case whosoever he may be. Terming the leaders joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) bandwagon "rejected by the mass", Mr Badal equated such leaders with directionless missiles and said all the leaders in AAP are projecting themselves as potential CM candidates which would give rise to a new revolt in AAP in the future. Reacting to the query regarding the possibility of Manpreet Singh Badal joining AAP, the Deputy Chief Minister said Manpreets position is also similar to the other dejected people jumping onto the AAP bandwagon who have no following at grassroot level. Reiterating his New Year pledge, the Deputy Chief Minister revealed that his resolution of 2016 is to maintain peace and communal harmony and make Punjab no. 1 state in development arena. He added that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is fully geared up for the Khadoor Sahib Assembly by-election and the party would commence its campaign after the announcement of election dates and declare its candidate at an appropriate time.UNI XC SW SB1912 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518309.Xml Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee today strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot and questioned the strategy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJPgovernment for controlling and checking the terrorists coming from Pakistan. HPCC Media Department Chairman Naresh Chauhan offered his deep condolences to the families of martyred soldiers in the terrorist attack. "Our security men foiled the terror attack with utmost bravery and gave a befitting reply to the terrorists." While congratulating the security personnel for foiling the terror attack, Chauhan questioned the motive of Mr Modi's Lahore visit and said that Pakistan-backed terrorists (as was confirmed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh) carried out attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot within a week of PM's visit. "It is not the first time that Pakistan has betrayed our trust. "Result of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees visit to the country was the Kargil war and similar was the attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot," he said. Mr Chauhan said terror and talks could not go together, as was being done by "our neighbouring country", while calling on the Prime Minister to issue clarification on his visit to Lahore. "Mr Modi should have taken the entire country into confidence before visiting Pakistan as the neighbouring continues to harbour terrorists and remains non-committal to address issues pertaining to support of terror activities within the country, he said. He recalled that while in opposition, Mr Modi used to target Congress-led UPA government for its strategy on Pakistan and used to promise befitting reply to Pakistan on sponsoring and harbouring terrorism. The PM had even opposed any meaningful dialogue for 10 years, when UPA was in power. "But after coming to power, PM Modi had failed to convert his words and promises into action, which seems to be the valid explanation for his engagement with Pakistan," he said. He called on the PM to tell the country what assurances he has been given by Pakistan. "Has this process been unequivocally endorsed by the real establishment force in Pakistan, the ISI and the Pakistan Army? What are the assurances given vis--vis the trial and punishment of the perpetrators of Mumbai attack, especially with regard to the trial of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi? he demanded.UNI ML RJ CS1958 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518319.Xml Haryana Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry today asked the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, to make clear its motive behind its move to surrender the states share of electricity in the Jharli and Dadri power plants. In a statement here, former Excise and Taxation Minister said the BJP government should make clear its intention, tell who it wants to benefit with this decision, and ensure 24-hour power supply before surrendering the power share. She said while the BJP Government maintained that Haryana Power Utilities had enough power to meet the requirement of all consumers even during peak consumption period, neither the farmers are getting adequate power nor are the factories supplied the required power. Even rural and urban households do not get power round the clock. They should fulfil their election promise of supplying power to the dhanis which has not been done so far. Surprising that they are surrendering power calling it surplus, she added. Before surrendering power, the state government should supply power according to the approved schedule which is 24-hour power supply to urban areas and to industry, eight hours supply to the agriculture sector and 12-hour power supply to rural domestic consumers, Ms Choudhry demanded. UNI DB AE PR1911 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518355.Xml The Congress is likely to effect an organisational reshuffle after party vice president Rahul Gandhi returns from Europe, amid renewed buzz over his elevation to the top post, party sources said on Saturday. Sources said Gandhi had already done the groundwork for the reshuffle and it would be put into effect at an opportune time decided by him and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi is said to be of the view that the party should encourage youth leadership while benefiting from the experience of senior leaders at the same time. The sources said the date for an All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting will also be finalised after Rahul Gandhi's return. A Congress leader said Rahul Gandhi was willing to take over as party chief but did not comment on the timing. Sources said Rahul Gandhi could be elevated as Congress chief close to the AICC session or after the culmination of the organisational elections' process. Rahul Gandhi on December 28 tweeted that he would travel to Europe for a few days. Sources said he was expected to return after January 8. He was elevated as Congress vice president in January 2013. Demands and suggestions by some senior leaders were made last year for Rahul Gandhi's elevation as the Congress president. There was also a contrary view that status quo should prevail and Sonia Gandhi should continue to lead the party. In September 2015, the party decided to extend Sonia Gandhi's term as party leader by a year and wrote to the Election Commission that it will complete organisational election process before the end of 2016. The Congress suffered reverses in assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand in 2014 after its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, the Bihar assembly elections in 2015 brought it some cheer. Contesting along with its allies Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress returned a tally of 27 seats. Party sources said there was more confidence in the Congress about its electoral prospects in 2016. Congress-ruled Assam and Kerala, besides West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, will see assembly elections in the first half of 2016. Sources, however, said there was no connection between these polls and Rahul Gandhi's elevation. --Indo-Asian News Service ps/tsb/vm ( 390 Words) 2016-01-02-20:01:37 (IANS) Ever since Giselle Wilz was young, she wanted to be a general. That dream came true when she was offered the opportunity to be commander of the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, Bosnia. A typical NATO commander deals with politics regarding the structure and training of armed forces in the country, as well as visiting soldiers and overseeing operations. Wilz is the first female to ever hold this type of position anywhere in the world. "As someone who wants to be a general, you sit on a bench and put your name in for various jobs," Wilz said. "I put my name in for (NATO commander) and back in February they ended up calling me." Though Wilz knew it was a possibility the job would be offered, she was still surprised, excited and anxious when it happened. "The call meant an opportunity to do something I've never done before, something outside of North Dakota," Wilz said. "My reaction was really quick. I didn't even have to think about it when I said yes." Wilz's family knew that her name had been offered for this position, said younger sister Gwen Beckler, but the two miss each other while they're apart. "It was a bittersweet moment, because our family is very close," Beckler said. "But we were excited she could be able to fulfill her dream ... I think this opportunity is beyond what she imagined. She is experiencing worlds she would never have in Bismarck. As her family, we're so incredibly proud and continue to support her." Wilz was promoted May 21 and left for Bosnia May 25. Since then, her duties have been varied and she says no day is quite the same. "My primary job is defense reform," Wilz said. "It's about professionalizing the Ministry of Defense and the (Bosnian) army ... I can do everything from going to visit soldiers to working with NATO ambassadors on politics in a day." She said being the first female to fill this position is a tribute to U.S. progress in gender equality. "Now we bring the rest of the world along," Wilz said. "It is all about providing opportunities to be qualified, and building the credentials and experience required to be successful." Wilz, who also is a brigadier general in the North Dakota Army National Guard, has had opportunities for leadership throughout her military career. Her previous assignment as the Guard's chief of staff has commonalities with her current position, she said. "There's a lot of similarities because you do a lot of 'firefighting,' " Wilz said, referring to negotiating solutions and dealing with people. When she walked into a conference her first day, some of the military commanders were a little shocked. They had heard that they would have a female commander but were surprised that she had actually come. However, shock soon turned to camaraderie. "We were having a little shooting competition," Wilz said. "There were about 15 to 20 other generals, and I came in second in pistol and fifth in rifle, and that really helped break barriers. That was when they realized I'm just a soldier, like them." She says that although Sarajevo is a different city with a different language and a different environment, the civilians are still just people. "We all have more in common than what separates us," Wilz said. "People of different religions and ethnic backgrounds have been getting along for thousands of years previously. Just 20 years ago, in this region, people were fighting with each other. Now, it's really about understanding and tolerance." As a member of the Guard for 30 years, Wilz said she knows the history of that organization and has grown up with the people. Bosnia offers a new dynamic. "Now I realize I've got a lot to learn, every day. It's very intellectually stimulating," she said. "You have to really be present in every conversation or you'll miss something." Three months ago, she says she wasn't nearly as comfortable talking and listening, but now everything is more natural. "I think it's really incredible. I've gotten to meet the people, the average people ... the folks who want their kids to have better lives than them, who want something more for them, just like us," Wilz said. "I've gone to some military send-offs, where they're deploying soldiers to Afghanistan, and I watch the families have the same anxieties and same fears as military families (in North Dakota), but also the same pride, that their sons and daughters are serving something bigger than themselves." In her job, she works closely with non-governmental organizations as well, including multinational partner programs, on topics ranging from gender diversity to promoting democracy and building leadership. When Wilz travels, she enjoys speaking at universities across Bosnia, talking about community and transparency. "I think we take things for granted when we look through our own lens, our American lens, and I know my own is red, white and blue," Wilz said. "But you have to look through the lens of the culture and where you're operating, from a human perspective." Two persons, accused in a murder case of a 60-year-old man in Muzzafarnagar district, have been arrested by Delhi Crime Branch in the national capital, police said here today. The accused, Gaurav and Jitender Kumar, who were students of Class 12th and hailed from same town, were arrested in the national capital yesterday by the sleuths of Delhi Crime Branch, Circle Officer S P Singh said.A case has been registered under the appropriate section of the law, he added. Waheed Ahamad (60) was allegedly shot dead at Goela village near Muzzafarnagar under Shahpur police station area here on December 28 by the two accused probably due to old enmity, he added. UNI AP RJ 2011 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0412-518612.Xml Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party Kiran Choudhry today strongly condemned the decision of the Centre to hike the excise duty on petrol by 37 paise per litre and by Rs 2 a litre on diesel and demanded its immediate rollback. Basic excise duty on unbranded or normal petrol has been increased from Rs 7.36 per litre to Rs 7.73 and the same on unbranded diesel from Rs 5.83 to Rs 7.83 per litre. In a statement issued here, the former Excise and Taxation Minister said instead of reducing the excise duty and lowering the prices, the Central Government has hiked it to earn additional revenue of Rs 4,400 crore. Within just 18 months, the Centre has hiked the excise duty seven times. This is the seventh hike by the BJP Government at the Centre and the second increase in duties in just over two weeks. At present, the international price of crude oil has come down to 2004 level of 36 US Dollar per barrel. Instead of lowering the prices to give the common man the much-needed relief, the Central Government keeps increasing the prices to finance its unwanted and wasteful expenditure, she said. The hike should be rolled back immediately, she demanded.UNI NC AE AN2003 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518460.Xml The attack by five heavily armed terrorists on the Air Force Base in Pathankot, Punjab, on Saturday morning, was aimed at downsizing the growing international statesman-like image of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, highly-placed sources said. They said that elements in Rawalpindi (read Pakistan Army) were reportedly upset at the "unprecedented" positive reaction of the international community to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's out of the box master stroke visit to Lahore from Kabul, as also by the fillip given to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's international image because of the visit, besides encouragement for liberal echelons of Pakistan civil society. The sources further said that though Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, might have okayed the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India, the people around him might have got rattled by the unexpected boost to the stature of the civilian political leadership, and there was a distinct possibility that the coterie around General Sharif might have felt marginalized after the Lahore/Raiwind Estate summit meeting. The Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) thus unleashed one of their strategic assets i.e. the JeM (Masood) to carry out the calculated high visibility target (defence installation) attack not in Jammu and Kashmir, but in Punjab. The objectives were to damage aircraft and other high value air force assets, and kill as many (air force/defence) personnel as possible. The sources revealed that the attack's calculation was to instigate the Indian defence establishment and opposition parties into taking hardliner positions and denounce the talks that had taken place between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, and even try to stall the forthcoming foreign secretary-level talks scheduled for the middle of this month, and in turn, bring back focus of domestic Pakistani discourse in the GHQ (General Headquarters)-driven narrative centering on disinformation that such attacks are by Indian Kashmiri elements, and that Pakistan remains the most affected victim of terrorism. Another line that was probably and possibly being projected by the Pakistan Army-ISI-JeM combine was that India, while maintaining a faade of going ahead with peace overtures, was actually only interested in finding an opportunity to hit out at Pakistan. The sources said that the advance foreign intelligence and surgical intervention by Indian security agencies proved to be fruitful and rewarding in the sense that had this information not been available in time, the damage to assets and the casualties would have been much higher. The counter-terror operation was supervised throughout the intervening night of Friday and Saturday personally by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the three service chiefs and senior intelligence officials. The neutralizing of the terror attack, the sources said, should be seen as a major snub to the Pakistan elements behind it. The dignified handling of the post-attack statements by the Indian Government and a similar response by the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will clearly dampen the spirits of the strategic Jihadi assets and their mentors in Pakistan, besides also exposing them once again to the world. (ANI) The security of Airbase Ambala and Army camp here has been strengthened and an alert has been sounded in the wake of terrorist attack in Pathankot today. All routes leading to the Air Force station and Army camp have been sealed and nobody is allowed to enter the restricted area without undergoing search. The police have been deputed in the area who have raised barricades at every sensitive point. The local police under the control of SHO are manning the security arrangements. The vehicles are allowed to enter the area only after an extensive search. But the most sensitive railway station of Ambala Cantt was without effective security since no GRP and RPF personnel were seen on the station. However, only a few jawans were on the routine duty. The Ambala Cantt station had remained sensitive station which is under constant threat from the extremists. Last year RDX in large quantity was recovered from an abandoned car to be taken to the national capital. The railway staff including the station manager had been receiving threatening letters of blowing up the station. Meanwhile, Anti Terrorist Front India President V. Shandilya has termed the terrorist attack in Pathankot the failure of intelligence agencies which failed to take notice of the well planned attack by the militant outfit. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, however, said the ways to have dialogue with Pakistan should be found if this failed then the government would settle the issue with strong hand.UNI XC DB PY RJ AN2150 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518542.Xml Himachal Pradesh High Court today ordered an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of 24 students of a Hyderabad engineering college, who were washed away in Beas river last year in the state, A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan directed that the compensation, including interim relief of Rs.500,000, should be paid with interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent per annum in eight weeks from today till its final realisation is awarded. The Court, taking cognigence on a media report into the incident, registered a suo motu public interest litigation. Pronouncing the judgement, the bench held that Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, that runs the Larji hydropower project, responsible for the release of water into the river, would share 60 per cent of the total compensation, while the college and the hill state would pay 30 and 10 per cent respectively, compensation. The High Court in its last order, also passed to pay interim relief of Rs 500,000 each to the families of each student, who were washed away in Beas river. Twenty-four students of VNR. Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad and a tour operator were washed down on June 8 last year near Mandi town as the flood gate of a l nearby state-runhydropower project dam opened without issuing any warning. The victim students were on a tour to tourist resort Manali. Earlier, turning down a plea of the engineering institute to modify or recall its order to pay an interim compensation to the families of each victim, the High Court had directed the college management to refund the amount of tuition fee of the students within two weeks. The judges, who reserved the judgement on December 14, observed that the news about the incident was so shocking and pricking that it shattered everyone. Keeping in view the fact that the parents lost their sons or daughters, who were undergoing engineering course and expected to be at least engineers, which is so painful and cannot be redressed by any relief, rather no substitute is available, the court held.UNI ML JS RJ RAI2114 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518595.Xml Haryana Lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal and his gunman sustained injuries in a road mishap near Kumaspur village in the district late last evening. Reports said the accident occurred, when the Lokayukta was returning to Chandigarh from Delhi and an uncontrolled car collided with his vehicle at Kumaspur village. Justice Pal and his gunman, constable Sanjeev sustained injuries in the mishap. They were rushed to a private hospital at Sonipat and discharged after treatment. Police have registered a case against the unknown car driver on the statement of constable Sanjeev.UNI XC DB RJ RAI2151 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-518643.Xml The terrorists reportedly - having their allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed - led by one Nazir, who was appeared to be the leader of the group as per intercepted radio communication, entered the AFS through a nullah-gap. The heavily armed terrorists, who entered the Air Force Station through a gap in a nullah, traced by drones, and contained just 300-400 metres inside the station by IAF's Quick Reaction Teams, who killed one terrorist shortly, said top government sources. A Garuda Commando also killed in the initial gunfight. However, rest of the terrorists could manage to reach the Development Support Committee (DSC's) restroom, where they shot dead two DSC personnel, said sources, adding that second and third terrorists were killed around 2-3p.m, while their fourth accomplice was neutralised after 4p.m. Sources said AK-47, UBGL, 52 mm mortars, GPS locators were seized from their possession. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs at South Block here on Saturday afternoon to take stalk of the entire operation. According to sources, Parrikar was briefed by the NSA and the three service chiefs on the overall security scenario. The minister also assessed vulnerability gaps of the vital military establishments and the security of all strategic defence installations. He instructed them to beef up the security and fill the gaps, and to work out an effective joint operation strategy, sources said. Parrikar purportedly told them it is desired to have a preparation where terrorists even couldn't launch such an attack on military bases, and should have been neutralised outside the premises. (ANI) Three resident doctors from J J Hospital have proposed to set up an 'organ bank' in Maharashtra, with a view to provide vital organs to the needy patients to save their lives. As a first step in this regard, they would launch an awareness drive for organ donation. Giving details of the same to mediapersons today, Dr Kanharam Patel said, "First and foremost, we should spread awareness among the public. I am one, but I can save the life of many through organ donation. "You cannot take organs with you after death, so let them serve others. Do not let your organ become an ash, let them enlighten others' lives." Dr Param Satapthy said, "The purpose of life is not to be happy... but, to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to make a difference that you have lived it all... Be a proud organ donor," Dr Yashowardhan Kabra said, "Organ donation is one of the noble acts that one can do for humanity. Everybody should live with the motive that, 'I want to be remembered for life that I gave, as well as the life I lived -- Be a hero, Be an Organ Donor." The three doctors have come ahead with the organ donation drive vows for the New Year so that after death, vital organs can be preserved for the needy and transplanted thereafter. Lakh of Indians need organ transplants, but less than a thousand are performed each year. The rest are left to their fate waiting for an organ because of inadequate donors.UNI AAA SS RJ AN2237 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-518534.Xml "Saddened at the passing of veteran politician AB Bardhan," Ms Banerjee tweeted. "Condolences to his family and colleagues of his party," Ms Banerjee added. Bardhan today passed away at the age of 91. The end came in the GB Pant hospital here this evening. He had been hospitalised last month, following a paralytic stroke. Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan, who was born on September 24, 1924 in Maharashtra, was among the tallest figures of the Left movement in the country. Popularly called 'comrade' among party workers, he spearheaded numerous movements, including the historic spate of labour protests of 1970s.UNI PC-BM RJ AN2248 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-518728.Xml Talking to reporters here, BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar batted for the continuation of talks with the neighbouring country, saying if there will be no talks on terror then it would not come down. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore initiative, Javadekar also said the onus is on Pakistan to follow the solemn promise given to India in 2004 that it would not allow its land to be used for terrorism. He said Pakistan would have to walk the talk on the issue of terrorism. He supported Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's assertion that India wanted friendship with Pakistan, but would forcefully respond to any act of terrorism. (ANI)